Welcome to the start of our second term. 

It has been a good start to Term 2. I thank the students for their efforts to get involved with learning from the first day of term.

I would like to remind students and families that they are to be in full winter uniform including their hair styles as expected and their use of jewellery. It is important to start the day on a positive note. If you are organised for the day and are in the right uniform it means you have started the day well and it is easy to continue the positive streak. If you are unorganised, out of uniform or late it means you have started the day behind and it is more difficult to catch up and move in a positive direction. 

What happens if I am sick or cannot attend school?

If you are sick you are not permitted to attend school. As the Flu season starts we need to be mindful of  expectations with Covid.

1. If your child has any cold or flu symptoms they must stay at home and get a Covid test. The results of the test must be sent to the school ASAP.
2. Any student attending school with cold or flu symptoms will be isolated and sent home for a Covid test.
3. If a family member has cold or flu symptoms the family must self isolate until a negative Covid test result is given.
4. Students can work online if they are at home and should continue to work while they are at home.

Mental Illness

The stigma around mental illness has disappeared and people are more willing to say they have a concern and reach out for help. One complaint that I hear on a regular bases is that mum and dad don’t understand what I’m going through. Sometimes parents don’t have a lot of knowledge about mental illness and this prevents them from fully understanding the needs of the child. There are many websites, e.g. beyond blue, headspace, black dog, that have information on mental illness to assist families in understanding what is going on. 

The College have 2 counsellors, Mrs. Castle and Sister Cristina, who are available to the students and their families if there are any concerns about mental illness. Starting a conversation about what is going on is the first step in helping the young person through their difficult time.  

All students have access to information on Google classroom Wellbeing page. Leaders of Learning are also available to assist students to get any assistance they require. I have put a picture in this section, which identifies how a parent can assist with mental illness. I hope this is helpful. Please don’t hesitate to contact the College if you have any questions.

Social media

On a daily basis we are dealing with issues caused on Social Media. Many of these problems occur while students are online in their free time.

Are you aware of what your child is doing on Social Media? Many parents are not aware but they need to be as they are the ones who are responsible for the Childs online behaviour. As the person who pays for the device and the connection, the parent becomes responsible for the activity online. 

It is very easy for young people to post whatever they like on line and unfortunately there is a lack of maturity with many young people and this can be seen in their interaction online. Many Social media sites are designed for adults and the content is adult in nature. Parents should check the regulations of each site their child is on.

All parents should be checking the online activity of their child to ensure that they are safe online and hat the content that they send and receive is appropriate for their age.

Please contact the College if you have any concerns with online activity and your child.

What’s in the Planner?

There are many wellbeing activities in the planner that you can look at and use while you are learning online. Building relationships with teachers has been proven to be an indicator of success at school. This can be difficult online but using the Google classroom, zooms and emails is a way to maintain the relationships. 

While at home, being prepared for class, listening and completing tasks is the beginning of this relationship. Asking questions and discussing learning helps build strong relationships. 

Students need to use the expertise of the teacher and staff at the College. Getting feedback from the experts is not criticism but a helpful way to move forward in your learning.

Negative mind chatter can cause self doubt and anxiety. Always be solution focused and have a growth mindset. Focus on what we can control and how we can move forward when we are faced with road blocks.

Key question is

What went well this week? And why?

If you can post on your Wellbeing classroom the answer to this question, I will give you bonus house points.

The focus over the next few weeks is:

WHAT’S STRONG, NOT WHAT’S WRONG

God bless

Nick Thrum
Assistant Principal- Students

Term 2, Term 2

Year 8 Newsletter Article

Dear Parents,

In our Wellbeing Lesson on Friday, 23rd April students learnt about the Character Strength of Curiosity. Curiosity is a strong desire to know or learn something; which leads to discovery, happiness and achievement. 

St Andrews College encourages all students;

• To be curious
• To read widely
• To listen attentively
• To try new tasks 
• To  be persistent 

In the Wellbeing Lesson students were taught that true curiosity is not just about asking questions but following a series of actions to find the answers. To be a creative person, students were told to let their curiosity and imagination grow at every opportunity.

According to Henry Ford and I quote;

“ Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty.

Anyone who keeps learning stays young.”  

Indeed a curious mind is the secret to a bigger life.

Below are some photos from B11, G11 and F5 taken during the Well Being Lesson for your perusal.

Until next time,

Melissa Blackwell 
Leader of Learning Wellbeing - Year 8  

B11

8G11 photos Mr Chiappetta- “What am I curious about”?

8F5 with Miss Mifsud

From the 11th March to the 12th March 2021, Year 11 Chang and four teachers Mrs Desira, Mrs Thomson, Mrs O’Hare and Mr Ison, went to Winbourne, Mulgoa for our Year 11 house retreat. Upon arrival, we got settled into our rooms and had morning tea before we settled into the hall for our group activities. Throughout our stay, we not only got to bond with one another, but were also granted the opportunity to reflect on ourselves whilst focusing on the core theme “Our Road To Emmaus”. We listened to testimonies, went to reconciliation with Father Flor, and spent our free time by hanging out with one another around the venue. 

Each teacher did their part  to help us further understand ourselves as an individual, as a group and encourage us to participate, feel at home with each other making the experience such a meaningful and engaging memory to always remember. In the end, it was one of the best experiences Chang has had in a while; the way everyone bonded through the activities and reflections was a true representation of our St Andrews community. Thank you to all the teachers who assisted in organising this event, your effort in running these events are greatly appreciated 

Jasmine Zolerick & Janella Canete

(Year 11 Chang 11C19 & C21)

RECYCLED WINDMILL - SUCCESS?

Our group in year 10, DC Motors, consisting of Ben, Armaan, Gururaj and Loudonald, were required for our ISTEM project to promote renewable energy and resources by constructing blades for a wind turbine out of only recycled materials that were personally brought in. These blades would be required to produce energy when strapped onto a mini-windmill. This project lasted from week one to week 10 during term one. ISTEM is a subject that investigates science, technology, engineering and mathematics and the potential uses of all of these things together.

To start off our windmill design project we created 3 different blade designs which we thought were going to succeed in production power. These three designs were different from each other, some had 4 blades and some had 3, even the way they were curved was different, each design had different sizes, length and width. Once we finalised our blade design we began the process of bringing them to life. We used our unique skills to create each blade. We started off by ruling our designs on cardboard and then precisely cutting them out with a box cutter. 

Once our blade designs were ready for the process of testing, we carefully examined each blade and saw how well each blade was going and which parts we could improve, while we were testing the design we also recorded the data which would be helpful in identifying its overall success. In the future we would have to see if by doing an improvement or fixing a flaw, whether it would actually improve the design or not. In some instances we carefully watched the blade spin around and we noticed that the blades were falling apart from the dowel, so we decided to add glue between the blade and dowel so it could be held firmly. This is an improvement that was made to our design that was noticed due to our constant testing and experimentation.

What was the result of our hard work? Once we had finished in all of our testing and had chosen our final design we had to compete with the remainder of our classmates to see who had the most functional and practical design. There were six different groups in our class, to achieve victory you would have to produce the most power. This was calculated by how much voltage and current was created during the spin of the windmill. Overall our group achieved third place, being beaten by only two other groups. This can be counted as a success as not only did our ideas and designs reach our goal, but we also learnt what was holding us back and why some people did better than us. This allows us to make improvements and further our knowledge about aerodynamics.

Ben Armaan, Gururaj and Loudonald
Year 10

PDHPE
SLR Feedback on Movement Performance

On Tuesday, the Yr 12 SLR class continued their physical preparation for their Games and Sport Application Assessment Task on European Handball. In Weeks 4 and 5 they will be assessed on their attacking, defending, shooting, ball control and sportsmanship skills.

It was pleasing to see the class were eagerly involved in the game and were giving each other feedback on their performance, as well as Ms Desira giving concurrent feedback from the sidelines, during play. Throughout the game, Ms Desira took a series of photos and videos of the students movement skills in the game of European Handball, where students were all able to self assess their form in the variety of movements that will be assessed. 

During our breaks in the game, students were able to immediately view the photos and videos of themselves playing, shooting, defending etc in order to make adjustments in their play. The video clips and photos were also uploaded on the class Google Classroom for students to look into further in their own time, in order to continue working on weaknesses and recognise their strengths. Since European Handball is a fast paced game, it was also easier to recognise the successful body movements in shooting a goal with the use of the photos, as it allowed for a more careful analysis of the biomechanical body actions.

Ms Desira 
Leader of Learning PDHPE 

On Monday 29th March, 14 students represented St Andrews College at the New South Wales Combined Catholic Colleges Competition. This competition comprises all Catholic Schools across NSW. For some of our divers, this was their first major competition and they represented the College and themselves well. 

The first events were the 16 and 17+ springboard, where we were represented by Charlise Kenny and Ava Alley of year 10. These girls had to perform 8 dives and they were quite nervous as some of their dives were quite new. After a great competition, Ava placed 3rd and Charlise 4th with less than 10 points between them.

Next were the 14 and 15 yr springboard events. St Andrews had quite a cohort in the 15 years consisting of: Diana Park and Bianca Infante of year 10, Ava Mulroney, Holly McLouglin and Marley Kozak of year 9. These girls all dived superbly, improving their previous CCC results by over 5 points per dive on average. In the end, Marley came away with 3rd place, closely followed by Holly in 4th and Diana in 5th place. The 14 years girls saw Matilda Ademecki and Isabelle Metcalfe compete in their first competition. They finished a very respectable 4th and 5th.

The final events were the 12 and 13 years springboard. The College was represented by all newcomers to the sport: year 8 students Lara Kearns and Ava Blysma in the 13 yr girls event and Jett Crook in the 13 yr boys event. Lara managed to edge out Ava for 3rd place by less than 10 points and Jett achieved 3rd place, a mere 1 point behind 2nd place.

Our divers train very hard and smart in the few sessions we are able to obtain each season and they always manage to compete above their level of training. They should all be congratulated for the courage and determination they display.

Marley, Jett and Lara will go on to represent the College at the end of May at the NSW All Schools Diving competition. We wish them the very best.

Mrs Anita Weaver
NSW CCC Diving Convenor

ST ANDREWS WRITING COMPETITION FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH.

The March competition was popular and we received many entries from all the grades. The quality was high and I was especially impressed with the number of first-time entrants and the volume of classwork that was submitted to the competition. The winners and runners-up from March are below:

Our Year 7 winner is  - Kathryn Baginski with her poem “I am From”.

Our Year 8 winner is – Elyscia Barret with her short story “If Only”.

Our Year 9 winner is – Jennifer Assi with her short untitled story 

Our Year 10 winner is – Charlise Kenny with her short story “The River so Deep”. 

Congratulations to all of the winners who each receive a $30 gift voucher.

Other writers deserve an honourable mention for their quality and efforts in March. Please congratulate:

Alysse Yates (7), Mackenzie Jones (8), Jovan Dominic (8), Euleila Barret (9), Mohit Sundriyal (9), Archisha Thumma (9), Samara Brennan (9), Bella Ayton (10), Cooper Shield (10).

Thank you to all of those students who entered. I look forward to the April entries. Some samples of our students’ talents are below.

Charlise Kenny, Year 10 – The River so Deep.

She gracefully glided across the bed of tears, with gentle noises of the engine floating among the water. Her hair was flowing with the wind and her smile was as bright as the sun. As she glanced towards me, I stared into her eyes and everything else just faded away. CLASH! The waves smashed up against the boat causing it to rock like a swing. She collapsed amongst the sea and fell head over heels coming for a landing on the ocean that now cried. My jaw dropped as this all happened in a blink of an eye. I needed to do something, but how will I get so far? This question ran through my head over, and over again. My breathing increased to an unprecedented speed and I closed my eyes. Voices were yelling around me and at me. Everything just kept replaying in my head. STOP! I screamed to the voices inside my head. My eyes flashed open and I just ran. Ran into the salty tears, struggling to stay upright. Running across the ocean to the girl who was fading away. My feet were stinging just before I went too deep, shells and weeds ripping my skin, but I was not going to stop. I needed to save her. I reached close to her with my heavy breathing and aching legs, latching myself onto the boat to connect arms with her. She became heavy, water taking over her soul. With all my strength, I pulled her onto the boat and gazed as she took her last breath… 

Anonymous Writer, Year 9.

My mind fell into a drift and I walked back into the park and lost control. It was as if someone was controlling me and this eerie figure was engulfed with my soul. The leaves danced with the wind and the swings drifted back and forth and yet there were no children, not a single soul but mine. I waltzed around hoping to find the children. Where did he take them? Maybe he hid them, maybe they hear the voices too. I hope they didn’t fall into his game and have their eyes sewn shut or pinned a smile on their poor little faces. I felt my body fall into the emptiness of the night sky and gazed at all the stars. I hope the children don’t hear the voices too, poor little things. I heard a faint little “hello” I got up as fast as I could hoping the children came back. It was just the voices coming back. I ran into the forest as fast as I could trying to run away from it all and not hear them screeching in my ear. I ran so fast my heart raced with me. I snapped back into reality but it didn’t feel so normal. 

Bella Ayton, Year 10.

Today when I woke up, everything felt different, instead of displaying 20 hour time they now displayed 14 hour time. This is so annoying and confusing, I didn't know how to read the time and how to tell whether I will be late or early for work. The second thing which was different is today it's January and it's cold. January has never been cold before, it's always hot and good swimming weather. I have no idea how this could even work nor happen, did they change the weather or did they change the month?

I decided to get up, get dressed, and head over to my friend’s house. Stephanie’s chip was faulty so she had the same problem as me but no one knows about it. We are very close because we have to act the same as everyone else and we also have to teach each other how to use the new technology. When I arrived at her house, she would have to answer the door as everyone else would. She always asks the same questions, ‘What's your name, why are you here and how are you feeling’. My answers are always the same, ‘My name is James Thomas, I am here to have a coffee with you, I am feeling very good. Once she knew it was me, she would let me in and we could act however we wanted because no one was around to watch our moves. We once nearly got caught, we forgot to close the curtains, and people under government control were walking past.  

Mackenzie Jones, Year 8.

A glow stick needs to break before it glows

Right?

Yeah. You buy the glow sticks and you break em 

They glow.

So I thought well hey I am a glow stick

Before I glow I will be broken

And so I tried to glow without being broken

Didn’t work. I lacked life experience 

You came along.

I didn’t think you would break me

But you did 

And I glowed 

I was the brightest one in the pack

And then he came after you

And he broke me until I snapped 

Now I am broken 

Sitting in the back of the class

Writing about how a glow stick breaks before it glows

Kathryn Baginski, Year 7

I am from Kings Langley

from Australia and Poland.

I am from the fantasy

which unfolds from the glowing pages of books.

I am from the canvas

Which stood wistfully in the attic

Now glorious, no longer heartsick.

I’m from the overgrown garden

Sheltering millions of small creatures.

I’m from the hibiscus blooms,

Displaying magnificent colours.

From the insects that dwell

In the citrus flower’s petals,

And the skinks which like to hide under stones.

I’m from chocolate and fruit

Prayers and beliefs

From the fictions I create

To the truth that I know.

My brother, my mother, my father, my grandfather,

My family, friends and community

They are all dear to me,

Wherever I may be. 

Elyscia Barret, Year 8.

If only there was a possibility to travel through time. Regrets cloud my every thought and shadows guard my every move. I was young and foolish back then, I had no idea what one day could change. The memories of laughing together and smiling faces crumbled in my hands. I still vividly remember that moment, the moment when I cast you aside and ignored you. The scream that pierced my ears and the tears that pricked my eyes still emerge into my dreams. The person that I used to stand so proudly in front of, now makes me tremble at the sound of their name. 

If only I could have been smarter. Advice I had given others a thousand times over became my own downfall. I suddenly became blind over false beliefs and wasted my time. Your brightened up face and warm words are now my personal chains, holding me back from genuine happiness. Over time I slowly started falling deeper and deeper into a pit of darkness. They say “The higher you climb, the more painful the fall will be.” Years ago when I used to smile, I clawed and climbed my way upwards, never looking down. But now I am endlessly falling into the void. 

If only I had opened my heart. I was resentful towards the world and didn’t notice the affection that radiated off of you. Your gentleness and goodwill created a foundation for people to stand upon. You raised everyone up from the shadows and I was too naive to take you for granted. 

Standing at this place, with flowers surrounding the base, I wish that I could’ve been at your side. The birds chirping loudly and the clouds on the move, I think I finally found me. I can finally say the words that I couldn’t say before, and all of this is true. I get to renew the things that were way overdue, I really and truly love you. 

Loudonald Go, Year 10.

The government had all the power in the world to help fix the climate change problem; although they did not make any effort to do so. All the constant protests years ago had led to a dead end. The government only cared about money; blinded by the very thing that could end their life. 

Now in the present, I fear it is the end of my life, much like all my friends who have died off in the beginning. The chamber over months has become extremely heated, not being able to see the surface in ages. My time here has felt like years, no realisation of the actual time I've spent in this nightmare. We all still live in this boiling basement; the growing heat cooking us alive, ready to feast on our scorched human flesh. I fear any day now, our game of hide and seek will end as the cold grasps of the fire infiltrate our hideout and consume us. 

Mr Dewar

Careers News 30 April 2021

The University of Notre Dame 

The University of Notre Dame Australia is shaping a new generation of ethical leaders through their unique holistic approach to education. The University of Notre Dame is empowering students to make a difference by immersing their students in an intellectual tradition that has inspired the world’s best thinkers for centuries. 

The academics at The University of Notre Dame are industry professionals and leaders in their field who guide students to reach their academic potential. The degree programs offered at Notre Dame are practical, career focused and based on a strong foundation of ethics to help prepare students to achieve their personal and professional goals. Notre Dame provides students with an integrative and transformative educational experience that combines theoretical knowledge, excellent disciplinary expertise and skills relevant to their chosen profession with the aim of producing work-ready graduates.

The University of Notre Dame has an admission process that goes beyond a single score. It is like the Notre Dame study experience, focused on the whole person and includes the following criteria:

• Academic record
• Personal qualities
• Gifts and talents
• Motivation to study
• Contribution to community life

The University of Notre Dame now offers Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) degrees. This means they are supported by HECS-HELP loans just like other public universities. The CSP degrees are: 

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Arts (Politics and Journalism)
• Bachelor of Business Administration
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Communications and Media
• Bachelor of Communications and Media
• Bachelor of Communications and Media/Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Laws
• Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Arts (Politics and Journalism)
• Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Communications and Media
• Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Philosophy
• Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Theology
• Bachelor of Nursing
• Bachelor of Philosophy
• Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics
• Bachelor of Philosophy/Bachelor of Theology
• Bachelor of Primary Education
• Bachelor of Secondary Education
• Bachelor of Theology

The Young Achievers Early Offer Program is an opportunity for students to secure a place at The University of Notre Dame. Applications are now open and close on Wednesday the 1st of September. Click here for more information.

Kenvale
College of Hospitality, Cookery and Events

Kenvale will be holding a Food Festival Open Day on Saturday the 8th of May commencing at 11am and concluding at 1pm.

Open Day is an opportunity for students to experience the Kenvale difference. You will see how this student run Open Day event came together. You will sample the different food stalls, take a campus tour and attend an information session.

Students will have an opportunity to find out more about the future career possibilities from industry leaders; get first-hand advice from current students; have all your questions answered and tour the campus. 

To register for the Kenvale Food Festival Open Day Click here

7th May
PUPIL FREE DAY - STAFF RETREAT

11th May
Naplan Begins

14th May
Year 10 Reflection Day

25th May
Year 11 Parent Teacher Interviews

28th May
East Timor Mufti Day

3rd June
Mabo Day