School of Entrepreneurs
From the SOE Head of School
Greetings to all,
Celebratory News
During the recent winter holidays, Aisha Pathak of Year 9 Navy proudly represented our school community at an international summer program hosted by Yale University, where she studied Debate and Film alongside students from around the world.
Her participation in this prestigious program not only highlights Aisha’s personal dedication and talent, but also showcases the spirit of curiosity, resilience and excellence we strive to foster within our College community.
In her Debate elective, Aisha was selected as one of only eight students (from a class of 22) to compete in the Final Night Debate. Her team debated the motion “AI is an overall benefit to society” and went on to win the Final Round.
In her Film elective, Aisha directed and produced a short film titled “The Bench,” and was recognised with the “Steadfast Student” award for her perseverance and creativity.
On behalf of the St Luke’s community, I would like to extend our warm congratulations to Aisha for her outstanding achievements and thank her for representing our school community with distinction on the international stage. Well done Aisha!
Exam Jitters - School TV
With the HSC examinations approaching quickly and the Preliminary examinations commencing in Week 7 this term, students can be overwhelmed by the pressure that exams bring and the turnaround between one exam and the next. Every year, more and more emphasis is placed on achieving good results in exams causing many students to feel extraordinary pressure and having unrealistic expectations. This month on SchoolTV, parents will find advice on how to help students cope with the pressure and how students can work smarter to achieve the results they desire.
Exams are like a game. Once you know how to play the game, your chances of achieving great results rapidly increase. Parents can learn how to assist their kids to maintain perspective and keep their sanity intact during exam time.
Diet, exercise and sleep all play an important part in helping a student balance a busy schedule and study smarter. Keeping stress levels to a minimum and reducing anxiety can be easily achieved through careful planning and having a supportive environment.
We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this edition of SchoolTV and we welcome your feedback. If you have any concerns about your child, please contact the school counsellor for further information or seek medical or professional help.
Here is the link to the Exam Jitters edition of SchoolTV for your perusal.https://stlukesmarsdenpark.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/exam-jitters
REMINDER TERM 4 UPCOMING EVENT:
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. The session supports parents and carers in understanding and responding to online issues including:
- Device security
- Social media profiles and online identity
- Fraud and scams
- Online bullying and harassment
- Sharing images and personal information
- Online predators and more
The session also emphasises the vital role parents play in being proactively involved with their children’s online lives.
DETAILS:
Date: Wednesday, 22 October 2025
Time: 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Venue: College Hub
We encourage all parents and carers to mark this important event in your calendars. It is a valuable opportunity to strengthen your understanding of online safety and better support your children in navigating the digital world.
Some key topics that will be discussed during this session may be explored beforehand via the eSafety website if you are interested. To RSVP for this event please complete the Google Form by October 17 October 2025.
Wishing you all a great week ahead.
Ms Jacqui Genovese - Head of School, School of Entrepreneurs
From the SOE Assistant Principal
Last week St Luke’s invited families to
Mr Francis O’Callaghan - Assistant Principal, School of Entrepreneurs
What’s been happening in SOE?
Religious Education
Year 9
Over the past few weeks, our students have been engaging deeply with the question of how religion acts as a force for good in our world. From exploring the nature of good and evil, to unpacking the role of free will, to examining Scripture through the hermeneutical triad, students have been challenged to think critically about the relationship between religion and the impacts it has on the world to promote human flourishing.
One of the most powerful insights has been recognising that Catholicism is not simply a set of beliefs but a living tradition that shapes action. Students explored how Catholic organisations such as Vinnies put Gospel values into practice through charitable works, advocacy, healthcare, education, and care for creation. In doing so, they discovered that the Church contributes to the Common Good in ways that promote peace, social harmony, and the dignity of every human person.
Year 10
Over the past few weeks, our students have been exploring the theme of vocation; the unique way each person is called to live out their faith in service of God and others. Through the lens of Catholicism and world religions such as Islam, Judaism, and Sikhism, our classes have reflected on how vocation is more than a career choice; it is a life lived with meaning and responsibility to the community.
From our interfaith studies, students discovered that vocation is lived out in many ways: through the Jewish commitment to tikkun olam (repairing the world), the Islamic call to service and generosity through zakat, and the Sikh practice of seva (selfless service), especially in the sharing of meals through langar. These insights encouraged our students to see vocation not just as an individual journey but as something that strengthens and uplifts the wider community.
English
Year 10 Macbeth Incursion – Come You Spirits
On Thursday 21st August, our Year 10 students were transported into the dark and turbulent world of Shakespeare’s Macbeth through a performance by the travelling theatre troupe Come You Spirits. The actors brought the text to life with powerful delivery, immersive staging, and moments that pulled students directly into the action.
Beyond the drama and spectacle, the performance deepened students’ exploration of our current unit focus: how the choices we make today shape the futures we create. Watching Macbeth’s fateful decisions spiral into chaos offered a compelling reminder that ambition, loyalty, and moral compromise all carry consequences. It was a powerful way to connect Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy to the choices and challenges of our own lives.
HSIE
Friday, 15 August, the Year 10s undertook a Geography field excursion which included an extremely early arrival of 7am at school. Although the bus ride was long, they arrived safely at Narrabeen and Collaroy Beaches ready for a day of fun. It was warm and sunny, so no unpleasant weather could ruin their day. Here students were taught by amazing CEC educators about different weather conditions and how they have an impact on the coast and beaches. Students used anemometers to measure wind speed and air temperature, along with a compass to determine what direction the wind was coming from. Year 10 also learned about human induced impacts on coastal erosion as well as natural causes of coastal erosion. A lucky few students were able to see how seawalls acted as mitigating strategies to curb the impact of coastal erosion, while others had unfortunately missed the opportunity due to mother nature sending in the High Tide. All in all it was a wonderful day filled with fresh air, ocean views and beautiful sunny skies. This excursion served the purpose of providing students with a deeper understanding of coastal processes and coastal erosion, necessary for them to respond to their Assessment task for the term.
Life Design- Year 9 Pitchfest Finals 2025
This year’s Pitchfest, run in partnership with Future Anything, gave our students the opportunity to think like entrepreneurs and tackle real-world problems with creative, practical solutions. Over several weeks, students developed their ideas, refined their pitches, and presented them to a panel of expert judges in an inspiring grand final.
From sustainable products to community-based initiatives, the quality of ideas was outstanding, showcasing our students’ innovation, teamwork, and courage to think differently.
Congratulations to Hope Woven, who won first place with their powerful concept of hoodies featuring inspiring messages, with proceeds going to support victims of war, including those affected in Gaza. Their pitch stood out for its creativity, compassion, and commitment to making a tangible difference.
A huge thank you to everyone who came along to cheer them on.
Congratulations to the 2025 Pitchfest Winners: “Hope Woven” Alissa, Danielle & Sienna; along with special guest judges: Jud, Sabrina, and Amanda.
Future Anything Pitchfest 2025 Winners: “Hope Woven” Alissa, Danielle & Sienna
…And the winner of Pitchfest 2025 is… “Hope Woven”
Special judges deliberating L-R: Jud, Amanda & Sabrina (with Mr O’Callaghan)
Pitchfest Finalists “Buddy Booth”- Aaliya, Aanya, Hasrat, and Aarushi
Pitchfest Finalists “Project Tree”- Parv, Khubaib, Arnav and Taylor
Pitchfest Finalists - “Hope Woven”
Pitchfest Finalists “Chico.co”- Elmiera, Mikaela, and Aanoo
Pitchfest Finalists “A.M.E.N” - Evie, Jaime, Maggie, and Ronith
Pitchfest Finalists “She Support Society”- Sudikshaa, Martina, and Anushka
Student Ushers: Kevin, Kaizer, Tara, Kenisha, and Aisha
Student Event MC’s: Jayden and Gabby
Pathways and Partnerships
STEP UP INTO TEACHING (SUIT).
A huge congratulations goes out to Year 11 student Ava Warren, who has successfully applied for the Australian Catholic University’s SUIT program. Ava will complete two university level subjects in the upcoming October and January school holidays. Upon successful completion of these two subjects, Ava will be guaranteed an offer into the Bachelor of Education degree at the Australian Catholic University. This is a tremendous opportunity for Ava and we wish her every success.
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.
