Oakhill College
Encyclopedia
Oakhill College is a Catholic, co-educational, secondary
, day school
, located in Castle Hill, New South Wales
, a suburb in the Hills District
of the Greater Western
region of Sydney, New South Wales
, Australia.
Founded in 1936, the College
is run by the De La Salle Brothers
in the tradition of St. Jean-Baptiste de La Salle
, and currently caters for approximately 1,600 students from Years 7 to 12.
Oakhill College is a member of the Independent Schools Association (ISA), and is a school of the Diocese of Parramatta
.
The school commenced in August 1936 with four students, increasing to 30 in 1937 when there were 10 day and 20 boarding
students. The College served the then rural area of "The Hills", and grew slowly until in 1953, its enrolment reached 100.
In 1974 the decision was taken to phase out the boarding school and, in 1976 Oakhill College became a co-educational senior school. The phasing out of primary classes commenced in 1980, and by 1983, Oakhill College was enrolling only secondary students.
In the year 2006, the 100th year of the Brothers in Australia was celebrated with a mass at St Mary's Cathedral
.
The property was initially used as a training college for brothers; the school came later. The training college for brothers evolved into a training college for Catholic lay teachers, which was then merged into the Australian Catholic University
in the 1980s, which then became the Castle Hill campus of the ACU. Finally, in the 1990s, the ACU decided to consolidate their campuses in Sydney, and abandoned their Castle Hill facility, which then reverted to the De La Salle brothers. Since then, the original training college has been extensively renovated, named the De La Salle Building and forms part of the school.
The gym was later moved to a vacant location on the third level of the centre, thus turning the old gym into an extra PDHPE classroom.
from Years 9–12. The Houses include:
revealed that a Greens
analysis of government figures showed that, over four years, Oakhill received $13.2 million more in federal government funding than it is entitled to under the Socioeconomic status
(SES) formula.
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
, day school
Day school
A day school—as opposed to a boarding school—is an institution where children are given educational instruction during the day and after which children/teens return to their homes...
, located in Castle Hill, New South Wales
Castle Hill, New South Wales
Castle Hill is a suburb in the north-west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Castle Hill is located 31 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district, in the Hills District of the Greater Western Sydney region...
, a suburb in the Hills District
Hills District (Sydney)
Hills District or The Hills is a general term for the north-western suburbs of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The Hills District is also referred to as The Sydney Hills and The Hills Shire...
of the Greater Western
Greater Western Sydney
Greater Western Sydney is a term used to describe the western region of the metropolitan area of Sydney, Australia. The University of Western Sydney defines Greater Western Sydney as comprising 14 local government areas...
region of Sydney, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia.
Founded in 1936, the College
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
is run by the De La Salle Brothers
Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools
The Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools is a Roman Catholic religious teaching congregation, founded in France by Saint Jean-Baptiste de la Salle and now based in Rome...
in the tradition of St. Jean-Baptiste de La Salle
Jean-Baptiste de La Salle
Saint Jean-Baptiste de La Salle or John Baptist de La Salle was a priest, educational reformer, and founder of Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools...
, and currently caters for approximately 1,600 students from Years 7 to 12.
Oakhill College is a member of the Independent Schools Association (ISA), and is a school of the Diocese of Parramatta
Catholic Education in the Diocese of Parramatta
There has been Catholic Education in the Diocese of Parramatta since before the Second World War. There are 76 Catholic systemic schools in the diocese with a total student population of around 41,000...
.
History
The De La Salle Brothers purchased the Oakhill property in 1932.The school commenced in August 1936 with four students, increasing to 30 in 1937 when there were 10 day and 20 boarding
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
students. The College served the then rural area of "The Hills", and grew slowly until in 1953, its enrolment reached 100.
In 1974 the decision was taken to phase out the boarding school and, in 1976 Oakhill College became a co-educational senior school. The phasing out of primary classes commenced in 1980, and by 1983, Oakhill College was enrolling only secondary students.
In the year 2006, the 100th year of the Brothers in Australia was celebrated with a mass at St Mary's Cathedral
St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney
The Metropolitan Cathedral of St Mary is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney and the seat of the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell. The cathedral is dedicated to "Mary, Help of Christians", Patron of Australia...
.
The property was initially used as a training college for brothers; the school came later. The training college for brothers evolved into a training college for Catholic lay teachers, which was then merged into the Australian Catholic University
Australian Catholic University
Australian Catholic University is a national public university. It has six campuses and offers programs in five faculties throughout Australia.-History:...
in the 1980s, which then became the Castle Hill campus of the ACU. Finally, in the 1990s, the ACU decided to consolidate their campuses in Sydney, and abandoned their Castle Hill facility, which then reverted to the De La Salle brothers. Since then, the original training college has been extensively renovated, named the De La Salle Building and forms part of the school.
Facilities
The Centenary Sports Centre is the newest addition to the college campus. It was built during the course of 2006, and was opened in late November 2006. It has a 25 metre pool, PD/H/PE classrooms, and a gym. The main part of the centre is a double basketball court, which is also used for school assemblies.The gym was later moved to a vacant location on the third level of the centre, thus turning the old gym into an extra PDHPE classroom.
Co-curriculum
The College conducts a major musical every two years, and a junior musical every alternate year. Additionally, Year 10 and 12 respectively stage plays in the later part of the school year, with the cast and crew composed entirely of drama students, whose performance is graded and forms part of their assessment mark. Past productions have included:- All Shook UpAll Shook Up (musical)All Shook Up is a jukebox musical with Elvis Presley music, with a book by Joe DiPietro. The story is based on William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.-Production history:...
- Jesus Christ SuperstarJesus Christ SuperstarJesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971...
- Les MisérablesLes Misérables (musical)Les Misérables , colloquially known as Les Mis or Les Miz , is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg, based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo....
- ChessChess (musical)Chess is a musical with music by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, formerly of ABBA, and with lyrics by Tim Rice. The story involves a romantic triangle between two top players, an American and a Russian, in a world chess championship, and a woman who manages one and falls in love with the other;...
- Dream
- The Importance of Being EarnestThe Importance of Being EarnestThe Importance of Being Earnest, A Trivial Comedy for Serious People is a play by Oscar Wilde. First performed on 14 February 1895 at St. James's Theatre in London, it is a farcical comedy in which the protagonists maintain fictitious personae in order to escape burdensome social obligations...
- CosìCosìCosì is a play by Australian playwright Louis Nowra which was first performed in 1992. Set in a Melbourne mental hospital in 1971, Così is semi-autobiographical.- Plot summary:Lewis is always desperate for work as he states "I need the money"...
- The Thwarting of Baron BolligrewRobert BoltRobert Oxton Bolt, CBE was an English playwright and a two-time Oscar winning screenwriter.-Career:He was born in Sale, Cheshire. At Manchester Grammar School his affinity for Sir Thomas More first developed. He attended the University of Manchester, and, after war service, the University of...
- The Sting
- Hooked
- Treasure Island
- Billy Budd
- Man Alive
- Amadeus
- Paris
- A few good men
- The Government Inspector
- Rusty Bugles
Pastoral care
Pastoral care at Oakhill involves classroom based programs in years 7 and 8 and a House systemHouse system
The house system is a traditional feature of British schools, and schools in the Commonwealth. Historically, it was associated with established public schools, where a 'house' refers to a boarding house or dormitory of a boarding school...
from Years 9–12. The Houses include:
- Benildus House — (Gold). Named after Saint Brother Bénilde RomançonBénilde RomançonSaint ' Bénilde Romançon, FSC was a Christian Brother who was born as Pierre Romançon on June 13, 1805, in the town of Thuret, Puy-de-Dôme in France to a farming family. In 1818, Pierre, aged 13, first saw the Christian Brothers in a market at Clermont-Ferrand. He instantly felt a strong desire to...
(1805–1862); Feast Day: 13 August. - La Salle House — (Red). Named after St. Jean-Baptiste de La SalleJean-Baptiste de La SalleSaint Jean-Baptiste de La Salle or John Baptist de La Salle was a priest, educational reformer, and founder of Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools...
(1651–1719), the founder of the De La Salle Brothers; Feast Day: 15 May. - Miguel House — (Purple). Named after St Brother Miguel Febres CorderoMiguel Febres CorderoSaint Miguel was a member of the Order of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. He was born Francisco Febres-Cordero Muñóz on November 7, 1854 at Cuenca, Ecuador and died at Premià de Mar, Spain on February 9, 1910....
(1854–1910); Feast Day: 9 February. - Mutien House — (Green). Named after St Brother Mutien-Marie WiauxMutien-Marie WiauxSaint Mutien-Marie Wiaux was a Belgian member of the Brothers of Christian Schools. He was born Louis Wiaux, the third of six children, in French-speaking Belgium to a devout Catholic family...
(1841–1917); Feast Day: 30 January. - Solomon House — (Light Blue). Named after Blessed Brother Solomon LeClercq (1745–1792), martyr, France. Feast Day 2 September.
- Turon House — (Dark Blue). Named after Eight Brothers and one Passionist priest martyred 8 October 1934, in the Brother's School, TurónTurón (Mieres)Turón is one of 15 parishes in Mieres, a municipality within the province and autonomous community of Asturias, in northern Spain.-Villages and hamlets:...
, Spain. Feast Day 9 October.
Government funding
On 9 February 2008, The Sydney Morning HeraldThe Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald is a daily broadsheet newspaper published by Fairfax Media in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1831 as the Sydney Herald, the SMH is the oldest continuously published newspaper in Australia. The newspaper is published six days a week. The newspaper's Sunday counterpart, The...
revealed that a Greens
Australian Greens
The Australian Greens, commonly known as The Greens, is an Australian green political party.The party was formed in 1992; however, its origins can be traced to the early environmental movement in Australia and the formation of the United Tasmania Group , the first Green party in the world, which...
analysis of government figures showed that, over four years, Oakhill received $13.2 million more in federal government funding than it is entitled to under the Socioeconomic status
Socioeconomics
Socioeconomics or socio-economics or social economics is an umbrella term with different usages. 'Social economics' may refer broadly to the "use of economics in the study of society." More narrowly, contemporary practice considers behavioral interactions of individuals and groups through social...
(SES) formula.
Academia, public service and politics
- Stephen Hunyor, doctor, Chair of Medicine University of Sydney
- Most Rev Julian Porteous, Auxiliary Bishop of SydneyCatholic Bishops and Archbishops of SydneySydney has had a Catholic Archbishop since 1842.-List of incumbents:# John Bede Polding OSB, 1842-1877.# Roger Bede Vaughan O.S.B., 1877-1883.# Patrick Francis Moran, 1884-1911.# Michael Kelly, 1911-1940.# Norman Thomas Gilroy, 1940-1971....
, Titular bishopTitular bishopA titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of UrusiFurniFurni is a Roman Catholic titular see and former bishopric in Proconsular Africa , where two towns of this name are known to have existed.... - Chad Sidler, President of the Sydney University Liberal Club
Media, entertainment and the arts
- Brian CastroBrian CastroBrian Albert Castro is an Australian novelist and essayist.-Biography:Castro was born in Hong Kong and has lived in Australia since 1961. He is of Portuguese, Chinese, and English descent. Currently he is Chair of Creative Writing at the University of Adelaide....
, novelist and essayEssayAn essay is a piece of writing which is often written from an author's personal point of view. Essays can consist of a number of elements, including: literary criticism, political manifestos, learned arguments, observations of daily life, recollections, and reflections of the author. The definition...
ist (also attended St. Joseph's College, Hunters HillSt. Joseph's College, Hunters HillSt Joseph's College is a Roman Catholic, Secondary, day and boarding school for boys. It is located in Hunters Hill, a suburb on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
) - David Collins, actor, member of The Umbilical BrothersThe Umbilical Brothers-History:They met in 1988, at the University of Western Sydney in a jazz class, , where David swung around and broke Shane's nose...
- Peter Jenkins, Australian newspaper and Foxel Sports rugby commentator
- Steve Le MarquandSteve Le MarquandSteve Le Marquand is an Australian-born actor, known both locally and internationally for his film and stage work.Born in Perth, Western Australia in 1967, his family moved to Sydney when he was quite young....
, actor - Ben QuiltyBen QuiltyBen Quilty is an Australian artist who won the 2011 Archibald Prize.-Biography:Quilty grew up in Kenthurst in Sydney's north-west. He lives and works in Robertson, New South Wales. He is a graduate of the Sydney College of the Arts at the University of Sydney...
, Australian painter - Tim RogersTim RogersTim Rogers is the frontman of Australian rock band You Am I. He is also a solo artist, as well as having fronted and released albums with bands The Twin Set and The Temperance Union.-History:...
, vocalist/guitarist and primary songwriter of Australian alternative rock band You Am IYou Am IYou Am I are an Australian alternative rock band, fronted by vocalist/guitarist and main songwriter Tim Rogers. They were the first Australian band to have three albums successively debut at #1 on the ARIA Charts, and are renowned for their live performances.-History:Tim Rogers formed the first... - Tahki Saul, Resident actor at the Sydney Theatre CompanySydney Theatre CompanyThe Sydney Theatre Company is one of Australia's best-known theatre companies operating from The Wharf Theatre near The Rocks area of Sydney, as well as the Sydney Theatre and the Sydney Opera House Drama Theatre....
- Doris YounaneDoris YounaneDoris Younane is an Australian stage and screen actress notable for her role in McLeod's Daughters where she plays Moira Doyle.-Career:...
, actress (McLeod's DaughtersMcLeod's DaughtersMcLeod's Daughters is a Logie award-winning Australian drama series that aired on the Nine Network from 2001 to 2009. It tells the story of two sisters, Claire and Tess McLeod, who are reunited after they inherit the family farm...
)
Sport
- Katherine BatesKatherine BatesKatherine Bates is an Australian track and road cyclist. A multiple national champion, Bates has been riding as a professional since 2002. In 2007, she became the World Points Race Champion on the track...
, Australian olympic cyclist - Grant BritsGrant BritsGrant Brits is an Australian freestyle swimmer.He is South African born, and his mother swam for South Africa in the 1970s....
, olympic swimmer, bronze medallist in the 4 x 200m freestyle relay at 2008 Beijing Olympics - Catherine CoxCatherine CoxCatherine Cox is an Australian netball player. Cox has played regularly for the Australian national team since her first appearance in 1997 and is a member of the ANZ Championship team West Coast Fever....
, Australian netball team - Andrew OgilvyAndrew OgilvyAndrew James "A.J." Ogilvy is an Australian basketball player currently with Power Electronics Valencia. He was also the starting center for the Commodores college basketball team at Vanderbilt University, in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. On 8 April 2010, Ogilvy announced that he was making...
, basketball player - Anthony Summers, golfer, 2005 NSW PGA Player of the Year
- Julia WilsonJulia WilsonJulia Wilson is a rower from Australia, who has won World Rowing Championships gold medals in the Eight and Four for her native country in 2001 and she picked up a silver medal in the Eight at the 2002 World Championship...
, Olympic rower - Nicholas FitzgeraldNicholas FitzgeraldNicholas Fitzgerald , is an Australian football player currently playing for Brisbane Roar FC in the Hyundai A-League.-Club career:...
, Football player (Brisbane Roar)
See also
- List of non-government schools in New South Wales
- La Sallian educational institutions