St Agnes Catholic High School

We are now officially over half way through the term and the students are rather busy with learning; in class and at home by completing their homework and assessment tasks.

NAPLAN testing recently took place for all Year 7 and 9 students. Whilst we had a few technical glitches, overall the experience was positive for all concerned. At St Agnes, we utilise a number of measures to assess literacy and numeracy skills which are critical for ongoing learning. NAPLAN is just one of these testing measures which help us gain a complete picture of our students.

The Year 10 students are well and truly in the process of considering the best pathway for them to take in Stage 6. The students have already had an overview session (with their parents) and also, a specific meeting about what it means to be an active learner in Stage 6. The next steps are:

• A meeting to discuss English, Religion, Mathematics, and VET (28th May);
• Year 10 Market Afternoon (4th June p4 and p5). This is where the students will be able to speak with all Leaders of Learning/class teachers about subjects on offer here and at CathWest. They will also be completing the NESA Mandated Programme, All My Own Work.
• Friday 11th June. The students must submit their online preferences by 2.25 pm

2021 HSC Study Support @ Max Webber Library, Blacktown 

1st June - 9th June 2021

This will be held at the Library Function Centre and three HSC Lectures are on offer: 

1) Preparation for the Mathematics - Standard HSC examination Tuesday 1 June, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm 

2) HSC English Human Experiences - Paper 1 Common Paper, Standard and Advanced Monday 7 June, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm 

3) Biology Wednesday 9 June, 5:30 - 7:30 pm 

All tickets are $10. Due to COVID restrictions, tickets are limited to 40 places. Purchase tickets through Eventbrite in the ‘What’s On’ section of the Library’s website: https://www.blacktown.nsw.gov.au/Services/Libraries

Tell Them From Me (TTFM) Survey

We encourage parents and carers in our community to complete the online Tell Them From Me (TTFM) survey, which will open on Monday 31st May and close on Friday 25th June.

These surveys provide CEDP with information about school life, how engaged students are with school, and the different ways that teachers interact with them. They measure such topics as emotional and social well-being, physical health, and behaviours and attitudes linked to student success.

Your link to participate will be sent to you by email and/or through Skoolbag. The surveys are anonymous and optional. Students will complete the student survey during school hours - if you would prefer that your child/children not participate, please contact the school for the relevant form.

If you need more information, please contact the school.

Study Skills Tip for May – Set Times for Home Learning

Parents: Many students come home from school and end up just waiting until they might ‘feel’ like doing schoolwork. Or else they drag everything out over the whole night. A much better way is each night to have set allocated times for home learning. Many students find that learning in 20-30 minute blocks works well for them. During this time students should do homework first, then work on any assignments or upcoming tests, then use the rest of the time allocated for schoolwork to complete independent learning activities such as reviewing work they find difficult, making study notes or doing practice questions to build their skills. All distractions should be removed during this time, so students learn to focus for 20-30 minute blocks of time. It is a great idea to make a timetable of the home learning and place it on the fridge, so everyone is clear when students are focusing and when they are doing other activities or having free time.

Some of the benefits for students of having set times allocated for home learning are:

• You are more likely to learn at home if you know when to start and when to end.

• You will be more effective when you remove distractions and learn to focus for 20-30 minute blocks.

• In all the times NOT allocated to schoolwork, you can do whatever you like without feeling guilty about it.

• Having set times stops arguments between students and parents as everyone has agreed when the time slots allocated to students will be.

• You know that you are definitely doing enough work for school.

• Keeping your home learning and personal life separate means you will be able to manage all of the distractions in your life and still complete your work for school.

Learn more at www.studyskillshandbook.com.au.

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St Agnes is a school which offers so many opportunities for your children to succeed. Earlier this term I was able to address the school during a whole school assembly and my focus was on making sure that each student took advantage of this. I challenged the students to use their talents and to try their best each and every day. In theory this is such an easy concept, but the reality is that standing out and trying your best with the option of failure can be daunting. Please talk with your children about this and encourage them to be willing to put themselves out there and try hard in all aspects of school life.

Enrichment Learning Period (ELP) runs each Thursday during period 5. During this time St Agnes has students represent the school in our PDSSSC Sports competitions (This term being Rugby League and Soccer) as well as school based options to excel in areas other than sport. St Agnes offers a CAPA Magazine Group focussing on digital elements of design and production, Art Collective where students get the opportunity to produce artwork for exhibitions, both at school and externally. Chess Club, where students compete against each other and in tournaments, Tournament of the Minds where students put their creative thinking to the test in a range of problem solving open ended situations, debating where St Agnes has reignited a once proud tradition and many more. Some students also use this time to focus on assessments and homework in supervised classroom settings. I urge you all to speak to your children about how they utilise this time and use it to help show their talents and try their best.

St Agnes is a school which has been built on the pillars of Dignity, Inclusiveness, Integrity and Compassion. Our uniform symbolises this and as such is vital to us maintaining our strong learning culture. By wearing their uniform correctly and with pride each and eveyr day, your child is showing a commitment to our community. The uniform shop is open Monday mornings from 8am to 12pm and Wednesday afternoons from 12pm to 4pm each week to ensure that this commitment by our parents, carers and students can be honoured. Our Leaders of Learning Pathways and Mentors are also only too happy to work with families who may be experiencing financial hardship and are having trouble with getting any items of the uniform.

Our school is growing, but our commitment to each and every child is as strong as it ever has been. I encourage all parents and carers to continue to remain in regular contact with the school as needed to ensure that this is evident for all. We value input from the community and our parents and caregivers are a vital part of ensuring that this continues into the future.

Mr Hilder

Acting Assistant Principal - School Culture

Greetings to you all, 

It was a great honor to be awarded this opportunity as Head of Mission, to lead our Franciscan community in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, St Agnes, St Francis, and St Clare.

Firstly and foremost I must acknowledge and thank Mrs Mary Reyes for her leadership and formation of both staff and students. The experiences that our community were afforded will not be forgotten. We wish you all the very best as you begin your next chapter of your journey.

Over the past few weeks, we as a community have emerged out of the fog of Covid and slowly been able to celebrate together with not only the student body but also include our parents and carers.

Last Friday, 21 May, we came together as a community to celebrate Pentecost. This is one of the most significant events in the church’s calendar. Although celebrations were split into two gatherings, we were able to mark this significant occasion by challenging each other by asking ‘How can we make a difference to not only ourselves, each other but the community?’ Thank you to the staff and students involved that made the liturgy such a success. As we reflected on the Pentecost story, we were confronted with the challenge and mission of the church today. To spread the Good News where possible. As disciples in Christ, how can we do this? What will this look like?

There is no more important time for this discussion amongst family than as we enter Ordinary time. A time of reflection, prayer and action.  How can we act and support the community most in need? 

Peace and Blessings.

Patrick Madigan

Head of Mission

The elective Year 9 and 10 Design and Technology students were given the opportunity to collaboratively design and create a “Child’s Toy”. The toy had to be for comfort or educational purposes and to suit a child that is 1-5 years old. Students worked through the Design Process together and learnt many new hands on skills. Some students also incorporated laser engraving or cutting into their projects.

The elective Year 9 and 10 Food Technology students participated in a “Masterchef” challenge. They were given 75mins to create a dish of their choice. However, the students had a budget of $20 and they had to include Greek Yoghurt in their creations.

Students participated in a food experiment “Sensory test for flavour differences”. In this experiment they identified and explained sensory characteristics of food and evaluated the appeal of food using a sensory assessment. They completed this by using a triangular comparison test.

Year 11 Design and Technology students were given the design situation and brief to create a portable speaker as a designer for “JBHIFI”. Students worked through the design process to document their ideas, explain their material choices and evaluate their design. Students had to work collaboratively to create the product, however, were required to document the process in their own portfolio. They started the unit by completing a “Design Challenge” to create the tallest freestanding tower possible, made of spaghetti. This activity allowed the students to see how well they worked together and what role they played within the group. The students then had the opportunity to learn and practice new skills and the use of equipment, such as the lathe, before commencing practical lessons on their portable speaker.

Last week students from Year 12 attended a Winter Workshop with student ambassadors from UNSW where they were able to find out more regarding degrees and uni life. These workshops are designed to help students identify pathways at University. It also allows them to connect and apply for the holiday program which can help maximise ATAR, improve outcomes in HSC and support their application for an early conditional offer to UNSW through the Gateway Admission Pathway. Students were extremely engaged and found enjoyment and value from the collaboration. 

Year 11 attended an excursion to Macquarie University on Friday. They wore the St Agnes uniform proudly and conducted themselves with the utmost maturity. Their integrity was on display to the students and staff at the University. They engaged in a collaborative project: creating a spaceship out of Lego. They listened to a Business and Astrophysics lecture. They walked around the campus and saw the library which has over 1.8 million books in it that are ordered and collected via a computer database and robot. The dorms were modern, and students visualised themselves being roomies and planning movie nights together. Finally, the food court and central gardens were impressive with students enjoying a variety of cuisines including snack packs, sushi, frappe's and Korean Fried Chicken. The day was a hit the key points that will assist with their transition to Macquarie University in 2023. These are: Leaders and Achievers Program, School Recommendation Scheme, Academic Entry Scheme, The College, Guaranteed Entry Program, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pathway - Walanga Muru

What is it?

The Big History adjustment factor scheme rewards you with three additional points for your commitment to learning, acknowledging your participation and completion of the Big History: Connecting Knowledge MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) available through the COURSERA platform.

https://www.mq.edu.au/study/high-school-students/getting-into-university/adjustment-factors/big-history-scheme

It was a delight to have Western Sydney University PASIFIKA Team, Community members and teachers from many schools including Nagle High, Aird High, CathWest and St Andrews welcomed into St Agnes Catholic High School this term.

Bronwyn Williams, the Widening Partnerships Community Project Officer led the acknowledgement of country and guided the panel of speakers for the evening. The program runs from Year 7 to 12. The focus in Year 7 and 8 is for students to recognise their personal strengths. Year 9 and 10 it is about navigating which route to take. By Year 11 and 12, students  are identifying their voyage and figuring out where to go from here.

We had speakers talk about the importance of offering Pacific Islander families translation documents regarding process and procedure. Albert Tevita from "Can't Walk, Can't Talk" provided deep insights into student wellbeing and his talk was extremely powerful. His perspective is lived and personal and the work he is doing with our young PASIFIKA students is inspiring. We look forward to welcoming him into our school community to engage with our students in the future.

Katalina Vave is a St Agnes alumni and was a student ambassador on the panel during this evening. She spoke highly of the teachers that went above and beyond in and outside of the classroom to  provide her with guidance and nurture her true passions. She also talked about how the PATHE program offered by the school broke down barriers with family and offered a personalised and culturally inclusive communication style that allowed them to value what University has to offer.

Many of our students are currently involved in the program which includes online and on campus conferences as well as access to a range of resources including STtudiosity which is a free online tutoring and resource service that students can access at anytime with wifi and a device.

To participate in PATHE events and workshops, all students must complete or have completed an application form. If a student has already completed an application form, they will not need to complete another one. To complete this form, please use this link: www.westernsydney.edu.au/patheapplication