The Oxley Update - Term 3, Week 3A

We’re really pleased to share that all of our peripatetic music tutors are back from Thursday this week.  It’s great to have this important part of College life restored for our students and to be fully compliant in this area. A big thank you to our peripatetic music tutors for their ongoing support and commitment to Oxley and our students.

Oxley is also delighted to welcome five Japanese exchange students to Oxley this week. Their presence offers a wonderful opportunity for our students to engage with different perspectives and cultures, enriching their understanding of the Round Square IDEAL of Internationalism.  Sharing daily life and classes with our visitors helps foster empathy, global awareness and lasting friendships. This cultural exchange is especially timely, as some of our own students prepare for their upcoming adventures to Nepal and Thailand at the end of the term.

I also want to say how proud I am of our Year 12 students and the way they’ve approached the start of their Trial Examinations. We’re wishing them all the very best for the remainder of the exam period.

Kind regards
Scott Bedingfield

For the safety of our children, and the smooth flow of traffic on campus, we kindly ask all families to use only the designated drop-off and pick-up zones. Please avoid stopping on roads adjacent to the College. Remember to observe the campus speed limit of 10 kph and refrain from using mobile phones while in the drop-off/pick-up areas. Your co-operation helps keep our community safe and respectful for everyone.

Kind regards
Mark Case

Saturday Fixtures

A number of our first teams have their final round games this weekend, with two teams at home both needing victory to make it through to the playoffs. It would be great to have as many supporters as we can manage to these fixtures. Perhaps if your child is playing in a later or earlier game you could arrange to arrive in time to watch the seniors play or to stay slightly later to lend your support.

It would be great if we have plenty of students in Oxley Full School or Sport Uniform and other supporters in Navy & Gold to form a tunnel for teams as they make their way onto the court or pitch. This aligns with the idea of cohesion that I spoke about at Senior School Assembly this week - perhaps this could be a topic of dinner time conversation?

1st Boys Football XI - 9.00am: Governors Field

1st Girls Netball VII - 10.15am: PCC Court 1

We also have the following 1st teams away:

1st Girls Football XI - 9:00am - Macquarie University Sportsground

1st Girls Hockey XI - 9:15am: Barker College, Hornsby

1st Boys Rugby XV - 1:00pm: St Gregory's College, Campbelltown

1st Tennis IV -10:00am: Mosman Lawn Tennis Club

I look forward to seeing you at some of these games.

Rites of Passage Information Session

Thank you to those parents who attended the Rites of Passage Information Session.  For those that missed it, please see below the link to Oxley Connect with a recording of the session.

https://www.oxley.nsw.edu.au/year-9-parent-information

Kind regards
Tristan Bevan

Thank you for attending the information session on Monday evening.

One parent kindly informed us about an online visa application option. Apologies to those who have already submitted their applications, but we wanted to ensure that anyone who hasn't yet started the process is aware of this option. You can find more information and apply online via the following link:
https://consulatenepal.org/services/tourist-visa-to-nepal/

Please also see below application manual to assist you with the process, if you have any questions or require assistance, please email Ms Tighe on bridget.tighe@oxley.nsw.edu.au.

Diplomatic_Mission_Application_Module_Manual.pdf

Year 5 & 6 Excursion to Bowral Cinema - No lunch orders on Friday

As Year 5 and 6 students will be departing for our excursion at 11.30am there will no lunch orders available for Year 5 & 6 students from the canteenthis coming Friday.  All students are advised to bring lunch with them which will be eaten at recess prior to departure.

Students are to be in full winter uniform, not Sport uniform as there will be no Friday Fitness.

Please ensure permission is given through the Oxley App (mobile phone) or Parent Portal (computer). Students will be unable to participate without the written permission of a parent or carer. Should you require assistance giving permission, please contact StudentServices@oxley.nsw.edu.au.

Year 2 P&F Cake Stall 

Year 2 will be hosting the P & F Cake Stall this Friday 8 August from 2.30pm. Students are asked to bring a gold coin on the day.  There will be a variety of items to suit any dietary requirements. Items can be dropped off to the Junior School Office.  Please ensure all containers are clearly labelled for easy return.

BBQ Meal Deal and Mufti Day - Friday 15 August

Orders can be made now through Flexischools for our Market Day Meal Deal. The cost of the lunch (including donation for wearing plain clothes) is $8.00.

After selecting your child’s name, click on Friday 15 August and under Weekly Specials and select the “Friday Sausage Sizzle Meal Deal” option to place your order. We encourage you to sign up for this special ASAP so our Year 6 students can start budgeting for the event. If you having difficulty placing your order or have any questions, please email oxleycanteen@oxley.nsw.edu.au

Year 6 students will also be selling some products (such as bracelets, etc) and they will be running some fun games on the day. Posters advertising these products and games will be displayed around the school. Students, K-5 are encouraged to bring up to $5 in coins (50c, $1 or $2 coins) to purchase something small or to participate in the games. All proceeds of these sales will go towards purchasing the gift to the Junior School.

We very much appreciate your support with regards to this exciting event.

Junior School Street Library

Our Junior School Street Library is being very well utilised. It is great to see the Junior School Students being such avid readers.  If Parents or Carers have any second-hand books that are suitable to be added to our collection, please drop in to the Junior School Office .

Book Week

Children’s Book Week 2025 is just around the corner, running in Week 5 of this term. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the CBCA’s much-loved celebration of stories, and the theme is “Book an Adventure”. The theme invites children to journey through stories that spark curiosity, wonder and imagination.

As part of the festivities, we’ll be holding our Book Week Parade on Thursday 21 August and students are encouraged to come dressed as their favourite literary adventurer or character.

As part of our Junior School Book Parade, we will be joined by The Bookshop Bowral with another beautifully curated Book Fair. It will be set up at the back of the PCC, and purchasing will be available before and after the Parade. Students will have the opportunity to purchase books for themselves, and also a chance for them to buy and donate a book to the Library collection. Book Week is a fun celebration of all things books, literacy and adventures, and we look forward to the stories and the costumes!

We look forward to a joyful week of storytelling, discovery and creativity!

House Poetry Competition

Please see the letter below for the Junior School House Poetry Competition.  This competition is for all students in K-6.

House Poetry Competition 2025 PDF

A message from the Clinic

Winter is nearly over! But chapped lips can be a real bother for kids in the winter time. Lick sores or lip lickers dermatitis is a common habitual behaviour amongst younger children, particularly in the colder months. Constant licking of lips causes a breakdown in the skin barrier near the vermilion causing erythema and scaling around the mouth. Vaseline/petroleum jelly, paw paw ointment and other bland/preservative free ointments are best to aid in the healing and prevention of irritated skin.

Any questions please contact The Clinic, we are aways happy to help! – Nurse Ella and Nurse Tanya

We’re on the hunt for enthusiastic and friendly team members to help run our much-loved Oxley Coffee Cart. Whether you’re a latte legend, a cappuccino connoisseur, or just someone who loves a good chat while serving up a flat white, we’d love to hear from you!

Shifts are flexible and good vibes are guaranteed. Perfect for those looking for casual work and an excuse to hang out with the best staff and students on campus.

Interested? Reach out to employment@oxley.nsw.edu.au

Whether your recipe is fancy or fuss-free, passed down through generations or newly created, we’d love you to share it with us.

Everyone is welcome to contribute, no matter your skill level in the kitchen. That said, we know we’re lucky to have some incredibly talented, passionate, and even professional cooks in our midst, and we can’t wait to feature your creations alongside those of fellow food lovers.

We invite every Oxley family to submit one cherished recipe. Our goal is for each family to be represented in this unique celebration of food and community. If we receive multiple versions of a popular dish, we may contact you via email to request an alternative. All contributing family names will be proudly included in the cookbook.

In the recipe description, please share the story behind your dish: Is it inspired by a cookbook or food writer? Or is it a treasured family original? Every recipe has a story, we’d love to hear yours.

Please submit your recipe by Friday 29 August 2025.

Optional: Feel free to upload a photo (or a few!) to go alongside your recipe. If you have any questions, contact Justine at Justine.smith@oxley.nsw.edu.au

Let’s come together to create something truly special, a delicious and lasting tribute to the Oxley community.

Sports Draw 15 November 2025.xlsx

Saturday 9th August – Netball and Boys Football Fixtures

This Saturday marks the final round of regular-season Winter ISA games, with a big morning of fixtures at home for most Netball and Boys Football teams. Both our 1sts Netball and 1sts Boys Football sides face must-win matches to keep their semi-final hopes alive. It’s also the final home game for many of our Year 12s in these sports.

We’d love to see strong support from the sidelines—parents and students are encouraged to cheer on other teams throughout the morning.

Further in this Update is a link from the P&F to register as BBQ volunteers. A hot breakfast adds so much to the atmosphere, but it can only happen with enough helping hands. If you’re able to assist, your support would be greatly appreciated. The coffee cart will also be open throughout the morning!

Note: Boys Football will be played on Governors Oval this week—huge thanks to our maintenance team for making it happen at short notice!

Where’s the Oxley Sports Draw?

With the rollout of Clipboard (students) and the updated Oxley App (parents), student schedules are now communicated directly through these avenues.

However, the weekly Sports Draw still plays an important role. It provides game times and locations for all teams, helping parents and community members stay informed and support our teams, especially our 1sts teams playing in the top divisions.

The Sports Draw is now a live document, updated in real time with any changes or cancellations. If you’re ever unsure about a Saturday fixture, this should be your first stop.

You’ll find the Sports Draw linked in this newsletter each week, and also on Oxley Connect via the College website under the Sport tab (see link below)

New ISA Website

The ISA has a new and improved website, which makes it much easier to find information about ISA sports including fixtures and competition tables for the current season, representative information and important calendar dates. You will also find more general information about the history, purpose and future of the association.

Link below!

Independent Sporting Association

ISA Summer Sport

Shortly, students and parents will receive the Summer Sports booklet in preparation for the upcoming ISA Summer Sport season which takes place in Term 4, 2025 and Term 1, 2026.

Now is a great time to start thinking about whether your child will be committing to a Summer Sport, and which sport they may choose (Cricket, Basketball, Touch Football, Softball). A reminder that completing at least 1 ISA Sport per year is a requirement in the Senior School; however, many students choose to commit to both seasons as it is a fantastic way to keep fit, meet new friends and gain new experiences.

Senior School students will make their selections via the Clipboard app on their laptops during Mentor Group in Week 4. Sport trials will take place during Weeks 6, 7 and 8 and may include Saturday sessions.

Senior School Summer Sport Coaches    

We are looking to fill coaching positions across all sports. We are particularly interested in hearing from any Basketball coaches who are interested in joining our coaching team!

Please contact brooke.devlin@oxley.nsw.edu.au if you or someone you know may be interested.

Cricket Umpire required

A fantastic opportunity has opened up for a local cricket umpire who would be interested in officiating our senior teams during the summer season. This is a paid position with a Saturday commitment over 10 weeks during Term 4 and Term 1. This position would

 suit someone with previous senior umpiring experience (grade or shires equivalent) and the relevant qualifications.

Please contact joshua.hurkett@oxley.nsw.edu.au if you or someone you know may be interested

SHIPS Athletics Carnival – Cancelled
Due to recent wet weather, unfavourable ground conditions, and the forecast of further rain later this week, the SHIPS Athletics Carnival scheduled for this Friday, 8 August, at Oxley has been cancelled.

IPSHA Athletics Team – Reminder
Students selected for the IPSHA Athletics Team are reminded to attend their Wednesday morning training sessions, as outlined in the schedule previously shared with parents. Consistent attendance is essential to ensure the team is well-prepared for the Week 6 carnival.

2025/2026 Summer Sports Selection – Registrations Now Open
Registrations for the Junior School 2025/2026 Summer Sports season are now open and will close on Friday 15 August.

Parents and carers are encouraged to review the Summer Sports Booklet before making a selection. The booklet outlines available options and details for the season, which runs across Term 4, 2025, and Term 1, 2026.

Please discuss with your child whether they wish to participate and which sport – Cricket, Basketball, or Softball – best suits them. Playing Summer Sport for Oxley is a wonderful way to stay active, build friendships, and enjoy new experiences.

Click below to view the Summer Sports Booklet and complete your child’s sport selection.

Junior School Summer Sport Coaches and Team Managers – Volunteers Needed
We are seeking coaches and managers to support our junior teams for the upcoming Summer Sports season. Positions are available for:

Basketball

Cricket

Softball

Running Training

If you or someone you know is interested, please contact brooke.devlin@oxley.nsw.edu.au.

A reminder that all String Ensembles now run on Tuesday mornings. Junior Orchestra runs on Friday morning. Please ensure students arrive no later than 7.50am. Having students arrive late is very disruptive to rehearsals.

IPSHA Music Festival
Term 1 and 2 Junior School Students involved in Chin and Sharp Strings have been invited to attend the IPSHA Primary Schools Music Event. This amazing opportunity will see our students perform at the Sydney Town Hall. Please see information on the Oxley App.

Tickets for parents must be pre-purchased here: https://events.humanitix.com/2025-ipsha-nsw-performing-arts-festival?accesscode=OXLEY2025

HICES Music Camp
All students attending HICES Music camp need to submit their TOPS forms immediately. A reminder that students need to use their own transportation to the Tops Centre on Sunday 17 August, and be picked up from Sydney Town Hall at the conclusion of the concert on Wednesday August 20. Tickets for the concert can be pre-purchased here: https://www.trybooking.com/DDPWB

Year 2-3-4 String Program Week 4

Due to the HSC Music performance trials, there will be no Year 2-3-4 String Program in week 4 (Tuesday 12 August). Before school String Ensembles will run as normal.

Hungry Ox BBQ - This Saturday 9 August

The final BBQ for the season will be this Saturday.  There is an exciting line up of sport with over a dozen teams playing which means lots of hungry players and supporters.  We would love to see as many of you as possible - mums, dads, grandparents are all welcome.  Please use the button below to volunteer:

P&F AGM - We Need You!

Our P&F Committee is such a vital part of the College community – and soon we will be saying goodbye to some of our valued Executive as their 3-year term comes to an end. This means we will be looking for some wonderful new people to step into key roles for 2026.

At our AGM in November we’ll be seeking volunteers for the following positions:

President
Vice President (Junior School)
Secretary

These roles are a great way to get involved, build connections, and help shape the events and initiatives that make our school so special.

If this might be something that interests you or you have any questions we would love to hear from you .

Please call Sooz 0414 894 544 or email oxleypandf@gmail.com

Kind regards

Sooz Heinrich
P&F President

Tickets for the Family Golf Day are now on sale!

The day will have organised golf events and other non-golf activities to keep the family entertained:

Golf events:

9am: 9-hole ambrose tournament (bring your own clubs)

10:30am and 12pm: 1-hour clinics (beginner friendly). A great way to get an introduction to golf or hone your skills. All clubs and equipment provided.

1:30pm: A putting showdown. Test your skills in a knockout competition.

The following activities will run in parallel:

Mini soccer fields set up on the tennis courts

Live music from Oxley College student Joss Walsh (IG @joss.walsh)

Indoor movie viewing

Casual games like bucket golf, giant chess, and others

There will be a BBQ for a quick sausage, as well as a full range of drinks and bistro food from the Dormie House lunch menu.

Tickets are available for the following events:

9:00am: 9 hole team tournament (groups of 4, sign up alone or with friends).
10:30am and 12pm: 1-hour clinics including the driving range, chipping, and putting green.
1:30pm: Putting competition.

Non-participants are welcome to attend and enjoy the atmosphere. 

The clinics are for everybody including children (minimum suggested age is 8). Parents should help supervise younger children.

The 9-hole tournament will be an "ambrose" format where everybody in each group takes a shot and uses the best result for the next shot. If you hit a bad shot it doesn't matter! You can sign up as a team or meet some new people. This event is preferably for people who own clubs and have played golf before. If you are relatively new to golf, please consider booking one of the clinics instead. 

There will be a BBQ and bistro food available. 

There will be additional activities for kids such as soccer and movies. Supervision required.

Please reach out to rhys.hj@gmail.com with any questions, and if your or your business would like to donate a prize for the raffle or on-course competitions, please email us at oxleypandf@gmail.com.  Every contribution helps to make the day extra special and supports our school community.

Book early, as spaces are limited! We can't wait to see you out there!

Pre-Literacy Highlights

This week in PreLit, we practised blending printed words, segmenting words with three sounds, and explored the new letter sound /h/.

Our Shared Reading book was Ernie Dances to the Didgeridoo by Alison Lester, where we also learned new vocabulary: flood, monsoon, harvest, and humid.

Book Week is a special celebration that encourages a love of stories and highlights the joy of reading from an early age. It reminds children that books open doors to imagination, learning, and endless adventures. Our Pre-K children were so excited to join the Junior School parade, proudly showing off their Book Week costumes and sharing in the fun.

Pals & Pioneers Program

Pre-K deeply values our intergenerational program, Pals & Pioneers. This week we welcomed residents from Anthem Care for their very first visit. The program’s goal is to build meaningful connections with people in our community through weekly interactive activities. These shared experiences foster respect, empathy, and social awareness, while also enriching the children’s emotional development. Working alongside aged care residents helps our Pre-K children build communication skills, patience, and an appreciation for different life stories, while the residents enjoy the joy and energy of young children — creating a truly rewarding exchange for both generations.