As this is the first newsletter for the 2025 school year, I would like to welcome everyone back. I hope that you all had a great Christmas holiday break and are looking forward to the year ahead. I would like to welcome any new students and their families to Oberon High School. I am sure that you will have a very positive educational experience while a member of our school community.

Staffing

With a number of staff joining us for the 2025 school year, I would like to welcome:

Mr Eli Barnes (Indonesian/Humanities) returns to Oberon after 12 months at Belmont High School
Ms Wendy Brown (Technology Food/Fibre) – Graduate teacher
Ms Tess Ellard (Physical Education/Mathematics) returns from family leave
Ms Mia James (German) returns from family leave
Mrs Erin Wright (English) joins Oberon from Mandama Primary School
Mr Joel Heffer (Mathematics/Science) joins Oberon from Bannockburn P-12
Mrs Emma Pritchett (Indonesian/Vocational Major) joins Oberon from Grovedale College
Ms Gabby Branell (Humanities/German) – Graduate teacher
Katherine Huf (General Office/Reception)
Michaela Wright (Sport Assistant)
Matthew Blach (Instrumental Music/Rock Band)
Luke McNab – (Inclusion Aide)
Hamish Chapman-Stanley – (Inclusion Aide)
Tabatha Arnott – (Food Assistant)
Hana McKenzie – (Food Assistant)

Year 12 2024 VCE results and destination data

The 2024 Year 12 cohort achieved outstanding results in their VCE with a median study score of 28 and 4% of students with a study score of over 40.

The Dux of the school for 2024 was Hezekiah Moules who received an ATAR of 97.85. Congratulations Hezekiah. The school had 9.5% of our students receive ATARs above 90, a further 15% of students received ATARs above 80 and a further 8% of students receive ATARs above 70.

Of our students who applied for Tertiary Education most students were successful in gaining a place, with the large majority receiving their first preference. Students have accessed the following Universities – Deakin, Melbourne, Monash, Australian Catholic University, Victoria Uni, Latrobe, Swinburne, College of the Arts, and RMIT with Deakin University being the most popular pathway. Students accessed a range of courses with the most popular being Exercise and Sport Science, Sport Development, Nursing, Science, Biomedicine, Criminology, Psychology, Business, Arts, Engineering, Architecture, Architecture-Construction and Communication.

Our Vocational Major students also achieved excellent pathways including apprenticeships, further study at the Gordon and full and part time work.

School structure

There has been a number of changes to the school structure for the 2025 school year. The relevant assistant principals and year level managers that should be contacted if you have a concern with your student are as follows:

Year 7-8

Assistant principal – Mrs Bronwyn Knight

Year 7 managers – Mr James Claney/Mrs Kylie O’Sullivan

Year 8 managers – Mr Jarron Cole/Ms Paige Milich

Year 9-10

Assistant principal – Mrs Nicole Gray

Year 9 managers – Mr Adam Freeman/Mr Sean Fitzgerald

Year 10 managers - Mr Daniel Hanson/Mr Sam Nicholson

Year 11-12

Assistant principal – Mr Josh McDonald

Year 11 managers – Mrs Carol Champion/Mr Todd Williams

Year 12 managers – Mrs Lynda Mathers/Mrs Michelle Nash

School Council Election nominations

Correspondence was sent to our parents/guardians and students regarding the School Council and vacancies for the 2025 school year. After the nomination time frame concludes, I will communicate with the school community whether an election is required and the associated timeframes. A reminder that any parents/guardians and students wishing to nominate for the vacancies need to return their nomination forms by Friday 14th February, 4pm.

Mobile Phones

A reminder as was our school policy in previous years and a directive from the Education Minister and Department of Education, mobile phones and associated devices are banned from all state schools during the school day. Students will be required to switch off their phones and store them securely in lockers from the start of the school day until the final bell. If an emergency occurs, parents or guardians can reach their child by calling the school general office.

The school mobile phone policy can be found on the school website.

School Saver Bonus

The school communicated with families regarding the School Saver Bonus on Friday 24th January, including the Department of Education contacts should you be having problems accessing this payment.

Parent Contributions are now published on XUNO.

DET Policy on Personal Items

A reminder that the Department Education and Training does not hold insurance, nor does it accept responsibility for private property brought to school by students, staff and visitors.

School Camps

The school encourages parents to consider taking out travel insurance for school camps as schools often incur a cancellation fee that we are not able to absorb if your child is forced to withdraw due to unforeseen circumstances.

Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund applications

The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund helps eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities.

If you have a valid means-tested concession card, such as a Veterans Affairs Gold Card, Centrelink Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card, or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible. There is also a special consideration category for asylum seeker and refugee families.

Payment amounts this year are $250 for eligible secondary school students. Payments are made direct to the school to use towards expenses relating to camps, excursions and sporting activities for the benefit of your child. It is important that funding made available in 2025 supports students to participate in school trips, camps and sporting activities this year rather than being held for future years. This funding can also be used in conjunction with any funding accrued from previous years.

If you applied for CSEF through our school last year, you do not need to complete an application form this year, unless there has been a change in your family circumstances. If you would like to apply for the first time, please contact the school office on 42418000 and ask for an application form.

Privacy reminder

Our school collects, uses, discloses and stores student and parent personal information for standard school functions or where permitted by law, as stated in the Schools’ Privacy Policy.

Please take time to remind yourself of the school’s collection statement, found on our website.

Tim McMahon

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