School of Entrepreneurs

From the SOE Head of School

ST LUKE’S DAY 2024

Dear Students, Parents and Families of the St Luke’s Community,

We are thrilled to host our upcoming annual St Luke’s Day celebration on Friday 15th November 2024. This cherished tradition brings our community together to celebrate, enjoy and reflect on the values that make St Luke’s such a special place. We have an exciting day planned for our students and staff.

Event Details:

Date: Friday 15th November 2024

Location: St Luke’s Catholic College

Time: The celebration begins at 9:00am with regular dismissal at 2:30pm. All students are required to be at school by 8.30am.

Attire: College Sports uniform

Community Celebration Highlights:

Many events of the day have been planned and organised to authentically celebrate our community. Some of the events of the day include:

College Liturgy: In honour of St Luke, we will commence the day with a community liturgy celebrating St Luke reinforcing the values of compassion, service and kindness that guide our school community.
Amusement Rides: Get ready for some thrills and laughter! We will have a variety of rides for all ages from gentle fun to exciting adventures.
Live Performances: Our talented students will showcase their skills in music, dance, and drama. This is a wonderful opportunity to cheer them on and see their talent in action.
Food Stalls: Popcorn, fairy floss and snow cones will be available on the day for all students. Students are encouraged to bring their own recess and lunch on the day. The school canteen will also be accessible at recess time between 10-10.30am and lunch time 12-1pm.
Games and Disco: Friendly games and challenges for all ages. Test your skills and have some fun in the sideshow alley or participate in the Disco in the Performance Hall.

Important Reminders:

Sun safety: Students must bring a water bottle for the day to remain hydrated. They are also required to bring sunscreen with them for regular application as well as wear their school hat to keep sun safe.
First Aid: First aid support will be available on the oval for any medical needs.
Dietary Needs: For students with dietary restrictions, please be aware that a single serve of popcorn, fairy floss and snow cones will be supplied.
No phones/electronic devices are to be taken on the rides. Students assume full responsibility for these devices and their belongings. They are encouraged to leave their devices at home due to the nature of the day. St Luke’s Catholic College takes no responsibility for the loss or damage to such devices. Students are strongly encouraged to avoid posting photos/videos on social media during and after the event in order to protect the privacy of themselves and other students.

Consent:

The amusement zone and sideshow alley will be accessible for the School of Leadership and School of Entrepreneurs students from 10.30-1.00pm. Some rides have height restrictions which must be adhered to as well as rules. Students are asked to follow these guidelines and the directions of the amusement park staff and College Staff. Please provide consent for your son/daughter to participate in these activities/rides by completing the electronic consent form posted through Compass by Wednesday 13th November 2024. Without consent students will be unable to participate in the rides and will be directed to the Disco in the Hall.

If you have any questions about the day, please feel free to reach out through the College office. We look forward to celebrating this special day as a College community.

Road Safety: Wearing Helmets and riding safely

Riding to school offers students an active, environmentally friendly way to start their day, providing physical exercise that can enhance focus and mood. Riding to school includes the riding of bikes, foot scooters, skateboards, rollerblades and rollerskates. Besides the health benefits, riding helps reduce traffic congestion near school, making it safer for everyone. It is crucial that safety is considered when riding to / from school. Students should always wear standard approved fitted helmets, stay alert and use bike lanes when available. It's essential to avoid distractions like mobile phone usage and wearing earphones while riding to keep hands on the handlebars, eyes on the road and ears attuned to what’s happening around them. This is also particularly important at pedestrian crossings and driveways. Students should watch for cars, obey traffic signals and be mindful of others, especially classmates walking to school or heading home in the afternoon and the general public who also use the footpaths. Practising these habits can make biking a safe, enjoyable, and responsible choice for students travelling to and from school. I encourage you to please facilitate a ride safety discussion in your household to promote these aspects of safety when students ride to school. More information on riding safely can be found here.

I wish you all well as we begin to approach the festive season of Christmas. If you have any questions or require support, please reach out.

Ms Jacqui Genovese - Head of School, School of Entrepreneurs

From the SOE Assistant Principal

Mobile Phone Use

More recently, families have been communicating with our school about some observations about the way that teenagers are using their mobile phones. While we have procedures that we follow to ensure that students are not using their phones at school, many families expressed some concern about the ways that their children were accessing technology at home as well.

This is a very real challenge that is difficult to manage after your children have developed habits that confirm their dependence on mobile devices in ways that bear a striking resemblance to addiction. While there are many apps and control measures that are available to support a parent’s management of their child’s mobile phone use, it is also important to remember that this represents an opportunity for connection that generates a possibility for children to take on shared responsibility for their use and actions around mobile devices.

For some more information on some of the considerations around mobile phone use for young people, please see the ‘raisingchildren.net.au’ resource below.

Mr Francis O’Callaghan - Assistant Principal, School of Entrepreneurs

AROUND THE SOE GROUNDS

English

This term in English, Year 9 will delve into the life and works including artwork and film of a cinematic mastermind: Tim Burton. Within this unit of work, students will examine the distinctive style of an auteur to determine how these deliberate choices shape meaning and capture our individuality.

This term in English, Year 10 are examining why they should question and challenge gender representation in the media. They have been engaging with a diverse range of texts including social media, advertisements and music where they have explored how messages about gender are being communicated and why these are problematic.

Science

Throughout the term Year 10 have been completing their Individual Student Research project. Students have had to research, design and conduct their own experiment. Students have had to collect and discuss their results whilst producing a well researched scientific report. Students have conducted a range of experiments including constructing electromagnets, investigating microbial growth, testing vitamin C levels in citrus fruit, investigating factors affecting reaction rates and designing buildings to withstand earthquakes.

In Year 9 science students have been investigating waves as carriers of energy. Students have explored light waves including a range of waves from the electromagnetic spectrum. Students have investigated properties of visible light using light box kits and have applied this knowledge to the structure of the human eye. Students are now beginning to explore sound waves and the structure of the human ear as receivers of sound waves before moving onto exploring electrical energy and its practical applications in our lives.

HSIE

In Year 10 Work Studies students are learning about Teamwork and Enterprise Skills that they will be applying in the Life Design course. Students are learning about the attributes of effective and ineffective teamwork which they can transfer into their Life Design course to make their Legacy project as impactful and possible. These skills are also so important as they move into the workforce. Students have been incredibly insightful as to what they need to do to improve the efficiency of their teams.

CAPA

Our Year 11 students in Art have been honing their skills in ceramics and screen printing throughout the year. Now, as they begin Year 12, they are excitedly exploring different areas for their HSC Body of Work. Similarly, our Year 11 musicians have just embarked on their HSC journey. They are actively working on their performance skills in class, aiming to build the confidence needed to showcase their talents in front of their peers. We wish them all the best as they develop their major projects over the next four terms.

TAS

In Year 10 TAS, students are exploring their creative skills by choosing between three hands-on projects: Jewellery, Woodwork, and Textiles (sewing). Each option allows students to express their individuality and artistic vision while building practical life skills. Through these projects, students not only learn specific technical skills—such as designing and creating unique jewellery pieces, working with wood to build functional items, or mastering sewing techniques—but also gain confidence in their ability to bring their ideas to life. This hands-on approach encourages them to think creatively and develop skills they can use beyond the classroom.

Life Design

Year 9

Term 4 sees students exploring what their Digital Footprint is and how to ensure it sends a positive message. This is done through a series of case studies, reflection work and practical application of gained knowledge to change privacy settings, inform younger students of the safest way to use social media and developing an online portfolio to positively impact their Digital Footprint.

Year 10

The final term of Life Design lesson for Year 10 allows them to develop and implement a Legacy Project at St Luke’s. A group based initiative that will hopefully leave a lasting impact on the school community, that inspires younger students to participate in and create lasting memories for the cohort.

These projects may vary from creating a yearbook for the graduating class of 2026 (their HSC year), memorial gardens, sporting events, house competitions - the possibilities are infinite!

Student groups will present a 30 second elevator pitch to teachers early Term 4 to then develop the necessary resources, contact the relevant stakeholders and bring their legacy to life.

Year 10

Job Ready Workshop for Year 10s

On Monday, October 28th, Year 10 students will participate in a Job Ready workshop designed to help them as they start thinking about their future career pathways. This program addresses the challenges they may face when planning for their futures. The session will help them build confidence, recognise the skills they already have, and empower students to take charge of their career paths with confidence and clarity.

Partnerships and Pathways

We’re excited to share the success story of Gabi, one of our students who recently scheduled a career guidance meeting. She wanted to find a casual role that aligned with her future goal of becoming a preschool teacher.

Gabi had already put together an impressive resume. We reviewed it, brainstormed job options, and came up with an adjustable cover letter. We applied for roles, including reaching out to businesses that hadn't advertised open roles but were known for working with children.

The very next day, Gabi was invited for an interview for a kids' birthday party host job—a role that not only aligns with her career goals but also offers valuable experience in working with children.

I provided Gabi with some resources on interviewing and her hard work paid off; she was successful in securing the role!

If you’re a student or a parent of a student seeking support with job applications, resume or cover letter writing, interview preparation, or exploring future career pathways, don’t hesitate to get in touch! v.katakalos@parra.catholic.edu.au

Year 9 Academy U Innovation and Investigation Day

Academy U, established by Western Sydney University, offers unique experiences and learning opportunities designed to inspire and support high-achieving high school students in reaching their full potential. On Wednesday October 23rd, Year 9 students attended the Innovation and Investigation Day at Kingswood Campus for a day of hands-on activities. These included researching different fields, interviewing academics, taking photos, writing an article, and coming up with a 90 second future directions presentation. Our students were placed in teams with students from other schools and had the chance to practise their communication, time management, leadership, and critical thinking skills.