KEEPING UP WITH SCHOOL DEMANDS

It is that time of the term when each class has either formative or summative assessments of the terms work. Every student will deal with the stress of assessments and a heavy workload differently. Every student needs to know that they are not alone in this. 

We ask that if a student is struggling to win the demands of learning that they see their teacher first. If they need more assistance, please ensure they see the Leader of Learning KLA or the Leader of Wellbeing for their Year Group. If the students start the line of communication, we can usually negotiate a good outcome for all parties concerned. Parents, please feel free to contact the teachers if you have any questions or concerns about learning and your child. 

INAPPROPRIATE COMMENTS TO OTHERS

Growing up our parents always tell us that 

“if you have nothing nice to say, then don’t say anything”. 

We hear negative comments that are made about a person’s race, skin colour, physical appearance, culture etc in the media and online and don’t think about the damage it causes when we use these terms.

St Andrews is a unique place that embraces everyone’s differences. We do not tolerate any discrimination or acts that put down or ridicule another person.  

If at any time you hear or are a victim of this type of behaviour please contact the College as soon as possible.

STUDENTS AND GAMING 

Gaming is becoming a concerning addiction for many young people. Our Government has put out some guidelines to help parents in regards to gaming.

Here are some tips parents can use to help their gamers play a little more intelligently. 

1) Parents, try to invest some time into their gaming, either as a cheerleader / fan, or a player. The benefits of being coached in their favourite game are very important. One reason is understanding the information on the screen, and another reason would be connecting with your kid. The tone of the conversation changes when they see you as a teammate and not an opponent.

2) Try to promote quality over quantity. In this case, suggest that they prioritise real life friends rather than their online friends for the next little while. Don't worry, they'll know how to connect with friends from school online. 

3) Try to take a couple of days off gaming per week where you spend a little more time as a family being productive or planning something that can be done when you're out. In this case, even if it's watching movies on another screen, it's a different activity.

4) Help them understand that overplaying will take them beyond the benefits they think they are going to get from playing. Expect more frustration, less concentration and ultimately less fun.

Limit gaming sessions based on these criteria:

A 3 hour session is plenty and beyond that they will start to feel the effects of overplaying.

Stick to 3 hours as a max, take a day or 2 off, and they will find themselves enjoying their gaming time a lot more than if they were to over indulge during this tough time. Try and keep gaming and social media to weekends and free time and use the week to concentrate on schooling.

What is in the planner for this week?

ARC stands for Active Constructive Responding. This is using welcoming body language and listening to others with enthusiasm. This type of listening promotes positive relationships as it shows the other person that you care about what they have to say.  When you listen to someone think about how you are listening, are you dismissive or attentive?

Brain pathways

Your thoughts and practices are influenced by your experiences.  Your brain changes all the time as we experience different things. We learn from mistakes, failures and triumphs. Every experience helps our brain develop and get stronger.

To become the best possible self

• believe in your self worth as a person
• learn form negative feelings and experiences to build your resilience
• use positive self talk to look for what is right

Act if you notice yourself 

• not looking at the bright side of life
• not trying new things
• blaming others for what you do
• feeling that your best is not good enough
• prefer to be alone often

Increasing brain power helps us be more creative and enhances our memory. We can do this by memorising phone numbers, journaling, sleeping more, laughing, breathing exercises, exercising etc. 

What do you do to build your brain power? Email me with some ideas for some bonus house points.

God Bless

Mr. Nick Thrum

Assistant Principal

Tell Them From Me Survey in Term 2

We greatly value feedback from our community to help us provide the best possible environment for our students to learn and grow. To help us do this, we will be participating in the Tell Them From Me (TTFM) online survey for students, teachers, parents and carers.   

The survey will provide us with valuable insights into what our school community thinks about school life including how engaged students are with school and the different ways that teachers interact with them. Schools in Australia and around the world use the Tell Them From Me survey to help them improve.

More detailed information will be sent to our community in Term 2.

Planning for the 2025 Timetable

While it seems such a long time away, planning for 2025 has already commenced.

We start by receiving feedback from staff (and parents/carers) on our current timetable, and then begin with the Year 10 Subject Selection process (for Year 11 2025) which starts at the end of this term. Ms Kalifa will send more information regarding Year 10 Subject Selection soon.

A Reminder …

I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to contact me by email pfinnerty@parra.catholic.edu.au if you have any questions or feedback regarding the information above which relates to my specific role as Assistant Principal – Systems, Data, and Professional Learning.

Thank you for your continued support

Patrick Finnerty

Our Year 11 retreat was held on the 14th and 15th of March. The theme for the the retreat was taken from the famous quote from St Catherine of Sienna, “Be who God created you to be and you will set the world on fire.” 

The morning sessions allowed the students to consider who they are, made in God’s image, and their many gifts and talents, as they are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” Our small group leaders encouraged the students to consider the qualities that they are sometimes afraid to share, the things that make them unique. Then, with the understanding that their gifts are given by God, the students engaged in activities that celebrated these unique gifts as the prophet Isaiah states “ Be not afraid” for it is God who makes us strong.

After lunch the students participated in a guided prayer walk in their small groups, to consider where it is we find God, as we discern who we are. Followed by Reconciliation which was eagerly embraced by the Year 11 students, and then Mass.

 The Friday affirmation sessions are always special for the students. This is a time where the students show their appreciation for one another and the people God has gifted them to be in their lives. Tears of joy flowed from the students as they read their affirmations with realisation that they are loved and appreciated by their friends and peers.

Thank you to all the teachers who generously gave up their time to attend retreat with our Year 11 students. Mr Frankham, Sr Christina, Mr Chiapetta, Mr Kolek, Mrs O’Hare, Ms Corpuz, Mr Culbert, Mr Jayaratna, Miss Misfud, Mr Lewanddowski, Mr Dowers, Mr Cetnic, and Miss Breeze.

Thank you to Mrs Anthony and Miss Tan for running the program at Kiah Ridge and Winmalee.

Thank you to our wonderful Priests who celebrated Mass at the sites and made time for the students to attend Reconciliation, Fr Kevin Redmond, Fr Kevin Medillo, Fr Floyd Gatana and Fr Andrew Rooney. 

Andrew Hoare

Director of Faith Mission and Learning.

Year 7 has now passed the halfway point in their first term of High School. Overall they have continued to transition well to college. However, the transition period is quickly closing and the expectations of Year 7 will begin to increase as they now settle fully into life at St Andrews. 

Year 7 Camp

From March 7th to 8th, nearly all of our 250 Year 7 students embarked on an exciting journey to the Collaroy Centre nestled along the picturesque northern beaches. This outing marked a significant milestone in their Year 7 experience – their inaugural High School Camp.

During these two action-packed days, students delved into a diverse array of activities. From kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding to abseiling, navigating high ropes courses, engaging in laser tag battles, experiencing the thrill of bubble soccer, mastering archery skills, and scaling rock walls – there was no shortage of excitement!

Beyond the adrenaline rush, the camp provided a valuable opportunity for students to forge new connections with their peers and teachers. Many students shared how they formed lasting friendships during this time and appreciated the chance to mingle with classmates from different homerooms.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to our dedicated staff whose unwavering support and tireless efforts made this camp a resounding success. Without their commitment, none of this would have been possible.

Learning and Wellbeing Focus - Organisation and Home Learning

In the upcoming weeks, Year 7 will concentrate on the significance of organisation and home learning. These skills are pivotal for their academic progression, and our goal is to equip students with the necessary tools to excel.

Establishing a robust 'Home Learning' routine early on in their high school journey is crucial for Year 7 students. At St. Andrews, Home Learning aligns with the College's Learning Framework and serves as a catalyst for continuous improvement in student learning. It's recommended that Stage 4 students (Years 7 & 8) allocate up to 60 minutes for home learning on weekdays.

Here are examples of potential Home Learning tasks:

- Writing summary notes

- Practising exam-style questions

- Editing and refining written work for submission

- Reading assigned texts or novels for comprehension and enjoyment

- Reviewing completed units of study through revision questions

- Undertaking self-directed research assignments and major projects

- Engaging in physical exercise challenges

- Rehearsing lines for a play or preparing for a public speech/presentation

- Practising musical instruments or rehearsing with fellow band members

- Contributing to their Learning Journal by reflecting on their learning experiences

- Watching educational video clips or news segments posted on Google Classroom

- Revisiting unit content for revision purposes, followed by quizzes in subsequent lessons.

During their Wellbeing period, Year 7 students have been allocated time to collaborate with their Learning Advisor in devising their 'Home Learning Timetables/Plans'. It would greatly benefit students to engage in conversations about these ideas and ensure they actively participate in planning and implementing their home learning routines.

Overall, our new Year 7 students are settling in well and have made a great first impression at the college. I am looking forward to seeing them fully adjust to the new school setting in the near future. 

Mr. Jarryd Leaves 

Leader of Wellbeing - Year 7

Dear Parents/Carers and Students of Year 10, 

As we approach the next couple of weeks in the term, it is crucial that Year 10 remain focused and prepared for the upcoming assessments. Every task is an opportunity to learn skills and knowledge and also to demonstrate your skills and knowledge. Goal setting is essential for achieving success in all areas of life. By identifying what we want to accomplish and breaking it down into manageable steps, we can stay motivated, focused, and on track. 

Year 10 has been provided with valuable information and skills in order to develop an effective study plan. By setting a study plan, students can organise and manage their time more effectively. This will be a useful and effective skill that Year 10 students can use not only this year but into their senior studies. 

Remember, with hard work, determination, and a positive attitude, you can achieve great things.

Congratulations to our Semester One Learning Group Leaders for their support and dedication to helping during Learning Group. 

B3 - Antonia Gregoriou and Rojeh Salama 

B7 - Moses Levini and Clariz Dela Rosa 

C1- Cassandra-Alison Caraig & Nikhil Gudur 

C3 - Jasmine Hughe & Alexa Formeloza 

F1 - Levi Waters and Aarshia Saheba

F2 - Nikki Gasendo and Ethan Caraig 

G5 - Grace Tawake and Cayden Landrigan.

G16 - Micaela Sibucao and Gowri Madhisetty   

Lastly, I would like to remind you of the importance of wearing the correct uniform at all times. This includes the correct shoes, socks, tie and blazer. By wearing the correct uniform, you represent yourself and the school in the best possible way. It also creates a sense of unity and helps to establish a positive learning environment. So please ensure that you are in full school uniform every day and lead by example.

Ms Alicia Harwood 

Leader of Wellbeing Year 10 

Dear Parents and Guardians,

With the end of Term 1 approaching, it is truly impressive to reflect on all that Year 11 has achieved during these last few weeks.  Year 11 Retreat took place last week, and it was a fantastic opportunity for our students to bond, reflect, and share in their Catholic faith and journey so far. 

The retreat provided a valuable space for students to focus on personal goals and faith formation, as well as to develop important skills such as teamwork and leadership. It was wonderful to see our students engaging with the activities and supporting each other throughout the retreat.

Next week, we have Parent-Teacher Interviews scheduled. This is a great opportunity for you to meet with your child's teachers, discuss their progress, and address any concerns you may have. Your involvement and support are crucial to your child's success, and we encourage all parents to attend these interviews with their child.

Please ensure you have booked your appointment for the interviews through our online system on Compass. If you have any issues or need assistance, please don't hesitate to contact our front office.

This week has been particularly busy for Year 11 as they have been completing and handing in their first senior assessment tasks. It's important for students to start preparing early, manage their time effectively, and seek help from teachers if needed. Encouraging them to create a study timetable and review class materials regularly can greatly benefit their performance during this busy period and reduce stress and anxiety.

Thank you for your continued support of our Year 11 students. Together, we can help them achieve their full potential.

Mrs Emily Parker

Leader of Wellbeing - Year 11

As we start to enter the final quarter of Term 1, Drama shows no sign of slowing down here at St Andrews. See below just a snippet of the various projects that we have here at St Andrews for Drama.

Project Performance

Throughout the term, we have experienced resounding success with our Project Performance after-school program led by Mr Lewandowski and Ms Rujicica. This extracurricular, weekly event has given our students the opportunity to engage in activities to build skills key to success in performance and building confidence. Students have not only had the opportunity to engage in the usual enjoyable Theatre Sport games, but also the chance to develop their own performances within groups. Mackenzie Jones from Year 11 had this to say about Project Performance:

“My experience in the program has been nothing short of fantastic and enjoyable and I now find myself looking forward to Tuesday afternoons and engaging in the many fun activities we do. I find it so inspirational watching everybody improve week to week whether it be a student in Year 7 just starting with drama or my fellow students from Year 11, who have been doing drama alongside me since Year 8. Seeing everybody grow and improve is such an amazing motivator.”

Drama Masterclass

On Wednesday the 20th of March, Year 11 and Year 12 Drama students had the opportunity to engage in a Masterclass led by representatives from Excelsia College. This excellent learning experience was organised through the ever diligent efforts of our Careers Counsellor, Ms. Therese May. She had this to say about the College:

“Excelsia College is a Christian Based College offering courses in Performing Arts, Education, Business, Social Work and Counselling. Excelsia College is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities and has partnerships with more than 100 Christian Colleges and Universities across the globe. Excelsia College has recently formed a strong partnership with Sydney Film School. Excelsia College has been offering higher education programs since 1983 with a focus on collaborative learning experiences where students reach their potential through strong Christian Values. Students wishing to learn more about the course offerings at Excelsia College are encouraged to contact Ms May.”

As a highly regarded tertiary institution, Excelsia College provided an amazing opportunity for our Drama students to engage with challenging, but rewarding learning opportunities. The workshop served as an amazing opportunity to develop our students' knowledge of mask work and characterisation through physical acting. The Year 11 and 12 students engaged in an intensive course surrounding the work of Jacques Lecoq, a famous French performance practitioner, wherein they had to present a performance in his signature style. Their ability to capture the physicality of the characters found within the masks results in a series of hilarious short performances. 

Our HSC Drama student, Jenille Calingao, had this to say about this opportunity:

“The Excelsia College incursion was engagingly fun and expertly informative as it enhanced the senior drama students' theatrical skills. We indulged in the practice of utilising our physical and acting abilities as we heavily experimented with strengthening our improvisation by creating our own characters with the assistance of masks and costumes provided for us. It was beneficial, especially as a Year 12 participant, to collect experiential learning that’ll be used as evidence for further studies and assessments as we head towards our trials and HSC examinations in the upcoming days; this event also allowed us to glimpse into opportunities for those who wish to do theatrical studies in university after high school. Overall, I was extremely grateful to take part in this one-in-a-million chance as I’ve gained new knowledge and skills that have developed strengths and struggles in drama.”

Through the expert leadership of the professionals of Excelsia College, our Stage 6 Drama students not only gained valuable experiential learning, but also had an enjoyable time doing so. 

Stations of the Cross

Next week we have the privilege of presenting the College with expressing our faith through a representation of the Stations of the Cross. This will take place during the Liturgy on Holy Thursday and serves as a crucial reminder of the sacrifices and hardships endured by Christ. A big thank you to Mr Hoare and Mrs Andrews who, alongside the Drama Department, have worked tirelessly to make this representation of faith possible.

Our 2024 Production

As the end of Term 1 looms just over the horizon, we start to look forward to the opportunities coming out next Term. Auditions for our 2024 Production will be held early in next term. Expect sign ups for this wonderful event to come out in near future.

The College Theatre Productions are an excellent opportunity for students to engage in confidence and leadership building skills. They also serve as a wonderful display of student talent and success. However, above all else, they are fun! As stated by our HSC Drama Student, Ivan Farkas:

“There are many events that allow students such as myself to express their love for the creative arts and performance, and the St Andrews production of ‘A Midsummer Night's Dream’ was no exception. It was an event that not only allowed me to perform with my fellow drama students and friends, however also allowed myself and others to learn off of eachother, and pass our own knowledge down to younger students. The production allowed for camaraderie between grades, and the application of skills that can be used in everyday life in and outside of school. This type of learning and teaching is something that goes beyond a classroom and provides me with practical experience in a professional environment.”

Keep your eyes open, for something wicked this way comes. Enjoy some photos from last year’s production for a sneak peek of what a St Andrews Production looks like:

Year 10 Food Technology students have been busy creating hot cross buns in preparation for Easter. They made the dough from scratch by using dry yeast and added flavours like white chocolate and craisins to this dough which they all enjoyed. Our students learnt how involved the process is for a simple hot cross bun. 

Ms Alicia Harwood and Mrs Sally Akkoumi  

Australian Idol Excursion

170 students from elective music years 9-12, Vet Entertainment yr 11 & 12, Drama yr 11 and 12 and all members of the St Andrews Choir attended the semi-final of Australian Idol on Monday the 18th of March. It was a truly valuable experience for students to gain an insight into the world of television production. Our students were very excited to be part of the live audience and witness some very high level vocal performances. They were receptive at the appropriate times as well as attentive and respectful at all other times throughout the live recording. We were treated to some amazing vocal performances by the six finalists as they covered genres such as Pop, country, dance, ballads and R&B. The atmosphere was electrifying as our students rose to the occasion by screaming and clapping for their favourite singers. All of our student performers and their families  were very appreciative of the opportunity to attend the event.

St Andrews College, Marayong would like to invite you to the annual year 11 Jazz concert 2024. 

On Wednesday, week 10, Term 1, we will be showcasing the learning that has taken place during the Jazz unit . Students have studied the topic, unpacked the fundamentals and aligned them to the concepts of music. They have exercised their listening skills and have also developed their newly acquired jazz skills. Most students are utilising elements of improvisation throughout their performances and exploring typical expressive techniques found across the jazz genre. Our year 11 students will be marked live that evening by all the teachers of the Music faculty. Entry to the Jazz concert is free and light refreshments will be available on the night. 

We hope to see you there.

Mr Chiappetta

Director of Performance 

Our College diving team has had a wonderful influx of new and enthusiastic divers this term. They have been training hard using our dryland facilities at school and making the most of their water time at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre. 

Each week our divers have the opportunity to attend up to four water sessions on Tuesday and Friday evenings, Thursday during sport, and Saturday mornings. It is exciting to see our regular competition team be joined by fresh talent and to see the way they have mentored the new divers. 

Students competing in Diving NSW competitions as part of St Andrews College Diving Club, have been extremely busy over summer. They competed in the 4th Interclub competition, Country Championships, and State Age Championships. Each diver continues to achieve personal best scores and climb the rankings in their age group. They are also now competing from the 3m board and learning dives from the 5m platform.

Special mention to Analise Gregoriou who has qualified for the Australian Age Nationals being held in Melbourne next month. Analise has qualified on both the 1m and 3m boards. Congratulations to Eesa Mir who placed 2nd in his age group on 1m at the recent NSW State Championships.

Below is the current College Diving Team and the results from the past few Diving NSW competitions. All of our divers will be competing at the NSW Combined Catholic Colleges competition on the 4th of April and we wish them every success.

St Andrews College Diving Team 2024

Dominic Azar Ohriana Baumgartner Amber Bissett Antonio Capeski

Ronan Davis Claire De Vos Hannah Farag Analise Gregoriou Rachael Griffiths Keana Hickey Alexander Koufos Matthew Lemura

Micah Makari Eesa Mir Curtis O’Dea Despina Thimiopoulos-Wilson

Student manager : Sophia Hourani

St Andrews College Diving Club results

Claire De Vos: 4th Interclub: 3rd in Level 5 Pathways, 15th in 14/15 girls age group.

Analise Gregoriou: Country Championships: 2nd on 1m, 5th on 3m. 4th Interclub: 3rd in 12/13 girls age group, 1st in Pathways Level 6. State Championships: 8th on 1m, 5th on 3m.

Rachael Griffiths: Country Championships: 5th on 1m. 4th Interclub: 14th in 14/15 girls age group. State Championships: 8th on 1m, 9th on 3m.

Keana Hickey: 4th Interclub: 5th in Pathways Level 6.

Eesa Mir: Country Championships: 1st Level 3 Pathways, 2nd on 1m. 4th Interclub: 2nd Level 3 Pathways, 3rd in 12/13 age group. State Championships: 2nd on 1m, 4th on 3m.

Anita Weaver

Head of Diving

Dear Students, Parents, and Guardians,

On Friday 8th of March we had the pleasure of attending the Society and Culture Association Awards in support of Shaniya Lal who received her award for placing 9th in the state for her HSC examination. 

The Society and Culture Association proudly recognises exceptional achievements within the NESA Society and Culture course. They aim to honour Teachers and Students for their successes, achievements and accomplishments.

Shaniya demonstrated a deep understanding of Society and Culture, as well as a passion for learning and exploring new ideas. Alongside her incredible examination mark, Shaniya also produced an exceptional Personal Interest Project titled 'Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?' An inquiry into the systematic process of colonisation contributing to the presence of internalised Eurocentric and colourist ideals imparting the identity of Indian youth in multicultural Australia.

Her dedication to her studies is truly commendable, and her enthusiasm and curiosity are what make this subject so rewarding to teach. We look forward to seeing her continued growth and success in the future.

The awards also aim to honour the exceptional dedication and accomplishments of Society and Culture Teachers, Congratulations to Mr Danny Cetinic and Mrs Emily Parker who both taught Shaniya across her Stage 6 studies. Thank you as well to Dr Kennaugh, Mr Camilleri and Ms Malonzo for attending the awards in support of Shaniya.

Congratulations once again to Shaniya! Your hard work and achievements are an inspiration to us all.

PUBLIC SPEAKING UPDATE

CSDA

Two weeks ago, our Zone Final CSDA Public Speaking competitors, Emily Stevenson Year 9, Lucas Baginski Year 9 and Lexi Iskander Year 10 competed at Emmaus Catholic College, Kemps Creek. 

The Zone Final is a tough competition, and whilst none of our speakers made it through to the grand final, they should all be commended for their efforts. 

Congratulations once again to our speakers. 

Voice of Youth

Our Rostrum Voice of Youth Speakers competed on Monday last week. FOur of our students competed at Montgrove College, Orchard Hills in both the Junior and Senior Divisions. Of our four students, two were awarded runner up and are on standby for the regional final should one of the competitors drop out. 

Congratulations to Finilita Aho, Year 8 and Samantha Xavier, Year 10 for this achievement. 

Regardless, all speakers should be proud of themselves for their efforts. Every speaker conducted themselves well and represented the college with pride.

Warm regards,

Miss Mickaella Douglas,

Debating and Public Speaking Leader

College Leadership Team

Leaders of Learning - Wellbeing

College Leaders of Learning - KLA

College Leaders of Learning