Issue 104 Term 2, May 22, 2020 PIN OAK OXLEY ARCHIES DOE OXLEY ARCHIES THANKYOU in Isolation Entries Medical Staff CONTENTS MR FRANK CONROY AM 3. Head of College’s Report 4-5. Oxley Archies 6. Deputy Head Reports 7. Junior School News 8. Duke of Ed. 9 -10. Feature Article 11. Take Inspiration 12. Big Issue 13. Virtual Gallery 14. Good and Other News 15. Gallery 16. News Flash Pin Oak Team Student Editorial Team Lily Magill, Ava Lambie, Peggy Holmwood, Liam Verity, Pearl Bendle, Evie Crowley, India O’Brien, Tika Conway, Ella Jackson, Lucy Cavanough Quince, India O’Brien, , Hugh Corbett, Emily Byrne, Olivia Bow, Ruby Zupp, Charlotte Florida, Daisy MacDonald, Peter Kearney Designers Soph Moore, Lara Fischer, Aiofe Barrett- Lennard Head of Marketing and PR Emma Calver Staff Editor Beattie Lanser Oxley College Railway Road, Burradoo, NSW, 2576. Ph: 4861 1366 [email protected] 2 HEAD OF COLLEGE’S REPORT “A community grows great when people plant trees whose As Grant Williamson wrote, the etymology of governance is shade they know they shall never sit in” the Latin word for steersman or captain of a ship. The Oxley College community should be grateful for Frank Conroy’s -Greek proverb. steering of a truly wonderful ship. Oxley College is now in its 37th year and while still relatively Foundation Day young has a rich and dynamic history. Last week we saw history being made with the handover of the role of Chairman As part of the Oxley College Foundation day rituals, of the Board of Governors from Mr Frank Conroy AM to yesterday marked the first of the traditions to celebrate and Dr Stephen Barnett. Historical for two reasons! Firstly Dr acknowledge our 2020 Year 12 students. While we are in Barnett is the first Oxley graduate to become Chairman and uncertain times there is something reassuring in maintaining secondly, Mr Conroy has been our longest serving Chairman important rituals and traditions and the Year 12 tree planting in the history of the College, leading and serving the Board of ceremony provided this important opportunity. The Year 12 Governors for the maximum term of 12 years. Nearly a third students were joined by two of our youngest Kindergarten of our life as a College! students, staff members and Dr Stephen Barnett, Chairman of the Oxley Board of Governors, as we gathered at Bray A Governor since 2008 and Chairman since 2009, Mr Conroy has Fields and the new avenue of trees commenced last year given his time and expertise generously to for a short but moving ceremony. the College bringing his business acumen, Following Dr Barnett’s short address abundant energy and commitment. Oxley “We have all been on the reasons why we plant trees has been extremely fortunate to have his and how they symbolise the ongoing oversight and leadership especially given touched by his growth of students during and beyond he did not have a pre-existing connection their time at Oxley, the School Captains, with the College. He and his wife,Jan have leadership and like Clancy Aboud and Connor Taylor-Helme always been active supporters of College were joined by Kindergarten students, events attending nearly every function my predecessors, I Lachlan and Lucy to plant a new Claret over the years, supporting staff and Ash tree. The ceremony finished getting to know parents. Their combined have valued his with each Year 12 student helping to dedication and support to Oxley College complete the planting process. has been outstanding and will always intelligence, be remembered with admiration and While our normal Foundation Day event affection. wisdom,grace and did not occur last night as scheduled, we are looking forward to celebrating this Mr Conroy has supported three successive integrity.” occasion by sharing a live Foundation Heads of College during his 12 years and Day Virtual event on Thursday 25 June has seen the College survive the GFC, at 6.00pm. It will be streamed live from Oxley College to all moving from a small Secondary School to the flourishing K-12 of our community in their homes. I hope you will join us in College it is today. During his leadership of the Oxley College this celebration of Oxley students and life at the College. Board of Governors he has seen the Junior School built and started, the academic reputation grow whilst maintaining the Oxley College continues a grow its reputation as an focus on the whole child and significant facilities built and outstanding school with staff members being invited to refurbished. His leadership has been truly outstanding and present at various events. Mr Phil Turnock together with we will be forever grateful. 2019 Oxleyan, Sienna Knowles presented to the English Teachers Association In talking to previous Heads of College, Conference about the HSC English Mr Grant Williamson (2008-2014) and Mr Extension 1 course. Having scored 48/50 Michael Parker(2014-2018) they have both for HSC English Extension 1 in 2019, spoken extremely highly of his leadership Sienna spoke highly of the Extension 1 of the Board, and like me, also of the course, outlining the benefits it brought professional relationship, trust, support and to her writing not only in English but guidance he has provided each of us. We across a range of her subject areas. She have all been touched by his leadership urged future English Extension 1 students and like my predecessors, I have valued his not to hesitate to follow their instincts as intelligence, wisdom, grace and integrity. readers and writers and to embrace the Frank has all in great abundance and has opportunities that writing presents for been an extraordinary Chairman by any creative and intellectual development. measure and Oxley College will be forever in his debt. As Mr Turnock said to me, ‘Sienna’s presence at the conference serves as I know both Frank and Jan will continue to an outstanding tribute to not only both be friends of Oxley College and we look forward to hearing herself and her family but also to Oxley College as a centre from Frank as our special guest and speaker at this year’s of learning. It was a pleasure to be involved in this event with Foundation Night on Thursday 25 June. such an impressive Oxley alumni.’ By Jenny Ethell, Head of College 3 OXLEY ARCHIES 4 The Covid-19 lockdown and period of isolation encouraged many to fill their lives with creative pursuits, try new activities or learn a new skill. Art making or just making in general became a positive force in coping with this challenging time. In this spirit, Oxley College initiated the inaugural “Oxley Archies” Competition. The brief was to create a portrait of someone you were sharing isolation with. The competition generated great interest and some excellent entries from both students, parents and staff; a real community event - in isolation! Acclaimed local artist Ben Quilty has kindly agreed to judge the winner; to be announced in the next issue of Pin Oak. Stay tuned! A big congratulations to all entrants. So now; start thinking about your portrait for next year’s Oxley portrait competition! By Mark Hetherington 5 DEPUTY HEAD LEARNING DEPUTY HEAD PASTORAL Student Voice Please see the Covid-Safe Senior School Student Protocols – Phase 3 document about measures we are taking next week, It has been so great to start each day with the sound as we return to normal routines and full attendance. Tutors of students laughing and chatting – we have never so will have shared this with groups on Friday, and I highlighted appreciated that! As teachers we chose this profession some important aspects in Wednesday’s Assembly Webinar. because we love children and want to share our days in a learning community full of questions, discussion and https://www.oxley.nsw.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ learning. COVID-Safe-Student-Protocols-Phase-3-final.pdf We have also never been prouder of the way our students have responded when we have asked them questions to help us plan our next steps as a school. This week Year 7 – Senior School: Pick Up / Drop off 12 students were invited to let us know how the transition The perennial conundrum that is the Senior School Pick Up has been for them back to campus – what was working & Drop Off arrangements continues to be a challenge and is best, the challenges, how it compared to learning@home, especially so at the moment, with fewer students using buses the continued use of the Weekly Learning Cycle and any and with no after school sport on Tuesdays and Thursdays. other comments that would help them more. The hundreds We have introduced stopping zones for parents to improve of responses were mature, positive and filled with gems of safety and efficiency at these times. It is especially important advice that we have taken seriously as we excitedly plan that parents pull-over in the frontmost available zone at pick to welcome all our students back on Monday 25 May. We up time to reduce congestion. can’t wait! In Mrs Ethell’s letter to parents on Wednesday this week, she asked Senior School parents not to arrive before 3.30pm to Year 10 enable buses to leave promptly and to ease traffic on Railway Road. I also ask parents to keep the road clear parallel to the The return to campus is at an excellent time for our Year bus bay on Railway Road as far as possible, to allow the buses 10 students and families. This is the season when we to pull in and out safely and efficiently.