Volume Three, Friday 8th March 2024

Greetings,

Schools are about inspiring students to aspire to greatness and we at Oakhill College do our best to make that happen.

I would like to share this reflection written by Lucas for a House meeting.

“Let’s not allow this momentum to cease, in fact lets translate it into our studies, our personal lives and the overall welfare of the College. In doing so, let us all aim to be more involved so we can reap the benefits that are at our doorstep and give back to the College that has and still is giving us so much more than we can ask for.

We want to challenge you to be part of something bigger than yourselves, not for ego or selfishness, but passion and energy. Yes, you can spend your time here at Oakhill College as an optimist or a pessimist trying to decide whether the glass is half full or half empty, but from here on we challenge you to be the opportunist who takes the cup and drinks the water. Grasp every opportunity and get involved. In the end the Oakhill experience is finite and our days numbered. Don’t let your high school life consist of only a beginning, a middle and an end. Aspire to get involved and if you don’t believe you can, then it is time to change”.

Inspiring wisdom from one of our students.

This week the Newsletter once again is full of news of the busy and exciting life Oakhill College offers her students. I would like to highlight some events coming up in the next fortnight which you may be able to support. Research shows that families that stay connected to their school in some way correlates with higher academic outcomes.

Saturday 9th March is the Finals of ISA summer sport with 25 basketball teams in the Finals at the Penrith Valley Sports Centre, starting at 9:00am through to 5:00pm. We also have our 1st and 2nd XI in their respective Finals both playing St Pius. Oakhill College 1st XI start at Oakhill College Damian Oval at 10:00am. We also have many boys and girls teams in the Touch Football Finals at Macquarie. Our Show Team is at the Castle Hill Show Saturday 9th March. Pop in and give our team your support. And, 10 out of 12 students are in the CSDA Public Speaking Zone Final. We have students in the NSWCIS Golf Championship on Tuesday 12th March. The College Swimming Team competes at the ISA Swimming Finals on Wednesday 13th March. The 1st XI Football team plays Oakhill Old Boys at the College 3:45pm on Friday 15th March followed by the ‘Battle of the Bands’ Final at 7:00pm.

Year 12 Half Yearly exams start on Monday 18th March and they need our support. This support was certainly evident by the nearly 100% participation at the Year 12 Parent-Teacher evening last Wednesday 13th March. Thanking those parents for their attendance. Students received timely guidance to set them up well for the Half-Yearly exams from which these students will then, whilst having bedded down content from this part of their course, receive further guidance on how to improve for their Trial HSC exams in July. Our target for this years HSC cohort is 320 Band 6s. As JFK says in his Rice Moon speech at Rice University on the 12th September 1962: “We do these things not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organise and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win.” The journey begins by setting goals, reviewing and then recalibrating for the Trials. Taking small steps and never, never, never, ever give up.

Aim for the Stars.

Winter Sport is about to start with trials and grading this coming week for tennis, netball, football, rugby and hockey. Has your son or daughter registered? See Mr Toro as there may still be a late opportunity. Sport is a valuable way for our students to learn life-skills that they may not learn through other avenues. Sport teaches students how to be a humble winner; how to be a dignified loser; and how everything improves with practice and hard work.

At Oakhill College, we strongly encourage all students to engage with their College by being a member of a team – debating, public speaking, chess, music, agriculture, drama, and/or sport. Boys and girls mix with other young men and women that they ordinarily may not choose; they have to learn to meet team expectations and display self-management. It is always interesting when I meet the alumni of any College I have worked at, they all reminisce about the teams they may have been part of. These bonds and experiences last a lifetime.

Finally, a big thank you to all staff and students who made our Open Day 20024 a huge success. Over 5,000 people would have passed through the College that day. The most significant and inspiring for me was listening to our students answer questions from visitors in their tour groups – articulate, confident, insightful and their pride in Oakhill College was truly humbling.

Wishing everyone the very best this International Women’s Day 2024 with the theme Inclusion.

Br Steve Hogan fsc
Principal

Let us get in touch with the silence within yourself and know that everything in this life has a purpose. There are no mistakes, no coincidences. All events are blessings given to us to learn from. 

Elizabeth Kubler- Ross
Swiss Psychiatrist

What a wonderful way of expressing De La Salle’s central message of seeing everything with the eyes of faith.

On Thursday 29th February, Oakhill was kindly invited to the Catholic Parramatta Diocese Lifted Leader’s Program. Our Lasallian Captains Natalia Papallo and Ethan Quimpo attended this event as representatives of Oakhill College. Here is a little overview of their day and the enriching experience that they undertook to deepen their faith and understanding of what it means to be a leader and how they can further assist our oakhill community:

We were extremely grateful for this opportunity to represent Oakhill College and to attend such a vibrant environment. The morning began as we were introduced by the kind Lifted Hosts, we were seated with schools from Greystanes, Marayong and Stanhope Gardens. The lifted event began with a group discussion with other schools on our table, learning about their school and faith opportunities, sharing and collaborating ideas.

To break the ice, Lifted encouraged us to come out of our shells by singing together. We were all invited to the front of the space where all schools were encouraged to sing and follow the actions of the amazing Lifted band. The singing, band and production were absolutely fantastic and allowed us to further enjoy the performance.

Following the amazing performance we were able to listen to Bishop Vincent Long and Jack De Groot (Executive Director of Catholic Schools). They provided their perspective on social media, mental health and hopes for young individuals going forward. After this they allowed for some students to ask questions, and Bishop Vincent and Mr De Groot answered admirably further enlightening and educating the young leaders of the Parramatta Diocese, providing the leaders with a voice, to further understand how and what we can do as leaders to further improve our schools in many different aspects such as mental health and gender inclusivity within schools.

After the insightful conversations with Bishop Vincent Long and Sir Jack De Droot, the next segment of the day allowed all the leaders to discuss one of their many initiatives they would love to implement in their school for 2024 to everyone at the event. We heard of quite ambitious and innovative initiatives inspiring us with new and creative ideas to implement within the College.

Overall the Lifted Leaders event was an amazing and informational experience that helped us deepen our faith and understanding of what it means to be a leader and how we can further improve ourselves to assist Oakhill College to enhance the faith of our students and their understanding of God's plan. We were extremely grateful for the enlightening experience and can't wait to implement some of the amazing initiatives which we collaborated on and learnt about from other schools.

Ethan Quimpo and Natalia Papallo, Lasallian Captains

The Lasallian office in Bankstown has established a new initiative, the De La Salle Community Association Network (DLS-CAN), to promote a broad range of activities to its members who in turn may be able to provide ongoing support to the Lasallian Mission throughout the District.

The membership of DLS-CAN is open to all Lasallians particularly alumni staff, teachers and parents who have been educated or engaged with the Lasallian mission.

A discount is now available, by typing SCHOOLS it will immediately activate 50% off.

The Discount Code is SCHOOLS

Tickets for DLS -CAN Launch in Sydney on Friday 14th June 2024 are available via: https://events.humanitix.com/dls-can-launch-event

Oakhill College takes pride in its longstanding support of the Breakfast Club (BC) at La Salle Technical School in Papua New Guinea, a testament to our commitment to making a difference. Thanks to funds raised, not only from Oakhill, but other Lasallian Schools, a new Canteen has been completed. For many students, the Breakfast Club offers the only meal they might have all day. Some walk several hours to attend the College, and the nourishment they receive is crucial, assisting concentration in class and supporting them to gain future employment. Currently, the Breakfast Club serves 100 students, but with the new facilities, the hope is to increase this number to 200.

Over the years, Oakhill has had several alumni who moved to PNG to volunteer at the Breakfast Club. Their day starts early at 5:30am, preparing and cooking meals to serve at 7:00am. After breakfast, they clean up and then head to the market to buy food for the next day. The work is tireless, however, very rewarding.

Mrs Gabby Russo
Head of Marketing & Communication

As part of the College's Lenten funraising, last Friday students donned their favourite jerseys for Colours for Caritas, each contributing a gold coin to the cause. This initiative brightened our College, but more importantly, raised over $2,000 in support of Caritas, exemplifying our spirit of giving and compassion.

Mrs Gabby Russo
Head of Marketing & Communications

Wednesday afternoons have become a highlight for our senior students, who are thrilled to resume their visits to the Anglicare Retirement Village. Witnessing the chats, games, laughs, and invaluable interactions between the students and residents is wonderful.

A reminder that the College Canteen only accepts cash or card; no mobile phones are permitted at any time.

Ms Deborah Gillis
Acting Deputy Principal

Please note the canteen only accepts lunch orders up until 8.35am onsite. Lunch orders through Flexischools can be placed up until 9.00am. If your child misses placing an order by 8.35am they will need to line up and purchase their lunch.

Ms Renee Chong
Administration Manager

Congratulations to Ms Kendra Bruseker, Academic Head of Society & Culture, Geography, Legal Studies and member of our Oakhill family, for being awarded the Outstanding Professional Service Award by PTCNSW. This accolade celebrates her remarkable contribution to Society and Culture education as a dedicated Committee Member and Secretary of the Society and Culture Association of NSW (SCANSW).

Kendra's wealth of knowledge and passion for teaching has significantly enhanced the learning experience for teachers and students across New South Wales, as well as Oakhill College. Her leadership in professional development, student engagement, and advocacy for quality education in Society and Culture underscores the exceptional standards our teachers uphold at Oakhill.

Her efforts in organising and facilitating professional learning events for teachers, as well as engaging student activities, are unparalleled. Kendra’s insightful presentations on various content areas, including HSC Depth Studies in Popular Culture, Conformity, and Non-Conformity, have been widely acclaimed. Moreover, her guidance to teachers navigating the Society and Culture Personal Interest Project (PIP) has proven invaluable.

Mrs Gabby Russo
Head of Marketing & Communications

A reminder that the 1st instalment for 2024 College fees (one third of your annual fees) was due on Thursday 15th February unless you pay in instalments via School Easy Pay. Fee statements were issued prior to the beginning of term.

Could you please organise payment if not already made or contact the Accounts Receivable Office on 9899 2288 if there are any matters relating to your statement that you need to discuss.

Ms Lisa Camilleri
Accounts Receivable Officer

Oakhill College's Assembly on Friday, 8th March, was a vibrant celebration of talent and service. We are incredibly fortunate to have students who excel across a wide array of activities, significantly enriching the fabric of our College community. The College was also fortunate to hear about the Lasallians Without Borders Immersion trips coming up in Term 3 holidays and Nicky Williams (Year 11) who addressed the College about International Women's Day and the importance of the theme which is Inspire Inclusion.

Level 2 Award Year 8 - Ethan Mihalic

Level 2 Principal's Award Year 12 - Luke Alderson, Thomas Alloggia, Isaac Beacroft, Annika Benning, Genevieve Brouillard, Marcus Campagna, Errin Conlin, Josaia Delana, Nihaal Dhillon, Joshua Farrant, Olivia Fileman, Jensen Fradd, Chloe Gething, Ella Gillogly, Nicholas Gomez, Tyron Halpenny, Joseph Harvey, Brealle Hasham, Mitchell Holmes, Joanna Iwanowski, Kshitij Karki, Ruby Keast, Rachel Le Tran, Travis Love, Aiden Mulder, Madi Nolan, Nicolas Odendaal, Jardyn Orsini, Natalia Papallo, Logan Penfold, Ethan Quimpo, Emma Reiss, Phoebe Reynolds, Summer Rayne Roughly, Ava Schwebel, Rachel Smith, Luka Susnjara, Liam Taggart, Vinet Tirumala Kanduri, Julian Vargas, Alyssa Vlouhos, Isabella Wahbe, Matthew Walker-Rolls, Thomas Williams, Ashlee Woolford.

Lasallian Youth Leaders:

Silver Badge Recipients - Ryan Pather, Spencer Robson, Benjamin Woodward.

Gold Badge Recipients - Alyzandra Almariom, Juan Diaz Gomez, Colbey Ellison, Charlotte Hayward, Talia Manassa, Kieran McMurrich, Sofia Napolitano, Olivia Nesci, James O'Brien, Darcy Penfold, Holly Powell, Hannah Quinn, Tansey Raferty, Hannah Trethewey.

Year 10 Accelerated Religion Awards:

1st Place: Sierra Lake
2nd Place: Pragyee Strestha
3rd Place: Saanvi Sayam

Citizen of the Year Award - Youth from the Hills Shire Council - Marcus Campagna

Gold Residential Program - William Austin

Kids Giving Back Program - Angelo Chichizola and Jacob Crawford

Swimming Age Champions

12 Years – Cormac O'Keeffe
13 Years – Samuel Tieste
14 Years – Makira Carter
15 Years – Alex Eason
16 Years Boys – Will Hopkins
16 Years Girls – Madison Graham
17 Years boys – Liam Havron
17 Years Girls – Emily Ward
Open Girls – Julia Kim
Open Boys – Nicholas Suvajac

2024 Swimming Carnival Champion Shield - Mutien accepted by Adam Tomka and Kieran McMurrich

Year 9 Leaders - Ojas Vishwakarma, Andrew Cook, Luca Bercich, Preston Attard, Zachary Brook, Nicholas Drosos, Kaelan Adams, Logan Cleary, Aidan Attard, Max Wilkinson, Hesandu Withanage, Neel Reddy, Ethan Cooper, Charles Magdic, Anthariksh Balaji, Jaidev Madhavapeddi.

Year 8 Leaders - Harry Wigham, Gianni Castellan, Jaydan Chan, Leon Cooray, Elisha Perese, Mikhael Aizat, Noah Lavercombe, Dante Wesser, Jacob Catabay, Murphy Wang, Pratyush Dawadi, William McManus, Hridaan Chadha, Dash Taylor, James Mostyn, Samuel Lean-Fore.

Student Representative Council:
Year 8 - Kyan Flynn, Ethan Mihalic, Angad Saini.

Year 9 - Ethan Elsley, Michael Rizk, Andrew Soares Caplice

Year 10 - Aarav Khanna, Louis Rivera, Xavier Yu

Year 11 - Christian Attard, Cooper Bell, Nathan Colaco, Imogen Harding, Olivia Kaddis, Sierra Lake, Kristijan Magdic, Hesha Patel, Jaden Pather, Marko Slankamenac, Jacob Tamaro, Joshua Vaz, Radheen Wettasinghe

Year 12 - Alyzandra Almario, Juan Jose Diaz Gomez, Olivia Fileman, Aryan Maclure, Ava Masterton, Liam Moore, James O'Brien, Holly Powell, Sofia Strbik, Hannah Trethewey, Isabella Wahba, Matthew Walker-Rolls.

We are thrilled to report that our recent Open Day was a resounding success! Open Day highlighted the incredible work of our staff, students, Parents & Friends Association, alumni, and volunteers. It was a perfect display of our community's vibrancy, educational excellence, and the collective effort that makes Oakhill special. Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to making the day memorable. A big thank you to Roadworks for organising the volume of traffic around the College.

Important Enrolment Dates

Boys’ Enrolment for Year 7, 2026: Applications will close on Friday 8th March.

Girls Information Night for Year 11, 2025: For prospective girls on Monday, 18th March. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn more about what Oakhill has to offer. You can register for the event at https://oc-au-nsw-340.app.digi...

Girls’ Enrolment for Year 11, 2025: Applications will close on Friday 22nd March.

Expressions of Interest can be completed here: https://oc-au-nsw-340.app.digi...

Please note: all siblings need their own application form. Please share this with any family and friends who may be interested.

Mrs Gabby Russo
Head of Marketing & Communications

On Friday 15th March, Benildus Hall will come alive for our annual Battle of the Bands competition. After some fierce competition during the heats this week, we are inviting everyone to come along and support our finalists as they fight it out for the 2024 title.

Come along and support both our Junior Bands (Years 7 – 9) and Senior Bands (Years 10-12) and vote for your People’s Choice on the night. There will be a sausage sizzle available from 6.00pm – 7.00pm with doors opening at 6.30pm. Snacks and drinks will be available to purchase during the event.

Tickets are on sale NOW through Trybooking: https://www.trybooking.com/CPOHK

Mrs Rebecca Madigan
Administration Assistant Performing Arts

Careers Breakfast - Hospitality, Tourism and Events

This event is for students in Years 10, 11 and 12.

Wednesday 10th April 2024
7:00am to 8:35am
Centenary Sport Centre Foyer

Cost: $12.00 for light breakfast.

Please book via Trybooking https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1187577

Guests will include Oakhill alumni working in the field, industry representatives and representatives from Universities, TAFEs and Private Colleges offering tertiary study options.

Mrs Marisa Quattrocchi
Careers Advisor

Isabella, Ana Maria and Charlotte had the honour to attend the ACS NSW Women in Data Leadership Seminar this week. They represented Oakhill with distinction, and also embodied the spirit of future leadership in their active engagement with the panel discussions. Here is a recount:

On Tuesday 5th March, two fellow students and I had the opportunity to participate in the ACS Data conference held in Barangaroo. Throughout the event, we were privileged to be addressed by a distinguished lineup of speakers, among them notable figures such as Ms Donna Maree Vinci, Ms Catherine Ball, and Mr Andrew Sully, each possessing extensive experience and expertise in their respective fields, serving on boards and owning several companies. Additionally, representatives from esteemed academic institutions like Macquarie University and the University of New South Wales shared their insights.

During the conference, we delved deep into discussions surrounding the pervasive influence of data on society, exploring its many implications for various industries, job roles, and avenues for future academic pursuits. Through engaging presentations and thought-provoking discussions, we gained invaluable insights into the transformative power of data and its pivotal role in shaping our collective future. Moreover, the conference provided us with a unique platform to expand our networks and forge meaningful connections with individuals hailing from diverse backgrounds and disciplines. These interactions not only enriched our understanding of the multifaceted nature of data but also opened doors to potential opportunities across different fields.

Overall, our participation in the ACS Data conference proved to be an enriching experience, equipping us with a deeper appreciation for the significance of data in today's rapidly evolving world and inspiring us to explore new horizons in our academic and professional endeavours.

Isabella Makhoul, Year 12

We were thrilled to welcome back Annalise Brinsden-Chin, (Class of 2023) to Oakhill on Wednesday 6th March. Annalise has been awarded a prestigious scholarship from UTS for a Bachelor of Accounting. During her visit, she shared the numerous benefits of the Bachelor of Accounting scholarship, including a valuable 12 months of practical industry experience, the chance to build lifelong professional networks, and the significant value of the scholarship itself. It's inspiring to see our alumni achieving great things and giving back to the community by sharing their experiences and insights.

There were many happy faces today as the Class of 2024 received their Year 12 jerseys. The Year 12 jerseys symbolise tradition, pride, memories and camaraderie among students in their final year of high school.

Students were given several designs to choose from, including the collar emblem for this year, the southern cross. The collar emblem goes back to the Class of 2019, who were looking for a way to honour and remember their classmate, Nathan Gremmo, who passed away in 2015. So began the tradition of the collar emblem on the Year 12 jersey.

Each year, a new symbol is chosen with a special meaning for the graduating class. Previous emblems have acknowledged Indigenous connections, Faith, Service and Lasallian heritage.

Students are able to wear the jerseys over their College uniform on Wednesdays.

Please see the note below from the Department of Education:

The Australian Government Department of Education would like to notify parents/guardians that we have requested for your child’s school to provide residential address and other information.

Under the Australian Education Regulations 2023, the school is required to provide the department with the following information about each student at the school:

- Names and residential addresses of the student’s parent(s) and/or guardian(s)
- Student residential address (excluding student names)
- Whether the student is a primary or secondary student (education level)
- Whether the student is boarding or a day student (boarding status).

The College collects the above information by generating a unique and unidentifiable student reference number (SRN) for each student record. The school only uses the SRN for this collection. The SRN cannot be used for any other purpose. 

For further information please see the document below.

Privacy Collection Notice for Parents Address Collection 2024

Ms Renee Chong
Administration Manager

Congratulations to Leila Samson (mother of Samson in Year 8) who won our Pink Stumps Day raffle prize. 

The annual Oakhill Sports Lunch is taking place on Friday 21st June. We have some exciting speakers and entertainment planned for the day. Tickets on sale Friday 12th April.

Exercise is beneficial for students for several reasons, impacting both their physical and mental well-being, and helping them become better learners! Here are some areas where exercise can make a difference, especially as a brain-boosting activity:

Cognitive Function:

• Enhanced Memory and Learning: Exercise has been linked to improved memory and cognitive function. It may also help with concentration and focus, which are crucial for academic performance.
• Brain Health: Physical activity stimulates the release of chemicals that promote the growth of brain cells, supporting overall brain health.
• Establishes Routine: Incorporating exercise into a daily or weekly routine helps students develop discipline and time management skills.

Physical Health:

• Improves Cardiovascular Health: Regular exercise helps strengthen the heart, improve blood circulation, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
• Enhances Muscle and Bone Health: Weight-bearing exercises contribute to the development of strong muscles and bones, promoting overall physical strength and resilience.
• Better Sleep: Regular exercise can help regulate sleep patterns, leading to improved quality and duration of sleep.

Mental Health:

• Stress Reduction: Exercise is known to reduce stress by increasing the production of endorphins, the body's natural mood lifters.
  Anxiety and Depression: Physical activity has been shown to alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression, improving overall mental health.
  Sense of Achievement: Setting and achieving fitness goals can provide a sense of accomplishment and boost self-worth.

Social Skills:

• Team Sports and Leadership: Participating in team sports or group exercises fosters social skills, teamwork, and cooperation. It also provides an opportunity for students to develop leadership qualities.
• Opportunities for Socialising: Participating in sports or group exercises provides opportunities for students to make new friends and strengthen existing relationships.
• Promotes Healthy Lifestyle Choices: Engaging in physical activity encourages other healthy habits, such as maintaining a balanced diet and interacting with other healthy like-minded people.

In summary, regular physical activity can contribute to a healthier, happier, and more successful academic experience.

You and your parents can learn more about how to achieve your health and academic goals at www.studyskillshandbook.com.au
by logging in with the details below and working through some of the units.

Oakhill's login details are:
Username: foroakhillonly
Password: 41results

Mr Gavin Russell
Assistant Principal Curriculum

On Thursday 22nd February, students in Year 11 Hospitality completed their Barista Training at CBD College in Haymarket. The excursion began with a warm welcome from the centre’s head barista instructor. He talked about the origins and cultural significance of this cherished beverage with contagious enthusiasm. He emphasised the importance of understanding the journey from bean to cup, and how each step in the process contributed to the final flavour profile. Students also learned about the alchemy behind turning raw green beans into the aromatic gems used in coffee preparation.

After gaining insights into the roasting process, participants moved on to the heart of the barista's craft: espresso making. A hands-on session at the espresso bar provided an opportunity to master the techniques of tamping, grinding, and extracting the perfect shot of espresso. Students also learned how to carefully froth milk and pour all types of coffees.

At the conclusion of the training, and after making upwards of 20 coffees, participants departed with a sense of accomplishment and a deeper understanding of the intricacies of coffee. The experience at Barista Basics had not only honed their practical skills but also fostered a greater respect for the art and science behind every cup of coffee they may enjoy in the future.

Ms Heidi McKay
Academic Head VET Pathways

Oakhill's Visual Art students were fortunate to visit the Art Gallery of New South Wales as part of their senior studies. They were inspired by the incredible works of the previous year's Visual Arts HSC students at the ArtExpress 2024 exhibition. Diverse expressive forms and concepts provided much stimulation for our future artists. We also visited two other exhibitions, exploring Louise Bourgeois’ emotionally charged oeuvre and influential Modernist and abstract painter Kandinsky’s kaleidoscopic masterpieces, both incredibly different but equally captivating. These exhibitions will enable our students to deepen their knowledge and understanding of artists' practice and write a critical review for their next assessment. The students returned to school buzzing.

Mrs Marie Hogan
Academic Head Visual Arts

The 2024 Year 8 Visual Arts Cultural Immersion Day was filled with insights, creativity and bundles of energy. Ms Karen Isaacs presented an engaging and informative presentation on Aboriginal Culture and Art, inspiring us all. Harry Jones, Sam Worboys, Thomas Worboys, Dante Wesser and Jack Austin confidently assisted Ms Isaacs during the presentation as each artwork, relic or object was discussed. In the second part of the incursion, the students transferred their learning into their journey story artworks, designing and painting a ceramic bowl and canvas board. The Year 8 cohort embraced the day with great enthusiasm and accomplishment. Sounds of joy rang throughout the day as the students spent their time developing their ideas and working alongside their peers. Credit and many thanks to Ms Isaacs for imparting her wealth of knowledge and the Art staff for their contribution and commitment to this important annual day for the Visual Arts faculty.

Student reflections:

We learnt about how respect is demonstrated in First Nations culture, as soon as the elder speaks, everyone is silent. The sap and stem of plants are used as an adhesive and women are not permitted to play the didgeridoo as it is deemed an activity for men alone - Andrew Boys

The stem of the Gymea Lily is used to create spears. Oakhill College is such a high vantage point that fires from other mobs could be seen in the distance. Artworks were used to educate the mobs, they included cooking instructions and which animals to avoid eating - Harrison Jones

At the Visual Arts Incursion, we made two pieces of artwork, which told our life journey. We could express our journey by using symbols and different colours. This incursion was really fun and I learnt many new things - Lincoln Merlino

I thought the incursion day was fantastic. We learnt so much regarding aboriginal art and indigenous communities and had so much fun drawing and painting with our friends - Max Zhebelev

At the Visual Arts Incursion, we learnt information about indigenous arts and culture from Ms Isaacs. After the presentation, we got to paint a clay bowl and a canvas about our own personal journey story. I found it fun because we learnt a lot and we could incorporate that learning into our own painting - Anthony Lo

Mrs Marie Hogan
Academic Head Visual Arts

March 14th is a very important day in the calendar for the Oakhill Mathematics Department. For all Maths lovers, it is a chance to celebrate Pi (π), one of the most important numbers!

Pi (π) has been around for 4,000 years and was originally used by Babylonians to calculate the area of a circle. Pi (π), is the irrational number that represents the ratio of a circumference of a circle to its diameter. The Pi symbol (π)i s the 16th letter of the Greek alphabet.

This year, to celebrate Pi Day, all Tutor Groups will participate in a Kahoot which featured ‘Interesting Facts about Pi’. The winner from each Tutor Group will receive the highly sought after ‘Award of Excellence.’

Students can also purchase Krispy Kreme donuts during recess, for $3 for 1, $5 for 2 or $25 for a box with all profits being donated to the Breakfast Club in Papua New Guinea. Don’t’ forget to bring your cash!

Ms Deborah Stokes
Assistant Head of Mathematics

The library is open until 5.00pm Monday - Thursday. There are teachers available every day after school to help with homework and assessment tasks.

Monday

• Mrs Peacock is keen to offer Book Recommendations. Students who struggle to find a good book to read can come and ask Mrs Peacock for a selection of titles that will get them started.
• Ms Lippa, our Teaching Assistant from Learning Support will be available until 4.00pm for Years 7 and 8 students to assist with Homework and Assignment Help.

Tuesday 

• Miss Latty will be here to help with Geography and Mrs Bradley is available to help with History. Together they can answer any HSIE related questions.
• Ms Ng and other English staff are also available if you have any English related questions.
• Mr Walsh will be available to help with Year 12 Engineering
• Ms Lippa, our Teaching Assistant from Learning Support will be available until 4.00pm for Years 7 and 8 students to assist with Homework and Assignment Help.
• Ms Mete and Ms Fabris de Silva will be available to help with both French and Italian Languages.

Wednesday 

• This is our most popular after school study boost session. On Wednesday we have a Math teacher available to help with all of your Maths related questions and homework. There are often senior Maths students also attending to assist younger students with questions.
• Ms Lippa, our Teaching Assistant from Learning Support will be available until 4.00pm for Years 7 and 8 students to assist with Homework and Assignment Help.

Thursday 

• Mrs Moriarty is available till 5.00pm for advice on using A.I. to help with your homework and assessment tasks, when appropriate. 
• Ms Canik will also be available to help with Year 11 Economics and Business Studies.

Ms Tania Moriarty​​​​
Academic Head of Library

On Friday 1st March, Oakhill participated in the Public Speaking. Congratulations to all students who spoke exceptionally well. The following students are through to the next round, with some participating again students in higher year groups:

Year 7
Samuel Martin Fernandez 
Srish Poudyal

Year 8
Kabir Singh 
Hridhaan Chadha 
Ethan Mihalic (competed against Year 9s)

Year 9
Aarush Sapre
Anthony Naim (competed against Year 10s)
Rishabh Joshi (competed against Year 10s)
Michael Rizk (competed against Year 11s)

Year 12
Marcus Valjak 

Mr Alex Vlismas
Public Speaking / Debating Co-ordinator

This weekend will see the culmination of months of hard work for many of our teams as they compete in the ISA Summer Sport Grand Final weekend! Good luck to the 25 Basketball teams, three Touch Football teams, and three Cricket teams representing Oakhill College this weekend. In what is an amazing feat, all our Oakhill First sport teams have managed to make the Grand Final:

• Both Boys and Girls 1st V Basketball teams
• Both Boys and Girls First Touch Football teams
• Both 1st and 2nd XI Cricket teams. I believe this is the first time both our Cricket teams have made it to the Grand Final.

Student Achievements

Swimming

The Grand Final for our Swim Team is the ISA Swimming Carnival that we will compete in on Wednesday 13th March. Good luck to all involved.

Congratulations to our Swimming Age Champions for 2024:

• 12 Years – Cormac O'Keeffe
• 13 Years – Samuel Tieste
• 14 Years – Makira Carter
• 15 Years – Alex Eason
• 16 Years Boys – Will Hopkins
• 16 Years Girls – Madison Graham
• 17 Years boys – Liam Havron
• 17 Years Girls – Emily Ward
• Open Girls – Julia Kim
• Open Boys – Nicholas Suvajac

• All Schools Triathlon – Congratulations to Zachary Green, Paul Mejalli, and Alexander Eason for finishing 4th in the All Schools Teams Triathlon. This result placed them 3rd in CIS.
• Rugby League and Touch Football - Sam Polley was presented with an award for his Outstanding Contribution to both sports last season. Sam was selected in the Australian Merit U16s Touch Football team and was an integral part of the victorious NSW CIS Rugby League team.
• OZ Tag - Several Oakhill boys were part of the U16s State Champion Team. Well done to all involved. To be a part of any state champion team is an excellent achievement. Joseph Wesser, Liam Boys, Patrick Withford, Hayden Moynihan, and Owen Nada.
• Tennis - Oakhill is considered a powerhouse in the school tennis arena. Congratulations to the following boys for their selection in the ISA Tennis team: David Mitchell, Ritviyah Uppal, Adam Tomka, Harry Palmer, Nathan Colaco and Shannon Aneksomphan. Shannon went one step further and gained selection in the NSW CIS team. All our tennis boys are continuing a strong tradition of outstanding tennis players.
• Softball - Isobel Lambert attended the NSW CIS Softball trials on 26th February. Her display of amazing softball warranted selection. Well Done Isobel. All at Oakhill are proud of your performance.
• Internal Sport Cross Country - Our junior boys have been working hard both in and out of the classroom. Several of our Year 7 and 8 students excelled and have been identified as potential members of our ISA Cross Country team.
• Mountain Biking - Congratulations to Nicholas Pretorius, Zak Gillogily, Ryan Sloan, Darby Kelly, Julius Burns, Dane Carli, Kieran Cherry, Luca Graziano, Jake Conash, Phoenix Pearce and Hugo Hulme who competed at the 2024 Australian MTB Interschools moutain biking competition at Thredbo.
  

Winter Sport Registration – Late RegistrationSome families have missed the cutoff for registrations. Sport registrations were open all of February and closed last Monday. Those who have not registered have not received important information about your sport.Late registration forms can be collected from the Convenor. Registering via Trybooking is no longer possible.

Save the Date - Oakhill's Sport Lunch is on Friday 21st June starting at midday.

Mr Anthony Toro
Head of Sport

OPEN DAY

Thank you to the many parent volunteers who helped us serve over 750 bags of popcorn as we welcomed prospective parents to our Oakhill Community on Open Day last week. The College was a hive of activity and excitement, and it was great to meet and chat with so many families who were in awe at all that Oakhill showcased on the day.

WELCOME EVENT UPDDATE – 23 March 2024

We are pleased to announce that this event has SOLD OUT.

Ticket holders will be sent more information next week regarding the event.

We thank our sponsors:

GOLD
Paul Denny Conveyancing
modena360
Mindworx Psychology

SILVER
Helloworld Travel Winston Hills
Sundowner
Brewing Co

To add to the fun of the night, make sure you start thinking about your outfit! Prizes will be awarded for best dressed!! Guaranteed to be a night filled with live music,
dancing, trivia, some fundraising and loads of fun!

GALA DAY 25 May 2024

Gala Day preparations are in full swing. Being part of Gala Day is also a great way to meet new parents at the College and make friends, all whilst having fun. NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED.

Stay tuned for more information as to how you can help make this day another great success.

Please reach out to either Nicole or myself if you can assist. – pandf.galaday@oakhill.nsw.edu.au

Thank you for your continued support.

Ms Carina Morales
P&F President

Over recent months Angelo Chichizola and Jacob Crawford (Year 8) have demonstrated the Lasallian spirit, volunteering for Kids Giving Back. They were among 1,200 young people assisting in providing over 11,500 hot and cold meals, breakfast boxes, snack packs, care packs, writing empathetic, positive messages to 15 charities around Sydney.

The College received wonderful feedback from Kids Giving Back stating that Angelo and Jacob both demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities, compassion, and a strong sense of civic responsibility. 

When placing an online Flexischools order, please select any date for collection and the order will be sent to the Uniform Shop.

Once the uniform order is packed and ready for collection an email will be sent to the student and parent informing them of the next available collection times. You do not need to reply if the student is away from the College that day. Subsequent emails will be sent until the order is collected.

It is expected that the student collects the order during the allocated times for students. Currently some of the winter orders include a blazer or are bulkier, therefore parent collections are permitted during Uniform Shop opening hours only.

The Uniform Shop staff would appreciate prompt collection as we are currently experiencing high volumes of online orders.

Ms Suzanne Haskins​​​​
Uniform Shop Manager

Please find below the upcoming Uniform Shop roster.