Junior School Academic Highlights: Celebrating a Year of Growth & Achievement

From the Director of Curriculum P-6, Alison Rasheed.

What an extraordinary year it has been in the Junior School! As I reflect on 2024, my first in the new role of Director of Curriculum P-6, I feel immense pride in all that our students and staff have achieved, and it has certainly been a year of growth, discovery and connection.

This year, we introduced several programs that have enriched our students’ learning experiences. One of my favourite additions was our daily Reading for Pleasure sessions, where teachers read aloud to their classes, fostering a love for stories and helping build literacy skills. Similarly, Number Talks have become a daily feature in classrooms, with students engaging in short, focused discussions that encouraged them to explore and articulate their strategies for working with numbers. We also added Friday Fitness, providing students with extra physical activity sessions to build skills and enjoy the benefits of movement and teamwork.

A particular highlight has been the success of our new Pre-K program, led by the outstanding and experienced educator, Ms. Lees. Under her expert guidance, this program has flourished, embracing the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education. Through this philosophy, which values the child as curious, capable and full of potential, Ms. Lees has created an environment where our youngest learners thrive. The Pre-K classroom is a place of exploration, creativity and wonder, where the natural curiosity of each child is celebrated, and learning emerges through rich, hands-on experiences. The program has quickly become a vibrant and integral part of our Junior School, laying the foundation for lifelong learning.

Physical Education also reached new heights this year under the dynamic leadership of Miss Dorczak. Her energy and passion for fostering active, healthy lifestyles has transformed the program. Participation in school carnivals for swimming, athletics and cross country was at an all-time high in 2024, with students embracing the spirit of competition and camaraderie. Miss Dorczak’s infectious enthusiasm extended to initiatives like the recent Jump Rope for Heart, where students (and teachers!) had fun and raised both awareness and funds for a worthy cause. Her dedication has inspired students to push themselves physically while enjoying the joy and challenge of sport.

Our focus on academic excellence was reflected in this year’s NAPLAN results, which saw our Year 3 and 5 students achieve Oxley College’s highest-ever scores across all strands. These outstanding outcomes place us well above similar schools and highlight the commitment of both our students and staff. This year also saw the development of a shared academic vision for the Junior School, as staff collaborated to program and plan innovative and exciting units of work for the new English and Maths syllabi. Looking ahead, we have also begun preparing for the introduction of the new HSIE, Creative Arts and PDHPE curricula in 2025, followed by Science and Technology in 2026.

Our students excelled in external competitions, with 115 ICAS tests undertaken and over 50% of participants receiving awards, including a prestigious High Distinction in Writing for Greta Saviana, placing her in the top 1% of participants nationwide. Additionally, our new Gifted and Talented program, expertly led by Ms Dani Noonan, provided opportunities for students to participate in the Australian Mathematics Competition, Kangourou sans Frontières Mathematics Competition and the Computational and Algorithmic Thinking Competition. The program also included the continued success of Maths in the Fast Lane and Enrichment English extension programs, as well as opportunities for students to undertake a ‘Passion Project’. In addition to these at school events, Ms Noonan also led a memorable Gifted and Talented Camp, attended by nine Year 6 students.

This year, we introduced Student-Led Open Classrooms, a new initiative replacing the traditional student-led conferences, and the response from families has been overwhelmingly positive. These sessions provided a unique opportunity for parents and carers to step into their child’s learning world, exploring their classroom environment and engaging with the projects and activities their children are proud of. Students confidently guided their families through their work, demonstrating skills, sharing achievements and reflecting on their growth. The open, interactive format fostered deeper connections between school and home, celebrating student voice and ownership of learning in a truly engaging and joyful way.

Learning extended beyond the classroom with enriching excursions and incursions that brought curriculum topics to life. Stage 3 students embarked on overnight academic trips to Bathurst and Canberra, supporting their Unit of Inquiry studies, while excursions to The Rocks, Sunnataram Monastery and Guula Ngurra National Park deepened understanding in History and Geography. Incursions with Gundungurra Elders, architects, designers and scientists further enriched classroom learning with real-world insights and expertise.

The Performing Arts flourished this year, with students showcasing their talents in a range of forums. The Strings and Wind programs thrived under the expert guidance of Ms. Zink and Mr. Lindsay, while the production of Matilda JR, led by Mrs. Apostolatos, was a resounding success. Our combined Year 3–6 choir delivered stunning performances at both Foundation Night and Speech Night, with every student taking part. Excellence was also celebrated in House Competitions for Public Speaking and Poetry, and the introduction of the inaugural Junior School Writing Competition inspired every student from Kindergarten to Year 6 to craft a magical story in Term 4.

This year also marked the introduction of the Wisdom and Wonder Award, which celebrates students who exemplify Oxley College’s values. I am continually inspired by the kindness, effort and intellectual curiosity our students bring to their learning and to our community.

On a personal note, working closely alongside Miss Campion this year has been a pleasure. Her warmth, guidance and unwavering dedication have made an incredible impact on our Junior School, and she will be deeply missed as she moves on to new adventures. I also want to highlight the privilege it has been to work alongside Mr. Ayling. Our complementary skills and shared vision have made this partnership a joy, and I look forward to continuing this collaboration as we build on the successes of 2024.

As my first year in this role comes to a close, I am immensely proud of the dedication of our teachers and the achievements of our students, no matter how big or small. The energy and enthusiasm of our Junior School students and staff has been nothing short of inspiring. Together, we have built strong foundations for even greater things to come, and I look forward to another inspiring year ahead.

Kind regards

Alison Rasheed
Director of Curriculum P-6