WR 09/03/12 - OxleyLearning Home

HEAD’S COMMENT:
Communication
I spent some time writing about Community in last week’s Weekly Record and I wish to extend this by commenting on a fundamental
component of establishing and maintaining a healthy community – good communication.
Each week I comment briefly on one of the Attributes listed under the five main Virtues we work towards as part of the Oxley College
community. The first of the Virtues is Wisdom and Knowledge (about using our brains to acquire and use knowledge) and the fifth of the
attributes under wisdom and knowledge is Perspective. Perspective is being able to appreciate a wide range of points of view. This is also
about treating others with respect. As members of the Oxley College community we need to treat all others with respect and care.
Good communication strategies assist and our interactions and engagement should be focused on listening and providing feedback.
Learning how to ask for, and learning how to provide, useful feedback helps individuals, groups and communities. Our interactions then
become meaningful, supportive and useful.
We have already had a number of Student/Parent/Teacher interviews this term and these provide an excellent forum for providing and
receiving feedback. We have recently updated our communications protocols and these are outlined in the document “Communications
at Oxley College 2012”. This document provides parents, staff and students with a framework of communication for Oxley College. The
full document is located at:
http://www.oxleylearning.org/portal/files/CommunicationsatOxleyCollege.pdf
I have highlighted below a few areas of the expected Communication Protocols but urge you to familiarise yourself with the full
document:
Communication Protocols:
A child’s Tutor (for Years 7 – 12) or a child’s Classroom Teacher (for Years K - 6) is the main point of contact for parents and the Tutor or
Classroom Teacher will assist the parents and/or the child with communication;
Contact details and preferred contact method are established with the child’s Tutor or Classroom Teacher;
Please be aware that parents and teachers have significant commitments and immediacy of communication may not be possible.
However, responding to any contact will occur as soon as possible;
Reinforce a ‘No blame culture” for the communication as it is the responsibility of parents, teachers and child to work towards
generating the best possible outcome for the child;
Be specific about the issues that need to be discussed by avoiding generalities and vagueness;
Be open-minded about the issues. Ensure the interaction is solution-focused and open to new information;
Be respectful of others’ views by listening to alternative view points;
Use non-emotive spoken and body language;
Use active listening skills to ensure clarity during discussion;
Ensure agreed follow-up by child, parent and/or teacher occurs;
Establish alternative communication lines and strategies if the communication was unsuccessful.
Page 1

LEARNING@OXLEY
Feedback and conversations about learning are a focus in 2012. In the past week we have seen evidence of this in both classroom,
staffroom and community events. Most informative is the feedback teachers continue to gather from their students about ways that
both student and teacher can improve the learning process.
Our Term 1 Student/Parent/Teacher sessions began during the last week with meetings for Year 12, Year 11 and Year 9. Other year
groups will continue in the remaining weeks of term.
Year 11 Study Periods
Our intention this year is that Year 11 students learn the skills necessary to become independent learners. Part of this process is that
they are supervised and guided in their study periods in Year 11. For this reason, large groups have been timetabled in classrooms,
with a teacher.
Year 12 Study Periods
In their final year, students are provided with a choice of study areas in study periods. They are not supervised by a teacher as
preparation for their transition to tertiary studies where the ability to be self-motivated, organised and on-task are vital. Students can
use a variety of rooms and outdoor areas in order to work. A re-design of the Library is currently underway and will be implemented
over the Easter break to make the existing space more flexible for learning. Students are also able to borrow ipads and networks as
well as use rooms with computers during their study time.
Upcoming Events:
Year 7 Student/Parent/Teacher Session: Wednesday 14 March from 4:00pm (email of codes Thursday 8 March)
Kathryn Cunich, Deputy Head Academic.
CAREERS NEWS—WOMEN IN SCIENCE
Women in Science
To celebrate International Women’s Day, Macquarie University will be featuring Young Tall Poppy Science Researchers and other
award winning female scientists for a series of lectures on TUESDAY MARCH 13 between 10.00am and 3.00pm at the university.
Please see Mrs Hanrahan for details.
Women in Engineering Days
Run by the University of Technology, GHD Engineering Consultancy and The Roads and Maritime Services NSW. These Engineering
Days will be held at UTS on Friday 27 April for Years 11 and 12 and Friday 17 August 2012 for Year 10 students.
These days allow students to find out first hand what Engineering and IT is all about and thediverse paths they lead to.
Sue Hanrahan, Careers Advisor.
YEAR 4 WORK IN SCIENCE
Recently Year 4 observed how minibeasts live and interact in a
microenvironment. Students had to describe where small creatures
were found, what other creatures were near them and how they
were using the environment they were in. The school grounds have
lots of different microenvironments, such as bushy gardens, trees,
water areas, rocky areas, grassed areas and the vegetable garden.
Year 4 are now working on creating individual murals that show the
creatures in a microenvironment, which will have “lift the flap”
labels to provide more information about each creature’s role in a
food chain.
K-6 ASSEMBLY MERIT AWARDS
Kindergarten: Fergus Lawson - “great reading in class”.
Year 1: Sophie Dunn - “excellence inside and outside the classroom”.
Year 2: Isabel Feetham - “for great concentration in all subjects.”
Year 3: Sophie Morrell - “excellent thinking skills”.
Year 4: Mackenzie Johnson - “being curious and attentive”.
Year 5: Bethany Grice - “resilience! Bouncing back when her first
attempt failed and getting it together on
her second attempt. Wonderful!”
Year 6: Jessica Deakin - “excellent work in the class and leadership
around the school”.
Page 2
K-6 Inter-House
Swimming
Carnival winners.

PASTORAL AND CO-CURRICULUM
Year 11 Mock Trial Victory
On Friday 2 March, seven Year 11 students travelled to the Moss Vale Courthouse to compete against St Paul’s International
Grammar in Round 1 of the NSW Law Society Mock Trial Competition. Oxley students defended against the prosecuting St Paul’s in
a most impressive manner and were victorious, having led a persuasive case. Eleanor Naughton and Oscar Healey demonstrated
their confidence and intelligence as Barristers, Remy Burgess revealed her efficient preparation as Solicitor, Zoe Taylor and Michael
Turczynski delivered fine performances as Witnesses and Anna Bratchford made an excellent Court Officer on the day. Thank you to
Christian Antoniak for his fine filming and photography of the trial. Thank you also to Mr Hanrahan for his support and guidance as
our legal coach. Well done and good luck in the next round!
Sarah Offner.
Oxley’s Debating teams
Oxley's debating teams commenced the HICES (Heads of Independent Co-Educational Schools) debating competition with great
energy! Preparing through seminars, at home and in student-initiated meetings, the 28 debaters brought thorough research, fierce
argument and excellent speaking skills to the first round of the competition.
The results were as follows:
Open: Win v Broughton B
(Clare Stace, Oscar Healey, Paul Dempster, Lia Scambary)
1 hour preparation for the topic:That the London Olympics should be postponed until after the GFC.
Senior: Loss v Chev A
(Jack Moran, Luther Canute, Rebecca Muir, Evangeline Larson)
1 hour preparation for the topic:That sport cannot be separated from politics.
Intermediate: Win v Chev A
(Isabella Knowles, Jaime Pryor, William Lamrock-George, Laura Irving)
Topic: That sporting competitions are improved by technology.
Junior A: Win
(Miles Peppin, Laura Salmon, Brigette Borbely
Topic: That parents should be banned from the field (*internal debate).
.
Junior B: Loss
(Lachlan McKillop, Eleanor Parrish, Lillian Bult)
Topic: That parents should be banned from the field (*internal debate).
We congratulate the winning teams on their success and all debaters for their sense of school spirit and pride in their work. We also
thank Meredith Parrish, Nancie Pryor and Catriona Robertson, who joined Sarah Offner in adjudicating in this round of the
competition.
Our students don't compete again until Tuesday 8 May but one-off training sessions will take place during school hours during the
coming weeks. Students should check the debating noticeboard for details.
Victoria Rintoul, Head of English. Coordinator of Debating.
REV (RELIGION, ETHICS AND VALUES)
Taught to Years 3, 4, 5 with increasing complexity of philosophical inquiry.
The heart of a beautiful person:
Read “The Two Hearted Numbat”.
Activity: draw two circles. Title, ‘Inside, outside’. If a person has a hard, ugly heart, what things are on the inside? Draw this in circle
one. Numbat’s stone heart.
Circle two. The beautiful heart (numbat’s feather heart) What is on the inside? What is on the outside?
Philosophical questions:
What would we need in order to know which part of our hearts we should use when?
What hurts our hearts?
How can our hearts heal?
Can we change our hearts? How? Jan Ryan.
LIVING WITH TEENAGERS Parenting Tips from Jan Ryan
What is self-compassion exactly?
Drawing on the writings of various Buddhist scholars, I have defined self-compassion as having three main components -
self-kindness, common humanity and mindfulness. Self-kindness refers to the tendency to be caring and understanding with oneself
rather than being harshly critical or judgmental. Common humanity involves recognising that all humans are imperfect, fail and make
mistakes. Mindfulness involves being aware of one's painful feelings in a clear and balanced manner so that one neither ignores nor
obsesses about disliked aspects of oneself or one's life. Self-compassion can be extended towards the self when suffering occurs
through no fault of one's own - when the external circumstances of life are simply too painful or difficult to bear, or when our
suffering stems from one's own mistakes, failures or personal inadequacies.
Page 3

K - 6 INTER-HOUSE CROSS COUNTRY CARNIVAL
The inaugural Oxley College K - 6 Inter-House Cross Country Carnival will be run on Wednesday 14 March from 9:00am – 11:00am
at Oxley College. Students compete in the age division that they turn in 2012 and Boy and Girls Age Champions & Runners Up will be
awarded in the following groups – 5/6; 7; 8; 9; 10; 11 & 12+. Age Divisions and distances are determined by HICES (Heads of
Independent Co-Educational Schools) as this is Oxley College’s Cross Country representative pathway and are as follows -
Age Girls Distance Boys Distance
5/6/7 1000m 1000m
8/9 2000m 2000m
10 2000m 2000m
11 3000m 3000m
12+ 3000m 3000m
The Carnival will commence at 9:00am with the 5/6/7 age group and progress through in age division order. Students will compete in
their Oxley PE uniform and with a House polo shirt to show their House allegiance. The top runners in age groups 8-12 will have the
opportunity to represent Oxley College in the SHIPS (Southern Highland Independent Primary Schools) Cross Country Carnival on
Thursday 3 May and then at the HICES Cross Country Carnival on Thursday 31May. Parents are encouraged to support their children
but please note that there are no child-proof fences along Railway Road so vigilant supervision of younger siblings will be required.
Please also note that the driveway to the K – 6 car park will be closed once the event has commenced.
Kathy Cupitt, Sports Administrator.
7-12 INTER-HOUSE COUNTRY CARNIVAL
The Oxley College 7 - 12 Inter-House Cross Country Carnival will be also be run on Wednesday 14 March during sport from 1:30pm
– 3:00pm. Students will compete in their Oxley PE uniform and House polo shirt and students are not permitted to use ipods or similar
devices during the event. Age divisions and distances are determined by ISA and are as follows -
Age Girls Distance Boys Distance
12/13 3000m 3000m
14 3000m 3000m
15 4000m 4000m
16 4000m 4000m
17 4000m 6000m
18+ 6000m 6000m
Students compete in the age division that they turn in 2012 and the top eight runners in each age group will have the opportunity to
represent Oxley College in the ISA Cross Country Carnival on Saturday 24 March at Blue Mountains Grammar School.
Kathy Cupitt, Sports Administrator.
YEARS 2-6 SUCCEED AT HICES SWIMMING AT HOMEBUSH
Thursday 1 March saw 22 very excited Oxley College students from Years 2 – 6 compete at Sydney
Olympic Aquatic Centre at the HICES Swimming Carnival. Some students swam in one event and others
four or five events but each and every competitor swam with enthusiasm and determination. A highlight
was seeing their name on the score board as they climbed up onto the blocks to dive into the pool that
some very famous Australian swimmers had competed in during the 2000 Olympics. Though the Oxley
team were only toddlers in 2000 their very proud parents had instilled in them the significance of
competing at Homebush. Oxley came away with a fistful of ribbons and many happy memories and the
students are now looking forward to their Inter-House Cross Country Carnival on Wednesday 14 March.
SPORT FIXTURES
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WINTER SPORT SELECTIONS
All Years 7 – 12 students selected their Oxley Sport options during Tutor group on Tuesday. Oxley plays in the ISA sporting competition
on Saturdays during the Winter season in Tennis, Netball, Hockey, Rugby and Football. It is hoped that parents have had an opportunity
to discuss options with their children. As teams are entered on the basis of this week’s selections, any withdrawals, except
under medical circumstances, are not an option. Please encourage your children to commit to their chosen sport regardless of what
team they are selected in. The coaches look forward to a successful Winter season.
Kathy Cupitt, Sports Administrator.
NEW ZEALAND WINTER SPORTS DEVELOPMENT TOUR - INFORMATION EVENING
On Thursday 15 March at 5:30pm there will be a briefing on the tour developments in the
PE Centre. Please keep this time free as it is an important time for any questions to be asked and an
important catch-up before the tour departs on Tuesday 10 April. Parents should have received an
email asking for the final payment for the tour. Nick Wansey - Tour Leader.
HOSTS NEEDED FOR DUTCH SCHOOL - URGENT
URGENT - HOSTS NEEDED
This year Oxley College will again be visited by a group consisting of 16 English-language students and two staff from the Dutch
school of KSG Apeldoorn, based in the town of the same name. This will be the sixth time students from this school have come on
an exchange to us.
The Dutch tour group will start in Sydney and will arrive in Bowral on Wednesday 25 April in the first week of Term 2. After
spending the school week with us they will continue south to Canberra to be hosted by Radford College families. While they are at
Oxley it is our hope that we can integrate them as much as possible into the academic day and they will be working on a project
that they have been set.
It is our hope that we can billet the Dutch students and staff with Oxley families, to allow them to experience Australian family life.
Ideally their billets would be students of the same age group (15-16-17). This sort of experience has been great fun for Oxley families
in the past and new friendships are made. If your family could take one or two of the Dutch girl visitors it would be very much
appreciated. Please contact the school office immediately. Peter Craig, Coordinator.
OXLEY SHOP NEWS —TERM ONE
Hours:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday each week: 8:30am—4:00pm
Saturdays: First and third Saturday of each month 10:00am—12:00pm
Just a reminder that no item of uniform can be charged to the school account. All purchases
must be paid for before they leave the shop by cash, cheque (made payable to ‘Oxley
College Ltd’) or EFT. Your child can call you from the shop to obtain credit card details if necessary.
Also, I have a large amount of un-named lost property already, especially sports jerseys and jumpers. Please ensure all your child’s
uniform items are clearly labelled and they will be returned to them in tutor groups. Un-named lost property remains in the
cupboard for a few weeks and is then sold as second-hand.
Second-hand goods – if anyone has winter tunics which no longer fit (for Year 11 students), please bring them in CLEAN and
pressed as soon as possible, particularly small sizes!
Track jackets – they have been incorrectly made so we are rectifying this as quickly as possible.
Girls sports tops, boys size 14 blazers and all winter tights are in stock.
STOP PRESS ... Tracksuit pants ($65) and shorts ($35) are now in stock at the shop!
We are now only waiting on jumpers, vests and some sport uniform items (boys sports tops, and jerseys). Getting there slowly!
Jo Ismay. Shop Coordinator.
Page 5
The next Saturday trading day is:
Saturday 17 March
10:00am—12:00pm

P & F NEWS
PO Box 552, Bowral NSW 2576
Phone: 02 4861 1366
Email—Office@oxley.nsw.edu.au
Website—www.oxley.nsw.edu.au
ABN 80 002 341 791
The P&F fulfils three important roles. Firstly the P&F provides avenues for parents (and staff) to get to know each other better, which
enriches the years when our children are at school. Secondly, they are an important source of fund-raising. While some people
may question if fund-raising is necessary in independent schools, at Oxley College the money we raise goes to fund special projects
that make school life even more enjoyable for our children . Several examples of P&F purchases from 2011 are the art kiln, flat screen
television in the reception area and a significant contribution towards the veggie patch. So please support our fund raising activities
this year.
There is a third less obvious role that the P&F embraces and that is acting as a conduit of information between the parents and the
school. While there are already many avenues for parents to formally engage in discussions with the school about their own children,
sometimes it is nice to be part of an interested group of parents who want to know more about how their children's school operates.
Sometimes the questions that have been lingering in our minds are answered in a group discussion time during P&F meetings and we
all feel so much more 'in the loop'. Part of every P&F meeting this year will be an 'open forum' so if you want to stay informed come
along whenever you can make it.
This week I am introducing another executive member of the P&F Committee, our Secretary, Frances Conomos. Frances is a medical
specialist and has a practice in Bowral - Dr F Tefany Dermatology. Frances and her husband Bill, who is also a medical
practitioner, have a son Nicholas in Year 12. They also have three younger daughters at other schools. Frances has been involved with
the P&F committee for many years and has been an invaluable help at Oxley College events.
Tina Allen, President P&F.
Monday
Help please x 2
The next P&F Planning Meeting is on Tuesday 20 March. ALL WELCOME
CANTEEN—week commencing Monday 12 March
Next week’s specials:
Monday Caesar salad
Friday Chicken curry and rice
Salad for the week: Fattoush—a Middle-Eastern treat of fresh garden veg with crispy bread toasts and a sumac dressing.
Two helpers a day is ideal for the canteen. If you are available to assist on the following days, please contact me on 4862 7729 or
Catherine.Fraser@oxley.nsw.edu.au. Alternatively please phone Reception 02 4861 1366.
Tuesday
Lisa Webb
Help x 1 please
CALENDAR: WEEK 6B TERM ONE, 2012
Wednesday
Cross Country
Help please x 2
Page 6
Thursday
David Haines
Help please x 1
Saturday 10March: ISA Summer Sport Finals/Softball Semis
Outback Celebration BBQ, Canteen/Ovals 6:30pm—11:00pm
Sunday 11 March: Tara Dressage and Equestrian Carnival, Sydney International Equestrian Centre
Tuesday 13 March: Inc: Years 9-11 Drama, Theatresports Workshops
Wednesday 14 March: K-6 Inter-House Cross Country Carnival 9:00am—11:00am
7-12 Inter-House Cross Country Carnival 1:30pm—3:15pm
Years 7-10 U17 HDCA 20/20 competition, Founders’ Field 4:00pm—6:00pm
Year 7 Student/Parent/Teacher meeting, PE Centre from 4:00pm
Thursday 15 March: Inc: Yrs.K-1 visit by Police Liaison Officer 10:00am—10:50pm
Inc: Yrs.10-11 Start Smart Program 2:00pm—3:30pm
Meeting: Yrs.9-12 New Zealand Sports Tour briefing, PE Centre 5:30pm—7:00pm
Friday 16 March: ISA Swimming Carnival, Homebush 12:30pm—11:00pm
Friday
Dene Patterson
Help please x 1
HOW TO ORDER LUNCH - YEAR 7, in particular –
Lunches can be ordered at recess at the second canteen counter. Please write your name and order on one of the white paper bags
provided. Place the money in the bag and place the bag in the small blue bin sitting on the counter. Ordered lunches will be placed
on this same counter at the beginning of lunch time, ready for collection.