Principal’s Awards

I am always so very proud of the students who receive Principal’s Awards. Congratulations to the following students who have received their Principal’s Awards:

House Cup Points Update

The updated points for the 2025 competition are:

Bennelong 50, 110

Chang 47, 820

Frances 48, 375

Gould 42, 875

Mrs Sue Cooper

Leader of Wellbeing and Learning

scooper@parra.catholic.edu.au

Year 12 Music HSC Major Work Evening

You are invited to join us in the Senior Hall for an evening of HSC performances on Tuesday the 10th of June. Year 12 Music students will be showcasing several items for a live audience. They will be presenting these performances as part of their major work portfolio later in the year. Repertoire includes contemporary music, rock, funk, jazz. and many popular items.

The concert will begin at 5pm and will conclude at approximately 7pm.

We hope to see you there.

Unity Day Auditions

Unity Day is fast approaching and it is great to see so many students coming together to prepare performances in order to showcase their culture in Week 9 this Term.

A reminder that auditions will be held on Wednesday afternoon in Week 7, June 11th, in the junior campus performing arts block from 3pm - 6 pm. All students planning to perform must attend. Students will be informed on the day if they are selected to perform at Unity Day. A reminder to please ensure all backing music is provided and downloaded prior to auditioning on the day. All microphones and instrumentation will be provided and costumes are not necessary when auditioning. Successful performers will be notified about a full dress rehearsal, which will take place on Wednesday afternoon of Week 9 in the Junior Hall, with the full setup of the stage, dance floor, and equipment in place. 

We look forward to experiencing the diverse music and dance cultures of our wonderful community.

 Mr Antonio Chiappetta 

Performance Director 

Year 12 Work in Progress Night

Year 12 Visual Arts students presented their Body of Works in progress to their families, staff, peers and external markers on Wednesday 28th May in order to receive feedback on their works so far. It was wonderful having nearly 50% of our Year 11 classes attend this evening in order to gain insight into what the Body of Work process will be like for them next year.

Johnny Romeo, renowned Australian Pop Artist hosted our WIP Night. He has worked with our Year 12 students as a part of our Artist in Residence program and has been a part of their artmaking since the Year 11 Body of Work in a day workshop last year. Year 12 students enthusiastically answered Johnny’s questions regarding their conceptual and material practice. 

Thank you to all our family and friends who were able to attend this evening. The Year 12 students found it to be a valuable experience. They are now busily executing the feedback received for their Assessment Task 3 (Body of Work Progress). We look forward to showcasing their completed Body of Works after the due date, some time in Term 3/4.

Junior CAPA Showcase

Well done to our Visual Arts students for their vibrant display at our Semester 1 Junior CAPA Showcase. It was fantastic to see such a huge turn out at the event! Our students have worked hard this semester to produce artworks in a number of different art mediums. Under the guidance of their class teachers, they improved and refined their techniques and applied these to their artmaking practice. We will announce the winners of the Semester 1 Principal’s Award and People’s Choice Awards in the upcoming Junior assembly and Week 8 Newsletter. Congratulations to our artists, we are already pumped for an end of year Showcase!

Thank you Mrs Kemal

The Visual Arts team would like to extend our best wishes to Mrs Kemal who will be on maternity leave at the end of Week 7. We wish you and your family all the best! The staff and students will miss you while you are away, however we are also over the moon for you as you welcome your first baby. Enjoy this special time and we look forward to meeting Baby Kemal soon. 

In Mrs Kemal’s absence, we welcome Mrs Sanders to the Visual Arts team. Our classes have already had the chance to meet and work with Mrs Sanders and we are excited for her to share her expertise (particularly in the area of ceramics) with us. Thank you Mrs Sanders and we are thrilled that you are joining the SAC learning community. 

Mrs Claudia Harris

Leader of Learning Visual Arts

Year 7 Large Scale Oil Pastel Animals

This term, Year 7 Visual Arts students have been exploring the rich natural heritage of the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. These two iconic World Heritage sites have inspired a deeper understanding of Australia’s unique biodiversity and environmental significance.

As part of their studies, students researched animals native to these ecosystems and selected one to feature in a large scale oil pastel artwork. From vibrant reef fish and sea turtles to cassowaries and tree frogs, each piece reflects the student's individual style while showcasing the colour and beauty of these remarkable creatures.

This unit not only developed students' skills in blending and layering with oil pastels but also encouraged them to reflect on the importance of conservation and our connection to the natural world.

Year 8 Students Explore Light and Shadow Through Photography

This term, Year 8 students in Mrs Psaila’s class have been developing their photography skills by exploring the theme of light and shadow. In class, students learned how lighting, contrast, and composition can dramatically transform an image and create mood or meaning.

Indoors, students used torches and everyday objects to cast shadows and capture interesting forms through the lens. They experimented with angles and intensity of light, producing creative and thoughtful compositions.

Although our original plans for outdoor photography were disrupted by rainy weather, students adapted brilliantly. They made the most of the wet conditions by photographing reflections in puddles around the school. These spontaneous moments resulted in some of the most striking images of the project.

The final photographs show a strong understanding of visual storytelling and creative problem solving. The results are truly outstanding and a testament to our  students' curiosity and adaptability.

Mrs Psaila

Visual Arts Teacher

Sport News

Amelia Farag was selected to trial for the PDSSSC soccer team during a gala day held earlier this term. She displayed outstanding sportsmanship and skill on the field, playing in both right back and centre back positions against tough competition.

Amelia faced off against talented players from numerous schools and impressed selectors enough to earn a place in the PDSSSC Girls Football Team.

On Tuesday 27th and Wednesday 28th May, Amelia proudly represented our College and the Parramatta Diocese at the NSWCCC Football Championships. It was a highly competitive tournament featuring the best players from across the state. The Parramatta Diocese team performed exceptionally well, finishing second in their pool with three wins and two draws.

Well done, Amelia!

I look forward to sharing more sports news with you soon.

Thank you,
Miss Ivana Nikitovic
Leader of Wellbeing – Sport

NSW All Schools Diving Championships

On May 22nd and 23rd, 12 members of our College Diving Team represented NSW CCC at the NSW All Schools Diving Championships at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre. It was great to see that our College was the largest represented school in NSW. Congratulations to the following students who participated in the event:

• Claire deVos
• Analise Gregoriou
• Matthew Lemura
• Dominic Azar
• Despina Thimiopoulos-Wilson
• Veronica Adamecki
• Noah Kinnas
• Rachael Griffiths, 
• Lauren Griffiths
• Stella Borg
• Liam Borg
• Eesa Mir

Our divers faced some tough competition, competing against some of the best divers in the NSW but they were ready to show the judges what they could do. Their hard work, commitment to training and determination truly showed on the day. Diving is a sport that demands not only physical strength and technique but also a strong mindset. Each of our divers demonstrated remarkable resilience in high-pressure moments, a quality that defines not just great athletes but strong individuals.

We had some wonderful results on the day with two students receiving medals. Congratulations to Liam Borg who placed second in the 12yrs Boys Springboard and to Eesa Mir who placed third in the 14yrs Boys Springboard. Eesa is the first student at St Andrews to earn a place on the NSW diving team and is invited to represent NSW at the School Sports Australia Diving Championships in Brisbane this July, Congratulations Eesa! We also had 3 students who placed 4th in their respective age groups. Congratulations to Rachael Griffiths, Lauren Griffiths and Stella Borg.

Congratulations once again to all our divers. 

Thank you,

Mrs Hailey Borg

Year 12 PDHPE Students Explore Elite Sports Science at ACPE

On Monday the 2nd of June, a group of our Year 12 PDHPE students had the exciting opportunity to attend a hands-on HSC enrichment workshop at the Australian College of Physical Education (ACPE) in Sydney Olympic Park.

This specialised workshop, designed specifically for HSC PDHPE students in Years 11 and 12, provided an immersive learning experience focused on energy systems and training principles within a high-performance sporting context.

Throughout the day, students:

• Explored the practical application of aerobic and anaerobic energy systems in sport;
• Took part in exercise testing protocols used with elite athletes;
• Gained a deeper understanding of training principles and their real-world application;
• Engaged in a tour and activities within ACPE’s state-of-the-art performance gym;
• Connected classroom theory with elite-level practice in a professional sporting environment.

The experience was both educational and inspiring, giving our students valuable insights that directly support their HSC studies while opening their eyes to future career and study pathways in sport, exercise science, and health.

We are proud of the way our students represented the school and embraced the opportunity to further their learning beyond the classroom.

Ms Leitch and Miss Nikitovic

Year 11 Community and Family Studies

On the 26th of May, Year 11 CAFS students took part in an adventure to the city, for a CAFS themed treasure hunt.

Each group was given a small booklet filled with activities and meeting points. The aim of this was to work as a team to safely arrive at each location, complete activities such as taking photos with specific things in them and collecting information about every place we passed. This aligned to our unit of study and provided us with practical learning experiences that explored concepts such as group dynamics, relationships, roles and conflict. This sounds so easy, right? Well, that’s what we thought, until we found ourselves walking what felt like the entire perimeter of Sydney. 

From racing between checkpoints, to challenging discussions about which street to walk down or what activities we needed to complete, this experience pushed us to think on the spot about alternative options, communicate clearly and assertively, and to laugh through (at times), the frustration. There were moments where GPS signals dropped out, group members “accidentally” led us the wrong way and legs were begging for us to stop, but we battled to keep going! 

Despite our sore feet and the growls of our hungry stomachs, this excursion taught us so much about collaboration, group cohesion, leadership, and the importance of listening to each other (even when an individual’s sense of direction may have been questionable).

Most importantly, we realised that working together, even through the stress,  made the whole experience not just meaningful, but genuinely fun and exciting and we are grateful for the opportunity to put our learning in class into action.

- Kaelah Garcia and Dier Majak (YR11 CAFS students)

On the 14th of May, students from across Year 7-12 performed in the Regional phase of the Shakespeare Carnival run by Sport for Jove. Students performed in a way which displayed courage, showmanship and a commitment to Shakespeare’s works.

Now…for the results, for the Smart Phone Short Film category, we received second place where the judges praised both Year 7 and 9 students for the chosen concept of women in Shakespeare and their use of comedic elements. We then additionally received two special awards: ‘The Sinister Sisters’ award for our Devised performance with Year 9 students creating their own short scene using characters from Macbeth (the three seers), which had audience members jumping out of their seats in fear. Two Year 12 students also then received ‘The Best Hug’ award for our duologue category between Othello and Iago, their character’s disdain for one another made for a humorous performance. 

Unfortunately we were not able to progress to the next stage of the competition. However the students had a fantastic time and were able to be witness to some very developed pieces of performance from schools around NSW. They received feedback from the judges with what to improve on and will definitely take this forward into future performances.

Here are some thoughts of the night from students that attended:

“The regional competition was a rollercoaster of emotions. It was crazy, and nerve-wracking but also fun at the same time.”

• Erielle Intud, Year 7, Smart Phone Short Film category

“The Shakespeare carnival was a great experience for me because it helped me to work with other people and get to know them better. A big thank you to Ms. Rujicica and Mr. Lewandowski because without them this dream wouldn’t have come true. If you want to join in the fun and experience, join Project Performance that runs after school and if you are in Year 8, make sure to pick drama!” 

• Dharshini Mahesh, Year 9, Smart Phone Short Film category

“The performances gave me great insight into drama and theatre - there were many talented performers that were humorous.”

• Alaina Medina, Year 7, Smart Phone Short Film category

“I enjoyed all of the performances. This was a memorable day that I will never forget. I can't wait for next year! Thank you to  Ms. Rujicica and Mr. Lewandowski for this day!  For Year 8s, if you like drama, choose it for next year as an elective!”

• Jaideen Labo, Year 9, Smart Phone Short Film category

“The Shakespeare Carnival was a life-changing experience. It was amazing to be back again, with the amazing Sport for Jove Company! Everyone there was so nice and accepted us as we are, with no judgment whatsoever. Everyone was appreciative of everyone. No booing, no mean comments. Just a hundred or so kids having fun. I didn't feel lonely or judged. We were appreciative of each other. When I went on stage to present our piece, everyone listened and responded intently. I really loved that. I remember the MC of the event said one quote that really stuck with me: "Acting isn't about ego, it's about humility. We are here to serve the audience, and when we bow, we are saying thank you.". Thank you Ms. Rujicica and Mr. Lewandowski for offering such an amazing opportunity for us and supporting us throughout the entire process, and I hope we do this again!” 

• Saumya Punj, Year 9, Group Devised category

I’d like to thank Dr Stephen Kennaugh for the opportunity, and Nick Lewandowski for his assistance with organising. I would also like to thank Shanai Mifsud for her assistance with students in the film category and some tips for editing, and for Travis Kolek for assisting in supervision, and driving students to and from the venue, especially with debating occurring on the same night. 

We hope that through this process, all involved were able to find both a community that they can be part of which is free from judgement, and best of all, allows them to be themselves and explore their creativity. We can’t wait for next year to do this all again. 

• Christina Rujicica, Teacher of Drama and English 

A radian is a unit of angular measure used in mathematics. In Year 11 Mathematics Advanced, students are learning to use both degrees and radians when working with angles.

To explore the concept of radians, students in 11MAAD1 engaged in a hands-on activity inspired by the blog Math = Love. First, they measured the radius of their circle. Then, using yarn, they marked an arc that is equal in length to the radius. By doing so, they had constructed an angle at the centre of the circle that is one radian. Finally, students used their creativity to decorate their circles, transforming their learning into colourful artworks.

This activity helped bring abstract mathematics to life and sparked some impressive artistic results along the way!

Ms Christina Nguyen

Mathematics Teacher

College Leadership Team

Leaders of Learning - Wellbeing

College Leaders of Learning - KLA

College Leaders of Learning and Other Leaders