Volume Sixteen, Friday 7th November 2025

Remembrance Day is celebrated on Tuesday the 11th November (the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month), the month dedicated to peace. Remembrance Day was initiated by King George V in 1919 a year after the Armistice signed by the allies of WWI and Germany and was originally known as Armistice Day. At Oakhill College, there will be a short Assembly just before 11:00am on Tuesday 11th November, the moment each year in which many nations of the world remember those who gave their lives in war; a day in which we remind students never to forget, and in all aspects of life be peacemakers. Our actions of respect, kindness, sharing and forgiveness are ways we can bring forth peace. Our actions follow Jesus’ golden rule to love your neighbour.

In November it is common in the UK and across the Commonwealth to wear a poppy, the most popular symbol of Remembrance Day in western and allied countries. However, the poppy does not have the same status and symbolism in many parts of Asia where it is associated in China and across parts of southeast Asia with the ‘opium wars’ and colonialism. In France, the red poppy was the only flower resilient enough to grow in the previously beautiful landscapes that had been turned into barren and muddy battlefields and symbolises the blood of soldiers who lost their lives. This image is captured in the poem entitled ‘In Flanders Fields’ by Canadian Doctor, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, shortly after losing his friend in the battle of Ypres.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
  In Flanders fields

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
  In Flanders fields.

As we approach Advent and the Christmas season, may what is essential, to love and be loved, to build the power within, to touch hearts and transform loves, to inspire each other to aspire to be our best, to be whom God has willed us to be, be our focus and resolution. Keep us in your prayers as you will be in ours.

Live Jesus in our hearts. Forever.

Br Steve Hogan fsc
Principal

Every day we witness anger and hatred on the world stage.
Some sage advice from our Superior General Br. Armin might help redress the imbalance.

"What small acts of kindness may I do today to stop the vicious cycle of violence and hatred."

Ms Jaimee Bocasan
Coordinator of Prayer and Liturgy

The 2025 Walk the Talk Awards celebrated the outstanding initiative, fundraising efforts, and awareness-raising achievements of Oakhill's Year 10 students, shining a spotlight on youth leadership and social impact. 

Held at the prestigious Parliament House on Thursday 6th November, this inspiring event was honoured to welcome two distinguished speakers: Dr Hannah Tonkin, NSW Women’s Safety Commissioner, and Professor Steve Roberts, Professor of Sociology at Monash University and a globally recognised authority on masculinities, gender equality, and youth engagement.

Ms Roxanne Leopardi
Coordinator of Lasallian Ministry

Every year Oakhill College creates a little bit of Christmas cheer for those in need via the College Christmas Hamper Appeal. Each student is asked to bring in one food hamper item and a gold coin to buy presents for a family in need.

Items will be collected up until Week 8.

Ms Roxanne Leopardi
Coordinator of Lasallian Ministry

Following the Oakhill College Parents and Friends Association Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 5th November, I would like to extend a warm welcome to the new members for 2026: Ann Kumar - Vice President, Ramnett Singh - Secretary, Nee Win - Treasurer and Dani Krastev, Jenny Woodward and Shren Kumar as ordinary committee members. 

The role of P&F President is still vacant and the College requires someone to join this team as P&F President for 2026. You can view the position description here: Committee Role Summary Information.pdf

We wish to express thanks to retiring President, Ms Carina Morales, Vice President, Ms Nicole Moog and members Dani Krastev and Devina Singh. We thank them for their work and dedication to the Oakhill College P&F Association over the past several years. 

For more information on the role of P&F President please contact Carina at pandf.president@oakhill.nsw.edu.au.

Br Steve Hogan
Principal

On Thursday 26th September, Oakhill College teaching staff gathered in Benildus Hall for a dynamic and forward-thinking Staff Development Day. The day was designed to deepen our collective understanding of literacy in secondary education, reflect on student achievement data, and explore the evolving role of artificial intelligence in teaching and learning.

The morning began with a welcome and prayer, setting a reflective tone for the day. Staff were reminded of the purpose: to engage meaningfully with curriculum planning, literacy strategies, and AI integration. Each table was equipped with copies of the keynote presentation, reflection prompts, and materials to capture group discussions.

The first session featured a keynote address by Dr Andrea Salins from the Australian Catholic University, titled Reading in High School: Vocabulary and Fluency. Dr Salins introduced two key frameworks: Scarborough’s Reading Rope and the Reading House, to illustrate the multifaceted nature of reading comprehension. Her presentation highlighted the persistent challenges many high school students face with word reading and fluency, and the critical role vocabulary plays in bridging decoding and comprehension.

Dr Salins unpacked three evidence-based vocabulary strategies for classroom implementation:

1. Orthographic Facilitation – Providing spellings incidentally when introducing new words to enhance retention and spelling accuracy.

2. Oral Pre-training – Introducing spoken vocabulary before students encounter it in text, with spaced repetition to reinforce learning.

3. Morphological Analysis – Teaching students to decode complex academic words by exploring roots, prefixes, and suffixes, particularly useful in subjects like Science, History, and English.

Staff were encouraged to consider how these strategies could be embedded into their subject areas, with examples ranging from morpheme mapping in Science to vocabulary tiering in English and History.

Following the keynote, staff engaged in mixed group discussions to reflect on literacy challenges and share insights from their Professional Learning Teams. Using structured roles, Facilitator, Scribe, Strategy Analyst, Classroom Lens, and Questioner, teams explored how “Do Now” activities could align with the Reading Rope and Reading House frameworks. These conversations continued into departmental sessions, where teachers planned actionable steps for Term 4, focusing on vocabulary and fluency integration.

Midday brought a data review session led by Ms Emily Matheson, our Curriculum Coordinator, offering a snapshot of student achievement trends. The data was linked back to literacy outcomes, prompting departments to consider how targeted strategies could address areas of need.

After lunch, the focus shifted to artificial intelligence. Members of the AI Committee, Ms Tania Moriarty, Mr Adrian Cooper, and Ms Cara Manton, launched the College’s new AI Policy, emphasising transparency, fairness, and accountability. The team showcased the transition from ChatGPT to Microsoft Copilot, highlighting its capabilities in generating differentiated “Do Now” tasks and supporting curriculum design.

Staff then moved into faculty areas for an interactive AI workshop, completing the Enhance Teaching and Learning with Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat module. This hands-on session allowed teachers to explore practical applications of AI in their classrooms, from lesson planning to student feedback. Staff were encouraged to share their certificates and reflections via Google Classroom, fostering a culture of collaborative learning and innovation.

From literacy to AI, the sessions reflected our commitment to equipping teachers with the tools and strategies needed to meet the evolving needs of our students.

As we look ahead to Term 4, the insights and strategies from Staff Development Day will continue to shape our teaching practices, ensuring that every student is supported in their learning journey.

This document includes sections drafted using AI tools to improve clarity and efficiency. All content has been reviewed and approved by the author.

Mr Ben Carr
Director of Teaching and Learning

On Friday 31st October the College held an Assembly to mark the official Investiture of our 2026 College leaders, a moment of celebration and anticipation for the year ahead. We also recognised the outstanding academic achievements of our Year 11 students, whose dedication and hard work continue to set a shining example for all. 

We were proud to acknowledge members of our First Summer sports teams, sports representatives, Duke of Edinburgh awardees, Agricultural Show Team Captains, recipients of the Maquarie University Emerging Leaders Awards and the Year 11 Gold Service badges.

Recognition goes to:

College Captains
Ashlyn Kumar
Jude O’Donnell

College Vice-Captains
Sam McKinnon
Sarah Stewart

House Captains
Benildus
Brinleigh Grosvenor
Hayden Moynihan

La Salle
Patrick Withford
Joshua Zeaiter

Miguel 
Kasey Bolt
Addison Hickey

Mutien
Charlie Akle
Lara Wendell

Solomon
Archie Smith
Kaelie Stainwright

Turon
Lukas Butler
Aarav Serpaul

Lasallian Captains
Benjamin Krastev
Antonio Zeaiter

Drama Captain 
William Abouhamad

Music Captain
Aidan Johnson-Macrae

Sports Captains
Nate Barone
Hannah Knobbs

Agriculture Show Team Captains
Oscar Widdup
Zac Conasch

Gold Service Badges
William Abouhamad
Oscar Collimore
Brinleigh Grosvenor
Tristen Gunawardhana
Addison Hickey
Elodie Johnson
Aidan Johnson -Macrae
Benjamin Krastev
Ashlyn Kumar
Talia McDonald
Sam McKinnon
Nethaya Mudiyanselage
Angela Natoli
Jude O'Donnell
Raavia Riar
Aarav Serpaul
Ciara Shanahan
Niushka Shrestha
Kaelie Stainwright
Isabelle Stevens
Amelia Strbik
Natalie Tan
Alexandros Tantsis
Luka Thomas
Claudia Villanueva
Lara Wendell

Duke of Edinburgh Awards

Gold Award
William O’Farrell

Silver Award
Ciara Shanahan
Isabelle Stevens

Bronze Award
Jinan Faruqui
Rishabh Joshi
Cooper Korb
Kevin Le
Charles Magdic
Leo Nguyen
Bhanu Rageepan
Aayan Rath
Andrew Soares Caplice
Bronze Award From Year 11
Kaiden Taggart

Maquarie University Emerging Leaders Awards
Nate Barone
Talia McDonald

Representative Sports Awards

Rugby
Chris Brown, Levi Ellis and Riley Paki - U16 NSW Schools Rugby representatives
Gwyneth Vernon - U16 NSW Schools Rugby 7’s representative
Cyrus Bloomfield - U18 NSW Schools Rugby representative and Australian U18 Rugby representative

Cross Country
Carter Bergan and Zacary Green - NSW All School Cross Country representatives

Triathlon
Alexander Eason - National Triathlon representative. Alex finished 2nd in the World Champions last week.

On Monday 3rd November a group of Oakhill's high potential Year 9 students participated in the Middle Ethics Olympiad. This is a challenging competition which requires quick-thinking, cooperative argumentation and high levels of critical thinking; developing students’ capacity to engage meaningfully and successfully through ethical and effective deliberation, navigating the complexities that are raised from real-life case-studies and dilemmas.

Oakhill's teams did well, with Oakhill (Red) earning a 12th place position and Oakhill (Green) closely following in 13th place.

Many thanks to Mr Patrick Balzan and the Year 10 mentors: Jinan Faruqui, Jason Man, Andrew Soares Caplice and Mitchell Atkins.

One of our Year 9 participants, Sebastian Haywood, shares his experience:

"On Monday, nine of my Year 9 peers and I competed in the Middle Ethics Olympiad. With guidance from experienced Year 10s, our training was engaging and helped us build confidence in tackling complex ethical dilemmas, building up to the final event. Both teams competed against different schools from across NSW, engaging in respectful, fast-paced discussions. It was a great opportunity to connect across year groups, sharpen our thinking, and explore real-world issues in a challenging but rewarding environment."

Ms Stella Papavasiliou
Coordinator of Gifted and Talented

Oakhill College was recently given the opportunity to demonstrate their support of Cricket in the community through the Sydney Sixers. 

Mr Murray Fisher's daughter was featured alongside female cricketer Ellyse Perry in a promotional campaign supporting the Community Round at North Sydney Oval. This community campaign gives recognition to the clubs, coaches and kids who love the game.

Mrs Lisa Foulstone
Marketing Officer

From Wednesday 10th December 2025 Australian young people under 16 will not be allowed to create or hold accounts on certain social media platforms.

Online services are constantly evolving but at this stage the restrictions are likely to apply to Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube, among other platforms. For further information please click here Social media age restrictions external use flyer A4

Oakhill College's firewall has blocked these social media sites for the past several years, so students will not notice these new regulations onsite. The Pastoral and Counselling teams have held meetings with the cohorts that this law affects and have offered support and guidance.

Ms Helen Morris
Head of Counselling

Oakhill College’s staff professional learning over the last term has been targeting the development of reading literacy across our cohorts. This renewed focus has led to many questions about the interdependence of literacy skills, including how to understand the linked skills of reading and writing and how we can best foster growth in these areas.

NESA rationalises the teaching of reading and writing in the recently implemented 7-10 English syllabus as follows:

Language and text shape our understanding of ourselves and our world. This allows us to relate with others, and contributes to our intellectual, social and emotional development… Through interrelated practices and experiences in understanding and creating texts, students learn about the power, purpose, value and art of English. The development of these interconnected skills and understandings supports students to become confident communicators, critical and imaginative thinkers, and informed and active participants in society. (NESA, English K-10 Syllabus 2022) 

In this rationale, the practices of understanding and creating texts are inextricably “interrelated.” As a leader of literacy at the College I have often been asked, “what is the connection between reading and writing literacy?” There is an assumption that being a capable reader makes a student a proficient writer. This is not a given and it is certainly reflected in standardised testing, where achievements across these domains are incredibly diverse. I would say that being an accomplished reader is the first step to becoming a competent and thoughtful writer. Great writers imitate, emulate and experiment, appropriating the work of all the writers that they have read before. Writing is an active and creative process, regardless of whether you are writing a business report, a narrative or scientific hypothesis. Good writing needs the solid foundation of reading.

American author Austin Kleon in his book “Steal Like An Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative” suggests that there are no new ideas and to be creative you need to draw on others’ work. Whilst I don’t necessarily like the idea of stealing, I do believe there are lessons to be learnt here. Often students only read to absorb knowledge and understand the world around them. They read to comprehend meaning. They do not always read to learn the mechanics of writing or develop their understanding of the grammar and syntax of effective sentences or the nuances of unique styles and voices of authors.

Instead of thinking about reading as a source of content knowledge, student reading needs to become a more active process of understanding the construction of meaning in the English language. This includes recognising aspects of grammar, vocabulary, structural elements and forms and features of language that come together to create meaning. Essentially, students need to read like they are writers.

Instead of bluntly “stealing” it is perhaps more productive to think about the metaphor of the bowerbird. Writers are excellent bowerbirds. They build their nest but then find every day objects that become the decoration to draw in their audience. This decoration for a writer is the inspiration of other authors’ style and voice, the clever use of grammar, punctuation, vocabulary, literary techniques, forms and structures to achieve an overall purpose. These are the “shiny materials” that make a piece of writing achieve fluency, cohesion and a sense of flair, appealing to the reader and achieving purpose.

This year, the English teaching community in Australia lost one of their great mentors and advocates in Professor Jacqueline Manuel. I had the great privilege of being lectured by her in my teacher training and her work continues to guide my attitudes to teaching writing. Whilst the teaching of writing should not be confined to the English classroom, I do strongly believe that transfer of what we learn about writing in English has the potential to assist in writing skills across the curriculum. The more active the student becomes in understanding the interdependent skills of reading and writing, the better their learning outcomes will be. Manuel’s research suggests that “in English, students should be absorbed in the processes of making and doing, composing and responding, creating and communicating, questioning and critiquing, and problem-solving, through productive engagement with their own and other language, ideas, texts and actual fictional worlds” (Manuel, 2019). This encapsulates the idea that reading in a range of contexts and engagement with a broad variety of texts, will lead to writing efficacy.

Becoming a competent writer requires participation in an active reading process; where a student engages with the mechanics of language construction, not just comprehension of meaning or assimilation of knowledge. We must teach students to value reading, not simply because they acquire general and subject knowledge, but because they learn how to write well and share their message with clarity and cohesion.

Ms Madeleine Gray
Academic Head of English

Make Your Study Sessions Smarter, Not Longer

Active recall is a proven way to boost memory and understanding, helping you study more effectively without spending extra hours. Unlike passive methods, this approach actively engages your brain to retrieve information, creating stronger, long-lasting connections. Here’s how to harness the power of active recall:

1. Understand Active Recall

Active recall is about pulling information from your memory instead of simply reviewing it. This process strengthens your ability to retrieve knowledge over time.

• It relies on effortful thinking, which builds deeper understanding.
• The brain’s retrieval pathways grow stronger with practice, making information easier to recall later.
• It’s significantly more effective than passive techniques like rereading or highlighting.

Tip: Think of active recall as a workout for your brain. The more you practice retrieval, the ‘fitter’ your memory becomes.

2. Quiz Yourself

Testing yourself is one of the most effective ways to engage active recall, forcing your brain to retrieve information and spot gaps in your understanding.

• Close your book and write or say aloud everything you remember about a topic.
• Use questions from your textbook, class materials, or make up your own.
• Check your answers and review areas where you struggled.
  

Tip: Mistakes are part of the process! Every wrong answer helps you identify where to focus your efforts and strengthens your memory when you review it.

3. Use Flashcards Strategically

Flashcards are a simple but powerful tool for practicing active recall, especially when combined with spaced repetition.

• Write a question or keyword on one side and the answer on the other.
• Use digital flashcard apps like Anki or Quizlet to prioritise tough cards.
• Regularly review both old and new cards to keep information fresh.
  

Tip: Focus on the cards you find most challenging. By revisiting them often, you’ll gradually reinforce your memory and reduce your study load over time.

4. Teach What You’ve Learned

Teaching forces you to organise and articulate information clearly, highlighting areas where your understanding needs improvement.

• Explain concepts to a friend, family member, or study partner.
• Create a mock lesson, presentation, or even a tutorial video.
• Answer follow-up questions or imagine the questions your ‘audience’ might ask.
  

Tip: If you stumble while teaching, take it as a cue to revisit that topic. Explaining complex ideas in simple terms is the ultimate test of mastery.

5. Practice Past Questions

Answering practice questions or working through past papers mimics exam conditions and helps reinforce your recall skills.

• Look for exam-style questions in textbooks or online.
• Time yourself to simulate the pressure of real tests.
• Review incorrect answers to pinpoint weak areas and adjust your study focus.
  

Tip: Practice questions not only help with recall but also familiarise you with the format and common question types. This dual benefit prepares you to tackle exams confidently.

Smarter, Not Longer

Active recall transforms your study sessions into memory-boosting powerhouses by actively engaging your brain. Focus on quality over quantity, and you’ll see better results in less time. With these strategies, studying becomes more effective—and far less overwhelming.

For further information Oakhill's login details are:

Username: foroakhillonly
Password: 41results

Mr Gavin Russell
Assistant Principal Curriculum

We're thrilled to share that Liam van der Zanden has been nominated for ARTEXPRESS.

His highly detailed graphite drawing, "Where the Creases Fall," clearly impressed the markers. The next stage involves selection by gallery curators alongside the ARTEXPRESS Project Officer, so we have our fingers crossed for this and the exhibition. Nominated works must be deemed excellent examples of the Body of Work suitable for exhibition. On behalf of the entire Visual Arts Faculty, congratulations to Liam on this significant achievement.

Liam won the People’s Choice award at the Oakhill College HSC Showcase evening. 

Ms Marie Hogan
Academic Head of Visual Arts

Some handy tips for students with upcoming exams are:

• Establish a routine and a timetable and post it on the fridge so all the family can help keep the schedule (including the weekend)
• Make study/swot notes – use a book or folder for each subject; review chapters and or topics making summary notes of contentLearn/memorise essential content captured in summary notes e.g. memorize then make notes of notes
• Schedule several subjects a night covering all subjects several times a week and plan to get swot notes complete well in advance leaving time for leaning/memorising content and practicing questions
• Practice answering actual questions – go online and google for practice questions, go over past tests, ask the teacher
• Practice, practice, practice - do not look at the question and assume you know how to answer it, actually do it

For more information, please utilise Oakhill's Study Skills Subscription: www.studyskillshandbook.com.au 

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Last year saw the launch of The Figure and Playing with Perspective, a new unit of study in Visual Arts that challenged students to explore figurative representation through drawing, sculpture, and critical analysis. This term, our boys immersed themselves in researching influential artists, responding to written questions under exam conditions, and producing both a figurative portrait and a sculptural artwork; a demanding yet rewarding creative journey.

The figurative drawings captured moments of personal significance, with subjects ranging from fishing and playing rugby or football to quiet time spent with beloved pets. These works reflected not only technical skill but also a deep engagement with the expressive potential of the human figure.

Sculpture proved to be a space for remarkable innovation. Samuel Worboys demonstrated technical confidence and initiative by incorporating his father’s drop saw and jigsaw to carve an inventive figurative form. Tyler Bisson made effective use of 3D printing technology to bring his artistic concept to life. Rory Tunks impressed with his ambitious 60cm freestanding sculpture, constructed using a wire armature, space filler, and aerosol finishes; a bold and imaginative approach that brought his concept to life.

Our Artist of the Month, Kai Lok Law (Year 9) is commended for his foreshortened self-portrait featuring the family cat, and his intricately folded origami bust inspired by Michelangelo’s David. His work exemplifies the thoughtful integration of classical reference and contemporary technique.

Congratulations to all students for their passion, innovation, and outstanding time management demonstrated throughout this mini body of work.

Ms Cecilia Weinert
Visual Arts Teacher

Earlier this term, our Year 9 and 10 Italian students participated in a cultural excursion focused on Italian cinema and cuisine.

The day began at the Italian Film Festival, where students attended a special screening of the film "Napoli New York." Set just after World War II, the film follows two Neapolitan street urchins, or scugnizzi, who dream of immigrating to America for a better life. This cinematic experience provided students with an opportunity to engage with the Italian language outside of the classroom and observe themes related to post-war Italian history, emigration, and hope in an authentic context. Analysing the characters' dialect and historical setting offered valuable preparation for listening comprehension and cultural studies.

Following the film, the group proceeded to the Italian restaurant Andiamo for lunch. This practical segment of the excursion allowed students to practice their conversational Italian by ordering meals and interacting with staff using relevant vocabulary. The lunch offered a traditional Italian culinary experience, complementing the cultural immersion started by the film.

The excursion successfully reinforced the students' understanding and appreciation of Italian language and culture through both film and food. We thank Ms Wampfler, Ms Gerace and Mrs Parisek who accompanied students for the day.

Ms Darija Egic
Academic Head of Languages

There are several career, further study and HSC resources on offer over the upcoming months. Please find a list below:

Letz Live Online Information Sessions TODAY – UK Gap Years 2027 Letz Live is hosting free online Information Sessions for students, parents and Careers Advisers alike, interested in UK gap year programs for 2027. Learn about paid School Assistant and Activity Assistant roles, eligibility and application tips. Register: www.letzlive.org/information-sessions.
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ACU’s Blacktown Exercise Sports and Technology Hub (BEST) Guided Tour- 26 November Take a closer look at Sport and Exercise Science at ACU with a guided visit to the BEST Hub, a $100m Health and Performance Facility at Blacktown International Sports Park. Expert staff lead the tour, with the chance to meet current students and experience the cutting-edge biomechanical and exercise physiology labs in action. Register: https://acufuturestudents.swoogo.com/2025_TOURS_BEST_NOV.
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The Australian College of Physical Education (ACPE) Experience Day ACPE is running an Experience Day on Friday, 19 December 2025. Most suited for students who have a passion for sport. Experience classes and life at ACPE first-hand. Also, discover how 9 out of 10 ACPE graduates find careers in the sport industry within 6 months. For more information and to register, please visit: https://acpe.info/expday.
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Australian Federal Police (AFP) Protective Service Officer (PSO) Online Information Session | Wednesday 12 November Looking for a career that makes a difference? Learn what it's like to work for the AFP as a PSO. Register for AFP’s online information session and learn more about a legendary career with the AFP. You will hear from a panel of PSOs as they share their experiences, opportunities, benefits, and share advice on the application process. Register: https://www.afp.gov.au/jobs/events.
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Arrive & Thrive Webinar | Career Conversations @ Home, Helping Parents Have Positive Career Convos Arrive & Thrive is running a public webinar on 19 November at 6.30 pm (ADST) to support parents around Australia in having more positive career conversations at home. The webinar will share insights for parents to better support their young people in career decisions. Participants will receive a Career Conversation Kit. Register: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/1235322114699?aff=oddtdtcreator.
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EduQuantum: From Classroom to Future Careers, 24 November 2025, 9.00am to 3.30pm, CSIRO Lindfield Free event hosted by Sydney Quantum Academy, featuring inspiring talks, hands-on demonstrations, lab tours, meet researchers and industry professionals. Gain insights into quantum concepts and careers to inspire students in classroom and career conversations. Register by 7 November: https://sydneyquantum.org/event/eduquantum-from-classroom-to-future-careers/.
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Space Careers Resources - Australian Space Agency The Australian Space Agency has a suite of space careers resources available for students at https://www.space.gov.au/space-careers.
Learn about job roles and career pathways, and read about the journeys of people working in the space sector.
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Sydney University Webinar Wednesdays – 
Weekly webinar series ideal for students in Year 12 and cover study areas, university life, and tips for choosing the right course. Students can view the full line-up and register via our Undergraduate Events page.

Parent webinars & resources
They have recently launched a new Parents Webinar Series.
Parents and Carers - on this page families can subscribe for updates.
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International College of Management Sydney Parents’ Information Evening

Organisation: International College of Management Sydney
Location: ICMS Manly Campus
Date: November 20, 2025

As a parent, you play a vital role in your child’s successful transition from school to higher education. ICMS understand that choosing where and what to study can be a daunting and stressful decision – and not just for your school leaver.
The ICMS Parents Information Evening will help you to support your school leaver as they navigate the complex tertiary admissions process.

Find out more
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UCAT, GAMSAT and Pathways into Medicine – Webinar for Students, Teachers & Parents

Organisation: National Institute of Education
Location: Online
Date: November 26, 2025

This forum is an excellent opportunity for teachers, students and their parents to find out about the UCAT, pathways into medicine, and have all questions answered by an expert teacher who has been working in the field since 1999.

The session is packed with invaluable information during which we will be covering the following topics, and more:

What is UCAT? UCAT scores? UCAT Sub-tests?
Year 10, 11 and 12 - things to consider now

The undergraduate selection criteria
Application process into universities for medicine and dentistry
When and who can sit the UCAT?
GAMSAT
Can you prepare for the UCAT?
Undergraduate interview process
What, how and why about Gap Year?
Alternative degrees and career choices
Work experience advice
Q&A

Find out more

What If Your Life Was Just Someone Else’s Script? 

Oakhill's Year 11 Drama students brought that question to life in their production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, a hilarious and mind-bending twist on Shakespeare’s Hamlet. 

This absurdist comedy follows two minor characters, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, as they slowly realise they’re trapped in a play, and the ending isn’t looking good. With sharp dialogue, existential confusion, and plenty of laughs, the students had a ball tackling one of theatre’s most clever modern comedies.

This production was testament to the creativity, courage, and hard work of the Year 11 Drama students. From rehearsals to set design, their hard work was evident in every part of the show.

Thank you to directors Mr Thoroughgood and Mr Turbott. 

Mr Brad Turbott
Teacher

We hope you can join us for our Christmas@Oakhill Service on Monday 8th December.

Bookings are now open: Book Here

Over the last few weeks many employers have contacted the Careers Department expressing interest for students in Year 10, 11 and 12 who may be interested in commencing a career in a vocational pathway. We are aware that student focus has been on examinationss currently and that you may not have checked your Careers Google Classroom page. We wanted to highlight to students who are thinking of a Vocational Career Path, the excellent opportunities currently available.

Please check your Year Group Careers Google Classroom Page for further information on the following vacancies:

1. IT Traineeship Dural (advertised 22/10/2025)
2. Twoyear Banking Traineeship with JP Morgan Chase Bank  closes 21st November 2025 (Advertised 30/10/2025 - Year 12 Only)
3. Carpentry Apprenticeship x two employers - Hills District (Advertised 31/10/2025)
4. TAFE Parent Information Night for Automotive, Plumbing, Cabinetmaking and Furnishing Trade on Thursday 13th November
5. IT Traineeships with Broken Bay Catholic Education Office - Multiple Positions. (Advertised 4/11/2025)
6. Joinery Apprenticeship - Hills District (Advertised 4/11/2025)
7. Year 12 only Accounting Cadetship - Hills District. Combined work and study in the field (advertised 5/12/2025)
8. Tourism Traineeships -multiple vacancies Hills and Greater Western Sydney (Advertised 6/12/2025)
9. Plumbing Apprenticeship -Norwest (advertised on 7/11/2025)

If you require further information please do not hesitate to contact the Careers Advisors - Gabrielle Seaton on gseaton@oakhill.nsw.edu.au or Marisa Quattrocchi marisaq@oakhill.nsw.edu.au

Mrs Marisa Quattrocchi
Careers Advisor

ISA Sport

It has been an action packed start to the ISA Summer season with Oakhill teams performing strongly on the field, court and pitch. Regardless of what sport is being played, the Oakhill players are easily identifiable via their willingness to succeed, determination to be better, and the gracious way they play each game. All players should be proud of how they have conducted themselves.

Our First V Boys Basketball have begun the season on an undefeated streak. Their most recent victory of St Pius College was testament to their execution; scoring on the fast break created pressure on their opponents and they played at a pace which their opponents couldn’t match. It appears as though preseason training has served this team well. Elsewhere in Basketball, the 17As are making their own statement in matches and are also undefeated. They play a great brand of Basketball and set a high skill level that could match most other teams. The First V Girls Basketball are also undefeated. They have recorded strong victories over St Andrew's College and Redland's College, playing with a clear unity within their team. It will be exciting to see what this team produces in coming weeks.

Our Touch Football program has also enjoyed a strong start to the year. The junior teams have been performing well, with the Junior Boys A team ensuring the future of our program is in safe hands. All through the junior ranks, our players have been playing well. This filters down from the top as the First VI Boys team has started the season strongly. A thrilling 8-all draw was backed up by a dominant victory over Newington. The First VI Girls team made a statement in their 14-nil victory over Chevalier College in the opening week. A minor setback against Barker College last week will keep them focussed for the remainder of the campaign.

On the Golf course, our players have recorded strong performances. They faced their toughest opponent last week in Newington, after a close victory over Riverview College the previous week. The boys came to play, recording a 4-nil victory over their more fancied opponent. 

The 1st XI Cricketers have endured a challenging start to the season in terms of their results, with two last-over losses against strong opponents. While that may cause alarm among most, the manner in which this team has lost matches makes a positive statement about their resilience, character and effort. They will be better for these performances. The strong performances carry over to our junior program also. Despite the weather impacting some fixtures, Oakhill junior Cricket teams have plenty to be proud of. The U15 Gold team highlights this following their 10-wicket victory last weekend.

Girls Rugby 7’s

The Rugby 7’s program has begun and each Monday fixtures will be held at Barker College. All students are encouraged to come and support our girls in their matches. More information can be found on the College website and we wish the girls the best of luck for the season ahead.

Team of the Week - 14D Basketball

It’s hard to compete against high ranked teams but the 14D Basketball team have relished that challenge since the start of the season. For the opening two rounds of the competition, they have faced C-grade opponents. It hasn’t troubled them though with their skill, talent, execution and, most importantly, a positive attitude, contributing strongly to their two victories. Often, people overlook challenges because of the fear of failure. Not this team though. Imagine what you would attempt if you knew you would not fail?

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 CIS website for information on the dates of trials and competition, ensuring their availability for all events.

H2H Physiotherapy

Reminder - Oakhill families can receive a discount. Please see the flyer below. 

This is open to all Oakhill families and will leave many benefitting as expensive medical scans are covered.

Mr Murray Fisher
Head of Sports

The College congratulates Alex Eason who at the recent World Triathlon Championships in Wollongong, won the Silver Medal in the Junior 16-19 years category. This is a fabulous achievement and reflects Alex's commitment and dedication on the world stage. 

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Please find below the upcoming Uniform Shop roster.

Ms Suzanne Haskins
Uniform Shop Manager

Two of Oakhill's graduates have a tutoring business to help other Oakhill students achieve their best. Nihaal Dhillon (Oakhill College Captain 2024) and Kshitij Karki (2024 distinguished high achiever) have created Diction, a tutoring service dedicated to helping Oakhill students excel.

Why choose Diction?
- Experienced Oakhill graduates committed to Oakhill College
- Personalised tutoring tailored to each child’s learning needs
- Flexible in-person and online sessions

Subjects offered include:- English (all levels)- Maths (all levels)- Religion (Years 7–12)- Sciences (Years 7–12)- Business, Economics & Legal Studies- Engineering, Enterprise Computing, and other specialised HSC subjects. 

They can also assist with preparing for the HSC or the Law Admissions Test (LAT) for UNSW.

To contact Nihaal and Kshitij please visit http://diction.setmore.com