Student Wellbeing, Senior School Talent Quest & Christmas Gift Ideas!
From the Head of Senior School, Tristan Bevan
As we near the end of the school year and my first in this role first I’d like to thank those students, staff & parents who I have worked alongside with the common goal of raising expectations at Oxley. It has been a challenging journey and as expected we haven’t always agreed, but we have all learned a great deal over the year and we can look forward to 2025 with excitement.
There are 4 key messages in this newsletter:
- A reminder of the work that the Wellbeing team has done over the year.
- A reminder to keep HSC Rankings in perspective when they are published over the break
- A message from the College Uniform Compliance Elves!
- A festive story bringing back a student event from the Oxley vault.
Student Wellbeing
In the recent MMG survey, parents noted that in relation to the emphasis placed on student wellbeing we had at least 25% who thought that we had not enough focus on Student Wellbeing.
As I mentioned in my recent newsletter, The College Executive and I are very much focused on student wellbeing. Ms Whiteley and her team of Heads of House & Mentors work closely with students on a daily basis and, in addition, the following sessions have been run to focus on different areas of student wellbeing:
Year 7 – 9 ySafe: Presentations on online safety
Year 9 – batyr: Presentation about mental health and wellbeing
Year 9 & 10 – Brent Sanders: Presentation about consent, the law and making good decisions
This week we have had Paul Dillon, who has spent almost 30 years researching and working in alcohol & drug education speak with Year 9, 10 & 12.
Additionally, approximately a quarter of Year 9 & 10 students have also undergone Peer Support Training over the last 12 months, and we carry out a student behaviour survey each year.
It is also important to understand that wellbeing does not only take place during Mentor Group. Students form strong connections with a variety of staff through interaction in sport, camps, performing arts and in class. These connections are essential, and we are in the process of upskilling our staff of whom 29 senior school staff have undergone Mental Health First Aid training this year led by our School Psychologist, Rani Ritchie. The curriculum, particularly in Cornerstone & PDHPE also focuses on wellbeing in each year group.
I was disappointed to see in the data below that so many students would prefer not to talk to anyone at school.
We will continue to prioritise work in this space as you will hear in our new strategy moving forwards and I hope to increase the confidence of students to talk to someone when they have a wellbeing matter.
HSC Perspectives
One of the most interesting pieces of feedback we received from the MMG survey was related to parents’ expectations of HSC results, where 53% of parents said their expectations were not met, compared with only 6% who said their expectations were exceeded.
There is much to unpack here, and this is not the time of year to do so. I would, however, urge any of these parents who voted contributing to the red bar, to have an open mind as I explain HSC results in the New Year. Unfortunately, the SMH rankings released each year only paint a small part of the picture and do not take into account the challenge level of the subject, only whether a student achieves a Band 6.
I will delve into this topic more in the New Year, but if you are interested, take a look at this research that questions not only the ranking system, but also the structure of the HSC itself.
Mamma Mia
Last week I attended Mamma Mia, which was an amazing production that gave students the opportunity to work with a variety of students in other cohorts, building connections. A number of the cast were also very busy with assessments and sporting commitments which was very difficult for a number of them. However, in the future these students will remember this run of wonderful performances more than the fatigue and other challenges that they had to overcome to be part of something so special.
How to avoid a Festive Fashion Faux Pas in the New School Year.
As the holiday season approaches and the shopping frenzy kicks into high gear, we thought it best to issue a small, friendly PSA: Resist the urge to become Santa’s fashion-forward helper this year!
While we know the temptation to gift a pair of Air Jordans sneakers or multiple piercings per ear, we kindly ask that you hold back. After all, even Santa respects the College Uniform guidelines! (Or so we’ve heard—his red suit is always within policy standards and his black leather shoes (boots) are always polished.)
Top Gifts to Reconsider This Year:
- Branded Sneakers:
Sure, those Converse or similar fashionable shoes are great… but they don’t quite scream “school-appropriate footwear.” Try a pair of traditional running shoes, the school went modern a few years back allowing colours other than white, so there is plenty of choice. - Funky Hairstyles or Piercings:
We understand—expressing individuality is important! But perhaps let’s save that adventurous hair dye or extra piercing for the summer holidays instead of the first day back at the end of January. Hopefully that will allow hair to be of a natural colour and style and extra piercings to be left empty during the School day.
Uniform-Friendly Alternatives:
- New school socks (because, let’s face it, they never seem to be long enough!).
- If students must accessorize, why not an Oxley bucket hat or cap so they can run around on the oval during breaks in Term 1?
Remember: the gift of following uniform policy is a gift that keeps on giving. It reduces stress, avoids morning arguments, and keeps everyone focused on what really matters—learning and developing character.
Happy shopping, and here’s to a stylishly compliant New Year!
Warm regards,
The College Uniform Compliance Elves
Oxley College Senior School Talent Quest
To finish with, I thought I’d share a good news story! On Wednesday, after a 5-year hiatus, we are bringing back the Senior School Talent Quest to give the students an opportunity to perform for each other. This was a regular event run every year I have been at Oxley, until COVID interrupted. It highlighted our well-known musical talent but also unearthed wild whip crackers, rapid Rubik’s Cube solvers amongst others.
A lot of our talent has been busy in Mamma Mia, but if your child has a talent (either hidden or visible), then please encourage them to let Ava Ritchie know their expression of interest. A small group of staff have even been preparing for the performance.
I hope you and your families have a wonderful break and I look forward to an exciting 2025.
Warm regards
Mr Tristan Bevan
Head of Senior School