Volume Five, Friday 5th May 2023

Greetings,

Dr Sands, Marlborough School, Los Angeles, says:

"Fiction cannot make a reader moral or ethical or a kinder human being, however it can provide an opportunity for readers to identify and empathize with characters and situations, think critically about these same characters and events, and vicariously sort through the personal choices the narrative offers".

Fiction may not make us more moral, but it can help. Fiction (and non-fiction) can help us become more caring and confident, more resilient and adaptable, more ready and able to engage in the real world. I find reading gives me an understanding and insight into the complexity of life. For example, I learn much about myself and others from reading about great leaders and orators such as John F Kennedy, Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, and Barack Obama. I learn to recognise human emotion and how to make better decisions. Therefore, it is important not to lose the place of reading and literature in the STEM-focused, game-based, laptop, smartphone, social-media, mono-syllabic, and sound-bite world we presently live in.

Writing and speaking are the outputs or products of literacy whilst reading and listening are the inputs. Oakhill College's literacy initiative running now for the past four years includes ‘writing across the curriculum/academic writing’ and ‘reading’ strategies. In particular regard to reading, we began four years ago with the ‘Read to Succeed’ initiative, which was developed further in 2022 to the ‘Reading Boost’ initiative. This year we have added the Wednesday morning full-school reading period to ensure we form habits in reading. By better understanding the formulae, and the ‘how to’ in reading and writing, students are able to present their thinking better and achieve their potential in NAPLAN, Minimum Standards, HSC and in general life skills. We are pleased to report that this week, Thursday 5th May, 100% of Year 10 students who sat the Minimum Standard test in reading, passed. This is remarkable and most pleasing and evidence of the good work of teachers and students.

Over the holidays, a number of Oakhill College students had cross-border experiences engaging in other cultures and other worlds through the Year 9 and 10 Service Tour to Cambodia and the Senior Rugby Tour to New Zealand. I have received emails from the public to inform and congratulate me on the conduct and composure, the presence, politeness and respect exhibited by our students and the rapport shown between staff and students both while in Cambodia and also at airports in Australia and Vietnam. I am humbled and honoured to receive such unsolicited comments, and it is a credit to these students. May God continue to bless Oakhill College and watch over us to ensure we maintain the ethos and practice that continues to form such fine young people. 

Please enjoy this fifth Edition of the College Newsletter 2023 as it illustrates the many fine achievements of our students this past month; a credit to themselves, and their families. Thank you.

Br Steve Hogan fsc
Principal 

During the April school holidays, 120 Year 9 and 10 students visited Cambodia with a dozen teachers to assist in charity work. This is a true sign that the Oakhill Spirit is alive and well at the College and Jesus’ Easter message is being lived.

On Friday 19th May, the College will celebrate our Founder’s Day, being the Feast of St John Baptist de La Salle. Mission Action Day or MAD is a fundraising event for Lasallian missions and we raise about $50,000-$80,000. We will celebrate Mass, and following this there will be Mission Action Day activities including a teacher vs student game, picnics, rides, music, and a guest speaker. 

This is traditionally a very important day in our College calendar, and as such it is an expectation that all students attend. Students in Years 7-10 are to wear their sports uniform and/or College tracksuit. Students in Years 11 and 12 can wear neat and modest casual clothing in their House colours, with closed footwear, however, are encouraged to wear their College tracksuits due to the planned activities. Year 12 students are encouraged to wear their Year 12 Jersey.

Morning tea will be provided to staff and students and the College Canteen will also be operating, and there will be other food options available for purchase. Students are encouraged to bring their own food and/or food items to share with their friends for a picnic lunch. Under no circumstances are students allowed to order food to be delivered. Parents are expected to support the College and not drop off food during the day. Access to the College will be closed during the day.

There will be a number of rides available for students including: Disco Show, YoYo, Sizzler, Music Trip, Giant slide and favourites such as the Dunk Tank and High Striker and inflatable amusements including a Mechanical Bull, Big baller Toxic, Meltdown, Soccer Darts, Duel Lane Bungee and a Rock Wall. Some amusements will be free of charge, others including most rides, will be pay as you go with tickets starting at $5 each.
 
Students need to bring cash (in small note denominations) for the rides and amusements and to purchase food and drink items if applicable. There will be no facilities available for any electronic card purchases. All profits of the day will be donated to the Lasallian Foundation and more specifically to build new kitchen facilities at Hohola secondary school in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea so that we can continue to support the provision of breakfast to our young Lasallian brothers and sisters attending this secondary school.

Questions that will be answered on the day will include: What teachers will participate in the Dunking Machine? Who is the Oakhill rodeo champion? Who can “Slam Dunk”? 

Looking forward to a fun filled day.

Mr Robert Munday
Deputy Principal

Every Friday at 8.00am we celebrate Mass in the College Chapel, and each week we have a theme. Today we proudly celebrated our ANZAC Mass with our community.

Please see below the schedule for Term 2. We hope you can join us for these special occasions.

Mrs Laurainne Marshall
Prayer and Liturgy Co-ordinator

On Thursday 18th May, Oakhill will again participate in a Day of Difference. This annual event provides an opportunity for our staff and students to symbolically "walk in different shoes" and celebrate the diversity of our community.

By wearing different shoes, we recognise that each of us comes from different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences, yet we are all united as members of the Oakhill College community. All students are able to join in this awareness day and wear different shoes.

Mrs Roxanne Leopardi
Youth Ministry Co-ordinator

Over the break, some staff attended the APLEC 2023 conference in North Sydney, which was a momentous reunion for Pacific Asia Regional Conference (PARC) Lasallian family after the pandemic. The conference focused on affirming our lasting legacy and building relationships amount Lasallian educators in the Asia Pacific region. 

Keynote speeches, workshops, and discussions deepened our understanding of Lasallian principles and pedagogy. The conference left a positive impact on the lives of students and marginalized communities, renewed our commitment to the Lasallian mission and inspired us to continue our lasting legacy. 

Mrs Roxanne Leopardi
Youth Ministry Co-ordinator

We are thrilled to announce the opening of Oakhill College's brand-new state-of-the-art Innovation Hub! This impressive building will revolutionise the way our students learn, with cutting-edge TAS (hybrid timber, fabrication, robotics, computer, graphics), Science and laboratory spaces, equipped with the latest technology for unparalleled learning experiences. Despite the challenges presented by COVID and wet weather, the Innovation Hub is now a reality and is the culmination of the College Board and Senior Leadership Team’s tireless work and clear vision that began back in 2017.

Designed to work in harmony with the natural environment as a passive build, the Innovation Hub has the highest sustainability rating available, dramatically reducing our carbon footprint and ensuring no fossil fuels are emitted. The use of timber provides natural heating and cooling, seamlessly integrating the building into the surrounding landscape. The feature curtain wall comprises a unique, double-glazed glass that is perfectly clear, using the very latest in advanced technology. Oakhill's design objectives were clear from the start, with a focus on innovative learning spaces that inspire connectivity and fluidity with the rest of the campus. 

The opening of the building on Saturday 22nd April was a star-studded event, with Her Excellency the Governor of NSW, Margaret Beazley and other esteemed guests in attendance. The day began with a smoking ceremony and a blessing of the building, followed by addresses from dignitaries and a tour of the Innovation Hub. In her powerful speech, Her Excellency highlighted the significant contributions of the De La Salle Brother's to education worldwide and their vision that has influenced our approach to teaching and learning. She emphasised the  critical role our new facility will play in providing innovative learning spaces that inspire, engage, and connect students with their environment and also reflected on her personal Catholic education and the importance of the holistic education that Oakhill provides.

On Monday 24th April, we welcomed members of our community to take a first-hand look at our new Innovation Hub, and we were delighted to see our community's enthusiasm and receive overwhelmingly positive feedback.

We are also extremely grateful to FDC, MostynCopper, BVN, Viridi, Urbis, and DCWC for their professionalism, support and collaboration in creating this magnificent space. 

To view our fly through video, click here: https://youtu.be/xinLCtq75eM

This building represents Stage 3 of Oakhill's Master Plan, with the next two stages being the Canteen and The Commons. We are excited to embark on this new chapter and look forward to seeing our students thrive in these new spaces and reach their full potential.

To read more about our Innovation Hub and the next stages of our Master Plan, please click here: Innovation Hub Booklet

Mrs Gabby Russo
Head of Marketing & Communications

The spirit and tradition of ANZAC Day were celebrated with a full College Commemorative Service on Wednesday last week. The Service, led by our Year 12 College Leaders, began with a procession which included a Scottish Bag Piper and Year 10 Cadets Tom Ankus, Judah Brinsden-Chin, David McGuire and Jackson White. Our College Chaplain, Br Pat gave the ANZAC Day address and Aryan Roy (Year 11) who represented our College as an ANZAC Ambassador at the Castle Hill RSL Dawn Service recited the poem “The War to End All Wars”. The performances of our bugler Darien Sim (Year 12), playing the Last Post and Reveille and the College Choir led by Mrs Olivia Gauci were outstanding. Congratulations to everyone who contributed to making this a solemn and significant occasion. A special mention to Ryder Egan (Year 7), who proudly represented Oakhill College by playing the Last Post and Reveille at the morning St Bernadette’s Church Mass for Anzac Day.

As we remember the sacrifices made by Australian soldiers for freedom, let us not forget people who are suffering the effects of war throughout the world. May we truly appreciate just how fortunate we are. 
 
Lest We Forget.

Mr Robert Munday
Deputy Principal

Aryan Roy (Year 11) was selected as one of four local students to serve as a Castle Hill RSL Sub Branch ANZAC Day Ambassador, and delivered an outstanding speech to a crowd of around 5,000 people at the Dawn Service on ANZAC Day. Notably, Aryan had to handle his given subject, addressing the sacrifices Australian women made during the war with a high level of sensitivity, which he accomplished with great success.

The ANZAC Day Ambassador program is lengthy and rigorous and demands a high level of commitment, sensitivity, research, and dedication. Being selected as an ANZAC Day Ambassador is an immense honour, and Aryan proved himself to be a deserving recipient. Here is his reflection on the experience:

Preparing and practicing for the speech on Anzac Day was a rigorous and lengthy process that fostered extreme growth in public speaking skills and knowledge regarding the Anzac tradition. The journey started with two 3-hour sessions of public speaking training in which we developed our presence, tone, volume, gestures and rhythm whilst speaking. Further impromptu skills were also developed during these sessions in which spontaneous topics were given with very little time to prepare, in an attempt to develop a more efficient and creative thought process while planning a speech. The craft of writing was also explored during these training sessions, in which we analysed famous speeches of the past to understand how to communicate a specific message and engage various aspects of the audience’s attention (ie, emotionally, factually, historically, surprisingly). During this process, I saw major growth in both my speaking and writing.

At the conclusion of these sessions, we were filled in on the topic we will be addressing. As a group we were to explore the Australian experience in the Vietnam war, and specifically, I was asked to explore the experience of women. This specific area was quite different from the others, which were centered around the army, navy and airforce, however, I was ready for the challenge. We were then tasked with researching, which involved using a plethora of reliable sources to develop a wide and thorough understanding. We were also asked to contact and engage in conversation with a number of veterans that would aid us in capturing the more humane aspect of the experience. Through the sub branch, getting in touch with these veterans became possible and it was an interesting experience to be able to hear the firsthand experiences of this time.

We then began to write our speeches. In which we focused on being engaging, respectful and reflective. Many drafts were written and edited with the guidance of the mentors, and we worked towards getting a speech that best embodied the personal message we wished to convey. After they had been polished, we practised them numerous times in front of the group, gaining positive and negative feedback in order to develop our oratory skills but also the individuality of our speeches. We then had to memorise our speech for Anzac Day.

On Anzac Day, waking up early for the dawn service was a thrilling experience and although nerve racking was more exciting, due to the magnitude of the occasion. The speeches allowed us as a representation of youth to commemorate and give life to the Anzac tradition, so that it may survive for many years to come. This same Anzac tradition connects us to the community and the diversity in it, from the veterans to the children and people from all walks of life. The respect we showed was greatly appreciated by the veterans and those in attendance who gave their thanks and praise.

Aryan Roy, Year 11

This year we have two opportunities for our families to attend on Friday 12th May in the College Chapel. Either a morning Mass at 8.00am or Evening Liturgy at 7.00pm. Please book for whichever event you will attend via the links on the invitations below:

Mrs Laurainne Marshall
Prayer & Liturgy Co-ordinator

Marcus and Logan (Year 11) were nominated and accepted to be part of the YMCA Youth Parliament Program. This program is a political education and leadership initiative designed to provide young people with an opportunity to learn about the parliamentary process and engage in discussions and debates on issues of local, national, and global importance. Participants are selected to represent and serve as Members of Parliament, allowing them to gain firsthand experience in policy-making and more. Here are their reflections on this enrichment program so far:

At the beginning of the year, the 2023 YMCA Youth Parliament Program began, where students from across NSW were nominated and selected to participate in an experience immersing them in the culture of law and politics. Young students were selected to represent their schools and local communities in being a young ‘Member of Parliament’ for their respective electorate. We have had the honour and privilege of representing Oakhill College as well as the electorates of Winston Hills and Castle Hill in collaborating with other students from across the state in issues that affect our communities. 

As a part of the program, students were assigned to committees to discuss, debate, and draft legislation that would challenge issues in our local communities. Numerous committees through the program were established, such as Aboriginal Affairs, Business, Climate Change, Education, Employment, Justice, Mental Health, Regional Affairs, Women's Affairs, and Transport and Infrastructure. The Justice Committee became our committee for 2023, where alongside ten other young members of NSW, we debated conflicting issues in our society that we could try and amend through a Bill. 

In the Easter Holidays, we had the opportunity to attend a three day camp where we were introduced and began our process of brainstorming and debating ideas that we thought should be proposed through a new bill; challenging contemporary issues such as the right to protest, adequate legal aid, and power within the police force. During the remainder of the year, committees will undergo ‘Zoom’ meetings and online calls to debate, develop and amend their respective bills, which will be introduced into the Legislative Assembly of Parliament House in the July holidays. During this time, participants will be a part of a one week residential camp where they will travel through NSW Parliament House, talk with members of parliament, and engage in debates and discussions throughout the chambers. 

Overall, our experience of Youth Parliament so far has only just begun, but will continue to develop our skills and interest in understanding contemporary issues in our local communities that affect youth and how to introduce these issues into parliament. We would like to thank Oakhill College for nominating us for this program and giving us an opportunity to represent our local areas in a program that will provide an eye-opening experience to parliament and the legislative process.

Marcus Valjak and Logan Penfold, Year 11

Ms Stella Papavasiliou
Co-ordinator of Gifted & Talented

All Years College photographs will be taken on Wednesday 31st May. If you would like to order photographs for your child/s please follow the instructions below and order through Advanced Life.

On the first day of the school holidays, Oakhill staff, Mr Phil Organ, Mrs Sue Waters, Mr Matthew Rath, Mr Darryl Lowe, Mr Andrew Magee, Mr Glen Mosna, Mr David Newman, Miss Kaylene Zhang, Mrs Marie Hogan, Mr Nathan Skinner, Mr Tyler Thoroughgood and Miss Tiana Visnjik, took 120 students to Cambodia. This trip was an incredible experience for all. Here are some student reflections:

I guarantee that not many people can say that they have tried eating a spider before! Or can say that they got to meet and become friends with people from another country! This year some Year 9 and 10 students were granted the opportunity to go overseas on the 2023 Cambodia Tour.

This 11-day long tour was spread across the two cities, Siem Reap and the Capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh.

On the Cambodia tour, we participated in various activities including riding an ox cart, attending circus plays, visiting museums (such as the land mine museum) and even food tours where we had the opportunity to try new cuisine, an experience I wouldn’t take back for a lifetime. While on the tour, we visited many famous landmarks including the Angkor Wat Temple. Cycling around the temples in Siem Reap was an excellent experience, where we not only learned lots about Cambodian history and culture but also had fun while doing it. The resorts we stayed in, both Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, were beyond this world. I know that on most days I wouldn’t have woken up on time, if I wasn't excited about the delicious breakfast we got to feast on, every single morning!

Though what made this Cambodia Tour special wasn’t the food we ate or the hotels we stayed at each night. What made this Cambodia tour a once-in-a-lifetime experience was the time we spent at Camp Tbeng, serving the community. While spending time at Camp Tbeng we got to see a different side to Cambodia than to what most people see on holidays. In Siem Reap, we served food at the primary schools and got to play with the other teenagers at the high school. We spent one-night planting spring onions in a lady's tiny field. It took us hours to plant the entire field, putting into perspective how much work the Cambodian people have to put in, for the little return they get. To conclude the tour we went to the Lasallian School in Phnom Penh, where we painted new classrooms for the children. Comparing our College to theirs showed how fortunate we are and was the main takeaway from the entire tour for most boys.

The 2023 Cambodia Tour isn’t something that I would take back for the world. The staff were always there to support us, and we got to experience so many different sides of a rich culture. On this trip, we not only made new bonds with the locals but became closer as a group and made many new friendships between ourselves. Cambodia, I can’t wait to come back!

Jacob Tamaro, Year 10

The Cambodia tour is an amazing and fun tour allowing you to look at and participate in Cambodian culture. It is also a great way to connect with your mates over the holidays. During the tour you will help out the community, connect with the locals, try amazing new foods, explore beautiful cultural sights, learn about the history of Cambodia and so much more!

Lucas Medford, Year 10

Our recent trip to Cambodia was both fun and exciting, as we got to engage with the local community and culture, as well as learn about the country’s past, and enjoy some fun games in between.

We arrived in Siem Riep and went to our hotel, the Sokha Resort, which was followed by some sleep. Over the coming days, we went to places like the land mine museum, where we found out about the different land mines that had been used and how they were used. We also found out that there are still millions of untouched land mines around Cambodia that are still active. After that, we went to the Phare Circus Workshop and learned some tricks, which was quite enjoyable. Then for dinner, we went to a buffet while watching a traditional dance performed by local dancers. The following day we went on a food tour throughout Siem Riep and enjoyed many different foods. We then went to a cooking house and cooked some traditional meals and then got to eat them. We followed this up by going to the Phare Circus performance after the meal for some entertainment. The following day we got fitted on bikes and went biking to see some of the famous temples in the area, which included Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm, which was made famous being the filming site of the original Tomb Raider movie, as well as seeing some other temples along the way.

The following day we went to Camp Tbeng, stopping at a temple along the way to receive a blessing from the monks. We then received red strings for our wrists that represented love, strength and protection. We settled into our accommodation at Camp Tbeng before learning about traditional harvesting and farming methods completed by the locals. We also played some games with the local kids. After dinner, we got to do a Q and A with a landmine victim who had lost most of his left leg. The following day after breakfast, we went to one of the local schools and played a game of soccer with the students as well as learned some of their traditional and favourite dances. Then we went and made noodles from scratch and afterwards ate some, and they were very delicious. We then went around to some of the local houses and planted trees there to help restore the landscape. Following this, we played some traditional games which included a game that was very similar to sack racing, as well as a game where we used a stick to hit a pot while blindfolded and being instructed on directions of what to do by our peers. This was followed by sitting around a campfire and talking with our mates, followed by a good night’s sleep.

The following day we had a long bus trip before arriving at our new hotel accommodation, the Sokha Phnom Penh Resort. On the bus ride, we stopped for snacks along the way, which were a good refresher. We then drove around the city in tuk-tuk’s until we got to the place where we were going to have dinner with a nice view of the river that ran through the city. The next day we went on a tuk-tuk to one of the local schools to paint the walls as part of our community service. On the way back to the ferry, we got drenched in water and baby powder as a part of celebrating the Khmer New Year. We then had a refreshing swim in the pool and went out for dinner. The following day we went to the S21 genocide prison, where we discovered the horrors that the locals had to experience while experiencing the Khmer Rouge reign, a communist-era of their history. This was followed by a trip to the killing fields, where they killed an extremely large number of people who were brought to the S21 genocide prison. We then went to the Royal Palace and found out what each of the buildings within the palace was used for, which was followed by a trip to the markets, which were mostly closed due to it being the Khmer New Year. After this we had dinner at one of the restaurants in the hotel and reflected on our time there. We then enjoyed a safe trip back home.

Tristan Nicholson, Year 10

In the April holidays, Mr Jack Rajczyk and Mr Ryan Hamilton took 20 students to the Snowy Mountains to complete their Adventurous Journey component of the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. It was a challenging journey, with many experiences. Here are two students reflections:

The Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award involved a week-long Adventurous Journey, which we embarked on in April at the Kosciuszko National Park. During the first three days, we hiked through Guthega, Charlotte’s Pass, and eventually made it to the summit of Mt Kosciuszko, Australia's highest peak, where we marveled at the breathtaking views above the clouds. The natural environment was awe-inspiring, but we faced major challenges due to the intense weather conditions. Despite the weather challenges, we managed to sleep through 60 km/h winds in subzero temperatures, thanks to the warm layers we had brought along.

For the next four days, we explored a different section of the National Park on Schlinks Trail. The rain and cold weather made it a challenging experience, and we had to spend most nights sleeping in huts. However, we overcame these difficulties as a group, and by the end of the journey, we had hiked a total of approximately 70 km over the week-long adventure.

On our last night, we stayed at the Jindabyne recreation center, where we were delighted to take showers, sleep in dormitories, and enjoy some pizza. After the final night, we were all thrilled to return home, having had an unforgettable journey as part of the Duke of Edinburgh Gold program.

Ian Joye, Year 11

The Duke of Edinburgh Gold was an experience for everyone. The conditions were rough, with rainy weather, slippery grounds, hard winds and very cold. However, we persevered and pushed our way onwards throughout the trip. It really helped us to bond and become a team where we could motivate each other to continue pushing on. 

I remember we had one night where five of us set our tents up next to each other as we volunteered not to sleep in the hut, and the winds were going at 60 km/h. It was funny as what kept us motivated throughout the night to push through it was the reggae playing on the speaker. We had times when we encountered snakes and other animals such as the giant rat that was hiding in the wood shack at one of the huts we stayed at. 

Day 4, we got to have a ‘bath’ and swim in the snowy river, which was colder than anything you could imagine. You’re body went completely numb and you couldn’t feel anything, but it was well worth the clean. That night we also got to see the stars properly and it was a really nice sight which made you stop and reflect. It was good to just get away from civilisation for a bit as you felt as though you had no responsibilities and you could just do your own thing. My favourite part by far on this trip though was when we were climbing Mount Kosciusko and just before the turn off to Thredbo we found piles of fresh snow and had a massive snowball fight. 

I’m thankful for everyone who came on the trip as they made the whole thing enjoyable and worth doing. I was able to become closer with so many people. I’m also thankful for all the extras that were put in behind the scenes by Mr Jack Rajczyk and Mr Ryan Hamilton, who without we couldn’t have completed the trip. I’d recommend doing the Duke of Edinburgh to anyone. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and you create so many memories that I believe will last a lifetime. 

Joshua Farrant, Year 11

During the April break, a group of 71 Oakhill  College Rugby players from Year 11 and 12, accompanied by eight staff members, embarked on an unforgettable 10-day Rugby Tour across the scenic South Island of New Zealand. The tour included stops in Christchurch, Dunedin, and Queenstown, where the group had the opportunity to experience the rich culture and breathtaking landscapes of our neighboring country across the Tasman Sea.

Highlights of the tour included a day at Hanmer Springs, a guided tour of the Crusaders Club House in Christchurch, and an hour spent with All Black players Richie Mo’unga, Sevu Reece, and Sam Whitelock. The team also had coaching sessions with some of New Zealand’s best, experienced the Skyline Gondola and luge ride in Queenstown, and took a boat ride down the Shotover River. Of course, the rugby was a key focus, with the team achieving an overall record of 9 wins versus 3 losses against some of the South Island's best.

The coaches were delighted with the way the boys came together as a group over the ten days, and this bonding was evident on the field. After a couple of years without college tours abroad, every student and staff member that took part in this wonderful New Zealand rugby tour would have come away feeling very grateful for the experience and the memories made.

Mr Aaron Hickey
Director of Student Wellbeing and Management

Our Year 7 students had an incredible time at their camp last term, filled with memorable experiences and new challenges. From bike riding and giant swing to archery and bush activities, and flying fox, the students embraced every opportunity to try new things and push themselves beyond their comfort zones. The lighthouse walk and surfing lessons were a highlight for many, with some students hitting the waves for the first time.

We want to give a big thank you to the dedicated staff who made this camp possible, creating a safe and supportive environment for our students to learn and grow. It was truly an amazing experience that will be remembered for years to come.

Here is one student's reflection on Year 7 Camp:

I think I can speak for most, if not, all, of the Year 7 cohort when I say that Camp Toukley was amazing! There were a plethora of different and unique activities such as: BMX, the Giant Swing, Archery and so much more! If there is a chance that some future Year 7 students are seeing this, I can guarantee it will be an amazing experience filled with lots of friendship and fun.

BMX - I personally do not know how to ride a bike, however the friendly instructors and my amazing classmates helped me power through the course! Sure I fell and got muddy, but it was all a part of the wonderful experience. After all the muddier you got, the more fun you had, we had a term called being a ‘potato’ which my friend and classmate Marcus Yacoub came up with, and despite how it may sound, it was very motivational for me.

Giant Swing - With the giant swing, I personally believe that the giant swing was the very definition of “worth it”, if you don’t go to the top then you might’ve missed out on the fun ragdoll you experience when you fall down after tugging the rope to let you down! Even if you didn’t go on the swing, you still got to be a part of a team to help your classmates get up to their designated swing spot. Take it from me, I had a small fear of heights, but it was definitely worth it to go to the top and feel like the king of the world while swinging around.

Archery - Archery is a great activity and lots of fun, yes it may not be easy straight away, but once you get the hang of it, you can almost hit bullseyes! I only really hit the outer parts of the target but nonetheless it was still fun trying to attempt to hit the target.

Night Games - When other years went to camp they might not have had the same night games, but what our cohort did was, shoe tossing! The game worked like this, everyone was given a number and split into two teams, when the instructor yelled a number, like twenty-seven, the people on either team with the number twenty-seven would have to sit on a chair, take of either of their shoes, and (while sitting down) throw it and either hit the cone where a tennis ball would be resting on and knock of the tennis ball like that for two points, or to just hit the tennis ball without hitting the cone for five points. It was a really fun game, I don’t know if other groups did other games, but I thoroughly enjoyed shoe tossing.

Bush Initiatives - This activity was more fun than I thought it would be, for a quick explanation, it meant working together, collaborating and showing teamwork. It means respectful talking and honesty. We got to experience this during the ‘Swamp Crossing’ activity. We needed to move two planks of wood from stump to stump, eventually reaching the other side, retrieving a ‘golden crocodile egg’ and going back to the start the same way. It was fun, different and (in my opinion) a very good team-building activity.

Lighthouse Walk - Every lighthouse walk is different. I know of a group that saw the rare washed up Port Jackson Shark Eggs, which look really alien-like, but if I can say anything, the view of Norah head beach is outstanding! My group saw the lighthouse getting painted, and on the bushtrail we tried some bush tucker, (it tasted like mint for those who are curious) however some of the coolest things my classmates saw, were a baby albino crab, a sleeping (maybe dead) crab and a jellyfish surrounded by baby tadpoles!

Surfing - You might get sandy but I can guarantee you that it is WORTH IT! Especially with the instructor helping you, there are no limits to what you can do while surfing! My best advice, try to keep your surfboard straight most of the time surfing, and to just give it a go! You don’t need to stand up, you can even be on all-fours on the surfboard, that’s what I did! The waves were beautiful and so was the water, while it is cold at the start, over time it gets warmer and in general just feels nice. Special mention to John who I accidentally crashed into while surfing for not properly keeping my board straight.

Flying Fox - This long zipline was so much fun to go on! It feels like you’re either flying, or in Treetops. Once you get in your harness you can climb up the ladder to a platform where you get hooked up to the zipline. One to four of your friends can race you to the other side of the zipline, most of the time the person on the flying fox won but it was all good fun. You also got to skim across swamp water which was honestly really different to what I was used to with ziplines. Special mention to William who raced me while I was on the flying fox and who helped me get out of the zipline.

Campfire and Lakeside View - I am going to start off by saying that, to enjoy these activities thoroughly, you needed to appreciate your surroundings, while not many in my group may have done that, for the people who did appreciate their surroundings, they got the best experience by the magnificent lake. There were many more stars by the lake than here in the suburbs, and it’s something special that not many people get to see, so I consider myself really lucky to be able to experience that night. That night was also the night I roasted my very first marshmallow over a campfire! The secret is to at first put it low into the flame and close to the wood to give it a charcoal-y crunch, then (before it catches on fire) you put it in the smoke to give the crust a smoky taste and to make the inside extra gooey.

Crate Climbing - In crate climbing, there are three components to your team, the builders, the climbers, and the anchor team. The builders had to help build the crates up to a tower in a special way to get the climbers to the highest point they can get, the climbers’ job was to keep their balance and not wobble which made their tower fall down, lastly the anchor teams job was to keep a rope tight to not let their climbing teammate plummet to the ground if they wobbled so much the tower fell over. I was one of the ones that wobbled too much and let the tower fall, however at the end of my climbing round both teams tied with a seven crate tower. At the end, the builders got to knock over the crate tower as the climber gracefully glided down to the ground. Special mentions to Antoine and Lachlan who were great help with stacking.

Camp Toukley was truly an amazing experience, one that I’ll never forget, if it weren’t for our amazing teachers and instructors at CC Camps then this wouldn’t have been possible. Very special thank you to Ms Lillian Marokakis for organising our amazing camp, the whole cohort is so grateful for your time and effort, and thank you to our Tutor Teachers for giving up their time with their families to come along with us on this trip of a lifetime! I wish you all the best.

Angelo Chichizola, Year 7

We are pleased to announce that our special guest speakers for our Sports Lunch on Friday 16th June will be none other than rugby legends Mr Matt Dunning and Mr Phil Waugh! They'll be sharing their stories, tips, and insights on how to become a champion both on and off the field. We've also got some fantastic entertainment lined up, including a hilarious stand-up comedy performance by Tahir and a musical act by the talented Rob Shehadie! Our MC Host for the day will Mr Tim Gilbert, so with this fabulous line up of stars, you don't want to miss out. Ticket sales are via: www.trybooking.com/CGTRB

To assist in the day's success, we are asking for donations of any items or services that can be used as auction items and raffle prizes. Your donation can be something as simple as a gift certificate from your business, a voucher, accommodation, travel, gift hampers etc. All goods and services that are donated will be used on the day and will assist greatly with our fundraising efforts.

All participating businesses will be featured in our Sports Lunch Event Program and featured in various College communications to recognise your contribution. In addition, each program contains a "Support our Supporters" listing highlighting your businesses' contact details.

We are also offering Gold, Silver and Bronze Sponsorship Packages for the Sports Lunch which represent exceptional value for money for local businesses. 

If you can assist with any form of prize donation, you can donate by:

* Contacting Ms Kylie Farrell at rugby.social@oakhill.nsw.edu.au or 0415 525 081

* Completing the Sport Lunch Donation Form: https://form.jotform.com/231151900643042

*  Bringing any items to the Sports Office located in the CSC

If you would like to take up a sponsorship proposal or would like further information on the event, please contact our event organisers WiseHart Events at: oakhillsportslunch@wisehartevents.com or contact me directly at awisemantel@oakhill.nsw.edu.au.

All proceeds from the event will go towards improving our school's sports facilities and equipment, so come along and show your support for a great cause!

Mr Andrew Wisemental
Head of Sport

The Agriculture Show Team had a great week at the Royal Easter Show 2023, Year 11 and 12 starting the week and Years 7-10 joining the team on the weekend. This was the largest number of steers for Oakhill for the past few years and the students worked extremely hard to ensure they were prepared for competition. This year's feature breed was Speckle Park and were fortunate to have a Speckle Park steer entered. It was a huge show with up to 30 in each category. We were awarded with the following results:

• 2nd Place Speckle Park Infused Steer
• Reserve Champion Speckle Park Infused Steer 
• 3rd Place Junior Parader - Luca Compton
• 4th Place School Parader - Alex Compton
• 1st Place Lightweight Softfeather Hen
• Champion Lightweight Softfeather Hen
• 1st Place Poultry Showmanship - Harrison Mayhew
• Champion Poultry Showmanship - Harrison Mayhew
• Bronze Medal - Lightweight Purebred Carcase

It was a fantastic week for the Show Team and it was wonderful to see so many Oakhill alumni help out and visit the display.

Ms Stellina Trestrail
Co-ordinator or Agriculture

We welcomed back to Oakhill this week, Mr Connor O'Reilly (Class of 2022) who was the recipient of the UTS Bachelor of  Accounting Scholarship which commenced this year.

Connor generously shared his experiences so far and his top tips and advice to students on how to secure this highly sought after scholarship.

Oakhill's Mother's Day Stall is on again on Thursday 11th May in the Miguel Lecture Theatre Undercroft. Sales will be cash only. Come along and buy something for your special mother/carer.

Oakhill College is having a College Tour on Thursday 11th May at 9.30am. Please share with any prospective families who may be interested. Bookings can be made here: https://oc-au-nsw-340.app.digi...

On Thursday 4th May, Year 10 participated in the Minimum Standards test in reading. 100% of Year 10 boys who sat the Reading test yesterday passed and 292 of the 294 boys (99.3%) who sat the Numeracy test passed. This is our best result and would be remarkable for any school including the best of the best.

The College reading initiatives in the past years, including the Years 7-12 Reading Boost, have contributed to improved reading habits and our NAPLAN, Minimum Standards and HSC results.

This month Enhanced Learning Educational Services offers practical tips to improve student's handwriting. This is an essential skill that can be improved with practice.

Mr Gavin Russell
Assistant Principal Curriculum

Oakhill College will be embarking on the Year 11, 2024 subject selection process over the coming months. Year 10, students and parents, please note the following dates:

• Wednesday 7th June - Year 10 Parent Teacher Interview Bookings Open

  Parent portal opens for bookings
  
  

• Thursday 8th June - Year 11 2024 Subject Information Evening
  4.00pm – 6.30pm
  Subject information evenings are designed to assist in making sound subject choices based on academic ability and future career aspirations. 
  Subject showcase commences at 4.00pm and concludes at 6.15pm.
  Subject information presentations will be held at 4.15 and repeated at 6.15pm. Further information on how to make a booking for the presentations will be shared shortly.
  
  

• Friday 9th June - Year 10 Reports are Published
  Semester One Academic Reports are published on the student and parent portals.
  
  

• Tuesday 13th June - Year 10 Parent Teacher Interviews
  Parent, student and teacher Interviews between 4.00pm and 8.30pm in the CSC.
  
  

• Wednesday 14th June - Year 11 2024 Subject Preferences Open Online at 6.00pm
  Follow the instructions provided in the information pack issued provided on Thursday 8th June. 
  
  

• Friday 16th June - Year 11 2024 Subject Preferences Close at 6.00pm

Further details will be provided to students in the coming weeks.

Any queries regarding this process should be directed to the curriculum office curriculum@oakhill.nsw.edu.au.

This year, Oakhill College has entered all students in Year 7 and 8 into the Web Comp Coding competition. It is an opportunity for students to learn HTML and CSS Coding and compete with other students around the world. Students need to login to GROK, which they use in Technology Classes. The course and competition is self paced and runs for five weeks with new units each week and starts on Monday 8th May.

Web.Comp is a 4-week competition, followed by a one-week Design Tournament. In the competition, students learn design principles and HTML/CSS, the powerful building blocks needed to build a website from scratch.

Web.Comp has two components:

1. "Learn" is a four-week series of challenges where students learn as they go along. Each week, there will be a new release of interactive notes with the information students will need to complete the week's web design challenges. Students earn points for completing problems and claim a place on the leaderboard - participants will receive certificates for their results in this competition. 
2. The "Tournament" is a week-long competition where students can design their own web pages and submit their creations to compete against other students' designs. They can also vote for their favourites. This Tournament begins on Monday 5th June.

Mr Brian Johnson
TAS Teacher

At the end of Term 1, the SRC organised for the production and sales of cupcakes and cookies to raise money for Caritas Australia.  Caritas Australia is committed to tackling poverty and inequality and each year the College will look for opportunities to raise awareness and support these efforts. 

The enthusiasm for the cause was something to behold as the SRC members dedicated their spare time to bake or bring the goodies and sell them around the College to the students, who were more than happy to snap them up. Thank you to all the SRC members that contributed their time and efforts and of course to all the Oakhill students that supported the cause through their donations and purchases. 

Over three days the College SRC raised $620 for Caritas Australia through cupcake sales. Year 9 raised a whopping $870 with the cohort captains hosting a BBQ.  

A fantastic, collective effort.

Mr Aaron Hickey
Director of Student Wellbeing & Management

We were thrilled to have Susan, Australia's leading expert in cyber safety and young people, as part of the Oakhill College community. With 27 years of experience as a member of Victoria Police, Susan earned the nickname 'Cyber Cop' for her groundbreaking work in the field.

Susan is uniquely qualified to advise on cyber safety, with extensive knowledge, expertise, and qualifications that are unmatched in Australia. Her sought-after keynote presentations, papers, and professional development sessions helped educate educators and youth stakeholders on this crucial issue.

Oakhill College staff and students were fortunate to benefit from Susan's years of wisdom. In addition to her work with the College, Susan provides consultancy services to a wide range of organisations, including government and non-government bodies, adolescent psychologists, magistrates, sporting bodies, corporate entities, law firms, mental health bodies, and medical practitioners.

We were honoured to have Susan as part of our community and grateful for the opportunity to learn from her expertise in cyber safety and young people.

Ms Deborah Gillis
Assistant Principal - Pastoral Care 

The Student Representative Council (SRC) is organising Do It For Dolly Day on Friday 12th May. Students can be in a gold coin donation and there will small blue ribbon pins handed out, and discussions around this event.

Over the coming newsletters, we will get to know different teachers and find out what they are reading and what they think about reading. This fortnight we focus on the Oakhill College Deans. 

Year 7 Dean - Mr John Williams

I go through stages of reading certain types of books. Previously I enjoyed books about people surviving concentration camps and World War II. I enjoyed reading the Lee Child (Jack Reacher) books, and most of the Dan Brown books.

I enjoy reading autobiographies. Including ‘Scar Tissue’ by Anthony Kiedis (red hot chili peppers), John Daly, Wolf of Wall Street, David Goggins (audiobook), Marching Powder (prison inmates from drug cartel)

At the moment I am reading The Storyteller by Dave Grohl.

Year 10 Dean - Mr Murray Fisher

The book I am currently reading is about Wayne Bennett. The most successful coach in NRL history, this book was first published in 2002. It is not an autobiography, rather, it is his philosophies on life, coaching and playing sport. He draws inspiration from a variety of other sources, both involved in sports and separate. I often have a pencil handy to underline key points or phrases which resonate with me. I have read this book multiple times and always find something new which piques my interest.

Benildus Dean - Mr David Newman

I love reading books on war history, Australian history, biographies, financial and self help/health books and phantom comics! 

Solomon Dean - Mrs Sue Waters

I love to read as it takes me away from reality and allows me to go to completely different places and times. It gives me some downtime where I can let my imagination form the pictures and relaxes me.

Students are encouraged to approach their Dean and ask them what they are reading.

Mrs Tania Moriarty
Academic Head of Library

Tutor Groups received an incoming message from Br Steve at the Oakhill College Command Centre this week. Br Steve conducted a launch countdown to mark the beginning of Reading Boost 2023. Our Year 7 and 8 students are now on their reading journeys, with the first reading challenge completed on the sun!

WANTED READING ROLE MODELS!!

PARENTS CAN EARN MERITS AND COME TO AN EXCLUSIVE MORNING TEA!!

To support our students, we would like to invite parents and teachers to complete the Reading Boost challenges, too!

How can YOU be a reading role model, earn merits for your child and go to an exclusive morning tea? Well, it’s easy!

1. Go to our PJ Walsh Library Website and click on Reading Boost 2023.

2. Scroll down to BE A READING ROLE MODEL and click on PARENTS SIGN UP HERE.

3. Complete the Google Form to register and wait for an email from our friendly Library Staff.

We look forward to celebrating with students and parents who successfully complete their Reading Boost portfolio by the end of Term Three.

Happy Reading!

Oakhill College Library

Congratulations to the Intermediate Theatre Sports Team (Hamish Zlotkowski - Year 10, Cameron Longworth Year - 10, Oliver McNamara - Year 9 and Arnav Singh - Year 9) who competed in the competition round held at Tara Anglican on Tuesday 2nd May. The team performed amazingly, taking on all improvised challenges with imagination, skill and joy. Oakhill competed in a tough round against the following schools:

• Tara Anglican School for Girls
• Mount St Josephs College
• Saint Ignatius College
• Shore
• Green Acre Anglican College
• Pymble Ladies College
• Roseville College
• Girraween High School

A big Thank YOU! to our Theatre Sports Coaches, Mr Philip Joseph and Mr James Ransome-Haberley (Class of 2022) for their brilliant mentorship. We also congratulate the following schools for progressing to the Semi-Finals:

• Tara Anglican
• Shore
• Roseville College
• Saint Ignatius College 

Mr Warren Flanagan 
Academic Head of Drama

Get ready to be entertained because Oakhill College Performing Arts is excited to present Monty Python's Spamalot! Join us for a night of laughter, music, and unforgettable moments as we bring this hilarious musical to life.

Our talented actors have been rehearsing for weeks to make this performance an unforgettable experience. Tickets are on sale: www.trybooking.com/CHHWN

Mr Warren Flanagan
Academic head of Drama

Student Achievement of the Week

With so many exemplary achievements in Sport over the last month, it is hard to pick just one or two performances. Ned Cane (Year 10) is one student that has excelled back-to-back. At the Australian Age Swimming Championships during the holidays, Ned made the final in all five of his individual events and won a silver medal in the U15 200m breaststroke and a bronze in the 100m breaststroke. He then joined a good number of his Oakhill Swim Team at the CIS Carnival this week and collected another three medals. Ned had other Oakhill students by his side at both Carnivals, but for his consistency, Ned gets student achievement of the week.

Maddie Breatnach (Year 11) competed at the State Interschool Equestrian Championships during the school holidays. Maddie’s events were in Dressage and Jumping, representing Oakhill in fine style. Maddie has qualified to represent NSW in Victoria later in the year. Well done Maddie and good luck in representing your State later this year. Maddie’s performance at these Championships is a well-deserved achievement of the week.

Congratulations to the following students who made the ISA Representative Football teams: Harvey James, Christian Milicevic, James Ord, Julian Rodriguez, Jacob Sullivan, Kyah Williams, Angelina Graiche, Caterina Mazzotta, Tayla Milicevic, Madeleine Nolan-Shadow, Ashlee Woolford, and Hamza Bangash.

Oakhill Sports Lunch

Save the date – Friday 16th June. Tickets on sale via: www.trybooking.com/CGTRB.

Mr Andrew Wisemantel
Head of Sport

Our Gala Day on Saturday 22nd July and is a day of fun for the whole family. A day full of sports, rides, food and market stalls, books, baskets and so much more. 

This year the P&F is raising money for the refurbishment of some of the facilities in the Centenary Sports Center (CSC) and pool and the acquisition of additional outdoor furniture and AV equipment for the new campus precinct. As well, 10% of the total profits will go to the La Salle Technical College, Hohola and The Breakfast Club in Papua New Guinea. 

Click here for more information on Gala Day

The Oakhill College Parents and Friends Association is excited to announce that the major Gala Day Raffle prize is a 2023 white Hyundai i30 Hatch PD V4 2.0l GDi 6-speed. This automatic car comes with a 5-year manufacturer's warranty, has premium plates, 12 months registration, CTP greenslip and stamp duty included – valued at $28,990.

Gala Day Raffle tickets are on sale now until Saturday 22nd July 1:45pm and are only $10. The raffle will be drawn at 2:50pm (time may vary as stipulated in our terms and conditions).

Tickets can be purchased via the Trybooking link: https://www.trybooking.com/CHHXK

Krispy Kreme pre-orders are also open and donuts can be collected on Gala Day on Saturday 22nd July from 9.30am-1.30pm.

We thank our community for their support of these incredible initiatives that greatly assist the College in upgrading the facilities.

Ms Carina Morales
Oakhill College P&F Treasurer

Isaac Beacroft (Year 11) has broken yet another Australian record, this time in the U18 5000m race walk. This incredible achievement comes after he broke the U16 3000m race walk record last December, which had stood for almost 27 years. Isaac's new record is all the more impressive given that he only started competing in the 5000m distance recently, and had only had a four-week block of training due to injury.

In addition to his remarkable achievements on the track, Isaac is also pursuing AFL at the Greater Western Sydney AFL Academy. Great work Isaac!

Congratulations to Marcus Campagna (Year 11) for his feature in the Sydney Hills Focus. Marcus was interviewed, as he and his sister Alessandra were Young Citizens of the Year Awards finalists at the Hills Shire’s 2023 Australia Day Awards. The nominations came about due to the volunteer work that they do for Ward Angels, a non for profit organisation that provides essential items and gifts to families during hospital stays. They have also raised money for several other local charities, including The Hills Women's Shelter Sanctuary, youth homelessness initiative and Sleep Under the Stars to name a few.

You can read Marcus's full article here. 

Over the Easter long weekend, five students from Oakhill College played in the Baseball NSW State Championships in Warriewood. 

• Mitch Howay (Year 7) 
• Lachlan Meehan (Year 7)
• Luke Hobbs (Year 8) 
• Spencer Kelly (Year 8) 
• Cooper Smith (Year 8) 
• Hunter Lennox (Year 8)

Hills played Ryde in the Grand final (with Hills winning 5-1) however both teams have qualified for Nationals in under 13s. 

These young men will represent NSW as they battle it out for the National title in Mildura on May. The winner of that tournament will go on to represent Australia at the World Series in California in July. 

Congratulations to you! 

Congratulations to Dominic Fedele, (Class of 2022) who has won the coveted ICMS Professional Scholarship. The selection process is highly competitive and involves a written application and two rounds of panel interviews with senior college executives and sponsor partners. Recipients are chosen based on outstanding academic or extra-curricular achievements, ability to overcome adversity, strong acumen, and significant contributions to the community.

Well done Dominic! 

We are pleased to share the news that four Oakhill alumni – Dom and Raf De Stradis (Class of 2021), Pat Spence and Reilly Canning (Class of 2022) - played in the Parramatta Eels SG Ball Grand Final and emerged as 2023 Champions! Also coached by a past parent Steve O’Dea, dad of Jim (Class of 2017).

This is a remarkable achievement, and we congratulate them and the Parramatta Eels team!

Mr Andrew Scarsbrook (Class of 2019) has been awarded the Champion Senior Judge and Grand Champion at the 2023 Hawkesbury Show, following his Reserve Champion Senior Judge title last year. Andrew's outstanding achievement was accompanied by a perfect score of 50/50 for his oral presentation, a testament to his dedication and hard work. 

Andrew also continues to work closely with Oakhill's Show Team and is a mentor to our students.

We also have a flashback photo of Andrew as a Year 8 student in the first picture.

We congratulate Andrew on this well-deserved recognition of his talent and commitment to excellence, and we look forward to seeing his continued success in the future.

Mrs Samantha Watson 
Marketing Officer