蜜桃影像

Greetings,

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

Reading may not make us more moral, but it can help. Reading can help us become more caring and confident, more resilient and adaptable, more ready and able to engage 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 Marcus Aurelias, John F Kennedy, Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, Lee Kwan Yu, and Barack Obama. I also learn much about myself and others from reading about history or countries or events. I learn to recognise human emotion and decision making. From fictional texts I learn to imagine and develop creative potential; I learn to imply, deduct, and induct ideas and visualise abstract concepts and notions.

Reading helps us develop our potential.

We need to preserve that practice of reading, discussing, analysing, and enjoying texts. There is a time and place to keep devices in the bag and for students to engage with texts and with each other. There is something also in holding a book and turning the page 鈥� it helps us remember what we have learnt because of where in the text, on the page, or within the whole book that we saw or learnt or discovered new meaning. This is also why this year we have reintroduced and are putting an emphasis on using exercise books for note taking and practice drills and homework etc. The interaction with the page and text helps our thinking, memory and recall.

Writing and speaking are the outputs or products of literacy whilst reading and listening are the inputs. This year 蜜桃影像 continues our 鈥榳riting across the curriculum/academic writing鈥� strategy (the literacy initiative) to ensure we train all students in all subjects, with the skills needed for articulating and expressing their thinking, problem solving, and critical analysis in that subject. By better understanding the formulae, and the 鈥榟ow鈥� to write, students will be able to present their thinking better and achieve their potential in life, in NAPLAN and in the HSC (markers along the road).

For more about reading opportunities at 蜜桃影像 please refer to the College Library website .... Thanks to our librarian, Mrs Moriarty and her team, 蜜桃影像 has one of the best and most comprehensive school library services I have seen.

The College has also launched again this year the Reading Boost programme. More can be found about this on the College Library website or via this short video

Over the holidays, over 100 Year 9 and Year 10 students had a cross-border experience engaging in other cultures and other worlds through the Vietnam-Cambodia Service Tour. 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; the professionalism of staff as carers; and the rapport shown between staff and students. I am humbled and honoured to receive such unsolicited comments, and it is a credit to these students and their families. May God continue to bless 蜜桃影像 and watch over us as families and as a school community to ensure we maintain the ethos and practice that continues to form such fine young people.

In March this year, Year 7 and Year 9 students participated in the online NAPLAN assessment tool. Hong Kong students take the Territory-wide System Assessment (TSA) and in New Zealand they have Asttle National Standards tests. I believe a national assessment tool is a good tool that can help teachers and schools better respond to the learning of each student and the learning needs of each cohort. With an objective standard we are able to identify trends and address them. We recently received our 2025 NAPLAN results for Numeracy, Reading, Spelling and Grammar & Punctuation and I am pleased to report that they are our best ever with improvement in all strands and in Year 9 there are no students in the lowest Band - Needing Extra Support - in most of the strands.

On Thursday 15th May, the College will celebrate Founders Day, our founder being St John Baptist de La Salle. In 1680 in Rheims, Champagne, France, St John Baptist de La Salle started Christian School鈥檚, providing vernacular education for all regardless of wealth or status. His mother was Madam Mo毛t, of Mo毛t Champagne, and his father a lawyer for the Court of King Louis XIV. As an educated man St La Salle introduced the idea of classroom teaching and set up teacher training, writing many texts on good school management. It was his belief that the relationship between the teacher and student, and explicit direct instruction were the two key elements to quality learning outcomes as well as good order and good management. This is exactly what the experts are saying today. But in addition, De La Salle was concerned about the development of the person, forming good young men and women, good citizens, service oriented, so as to contribute to the mission of the church and one鈥檚 own salvific journey. This year is 345th year of the Lasallian schools and the 89th year of 蜜桃影像.

Today we also note and keep in our prayers, the new Pope elected overnight, Pope Leo XIV, an Augustinian priest from Chicago.

May I kindly bring to your attention the College Gala Day on Saturday 31st May. If you can help in any way please contact  ... or pandf@oakhill.nsw.edu.au. There is more information in this newsletter. I look forward to seeing you there.

Br Steve Hogan
Principal

Pope Francis was an outstanding exponent of the Lasallian virtues of faith, service and community.
His faith allowed him not to be overcome by criticism but continue to love all 鈥� friend and foe.
He avoided breaking the community in any way by taking fixed positions that would have alienated some.
His reaching out to the margins was continuous leaving his patrimony to prisoners.
The world needs Gospel values authentically lived as shown by the universal outflow of grief at Pope Francis鈥� death.

We pray for Mrs Sheriden Barone who passed away on Wednesday 7th May 2025. Sheriden is the wife of Mr Gede Barone and mother to Matthew (Year 11), Jacob (Class of 2021) and their loving daughter, with several extended family members also attending Oakhill. The Barone family has dedicated a lot of time over the years volunteering at 蜜桃影像 and Gede was President of the Rugby Club for several years.

Eternal rest grant to her, O 鈥楲ord.
May the perpetual lights shine upon her,
And may she rest in peace.
Amen

In Term 2, the College will be collecting donations for the Oakhill Winter Appeal. We are collecting donations of excellent condition rain and winter jackets, thermals, blankets, sleeping bags, yoga mats, heat packs, beanies and scarves. In addition, we ask for brand new bed socks, gloves, soaps, brushes and combs.

Collections will be in Term 2, Weeks 2 and 3 (Monday 5th - Friday 16th May).

Collection bins and volunteers will be at Benildus Roundabout and DE Roundabout every morning.

All donations will go to St. Vincent de Paul, YourTown and Baabayn Aboriginal Corporation.

Staff and students are invited to join in prayer and reflection at our Wisdom Wednesday sessions in the Chapel. These will take place every Wednesday at the beginning of lunch in the Chapel (10 - 15 minutes).

Ms Jaimee Bocasan
Coordinator of Prayer and Liturgy

As part of ongoing Domestic Violence Awareness, over 80 蜜桃影像 students with staff proudly joined the Hills community in a powerful March for Change on Friday 2nd May, calling for an end to domestic and gender-based violence. Beginning at Castle Place and concluding at Castle Hill RSL, the march was a show of unity and determination to address what is no longer a private issue, but a whole community concern.

Following the march, students attended a breakfast and heard from guest speakers who shared current insights on the impact of domestic violence and strategies to combat it - highlighting initiatives such as the Click Collab program being trialled in the Hills. It was a meaningful opportunity for Oakhill's students to stand in solidarity, raise awareness, and be part of the conversation for change.

Ms Roxanne Leopardi
Coordinator of Lasallian Formation

Our staff and students were touched to receive a beautiful canvas from the residents of the Anglicare Retirement Village last week, each fingerprint representing the connections we've built. A meaningful thank you for the time, laughter, and talents shared every week.

As part of 蜜桃影像鈥檚 ongoing commitment to supporting Lasallian communities across the Pacific, we are proud to have partnered with the Lasallian Foundation on a meaningful health initiative at La Salle Technical Secondary School in Hohola, Port Moresby.

Through this collaboration, four cold water dispensers have been installed throughout the school campus, providing students and staff with reliable access to clean, chilled drinking water - a vital resource in the region鈥檚 hot and humid climate.

The dispensers have been strategically positioned in high-traffic areas such as the main corridor, cafeteria, and library to ensure that hydration is accessible to all, supporting improved concentration, learning outcomes, and overall wellbeing throughout the school day.

Beyond the immediate health benefits, the project also promotes long-term sustainability by reducing the reliance on single use plastic bottles. By encouraging the use of refillable water containers, the school is fostering environmentally responsible habits among its students.

This initiative is a powerful expression of Oakhill鈥檚 Lasallian values  -particularly our commitment to service, community, and global solidarity. We are honoured to support the Lasallian Foundation in its mission to uplift and empower communities through education, health, and care.

Together, we are making a tangible difference.

Mrs Gabby Russo
Head of Marketing & Communications

Thank you to all students who purchased a gift from the Oakhill Mother's Day stall. We raised $1,200 in profits, with all money raised going to The Hills Sanctuary Women's Shelter. 

Ms Roxanne Leopardi
Coordinator of Lasallian Formation

As part of our Lasallians Without Borders fundraising initiative, every Friday in Term 2 and 3 is Cupcake Friday. Students can purchase cupcakes around the College for a gold coin donation.

All funds raised will support our immersion trips to the Philippines and India in September and October. Your generosity helps the College purchase materials and equipment needed for the projects undertaken overseas.

Oakhill is once again participating in the Act for Peace Ration Challenge. Students heard from some representatives this week about how their week of fasting will not only raise money, but also raise awareness and make a tangible difference in the lives of many.

You can sponsor here: 

蜜桃影像 works in partnership with parents to ensure that all students are well cared for. To assist the College, all parents and guardians are asked to ensure that there is an emergency contact person, other than a parent or guardian, listed in your child鈥檚 details in TASS. This could be the aunt or uncle, grandparent, or neighbour of the child. 

All parents and guardians are asked to up-date the emergency contact for their child ensuring it is an alternative to a parent. The College will always reach out to a child鈥檚 parents/guardians first but, in an emergency if parents/guardians are not available the College needs to reach an alternative carer.

The emergency contact field is editable in the TASS Parent Lounge under Parent Details  Address Details and scroll down until you see Emergency Contact. There should be two options to add addresses and add contact details.

Ms Deborah Gillis
Assistant Principal Pastoral Care

Tickets are now on sale for the upcoming 蜜桃影像 musical 鈥� Jesus Christ Superstar at the Pioneer Theatre, Castle Hill.

Performance details are as follows:

Thursday 19th June: 7.00pm - Special opening night!
Friday 20th June: 7.00pm
Saturday 21st June: 7.00pm
Sunday 22nd June: 2.00pm - Matinee
Wednesday 25th June: 7.00pm
Thursday 26th June: 7.00pm
Friday 27th June: 7.00pm - Closing Night

Tickets are available through

Ms Rebecca Madigan
Administration Assistant Performing Arts

I would like to draw parents/guardians attention to the College policy outlined on page 20 of the Oakhill Diary - Uniform When Injured. The College uniform is worn with pride and is to be worn each day, except for exceptional circumstances only. Please see the excerpt below:

The parent of any students who has an injury which may hinder the wearing of the College uniform eg, broken arm/collar bone/leg, MUST contact their child鈥檚 Dean. 

Step one: Parent/Guardian notifies their child鈥檚 Dean and outlines nature of the injury via phone call, email or note in the College Diary.

Step two: The Dean will outline the appropriate change in uniform to meet the injury requirements. 

Step three: Dean will issue a green card for the change in uniform. 

Step four: A weekly assessment of the injury will occur by the Dean.

Thank you for your co-operation.

Ms Deborah Gillis
Assistant Principal Pastoral Care

The countdown to Gala Day is on with only 22 days to go and, we鈥檙e calling on the Oakhill community to help make it another fantastic event. Please see the attached documents for further details and links.

How You Can Help:

• Basket Stall Donations 鈥� Now due! We're asking for one item per student (see the attached list).
• Major Raffle 鈥� Tickets are on sale, with an incredible first prize of a 2025 Mazda CX-J 6A!
• Book Stall Donations 鈥�
• Volunteer to help set up or on a stall-
• Ride Wristbands 鈥� Pre-sale wristbands are now available.
• Krispy Kremes are back 鈥�  collect on Gala Day and save
  

We still have some great sponsorship packages available. Please for more information. For more information, please refer to the attached documents.

Thank you for your continued support 鈥� Gala Day鈥檚 success is only possible thanks to community.

Ms Carina Morales
P&F President

The spirit and tradition of ANZAC Day was celebrated with a full school commemorative service on Monday 28th April. The Service, led by our Year 12 College leaders, began with a procession which included a Scottish Bag Piper and Army and Airforce Cadets - Niushka Shrestha, Marlee Deane, Nirvana Maharaj, Sheryl Machado, Andrew Cook (all Year 10) and Peter Cook (Year 8). Ashlyn Kumar (Year 11) who represented the College as an ANZAC Ambassador at the Castle Hill RSL Dawn Service shared the story of our special guest Wing Commander Hutchison, a veteran of the Royal Australian Airforce. The performances of our bugler Quinn Stalenberg (Year 9), of the Last Post and Reveille and our Senior Choir - Ava Bizzanelli, Bernadette Laird, Harrison Meek, Joshua Vaz (Year 12) and Antonio Zeaiter (Year 11) were outstanding. Congratulations to everyone who contributed to making this a solemn and significant occasion.

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

蜜桃影像 was proudly represented by Ashlyn Kumar (Year 11) as an ANZAC Day Ambassador at the recent Kellyville Dawn Service. Ashlyn felt greatly honoured by this opportunity as she shares below. 

Earlier this term I had applied to be a Secondary Schools ANZAC Ambassador for the Castle Hill RSL. On the day of the interview, I was very anxious. I had my notes out during recess and lunch trying to remember information and I was practically shaking on my way to the RSL. I was escorted to the interview room earlier than expected where I met with two of the previous ambassadors, Cheryl Hill, the President of the Castle Hill RSL sub-branch, and Mr Mullan. During the interview, I was asked about my knowledge on the Royal Australian Airforce in recent operations, the occupations of service men and women in the RAAF, the ANZAC Dawn Service in Castle Hill, and my own interests and aspirations. Walking out of that interview, I felt relieved and content. Later that night I arrived home from dance where I received an email from Ms Gillis which entailed my selection for a position as a Secondary Schools ANZAC Ambassador for the Castle Hill RSL, 2025. I was practically jumping with joy.

After the selection process, I was invited to a meeting at the Castle Hill RSL with the other three ambassadors, the panel that had interviewed us, and the veterans from the RAAF that had volunteered for the program. On this day, I met Wing Commander Hutchison for the first time and had arranged an interview with him to discuss his experiences in the Royal Australian Air force. On the first day of training, I met with the other student ambassadors, previous ambassadors and Mr Mullan where we went through the program and engaged in a range of impromptu and reading skills. Between the first and second training sessions, we were asked to draft a speech about our designated veterans to present at the ANZAC Day Dawn Service. On the second training session we presented our speeches and worked on them throughout the time, and at the end I was asked to present my speech to Wing Commander Hutchison where he commented and gave me feedback. On the third training session, we finalised the drafts of our speeches and were asked to present them to our parents at the end of the session where they gave us constructive feedback before the big day.

In preparation for the ANZAC Day Dawn Service, I had to memorise the speech I had written about Wing Commander Hutchinson. This wasn't too challenging but was definitely more vivid on the day when I was standing there in front of thousands of people trying to remember a speech. I was very nervous before speaking and it was quite cold on the morning of, which didn't make it any better. It was greatly timed however, as we were organised to speak at the beginning of the service, hence the speaking part wasn't keeping me on my toes for too long. The service was outstanding and well organised. The precision of the hymns sung, professionalism demonstrated, laying of the wreaths, and the speech presented from Group Captain Anothny Reid (RAAF) was insightful and definitely something unforgettable. I feel honoured to have attended such a significant service and present a speech dedicated to those who have served and continue to serve our country. It was a wonderful experience and opportunity, and I look forward to the upcoming events planned for the remainder of the year.

Ashlyn Kumar - Year 11

A reminder that the second instalment for 2025 College fees (one third of your annual fees) is due on Thursday 15th May unless you pay in instalments via School Easy Pay Direct Debit.

Fee statements were issued prior to the beginning of term.

Please 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 

During the term break, Year 9 and 10 were fortunate to visit Cambodia, and during this time fostered empathy, gratitude, and personal growth 鈥� and created lasting memories and friendships that will remain well beyond their time at school. A huge thank you to our amazing staff for making this trip possible and ensuring this immersion was such a success.

The 2025 Stage 5 Cambodia tour was certainly an event for the history books. From eating spiders and scorpions, riding tuk-tuks with automatic water guns and watching a rat sniff out a land mine, there was something for everyone.

We were able to connect closer with staff and students of Year 9 and 10 and learn more about each other, especially at our time in Camp Tbeng. Experiencing the living conditions of a regular Cambodian person was touching, as it made the first night back in Sydney that much better - having my own room, air conditioning and clean drinking water, something I would take for granted living in Sydney.

My personal highlight of the trip was the cycle around the historic capital of Cambodia (Siem Reap) and visiting different temples, each dating at least a millennium back. I found this as a true representation of the Cambodian culture and lifestyle, as we cycled through the main centre of Siem Reap, through the villages and into the temples. As this was during the Khmer New Year celebrations, the sheer amount of people visiting and all the celebrations being held at Angkor Wat (the largest temple in Cambodia) was exciting to see. As part of the Khmer New Year, there is a tradition of pouring water on statues, elders and family members to symbolise the washing away of bad luck and blessings for the new year. Children also participate in water fights on the street, which we experienced first-hand on the first day, on our tour around the Siem Reap residential areas.

On the sixth day at Camp Tbeng, we learnt how to make rice noodles in the morning in traditional Cambodian style, and visited the local primary school and served these noodles to them. Many of the kids at that school don鈥檛 have enough money to have breakfast everyday, so being able to provide food for these 5-8 year old children was something I found really heartwarming.

We also visited the local junior high school, and spent the afternoon playing football, volleyball, and some traditional Cambodian games. My favourite one was a variation of 鈥淒uck, Duck, Goose鈥�, where a person would be chosen, and chase the person on their right with a short rope. This made for an extremely exciting experience of what is socially acceptable in a developing country like Cambodia.

The second-last day in Cambodia we spent at the capital city (Phnom Pehn), where we visited the S-21 prison (formerly a high school) and the Choeung Ek Genocidal Center, where we learnt more about the atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge in the late 70鈥檚, the largest genocide ever in terms of the total population of Cambodia. While a lot of us in Australia think our government is poor, or isn鈥檛 with us, at least we have a government that isn鈥檛 hunting us down to the death. While it was a grim day, it was necessary to understand the true reason for the joyful and bright culture in Cambodia, and gain some empathy for the people there, as many of them have suffered unimaginable pain, losing loved ones and their own lives.

On the final day of the tour, we spent the day at La Salle Pouthum School, performing restoration work, including repainting and cleaning up each classroom and concreting new walkways and a volleyball court. Working at the school helped me to realise just how much we have at 蜜桃影像 and how we don鈥檛 need to rely on the generosity of students in other countries for efforts as simple as paint on the walls and the carpeted ground we walk on.

All in all, the 2025 Cambodia tour has helped me create lasting relationships, rekindle old ones, and built memories that will stay with me forever.

Michael Rizk, Year 10

Oakhill teacher and alumni Miss Sally Faehrmann has her eyes set on gold, training hard for the Deaflympics to be held in Tokyo in November. Sally is partially deaf and is part of the Australian basketball team.

Deaf basketballers like Sally face the added challenge of not being able to hear the referee鈥檚 whistle or hear the timer. Sally explains that to overcome this, information is conveyed through visual means via a flagman who stands at the edge of the court signaling to the players.

Sally says 鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty amazing how all of us can come together. We share the hardship of growing up deaf and now we get to represent our country and play for Australia. It鈥檚 getting a lot more competitive and definitely requires a unique type of person, deaf, female and be able to play basketball, it鈥檚 going to be good鈥�.

Sally also recently appeared on Channel 7s News Segment Bright Side. You can watch it here: 

Tickets are selling fast for the 2025 Sports Lunch on Friday 20th June. This is always a spectacular afternoon of entertainment, inspiration, and community, all in support of enhancing Oakhill鈥檚 sports facilities.

This year's line up is Tim Gilbert as our MC, David Hynes AM (Class of 1989) Australian Olympian, and Brad Blaze, world-renowned artist and entertainer. Tickets on sale here:

We鈥檙e also asking for donations for our raffle and auction 鈥� your generosity, big or small, helps make the event a success and is appreciated. Please contact Jacqui at jac@wisehartevents.com.

Sponsorship packages (Gold, Silver, Bronze) are available and offer excellent exposure for your business and you can contact Jacqui regarding packages too!

The College congratulates Mr Alex Vlismas (staff member) who represented Australian playing football over the term break:

It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience in Kazakhstan playing futsal in the Yeleu Cup with some of the best players in the world. The football, culture and food was world class and I thank the organisers of the Yeleu Cup for their hospitality.

Our team was able to place second in the group stage against challenging opponents across Kazakstan and Russia. We unfortunately were beaten and subsequently knocked out in the knockout stages by the winners of the tournament 5-4.

I was able to get a photo with 5-time world best goalkeeper Leo Higuita. I even picked up a nickname from the commentators and public in Kazakstan called "The train."

School photographs are next Friday 16th May.

To order your school photos:
1. Visit 
2. Click on Order Your School Photos
3. Enter your Access key: K4HS7W4X

Individual and family photos can be ordered with the same access key.

Family Photographs will be taken on Friday 23rd May.

Family photographs much be ordered BEFORE 4:30PM the night before photo day. Please ensure your orders are placed before this time.

On Friday 2nd May, the Year 9 and Year 10 Drama students headed to Riverside Theatres in Parramatta to see Sport For Jove Theatre Company鈥檚 exciting and modern take on Shakespeare鈥檚 Macbeth followed by a Q&A with the cast and crew.

It was a fast-paced, intense production that gave students a fresh look at one of the most famous plays in the world. The students were accompanied by Mr Flanagan, Ms Borg and Ms Madigan, who were on hand to help the students unpack the weighty themes of the play and solidify their opinions of the performance

Year 9 student Angelo Chichizola shared his thoughts:

鈥淟ast Friday both of the Year 9 drama classes and the Year 10 drama class went to see the Sport For Jove Theatre Company鈥檚 rendition of Macbeth at the Parramatta Riverside Theatre. It was in my opinion an interesting adaptation of the original play by Shakespeare but fun to watch. The actors leaned into their roles really well, especially the actor that played Macduff who was able to portray his character and his emotions incredibly well. Macbeth as a whole is a short but good show and the Sport For Jove Theatre Company did a very cool modern rendition of the play that none of us would be able to forget.鈥�

Seeing live theatre is a huge part of Drama at Oakhill. Watching professional actors in action helps students understand how to bring characters to life, how to use the stage, and how powerful storytelling can be. It inspires them to make stronger, more creative work in their own performances and those drama skills like confidence, teamwork, and clear communication are things they鈥檒l keep using long after the final curtain call.

Mr Brad Turbott
Teacher

This unit鈥檚 Journey Story artwork is a creative painting that uses techniques inspired by Sally Morgan's practice and the symbols of Western Desert Artists. The aim was to convey a personal experience reflecting individual growth. My artwork explores the bittersweet feeling of leaving primary school. It expresses both 茅nouement and the idea of new beginnings through my own symbols - transition, friend, school etc, which represent how our minds linger on the places we鈥檝e had to leave behind. Through this artmaking experience, I have learned how to paint bold areas of colour and symbols using the dotting technique. I have developed a deeper understanding of how to incorporate hidden meanings into my artwork.

D. Jodlowski-Tan

As a conscientious student who worked consistently before, during, and after Oakhill's Cultural Immersion Incursion, Dominic Jodlowski-Tan was the obvious choice for the Year 8 Visual Arts Artist of the Month.

Congratulations Dominic.

Ms Cecilia Weinert
Visual Arts Teacher

Oakhill's Music students in Years 10, 11 and 12 ventured to the Opera House on Thursday 1st May to watch the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. It was an inspiring experience as reflected by Simi Bajwa below. 

Last Thursday, myself and my fellow peers in Years 10, 11 and 12 Music had the wonderful opportunity to watch The Sydney Symphony Orchestra perform at the Opera House. We watched them perform 'Debussy鈥檚 Final Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun ' and 'Tchaikovsky鈥檚 6th Symphony', which were both pieces I thoroughly enjoyed hearing live for the first time amidst the renowned acoustics of the Opera house. This excursion was a great opportunity for me to hear and see the various concepts of music we have been learning about be applied at an extremely high level of skill and performance quality.  It helped me understand how I could use this experience to help me in the activities and responses we work on in class. It was also amazing to see how each section of the orchestra contributed to the overall sound, and how the conductor brought everything together so smoothly. Altogether, the performance was an inspiring and excellent experience, which encouraged me to be more creative in my own composition and performance work. 

Simi Bajwa - Year 11

Turn Your Study Sessions into an Exciting Challenge

Studying doesn鈥檛 have to feel like a chore. By gamifying your routine, you can make learning more engaging, motivating, and even fun. Gamification involves turning your study tasks into a game, complete with goals, challenges, and rewards. It鈥檚 a great way to stay motivated and tackle your workload with enthusiasm.

1. Create a Reward System

Rewards are a simple yet powerful motivator. Set up a system where you earn points for completing tasks, and exchange those points for rewards. For example:

- 5 points for finishing a Maths worksheet.
- 10 points for revising a chapter.
- 20 points for acing a practice test.

Once you accumulate enough points, 鈥榰nlock鈥� a reward, such as:

- Watching an episode of your favourite show.
- Enjoying a treat like your favourite snack.
- Taking a guilt-free break to play a game or chat with friends.

Tip: Keep track of your points in a notebook or app. Seeing your progress is motivating in itself!

2. Make It Competitive

If you thrive on competition, gamify your studies with a friend or sibling. Set shared goals, such as completing a certain number of practice questions or memorising key terms, and see who finishes first. You could even create mini prizes for the winner.

Ideas for Competitions:

- Who can complete the most flashcards in 10 minutes?
- Who gets the highest score on a quiz or mock test?
- Who memorises a list of vocabulary words the fastest?

Tip: If you鈥檙e studying solo, compete against yourself by trying to beat your previous 鈥榟igh score鈥�. For example, aim to complete more practice problems in a shorter time.

3. Use Digital Study Games and Apps

Technology makes gamifying your study routine easier than ever. Many apps are designed with game-like features to make learning more enjoyable. Here are some popular options:

- Kahoot: Create interactive quizzes and play against friends.
- Quizlet: Use flashcards and test yourself with timed challenges.
- Habitica: Turn your to-do list into a role-playing game where you earn rewards for completing tasks.

Tip: Explore subject-specific apps like Duolingo for language learning or Prodigy for Mathematics.

4. Design Your Own Challenges

Get creative and build your own study challenges. For example:

- Create a 鈥榮tudy streak鈥� by committing to 20 minutes of focused study each day for a week. Reward yourself if you succeed.
- Set time-based challenges, like completing an assignment in 45 minutes or reviewing an entire topic in one session.
- 鈥楲evel up鈥� by gradually increasing the difficulty of your tasks, such as moving from easy practice questions to exam-level problems.

Tip: Name your challenges and track your progress to make the experience more engaging.

Study Like a Pro Gamer

Gamifying your study routine transforms studying into an interactive and rewarding experience. By creating a reward system, introducing friendly competition, and using study apps, you can stay motivated and even have fun while working toward your academic goals. Give it a try鈥攜ou might just find yourself looking forward to your next study session!

For further information Oakhill's login details are:

Username: foroakhillonly
Password: 41results

Mr Gavin Russell
Assistant Principal Curriculum

Oakhill鈥檚 Year 12 Engineering Studies students had the rare opportunity to go behind the scenes of one of Sydney鈥檚 most significant infrastructure projects 鈥� the NorthConnex tunnel.

Thanks to an ongoing annual partnership, our students took part in a nighttime site visit, led by the Head Engineer responsible for managing the $3 billion asset. They gained valuable insights into the tunnel鈥檚 operations, maintenance systems, and the high-level planning involved in preventing and responding to potential disasters.

This immersive experience brought engineering theory to life, allowing students to witness the complexity and innovation involved in large-scale infrastructure. It also offered a unique glimpse into real-world career pathways in engineering, project management, and urban planning.

We extend our sincere thanks to the NorthConnex team for hosting our students and helping inspire the next generation of engineers and innovators.

Mr Scott McLeod
Academic Head of TAS

Test your language skills, earn points, and compete with students from around the world!

Earn awards, prizes and school merits. Unlock certificates (Credit to Elite) and be in the running to win gift vouchers up to $460 AU!

How? Complete fun French/Italian activities on Education Perfect and climb the leaderboard. For more details, click here: 

Play fair 鈥� any cheating will result in point removal.

Let the challenge begin!

Ms Darija Egic
Academic Head of Languages

The Walsh Library has launched Reading Boost 2025, a year-long program that rewards students with merits and other prizes for their wide reading by completing reading missions on Google Classroom. This year, we have included several missions which require family members鈥� involvement to succeed, so please support your son and/or daughter鈥檚 participation in Reading Boost by reading and having book conversations with them.

Ms Tania Moriarty
Academic Head of Library

During Term break, 22 Year 11 and 12 students completed an incredible four-day, three-night trek along the Great North Walk as part of their Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award journey.

Their adventure took them from Berowra Station to Galston (Crosslands Reserve), Thornleigh (Baden-Powell Scout Centre), Lane Cove (Discovery Park), and finally to Chatswood Station 鈥� covering some amazing ground.

Impressively, the group was led by a Year 12 student as part of his Gold Residential Project, showing outstanding leadership and resilience throughout the journey.

Huge thanks to our staff Mr Jack Rajczyk, Ms Joanne Lenane and Mr Jordan Forestieri for organising, guiding and encouraging the team.

Oakhill's Show Team's preparation and hard work has paid off at the Royal Easter Show, with some fantastic competition results:

蜜桃影像 Show Team (State School Section)

- 1st Place and Reserve Champion: Our Bantam Soft Feather Rooster
- 3rd Place: Selection: Galloways - Stan Hill
- 4th Place: School Parader - Charlotte Gibson
- 5th Place: Poultry Showmanship - Vivaan Bochare

蜜桃影像 Show Team (Open/State Section)

- 3rd Place: Boer Goat Judging - Isla Smith
- 5th Place: Pig Judging - Sam Scarsbrook
- 4th Place: Alpaca Fleece Judging - Charlotte Gibson
- 5th Place: Boer Goat Judging - Charlotte Gibson
- Highly Commended: Angora Goat & Mohair Judging - Charlotte Gibson
- Highly Commended: Alpaca and Alpaca Fleece Judging - Isla Smith
- Highly Commended: Grain Judging - Arthur White
- Highly Commended: Poultry Judging - Lachlan Paredes
- Champion in State: Sheep Judging - Mr Luke Meredith (Class of 2022)

Ms Stellina Trestrail
Coordinator of Agriculture

The ISA winter sport season officially began on Saturday 3rd May with fixtures sprawled across Sydney. Oakhill came up against 16 different schools in Rugby, Football, Tennis and Netball. It was a successful day too winning 65% of all games, with several teams also facing off against other Oakhill teams. More importantly, the spirit in which the games were played was something to be admired. Students have taken responsibility for upholding the tradition that is Oakhill Sport. 

The netballers got us off to a great start with dominating victories over Redlands College and St Andrews Cathedral School; special mention to the 2nd VII Netball team who defeated a 1st-team opponent comprehensively 49-34. On the Football field, the First XI Boys were clinical in their 3-0 victory over St Andrews Catholic School, with the First XI Girls defeating Barker 2 2-1. Oakhill Football proved it was in safe hands also with the 13A鈥檚 commanding 14-0 victory over St Andrews Cathedral School In Tennis, the 1st and 2nds opposed one another, with a victory to the higher ranked team. It was great to see the boys play so well together as a team and both are well placed to succeed in 2025. Oakhill 7 Tennis team also didn鈥檛 let their ranking cloud their performance; they easily disposed of Oxley鈥檚 1st V Tennis team 7-1. Rugby closed out the day with some strong results. The U13鈥檚 captured an 86-0 win while the 13C鈥檚 defeated Pius B鈥檚 66-10. The 16A鈥檚 started their season strongly, rewarded for a grueling preseason campaign with a 52-10 victory.

ISA Selection - U15 ISA Touch Football

Congratulations to Lucas Clarke who made the U15 ISA Touch Football team. He will next feature at the Catholic Independent School Carnival in a strong team of players.

St Andrew鈥檚 Cup

It was an exciting opportunity for our 1st XI Boys and Girls Football teams to play in the St Andrew鈥檚 Cup in the holidays. The results are as follows:

1st XI Football Girls:
Games 1 vs Redlands 鈥� Lost 5-0
Game 2 vs Wenona 鈥� Lost 5-0
Game 3 vs PLC Sydney 鈥� Lost 5-2
Plate Semi Final vs Abbotsleigh 鈥� Lost 7-0

1st XI Football Boys:
Game 1 vs Knox 鈥� Won 2-0
Game 2 vs Newington 鈥� Won 2-1
Game 3 vs Sydney Boys High School 鈥� Won 1-0
Quarter Final vs St Joseph鈥檚 鈥� Won 1-0
Semi Final vs Mamre Anglican School 鈥� Won 3-0
Final vs Sydney Grammar 鈥� Draw 0-0 (Won 4-1 on penalties)

Well done to the 1st XI Boys Football team on their success winning the St Andrews Cup.

Oakhill Cross Country

The Oakhill Cross Country was held on Monday 5th May with students across the school competing for house points, age champion and the chance to progress onto the ISA carnival. In perfect conditions, students exhausted themselves with some impressive times for the distances they were covering. The standings were impacted by the concluding races which featured the U16, 17 and 18鈥檚 girls. It was a narrow 11-point victory for Solomon House, with a fast finishing Miguel house narrowly defeated. Final house results are as follows:

1st - Solomon
2nd - Miguel
3rd - Mutien
4th - Turon
5th - Benildus
6th - Lasalle

ISA Netball

The ISA Netball trials were held on Friday 2nd May. Oakhill sent a strong squad of players to this event, with a high level of athletic talent displayed on the day. Oakhill had four students make the ISA representative team. Congratulations to the following students on their selection:

Emily Knight
Hannah Knobbs
Evelyn Marosszeky
Madison Noney

Team of the Week - 13G Football

The sun was shining in Moore Park on Saturday 3rd May as footballers in the 13G鈥檚 made their sporting debut for 蜜桃影像. The excitement was contagious as these boys got together ahead of the match. Seen warming up well before their opponents, they sent a clear message that they were focussed. It was even more impressive to see the simple enjoyment of playing football sprawled across their faces in everything they did. Smiles aplenty, their day out was complete with a 7-0 victory over St Andrews Cathedral School . All boys should be proud of their achievements.

Sport Arrangements for Gala Day

We are proud that we have such a high participation in sport which is great for the student鈥檚 wellbeing however it does mean we cannot host all games each Saturday on College grounds. For this, I wish to apologise for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.

This applies particularly for Gala Day where every team, coach and student want to play at 蜜桃影像. In speaking with the College management, as new Head of Sport I have proposed a format to be used for all Gala Days going forward. From 205, all U14 Rugby and Football teams will play off-site, locally. This year that will be at Hills Grammar. We wish for Year 7 to play at home given it is their first year and also the seniors in their final years. I acknowledge that some students may have been in this situation in 2024 and apologise to students, parents and guardians, however we need to establish a format so that no student is in this situation in the future. This will ensure a fair and structured rotation, ensuring that students are not impacted for more than one Gala Day season in their time of playing sport for 蜜桃影像.

Gala Day Fixtures

In an effort to maximise student and parent volunteering and planning, you can access the draft Gala Day fixtures by . Please note that the live fixtures will be updated the week of Gala Day on . The 鈥榣ive fixtures鈥� link should be the main point of reference for fixtures on Saturday 31st May.

Upcoming Dates

• Tuesday 13th May - Swim Team Presentation at 7.00pm in the Miguel Lecture Theatre.
• Thursday 22nd May - Winter Sport Prayer Service for all First sporting teams. This will begin at 6.00pm in the College Chapel, followed by a presentation in the CSC Foyer..
• Friday 23rd May - Winter Sport Mass at 8.00am in the College Chapel. Mass is celebrated every Friday at Oakhill and this event will be dedicated to all winter athletes.
  • Students from all sports are encouraged to attend this event ahead of the 2025 winter sport season.
• Wednesday 28th May - ISA Cross Country
• Saturday 31st May - Gala Day

CIS Information

Families are reminded that if their child is an elite athlete in a particular sport and wishes to trial for a CIS team, they must reach out to the sports department to notify them of their interest. It is the responsibility of families to check the for information on the dates of trials and competition, ensuring their availability for all events.

Mr Murray Fisher
Head of Sport

Matthew (Year 12) recently competed in the State Climbing Championships, participating in both the Boulder event in Maitland and the Lead event in Villawood. He earned an impressive sixth-place ranking in the State for Boulder, securing his qualification for the Boulder National Championship, which will be held in Ballina on May 17th, 2025.

Matthew is a dedicated athlete who has only been climbing for three years. He brings a disciplined and goal-oriented mindset to his sport, with a clear focus on reaching the podium at competitions and ultimately qualifying for the World Youth Championships.

We wish Matthew all the very best in his Boulder Championship in May and his future climbing events.

Calling the Class of 1995. It's time to get together to celebrate your 30-year reunion. Your cohort will be catching up on Saturday 25th October, 7pm at the Castle Hill Country Club. Save the date!

Calling the Class of 1985. Take a step back in time to celebrate your 40-year reunion. Your cohort will be catching up on Saturday 23rd August at The Treehouse, North Sydney. Please visit the following link for details

If other year groups are interested in organising a reunion this year, please get in touch via alumni@oakhill.nsw.edu.au. The College will help you through the straightforward process.

Mrs Lisa Foulstone
Marketing Officer

We are currently gathering stories for the next edition of the Oakhill Drive. The Oakhill Drive is our alumni magazine, published with articles from alumni for alumni. 

If you are an 蜜桃影像 alumni, we would love to share what you've been doing since you 'walked down the drive'. Please email stories/achievements/weddings/births to lfoulstone@oakhill.nsw.edu.au.

Lisa Foulstone
Marketing Officer

Please find below the upcoming Uniform Shop roster. 

Reminder: please promptly collect any orders from the Uniform Shop as soon as possible during opening hours.

Ms Suzanne Haskins
Uniform Shop Manager

Come along and connect with universities, colleges and VET organisations at the Hills District Tertiary Information Night. 

Monday 19th May
3.30pm - 6.00pm
Pennant Hills High School

Ms Gabrielle Seaton
Careers Advisor

Western Sydney Saints Care are offering free parenting programs for interested parents/carers. These programs are designed to develop resilient children and young people. Please click here for further information .

Ms Helen Morris
Head of Counselling/Registered Psychologist

H2H Physiotherapy works closely with several Oakhill sports teams. H2H have offered Oakhill students a discounted rate for their services. Please see below for further information.