Some of our Year 7/8's have been working with Amy Riach on furthering their writing skills.

Here are some of the great articles they have produced so far.

Oxford Student Becomes Hockey Success- Black Sticks On The Horizon

Scarlett Griffiths is by far a very important member of the Rangiora Raiders hockey team. She has been playing competitive hockey for two years and has been to countless competitions and sporting events.

Recently, she has been selected to play for Oxford Area School at the Rakahuri hockey tournament. Because Griffith was the most experienced player on the team, she stepped up a level and helped teach her teammates the sport, saying, “I think that coaching my team helped me with my skills a lot.” Scarlett’s expert coaching helped her team- they came home from the tournament bearing the bragging rights of third place.

Scarlett has spent two years on the Rangiora Raiders hockey team with many different coaches throughout her sporting journey. Her current coach is an inspiration. “She has definitely helped me the most this year. She is kind and always ready to help anyone on the team. It's difficult for her because she is still a student, and it is hard to commit to coaching, but she does a great job of finding that balance.” Recently, Scarlett has just advanced to playing 11 a side. “It’s a lot of running,” says Scarlett. 11 a side is when each team has 11 players per team, and the court is much larger than in a standard game. For her festival of hockey, she played three different 40-minute games, each with 11 a side. Griffiths says, “It was a fun experience, and I think we did well.”

Looking into the future, Scarlett Griffiths is unsure of her career path. “I would love to join the black sticks. But again, many careers interest me.” Scarlett has looked into being a vet, a marine biologist, and of course, a member of New Zealand’s greatest hockey team- the Black Sticks. “My parents are very supportive and will help me with whatever I choose to do”.

Oxford Area School is very proud of Scarlett Griffiths, and we can’t wait to see where she and the Rangiora Raiders will go on their hockey journey.

By Margot Godman

Dance as a Career or a Hobby, Can Students Do Both?

Ballet is a very demanding sport, but can it be just a hobby? For most students juggling sports and school, the big question of whether or not it’s going to be their career choice comes at graduation, but for ballet students, the question comes much earlier.

For the past 3 years, Margot Godman’s dance instructor has been Miss Amelia. She has helped Margot improve her attitude towards dance and her general skills. Margot said, “She is very kind and doesn't pressure us, and I am very lucky to have her as a dance teacher.” However, many other intermediate students are pressured to take dance to a professional level and are not given the option to continue as a hobby. Margot really enjoys ballet. But as a career, ballet takes time, money, and effort. Although she would love to keep attending ballet classes, Margot doesn’t want to take it as her career.

Margot’s Mum had signed her up for ballet class when she was just 2 years old, and after a year of attending, she found her new passion. Godman explained, “ I take dance classes simply because I enjoy it, and it makes me feel like I’m the only person in the world.” As she has got older, Margot has improved. But with her dance mock exams conquered, Margot's next challenge is her pre-pointe test. She is very happy with her effort, but there is still a long way to go to achieve her biggest goal of getting on pointe.

Godman is making her way to the hardest part of her ballet hobby, pointe. Almost every young dancer dreams of being able to manage the hard work and conditioning of Pointe, but only a handful achieve it. Ballet is one of the hardest dance styles to master because of the commitment. But once learned, ballet is very beautiful to watch.

Margot is extremely proud of how much she has improved throughout her dancing journey and can’t wait to take on pointe.

By Scarlett Griffith 

Oxford Student on Her Way to The Silver Ferns

Jamie Stubbs, the girl that's got the ball in the hoop.

Meet Jamie, the girl who’s heading on her way to the big leagues of netball. She prefers to play goal shoot and goal attack. However, Jamie is more than capable of playing any position.

Jamie is an incredible team player, but she is not the only one. Many other girls in her team play outstandingly. Some may not get along off the court, but they know to put it all aside when the whistle blows. She hates it when people don't play fair; it sends “sparks of anger through her body.”

She practices on Mondays for an hour, then practices at home every day for half an hour. Friends describe her as fit, sporty, energetic, and confident. Teammates describe her as a team player, resilient, and mischievous. She remembers reading the quote, ‘The best team doesn't have the best players it has the best teamwork.’ And she plays by this at every game.

Jamie loves her dogs and spends most of her free time with them. She says they keep her fitness in check with the walks they go on, and keeping fit is very important for a netball player. Jamie takes it seriously. Even at school, she keeps her fitness up. Jamie is amazing at many sports and tries her best in all, but netball is the calling for her.

She thinks she can make it; do you agree?

By Amelia Smith

Meet Amelia Smith - The Oxford Student With a Career in Politics

Most intermediate girls have jobs, but not many work in the youth councils. Amelia Smith joined the youth council this year at the age of 12. She says, “I see myself being on the youth council until I can't.” Amelia wanted her voice to be heard more, and she thinks her position in the youth council is a great achievement that she has accomplished.

Amelia is an outgoing student who isn't scared to let her voice be heard. She meets monthly at the Waimakariri Council in the centre of town, where she debates and discusses upcoming plans and town events.

Amelia wanted the job on the Council, and she spent weeks applying. She took many interviews and sent in multiple applications to try and get the job. Amelia wanted the job “to get my voice heard.” And even her teachers thought it would be good for her. She sent in her application this year and got into the council as an intermediate student.

As well as being in the Youth Council, Amelia also has a paper run. She is more than capable of taking on the extra weight of two jobs. Amelia says, “It's good to earn money when you're young,” she adds, “If you work hard now, you work hard for the rest of your life.” Although Amelia says she likes earning her own money, she is doing it for the experience of having a job this young, and she would like to do both the paper run and youth council again next year. “Hard work pays off,” she says, and Amelia is no stranger to hard work.

Amelia Smith is already making her way to politics, and this Oxford student has made her teachers and friends very proud.

By Jamie Stubbs