St Andrews College Marayong eNewsletter Term 2 Week 2

Welcome to the start of Term 2. 

I would like to thank the students for the way in which they have started learning so far in Term 2. 

I would like to remind students and families that all students are to be in full winter uniform including their hair styles as expected and their use of jewellery. Please do not wear the school jumper with the sports uniform.  

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. 

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 basis 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 has 2 counselors, 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 Wellbeing are also available to 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.

Why are some of our kid’s suffering from Mental Illness 

Kids these days are over-stimulated and over-given material objects, but they are deprived of the foundations of a healthy childhood, such as:

• Emotionally available parents
• clearly defined boundaries
• Responsibilities
• Balanced nutrition and adequate sleep
• Movement in general but especially outdoors
• Creative gaming, social interaction, informal gaming opportunities and spaces for boredom

What are some of the issues with our kids:

• Digital Distracted Parents
• Pampering and permissive parents who let children "rule the world" 
• Kids are given everything without earning it or being responsible for getting it
• Inappropriate sleep and unbalanced nutrition
• A sedentary lifestyle
• Endless stimulation, constant technology, instant gratification and absence of boring moments

What you can do?

• Set boundaries, Don't be afraid to say "no" to your children 
• Offer children a balanced lifestyle 
• Provide nutritious food and limit junk food.
• Spend at least one hour a day outdoors doing activities 
• Enjoy a daily family dinner without the distraction of smartphones or technology.
• Play games with the family.
• Involve your children in a task or housework.
• Implement a consistent sleep routine to ensure your child sleeps long enough. 
• Teach responsibility and independence. 
• Don't do everything for your children, instead of giving them the fish, show them how to fish.
• Teach them to wait and delay gratification.
• Provide opportunities for "boredom", because boredom is the moment when creativity awakens. Don't feel responsible for always keeping your kids entertained.
• Do not use technology as a cure for boredom.
• Avoid using technology during meals, in cars, restaurants, etc these are socialising moments. 
• Be emotionally available to connect with children and teach them self-regulation and social skills:
• Turn off the phones at night when kids have to go to bed to avoid digital distraction. Leave them in another room to allow proper sleep.
• Teach them to recognize and handle their own frustrations and anger.
• teach them manners and social skills
• Connect emotionally - smile, kiss, kiss, tickle, read, dance, jump, play with them.

What’s in the Planner?

This week the focus is on Respectful Relationships. Students should connect, respect, and protect each other. Be mindful of others' body language, have empathy for another person’s situation and feelings, use your strengths to help others, call out the students that are being aggressive or mean or tell a teacher.

Our ancestors were always on the lookout for dangers to survive, they naturally looked for what could go wrong. Today we don’t have the same dangers but we still look out for what could go wrong. 

Negative mind chatter (negative bias) 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.

One of the focuses we should have is Active Constructive Responding (ACR). This is about listening enthusiastically, making eye contact, using positive gestures to make them feel valued. We must be mindful about being dismissive, showing no enthusiasm or being non responsive to others. Positive engaged listening to others helps us build relationships. 

The focus over the next few weeks is:

WHAT’S STRONG, NOT WHAT’S WRONG

God Bless

Mr. Nicholas Thrum

Assistant Principal

MALPRACTICE, PLAGIARISM AND THE USE OF AI 

NESA states that malpractice is any attempt to gain an unfair advantage over other students. It is unacceptable in any form, including but not limited to:

• Plagiarism
• In reference to AI chat bots/tools such as grammarly, some examples of plagiarism can be identified as (but are not limited to):
• Handing in work generated from these AI tools as your own
• Using AI to rewrite your essay so it sounds better
• Copying and pasting chunks of text from AI generated information.
• Using AI to complete in class tasks and telling the teacher that this is your own work.
• collusion
• misrepresentation
• breach of assessment conditions
• bringing unauthorised equipment or material 
• bringing in or using electronic devices unless specifically approved.

The College treats allegations of malpractice very seriously and detected malpractice will jeopardise a student’s achievement within the task.

Some tips when engaging with AI for Learning.

Students should focus on using AI as a tool and not a Substitute for their own work. AI should complement your work, not replace it. Treat AI-generated content as a resource or reference point, and always add your own analysis, interpretation, and critical thinking to the output.

It is mandatory that students cite their sources. Just like with any other source, if you're using AI-generated content, make sure to cite it properly in your work. Give credit where credit is due, whether it's AI-generated text, images, or data.

It is the responsibility of students to always verify the accuracy and reliability of the information generated by AI. 

UPCOMING SUBJECT SELECTION DATES

Year 11 2025

Tuesday 4 June, 2024 at 6pm. The information night will be held on the Senior Campus

Year 9 2025

Tuesday 11 June, 2024 at 6pm. The information night will be held on the Junior Campus

Tell Them From Me (TTFM) Survey

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. 

Between 22 May and 9 June, students will be given the opportunity and time to participate in this survey during regular school hours. Students will be given a random username and password to access and complete the survey online. Students’ names cannot be linked to their responses which allows it to be completely anonymous. Results will show all student scores combined together – it is not possible to single out individual students in the results.

Parents and carers will be able to participate using a link we will send to you separately in coming weeks.

The survey takes approximately 20-minutes to complete. The survey measures include wellbeing, physical health, and behaviours and attitudes linked to student success. The survey also allows participants to give their thoughts and feedback in one open-ended question.

Participation in the survey is entirely voluntary. You or your child/children need not take part if either of you do not wish to. If during the survey participants feel uncomfortable answering any question, it can be left blank or they can stop the survey completely at any time.

If you do not want your child/children to take part in the survey, please email pfinnerty@parra.catholic.edu.au by Monday 20 May. If you would like more information, please also email pfinnerty@parra.catholic.edu.au

Thank you for your continued support

Patrick Finnerty

CSPD Student Leadership Meeting

On Wednesday afternoon this week, the College Student Leadership Team participated in a workshop with facilitators from Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD). They gave the students a scenario, and students formed small groups to brainstorm possible solutions. The scenario was how CSPD could establish a Student Leadership group for the whole of the Parramatta Diocese - which is a big task since there are over 80 schools! The students did a tremendous job working out some possible solutions. The facilitators congratulated the students on their ideas, but also for their collaborative efforts. CSPD definitely took away some pretty amazing ideas! Congratulations to all our Student Leaders.

Brainstorm Productions

Brainstorm Productions is a theatre group that has been performing plays at St Andrews College for many years, enhancing our Wellbeing Program. Through their performances, they are able to empower students with practical strategies to strengthen their mental health, resilience and wellbeing. In 2024, Brainstorm Productions will present one play to our Junior Students: Wired. ‘Wired’ tackles some of the big issues affecting Australian students, including social isolation, bullying, online safety, school stressors, family relationships and pressure from social media. It also addresses barriers to help-seeking and provides strategies for resilience, problem-solving, goal-setting and positive mental health. Year 9 & 10 will see the play today (May 10). Year 7 & 8 will see Wired on September 13. Aspects of the plays will be discussed in Wellbeing lessons after the play. 

Principal’s Awards Junior Campus

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

Principal’s Awards Senior Campus

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

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

Mrs Sue Cooper

Leader of Wellbeing and Learning

scooper@parra.catholic.edu.au

Dear Parents/Carers and Year 10 Students, 

Welcome back to school for Term 2! I hope you all had a wonderful break and are feeling refreshed and ready for another great term ahead.

I wanted to remind you all about the importance of the little things, like wearing the correct uniform and making sure you're here at school every day. These might seem like small things, but they actually make a big difference in creating a positive and focused learning environment for everyone.

Remember, when we all wear our uniforms correctly and show up to class on time, it helps us to stay organised and ready to learn. Plus, it shows respect for ourselves, our teachers, and our school community.

I also want to thank all of you who have been doing the right things. Whether it's wearing your uniform with pride or making sure you're here and ready to learn each day, your efforts don't go unnoticed. 

I have spoken to Year 10 about the Subject Selection process which will start soon. It is a very exciting time but can also be a nervous time with lots of decisions around subject choices. I encourage you to have a conversation with your teachers or myself if you have any questions or concerns. 

Let's keep up the good work and continue to support each other as we aim for our personal best and reach our goals. 

Looking forward to a wonderful Term 2.

Ms Alicia Harwood 

Leader of Wellbeing Year 10

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I trust this newsletter finds you in high spirits and good health. As we reunite after the break, I'm delighted to witness the seamless transition back into school life for each of you. The abundance of smiling faces as we commence Term 2 together fills me with immense joy.

I'd like to take a moment to highlight some of the incredible achievements already underway in Year 9. Our students have showcased exceptional talent at the College Shakespeare Festival, with standout performances from Kaitlin Cragg, Georgia Nash, Annabel Zaroutski, and Keanna Guerrero. As they prepare to represent St Andrews at the upcoming Western Sydney Shakespeare Festival, we extend our warmest wishes for continued success. Additionally, I'd like to commend Benjamin Barakat, Micah Hickson, and Cohen Henry for their invaluable contributions behind the scenes as welcomers and crew members. Your dedication and hard work truly embody the spirit of our St Andrews community. Bravo!

In addition to our impressive achievements in drama, our dynamic Theatre Sports group which includes a few Year 9 students has been making waves at the recent Sydney Theatre Sports Competition hosted at TARA Anglican College. Their spirited performances and quick thinking showcased the remarkable talent and teamwork within our school community. Congratulations to all participants for representing St Andrews with pride and passion on the stage!

And let's not forget about our successful start to house sport in Term 2! A massive thank you to Ruby Scicluna and Alyssa Bettiol for sharing their insights in the article about our achievements and progress. I'm so proud of all the amazing things our Year 9 students are accomplishing, both inside and outside the classroom. Your contributions help us celebrate the diverse talents and achievements of our Year 9 cohort, both within the classroom and beyond. It's truly inspiring to witness the dedication and passion that our students bring to every endeavor.

As your Year 9 Leader of Wellbeing, I want to make sure that each and every one of you feels supported and cared for. So please, if you ever need someone to talk to or if there's anything on your mind, don't hesitate to reach out to me. I'm here to help in any way I can.

Finally, good luck to our two Year 9 debating teams and here's to a productive and positive Term 2 ahead! Let's keep up the great work and continue to support each other every step of the way.

Warm regards,

Mr Nathan Weaver

Acting Leader of Learning Year 9

Welcome back to another term at St Andrews College, year 8 have started the term well and a lot of you have continued to demonstrate a superb level of behaviour and respect in our College. 

Firstly I want to congratulate the following students for their amazing efforts in diving last term:

Analise Gregoriou and Esa Mir for their top 15 finishes at Nationals. 

Curtis O’Dea. Ronan Davis. Rachael Griffiths, Claire de Vos. Sophia Hourani (manager), Keana Hickey

Continue to represent our year group and school with pride.

Uniform

A few reminders regarding uniform expectations at SAC.

Blazer

It is compulsory for you to wear the school blazer to and from school in term 2 and term 3. You are allowed to remove the blazer after Learning Group once your name is marked off but will need to wear this again as you are leaving the College.

If your require a new blazer, you will need to organise this ASAP

Winter Uniform (Sports Uniform and Jumper)

You are not allowed to wear the navy blue jumper when wearing sports uniform. A sports jacket is required for this. You are not allowed to combine the two uniforms together or wear a non-school jumper. If you are cold during your sports/PE day, you are required to wear school uniform with their blazer. 

You are allowed to wear navy blue or black gloves and scarves. 

No beanies are allowed

Eye lash extensions and Nails

You are not allowed to have eye lash extensions or fake nails at school. A note does not excuse you from wearing this to school. 

Hair colour

Hair must be one natural colour. Students cannot have different coloured strands, highlights or tips in their hair.

Lateness

We've introduced a new process to ensure everyone's attendance stays tip-top here at St Andrews. 

Starting from today, if you happen to be late to school without a valid excuse, you'll be automatically assigned to a Wellbeing Recess Detention.

These detentions will be supervised by one of the Leaders of Wellbeing and will happen every day except for Fridays. If you're late on a Friday, your detention will be scheduled for the following Monday.

This detention will take place in B2.

Remember, being on time sets you up for success, so let's all make an effort to be punctual! 

If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Goals for the term

Continue to show kindness and respect to everyone in the College. Always greet your teachers at the beginning of each lesson and say thank you after

Make it a goal this term to complete and submit all classwork and ask for help when needed

Final Message

I continue to be impressed each day with how a lot of you continue to uphold yourselves as students of St Andrews. It pleases me to see all the growth you continue to have as people and students. 

Keep this up and remember that you can always have a chat with me if there is anything you need to discuss

Mr Carlos

Leader of Wellbeing - Year 8

This year marks a significant transition for Year 9 computing students as ‘Computing Technology’ takes the stage, replacing the former ‘Information Software Technology’ course. Our Year 9 students are the pioneers of this new course, and they have been making remarkable strides in their learning.

As part of this innovative course, students are delving into crucial thinking skills, including Design Thinking, Computational Thinking, and Systems Thinking. These skills are fundamental in today's digital landscape and empower our students to think critically and creatively.

In the final week of Term 2, our students immersed themselves in the process of Design Thinking, exploring its significance in generating meaningful and impactful projects. They tackled two exciting design challenges: the Paperclip Challenge and The Impossible Paper Flap Challenge.

Throughout these challenges, students navigated the Design Thinking process, emphasising the importance of ideation, prototyping, and iteration. They showcased their problem-solving abilities and creativity, seeking solutions that were not only functional but also innovative.

During our discussions, we highlighted the success stories of students who effectively applied the Design Thinking process to overcome challenges. Additionally, we addressed common issues observed during the challenges and discussed strategies for refining their approach in future projects.

It's inspiring to witness our Year 9 students embracing new concepts and methodologies with enthusiasm and determination. We look forward to seeing their continued growth and innovative projects as they journey through Computing Technology.

Shanai Mifsud

TAS & VET Information and Digital Technology Teacher

Term 2 started off with an exciting excursion for Year 11 Technology classes. Last Friday, Year 11 Design & Technology, Industrial Technology Multimedia and Industrial Technology Timber classes went on an excursion to view the SHAPE Exhibition at Walsh Bay. This experience provided students an opportunity to view major design projects from 2023 that have exceeded in their subject areas.  

On the day, students were provided with booklets to fill out relating to the projects on display. This provided a hands-on learning experience as students were able to analyse the projects, and gain access to portfolios. For many students, the excursion served as a source of inspiration, igniting their own creative endeavours and fueling their passion in the subject. This excursion unveiled the expectations of Year 12 Major Design Project to the students, and filled their minds with possibilities for Year 12 through discussions with their peers, teachers, external students, and the hosts of the exhibition. Intellectual discussions were led by the teachers, and students' learning was evidenced in their questions. 

Overall, it was an engaging excursion, benefiting the students through a hands-on experience, and As we reflect on this enriching experience, we extend our gratitude to the teachers and organisers who made this excursion possible. These experiences foster intellectual curiosity, enriching the educational journey of our Senior students. 

Ms Valdivia, 

TAS Teacher

Unity Day will be celebrated in week 9 this term. We look forward to hearing and seeing what our students will bring to the audition table in Week 5. 

Unity Day Auditions

Unity Day Performance auditions for musicians and dancers will be held on the junior campus this year. Please meet at 3pm on Wednesday of Week 5 ( May 29th ) outside the performing arts block. Auditions will conclude by approximately 6pm and students are free to leave once they have auditioned their piece. A reminder that all rehearsals taking place after school hours must be supervised by a teacher. Staff in the music department will continue to open up rehearsal spaces during recess and lunch times on both campuses as we lead up to audition day.

Junior CAPA Night

The Creative and Performing Arts department will be showcasing some of our finest talents in Music, Art and Drama during Week 7 of this term. This showcase will highlight students in these courses who have been producing work of a high standard in class. The showcase will be staged in the Junior Hall from 5pm - 7.30pm on Wednesday the 12th of June. Please join us to celebrate the work our student creatives have been developing. There will be Music and Drama Performances from 5.45pm as well as a visual arts display starting from 5pm. Light refreshments will be served upon arrival and entry is free. We hope to see you there.

I’m thrilled to announce the outstanding achievements of our debating teams in Round 1 of the CSDA Debating Competition! A big congratulations to the following teams for their win in first round on the competition on Friday

• 7B 
• 8A
• 9A
• 10A
• Senior Open B

I want to extend the invitation to all members of the St Andrews Community to join us for debating. We typically run on a Friday afternoon/evening, with 2 Wednesday nights also happening this term. Please see the dates below. 

Warm regards,

Miss Mickaella Douglas

Leader of Debating and Public Speaking

We're thrilled to announce the winners of the St. Andrews Writing Competition for March! The submissions poured in, each one a testament to the incredible talent and creativity within our community. After careful deliberation, our esteemed judges have selected the following individuals as the standout writers of the month:

Year 7 - Mason Blake

Year 8 - DeAsia Fatefehi

Year 8 - Isabella Godinez

Year 9 - Kaitlyn Hall

Year 11 - Elyscia Barret

Year 12 - Amber Kahlon

Half the winners submitted classwork as part of the competition, which sows a strong commitment to the work they do every day. It is a testament to the idea that ‘everything matters’ that students can be rewarded for the writing they are doing every day. 

To all who participated in the competition, we extend our gratitude. Your willingness to share your writing with us is what makes our community so vibrant and diverse.

Congratulations once again to Mason Blake, DeAsia Fatefehi, Isabella Godinez, Kaitlyn Hall, Elyscia Barret, and Amber Kahlon on their well-deserved recognition. We cannot wait to see what the next competition will bring. 

The next competition will be in May 2024. Save your writing and enter via the link on Well-Being Classrooms, speak to your class teachers or email Mr Dewar directly.

Warm regards,

Mr Dewar.

The What Matters Competition (Closes 17/5/24) and The Dymocks Beyond Words Competition (Closes 31/5/24).

The Dymocks Beyond Words Competition is open to school students and involves you writing a short story between 500 - 1500 words. It cannot be poetry or any other type of writing. It MUST be a SHORT STORY. One of the judges this year is Will Kostakis who came out to our school last year after the Write a Book in a Day Competition. The theme is OPEN, so you may write your story about anything. 

$3000 is awarded to the High School winner and other cash prizes are for other placings. So, it is well worth an entry if you enjoy writing fictional stories. 

Simply Google Dymocks Beyond Words Competition 2024 for details.

The What Matters Competition was Inspired by Gough Whitlam's commitment to involving young people in shaping Australia's future, the What Matters? writing competition is currently open to school students in years 5 to 12 from Australia. Responding to the simple question 'what matters?', entrants are free to express their views on any matter they care about. The major cash prize is $1500!

Part writing exercise, part civics and citizenship activity, What Matters? is the perfect opportunity to empower you to raise your voices on issues that are important to you and know that your perspectives are valuable, no matter your age, background, or viewpoint.  Entries can be fiction, non-fiction, poetry, or prose of up to 600 words, and submitted online. 

Simply Google What Matters Writing Competition 2024 for further details.

The Drama Department at St Andrews has had a monumental start to Term 2. The focus of this term so far has been external competitions and preparation for our Production later this year. However, Junior CAPA night is also on the horizon! Here is the breakdown of the term so far:

Production - Auditions

On Thursday of Week 2 St Andrews held their auditions for the acting roles in our 2024 production of Macbeth. The afternoon was one of nerves, comradery, last-minute rehearsals, and, above all, talent. With over forty students auditioning for roles within the play, the auditions carried over into the early evening. 

The quality of the student auditions this year is far beyond that of what we have seen in previous, and our Drama Department has quite a few difficult choices ahead of us before the announcement of roles early next week. 

We would like to congratulate the efforts of all who came to the auditions. Performing in a high-stakes environment is never an easy feat and takes courage. If you have missed the boat on auditions, but would still like to participate, there will be opportunities to engage with Design and Backstage work shortly.

Sport for Jove - Shakespeare Carnival

Shakespeare’s works are considered a ‘canon’ and are a staple for both English and Drama studies across the contemporary world. They have a timelessness to them that makes them invaluable for student growth. The Shakespeare Carnival is an opportunity for students to express this understanding through a range of creative mediums. This competition is run by Sport For Jove, a theatre company founded in Sydney, and has a range of different phases. 

On Thursday Week 1 of Term 2, our students had the opportunity to perform and create in the school phase of the competition. The afternoon went wonderfully with a range of staff and students being present to support as an audience. However, only one group of students from each category could move on to the next stage of the competition. 

A big congratulations to our winners. For the SmartPhone Film category: Emily Burchmore, Dharshini Mahesh, Saumya Punj, Lauren Renouf, and Helli Vyas. For the Group Devised category: Kaitlin Cragg, Crissabella Magayaga, Georgia Nash, and Annabel Zaroutski. For the Duologue category: Mackenzie Jones and Arya Sawhney.

A big thank you to Ms Rujicica who has been directing the action in her organisation of this Carnival. We look forward to seeing the talents of these students on display in the upcoming Regionals. 

TSC - TheatreSports Schools Challenge

The TheatreSports Schools Challenge is an improvisational competition run by Impro Australia. It involves students being given a prompt and having to create a performance on the spot, with no preparation time. They do this several times throughout the evening and get assessed based on their performance. In the TSC, they are directly competing against a range of public, private, and systemic schools throughout all of NSW. 

On the Monday and Tuesday of Term 2 Week 2, a group of Stage 5 and 6 students had the opportunity to perform in this competition. The opposition was intense, with scores of single digits deciding who would move on to the Finals in the upcoming weeks. A big thank you to Mr Kolek who acted as support and the bus driver for both evenings.

Our Seniors competed on Monday at Sydney Grammar School and were able to achieve a placement in the next round. This team, consisting of Joy Legge, Joycie Bacolod, Jenille Calingao, and Jeda Osorio, will be competing for a coveted position in the Grand Final which will be taking place at the Enmore.

Our Juniors, although putting on an amazing show, were just shy of placing during their venture to Tara School Parramatta. It was amazing to see the students develop their confidence and performance skills throughout the night. The team, consisting of Keanna Guerrero, Kaitlin Cragg, Annabel Zaroutski, Georgia Nash, and Janvi Dallakoti, demonstrated amazing potential and we look forward to seeing their talent develop in the future.

Improvisation is not just a fundamental skill for performance, but one that is incredibly important for success in life. The students who have participated in this event have not just proven themselves capable of some amazing performances, but also have developed a vital life-long skill. We look forward to seeing the next endeavour in Theatre Sports.

Director and Drama Teacher

Mr Lewandowski

St Andrews College will be hosting Japanese students next term - for 7 nights from 1 August to 8 August 2024. 

You can share your lifestyle and home whilst experiencing another culture.

• Students attend school on weekdays and enjoy family life with you on the weekend

• Japanese language skill is not necessary.

• Students just fit in with your family routines

• The students need their own bed but can share a room.

• Families are paid $50 per night.

If you can assist in hosting a student or would like to know further information, please contact Ms Suzuki at msuzuki@parra.catholic.edu.au

Alternatively, you can contact the company, VS Oceania organising the host families for this group at ushinohama@vsoceania.com

Thank you for your support.

Regards, 

Mariko Suzuki

Leader of Learning - Languages

St Andrews College, Marayong

Ph: 9626 4000

Email: msuzuki@parra.catholic.edu.au

Year 7

At the end of last term, Year 7 students were in the process of finishing their collaborative group food sculptures. Whilst the process was challenging and presented a series of problem solving experiences, it was an overall interesting and fun task for students to work on with their peers. It was a great way to end their first unit ‘Ways of Seeing’ and get to know their peers in their elective class. 

This term, Year 7 students have begun their new unit ‘Where the Land meets the Sea’ where students will explore how artists use the natural environment to create their artworks. Over the past week, we have learnt about World Heritage Sites, the role of UNESCO and why these sites are considered important. With these sites as inspiration for our student artworks, Year 7’s have been tasked to create a large scale oil pastel artwork and are currently working on their drafts. Oil pastel techniques have been taught and demonstrated to students in how to embed these within their own creations over the next week. 

Year 8

Year 8 students have begun their new unit ‘Telling Tales’. Students will be exploring environmental and cultural issues in today’s society with a focus upon the key topics that are currently being faced by Australian society. Issues will be investigated through artists’ representation of these issues in their artworks, such as Reg Mombassa and reflect upon how they can showcase important issues through the students’ art making. Students were able to draw upon issues that are present in our world and have genuine, interesting and thought provoking discussions into why some issues are ‘still’ issues today. This term we will be using ceramics which many students are excited to use having had an enjoyable experience with clay in Year 7. 

Year 10

Year 10 students have been working on their Collection of Works (COW) based upon their interpretation and understanding of Suburbia. A range of media has been selected with many works being mixed-media. This task is a taste of the Visual Arts senior course in regards to creating more than one artwork for a ‘body of work’. Students have been challenged with their time management, taking onboard constructive criticism and trusting their own judgement in order to execute their vision for their work. 

Stay tuned for our upcoming CAPA showcase later on in the term to be able to view our students’ wonderful artworks in person.

Miss Leezah Rivera

HSIE & Visual Arts Teacher

During sport Year 9 students have had the opportunity to walk, read, play volleyball and soccer. This allowed for our students to have more freedom of what they do in their sports time. It also encouraged them to try new things and meet new people.Year 9 students have new ways to express themselves and explore different activities.

In some of the photos you can see the team work, community and leadership of Year 9 during Thursday sport. As we have heard from many students, this change to Thursday sports time has helped students express themselves by growing their confidence, communication and teamwork. 

As a group we have been allowed a bit more freedom with what we can do during Thursday sport, students have become more enthusiastic to participate. As students ourselves we want to thank Mr Weaver for listening to our feedback and putting in the effort to make sports time enjoyable.

Ruby Scicluna & Alyssa Bettiol Year 9

Imagine being faced with a design assessment task where you have to create a cardboard chair that is portable, flat-packed, durable, strong and reflects your own personality. The catch is you can’t use any adhesives or additional attachments and solely the material of cardboard! 

How do you think you would go? 

Well, that is exactly what our Year 11 Design & Technology students did for their first Assessment Task. Faced with this design brief, students had to document their design process in a portfolio including all evidence from initial design ideas to final evaluation of their prototype’s impact on the society and environment. Students came up with the most creative ways to demonstrate their aesthetics within the chair by using laser cutting, 3D CAD modelling (both fusion and sketchup), and conducting many cognitive organisers to develop their final idea. 

The results can be seen by some of these interesting chair designs! Most of them are able to hold a person’s body weight! It was an exciting process, watching the students experiment with 1ply and 2ply cardboard and considering different joining techniques when making their prototypes. If this is what they can create with just cardboard, we are keen to see what they can do with other materials!

Ms Valdivia

TAS Teacher

Dear St Andrews College Community,

I am excited to share with you all the achievements of the Junior and Intermediate Girls Volleyball Team for 2024. 

From the 15th of February until the 28th of March, the Junior Girls Volleyball team played against many other schools in the PDSSSC Competition. Their exceptional digs, sets and dives, alongside their teamwork and dedication allowed them to end the regular season with only 1 loss and an outstanding 5 wins. 

This then led the team into the Quarter Finals. The Junior Girls, again, showed great skill, resulting in a win against the opposition, with a score of 78-76 (a close game!) This allowed the team to proceed into the Semi Finals. 

The Junior Girls played the Semi Finals and throughout the game, showed determination and great sportsmanship. The final score was 43-83, with the opposing team securing the win. Although this was not the result that we had hoped for, the girls, without a doubt, still managed to play their very best and as a team. Their efforts this season are highly commended. Well done to the following girls!: 

• Armaghan Bidkhori - 8F8 - Captain
• Gatleen Boparai - 8C6 
• Roxanne Walsh - 8F8
• Isabella De Leon - 8B4
• Ashlyn Aldana - 8F7
• Brooklyn Lotonu’u-Fakalago - 8C10
• Ashley Lo - 8C6
• Isabella Godinez - 8F8
• Giselle Thomson-Keti - 7C8
• Kim Chimbira - 7F3
• Abbie Singh - 7B11
• Courtney Banares - 7B11 

From the 15th of February until the 2nd of May, the Inter Girls Volleyball team also played in the PDSSSC Competition. The girls put 100% into their training which resulted in a fantastic regular season, remaining undefeated. 

The Inter Girls were able to win both their Quarter and Semi Finals. As the Semi Final and Grand Final were scheduled on the same day, the girls played these games, back-to-back. 

The Grand Final was the final hurdle for these girls. All team members showed passion and drive, however, in the end, the opposing team came out on top, with the final score of 54-44. 

Nonetheless, these girls worked really hard to get this far in the competition, a first for most players on the team. They should be extremely proud of all of their hard work and dedication. Great work girls! Congratulations to the following: 

• Rowena Kubik - 10F2 - Captain
• Clariz Dela Rosa - 10B7
• Shiloh Sumilang - 10F2
• Ana Donjerkovic - 10G16
• Sydney Manalac - 10G16
• Allistaire Reyes - 10F1
• Keona Beltran - 10C3
• Gabrielle Cardino - 9C7
• Amelia Kubik - 9F4
• Jazmyn Mcfadden - 9F4
• Mikaela Hooper - 9B2
• Rhianna Caparas - 9B2

That brings the Volleyball Season for the Junior and Inter Girls to a close for this year. Once again, a massive congratulations to all team members for their efforts this season. I look forward to the next! 

Miss Christella Bade 

Junior and Intermediate Girls Volleyball Coach

Students in Year 10 Food Technology have started learning about Food Product Development and Current Food Trends this term. They worked well to make French Toast with maple bacon whilst learning how the flavour of ingredients from this meal can complement each other to produce a delicious meal. 

Well done Year 10 Food Technology students! 

Ms Harwood and Mrs Akkoumi

The experience of making scones in the school kitchen was truly memorable for me. Not only did I get to learn about the processes and hardships of baking, but I also had the chance to share my creations with my family later on. Watching their faces light up with happiness as they tasted the delicious scones was a moment I will never forget. The day of the baking lesson was exciting from start to finish. I was surrounded by my friends, all working together to craft perfect scones. We had the opportunity to plate and decorate our creations, making them look as beautiful as they tasted. Our teacher and guide for the day, her expertise and assistance. I am grateful to have her as my elective teacher this year. The experience of food technology during that lesson was nothing short of magical. As I learned about the science behind baking and the art of creating pastries, I felt a sense of accomplishment and pride in what I was able to achieve. Overall, it was a wonderful experience that left me with a newfound appreciation for the art of baking.

- Zoe, Student, Year 8

College Leadership Team

Leaders of Learning - Wellbeing

College Leaders of Learning - KLA

College Leaders of Learning