St Agnes

Catholic High School

August 9 newsletter ​term 3

Dear Parents, Students, Staff and Friends,

Welcome back to Term 3 to all students, staff and parents as we commence Semester Two of our academic year. I hope that ​students and parents found the recent holiday break restful, allowing plenty of time for families to enjoy their time together.

Our students have settled back into their normal school routine. Term 3 is a busy term for everyone. I encourage students to ​engage with the many opportunities available at St Agnes and involve themselves in the life of the school.

Saint Mary MacKillop’s Feast Day 8th August

Yesterday we celebrated Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop Feast Day. On this day, we ​celebrate the important role she played in making education accessible for children in ​our country. Mary MacKillop devoted her life to ensuring a holistic Catholic education ​for children from rural, poor families.

St Mary MacKillop's impact on Australian education was remarkable. She was a ​trailblazer and a leader who passionately advocated for the education of ​underprivileged children and children in remote areas where others either would or ​could not go. For such children and their families, Mary MacKillop opened a door of ​hope into the future. The nature of Catholic education in Australia today has been ​influenced by St Mary MacKillop’s work in the mid to late 1800’s. The main focus of ​systemic Catholic education today is to educate all students, regardless of their ​backgrounds.

Mary MacKillop Prayer

Fathers Day Breakfast

Click picture to RSVP

HSC Trials

I would like to wish our Year 12 students all the best as they continue to sit their Trial HSC examinations which commenced ​with their first English Paper on Monday 5th August. I would like to welcome our Presiding Officer, Paula Jackson, who is ​supervising the HSC examinations this year and our Trial Examinations. This gives our students an opportunity to get to know ​Mrs Jackson. She is an experienced HSC Supervisor and has worked in South Western Sydney schools. Her supervision of the ​HSC Trial Examination allows our students to experience the processes and know who will be in charge of the HSC in 2024. ​The position of Presiding Officer is decided by the school but is paid and answerable to NESA. Mrs Jackson has been impressed ​with our Year 12 students regarding their attitude and behaviour.

Creative HUB

We have finally moved into our new (Alverna Centre) ​Creative Hub after receiving the Certificate of Occupation. ​There was great excitement from students and teachers to ​commence teaching and learning in these new spaces. I am ​looking forward to seeing the projects and creative work ​that will be generated in these new spaces.

The Creative Hub building includes new kitchens on the ​Ground Floor to deliver Stage 4 TAS, Stage 5 and 6 Food ​Technology and Stage 6 Hospitality. The new Canteen will ​also be located on the Ground Floor. We are in the process ​of moving the canteen over to the new facility. The Ground ​Level of the Creative Hub will be named Roberts after Sue ​Roberts who was a previous TAS staff member and Leader ​of TAS with long-standing service.

On Level 1 are the TAS rooms where students have access ​to Materials and Technology including design technology, ​wood and textiles facilities. Level 1 is named Joseph, named ​for St Joseph, the Patron Saint of Carpenters.

The top level, Level 2 houses Art, Visual Communication ​and Design. This level is named Hildegard, named for St ​Hildegard, the Patron Saint of Arts and Music.

Congratulations STEM Club

On Wednesday we had 30 STEM Club students participate ​in the CSPD STEM MAD event at Cathwest along with ​around 400 other students from both secondary and ​primary schools in the Diocese.

At the end of the afternoon, our students gathered with all ​of the other secondary schools including St Luke’s, Santa ​Sophia, Catherine McAuley, Gilroy, Marian, John Paul II, ​Xavier and Cathwest for the awards ceremony. Although ​our students did not receive any awards for their STEM ​projects, one of the facilitators went to great lengths to ​highlight the behaviour of the St Agnes students to the ​entire group (students, teachers and CSPD representatives). ​The facilitator spoke very highly of them and complimented ​them for being the only students to help her in cleaning up,

without being asked or prompted. No other school was mentioned regarding its behaviour. I would like to congratulate our ​students for their participation and outstanding behaviour. They are a credit to the school.

CSPD Executive Director, Jack De Groot took time to speak with each group about their project; our students presented ​their ideas and shared their thinking enthusiastically and with pride.

A big thank you to Mr Wison and Mr Krishna for giving up many hours to support these students. Without our generous ​teachers giving their time to support our students, these activities would not happen.

NAIDOC Week

Arts Factor

NAIDOC Week usually falls during the school holidays so at St Agnes we celebrated it on ​Tuesday, July 22nd. There were various activities held throughout the week, culminating in a ​whole day on Friday, the 26th. The library displayed books and provided worksheets ​throughout the week to mark NAIDOC Week. This year's theme was “Keep the fire burning!” ​Black, Loud and Proud.

The following activities occurred over the week:

Tuesday 22nd July - A poster competition was held.

Wednesday 24th July- the Aboriginal movie ‘Bran Nue Dae’ was shown during lunchtime.

Thursday 25th July - Activities that ran during Recess included a History booklet activity and ​Kahoot on Inspiring Aboriginal figures. During lunch, students were able to gather and listen to ​an Aboriginal Playlist.

Friday 26th July - students were engaged in Aboriginal cultural craft, games, a picnic, yarning ​circle and bushwalking.

Thank you to Ms Fielding and Jewel Osborne for organising the activities during Naidoc Week.

I would like to congratulate the students who participated in the Arts Factor ​Learning Exhibition on Monday 29th July. I was very proud of their ​performances and how they represented our school. This event allowed ​performers an opportunity to showcase their skills. It was also a wonderful ​opportunity for our students to receive written feedback from CAPTIVATE’s ​panel of experts. For many of our students, this was the first time they had an ​opportunity to perform in front of an audience.

Thank you to Ms D'Aprile and Mr Cecire for attending the day and for their ​great work.

Sporting Achievement

Sydney Girls City Cup Finals Day - The Under 16s Girls Rugby League team represented the school brilliantly at the Sydney Girls City Cup Finals Day ​on Monday, 29th July. They showed incredible effort and spirit on the day, drawing their first game 16-16 against Ingleburn High and then giving it their ​all in the second game against Bass High, but unfortunately going down 0-10. I would like to thank Mr Fonua and Mr Green who coached the team and ​supported them throughout the tournament.

PDSSSC

The PDSSSC competition is coming to an end, and we have a number of teams that ​have made it through to the grand finals. I would like to thank the teachers and ​coaches for spending extra time working with the students and supporting them ​throughout the competition.

The Under 16s Girls Rugby League team had an incredible 24-4 win yesterday against ​a tough Xavier College side. This puts them into the Grand Final next week against ​Caroline Chisholm College at Windsor Sporting Complex. I would like to thank Mr ​Fonua for coaching the team.

TThe Junior Boys Soccer put on a great display against a skillful Bede Polding College team winning 2-0 and booking themselves a spot in the Grand ​Final next week against St Gregory's College at Wanderers Football Park. I would like to thank Mr Barnett for coaching the team and for coordinating ​PDSSSC sport this year.

The Junior and Inter Girls Netball sides finished their season off wonderfully, with both sides being victorious. The Junior Girls beat St John Paul II ​College 17-7 and the Inter Girls beat Marian College 29-16. I would like to thank Ms Gale for coaching these teams.

Ms Jeanette Holland

Principal

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To Truth Through Love

We are now into the term and all students are ready for the many learning opportunities ahead of them.

During Week 1 of the break, a number of our teachers organised various study and revision opportunities for our HSC class in ​preparation for the trials. I hope the students appreciated this week and used this opportunity to prepare for their Trial HSC ​examinations. As our community knows, these exams started on Monday 5th August and will conclude on Monday 19th ​August. The goal for these assessments is to allow the students a real-time example of what the HSC will look and feel like in ​October/November. After their return to school, the students will finalise their learning in all courses and complete the final ​skills building before they graduate at the end of September.

Parents and carers of students in the following HSC courses must be aware that these courses have actual HSC tasks due ​during this term. This is before the HSC examinations in October. In these courses students often complete and submit an ​item or undertake a practical task that is considered part of the actual HSC exam and therefore the HSC examination mark.

NAPLAN Results

Years 7 and 9 Students sat for their NAPLAN exams earlier this year. The results of these tests have now been released. The ​school has sent each student’s report home via the students. Please take the time to look through these and should you have ​any questions, please contact the school.

Study Skills Handbook

Proofing Your Assessments

As you gear up for your next assessment, mastering the art of proofreading is key to ensuring your hard work shines through. ​In this month's edition, we dive into the essential steps to proofread your assessments effectively and elevate your academic ​performance.

1st Proof:

To begin, consider relocating to a fresh setting for a focused proofreading session. Find a place that is not your usual study ​space where you can concentrate on refining your work. Bring along the assessment criteria and question prompts to guide ​your review. Your initial proof should encompass the following key factors:

WORD COUNT: Confirm that your assessment aligns with the specified word limit. Identify any excess words that may need ​trimming to meet requirements.

SPELLING / GRAMMAR: While spell check can be helpful, don't rely solely on it. Look out for common errors like 'form' ​instead of 'from' that may slip through automated checks.

SOURCES: Verify that all sources for visuals, examples, and quotes are properly cited and listed to support your arguments.

CRITERIA / QUESTION ANSWERED? Review the assessment criteria and ensure that your responses directly address the ​requirements. Tick off each criterion as you confirm its coverage in your work.

REPETITION: It’s easy to repeat points, double check you haven’t done this.

USEFUL INFORMATION: It’s not uncommon to write unnecessary information. Do you have points that don’t answer the ​question? Have you written clearly? Is there any information you could leave out? Is there any information that you realise ​needs to be added?

REINFORCE: This is where you need to finalise which words you will bold, highlight, underline etc. so your assignment clearly ​identifies the main points. Bolding can let the teacher see clearly that you have covered all the parts of the question, that there ​is a sequence of ideas and you have organised the information well.

2nd Proof:

The next day repeat the above steps, but this time - READ YOUR ASSIGNMENT OUT LOUD! If you didn’t print your assignment ​to proof the first time, now could be the time. Reading and hearing the words spoken in different mediums can sometimes give ​a new perspective to your writing. Note down any changes you need to make.

3rd Proof:

It’s always a good idea to ask someone to proof your assignment after you have proofed it first. It is common for the writer not ​to pick up typos or silly mistakes because they know what they meant and see the words they intended to write and not the ​errors. So recruit a proofreader (parent, relatives, older sibling or friend etc.) to gain fresh insights.

Remember, meticulous proofreading is a valuable skill that can elevate the quality of your work and set you on the path to ​academic success.

You can learn more about being more effective with assessments in the ASSIGNMENT SKILLS unit of ​www.studyskillshandbook.com.au by logging in with these details:

Our school’s access details are:

Username: stagnes

Password: 24success

Mr G Kemmis

Assistant Principal - Learning Transformation

Wellbeing tips to help your teen get ​through their Trials and their HSC

From education.nsw.gov.au

The HSC can be very stressful for teens and their families. We wanted to share some tips with you to help what can be a highly ​stressful and worrying time.

1. Help with time management:

• Helping them get up in the morning
  
• Encouraging a healthy sleep time/bedtime routine
  
• Getting to know their HSC timetable, maybe keeping a copy on the fridge!
  

2. Always staying positive

• Supporting your teen not to feel too pressured
  
• Using positive expressions and being encouraging
  
• Limit criticism and judgement, your teen may be feeling very sensitive at this time.
  

3. Encourage a healthy lifestyle

• Encouraging a healthy diet, proteins such as meat, fish and eggs can help the brain
  
• Avoid junk and high sugar foods, this may impact the concentration
  
• Sleep 7-10 hours a night, this will help the brain recover from the day, consolidate information and prepare for the day ahead
  
• Get some exercise, this can be a simple walk around the neighbourhood, which is great for de-stressing and getting those ​happy hormones flowing.
  

4. Help manage distractions

• phones, tablets, Netflix - these can all take up more time than we had planned, discuss some healthy boundaries around the ​use of technology.
  

5. Be calm and help deal with stress

• Create a calm environment at home, maybe help transform your teen's room into a calm space
  
• Take a walk together
  
• Do a bit of yoga, focus on calm breathing
  
• Smiling Mind is a great free app to help manage stress and learn mindfulness for you and your teen
  

Finally, don't forget to look after yourself, the HSC can create a stressed household not just for your teen but for other members ​at home as well.

New conversation starter resources for families (From the e-Safety Commissioner)

Open and honest conversations can empower your family to tackle potential online harms. To help you get started, we’re excited ​to share new resources from the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) and eSafety.

Available in English, Punjabi, Chinese and Arabic, these resources have been tested with culturally and linguistically diverse ​communities. They include an advice sheet for parents and carers, and conversation cards to help you talk with your family ​about online safety.

Learn more

Join the National Week of Action against bullying!

Mark your calendars: Australia’s leading bullying prevention initiative, Bullying No Way: National Week of Action, is 12-16 ​August 2024. This year’s theme, ‘everyone belongs’, highlights our shared responsibility to prevent bullying and create safe, ​inclusive spaces. Read on to see how St Agnes is proactively taking action against bullying.

As we enter Term 3, the initiatives and activities planned for our students during their Wellbeing Lesson are designed to ​support their emotional and social development, equipping them with essential life skills and navigating challenges both inside ​and outside the classroom.

Conflict Resolution

Stage 4 students will be focusing on the critical skill of conflict resolution. The Wellbeing program is structured to help ​students recognise and manage the emotions involved in conflicts and to develop effective communication skills. The key ​elements include:

• Emotion Recognition: Students will learn to identify the emotions that arise during conflicts, fostering greater self-​awareness and empathy.
• Introduction to Emotion Charts: These visual tools will help students better understand and communicate their feelings.
• Conflict Resolution Strategies: Students will explore various methods for resolving disputes peacefully and constructively.
• Active Listening Practice: Through “Listening Circles,” students will engage in exercises that emphasise the importance of ​listening to understand, rather than just to respond.
• Problem-Solving Skills: We’ll guide students in developing practical problem-solving techniques that they can apply in real-​life situations.
• Collaboration and Consensus Building: Emphasis will be placed on working together to find solutions that are agreeable to ​all parties involved.
• Fostering Empathy: Understanding the perspectives of others is key to resolving conflicts amicably.
• Safe and Supportive Wellbeing Teams Students will be actively involved in supporting students throughout this process, ​ensuring a safe environment for learning and growth.
• Conflict Resolution Toolkit: Students will create their toolkits, complete with phrases and steps they can use when they ​encounter conflict.
• Peaceful Classroom Culture: By involving students in the process, we aim to build a classroom culture that prioritizes peace ​and cooperation.
• Regular Check-Ins: Students will have regular check-ins with Pulse and access to our Wellbeing Hub to monitor their ​progress and receive additional support as needed.
  

Year 8 Program: Brainstorm Productions - “Wired”

In Week 3 of Term 3, Year 8 students will participate in a powerful interactive theatre experience called “Wired.” This ​performance follows the journey of two students whose lives are spiralling in different directions: one towards stress, anxiety, ​and overload, and the other towards depression and disconnection.

“Wired” addresses several key issues that affect students today, including social isolation, bullying, online safety, school-related ​stress, family dynamics, and the pressures of social media. The performance also tackles barriers to seeking help and offers ​strategies for building resilience, problem-solving, setting goals, and maintaining positive mental health.

We believe these programs will greatly benefit our students by providing them with the tools and understanding they need to ​navigate the complexities of adolescence. We encourage you to talk to your children about what they are learning and to ​support them in applying these skills at home.

Thank you for your continued support as we work together to create a positive and supportive school environment.

If your child travels to school by bus, please ensure your child has a valid Opal card (either a School or Child/Youth Opal card).

Encourage your child to tap on when they board and tap off when they arrive at their stop.

The Opal card data gathered by tapping on and off is used to determine demand for bus services. (These are currently being ​reviewed and every time students do not tap on and off it limits the opportunity for additional services for our students) It’s ​been noted that students from our school using the bus service have not been tapping on or off. In Term 3, there will be a ​strong focus on getting students back into good habits of tapping on and tapping off with their student Opal card.

This is a requirement of bus travel that your child has a valid Student Opal card and that they tap on and off each time they ​use the school bus or route bus service. This is outlined in the TfNSW Code of Conduct as follows:

“It is a condition of the School Pass Terms and the Student Codes of Conduct when travelling that students in possession of the ​School Opal card must tap on and tap off whenever using public transport to travel to and from school. Per section 3.2 of the Opal ​Privacy Policy, Transport for NSW collects information from taps on and tap-offs to support coordination, planning and policy ​development for transport, transport services and transport infrastructure.”

We’re requesting your help to restore the tap-on and off numbers to match the travelling numbers to benefit the students, ​parents, school, and bus operators.

Mr G Hilder

Assistant Principal - School Culture

Pace e bene, Peace and blessings to all members of the St Agnes community.

As we begin Semester 2, I invite all students and families to find some time for reflection on what they have done, what they are ​doing, their relationship with family and friends as well as, and most importantly their relationship with God.

There are many different ways in which we can build on our relationships physically, but how can we do that personally and ​spiritually? Finding the time in which to build on our relationship with God must be the priority. Where is the time where we can ​stop, listen and talk about our faith, our personal stories, about or journey of faith? Everybody has a story to tell, and a different ​journey, that is what makes faith so rich, and the multicultural and different faiths we have here within our community, that ​form the fabric at St Agnes needs to be encouraged further.

We all need to find 5 minutes in our day, where we stop, be still and ask ourselves the following -

Think about your day, where was God present? What gifts did you allow people to see?

Below is a reflection you may wish to use either as a family,or personally.

Starfish Reflection

That day, the beach was littered with starfish.

From a distance, he spotted a little boy. The boy seemed to be picking something up and throwing it back into the sea. The man ​could see that he was doing this over and over again. The man asked the boy what he was doing. The boy replied that he was ​throwing the starfish back into the ocean. He said that if they were left there on the beach, they would die when the sun got high.

To this, the old man replied that there were thousands of starfish on the beach! “You won’t make much difference” he told him.

The boy picked another starfish and threw it back into the sea. Smiling, he then turned and told the man “I made a difference ​to that one!”

https://www.salvinastreasures.com/the-starfish-story/

Mr P Madigan

Head of Mission

Group Arts Factor

In Week 2, the Concert Band and various Pop and Rock bands showcased performances at Nagle College as part of ​CAPTIVATE’s Arts Factor Group Learning Exhibition. For many of our students, this was their first time performing in ​front of an audience. Students also enjoyed watching students from other schools perform and were inspired by the ​variety of performances and acts. We cannot wait to hear more performances from our group ensembles in the near ​future.

Mrs D’Aprile

Music Teacher

Naidoc Week

St Agnes celebrated NAIDOC week. We had events running all week ​including a poster and colouring competition, a book display in the ​library and an opportunity for staff and students to view the ​Indigenous film 'Bran Nue Dae'

This year's theme Keep the Fire Burning! Black, Loud & Proud ​celebrates the unyielding spirit of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ​Islander communities and invites the community to stand in ​solidarity, amplifying the voices that have long been silenced.

The fire represents the enduring strength and vitality of Indigenous ​cultures, passed down through generations despite the challenges ​faced. It is a symbol of connection to the land and each other.

"Blak, Loud and Proud" encapsulates the unapologetic celebration of Indigenous identity, empowering Indigenous people to ​stand tall in and assert their place in the modern world.

On Friday 26th July, the JAECG students proudly engaged in activities that align with this year's theme. We were also ​supported by JARARA team members on the day. Activities allowed students to explore what their culture means to them ​through traditional art and message bracelets. Students worked on their teamwork and communication skills by ​partaking in the cultural sports games Buroinjin and Kabi_kabi_buroinjin. Finally, all students engaged in a bush walk ​around Nurragingy Reserve.

Hayley Fielding

Cultural Diversity Leader

VET Rotary Awards

The Rotary Youth Vocational Educational Awards celebrate excellence in vocational education and recognise outstanding ​achievements of young people in the St Agnes community and across Western Sydney. We want to congratulate the ​following St Agnes students who have been chosen as award recipients in their VET courses for the 2024 Rotary Vocational ​Education Awards. Their teacher has nominated them for this award based on their excellence in knowledge, skills and ​work placement in their chosen vocational industry. These students will attend the Rotary VET Awards Ceremony hosted by ​Parramatta Marist High School in 2024, where they will be recognised for their efforts and presented with a certificate. This ​event will occur on Monday 19 August 2024 at Parramatta Marist High School, Westmead.

Battle of the Bands

In Week 2 we came together once again for Round 3 of the Battle of the Bands. In this exciting showdown, we saw two all-girl ​vocal groups belt out some heartfelt tunes: ‘Roach’n’Co’ vs ‘Mana Flow’. The crowd was singing along and the performances ​were accentuated by interesting costume choices.

‘Mana Flow’ secured the judge's vote and is proceeding to the semi-finals along with ‘Poison Ivy’ and ‘The Azzopardi’s’.

Only one other band will be joining them. Who will it be? In Week 4 we will find out! Stay tuned.

Year 12 Construction

‘Yarning Circle’ Space

Year 12 Construction class, constructing a 'Yarning Circle' space.

Library News!

Welcome to Term 3! This is a busy and exciting term for the Library, with Book Week 2024 featuring in Week 5.

Book Trailer Competition

The Library is running a ‘book trailer’ competition as part of our ​Book Week celebrations. Students will be introduced to this ​activity during their English lessons and will have an opportunity ​to create their own book trailer on a book of their choice.

For more information, view the links below:

● Book Trailer Competition Details

● “Wonder” Book Trailer

All submissions must be uploaded to the Library’s Google Classroom Page ​before 3pm on Friday 23rd August. (class code: jzxl7qu)

Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Friday July 26 - Sunday August 11

The Library has been getting into the Olympic Spirit, showing coverage of the Games ​each day during Recess and Lunch.

Students have enjoyed watching various sporting events, with Basketball and Soccer ​being particularly popular.

July Holidays Book Challenge

During the July school holidays, students participated in ​a Reading Challenge. The challenge aimed to promote ​reading for pleasure and for students to have a bit of ​fun with their reading experiences.

Monique in Year 10, kindly shared some of her Reading ​Challenge submissions.

The Premier’s Reading ​Challenge

This is a friendly reminder that the challenge closes on ​Friday August 23rd (Week 5).

Students need to make sure they have logged all of their ​books.

➔ Please see Mrs Ayden or Ms Sharman if you need ​help logging books.

Congratulations to 5 students who have already ​completed this year’s challenge:

Year 7: Sophie C, Jasmine H, Rudra S.

Year 8: Aaliya M, Zahra S.

What Our Staff Are Reading

Mr Loughlin

Pride and Prejudice

By Jane Austen

“The real appeal of this novel for me is not in the melodramatic twists and turns of the ​‘will they or won’t they’ romantic plot but in the well-drawn characters and witty ​dialogue.

I was immediately hooked after reading the initial hilarious exchange between Elizabeth’s ​parents Mr and Mrs Bennett and the characterisation of the well-meaning, overbearing ​mother and the long-suffering but mocking husband as they discuss potential wealthy ​partners for their daughters.

The values at heart of the novel - integrity and humility and of course true love - are what ​makes Austen’s beloved novel Pride and Prejudice a romance for the ages.“

Mrs Dela Paz

The Courage to be Disliked

By Fumitake Koga & Ichimo Kishimi

A philosopher and a student have a discussion. Their conversation reveals a profoundly ​liberating way of thinking: by developing the courage to change, set healthy boundaries ​and resist the impulse to please others, it is possible to find genuine and lasting happiness.

Your life is not something that someone gives you, but something you choose yourself, and ​you are the one who decides how you live.

This is an inspiring book that helps people understand how to be themselves and lead ​happier, more fulfilling lives.

We hope to see you in the Library soon!

Happy Reading

Ms Sharman, Mrs Ayden, Mrs Berman & Miss Brogan

National Science Week

National Science Week (10th - 18th August) is a fantastic Australia wide initiative held in ​term 3 each year.

This year the St Agnes Community will be celebrating National Science Week a little later ​during Week 7 to allow our keen Year 12 Science students to participate and facilitate some ​of the activities.

There are a variety of FREE activities being held around Sydney, a great opportunity to enjoy ​some science as a family.

St Agnes Science Week will run 4th - 6th September

Keep an eye out for the list of activities that will be running during Week 7.

How will you Science this National Science Week?

STEM-MAD Event

On Wednesday 7th August, 30 students across years 7-10 participated in STEM-​MAD, a CSPD event that took place at Cathwest Innovation College. This event ​hosted a wide range of primary and secondary schools across the Parramatta ​Diocese, with the intention of creating and sharing innovative STEM solutions to ​identified problems.

Our students have worked hard across Terms 2 and 3 to prepare their projects, ​which included technological efficiency, nuclear energy, alternative glass ​solutions, management of allergens, management of water, rubbish and fertiliser, ​and alternative materials for uniforms. Students worked collaboratively to ​develop their solutions and presented their work during a showcase at Cathwest, ​as well as having the opportunity to examine other student ideas and projects.

“Not only did we enjoy our time at Cathwest, but we also learned a lot of things ​while doing these activities. Presenting our projects and examining the work of the ​other schools was fun, and the questions asked got us thinking about STEM, ​enhancing our creativity.” - Sophia Miranda

Students received positive feedback for their projects throughout the showcase ​from other students, staff, and CSPD executive staff who attended on the day. ​Following the showcase, students also participated in STEM activities including ​bottle rockets, power anchor planes, and a Fizzics Education performance. One ​group’s Power Anchor plane won the title of “highest flight” across all ​participating secondary schools.

“We had a lot of fun with the Power Anchor activity. Especially since we had a ​great result with our plane that was made and modified throughout the activity.” - ​Mary Mercado

Mr Wilson and Mrs Cruickshank are highly proud of the attitude, involvement, ​and respectful conduct of all students throughout the day, and hope that all ​students left the day with a greater sense of innovation and accomplishment.

Mr Wilson & Mrs Cruickshank

7th June PATHE CSPD Conference

Students from across the Diocese attended a Senior ​PASIFIKA LEADERSHIP Conference hosted by CSPD in ​conjunction with Western Sydney Uni’s PATHE Program. ​Students engaged in a range of activities that encouraged ​them to consider

The strengths they have through a cultural lens and ​integrate these strengths in clear goal-setting that allows ​them to reach for the stars when it comes to their education.

27th June Year 10

Western Sydney Careers Expo

Students in Year 10 attended the Western ​Sydney Expo and had a chance to meet with a ​range of universities, employers and industry ​experts. They filled their bags with ​information and a few too many pens and ​promotional materials. They had the ​opportunity to attend important seminars ​that provided important information to ​support them in making the best decisions ​about subject selection.

We look forward to meeting with all the ​families this month to discuss these decisions ​in detail and ensure students provide ​themselves with the best head start for their ​futures.

28th June Year 11

Macquarie University Campus Visit

Students in Year 11 attended a Campus Experience Day at Macquarie University. There they attended a Cybersecurity and ​Geography lecture and visited faculties that they were interested in including exercise science, business, social science and ​law. They visited amenities including the library, gym, swimming pool and of course the amazing courtyard and eateries. ​Lunch included a range of outlets including Subway, Sushi, kebabs and more. The staff and university ambassadors were so ​hospitable and we thank the Future students team for such an informative day.

30th and 31st July Gamuda Girls Infrastructure Day

Five Year 10 female students attended the Gamuda Girls Infrastructure ​Day where they completed a CPR course, built planter boxers, put out a ​fire, and met with a range of engineers, scientists, HR managers, and ​lawyers to learn about the skills and careers available to women in ​such a thriving industry. The program has provided them with a ​valuable micro-credential that they can use to apply for traineeships, ​apprenticeships and internships in the future.

Coming Up:

Western Sydney University NEC

(Refugee background and African Students)

All Schools Conference

Wednesday, August 21st

On Wednesday, August 21, 2024, the NEC program will host an on-campus event for year 12 students from partner schools. ​The event will focus on Western Sydney University information, including scholarships, fees, campus locations, and pathways. ​Students will attend three workshops led by university staff and a student panel with current university ambassadors sharing ​their experiences and insights into university life at Western Sydney University. All students are asked to confirm permission ​as soon as possible and finalise registration using this link: ​https://wsustudents.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bOWPgPN1qFqxYgu.

If any Year 11 students are interested in attending the event please send me an email at nkarafotias@parra.catholic.edu.au. It ​will be first in best dressed as there are only 12 spots available.

WSU Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ​Pathway to Dreaming Unlocking Careers in ​Humanities and Creative Industries,

6th September

Students interested in a Career in Humanities and Creative Arts and are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background ​please ensure that your consent is finalised on Compass to ensure you can attend on the day.

https://stagnesrootyhill-nsw.compass.education/Organise/Activities/Events/

WSU Year 9 and 10 Campus Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Experience Day Pathway to Dreaming. All Year 9 and 10 ​Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students please finalise consent forms for the WSU experience day to ensure you can ​attend on the day.

https://stagnesrootyhill-nsw.compass.education/Organise/Activities/Events/

General Careers Infomation

Do you have a USI?

You may have heard of the Unique Student Identifier – or USI. It’s made up of ten letters and numbers and is a person’s ​education number for life.

I urge students, particularly those considering further studies beyond school - whether university or vocational education and ​training (VET) - to create their USI now. A USI is required for most applications so get prepared before you apply. The process ​is simple and can be completed in less than 5 minutes using one form of identification, such as a birth certificate or driver’s ​licence.

LINK TO CREATE USI

Anyone doing nationally recognised training, be it VET in schools, a First Aid course or higher education, must have a USI. ​They will not be able to graduate without one.

Without a USI, higher education students will not be able to access a Commonwealth Supported Place, receive Commonwealth ​financial assistance such as a HELP loan, or receive their statement of attainment, qualification, or award.

For those students who may already have a USI but have forgotten the details, they can find their USI by following a few simple ​steps. LINK TO FIND YOUR USI

Uni open days 2024

Most institutions hold open days for prospective students in the second half of the year. Dates and locations will be published once ​they are confirmed.

Details are also listed under 'Events' in the UAC key dates.

Confirm open day details with the institutions before attending on-campus events.

University open day dates can be found HERE

Year 12 Webinars

(Macquarie University)

Are you ready to explore everything uni has to offer? These online webinars are designed just for you!

Register Here: https://page.mq.edu.au/year-12-webinar-series-2024.html

Macquarie’s Year 12 webinar series will give you the inside scoop on everything you need to know about university – from choosing ​a degree, navigating entry programs, and applying to study, to tips and tricks for reducing your stress levels and boosting your ​well-being.

Our Future Students experts will be available to answer all your questions at each of our three webinars.

Year 12 Guide to Uni (On-Demand)

Kickstart your journey to uni by getting the low-down on all the essentials. You'll learn all about our various entry options and ​explore the ins and outs of the UAC process, including how to manage your preferences, and understanding selection ranks. Let us ​answer your questions and help you set yourself up for success!

Early Entry (On-Demand)

Explore the Macquarie Leaders and Achievers Early Entry Scheme and the Schools Recommendation Scheme. Get up to speed with ​each scheme’s entry criteria, key dates and how to apply. Hear from our current students about how receiving an early offer to uni ​allowed them to focus more on their final exams.

Transitioning from School to Uni (Live)

Wednesday 11 September 2024

6pm – 7pm

Making the transition from school to uni can sometimes be overwhelming. We'll be sharing some insights and providing tips and ​tricks on how to make the transition not only smooth but fun! You’ll learn about uni life and hear about our extensive range of ​support services, which all exist to help you thrive during your studies.

Course updates (On-Demand)

Want to learn about our exciting course updates for 2025? We've got insights into the new Bachelor of Criminology, changes to ​the Bachelor of Science including a new major in Marine Science, a refreshed Bachelor of Social Sciences, and our reimagined ​education suite. You can watch the whole video or select the most relevant sections.

Compass is our primary parent communication tool for day-to-day operational matters, upcoming events, notices, and notifications so it is essential that all parents download the app.

It is more important than ever that we are able to communicate effectively, especially when it involves the safety of our children. If you haven't already, we ask that parents download the Compass app onto their devices for either Apple or Android.

• Compass is a web-based system allowing you to access up-to-date and meaningful information about our school and your child’s progress. Compass includes many different features, including the ability to:
  
• Be informed of important updates, events, and reminders
  
• View your child’s timetable
  
• Review your child’s attendance
  
• Provide explanations for periods of absence
  
• Update your contact details
  
• Book Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences.
  

Compass is accessible on any modern web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, Safari) or by using the Compass iOS or Android apps.

If you have not received notifications via email can you please email the school to check on our contact details for you.

stagnes@parra.catholic.edu.au

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