Unity Day

We are looking forward to our Annual Unity Day celebrations next Friday. Unity Day is a great chance for the students to celebrate the different cultures at the College.

The day will start with a traditional Smoking Ceremony then a small liturgy in different languages. We have a national dress competition. We will have Cultural Activities, then students from different cultures will be sharing their songs and dance with the College.

This should be a great day for the College.

Year 7-10 Student Learning Conferences

The Student Learning Conference for the Semester 1 Year 7-10 courses will be held on Wednesday 3rd July from 3pm-7.45pm and Thursday 4th from 12.30-4pm The event will be held in the Junior Campus Hall. Families can book either event.

 These interviews are compulsory and are an integral part of the learning process. Students are expected to attend with their parents. It is an opportunity to evaluate their work so far and provide feedback about their progress. 

Interviews are strictly 5 minutes in length and spaces are limited. We ask that each parent keep to the assigned times to ensure that there are no lengthy waiting periods. If you require more time than the 5 allocated minutes, please contact the class teacher to arrange an interview at an alternate time. 

The College has implemented an online booking system via the Compass App for your convenience; all bookings must be made through this system. The instructions about booking were sent to families via the compass email and notification system.

Last days of Term 2

Students will start their term holiday at 11.45 Thursday the 4th of July. 

Friday the 5th of July is Staff Professional Learning and students are not required on that day.

Start of Term 3

The first day of Term 3 is Tuesday 23rd July.

Monday 22nd July is a Staff Professional Learning Day and students are not required on that day.

Student’s safety while travelling to and from school.

It is important that all students are safe while they travel to and from school.  We have had cases of students running across Quakers road, students riding to school without helmets and other behaviour that puts them at risk.

Could all students and parents be mindful of their safety as they come to and from school. 

It would help if students

• use all road rules correctly and are mindful of traffic on the way home. 
• Wear appropriate safety devices while riding a bike.
• Sit while travelling on public transport
• Travel straight to school and straight home at the end of the day.

Parents if you drop off and pick up your child please follow some basic safety rules.

• DO NOT enter the College grounds to pick up or drop off students unless you have made arrangements with the College. 
• Use Quakers Rd or Benalla Cr for the Junior Campus or Breakfast Rd for the Senior Campus. 
• Do not speed around the school zones as children are unpredictable and may not look for you in traffic. 

If you have any concerns about students and travel please contact me during College hours.

What’s in the Planner?

The main focus this week is Love of Learning. Thanks to all the students who have participated in activities this week to celebrate a Love of Learning. 

Keep your brain agile by doing a crossword, a sudoku, playing chess, a game of logic.

Time targets

Setting time targets to complete tasks is a way to elevate stress and help develop your academic abilities. 

To develop good habits with time targets we use the Five “E’s” of learning- Engage, explore, explain, elaborate and evaluate. 

Engage - record dates, brainstorm ideas about the task, get assessment criteria. Plan your task

Explore - locates resources, collect information, begin research

Explain - develops sentences then paragraphs. Develop your draft and ask teacher to look at it

Elaborate - analyse the comments from your draft, improve phrasing and vocabulary. Discuss interpretation with family or friends

Evaluate - assess feedback and complete final task

God Bless

Mr Nick Thrum

Assistant Principal

Year 11 Leadership

Congratulations to all the students who were involved in the Leadership process for 2024/2025 and who put themselves forward for the opportunity of leading our Community. Voting occurs today. I wish all students good luck.

Principal’s Awards 

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

Congratulations to the following student who received their second Principal’s Award:

House Cup Points Update

Congratulations to all students for their participation in last week’s Athletics Carnival. Many points were distributed to the Houses as a result. And well done to the Gould House who have now moved into second place in the competition.

The current totals are:

Bennelong: 57, 032

Chang: 47, 952

Frances: 43, 601

Gould: 49, 585

Mrs Sue Cooper

Leader of Wellbeing and Learning

scooper@parra.catholic.edu.au

Newsletter Article: Celebrating Achievements and Expectations for Year 7

Dear Year 7 Parents and Students,

I hope this message finds you all in good spirits. I am delighted to share some wonderful news and highlight our recent achievements and expectations moving forward.

Firstly, I want to express my sincere appreciation for the fantastic level of participation and enthusiasm shown by our Year 7 students at the recent athletics carnival. It was inspiring to see so many of you actively participating and supporting each other in various events. Your sportsmanship and teamwork truly made the day a memorable success.

Additionally, I would like to thank you all for your cooperation and resilience during the recent immunisations. It was evident that you cared for each other by showing understanding and support during this process. Your maturity and empathy demonstrate the strong sense of community we have in Year 7, and I am incredibly proud of every one of you.

Moving forward, I'd like to discuss our expectations in the classroom. In our learning environment, we must maintain a respectful and collaborative atmosphere where everyone feels valued and supported.

Here are some key expectations we have for Year 7 students:

1. Active Participation: Engage actively in class discussions, group activities, and learning tasks. Your contributions and ideas are valuable to the learning process.
2. Respectful Behaviour: Treat peers and teachers with kindness and respect. Listen attentively, take turns speaking, and support each other's learning journeys.
3. Responsibility: Take ownership of your learning by completing tasks on time, being prepared for lessons, and following classroom routines and expectations.
4. Problem-Solving Skills: Approach challenges with a positive attitude and use critical thinking skills to find solutions collaboratively with your peers.

By adhering to these expectations, we can create a positive and supportive learning environment where everyone can thrive academically and personally.

Parents, your continued support in reinforcing these expectations at home is greatly appreciated. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out. Together, we can ensure that Year 7 is a year of growth, learning, and achievement for all students.

Thank you once again for your commitment and cooperation. I look forward to seeing our Year 7 students continue to shine in the classroom and beyond.

Best regards,

Jarryd Leaves
Leader of Wellbeing - Year 7

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Students of Year 9,

I hope you're all doing well. I'm excited to share some awesome news about what's been happening in our year group lately. We've been focusing on something really important: building strong character traits that will help us grow into responsible and kind individuals.

Our recent wellbeing activities and discussions have been inspired by ideas from Scott Seider's book, "The Character Compass." This book talks about how we can develop qualities like empathy, respect, and integrity, which are essential for becoming good people and making positive impacts in our school and local community.

One of the important things we've been doing is discussing real-life situations where we can practise these virtues. For example, in our learning groups, we've been talking about what it means to show empathy by understanding and supporting each other during tough times. It's been great to see how we can make a difference just by being there for one another.

We've also been focusing on responsibility. This includes taking ownership of our actions and making choices that reflect our values. Whether it's in group projects or everyday interactions, we're learning to be accountable and reliable team members.

Integrity is another big theme we're exploring. This means being honest and doing the right thing even when no one is watching. It's about building trust with our peers and teachers by staying true to our values and commitments.

Beyond these discussions, our year group has been actively participating in activities that promote these character traits. From volunteering opportunities to peer support initiatives, we're putting these ideas into action and making our school community stronger.

Parents, I want to assure you that we're committed to creating a positive and supportive environment where every student feels valued and respected. Together, we're shaping not just our academic success but also our personal growth as individuals with strong character.

As we continue our journey through Year 9, let's keep these values close to heart and continue to inspire each other with our actions. If you have any questions or ideas you'd like to share, feel free to reach out. Together, we can empower our students to thrive and make a positive impact in the world.

With warm regards,

Mr Nathan Weaver
Acting Year 9 Leader of Wellbeing

Dear Parents/Carers and Year 10 Students,

I would like to congratulate Year 10 on a successful Subject Selection Evening on Tuesday 4th June, 2024. This was a wonderful evening where students heard from Dr Kennaugh, Ms Kalifa, Mr Dickson and Ms May. Students also had the opportunity to ask questions and talk to the Leaders of Learning KLA and teachers who teach senior subjects. 

I would like to thank Dr Kennaugh, the College staff, the Year 10 students and parents/carers for a wonderful and successful evening. I want to take a moment to congratulate Year 10 students for their diligence and focus during the recent subject selections. Your efforts in making thoughtful decisions about your academic pathways are commendable, and they set a solid foundation for your future studies.

As we look ahead, it's important to start preparing for your exams effectively. Here are some exam preparation strategies that may helpful for you: 

1. Effective Time Management: Begin by creating a study timetable that allocates specific times for each subject. Prioritise subjects based on their exam dates and your confidence level in each topic.
2. Active Revision Techniques: Use active learning methods such as summarising key points, creating mind maps, and teaching others to reinforce your understanding of the material.
3. Critical Thinking Skills: Practise applying critical thinking to exam questions. Understand the requirements of different question types (e.g., explain, analyse, evaluate) and structure your answers accordingly.
4. Exam Day Preparation: Familiarise yourself with the exam format and requirements. Practise past exam papers under timed conditions to build confidence and improve your exam technique.

Remember, exam preparation is not just about cramming information but also about understanding concepts and developing effective study habits. By following these strategies, you can approach your exams with confidence and feel more prepared. 

Year 10, I wish you the best of luck in your exams next week. Please feel free to email me if you have any questions or concerns. 

Ms Alicia Harwood
Leader of Wellbeing Year 10

Dear St. Andrews Community,

We are thrilled to announce the winners of the St. Andrews writing competition for the month of May. This competition has once again highlighted the remarkable talent and creativity within our school. Each participant has shown exceptional skill and dedication, and we are proud to celebrate their achievements.

The winners for May, 2024 are:

• Josh Reyes, Year 7: Josh has impressed the judges with his storytelling from classwork.
• Isabella Welangoda, Year 8: Isabella’s piece stood out for its eloquent language and compelling poem.
• Alyssa Bettiol, Year 9: Alyssa captivated the judges with her unique perspective and articulate expression.
• Akshiya Vaikunthavel, Year 10: Akshiya’s work was praised for its language and depth.
• Brandan Varlet, Year 10: Brandon demonstrated exceptional skill in his writing.
• Jahaziel DelaPaz, Year 12: Jahaziel’s sophisticated and thought-provoking piece earned high praise from the judges.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to these outstanding students for their exceptional contributions. Each of them has demonstrated a remarkable ability to craft engaging and thought-provoking pieces of writing that matches the purpose for which it was written.

As we celebrate the achievements of our winners, we also look forward to the next round of our writing competition. The deadline for submissions is June 30th, and we encourage all students to participate. This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase your creativity and share your stories with the St. Andrews community.

Once again, congratulations to Josh, Isabella, Alyssa, Akshiya, Brandon, and Jahaziel! We are incredibly proud of your accomplishments and can’t wait to see what you create next.

The June Competition is already half-way through. Students are encouraged to enter the competition by the 30th of June. 

Mr Dewar.

The Skills in the Super Sandwich

This term, our Year 8 Food Technology students at St Andrews College have been honing their culinary skills by learning how to make a delicious Super Sandwich Rollup. This hands-on project has provided students with valuable lessons in food preparation, knife skills, and the importance of mise en place.

The recipe for the Super Sandwich Rollup includes a variety of fresh vegetables and other ingredients: tortilla wraps, mayonnaise, shredded lettuce, grated carrot, sliced red onion and cucumber, chopped tomato, and grated cheese. Students practised slicing and dicing these ingredients with precision, ensuring each component was perfectly prepared.

The process began with students setting up their mise en place, organising all their ingredients and tools before starting to roll up their sandwich. This professional approach in the kitchen not only helped them stay organised but also emphasised the importance of preparation in achieving a successful dish.

As they assembled their sandwiches, students spread mayonnaise on the tortillas, layered the vegetables, and sprinkled cheese, following the recipe closely. They then folded and tightly rolled the wraps, ensuring the filling stayed in place.

Through this exercise, students gained practical experience in food preparation and developed their knife skills, all while creating a healthy and tasty snack. The Super Sandwich Rollup project has been a fun and educational experience, leaving our Year 8 students with newfound confidence in the kitchen and a better understanding of culinary techniques.

Mastering the classic Pasta Alla Norma

Our Year 8 Food Technology students at St Andrews College recently engaged in a practical lesson centred around the classic Italian dish, Pasta Alla Norma. This session provided an excellent opportunity for students to develop and refine essential culinary skills.

Students meticulously cubed capsicum and onion, ensuring uniformity for even cooking, and learned the importance of timing and temperature control while baking the vegetables. They practised sautéing garlic and combining ingredients to build a rich, aromatic tomato sauce, enhancing their understanding of flavour layering.

Additionally, students were introduced to the art of seasoning, balancing flavours with the right amount of salt, pepper, and sugar. They gained experience in cooking pasta to the perfect al dente texture, an essential skill for any aspiring chef.

The session culminated in combining the pasta with the sauce, demonstrating mixing techniques for even flavour distribution. The final touch of grated parmesan cheese added a professional presentation. Overall, this practical was invaluable, equipping students with skills for future culinary endeavours.

Ms Valdivia 

TAS Teacher

"An Unforgettable Experience"

Guided by their passion for creativity and armed with newfound sewing machine skills, students embarked on a hands-on exploration of stitching techniques and surface decoration and colouration techniques.

From the initial brainstorming sessions to the final stitches, each student poured their imagination into designing a tote bag that reflects their unique personality and interests. Themes ranged from vibrant tropical patterns inspired by nature's beauty to musical interests, and culturally themed designs.

Under the guidance of their teacher, students navigated the intricacies of textiles colouring, mastering techniques to bring their visions to life with precision and flair. As they stitched and sewed, they encountered challenges and triumphs, refining their skills with each stitch.

In the end, as these Year 8 students bid farewell to their sewing machines, they are left with newfound skills, cherished memories, and a tangible reminder of their creative potential through a tote bag.

Enjoy some of their awesome and creative tote bag designs!

Ms Valdivia 

TAS Teacher 

Dear Parents and Students,

We are thrilled to share some exciting news from our Year 9 Girls' Oz-Tag group in sport. Over the past term, Year 9 girls have been making remarkable strides and achieving great success in this complex and enjoyable sport.

One of the girls in our group, Tanisha Kumar, beautifully encapsulates our journey: "Every week we see a growth in numbers of the amount of girls participating in the complex sport of Oz-Tag. I would like to thank Mr Din for taking his time to teach us and help us develop new skills used for Oz-Tag and in the real world. Together, we have created new and unforgettable memories enjoying a sport full of running and laughter."

This quote reflects the dedication and enthusiasm our group of Year 9 students bring to our sport sessions. Under the guidance of Mr Din, we have not only improved our skills but also fostered camaraderie and joy through our shared experiences on the field.

Mr Weaver has let each of us know our commitment and teamwork shown by each member of the group is truly commendable, and it has been wonderful to see the group grow both individually and as a team. He has also let us know our achievements in Oz-Tag are a testament to our hard work and passion for fair play.

As we continue through the term, let's celebrate the successes of our Year 9 Girls' Oz-Tag group and look forward to more memorable moments ahead.

Jazmyn McFadden

Layla Walsh

Alyssa Forster

Kayya Magayaga

Tanisha Kumar

Big Band Theory is the College Band and we have just performed the song ‘The Pink Panther’ by Henry Mancini at the Junior CAPA Night. We practice mainly at recess during the week (there are different rehearsal times depending on the instrument) and for the last 4 weeks we have practiced on a Wednesday morning at 7:30 am so we could rehearse with the whole band. 

Big Band Theory has 15 members, ranging from students in Years 7 - 10. It consists of three violins (Emily Burchmore, Saumya Punj, Lauren Renouf), three flutes (Isabella De Leon, Moses Leveni, Advait Paravangat), three keyboards (Jack Brewer, Max Brewer, Sage Cheng), three electric guitars (Angelo Demian, Tristan Fegradoe, Claudia Fuimaono), a bass guitar (Phoenix Fuimaono) & drums/percussion (Aidan D’Silva, Kyle Sarol). We play a variety of music styles and the students work hard learning and perfecting their parts. I am very proud of the students, and of what we have achieved already this year. We are just about to start working on our song for CAN. 

We are always on the lookout for new members - in particular students who play woodwind (e.g. flute, clarinet, saxophone), brass (e.g. trumpet, trombone) & string instruments (e.g. violin, viola, cello, double bass). If you have your own woodwind, brass or string instrument and are interested in joining Big Band Theory, please speak with one of the band members or Mrs Cooper. 

Mrs Cooper

On the Junior Campus, students have the opportunity to come to the Learning Centre to work with peers and teachers to improve their learning. It is held in the Sister Tullia Learning Centre until 4pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Learning Centre provides spaces for students to work independently, with their peers, or receive help from their subject teachers. There is no fixed commitment–students can choose when they would like to attend to receive assistance or simply have some quiet space to focus. 

This term we have had a number of students attending consistently each week, as well as some taking initiative to attend ahead of in-class tasks and due dates. Some highlights In this term alone include Mr Finnerty’s Mathematics workshop as well as a Year 10 English and Mathematics Exam revision workshop earlier this week. It has been fantastic to see these students working closely with their teachers across a variety of subject areas to support and improve their learning. I encourage students to continue their conversations with peers and staff about how coming to the Learning Centre can enhance their learning growth across all subjects. 

Students can follow the Google Classroom link below:

https://classroom.google.com/c/NjQzMzI0MDMxMDc3?cjc=qodtoa5

We look forward to your attendance!

Mr. Ethan Cheung & Mr. Simon Hazell

Teachers of English and Mathematics

Dear Parents/guardians, 

On Friday the 14th June, we had our college athletics carnival. It was a great day filled with many of our students participating in an athletics event, participating in novelty events to gain points for their house as well as getting involved in house chants. 

A big Congratulations to the Age Champions from our College Athletics Carnival, 

12 year Girls: Emily Atwon, 13 year Boys:  James Turin, 13 year Girls: Leah McSweeny 14 year Boys: Ronan Davis, 14 year Girls: Amelia Farag, 16 year Boys: Kushal Mariguddi, 16 year Girls: Amelia Manks, 17 year Boys: Dante Carbone. 

I look forward to sharing the successes of our students who will be competing at the PDSSSC Athletics carnival on the 4th Of September at Sydney Olympic Park. 

Thank you, 

Ivana Nikitovic 

Sport Coordinator

I’m excited to share the latest updates from the CSDA Debating Competition, where our teams have continued to showcase their talent, dedication, and sportsmanship.

Firstly, I want to extend a big congratulations to our 11A team for their commendable performance last week. Although they faced an honourable loss against Parramatta Marist during Elimination Round 1, their efforts and determination were truly inspiring. Well done, 11A, for representing our school with such skill!

I also have fantastic news to share about our 10B team. They triumphed in Elimination Round 2 on Wednesday, securing a victory against Christian Brothers Lewisham. This achievement is a testament to their hard work and resilience. Now, we wish them the best of luck as they prepare to face La Salle Catholic College tonight. If 10B wins this evening, they will advance to the Quarter Finals, set to take place next Friday, 28th June!

As always, we encourage all members of the St Andrews community to come out and support our debaters. Your encouragement and presence make a significant difference and mean a great deal to our students.

Warm regards,

Miss Mickaella Douglas

Debating and Public Speaking Leader

Jobs and Skills Shortage

I present this information as food for thought ….. I am a strong believer that successful careers are a combination of passion, meaningful engagement in the industry and a marketable skill set. However sometimes due to labour market drivers we need to begin our career not with the dream job in mind but developing the marketable skill set to ensure a successful long term career. Often these skill sets are developed through other jobs and transferred into the dream job a little way down the career journey.

Jobs and Skills Australia leads work on skills shortage analysis including the annual Skills Priority List and reports on Skills Shortages. The Skills Priority List provides a detailed view of occupations in shortage in Australia and by each state and territory including the future demand of occupations in Australia. 

Skill Shortage Drivers are designed to help identify the potential causes or drivers of occupations rated “in shortage” in the Skills Priority List. The Skill Shortage Drivers classifies skills shortage into four main drivers based on the likeliest cause of shortage. The four categories are:

• Long Training Gap - few qualified applicants for vacant positions. Bachelor degree; Certificate IV or apprenticeship required.
• Short Training Gap - few qualified applicants for vacant positions. Certificate III or less required.
• Suitability Gap - many qualified applicants, but few suitable applicants 
• Retention Gap - above average job mobility, potentially reinforced by low number of new applicants per vacant position.

Training gaps are areas where employees are lacking knowledge or skills to achieve certain goals at work. Identifying and addressing these gaps helps organisations to ensure that their workforce has the necessary capabilities to perform effectively and contribute to the overall success of the company.

Below is a list of the occupations in each category:

Whilst students have many career opportunities sometimes considering what career to undertake can be overwhelming. Investigating if your interests and passions align with a skill shortage occupation can be a very successful way to enter the workforce. Remember that it is common for people to develop skills in a variety of related industries. This not only makes you very attractive to employers but ensures that you have a successful and rewarding career.

Therese May

Future Pathways Leader

College Leadership Team

Leaders of Learning - Wellbeing

College Leaders of Learning - KLA

College Leaders of Learning