Senior School

Celebrations, Exams and Everything in Between

Term 4 is jam-packed with events for every year level, with so many exciting moments compressed into such a short space of time. Naturally, our thoughts turn largely to our most senior students as they prepare for their VCE Examinations and all that is to come.

Valedictory Dinner was enjoyed by students, parents and staff and it was a beautiful evening. Young ladies were resplendent in their evening apparel and the young gentlemen were equally well-adorned in suits and the aura of the evening was even more enjoyable. The excited sound of young people enjoying their youth, engaged in friendly banter and celebrating the presentation of each person as part of a larger whole brought tears to many eyes. I am sure parents were amazed at the lovely young people who had matured through their formal education, both in primary and secondary school. 

We witnessed a multilingual welcome from Link Fan, Anna Nguyen, Zara Schulz and Maddi Duncan, a congregational song, Still capably led by Chloe Anderson, Lucy Armstrong, Pierson Booth, Sophie Gates, Anna Nguyen and Natasha Varelas. It was a sensational night. Meals and formal Home Group introductions were punctuated with musical items from Chloe Anderson, Elijah Barlow and Natasha Varelas, followed by Adib Ahmad and Mattias Talpan, and Miranda Lantry rounded off the evening by debuting her own composition, Everything Must Go! which wowed the audience and left us emotional, but wanting more. 

Year 12 students led their final celebratory Chapel including one of their favourite worship songs, which the entire Senior School enthusiastically sang along to. A Q&A time followed with Year 12 interviewees sharing some of their favourite stories, emotions and experiences of their life at school. It was an honour to hear what they have learned along the journey.

Final Assembly witnessed the penultimate speeches for the College Captains and, as always, it was a challenge to follow their well-planned and highly polished speeches, in response to the Principal’s Address. The Assembly was covered with a significant amount of prayer, and I am sure God was delighted with the praise of the school, beautifully led by Chloe Anderson, Elijah Barlow, Josiah Green, Claire-Annai Hilton, Mattias Talpan and Natasha Varelas as we sang to Him, Great is thy Faithfulness.

Final Day was an exciting celebration and the vibe across the entire College was simply marvellous. Year 12 students took great pride in decorating the school. Junior School students arrived at their classrooms to discover prepared treats for each of them and then the festivities began. A cleverly scripted play looking at Music Through the Ages showcased the talents of many musicians from the past few decades, many of whom looked remarkably like some of our beloved Senior School teachers, allowing staff to display their considerable dancing talents. Congratulations to all participants, whether on stage, backstage, or in the audience, including many parents who came to enjoy the carnival. 

Sporting prowess was displayed with soccer, table tennis and basketball for all Senior School years. At Presentation Evening we will unveil the champion House, as sporting competitions have been closely fought throughout 2022. The day culminated with the annual Year 11 vs Year 12 Basketball match. Year 12 students opened with a three-pointer from Luke Neil, and by half time it looked like a landslide, with the senior year level up by nearly 10 points. This changed quickly in the second half, and with less than a minute left on the clock, it appeared that Year 11 victory was imminent. A final burst in the dying seconds of the competition, however, saw the Year 12 students claim the win, with their superior teamwork, stamina and resilience. This should stand each of them in good stead for the assessment tasks ahead.

As Year 12 students prepare for examinations and their lives beyond Oxley Christian College, we will continue to uphold them, and all our students, in prayer. Every young person is a miracle handcrafted by God in His own image, and for His purposes. As parents will know, there is no greater privilege in life than to play a significant part in preparing young people for their future lives, and ensuring that they know they are loved, are significant and have a purpose to discover. As a staff, we felt absolutely delighted with the 2022 cohort, knowing that they will be greatly missed. We can only imagine how proud their parents must be. Swipe over to the Year 12 Final Events page for a photo gallery for each of the Year 12 events.

Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:27 tell us clearly of God’s great love for us: 

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

I trust that every student who passes through our doors knows, believes and remembers this truth all their life.

Greg Barker

Deputy Principal – Head of Senior School

Year 8 Learn Coding to Create Critters

Year 8 students visited Yarra Ranges Technical School and had the opportunity to use the state-of-the-art facilities at the Lilydale campus. The focus was on developing coding, which enabled small robots to move around a set course. Students worked in groups and shared roles to facilitate movement of the robots.

On Monday 10 October, two classes of Year 8 students participated in an excursion to the Yarra Ranges Tech School. There, we learnt how to program insect-like robots to navigate through a maze, and eventually race against other teams. The staff there were very helpful and assisted us when we needed it. I found that this was a good opportunity to learn and grow in my programming and coding skills. I really enjoyed this experience and felt like it was beneficial towards my learning.

Marley Rutherford (8.2)

The thrilling journey that was embarked on by Year 8s to the Yarra Ranges Tech School is one that remains in our hearts, among many other excursions in the past. The Yarra Ranges Tech School is a shared learning hub which delivers leading education programs using the latest technology in a real-world context to students. The purpose of the excursion was to enlighten the students regarding the use of coding insectoids, which are robots designed to perform a function like that of an animal or insect, and to gain an insight into their future. Students were then asked to code their given insectoid to be able to walk through a maze using their newly learned functions.

Also, Yarra Ranges Tech School showcases challenges and levels varying in difficulty in order to keep students with different mindsets entertained and focused, stimulating the growth of mind and resilience.

Students were treated with the upmost care and attention by the staff members who never failed to entertain and assist those in need. The staff were able to engage the students and teach them without losing their attention even once. Opening new paths of discovery and opportunities, the Yarra Ranges Tech School is a place worth visiting. I know I would if I had the chance to go again!

Erika Moses (8.23)

Ric Gaschk

Year 8 Coordinator

Year 9 Wellbeing Session

At the end of last term, Year 9 students were visited by world-reknown motivational speaker, Lisa McInnes-Smith, to hear a presentation about wellbeing, success and everything in between!

Lisa’s background is in Sport Psychology and has presented to small and large audiences all around the world.

Students were on their feet, interacting and were touched by her story in many ways, particularly being born with one eye permanently closed and the challenges that brought. Many hung around for photos and to get their souvenir book signed. 

Memorable quotes and challenges included:

The most successful athletes are the ones who struggle at the start because they appreciate achievement more and show more character to get there.

We need to encourage, practise, persevere, love, support and rest to get better at things. 

More efficient people make their beds in the morning! 

“Goal achievement is best done starting … Small, simple, do-able.

We know that in all things God works for the good … of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.  Romans 8:28

Gavin Fox

Year 9 Coordinator

Duke Of  Ed Silver Award Participant Heads Out Adventuring

As part of my Duke of Ed Silver Award during the school holidays, I planned and completed an Adventurous Journey. I hiked with my Dad and two dogs along trails next to the Murray River. We began in Mildura, camping in six different locations over seven nights. Our main heat source was the campfire we made at each site, and all our food was cooked either over the fire, or using a small portable stove. 

With no data signal in most places we stayed, a lot of time was spent walking along the riverbank, reading, and in some cases, visiting nearby farm animals. We do similar trips like this each year and the week is always a highlight.

Chloe Skipworth (10.17)