The Oxley Update - Term 4, Week 2B

School Managed Devices – 2026

I am very grateful for the opportunity to explain more about the upcoming changes to our student device program at last night’s Parent Information Session.  I would like to thank the parents who attended for what was a positive and engaging Q&A discussion about the upcoming changes. As a reminder, we have a webpage all about the transition that you can access here.  This has been a long process that started with our Student Device Review earlier this year. Through consultation, further iterations and feedback we are now at the exciting point of being able to launch this in 2026 and deliver on our strategic priority of “Future-proofing our student device policy”. There are further details to be worked through in the months ahead and into 2026; a key concern for those ‘opting-in’ to the School Managed Device (SMD) program will be to establish a list of school approved apps, for which we will be engaging with students.

Today we are inviting parents/carers with students currently in Years 5 and above and who would like to opt-in to our (School Issued) School Managed Device Program in 2026 to complete a short Expression of Interest form. This will assist in our planning and hardware procurement, prior to a more formal sign up to the program next month.

For parents/carers with students currently in Year 4, who wish to provide a Parent-Owned iPad for two years, (that meets specifications and includes the requisite Logitech Crayon, integrated keyboard and the same Otterbox Achiever case), rather than the School Issued iPads, there will be an opportunity to opt-out in the coming weeks.

MMG Survey: Year 2, 5 and 8 Parents/Carers

As part of ongoing feedback and in the spirit of continuous improvement, I would like to strongly encourage parents/carers to complete this survey, when it opens on Friday 31 October via an emailed link from MMG Education. As we move into 2026, this feedback will be invaluable for me to understand the perspective of parents about what Oxley is doing well, and what we can be doing better. The data from the full survey that we conducted in 2024 is a valuable benchmark for us to track our performance as a school.

Kind regards
Mark Case
Acting Head of College

This new system will be in place for some time as we accommodate the builders for the preparation works on the Hoskins Hall refurbishment project.

In other building news, we are excited to share that the decking and amphitheatre area beside the Pin Oak classrooms is nearing completion. Weather permitting, we expect this beautiful new outdoor learning and gathering space to be finished by early next week, just in time to make the most of the spring sunshine.

Thank you again for helping keep our students safe as you move through the new drop off area slowly and smoothly - one cautious car at a time!

Warm regards
Em Cassin
Business Manager

Community Coffee Catch Up!

All parents and carers are warmly invited to the Term 4 community catch up. Drop by the Oxley coffee van between 8.20am-8.40am on Monday 27 October to chat to Acting Head of College, Mark Case or just catch up with fellow parents now that everyone is back on campus.  We look forward to seeing you there.

MMG Survey:  Friday 31 October - Sunday 16 November

Parents/carers of Years 2, 5 and 8 and students in Year 8 are asked to provide us with feedback relating to their views of the College across a wide range of areas.

The research is being conducted by MMG Education, a specialist education consultancy that works with schools in the areas of school strategic reviews and stakeholder satisfaction.

Parents/Carers of students in Years 2, 5 and 8 will be invited via email to complete the questionnaire between Friday 31 October and Sunday 16 November.  Students in Year 8 are scheduled to complete the survey on Monday 3 November.

Please note that to ensure confidentiality and to encourage frank and full expression of views:

All responses will be de-identified.

The data will be reported back in aggregated form only.

All data collected by MMG Education will remain under its control and archived according to research protocols. The College will not be able to access it.

If you have any questions regarding the MMG survey please contact the College via office@oxley.nsw.edu.au

Oxley Supporters’ Day – Saturday 1 November

Everyone is encouraged to come along to the Oxley Supporter's Day on Saturday 1 November. This day will feature 1sts Cricket and most Touch Football teams playing at home.

We warmly invite parents, students, staff and friends of Oxley to come along, cheer on our teams and celebrate Oxley Sport. There will be a BBQ, the Oxley Coffee Cart, and cold drinks available throughout the day.

A reminder that students attending as spectators must wear the Oxley PE uniform.

Reminder about changes to the Senior School Drop Zone

Last week's update shared information about the changes to the Senior School Drop Zone due to the building works on Hoskins Hall. Our aim is to keep students safe and keep traffic flow moving efficiently.

As with the usual traffic management plan, students in Year 7-8 should be picked up in the Junior School Turning Circle. Any student with siblings in Year 9 or above should be picked up in the Senior School Drop Zone.

Please can parents proceed through the staff carpark to the Drop Zone bays 1-5. We ask that parents not drop students off in parts of the driveway or in the staff car park. Parents should always follow the guidance of staff on duty. I have been out on duty and, now that students have been fully briefed, the Drop Zone should function safely and more smoothly.

There will be bonus treats for parents in the Senior School Drop Zone who have their Family name badge displayed on the passenger side sun visor to allow staff to easily identify which students are next to be picked up!

Oxley Supporters’ Day – Saturday 1 November

Everyone is encouraged to come along to the Oxley Supporter's Day on Saturday 1 November. This day will feature 1sts Cricket and most Touch Football teams playing at home.

We warmly invite parents, students, staff and friends of Oxley to come along, cheer on our teams and celebrate Oxley Sport. There will be a BBQ, the Oxley Coffee Cart, and cold drinks available throughout the day.

A reminder that students attending as spectators must wear the Oxley PE uniform.

Year 12 Flexible Timetable Program

Eligible Year 12 students have the opportunity to apply for a Flexible Timetable. This initiative supports independent learning and personal responsibility by allowing students to sign in late or leave early when they do not have scheduled classes at the beginning or end of the day, provided they meet key criteria including strong academic effort, attendance, behaviour and approval from their Head of House, Mentor and Parents.

Students must follow usual sign-in/out procedures. The privilege is reviewed regularly and may be revoked if guidelines are not met.

For more details, please refer to the application form or contact Ms Patterson, Head of Academic Operations.

2025 Flexible Timetable Request

Leadership Assembly Tuesday 

We will be welcoming family members of our new student leaders to the Leadership Assembly and morning tea on Tuesday 28 October. We look forward to the initiatives that the new team will bring and how they will leave their mark over their year in tenure.

A phrase we often use is that the Student Leaders & Year 12 as a whole are the ‘Custodians of the Ethos of the College’. No School rises above its student leaders and I am excited to work with this group and, after a wonderful Outback experience, the whole cohort.

Highlands Wellbeing Forum

The Highlands Wellbeing Forum is being run again this year. Student leaders will be attending during the day; Senior School staff professional learning will take place in the afternoon and there is a Parent's and Carer's session starting at 5.30pm. See the link below for booking details.

Lost Property left from Year 7 Camp:

1 x Blue Tarpaulin
1 pr olive green track pants, size 8
1 blue “Seat to Summit” bag with plate, keep cup and cutlery inside
1 green & pink cutlery container with spoon, fork and chopsticks
1 bag strap (black)
1 TPC tan and navy cap
1 NAIDOC wrist band
1 pr Yellowfin sunglasses
1 pr Tahwalhi water shoes, US size 6

These items will be repurposed if not collected.

Kind regards

Tristan Bevan
Head of Senior School

Junior School Co-curricular clubs - Term 4 2025

Bookings for Term 4 Co-curricular Clubs will close tomorrow (Thursday 23 October).

Please register via the following link: https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/code/vkpan

Students will not be permitted to participate in Co-curricular clubs if payment has not been received.

Co-curricular Clubs will run from Tuesday 28 October (Week 3) through to Thursday 4 December (Week 8).

Tuesday Clubs

Art Club with Ms Noonan; Years 3-6

STEM Club with Ms Kirk; Years 3-4

PCYC Multisports: Years K-2

Thursday Clubs

Creative Club with Ms Sheils Years K-2

Drama Club with Ms Gaffney Years 3-6

Tech Club with Mr Shepphard; Years 5-6

OLE! Activities 

All students attending our OLE! Week camps this week will be returning to school in time for regular pick up. If there are any significant changes to arrival/pick up times, parents will be contact directly by the College.

Lost Property

The Junior School Lost Property box is located near the entrance to our Pre-K classroom. If students are missing any uniform items, lunch boxes or drink bottles please encourage them to check lost property.

Sport

Students are to be in full sports uniform on the following days to facilitate PE lessons and in preparation for after school sport for our K-Yr 3 students.

Kindergarten - Wednesday and Friday

Year 1 - Wednesday and Friday

Year 2 -Wednesday and Thursday

Year 3 - Wednesday and Friday

Year 4 - Thursday and Friday

Year 5 - Thursday and Friday

Year 6 - Thursday and Friday

Sports Draw - Saturday 14 March 2026

Term 4 – Sport Training and ISA Fixtures

Students can also access this information via Clipboard and should be checking their schedules regularly.

The ISA website has recently been updated and is now an excellent resource for accessing fixture details, results, ladders and event information.

Independent Sporting Association

Bus Drop-Offs – ISA Away Games

Due to the redevelopment of Hoskins Hall, buses for away fixtures will now depart from the bus stop on Railway Road (next to Founders Field). Students should be dropped off via the main driveway or the Junior School turning circle. For safety reasons, students must not be dropped off directly on Railway Road at any time.

Oxley Supporters’ Day – Saturday 1 November

Following the success of our Winter Season Supporters’ Day, we are excited to host another event on Saturday 1 November. This day will feature 1sts Cricket and most Touch Football teams playing at home.

We warmly invite parents, students, staff and friends of Oxley to come along, cheer on our teams and celebrate Oxley Sport. There will be a BBQ, the Oxley Coffee Cart, and cold drinks available throughout the day.

A reminder that students attending as spectators must wear the Oxley PE uniform.

Update – Morning Swim Training

Due to poor attendance in recent years, we have made the difficult decision to no longer run the morning Swimming Training program for Senior students at Bowral Pool. We are exploring other ways which we can support our swimmers in the lead up to the Oxley and ISA Swimming Carnivals in 2026.

2026 – ISA Round 7

Please note that the first round of ISA Summer Sport in 2026 will take place on Saturday 31 January. Students return to school on Friday 30 January, which means there will be no opportunity for teams to train beforehand. All students involved in ISA Summer Sport are expected to participate in this round despite the short turnaround. Teams will receive further information and reminders early in Term 1.

No Training or Games in Week 2

A friendly reminder that there will be no Junior School Sport training or games during Week 2 due to OLE Week. This includes:

Cricket Blasters
Cricket (U10–U12)
Basketball (U10, U12 and U14)

Please note that U10 and U12 Cricket teams will still play this Saturday 25 October. Refer to the sports draw for match times and locations.

All Junior School Sport training and games will resume in Week 3.

Basketball Development Program – Commences Week 3

The Basketball Development Program will begin in Week 3 on Wednesdays from 3.30–4.30pm on the Kettle Courts.
This program focuses on skill development in a fun and inclusive environment for students in Years 3–6.
A few spots remain available—if you’d like to register your child, please contact the Sports Department sport.admin@oxley.nsw.edu.au

Year 6 Gym Sessions Update 

Year 6 gym sessions will resume in Week 3 on Tuesday afternoons from 3.15–4.15pm.
Sessions will run each Tuesday through to Week 8 this term.

Junior School Sport – Codes of Conduct

Congratulations to all Junior School teams on a fantastic start to the summer season!
We’d like to remind families of the importance of upholding the IPSHA Codes of Conduct for players, coaches, and spectators. These guidelines help ensure a positive and respectful sporting environment for everyone.

You can view the IPSHA Codes of Conduct here.
We encourage families to review these with their children and discuss the expectations for both players and spectators.

Parents and carers play a vital role in modelling positive behaviour—thank you for helping us create an encouraging and respectful sporting atmosphere that reflects Oxley’s values.

Mad Hatters Trivia Night – Saturday 8 November

Don’t be late for this very important date! The P&F invites you to join us for our Mad Hatters Trivia Night on Saturday 8 November.  Book a single or double ticket and we can add you to a table! Gather your team, don your most marvellous hat, and prepare for a night of laughter, friendly competition, and a dash of Wonderland magic. It’s always a fantastic evening and a great way to connect with our school community.

https://www.trybooking.com/DFXOR

Annual General Meeting – Wednesday 5 November (New Date)

Please join us for the P&F Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 5 November.

Everyone is most welcome , we do have a quorum quota of 15 so would love your support in voting in the new office bearers for 2026 whilst thanking the outgoing committee members and also celebrating our community engagement in 2025 .

Kind regards

Sooz Heinrich
P&F President

Highlands Youth Hub is offering Barista Workshops every fortnight from 21 October - 12 December.  Find out more here:  Barista Course Community

This 1-hour workshop is a chance to share what makes our Shire inclusive and liveable - and what changes or supports would make the biggest difference to your family’s everyday life.

 Parents & Carers Forum: Neurodivergent Inclusion in Wingecarribee
Tuesday 28 October, 2025

5.30pm – 6.30pm
Bong Bong Room, Civic Centre (and online via MS Teams)
Free – register via TryBooking https://www.trybooking.com/DGQNY

We’ll explore themes around community connection, inclusive events, and how libraries can support sensory-friendly and social spaces.

Your lived experience matters - join us and help guide a more inclusive future for Wingecarribee.

Kind regards

Corinne Buxton
Co-ordinator Community Development

After the success of last year's Highlands Wellbeing Forum - with Dr Kirsty Goodwin and over 550 students, educators and parents attending from across The Southern Highlands - the Highlands Youth Collaboration are running another forum to share information and resources across our community. Wellbeing Forum - Fostering Hope Brave Conversations with Justin Robinson and Matt Johnstone. Please share amongst your networks, parent newsletters and social platforms.  We are excited about offering this opportunity to as many people as possible.

The families will have the opportunity to discuss their child, work through a planning tool and learn about the home school partnership. 
Interested families can learn more about the workshop and register here: Positive Partnerships - Registrations

Mittagong Junior Disco

We are having a ** Halloween Theme Dress Up ** ( NOT compulsory )

Date : Saturday 25th October

Times : 4pm to 6pm

Venue: Mittagong RSL – Bessemer Street, Mittagong

Cost : $5

Ages : 0-14

Please note: This is a CASH ONLY and alcohol-free event.

 All money raised goes back to the children in the Southern Highlands community.

We hope to see you there.

Join us for this community FREE event celebrating 

International Day of People with Disability

December 3 at Lake Alexandra Mittagong

Hosted by Interchange Australia and Proudly Supported by Mittagong RSL

RSVP essential for lunch to events@interchangeau.org otherwise just turn up and enjoy the day!