School of Leadership

News from the School of Leadership     

A Note from the School of Leadership Head of School

Dear Parents and Carers,

As we move firmly into Term 4, it’s a time of bustling activity across the school — and that can bring a mix of excitement, achievement and, for some of our students, a sense of being overwhelmed. I wanted to write to you to reflect on this busy season, share some thoughts around resilience, flag our upcoming events, and remind you of the ways we can work together to support our young people.

Term 4 often arrives with a rush of assessments, deadlines, events, celebrations, reflections on the year and planning ahead. For many students this can be energising — an opportunity to show growth, engage with the final stages of a year’s work and enjoy the social and extra-curricular events that wind up the year. But for others, the combination of assessments, impending transitions (to the next year level, to senior years, to external exams or pathways) and the sheer pace of activity can feel heavy.

It’s quite normal for students to feel some nerves or worry at this time. When you’re juggling multiple assessments, project deadlines, exams and perhaps other commitments — sport, music, family, part-time work — it’s entirely reasonable to feel “a bit behind” or “just not quite on top” of things. In fact, research in Australian schools indicates that many students experience moderate to high levels of distress around this kind of academic pressure: for instance, one large-scale study found significant proportions of students reporting anxiety or worry linked to academic and school demands. 

So: if your child says they feel pressure, they’re not alone — and that is okay.

Beyond acknowledging that the pace is intense, I believe this time offers a wonderful opportunity to build and foster resilience — the capacity to adapt, bounce back, seek support when needed, and continue to engage with purpose. A school-based survey in Australia found that while many students had low levels of resilience, those who did tended to fare better when the demands increased.

We can help our students by:

• Normalising the stress: Letting them know that feeling nervous, worried or under pressure is not a sign of failure — it’s part of the process.
• Encouraging help-seeking: Reminding them that if the load feels too heavy, they absolutely should reach out to their teacher, their Stage Leader, or our Wellbeing Coordinator.
• Focusing on the process, not just the product: Celebrating progress, sustained effort, time-management, reflection, not just the final assessment mark.
• Teaching recovery strategies: Good sleep, breaks, healthy food, time with friends, pursuing hobbies, talking about how things are going.
• Modelling resilience ourselves: As parents and educators we show through our example how to respond when life becomes busy, how to ask for help, how to keep going with a sense of purpose.

We have a rich programme of events coming up this term. With so much happening it’s more important than ever for everyone to stay connected and informed. Please make sure you are up to date with communication through our school channels:

• Parent Need-to-Knows — the weekly bulletin that lands in your inbox.
• The NET — our community digital newsletter and event updates.
• Compass notifications — alerts and messages about assessments, attendance, excursions, events.
• Our social-media pages — [Instagram/Facebook/Twitter] for reminders, photos and live updates.

We encourage you to check these regularly, and to contact the school (either the main office, your child’s Stage Leader, or our Well-being Coordinator) if you are unsure about anything. With so much going on, it’s easy to miss something — and we’d rather hear from you than you worry.

Term 4 is full of opportunity. It’s the last chapter of the year, a chance for students to reflect on how far they’ve come, to go into new learning with momentum, to shine in co-curricular and community events. It’s also a time when the demands are higher, and the margin for fatigue or overwhelm can tighten. By acknowledging that pressure is normal, fostering resilience, and staying connected, we can make this term a positive, growth-oriented one for our students.

Thank you for your partnership, your ongoing support and your presence in our school community. 

 Mrs Kate Kelly - Head of School, School of Leadership

ST LUKE’S DAY CELEBRATION 2025

We are delighted to announce our annual St Luke’s Day celebration, which will take place on Friday, 21st November 2025. This cherished tradition brings our entire community together to celebrate, enjoy, and reflect on the values that make St Luke’s such a special place to learn and grow. We are looking forward to an exciting and joy-filled day for both students and staff.

Event Details

Date: Friday, 21st November 2025Location: St Luke’s Catholic CollegeTime: The celebration begins at 9:00am, with regular dismissal at 2:30pm. All students are expected to arrive by 8:30am.Attire: College Sports Uniform

Community Celebration Highlights

A range of engaging and meaningful activities have been organised to reflect the spirit and values of our community. The day will include:

• College Mass: We will begin with a Mass honouring St Luke, celebrating the values of compassion, service, and kindness that underpin our College community.
• Amusement Rides: Students can look forward to a variety of rides—from gentle fun to thrilling adventures—that promise plenty of excitement and laughter.
• Live Performances: Our talented students will take the stage to share their gifts in music, dance, and drama. This is a wonderful chance to celebrate their creativity and effort.
• Food Stalls: Popcorn, fairy floss, and snow cones will be available for all students. Students are encouraged to bring their own recess and lunch. The school canteen will also be open at recess (10:00–10:30am) and lunch (12:00–12:45pm for SOL/E students and 12pm for lunch order collection for SOF).
• Games: Join in friendly games, challenges, and sideshow alley fun.

Important Reminders

• Sun Safety: Please ensure your child brings a water bottle, sunscreen for reapplication, and their school hat to stay sun safe throughout the day.
• First Aid: A designated First Aid station will be available on the oval for any medical needs.
• Dietary Needs: Students with dietary restrictions are reminded that one serve of popcorn, fairy floss, and snow cones will be provided to each student.
• Personal Belongings: Students must not take phones or electronic devices on rides. They are encouraged to leave such items at home. The College takes no responsibility for the loss or damage of personal devices. To protect everyone’s privacy, students are also asked to refrain from posting photos or videos on social media during or after the event.

Consent

The Amusement Zone and Sideshow Alley will be open to School of Leadership and School of Entrepreneurs students from 10am–12:30pm. Please note that some rides have height restrictions and specific safety requirements that must be followed at all times. Students are expected to adhere to these guidelines and follow the directions of amusement staff and College staff.

Parent/guardian consent for participation in rides and activities must be provided via the electronic consent form on Compass by Wednesday, 19th November 2025.Students without consent will be unable to access the rides and will instead be directed to enjoy the Disco in the Performance Hall. All students with consent to participate on the rides will be issued a wrist band. 

If you have any questions regarding St Luke’s Day, please contact the College Office. We look forward to celebrating this special day together as one community filled with joy, gratitude, and the spirit of St Luke.

A Note from The SOL Assistant Principal 

SOL Basketball Tournament

Our SOL Basketball Tournament is back this term, bringing excitement and friendly competition to the school community once again. The tournament is held multiple times throughout the week, allowing students to face off in fast-paced and thrilling games. Teams accumulate points over the course of these matches, and the highest-scoring squads will advance to the semi-final round. The top teams from the semis will then battle it out in the grand finals, aiming to claim the championship title.

This fantastic event is made possible thanks to the dedicated support of our friends in SOE, who generously volunteer their lunchtime to referee and ensure fair play. Their involvement adds a great sense of community spirit to the tournament.

It’s truly inspiring to see so many students actively participating - whether on the court or cheering enthusiastically from the sidelines. The tournament not only fosters friendly rivalry but also encourages teamwork, sportsmanship, and school spirit. These competitions play a vital role in promoting physical activity and building lasting friendships among students.

We look forward to watching the tournament unfold and celebrating the hard work and passion of all our players and supporters!

SOL Spelling Bees

Term 4 also brings some excitement for our lexicographical virtuosos; our wonderful spellers will have the opportunity to compete against students in other classes in our third inaugural SOL Spelling Bee. Here is a LINK to the words the students will be tested on. Who will be crowned our SOL Spelling Bee Champions for 2025?

Connect 7 (Year 6 into Year 7 Transition program)

Connect 7 is a specialty transition program we have developed for our Year 6 students which enables us to capitalise on the K-12 nature of our learning community here at St.Luke’s. The program is run over three Friday afternoon sessions to enable students to have a smoother transition into Year 7. The program allows students to increase their familiarity with Secondary teaching staff and learning spaces and also to promote a greater sense of independence as students are issued with a timetable and have to navigate their way to the different classes they have scheduled. Students attend two classes on the various Friday afternoons and are given a taste of courses such as English, Visual Arts, Music, Drama, Life Design, Science, Technology and HSIE. Previous students who completed the program rave about the lesson content, being able to move to classes freely and the exciting nature of the things teachers instructed them to do. Connect 7 will occur for current Year 6 students on the 7th and 28th of November, as well as on the 5th of December.

Attendance and finishing 2025 positively

I know that I always write a message about attendance and the importance of attending school regularly. I cannot emphasise this enough, especially in Term 4. As the days get hotter and student attention declining given the approaching summer holidays, it can be easy to allow our kids to stay home for the day. Please maintain high expectations of your children and ensure they attend school. Students should only stay home if they are sick and contagious. If you are experiencing challenges in getting your young person out of bed or to school in the morning, please reach out to the child’s teacher (Stage 3) or their Wellbeing Coordinator (Stage 4). Alternatively, you can contact me directly on my email: jcamilleri39@parra.catholic.edu.au. We are more than happy to support you and your young person attending regularly. If you recently received a letter from me regarding your child’s absence, please take it seriously and reach out for help.

We also have a number of students who regularly come to school late without a valid reason. Three late arrivals in a fortnight will result in a lunch detention; three detentions will result in an afternoon detention. Please encourage your child to use multiple alarms to support them being punctual to school. Setting out uniforms, packing bags and arranging snacks etc for the day, the night before, can help support a positive start to the day.

Bikes and Scooters

If your child rides their bike or scooter to school, please ensure they wear a properly fitted helmet, as required by law. Wearing a helmet significantly reduces the risk of head injuries in the event of a fall or collision. NSW has one of the highest fines for this offence in the world, underscoring the state's commitment to cyclist safety. Cyclists caught not wearing a helmet may receive an on-the-spot fine of $410.

Mrs Josephine Camilleri - Assistant Principal, School of Leadership

Stage 3 Stories… 

Year 6 Learning Update In English this term, we’ve been revisiting the Hero’s Journey and diving into some fascinating Greek myths, like Thalos the Brave and Bellerophon and the Chimera. We’ve been learning how these stories follow a specific structure and discussing what makes a myth exciting and powerful. It’s been really interesting to explore the characters and their challenges, and now we’re using everything we’ve learnt to plan and write our own myths. Everyone is enjoying the chance to be creative while using what we know about narrative writing.

In Maths, we’ve been focusing on fractions and how to compare, simplify and solve problems with them. We’ve also been using AI programs to help us revise and practise the parts we find tricky, which has really supported our learning. Working in different maths groups has made it easier for all of us to learn at the right level – we’ve felt more confident and challenged at the same time, which has been great.

In Science, we’ve been learning about energy transformations and electricity. So far, we’ve completed six mini experiments to observe different types of energy, such as kinetic, electrical, light and sound. One of our favourite experiments was using tuning forks to explore sound waves – when we gently touched the fork to water, we could actually see the vibrations making ripples. It was such a cool way to see science in action and helped us understand how energy can change forms.

Year 6 - Riley

Stage 3 Instructional Leader

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome back to Term 4! We hope everyone enjoyed a happy, safe, and restful holiday and that all students have returned feeling refreshed and ready for a big and exciting final term of the year.

There’s a lot happening this term, with several excursions, special events, and transition activities coming up. Please keep an eye out for notes and updates sent home and via school communication channels to ensure you don’t miss any important information.

As we move into the busy end of the year, we’d like to remind students to continue showing their best behaviour, good manners, and positive friendship skills both in and out of the classroom. These habits make a big difference to our learning environment and to each other’s wellbeing.

We also encourage students to keep up with their consolidation tasks, particularly our Year 6 students who are preparing for their transition to high school. Staying organised and practising good learning routines will help ensure a smooth and confident start to Year 7.

This term, students will be working on the following curriculum learning areas:

It’s shaping up to be a busy and rewarding term, and we look forward to all the great learning and events ahead.

Kind regards,

Shaz McAllister

Instructional Leader

Stage 4 SOL Cup – Building Belonging and House Spirit

A sense of belonging is so important during the transition years of Stage 4, and our SOL Cup is designed to help every student feel connected and supported within their house community. By enhancing house spirit through friendly competition, collaboration, and teamwork, students are discovering the joy of belonging to something bigger than themselves.

Each week offers a balance of fun and purpose:

• Mondays – Indoor activities in the Space such as Trasketball Trivia, and Rubik’s Cube challenges, where students earn valuable points for their houses.
• Wednesdays – A focus on reading and literacy, with students enjoying physical books to strengthen their comprehension and foster a love of reading.
• Fridays – High-energy physical competitions between houses, including basketball, tug-of-war, and tunnel ball.

It’s been fantastic to see such enthusiasm from students in our first rounds of competition, your teamwork and energy set a great example for others! A huge thank you to all teachers and student leaders for their support in making these events possible.

And a friendly reminder: don’t forget your hat on Fridays! It’s a must if you want to play and earn points for your house. The winning house will celebrate at the end of the term with a well-deserved pizza party!

Ms Villarosa- Year 7 Wellbeing Coordinator and Mrs Zorzo - Year 8 Wellbeing Coordinator

Learning Showcase

HSIE

Year 7 - Chau Chak Museum Visit

Last term Year 7 attended the Chau Chak Museum to investigate the Ancient Past. Students had an opportunity to hear about many different ancient civilisations through the evidence provided by the artefacts. Each student in Year 7 were able to hold an ancient artefact and to analyse what we could learn from the artefact. It was a fantastic experience and staff and students enjoyed the grand environment of Sydney University in which the museum sits. 

Year 8 Medieval Incursion

At the end of last term, Year 8 students attended a Medieval History incursion. Students learnt about Medieval Europe, the Black Death and Shogunate Japan by immersing themselves in the material culture of the time. Students had the opportunity to delve deeper into the learning that they have done in the classroom by dressing up, asking questions and experiencing some of the aspects of Medieval life. It was a great experience enjoyed by staff and students alike. 

PDHPE

Year 8 Health and Safety Expo a Huge Success!

Our Year 8 PDHPE students recently took the lead in promoting wellbeing across the College by organising and hosting a Health and Safety Expo — an interactive event designed to educate and inspire students to make positive choices about their health.

As part of their PDHPE unit on “Health Promotion and Personal Responsibility,” students worked in teams to research, plan, and deliver creative displays and activities focusing on key areas such as nutrition, physical activity, mental wellbeing, cyber safety, road safety, and first aid awareness.

The classroom was transformed into a vibrant learning space filled with engaging stalls, posters, demonstrations, and interactive games. Visitors were able to test their health knowledge through quizzes, learn about safe online behaviours, explore healthy eating options, and even practise hands-only CPR 

PDHPE teachers were impressed by the students’ ability to communicate important health messages with confidence, creativity, and a strong sense of teamwork. The event not only showcased their learning but also empowered them to take on leadership roles and make a real impact on their peers.

A huge congratulations to all Year 8 students for their enthusiasm and effort, and to the PDHPE staff for guiding them throughout the project. The Health and Safety Expo is a wonderful example of student-led learning that connects classroom knowledge with real-world wellbeing.

Religious Education

Year 7 Religious Education:

This unit explores the mystery of the Incarnation — “the Word became flesh and lived among us” (John 1:14). Students will discover how God’s love is shown through Jesus and how that same love continues to take shape in people’s lives today.

Learning happens through two main creative projects:

• Artefact 1 – Nativity Re-Imagined: In groups, students re-tell the Nativity story using ideas from John 1:1–18, focusing on themes of Word, Light, Life, and Flesh. They will create short role-plays to show how God’s presence can be seen in ordinary people and moments.
• Final Product – Contemporary Nativity Exhibition: Each student designs their own artwork, short film, or installation that shows how the Incarnation can be seen in today’s world.
  • Head: Explain what the Incarnation means.
  • Heart: Show what it means to you through art or story.
  • Hands: Connect it to real-life action or service.

Through this inquiry, students will reflect on how the Word still becomes flesh whenever love, compassion, and faith are lived out today.

Images: As part of the Assessment Launch, students added their ‘Need to Knows’ on the RE Inquiry Wall.

Year 8 Religious Education:

We believe that: If we support students to make meaningful connections between classroom learning and real-life faith in action, then their engagement and depth of understanding in Religious Education will improve.

Therefore, this Learning Cycle will:

• Invite students into encounter and dialogue experiences that connect Scripture, Sacrament, and lived discipleship.
• Encourage students to think deeply (Head), feel and respond with compassion (Heart), and act for peace and justice (Hands) in their daily lives.
• Strengthen the relationship between faith learning and faith living through creative, reflective, and communal practices.