Culture, Connection and New Social Media Rules
From sharing stories of heritage to preparing for Multicultural Day, this week has been a celebration of the vibrant diversity that defines our College community. We also take a moment to highlight important changes to social media age restrictions—helping parents stay informed and empowered in the digital age.
Cultural Connections and the Visit from Tachibana High School
Last Wednesday’s assembly was a vibrant celebration of the rich cultural heritage that makes up our College community—not just among our students, but our staff as well. A special video presentation featured several of our teachers sharing their personal stories and cultural backgrounds:
- Mrs Gewargis spoke about her Cypriot and Greek roots,
- Mrs Vidovic shared her Croatian heritage,
- Mrs Chow highlighted her Chinese background,
- Mr Ramzy reflected on his Egyptian roots,
- Mrs Mudita shared her experiences growing up in Zimbabwe, and
- Mrs van der Schyff spoke about her South African childhood.
These stories reminded us of the incredible diversity that enriches our school environment and the importance of embracing and learning from one another’s cultures.
This celebration of diversity is a timely and meaningful lead-up to Multicultural Day next Thursday, where we will continue to honour the many cultures that shape our College community. It’s a chance for students and staff alike to share traditions, stories, and experiences that foster understanding and unity.
We also extend a warm welcome to the visiting students from Tachibana High School in Tokyo. Our sincere thanks go to the families who have opened their homes to host these students, offering them a warm and authentic Australian experience.
During my own travels in Japan, I was deeply impressed by the values of respect and honesty that are so deeply embedded in Japanese society. One person shared with me that he had lost his wallet close to ten times—and each time, it was returned to him, once even by post. I also learned that it’s extremely rare for Japanese drivers to use their car horn in frustration, even in the busy streets of Tokyo.
These small but powerful cultural traits offer us valuable lessons. As we share our lives and traditions with our guests, I’m reminded of how much we can learn from one another—lessons that help us live more harmoniously, respectfully, and peacefully.
Supporting Punctuality at the College
We know that mornings don’t always go to plan, and sometimes lateness is simply unavoidable. When that happens, a quick call or email to Reception helps us understand the situation and ensures your child does not receive a consequence.
Students will sometimes arrive late due to personal choices—like stopping at shops or delaying leaving home after parents have gone to work. To help address this, we’re refined our approach: unexplained lateness will be tracked, and students who are late five times in a term without a valid reason will receive an after-school detention.
We really appreciate your support in helping us reinforce the value of punctuality. If you can let us know when lateness is due to a genuine reason, we’ll make sure it’s noted and doesn’t count toward the tally.
New Social Media Age Restrictions – What Parents Need to Know
Being aware of your child’s social media use is more important than ever. With the digital world evolving rapidly, it’s vital for parents to stay informed about the platforms their children are accessing and the potential risks involved. Social media can offer connection and creativity, but it also presents challenges—especially when children are exposed to content or interactions they’re not developmentally ready to handle.
The Australian Government is introducing world-first social media age restrictions to better protect young Australians online. Starting 10 December 2025, social media platforms deemed age-restricted will be required to take reasonable steps to prevent users under 16 from creating or maintaining accounts.
This initiative is designed to shield children from harmful content and addictive design features that can negatively impact their mental health and wellbeing. Platforms likely to be affected include Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube, among others.
Importantly, this is not a ban on under-16s accessing social media, nor are there penalties for children or their parents. Instead, the responsibility lies with platforms to enforce age restrictions. Failure to do so could result in significant penalties—up to $49.5 million AUD for corporations that don’t comply.
The eSafety Commissioner is currently working with stakeholders—including educators, parents, and young people—to develop clear guidelines for platforms and ensure the changes are communicated effectively. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to create a safer, more supportive online environment for children and teens.
For more details, visit the eSafety Commissioner’s page on social media age restrictions.
God bless,
Mr Steve Owen
Deputy Principal – Head of Senior School
Sport
NSW All-Schools State Cross Country
After her standout achievement at the NSW CIS Championships, Minnie-Mae was selected for the CIS NSW team to represent the Independent Sector at the NSW All Schools Cross Country Championships last month. This was a historic moment for OPAC, marking the first time we have sent a student to this level in this sport.
Minnie-Mae rose to the occasion, performing brilliantly to place 4th against the most elite school runners in NSW. This incredible result has qualified her for the SSA Nationals in September. Congratulations, Minnie-Mae, on this outstanding achievement!
Lunchtime Sports Competition – Senior Futsal
The beginning of Term 2 saw the thrilling return of the OPAC World Futsal Championship – Senior Division. This competition unfolded over multiple weeks, culminating in the grand final in Week 2 of this term. Each match attracted close to 100 enthusiastic spectators, creating an electric atmosphere and a strong sense of community in the MPH. Students from Year 7 through to Year 12 came together to cheer on their peers, adding to the excitement.
The Grand Final featured two formidable Year 12 teams, with the added twist of teacher involvement – Mr Cranston and Mr Bullock stepping onto the court. It was the Jahream Bula Lovers, featuring Joshua, Iszac, Tyler, Owen (inj.), Shayden, and Mr Cranston, who ultimately claimed OPAC hero status with a decisive 6–0 victory. Joshua and Iszac delivered standout performances, Tyler and Shayden played pivotal roles in controlling the game, and Owen provided valuable support despite being sidelined through injury.
In the battle for third place, the Year 10 team proved too strong for their Year 11 counterparts, earning a memorable win and bragging rights for the remainder of the year.
A big thank you goes to Mr Hadfield, Danny (Year 12), Ben (Year 11), and Josh (Year 12) for their organisation and officiating throughout the competition. Their dedication ensured the tournament ran smoothly and maintained the high standard of sportsmanship on display.
The success of the Senior Division now sets the stage for the Junior Division, which will kick off later this term and continue into Term 4. If the senior competition is anything to go by, the juniors can expect a fantastic season ahead.
Zone Athletics
The wet weather held off just long enough for our students to compete on a cold, windy day at the Campbelltown Athletics Track for the CSSA South Met Zone Athletics Carnival. A total of 89 OPAC students competed on the day, achieving fantastic results.
By the end of the carnival, 29 students had qualified for the next level – the CSSA State Championships, to be held at Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre later this month.
Special congratulations go to Noah (Year 11), Indie (Year 11), and Lilly (Year 9), who achieved the highest points in their age division and were crowned Zone Age Champions.
College Sport
The Term 3 College Sport House Challenge has kicked off with great success despite the wet conditions. Students have competed with enthusiasm and house pride across a variety of sports, with plenty more rounds still to come.
House Cup points and prizes will be awarded at the end of term to the houses with the highest points total, so every game counts.
What’s Ahead
Term 3 still holds plenty of opportunities for OPAC students to shine on the sporting stage. Students are encouraged to check their emails regularly so they don’t miss important trial dates, sign-ups, or competition opportunities. In addition, a sport survey will soon be distributed to staff, students, and parents to gather valuable input that will help shape OPAC’s sporting program for 2026.
God bless,
Mr Christopher Cranston
Head of PDHPE and Sport
