St Andrews College Marayong eNewsletter Term 4 Week 6

A Strong Finish to the 2024 Academic Year.

Finishing the year strongly helps students develop important skills like time management and organisation – skills they'll need throughout their lives, not just in school. Our lessons continue to focus on the essential skills that students will need for their learning in 2025.

The last few weeks have helped students practice good work habits that will help them succeed in their studies and beyond. We encourage students to take ownership of their learning, manage their workload independently, and seek out teacher assistance when needed.

The upcoming weeks also begin the first assessment period for our 2025 HSC students. This is an intensive period for students and we encourage them to check in with their teachers in preparation for these tasks. Time management and study plans are essential for success in these tasks. Students should discuss areas of feedback with their class teacher and ensure that they have a clear understanding of how they can prepare for an improvement in their performance in these tasks.

Canvas Learning Management System.

Our College continues to create more and more learning opportunities in Canvas and we encourage you to log in and pursue through your child’s learning tasks. These tasks provide essential feedback for your child’s learning, we are always trying to provide opportunities for learning growth. Canvas will provide a deeper insight into your child’s performance throughout the second semester. 

We will be transitioning more classes to Canvas throughout 2025 and we appreciate your patience as we plan and prepare for the implementation of new NESA Syllabuses.

Ms Josilin Kalifa

Assistant Principal Teaching, Learning and Wellbeing

From the Assistant Principal

Student expectations about Learning

In the final weeks of 2024, students are expected to be at school and working in every class. Holidays do not start until the end of the year, and we expect every student to be in class and working to the best of their ability until the last lesson. 

If you feel that your child is not getting any classwork or homework, please contact the class teacher or the Learning Advisor and express your concerns. The College has the expectation that as a learning community, we are making the most of every learning opportunity.

End of Year activities and Timeline

Wednesday 4th December Year 10 have their transition program starting with the Transition camp and will be on the Senior Campus after the camp.

Tuesday 10th December in CAN (Week 9). This is an event for the families and students of the College only.

Year 8 camp will be on the 12th and end 13th December. Year 9 camp will be from the 11 until the 13th of December.

The last day of classes is Monday 16th December. The Year 7-11 Prizegiving is Tuesday 17th December for award recipients only.

St Andrews Day

St Andrews Day is on Tuesday 3rd December. 

Students will need to pay $20 for the rides and this is payable to the company on the day. More information regarding this day will be sent out next week.

Uniforms

Overall, our students have been well-presented at school. I ask parents to check the following items regarding their uniforms.

1. The girls' kilts must be down to the knees, some are too short
2. If a boy wishes to wear a tie, the shirts must be tucked in
3. Sports uniform is to be worn on a Thursday and on a day they have PDHPE. The sports uniform must be a full sports uniform or summer uniform, no other track pants etc. School jumpers are not to be worn with the sports uniform.
4. The College school bag is the only acceptable bag 
5. The girl’s hair is to be tied back at school
6. Students should wear hard leather school shoes not black runners, this is a WHS requirement.

I ask parents to help ensure that the uniform is worn appropriately. If there is an issue with the uniform, please contact the Leader of Wellbeing for your child's year group. Students who abuse the rules will be removed from classes until the uniform is rectified. 

Respect for Others

The college has many sayings, one of them is:

“Be a person for others”.

Over the last year, how have we used this simple phrase? How have we used our thoughts, comments and actions in the playground, the classroom and online towards other people? We should never comment about others unless it is positive and we should always treat others the way we want to be treated ourselves.

It is very easy to neglect the way we treat others and the impact of negativity towards others can have a long-lasting effect on a person. We need to ask ourselves what type of person are we being seen as. Is it negative or positive? If it is negative, we need to consider what impact we are having on others and how we can change that to a positive.

I think it is important that we always ask ourselves before we do anything - What would Jesus do?

What in the planner?

The focus this week is on Positive emotions and gratitude. By choosing to have optimism and hope for the future, we set ourselves up to find our best selves. We can do this by focusing on the good things and setting achievable goals.

You need to be curious and explore possibilities and strengths and believe that you have the willpower and willpower to achieve the goals you set. You need to reduce the distractions by making the choice to live by less is more.

Ask yourself what you are grateful for and build on this. 

The character strength for the week is LOVE. How can love help build your well-being?

God bless

Mr Nick Thrum

Assistant Principal - Studdents

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Year 8 Students,

As we approach the end of Week 6, it has been incredible to see our Year 8 students achieving their personal best in class and growing as individuals. With reports coming up soon, this is an amazing opportunity for students to reflect on their progress, communicate with their teachers, and demonstrate their potential.

It’s also been amazing to see all the fantastic work Year 8 students are doing in Visual Arts, Music, and Technology. Whether it’s participating in the STEM Racing Challenge, cooking up a storm in Food Technology, or getting creative in Visual Arts, these achievements demonstrate the hard work and dedication of Year 8. I encourage all students to maintain this momentum until the end of the year and finish with success.

A huge congratulations to the Year 8 students who were voted into the Student Representative Council (SRC). We wish them all the best as they attend their Leadership Retreat. Seeing so many students putting themselves forward for this opportunity was wonderful, demonstrating their commitment to our college community. While some students may have been disappointed, this is a testament to how many of our young people are passionate about contributing to school life. Well done to everyone who participated in this process and congratulations to

A reminder that Thursday Sport is compulsory. Students unable to participate due to injury or illness must provide a note. Physical activity is so important—not just for health, but also for boosting mood and giving the brain a well-deserved break from the hard work being done in class. Year 8 students have shown great enthusiasm during sports, and it’s fantastic to see their positive energy and teamwork in action.

We would also like to gently remind everyone about the importance of bringing food for recess and lunch. Proper nutrition is essential for brain function, helping students stay energised for learning and participate fully in activities like sports. Packing nutritious meals ensures our students are well-fuelled for their busy school days.

As always, please feel free to contact me directly at samiri1@parra.catholic.edu.au or call the College office if you have any questions or concerns.

Kind regards,

Ms Susan Amiri

Acting Leader of Wellbeing - Year 8

Semester 2 Junior Showcase

You are invited to join us in celebrating the success of our Visual Arts students for Semester Two at the annual St Andrews Junior Showcase.

We are excited to showcase students’ artwork, held this year on Wednesday 27th November in the Junior Art Rooms. Year 7 and 8 Semester 2 classes will have their artworks featured for the first time this year and we will also be displaying the development and growth of our Stage 5 students. Please refer to the invitation above for more details. We hope to see family and friends of the St Andrews community come along and celebrate the talents of our Visual Arts students.

Year 12, 2025 - HSC Mentoring Night

Last Wednesday 13th November we held our Year 12 HSC Visual Arts Mentoring Night - the first event of many for our HSC Visual Arts students as they embark on the journey of creating their Body of Works. Thank you to our artist-in-residence Johnny Romeo who hosted the evening. The students are now in preparation towards their first assessment task in Year 12 for Visual Arts, equipped with feedback from different mentors. Thank you to Miss Rivera who supported the students for this evening in the absence of myself and Mrs Kemal, who had alternative NESA commitments. Miss Rivera has provided some photographs and an update of the evening below.

Stage 5 Visual Arts Camp - Bundanon

The countdown is on for our inaugural Stage 5 Visual Arts Camp to Bundanon. Our teachers have been busily finalising a wonderful program of learning for our Year 9 and 10 students. The workshops conducted at camp will directly link to their learning programs (Year 10 - Self Directed, Year 9 - Poetic Landscapes). We look forward to sharing photos and stories from our upcoming trip!

Mrs Claudia Harris

Leader of Learning Visual Arts

Year 7 - Oil Pastel Animal Drawings

Year 7 students have been engaged in creating oil pastel artworks featuring Australian animals, utilizing various techniques they have learned in class. These techniques include sgraffito, blending, layering, and drawing skills related to composition. The students faced the challenge of working on coloured paper, which many found less familiar compared to the traditional white paper.

Year 8 - Mombassa Ceramics

Students in Year 8 have been busy crafting their ceramic pinch pots inspired by Mombassa. Each student has been given the task of forming an animal using a fist-sized amount of clay, focusing on detailed shaping and moulding to bring their creatures to life. They faced several challenges, such as managing size, achieving balance, adhering additional parts, and maintaining moisture in their creations. Many students are now progressing to the underglazing and glazing stages, adding vibrant colours and a glossy finish to their artworks. 

Year 10 - Access Artist Program

Year 10 students took part in the CAPTIVATE Access Artists Program, with artist-in-residence, Stephen Hall. Hall is an active artist recognized for his versatile and multidisciplinary methods, which include drawing, mixed media, painting, sculpture, ceramics, and printmaking. This program aims to bring practising artists into classrooms, collaborating with Visual Arts teachers and students. It provides students with the opportunity to engage in hands-on projects guided by an experienced artist who can impart valuable knowledge and professional techniques to elective classes. Students had a rare chance to interact with an industry expert, which not only refined their art-making abilities but also inspired them to consider possible career pathways in Visual Arts. They listened to Hall share insights about his artistic journey, explored various pieces of his artwork, and took part in an engaging all-day workshop. In this workshop, students experimented with different mediums, such as ink, paint, and graphite pencils, to produce their own artistic creations.

Year 12, 2025 - HSC Mentoring Night

Year 12 HSC Visual Arts students of 2025 participated in a Mentor Evening hosted by Artist-In-Residence, Johnny Romeo. This event provided students with the opportunity to discuss their ideas, concepts, and material practices with their chosen mentors as well as those of their peers. The evening proved beneficial, as students received crucial advice, feedback, and insights that contributed to the development of their Body of Works.

Art Club

The Art Club has successfully been up and running for the last term and a half, gaining positive feedback from our students. Students have been involved in various independent and group projects, primarily focusing on painting, ceramics, and drawing, which are the most popular mediums. Recently, students have started using air-dry clay to craft jewellery trays, trinkets, and magnets, an activity/hobby that has gained popularity on TikTok. A significant challenge they face is the need to work quickly, as this type of clay dries rapidly. 

As this is my last Visual Arts article for 2024, I’d like to again thank Ms Leitch for allowing Art Club to run during Sport time over the past two terms as it has proven to be an enjoyable experience for our students. Our students and myself are incredibly grateful for this opportunity and anticipate its return in 2025. 

Have a wonderful rest of 2024 St Andrews Community.

Miss Leezah Rivera

HSIE & Visual Arts Teacher

CAN 2024 will be staged on Tuesday, the 10th of December from 5.30pm. Tickets are now available via QKR or by scanning the QR code on the CAN poster ( attached on compass announcement as well as outside the music rooms of each campus)

All tickets should be purchased as early as possible to avoid disappointment as this event always sells out. Students will receive all purchased tickets the week before CAN during learning group. 

There will be a  final cut of performers posted by the end of week 5 outside the music rooms once the audition process is complete. 

Successful students will receive free entry and a CAN shirt to wear during the finale on the night. 

Please email Mr. Chiappetta achiappetta@parra.catholic.edu.au should you have any concerns or questions regarding CAN 2024.

Mr Antonio Chiappetta

Director of Performance

AWS Girls in Tech Day

On Wednesday the 13th of November a group of St Andrews students from Yr 9-11 attended the AWS ‘Girls in Tech Day’. The event featured hands-on activities, inspiring talks, and interactions with women thriving in the STEM industry, with the aim to renew a sense of confidence and enthusiasm for pursuing careers in STEM. The day showcased the possibilities within the technology industry and emphasised the importance of resilience, creativity, and curiosity. It was a powerful reminder that the future of tech is diverse and that young women have an essential role to play in shaping it.

Below are some of the thoughts that our students have about the day:

The "Girls in Tech" event was an incredibly insightful and inspiring experience, offering a deeper understanding of the vital role women play in the technology industry. I had the privilege of hearing from many incredible women who shared their personal journeys, challenges, and triumphs, encouraging us all to step outside our comfort zones. The event also featured various stalls, allowing us to explore opportunities with different committees and organisations. Overall, it was a truly empowering event that motivated every attendee to dream big, embrace new possibilities, and never give up on their aspirations.

- Archisha

Girls in Tech Day was a wonderful experience to take part in and explore the different opportunities laid out for young women in the future and now. It was also an opportunity to see how women in tech are currently thriving in their careers, as they shared their experiences and valuable lessons. After listening to these insightful experiences, we had the chance to venture off and explore different careers held by tech organisations and associations. In these moments, we encountered different ways we can be a part of the tech industry and journey through that. All in all, the day was an amazing experience and truly inspiring to be a part of.

- Claudia

"At AWS Girls Tech Day at Blacktown Leisure Centre Stanhope, I dove into technology and STEAM through hands-on activities. Watching robots in motion gave me a glimpse into coding and mechanics, and seeing others lead in tech was incredibly inspiring. I collaborated with students from other schools, sharing our passions for tech, science, and mathematics. Activities like exploring AI-driven life through VR and building a budgeted boat from paper plates, cups, and rubber bands sparked my curiosity even more. The day was fun, motivating, and strengthened my interest in these exciting fields."

- Catalina

Thank you to Miss Valdivia for joining us on the day.

Miss Alexandra Serbin

Assistant Leader of Learning - TAS 

Yesterday, Year 9 and 10 students embraced the world of diplomacy during our in-school Model UN event. With lively yet thoughtful debates throughout the whole day, they tackled complex global issues based around ownership of the moon and the return of cultural property that has been stolen in the past. The day was a great success, with the students passing two resolutions with amendments. This included the formation of a 12-nation "United Earth Coalition" to lead lunar research and (in a dramatic twist) the assembly unanimously voting to sanction the US after a shocking double-cross and nuclear threats. 

The event concluded with the presentation of awards to recognise outstanding contributions. These accolades highlighted the students’ creativity, critical thinking, and collaborative spirit. These awards included: 

• Best Delegate
• Most likely to start a World War
• Most likely to join the UN
• Best Walking Flag
• Most Humanitarian
• and several more

Excitingly, the students are eager to keep the momentum going, with plans to establish a student-led Model UN society on both campuses in 2025. 

A special thanks to the staff, Dr Kennaugh, Mrs Anthony, Mrs Reddy and Miss for their support in the lead-up and on the day of the event. Another huge thank you has to go to Mr Camilleri, Ms Malonzo, Miss Amiri, Miss Negline and Mr Sheehan for popping in and encouraging the students. Check out some photos below to see our students in action! 

Miss Mickaella Douglas

Public Speaking and Debating Leader 

Helping Children Around the World with Onigiri

In Week 5, Term 4, our Japanese elective students participated in the #OnigiriAction campaign, a wonderful initiative that combines learning about Japanese food with helping children in need.

Onigiri is a traditional Japanese dish made from rice, often shaped into a ball or triangle and filled with a salty or pickled filling. It's a simple, tasty, and portable meal that has been enjoyed in Japan for many years. Now it is getting popular around the world. The word onigiri was added to the Oxford English Dictionary this year, showing just how popular it’s become worldwide!

The #OnigiriAction campaign started in 2015 and aims to help children in need by sharing photos of onigiri. Here’s how it works: for every photo posted on social media with the hashtag #OnigiriAction, a donation of 100 yen (about $1 AUD) is made to provide meals for children in need. Every photo shared helps provide five meals to children around the world!

Around the world, 1 billion people don’t have enough to eat, while 2 billion struggle with health problems like obesity and diabetes caused by unhealthy eating. Hunger is not just an issue in faraway countries—it also affects people here in Australia.

That’s why campaigns like #OnigiriAction are so important. The more photos we share, the more meals we can help provide.

Our students in the Japanese elective course got involved by making and sharing their own onigiri. They not only learned how to make this tasty dish but also about the importance of giving back to those in need.

Throughout the week, the students and teachers made onigiri, showing great creativity and care. This campaign has been a wonderful reminder of how small actions can make a big difference in the lives of others.

A big thank you to all the students who have already participated in the campaign. Your efforts are making a real difference. Let’s continue to support this cause and show kindness to others!

Reports from Japanese students

Various Japanese classes in our school have taken action in an annual social program that asks people all around the world to post pictures of onigiri, a traditional Japanese cuisine to raise money for the unfortunate children who do not have school meals to eat in Japan. This initiative is known as Onigiri Action.

Our Japanese Elective classes have contributed to this fundraiser through their interactive lesson creating onigiri balls from scratch! Students were given premium-grade rice with tasty seaweed, topped off with their own selected choice of toppings to create the delicious food. This lesson, whilst fun and engaging, had taught an important message to the students participating. The message of continuous support and communal contribution to make the lives of others a lot more bearable. Even such little contributions are not truly small to the wellbeing of others and shine a bright light of hope onto those who need it most.

Whilst the Japanese classes have already taken part in Onigiri Action, you can too! All you have to do to give another child the money to eat again is to create any onigiri of your choice and post a photo of it on as many social media platforms as you can with the hashtag “#OnigiriAction”. Please keep in mind that you must use the exact hashtag in order to take part in this movement. Thank you to all the classes that participated, all the students who put their best efforts into making these wonderful onigiri balls, and thank you to the staff who are continuously encouraging the growth of student’s being thoughtful of the poor and needy.

- Zayne Bayrich (Year 9 Japanese)

During our Year 10 Japanese class we were tasked to make onigiri for the Onigiri Action movement ,which assisted in helping those having trouble with putting food on the table. During this time, I was able to talk and have fun with my other classmates to make our own onigiris with our own fillings. We were able to make fun faces on the onigiri, wrap it our own way and were able to enjoy ourselves with others. It was a fun experience to have and wish for future Japanese students to experience this as well. 

- Calvin Mediana (Year 10 Japanese)

Ms Mariko Suzuki

Leader of Learning - Languages

On Friday Week 4, the Year 12 Ancient History class recreated the Spartan Phalanx formation as part of their studies into Spartan Society for the HSC. This activity included dressing up one of their peers as a Spartan soldier with the correct armour and equipment, before creating a Phalanx and moving as one.

 The Phalanx was a key battle formation that the Spartans used in battle and proved to be effective for centuries. The Phalanx embodies the core ideals of Spartan society summarised by the term eunomia. This includes moving as a collective, enforced discipline and maintaining the ‘Spartan Mirage,’ a propaganda technique used by the Spartans and still in effect to this day.

The ancient history students gained a lot of insight during this activity into the experience of the Spartan soldier in battle and leading. With a small class, we enlisted soldiers from Study Hall (thank you Mrs Bradford for allowing us to borrow students) to fill the ranks and allow us to properly formulate the Phalanx with our makeshift thrusting spears and hoplons (shields). 

Read below some of the reflections of the students: 

• “The reenactment of the phalanx was very fun but also very useful because we were able to create a visual representation of what the soldiers would have had to do back in Sparta and in battle”
• “The reenactment helped me understand how being in a Phalanx formation as an ancient Spartan required discipline, courage and unity with fellow soldiers”

I also want to express my thanks to both Mr Dunaeff and Mr Sheehan for their involvement and helping the ancient history students instruct the students from Study Hall into formation, as well as helping to lead the formation around the multipurpose court on the Senior Campus. 

We hope you enjoy these images as much as we enjoyed creating them!

Miss Mickaella Douglas and the 12ANHI1 Class

Teacher of Ancient History and Junior HSIE

Western Sydney International Airport Excursion

On Wednesday the 13th of November 2024 the Year 12 Work Studies and VET Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways classes went on an excursion to the Western Sydney International (Nancy Bird Walton) Airport. The experience had been arranged by the College Future Pathways Leader, Ms May. 

Students were introduced to different job opportunities and career pathways that are possible in the airport workplace environment. There were a number of different pathways mentioned to the students by the presenter on the day from industries such as hospitality, security and sustainability.  Education and training opportunities such as traineeships, internships and university degrees were all promoted as possible pathways for the students. The presenter played a video for the students which highlighted the experience of different young people from Western Sydney who had embraced opportunities offered to them at the Western Sydney International Airport.  

When the students arrived at Badgerys Creek they entered the interactive centre where they learnt about the design, size and features of the site and why the land was chosen for Sydney’s second airport. There were many Indigenous artefacts found during the excavation of the site and are now held in the centre for visitors to view. The presenter shared that the site is using the newest available technologies, bigger facilities, more job opportunities and many more different advancements never seen in an airport before.  

As the airport itself is not yet open to the public, the students were taken on a tour around the perimeter of the airport, taking the main roads of Northern Road, Elizabeth Drive and Badgerys Creek Road, seeing all the different holding facilities such as the water tanks and fuel tanks and cargo compound that will be in service as soon as the airport opens. The students had fun but also learnt new things and came back to school considering the possible new work pathways that are now available to them at the Western Sydney International Airport. 

Callam Stirton  

College Leadership Team

Leaders of Learning - Wellbeing

College Leaders of Learning - KLA

College Leaders of Learning