School of Leadership
A Note from the School of Leadership Head of School
Parent Engagement Session: Building Resilience and Self-Esteem in Children and Young People
Last week, we were delighted to welcome many families to our most recent Parent Engagement Session, which focused on the important theme of Building Resilience and Self-Esteem in Children and Young People. These sessions are designed to provide parents and carers with practical insights and strategies that can be applied at home, supporting the shared goal of helping our young people thrive.
The evening explored some of the most pressing challenges children and adolescents face in today’s fast-paced and often overwhelming world. One of the key topics was co-regulation, which highlights the important role parents and caregivers play in helping children manage their emotions. When a trusted adult models calmness and provides reassurance, young people learn strategies to regulate their own feelings over time.
We also examined the concept of sensory overload and how it can lead to escalation in behaviour. With so many competing demands, environments, and expectations placed on young people, it is no surprise that they can sometimes feel overwhelmed. By recognising the early signs of sensory overload, parents and carers can help children de-escalate, regroup, and find ways to cope with stress more effectively.
Another focus of the session was the different ways resilience can be understood and nurtured. We spoke about natural resilience, which comes from a child’s inherent strengths, adaptive resilience, which is developed through learning and experience, and restored resilience, which reflects a young person’s ability to recover after setbacks. Together, these forms of resilience help shape how children respond to challenges and build confidence in their capacity to manage life’s ups and downs.
The session also shared insights into the top problems young people worry about, ranging from academic pressure and friendships to global issues like climate change. Parents reflected on how these concerns are both real and deeply felt, and how important it is to validate children’s experiences rather than dismiss them. By creating safe spaces for open conversation, parents and carers can provide reassurance while also empowering their children to problem-solve and take constructive action.
We sincerely thank all parents and carers who attended and contributed to such a thoughtful evening. Your willingness to learn, share, and reflect alongside us strengthens the partnership between home and school—an essential ingredient in supporting the wellbeing of every young person in our care.
As part of our ongoing commitment to collaboration, Parent Engagement Sessions are held each term, with each one focusing on a different aspect of child and adolescent development. We are already looking forward to our next session in Term 4, and we warmly invite all families to join us for another valuable evening of learning together. Details below:
Save the Date: ThinkUKnow Cyber Safety Program
We are excited to announce that in Term 4, we will be hosting the ThinkUKnow Cyber Safety Program for parents of Years 5-12 Students. This is an engaging and practical session designed by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and delivered Australia-wide. This session will be facilitated by Senior Constable Robert McFarlane (Youth Engagement Officer) on the night.
DETAILS:
Date: Wednesday, 22 October 2025
Time: 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Venue: College Hub
Mrs Kate Kelly - Head of School, School of Leadership
A Note from The SOL Assistant Principal
Book Week 2025
As an English and Drama teacher, Book Week is one of my favourite events of the year. At St. Luke’s, we are fortunate to celebrate it in style, with many of our students dressing up as their favourite characters from books. It has become a cherished tradition for staff to join in the fun, and they are certainly just as invested as the students in the excitement of the Book Week Parade.
This year, we’ve been lucky to welcome some incredible authors to engage and inspire our students. Year 5 enjoyed a visit from the talented illustrator Marc McBride, while Year 6 had the pleasure of learning from acclaimed author Mark Greenwood. We’re also looking forward to a day of workshops for Year 7, featuring the brilliant Lisa Niccol and Will Kostakis - a perfect way to round off a week dedicated to celebrating the magic of reading and storytelling.
SOL Soccer Tournament
Over the past two terms, students in Years 5–8 have been taking part in the SOL Soccer Tournament during lunchtime, competing in small teams to bring structure and positive engagement to the playground. Despite challenges caused by wet weather, the tournament has been a great success, promoting teamwork and reducing negative physical interactions. Students in Years 9 and 10 have done a fantastic job refereeing the games, with the support of Mr Zaccaria. Excitement is building as we head into the grand finals: Young Tekkers will take on Random Chilli Dogs in the Years 5–6 competition, while Joga Bonito will face Spanish Blood FC in the Years 7–8 final. We wish all teams the best of luck!
Road Safety
For the safety of all students, we remind families that children must use the designated pedestrian crossing when arriving at or leaving school. It's vital that parents reinforce this message to help prevent serious accidents, such as students being hit by vehicles. We also ask that no cars stop or drop off students in the bus bay. This area must remain clear for buses, and using it as a drop-off zone can result in a $334 fine and the loss of demerit points. Thank you for helping us keep our students safe.
Bikes and Scooters
Students who ride a bike or scooter to school must wear a properly fitted helmet at all times. Helmets should sit level on the head, cover the forehead, and have the straps securely fastened under the chin. Wearing a helmet significantly reduces the risk of head injury in the event of a fall or collision. In NSW, it is a legal requirement to wear an approved helmet when riding, and failing to do so can result in a fine of $384. We ask all families to support this important safety measure by ensuring students leave home with their helmet correctly worn each day.
Attendance - EVERYDAY MATTERS
Getting your growing young person to school each day can be challenging, especially during the middle school years - and we understand that. If you’re finding this a struggle, please know that we’re here to support you. Regular lateness, even by just a few minutes, can have a cumulative impact on your child’s learning. While one late arrival might not seem significant, over time it adds up and can affect their readiness to engage in the school day.
We ask for your support in helping your child manage their morning routine so they arrive at their classroom by 8:25am - not rushing to beat the 8:30am gate closure. Being on time helps students start the day calm, focused, and ready to learn. Punctuality is a key part of setting them up for success.
If you need any assistance with attendance or morning routines, please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teacher, Coordinator, or me directly.
Mrs Josephine Camilleri - Assistant Principal, School of Leadership
Stage 3 Stories…
Stage 3 Instructional Leader
Dear Parents and Carers,
We’re now halfway through a busy term filled with learning, events, and social-emotional growth. Students have been building confidence, empathy, and resilience alongside their academic skills.
Children aged 10-12 go through big physical, emotional, and social changes. Growth spurts, the early stages of puberty, changing friendships, and a growing need for independence all make this a time of rapid development. Clear routines, open conversations, and consistent expectations at home and school help children feel secure and ready to learn.
We also ask families to monitor screen time carefully. Too much recreational use can affect sleep, focus, and wellbeing. Limiting screen time, creating device-free times (e.g., before bed), and encouraging physical activity or reading instead can make a real difference.
Thank you for working with us to support our students as they navigate these exciting but challenging years.
For more information on your child’s growth and development, Sydney Children’s Hospital provides a helpful guide for children aged 5–12 years: https://www.schn.health.nsw.gov.au/kids-health-hub/child-development/child-development-children-5-12-years
Shaz McAllister
Instructional Leader
Fr Peter Carroll
Our Year 5 and 6 students recently had the privilege of meeting Fr Peter Carroll, who brings more than two decades of dedicated service as a prison chaplain at Long Bay Correctional Centre and other correctional facilities in Sydney. In his role as Manager of Institutional Chaplaincy with CatholicCare Sydney, Fr Peter leads the Companions Matter program, which supports individuals reintegrating into society after incarceration by offering accompaniment, healing, and hope. His visit linked beautifully with our current Religious Education focus and the driving question, “How can I seek truth in my thinking to make a better world?” Fr Peter helped students explore how seeking truth through empathy, compassion, and service can transform lives—not only within prison walls, but across our wider community. It was an authentic and inspiring moment, deepening their understanding of faith in action.
Freeman’s Celebration of Learning
We are excited to invite families to Freeman’s Celebrating of Learning, which will take place in Week 9 on Thursday 18th September at 1:30pm in the Performance Hall. This special event is an opportunity for our students to showcase their hard work, creativity, and achievements from across the term. It is always a wonderful occasion to celebrate the learning journey together as a community, and we look forward to seeing many of our families there to share in this celebration.
Please let us know if you will be attending through this Link
Mark Greenwood
Our Year 6 students had the wonderful opportunity to meet author Mark Greenwood, who captivated them with his cool stories and fascinating insights into the experiences that inspire his writing. He shared the journeys behind some of his books and gave students a glimpse into how real-life adventures can spark powerful ideas. The session also highlighted imaginative writing skills, encouraging our students to think creatively and bring their own stories to life. It was an inspiring visit that left Year 6 excited to explore their own storytelling.
Book Week
Book Week was a wonderful celebration across our school, with students and staff coming together to share their love of reading. Throughout the week, classes enjoyed a range of literacy activities that sparked imagination and creativity. The highlight was our much-anticipated Book Week parade, where students proudly dressed up as their favourite book characters. It was fantastic to see the excitement and joy that reading brings, and the week reminded us all of the power of books to inspire, entertain, and connect us.
Healthy Harold
Our Year 5 and 6 students recently had the exciting opportunity to meet Healthy Harold, who delivered an engaging and interactive session about the risks of vaping and smoking. The students learned about how these habits can affect their health and wellbeing, and gained valuable strategies for making positive choices. The session was both informative and fun, and the children loved the chance to learn alongside Harold in such an interactive way. It was a memorable experience that left them talking enthusiastically about what they had discovered.
From Year 8– Together We S.O.A.R
Year 8 have had a strong and productive start to the term, with many students demonstrating our school values of Support each other, Own our actions, Aspire to lead, and Rise together (S.O.A.R).
Celebrating Success
We are so proud of the wide range of activities our students have been involved in recently. From Write a Book in a Day and STEMmania, to the SOL Soccer Tournament, Peer Companions, Bring It On and Cultural dancers, Book Week helpers, and Tournament of Minds, our Year 8 students have shown commitment, creativity, and teamwork. These efforts reflect their willingness to lead, support others, and represent our community with pride.
Areas for Growth
As part of our assembly discussions, we also asked Year 8 to reflect on how they can continue to grow as a cohort:
- Support each other – We reminded students that comments, even when disguised as “jokes,” cause harm. Breaching hands-off, even in a playful way is unacceptable. Respectful words and actions matter.
- Own our actions – Punctuality is important. Arriving on time means students are settled, engaged, and ready to learn from the very start of the lesson. When students are late, they miss valuable instructions and disrupt not only their own learning but also that of their peers. We want all Year 8 students to take responsibility for making the most of every learning opportunity.
- Aspire to lead – As the oldest students in SOL, Year 8 are role models for younger students. Leadership means setting the standard in the playground, canteen, and Hub, and ensuring our younger peers feel safe and welcomed.
- Rise together – We challenged students to be upstanders, not bystanders—to support one another by calling out disrespectful behaviour and choosing kindness.
Looking Ahead
We are excited about upcoming Year 8 initiatives, including:
- The S.O.A.R Cre8ivity Competition featuring Lip Sync Battles, Monologue Performances, and a Poetry Competition.
- S.O.A.R Forward Interviews as students reflect on their time in the School of Leadership and prepare for their transition into the School of Entrepreneurs(SOE).
We are proud of the progress Year 8 have made this year and look forward to seeing how they continue to grow in their leadership, learning, and care for one another. Together, we S.O.A.R.
Mrs Zorzo - Year 8 Wellbeing Coordinator
Stage 4 Learning Showcase
English
This term, our Year 7 students have been diving into the world of fractured fairy tales. Recently, they took on the role of lead investigators in our immersive entry event.
Students were summoned to the heart of the Fairy Tale Forest, where strange events had disrupted beloved landmarks. The magic was unstable, “Once Upon a Time” had lost its rules, villains were protesting their innocence, heroines were going rogue, and “happily ever afters” were far from certain.
Their mission?
Examine each “crime scene,” identify the original fairy tale, and analyse exactly how the story had been fractured. This was a really engaging activity that encouraged critical thinking, creativity, and analysis.
Languages
Ciao! Mangiamo, let’s eat!
Students are focusing on Italian typical food and also their own country food. They are able to write and explain some recipes of the Italian Cuisine! They differentiate between the different Italian meals that could be found for example in an Italian restaurant’s menu, such as primo piatto, il contorno e il dolce! Writing on the board allows them to practice new Italian words and to collaborate all together as a class.
Students are excited to learn about the range of different Italian foods that Italy can offer!
They will soon start to create their own menu restaurant including all the features learnt in class.
The biggest dilemma of this food topic is that students and teacher were always hungry especially when talking about pizza margherita, penne alla carbonara, spaghetti all’arrabbiata, tiramisù and many more!
Year 7 Religious Education:
Exploring God’s Love in Action
Over the past two weeks, Year 7 students have been deepening their understanding of God’s love and what it means to live it out in real and practical ways.
In the first lesson, students explored 1 John 4:7–12, reflecting on the powerful truth that “God is love.” Through Scripture reflection and journaling, they considered how God’s love shapes their relationships and actions in everyday life.
In the next lesson, students created Concept Maps to represent how God can be encountered through Head (thoughts and learning), Heart (prayer and compassion), and Hands (choices and service). This visual exercise helped them see that faith is not only something we think about, but also something we feel and live out.
In the third lesson, the focus turned to Faith in Action, inspired by Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 25:35–40: “Whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me.” Students examined the work of the St Vincent de Paul Society (Vinnies), learning how ordinary people put their faith into action by serving those in need. They also began brainstorming real human needs they care about, from homelessness and hunger to bullying and caring for creation.
Together, these lessons have prepared students for Artefact 1, where they will integrate their Scripture reflection, Concept Map, and Faith-in-Action brainstorm into a personal written proposal. This artefact challenges them to name a real need, explain why it matters, and propose a practical way they can respond through their head, heart, and hands—living out God’s love in tangible ways.
Life Design- Year 7 Motivations
This term, Year 7 has been learning about the values that motivate them—and how those values shape the way they think, feel, and act. Through engaging activities, students explore moments when their values are fulfilled, bringing a sense of purpose and energy, and when they are frustrated, leading to challenges or frustration.
Students have also taken part in fun and thought-provoking role plays, acting out real-life scenarios where their values are either supported or tested. Below are some photos capturing not only their acting skills but also their growing self-awareness.
By understanding their values, Year 7 students are developing the insight they need to make choices that align with who they are and what matters most to them.
Year 8 Religious Education – Awe, Wonder, and the Works of God
Year 8 students have been exploring the theme of awe and wonder by connecting Scripture, science, and mystery. Inspired by Psalm 111 – “Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them”, students reflected on verses that reveal God’s wisdom and created symbols and captions to express their meaning.
They also investigated the contributions of Catholic figures such as Galileo, St Hildegard of Bingen, and Fr Georges Lemaître, discovering how faith and science have worked together throughout history. Their study of Eucharistic miracles invited them to see how sacred mysteries can inspire both scientific curiosity and deeper faith.
This learning journey is now coming together in the Wonder Map assessment, where students bring Scripture, symbols, and scientific insights into one creative artefact. The Wonder Map helps them respond to the driving question: Can science and religion work together to protect the Earth?
Life Design- Year 8 Leadership
Our Year 8 students have been diving into the concept of leading without authority, exploring how anyone can create positive change—regardless of title or position. Using Brendon Burchard’s 6Es of Leadership – Envision, Enlist, Embody, Empower, Evaluate, and Encourage – students have been reflecting on what makes a leader worth following.
They are now in the exciting ideation phase, identifying real problems within our school community and designing creative leadership initiatives to address them. We can’t wait to see the innovative, meaningful ideas they bring to life in the coming weeks.
By building these skills early, our Year 8 leaders are learning that leadership is less about authority and more about action, influence, and service.
Technology
Our Year 8 students have been on an exciting journey in Technology, exploring timber and woodwork. As part of their timber unit, students designed and produced two practical projects - a hot pot stand and a paper towel stand - giving them the opportunity to experience the complete design and making process.
Throughout the unit, students were introduced to a range of tools and resources, including the tenon saw, coping saw, disc sander and various sanding papers. They also learned about finishing techniques such as oiling and varnishing, which helped them bring out the natural beauty of timber in their final products.
More importantly, students developed valuable hands-on skills such as measuring accurately, cutting safely, gluing joints, sanding smoothly and applying finishes with care. These experiences not only enhanced their understanding of timber as a material but also nurtured creativity, problem solving and craftsmanship skills.
STEM MAD
Our students participated in the event STEM MAD (Make a Difference) where students chose a problem or need in our world, collaborated, planned, designed and implemented a solution to showcase to STEM enthusiasts from a wide range of CSPD schools and judges from the diocese. Students also participated in STEM-related activities on the day, including a Virtual Reality experience, a Physics educational show and hands-on activities to showcase their STEM-related skills.
Our students had a great day, and we look forward to seeing these students explore further STEM opportunities in the future.
