OUTSTANDING 2024 HSC RESULTS

As we reflect on the recently released HSC results, it is with immense pride that we celebrate not just the results, but the journey of learning growth that each student has undertaken. The remarkable achievements of our students are a direct reflection of the unwavering dedication of our teaching staff. 76.3% of our students achieved in the top 3 bands for their courses. Students in our extension courses achieved 7 E4 and 17 E3 achievements in our extension courses and 35 Band 6 results across the cohort.

Students in our accelerated program which is designed to meet students where they are and extend them by providing tailored support that empowers them to reach their potential and, in many cases, exceed it. 23% of the College’s Distinguished Achievers were part of this program and exceeded expectations where 82% of the accelerated students scored in the top 2 bands for their courses.

Our teaching staff’s commitment to fostering an environment where students feel encouraged to strive academically has been instrumental in this year's results. 67% of subjects achieved on or above state average results. Notably, Visual Arts, Community and Family Studies, and Legal Studies have not only met expectations but have also shown remarkable growth compared to 2023.

Our students have not only met expectations but have also set new benchmarks for success. Our notable highlights for the 2024 HSC are:

• Top Achievers in Visual Arts 
• Art Express nomination.
• A Band 6 achievement in Chemistry by an accelerated student.
• A student with a Callback nomination in Drama.

This Year’s top ATAR achievement was a rank of 97 and 10 students achieved an ATAR of 90 and above.

The journey of learning is not just about results; it is about growth, resilience, and the courage to push boundaries. Our students have embraced the philosophy that everything counts, and our 2024 HSC are a testament to this. The support from our teaching staff has been pivotal in instilling this mindset, encouraging students to take risks, seek challenges, and ultimately, discover their capabilities.

As we celebrate these achievements, we recognise that each students’ learning journey has emphasised their personal growth, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of academic excellence. Together, we have created a vibrant community that not only values academic success but also champions the holistic development of each student.

In 2025 our goal is to continue to inspire one another, pushing the limits of what we can achieve together. I congratulate all our 2024 HSC  students on their success, our teachers for their ongoing support and dedication to our students, and the bright future for St Andrews College that lies ahead.

Principal’s Awards

The final Assembly on the Senior Campus in Week 8, was the last opportunity to present Principal’s Awards to students this year. Students who have received their Principals Award after this time will receive it next year. Congratulations to the following students who have received Principal’s Awards:

Year 8

Year 9

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

Year 12

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

2025 House Cup Points Update

The 2025 House Cup Competition started in Term 4 this year. The updated totals for the 2025 competition are:

Bennelong: 10, 395

Chang: 10, 405

Frances: 12, 820

Gould:   8, 545

As always, it was a busy end to the school year with St Andrews Day, CAN, the Year 10 into Year 11 Transition Program & camps. Congratulations to the students who pushed themselves right to the end of the year. It has been a wonderful 2024, filled with much success & learning. I wish all students a relaxing holiday, and I look forward to working with you in 2025.

Mrs Sue Cooper

Leader of Wellbeing and Learning

scooper@parra.catholic.edu.au

Dear Parents/Carers and Students of Year 10, 

It is with mixed emotions that I say farewell to the wonderful Year 10 cohort, who I have had the privilege of accompanying on their schooling journey for the past 3 years. As I reflect on the journey, it is clear that they have had immense growth as individuals, in their learning and have had outstanding achievements. It has been an amazing sight to see everyone develop into the people they are today. To the Year 10 cohort, it has been an honour to be a part of your lives, and I am truly proud of the remarkable individuals you have and will continue to become.

To the Year 10 parents, it has been a pleasure to work with you for the past 3 years, your support and involvement have been invaluable. 

Year 10 Transition Camp

Our Year 10 Transition Camp was a wonderful experience that enabled students to connect with God, form friendships outside of the classroom and challenge themselves in many activities that they participated in. On Wednesday 4th December, Year 10 students made their way to CCC Camps Toukley. Over the 3 days, they participated in a variety of team building activities and reflections. These activities included beach games, surfing, paddleboarding, archery, laser tag, bush walking and initiatives. 

Thank you very much to Mr Cetinic, Mrs Weaver, Mr Fellows, Mr Alata, Miss Douglas, Mrs Rosinski, Mr Houseman, Mrs Numan, Miss Gonzales, Mr Leu, Miss Tran, Miss Rujicia, Miss Matsufuji and Miss Cox who attended the Year 10 Transition Camp. 

Student Reflections 

Year 10 camp was on the 4th to 6th of December and was one of the best camp experiences ever. Throughout this 3 day stay at CCC Central Coast, we got to do some great activities which some I haven’t tried before. The most memorable however, had to be the beach activities and surfing. Living in the western suburbs meant that going to the beach wasn’t something I got to do often and surfing for the first time was extremely fun. Overall, the year 10 camp experience was truly worthwhile, allowing me to try activities I’ve never done before and talk to people I’ve never met before.

I find that every year, our grade camp is one of my biggest highlights. Year 10 camp was no exception, being filled with many opportunities to be active with my friends and develop connections with people I don’t usually talk to. Working together and pushing through challenges as a team is a perfect way to develop a stronger sense of community in our grade. Overall, Year 10 camp was an experience to both learn from and remember.

The year 10 transition camp at the CCC camp in Toukley was a valuable experience that allowed us to deepen our connection with one another as a year group and strengthen our relationship with God. The three days involved plenty of time near the water as well as many occasions to take part in team building initiatives like our team challenge on the last day where our grade got to bond over some friendly competition. During camp there were many opportunities for us to reflect on how we see God in the things and people around us. We engaged in reflection at our evening campfire and as a year group on the final day which encouraged us to think about how we want to put God at the centre of our lives as we transition onto the senior campus. This time spent at camp is one that I know my whole grade is extremely grateful for and there are many many memories we made which we will hold onto.

Year 10 Transition 

Year 10 students had the opportunity to participate in the Transition Program on the senior campus in Week 10.  The Transition program provided students with an orientation to the Senior Campus, workshops to facilitate learning and provide academic tools for their senior years and team building initiatives to foster connections and relationships within the Year group. Well done Year 10 on a successful week!  

Year 10, enjoy your holidays. Take the time to relax, spend time with your family and friends and enjoy doing the things that you like to do. I wish you all the best for your next journey as senior students. You can do anything you set your mind to, work hard, reach your goals.

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year. 

Ms Alicia Harwood 

Leader of Wellbeing Year 10 

Year 9: A Year of Growth and Achievement

As we close out 2024, it's time to reflect on the incredible journey Year 9 has had this year. From personal growth to community engagement, this group has truly demonstrated what it means to be dedicated, ambitious, and involved members of the St Andrews community. It’s been a year of setting goals, building habits, taking leadership, and making a real impact—and I couldn't be more proud of all that Year 9 has achieved.

Term 1: Setting the Foundation

We started the year with a clear focus on growth. In Term 1, students worked on forming personal and academic goals, setting the tone for the year ahead. It was a time of reflection and planning, where each student took the opportunity to set intentions for their learning and development. Alongside these goals, Year 9 also began their weekly sessions with their learning advisors, focusing on developing wellbeing habits. These sessions were vital in helping students build the resilience and mindset necessary to thrive, both in and out of the classroom.

Term 2: Community Engagement and Extracurricular Success

As the year unfolded, Year 9’s involvement in the broader St Andrews community truly shone. Term 2 saw students taking part in a wide range of extracurricular activities, showcasing not just their talents, but their willingness to engage and give back. From Public Speaking to the NSW Shakespeare Competition, from Debating to the Lifted Unleashed Event, Year 9 embraced these opportunities with enthusiasm. We also saw strong participation in the Western Sydney University’s Fast Forward Program and the St Andrews Youth Ministry Group, where students not only gained valuable skills but contributed to the vibrant culture of our school. It was inspiring to witness how Year 9 students used these opportunities to develop as individuals, while also making lasting contributions to the school community.

Term 3: Taking Ownership and Leading Change

Term 3 marked a significant shift for Year 9 as students began to take greater ownership of their role in shaping the positive learning environment we value here at St Andrews. A number of students stepped up to propose initiatives to Dr Kennaugh aimed at making a positive impact on the community. One standout initiative was the Sleep Intervention led by the Student Representative Council (SRC), which was designed to raise awareness about the importance of sleep for both academic performance and wellbeing. This initiative was just one example of the way Year 9 students demonstrated leadership, creativity, and a commitment to making our school a better place for everyone.

Term 4: Leadership and Celebration

The final term of the year was a whirlwind of activity, with Year 9 students truly stepping into their roles as leaders within the school. We saw the largest number of students putting their hands up for leadership opportunities. Further to this we had a large representation of Year 9 students at CAN, as well as in the St Andrews Day celebrations. The excitement continued with the much-anticipated Year 9 camp, where students not only bonded with each other but also participated in activities that reinforced the values of teamwork, resilience, and personal growth.

Throughout all of this, Year 9 has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to making the most of every opportunity, growing individually and as a group, and strengthening the fabric of our school community.

Looking Ahead to 2025

As we look forward to 2025, I have no doubt that the hard work, dedication, and leadership Year 9 has shown this year will continue to pay off in the years ahead. It’s been a privilege to watch each of you grow, both personally and academically. I wish everyone a safe and happy Christmas and look forward to seeing all that we’ve worked towards this year lead to even greater success in the future.

Thank you, Year 9, for making 2024 a year to remember. Here’s to an even brighter 2025!

Warm regards,
Mr Nathan Weaver
Acting Year 9 Leader of Wellbeing

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Year 8 Students,

Congratulations, Year 8, on a successful year! Well done on all your accomplishments—each of you should be incredibly proud of yourselves. It has been a privilege to witness your growth in confidence, ability, and resilience. Watching you continue to build meaningful friendships within the Year Group and embody the values of being a person for others, always going above and beyond, has been truly inspiring.

I have been very grateful to serve as your Acting Leader of Wellbeing during Term 4. I want to sincerely thank the parents, guardians, and students for their ongoing support throughout the term. Your encouragement and partnership have meant a great deal to me and have made this experience even more rewarding.

I am excited to share that Mr. Kharl Carlos will be returning as the Leader of Wellbeing in Term 1, 2025. I look forward to continuing in my role as the Assistant Leader of Wellbeing and working alongside him to support our wonderful school community.

Year 8 Camp
On Thursday 12 and Friday 13 December, Year 8 attended camp at AGH Camps in Douglas Park. Over the two-day camp, students challenged themselves to a variety of exciting activities, including Sky Cycle, Dangling Duo, Archery, High Ropes, and Initiative Exercises.

It was wonderful to see Year 8 build a stronger sense of community, push their boundaries, develop recreational skills, celebrate personal achievements, and grow in confidence. A special congratulations to those students who stepped outside their comfort zones—you should be very proud!

We were also delighted to have Dr Kennaugh visit us on Thursday, which the students greatly appreciated.

A big thank you to Ms Rujicica, Mrs Cooper, Mr Din, Miss Negline, Ms Cusack, Mr Cheung, Ms Malonzo, Mrs Appleby, Mrs Kemal, Mr Dunaeff, Miss Rivera, and Miss Manton for attending camp and ensuring the students had a fantastic experience.

Finally, congratulations to Year 8 for their enthusiasm, participation, and effort during camp. It was a truly memorable experience for everyone involved.

As we conclude the year, I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a safe and joyful New Year. I look forward to seeing you all in 2025!

Best wishes,
Ms Susan Amiri
Acting Leader of Wellbeing – Year 8

Dear Parents/Guardians,

As we reach the end of an exciting and successful year, I would like to thank you for your support and dedication to your child's education. It has been a year of growth, learning, and achievement, and we are incredibly proud of all that our Year 7 students have accomplished in their first year of high school.

Year 7 had the opportunity to participate in a wellbeing day on Friday 13th December. It was great to see the students participate in various workshops that were created around the SPIRE framework that focused on key areas of wellbeing.

I hope that you and your family enjoy a well-deserved, restful break over the holiday period. It has been a pleasure working with Year 7, and we are excited to welcome your child back in 2025 commencing Year 8.

We look forward to continuing the journey of learning and growth together in the new year.

Wishing you all a joyful and peaceful holiday season.

Kind Regards,
Acting Leader of Wellbeing
Ivana Nikitovic

Thank you SAC artists!

A huge congratulations to our incredible VA students for their outstanding creativity and dedication in 2024! Over the last fortnight, our art rooms have been alive with excitement as students collected their artworks from over the year. It has been such a delight to review 2024 with them, revisiting the creative processes and artistic growth that defined their year. This has been yet another inspiring chapter for Visual Arts at St Andrews, with students embracing diverse opportunities to express themselves and push their artistic boundaries. We couldn’t be prouder of our thriving Visual Arts community, where each year’s talent and innovation continue to elevate the quality and set new benchmarks for excellence!

2024 Year in Review

Year 7 - 12 participated in a range of initiatives and events this year. Students interested in being involved should look out for Newsletter and Compass notices in the new year.

• Operation Art
• Art Club with Miss Rivera 
• Semester 1 CAPA Combined Showcase
• End of Year Junior VA Showcase
• Year 8 Artist in Residence Incursion with Johnny Romeo
• Year 9 St Andrews Archibald Prize Competition 
• Year 9/10 VA Excursion to Art Gallery of New South Wales
• Year 10 Access Artist Workshops - Stephen Hall
• Year 11/12 Art Excursion to Art Gallery of New South Wales 
• Year 12 (2025) Artist Presentation - Stephen Hall
• Year 12 (2025) BOW in a Day
• Year 12 (2025) Mentoring Night
• Year 12 (2025) Work in Progress Night
• Stage 5 Art Camp - Bundanon 

ART Club with Miss Rivera

As a faculty, we thank Miss Rivera for her time and dedication to create her own program and facilitate extra art skills/experiences during sport on Thursdays to a very lucky group of students. 

“Art Club has proven to be an enriching experience for our creative students allowing them to explore and experiment with a range of mediums; some of which they have not yet utilised in their usual Visual Arts classes or through their at-home hobbies. As mentioned previously, ceramics is a popular medium amongst our students. If you wish to explore more within the ceramic world at home, air dry clay is perfect for at-home usage - this can be purchased at Officeworks, Bunnings, Kmart or if you are interested in the more ‘higher quality’ clay, then visiting an art store would be your best bet! It is said that creating art in one’s leisurely time is proven to reduce stress, improve mood and increase self-confidence. It has been wonderful to see students mingle with other students they may not necessarily interact with in the school yard but coming together in a space where art is the common ground, these new relationships have allowed students to gain new, meaningful connections with those similar to them. I really enjoyed mentoring our students in mediums that they are interested in and getting to know the artists of our College. I look forward to continuing the art club in 2025!”

• Miss Rivera (Visual Arts Teacher)

“Art Club has been a really fun experience!  This experience taught me many things about art and artmaking, and Miss Rivera has been a really helpful and supportive teacher throughout the entire term!”  

- Aleena Lamba

“Being part of the art club has been an amazing experience for me. I really enjoyed sculpting with clay, creating pieces that reflect my interests and the things I find cool. It was also a great opportunity to spend quality time with friends while exploring our creativity together” 

- Monica Najibi

“Art club was truly relaxing and joyful. Art club gave me an amazing opportunity and experience to delve into my creative skills in the most soothing way possible. Art club allowed me to loosen up, have a chat with my friends and most importantly create beautiful art. There were numerous forms of art ranging from ceramics to air dry clay to drawing and painting. Being at Art club was truly a wonderful experience and I am so grateful I was able to participate.” 

- Arianna Amini

“Art club is an experience that resonates with me. It’s a great place for all artists to explore and learn new things all in the art genre. It’s a chill and relaxing place as we all go at our own pace. Art club is definitely a calling for those hidden artists in SAC.”

- Jamae Abadiano

“I like art club, it is very chill as it rewinds people's brains and allows others to take the chance to calm down. It is fun and everyone in art club is cool, you also get feedback or help when creating your art piece if needed and you are able to use the many art tools in art club. Art club allows creativity to flow as people make various art works, people are respectful and art club help flourish people's talents and love for art.”

- Alyanna Maningat

Bundanon VA Camp - Student experiences

“Art camp was an incredible experience, fostering creativity and teamwork through engaging activities and hands-on workshops. We explored various mediums and techniques in places like forests, creating unique pieces that showcased our creativity and talent. It was a great opportunity to learn, grow, and connect with peers who are passionate about art”. 

- Sharon Harry

“The Art Camp was overall an enjoying experience, it got all of us closer together and allowed us to explore our artistic ideas and create new things. Although only two days, we all grew alot and learnt many new things”. 

- Amelia Korczowski

“The Art Camp 2024 was a transformative experience that both attested to our capabilities and showed that there are really no limits in art, in terms of learning new skills and techniques. During the camp we were immersed in nature's beauty, and as a result the environment that surrounded us ultimately provided inspiration for all our artworks. Overall from the photography sessions led by Ms Harris to experimenting with ink and charcoal, each moment expanded our skills and deepened our appreciation for art.”

- Ana Donjerkovic

“Bundanon was unforgettable, the stunning nature, the art and of course, the wildlife! When we arrived we started painting using a bamboo stick and ink under the trees of the Shoalhaven. It was a very unique experience.This opened my mind to all the different materials you can use to create art with.

One of the highlights was light photography with Mrs Harris. We used our phone torches and glow sticks to create glowing and magical images. I felt like this activity brought us both grades together and this made the night so enjoyable.

During this experience I felt as if it drew everyone together. For us all to be together for two days creating, sharing about one thing we all had in common which is art, it felt very special.”

• Samanta Cardona

“Art Camp 2024 was an incredibly unique experience! Although it was only a short period of time, I am very grateful for the multiple activities we had participated in. It was very refreshing to try other mediums in art such as charcoal and ink, especially as a paint-biased artist, in the outdoors. I'd totally recommend this camp for art students!”

• Airabelle Quiazon

“During the time Year 10 and 9 spent on Art Camp, It consisted of beautiful landscapes, immersive activities and overall a wonderful experience to view art In a different lens. My personal favourite activity I was fortunate enough to participate In was the River View Ink Painting, despite the excessive amount of flies, the ability to create art with unfamiliar mediums and techniques granted a unique perspective and articulation of the view to be interpreted by each individual. Personally I found the experience lovely and it left me feeling extremely blessed.”

• Kaydence Wells

Year 9 CAPTIVATE Arts Factor - Ceramics Workshop

Led by ceramicist and Visual Arts teacher Timm O'Reagan, two of our Year 9 Visual Arts students attended the CAPTIVATE Arts Factor Ceramics workshop at St Agnes Catholic School on Thursday and Friday of Week 9. They engaged in a series of hand building and surface treatment workshops and learnt a range of innovative techniques and applications to build their own repertoire of ceramics skills. Over the course of the two days the students made a body of work using a variety of clays, tools and glazes. We are excited to have these pieces back at school where they will be fired next year. 

Year 7 Mulga 

Year 7 students have been learning about artist Mulga (Joel Moore). Most famous for his Slurpee designs at the local 7/11 petrol stations. Mulga is a very talented artist from Sydney who practices art on a variety of surfaces, he is a street artist, muralist, illustrator, poet and ‘artrepreneur’. Mulga also collaborates with major brands like Speedo, Volvo, Fifa and BMW, just to name a few. 

Students have studied/analysed his style/concepts and have developed their own Mulga cups, specifically implementing Elements of Art within their designs. Mulga often constructs personalities in his animal collections; adding sunglasses, Hawaiian holiday shirts, and summer beverages etc. Students drafted in their Visual Arts books before transferring the 2D drawing onto a circular surface of a cup - creating a 360 narrative in the style of Mulga. Students used paint markers to colour in their designs and used felt tip markers to create texture with directional linework. 

Year 8 Mombassa 

Mombassa, the surrealist artist with cartoonist style has been a main focus over the last few weeks. Year 8 have analysed two of his artworks ‘Nuclear Reactor’ & ‘BBQ Australia’, breaking down each symbol in his compositions to unpack its meaning in a logical and complex manner. Students then applied theoretical knowledge of Mombassa and his work and implemented this within their own Mombassa inspired artworks: Ceramic mugs and paintings. 

Students used learnt skills such as pinch pot construction, coiling, attachment of features using cross-hatch and slurry as well as how to underglaze and glaze to construct their ceramic vessels. Students also applied painting skills such as tints, tones and shades, application of colour theory as well as Mombassa style in cartoon/surrealist techniques and black bold outlines. 

Year 12 Body of Works

Year 12 Visual Arts Body of Works (BOW) are well in progress under the professional guidance of Mrs Harris. We are looking forward to seeing students’ development and learnings over the next year. 

Mrs Shandel Kemal

Leader of Learning Visual Arts (Acting)

On Wednesday the 11th of December to Friday the 13th of December, Year 9 attended their camp at the Great Aussie Bush Camp in Kincumber South. The camp was 3 long, fun, and tiring days of activities and spending time with friends.

Each day of the camp was extremely hot and noisy with the sound of cicadas filling in any silence. The camp activities included Initiatives, Lost Island (Mud Run), Survivor Challenge, Canoeing, Giant Swing, Leap of Faith, Abseiling, and Archery, as well as movie nights and challenge nights for the boys and girls. The activities required cooperation and courage, especially with many of the height based activities and the mud run.

“My favourite part about the camp was participating in activities that aren’t typically part of our everyday experiences, such as going abseiling or going on the giant swing. These opportunities don’t occur often so getting the chance to do these things made the camp exciting and engaging. I also appreciated being able to spend time with my peers outside of the school and getting to bond with people who I wouldn’t usually speak to.”

• Layla Walsh

“The best activity experience for me personally was the Giant Swing. I enjoyed the thrill of going down the swing and I liked the inclusion of having everyone else pull on the rope to go up, if I could, I would've loved to do it more. I also enjoyed canoeing as it was a new experience for me and was very fun.”

• Richard Zhuang

“The camp gave us a chance to strengthen and build our relationships with our peers outside of school grounds. The teamwork based activities such as initiatives, the survivor challenge and canoeing guided our growth as a team and brought us closer as a grade. Working together on the activities and challenges helped me learn more about my peers with each one of their unique strengths that connected us more.”

• Aurelle Husada

“Looking back, I wouldn't change much about the camp because it was super fun and ticked all my boxes. Being with our friends during the activity groups made it even more memorable. If I had to pick one thing, it would be to do the activities more than once during the sessions since they were definitely the best part of the camp. Overall, it was an unforgettable experience!”

• Aishriya Lal

“On behalf of each and every one of our peers in year 9, we’d like to showcase our camp highlights! Camp is often a place where new experiences can come to life and offer the opportunity to come out of our comfort zones and personally grow in ourselves. For instance, we had tried abseiling, and a leap of faith for the first time which allowed us to trust in our instructors and the people in our group, and most importantly ourselves. Embracing these new experiences encouraged us to learn new skills and face challenges that we may not face in our everyday lives such as being high up in the air, running and swimming through mud, going canoeing, walking around at night and talking to new people. Camp was an amazing way for us to conquer these challenges together and it is going to have an ever-lasting impact on some of our peers. The memories made through camp will continue to be remembered for years to come and we hope that everyone had a great time.”

• Richard, Siyara, Sabrina and Yiannaki (School Captains and Vice Captains 2025)

Overall, the camp was an enjoyable and memorable experience for everyone who went. I would like to thank Mr Weaver, Miss Breeze, Mr Culbert, Miss Serbin, Miss Mifsud, Miss Bade, Miss Corpuz, Miss Britton, Miss Kumar, Miss Narayan, and Miss Noble for joining the students on the camp and making it possible.

Written by Lucas Luong (SRC 2025 Publicity Portfolio)

On Thursday, December 12th, and Friday, December 13th, the Year 8 cohort enjoyed an unforgettable experience at AGH Camps, in the picturesque Douglas Park surrounded by the Nepean River. The camp provided students an amazing opportunity to try a diverse range of fun team-building activities designed to improve collaboration and personal growth.

One of the highlights was the giant swing, where groups of three were soared high above the ground before soaring through the air with scenic views as their. The rush of the swing, combined with the support of peers, encouraged us to overcome any hesitation and trust in the process. In addition, students had a chance to try archery—a rewarding activity that required precision and focus. With guidance from instructors, we improved our aim and learned patience and determination with every shot. Moreover, the retreat featured one-of-a-kind, air based activities such as a bicycle zipline—a thrilling activity where participants pedalled across a high, suspended line, teaching the importance of stepping outside your comfort zone and being courageous. For those seeking a challenge, the tree-top obstacle course tested our perseverance through a series of exciting, difficult elements. Through these activities, the camp successfully combined excitement with valuable life lessons, leaving students with enhanced confidence and stronger bonds.

We were honored to have our college principal, Dr. Kennaugh, visit us during the camp and deeply appreciate our dedicated teachers for making this retreat possible. A heartfelt thanks to the AGH Camps team for delivering a truly memorable experience. This retreat left us with lifelong memories, strengthened bonds, and a renewed sense of resilience and teamwork.

“The time that year 8 had spent at AGH camps had been one that was not only an enjoyable and pleasant experience but had tested our trust and bond as a year group.  We had partaken in and accomplished various things and activities, including the big swing, pioneering which had tested our skills of creativity and teamwork and a tree tops course consisting of 3 levels varying in difficulty.

I personally had enjoyed being able to engage with my learning group (chosen activity group), finding that many of the teamwork oriented activities had allowed for me to talk and grow closer with all of them. Additionally the time spent on the big swing and within our chosen cabins were very fun and personally my favourite aspects of the camp, forever being some of my most cherished memories I am grateful to have gotten the opportunity to create.”

- Gatleen Boparai

“The retreat was a fun and valuable experience that pushed me out of my comfort zone. I learned teamwork, initiative, bravery, and new skills like archery, knot-tying, and climbing. Activities like the tree tops course, giant swing, and initiative exercises were exciting and challenging. I enjoyed the fun games we got to play at break times. I think that the cabins were fun and a good opportunity to spend time with friends.”

- Ben Aridah

“Year 8 Camp was really fun and engaging and created memories for all. There were obstacles and activities that got many of us out of our comfort zone while exploring teamwork and having fun. Camp helped others reunite and engage and was a well planned event with the various activity choices, night games, food and cabin arrangements”

- Devina Ankadawala

“Year 8 students showed incredible resilience and teamwork during our two-day camp at AGH, embracing every challenge despite the heat. Their positivity, courage, and willingness to connect with others truly reflected St Andrews’ values. I am so proud of every single one of our students for their positive attitude, teamwork, and willingness to give their best. It was a joy to witness their growth and camaraderie, and I hope the memories and lessons from camp will stay with them as they continue their journey this year”

- Ms Amiri

Written by Rhythm Gupta (SRC 2025 Publicity Portfolio) 

Big Band Theory is a band full of talented musicians that loves playing a variety of genres. It also boasts a variety of instruments - bass guitar, electric guitars, drums, congas, 2 violins, a flute and vocals. We seem to change our instruments depending on what song we are playing! We have been rehearsing several times a week throughout  the year - either at recess or lunch (plus early morning rehearsals as a whole band (7:30am) in the lead up to a performance) and have had two performances during the year. Our first performance was at the Junior CAPA night - where we played Henry Mancini’s ‘The Pink Panther’, and our most recent performance was at CAN where we played Santana’s ‘Smooth’.  Big Band Theory consists of Saumya Punj (violin), Lauren Renouf (violin), Isabella De Leon (flute) Moses Leveni (vocals), Sedric Castor (vocals), Kyle Sarol (drums/vocals), Aidan D’Silva (congas), Angelo Demian (bass guitar), Tristan Fegradoe (rhythm guitar) & Claudia Fuimaono (lead guitar). All students get involved with the arrangement of the songs and they have great ideas! I am very proud of the students, and of what we have achieved this year. We are always on the lookout for new members - in particular students who play woodwind, brass & strings instruments. If you have your own instrument and are interested in joining Big Band Theory, please speak with one of the band members or Mrs Cooper next year. 

Mrs Sue Cooper

Leader of Wellbeing and Learning

scooper@parra.catholic.edu.au

Throughout this year, several mathematics classes completed pixel art activities to self assess their understanding of class concepts. To wrap up the year 10MAA1, 9MATP1 and 7MATH2 utilised spreadsheets to create their own pixel artworks that will be formatted into review tasks in 2025. Students showed outstanding creativity and several were awarded prizes for their fantastic designs. Well done to all that completed this task.

Year 7 winner Y Tang

Year 9 winner K Hall

Year 10 winner J Chin

Some more year 7 designs created:

Mrs Liliana Appleby

As the term comes to an end, so does our Women in Shakespeare program, which has run over the last couple of weeks. It has been an immeasurable experience to be a witness to these students, who have grown not only in their knowledge of Shakespeare, but in their contribution to the discussions and the link of the lives, struggles and strength of Shakespeare’s female characters to their own selves. 

I wish to thank Dr Stephen Kennaugh for the support in applying for this program and witnessing the need for students (both female and male alike) to have the opportunity to have a space where they can gain a deeper understanding of such an often seemingly cryptic language, the love of Shakespeare’s characters and where they can find the community to empower one another. I also wish to give a special thanks and appreciation to Mr Andrew Nisbet and Mrs Dineesha Senevirathne for their time for both the workshop with Bell Shakespeare and their expertise to each of the sessions run. 

The program wouldn’t have been possible without Bell Shakespeare, so a thank you to their team, to Shelley Casey and on our end to Melissa Welch for the organisational support of the Bell Shakespeare workshop to be the success it was. 

The last session included students making a mini play, including everything they’ve learnt within the program and even adding in some dialogue from the monologues we’ve studied. In turn, the mini play’s plot was a therapy session for each of Shakespeare’s protagonists. Their characters share their grievances with how Shakespeare saw their end but come to the conclusion of what audiences in today’s world are able to learn from their strengths. 

The students were very excited to see where this program can go and hope that they can explore more of Shakespeare’s female protagonists in the new year. They are also keen and have already thought of ways to see how this can link to the Shakespeare Carnival Competition and the different performances they can make. 

Ms Christina Rujicica 

Teacher of Drama and English 

As part of their transition to senior school, our Year 11 students of 2025 took a moment to reflect and connect. Each student wrote a heartfelt prayer intention for their year group, folded their intention into a paper plane, and sent it soaring around the room—a symbolic gesture of unity and hope for the year ahead. Watch the short video capturing this meaningful moment!

Ms Diana Beatriz

College Leadership Team

Leaders of Learning - Wellbeing

College Leaders of Learning - KLA

College Leaders of Learning