蜜豆app

This time of the year is a very busy time for schools. Teachers and department heads are reviewing their annual plans, completing their reporting to line managers, and planning for 2021. However necessary good strategic planning and reflection is, the true test of a successful school is the subsequent life of the students; the kind of people 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 all.

Teaching is not only a noble profession but also a great privilege. As I stand at the end of the drive each afternoon, I recall how the students before me have grown and matured over the year; how they have risen to the challenges beset them; how they have walked the talk. I am both very proud of their efforts and humbled by their achievements. I commend the Year 10 student鈥檚 incredible performance of Chariots of Fire this past week as an example of such.

Reflecting on the past year one of the initiatives for the College was the Literacy Strategy focused on reading and writing

across the curriculum. A need identified in our Allwell, NAPLAN and HSC data. The College professional development plan focused on developing common strategies to improve the teaching and learning of reading and writing in all subjects. Research shows that consistency and collective efficacy, teacher clarity, feedback, and high expectations with strong school leadership are what matter most in raising underachievement. Teachers were required to profile their students in their classes to identify the learning abilities of each student and each class, especially in terms of writing and to use the common language and methodology in the teaching of writing in their subjects. I commend Patrick Harb (Year 8) who was the only boy shortlisted in the Sydney Living Museums Writing Competition and was announced winner this week.

The impact of the Writing and Read-to-Succeed programs over the past two years has seen a continued and significant improvement in both Allwell and NAPLAN results with real (scaled) growth averages much higher than State and AIS/Similar School scores in reading, writing, grammar and mathematics compared with students in previous year. This represents added value attributed to the student鈥檚 own motivation, effort and desire to do their best, and the teacher鈥檚 school wide consistent approach to pedagogy and lesson design in the teaching of foundation skills and content in their subject. I commend both students and teachers for this achievement as encouragement to continue this journey.

In planning for next year, the College will continue its focus on teaching foundation skills in reading, writing and numeracy and inspiring students to aspire to greatness. It is the attitude to aspire from which independent and lifelong learning stems.

Br Steve fsc
Principal

If you would like to add family members to your child/s emergency contacts, please email Mrs Nicole Beamish at registrar@oakhill.nsw.edu.au, giving your child鈥檚 name, name of emergency contact, relationship of emergency contact to your child,  and phone number for emergency contact.  This will assist if you need to send somebody else to collect  your child from the Health Centre in an emergency.

Today at our Year 7 Mass, we welcomed our first female altar server 鈥� Elia Chaiban (2021 College Captain). We also welcomed back Class of 2020 student James Wepner, who returned today even though he completed his final HSC exams earlier this week.

Today we celebrated the academic achievements of our Year 11 students at a cohort Assembly. We congratulate our Dux - Olivia Humm, 2nd place - Marco Fogolin and 3rd place - Adam Byrnes on their outstanding achievements. The recipients of the Macquarie University Leaders Award were Olivia Humm and Jye McLachlan. Each year, two students are nominated from their cohort as having demonstrated leadership across various domains. These domains are: performing well academically, demonstrating initiative and commitment through either leadership, community, sport etc and having demonstrated leadership qualities and contributed positive change in their community.

We were also proud to welcome our incoming College Captain's Adam and Elia to the lectern who addressed the cohort. Elia reflected on today's Gospel reading which was a recount of Jesus washing his disciple's feet. Elia drew parallels to Jesus' actions and the significance of that day to our actions each day, as we continue to live a life of service, humbly as did John Baptist De La Salle. Adam spoke about the challenges that the cohort has faced this year, and how even though things haven't gone to plan throughout their journey so far, we are still blessed. He asked the cohort to focus on being brothers and sisters to each other, and that there will be many upcoming opportunities to help communities who are less fortunate than us.

Mrs Gabby Russo
Marketing & Community Liaison Officer

When a student says that they have a bad memory, it usually means that actually they do not encode the information they are trying to remember into their memory in an effective way.

Memory is really a 鈥榩rocess鈥� as opposed to a 鈥榯hing鈥� in your head that you are born with. 

Rather than 鈥榠mproving your memory鈥�, you want to improve the process of memory creation to ensure memory retrieval goes smoothly! The reason why many students do not retain what they are learning is that the way they study only gets the information as far as their short term memory, and then before long it is forgotten instead of being encoded into long term memory.

The first stage for students in improving their retention of information is to try and find ways to make what they are learning INTERESTING to themselves, EMOTIONAL, ENJOYABLE and if they can't do this then at least create the firm INTENTION to remember the information. It is all about their approach to what they are learning.

The next step in memory creation is the encoding process. To improve in this area, students need to improve:

• CONCENTRATION AND FOCUS (making notes about what they are learning, studying using techniques that suit their learning style, studying when they are most alert)
• ORGANISATION OF MATERIAL (making brain friendly notes: lists, highlighting, categories, grouping, graphics)
• MAKING ASSOCIATIONS AND LINKS between the new material and previously learned material.

Next stage in the memory process is facilitating the storage of memories. Students can improve the way memories are stored by ensuring they BREAK THEIR STUDY BLOCKS UP with at least a few minutes break every half hour (giving the brain a chance to encode and file that chunk of content) and CHUNK DOWN the information to be learnt into manageable chunks.  Getting enough SLEEP is also essential as fundamental memory processes take place during sleep. The other thing that is really important in this stage is REPETITION AND REGULAR REVIEW. Each time a review takes place the brain fires all the neurons connected to that memory and the more often that happens the stronger the connections between the neurons and the more intense and powerful the memory that is created.

So in summary, the top three things to improve the process of creating powerful memories are:

1. focus, positive attitude and intention to remember are essential (reading something half-heartedly while bored pretty much guarantees it won鈥檛 be retained)
2. an active approach to learning where students  are 鈥榙oing鈥� (making notes, testing themselves using a wide range of study techniques) rather than just 鈥榬eading鈥�
3. repetition and constant review of the material over a period of time.

To learn more about the brain and memory and advanced memory techniques visit the Brain and Memory unit on  (click on the For Students tab).

Oakhill鈥檚 subscription details are: 

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

Ms Rose Garofano
Assistant Principal of Curriculum

This week Year 7 participated in their Reflection Day with the theme of 'Building a Lasallian Community'. This has been a positive time for the boys to pause, reflect and participate in some group activities. 

We thanks our La Salle volunteers and teachers for facilitating these important days.

Mr Chris Goodman
Director of Mission

Usually at this time of the year, the Year 9 Visual Arts students go on an excursion to view Sculptures by the Sea in Bondi, however due to COVID-19 the excursion was cancelled. Instead, students were able to participate in an incursion run at school. After viewing the work of Sculpture Public Artist Elyssa Sykes-Smith, students broke into groups and constructed their own wooden figurative sculpture based on Sykes-Smith鈥檚 work. Students have been studying Public Art and what it means to have artworks in the public realm. Students chose sites around the school that their sculptures could exist within and how their sculpture would interact with that site. The boys created some wonderful sculptures full of imagination and fun, showcasing their growing talent for sculpture, which is a tricky medium to work within.

Mrs Rachael Manning
Visual Arts Teacher

All parents were sent an email on Tuesday 3rd November asking for their support around the College mobile phone policy, including the filming of other students and the unauthorised use of 蜜豆app's registered brand or name. In addition any request you may have while your child is at school can be related via Student Services who will pass on your message. We also thank parents in advance for being mindful of what is posted online. All our policies are outlined in our student diary and the College asks for your support with all these policies.

Ms Deborah Gillis
Assistant Principal Pastoral Care

The College has been advised, by Catholic Schools NSW, that students and staff should not return to the College until their test results have been sighted.

In addition, Catholic Schools NSW advise:

• Vigilance in ensuring that staff and students do not attend school or work if they are unwell
•  Students absent or sent home due to flu like symptoms need to be tested
• Staff and students must not return to school or work until they return a negative COVID-19 result and are symptoms free
• Schools must sight the negative COVID-19 test result prior to allowing students and staff to return to school

Students over 15 years of age who are enrolled with Medicare will receive their test result via SMS, not the parent or guardian. Parents and guardians of the other students will receive the SMS result.
 
Procedure: Please screen shot the SMS message and email it to the student鈥檚 Dean and phunt@oakhill.nsw.edu.au before returning to school. Unfortunately messages sent via SMS to the absentee line can not be copied to the student鈥檚 file, so the result needs to be emailed.

Mrs Pauline Hunt
College Registered Nurse

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

Last Friday 30th October was World Teacher's (Staff) Day. The College celebrated this event with a surprise morning tea to thank all staff for what they do.

We are blessed at Oakhill and appreciate all the extra hours, dedication and effort that they continually give to our students and for the betterment of our Oakhill community. They are continually touching hearts, transforming lives and building futures for our students.

The Visual Arts Department regularly celebrates the achievement of our students. We have some exceptional young artists at 蜜豆app, who excel in many of the different expressive forms we explore. The month of September was dedicated to our Year 10 Visual Arts students, who are creating Major Works which are a culmination of their development and progress in the Visual Arts elective, 2020. 

Noah Hickey was selected as our Artist of the Month with an amazing artwork exploring his love of gaming and how even through gaming we can see that personal decisions can have an impact on the direction we take through life. Noah has derived his inspiration from street artists who use a range of spray painting and stenciling techniques to communicate their bold ideas. Congratulations Noah, a fantastic achievement for a student who always works his hardest and challenges himself to reach new goals in Visual Arts.

Mrs Nadina Hazon
Visual Arts Teacher

The Visual Arts Department, Artist of the Month for October is Cameron Este from Year 9.

Shapes and Shadows is a unit studied in Photography Digital Media in Year 9. The Modernists Max Dupain and Olive Cotton are our influencing artists. The impact of light is explored, both natural and studio lighting. Cameron found an interesting viewpoint of the Centenary Sport Centre and reduced his composition to simple geometric shapes. The photograph represents one of twelve within his photographic submission.

 
Congratulations Cameron

Ms Cecilia Weinert
Visual Art Teacher

Students in the 'A Thousand Words' competition were asked to think imaginatively about people, places and events from the past and create a story inspired by an image from the exhibition 'A Thousand Words'. The exhibition is a new collaboration between Sydney Living Museums and NSW State Archives. 

Mrs Leopardi's Year 8 English class participated in the competition, as did over 1,000 students from across Sydney. The competition has short-listed six students and Patrick Harb from Year 8 is one of them! 

Below is Patrick's story: 
The Glaring Truth 

In wet clothes at Balmain Police station he gave his name as Stuart Wilson Christopher Briggs of Summer Hill before confessing to the shooting murders of his girlfriend and her grandmother in their terrace at Petersham on the evening of December 14, 1898. 

鈥淚 was jealous, I was. I knew my sheila was seeing another man. I remember hitting her in the face with the back of my hand three days before when she refused to run away with me. Today I bought a box of cartridges for my revolver. I wrote everything down in a letter. Maggie had it coming to her. Margaret wouldn鈥檛 let me see her, so I shot the old woman too. I ran off, tossed my weapon in the lane way and jumped into the water off the wharf at Annandale hoping to drown myself.  I just wanted to die. But this fella pulled me out and now I鈥檓 here. I know I鈥檓 done like a dinner so do with me what you will.鈥� 

Little did I know that private detective Robert Nelson happened to be on duty at the wharf earlier in the evening and it was he who pulled me to safety. Full of regret I鈥檇 confessed to him what I鈥檇 done. Nelson had no choice but to escort me to the station.

I was held in the prison cell awaiting trial. The only visitor I had was my mother, Sarah. Despite how I鈥檇 disappointed her often in my adult life, she felt compelled to stand by me, unlike my father and nine brothers and sisters who wanted nothing more to do with me. I didn鈥檛 blame them. I was the bad egg in the family, unable to hold down a job, drinking heavily and often looking for a fight. Living the life of a hooligan had now truly run its course.

At my Supreme Central Criminal Court trial on 17 February , in desperation, I pleaded not guilty to murder on the grounds of insanity. However, the jury decided otherwise and Mr Justice Cohen convicted me of the murders of Maggie Binud Dutt and her grandmother Mrs Margaret Miller and sentenced me to death by hanging 鈥� a death I knew I truly deserved.  

Four days later, I was transported from the holding cell at Balmain Police Station to Darlinghurst Gaol. My photograph was taken by the warder and my personal details were added to my Description Book. Darlinghurst Gaol was now my home until the hang man deemed otherwise. As I was led away in handcuffs and shackles to serve my solitary confinement in the condemned cell, I passed many cells on the ground floor that housed prisoners behind the sliding white steel grill doors. As I shuffled past, male prisoners were rattling these doors, with arms outstretched through the gaps of the bars chanting 鈥渨e are all innocent here鈥� while other inmates laughed in a mocking fashion. I did not look at these men but kept my gaze fixed ahead. The warder then led me up the stairs to the second floor of the goal where another warder dressed in a black uniform and cap, stood.

Prisoners who were sentenced to be hanged were held in the condemned cell of the goal. I was unshackled and once shoved inside, I noticed that this cell had an inner grill wall with a gate, creating an alcove in the cell for the warder to sit on 24 hour watch. The cell was sparse with a floor mattress and a pan for toileting. The cell itself was small, dark, musty and the stench of urine was overpowering. For six long weeks the only portion of the outside world that was visible to me from my cell was a small patch in the sky lit up by one bright star.

During my time in solitary confinement, my basic meals, (if that鈥檚 what you called them), were brought to the cell. I was allowed one hour per day outside of my cell for exercise and to empty my pan. During my time in gaol, I was visited once a week by the Presbyterian chaplain my mother had organised. I looked forward to these visits immensely and expressed my remorse for what I had done and came to accept that death, although imminent, was not to be feared. It is true that I spent most of my solitary confinement in prayer. This 24 year old six foot unemployed man from Sydney no longer felt like a shag on a rock. I was finally at peace with myself. I had but a few hours left on this earth.

At 9am as earlier advised by the warders, handcuffed and shackled, I was led out of my cell by the sheriff for the final time. My day of execution had arrived. Although I never spoke publicly about my crime, I was truly remorseful for my actions. As I walked towards the scaffold I felt my legs go weak at the knees and flashes of my past, of happier times, appeared before me. The noose was placed around my neck and I was ready to meet my maker.

On April 5 1899, the public hangman Robert Howard, sent his 57th case into eternity when he performed the last offices of the law.

Patrick Harb, Year 8

Congratulations to Josh Bautista who recently entered the Preliminary Section of the Sydney Organ Competition and received a Highly Commended Award.

Normally this competition is held at St Aloysius College, however, due to Covid, the Society held the competition 鈥渙n-line鈥�. His tutor, Greg Ghavalas, recorded his piece  Classic Prelude by Gordon Young, back in September and the awards were announced this week.

has been updated for a better experience including mobile devices. You will notice articles can change the Reading level. Check out articles, images, videos, best websites and eBooks selected for high school students. This can be a handy alternative to Google that often sends advertising and less relevant articles to search results. Using the Oakhill login will provide the full range of resources available through the Oakhill College subscription.

蜜豆app Sport ISA Sydney Metro Competition continue this week with Round 3. 蜜豆app 1st V boys basketball team remain on top of the ladder with a win over St Patrick鈥檚 College 1sts team and a round 1 win over the current ISA Champions, St Augustine鈥檚. This week the College 1st boys and 1st girls basketball teams are at home. Unfortunately, we are still without spectators, but we wish both teams good luck and will support them from afar. The Girls 1st V start their game against Barker at 10.00am with the boys straight after at 11.30am against St Andrew鈥檚.

The rain has disrupted the start of the cricket season and with such a short Sydney Metro Competition, we are hoping to get the full number of overs in this weekend. The 2nd XI are playing St Andrew鈥檚 on Damien oval from 10.00am while the 1st XI travel to Redfield College to play their competition game against St Augustine鈥檚 1st XI.

Sport Fixtures for Saturday 7th November 2020: 

Team of the Week

The Girls 1st V basketball team have been working hard under the tuition of coach Sally Faehrmann (Sports Captain 2019). The improvement within the squad has been outstanding and the girls were rewarded with a 30-23 win over St Andrew鈥檚. 

COVID protocols and attendance at venues this weekend 7th November

蜜豆app has games against many different schools this weekend. We ask that you respect the protocols in place at each venue. 蜜豆app has a 鈥榥o spectator鈥� policy currently in place once again remain as part of our COVID protocols until further notice. This will be reviewed after the HSC exams conclude on Thursday 12th November. Some schools across the ISA and local sport competitions are allowing 1 or 2 spectators per player while many are still requesting 鈥榥o spectators.鈥� Please ensure that we all follow best practice when it comes to hygiene and all respect the individual protocols of each venue. Players are asked to wear their playing uniform to the game, play and go. Coaches and managers are welcome to the game to help carry out correct procedure and to ensure we safely carry out our sport.

Summary of protocols for spectators across all sport venues for Saturday 7th November 2020:

• All 蜜豆app home venues 鈥� no spectators
• Macquarie Uni Playing fields (Touch Football) - 1 spectator per player touch football (text sent to ISA COVID #)
• Ryde Aquatic Centre (Oakhill Junior Development basketball teams) 鈥� 1 spectator per player.
• St Augustine鈥檚 basketball (NBISC and Dee Why PCYC) - no spectators
• St Andrew鈥檚 basketball 鈥� no spectators
• St Patrick鈥檚 venues - 1 spectator per player for basketball (text sent to ISA COVID #)
• Redlands venues - No spectators basketball
• St Pius (Oxford Falls) 鈥� 1 parent spectator per player for basketball and 2 parent spectators for cricket.  (text sent to ISA COVID #)
• St Paul鈥檚 Grammar - 1 spectator per player for basketball (text sent to ISA COVID #)

Thank you once again for your support. I appreciate your understanding and your patience as we continue to follow advice and best practice to help our students be able to play Sport under these current conditions. Please continue to follow the protocols in place at each individual venue. 

For the full set of COVID protocols for 7th September 2020: 

A reminder that our Oakhill Parents & Friends Annual General Meeting is being held this coming Wednesday 11th November in the CSC Foyer starting at 6.00pm. Please join us for a light snack and refreshments.

The agenda for the meeting will be:

1. Closure of items from last Meeting
2. Annual General Meeting - Committee Election
3. Welcome to the New Committee
4. General Meeting and discussion of proposed 2021 events for the community
5. Update from Br Steve Hogan fsc.

If you wish to become a Member of the 鈥溍鄱筧pp Parents and Friends Association Incorporated鈥� please either go to the link below and complete the application form. 

This is a fantastic way for you to either simply share your thoughts and ideas for your community or if you wish to be involved in a more active way, it is entirely up to you and will be much appreciated.

The College is currently working on producing the next Oakhill Drive and we appreciate your contribution. Please let us know what has been happening in your life since you last 鈥榳alked down the drive鈥�. Email your article, 150-200 words, along with photos, to drive@oakhill.nsw.edu.au by Tuesday 24th November.

蜜豆app has strong connections throughout our community. We would greatly appreciate it if you could pass this information on to any other alumni contacts that you are in touch with and ask them to update their details via the College website, under Community 鈥� Alumni. This will help the 蜜豆app family to keep connected.

Congratulations to Ryan Papenhuyzen (Class of 2016) who won the Clive Churchill Medal after The Storm won the NRL grand final on Sunday 25th October. 

Interesting to note that the last two out of three Clive Churchill Medallists have been 蜜豆app Alumni with Luke Keary (Class of 2010) also winning this prestigious award in 2018.

There have been articles flooding the media, and the one common theme is what genuinely nice guys they are. They have done Oakhill proud. Luke also has been named in the State of Origin Blues squad. Unfortunately Ryan is out with an injury.

We congratulate Jordan Goddard, Class of 2009 (Gordon Captain), Harrison Goddard Class of 2015, Captain (Gordon), Lachlan Anderson Class of 2015 (Eastwood) and Matt Gonzalez, Class of 2012 (Eastwood) four talented Oakhill Alumni who played in an exciting Shute Shield grand final last Saturday. Gordon were the eventual victors, but all four men made significant contributions to their team's performance. 

The College has introduced the option of online ordering through Flexischools. Parents will be able to order items using the Flexischools App or through our new website and can chose to pick up from the Uniform Shop during opening times or arrange to collect from Student Services.

The Uniform Shop will still be open for face to face sales during term time on Mondays 8.00am -11.30am and Thursdays 1.30pm 鈥� 5.00pm. 

The Uniform Shop currently requires volunteers that can work on Thursdays. You will need to be available to work once a month on a Thursday from 1.30pm—5.00pm.

If you are available and interested please contact our Administration Manager Mrs Carmel Christie via email at cchristie@oakhill.nsw.edu.au

Mrs Carmel Christie
Administration Manager

We do not sell second-hand uniform items at the Uniform Shop.  If you are interested in selling or buying second-hand items, we suggest that you search Sustainable School Shop, or a local Facebook Buy/Swap/Sell Uniform group.

Mrs Carmel Christie
Administration Manager