2023 NAPLAN Results

This week I am sharing with you important information about your child’s NAPLAN results which will be arriving at the College in the first few weeks of Term 3. 

NESA States the following:

From 2023, proficiency standards replace the previous reporting of student NAPLAN

results that used numerical bands and the national minimum standard.

What are proficiency standards?

Proficiency standards describe what students are expected to know and should be able to do in literacy and numeracy at the time of NAPLAN.

There is a proficiency standard for each test area within each year level.

Students’ results are measured against 4 levels of proficiency:

Exceeding: The student’s result exceeded expectations at the time of testing.

Strong: The student’s result met challenging but reasonable expectations at the time of testing.

Developing: The student’s result indicated that they are working towards expectations at the time of testing.

Needs additional support: The student’s result indicated that they did not achieve the learning outcomes expected at the time of testing. They are likely to need additional support to progress satisfactorily.

The students in Year 7 and Year 9 have achieved outstanding results:

In Year 7, our students achieved proficiency in the following areas:

Reading - 96%

Writing - 95%

Spelling - 96%

Grammar and Punctuation - 92%

Numeracy - 94%

In Year 9, our students achieved proficiency in the following areas:

Reading - 98%

Writing - 98%

Spelling - 99%

Grammar and Punctuation - 95%

Numeracy - 98%

As alway, these assessments continue to provide valuable information for teachers and students to focus on learning growth. The data we receive will also assist us to provide support for all students in their achievement of the national proficiency standards in Literacy and Numeracy.

It is always wonderful to end the term with good news, a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students and staff at St Andrews College.

I wish you all a safe holiday.

Ms Josilin Kalifa

Assistant Principal

Teaching, Learning and Wellbeing.

Biggest Morning Tea

It’s been a very busy last couple of weeks, with the student leaders organising many different activities. Firstly, led by College Captain, Caitlyn dela Cruz, the students organised their own Biggest Morning Tea - which was held on both campuses. Many delicious offerings were on hand, such as homemade muffins, biscuits, cookies, cakes, and the students enthusiastically supported this great cause. Congratulations to all who were involved with the organisation and all those who supported the Biggest Morning Tea. It was a huge success!

Teamwork Week

Last week was Teamwork Week. A big thank you to the SRC for raising awareness about the importance of Teamwork, and then for organising such wonderful activities for the staff and students to participate in. These included the Paper Plane challenge, Learning Group photo challenges; charades and scavenger hunts.  Our School Captains, Makoi & Cameron, have written more about Teamwork Week in their Newsletter Article.

Principal’s Awards

Congratulations to the following students who have received Principal’s Awards:

House Cup Points Update

The updated totals are:

Bennelong: 31, 096

Chang: 34, 113

Frances: 30, 641

Gould: 31, 432

Mrs Sue Cooper

Leader of Wellbeing and Learning

scooper@parra.catholic.edu.au

Hi Year 7, 

We are almost at the end of term 2. It has been an interesting term thus far with a lot of things having to be spoken about during our year meeting.

A message to parents regarding Social Media and Social Media Groups

It has come to our attention that a lot of students in Year 7 are part of a few large social media group chats particularly Snapchat, Instagram and Discord. These group chats have increasingly become a distraction and a platform for students to say inappropriate and hurtful comments to each other and share photos. These group chats are a big concern as they may include students from other schools who can potentially gain information and evidence of your child if screenshotted and kept on their phones. We bring this to your attention as their parents to monitor their social media and technology use. We understand that technology is part of how people communicate and live their social lives however we want your children to use this in an appropriate way. 

If you have any questions or concerns about your child and their technology use, please do not hesitate to contact the school or email me (kcarlos3@parra.catholic.edu.au) to organise a phone call or meeting. 

Breach of Technology

As spoken previously to you, we need to ensure that we are not letting our technology affect our learning, you should not be playing games during class, even if you have finished your work, it does not mean that you can play games or watch videos without the teacher knowing. A fair few breaches of technology are being issued and the same students are receiving the same. If you receive 3 breaches of technology it is an Afternoon Detention.

Motivation (3 minutes a day)

You may have seen me post short videos on our Wellbeing Google Classroom. This will be a continual thing where I will find videos that will help motivate and inspire you to be a better person or student. If you have any topics you wish for me to find videos for, email me. 

Unity Day

Unity Day is coming up next Friday. This is a great day to experience other people’s culture and you will participate in some cultural activities and will be immersed in performances on this day. You are allowed to come to school in your cultural dress if you feel comfortable wearing this. Please ensure that you are wearing appropriate clothing. Wearing a jumper with your culture is not a form of cultural dress.

Your lunch will be provided and it will be the food you selected on the google form sent out on compass. 

Parent Student Teacher Conferences

Parents student teacher conferences will begin next Tuesday 20th June and Wednesday 28th. Parents would have received a link to book these interviews for your teachers. Please attend as this is important for your learning and how you can improve.

Final Message

As we finish up the term, it is not a time to relax. You should continue to learn in every lesson and make sure you do the right thing. Let us be kind and respect one another and focus on ourselves also. Let us all become the best version of ourselves. 

Mr Kharl Carlos

Leader of Wellbeing Year 7

Dear Students and Parent/Careers of Year 9, 

Congratulations on another successful term Year 9! You have worked diligently this term applying yourselves in class and in your assessment tasks. It has been amazing to see so many of you participating in many extra curricular activities that we have here at the College. It was another busy term with the Athletics Carnival, Year 9 Reflection Day and Unity Day. 

Year 9 Reflection Day 

On Friday 16th of June, Year 9 attended and participated in their Reflection Day. This day was about understanding God and our connection with Jesus in our lives. Students participated in a lot of icebreaker games and small group sessions in which they had to think about their choices, think about themselves and to reflect on the day. Students watched the YMT group perform dramas with a message which the students were able to understand. 

Year 9 was given the enlightening opportunity to explore our understanding of God and our relationship with Him. The Youth Mission Team shared enriching personal experiences to engage us in growing our insights of God. Additionally, we were all captivated by the many diverse games which built on our teamwork skills and our self identity. The optimistic efforts of the team leaders and mentors are greatly appreciated as they fortified the experiences of Year 9’s Reflection Day. 

Monica Luong 

The Youth Mission Team shared with us scenarios in the form of amusing plays to deliver thoughtful messages regarding social and spiritual growth and maturity. It was a hands-on day that involved us as students getting out of our comfort zone to meet new people and enjoy our time. I would definitely recommend it to the younger students.

The reflection day allowed for all of year 9 to delve into new and undiscovered thoughts and feelings, providing an opportunity to see what makes us who we are. Throughout the entertaining sessions run by YMT (Youth Mission Team) we got to listen to insightful experiences from the team members and play various different games to develop our distinct understanding of how God can provide a guiding light to our lives. Over all, the year 9 reflection day was an incredible chance for personal growth and we are very thankful for the countless things we learnt.

Uniform Expectations

As always, a reminder of uniform expectations. If you need a reminder of what the uniform expectations are, look in your Learning Planner on pages 15A and 16A.

We wish to remind everyone again that the following needs to be done at all times or a red card will be issued:

• Blazers should be worn into Learning Group until their Learning Advisor sees them
• Blazers should be worn after period 6 and when leaving the College
• Non-St Andrews items such as beanies and hoodies SHOULD NOT be worn to school. 
• If a student cannot wear their sports uniform, they are required to wear their normal school uniform
• School jumpers cannot be worn over sports uniforms. A school sports jacket is required.
• Boys must have their facial hair shaved
• Hair must be above the collar
• No nail polish or eyelash extensions. 

We understand with the weather getting a lot colder students may want to keep extra warm. However, you need to comply with the school policy and not bring any hoodies or beanies. A black or navy scarf and gloves can be worn. 

Thank you to the many parents/careers and students who were able to attend the Parent Teacher Conferences in week 9 and week 10. It was great to have those informal conversations with many parents face to face.  

Wishing you all a restful and relaxing break. See you next term! 

Ms Alicia Harwood 

Leader of Wellbeing Year 9

Vinnies Winter Sleepout

Our Year 12 students responded in force to the opportunity to support the less fortunate in society during the Vinnies Winter Sleepout on the 16th June. 72 St Andrews Year 12 students braved the elements and slept rough, some building cardboard fortresses to enable them to endure the cold during the night. Prior to bedding down the students engaged in a campaign led by the St Andrews Social Justice Society, to enable the students to provide a response to the issue of Homelessness in Australia. Miss Tan’s special guest speaker Tommy Francisco, sang his song to the students called Homeless, before answering questions from the students regarding his faith and experiences. The students were provided with only a slice of bread and a cup of vegetable soup for dinner, then along with Mr Frankham and Mr Lewandowski went out to face the winter night. The students' morning reflections demonstrated the difficulties they endured attempting to sleep outside, and a newfound appreciation for all they have, and what homeless people have to endure. Thank you to Miss Tan, Mr Finnerty and Mr Kolek for their contributions to supporting our students for the night, and Mr Frankham and Mr Lewandowski for sleeping outside along with the students. The students raised $1137 in support of this worthwhile cause.

Year 9 Reflection Day

Year 9 students participated in their reflection Day on 16th June 2023.

The day was hosted by  YMT (https://www.ymt.com.au/) who encouraged the students to more fully appreciate the gift of their dignity and worth by coming to know God more personally. During the session the students also considered that it is both possible and desirable to know Jesus as an intimate friend. The students engaged in drama skits, Ice-breakers and had small group discussions to discuss who is “The Real Me.” 

The highlight of the day was the “Personal sharing with Jesus session,” where the students were able to venerate and sign the cross and reflect on their relationship with him.

The students thoroughly enjoyed the day and gave the YMT program the thumbs up. Thank you to Ms Harwood, Mr Chiapetta, Mr Alata, Mr Ison, Ms Garcia and Miss Amiri who assisted and supported our Year 9 students on the day.

Unity Day Liturgy - Pentecost.

Our Unity Day Liturgy was the perfect way to ask for God’s Blessing as we began St Andrews Unity Day. In our Liturgy we focused upon Pentecost, the time when people were all united by the Holy Spirit coming upon them as tongues of fire, allowing people to speak in many different languages. Led by Fr Kevin Redmond our students engaged in a Pentecost experience, as they read the Prayers of the Faithful in 10 different languages that are spoken within the College. Thank you to Cooper Shield for the introduction, Cate Astillo and Romeo Atengco who spoke Tagalog. Youssef Tannos who spoke Arabic, Isabelle Metcalf and Samara Pineda Otalvaro Spanish. Garry Singh Punjabi, Luke Binney who spoke English, Priyansha Krishna Fijian Hindi, Suwanthi Edirisinghe who spoke Sinhalese. Makoi Malual Dinka, Teddy Worku Amharic, and Joanna Owusu who spoke Twi. The Holy Spirit generates diversity in every age, he causes new and varied gifts to blossom in all people, then he brings about unity, he joins together, gathers and restores harmony, uniting the whole world. St Andrews celebrates this unity every day as we continue to walk together, work together and love each other, as a community, and as the one Body of Christ.

Andrew Hoare

Director of Faith, Mission and Learning.

Last week in Week 9, St Andrews College celebrated Teamwork Week. The College's SRC planned games and activities associated with Teamwork, so students could participate and work collectively as a team during Learning Group.

It was truly incredible to see how enthusiastic the students were about Teamwork Week. Students were willing to step outside of their comfort zone to try something new and collaborate with their peers to attain the day's objective. 

We noticed growth among the students as they came together to push through the challenges they encountered as a team. They were able to learn how to maximise working together so they could complete the daily challenges. And they banded together to assist one and another.

The SRC’s goal was directed so everyone could practise a minimum of one skill associated with teamwork. Some of the skills that students were able to gain were listening skills, communication skills, collaboration skills, and resilience.

On behalf of the College Student Leadership Team, we thank all the students for their involvement in this year's Teamwork Week.

Makoi Malual & Cameron Callaghan

School Captains

Unity Day

Unity Day's multicultural performances were a resounding success, celebrating the vibrant tapestry of diversity. From mesmerizing traditional dances to soul-stirring musical showcases, the event showcased the extraordinary talents of the students at St Andrews College. The stage became a microcosm of global harmony, transcending borders and fostering mutual understanding. The performances transported the audience on a journey across continents, immersing them in rich traditions, captivating melodies, and captivating stories. Unity Day's triumph lay not only in the breathtaking displays of talent but also in the profound sense of unity and appreciation it generated among attendees. This multicultural extravaganza left an indelible mark, underscoring the beauty of multiculturalism and the power of artistic expression.

Junior CAPA Showcase

Junior Capa Night's art work, music and drama performances surpassed all expectations, leaving the audience awestruck and inspired. The young talents displayed their remarkable artistic prowess through captivating visual creations and captivating performances. The artworks were a symphony of colors and forms, showcasing the boundless creativity and imagination of the junior artists. The music and drama performances were nothing short of extraordinary, as the young performers took the stage with confidence and delivered captivating renditions that moved the hearts of all who witnessed. Junior Capa Night proved to be a testament to the incredible potential of the next generation, leaving a lasting impression on all attendees.

Visual Arts Opportunities

What an incredible term it has been, with students actively engaging in numerous opportunities that were made available to them. As we move into Term 3, we eagerly anticipate the students' enthusiastic participation in upcoming thrilling extracurricular activities.

We are thrilled to share the exciting news about a new after-school activity in Term 3: “Seize the Clay” - Pottery Club! This will take place on Tuesday afternoons and we are looking forward to the different ceramic techniques students will learn during this time. Students who successfully applied for both the Art Club and Pottery Club have already been notified through Compass.

Wishing our SAC artists a wonderful and restful school holidays!

Year 10 Visual Arts

Year 10 artists spent the past few weeks working on their ceramic pieces for the practical component of the unit “Fine Diner”. Each student had to produce two items, a meal vessel and a drink vessel. During our lessons, students learnt about the coil and slab method as well as how to use moulds. It is wonderful to see the work students have produced so far and we are excited to glaze these next term! See below for a sneak peek!

Year 8 Visual Arts

Year 8 students have been multitasking in their classes. They are working with clay to create their Mombassa inspired minis (a mini pinch pot, mug or vessel). Students have been very creative in their designs, using Australian animals and different signs and symbols to communicate their meaning. Whilst the ceramic pieces are being fired in the kiln, students are finishing off their acrylic painting, inspired by our Australian identity.

It’s been fantastic to see our students work with a number of different mediums this term. See below for their work so far this term and we know they are very excited to receive their ceramic pieces back when they return for Term 3.

Thank you to our Year 8 classes and we wish you all the best in our next rotation.

Mrs Claudia Harris

Leader of Learning Visual Arts

SAC Art Club has been a great success throughout this term. Despite the busy nature of Term 2, students managed to come along on Tuesday afternoons to ‘wind down’ and embrace their creative spirit alongside their like-minded peers. Students enjoyed the cafe-style ambience of art club with free reign to work on what they desired with tips from both staff and fellow students. Students challenged themselves with materials out of their comfort zone which was fantastic to see. 

Thank you to all the students who signed up for this Term and for being the very first group to kick off SAC Art Club for 2023! It’s wonderful to see so many artistic students in our College willing to share their talents with others.

I look forward to seeing what the upcoming Term 3 group has to offer.

Have a safe and restful break.

Miss Leezah Rivera

HSIE and Visual Arts Teacher

A group of students from Years 8-10 have been taking part in an exciting and challenging program that combines STEM education with real-world racing experience. The F1 in Schools program is a global competition that invites students to design and build their own CO2-powered race cars, then compete against teams.

Over the last couple of weeks, the participating students have been busy in the workshop, using their woodworking skills to shape and refine their cars. This is just one step in a long process that involves engineering, design, and marketing, as teams work to create the fastest, most innovative, and most appealing cars possible.

In Week 8, students had the opportunity to race their cars on our race track to test their builds against other students. This learning was highly valuable as we were able to discuss why some cars performed better than others and gave students ideas on how they might refine their designs. 

Our finalists for the races were:

• Loughlan Go
• Alex La Guidara
• Isaiah Pineda 
• Dominic Filipe

With Loughlan receiving the championship for the day!

We would like to commend the students for their final designs and we look forward to seeing how this group continues to improve their ideas next term!

Miss Serbin & Miss Mifsud

Blacktown City Council Apprenticeships and Traineeships

Applications have opened for the 2024 Blacktown City Council Apprenticeships and Traineeships Program. Opportunities are listed below.

Apprenticeships:

Heavy Vehicle Mechanic  

Plumber x 2  

Electrician x 2  

Nursery (Horticulture)

Traineeships:

Asset Construction  

Animal Rehoming Centre 

Community Development 

Civil Asset Maintenance 

City Planning  

Key Venues  

People & Culture   

Plant & Energy  

Property Services

Position Criteria:

• Applicants who are motivated, enthusiastic, and committed to providing a high standard of customer service
• Applicants who have strong verbal and written communication skills
• Applicants must be an Australian citizen or be eligible to work in Australia (evidence required)
• Applicants of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background are encouraged to apply.

Applications close on the Friday 28th of July 2023

Early offers will be made in September 2023

Positions will commence in January 2024

Interested students are encouraged to visit the links below for more information and to apply.

Any student wishing assistance with their application are welcome to see Ms May.

University of NSW Portfolio Early Entry Conditional Offer

The UNSW Portfolio Early Entry Conditional Offer provides an opportunity for students to showcase their creativity, passion and potential to succeed in their chosen degree area. 

Students interested in securing an early conditional offer for Term 1, 2024, can now register for the Portfolio Entry Workshops. Students will learn how to submit an outstanding portfolio for eligible degrees across Arts, Design & Architecture and Engineering. 

In-person workshop - Arts, Design & Architecture only

Wednesday, 12 July (11am - 12pm)

UNSW Art & Design, Paddington

Click here to register

Online workshop - Arts, Design & Architecture and Engineering 

Thursday, 13 July (6pm - 7pm)

Online

Click here to register

Click here for more information about the UNSW Portfolio Early Entry Conditional Offer

ADFA Open Day – Canberra

Date: Saturday 19th August

Time: 9:00am – 4:00pm

Location: ADFA Campus, Northcott Drive, Campbell, ACT

Visit the Canberra campus and explore what ADFA has to offer firsthand:

• Learn about combining military training with world class UNSW degrees in Arts, Business, Cyber Security, Engineering & Computing and Science;
• Meet with current ADFA Trainee Officers to learn about life on campus; and
• See a variety of military and educational displays such as Air Force aircraft flyovers, Army parachute display team, Navy divers, abseiling, military vehicle displays, the ADFA marching band and much more.

For more information view the flyer below.

AIE Game Jam Challenge

The Academy of Interactive Entertainment invites students from Years 10, 11 and 12 to a Game Jam Challenge where students have the opportunity to bring their game development skills to the forefront. It's a chance to collaborate with like-minded peers, learn new techniques, and build a playable game from scratch within a limited time frame. 

The Academy of Interactive Entertainment encourages students to step into the spotlight and let their imagination soar as they transform their ideas into interactive digital wonders.

The Game Jam Challenge will be held during the July Holidays - Monday the 10th and Tuesday the 11th of July. The cost is $20 and includes lunch both days.

Click here for more information and to register.

Learn to Drive

Wesley Mission is offering 10 free driving lessons for students who are aged 16 to 17. 

Students need to meet the eligibility assessment criteria which includes:

• Young people whose families are experiencing financial hardship which is creating barriers to accessing driving lessons. 
• Young people who are experiencing mental health and other challenges. 

Interested students are encouraged to see Ms May for the Application Form or can email: youthservices@wesleymission.org.au to apply.

For more information please view the flyer below.

HSC Study Sessions

From 25-29 September 2023, Western Sydney University will be offering a range of online study sessions to assist Year 12 students in their preparations for the HSC Examinations.

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.

The HSC Study Sessions are offered in partnership with leading education services provider InspirationED, with their team of highly qualified HSC teachers and experienced markers to deliver the sessions.

All students are encouraged to visit this link to register.

We are thrilled to share the news of our Year 8 students' recent Food Technology practical lesson. Students learnt a new recipe in Week 9 - Scones; honing their culinary skills and learning important lessons along the way. 

This hands-on experience served as a formative task, focusing on various essential skills. Students showcased their ability to listen attentively to instructions, interpret a recipe accurately and measure ingredients with precision. Time management was also emphasised, ensuring they completed the recipe within the designated time frame.

Furthermore, students prioritised hygiene and cleanliness throughout the lesson, understanding their importance in any food preparation setting. 

We applaud our Year 8 students for their dedication and enthusiasm during this practical lesson. Their achievements in the kitchen will undoubtedly serve them well in their culinary journeys. 

Keep up the excellent work, Year 8!

Want to try making the Scones yourself? With the recipe below, you can!

Shanai Mifsud

TAS Teacher

College Leadership Team

Leaders of Learning - Wellbeing

College Leaders of Learning - KLA

College Leaders of Learning