What's been happening in our Faculties?

Faculty of English: A Year of Dramatic Growth and Engaging Stories!

What an exciting term it’s been in the English faculty! Our Year 7 students have been immersed in the world of drama, honing their skills in scriptwriting, physical expression, and using their bodies effectively to bring stories to life. They’ve been performing scenes from classic plays, crafting their own scripts, and preparing powerful dramatic monologues that truly showcase their creativity and confidence.

Meanwhile, Year 8 have been exploring fascinating non-fiction texts, discovering how children around the globe live, sometimes similarly, sometimes very differently to us here in Australia. It’s been eye-opening learning that expands their understanding of the world!

Stage 5 students have been captivated by the magic of Shakespeare. Year 9 have dived into the tragic love story of Romeo and Juliet, while Year 10 are exploring the dark and thrilling worlds of Macbeth and King Lear. Shakespeare is definitely rocking the Stage 5 English curriculum!

Our Year 11 students have now stepped into the challenging and exciting world of Year 12 HSC courses. Ms Marzano’s class has been diving deep into George Orwell’s 1984, while Ms Meyer’s students have been engaged with the powerful social experiment documentary Go Back To Where You Came From. Meanwhile, Mr Humphry and Ms Cagulada’s classes have been exploring the moving themes of Billy Elliot, highlighting aspects of the human experience that resonate with us all.

It’s been a busy and inspiring year for the English faculty, full of rich stories, critical thinking, and creative expression. We’re excited to keep this momentum going next year as we welcome new passionate staff into our faculty!

Stay tuned for more exciting adventures in English!

Ms T Meyer

Relieving Head Teacher English

Mathematics Faculty

Term 4 has been a busy period for our faculty and the entire school. Students have now completed their assessment tasks for the year and are finishing off their topics in preparation for the new academic year.

Year 10 students are now working in different classes to prepare for their courses in Year 11. Year 12 students have commenced their HSC courses, with their first assessment task scheduled for Week 9.

Project-Based Learning

Our Project-Based Learning (PBL) Showcase took place in Week 6. Twenty students from Years 7 and 8 presented the findings of their projects.

Students selected their own topics, which included global warming, chemistry, overworked people, and cancer. Parents of the students, as well as students from Airds High School, attended the showcase.

We extend our thanks to Mrs Edwards and Ms Sakopo from TAS, and Mr Walker from English, for bringing the Years 7 and 8 students to attend the showcase as the audience. Special thanks also to Mrs Alam for her dedicated support of our students.

We've had wonderful results this year from the following competitions

Australian Mathematics Competition

AMC is Australia’s longest-running and most well-known math's competition for school students. We run this every year at Thomas Reddall High School and we had 15 students join the competition in 2025.

This year’s results were fantastic. We had 1 Distinction (Corbin Williams - Year 8), 2 Credits (Tenzin Norzin - Year 11 and Luhua Tan - Year 7).

We also had 8 Proficiency and 4 Participation. Congratulations to all of our students! They have received their certificates in the school assembly in Week 7. Shout out to Mr. Raj for running this competition every year.

APSMO 2025 Maths Olympiad

Eleven students from Years 7 and 8 joined the senior division. This competition allows our high-achieving students to compete with other students from across Australia, New Zealand and internationally. Our highest score was Luhua Tan from Year 7. His percentile band was in the top 10%. Congratulations Luhua! Huge shoutout to Mrs Kaur for running this competition.

We would like to thank all parents and carers for your support with the Mathematics Faculty throughout the year. We look forward to working with you all next year.

We would also like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a prosperous Happy New Year in 2026.

Ms A Latu

Head Teacher Math's

In German this term, our year 7 students have been busy learning about all the different foods and how German food differs from the food you find in Australia. They have also been learning about proper restaurant etiquette and the expectations when dining out for a meal.

Students put this knowledge into practice by designing their own restaurant menus, showcasing their knowledge of the German names. These menu’s include some of the most popular German dishes including Currywurst (curried sausages), Spatzle (egg noodle), Pretzels, Karotffelsalat (potato salad), and JagerSchnitzel (meat cutlet with gravy).

Well done year 7, We are hungry just looking at your menus!

Year 8 have been learning about Interconnections and how people all around the world are connected to each other. Part of this is how tourism impacts nations for many different reasons. Students have done a case study on tourism in Dubai and have looked at how Dubai has changed over the last four decades, and the impact tourism has had on these changes.

Students were asked to research Dubai’s tourist attractions to find out how long it took for them to be built and how much money they bring in for the country. Students were then asked to create their own tourist attractions and justify the need and expenses that would go into building them. There were many creative ideas with one student creating a whole island! Well done year 8, you are all going to be fantastic global citizens.

Stage 5 Psychology have been working hard trying to understand what makes different people, who they are and the different factors that can influence individuals, or what we call Psychological theories that explain human behaviour. Students looked at different features of society such as social media, prejudice and discrimination, stereotypes, the effects of mass media and peer pressure. It has been extremely interesting to see how these different factors influence individuals in different ways and to see the result of this.

Students were asked to research and create a presentation on their chosen topic, and their wide range of responses kept the class interested and demonstrated the wide range of skills and personalities within the class. Some students made infographic style posters, other groups made PowerPoint presentations, and one group created a highly engaging Family Feud style presentation which was thoroughly enjoyed by the rest of the class. Well done stage 5!

Our Year 11 Legal Studies students recently took on an exciting Human Rights Escape Room, designed to deepen their understanding of international law, state sovereignty, and the protection of fundamental freedoms. Working in teams, students solved a series of clues, codes, and legal challenges drawn from real cases, treaties, and global human rights issues.

The fast paced and collaborative activity not only strengthened their knowledge of the Human Rights syllabus but also encouraged critical thinking, problem solving, and teamwork. Students left the room engaged, energised, and more confident in applying legal concepts to contemporary human rights dilemmas.

A big congratulations to all groups who “escaped” by demonstrating outstanding legal reasoning and persistence!

Year 11 Ancient History are well into their study of Sparta. They have looked at many different aspects so far studying the economy, the government, the social structure, the role women played along with marriage customs and the army including the Agoge. This was an intense training program that all young men took part in from the age of seven and was a prerequisite for Spartiate status.

The students were able to put their knowledge into action in their live replays of the Agoge., where they participated in a safe and very structured version of the Agoge. They all displayed great demonstrations of power, strength and determination, proving their qualities to be considered an excellent member of Spartan society. All students passed with flying colours and Sparta would be lucky to have them.

Recently we welcomed local primary students for our annual Taster Day, giving them a hands on taste of high school History. Students stepped into the role of archaeologists, learning how historians uncover the past through careful investigation and teamwork.

The highlight of the session was our cookie excavation, where students used excavation tools to dig out “artifacts” (choc chips!) while practicing real archaeological skills such as stratigraphy, recording findings, and working with care to preserve evidence.

The activity sparked plenty of excitement and curiosity, with students enthusiastically making connections between archaeology and the wider study of ancient societies. We loved hosting our future historians and can’t wait to welcome them back in the years to come.

Ms B Jones

Head Teacher HSIE

Yearly Examinations might’ve been complete by students in Year 7-10 earlier in the term, but the learning certainly hasn’t finished.

Year 7 has been learning about classification of organisms and constructing dichotomous keys to examine the similarities and differences between different living things.

Year 8 has been working their way through the Resources topic. With the weather heating up it has been the perfect time to explore some of our renewable energy sources by making solar ovens and cooking up some smores.

Year 9 have been exploring plate tectonics and the forces that drive some of the features of our earth. They have enjoyed constructing and erupting some model volcanoes, though some were definitely effusive and not explosive.

Year 10 have been busy covering the topics of evolution and astronomy. Students in 10.1 were asked to create a video to tell a story of how the universe came to be. We had some great representation of different cultural stories, and also some extra creativity from the groups that came up with their own unique tale.

We wish all our students a safe and happy holidays and look forward to seeing them for another fun year in 2026!

Mrs E Osborne

Relieving Head Teacher Science

This term in Year 7 students have studied a unit on Personal and Community Health where students have been exploring how to build healthy relationships, make safe and informed choices, and contribute positively to their community. In practical lessons students have completed a Striking & Fielding and Indoor Sports unit which focused on developing fundamental movement skills and teamwork through a range of different physical activities and games. 

Students in Year 8 have completed the Digital Defenders: Navigating the Online World Safely unit. Throughout this unit, students have learnt to use digital spaces responsibly and safely. Students explored topics such as online identity and reputation, privacy and data protection and cyberbullying. Students developed strategies to make safe choices online, seek help when needed, and contribute positively to digital communities. In practical lessons students have been involved in the Try and Score and Indoor Sports units.

Year 9 have been working through the Who Am I unit. This unit explores identity, values, and personal growth during adolescence. Students examined how factors such as culture, family, friendships, media, and life experiences shape who they are and who they want to become. Through reflection, discussion, and skill-building activities, students develop self-awareness, resilience, and a sense of belonging, while learning strategies to make informed choices and build respectful relationships. Students also participated in the Recreational Sports unit enjoying sports such as indoor soccer, table tennis and badminton.

Year 10 have been working through the Diversity, Discrimination and Resilience unit focusing on film studies, Invictus and Ride Like a Girl, teaching students the power of inclusivity and how to overcome adversity. The movies highlight that while discrimination can create serious obstacles, resilience and courage can help individuals break down barriers and inspire change for others. For the practical unit students participated in the Recreational Sports unit enjoying sports such as table tennis, badminton and soccer.

Our Stage 4 students also had the opportunity to take part in a three-day swim program, with Year 7 involved in Week 7 and Year 8 in Week 9. The program is designed to build students’ water confidence, swimming competence, and personal safety skills, while promoting physical fitness and lifelong participation in aquatic activities.

The program includes:

Water safety and survival skills, such as safe entries and exits, floating and treading water
Stroke development and refinement in freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke, with a focus on efficiency and correct technique.
Rescue skills, including reaching and throwing rescues
Teamwork and confidence-building activities, such as relays, challenges, and aquatic games that encourage cooperation and inclusion.

Overall, the program aims to ensure students can swim safely andconfidently, understand how to manage risks in aquatic environments, and develop positive attitudes toward physical activity and water-based recreation.

Mrs K McCarthy

Relieving Head Teacher PDHPE

TAS/MUSIC Newsletter Term 4, 2025

This term, our Year 7 and 8 students have continued their rotations through the different focus areas of their Technology Mandatory course. They have all been building their skills and knowledge in Food & Ag, Engineering Systems, Material Technologies and Digital Technologies.

Stage 5 Child Studies students have continued their fortnightly visits to Ambarvale Public School's Little Stars Playgroup, further strengthening their skills and confidence as they put their learning into practice. In the classroom, students have been investigating different types of play-based learning and how various forms of play contribute to children's positive development.

A highlight this term was a hands-on activity where students made slime after exploring the importance of sensory play. This practical experience helped them recognise how sensory play supports brain development by building nerve connections and enhancing motor skills, language development, problem-solving abilities, and concentration. Students have shown wonderful enthusiasm and growing confidence as they apply their learning both in the classroom and in the community. Thankyou to Miss Newton for overseeing and organising this wonderful opportunity.

This term also saw our Stage 5 and Year 11 Hospitality students proudly deliver their very first TRED Café service — a fantastic milestone for both classes. Year 11 students showcased their growing culinary skills by preparing and beautifully plating a selection of morning tea items, offering staff a delicious variety to enjoy.

Meanwhile, our Stage 5 Hospitality students took charge of front-of-house duties, producing quality coffees and providing table service throughout the session. This was our first true “dine-in” experience for staff, creating an authentic café environment where students could practice industry-standard service, communication, and professionalism. All students worked exceptionally well, demonstrating excellent teamwork, initiative, and enthusiasm.

A huge congratulations to both groups and their teachers Mrs. Feeney and Ms Sakopo for a successful service and what a fantastic start to our TRED Café journey.

Stage 5 Industrial Technology: Timber students have wrapped up their course by proudly completing their finely crafted bread boxes this term. This is a project that brought together their practical skills with the theory they’ve learned about design processes, material properties and safe, effective construction techniques.

Most of our Year 12, 2026 cohort Hospitality students have completed their second - and final - Work Placement, gaining valuable industry experience across a variety of establishments throughout the Macarthur region. From bustling cafés to busy restaurants and catering venues, students showcased professionalism, skill, and enthusiasm as they applied their classroom learning in real-world settings. We would like to say a big thank you to the many host employers who generously welcomed our students and supported their growth. Your guidance and willingness to share your expertise has helped shape the next generation of hospitality professionals. We are very proud of these students for completing their mandatory hours so early in their HSC course.

Stage 5 students are strengthening their instrumental skills and diving into the world of jazz, experimenting with improvisation and new musical styles. Stage 4 students have been focused on completing their yearly exams, demonstrating knowledge and practical abilities they’ve built throughout the year. Our new Year 12 cohort has officially begun their HSC Music journey, selecting repertoire and planning the creative pathways that will shape their final projects.

Across all year groups, there’s a shared sense of anticipation as we prepare for our upcoming Christmas Concert. Students from every stage are busy rehearsing, collaborating, and polishing their performances to bring a festive and joyful program to our school community. The concert will showcase the talent, growth, and dedication our young musicians have shown throughout the year, making it a wonderful way to celebrate their achievements.

This year has been an outstanding one for all our TAS and Music students, who have shown remarkable growth, creativity and resilience across all areas of learning. In TAS, students have mastered new skills and technologies and built confidence in practical environments ranging from kitchens to workshops. Meanwhile, our Music students have developed strong performance skills, deepened their understanding of musical concepts, and contributed to a vibrant culture of creativity through class ensembles, compositions and live events. As we reflect on 2025, we are incredibly proud of the dedication, skill and enthusiasm our students have demonstrated, making this year a memorable and inspiring one for our faculty. We look forward to seeing you all back next year, ready for new challenges, fresh opportunities and another exciting year of learning.

Mrs Cherie Edwards

Head Teacher TAS & Music

Term 4 Newsletter Wellbeing/Learning Support

As we come to the end of another busy and rewarding school year, the Wellbeing and Learning Support teams would like to thank our students, families, and staff for their continued partnership. 2025 has been a year of growth, connection, and strengthened support across our school community.

This year saw significant expansion of our wellbeing initiatives, with a focus on creating safe, inclusive, and supportive spaces for all students. Key achievements include:

The Hub: Our Wellbeing and Engagement Hub has become a central space for students, providing Breakfast Club, break-time activities and clubs, self-regulation desks, quiet retreat spaces, and regular sessions from external service providers.

Therapuppies Program: One of our most popular additions, the Therapuppies visited throughout the year, supporting student engagement, emotional regulation, and stress-management. We love having them in the school!

Wellbeing Programs: Students engaged in a range of evidence-based programs focusing on resilience, social skills, respectful relationships, mental health literacy, and transition support.

We extend our sincere thanks to families for your communication and trust, to our staff for their commitment to student wellbeing, and to the students themselves for their resilience, effort, and growth.

We look forward to continuing to strengthen our wellbeing and learning support services in the year ahead and wish everyone a safe and happy holiday break.