St Agnes

Catholic High School

Week 3 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 students and parents found the recent holiday break to be 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.

World Youth Day Update

Mr Zucco, Paula and Faith are currently in Liboerrne, Portugal, gathering together with other young people. World Youth Day is an event for young Catholics which was initiated by Pope John Paul II in 1985. It’s an encounter with God, the Pope, and the wider Catholic Church. Currently, the pilgrims are gathering to form the body of the Church where they are listening to the word of God which is being delivered by the Holy Father. At this event our young people will give witness to their faith and connect with Catholic youth from across the world. They have had a wonderful time experiencing the religious sites across France over the past week. Following Portugal, our pilgrims will be travelling to Italy and visiting Assisi, the birthplace of St Francis and St Clare of Assisi. This will be especially poignant for our community.

I hope that you have been following their journey on the St Agnes Instagram and Facebook pages.

Father's Day Liturgy & Breakfast

Girls Rugby League Grand Final

Yesterday afternoon the St Agnes Under 16s Girls Rugby League team played in the PDSSSC Grand Final against Emmaus Catholic College, Kemps Creek. I was fortunate enough to watch the game at Windsor Leagues Club. Unfortunately we were defeated by Emmaus but it was a hard fought game. I was very proud of the way our students conducted themselves as they were gracious in defeat. The celebratory spirit at the end of the game between the two teams was a lovely thing to witness. I would like to thank Mr Shanahan and Mr Dempsey for coaching and managing the team. Also, thank you to the girls in the team who were great ambassadors for our school.

Welcome to Country FIFA Women’s World Cup Soccer

I would like to acknowledge and congratulate the following students who performed at the Opening Ceremony of the FIFA Women's World Cup on 20th July.

Jewel Osborne (Yr 11)

Eli Kendrigan (Yr 11)

Summer Reynolds (Yr 9)

Chloe Ross (Yr 9)

Elizabeth Vella (Yr 9)

Shay-Leigh Punter (Yr 8)

Emily Porter (Yr 7)

The students were wonderful, both in the rehearsal process which required them to be focused whilst sitting around in the cold waiting for instructions, and as well as in the evening performance. The event was on a huge scale, requiring the students to wear ear packs, coordinate their movement to what was coming through their ears, and to ignore the sound in the stadium. They were privileged to work with creative director Nigel Jamieson, who also directed the opening ceremony for the Sydney Olympics.

The students held themselves well in the professional space and learned a lot, but most importantly they connected to the community.

Parent Forum

The Parent Forum is a partnership between parents and the school. At St Agnes, we strive to find more opportunities to include parents in ensuring that as a school we work together to improve the learning outcomes of our students.

Our third forum is scheduled for Monday 28th August. It will centre around Cyber Smartness, specifically addressing social media and ensuring your child's online safety. We strongly urge parents to attend this event. Please register your intention to attend through this link https://forms.gle/6b3gjoNuY7Xao7pV7. We will be sending out a flyer via Compass in the coming days.

Debating

The St Agnes Year 9 team progressed through to the Quarter Finals of the debating competition on 21st July after being undefeated. They debated against Our Lady of Mercy College, Parramatta at St John Paul II Catholic College, Quakers Hill. It was a close debate and the three adjudicators took their time deciding on the winner. It ended up being a split decision with unfortunately, our team not successful, but they were gracious in defeat and I was very proud of the way they represented the school.

Building Update

Construction of our new Creative Hub is continuing with the completion of the roofing stage. We are excited to see the internal walls now being installed and the 3 levels being prepared for the internal fitout. We are grateful for the provision of this building to expand the learning options for our students. We look forward to the completion of this amazing addition to St Agnes and the opportunities that will follow in 2024 and beyond.

Mrs J Holland

Principal

CLICK HERE to access our Parent Calendar. Click subscribe at the bottom to connect the school calendar to yours and stay up to date with school events

To Truth Through Love

Welcome to Term 3!

All students have embraced the term after their two week break in July and are ready to immerse themselves in all things learning.

Our Yr 12 students are in the midst of their Trial HSC examinations and these will conclude on Monday 14th August. These examinations, apart from being the final in-school assessment, will push the students in their ability to be mentally prepared for periods of extended writing. Upon receipt of their results, the students will be able to see their strengths and also, the areas which require further development.

It is important that parents and carers of students in the following HSC courses are 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.

Year 11 students are well into their final term of work before commencing their HSC in Term 4. From Monday 4/9 until Friday 15/9, all students will sit the Final Examinations in order to qualify for their Record of School Achievement. The students are strongly encouraged to make the most of their time in class, complete the set learning activities and see their teacher if they have any questions.

Our Year 10 students are now in the process of considering their subjects for Years 11 and 12. At this point in time, meetings have been arranged for the students and parents to meet with a member of the Leadership Team or a Leader of Learning in order to discuss their selected pathway. The aim of this will be to ensure that each student selects subjects suitable for them and their personal goals. These meetings are scheduled to occur on the 1st and 8th August.

In the next few weeks, the students in Years 8 and 9 will be given the opportunity to consider the electives they would like to study in 2024. A Handbook will be distributed and the students will be presented with the subjects we offer on top of the Mandatory Courses in Stage 5. The students are encouraged to now think about what courses they might like to select next year and be prepared to ask clarifying questions when information is presented to them.

NAPLAN Results

Students in Years 7 and 9 sat for their NAPLAN exams earlier this year. This was the first time that the entire state sat for these tests online. The results of these tests have now been released. The school has sent each student’s individual report home via post. As well as being the first time the entire state has sat these tests online there have also been updates to how the NAPLAN results are being reported. Linked here is an information sheet for parents about the new style of reporting for NAPLAN.

STUDY SKILLS :

Learning Collaboratively

We all have unique preferences when it comes to learning. Some students thrive in group settings, while others prefer solitary work. Certain individuals enjoy discussing topics over the phone or via video calls, while some thrive in face-to-face collaborations. The saying "two heads are better than one" holds true, and it is interesting to explore how this applies to different types of students.

If you tend to work alone most of the time, there are a few aspects worth considering:

- It's commendable that you are self-sufficient and confident in your abilities. However, it's important to recognise that at times, not asking for help when needed can make things more challenging for yourself. Don't hesitate to seek assistance when facing difficulties or struggling to comprehend something. Asking for help is a valuable skill that contributes to academic success. Become more aware of your tendency to avoid asking for help and make an effort to reach out when needed.

- Engaging in discussions with others often offers fresh perspectives and the opportunity to clarify your thoughts. By collaborating and exchanging ideas with another person, you may enhance the development of your own concepts and uncover potential issues that a new perspective can identify. If you haven't explored collaboration extensively, consider giving it a try. You might be pleasantly surprised by the value it adds to your learning experience.

On the other hand, if you already enjoy working with others, here are some points to keep in mind:

-Ensure that you contribute equally in group work and avoid relying on others to do all the work for you. Fair and balanced participation leads to a more productive and fulfilling collaborative environment.

-Remember that collaboration is distinct from cheating. While discussing an assignment and sharing thoughts on its approach is acceptable, it is not appropriate to jointly write the assignment or submit similar pieces of work. Maintain academic integrity and respect the boundaries of collaborative efforts.

-Stay focused and avoid wasting time during collaborative sessions. It's easy to get sidetracked, so make a conscious effort to remain on task and avoid distractions when working with others.

- Occasionally, challenge yourself to tackle tasks independently. If you consistently rely on your friends to complete your Maths homework, you may not truly gauge your own abilities. This lack of self-assessment can become problematic during tests or exams. Consider whether the collaboration will genuinely enhance your work or if it is more suitable to attempt certain tasks on your own.

-Allocate specific time for independent work each night. If you prefer to collaborate while working from home, establish dedicated periods for collaboration and separate blocks for independent work. Avoid spending the entire evening on video calls with friends and instead create a balance between collaboration and individual effort.

By reflecting on these points and adapting your approach to learning, you can maximise your potential and create a well-rounded academic experience. Embrace the strengths of both solitary work and collaboration and leverage them accordingly to foster personal growth and academic achievement.

You and your parents can learn more about group work skills at www.studyskillshandbook.com.au by logging in with the details below and working through some of the units.

Our school’s access details are:

Username: stagnes

Password: 24success

Suggested topics: Home Study Environment, Organisation & Filing, Time Management Skills, Managing Workload, Dealing with Distractions, Overcoming Procrastination, Developing Motivation and Goal Setting.

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. Staying positive at all times

• Supporting your teen to not feel too pressured
• Using positive expressions and being encouraging
• Limit criticism and judgment, it is possible your teen is feeling very sensitive at this time.

3. Encourage a healthy lifestyle

• Encouraging a healthy diet, protein 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, 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 teens 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.

Upcoming parent webinar: Online boundaries and consent - From the e-safety Commissioner

As parents and carers, it's essential to support young people in developing skills that protect their privacy and boundaries online. Learn how you can help build these skills at our upcoming Online boundaries and consent webinar. 

The 30-minute webinar is for parents and carers of young people in primary school and covers a range of topics, including:

• why talking about consent with primary school-aged children is so important
  
• easy ways to explain online boundaries and consent
  
• opportunities to discuss and model consent through discussions, scenarios, and practising helpful phrases for saying 'no'.
  

Register now for the webinar and visit esafety.gov.au/parents for more eSafety resources for parents and carers.

Term 3 dates (Australian Eastern Standard Time)

7 August: 12.30 pm to 1:00 pm

23 August: 7:30 pm to 8:00 pm Other webinars can be found on the safety.gov.au website

7 September: 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm

Online safety advice for every family, now available in more languages

eSafety's Online Safety for Every Family suite of resources helps parents and carers from all backgrounds protect their families online.

To help more families start conversations with their children about online safety it is now available in additional languages: Uyghur, Hindi, Nepalese, Swahili, Burmese, Tigrinya, Punjabi and Singhalese.

Mr G Hilder

Assistant Principal - School Culture

Pace e Bene,

Peace and blessings to the St Agnes community.

Staff Spirituality Day

On Monday, 17th July, the St Agnes staff came together for our Spirituality Day. The theme for the day was around ‘ Walking in the footsteps of the Franciscan Saints- A call to our vocation in education’.

As a Franciscan School family, we are called to follow St Francis’ model of seeing, feeling and sensing God present in all living things- this means to witness the breath and spark of God in all Creation.

St Francis calls us to rethink our relationship with nature. We are called to see all creatures and all elements of Creation as family.

His prayer ‘ The Canticle of the Sun’ establishes for us a blueprint for this new, indispensable and loving family network of living things. We are called to protect it, to preserve it and to treat it as sacred.

St Francis teaches us that how we treat other living things is how we treat God. Whether insect or human, we treat them with love.

May this prayer continue to remind us of our Franciscan mission to see God present in Creation, and to protect and preserve it for future generations.

Mr P. Madigan

Head of Mission

The theme for National Science Week in 2023 is Innovation: Powering Future Industries which incorporates the advancement in technology in all industries, especially using artificial intelligence (AI).

Families might like to explore some of the free activities available for science week.

https://www.sydney.edu.au/science/news-and-events/events/national-science-week.html

'Science in the Scrub', being held at Western Sydney Parklands on Sunday 13th August, looks like a fun family event!

Year 9 PATHE Leadership Summits

On 27th June 2023, a group of Year 9 Polynesian students attended the Pacifika Achievement To Higher Education (PATHE) Year 9 Leadership Summit at Western Sydney University, Penrith Campus accompanied by Miss Panesar and Mr Neilson. Students engaged in two workshops following the theme of ‘The Changing Seas’. These workshops were aimed to empower students by allowing them to explore their interests through potential career opportunities which included reflection activities on values and personal strengths.

In reflecting on the day one participant, Talia Afungia, said “Throughout Changing The Seas we were able to explore our own wavelengths and our ability to move through them. We incorporated our culture within the various workshops bringing us closer to our language, people, and traditions.”

The summit taught students valuable lessons on teamwork, unity, responsibility, and service, helping them become better versions of themselves for their schooling life as well as career opportunities in the future. We would like to commend our students on the way they represented St Agnes and our wider school community.

Year 8 Student Workshop Reflections

Bracelet Making - Halo Roache

During our KYL lesson we were able to learn new skills regarding the bracelet-making activity. Mrs Dass, our teacher for this period, provided us with beads, needles, and strings, helping us obtain the skill of learning how to thread beads. Amongst us we had a few students (Sara, Charlie, Nina, Makayla, and Shay-leigh) who guided us during the process of making bracelets. I personally enjoyed this session as it had help me develop new skills as well as find a new hobby to enjoy.

Team Building Games - Audie Hilder

During our KYL lesson we participated in team-building activities where we could learn new things about people in our Homerooms and worked together collaboratively. It helped us explore similarities amongst each other to build stronger connections in Homeroom.

Forensic Crime Scene - Rodney David

The Forensic Crime Scene encouraged students to participate in a staged crime scene and collaborate in order to solve the crime. We were able to investigate a simulated crime scene, do presumptive blood testing, do fingerprint lifting, and conduct an “autopsy” to find out the cause of death.

World Youth Day Pilgrimage News 2023

Stay up to date with following the journey click the picture below

Australian Catholic University: ACU Guarantee Early Offer Program: OPEN NOW

Early entry program

Guarantee your place at ACU, even before your Year 12 exams. The ACU Guarantee program offers eligible Year 12 students a place at ACU based on your Year 11 results.

Offers may be made as early as September. While successful applicants must still complete their Year 12 exams, you can do so securely in the knowledge that your marks from Year 11 meet our entry requirements. You may also enhance your entry score by including short personal statements that give ACU an insight into your personal circumstances and motivation for university study.

Applications close: 18 September 2023

Applying to the ACU Guarantee Program, see the link here.

Discover the Defence Force through Work Experience!

Ignite your passion for adventure, discipline, and service with a thrilling work experience placement with the Australian Army, Navy, or Air Force. Unleash your potential, explore cutting-edge technology, and witness teamwork in action.

The Defence Work Experience Program provides young Australians interested in Defence as a future career, the opportunity to sample life in Defence and learn more about the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the Australian Public Service (APS).

Examples of available roles include: Day in the Life of a Soldier

• An Aerial View: Air Force Careers ADS Cyber Security and Robotics
• Naval Gazing Navy Careers Experience
• Operation: Youth Inspire- Indigenous Youth Placement
• Army in Motion: maritime, Technical Trades, Hospitality, and Support Plus more!

Opportunities are available across Australia and you can search and apply for them here. Join the ranks and discover a world of excitement, challenge, and endless opportunity!

With a Komatsu apprenticeship available across Australia, you could qualify as a:

• Plant Mechanic Electrician
  
• Automotive Electirican Mechanical Fitter Electrical Fitter
  
• Boiler Maker
  
• Parts Interpreter/Customer ServiceRepresentative
  

Their Award Winning Apprentice Development System has earned widespread recognition and awards. As a Komatsu apprentice, you will learn valuable, nationally recognised job skills and qualifications; be supported by a dedicated Apprentice Technical Capability team; and be provided with mental health awareness and resilience training. Visit their Frequently Asked Questions page for helpful advice about preparing your application and for more insight about what it's like to be a Komatsu apprentice.

Applications for the 2024 program are open. Register your interest now to receive updates.

Want to get started in the tech industry but don't want to go to uni?

Getting a career and qualification in one could be for you! With the 2-year PWC Higher Apprenticeship Program in Brisbane, Sydney, or Melbourne, you will:

• Obtain a Certificate IV followed by a Diploma (typically in Information Technology or Business).
• Learn in a hands-on environment, forming relationships that will set you apart.
• Have the chance to join the Graduate program to continue your professional growth once you've completed your apprenticeship

To be eligible you must:

Be an Australian or NZ citizen or permanent resident.

Not already have a Certificate IV or higher qualification.

Have your Year 12 Certificate by the time the program starts.

Applications open soon so be sure to register your interest.

CQUniversity | Virtual Open Day Saturday 27 August, 9 am - 1 pm (AEST) Join CQU’s Virtual Open Day from the comfort of home. Chat directly with the expert CQU crew about courses of interest, tune into a course webinar, get career advice, learn more about the outstanding support services available, and receive assistance with figuring out the next steps.

Register: www.cqu.edu.au/open-days.

TAFE NSW Virtual Open Day 2023 Explore TAFE through a virtual experience and learn about courses, facilities and support services from teachers and staff. Register to discover more about scholarships, degrees, pathway opportunities, flexible study options, enrolment support and so much more. https://tafenswevents.eventsair.com/virtual-open-day/rsvp/Site/RegisterLinks to an external site..

University of Sydney | Registrations Open for 2023 Open Day The Open Day program is packed with everything students need to start their journey, as well as activities that may be of interest to teachers. Attendees can join an information session, explore campus and get course advice. Register: https://openday.sydney.edu.au

University of Notre Dame Open Day

Register for Notre Dame’s Open Day on Saturday 26 August. Students will have the chance to chat one-on-one with academics, staff, alumni and current students about their study options and life at Notre Dame. Sydney Open Day 2023.

Open Day 2023 at Southern Cross University (SCU)

SCU is holding three special Open Days in August for students and parents to meet educators, students, and alumni, tour campus, and explore campus facilities with experts on hand to answer questions about studying at SCU. Learn about The Southern Cross Model, a shorter, more focused six-week unit structure of study.

Gold Coast open day, 6 August at the beachside campus next to the Gold Coast Airport. The Northern Rivers campus, nestled amongst the rainforests of Lismore, 10 August and Coffs Harbour campus, 13 August.

Register and be in the running enter to win one of three Amsterdam+ e-bikes worth $2,998* Terms and conditions apply. https://discover.scu.edu.au/utm_source=edm&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=openday2023&utm_content=career_advisors_newsletter&utm_term=null

Macquarie University Open Day, 12 August 2023 A great way to get a feel for Macquarie University and to get the latest information for students. This year, Macquarie is providing many different ways for students to interact with staff and students and get familiar with the campus. Register for Open Day: https://event.mq.edu.au/open-day/ Saturday 12 August, 10am - 4pm.

25-29th September 2023- Western Sydney University Free HSC Study Sessions - Registrations Open

Registrations Now Open!

Delivered by highly qualified senior teachers with 25 free sessions across 16 key HSC subject areas, the sessions will include content analysis, tips and strategies, and a detailed exploration of key syllabus and curriculum areas. Students will also have the opportunity to sit a practice exam and deconstruction, with feedback and advice from experts. Subjects covered include: English (Advanced and Standard) Community and Family Studies, Economics, Mathematics (Advanced and Standard 2), Geography, Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Legal Studies, PDHPE, Modern History, Visual Arts, Physics, PDHPE

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.

website