Secondary School Notices

Uniform Compliance and Student Participation 

At Oxley, we continue to uphold high expectations for student presentation in our Middle School and Senior School as it reflects pride in the College and ensures consistency across Secondary. To ensure that we can maintain these high standards, steps will be taken when students are not in correct uniform or grooming compliance. 

Key points for students:

• Students must meet all uniform and grooming requirements to participate in on‑stage or public‑facing activities, including Chapel, Assemblies, performances, Presentation Evening, and formal representation events.
• Teachers will offer an opportunity to correct uniform issues where possible.
• Repeated non‑compliance results in escalating consequences: 
  • First instance: opportunity to correct issue, detention, parent notification.
  • Second instance: student sent home to correct breach, Saturday detention.
  • Further instances: referral to Deputy Principal & Head of Secondary.
• All incidents are recorded on SEQTA, and parents are advised at later stages.

We appreciate your support in ensuring students arrive at school each day meeting our uniform expectations.

Regular Attendance and Academic Success

Regular attendance is one of the strongest predictors of a student’s academic progress, wellbeing, and sense of belonging at school. At Oxley, we monitor attendance carefully to ensure every child is supported to thrive.

Regular attendance helps your child’s teachers understand the level of support that they may require:

• Excellent Attendance (4 or fewer days absent per semester)

  Students with excellent attendance are well‑positioned for strong academic growth. They experience continuity in learning, consistent assessment preparation, and regular engagement with teachers and peers. Socially and pastorally, they benefit from stable routines, positive relationships, and full participation in the daily life of the College.

• Average Attendance (up to 6 days absent)

  While still within an acceptable range, students in this category may begin to feel small gaps in understanding or classroom connection. Pastoral conversations often focus on maintaining healthy habits, managing organisation, and preventing occasional absences from becoming more frequent.

• Below Average Attendance (around 8 days absent)

  Missing this amount of school can start to affect a student’s confidence, academic progress, and social cohesion. They may require targeted teacher support to catch up on content and may begin to feel less connected to class routines.

• At Risk (more than 8 days absent)

  Students with extended or frequent absences face significant challenges. They may struggle with foundational knowledge, fall behind in assessments, or experience increased anxiety about returning to class. From a wellbeing perspective, prolonged absence can also impact friendships and pastoral support structures. At this stage, the College will work closely with families to develop a plan to re‑establish consistent attendance and provide the necessary academic and pastoral support.

The Importance of Arriving on Time

Learning is also lost through regular lateness. Being on time for Home Group ensures students are present for:

• the daily roll
• important announcements and administrative updates
• the College’s Bible Reading program
• early‑morning connection with peers and staff

A settled start to the day supports student wellbeing, emotional readiness, and engagement.

Extended Absences During Term

We ask all families to familiarise themselves with our updated policy on regular/scheduled early departures and extended absences. Regular attendance remains essential for learning, assessment integrity, and the overall wellbeing of each student.

When absences are unavoidable whether due to illness, compassionate circumstances, or family emergencies, the College will provide reasonable support through SEQTA Learn (students) and SEQTA Engage (parents). However, please note that some practical, collaborative, or experiential learning simply cannot be replicated off‑site.

• Please avoid scheduling holidays during term time. Extended absences significantly limit what teachers can reasonably provide.
• All lesson materials and assessments are available on SEQTA Learn and SEQTA Engage.
• Teachers will maintain at least weekly contact during extended absences.
• Assessments remain due as scheduled unless a formal adjustment has been approved.

• VCE students must meet attendance and VCAA requirements to receive satisfactory results. Oxley Christian College has established that the minimum attendance for VCE students is 90% for each individual unit and overall attendance. 

   

If your child requires either planned or unplanned leave, please notify Student Attendance and your child’s Year Level Coordinator as early as possible so that they can send an Extended Student Absences Form which will help us to better prepare and support your child’s learning more effectively whilst they are absent from school.

Walking, Riding, and Safety to School (and around the College)

As more students choose to walk or ride to school during the warmer months, we ask families to partner with us to ensure every student travels safely and responsibly. Students who ride a conventional bicycle must wear a correctly fitted helmet at all times, obey road rules, and take care when crossing busy streets. Please also consider the distance your child is travelling each day and whether they have the stamina, visibility, and road awareness needed for the journey, especially when carrying school bags or travelling in low‑light conditions. Students are not permitted to ride bicycles, scooters or any other personal transportation device whilst on College grounds.

The College strongly discourages the use of e‑bikes, e‑scooters, and other electric personal transport devices for travel to and from school. These devices fall under the College’s Lithium Powered Devices and Batteries Policy, which means they cannot be brought onto campus, stored in lockers, or charged anywhere on school grounds. This includes batteries, chargers, and any detachable components. Students arriving on conventional pedal bicycles may continue to store them in the usual racks, but electric devices must not enter the campus at any time.

We appreciate your support in helping us maintain a safe journey to school for all students, protecting both their wellbeing and the safety of the wider College community. Please speak with your child about safe travel habits, awareness of their surroundings, and respectful behaviour along shared paths and roads. This partnership ensures our students arrive ready for learning each day.

A reminder to all students to pay attention whilst crossing the road at the corner of Billanook Way and Kimberley Drive on their way to and from Chirnside Park Shopping Centre before and after school.

We kindly ask that you also discuss this matter with your children to ensure they understand the importance of road safety and the need to put their phones away when walking to and from school. Teachers are posted on duty on the outskirts of the College property before and after school, but students must remain situationally aware when they are walking to and from school.

Thank you for your cooperation and support in keeping our students safe.

Secondary School Key Dates – Term 1 Calendar

Mr James Avram

Deputy Principal and Head of Secondary