Transforming Lives, Energising Mission, Sustaining Faith @ Oakhill College

Show Your Colour's Day

Oakhill College hosted a 'Show Your Colours' day to focus on the flood victims of New South Wales and Queensland and the Ukrainian refugees. 

Staff and students wore their favourite jerseys and raised $7,430, which was sent to the St Vincent de Paul Flood Relief and the 'La Salle for Ukrainians Appeal', which helped fund programs for Ukrainian refugee children in Lasallian schools in Poland, Austria, Serbia, Hungary and Romania. The Superior General of the De La Salle Brothers in Rome quoted Pope Francis's words as war wreaks havoc in Ukraine:

'Lent is a favourable time to seek out – and not to avoid – those in need; to reach out – and not to ignore – those who need a sympathetic ear and a good word; to visit – and not to abandon – those who are lonely. Let us put into practice our call to do good to all, and take time to love the poor and needy, those abandoned and rejected, those discriminated against and marginalised.'

Transforming Lives 

Staff and students raised $2,560 for Caritas. Caritas Australia works hand in hand with the most marginalised communities in Australia and overseas to confront the challenges of poverty. 

The Maths Department held 'Pi Day' and raised $880 by selling Krispy Kreme donuts. The money was donated to the Breakfast Club in Papua New Guinea.

In addition to the above, the following fundraising event has been scheduled for 14th May: 

Gala Day! This major raffle is part of our fundraising efforts, which will go towards furnishings for the Innovation Hub precinct and upgrading our sound and lighting systems. 10% of all profits made on the day will go to The Breakfast Club hosted by La Salle Technical College, Hohola in Papua New Guinea. Further details are below:

The Oakhill College P&F Association is excited to announce that our First Prize in our Gala Day major raffle is a 2022 Hyundai i30 Hatch PD V4 2.0l GDi 6- speed automatic car. This fabulous Hyundai i30 is packed with features, including a 5-year manufacturer's warranty, premium plates, registration, CTP green slip, and stamp duty and is valued at $28,500. The total prize pool for our Gala Day raffle totals an extraordinary $30,000, and our other prizes are:

• Second Prize: A shopping spree gift voucher to enjoy at Robert Cliff Master Jewellers' showroom valued at $500 
• Third Prize: A catering package for 30 people from IGA Mint Fresh Baulkham Hills valued at $500 
• Fourth Prize: Apple iPad 10.2 inch Wi-Fi 32GB from Computers Now valued at $500 

Tickets are $10.00 and are on sale now via  Trybooking: https://www.trybooking.com/BYUNX . 

The raffle will be drawn on Saturday 14th May at 2.50 pm. You've got to be in it to win it!

International Women's Day (IWD)

Soroptimist International The Hills invited two Oakhill College students, Seronique (Year 12) and James (Year 11), to speak at the Hills International Women's Day breakfast at The Rydges Hotel.  

Seronique (College Vice Captain) reflected on the opportunities open to all students at Oakhill, irrespective of gender and the College's climate of acceptance and respect: 
"As humans, we paint the pictures, we write the literature, we choreograph the dance and weave the tapestry. We add to the social media platforms that bombard our lives and shape our bias. We make the decisions." 

James (Youth Advocate for the Women's Community Shelters) spoke of the Year 10 Walk the Talk program at the College and his first-hand experience of how programs such as these are helping to #breakthebias. He reflected: "The concept of breaking the bias is, in a way, all about respect. When we break the biases in our society, we create an inclusive society, one that celebrates all differences and has equality and fairness for all."

Other Guest Speakers were Mrs Lucy Brogden AM, President, Dr Peter Gangemi - Mayor of The Hills Shire Council and Class of 2003 and Ms Jacqui McLachlan, President, who said that we need not be quite so worried about the future if the future is in the hands of young people such as Seronique and James. 

Staff and students also collaborated on ways to raise awareness and #breakthebias against inequality and stereotypes. Some of these initiatives included our community signing the IWD banner, striking the #breakthebias pose, making lapel ribbons, writing pledges, starting conversations, students interviewing key members at Oakhill, and wearing purple.

Students watched a video featuring some of the amazing women at Oakhill who shared their experiences and discussed how to #breakthebias individually and collectively. The video features:

• Ms Wickert Academic Head of PDHPE and Captain of the Rugby World Cup Wallaroos team; 
• Ms Brittany Wells (Class of 2017), Contract Administrator at FDC (master plan builders); 
• Helen Leeds Year 11 student, a double black belt in karate and Rugby 7s player; 
• Lauren Peacock Year 12 student and Rugby 7s Captain; 
• Cassie Joye Year 12 student and Oakhill Altar Server; and 
• Maddy Ragell and Tess Johnston Year 12 students and La Salle House Captains. 

The mature and intelligent conversations demonstrate Oakhill's commitment to helping forge a more inclusive world. 

Walk the Talk program

Year 10 students Jack Ellis from Enlighten Education Goodfellas, to talk to students about Oakhill's Walk the Talk program. 

Jack spoke passionately about the myths and pressures that surround young people today. His frank and honest discussion captivated the students with powerful messages of respect, emotion and breaking down stereotypes, allowing the boys to recognise and enhance the strengths and differences that they can make in the world.

Oakhill is once again proud to be part of the Walk the Talk education initiative program which builds awareness of domestic violence and women's homelessness. 

Over the coming months, Year 10 boys and Mission@Oakhill will launch several fundraising initiatives for our adopted women's shelter, The Sanctuary - The Hills Women's Shelter, to help Women's Community Shelters.

Ash Wednesday Commissioning Ceremony

Over 80 Lasallian Youth Leaders (LYLs) attended Oakhill to undertake the Ash Wednesday Commissioning Ceremony. Each LYL attended a Tutor Group and distributed the ashes. The community was challenged to 'do good' and perform more' acts of kindness'. Staff and Students were encouraged to write down their act of kindness and put it in the box outside the Chapel. If everyone did one act of kindness a day, we just might change the world.

And they did. Here are just some of the acts of kindness that have been put in the kindness box:

•    Finding a lost student and helping them find new friends
•    My teacher made me feel better today
•    I watched as someone was nice to another person who was having a hard time
•    Students offered to pick up rubbish that was not theirs
•    I Shared an umbrella with another student who was drenched. 
•    Being a true friend
•    I made cookies for everyone for recess
•    I surprised a friend who was having a tough time this week. 
•    Helping my teacher smile - She is an amazing teacher.
•    Hugging my mum, who was upset after she heard some really bad news
•    Br Pat helped another Brother down the stairs outside the Chapel.

Easter Liturgy 

As part of the Easter Liturgy, the below video was shown featuring two alumni (Maddy and Ryan) who are currently working as Lasallian Volunteers in Balgo Hills. Click on the link below to view the video. 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aoW5v1m3PjeQaf2wAe0x7F_DV12QtOhH/view