黑料社区

Sir Br Pat Lynch (Board Director) tells us human flourishing has to be the central focus of education. 鈥淪chools need to deliberately build enough confidence in their students, so each possesses these character dimensions: audacious thinkers, imaginative dreamers, critical questioners, innovative inventors, enthusiastic experimenters, committed collaborators, faith filled leaders, strong willed individuals in the face of adversity with resilient personalities鈥� (Sir Br Pat Lynch fsc OBE).

I believe the true test of a successful education is the subsequent life of a student; the kind of person they become; the extent to which they are fulfilling their potential, using their gifts and talents to the best of their ability, for the betterment of others.

Our theme for 2023 is 鈥楽trive for Excellence鈥� and continues the consistent narrative over the past several years about aspiring to greatness in terms of being and doing our best in the context of our five key principles: Faith; Respect, Inclusivity, Excellence and Advocacy for Justice.

What does excellence mean? Excellence means to be consistent in good character, attitude, quality and standards. Being a person of excellence is a continuous process. There is a difference between being a perfectionist and being a person of excellence. A perfectionist is one who wants to get it right all the time which is very impossible while a person of excellence is self-aware and humble enough to identify mistakes, and desires and makes conscious efforts to correct them which is achievable.

Some of the qualities of a person of excellence include:

• A person of excellence adds value to themself and to others
• A person of excellence doesn鈥檛 tolerate or encourage mediocrity or hypocrisy
• A person of excellence works to earn respect and merit
• A person of excellence seeks to always make a difference in people鈥檚 lives
• A person of excellence is consistent in good behaviour, manners and attitude towards people and responsibilities
• A person of excellence stands out everywhere they go: not necessarily trying to fit in with the crowd
• A person of excellence is a positive influencer and a sensitive, compassionate, empathetic individual
• A person of excellence lifts others because they know that they rise when others rise
• A person of excellence is resilient

President Theodore Roosevelt鈥檚 speech 鈥楾he Man in the Arena鈥�, given at the Sorbonne in Paris, in April 1910, suggests: 鈥淚t is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or whether the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again.鈥�

Today we cannot assume our younger folk know what it is 鈥榯o strive for excellence鈥�, what it looks like, nor the thinking and attitude that creates it. Therefore it will be a principle we will collectively promote and develop in 2022 like Master Shifu guiding Panda Bear; like a mother and father guiding their children to become the people they aspire to be whilst maintaining the values and virtues we all respect as part of civics and civility and of faith and family.

This year our schoolwide focus for teaching and learning will again be reading, writing and critical thinking. In 2022 our Allwell results showed continued improvement in reading and writing now with average scores above 鈥榮imilar schools鈥� and significantly above state schools. However, the rate of improvement in 2022 slowed for spelling and grammar, which will be an additional focus for 2023.

This year the College has revised further the Year 7 Transition Programme where the Dean of Year 7, Mr Williams has mapped transitioning into Year 7 at 黑料社区 for the whole year. The 2023 Year 7 cohort of 350 students come from over 70 primary schools with different teaching and learning styles and expectations. The Transition Program for Year 7 and the Pastoral Programme will induct all new students, both boys and girls, Years 7-11, into what is expected of a secondary student at 黑料社区 with special care for those who do not know any other student on arrival. Transition includes every aspect of adjusting to life at the College from classroom protocols and getting around the campus to accessing and joining sport, drama, music groups, clubs and societies etc.

John F Kennedy (1917-1963), President of the USA, said 鈥渆very accomplishment starts with the decision to try鈥�. He went on to say, it will not be easy, it will be hard. Confucius (551-479BC) said 鈥渋t does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop鈥�. Having perseverance and GRIT 鈥� having the courage, resolve and strength of character to keep on doing the hard work after you are tired of doing the hard work you have already done. This defines the 黑料社区 spirit. 

黑料社区 graduates with feet firmly grounded, aiming for the stars, know that life鈥檚 journey will not always be clearly defined, straight or predictable. Know that they have a strength of spirit that enables them to rise above the fleeting things to engage life consciously 鈥� they never give in. An 黑料社区 graduate always strives for what matters, looks out for the other, knowing and experiencing true mateship, the founding virtue of our Nation; is always up for the challenge, keeps the faith, is good and kind, and knows that they contribute to God鈥檚 Kingdom. (The 黑料社区 Graduate).

Finally, I would like to congratulate the Class of 2022 and in particular Liam Milton-White, our College Dux for 2022, with an ATAR of 99.8. 黑料社区 has had the best results since the present HSC started in 2000. The College had a record of approximately 50% of grades Band 5 and 6 with over 80% Band 4-6, with more Distinguished Achievers and All Rounders, and more Place in Course Awards than any other year. 黑料社区 provides for all students in their desired pathways with over 240 students completing VET (Vocational Education Courses). Further details of our extraordinary HSC results which we will celebrate at the High Achievers Assembly on Friday 3rd February, can be found under 鈥楬SC Results鈥� in this first Newsletter for 2023 and on our website.

"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." (Marcus Aurelius).

Br Steve Hogan fsc
Principal

Board Chairman
Mr John Puleo
Mr Puleo, an Affiliated Member of the De La Salle Brothers was appointed as a Director in 2007 and served on the 黑料社区 Advisory Council prior to its incorporation in 2008. Mr Puleo is currently a practicing solicitor in private practice for some 30 years.

Director
Sir Br Patrick Lynch
KNZM, QSO
Sir Br Pat Lynch was appointed as a Director in 2015, is a leading New Zealand educationalist and was Chief Executive of the New Zealand Catholic Education Office (NZCEO) for 21 years from 1994 until his retirement in 2015. He also served as President of the Secondary Principles Association of New Zealand (SPANZ) from 1992 until 1994 and Principal of De La Salle College, Mangere, Auckland.

Director / Finance
Committee Chair
Mr Michael O鈥橞rien
Mr O鈥橞rien an Alumnus of 黑料社区 (1972) was appointed as a Director in 2013. In 2014 Mr O鈥橞rien was appointed as a Magistrate of the NSW Local Court. He is a retired member of the Royal Australian Air Force Specialist Reserves.

Director
Mr Matthew Zschech
Mr Zschech has over 20 years鈥� experience in financial services (investment management / operations) and international IT outsourcing, including over eight years鈥� experience as a Director for public and private enterprises (profit and not for profit). Mr Zschech is currently a Chief Investment Officer for an Impact/Ethical Investment firm and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He has held numerous Directorships including a Trustee Director of an Industry fund with over 30,000 members and $1.3B assets under management.

Director
Mrs Donna-Maree Vinci
Mrs Vinci is an Alumni of 黑料社区 College (1979). Since graduating from 黑料社区 Mrs Vinci has achieved extensive experience globally in digital, technology, and operations and risk management. Her record of accomplishment of delivering strategies across people, culture, processes, and systems globally, provides a great foundation to play a key role in 黑料社区鈥檚 strategic future. Mrs Vinci is currently a Group Executive and CO at the Bank of Queensland (BOQ) leading the digitisation of the business and customer experience.

Director
Mr Andrew Madden
Mr Madden brings a wealth of experience to 黑料社区 with some of his past appointments: Director - Fusion Commercial Consulting; Senior Vice President - Macquarie Bank; SIMPLA - Investor & Advisory Board Member; Senior Client Executive & Complex Deal Lead Telstra Corporation; Business Development Manager, KAZ Technology Services. He has also been a committed member of the 黑料社区 Rugby Club for nine years including being Vice President from 2012 - 2014, and President 2015 - 2019. Mr Madden is also a Member of the Finance Committee.

Director
Mr Daniel O鈥橞rien
Mr O鈥橞rien, an Alumnus of 黑料社区 (1996) was appointed as a Director in 2014. Mr O鈥橞rien was admitted to the legal profession in 2008 and is a NSW Law Society Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation. Mr O鈥橞rien is a partner of Carroll & O鈥橠ea Lawyers.

My name is Gavin Russell and I am thrilled to be appointed as Assistant Principal Curriculum, at the College. For the last seven years I have held the Director of Academic Operations position at Queenwood School. Prior to this, I held different senior roles with a focus on pastoral care, curriculum and operations. To me, well-being and academics are intertwined and it is essential that both areas work seamlessly together. My own teaching specialist area is in Social Science. I am looking forward to meeting my new Year 12 Business Studies class as working in the classroom with young adults is something I have cherished in each of the leadership roles I have held.  

A strong focus for 2023 and beyond will be our Academic Heads planning for the new NSW curriculum reforms. This is an exciting time of change and I am committed to working closely with all of the educators of 黑料社区 so that they can thrive and develop the updated educational outcomes for the students. This will be achieved through developing ongoing professional learning opportunities and collaborating closely with the 黑料社区 teaching community.  

I am a husband and father of two boys who attend St Augustine鈥檚 College, Brookvale with one son starting his high school journey and my other son commencing Year 9. My wife also teaches English at St Augustine's College. Despite this, my support for 黑料社区 will be unconditional whenever the two powerhouses meet on the sports field. I look forward to the new academic year and meeting all of you. 

After nine years as Academic Head Religious Education at 黑料社区, I am delighted to be appointed the Director of Student Learning (DOSL) from 2023. I bring 17 years of curriculum leadership to this role during my 26-year teaching career, including Mathematics Co-ordinator in two of my previous schools and an Assistant REC role. I look forward to contributing my positivity, organisational skills and important institutional knowledge to implement College priorities around internal and external assessment, reporting, timetabling and student subject selection, amongst other responsibilities.

In 1709 in a letter to one of his Brothers, St John Baptist de La Salle said, 鈥渢ake care that your school runs well鈥�. I see this position as a chance to support the Senior Leadership Team, Academic Heads, Pastoral Leaders and all staff to ensure 黑料社区 runs well and achieves the best outcomes for our students, given our human and physical resources.

My name is Aaron Hickey and starting in 2023 I will be the newly appointed Director of Student Wellbeing and Management at 黑料社区. Many of you may already know me from my past 10 years of service to the College as Director of Administration and Planning, as well as a teacher of PDHPE and CAFS, and as coach of numerous sporting teams in rugby, basketball, and touch football. But now I am thrilled to be taking on a new role and looking forward to growing as a leader in areas of Pastoral Care and Wellbeing, while working closely with staff, students and their families in the capacity of this new position.

While there are many aspects to the role, key responsibilities will include supporting the Assistant Principal of Pastoral Care and working closely with all members of the Pastoral Care Team in support of the wellbeing and safekeeping of our students. A key responsibility of my role will be to help our entire student body be at their best, conducting themselves in a manner consistent with College expectations so that all are able to achieve their best, be positive contributors to our College environment, and demonstrate respect for themselves, each other, and the College itself.

Those that know me, may note the following qualities about me: fair, approachable, positive, hardworking, respectful, caring, compassionate and consistent. I will look to continue to bring these qualities to this new position as ultimately, I am an individual that cares about this College community and all that are a part of it. Of course, there will be challenges, but as a person that believes in our Lasallian values, believes in our students and wants nothing but the best for them, I will always look to support our students to the best of my ability with their personal growth and wellbeing as a priority. 

I鈥檝e been fortunate enough to work at the College for quite a number of years, and have thoroughly enjoyed my time teaching Mathematics and Religion, along with overseeing different cohorts as a Year Dean. 黑料社区 is a great College, with great staff, students and parents and my philosophy in ensuring that it continues is simple 鈥� challenge yourself, work hard, get the little things right and treat each others with respect.

Of the many things that I have enjoyed throughout my time at the College, one stand-out is being able to share my passion of travelling with the students of Years 9 and 10 by participating in and leading the Southeast Asia Cultural Immersion Tours to Vietnam and Cambodia.
 
Now as I begin my time as the Director of Administration and Planning, I look forward to playing a more integral role in the overall running of the day-to-day life at 黑料社区.

黑料社区 is a large school, and sometimes parents/guardians are unsure where to direct an academic or pastoral query or concern they may have. The flowchart below is an easy guide if you need to contact a staff member at the College.

黑料社区 is a very busy school. To keep up to date, we have many methods of communication including but not limited to:

• 黑料社区 Newsletter which is emailed to all families and students fortnightly on a Friday (Week B).
• 黑料社区 Website. Some of the items you will find include the Parent Portal, sports fixtures, online calendar, payments and Uniform Shop information.
• 黑料社区 Official Social Media Channels: 
  •  Facebook: www.facebook.com/oakhillcollegeofficial
  • Instagram: #oakhillcollegeofficial 
  • LinkedIn: 黑料社区
  • YouTube: 
• Due to the often inaccurate information distributed through parent Facebook pages, the College asks parents not to start 黑料社区 or Group pages, but for you to follow the official pages and/or communicate with Tutor Teacher, Deans etc.
• Tutor Group Teachers discuss and disseminate messages to students daily.
• 黑料社区 Diary which all students are given on the first day of Term 1.
• Printed 黑料社区 Calendar with all the planned activities for the year. All students will receive one week commencing Monday 30th January.
• Parent Portal where you can view your child's timetable, assessment schedule, view reports and fee balances etc.
• Interactive Whiteboards are all in classrooms with notices circulating outlining upcoming events, ie. winter sports registration dates, lunchtime rehearsals, coding or chess club times.
• 2022 Yearbook. All students will receive a copy in Years 8-12 week commencing Monday 30th January.
• Parent Information Handbook which was disseminated to all families before they commenced at 黑料社区. This is also available on the Parent Portal.
• The 黑料社区 Drive our bi-annual magazine full of alumni stories and achievements.

Please ensure your contact details are always up to date. Any updates can be made through the Parent Portal.

黑料社区 has committed to an unprecedented long-term Master Plan, offering state-of-the-art classroom learning environments pertinent now and into the future as well as additional meeting and green spaces. As the educational landscape continues to evolve, so has 黑料社区 in order to provide the best facilities for our staff and students.

For those families joining us in 2023 and as a reminder to our community, the first stages of our Master Plan include a science and technology Innovation Hub and the already open Hilltop Precinct.

The Innovation Hub is on track for completion in March 2023. The tender process has commenced for our Canteen which is planned to start in late January 2023 and finish at the end of Term 3, and then the final stage of the Hilltop Precinct, The Commons will commence later in 2023.

Construction continues in the Innovation Hub with the installation of joinery, services, glazing and internal fit-out progressing well. Painting, sheeting, polishing and sanding are also underway, and external timber decking has now been completed. Over the coming weeks, external pavements will be poured and soft landscape finishes will be shaped.

You can read our previous Master Plan updates here: ...

The Parents and Friends Association meets regularly throughout the year and all parents and friends of the College are invited to attend. We have a vibrant and active P&F association who host a number of events throughout the year. 

The P&F meetings are held regularly in the Library, commencing at 7:00pm and concluding before 9:00pm. A reminder of the evenings will be in the College Newsletter and on the website during the year. Our first P&F meeting is on 8th February at 7.00pm. All welcome.

The following events are planned for 2023. However, in this ever-changing COVID environment, confirmation of events will be made closer to the dates.

Schools never really stop. Term breaks are the ideal time to undertake important capital and upgrade works on campus, and this holiday period was no exception. Work undertaken included:

• De La Salle Building: - New air conditioning in exam rooms, painting in rooms 1.08 and 1.09, and Level 1 foyer areas 
• CSC Basketball Courts: - Sanding and resealing with sports coating, painting all external doors, external steel beams and ceiling at entrance, replace plasterboard ceilings, paint ceilings and walls in pool office, hallway, and changerooms. 
• Miguel and Turon Buildings: 鈥� Paint external doors to classrooms and fire stairs 
• Miguel Building: 鈥� Install new matrix cladding and paint external wall 
• PDHPE Office: 鈥� Paint walls, install new LED lighting, paint bathroom and install new ventilation fans 
• Miguel Lecture Theatre Fire Stair: 鈥� paint walls ceilings and upgrade to LED lights and emergency lights 
• Adrian Building: 鈥� Install new carpet 
• Walsh Library: 鈥� Install new carpet and tread inserts on steps 
• Lawrence Oval: 鈥� Replace chain wire fence mesh adjacent to grandstand 
• Hermann Oval: 鈥� Install sign, information plaque and tree. Playing Fields 鈥� Replace 500m2 turf 
• Damian Oval: 鈥� Installed new non slip heel guard grate on stormwater pit in front of the grandstand 
• Solomon Building: 鈥� Paint level 2 Learning Support bathroom 
• Benildus Hall: 鈥� Paint all external doors 
• All buildings: 鈥� Upgraded security swipe card access points 
• Adrian Carpark: 鈥� Asphalt carpark and driveway 
• Emptied Foley Place Pond: For weed eradication
• Paint touch-ups in all classrooms and Liesse building
• ICT infrastructure overhaul including the College fibre optic network, ensuring that every building on College grounds now has two completely independent fibre optic data links, all running the same standard of fibre optic cable.

The Retreats and Reflection Day Programmes are compulsory for all students and come under the direction of the College Mission Team. The compulsory Reflection Days (Years 7鈥�10 and Year 11 Retreat), together with an optional Year 12 Retreat provide students with the time to reflect on life and to interact with others in a Christian context. They also ensure a memorable experience in our College community where the individual is valued and where communal experiences of liturgy, celebration and reflection are highlighted.

Attendance at school for all classes is critical but, at 黑料社区 we also believe that attendance at major College events is just as critical in building our school community. Attendance on the days listed below is compulsory and requires a medical certificate if a student is absent:

Parents are reminded that the Parent Teacher Evenings and Parent/Tutor Day are not optional events. The College has only one full parent teacher meeting for each Year group and one Parent/Tutor Day therefore, presence at these meetings is expected. Parents unable to attend on the designated night need to arrange an interview with the Academic Head (for parent teacher evenings) and contact the Tutor Teacher (for Parent/Tutor Day) on a subsequent day.

Tuesday 2nd April is the Parent/Tutor Day. There are no classes for students this day. However students are expected to attend the Parent/Tutor meeting with their parent for their interview. Interview time bookings will open in March.

As the new Assistant Principal Curriculum, I am looking forward to getting to know the 黑料社区 community. Already, in the few weeks I have been at the College, I have had a tour of the Innovation Hub which is a world class facility entering its final weeks of construction. I have sat in and contributed to planning meetings for the next phase of the Master Plan building works. This is truly an exciting time to join the College community and be part of the team that turns these new facilities into buildings that contribute to classroom excellence. This environment will help us to continue to develop learning at 黑料社区. The personalised, student-centred learning framework encourages engagement through participation in collaborative, experience driven exercises which, in turn, encourage critical thinking and the application of skills to real-world scenarios.

For some of us who are new to the College, either as teacher, family or a student, this may be a daunting time. The hardest day no doubt will be our first but after that each day will become easier and more familiar, leading to a sense of connection and belonging. at the College.

As we commence 2023, we believe (and hope) that the College will have an uninterrupted pre-Covid school year. Many students might not be able to recall what this looks like and I probably should not speak too soon. Each new school year heralds a fresh beginning which is a chance to set new resolutions and a chance to form better all-round habits for both work and play which should include approaches to school, homework and personal wellbeing.

So, what will our new school year resolutions be? 

These are some of the questions which we can ask ourselves to ensure we are aiming high at 黑料社区 this year and beyond:

• How will we establish good routines to manage our time effectively?
• How will we balance our time so that our social media and gaming activities are limited and don't interfere with our learning and wellbeing?
• How will achieve our very best in each subject and at school in general?
• How will we achieve in a subject which we find challenging? 
• How will we increase participation in class and stay engaged with schoolwork?
• Will we ask our teachers when we do not understand or need extra help?
• Will we map out our term commitments, both in school and outside, so that we can manage each deadline as it arises?
• Will we ensure our technology is not in the room when we sleep?

This list is not exhaustive, but it can give some suggestions on how to start the year with a positive mindset or simply act as a conversation starter for parents as we plan and aim for success in 2023.

The College had identified the following three (3) strategic intents or focus objectives for 2023 to help the students reach their personal and collective bests:

• Striving for academic excellence through retrieval routines, academic rigour and responsive, active teaching.
• Sustaining personal growth through consistency in grooming, behaviour and language.
• Succeeding through persistence, patience and partnership.

It is important we share our strategic aims/objectives for the year, as these link academically and pastorally, so that we can work in partnership for the students you place in our care.

The 黑料社区 Learning Framework, which has been embedded in the College鈥檚 approach to teaching and learning for some years, is still a core foundation that was developed from best practice and educational research. As learning at 黑料社区 is visible and explicit, it helps us strive for academic rigour and excellence. The focus remains on the skills of literacy (reading, writing, spelling and grammar) and numeracy, while at the same time developing independent learning skills.

Teachers will continue to use the Learning@黑料社区 page in 2023 to ensure that students are aware of the learning intentions and success criteria.

Outside of the classroom, teachers will spend their professional learning time planning for the new NSW curriculum which come into effect in 2024.

I hope you all managed to relax and spend some quality time with your families. I feel very welcome, and I look forward to starting the new school year and look forward to meeting the students in the coming weeks.

Mr Gavin Russell
Assistant Principal Curriculum

黑料社区 subscribes on your behalf to the Study Skills website which has a large amount of positive advice, tips and skills for our students to utilise throughout the year. Please ensure your child utilises this information for assistance.

Website link - 

Username - foroakhillonly
Password - 41results (the 1 is a number)

To enable students to be organised for the commencement of the 2023 school year, student timetables will be distributed in hard copy as follows:

• Year 7 and 11 students will receive their timetable on Friday 27th January when they arrive on campus.
• Year 8, 9, 10 and 11 students NEW to the College will receive their timetable on Monday 23rd January during their Orientation Day.
• Year 8, 9, 10 and 12 students will receive their timetable on Monday 30th January.

The College is very proud of the Class of 2022 with results across the board equal best since 2002. We would like to congratulate all students of the Class of 2022 for their collective efforts to achieve these results. The College has had the largest number of All-Rounders (7), Top Placements in the State (6) and Distinguished Achievers (126) since records have been kept in 2002. 

Congratulations also to Liam Milton-White, Dux of the College for 2022 with an ATAR of 99.8 and Zachary Semaganda and Hannah Cook, Proxime Accessit, with ATAR鈥檚 99.7 and 99.6 respectively.

Congratulations also to parents who have walked this journey these past seventeen or eighteen years, you can be rightly proud.

We also thank our staff for their constant hard work, expertise, encouragement, and mentoring.

You can read our Class of 2022 HSC report here: 

Academic progress and a settled environment can only occur when priority is given to continuity of attendance. It is essential for this to occur if your son or daughter is to achieve and prosper. We seek parent support in minimising absence from school. The College expects all students to be at school unless too sick to do so. It is also a legal requirement. Your support in this matter is appreciated.

Parents are reminded that there is an expectation that students attend 黑料社区 for the entire term as gazetted in the College diary and calendar. Please remember that:

• Term dates are published in advance so that correct holiday bookings can be made;
• The College program determines that the students work right up to the end of the term.

Please note that student鈥檚 involvement in all College activities is part of the agreement made by parents and students at the time of enrolment.

Apart from unanticipated sickness, all requests for leave are to be made in advance, preferably with two weeks notice. Requests are to be submitted via the appropriate form: a copy of this form can be obtained from the parent portal. Forms are to be completed and can be sent via email to: jhagerty@oakhill.nsw.edu.au.

Parents will be notified of the outcome of the request via email. Permission for Leave should not be presumed. This process has been developed in response to amendments to the Education Act. Students absent from school without prior permission or with Unapproved Leave will be given zero for any assessment tasks and/or examinations missed.

No student is permitted to be in any shopping centre in College uniform, unless in the company of a parent. Any student seen in a shopping centre in uniform without an accompanying parent will be disciplined and receive an afternoon detention. There are no exceptions to this rule. 

Parents visiting the College are to use the parks marked 鈥榁isitors鈥� closest to the College reception. All other numbered parking spaces are reserved. Parents are asked not to park in the designated 鈥楰iss and Drop鈥� zones. These exist to support the traffic flow at what can be, very congested areas.

The College uniform must be worn properly at all times. For boys, in summer it includes a crested shirt, trousers, black socks, and polished black leather lace-up shoes with rubber soles. Girls are reminded that kilts must be worn below the knee (see below). If you are unsure, the details can be found in the College Diary. Parents are requested to only purchase uniforms from the College Uniform Shop to ensure correct style and colour. Please mark all clothing clearly in a number of places so if lost they can easily be returned to the owner.

The only wet weather clothing allowed at the College is the 黑料社区 raincoat. No hoodies or jumpers, other than the College jumper, are to be worn. Thermal or long sleeve undershirts are not to be seen at any time. A plain white short sleeve shirt ONLY can be worn under the College summer shirt.

College Bag

Every student must have an 黑料社区 College school backpack as their primary bag and an 黑料社区 sports bag (available in two sizes) for PDHPE and sport. College school bags and sports bags are available from the College Uniform Shop and no other form of backpack or bag is allowed. At no time is the College Crest to be covered on the College backpack or sports bag.

The College clearly sets out the regulations regarding hairstyles in the College Diary. Deans, Director of Student Management and Wellbeing and the Assistant Principal Pastoral Care, will determine when a hairstyle is outside the College Hairstyle Policy, for consistency and fairness, and the student may be required to have their hairstyle changed immediately. Upon enrolment with the College, students and parents agreed to support the College policies and procedures. Alternative hairstyles or colouring undertaken during holiday periods must be corrected prior to returning to school.

• Hair should be neatly cut and maintained at all times 鈥� clean, brushed and combed.
• Boy鈥檚 hair must be above their shirt collar and must not hang over the eyes and face.
• Bob cuts are unacceptable.
• Skin fade, 鈥榤ullet鈥� and 'mushroom' cuts are unacceptable.
• Undercut styles are not acceptable, nor are tracks or lines.
• Dramatic layered effects or levels are not permitted; hair clipped on the sides and back must blend in with hair on the top, so that there is not an overhang of hair over the sides and back
• Hair should not be overly styled by the use of hair products.
• Hair is not to be tinted or coloured (this also applies to girls).
• Hair must not be shaved, nor extreme with clippers, number 鈥�2鈥� being the shortest acceptable cut.
• Boys are not permitted to wear their hair in a ponytail at any time.
• Rats-tails, dreadlocks or other braidings are not permitted.
• Girls with long hair must tie it back with maroon or navy ribbon ONLY.
• Boys are to be clean-shaven at all times.
• Girls should not wear eye makeup, including lash extensions, lipstick, nail polish or fake tan 鈥� light foundation is permitted.
• Artificial nails, Shellac nails and French manicures are also not permitted. Students will be asked to have the polish /artificial nails removed immediately if worn to school.
• Jewellery is not to be worn, with the following exception: lightweight silver/gold chain with crucifix or small religious medallion long enough not to be visible.
• Any student with a tattoo must have it covered at all times, whether at school or at sport and / or when representing the College.
• It is at the discretion of the College as to acceptable uniform and grooming. Upon enrolment with the College, students and parents agreed on the importance of grooming and wearing the uniform correctly and with pride. 
• ID photos will take place on the first day of school for each Year group. College photos will take place on Wednesday 31st May. Students must meet all grooming and hair expectations to have their photo taken on these days. Any student not meeting grooming and hair expectations may be denied having a photo. All grooming is at the College discretion and parents and students at the time of enrolment agree to these expectations.

Students must only be absent when they are genuinely sick. All absences from 黑料社区, except for prior approved Leave, are to be rung into the office (9634 0856) by 8:30am on each day of absence. 

Commencing in 2023, Tutor Group time has moved to the commencement of the school day. This means that the official College roll will be taken at 8.35am on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Tuesday is our longer Tutor Group time and will remain at 10.15am. 

Students who arrive after 8:35am on any school day later than this must present themselves to Student Services in the Liesse Building. An SMS text message will be sent to parents鈥� mobile phones each day after Tutor Group time if their child is absent. Parents are requested to respond to the text via the parent portal. Students who have a pattern of lateness will receive consequences.

We expect parent support in ensuring students are at the College by 8:30am. Where illness affects examinations, sporting matches/activities or school determined obligatory commitments, a medical certificate must be presented. 

Parents are requested not to make dental, medical or driving test appointments during school time. Missing lessons affect your son鈥檚 or daughter鈥檚 performance and routine.

After three 鈥榰nauthorised lates鈥�, students will automatically incur an afternoon detention for each day of lateness for the remainder of that term.

Mobile phones, smart device communication tools and ear pods must be switched off and out of sight on campus from 8:00am to 3:15pm, including recess and lunchtime. Mobile phones, smart devices and ear pods must be out of sight during all lessons, assemblies, in the Library or whilst on an excursion unless a teacher has given permission for a learning activity or emergency. 

Parents are encouraged to use the normal channel of communicating with their son/daughter by phoning the College on 9899 2288 if they wish to contact their child during school hours. Mobile phones will be confiscated if used between 8.00am and 3.15pm without the permission of a staff member.

Students鈥� behaviour, grooming, language and wearing of the uniform appropriately on public transport is one aspect of our public image. If travelling on a public bus service, students are required at all times to give up their seat for public paying passengers when the bus is full. Students are to be proactive and offer their seat to patrons. All students are expected to have an Opal card and to tap on and off the bus and train each day as this impacts the scheduling of transport services.

An important part of keeping all our students safe is ensuring all medical conditions and medications are up to date with the College. We ask all parents to check their child/s profile on the Parent Portal at the start of term and ensure permission to administer medications and any required information is on the system and is up to date. 

Please also ensure that any medication your child requires is delivered to sickbay prior to the commencement of school in a clear ziploc bag with your child鈥檚 name and cohort on it and any necessary action plans. Mrs Chapman is best contacted via email at firstaid@oakhill.nsw.edu.au for any questions. Students are not to keep any prescribed medication in their school bag. All prescription medication is to be stored with the First Aid Officer.

Managing Anaphylaxis at 黑料社区

黑料社区 is always looking to partner with and support students who have life threatening conditions on campus such as Anaphylaxis. Please ensure that your child鈥檚 medical condition is known to sickbay via the Parent Portal. One of the ways we partner with students and families is to allow an Epipen and other outlined medications in the Action Plan to be carried by the student in person. However, sickbay should also be provided by the family with a spare Epipen, Action Plan and any medication to support this condition. 

It is very important that should your child identify that they do not have their Epipen or medication in their bag on any school day, they must report immediately to sickbay for Mrs Chapman to assist with supplying their spare Epipen, to ensure they are safe on campus and when attending off campus events, such as excursions. If your child is needing assistance due to a Medical Emergency, they must notify their classroom teacher or teacher on yard duty who will assist in caring for them.

We understand that medical conditions can change and if you have any questions or updates, please email Mrs Chapman at firstaid@oakhill.nsw.edu.au for any questions. 

Parents are asked not to drop items such as sports gear, books, laptops, lunch, money etc at the College so it can be delivered to students during the course of the day. Allowing students to manage without items builds resilience and often helps students to remember and be more responsible for themselves. Thank you for your assistance.

This is a privilege for Year 12 students only 鈥� prior approval is required. Application forms are available from the Director of Student Management and Wellbeing. Year 12 students may drive to and from school only. The following rules apply:

• Students are not permitted to drive to excursions. 
• It is expected that students granted permission to drive to and from 黑料社区 will obey not only the College regulations but also the conditions of their licence (red P, green P, full licence). 
• No student is to park on the College property unless they have been issued a parking space through the ballot system.
• No student is permitted to have unauthorised passengers in their car. A note from a passenger鈥檚 parents is required to be submitted to the Director of Student Management and Wellbeing before travelling in a student car. 
• Students must respect local residents鈥� driveways and roads. 
• All students who drive to 黑料社区 must register their car鈥檚 registration number with the Director of Student Management and Wellbeing, whether they park on the property or not.

After school detentions run from 3:20pm to 4:30pm. Any student who fails to attend an afternoon detention without a prior satisfactory reason will be issued a Saturday detention. Saturday detentions run from 8.00am to 9:30am. Sporting commitments and work are not acceptable reasons for not attending a Saturday detention rendering the punishment learning from the detention worthless and inaffective. Requests to change a detention for work, sport or family events will not be considered as this is failing to plan accordingly. Failure to attend Saturday detention will result in Suspension. Upon enrolment with the College, students and parents agreed to support the College policies and procedures.

On Wednesday 15th February from 6:00pm-7.00pm all Year 7 parents and guardians are invited and encouraged to meet the Pastoral Team. This is a semi-formal occasion where parents meet teachers primarily responsible for their son鈥檚 welfare. For Year 7 students this will be their son鈥檚 Tutor Teacher. Information about coming events and activities at the College will be provided on this evening and parents and guardians will have the opportunity to ask questions or have any matters clarified.

These meetings will be followed by light refreshments. Students are not required or expected to attend. 

黑料社区's aspiration is that staff and families work together to attain the best outcomes for our students. Strong and productive partnerships are an essential component of our Lasallian philosophy. Recently, however, we have had a few cases of aggressive behaviour and inappropriate language being used. Parents and carers are asked to always use courteous and acceptable written and spoken language when communicating with College staff members. 黑料社区 promotes positive relationships and does not allow or condone aggressive, abusive behaviour by anyone to staff, students or parents at any time.

This concern only applies to one or two recent cases, and we thank our parents/guardians for your support in words, deeds, and actions. Your modelling of appropriate behaviour is always appreciated and highly respected.

We look forward to another exciting year of sport in 2023 with students participating in the wide range of co-curricular sports that 黑料社区 offers. 

The ISA Summer Sports Round resumes on Saturday 4th February, being Round 7 of the competition. With the Semi-Finals and Finals to be played on Saturday 4th and Saturday 11th March respectively. Day 2 of our Summer Sport Photos is on Saturday 25th February. A schedule will be sent in February.

Winter Sports registration will open on Wednesday 15th February and close on Monday 6th March.

Summer Sports registration will open on Thursday 1st August and close on Monday 28th August. 

Registrations are made via Trybooking. Sport registration information will be sent out  and included in the College Newsletter prior to registration opening dates

To find out more about 黑料社区 Sport or to check on fixtures, wet weather, locations and more, please follow the link: /life-at-oakhill/sport

Evette's Lunchbox is our new Canteen provider from Term 1, 2023. Evette鈥檚 Lunchbox is a family operated business with over 20 years of experience in the food and catering industry, providing only the best foods to students and staff. The canteen menu incorporates a vast range of wholesome foods, using only the highest quality ingredients and trusted brand names, with many healthy options to help make good choices. Meals will be made daily on the premises, and are closely linked to the Healthy School Canteens Strategy. 

The Canteen's operating hours are 7.45am - 2.10pm.

Lunch bags will be trialled for any student who wishes to place their lunch order at the Canteen in the morning. Evette's Lunchbox will also accept cash and eftpos payments at the Canteen. 

The Canteen menu is available here: 

The College Uniform Shop will be open as per the hours below in the De La Salle Building. You may also order any uniform requirements via Flexischools. Flexischools re-opened to receive orders from Tuesday 17th January. Once orders are completed, order pick ups are from The Uniform Shop during opening hours.

Uniform Shop is now accepting Back to School Vouchers for face to face purchasers only.

For more information on the College Uniform Shop including the 2023 price list, joining Flexischools, and more, please use the 黑料社区 website link here: ...

Normal term time opening hours re-commence from the week commencing Monday 30th January.

If students would like to purchase a House T-shirt, they may do so via the College Uniform Shop. House T-shirts are optional and may be worn to Swimming and Athletics Carnivals only.