Head of College

I would like to thank the school community for their wonderful support of our recent Foundation Night. I would also like to thank our teaching staff and students for ensuring the evening was a true celebration of our 41^st year. I am sure you agree the performances on the evening were incredible. If you missed my speech on the evening an edited transcript is found below.

I would also like to thank our community for their participation in the MMG Survey which closes this Sunday 2 June. I am looking forward to using the feedback to help plan our next Strategic Plan for the College. This begins early next term and the Board of Governors and I look forward to sharing the plan with you towards the end of the year.

Speech from Foundation Night (Edited)

Tonight marks my second Foundation Night as Head of College and last year it was all new to me, but this year as we have prepared for an event of this scale I have asked members of my Team “What is Foundation Night?” and “What does it mean for our school” and I have received a range of answers: 

• Some told me it is a ‘fun version’ of Speech Night. 
• Others told me it is something “that has always been done”. 
• Many thought it signifies Oxley’s Birthday (that our founders met in May to say that they would start a school the following year).

As I researched this, I discovered that the Founders did not meet in May and that the date for Foundation Day was actually settled on by Peter Craig about 12 years ago as it seemed to fit into the school calendar well and it just stuck. Before that, Foundation Night was held at all different times throughout the year including in Term 1 and Term 3. 

Understanding history is important. It is important to understand as we metaphorically grow as a school, things change, Foundation Night has changed, traditions have changed, people change, curriculum changes, thinking around best practice in education changes and our cohorts of students change. 

Change is important, teaching our students that change happens and how to learn from it and cope with it is important, our students are moving to a world where being able to critically think and deal with change is vital – really stop and think deeply for themselves and make good decisions on the things they see is essential.  in a world where fake stories are presented to them through social media every day. 

But what has not changed and what will not change is our commitment to being a school where we “develop character”, we “Care for the Whole Child” and we “inspire individuals to thrive”. 

So, with Foundation night the “why” is so important. Why even have “Foundation Night”? 

For me the answer of why we celebrate Foundation Night is simple – it is about our students. It is the chance we offer them to perform, present, act, sing and be present together to share our stories. It is about learning the lines, overcoming their nerves and supporting our friends as they participate.  It is about their achievement, experience and reminding ourselves of our shared vision.  

This is why we have recently joined the Round Square Network of schools. Joining Round Square is not about trips and adventures (this is a byproduct). Joining Round Square is a commitment to our vision well into the future – Oxley will continue to give students wide-ranging opportunities. Opportunities like tonight, opportunities for students to step out of their comfort zone, to be global thinkers, to have a voice, to care about their world, to be challenged, to show kindness and courage through leadership and service and to seek wisdom. 

Research says when students are challenged (and challenged beyond their comfort zone), this is when they truly learn. When people are given a wide range of opportunities they become more intrinsically interested, they are more engaged with their learning, and they remain motivated. So, when it comes down to it, that is why we are here tonight, to give our children this opportunity.  

And tonight, you have done just that, you have risen to the challenges and presented a wonderful evening. Thank you to our wonderful students. 

Yours sincerely

Mr Scott Bedingfield
Head of College

Deputy Head of College

What does it mean to be a ‘non-denominational school, founded on Christian principles’? It is not without some trepidation that I have decided to write about the question; it is one that is often asked by prospective parents and carers and which is perhaps easier to answer by describing what it looks like at Oxley, rather explaining what this means.

‘Non-denominational’ is a relatively easy place to start. Oxley is one of around 73 non-denominational independent schools in NSW; around 14% of students at independent schools attend one of these schools.¹ Untethered from any Christian denomination, Oxley is entirely free to shape its vision and values, develop strategic plans and policies, set its budget and appoint staff. Being non-systemic, non-denominational and truly independent, is perhaps a key reason that the College’s values play such a prominent role in the life of the school and in decision making. Such independence enables flexibility, adaptability and distinctiveness.

The phrase ‘founded on Christian principles’ has appeared in numerous College brochures since 2015. This statement begs other questions: which Christian principles are they? Are they principles of faith, or ethics or both? To what extent do these founding principles still apply today? These are difficult questions to answer – it is much easier to avoid asking them at all and to just sit with the ambiguity! However, some clarity is provided by a closer examination of the foundational documents for the College. The committee that was formed in 1979 to found what would become Oxley College envisaged ‘a non-denominational school based on the Christian ethic and humanitarian principles’;²  it is interesting that the word used was in fact ‘ethic’, derived from the Greek ethos – meaning character or disposition.

‘Elvo’ (anagram of ‘love’) took its name almost 100 years before the school was founded – and it could not be more appropriate to be the building at the heart of the College; it is also an appropriate symbol that connects the Christan ethic and humanitarianism. Whilst there is no singular, universal understanding of what ‘the Christian ethic’ is, love – that is, the principle of selfless, unconditional love or compassion for others – is central to it. Understood in this way, the phrase connects perfectly to ‘humanitarian principles’’ – the non-discriminatory compassion, respect and care for all human beings; it has and continues to be a consistent feature of United Nations resolutions.

Since the College’s founding, critical, independent and imaginative thinking have been distinctive elements of an Oxley education. Whilst reason has always been a distinctive feature of humanism, it is far from unique to it; reason has always been important in the Christian tradition as well. Developing empathy for others through understanding different perspectives and worldviews, as well as service to others, whilst also using reason to interrogate and challenge ideas, helps promote a more nuanced and richer understanding of what it means to be human. Oxley’s core values of ‘be kind, show courage, seek wisdom’ derive from both traditions and underpin this approach.

The challenges that humanity faces in the coming years can only be met through dialogue and this type of thinking, which is based on these universal human values. The retreat into the safety of castles and the abandonment of the middle ground continues to be exacerbated by social media. We once hoped that the arrival of the internet age would open minds, but it is increasingly doing the opposite. The complexity of the human experience is sacrificed for the comfort of certainty and simplicity; occupying the safety of echo chambers avoids the uncomfortable and challenging conversations that we need to be having, if we are to understand one another better, work together and survive the existential dangers we face. Much like the Ship of Theseus, despite change over time, at its heart the College remains true to its origins. Oxley is distinctively placed to instil the values, dispositions – and hope – that will be needed by the next generation and the world they will inherit.

Yours sincerely

Mr Mark Case
Deputy Head of College

¹  Independent Schools in NSW Snapshot 2023 Edition.pdf (aisnsw.edu.au)             

²   Minutes from a public meeting in Bowral Memorial Hall, 18 October 1979; cited in Emery, Linda: A Lovingly Woven Tapestry 1983-2004 – Oxley College, Bowral. p. 29

Business Manager

There is always information regarding school funding in the media, with the Independent vs Public School debate on who receives what portion of the school funding slice. The video below was created by the Association of Independent Schools and it is designed to assist parents understand how the funding is calculated.

In the Non-Government sector, funding is determined by a base amount per student, loadings for disadvantaged students and parental income. Together, this combination of factors makes up the school resource standard (SRS) and determines the allocation of funding.

What do we do with the Funding: School funding received from the Government and school fees paid by the parents, are combined to provide the funds to run the operations of the College including paying salary and wages, resources for faculty departments, grounds and maintenance upkeep, co-curricular sport, music programs, insurances, and other operational budgetary items. At the conclusion of each year any surplus funds are retained for capital projects, such as new buildings, refurbishment of classrooms, and capital purchases such as desks, printers, and other essential equipment to ensure the smooth running of a school.

Capital Works: Our capital works projects, and capital expenditure purchases are funded from those surplus funds invested for such purposes, loans, and donations from generous community members and our families. Those donations include the Tax Deductible Building Fund donations from families each year.

From time to time the Government provides a pool of Capital Grant Funding that schools can apply for. In its 40-year history, Oxley has not been successful in receiving any Government Grants, meaning that all our capital works are carefully budgeted from our surplus each year and have been contributed to by our parent body. From time to time, we may run fundraising capital campaigns inviting those families with the means to contribute – so that we can fast track our projects or invest funds into areas that require refurbishing.

We are very thankful to you all for your commitment to paying school fees and hope this video explains a little about how Oxley is funded.

Staffing: We offer a warm welcome to Mr Jason Harwood joining our Maintenance Team as Leading Hand. Many would know Jason from his long association with Cricket at the College in the capacity of coaching and umpiring.

We are also delighted to welcome Sue Hickson as a full-time day cleaner after 14 years of working in a casual capacity at Oxley (She finally agreed to sign that contract!). Sue will work from 6.30am – 2.30pm so I am sure you will see her around the school.

Kindest regards 

Mrs Em Cassin
Business Manager

Head of Senior School

Earlier in the year I mentioned how we are focusing on raising expectations to promote student outcomes.

This continued focus is aligned with our College Vision & Values and Wellbeing Framework. Developing students of character, caring for the whole child, enlightened academic rigour whilst encouraging students to, amongst others; be kind, seek wisdom, build connections, and show gratitude.

We have all heard of IQ (Intelligence Quotient). Given a suitable level of effort, this can correlate to strong academic success. As students’ progress through their teens, they are building their EQ (Emotional Quotient) & SQ (Social Quotient). These are more closely aligned with their character, the ability to build connections, be responsible, genuine and honest. Academically, we need the support of parents to help their children deal with a fourth type of intelligence, AQ – the Adversity Quotient. This is related to resilience and the ability to bounce back from disappointment. Children need to experience failure, for during times of discomfort we all have a greater ability for growth. Two quotes that relate here are:

“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” — Viktor E. Frankl

“Prepare the child for the road, not the road for the child.” – Thomas Froese.

In the former, students need the time to learn from their own mistakes. If we smooth the road too much, we remove the opportunity to make mistakes and how to learn from them.

I would also like to thank all those involved in making Foundation Night such a success. I am particularly thankful for the contribution of Chris Low, 2003 Old Oxleyan and Head of Vibe at Canva for his speech. The Old Oxleyan speech is targeted at the student body and in this case, Chris gave a clear example of how there are multiple pathways to success, his experience overcoming challenge and how, for many of our students, their dream job does not exist yet!

We have at least twelve more Alumni returning on Friday 14 June for the Oxley Alumni Careers Day. In the morning, students in Year 11 and 12 will get to hear from a variety of Alumni in a range of industries from Occupational Therapy to Engineering, along with a Q & A. In the afternoon Year 10-12 will visit the HSC & Careers Expo in the PCC. I would like to thank Mrs Liane Bull, our Futures Co-ordinator, for all her work in this area. She meets 1:1 with every student in Year 11 and 12 to provide insight and support, along with arranging experiences such as these for our students to get as much information as possible to decide on their next steps when they leave Oxley.

I would like to welcome two new staff members to Oxley; Mrs Deanna Benardos in the Mathematics department arrived straight into Year 8 Student Parent Teacher Night this week. We also welcome Mr Nicholas Elliott in Design & Technology.

In conclusion, thank you to our students, parents, and staff for their support and dedication to our school community. We are committed to providing the best education and opportunities for our students, and we appreciate your partnership. Let’s continue to work together to help our students grow and thrive.

Thank you for your support, and we hope to see you at our upcoming events.

Warm regards

Mr Tristan Bevan
Head of Senior School

Head of Junior School

Over halfway through Term 2 and students are busily consolidating their knowledge, applying new skills to complete assessment tasks and projects, and teachers are beginning the process of report writing.

Academic programs are important in the learning life of a child, but they can be substantially enhanced by creative pursuits, co-curricular activities and going outside the school environment to interact with members of the community.

Oxley Excels at Southern Highlands Science Challenge!

A selection of Year 6 students recently showcased their talent and innovation at the Southern Highlands Science and Engineering Challenge. Working in teams of four, they tackled practical challenges aimed at providing a positive experience of science and engineering. We’re thrilled to announce Oxley’s exceptional achievement, securing 2nd place overall with just a 15-point difference from first place. Thanks to the Rotary Club of Bowral-Mittagong and the University of Newcastle for organising this event, hosted at the Mittagong RSL. Congratulations to our outstanding Year 6 students for their inspiring success!

Oxley College and River Road Creative Academy Collaborate to Strengthen Community Bonds

Under the leadership of Dani Noonan, Enrichment Coordinator and Art Teacher at Oxley, and Patrick Nellestein, Director and Registered Music Therapist at River Road Creative Academy, we have partnered to deliver a unique and exciting experience for Year 2 students, taught by Brett Bacon, and their elderly buddies at Harbison. This collaboration is part of our commitment to strengthening community ties, fostering camaraderie, and bridging generational divides.

Through this program, we aim to cultivate respect for our elderly and the invaluable lessons they have to share. The opportunities for students and residents to engage in shared activities, such as memory sharing, music, and art making, serve as a powerful platform for intergenerational learning. Our goal is to instil in our students an appreciation for the importance of building connected communities. We believe that by promoting these interactions, we can create a more inclusive and understanding society for all generations.

Such a positive learning experience for our young students!

Last week Year 3 travelled up to Sydney for the opportunity to better understand early Australian settlement. Year 4 students went to Guula Ngurra National Park for a day of learning about Indigenous culture and enjoying the beautiful natural environment of the National Park.

Lots to celebrate and while we have these ‘extras’, the innovative and creative curriculum on offer, the co-curricular activities and the amazing sporting opportunities all continue to run on a daily and weekly basis.

I leave you with a quote from Aristotle that resonates with me that academic rigour is ineffective without engagement of the heart: “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all”.

Miss Jane Campion
Head of Junior School

Curriculum 7-12

Year 11 Reports are currently being finalised for Semester 1.

Reports are an opportunity to have a conversation with your child about their learning. Discuss your child’s strengths, the progress they’re making. Where are they excelling and what tools or strategies are they drawing on to support their success. Talk about areas they are finding challenging. Ask some questions about their study habits and routines. Have they discussed with their teacher what it is they need to do to improve?  Are they acting on feedback in a timely manner? Are they doing the “right” things or are they defaulting to “busy work”? Would attending Study Club be helpful?   Are they keeping up activities that they enjoy outside the classroom?

Students achieve academic growth when they feel positive within themselves. They need sufficient rest, exercise, to surround themselves with supportive people who motivate them, set goals, and develop resilience.

Year 7-10 Half Yearly Examination Timetable

Just a reminder that students and parents can access their Examination Timetable on Canvas. They just need to visit their Year Group Page and click on the Academic tile.

Warm regards

Lee McGuinness
Director of Curriculum 7-12

Curriculum P-6

My assembly presentations this year have all been about what is arguably something that impacts all aspects of our learning – reading.

I’ve spoken about the way reading can help us to be kind, show courage and seek wisdom, how a bookshop is like a bistro – where the three gourmet strategies for elevating our appetite for reading are to expand our literary palate, develop a taste for critical thinking and becoming the chef by engaging in active reading techniques. However, the latest presentation was about a very special literary event, fostering a love for stories and a strong sense of community.

Last Wednesday at 12.00pm, Oxley College Junior School celebrated reading with over 2 million students and teachers across Australia during National Simultaneous Storytime where all classes read ‘Bowerbird Blues’ by Aura Parker. This charming story follows a lonely satin bowerbird on a quest for all things blue, with his journey symbolising a deeper quest for connection and belonging.

Aura Parker describes Bowerbird Blues as a picture book about longing, searching, and love. The bowerbird in her story is captivated by the blue of the sea and sky yet finds something is always missing. Parker wrote this book to capture the feeling of longing for connection, to celebrate creativity and nature, and to raise awareness about plastic pollution.

One of the main messages in my assembly presentation was how many picture books aren’t just for younger students. They hold the power to engage students of all ages through complex themes and accessible storytelling.

Bowerbird Blues is an excellent example of this. This book provides opportunities to connect Mathematics with reading. Some examples of this would be by making connections between the blue objects in the story through identifying patterns, graphing the bowerbird’s collected items, discovering two and three-dimensional shapes and objects, measuring sizes of objects and posing mathematical questions like, “How many more $10 notes would the bowerbird need to buy his lady friend a really nice present?”

Another key theme in Bowerbird Blues is caring for our environment. The bowerbird collects items primarily from our rubbish, highlighting the issue of environmental pollution. His collection of plastic bottlecaps, straws, and tags serves as a metaphor for the environmental impact of our actions. This theme encourages discussions on sustainability, waste reduction, and environmental protection.

Ultimately, this picture book is a love story where the bowerbird’s quest for blue objects reflects a universal human experience: the longing for connection and belonging. It invites readers to reflect on their own search for identity and connection. Through the bowerbird’s journey, we learn about longing and the joy of finding what we seek, often discovering that the true treasures were with us all along.

For those who are interested in discovering more picture books with deeper themes, I would recommend the following as a starting point:

• Mirror by Jeannie Baker: This book uses detailed collage illustrations to tell parallel stories of families in Australia and Morocco, highlighting cultural diversity and human connection.
• Diamonds by Armin Greder: A powerful parable exploring how the desire for endless riches perpetuates inequality and corruption.

• Cicada by Shaun Tan: The story of a hardworking cicada who, despite being unappreciated, undergoes a beautiful transformation, serving as inspiration for anyone who feels undervalued.

Stories are magical doors to incredible places and unforgettable characters. They make us think, laugh, cry, and teach us important lessons. As our Oxley College Junior School students dive into the world of picture books, no matter their age, my hope is that their imaginations soar like the bowerbird’s wings, and deeper meaning is found in every story encountered.

Warm Regards

Alison Rasheed
Director of Curriculum P-6

Senior School Sport

ISA Cross Country

Congratulations to all students who attended the ISA Cross Country Carnival on Wednesday 29 May. It was fantastic to see so many students participating throughout the day, giving their best and making lots of noise cheering on their peers. A special thank you to those students in Year 11 and 12 who attended despite managing a heavy academic workload and other commitments. We had some outstanding individual and team results on the day including 23 students who have qualified to represent the ISA at next week’s CISNSW event. Well done!

Gabi VS  – 2^nd Place (12Yrs Girls)

Pixie H  – 1^st Place (13Yrs Girls)

Harry K – 1^st Place (14Yrs Boys)

Amelia M – 1^st Place (18Yrs Girls)

Senior Girls Team – 1^st Place

Oxley Girls Team – 3^rd Place Overall

Change of Date: Senior School Athletics Carnival

Please be aware that due to a clash of dates, the Senior School Athletics Carnival has been rescheduled to Tuesday 23 July (the first day of Term 3). More information about the day will be sent out shortly.

Equestrian Day

The annual Oxley College Equestrian Day will be held on Sunday 22 September at Bong Bong Racecourse. Further information about the day will be communicated shortly, please save the date.

If you have any questions about the Equestrian Day or Equestrian at Oxley in general, please contact our Equestrian Coordinator Ms Georgie Ridehalgh (georgie.ridehalgh@oxley.nsw.edu.au).

Mr Josh Hurkett
Head of Senior School Sport

Junior School Sport

IPSHA Codes of Conduct for Junior School Sport

As the winter sports season is now well underway, we would like to remind you of the importance of adhering to the IPSHA Codes of Conduct for spectators, players, and coaches. These guidelines help ensure a positive and respectful environment for all participants and supporters.

Parents and Carers have received information from the school about the IPSHA Codes of Conduct. We kindly ask that you read through these guidelines as spectators and take a moment to review the player codes with your children. It is essential for our students to understand and uphold these standards to best represent Oxley.

We also want to emphasise the importance of Parents and Carers adhering to the spectator codes. Your behaviour and support play a crucial role in setting a positive example for our students. By following these guidelines, you help create an encouraging atmosphere that reflects the values and spirit of our school community.

Thank you for your cooperation and support in maintaining a positive sporting environment.

Wishing the best of luck to our Junior School competitors!

We are fortunate to have so many talented student-athletes representing Oxley in various sports.

We wish Junior School students Charlotte K and Ruby R all the best as they represent IPSHA at the upcoming NSWCIS Cross Country Carnival at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre on Thursday 6 June.

Additionally, our Year 5 and Year 6 mixed Rugby Development squad has been invited to compete in the State Championship Primary School 7s Gala Day in Sydney on Friday 31 May. This is a fantastic opportunity for our team to compete against schools from across NSW for the Primary School 7s State Championship.

Good luck to all our Junior School students!

Kindergarten to Year 1 Football Skills – Gala Day Announcement

We are pleased to announce a Gala Day for students registered in K-1 Football skill sessions on Wednesday afternoons. This event will give students the chance to play small-sided games in a mini round-robin format and practice various skills. Parents and Carers will receive further information about the Gala Day in the coming weeks. Please see the scheduled date and time for the Gala Day below.

Date: Saturday 22 June 2024

Time: 8.30am – 10.00am

Location: Founders Field, Oxley College

 Junior School Athletics Carnival

The Junior School Athletics Carnival is scheduled for Thursday 25 July (Term 3, Week 1). To prepare for the Carnival, students will have opportunities to practice various events during their PE lessons this term. Further details about the Carnival will be shared with Parents and Carers in the coming weeks. We look forward to inviting you to attend and enjoy the day.

Warm regards

Fran Dorczak
Head of Junior School Sport

Performing Arts

Congratulations to all students who participated in the remarkable Foundation Night Concert. It was an evening brimming with talent, creativity, and sheer dedication, showcasing the vibrant spirit of our Oxley College community.

From the Senior to the Junior School, our students shone brightly, each performance a testament to their hard work and passion for the performing arts.

The evening unfolded with the majestic melodies of our stunning Pipe Band, their harmonious tunes echoing through the amphitheatre, welcoming all who gathered for the event. We were treated to captivating performances by our Girls and Boys Vocal Ensembles and Brass Ensemble whose harmonies resonated throughout the hall, filling it with beauty and emotion. This year we were treated to the dramatic talents of Chris M as he presented a captivating monologue from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The Junior School Massed Choir item, featuring students from across Years 3-6 was a powerful display of unity and teamwork, their energetic performance of highlights from Matilda was showstopper. Tickets are now on sale for Matilda Jr. Book early for what is sure to be an amazing production.

One of the many highlights of the evening was the enchanting “Lord of the Rings Extravaganza,” a breathtaking journey through the musical landscapes of Middle Earth. With the Festival Orchestra and College Choir at the helm, our students transported us to a world of fantasy and adventure, evoking the magic and wonder of Tolkien’s epic tale.

We take immense pride in the strength of our Music and Performing Arts programs at Oxley College, and Foundation Night was a shining example of the incredible depth of talent within our community. To our Performing Arts team and the dedicated staff who worked tirelessly behind the scenes, we extend our deepest gratitude for your unwavering support and commitment to excellence. Your passion and dedication have helped nurture and inspire our students, empowering them to achieve new heights of artistic expression.

As we reflect on this remarkable evening, let us celebrate the achievements of our students and the joy they have brought to our community.

Warm regards

Andrew Young
Head of Performing Arts P-12

The Oxley College Foundation

Meet Amelia Morgan-Hunn, Development and Foundation at Oxley College

Dear Parents and Carers

Last year to mark the College’s 40th birthday, the Oxley College Foundation was launched. The purpose of the Foundation is to support the College by raising funds for building works and means-tested scholarships.

The Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the College, administering two separate and tax-deductible funds – The Scholarship Fund and the Building Fund. Many of our parents and caregivers are generous contributors to the Building Fund through their school fees and it is support like this that enables Oxley to plan capital works and refurbishments such as Hoskins Hall that will benefit current and future generations of Oxleyans.

We are also exceptionally grateful to the parents and carers that support our Scholarship Fund which enables the Foundation to give means-tested scholarships or bursaries to a student that embodies our Oxley values, but who otherwise would not be able to attend. We have several students on these scholarships who add a richness of experience and skills to the Oxley community.

Philanthropy – the altruistic act of giving for the benefit of others – supports current and future generations of Oxley students to think, to dare, to dream.

Should you wish to know more about the Foundation or speak to me confidentially about giving at Oxley please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Many thanks

Amelia Morgan-Hunn
Development and Foundation

Upcoming Events

Dr Judith Locke

Dr Judith Locke is a registered clinical psychologist, former teacher and school counsellor. She speaks to parents, teachers and students throughout Australia and internationally on topics related to modern parenting, family wellbeing and academic environments.

Judith is the author of two best-selling parenting books, The Bonsai Child and The Bonsai Student, the first of which has been published in China also. She has a clinical private practice, and consults with families in Australasia. Judith’s psychological commentary features regularly in the media, including a weekly parenting column for The Sunday Mail. She is a member of The Australian Psychological Society and a fellow of the APS College of Clinical Psychologists.

Dr Locke is presenting two parent sessions, one aimed at parents with children in Pre K to Year 6; and the other with children in Year 7 – 12.

Junior School Session Tuesday 23 July at 6.00pm

Senior School Session Wednesday 24 July 6.00pm

Please book your tickets: https://www.trybooking.com/CSJKP

These presentations will assist parents in adopting a parenting approach that truly builds their children’s wellbeing and competence. Topics will include strategies to help students develop essential skills such as resilience, confidence, self-regulation and resourcefulness. Dr Locke will also work on strategies to maintain a good relationship between parents and children as children become older.

Junior School Book Swap

Year 6 Library Monitors are organising a Book Swap for Friday 14 June. Books will be able to be purchased for a gold coin donation, with funds being donated to Reading Friends Australia – a local organisation that supports students to reach their reading potential. Donations will be accepted by Lucy and Clementine on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings at the Gateway Building. Donations of three books or more will be rewarded with a ‘buy one get one free voucher’.

The Oxley College Centre for Ethics

The Oxley College Centre for Ethics is the home of ethical inquiry and critical thinking at Oxley.

In its inaugural year, it will be delivering an ambitious program of events for both our students and the local community in the Southern Highlands. These events will feature distinguished speakers and leaders from diverse fields, including philanthropy, higher education, non-governmental organisations and industry. You can find out more here: Oxley College Centre for Ethics – Oxley College

Our next esteemed guest is Dr Julia Baird.

BRIGHT SHINING

From award-winning journalist Julia Baird, author of the acclaimed national bestseller Phosphorescence, comes Bright Shining, a luminously beautiful, deeply insightful and most timely exploration of that most mysterious but necessary of human qualities: grace.

Grace is both mysterious and hard to define. It can be found, in part, when we create ways to find meaning and dignity in connection with each other, building on our shared humanity, being kinder, bigger, better with each other. If, in its crudest interpretation, karma is getting what you deserve, then grace is the opposite: forgiving the unforgivable, favouring the undeserving, loving the unlovable.

But we live in an era where grace is an increasingly rare currency. The silos we consume information in are dotting the media landscape like skyscrapers, and the growing distrust in media, politicians and public figures, have in some ways choked our ability to cut each other slack, to allow each other to stumble, to forgive one another.

So what does grace look like in our world, and how do we recognise it, nurture it in ourselves, and express it, even in the darkest of times?

Julia Baird is an award-winning journalist and best-selling author based in Sydney. She hosted The Drum on ABCTV and writes columns for the Sydney Morning Herald, the Age and the New York Times. Her writing has appeared in a range of publications including Newsweek, The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Guardian, the Good Weekend, The Sydney Morning Herald, the Sun-Herald, The Monthly, Time and Harper’s Bazaar.

Baird spent several years working in the US. In 2005, she was a fellow at the Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press and Public Policy at Harvard, researching the global response to American opinion in the lead-up to the Iraq War. Shortly afterwards she was appointed senior editor at Newsweek, where she was responsible for cover stories on such subjects as the hidden world of surrogacy, the history of climate science denial, the science of hate and the way gender impacts voting in American politics. She became a columnist there, as well as at the Philadelphia Inquirer.

She has had a wide-ranging career in print and broadcast journalism both in the United States and Australia. Her work has earned her four Walkley Our Watch Awards, (including the Gold) for her reporting on domestic violence, a Walkley Award for team election reporting, and two further Walkley nominations, for analysis and commentary and for Victoria: The Queen.

Attendees will have the opportunity to purchase Julia’s books and personally meet her for a signed copy. Our sincere appreciation to The Bookshop Bowral for their support.

WHEN: Thursday 20 June, 6.30 pm
WHERE: Oxley College, Burradoo

COST: $15 (free admission for students)

BOOKINGS: https://www.trybooking.com/CQSPO

Head of College Breakfasts

You are warmly invited to join Scott Bedingfield for this term’s Head of College Breakfast, to be held on Wednesday 19 June from 7.45am – 8.30am.

Please register via this link: Head of College Breakfast Term 2

We look forward to seeing you there.

Oxley Gym

The Oxley Gym Is OPEN!

What a wonderful first few days we have had at our new Oxley Gym. I have been delighted to see many of our students already complete the online module of the gym inductions, bringing students one step closer to using this amazing new space. Students should complete the online Induction via this link Oxley Sport (instructure.com) It will only take about 15 minutes!

Over the next three weeks, the gym will be running on the ‘In Gym’ Induction Timetable, allowing students to come in, try the machines, practice machine set up and chat to me about their goals. From there, students are welcome to come into exercise and be well. If students would like one, I can prescribe a Personal Training Program, which will be available on their phone for them to use as a guide to support their exercise and fitness goals. Be it strength, fitness, firming and toning or just overall wellness, I can help students with this.

I can’t wait to see more students enjoying this all-inclusive space in the coming days and weeks. For those who feel a gym may not be for them, or those who have never been to a gym before, there are many options and things to do in the gym that I can help students with. It IS possible to find something students will enjoy doing. Give the Gym a chance!

Next Term I will be introducing a Group Exercise Timetable with classes like Boxing, Aerobics and more.

We are extremely fortunate to have this facility onsite to use and enjoy. Let the fun begin!

Warm regards

Brooke Devlin
Gym and Coaching Co-ordinator

Matilda JR

Tickets for the Junior School Production of Matilda Jr are now available! Follow this link to reserve your seats for this very special event.