Principal's Message

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome back! I hope you and your family enjoyed a restful break as we launch into the final, exciting term of the school year. Term 4 is always a critical time—full of significant milestones for our students across all year groups.

Focus on Year 12 (2025 HSC)

Our Year 12 students are now midway through their Higher School Certificate (HSC) Examinations. My sincere gratitude goes out to all the staff who have provided unwavering support, guidance, and expertise to prepare our students. We continue to wish every student the very best, hoping their hard work, dedication, and long hours of study yield results that truly reflect their potential.

Launching the HSC Year for Year 11 (now Year 12)

I am delighted by the maturity and focus shown by our new Year 12 cohort (formerly Year 11) as they hit the ground running this term. The attitude they have brought to their new classes is commendable.

I cannot stress this enough: daily attendance is absolutely non-negotiable for maximising success in the HSC. Attending school every day ensures students do not miss essential content and are fully prepared for the first critical round of HSC assessments during the December Assessment Block. Please help us reinforce the importance of being present and focused every day.

Year 7 & 8: Review and Preparation for 2026

Our Year 7 and 8 students will be embarking on their final assessment tasks for the year. This is a crucial time for consolidating their learning.

I strongly encourage all parents to reserve Monday, 15 December from 11:00am to 5:00pm for our dedicated Parent-Teacher Interviews. This is a vital opportunity for you (with your son or daughter) to speak with subject teachers to celebrate areas of strength and, most importantly, pinpoint specific areas for improvement to ensure a strong start to the 2026 school year.

A note on school standards: uniform and grooming

I seek your vital support in upholding our high standards for uniform and grooming. It is absolutely necessary that all students transition immediately to the summer uniform and adhere to the College's grooming policy at all times. Wearing the uniform correctly and maintaining a high standard of personal presentation instills pride and professionalism. Please review the detailed policy on the school website to ensure your student is compliant.

We look forward to partnering with you for a productive and successful Term 4.

A few reminders of key school events for term 4

Year 12 (2026) Parent Information Night - Monday, 10 November 6.00pm- 7.00pm

This is an important evening for students who are on an ATAR Pathway. We have a guest speaker from UAC who will demystify ATAR scores and moderation. There is also important information around HSC assessment tasks, policy and procedures. This evening is compulsory for all students in Advanced and Standard English. (An alternate presentation will be provided at a later date for our English Studies students.) The meeting will be held in the college hall.

Orientation Programs

Year 7 (2026) Orientation Day - Wednesday, 12 November

On Wednesday, 12 November we look forward to welcoming our new Year 7 2026 students. The orientation day is an important day for students to be oriented to all aspects of our College life - our Charism, our patron, engaging with our staff, our pastoral/learning support and the beginnings of assistance to a secondary College.

Year 11 (2026) Orientation Day - Tuesday, 9 December

On Tuesday, 9 December we look forward to welcoming our new Year 11 2026 students from Our Lady Of Mercy College Burraneer and De La Salle College Caringbah. The orientation day is an important day for students to attend lessons, meet our College staff, meet our current year 7, 8  & 12 students and provide a general overall orientation to our Lasallian culture of the College as they engage on their HSC journey and pathway.

Attendance

A few points I would like to reinforce about the importance of attendance.

• Firstly, the College’s attendance rate is very high in comparison with our Catholic schools across the Archdiocese. Thank you, to our students/parents for your support in making sure every day attending school is important. 

• Non-attendance has both an academic and a social impact. There’s a well-documented correlation between absences and HSC achievement, which demonstrates that every day matters. 

Lateness is a type of absence

• Just as full day absence can become pattern-forming and impact negatively on achievement, so too is lateness. While 10 minutes is not long, it’s important to consider your child’s emotional space as they enter the classroom. 
• Lateness is also cumulative. If a child is late by only 10 minutes a few times a week, the hours soon add up. In a single year there are 20 hours of learning that can be potentially missed.

What happens when there’s a pattern of chronic absence?

School leaders and Middle Managers at the College monitor attendance patterns regularly. Students who begin to show signs of chronic absence require early and effective intervention. 

As a parent what can I do to help if periods of absences occur?

Reach out to the College when you no longer feel in control or a pattern of non-attendance is occurring. Early intervention is crucial. Contact the College on Phone: 8522 1500 and our Office staff will refer you to:

- Mrs Michelle Aurelius the Year 12 (2026) Wellbeing Coordinator

- Ms Rebecca Hines the Year 8 Wellbeing Coordinator

- Mrs Rachel O’Connor the Year 7 Wellbeing Coordinator for any assistance or advice. 

We also have the availability of a College Counsellor - Ms Olivia Dawson that can provide advice and support for students and parents.

Stephen Mahoney

Principal