Cohort News

Year 7 Pastoral Care

I cannot believe the end of the year is already here. I want to congratulate Year 7 on their successful completion of the first stage of their high school journey!

It has been a highly eventful year filled with energy and growth. We shared experiences ranging from team-building bootcamps and camps to informative seminars, skill-building workshops and inspiring presentations. Throughout every activity, Year 7 showed excellent engagement and spirited participation, demonstrating a fantastic transition into College life.

The year finished off with our second swimming carnival, where we had many outstanding achievements in a range of events, showcasing the athletic talent and spirit of our newest high school cohort.

Following the carnival, our students participated in a cutting-edge technology workshop facilitated by UNSW. The girls were hands-on, applying engineering principles as they built and tested their own functional solar-powered cars, a true glimpse into the world of sustainable technology and design.

The final event provided a culturally rich conclusion to the year. The girls engaged in an Aboriginal Art Workshop held led by Ms. Harkins and the College's First Nations Students. The students had the privilege of learning about and painting certain First Nations symbols and rounded off the session by enjoying some freshly homemade damper!

It has been an absolute pleasure to guide Year 7 through this  exciting chapter. We wish you all a safe, restful and rejuvenating holiday break.

Jon Campbell

Year 7 Pastoral Care Coordinator

Year 8 Pastoral Care

Dear Parents and Guardians of Year 8,

As the academic year draws to a close, I would like to take take a moment to celebrate the incredible journey and growth of our Year 8 students. This year has been marked by significant academic achievements, fantastic participation in co-curricular activities and growing maturity among the students. They have successfully navigated new subjects, embraced greater independence and formed stronger bonds. We are immensely proud of their resilience and the positive contributions they have made to the school community. 

Year 8 Dance

We are thrilled to report that the Year 8 Dance that was held on Friday 5 December was a wonderful success! It was fantastic to see so many Year 8 students attending and enjoying the evening together with Marcellin College, Randwick. The students showed great spirit on the dance floor and demonstrated excellent social skills. Events like this are crucial for building peer connections and fostering a positive school community. The students made it a truly memorable night. A huge thank you to the staff volunteers who helped supervise and senior leaders who assisted on the night. 

Farm Excursion 

On Tuesday 18 November, our Year 8 cohort travelled to Camden to learn about dairy and vegetable production as part of their TAS studies. It was a fantastic day of hands-on learning. The girls had the chance to explore agriculture in a real-world setting - many even brought home fresh lettuce and potatoes they harvested. Staff commended the students on their behaviour, engagement and interactions throughout the day. It was a genuinely valuable and enjoyable learning experience for all.

Pastoral Care - Term 4 Update: Digital Wellbeing

This term in Pastoral Care, our Year 8 students have engaged in a series of valuable lessons focused on respectful behaviour and digital wellbeing. They explored what respect for self and others looks like both online and offline, the consequences of disrespectful online behaviour and practical strategies to stay respectful and safe in digital spaces. Students also reflected on their own screen-time habits and how technology can impact their wellbeing including sleep, focus and relationships. They heard from the Optus Digital Thumbprint Program on digital discernment - learning how to recognise misinformation, fake content, deep fakes, click bait, rumours that can spread online or within school communities and how to report concerns to the eSafety Commissioner. These sessions have helped deepen their awareness, decision-making and responsibility in the online world.

Thank you parents and guardians for your invaluable support throughout the year. We wish all our families a safe, relaxing and enjoyable holiday period and we look forward to welcoming the students back in the new year as confident and ready Year 9 learners!

Kind Regards,

Kathy Phetrasi

Year 8 Pastoral Care Coordinator

Year 9 Pastoral Care

Dear Parents, Caregivers and Students, 

This is my final newsletter as Acting Year 9 Coordinator. Ms. Jessica Harper will be taking care of the cohort next year. I would like to extend my thanks to all the Year 9 students who welcomed me and helped me navigate this role alongside my other duties at the College. The last few weeks have been busy organising Year 9 Camp, so it is nice to finally have the time to reflect on an amazing term as your Pastoral Care Coordinator. 

Assessment block

In Week 5, Year 9 embarked on the rigorous endeavour of Assessment Week. Each student worked extremely hard and focused on their studies, effectively utilising their study periods to revise. I was particularly impressed by the attendance; there were very few absences, meaning minimal catch-up exams were required. To celebrate their efforts, students received a complimentary Zooper Dooper at the conclusion of the exams. Please note that this style of assessment block will continue next year in Term 4, when your daughter is in Year 10.

Business Services 

In Week 6, 21 Year 9 students successfully completed their VET Business Services placement at the Sydney Catholic Schools head office in World Square. This marks the first year that Year 9 students have had the opportunity to complete a vocational certificate as an elective. Well done to all the students who participated.

Swimming Carnival 

In Week 7, we held our swimming carnival at Heffron Pool. A special congratulations to Julianna Dommel, who was awarded the Under-15s Age Champion. Well done to all the students who participated on the day.

Butterfly Foundation

On Friday of Week 7, we had the privilege of hosting the Butterfly Foundation for their 'BodyKind Eating and Movement' session. The talk provided young people with information on body image, specifically focusing on what a healthy relationship with our bodies, food and exercise looks and feels like. Year 9 students were very engaged and asked thorough and thoughtful questions to gain further knowledge on this important topic. 

Somerset Camp

In Week 8, Year 9 students embarked on their camp at Somerset Outdoor Learning on the Colo River. Students participated in a variety of activities, including kayaking, hiking, archery, an obstacle course and raft building. It was a valuable learning experience, with students taking responsibility for cooking their own meals and pitching their tents. The group performed exceptionally well, demonstrating resilience despite the extreme heat and limited facilities for rinsing off.

Special thanks to Ms Commane, Ms McKeon, Ms Andersen, Mr Gant and Ms Collins for their dedication in supervising and supporting their pastoral care students throughout the week.

Duke of Edinburgh - Somerset Camp

Fifty-three Year 9 students have successfully completed the expedition component of their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award. The Bronze Award is the first level of the program and requires participants to complete four sections: Service, Skill, Physical Recreation and the Adventurous Journey, incorporating both kayaking and hiking; as well as teamwork and leadership activities. These students undertook their expedition in conjunction with the Year 9 camp, staying for an additional night to complete a series of challenging activities. A sincere thank you goes to Mr Pineda, Mr Dunne and Ms Hurley for generously giving up two days of their time to support the students through these challenges.

Have a great summer holidays and looking forward to seeing everyone next year. 

Kind regards, 

Lauren McKillop

Acting Year 9 Pastoral Care Coordinator

Year 10 Pastoral Care

Dear family and friends of Year 10,

As this is the final newsletter for the year, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your incredible support throughout the year and to wish all of you a very happy and safe holiday period and a wonderful Christmas. I hope this break provides a chance to rest, recharge and enjoy quality time together with your families and friends.

I have watched with immense pride as our Year 10 students have navigated a challenging yet rewarding year. Your daughters have demonstrated remarkable growth in their maturity, transitioning into insightful and responsible young women. They have tackled their studies with dedication and have shown great leadership potential. The progress made this year truly sets them on the path to becoming excellent young women ready for the opportunities and responsibilities of their final school years. 

The second half of Term 4 was filled with meaningful and engaging activities, offering a perfect balance of study, community engagement and celebration:

• Activities Week: Year 10 participated in a highly successful Activities Week, engaging in important study workshops to refine their academic skills.
  • Peer Support: Our students demonstrated wonderful leadership by participating in a peer support session where they were buddied up with Year 6 students who will be attending Brigidine next year. This was a great success, with our Year 10 students guiding the younger girls through "getting to know you" activities and patiently answering some frequently asked questions about high school life.
  • Community Outreach: A highlight for Year 10 was their impactful community outreach with the Days for Girls group to assemble period packs, contributing to a vital global cause.
• Spreading Christmas Cheer: The girls also demonstrated their community spirit by putting on a delightful Christmas concert for the residents of Brigidine House. The residents thoroughly enjoyed the performance and appreciated the opportunity to share in the festive cheer with our students. They even found some gifts in the form of a small Rosary to give the Year 10 students who visited to show their appreciation.
• End-of-Year Celebration: Activities Week concluded with a relaxed picnic at Coogee. This was a lovely time for the girls to socialise, unwind and celebrate the end of the year together in a beautiful setting.
• PC Class Challenge: We also enjoyed a fun and competitive session where Pastoral Care classes battled for the 2025 PC Championship. This involved a series of riddles and puzzles designed to test their group work, communication and thinking skills. A massive congratulations to Aquinas Homeroom who demonstrated exceptional teamwork and speed, completing the series of tasks in the fastest time!

On Thursday, the Year 10 students engaged in a vital session with the Butterfly Foundation. This session went into depth on the pervasive pressures women experience regarding their appearance, particularly those amplified by mass media and social platforms.

The presentation guided the girls through a critical examination of how media often constructs and promotes an unattainable ideal of beauty and body shape. Key areas explored included:

• The Impact of Pressure: Discussing the negative mental and emotional consequences of striving for these impossible ideals, including the link to poor self-esteem and body image concerns.
• Promoting Body Positivity: Encouraging students to shift their focus from appearance to health, well-being and individual strengths, fostering a sense of self-acceptance and respect for the diversity of body types.

The session successfully encouraged critical thinking about the images they consume daily and powerfully advocated for a culture of body positivity and self-compassion.

The Friday session focused on reproductive health to destigmatise related topics and empower students with essential knowledge. The presentation addressed two crucial areas:

• Pain Management Strategies for Period Pain: Students learned practical and medical approaches for managing common period pain. This included non-pharmacological strategies (like heat therapy, light exercise and relaxation techniques) and understanding the importance of seeking medical consultation when pain is severe.
• Endometriosis Awareness: This component raised awareness about endometriosis, a condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, causing severe inflammation and pain. The girls were educated on the difference between normal period discomfort and problematic symptoms. The session strongly emphasised the importance of seeking help and consulting a GP to discuss symptoms, receive a proper diagnosis and explore treatment options.

I would like to take a moment to express my sincere thanks to the entire Year 10 Pastoral Care Team: Sophie Pepper, Jasmine D'Arcy, Jasmine Crnogorac, Tayla Whiteman, Jesse Bacon and Ben Zhang. Their dedication, effort and constant support have been invaluable throughout the year and their care for the students is greatly appreciated.

A special mention and heartfelt thank you goes to Jasmine Crnogorac and Jesse Bacon, who are sadly leaving at the end of the year to continue their teaching journey at new schools. I thank them deeply for all their support and care of our students over the past four years. I wish them all the very best in their future endeavours.

What a wonderful and productive year it has been! The students of Year 10 have truly grown into remarkable young women, ready to embrace the challenges ahead.

On behalf of the entire Year 10 team, we wish all students and families a truly wonderful Christmas and a restful holiday season. I am looking forward to starting next year with them as they begin their senior studies!

Rebecca Monohan

Year 10 Pastoral Care Coordinator

Year 11 Pastoral Care

As we reach the end of a busy, vibrant and rewarding year, it’s a pleasure to reflect on the achievements and experiences that have shaped Year 11 in 2025. The students have shown maturity, enthusiasm and a strong sense of community as they stepped into their senior years and we are incredibly proud of the way they have navigated this important stage of their schooling.

Swimming Carnival – A Memorable Finale

This year’s Swimming Carnival was a resounding success and marked a milestone moment, the final swimming carnival of the students’ school careers. The atmosphere was electric, with standout participation, impressive sportsmanship and plenty of house spirit. The girls embraced the theme with creativity and energy, making the day one to remember.

Learning Beyond the Classroom

The final term brought several opportunities for the girls to expand their learning in meaningful and engaging ways:

• Great Barrier Reef Trip: Students were treated to a remarkable experience exploring one of the world’s most significant natural wonders. From snorkeling to learning about marine ecosystems, the trip brought classroom content to life in unforgettable ways.
• Paddock to Plate Excursion: Students also took part in a “paddock to plate” excursion, discovering firsthand how food makes its journey from the farm to their tables. This practical insight helped deepen their understanding of sustainability, agriculture and nutrition.

These experiences were the perfect way to round out the school year and broaden their perspectives.

Beginning Their HSC Journey

Stepping into senior studies is no small milestone and our Year 11 students have embraced the challenge with determination. They have now commenced their HSC courses and completed their first assessment tasks for the majority of their subjects. This early progress has laid a strong foundation for the busy year ahead and we commend the girls for their commitment and work ethic during what can be a significant adjustment period.

Looking Ahead: Presentation Day & Community Day

We look forward to celebrating the students’ achievements at Presentation Day, followed by Community Day, which will provide an opportunity to connect, reflect and enjoy time together before the break.

Holiday Rest & Study Balance

As the year concludes, we encourage students to take well-deserved time to rest, recharge and enjoy their holidays. However, we also recommend dedicating small pockets of time to light revision to help keep content fresh and support a smooth start to Term 1. A balanced approach will set them up for confidence and success.

Thank You to Our Student Leaders

A special thank you goes to the student leaders who generously offered their time to support the Year 8 Dance and Year 6 Orientation Day. Your leadership, kindness and willingness to serve the school community are deeply appreciated.

First Day Back in 2026

We look forward to welcoming everyone back in the new year as they officially begin Year 12:

• Thursday 29 January 2026 – Student Leaders return
• Friday 30 January 2026 – All Year 12 students return

We wish all Year 11 students and their families a safe, restful and enjoyable holiday break. We look forward to seeing everyone refreshed and ready for the exciting year ahead.

Nikki McWhirter

Year 11 Pastoral Care Coordinator