How do we perceive beauty?

Our brains perceive beauty in a complex way. It has been seen that our brains see art, architecture and music attributed with beauty. This can be broken down into things like simplicity, pattern, rhythm, symmetry, juxtaposition, arrangement of musical notes, ratios and geometry. Beauty wakens not a single part of the brain but multiple. It can cause our sight, reward, visual and others to deploy reactions.

Yet beauty can be defined as something individual. If two people were stood in front of a painting they would relate the beauty of the painting to their personal thoughts and perspective, neither would see the painting the same. This can be related to the individual; past experiences, culture and emotional states can change someone’s perspective of things of beauty which comes to reflect the highly individualised nature of aesthetic appreciation. We tend to find a sense of beauty in the things we see familiar or that come from a connection to social interactions, relationships and personal growth highly effect our perception. This provides us with the understanding that we see beauty differently to someone else. Our brains are singularly unique as we see things differently to billions of people.

Whenever we see something beautiful a complex symphony of memories, personal experiences and emotional associations occur and spark to life. This all happens in a single moment when appreciating one or many things. Beauty isn’t just something that is around and we appreciate it boosts our everyday mood. For example, flowers are seen to boost our everyday mood and make people feel more comfortable, something so simple and intricate possesses much power. Beauty causes our brains to become happier, feel safe and at home. It relaxes us waking up parts of our brain one after the other, rippling the brain.

Our understanding of the brain and beauty is in no way static, it’s a deeply connected occurrence shaped by personal experiences. Our brains each see beauty individually inspiring individuality and diversity. Beauty isn’t always whether a person has certain physical attributes, it becomes what the individual sees as beautiful to them. Beauty is a subjective concept allowing us to really understand that beauty is ever more inclusive and inspiring as we make it out to be.

Mackenzie N, Year 11

Turning the Young Archie Prize on its head

Connor P has been named a finalist for the 2024 Young Archie Art Prize. His piece, ‘A boy called Dean,’ was selected in the 16-18 year old category from over 4,000 entries for this prestigious national art competition.

Hung upside down to catch the audience’s attention, Connor shares that his intention for the artwork was to “shed light on the unseen and innocent parts of the teenage male stereotype. Despite looking tough, Dean is one of the most sensitive and caring people I know.” Connor shares. “I’ve hung it upside down to make the audience stop, and hopefully turn their head to better understand the work. To look and think differently about the teenage experience. To flip what we know on its head.”

“Being a finalist in the Young Archie has been an aspiration of mine since I began painting a couple of years ago, so to realise that is amazing.”

Connor was also recently announced as the winner of the 2024 Oxley College 2024 Portrait Prize.

Connor’s work, “A Boy Called Dean,” will be displayed alongside other Young Archie finalists at the Art Gallery of NSW from Saturday, 8 June until Sunday, 8 September.

The finalists’ works can be viewed online on the AGNSW website: Young Archie Finalists. Connor’s specific work can be found here.

We’re watching: Inside Out

Anger. Joy. Sadness. Fear. Disgust. The eccentric but human emotions of the highly acclaimed “Inside Out”, released June 2015, directed by Pete Docter. This rollercoaster of a film delves deep into the complexities of human emotions with stunning animation and heartwarming storytelling. Produced by Pixar Animation Studios, this film takes audiences on a journey through the mind of an 11-year-old girl named Riley, with her emotions personified as characters within her head.

The brilliance of “Inside Out” lies in its ability to balance entertainment with profound insight. The film not only entertains with its colourful visuals and witty humour but also offers a poignant exploration of the importance of embracing all emotions, even the difficult ones. Through the characters of Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust, viewers are reminded of the complexity of human experience and the necessity of acknowledging and processing all emotions to achieve genuine happiness.

One of the film’s greatest strengths is its universal appeal. While it may seem like a children’s movie on the surface, “Inside Out” resonates with audiences of all ages. Children can enjoy the vibrant animation and relatable characters, while adults can appreciate the deeper themes and emotional resonance.

The voice cast delivers standout performances, bringing life and depth to each character. Amy Poehler shines as the optimistic Joy, while Phyllis Smith provides a perfect balance as the earnest Sadness. The chemistry between the emotions is palpable, creating a dynamic and engaging dynamic that drives the narrative forward.

Visually, “Inside Out” is a feast for the eyes. The imaginative depiction of the inner workings of the mind is both inventive and visually stunning. From the vibrant landscapes of Riley’s memories to the intricate control centre of her emotions, every frame is filled with detail and creativity.

I chose to review this film as “Inside Out 2” will be released on Friday 14^th June 2024. Whilst it’s not essential to watch the first inside out, it makes for a more enjoyable and emotive experience when viewing the second one. Ultimately, “Inside Out 1” is a touching and thought-provoking film that leaves a lasting impression. Its message about embracing all emotions is both timely and timeless, making it a must-watch for audiences of all ages. Whether you’re a child or an adult, this film will touch your heart and remind you of the beauty of the human experience.

Lucy A, Year 10

Helldivers 2: A brief history of the galactic war

MANDATORY VIEWING

Greetings, fellow democrats! The federation of Super Earth has for so long existed in peace and harmony for hundreds of years. Now however, enemies of democracy seek to undermine this hard-won peace. For those of you who can, take up arms and fight back against the bugs and bots that threaten our voting rights! But to those of you who pitifully watch from the sidelines or are newly recruited, here is a brief history of the galactic war (galactic map at the bottom of the page, with galactic sector borders included). And remember, even now, true patriots of Super Earth fight for your continued freedom… and will continue to do so, no matter the cost.

On February 8, 2024, the Terminids escaped the E-710 oil farms scattered through the Orion Sector. The Helldiver corps was first deployed in a gruelling campaign trivial pest control operation. The size of the infestation, however, was greatly miscalculated, with the Draco, Mirin and L’estrade sectors soon falling in the following hours. Thankfully, a real challenge presented itself, when the Automatons of Cyberstan declared formal independence from Super Earth. This slander against our Democracy would not stand, and in turn declared war on the Automaton menace. Small skirmishes began in the Severin Sector. In response, the bots seized control of the Maia, Durgen and Tibit sectors. Fighting continued into the next month, with sectors of space being wrestled back and forth. The Automatons in the second week of the war, deployed a surprise attack upon 8 Super Earth border planets, bringing massive loss to Super Earth assets and property, sparking many angry complaints from loyal citizens. A stalemate had presented itself on the Automaton front, whilst the Helldivers had gained significant against the Termanids, liberating the Orion sector in less than a week. On May 1, a Major Order was ensued to all Super Earth Armed Forces (S.E.A.F) to continue the campaign against the Termanid hive to prevent bug spores from presenting a greater threat to our loyal citizens. Naturally, the Helldivers rose to the challenge, combating the new Termanid beasts that arose from the foul hives. A greater threat loomed over the horizon. 6 days later, the Automatons showed signs of amassing their forces. The courageous Helldivers refocused their efforts, concentrating most particularly on the infamous Melevelon Creek. Over 10% of Super Earth’s force endured weeks upon weeks of intense fighting, with no indication of stopping. Helldivers deployed at the Creek were nicknamed “creekers” for good reason. The malevolent planet was also known as another name to honoured veterans…

Space Vietnam.

With the increased threat from both fronts, more democratic detonation where required. Long had there been rumours of a secret weapon being developed in the womb of Managed Democracy. The Exo-45 PATRIOT EXOSUIT. And yet again on March 7 the foes of Super Earth moved to stop the galaxies last line of offense. The Socialist bots unjustly occupied Tien Kwan, temporarily halting Exosuit production. In response the Divers laughed and loaded up their 500kg bombs. The very next day S.E.A.F forces annihilated the bot menace, gaining the edge needed to finally strike at the heart of the steel snake. In preparation for the offensive campaign, Super Earth scientists devised an ingenious solution to protect previously occupied Terminid worlds. Introducing Termicide, a chemical which conveniently is 98.8% lethal to Terminids. S.E.A.F forces swiftly deployed to the Umlaut sector to secure the newly founded Termanid Control System, easily providing a bulkhead to our valiant soldiers. With the Terminids contained for now, Super Earth high command initiated Operation: Swift Disassembly, a necessary retaliation in response to an impeding Automaton assault on Super Earth (gleaned from advanced interrogation techniques used on captured Automaton prisoners)

In less than a week, Operation: Disassembly was a major success! The Automatons were driven out from the known galaxy. Humanity celebrated, for the bot menace had been eradicated and the Helldiver Corps could finally focus on the Termanid front… or so we thought.

2 days later, the easy Automaton opposing was little more than their vanguard. Thousands upon thousands of Automaton ships appeared out of FTL space and seized control of the Ymir, Valdis, Andromeda, Hydra and Lacallie Sector. To make matters worse, the bots had seized their home planet of Cyberstan, freeing their cyborg master’s from their righteous service in the mines beneath the planets surface. The following month would see the Automatons being held back whilst necessary evacuations commenced. The Menkent line was quickly established, a gathering of defensive planetary orbital defence platforms and Super Destroyers that would swiftly annihilate the impeding Automaton fleet. This massive mobilisation of Super Earth resources however would greatly deplete E-710 reserves. Requiring more Termanid biomass than usual, an estimated 200,000,000 (2 billion) Terminids would have to be harvested. Remarkably, the Helldivers completed this Major Order in under 12 hours, the fastest operation in all of Super Earth’s history. Though many Terminids were slaughtered, a great tragedy was about to unfold.

The Terminid Control System… had failed.

The Terminids had developed a resistance against the Termicide and had begun to use it as a faster method of reproduction. The Helldivers swiftly deactivate the TCS, but the damage had been done. Meridia was declared unsalvageable as it had been terraformed (or in this case Termiformed) into a Tyrannical Super-colony, and Terminid spores from the godforsaken planet had already begun to drift towards Super Earth controlled space. With the enemies of freedom closing in from all sides, things finally started to get serious.

On day 97, the Second Galactic War was declared. All conflicts and assaults in the past were recognised as special operations. Now all men, women and children under the age of 7 would contribute to the war effort. The war is ongoing and will not stop until all enemies of Freedom and democracy are wiped from the face of the galaxy and beyond.

In light of these recent events, the threat of the Meridia Super-colony was undeniable. The nuclear option was no longer available, as the Termanids had dug their hives into the core of the planet, so the decision was made.

Meridia had to be destroyed… entirely.

Thankfully, the Ministry of Science had been experimenting with a barely fully understood alien weapon, Dark Fluid. Seized from the oppressive Illuminate species at the end of the first Galactic War, though advanced, this weaponised liquid capable of spaghettification on a grand scale. Helldivers were deployed onto the surface of Merida to injected the Dark Fluid into the tectonic crust of Meridia, named Operation: Enduring Peace. In 4 days, 41 million Helldivers were lost on the infected surface of Merida, yet their necessary sacrifice was worth it. The sun set one last time on Meridia, and at 15:25 SEST time on June  2^nd 2184, Meridia was the first planet in galactic history to be destroyed to the last Terminid spore. All Super Destroyers were forced to commence emergency FTL jumps back to Super Earth. Upon returning, Helldivers saw instead of an effigy against democracy, a beautiful symbol of hope and freedom. A black hole now stands as a testament to the fallen soldiers whose life now secures the future of Super Earth

At the time of writing, the Galactic War against oppression and Tyranny continues. The brave and obedient Helldivers will continue the fight… but are you doing your part?

Are you ready to stand up for Freedom?

Are you ready to stand up for Liberty?

Will you fight… for Democracy?

Then what are you waiting for, stop reading this patriarchal article and get out there!

Join the Helldivers today!

Thomas C, Year 11, Melevelon Creek Expeditionary Force, Commander of the Sword of Freedom

Sport for Jove

It’s not very often you get a great opportunity to use the cliché phrase “Blood, Sweat, and Tears”. That is of course, unless you’re at a Shakespeare Carnival.

Over the past 3 months around 20 students have been working tirelessly on scenes, dances, and songs to perform at the Sport for Jove Shakespeare Carnival. Two weeks ago, the regional final took place, with Oxley having much success in the Dance, Song, and Ensemble Scene categories, with each coming 1st in their category.

On June 1 and 2, the state final was held at the Sydney Seymour Centre, where 3 of our Oxley teams completed a workshop on Saturday, followed by the performance on Sunday. All 3 teams were lucky enough to place very well, with all entries from Oxley placing in the top 3.

The Ensemble Scene group, Sophie C, Olivia Q, Toby W, and Liam H, (Year 10), achieved state runners-up. Sophie and Olivia were also awarded ‘Moment of the Category’ for their incredible fight.

The Dance Group of 7, Clementine H (Year 11), Georgie A (Year 10), Imogen G (Year 10), Eliza-Grace B (Year 11), Leila D (Year 10), Tia B (Year 10), and Chiara S (Year 11), was the largest group to perform. They achieved 3rd place which is an incredible achievement.

Then finally, we had Joss W (Year 10) who performed her original song ‘Never Really Mine’ based on A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Joss came 3rd in the state and brought tears to most of the audience as well as the judges. As Shakespeare might say, “mine eyes smell onions.”

Overall Oxley was very well represented at the state final with brilliant results. This was a huge achievement for the Oxley students and wouldn’t have been possible without the constant work and support from Ms Pascoe. Thank you, Ms Pascoe. We hope to have more entries next year that are just as successful as this year. Until next year, as Will might say, “all’s well that ends well”.

Liam H, Year 10

Sporting Achievements

Sports Reporters: Lily S (Year 11)

ISA Round 4

Round 4 saw a great number of wins for Oxley. Firstly, congratulations to the Netball Firsts who have come away with another incredible win against Redlands (50-32), well done girls. The Football Firsts Boys could not come unnoticed, despite large amounts of rain the boys were able to defeat SAS (4-1), well done boys. Our Hockey Firsts team had an outstanding win against Barker which was incredible to see as Oxley has not won against the Barker Firsts for a long time. Our Hockey Seconds finished strong with a tie against Blue Mountains Grammar School (2-2). The Football Seconds Boys also came home with a tie (0-0) after a difficult game against St Paul’s Grammar. Unfortunately, after many great games during the first parts of the season our Football Firsts Girls have come out with their first loss this season against BMGS (1-3), however we must recognise their constant ability to show Oxley spirit. Tennis Firsts had a great start to the season, playing their second game after being washed out for the first couple of weeks. They played SACS and unfortunately lost (3.5-4.5).

It is also necessary to mention that we had one team unable to play this round due to loss of players, Rugby Firsts.

Well done everyone who participated in sport this round; you should all be very proud of how you played as a team. Let’s keep striving to achieve the Oxley values. Keep up the great work!

ISA Round 5

Round 5 saw some severe weather conditions, affecting many sports however we must celebrate the teams that were able to overcome this challenge and play.

Hockey Firsts had a great game against our all-time rivals Chevalier College and came home with a close game, winning (4-3), establishing their place on the ladder. Well done, girls! The Tennis Firsts had a great win for their third game back, beating Redlands (8-0). The Football Firsts Girls also has a great win against Barker, defeating them (3-2). The Football Firsts Boys had an unfortunate but close loss (2-3) against SPC and are currently third on the ladder.

There were however a number of games cancelled this round, including both the Netball Firsts and Seconds and the Rugby Firsts.

Congratulations to all competing teams this round; you should be very proud of how far Oxley sport has come.

Cross Country

The Oxley team at the ISA Cross Country Carnival achieved some wonderful results: the Oxley Girls finished 3^rd overall and the Senior Girls Team finished in 1^st place. 23 runners in total from Oxley have qualified for the CISNSW Carnival.

CIS Cross Country

Congratulations to all students who participated in the CIS Cross Country Carnival and well done to Pixie H (Year 7) who achieved 3rd place.

Swimming

After success in the pool representing NSW CIS at the All School Championships, Annabel A (Year 11) is now off to compete at the School Sport Nationals on the Gold Coast in July – Good Luck Annabel!

Spoken Word Achievements

Model United Nations Assembly

Two Oxley teams recently competed in MUNA, which stands for Model United Nations Assembly. The competition is a simulation of the United Nations where participants take on the roles of delegates representing different countries or organizations. During the conference, delegates engage in debates about various global issues, formal discussions, and caucuses, seeking to find solutions through diplomacy and negotiation.

We had one term to prepare for the competition, which was held on the 25th of May at the Wingecarribee Shire Council Chamber. To prepare, both teams were assigned a country to represent. One Oxley team represented Türkiye, and the other team represented Saudi Arabia. We also found out the 10 resolutions that were debated on the day. Some of the resolutions were: Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflicts; Use of Mercenaries as a Means of Violating Human Rights; Eradicating Rural Poverty to Implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; and Convention on the Prohibition of the Use of Nuclear Weapons. We had to research these topics and find out our country’s stance. We prepared notes, speeches, and arguments to engage in diplomatic discussions with other delegates.

On the day of the competition, we dressed in traditional attire representative of our assigned countries and competed against other local schools. During the conference, delegates participated in committee sessions where they discussed and debated the issues, attempted to form alliances, and drafted resolutions to address the problems at hand. Delegates had to adhere to the rules and procedures of the UN, such as making formal speeches, negotiating with other delegates, and following the order of the agenda. Participants also used diplomacy, persuasion, and negotiation skills to form coalitions and build consensus among the different countries. At the end of the conference, delegates voted on the resolutions that had been proposed.

To conclude, awards were handed out for the best costume, the peace prize, and overall placing. Oxley’s Saudi Arabian team placed second! MUNA was a great experience, and we learned valuable skills such as public speaking, negotiation, critical thinking, teamwork, and gained a deeper understanding of international relations and diplomacy.

Chloe S, Year 10

Southern Highlands Science and Engineering Challenge

On Monday 27 May, 32 Year 10 Oxley students attended the annual Southern Highlands Science and Engineering Challenge.  Students competed in groups of four across a range of activities including designing and constructing an earthquake proof tower, designing efficient codes to send messages along fibre optic rods, designing and constructing a balsa glider for both maximum range and accuracy, and designing and constructing a model wind turbine.  Oxley students performed very well and were awarded first runner-up out of the eight schools competing.  Well done to all the students who participated.

A selection of Year 6 students recently showcased their talent and innovation at the Southern Highlands Science and Engineering Challenge. Working in teams of four, they tackled practical challenges aimed at providing a positive experience of science and engineering. We’re thrilled to announce Oxley’s exceptional achievement, securing 2nd place overall with just a 15-point difference from first place. Thanks to the Rotary Club of Bowral-Mittagong and the University of Newcastle for organising this event, hosted at the Mittagong RSL. Congratulations to our outstanding Year 6 students for their inspiring success!

Country Music Success

Joss W (Year 10) has been selected for the prestigious Country Music Academy of Australia Junior Academy in the July holidays.

Joss shares, “Country music is such an expressive genre full of storytelling and emotion. I am excited to have the opportunity to look at music through the country music lens. Thanks to the support of so many people locally, I have been able to make this step. I can’t wait to learn and grow my capabilities and bring that knowledge back home to share.”

Round Square around Oxley

There have been a range of programs and activities taking place in our classrooms that bring being a member of the Round Square Network of Schools into our day-to-day life – here’s a sample:

‘This afternoon Year 6 had a conversation with students from Waihi school in New Zealand. The school is about 100km south of Christchurch. The purpose was to share information on how we honour our ANZAC service men and women. Waihi are looking to become a Round Square school so having this opportunity to learn about different perspectives was interesting. Next week, we look forward to reconnecting with them to learn more about their story.’

Ian P, Year 6

Year 3 students took part in Show and Tell with a difference! Students from thirteen schools in the Round Square network, from India, Thailand, Bangladesh and Australia came together on a video call to talk about their local area, culture and traditions. It was a wonderful way for students to connect in real time with children their age from around the world.

Our students engaged with children from Varanasi, India also known as Kashi which is one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities; they listened as students from Newcastle Grammar described their sunny skies and outdoor lifestyle; and wondered about the apples in Jammu, in the very north of India – which according to the students from the KC Public School are the tastiest in the world!

93 students in Year 8 & 9 have become pen pals with students at the Round Square School, Maria’s Public School in Guwahati, India as a part of our GeoLiteracy program. Students learned the power of the written word and are now excitedly awaiting their responses from their pen pals.

Year 8 Art Incursion and Excursion

Junior School Assembly Awards

Term 2 Week 7

Term 2 Week 6

Term 2 Week 5

Term 2 Week 4

Grandparents’ Day Part 2

Matilda JR.

Rehearsals are underway for more than 100 Junior School students who are performing in Matilda. Is going to be a spectacular large-scale production. Grab your tickets now and should you wish to know more about our sponsorship packages, email amberley.guilly@oxley.com.au

https://www.trybooking.com/CRXKU