Senior students were recognised for a range of achievements during a special assembly at Oxley College this week.  Beth Shelley, currently completing Year 12 is also mid way through completing a University subject.  She recently gained recognition on the Dean’s Roll of Excellence for her performance in her university History subject.  Myriam Amiet-Knottenbelt was also congratulated by her peers for gaining a medal for achieving the highest score in Victoria for her performance in the national (UNSW) Writing Competition.  Two fantastic achievements!

A number of students who have shown great improvement were also recognised and congratulated.   A comparison of 2008 results with results from this year so far, identified  eleven students  that have improved most dramatically.   Oxley seeks an understanding of excellence, acknowledging it is more about personal best and stretching oneself, than simply the highest achievement.

Our Year 10 debating team has also performed remarkably well, winning our local competition against a range of schools.  The team was defeated by only 2 points in the Octo-finals by Kardinia International College.

We look forward to tomorrow and Friday night’s performances of A Bush Yarn by the Junior School.  The musical, written by Mrs. Narelle Walker and Mr. Andrew Levey, weaves together their classroom studies of Australia with drama, music and dance in to what is sure to be a delightful production!

Science Competition

Students from Oxley (Years 7–10) achieved outstanding results when they participated in the University of New South Wales International Science Competition this year.  The International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) are conducted annually across 13 countries.  There are over 2 million entries worldwide.  Those students whose achievement was outstanding were rewarded with Certificates of Credit, Distinction and High Distinction.  “All students from Oxley College are to be congratulated on their significant achievement”, said Penny Hutton, Assessment Manager at EAA.

Oxley College is proud of those who gained Distinctions and especially those who achieved High Distinction as they were placed in the top 1% of the state.  We had 76 students receive Credits and 26 Distinctions.

Well done to the following who received High Distinctions:

Benjamin Winger
Jared Frost
Thomas Mullaney

Science Photography Competition – The Wonders of Science

To celebrate National Science Week students from Years 7 – 12 participated in a Science Photography competition.  The Science Faculty congratulates all those who participated.  The General Manager of Macmillan Publishing Australia judged the photos and commented on the high degree of talent.

The winning entries were:

1st Prize: Jamie Cubitt (Year 10)
Runner up: Brittany Gardner (Year 10)

This week in The Vine…

• From the Principal – Junior School in the Spotlight
• Devotion: Keeping it simple
• Senior School & Junior School News
• What did you do at school today?
• Senior School Band plays at Companion Club
• Light Fm Live Broadcast
• Science competition results
• EISM Finals – Oxley plays grandly
• Download: The Vine Vol 14, Sept 10

Melbourne Schools – Oxley College is a co-educational Christian School, located in Chirnside Park, in Melbourne’s East

Senior Concert Band Performs for the Companion Club

On Friday, 28th August the Senior Concert Band, conducted by Mr Kevin Hogg, performed a concert for the members of the Companion Club at the Ringwood Salvation Army Church.  The Club draws its members from the local community and they come together weekly to socialise, providing a place for companionship and fellowship.

Our Senior Concert Band and its members offered a diverse program of band and other items including trumpet, piano solos, and a flute duet.  The audience tapped and clapped along to the Bands exciting performances of music from Grease to Star Wars and our students are to be congratulated on their fine performances.  Following the concert, the students were treated to a delicious lunch.  This was a wonderful opportunity for our music students to reach out to the wider community and share their love of music with others.

OXLEY PLAYS GRANDLY DURING FINALS TO END WINTER EISM SEASON

The business end of our winter EISM seasons for both Year 8/9 and Senior competitions has come to a close.  Oxley was well represented, with several teams in grand finals on the 25th and 26th August.  Congratulations to all teams who participated this season, especially those who made grand finals.  Oxley won the Year 8/9 Basketball Final and received a draw in the Hockey Final, runners up in Senior Boys and Girls Basketball and Boys Table Tennis as well as Year 8/9 Girls Netball.

The Senior Boys and Girls basketball and Boys Table Tennis finished the season on top of the Central division / Southern Conference ladder, going on to
play against the top school of the Northern Conference in the finals.  The three teams were awarded runners up, facing tough opposition in their grand final.  Both basketball teams were defeated by Knox and Huntingtower won the table tennis.

Our best players, each receiving a medal from opposition coaches, were Regan Grimwood and Emily Ridgewell (Basketball) and Patrick Biedrycki.
Oxley hosted the Senior Boys and Girls Table Tennis finals and Girls Netball.  We have had the privilege of hosting many grand finals across a variety of sports in the short time we’ve been in the EISM sporting competition, our new stadium facilities the ideal venue.

Oxley had an impressive 4 out of 8 teams in the years 8/9 competition make grand finals: Boys Basketball and Girls Hockey, Netball and Basketball, with the other four teams coming second or third.  At both Senior and 8/9 level it was a great improvement on last years winter season results.

At the conclusion of the grand finals on the 27th August, Girls Hockey were joint premiers with Knox (after drawing 1 – 1 after regulation and over time), Boys Basketball premiers defeating Knox 21 – 18 and Girls Netball had an agonising one point loss to Knox in the netball.  It was a particularly great afternoon as we hosted both the Boys Basketball and Netball finals.  Both were played on neighbouring courts with many Oxley students cheering  on the teams with banners, music and streamers.  The Oxley mascot bear treated the crowd to an amusing slam dunk display off the mini trampoline at half time.  Best players, awarded a medal from other opposition coaches were Olivia Aing (Hockey), Corey Jeffs (Basketball) and Erin Prout (Netball).

The Girls Year 8/9 Basketball grand final has been postponed until 10th September, good luck to coach Moore and captain Paige Tomlins leading the team!  Hopefully they will bring home our 3rd winter premier pennant of the year and our fourth overall after Senior Boys Cricket won earlier in the year.

During Term 3, the students in year Four learn about the farming industry.  One of the activities is to bring fertilized chicken and duckling eggs into the classroom and to watch them hatch and grow.  There is a huge amount of invaluable learning that takes place during this time.  We watch in anticipation as the ‘babies’ hatch from their eggs and the excitement builds as we see new life begin.  We care for them in their pen until they are two weeks old.  They are totally dependent upon us.

During this time we handle them, take them for walks to the vegetable garden, complete descriptive writings, weigh them and find the average weight each day, graph results, research poultry farming and watch in awe to see the unfolding of God’s creation.  The way God has designed our chickens and ducklings is amazing.  We start to realize that God’s design for each of us is perfect and without error.

- Mrs. Ann Gaschk ( Year 4 Teacher )

This week in The Vine…

• From the Principal – International Understanding
• Devotion: What’s Up?
• Senior School & Junior School News
• What did you do at school today?
• Victorian Student Number
• Greenhouse Games – Voucher winner!
• New Strings Teacher – Mrs Cathryn Bills
• Debating Team wins Play Offs
• Samaritans Purse Shoe Box Appeal
• Year 10 Formal
• Careers
• Sports news – Wins in Hockey, Table Tennis and Football
• Download: The Vine Vol 13, Aug 27

Melbourne Schools – Oxley College is a co-educational Christian School, located in Chirnside Park, in Melbourne’s East

Oxley College warmly invites Parents and the wider Oxley College community to: