Supporting Our Students

Wellbeing

As we approach the end of Term 4, it’s a great opportunity to reflect on the many Wellbeing Programs and events that have supported our school community. This term, we celebrated the graduation of our Year 8 RAISE Mentoring program participants, which is a testament to their commitment, growth, and the positive relationships nurtured through peer support over the course of the year. NSW Police presented at an assembly, providing students with valuable information on safety, community awareness, and responsible decision-making. We also came together as a community to acknowledge International Day of People with Disability, promoting understanding, encouraging open conversations, and strengthening our commitment to inclusivity for all students.

As we move into the school holidays, it’s important to be mindful of strategies that help maintain our mental wellbeing. Practising mindfulness, staying connected with family and friends, and taking part in activities that bring you joy can all play a significant role in supporting your wellbeing. Regular exercise, creating a balanced routine, and ensuring adequate sleep are also essential for staying mentally healthy. You might also like to try some simple wellbeing ideas over the break, such as spending time outdoors, exploring a creative hobby, journalling, limiting screen time, or setting aside moments each day to simply rest and recharge. Remember, it’s completely okay to slow down and prioritise self-care during this time.

If you ever feel overwhelmed or need support during the school holidays or at any point, reach out to:

Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636

Take care of yourselves, and remember, looking after your mental health is just as important as your physical health. Enjoy the holidays, recharge, and we look forward to seeing you back next year!

Ms. McInnes

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Activities

Students from the Sista Speak program recently enjoyed an unforgettable experience exploring Country alongside the Gamay Rangers. The day began with a guided walk through La Perouse, where students visited middens—ancient shell sites that share the story of Aboriginal life along the coast. A highlight of the excursion was the vibrant ochre pits, long used by Aboriginal people to gather natural pigments for cultural practices.

The Gamay Rangers spoke about their vital work caring for Country, demonstrating how they protect and preserve these culturally significant sites. Their knowledge and passion inspired students to deepen their appreciation and respect for both the environment and Aboriginal heritage.

Following the walk, students returned to La Perouse Public School for a BBQ lunch and a series of fun cooking activities, bringing everyone together in a warm celebration of culture and community. It was a powerful day of learning, connection and shared stories on Country.

Ms. Welch

Student Representative Council

In Term 3, our SRC actively engaged with the school and wider community to enhance the student experience. In Week 3, SRC members attended the Parents and Community (P&C) meeting to discuss the Aircon Project, seeking support for a letter to NSW Department of Education Asset Management. This initiative aims to install air conditioning in every classroom to improve comfort and accessibility in learning. In Week 4, SRC representatives featured in our latest school promotional photos, showcasing our pride in the school. The same week, SRCs participated in the ‘Pass the Baton - Commemorating 80 Years Since the End of WWII’ Peace Education Event, promoting peace education and cultural exchange between Japanese and Australian communities in Sydney. Week 5 saw the SRC collaborating with our librarian for Book Week activities, and in Week 7 they assisted at the Bayside Spring Fair to promote our school. The Year 10 SRC students implemented the successful Clean our School Campaign in Week 9, encouraging better tidiness with signage around the playground.

Term 4 began with the SRC launching a school hat design competition in Week 2, culminating in a winning design selected in Week 5. Week 3 featured leadership speeches from Year 12 candidates to elect captains, vice-captains, and prefects. In Week 5, the SRC led an in-school Remembrance Day assembly, while community participation was supported by Mr Nguyen and new captains. Week 6 marked the formal induction of new SRC members and student leaders with families invited to badge their students. The semester closed with the SRC supporting Year 7 Orientation in Week 8, welcoming new students to our school for 2026.

These events highlight the ongoing commitment of our SRC and student leaders to foster inclusion, leadership, and school values.

Thank you for your continued support of our student leadership.

Mr. Nguyen

Learning Hub

We have had a wonderful year in Learning Hub and Learning Support. Rob, Narikah, Shay, Gabby, Ms Whelan and Ms Healy have been incredibly proud of the outstanding effort all our students have shown throughout the year. The dedication to improving literacy and numeracy skills was especially evident in our Year 7 and 8 small-group sessions, and this hard work truly shone through in their end-of-year achievements. A special thank you to Ms Whelan and Narikah for their commitment and support in helping our students succeed.

Students who accessed the Learning Hub have benefitted greatly from Rob’s mathematics expertise and Gabby’s unbeatable Rummikub skills, we’re confident we now have some of the world’s best Rummikub players among us!

We feel very fortunate to have worked with such a wide range of students across the school, and we are grateful to every one of you for your engagement, effort and positive attitude.

We look forward to supporting you again next year.

Ms. Healy

Supervisor of Female Students

Early in the term, we welcomed Christina Dinh, an optometrist from Student Eyecare, who provided eye assessments for 45 of our students. Each student received a report at the conclusion of their eye test, and where required, a prescription for glasses was included. It was wonderful to see our school community take advantage of this important and convenient onsite health service. We look forward to hosting Student Eyecare again in two years’ time.

Looking ahead to next year, Year 10 vaccinations will take place in Term 2, followed by the Year 7 vaccination program in Term 3.

Wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday break. I look forward to seeing you all in the new year.

Ms. Gunawan

Library

This term, we’ve been busy refreshing our Fiction and Graphic Novel collections. A full weed and update has helped us make room for the exciting new titles arriving in 2026. You may also notice two new display areas in the library: a New Books section to highlight our latest additions, and a Read It Before You Watch It display featuring books that have film or TV adaptations.

To assist with our end-of-year stocktake, we kindly ask that all library books be returned by the end of Week 8.

We also encourage students to keep reading over the holidays by choosing from our range of weeded books - these are free to take home and keep!

Finally, we’ve added Library Feedback Boxes around the space. Students are invited to share suggestions, comments, or requests for books they’d love to see added in the future. Your input helps shape a library collection that reflects our readers.

Mrs. Kasparian

Parents & Citizens

Term 4 has been a busy and rewarding time for the J J Cahill Memorial High School Parents and Carers Association (P&C). Here are some of the exciting highlights from this term:

Our landscaping project received its fourth award—a remarkable international accolade in the Built Environment category at the prestigious Good Design Awards!
The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) has once again confirmed their involvement in the next phase of the landscaping project, which is scheduled for installation next year.
We partnered with the Student Representative Council (SRC) to support their campaign for air conditioning installation in the school. This collaboration led to a letter of support from Federal MP Matt Thistlethwaite, delivered alongside the SRC’s submission to the Education Minister and School Infrastructure NSW.
Our P&C president, Daniel Girling Butcher, was honoured at the Kingsford Smith Community Service Awards for his outstanding dedication to volunteering.

The P&C is a passionate group of volunteers committed to supporting the school community through various projects and initiatives. By getting involved, parents and carers play a vital role in enriching the school environment for students and staff alike.

The P&C meets on Wednesdays during Week 3 and Week 8 of each term. These meetings provide a great opportunity to collaborate, share ideas, and plan exciting projects. If you’re interested in staying informed or becoming involved, please email jjcahillpandc@gmail.com to sign up for regular updates and communications.

Thank you to all our volunteers and supporters for making a positive difference at J J Cahill Memorial High School.

We look forward to working with you in 2026!