With only 39 days left of the school year, there is a lot going on!
From the Head of Senior School, Tristan Bevan
Welcome back to Term 4. Over the break and the last week, students and staff have travelled near and far. They have been challenged, fatigued and pushed outside their comfort zone. This is all part of the development of character at Oxley. Along with 9 other staff members, I took 69 students from Year 11 to the Outback and they returned ready to tackle their final year at Oxley. This was my 12th time on Outback and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience; getting to know students better, giving them the opportunity for some Type 2 fun, seeing them experience the vast and rugged beauty of Australia and giving them the chance to bond as a cohort and discover more about themselves.
Whilst I’d like to thank all the staff that gave up their time travelling to Nepal, Thailand, Sydney for Rites of Passage and the various OLE trips, I would like to single out one person. Dene Patterson has completed her 10th Outback in a row. Running the kitchen on Outback is an immense and all-consuming job, and Dene has done it exceptionally well since our eldest daughters went on Outback in 2015! All the students and staff that you have fed on Outback thank you!
In staffing news, we welcome a few new staff to Oxley. Ms Anna Hitchcock joins us from Cranbrook School into the English Department and as Enrichment Co-ordinator for Year 7-12. Mr Greg McGriskin, joins us from Parramatta Marist High School bringing with him a wealth of experience. Mr McGriskin will be teaching Legal Studies, English and History. Mr Keiran Staples also returns full-time to his role as Head of Dobell House following a period of leave and as the co-pilot of Red Dog on the Year 11 Outback trip!
In the remaining 39 days of the year, there is a lot going on. The HSC is underway for Year 12 2024 until 6 November. Students in Year 12 2025 will have their first HSC assessments, and Students in Year 7-10 will have their Yearly Examinations. Learning continues all the way through the term and it is important to encourage students that whilst an examination or assessment measures their performance in one type of task at a point in time, the work they do in between is essential to their understanding and growth. We are working towards adjusting assessment in Year 7-10 next year in line with this philosophy to ensure that we assess what we value.
I’d like to highlight a few events coming up this term – details and booking information can be found in links on the upcoming events page of this newsletter.
Dr Judith Locke Parent Presentation – Wednesday 23 October (Junior School) & Thursday 24 October (Senior School):
Judith was unable to present to parents in February following her presentation to staff as part of our professional learning. She raises some excellent points about how some modern parenting approaches are depriving young people from learning how to deal with some level of challenge and consequences. This has negative knock-on effects.
Dining Dilemma’s – Wednesday 6 November:
There are few schools that offer philosophy and ethics as well as Oxley College. Between Mr Case, Dr Hall and other members of our Cornerstone team the College is blessed with skill and passion in this area. I thoroughly enjoyed the speakers who presented at the Oxley College Centre for Ethics presentations over the year. Dinig Dilemma’s promises to be a fantastic, relaxed opportunity to engage with and discuss ideas that your students tackle weekly in Cornerstone.
Mamma Mia – Tuesday 26 November – Sunday 1 December:
If you are lucky there may still be some seats available. Students, under the guidance of Ms Pascoe, Mr Young and their team, have been rehearsing all last term and a few glimpses I saw during their intensive week in late September shows just how far they have come. After hearing many acapella moments from Donna and her Dynamo’s on Outback, I am looking forward to seeing this musical extravaganza!
Finally, I am excited to be working with our new Year 12 and team of student leaders who are keen to lead the College forward over the next 12 months. Keep your ears and eyes open for more student led initiatives in the next edition.
Warm regards
Mr Tristan Bevan
Head of Senior School