Volume Fourteen, Friday 27th September 2024

Greetings,

Year 12, 2024 graduated on Thursday 26th September marking the end of their school years. We wish them the very best for their HSC exams in October and all their future endeavours. Fittingly, they have now become the Oakhill Graduate firmly grounded, knowing life’s journey is not always predictable or clearly defined. With strength of spirit they strive for what matters, looking out for each other. They are up for the challenge, they are good and kind, and just.

A favourite song of mine is ‘Count on Me’ by Bruno Mars.

You can count on me like 1, 2, 3, I’ll be there.
And I know when I need it, I can count on you like 4, 3, 2,
you’ll be there for that’s what friends are supposed to do.

Life will not be predictable, there will be challenges, but hopefully the Oakhill College experience and the culture of mateship mean each and every graduate, can count on friends and mates like 4, 3, 2, for Oakhill College and her broader community will always be their home.

Another favourite song of mine is, ‘Lord, I need you’, by Matt Maher.

Lord, I need you, Oh, I need you.
Every hour, I need you.
My one defense, my righteousness,
Oh God, how I need you.

We are never alone.

We sing this song often at the College in a quiet, deep and spiritual way. I believe it is about both friends you can count on but also the contentment of an inner life that can help when we may feel all is too much. At Oakhill College the spiritual wellbeing is as important as the physical, emotional and academic wellbeing. We all need the strength of spirit within when life’s journey is not easy, predictable or clearly defined.

May you all have a blessed holiday with special family times. I am looking forward to meeting students refreshed and ready to do their best again in Term 4.

Br Steve Hogan fsc
Principal

All neurosis is an attempt to avoid legitimate suffering.

Karl Jung

High emotional intelligence teaches us to not bother with the why question when suffering comes our way.
Our energy needs to be directed to picking the best option we have to deal with inevitable suffering.
Compassion for those who are suffering is a gift we all need to offer each other at such times.

We pray for Mrs Carmel Christie (staff member) and her family. Carmel’s mother, Mrs Yvonne Gangemi, passed away on Friday 20th September after being unwell for some time. Mrs Gangemi had strong connections to Oakhill College, Carmel and her three siblings attended Oakhill College and Mrs Gangemi’s three grandson’s also attended Oakhill College.

Please keep Carmel and her extended family in your thoughts.

Eternal rest to Mrs Gangemi, O Lord.
May the celestial lights shine upon her; and
The angels come to greet her.
May she rest in peace.

The Year 12 retreat was a profound experience for all 62 students who chose to participate. Centered around the theme of 'Who am I?' and 'Where to next?', the retreat offered a unique opportunity for self-discovery and reflection at a pivotal moment in the student's lives.

From the outset, the atmosphere was one of openness and support. The small groups, facilitated by Mrs Leopardi, Mr Goodman, Mr Domars, Ms Bocasan and Ms Papallo, allowed for deep, meaningful conversations. Each facilitator brought their unique perspective and insights, creating a safe space where the students could explore their identities and aspirations. Through guided discussions, students delved into their values, passions, and the challenges they face as they stand on the brink of adulthood.

The evening liturgy was particularly moving. It provided a moment of spiritual connection, allowing all to reflect on the journeys and path ahead. The serene ambiance created by the flickering candlelight served as a metaphor for the illumination of the student's futures. It was a reminder that, despite uncertainties, they all have the potential to navigate their paths with courage and purpose.

The sing-along by the campfire was a highlight of the retreat, fostering a sense of community and joy. Singing together not only lifted spirits but also reinforced the bonds they share as a cohort. In those moments, everyone celebrated their individuality while also recognising the strength of collective experience.

Overall, the Year 12 retreat was more than just an event; it was a transformative experience that encouraged students to reflect on who they are and where they want to go. As Year 12 move forward into the next chapter of their lives, the insights gained and the connections made during this retreat will undoubtedly guide them. Students left with a renewed sense of purpose, equipped with the knowledge that they are not alone on this journey. The support of their peers and teachers will continue to light the way as they step into the future.

Mrs Roxanne Leopardi
Coordinator of Lasallian Youth Ministry 

The announcement of new leaders is always an exciting time at the College, with new ideas, aspirations and hopes for the year ahead. Below we hear from the 2025 College leaders, gaining an understanding of what makes them our leaders of the future.

College Captains

Hi, my name is Christian Attard and I am honoured to have been elected as one of the College Captains for 2025. Oakhill has an amazing sense of community, and has become a family I am so proud to be a part of. Since starting in Year 7 after attending Our Lady of the Angel's Primary School, I have taken every opportunity to involve myself in all aspects of the College, from representing the College in networking events, supporting our sports teams, participating in service, being a part of Walk the Talk, to competing in the Battle of the Bands.

I have enjoyed playing soccer since I was four years old and have always been a huge Tottenham fan. I also love spending time with family and friends. Music has always been my passion and I have loved playing guitar since I was a young kid. The Beatles have been my source of inspiration, and our College Performing Arts Department has given me the opportunity to learn, grow and represent Oakhill in many school events. I enjoyed participating in my first College Musical this year, Mamma Mia!, stepping outside my comfort zone, having so much fun, and forming some amazing and strong friendships across all grades.

It has been a privilege to attend Oakhill College. Although I am not looking forward to finishing next year and leaving what has become my home away from home, I am thrilled to work with the amazing 2025 leadership team and the younger students of the College, to continue to maintain the strong standard to which our school represents.

Greetings Oakhill Community, my name is Nicky Williams, and I am extremely excited to introduce myself as one of the 2025 College Captains. I previously attended Crestwood Primary School and High School, before making the move to Oakhill College. Transferring to Oakhill was a big step out of my comfort zone, but one of the best decisions of my life, as I have loved and cherished every minute of this amazing opportunity. I’ve especially enjoyed getting involved in a variety of extra-curricular activities that have been presented to me, some of which include playing both 1sts Netball and Touch Football, participating in The Ration Challenge and the LWOB trip to Fiji, which I’m looking forward to attending at the end of the month. Additionally, joining the ‘Called to Serve’ program has opened yet another door to a great variety of opportunities where I’ve been able to give back to the community, the College and to God, through service like the Door Knock Appeal, scribing for the trial HSC exams and reading prayers at Masses on Friday mornings. My favourite subjects include PDHPE and Maths, where I’m able to collaborate with my classmates and teachers to work towards those glorious Band 6s that we all desire. As a 2025 College Captain, I’m aiming to continue to work with all of the members of this wonderful community in order to adhere to our Lasallian values and strengthen the College as a whole.

College Vice-Captains

Hello, I’m Bernadette Laird (but everyone calls me Bernie) and I’m thrilled to serve alongside Flynn Farrell as one of your Vice-Captains for 2025! Transitioning from Gilroy College to Oakhill and committing to all the extra curriculars/service here has been one of the best decisions I’ve made thus far. A performer at heart, I’ve managed to involve myself in many aspects of College life including Mamma Mia!, Battle of the Bands, the upcoming Senior Play and the many choirs here on offer. Even with all of this to juggle, I’ve still managed to work hard at my studies, achieve results I’m proud of and enjoy spending time with my family and friends. Importantly, I feel that I’ve met some truly incredible people from all grades and I’m so grateful that this role will allow me to connect with more. There’s so much that I hope I can contribute to in this wonderful Oakhill culture. I can’t wait to work with and see what this fantastic team does in the coming year!

Hi, My name is Flynn Farrell and I am one of the College Vice Captains for 2025. I went to St Paul the Apostle Primary School and have attended Oakhill College since Year 7. I have always loved the fostering culture at the College which made me want to apply for leadership, and I am so excited to work with our team this year. Some of the things I enjoy are spending time with friends and family, and watching the footy. I have been involved in the Door Knock Appeal, Open Days, and attending Mass every Friday morning, these activities have given me the skills to be a leader at the College. I have also participated in Rugby at Oakhill, and was lucky enough to represent the 1st XV this year which has been an amazing experience and a chance for me to work in a team at the highest level, which I hope to bring to our leadership group. I am passionate about my academics, my favourite subjects are Economics and Maths. The Oakhill College community is extremely cultivating and I aim to encourage all students at the College to make the most of the opportunities Oakhill provides them.

Sports Captains

Hi, my name is Mollie Faehrmann, and I am excited to be the Girls Sports Captain for 2025. Since moving to Oakhill College, I have been eager to participate in all opportunities offered, including service, mission and sports. I have been extremely grateful for these opportunities offered to me, including my upcoming Lasallians Without Borders trip to India. Sport has always been a passion of mine, developing my skills and gaining new friendships along the way. I have played multiple sports from a young age, playing representative Basketball at Hills Hornets for the past eight years. I am part of the 3rds Netball team, and was recently selected for the 1st V Basketball team and the Girls Rugby 7s squad for the upcoming year. Through sport, I have learnt the importance of determination and teamwork, which I aim to share and develop further as a leader at the College. As Sports Captain I would love to continue fostering the Lasallian spirit, encouraging students of all skill sets to be involved in sports. Continuing on from the awesome work set by Charlotte Hayward and Joe Harvey in 2024, I want to continue building the girls' sporting culture, encouraging all girls to participate as much as possible, whilst developing a fun and enjoyable environment for all students. I look forward to working with Sam this coming year!

Hi, I am Sam Kable, and I am extremely thrilled to say that I am one of the Oakhill College Sports Captains for 2025, alongside Mollie Faehrmann. I’ve been at Oakhill College since Year 7, and prior to that, I went to St Michael's Primary School. When I was five years old, I picked up my first rugby ball and ran out for Hills Junior Rugby. Since then, I've played over 11 years of Rugby, Football, Oz Tag, Touch Football, Swimming and Athletics. The best part is, I have loved every second of it. These sports have allowed me to develop my ability to work with a team, as well as communicate and cooperate effectively with those around me. These qualities only enhance my desire and ability to lead both among sport, and the wider community.

Coming to Oakhill was easily the best decision my family and I have made in regards to my academic, sporting and social life. The opportunities I have been offered here are outstanding which include College Tours to England and Italy, representative pathways for sport and access to quality facilities in the ovals, gym and PDHPE classrooms. I'm looking forward to a strong year ahead, where I will continue to develop and improve Oakhill's incredible sporting culture.

Lasallian Captains

Hi, I am Nathan Colaco, and I am privileged to be partnered as one of the 2025 Lasallian Captains. I attended primary school at St Bernadette's and have been a true blue Oakhill student since Year 7. Oakhill has always amazed me with the vast opportunities and extracurriculars on offer. If you can’t find me in the yard or on the tennis court, you’ll be sure to catch me at one of the activities around the College. My favourite subjects are Maths and Sciences, and I am very passionate about school and my studies, completing the Mathematics Accelerated course very soon. My message to the coming students is to seize every opportunity and get involved in our College's diverse activities. Other than representing ISA in Tennis, I dabble in a bit of piano and chess. Notably too, I’m a sucker for card games, so be sure to catch up with me at OakClub. These October holidays I am lucky enough to pay a visit to Fiji on the LWOB tour, which I cannot wait to experience. I’m excited to be a leader this year and be your go-to guy. I can’t wait to meet you all and be sure to run anything by me anytime!

Hi, My name is Andre Dabit, and I’m truly honoured to serve as one of the 2025 Lasallian Captains alongside Nathan Colaco. I began my educational journey at Kellyville Public school through Kindergarten to Year 3 and then moving to Our Lady of the Angels in Rouse Hill for Years 4-6 and have since been part of the Oakhill community since Year 7 in 2020. In my free time, I focus on three main passions: cherishing moments with my family, lending a hand to those in need, and exploring my interests in business, building, development, and graphics. Industrial Technology Graphics is my favourite subject, reflecting my enthusiasm for creative and technical challenges. My involvement in various religious and service activities at school, such as church readings, mission initiatives, and organising bible study groups, has been incredibly fulfilling. My grandfather, who established the Australian Palestinian community over 50 years ago, has profoundly influenced my values and work ethic. His legacy drives me to honour his contributions and strive to make a positive impact in the same spirit. Oakhill College has been instrumental in shaping who I am today, through the unwavering support and guidance from the staff that has encouraged me to reach my fullest potential. I'm excited about the opportunity to join the Debating and Public Speaking teams in 2025 and am enthusiastic about working closely with Nathan and the entire Oakhill leadership team.

Music Captain

My name is Jack Tyzack and I am the Oakhill College Music Captain for 2025. I have loved being a part of various College bands, ensembles, Musicals and College assemblies/events. I love learning new instruments, and can now play over seven instruments.  I want to help show the joy of performing to everyone. As Music Captain, I will encourage and support all Year groups in any way possible for performing arts at Oakhill. I believe that this department can give so much to individuals and I aim to help amplify the amount of people affected positively by music. I am excited to work closely with Joshua Vaz (Drama Captain 2025), to achieve these goals.

Drama Captain

Hi, my name is Joshua Vaz and I am absolutely thrilled to have the honour of serving as the Drama Captain for the upcoming year. I have found an immense amount of joy in participating in many ensembles and events over the years. I have played many lead roles in previous Oakhill College plays and musicals and am a multi-instrumentalist. I am convinced of the performing arts' capacity to change lives and am confident it can make a good difference in ours. I'm looking forward to working closely with Jack Tyzack (Music Captain, 2025) to create an environment, not only in our department but throughout the entire school, that inspires enjoyment and creativity, giving every student the support and encouragement they need to pursue their passion for the arts. Can’t wait to see you all next year!

Benildus Captains

Hi Oakhill! We are the Benildus House Captains of 2025, Eva Cooper and Connor Calleja. We feel very privileged and honoured to have the opportunity to represent our house alongside Mr Newman this year. We are more than excited to lead Benildus across all Year groups, and are prepared for what's ahead of us.

Hi, my name is Connor Callega and I am honoured to join Eva Cooper as one of the Benildus Captains for 2025. Throughout my time at Oakhill, I have embraced the wide array of opportunities the College offers, particularly in sports. I had the privilege of representing the 16A’s Football team and the 2nd V Basketball team before my sporting journey was unexpectedly paused due to an ATFL tear. As a Captain, my goal is to inspire all students to step outside their comfort zones and get involved in every opportunity that comes their way. During my time at Oakhill, maintaining a healthy balance between academics and social life has allowed me to gain new perspectives and shape my priorities. I’m excited to share these insights with all of you. I look forward to collaborating across all year levels, bringing fresh ideas and solutions to strengthen our Oakhill community.

My Name is Eva Cooper, and I am super excited to join Connor as one of the Benildus Captains for 2025. I attended Mt St Benedict College from Years 7-10 so moving from an all-girls school to Oakhill College was a big change. I was lucky enough to start attending classes at Oakhill in Year 10 as part of the accelerated Religion program and since then have felt so incredibly welcomed by the community here. I have loved involving myself in service opportunities, especially volunteering as part of the hair and makeup team for the Musical, where I had so much fun meeting new people across all grades of Oakhill. This year, I am excited to be a part of the Girls 2nds Basketball team and to support my friends playing in their sports for the College. At school, my favourite subjects are Legal Studies and Chemistry and my goal for this year, alongside leading Benildus, is to aim for a high ATAR and push myself to meet all of the challenges that Year 12 brings. I look forward to helping to inspire the students of Oakhill, to push themselves to rise to the challenges they are faced with and take advantage of the opportunities they are so lucky to have as part of the Oakhill community.

Solomon House Captains

My name is Imogen Harding (my friends call me Immy) and I moved to Oakhill College from Marian Catholic College Kenthurst at the beginning of the year. Since joining the College I have embraced College life, endeavouring to immerse myself in every aspect of the Oakhill community as possible. In the upcoming school holidays I have been given the chance to travel to India for the Lasallians Without Borders immersion trip and am blessed to be partaking in such an impactful experience. A little bit about me: I am the middle child of three (a twin and younger sister), I love to cook and play sports as well as spend time with my friends and family. I am extremely honoured to be a leader for the coming year, and will strive to continue the Solomon legacy by embracing the College and core Lasallian values. I am looking forward to leading Solomon alongside Sam Baker, encouraging House spirit and hopefully walking away with a victory. It has been an amazing journey so far and I cannot wait to see what the coming year brings us!

Hi my name is Samuel Baker and I am fortunate enough to be elected as one of the Solomon House Captains for 2025 alongside Imogen Harding. Originally I’m from Cherrybrook Public school and have been a part of the Oakhill College community since Year 7. Although it was a weird change from public to private school, Oakhill has made this change super easy. Oakhill has allowed me to flourish in areas of school life, in sport and in faith. I played Rugby in Years 8 and Year 9, Football in Year 10 and potentially have the opportunity to play in the First V Basketball team. I thoroughly enjoy Legal Studies and PDHPE, as for the future I want to obtain a law degree and play professional Basketball. I participated in the Ration Challenge, while this was a great opportunity to test my faith and mental strength, it allowed me to grasp an understanding of why I was actually rationing. I highly encourage all students to actively participate in service for the College because a little goes a long way, even if you do not see the outcome. The ultimate goal for Solomon is to win all the sporting House competitions. This winning mindset is important and I encourage students to continue to represent our House with that Solomon spirit. I can’t wait to see what the next year will have in store for myself and Imogen but I know that we’ll be the best leaders possible.

La Salle House Captains

Hi, my name is Olivia Kerr and I’m one of the La Salle House Captains for 2025. Since commencing at Oakhill College for Years 11 and 12 it’s been a smooth transition for me. With fantastic opportunities, new friendships made and participating in all aspects of sport being my main objective for attending Oakhill. I’m involved in the Girls 1st Football team, Girls 1st Rugby, Touch Football and the Swimming Carnival. Also, I’m very passionate about animals which made choosing Agriculture very important for me, I have loved being involved with the Show Team. Participating in service at Oakhill is a role which I thoroughly enjoy being a part of both for the College and the community. I have a strong commitment to my studies and aim to perform well in all of my school work.

It’s an honour to have been selected to represent La Salle as House Captain and it is my goal to set a positive example to students, having leadership skills, a caring and fair attitude, and being a good role model. To embody the values that Oakhill College stands for. As La Salle House Captain I will ensure that every voice is heard. Together, we can set ambitious goals and achieve them as a team!

Hi, I'm Aimon Fitzsimons and I am honoured to be named one of the La Salle House Captains, alongside Olivia. I went to St Angela's Primary School, and have been at Oakhill College since Year 7. I really enjoy the College life, and the camaraderie in the cohorts. Sport is a big part of my life, playing Rugby and Cricket for the College, as well as being a Soccer referee.

When I'm not on the sporting field, you will see me supporting other teams and just generally getting involved in extracurricular activities. I love that Oakhill provides many opportunities, especially the Lasallians Without Borders and other immersion trips and a wide variety of subjects. I hope in the year ahead I can encourage more students to get involved, and find a place in the College that complements their academics.

Miguel House Captains

Hi, I’m Hamish Zlotkowski, and I am privileged and honoured to be elected as one of the Miguel House Captains for 2025. I started my schooling at Oakhill College in 2020 and have dived into all the opportunities the College offers with my best foot forward. Striving to learn new skillsets in curricular, co-curricular, service, and sporting aspects. Faith and service has been an eye-opening revelation to me as it allowed me to encounter many experiences and be exposed to opportunities, one of which being the Ration Challenge. Around the College, there is no place in which you will not see me as I actively participate in College carnivals, sporting activities, or in the Performing Arts encouraging my peers and younger students to achieve their upmost best in everything they do. Being privileged to share the lead role of this year’s Senior play, ‘A Christmas Carol’ with Joshua Vaz (Drama Captain), I hope to bring joy, tears, and laughter wherever I go. With high aspirations of joining the Australian Defence Force after completing school, self-discipline, resilience, and passion mean a lot to me. My goal as Miguel House Captain, alongside my fellow captain Tarun Puri is to build the comraderie, mateship, and spirit that is already so strong within the House. Without stepping outside your comfort zone and pushing each and every day,  we can’t create the best person we each can be. So, I am looking forward to working with Tarun in leading Miguel to achieve our best in everything we do, and working along the rest of the leadership team to bring the Oakhill College community closer than it already is now in the coming year.

Hi, my name is Tarun Puri and I am one of the Miguel House Captains for 2025! I have attended Oakhill since Year 7, and have enjoyed every second. Since then I have been involved in the College Basketball teams every year and actively participated in them. I have also devoted numerous hours towards the ‘Called To Serve’ program and participated in the Ration Challenge, which were both eye-opening experiences. One of my key highlights at the College was the 2023 Cambodia trip. On this trip, I made new connections with my peers and created lifelong memories that I will value forever. My goal as a House Captain is to actively encourage the youth of the College to participate persistently in Carnivals and College activities.

Turon House Captains

My name is Lachlan Abdallah, and I am one of the Turon House Captains for 2025. I started Oakhill in Year 7 and without a doubt have never regretted my choice. I love absolutely everything Oakhill has to offer, and the way it transforms the youth of today. My favourite experience at Oakhill was the Lasallian Without Borders Program to Cambodia last year. The trip was an eye opening experience that allowed my mates and I to experience the culture and appreciate all we have, whilst providing a helping hand to our Lasallian community overseas. The trip was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I would strongly recommend it for any future students that get the chance. I am thankful for the opportunity to play Rugby for the College and represent ISA in Athletics over the years. In my opinion, sport has been a great way to build connections and create lifelong friends that I've shared many memories with over my time at the College. In addition, it is vital for me to balance my extra-curricular activities with my studies. I enjoy Economics, PDHPE and Graphics. Finally, I strive to foster a sense of connection among the younger students within Turon and Oakhill as a whole. Further enhancing carnival spirit and friendly competitiveness in all we do as a community. I am thankful for this opportunity and am immensely excited for the year to come.

Hi my name is Jacob Tamaro and I am extremely proud to have been elected as one of the 2025 Turon House Captains. Before joining Oakhill College in Year 7, I came from St Patrick's Primary School Parramatta. There I was the Stem leader and this taught me the importance of both school spirit and the importance of participating in co-curricular activities. I carried this knowledge through to high school and have always been an active member of my House (Turon) and I have consistently been engaged in co-curricular activities (including Student Representative Council, Public Speaking, Basketball and Debating). Throughout my time at Oakhill I have been fortunate to participate in numerous experiences across many aspects of College life. Most notably the 2023 Cambodia College Tour was a life changing experience, where we were given the opportunity to work with disadvantaged communities. This experience taught me the importance of truly appreciating how privileged we are in Australia and served as a reminder that true happiness (like expressed by the many Cambodian children themselves) does not lie in wealth. This upcoming year I look forward to working with Ms Hemmings, and Lachlan and cannot wait for the journey that lies ahead as collaboratively we strive for Turon’s success.

Mutien House Captains

Hi, my name is Cooper Rawhiti and I am one of the two Mutien House Captains for 2025. I am very honoured and excited to be taking on this role alongside Ned and the rest of the leadership team for 2025. I am especially excited to get to know all of you and hopefully lead Mutien to win the House Cup and make some great memories along the way. A little bit about myself, I've been at Oakhill College since Year 7 (2020), and I’ve participated in many sports at Oakhill including Rugby, Cricket, Athletics and the Duke of Edinburgh. As we move forward into 2025, both Ned and I look forward to working with all of you and continuing to make Mutien the best there is.

Hi, my name is Ned Cane and I am your 2025 Mutien House Captain alongside Cooper. I am thrilled to be a part of the awesome 2025 leadership team. I am a keen sportsman who has participated in many different sports over the years including Rugby, Water Polo and Touch Football but I have taken up a profession in swimming, competing for the state and recognised nationally. I have always strived to be a leader and one that can inspire others and incorporate everyone’s ideas to achieve a common goal. Cooper and I intend to bring a positive energy to the students of Mutien and bring the House Cup home! I look forward to leading Mutien in 2024/25.

This week has been a week of celebration and recognition, as the Class of 2024 marked the significant milestone of graduating from the College. After a week filled with ceremonies and heartfelt farewells, our Year 12 students have officially become an Oakhill Graduate. 

It has been a week rich in Oakhill traditions as we held House farewells, a final Assembly, Mass, the Duke of Edinburgh Awards, morning tea and, the guard of honour.  The College thanks the Class of 2024 who gifted the College a new cross for each room in the Innovation Hub. 

The culmination of the week was the Graduation Ceremony on Thursday 26th September, where each student walked across the stage one last time to receive their graduation certificate. 

It has been a memorable week and a fitting farewell to the Class of 2024. 

Dear Past Parents, Friends, and Alumni,

Oakhill College is a not-for-profit Public Company Limited by Guarantee. The Member of the company is the Provincial (The Visitor) of the Trustees of the Brothers of the Christian Schools Australia. At this time, the College Board invites Oakhill College past parents, friends, and alumni, to consider a significant role by serving on our Board or one of its subcommittees.

The College is looking for members who will be available for additional committee work. These are voluntary posts without remuneration.

Opportunity to Serve:

The College is particularly keen on candidates with expertise in the following skills areas:

• Education/Catholic Education
• Law
• Finance
• Property Development
• Commitment, loyalty and willing to serve the needs of Oakhill College.

Specific experience may include:

• Lawyer
• Accountant/Financier
• Architect/Engineer
• Town Planner/Quantity Surveyor
• Facility/Property Manager
• IT Professional
• Board Director
• Wellbeing Professional
• Committed to Oakhill College and the Lasallian tradition.
  

Application Process

To express your interest, please:

Address your correspondence to the Board Chairperson, C/O Br Steve Hogan (Principal), Oakhill College at myouell@oakhill.nsw.edu.au
Attach your Curriculum Vitae
Provide two referee contacts
Include any additional documentation you may wish to supply
Submit all materials by the deadline: Friday 18th October 2024.

All expressions of interest will be acknowledged upon receipt. The Board will interview from a shortlisting of applicants and appointment is made by the Board after a process of mutual consultation with the Provincial of the De La Salle Brothers of Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan and Papua New Guinea who is the Member of the Board. Committee and sub-committee members may be appointed directly by the Board.

Br Steve Hogan fsc
Principal

Congratulations to Ava Masterton and Tom Fitzhenry who have been nominated for possible inclusion in SHAPE for their Design and Technology projects. Also to Oliver Barbara, Jamie Brown, Luca Caruso, Ricky Chen, Lucas Diaz McLaren, Daniel Heaton, Federico Higuchi, Mitchell Holmes, Lucas Ilijanic, Charlie Liddicoat, Chistopher Piekacz, Toby Russell, Liam Stewart and Jack Taylor Hanniffy for their nominations for possible inclusion in SHAPE for their Industrial Technology projects.

SHAPE is a selection of outstanding works from HSC Design and Technology and Industrial Technology students, and being nominated for this event is wonderful recognition of their talent, dedication and hard work.

*Please note that a SHAPE nomination does not reflect a specific mark alloca

tion.

Congratulations to Adrika, Matthew, Kieran, and Matthew, who have all received nominations for their Major Study Individual Performances and Nicholas, Matthew, Marcus, Rachel and Yuvraj for their Major Study Group Performance for possible inclusion in the prestigious OnSTAGE HSC showcase.

OnSTAGE annually highlights the most exceptional HSC Drama performances, and being nominated for this event is wonderful recognition of their talent, dedication and hard work.

*Please note that an OnSTAGE nomination does not reflect a specific mark allocation.

A huge congratulations to Year 12 students Nicholas Gomez, Isaac Tocher, and Lukas Nicholls for their outstanding achievements at the 2024 VET Awards!

With 110 attendees at the event and over 70 schools in both the Public and Independant sector, only one student is selected for the award in both the Hills District and Central Coast Region.the Central Coast and Sydney regions—and Oakhill College is proud to announce that the College received three prestigious awards

Nicholas Gomez: Entertainment
Isaac Tocher: Hospitality
Lukas Nicholls: Construction

Their VET studies have also led to job offers and apprenticeships for the boys. We couldn’t be prouder of their hard work and dedication!

The Rohrig team has achieved a major milestone with the final concrete pour for the College's new Commons building. The Level 3 slab, requiring over 250 cubic meters of concrete, completes the base structure. Impressively, all three slabs were poured in just under eight weeks. The next phase of construction will see the installation of structural steel, marking significant progress towards the building’s completion.

Oakhill College is excited to announce it will be running a Science Tour to New Zealand in 2025.  This tour will be open to students in Year 10 and 11 in December 2025. 

Save the date! The tour will run from 13th - 21st December 2025. 

Further information to be provided at a future date. 

Mr Jeremy Powell​​​​
Science Teacher

The thrilling finale of Oakhill's Staff vs Students game series took place on Monday 23rd September with a Touch Football match. The students claimed victory with a 2-1 win, officially taking out the series! A huge congratulations to our Year 12 student and staff teams for their incredible sportsmanship and the entertaining lunchtime games.

Year 12 student Angela Zaki recently completed the ACU Step Up Program in Sport & Exercise Science. She found this program very valuable as reflected below.

Throughout my Year 11 and 12 journey at Oakhill, I had the honour of participating in the ACU Step Up Program for Sport and Exercise Science. During the Year 11 July holidays and Year 12 Christmas holidays, I would go to the ACU Blacktown campus from 9.00am - 4.00pm and participate in lectures, tutorials, quizzes and assignments just like a real university student. I completed two units of Sport and Exercise Science and successfully passed. Due to this, ACU offered me a guaranteed offer for a Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science/Bachelor of Nutrition Science.

This opportunity helped me immensely in my Year 12 schooling as it took the stress from my studies, knowing I had an offer already. It also helped me learn and experience what it would be like as a university student after Year 12 and graduating. I learned so many new things, such as how university assignments are meant to be formatted, proper referencing, and so much new information about nutrition and more. I recommend this program to anyone, as it has truly influenced my perspective on university life and my future career goals.

Mrs Marisa Quattrocchi
Careers Advisor

Macquarie University hosts annually the [Ex]plore Conference, an engaging event that brings together students, academics, and industry leaders to discuss cutting-edge research in science and engineering. The conference highlighted emerging trends around technology, sustainability, and social impact, showcasing the dedication of students to interdisciplinary learning and community engagement.

It was a tremendous honour for Brealle Hasham and Isabella Makhoul to be integral contributors to this prestigious event with their research work. Isabella presented her compelling paper, "Assessing the Aquatic Environmental and Health Impacts of SOLBERG RE-HEALING Foam: A Comprehensive Analysis of Biodegradation and Aquatic Toxicity," while Brealle presented her insightful research paper on "Remediation of Niagara 3/3 (Firefighter Foam) Contaminated Waters Using Granular Activated Carbon Prepared from Spent Coffee Grounds" during one of the coverted lecture slots.

Both projects were conducted with the co-operation and support of the NSW Fire and Rescue, and Brealle was awarded Best Presentation of the Conference! She has also been given the rare honour to publish her paper, highlighting the exceptional quality of research, hard work and commitment that both students have put into their research.

Mr Ryan Hamilton
Science Teacher

On Thursday 19th September, Year 12 Modern History students engaged in a workshop led by Oakhill alumni Nicholas Zahorsky (Class of 2023). He shared his insight and experience of the Modern History course and source analysis and writing requirements. He guided students on how to tackle structured paragraph writing and integrating evidence and syntheses into their responses. In addition, students heard valuable tips and tricks of how to tackle source analysis style questions and language to demonstrate source analysis.

Nick also shared his tried and tested study and revision methods that he implemented last year when preparing for the Modern History HSC examination. Students engaged in Q&As and shared practical revision strategies that their teachers Mrs Bradley and Ms Bruseker’s have utilised with them for the upcoming HSC examinations.

Students were appreciative of the experience and stated:

“The examples of synthesis and writing samples supported what we are learning and practising in class, it was great to affirm but also provide alternate language to improve our responses.”

“Thank you so much for organising the workshop, it was very helpful and the tips and tricks were specific and achievable to improve our writing”

“It was great to hear from a student who has achieved well and what they specifically did to achieve, he a spoke with passion and confidence.''

Mr Gloria Richards
Academic Head of History

On Wednesday 18th September Oakhill's Year 7 Music classes were treated to a wonderful music incursion celebrating Music of Another Culture. The students thoroughly enjoyed the experience as indicated below. 

"Taiko drums produce deep and powerful sounds that range from thunderous booms to sharp strikes. Their sound is intense with different dynamics that reflect all the players energy. They use large sticks called Bachi striking the drum in coordinated movements using full body motion to emphasise their performance. The three amazing taiko players from Japan used their synchronised rhythm and movements to create an awesome atmosphere and a great learning experience for everyone." - Peter Cook and Alexander Borovnjak 

Ms Rebecca Madigan
Administration Assistant - Performing Arts

Year 9 took to the stage in the hilarious production of Sherlock Holmes, filled with comedic twists and turns where everything that could go wrong, did! The students embraced the chaos, turning the performance into a laugh out loud experience for the audience. The play was a fun-filled experience for the students as reflected by Jack Cruickshank below. 

Performing Sherlock Holmes was a great experience that we all thoroughly enjoyed. Although this show was a first for many of us and was quite daunting to have to perform live in front of an audience of our friends, family and teachers. We took the challenge with gusto and as a cast, we forged unforgettable memories and brought ourselves closer. This show was an interesting one, to say the least. With many twists and plot holes, sandbags falling from the roof and tense shootouts, what I enjoyed about this experience is that we had the opportunity to take the original script and then create with free reign characters that were larger than life. This show although chaotic, allowed the audience to be enthralled in the giant mess as everything went wrong for our four Sherlocks. A big thank you to both Directors, Mr Turbott and Mr Thoroughgood for giving us this opportunity. The Year 9 showcase will forever be an adventure that was never truly solved… 

Jack Cruickshank, Year 9 Drama 

As we come to the end of Term please be reminded of the Library overdue book process. 

2024 Reading Boost is nearing its end in Term 4 Week 2 but there is still time to earn extra school merits. To do so, simply encourage your son and/or daughter to complete missions posted on their Reading Boost Google Classroom based on books they read or audiobooks they listen to on the Sora app. For Year 7 and 8 students, they can earn double points for each Rest Quarters mission they complete to win their class a pizza lunch party in Term 4.

Ms Joyce Ng
Teacher Librarian

As Term 3 comes to a close, our athletes have had an outstanding season. It brings me immense pride to announce that Oakhill College has achieved an incredible milestone by being the first school to win all three major ISA Carnivals for the first time since the inception of the ISA in 1992:

Swimming - Champion School
Cross Country - Champion School
Athletics - Champion School

This accomplishment is akin to an athlete achieving the Grand Slam in their chosen sport (think Tennis or Golf). Oakhill has successfully secured the ISA Grand Slam! Congratulations to all athletes, especially the Athletics Team, who competed exceptionally well on Tuesday.

ISA Athletics - Champion School

Our ISA athletics team headed to the International Athletics Track at Homebush on Tuesday 17th September for a glorious day. Our students represented the College with pride, showcasing remarkable sportsmanship. Our girls have once again claimed the title of Champion School in the Division 2 Senior Girls for the fourth consecutive year. The boys were consistent across all age groups, with our seniors particularly excelling, ensuring Oakhill was named Champion School for 2024.

Overall Results for the Carnival:

2nd Junior Boys
2nd Intermediate Boys
1st Senior Boys
1st Senior Girls
Champion Division 1 Boys

Oakhill and ISA Athletics Team 2024

Aidan Smith - ISA SELECTION
Aidan-John Studders
Alex Eason - ISA SELECTION
Annika Benning
Anthony Moutzouris
Aysha Pietersz
Bianca Sallomon
Bryson Samuel - ISA SELECTION
Carter Bergan - ISA SELECTION
Cash Souter - ISA SELECTION
Charlotte Gibson
Chloe Garnon
Claudia Alloggia
Cooper Rawhiti - ISA SELECTION
Cyrus Bloomfield
Darcy Feltham - ISA SELECTION
Dominic Jurkovic - ISA SELECTION
Emily Knight - ISA SELECTION
Ethan Cooper
Finlay Goonan
Hank Souter - ISA SELECTION
Harrison Tanner
Harry Wigham - ISA SELECTION
Holly Powell

NSW CIS Selection

Congratulations to the following students who were selected to represent Oakhill and ISA at the NSW CIS Carnival. Their outstanding individual performances, along with an excellent showing from our Open Boys Relay team, which finished a close second, highlight the talent and dedication within our team.

Student Achievements

Will O’Farrell - Rugby Referee

Congratulations to Will O’Farrell who was an on field assistant referee at the Wallabies v All Blacks Bledisloe Cup game on Saturday 21st September. What an amazing experience! Will’s roles included:

Meeting all match officials
Being a part of the coin toss
Listening to the pregame discussion in both teams change rooms
Meet and talk with both coaches
View the TMO box
Facing the Haka
Listen to all communication and decisions made by match officials
Run water to the ref after tries

Finn Rimmer - Trampolining

Congratulations to Finn Rimmer (Year 7) who won a Bronze Medal at the National Trampoline Competition over the weekend. He was able to achieve the feat in the Level 4 Competition and has been rewarded for his hard work and dedication to his sport. Well done, Finn.

Matthew Sabbouh - Bouldering

Congratulations to Matthew Sabbouh (Year 11) who recently completed in the State Open A Boulder titles. 

Mr Anthony Toro
Acting Head of Sport

Please find below details of the compulsory meeting and course for Oakhill Basketball managers and coaches.

Looking for ways to keep the kids entertained over the school holidays? An Entertainment Membership is the perfect solution with proceeds going towards  Oakhill's fundraising.

To purchase an Entertainment Membership please click here - https://subscribe.entertainment.com.au/fundraiser/21434p0

Please note, the Uniform Shop will be closed on Thursday 10th and Friday 11th October as previously advertised.

In replacement of these dates the Uniform Shop will now be open as follows:

• Tuesday 8th October, 9.00am – 3.00pm
• Monday 14th October,  9.00am – 3.00pm

Flexischools orders can be placed at any time.

Ms Suzanne Haskins
Uniform Shop Manager

Willoughby City Council is hosting a free event on Wednesday 16th October for parents on Parenting Your ADHD Child. Please see below for further details.