The Junior School House System
The House system provides opportunities for students to become involved in a broad selection of sporting, cultural and service learning activities. Commencing in 2025 we will be combining Junior School and Senior School Houses. This enables students to feel a sense of belonging and achievement across various year groups and outside of the curriculum areas. Each Junior School student is allocated to a House.
The Oxley College Houses are named after famous Australian pioneers in their field.
Dobell – Culture (Green)
Sir William Dobell (1899 – 1970) was an artist whose works were representative of new styles and directions in Australian art. Dobell is known mainly as a portrait painter although he did paint landscapes. Dobell’s unique style embodies the pioneering attributes of originality and a sense of adventure – of exploring new techniques and pushing innovative and creative boundaries.
Durack – Sport (Purple)
Sarah Durack (1889 – 1956) had to fight for her right to represent Australia in swimming at the 1912 Stockholm Olympic Games where she became the first woman to win a gold medal at an Olympics. Later she broke twelve world records and at one time held every record in women’s swimming from 50 yards to one mile. A person of great determination, Sarah Durack pursued her goals but never lost sight of fairness and justice.
Florey – Research (Yellow)
Baron Howard Florey (1898 – 1968) was a scientist and a co-discoverer of penicillin. Born in Adelaide, Florey became a Professor of pathology at Oxford University where he made his discoveries. Florey shared the 1945 Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine. Florey was never interested in fame. He simply sought to help people and share the knowledge to do this.
Mawson – Exploration (Blue)
Sir Douglas Mawson (1898 – 1958) was an Australian Antarctic explorer, geologist and academic. First involved with Shackleton and Scott, Mawson later led three expeditions to Antarctica gathering valuable scientific data and mapping 1,500kms of coastline. He was an explorer of courage, fortitude, endurance and resolve.
Monash – Public Service (Red)
Sir John Monash (1865 – 1931) engineer and soldier, was probably Australia’s greatest military leader, serving successfully in Gallipoli and on the Western Front during the First World War. Monash was knighted on the field of battle, a distinction which had not been given to a British soldier for nearly 200 years. Loved by his troops, Monash always put the good of others ahead of his own.
Oodgeroo – Literature (Ochre)
Oodgeroo Noonuccal (1920 – 1993), formerly known as Kath Walker, was an Aboriginal poet and civil rights leader. Born a member of the Noonuccal tribe on North Stradbroke Island (Moreton Bay), she educated herself and later began to write poetry, and lecture on Aboriginal issues at Australian universities and at international conferences. Oodgeroo Noonuccal was a campaigner against all forms of injustice and a believer in reconciliation.
New students are allocated to their House as they commence at Oxley which forms a vertical strength to the weave of the College. In addition, Family Groups provide more intimate clusters within each House ensuring that each child is known and able to contribute to initiatives that serve our wider community. These groups provide leadership roles for all Stage 3 students who facilitate collaborative Social Service-Learning projects in which all students participate.
Students participate in House Swimming, Cross Country and Athletics carnivals and other House
competitions including Poetry, Public Speaking and Singing.
STUDENT LEADERSHIP
Student leadership in the Junior School has a number of manifestations. In Term 4, Boy and Girl Captains and Vice Captains are appointed. Each House has a Girl and Boy Captain. These students are representatives of the House at different functions such as the carnivals (Swimming, Athletics, Cross Country) as well as other Intra-school Competitions. As part of the Leadership of their fellow students, the Year 6 students also take part in a program to aid in the development of Leadership skills.
NUGIA CANBE TIME
Nugia Canbe is for nurturing wellbeing and is an agency for voice and independence. It is a time for choice, creativity, and connection. Nugia Canbe means “Camp Fire” and it is a structured time for students across K-6, each day, to be undertaking independent writing, reading, looking at the Oxley values, reinforcing lesson content around our “Friendology” program, buddy time and having wellbeing discussions.
SOCIAL SERVICE LEARNING
The Oxley College Social Service Learning vision is for our students to support local, national and international communities and make a difference to the lives of others.
Students are fortunate to attend Oxley College and we believe our students should give their time, energy and skills to build a better future. Social Service Learning is not only about giving money and donations it is
about investing time in helping those less fortunate than themselves and displaying a true sense of compassion towards others.
During their time at the College our students will be exposed to different Social Service Learning opportunities and to a variety of programs. Social Service Learning initiatives vary from year to year to allow for student input into the nature and focus of each initiative undertaken by a range of different groups. For example, K-2 have developed a deep and rich connection with local aged care organisation, Harbison Care and it brings joy and kindness to all involved. Classes, House Family Groups and our Student Representative Council (which includes a social and environmental focus) undertake student initiated action to promote fund-raising, community outreach or friendraising which adds to each child’s sense of fun and belonging.
CULTURAL RICHNESS
AT OXLEY, WE ARE IMMENSELY PROUD OF OUR BEAUTIFUL NATURAL SETTING AND CONNECTION TO THE SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS. WE WANT OUR SCHOOL TO BE A PLACE OF WONDER FOR ALL.
Our learning environment celebrates childhood, our students and the natural connection between the internal and external spaces. We are proud of the sounds of joy, innovation and collaboration that echo through our campus each day. The co-curricular life of Oxley College is rich, broad and inclusive. From Kindergarten onwards, students are encouraged to extend their learning beyond the doors of the classroom into a world of experiences specifically designed to enrich their lives. The aim is to provide opportunities where every child can discover their passion, interest and talents, particularly as part of a team, group or ensemble.
The Co-curricular Program is offered within the broad areas of the arts and spoken word, sport and outdoor education.
Students have the opportunity to be involved in:
There are also Beyond the Classroom programs that occur on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons including
Technology, Science, Dance, Art and PE.
THE ARTS
Music Tuition
Music Ensembles: Choir, Band, Strings
Performance Assemblies
Drama and Music performance opportunities
Dramatic Productions
Public Speaking
OUTDOOR EDUCATION
Other Learning Experiences (OLE!) and a camping program occur across the College in P-12. Specifically
camps and overnight experiences are built in from Year 3 – 6.
SPORT
- Local team sport
- Heads of Independent Co-Educational Schools (HICES) carnivals: Swimming, Cross Country, Athletics.
- SHIPS (Southern Highland Independent Primary Schools) carnivals.