Faculty news

2023 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia National Schools Event 

This year, Greek Orthodox schools from across Australia gathered at Oakleigh Grammar for the highly anticipated 2023 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia National Schools Event (GOAANSE).

This year, the participating schools included Oakleigh Grammar, All Saints Grammar (NSW), St Andrew’s Grammar (WA), St Euphemia College (NSW), St George College (SA), St John’s College (VIC), and St Spyridon College (NSW). 

The event commenced with a reverential blessing and an inspiring opening ceremony at the Sts Anargiri Church. 

Since its beginning in 1998, this event is hosted by a different Greek Orthodox school each year, encompassing captivating sports competitions, a vibrant creative arts festival, and an engaging Orthodox Christian Studies Forum. Oakleigh Grammar was initially slated to host the event three years ago; however, the unfortunate circumstances caused by the pandemic forced a three-year delay in its hosting. Having last hosted the event in 2013, we eagerly embraced this opportunity to showcase our warm hospitality. 

There was a bittersweet feeling as the closing ceremony marked the end of four spectacular days filled with endless excitement, anticipation and planning behind the scenes. Congratulations are in order for our Girls Volleyball and Boys Basketball Teams for securing first place, and we commend the following teams for their outstanding performances:

• All Saints Grammar School: Boys Futsal and Boys Football
• St Euphemia College: Boys Volleyball
• St Spyridon College: Girls Basketball
• St George College: Girls Futsal, Girls Netball, Boys Table Tennis, and Girls Table Tennis

We extend our gratitude and congratulations to all participating schools for showcasing great sportsmanship, determination, and camaraderie throughout the event. A special thank you goes to Greg Joyce for taking the lead in coordinating and organising the event, students, staff, volunteers, and to all those who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the success of this year's event. 

Although the games have concluded, we hope that the memories made and the friendships formed will endure. 

We eagerly look forward to GOAANSE 2024 at St Spyridon College in Sydney!

Click here to view our wrap-up video

Digital Technology Excursion: An Unforgettable Experience

The Dreamhack excursion, held at the renowned sporting precinct Rod Laver Arena, proved to be an awe-inspiring event for both VCE Applied Computing students and League of Legends team members. This exceptional outing not only provided a captivating experience but also furnished valuable insights from industry professionals through a wide array of panels and talks. The topics covered during the excursion offered our students a remarkable educational opportunity, particularly for those aspiring to enter the fast-paced and immensely popular e-gaming industry.

The Dreamhack expo was an extraordinary affair, leaving an indelible impression on all attendees. The diverse panels and talks offered a comprehensive understanding of the multiple pathways to enter the eSports scene, shedding light on the various careers and job prospects within this dynamic field. Simultaneously, the exhibition hall showcased cutting-edge technologies and gaming advancements, captivating the imagination of all who explored it. The experience was further heightened by the chance to win amazing prizes worth thousands of dollars at the Dreamhack Students Day.

One of the highlights of the event was the electrifying tournament held on the main stage, featuring the immensely popular game Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CSGO). The atmosphere in the arena was filled with contagious excitement throughout the day, making it an immensely enjoyable spectacle to witness. Alongside this exhilarating competition, there were numerous other activities available, ranging from testing state-of-the-art equipment to spectating professional e-sports matches.

Some of the students participated in a gaming tournament for 'Smash Bros Ultimate,' a platform fighting game that features beloved Nintendo characters such as Mario and Pikachu. The competition was fierce, with each round becoming increasingly challenging, few students progressed. Although they did not emerge victorious ,they felt a sense of pride in their efforts, and the overall experience left them thoroughly satisfied.

The Dreamhack excursion provided an immersive and enriching experience for all those who attended. The fusion of industry insights, exhilarating tournaments, and technological marvels made it an event that will be remembered for years to come. This excursion has undoubtedly sparked a deeper passion for digital technology among our students, inspiring them to explore the possibilities within the ever-evolving world of e-gaming.

Self- care

“How we care for ourselves gives our brain messages that shape our self-worth so we must care for ourselves in every way, everyday”-  Sam Owen

As the year progresses and with the weather becoming cooler and wetter, it is important to intentionally practise self-care to manage the daily stresses of life. If we pay consistent attention to our physical and emotional needs by sticking to our self-care routines, our mental health will benefit too.

Some examples of Self-Care Strategies include-:

• Exercise
• Eating healthy foods
• Regular sleep pattern
• Music
• Watching a funny movie, u-tube, tv show etc
• List your strengths
• Think of 5 things you are grateful for
• Doing activities you enjoy
• Getting out amongst nature
• Faith based activities including church, praying etc
• Playing with pets
• Mindful activities including colouring, visualising/thinking of favourite place, cooking, relaxation session etc
• Catch up with friend for coffee/chat

There are many others too so explore what works for you and self-care can take as little as a few minutes for grounding or belly breathing but longer for enjoying our interests and social activities. Further information can also be found on the School TV website.

Susan Bassett

Counsellor

Careers

REMINDER: Focus on Melbourne Information Sessions

Melbourne University will be hosting a series of Information Sessions focusing on undergraduate study and pathways information.  Register for one or more of them below at Focus on Melbourne

Monash University Year 11-12 Business Explorer Program 2023

Join the Monash Business School business explorer taster session and choose from a range of activities to learn more about the many different courses and careers available across all areas of business, economics, and commerce.This free event is open to students in Years 11 and 12 who are considering studying business at university, and is a great way to explore the diverse world of commerce through a choice of taster sessions in accounting, economics, banking and finance, management, marketing, entrepreneurship and analytics, statistics and actuarial studies.  Lunch will also be provided.

Date:                Tuesday 27 June 2023

Time:               10.00am – 3.15pm

Venue:             Monash University, Caulfield Campus

Registration is essential and places are limited.  Register at Home - Business Explorer | Monash Business School | Monash University.

RMIT Years10-12  Tech & Trades Experience Day

RMIT is hosting a free Tech and Trades Experience Day for Years 10, 11 and 12 students and their parents/guardians.  Students can experience hands-on workshops from various fields in Future Technologies and Trades to gain practical knowledge, tour facilities, and interact with teachers, current students, and industry.  Lunch is provided, and there are prizes to be won! 

Date:                Saturday 29 June 2023

Time:               9.00am – 2.25pm

Location:        City Campus

Register to participate at Tech & Trades Experience Day 2023 - RMIT University.

Court Report

On Thursday 18 May at the Supreme Court of Victoria, Elena, Georgianna, Anastasia, Mrs Mascaro, Ms Bocquet and myself attended a case hearing at the Supreme Court: Court of Appeal. There was an opportunity to speak with Justice Kyrou and his Associate Duncan Willis and they also gave us a tour of the Supreme Court building. We had the chance to watch a genuine court case in progress and enquire about the procedures, future legal careers, and university guidance. 

We learned a lot and developed a greater understanding of what it may be like to practice law in the future. It was a great day and experience! Many thanks to Mrs. Mascaro for organising this careers immersion excursion for us and to Justice Kyrou and Duncan Willis for generously giving their time to us.

Eleni Stratikopoulos

Year 12 Student

Law Careers Immersion Excursion to the Supreme Court 

Our careers immersion excursion tied in nicely  with National Careers Week Australia and Victorian Law week 2023. It was a case of (pun intended) being immersed into the day in the life of a Supreme Court Judge and his associate. Our students not only received a Tour of the Supreme Court by Justice Emilios Kyrou and his Associate Duncan Willis, but we all had an opportunity to view a Court Hearing, and debrief with Justice Kyrou of some aspects of the case after it in his Chambers. He also spoke about his inspiring career in Law and the Law profession itself. Thank you Fotini Kypraios for connecting us. It was an amazing opportunity for me to organise this for our Year 12 students of Oakleigh Grammar planning their career in Law.

Michelle Mascaro

Careers Advisor

CAREERS EXPO SEASON!

VCE and Careers Expo excursion 2023

The entire senior school cohort attended an excursion to the VCE and Careers Expo on Thursday 4th May. The expo, held at Caulfield Racecourse provided students with opportunities to collect course information and speak with Victorian, Interstate and International representatives from Universities, TAFES, and Private colleges.

Employers and volunteer organisations were also in attendance to offer students advice. Employers included Victoria Police, McDonald’s, Defence Force Recruiting, and Ambulance Victoria just to name a few! 

Students also attended VCE Study Seminars, which provided them with excellent study advice and strategies for VCE success across all their subjects.

As Careers Advisor, the highlight upon our return to school, was the students enthusiasm to discuss with me the new course and career pathways they discovered when speaking with expo exhibitors. I look forward to continue guiding our students in this space, where together we can make a positive impact in exploring their course and career journeys.

AIDE International students Uni Open Day Expo 

We were very fortunate to be invited by Jill Zhang from aide Education services to the International Students Open Day Expo on the 3rd May.  The expo, held at Melbourne Town Hall provided tailored information specific to International students. The 16 International students who attended with Jane Tepper, Louise Crossley, and myself were able to collect course information and speak with International student recruitment representatives from Universities and TAFES. There were fabulous door prizes to be won, and lucky Oakleigh Grammar International Student Nikki Chiem was the winner of the Grand Prize of the day!  Nikki took home a Nintendo Switch!  Congratulations to you Nikki!