From Br Steve Hogan fsc
Greetings, and a very warm welcome to new students to the College this term and to their families, and a special welcome to our 2023 Year 7 parents and students who attended their first College event this past week, on Tuesday 18th October - the Year 7 2023 Information Evening, and a sincere welcome to our Year 11, 2023 students as well.
The academic year is fast coming to a close, with only about six more weeks of school for 2022. Year 12 will finish their HSC exams on Friday 4th November; Year 10 will finish their exams on the Friday 18th November; while Years 7, 8, 9, and 11 are busy working on their final assessment tasks for the year.
Teaching and learning are core business at Oakhill College and for students to set themselves high expectations and walk the talk is an essential part of the process. As JFK reminds us, “we are up for the challenge”, and as Marcus Aurelius encourages, “it is within our capacity”. Home and school are partners in this process, and I encourage parents to ensure there is time and space, rituals and routines, to ensure their sons and daughters complete homework, review and prepare for classes, and read. I encourage families to invest in some old technology such as books, magazines, journals etc. and have them about the house so they can be picked up and flicked through – any amount of time reading is good for so many reasons, including general knowledge, factual knowledge, vocabulary, syntax semantics, reasoning, relaxation, leisure, and enjoyment.
Some handy tips for students preparing for end of year tests and exams:
- 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/swat notes – use a book or folder for each subject; review chapters and or topics making summary notes of content
- Learn/memorise essential content captured in summary notes e.g., memorise then make notes of notes
- Schedule several subjects a night covering all subjects several times a week and plan to get swat notes complete well in advance, leaving time for learning/memorising content and practicing questions
- Practice answering actual questions – go online and google for practice questions, go over past tests, and ask your teacher
- Practice, practice, practice - do not look at the question and assume you know how to answer it, actually do it
- Visit the Oakhill College Study Skills website: www.studyskillshandbook.com.au Login: foroakhillonly. Password: 41results.
The term started with the Year 12 Retreat (Class of 2023) in Week 1. Comments from the students include: just amazing, fantastic, great, brilliant, really great, and nothing like what I expected. Thank you to staff and students for this wonderful opportunity for reflection and focus at the start of Year 12 and the final year of schooling.
A highlight this past week was the Year 7 Grandparents Day. The Year 7 invited their grandparents to the College to show them around and to discuss their learning goals and aspirations. It was a wonderful morning beginning with presentations from Year 7, the tour and concluding with a cup of tea and much chatter. It is yet another example of what is special about Oakhill College - wonderful people, and the love and respect for family.
Summer ISA sport has started with 53 Basketball teams; 10 Touch Football teams, six Cricket teams and two Girls' Rugby 7’s teams. The College hosted a prayer service and dinner for the students in 1sts teams in each code and their parents – an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the value of team sport such as sportsmanship, teamwork, commitment, loyalty, and grit to help build resilience.
The Year 12 Drama students hosted their opening night of The Crucible on Friday 21st October, to a standing ovation and enthusiastic applause. It was an amazing performance. Please book via Trybooking for any remaining seats. Tickets can be booked here: www.trybooking.com/951326. The Year 10 Drama production, The Choice, will start on Tuesday 1st November, followed by the Year 9 Showcase and Year 7 Drama.
On Friday 28th October, we have the Year 11 Graduation Assembly where academic awards for Year 11 2022 are presented, and the new College Leaders invested. Year 10 Academic Awards will be presented on Friday 2nd December while Years 7, 8, 9 have their Academic Awards presentation on their final day for 2022, Wednesday 7th December.
At Oakhill College, we do not expect perfection, but we do expect each student to do justice to his or her own skills, abilities and talents in all aspects of life.
The pursuit of excellence is at the core of Lasallian education and to achieve at the highest level is expected. For students to achieve any less is limiting not just the potential of the individuals but potential solutions yet to be found.
As Marcus Aurelius once said:
“Because a thing is difficult for you, do not therefore suppose it to be beyond mortal power. On the contrary, if anything is possible and proper for man to do, assume that it must fall within your own capacity.”
I conclude this edition of the Principal’s Newsletter by recognising Mr Anthony Timmins, who was the Academic Head of Music and taught music at Oakhill College for over 12 years up until 2020, who passed away suddenly at home from a seizure during the week. Mr Timmins taught many students involved in music and/or musicals at the College. Our prayers and support go to his wife Catherine and his two children, Bridget and Daniel.
Br Steve Hogan fsc
Principal