I welcome all families back for the start of the 2024 school year. I hope you all had the opportunity to relax and enjoy quality time with loved ones over the Christmas break.  I would particularly like to extend a warm welcome our newest members of the College, our Kindergarten and Year 7 students.  It is wonderful to see how quickly they have settled into their new school environment and are ready to face the year ahead.  Welcome also to all new families to the College. You have joined a very special community and I look forward to meeting you over the coming weeks.

There have been some changes to the Teaching and Learning Leadership team this year and I look forward to working with such an experienced and dedicated team. The K-12 Teaching and Learning team is as follows:

Mrs Rita Agostino (Assistant Principal - Teaching and Learning)

Mrs Alex Mediati (Assistant Principal - Religious Education, Identity and Mission)

TBC  (Leader of Curriculum Yrs 5-12)

Ms Tania Kolar (Leader of Middle Years Learning)

Mrs Thuy Duong (Leader of Maths)

Mrs Siobhan Moore (Leader of English)
Mr Philip Stonefield (Leader of Science)

Mrs Daniela Borkovic (Leader of HSIE)

Ms Jessica Flegg (Leader of PDHPE)

Mrs Angela Bennett (Leader of CAPA)

Mrs Kristina Sulentic (Leader of TAS)

Miss Amber Meadley (Leader of VET)

Ms Allira Figueiras (Acting Leader of Junior Years Learning)

Mrs Jill Cresini (Leader of Religious Education, Identity & Mission K-4)

Miss Angela Papadam (K-4 Literacy Coordinator)

Mrs Kylie Jeymour (K-4 Numeracy Coordinator)

A reminder that if you have any queries in relation to your child’s learning to please contact their classroom teacher first.

Graduating Class of 2023

On the 15th February during our Middle/Senior Years Assembly, we will welcome back students from the Graduating Class of 2023 to celebrate their HSC  achievements.

Year 12 students are to be commended on their outstanding HSC results.  They exemplified remarkable dedication to their studies.  Their collective commitment to academic excellence was impressive and they embraced challenges with open minds.  Students approached the HSC with maturity and resilience and they demonstrated the ability to stay composed, focused and determined. 

2023 HSC Results

• 79% of courses offered in 2023 were above the State mean.
• Band 4, 5 and 6 results accounted for 82.4% of the candidature
• 26% of students were able to achieve a Band 6 result (90+)
• Our College Dux, Courtney J, achieved an ATAR of 98.35 and an additional 6 students achieved an ATAR over 90.  

We are equally as proud of the students who chose a vocational pathway, and did not apply for an ATAR, and moved straight into their choice of industry.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the dedicated Year 12 teachers for their exceptional hard work and commitment in preparing students for the HSC.  Their tireless efforts, passion for teaching, and guidance have played a pivotal role in shaping the academic journey of this cohort and these outstanding results are witness to the importance of teamwork and ongoing collaboration between staff and students.  I am confident that students of the Graduating Class of 2023 will make a significant contribution to the wider community and I wish our students every success in their future endeavours.

Success doe not happen by chance; it is the outcome of deliberate habits and a dedication to seizing opportunities. It is the daily routines, the ability to bounce back from challenges and setbacks, and the optimistic mindset that fuel lasting success. As we start the new academic year, I urge all students to think about the habits that will lead to their own personal success.  This is an opportunity to think about which habits will support reaching desired goals. Whether it is staying organised, establishing a regular study schedule, reviewing important concepts, or getting ready for upcoming exams – each habit plays a part in achieving overall success.

Naplan

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a point in time assessment of literacy and numeracy skills that are essential for every child to progress through school and life. Each year students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 participate in tests for writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. This year, the NAPLAN testing window is from Wednesday 13th March to Monday 25th March 2024.  If your child is participating in NAPLAN this year, please avoid taking leave during this period.  Further information will be provided closer to the date.

NSW Curriculum Reforms

Our staff have been working extremely hard as they navigate the implementation of the new curriculum.  NESA has a staggered approach to implementation across a seven year time period (2021-2028) with a varied start and end point for respective subjects.  I commend our staff who are working hard to ensure that our curriculum programs accurately reflect these reforms, while continuing to embed high-impact teaching strategies, differentiated learning tasks and student adjustments.

Wishing you all the very best for the year ahead.

Mrs Rita Agostino
Assistant Principal - Teaching and Learning