Supporting Our Students

Wellbeing

Throughout Term 3, our school community continued to place a strong focus on student wellbeing, inclusion, connection and mental health. We proudly recognised Wear it Purple Day and R U OK? Day, providing opportunities for students and staff to promote respect, inclusion, kindness and meaningful connections across our school community.

Our commitment to supporting students extends beyond the school gates. This term, we continued to strengthen our partnerships with external organisations and community services. Our Year 10 Love Bites program provided students with important opportunities to develop their understanding of respectful relationships, consent, communication and personal safety, with support from community partners including Bayside Council, The Shack, SECC and WAYS.

Students can also access ongoing support through our School Psychologists and Student Support Officer (SSO). These supports, together with our external community partnerships, form an important part of the comprehensive Wellbeing program at J J Cahill Memorial High School.

As we approach the holiday break, we encourage all students to prioritise their wellbeing and safety. Maintaining healthy routines, staying connected with supportive people, taking time to recharge and reaching out when things are difficult can all make a difference. If you are concerned about a friend, checking in and starting a conversation can be an important first step.

Remember: you don't have to manage things on your own. Help is available. Stay safe, stay connected and enjoy the holiday break.

Wellbeing support during the holidays - Need Someone to Talk To?

Ms. McInnes 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Activities

Term 3 provided meaningful opportunities for our Aboriginal students at  JJ Cahill Memorial High School to strengthen their connection to culture, community and educational pathways. 

As a part of our ongoing partnership with South Cares through the Nang Mai Marri (dream big) program, Our Students participated in an industry visit that provided valuable insight into a range of careers and roles in operating a professional NRL club. 

Students were given a tour of the USANA Rabbitohs facilities and had the opportunity to speak with Souths Ceo Blake Sully and Head of Pathways Rob Capezzie, gaining understanding of different education, employment and career pathways. Students also heard from other staff working across a range of roles that contribute to the operation of the South Sydney Rabbitohs, providing an insight into career opportunities that exist beyond playing a professional sport.  The visit also provided opportunities to meet the South NRL players. 

The school also commenced a gardening project in partnership with Wild Flower and Indgigrow. The project provides students with hands-on opportunities to develop practical gardening, teamwork and responsibility skills while strengthening connections to culture, community and Country. Working alongside Aboriginal organisations also provides students with positive role models and opportunities to engage with Aboriginal knowledge, experiences and pathways.

A significant achievement this term is that two of our Aboriginal students will graduate from JJ Cahill Memorial High School next week. This is an important milestone for the students, their families and our school community, and we look forward to celebrating their achievements and supporting them as they transition into their next steps beyond school.

Ms. Johnson & Ms. Welch

Student Representative Council

Student Leadership Report: Passing the Baton

As Term 3 draws to a close, I would like to acknowledge a significant milestone in our school’s calendar: the conclusion of the 2025/2026 Student Representative Council’s term of office, and the formal announcement of our newly elected representatives for the upcoming leadership cycle.

Celebrating the Outgoing Council

Over the past four terms, our outgoing SRC members have demonstrated exemplary dedication to amplifying student voice, serving their peers, and representing our school with distinction. Term 3 in particular has seen our leaders heavily involved across a variety of school and community initiatives:

• Book Week (Week 5): Council members worked closely with our Teacher Librarian, Ms Kasparian, assisting with the organisation and running of library events and lunchtime activities throughout the week.
• Bayside Spring Fair (Week 7 - Saturday, 5 September): A dedicated group of student leaders gave up their Saturday, staffing our school stall from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm to promote our school, engage with local residents, and welcome prospective families.
• School Grounds & Wellbeing: Alongside supporting our R U OK? Day wellbeing initiatives and securing improvements to student playground seating, the team is rounding out their term of service by helping out with our Community Gardening Day on Saturday, 19 September (9:00 am - 3:00 pm), working alongside local community members to revitalise our school gardens.

I extend my sincere gratitude to our Year 12 representatives. As they step down from their leadership duties to prepare for their upcoming Higher School Certificate examinations, I thank them for their years of dependable service, balanced perspective, and mentorship of younger members. They leave behind a strong legacy of proactive citizenship.

Commending Election Candidates

The standard of nominations for the 2026/2027 SRC was exceptionally high. Putting oneself forward for public office requires courage, vulnerability, and a genuine commitment to serving others. Addressing year-group assemblies and articulating a clear vision for the student body is no small feat.

I congratulate every candidate who stepped forward to participate in the election process. A special commendation must go to our returning representatives who sought re-election; your willingness to recommit your time, energy, and advocacy to our school community reflects a mature dedication to civic service. To those who were not elected this time: please take pride in your effort and your ideas. Leadership at our school takes many forms beyond an official badge, and I encourage you to continue driving positive change through our various co-curricular, sporting, and social justice committees.

Looking Ahead to Term 4

Our newly elected council will formally commence their duties in Week 1, Term 4.

• First Planning Meeting: Tuesday, Week 1 during Break 1 in DR1014.
• SRC Induction & Badge Presentation Assembly: Date and details to be confirmed; information will be published via the school app and parent portal early next term.

• Term 4 Focus Areas: Establishing core leadership goals for the upcoming year and coordinating our upcoming end-of-year community projects.

   

I look forward to guiding this new cohort of leaders as they hone their skills and represent their peers with integrity throughout the coming year. I wish the entire school community a restful and safe spring holiday break.

Mr. Nguyen 

Learning Hub

We are incredibly lucky in the Learning Hub to have such a smart, caring and dedicated team supporting our students every day.

Our wonderful Anna runs our small group programs and somehow manages a whole range of other school services with incredible grace. Rob, our resident maths genius, is the backbone of Learning Support and never seems to miss a thing.

Our spectacular Narikah brings intelligence, strength and plenty of personality to the Hub, while Gabby, our data master, is loved by students for her calm and caring approach.

Isabelle is kind, generous and a tireless advocate for her students — while somehow also remembering everyone's birthday! Shay combines her sporting superstar status with being a wonderfully supportive advocate for her students.

Our new and fabulous Siobhan somehow understood JJ students within about two minutes of arriving and quickly became a valued member of the team.

And finally, our Nic — the real rock star of Learning Support. Smart, kind and incredibly perceptive, Nic has a wonderful ability to understand our students and provide the support they need.

We are so grateful for everything our Learning Hub team does each day.

Parents and carers are always welcome to visit the Learning Hub and see how Learning Support works and how we support our students.

Learning Hub Team 

Vaccinations

This term we had four of our female students in Year 8 apply for the Harding Miller Educational Scholarship. It is an amazing opportunity and the scholarship helps girls who face economic barriers to excel academically, realise new opportunities and achieve their full potential at school. We wish these students the best of luck in their application. 

Also our Year 7 students had their vaccinations in Week 9, we had some nervous students who overcame their fears, were very brave and got their vaccinations done by the nurses from SESLHD. If your child missed the clinic, the vaccination team will return next year to offer the routine vaccinations for Years 7 and 10. They also offer catch ups for any student who requires them.

Ms. Gunawan Daly

Library

Celebrating Reading, Learning & Our Library Community

Term 3 has been a busy and exciting one in the library! It has been wonderful to see students continuing to embrace the library as a space to read, discover new books, learn, create and connect. When I began in the library, one of my biggest goals was to help build a stronger reading culture across the school. I wanted students to see reading not simply as something they had to do, but as something they could genuinely enjoy - a way to escape, explore new worlds, discover different perspectives, develop empathy, build knowledge and simply take some time for themselves. Over the past year, we have been building that culture through a range of initiatives, and Term 3 has been no exception!

Book Week is Back!

One of the biggest highlights of the year was bringing Book Week back to our school after a very long absence! What began as an idea to celebrate books and reading quickly became a wonderful opportunity to bring the whole school community together. From themed activities and displays to students celebrating their favourite books and characters, it was fantastic to see the enthusiasm and creativity throughout the school. Most importantly, Book Week provided another opportunity to remind students that reading is something worth celebrating. A huge thank you to our students and staff for getting involved and helping make the return of Book Week such a success!

From BookTok to Book Recommendations

Our reading culture journey began with BookTok, introducing students to books that were already gaining popularity and creating opportunities for them to discover titles they may not otherwise have picked up. This has continued to grow into a broader focus on student voice and reading recommendations. Students are encouraged to share the books they love, recommend titles to their peers and discover what other students are reading. It has been fantastic to see students talking about books, looking for recommendations and developing their own reading identities.

Fresh Off the Shelves

Our collection continues to grow and evolve alongside the interests and needs of our students. New titles have been added across a range of genres and interests, ensuring there is something for everyone - whether you're looking for fantasy and adventure, mystery and horror, romance, graphic novels, humour or non-fiction. Keep an eye out for our new book displays and recommendations throughout the library!

Don’t Forget About Sora!

Don’t forget that students can access thousands of eBooks and audiobooks through Sora, our digital reading platform. Whether you’re at home, at school, or somewhere in between, there’s always something to read!

A Library for Everyone

Ultimately, the goal is for the library to be a place where every student can find something that interests them. Whether you're an enthusiastic reader, someone who hasn't yet found your book, a student researching a topic, someone looking for a quiet space or simply someone who wants to explore -  there is a place for you in the library.

Thank you to all of our students and staff who continue to make the library such a vibrant part of our school community.

Happy reading!

Mrs. Kasparian 

Student Support Officer

We have two new exciting initiatives! Breakfast Club Expansion and Games Club. 

Breakfast Club Expansion

Do you start your day with a nutritious breakfast? Would you like to???

Breakfast Club is now operating THREE days a week. Yes! You read that correctly. THREE days! 

On Mondays from 8AM cheese toasties will be served outside the Library.

On Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:15 AM, head down to the silver seats behind the Canteen and get yourself a bowl of crunchy cereal and fresh fruit. 

We look forward to seeing you there!😊  

Games Club

Do you like board games? Would you like to meet like-minded people? 

Then I have the club for you! Introducing.... Games Club! Expect to find UNO, Connect Four, Guess Who, Pictionary, Exploding Kittens and many other favourites.

When: Tuesdays and Thursdays (BREAK ONE)

Where: Room AR1008 

Bring yourself and your lunch. If alone, all good. I will pair you with other fun people! 

Parents & Citizens

The P&C (Parents and Carers Association) is a dedicated group of volunteers who work together to support the school and contribute to various projects throughout the year. By getting involved, parents and carers play a key role in enhancing the school community and helping with initiatives that benefit both students and staff. The P&C meets on Wednesdays during Week 3 and Week 8 of each term, providing an opportunity to collaborate on upcoming projects and share ideas. If you're interested in staying informed and getting involved, please email jjcahillpandc@gmail.com to sign up for regular updates and email communication from the P&C. Your support and participation are always welcome!