Senior School Update
Mid-way through the term and life at Oxley is as full as ever.
I am looking forward to getting to a few of the ISA Grand Final games this weekend in Sydney. Oxley teams have shown great commitment, dedication, teamwork and occasionally a stroke of good fortune, to make it to the Grand Finals. At the Senior School Assembly on Tuesday, I shared some things we learned from the Olympics, including Matt Glaetzer in the Men’s Cycling Keirin who benefitted in a Steven Bradbury-like manner to claim Bronze. The effort and commitment that got him to that point should not be overlooked.
Jemima Montag who, when interviewed after winning Bronze in the 20km Walk, talked of the commitment and persistence on her way from Little A’s to the Olympic Podium. She also used a great phrase that “You’ve got to want it, but not need it”. This is valuable advice for all our students striving to perform in sporting, performing arts, word or academic arenas and speaks to the resilience that Oxley students develop through being involved in a wide range of activities.
I singled out two of our finalist teams. Our 1st Netball team has won Semi and Grand Finals before, but this year they compete in the Division 1 Grand Final. Our Hockey 4 team has, due to shortage of numbers, played most the season without a full complement of players. They will play a final this weekend again short of players, but having watched them train and play, they give their all and play with the spirit and determination that we can all be proud of. Good luck to all our Grand Final teams this weekend and to all those representing Oxley.
If you spoke with your children on Tuesday this week over dinner, they may have mentioned a difference in Assembly this week. We often sing the School Hymn, School Song or National Anthem, but I gave an insight into the importance of music in our lives. Spine tingling pieces of music, and the joy and positive experience of singing together. The College sang louder and with more joy in their voices than I have heard in a long time. We will revisit this and sing together regularly. I am particularly thankful to the students & staff who have already given suggestions for songs to be sung in the future.
I thoroughly enjoyed the HSC Drama night on Monday and look forward to the HSC Music Night on Tuesday September 10. The teaching staff are diligently supporting Year 12 students as they prepare for their Graduation in Week 9 and Study Camp in Week 10, in anticipation of the HSC in October.
There are a few staffing changes this term. We say farewell to Head of Art, Technology & Design, Mr Richard Madden and Dr Shannon Marecic who are taking up roles at other schools. From the start of Term 4, we welcome Ms Anna Hitchcock who joins us from Cranbrook School, to the English Department and in the role of Enrichment Co-ordinator for the Senior School. We thank Mr Willis for his effort and professionalism in filling in for a number of English classes for the last two terms.
I am excited to be heading to the Outback again with Year 11 for my twelfth trip and Ms Patterson’s tenth. There are a plethora of activities and trips planned over the next 6 months and this is an exciting opportunity for our students to build their resilience and character through Year 7-10 to be able to thrive on the challenge that Outback provides which bonds the year together for the challenges of the HSC.
I hope you have a great weekend and look forward to seeing some of you on the sidelines of the ISA Grand Finals.
Warm regards
Mr Tristan Bevan
Head of Senior School