Head of College

It has been an action-packed semester at Oxley College and I do hope that you are able to spend some time with your families over the break.

For our Year 12 students, this time will involve preparation for their upcoming HSC Trial Examinations and I would like to thank the many staff who will be giving their time to come in during the break to assist our students with their preparation.

Over the break our Snowsports program will get underway. This year we have the biggest team representing Oxley for many years, with more than 45 students competing. I would like to wish them all the best as they represent their school.

Over the break we will also begin to receive the feedback from the recent MMG survey. I am incredibly grateful for the many parents who completed this survey, and we will be using this to inform our strategic planning into the future. The Board of Governors and the College Executive will be meeting to begin this process in early Term 3. We look forward to sharing this with you towards the end of 2024.

Term 3 begins with a Pupil-Free Day on Monday 22 July. Staff will spend this day working with clinical psychologist Dr Judith Locke, who will be working closely with the staff to continue to develop their skills in caring for the students in the school.

I highly encourage all parents to come to the sessions Dr Locke is running for parents on Tuesday 23 July (Pre K-6) and Wednesday 24 July (7 – 12). I have no doubt they will be invaluable for all parents who attend. I had the pleasure to attend a session with Judith last year and found her approach to be incredibly useful for my own parenting.

I look forward to welcoming students back to School on Tuesday 23 July, which will also be our Senior School Athletics Carnival. Have a wonderful break and if you are travelling, please stay safe.

Yours sincerely

Mr Scott Bedingfield
Head of College

Deputy Head of College

Navigating the Future of Education: Addressing the Global Teacher Shortage and Fostering Wellbeing in Australian Schools
A recent UNESCO report projects that, by 2030, there will be a global deficit of 44 million primary and secondary teachers.¹ This growing crisis is affecting high income countries as well as developing regions, and the reasons for it are multifaceted and varied. Education systems in most OECD countries, including Australia, have remained largely the same for at least a generation – and yet the current paradigm in education is ill equipped for the more complex, uncertain, ambiguous and technologically transformed societies in which we now live. Approaches to education in most western countries are characteristically centralised, standardised, hierarchical and rigid; they are not well suited to adapting to the rapidity and extent of the changes we are experiencing.

In the Australian context, multiples studies since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic make clear that excessive workload is a primary factor negatively impacting teacher wellbeing, with consequences for both the recruitment and retention of teachers. Challenges in teacher recruitment are even affecting even wealthy independent schools in major urban areas for core subject areas; this was not the case even five years ago. Specifically, studies show that increased administrative burdens and demands, a lack of planning time and declining work-life balance have been reported as significant issues for teachers across all sectors Australian schools.² Whilst some of this is within the control of schools, other aspects come back to our model for education, or are a result of government policies or education authorities.

Researchers in this space “recommend, in addition to schools implementing teacher work-life balance and workload policies, that schools support teachers in applying positive psychology strategies to support their wellbeing.”³ This is why fostering staff wellbeing has been an ongoing priority in our current Strategic Plan. Some of the initiatives we have developed in the past couple of years include introducing an annual staff wellbeing survey, the creation of a Staff Wellbeing Committee, simplifying reporting processes, introducing the ‘Oxley Institute’ to provide financial assistance for teachers to achieve further qualifications that will benefit the school, and (where possible) providing asynchronous professional learning, to provide flexibility to staff. Whilst we are making positive progress in this area, we know that there is more to do. Returning to this year’s UNESCO report:

“The global teacher shortage demands urgency…. Recasting teaching as a collaborative profession, lifelong professional development, professional autonomy, and engaging teachers in decision-making are crucial aspects highlighted in the report”.⁴

The Oxley Gym is Back!

It has been wonderful to see the return of the new and improved gym at Oxley in the past month, and to already have so many students using it! Aligned to our wellbeing principle “Stay Fit”, the gym is available for students from Year 6 to 12 at designated times, and, from this week, is also available to staff. In the four weeks since it has opened, almost 150 Gym Inductions have been completed, with close to a total of 200 individual student sign-ins for the 14 weekly gym sessions, as well as 7 weekly Group Classes; a great uptake. If you have any questions about the gym, or are interested in your child completing an induction, please contact our Gym Instructor, Brooke Devlin.

Dr Judith Locke – Parent/Carer Presentation

Best-selling parenting book author, Judith Locke, is coming to Oxley at start of next term. Dr Locke will be delivering presentation for Junior School parents and carers at 6.00pm on Tuesday 23 July, and for Senior School parents and carers at 6pm on Wednesday 24 July. Her presentations are supported by both research and her extensive experience with schools and families and will provide parent and carers with credible and actionable strategies to ensure children and young people have been able to realise their potential.  This is highly recommended. To book: Helping Your Child Become Confident & Capable Tickets, Oxley College, Burradoo | TryBooking Australia

Yours sincerely

Mr Mark Case
Deputy Head of College

¹ UNESCO Global report on teachers: addressing teacher shortages and transforming the profession, February 2024

² Lemon N., Turner K. (2023). Unravelling the wellbeing needs of Australian teachers:

a qualitative inquiry. The Australian Educational Researcher.

³ Ibid.

Business Manager

We’re so thrilled to share that we have just launched the Oxley Online Shop- this will allow Oxley families to purchase uniform shop items online and have them collected from the uniform shop during the shop’s opening hours.

Senior School Orders: Uniform items can be ordered through the Oxley Online Shop and collected from the Oxley Shop during opening hours by either Senior School Students or Parents.

Junior School Orders: Uniform items can be ordered on Oxley Online Shop and collected by parents from the Oxley Shop, alternatively they will be delivered to the Junior School Classroom on the next trading day of the Oxley Shop.

You can access the Oxley Online Shop via this link:

Oxley Shop Online Store

The Oxley Shop will also be available via the quick links on the Oxley College Website home page and in the links section in the Oxley App.

Ordering Timelines:

Monday – Wednesday: Orders can be collected the following day from the uniform shop.

Thursday: Order by 3.00pm for pick-up Friday from College Reception. Orders placed after 3.00pm can be collected the following Tuesday from the Uniform Shop.

Friday – Monday: Orders will be available for collection from 9am Tuesday

Kindest regards 

Mrs Em Cassin
Business Manager

Head of Senior School

Congratulations on making it to the end of Term 2! Learning in class continues to be the main focus with many other highlights including Foundation Night, the Alumni/HSC Careers Expo and a wonderful finish to the term with the House Singing competition.

Upstream Thinking

During a recent Senior Leadership Training course, I discussed the ideas from the Book ‘Upstream’ by Dan Heath with senior leaders from over 15 other schools. The opening parable states:

You and a friend are having a picnic by the side of a river. Suddenly you hear a shout from the direction of the water – a child is drowning. Without thinking, you both dive in, grab the child, and swim to shore. Before you can recover, you hear another child cry for help. You and your friend jump back in the river to rescue her as well. Then another struggling child drifts into sight …. and another …. and another. The two of you can barely keep up. Suddenly, you see your friend wading out of the water, seeming to leave you alone. “Where are you going?” you demand. Your friend answers, “I’m going upstream to tackle the guy who’s throwing all these kids in the water.”

 – A public health parable (adapted from the original, which is commonly attributed to Irving Zola)

This is an area I am keen to dig into. I have thoroughly enjoyed my first 6 months in this role, and I look forward to continue to work with colleagues, students and parents to look ‘upstream’ to find strategic solutions to problems rather than just treating the symptoms.

Changes to Year 7-10 Reporting

In order to provide quality feedback to parents, you can look forward to a second Student Parent Teacher Night via MS Teams next term for students in Year 7-9 and a subject selection consult for students in Year 10.

We have done this in combination with adjusting the format of our Year 7-10 reports which have the following changes:

• A student reflection – This is written by students (not edited by staff). I have enjoyed reading these immensely and over time the students will demonstrate an improvement in the awareness of their involvement in College life.
• A Head of House comment in addition to the Mentor comment.
• A list of areas of strength and areas for development in place of a teacher comment.

House Colours

The first recipients of House Colours received their award letters this week. House Colours recognises students that are fully embracing the expectations and values of the College. The policy can be found on the Year Group CANVAS pages and students in Year 10 and above can apply mid-way through each term. This is the first-time we have awarded House Colours and, whilst it is something that everyone can strive for and work towards, I have applied the criteria fairly across all the 75 applicants. Only 39 students out of 75 applicants have been awarded at this stage and those who missed out this time can focus on areas to improve and re-apply. I will provide feedback to all students who missed out early next term.

Academic Organisation

One aspect of House Colours criteria involved students not getting more than two detentions in any year between Year 7-10. One thing students can do to minimise this is to be prepared for class. It has come to my attention that some students have completed (or lost) workbooks for some subjects whilst others regularly arrive without a charged laptop or without pens. Please can parents assist their children to re-stock over the break in preparation for Semester 2.

Timetable Adjustments

Due to changes in staffing and rotations in certain subjects there will be a change in timetable over the Holidays. This will affect all Year 7-12 classes and students will be able to access EDVAL in the last week of the holidays to see the changes.

Year 12 Winter Break & Exam Schedule

In case you missed it, look out for the broadcast about the Year 12 Holiday Program and Winter Break schedule for Year 12. We are encouraging all Year 12 students to have a complete break for the first week in order to rest and recuperate ready for the 16 week push to the end of the HSC.

Subject Selections

Year 10 are well into the process of Subject Selections for their HSC Preliminary courses. Please use the break to continue have discussions with your children, using the information on the CANVAS pages to inform decision making. 29 students have entered preferences via the EDVAL webform so far and these can be updated up to the deadline on the second day of Term 3 – Wednesday 24 July. Entering courses in order of preference is important in the next step when we use this data to generate the lines.

Early in Term 3 Year 8 will get the opportunity to choose their Stage 5 electives and Year 7 will get to choose their electives for Year 8.

Senior School Athletics

The first day back next term, Tuesday 23 July, is the Senior School Athletics Carnival. Details have been distributed by the Sports Department and all students are expected to attend and to involve themselves as much as possible in support of their House. This is another criteria area for House Colours as students are expected to attend all Inter-House events.

Traffic Management

With such wonderful participation in winter sporting teams the Senior School Drop Zone has become very busy at 5pm on sport training days. Whilst there will be further communication at the end of the holidays, please be prepared for the full introduction of the Traffic Management Plan from 4.55pm to 5.15pm on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Students should be collected by 5.15pm at the latest. From next term parents arriving after this time will have to park and collect students in person from the Senior School office.

I hope you all have a wonderful break and look forward to seeing you all next semester.

Warm regards

Mr Tristan Bevan
Head of Senior School

Head of Junior School

As we move into some well-deserved holidays, it has been time to reflect for students on the first half of the year and celebrate their growth. At Assembly on Tuesday, I shared my reflections about teachers and encouraged the children to take a moment out of their day before they leave on Friday to simply say thank you and recognise the incredible job our teachers do.

Being a teacher is incredible, awesome, rewarding.
(Yes, and tiring. Especially after a lunch time playground duty on a Friday afternoon).

Teachers are special. Teachers challenge themselves and extend their knowledge every day; wanting to unleash and empower the potential within their students and colleagues.

Teachers are the ones who open the minds of the young ones to the world. They impart knowledge and show them what matters the most. Teachers have a lot of students to take care of, and they all look the same in the eyes of a teacher, whereas, the same teacher can appeal to each student differently. They make an impact on their lives and change them for the good.

The influence a teacher has on their students is huge! No matter what, a student always looks up to the teacher for help and guidance. Teachers are like second parents. Teachers have a fair share in the moulding of a child from the time the child is around 4 to 5 years old. So, it is important that children have good teachers who could make them intellectually, emotionally and morally sound and strong.

No good teacher looks for their own success and endeavour; they always have their students’ present and future in mind.

A teacher is looked upon as a guide, a mentor, a friend and often selfless putting their class before themselves. The influence of a teacher extends beyond the classroom. The best teachers tell their students where to look but don’t tell them what to see. Teachers let their light shine bright even on the darkest roads so that the students do not lose track of their destination.

Before school and after school, teachers are here, preparing lessons, organising resources, thinking of creative ways to engage students in learning. They coach, look after co-curricular clubs, turn up at events outside of school hours like the disco on Friday night. Even on school holidays, they are planning lessons, making and finding resources, talking to each other about the upcoming term, planning ahead for Camps and OLE Week activities, school productions and other events, coming into school to set up their rooms – making sure photocopying is done and nothing is left to the last minute. Yes, they do have some time for rest and relaxation but for teachers to do well, they can’t not do anything over the holidays, they have to be ready to hit the ground running on the first day of school.

Over the past few weeks, teachers have been focussed on marking and allocating grades for reports, writing reports and uploading information and checking that all looks right. This takes hours but is an important job for teachers.

 “Teachers can change lives with just the right mix of chalk and challenges”. They pave the way and let the children choose their own paths to become the best version of themselves in the future.

I finished my address with the following words, “Before you go on holidays, take a moment to say thank you to your teachers for all that they do for you. Yes, it is their job but here at Oxley they go the extra mile, they are always putting you first and sometimes we just expect that of them and a little thank you goes a long way.

Happy holidays to you all, stay safe and return to us ready to hit the ground running, just like your teachers will”.

We are looking forward to seeing you all in Term 3 and if you haven’t locked in your Matilda Junior tickets, please do so – it will be an amazing show!

Miss Jane Campion
Head of Junior School

Co-Curricular P-12

The research and understanding around brain-based injuries has increased exponentially in recent years. This has been spurred by a better understanding of the causes, symptoms and recovery time needed to aid the long-term health of the human brain.

Oxley has adopted the new Policy guidelines from the Independent Sporting Association which include an update to our Concussion Policy & Graded Return To Sport Framework (GRTSF). In summary, a concussion is a brain injury resulting in disturbance of brain function. It is caused by biomechanical forces to the head or body, even without direct impact to the head.

What makes a concussion so hard to diagnose is the varied symptoms and recovery timelines. What is clear from the research is that a child’s brain can take longer to recover than that of an adult. The principle of ‘if in doubt, sit them out’ must always be at the forefront of any decisions.

The most significant parts of the updated Policy include the need for a collaborative approach between the College, families and health care professionals. Nurse Bec is now our dedicated ‘concussion officer’ and she is primarily responsible for the Graded Return To Sport Framework (GRTSF) which allows for any child with a suspected concussion to gradually return to exercise and academic work with greater recovery and reduced risks of reinjuring the brain.

At all times the emphasis is on prioritizing return to learning over sport. Also, it is imperative that a medical healthcare practitioner provide certificates to begin and conclude the GRTSF process.

The College is confident in the new recording and monitoring procedures that have been put in place and we look forward to working in partnership with students and families in this important area.

Warm Regards

Christophe Gauchat
Head of Co-Curricular P-12

Curriculum P-6

Alright, let’s talk about something that’s on everyone’s mind (well, I know it is on teachers’ minds): Reports! I know, I know, you’re thinking, “Why do we have to talk about that?” But trust me this is going to be interesting and maybe even a little surprising.

Teachers write reports about your progress in the middle and at the end of the school year. Reports are not about trying to be the best in class; they’re about showing how much you’ve grown and what new things you’ve learned. They help your teachers and parents understand where you’re doing well and where you can become even greater!

First, let me take you back to the olden days. Imagine a time when teachers used quills to write your grades on scrolls. Okay, maybe not that old, but close enough. Back then, teachers would write things like, “Johnny needs to stop talking and start working!” or “Sally daydreams too much.” Ouch! Can you imagine reading that at home with your parents? In the picture you see here it says ‘Annette (definitely NOT Alison) has not improved at all since talking with you. She still is very silly in class.’ – there’s even reference to a dental examination!

Nowadays, teachers are much kinder. Instead of writing mean things, they say things like, “Johnny is making better choices about managing distractions” or “Sally is improving her focus.” See the difference? So if you see something like that on your report, remember, it’s just a gentle nudge to help you grow, not a big red ‘X’ telling you you’re doomed forever.

So, why do we even have reports? Reports are like a map. They show you the places you’ve been and help guide you to where you want to go. Maybe you’ve been doing well in reading but need a little extra help in measurement. That’s okay! Your teachers are here to help you, just like satellite navigation!

Now, let’s talk about those grades. You see this picture here? It says an ‘At Year Level Expectations’ grade is where most students are. That means if you get this grade, you’re right where you need to be for this stage of your learning. It’s like having a full driver’s license – it shows that you can drive independently and safely on your learning road. And if someone gets a ‘Working Beyond Year Level Expectations’ grade? Well, that’s like being a Grand Prix racer – it’s impressive but remember, not everyone needs to be a racing driver to be successful on the road. Don’t feel disappointed if your report says ‘Working towards expectations’, that’s like a ‘P’ plate driver – you are independent, but you’re still learning. Think about the power of YET! Every time we learn something new or improve even by just a little bit – we grow!

And here’s something really special you might not know: your teachers put a lot of care and thought into writing your reports. They spend hours looking at all the work you’ve done, thinking about your progress and figuring out the best way to help you grow. It’s like they’re detectives, finding clues in your assignments, tests and class activities to piece together a picture of your learning journey. So when you read your report, know that it’s made with a lot of heart and dedication from your teachers who really care about you and your success.

Learning is more than just what’s able to be written on your reports. It is also about all the little things you do every day that don’t always get a grade. Like how you help a friend when they’re stuck on a problem, or how you come up with a super creative idea during art, or even how you make everyone laugh with your funny jokes during recess. Your teachers see more than just your grades. They see the whole person. They notice your kindness, how hard you work, how you never give up, and how you help your classmates. Your report is just one way they share what they see, but remember, it can’t capture everything amazing about you. When you look at your report, know that it’s just a snapshot of your learning, and your teachers do see the full, awesome person behind those grades.

So, keep being kind, keep wondering and keep being brave enough to grow. See your report as a roadmap to help you get to where you need to be academically. Academic progress is incredibly important, and your report is a key part of your journey. Remember, it’s just one part of your amazing story!

Warm regards

Alison Rasheed
Director of Curriculum P-6

Performing Arts

The Performing Arts Department has had a remarkable Semester.  From the impressive showcase of the Music Department at Foundation Night to the outstanding Senior and Junior plays, it is clear that there is a wealth of talent within our Oxley College community.

Congratulations to the Drama department under the leadership of Katrine Pascoe. It’s truly impressive to hear about their recent achievements in competitions. Securing 3rd place for Music and Dance and 2nd place for Drama Ensemble at the State Sport for Jove is a testament to their talent and hard work. Additionally, having three Year 10 Ensembles chosen to perform at the finals for Sharp Short Theatre at Parramatta Riverside, with Olivia Q winning first prize for Best Script, is an incredible accomplishment.

Celebrating these successes not only highlights the hard work and dedication of our students and faculty but also enriches the cultural and artistic fabric of our College, and inspires other students within the Performing Arts community.

Warm regards

Andrew Young
Head of Performing Arts P-12

Senior School Sport

ISA Winter Season 2024

It has certainly been a challenging Winter season so far with the weather putting an end to plenty of training sessions and fixtures so far. It has been great to see the resilience and effort of our students in continuing to commit to their team despite the challenges. We have seen some wonderful results and with plenty of teams currently sitting near the top of their competition table; it is going to be an exciting end to the season.

The ISA season returns with Round 8 on Saturday 27 July with the last round of the regular season taking place on Saturday 10 August. Semi-Finals and Finals will take place on Saturday 17 August and Saturday 24 August respectively.

A reminder that there will be no training for any teams on Tuesday 23 July due to the Athletics Carnival. Training will resume as normal in Week 1 from Wednesday onwards and return to the normal schedule in Week 2.

Senior School Athletics Carnival

The Athletics Carnival will take place on Tuesday 23 July (Day 1, Term 3).

The Athletics Carnival is a significant College event that contributes to House and School Spirit across all year groups. The event aims to promote House spirit, encourage participation and celebrate the athletic ability of our students.

All students must be at the College no later than 8.45 am and have their name marked off by their Head of House, at their House Tent on Founders Field. The Carnival starts at 9.00 am sharp (1500m competitors MUST arrive no later than 7.45 am for an 8.00 am start). Further details, including the program of events, can be found below.

Note – The 3000m and Triple Jump event will be held from 7.45 am on Thursday 25 July. Please see the information sent home for more details.

ISA Summer Sport Selections

ISA Summer Sport selections are now open! Sports on offer in the summer season include Cricket, Basketball, Touch Football and Softball. Parents, Carers and students have all now received a copy of the Summer Sports Booklet as well as the link to the selection form. We ask that students and families take the time to consider their sport selections carefully as we rely on these submissions to determine our team numbers, grading and coaching staff. These decisions are made well before each season starts, and late withdrawals or additions are difficult to accommodate.

All students, regardless of whether they are selecting a sport or not, must complete the form by Friday 26 July (Term 3, Week 1).

Mountain Biking

Oxley Mountain Biking is currently looking for new members!

Mountain Biking is held at the Welby Mountain Bike Trails on Friday afternoons from 4.00 pm to 5.30 pm and is run by National Masters Champion and Oxley staff member, Ms Meaghan Stanton. Students need to supply their own bike helmet and mountain bike and make their own way to and from the trails. Registration costs will be charged to the student’s school account. Please contact Meaghan.stanton@oxley.nsw.edu.au for more information.

Coaching Opportunities

We are looking to add to our current coaching staff to support students in their Summer Sports teams. If you have experience coaching Basketball, Touch Football, Softball or Cricket or know anyone who may be interested in joining the team, please contact our Coach Co-ordinator Mrs Brooke Devlin brooke.devlin@oxley.nsw.edu.au

Celebrating Student Sporting Success

We are lucky to have so many wonderfully talented student-athletes performing at a high level, across a wide variety of sports. Unfortunately, it is hard for us to stay on top of these achievements when they take place outside of school. If your child is playing at a representative level and has achieved recent success in their sport, we would love to hear about it! Please email office@oxley.nsw.edu.au and it will be passed on to the relevant staff members.

Mr Josh Hurkett
Head of Senior School Sport

Junior School Sport

Junior School Winter Sports Season

Congratulations to all Junior School sporting teams for their fantastic efforts as we reach the halfway point of the Winter sports season. We’ve witnessed some excellent results and wonderful displays of teamwork and sportsmanship across our football, netball, and hockey teams.

Please note that Junior School sports training will resume for all teams on the first Wednesday back in Term 3.

A special congratulations to our youngest footballers who participated in the Kindergarten to Year 1 Football Gala Day last weekend. It was fantastic to see their enthusiasm and sportsmanship. Thank you to all the parents and families who attended to support the event.

Junior School Athletics Carnival

The Junior School Oxley College Athletics Carnival will take place on Thursday 25 July at Oxley College. The Athletics Carnival is a significant College event that contributes to House and School spirit across the years. The event aims to promote House spirit, encourage participation and celebrate the athletic ability of our students. Parents and carers are warmly invited to attend and enjoy the day.

Junior School Summer Sports Selections

Parents and carers will receive the Junior School Summer Sports booklet next term. The Summer Sports Competition will be held during Term 4 and Term 1, 2025. Students can choose from a variety of summer sports, including cricket, basketball, and softball. We ask that students and families carefully consider their sport selections, as these choices are essential for determining team numbers and coaching staff.

Girls Football Development Program

We are pleased to introduce our Girls Football Development Program for students in Years 3-6 currently enrolled in Football. The sessions will focus on developing essential skills such as ball control, striking the ball, first touch, 1 v 1, and running with the ball.

Program Details:

• Location: Oxley
• Time: 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM
• Day: Friday mornings
• Coaches: Fran Dorczak and Kiara Rochaix, former Newcastle Jets W-League Goalkeeper
• Start Date: First week of Term 3

Spots are limited, so if you would like to register your child, please email sport.admin@oxley.nsw.edu.au. Parents will be notified if their child has secured a spot before the first session.

Warm regards

Fran Dorczak
Head of Junior School Sport

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.

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 Leigh Sales AM

Life lessons learned from 30 years at the media frontline

Leigh Sales AM

One of Australia’s most loved and respected journalists, Leigh Sales will talk about what she has learned regarding human nature, life and leadership in her thirty years at the frontline of journalism.  From ordinary people in extraordinary situations to the world-famous celebrities Leigh has met, her reflections on resilience, self-doubt and transformation will spellbind and entertain any audience.

Leigh Sales is a multi-award-winning author and journalist at the ABC and anchors the much-loved Australian Story program. Before that, she presented the network’s prime-time current affairs program, 7.30, for 12 years. She has been the face of the ABC’s major events coverage, including federal election and budget nights. She has interviewed every living Australian Prime Minister and innumerable world leaders and celebrities from Hillary Clinton and Tony Blair to Paul McCartney and Elton John.

Leigh is the author of five books, including the national bestseller Any Ordinary Day, Well Hello, and her latest Storytellers – a fascinating insight into the vital and much-misunderstood profession of Journalism. She also co-hosts a wildly popular podcast with Annabel Crabb called Chat 10 Looks 3.

Leigh has held numerous roles at the ABC, including as Washington Correspondent, and is a three-time winner of Australia’s highest journalist prize, the Walkley Award. In 2018, she was awarded the Order of Australia for her services to Journalism. She has a Bachelor of Journalism and a Master of International Relations and was awarded Deakin University’s 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award.

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

WHEN: Thursday 1 August, 6.30pm
WHERE: Oxley College, Burradoo

COST: $15 (free admission for students)

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

The Oxley College Foundation

Dear Parents and Carers

Thank you!

As we come to the end of the Financial Year, on behalf of the Foundation, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the families who have given so generously to support our Scholarship Fund and our Hoskins Hall project through the Building Fund. It is with this philanthropy that we are able to offer scholarships to students who otherwise would not be able to attend Oxley and to support ambitious projects like the renovation of Hoskins Hall into a modern performance and multi-purpose space that will give generations of Oxley students a place to think, to dare and to dream.

I would also like to thank every family who donated to the Building Fund through their school fees. We have amazing facilities here at Oxley College and many of these were built with the support of Oxley parents and carers. We are grateful to every single one of you. 

Have a wonderful and safe holiday.

Amelia Morgan-Hunn
Development and Foundation

Upcoming Events

Head of College Breakfasts

You are warmly invited to join Scott Bedingfield for this term’s Head of College Breakfast, to be held on Tuesday 6 August 2024 from 7.45am – 8.30am.

Please register via this link: Head of College Breakfast

We look forward to seeing you there.

Oxley Gym

The Oxley Gym Is OPEN!

Starting next term, the Gym will be running on the attached timetable. Classes will be available Tuesday – Friday mornings from 7.30am and Thursday afternoons from 3.30pm for Year 6 students. During class times, the Gym space is unavailable, however, I encourage all students to participate in the classes. Each class is designed for year groups and will compliment students’ gym training. Stretch and Flex Classes will be held in the gym and at this stage the gym will continue to be Open during this time.

We encourage students to come and try the classes – they start Tuesday Week 1, Term 3!

Warm regards

Brooke Devlin
Gym and Coaching Co-ordinator

Oxley Shop Holiday Hours

WEEK 1   

Monday 1 July CLOSED

Tuesday 2 July OPEN 8.30am – 4.00pm

Wednesday 3 July OPEN 8.30am – 4.00pm

Thursday 4 July OPEN 8.30am – 4.00pm

Friday 5 July CLOSED

WEEK 2   

Monday 8 July CLOSED

Tuesday 9 July OPEN 8.30am – 4.00pm

Wednesday 10 July   CLOSED for stocktake

Thursday 11 July CLOSED for stocktake

Friday 12 July CLOSED

WEEK 3

Monday 15 July CLOSED 

Tuesday 16 July OPEN 8.30am – 4.00pm

Wednesday 17 July OPEN 8.30am – 4.00pm

Thursday18 July OPEN 8.30am – 4.00pm

Friday 19 July CLOSED

Monday 22 July CLOSED

Free Holiday Art Workshops for Teens