Colo High School Marks RUOK? Day with Bake Sale and Soccer Showdown

By Sally Dulson

On Thursday 11th September, communities across Australia marked RUOK? Day—a national initiative that encourages people to pause, check in with one another, and ask the simple but powerful question: “Are you OK?”

In the Hawkesbury, that spirit of connection was alive at Colo High School, where students and staff came together to celebrate the day with food, fun, and sport.

At 10am recess, the quadrangle was humming with excitement. Senior students from Years 11 and 12 led a bake sale, supported by the whole school community. Junior "master chef" students baked cupcakes, seniors promoted and sold them, and Year 9’s Lilly Hooker—with the help of her mum, Samantha—supplied yellow cookies with the RUOK? slogan stamped into the icing. Gluten-free options ensured dietary inclusion, and the stall even accepted card payments.

Cupcakes backed by junior "master chef" students

Lilly Hooker with the cookies she made with mum Samantha.

Head Teacher of Wellbeing, Mellissa Szymkow, beamed with pride as she said the event was about more than raising money:

“It’s not just about asking a question once a year. Today we stopped for 50 minutes so the whole school could come together and enjoy each other’s company.”

Headspace Hawkesbury also joined the students in the quad, making sure young people knew there is local mental health support available if they ever needed it.

Funds from the stall, as in previous years, went directly to the RUOK? charity. What set this year apart was the effort of the student leaders, who chose to work with younger students to bake everything in-house and rely on donations rather than purchasing goods. The result was not only a stronger sense of community but also more money raised, with every dollar going straight to the cause.

From Cupcakes to Kick-Off

The day continued with the school’s traditional students versus teachers soccer match. Although wet weather meant only senior students could watch, the game was filled with laughs and energy. Cheerleaders with drums and yellow face paint set the rhythm from the sidelines, while teacher Mr Hanns—dressed in a rainbow shirt and yellow beanie—rolled theatrically on the ground every time the ball came near him.

The students claimed victory 4–1, but the result mattered less than the camaraderie. Year 12 student leaders, including Ashley Barkas, Brayden Vigurs, and Este Houtman, said preparing everything in-house for the first time made the day especially meaningful.

“It’s about showing that mental health matters here,” Barkas said. “We start planning a fundraiser like this about a month in advance. Everyone worked together across year groups to make it happen.”

At the end of the game, teachers were muddy and limping from their comical dives, while students walked away with a win under their belt—and the advantage of youth on their side. What stood out, though, was the strength of the relationships between teachers and students, and the genuine care shown for each other’s wellbeing.

For Colo High, RUOK? Day wasn’t just about fundraising or sport. It was about connection, inclusion, and making time to look out for one another—a local expression of a national message. Watching the day unfold was a reminder that the youth of the Hawkesbury don’t just understand the importance of mental health; they live it, together.