This week in The Vine…

• Principals Report - Parent investment in education
• Devotion - Amazing generosity again!
• Lost property
• MS Read-a-thon
• VCE Music Solo Performance  Recital - June 24
• Careers

Congratulations  to Taneka, Rebecca, Chelsea H and Chelsea D for fantastic results in the Glenbrae Equestrian Centre - Showjumping Day.  Your stellar effort saw Oxley placed third, a fantastic result against ‘equestrian schools’ with larger numbers of competitors.  Well done girls!

Download: The Vine - Edition 8 - 2008 (1.6mb)

Students from Oxley College have dug deep in an appeal to raise funds for those who have been traumatized by the cyclone in Burma (Myanmar) and the earthquake in Sichuan Province, China.

The response from the school community has been incredibly generous. In only one week students and families have raised $15,926.  With stories such as these repeated throughout the school: John Zhu in Grade 5 played his violin at Chirnside Park shopping centre and raised $112.20 which he donated. One family with two children, one in Prep and the other in Grade 1, decided to give all of their savings and birthday money to the appeal, a total of $70.00.

At an assembly the Oxley students were addressed by Mrs Thangi Dal, a school parent who migrated to Australia with her family from Burma and Zing Ran Huang (Russ), a Chinese International student, who actually lived in the Sichuan Province before coming to Australia. Both speakers told of their anguish and their burning desire to see their people helped through financial aide.

“The Oxley College community has always been very generous towards others in need and for this reason, we are mindful not to appeal for money too often” said Oxley College Chaplain, Pastor David Burt.  “Last year we aimed to raise $12,000.00 in 12 months so that we could build a pre-school in Cambodia. Amazingly, we raised $14,000.00 dollars in four months. This pre-school will be constructed in June and July, 2008.”

All money raised will be put straight to work through the Samaritan’s Purse International Aid Organisation who have access and approval to work in both countries.

Oxley College is a Christian School in Chirnside Park, Melbourne East - Committed to Excellence in Christian Education!

This week in The Vine…

• Principals Report - It’s all about timing
• Devotion - Emergency Appeal - Myanmar & Sichuan Province, China
• Library and Information Week
• Music - Term 2 Billing Information
• Careers - Focus on La Trobe University
• Sport - Cross Country, Swimming and Athletics Results
• VCE Drama Ensemble
• PFA - Nutrimetics Lipstick Fundraiser

Download: The Vine - Edition 8 - 2008 (2mb)

Download: EISM Sports Results - May 29

Semester 1 Exam Timetable for Year 7 - 11 is now available.

Download: Semester 1 Exam Timetable

Congratulations to the Unit 3 Drama class of 2008!

On the evening of Thursday 22nd May, the Unit 3 Drama students (comprising eleven Yr 12 students and two Yr 11 students), performed their Drama ensembles.

The theme of the work was ‘multiculturalism’, incorporating stories of people emigrating to other lands. The main stimulus for the work was the beautiful wordless book, ‘The Arrival’, by Shaun Tan. The 3 plays showed great diversity in approach and content. Particularly, satire and symbolism were used to great effect.

This is the students’ major VCE group Drama project for the year. It is totally self devised by the students, and requires careful research, enormous creativity and a high degree of teamwork. Needless to say, it is a demanding task but the students worked very hard and rose to the task exceedingly well.

We were treated to a terrific night’s entertainment. We laughed lots, we cried, we were spellbound. Our heartiest congratulations once again to these students for a wonderful evening - you did yourselves and Oxley, proud.

What amazing Drama students we have!

On Wednesday the 21st of May at 11.00am, Oxley College was one of over 300 Public, Specialist and School Libraries across Australia to take part in National Simultaneous Storytime 2008.

Mrs Kamphuis-Gall capitivated over 40 junior school students with her enthusiastic reading of the delightful story – ‘Arthur’. Grades 1- 4 had the unique experience of participating in this event held during “Library and Information Week”. Students later had the opportunity to make their own “Arthur” or other characters from the book.

Now in its eighth year, National Simultaneous Storytime aims to celebrate and acknowledge the vital work being done in libraries, schools and communities around Australia in the development of young people’s literacy and numeracy skills.

In 2008 Arthur will be celebrating 20 years of paperback publication.

Congratulations to each of our EISM sports teams who competed valiantly this week. We almost had a complete clean sweep of all sports against Nunawading Christian School, only missing out in the Soccer. Go Oxley! There was an especially close and hard fought game in the boys Senior Basketball, holding on to win by only two points.

Download: EISM Sports Results - 22nd May 2008

(There were no Year 8 & 9 EISM sports this week due to the Atheltics Championship being held)

Congratulations to the following teams who won this week:

Senior Girls: Basketball, Netball & Table Tennis

Senior Boys: Basketball (Draw), Table Tennis

Year 8 & 9 Girls: Hockey, Basketball, Netball & Table Tennis

Year 8 & 9 Boys: Football, Basketball & Table Tennis

Download: Full EISM weekly results table

This week in The Vine…

• Open Day Congratulations
• Devotion - Bringing up Children in a Modern World
• National Simultaneous Storytime
• Music Camp
• Zone Trials Success
• Veggies for Cambodia
• PFA - Entertainment Books now available

Congratulations to Kailey Marchione, winner of the Open Day laptop competition and to Eliza Harvey who recently won 1st prize in the Mansfield Pony Club Dressage event.

Download: The Vine - Edition 7 - 2008 (1.5mb)

Last Wednesday the whole school community celebrated the National Day of Thanksgiving by giving thanks to God for our mothers. Around 1000 students gathered together in the new stadium for a ‘Mega Chapel’ where Junior and Senior Chapel bands combined to lead the worship. Pastor Dave interviewed a panel of three mums and asked them what the best and worst things about being a mother were. The Grade 6 photography group had produced a fantastic power point presentation featuring photographs of many school mums with their children at Open Day. The main theme of the Chapel was that mothers give us an idea of the unconditional love that God has for us.

Our preps made special ceramic cups to give to their mums on Mothers day. It seems we have a problem with many mothers coming in to try and get a sneak peak before the day. Luckily Mr. Gahan hides them away safely! Thank you to all of our Oxley mums for all that you do for your children and for the contributions you make to the community of Oxley College. We hope you had a very special day!