The Net

School of Entrepreneurs

From the SOE Head of School

 

Dear students and families from the School of Entrepreneurs community,

 

This week our Year 12 Student House Leaders of 2024 worked with Mr O’Callghan, Mr Bettiol and myself in a Leadership Summit. This Summit covered the following elements of leadership:

  • The concept of leader versus manager?
  • Leadership as a relational activity
  • Empathetic communication
  • Leading a Team
  • Leadership Styles
  • Servant Leadership

 

Students engaged in various problems of practice and scenarios to apply what they learnt to real life situations. This was an opportunity for them to reflect on their own leadership styles and how adaptable they will need to be in their leadership. Part of this day saw our visitors from St John 23rd, Stanhope Gardens participate in a Shark Tank. The purpose of these pitch presentations was for students to introduce an initiative they want to lead in 2024. Students were engaged and enthused by this opportunity to network with other senior students.

 

Below are some of the themes from the Shark Tank captured visually.

This edition of the Net brings us to the final one for 2023 and as you have seen over the year, there is much to celebrate in terms of what our students from the School of Entrepreneurs have achieved.  

 

I wish all of our families and friends of our community many greetings for a blessed and joyous festive season. I hope you all have the opportunity to rest, rejuvenate and spend quality time with your loved ones. Merry Christmas everyone! We look forward to building an even stronger partnership in 2024.  

 

Ms Jacqui Genovese 

Head of School, School of Entrepreneurs 

 

FROM AROUND THE GROUNDS 

 

Year 9 Religious Education

 

This term, Year 9 students have been exploring the concept of ‘Care for our Common Home’ from a Social and Catholic perspective. They completed a Gallery Walk to explore 12 different paragraphs from Laudato Si; they summarised their understanding of each paragraph into one sentence.

 

Students created sketchnotes summary of their suggested environmental action for the marginalised community. They used the completed sketchnotes to respond to the following question:

“How can I apply Catholic teachings to advocate for a marginalised community?

 

 

 

The above activities are examples for tech-free lessons and students’ distraction-free participation was clearly evident.

 

9 Life Design

 

Students in Year 9 have been working hard developing their online ePortfolios in Canvas as part of the Digital Footprint unit. They have worked in groups to determine what should be included, used peer feedback protocols and real world experts insights as to ‘Why’ portfolios are such a powerful tool.

 

Some Year 9 students also volunteered to give back to their school community by giving advice to the current Year 8 cohort regarding the Capstone Presentations all Year 8 students complete in week 10.

Our Year 9 delegates shared their experiences around the highlights of presenting to an external panel, combating nerves to ensure a confident, authentic presentation and top tips to prepare. The Year 9 students showed a tremendous deal of courage to speak to 60 students with little prompts and preparation time, a credit to their skills in presenting. Thank you to all the students who participated and share their experiences so honestly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10 Life Design

 

Term 4 has seen our Year 10 students working on a Legacy Project - something to leave at St Luke’s as their Legacy to the school community. These have ranged from: Art Club, Mentoring through lunchtime sport programs, a yearbook committee and a Bridging Ceremony.

The yearbook group are planning and creating a lasting treasure for the HSC class of 2025, a two year project these students have been willing to take on and are making huge progress.

The Bridging Ceremony has been a right of passage for all our Year 10 cohorts and continues this year. This celebration is a milestone for all St Luke’s students as they formally finish the Life Design program and go into the next phase of their learning; school (both at St Luke’s and elsewhere), traineeships etc with clarity and confidence to navigate the ever changing world around them.

This year’s Bridging Ceremony will be held on 8th December from 1:10pm and will be live streamed for parents to view. Further details will be sent closer to the event date.

 

Esports

 

Last term, Brent Bernardo’s efforts in the Australian Esports League High School Competition rewarded him with a trophy dedicated to his victory as not only the state champion, but also the national champion in the Super Smash Bros. tournament. 

 

This term saw selected students from School of Entrepreneurs competing in the Australian Esports League Spring Series competition. In a thrilling display of skill and strategic directions, Year 12 student Brent Bernardo (also known as BowlOfRamen), once again emerged victorious in the Super Smash Bros Tournament. Facing formidable opponents from across the country, Brent showcased unparalleled mastery of the platform fighting game, outplaying and outmanoeuvring adversaries with precision and finesse. Brent has also been working hard to not only prepare himself for the tournament, but taking on the initiative (with the help of Year 10 student, Ryan Burns) to train and mentor a younger student, preparing them for the same tournament he competed in. The triumph stands as a testament to Brent's dedication, hours of practice, and the undeniable recognition of Esports as a platform for exceptional talent and achievement.

 

Congratulations to all students that represented St Luke’s Catholic College for their efforts in Esports this year. 

 

Wellbeing at School of Entrepreneurs 

 

We recently had the pleasure of welcoming back our esteemed House Leaders of 2023 to present badges to the newly appointed 2024 House Leaders during our Feast of St. Luke's liturgy. This significant event was a heartwarming reunion, celebrating leadership, camaraderie and the enduring bonds that define our school community.

 

The ceremony, which took place during the liturgy, symbolised the continuity of leadership and the passing of the torch to the next generation of students entrusted with the responsibility of guiding their respective houses. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the House Leaders of 2023 for taking the time to join us for this special occasion. Their presence added a meaningful layer to the liturgy, reinforcing the sense of community that is at the heart of St. Luke's ethos. As they embark on the next chapter of their academic journey, we wish them all the best in their careers. We also look forward to welcoming them back for a joyous morning of celebration and reflection at the HSC Results Breakfast on December 15th.

 

 

New Family Induction

 

As the academic year draws to a close, we eagerly anticipate the arrival of new families who will be enrolling their children at our school in the coming year. While much attention is often given to the induction of Kindergarten and Year 7 students, we want to extend a special welcome to families with children entering other year levels. Transitioning to a new school is a significant milestone for any student, regardless of their age or grade level. Recognising the unique needs of students joining outside the traditional entry points, we place great emphasis on the importance of a thorough induction process. 

 

On Wednesday, 29th November, we welcomed new families to our school. Mrs Bauer introduced our families to our community and we took our new families on tours of the school and they also heard from our students about life at the College. 

 

Understanding the layout of the school, locating essential facilities, and becoming familiar with daily routines can be overwhelming for new students. Their children will also be a part of the “New Kids on the Block” program which is our induction program and this program is designed to alleviate any potential concerns by providing guided tours, introducing key staff members, and offering insights into the various academic and extracurricular opportunities available. By the time the academic year begins, our “new kids” will feel confident and well-acquainted with their new educational home.

 

At our school, we understand that each student is unique, and their educational journey is a personal one. Our induction process is tailored to cater to the individual needs of each student, taking into account their academic background, interests, and aspirations. This personalised approach ensures that every student feels seen, heard, and supported from the moment they step through our doors.

 

To the new families joining our school community, we extend a warm welcome. Your decision to entrust your child's education to us is a responsibility we take seriously, and we are committed to providing a nurturing environment for their growth and development. Welcome to our College family!

 

 

Year 6 and Kindy Buddies

 

In a heartwarming display of camaraderie and mentorship, our Year 5 students recently took on the role of enthusiastic buddies during the Kindergarten Orientation Day. Recognising the significance of this interaction, our Year 5 students underwent a dedicated workshop aimed at equipping them with the necessary skills to mentor their younger counterparts effectively. The workshop, led by three of our newly appointed house leaders – Shannon, Jordyn, and Lincoln – focused on fostering communication skills, empathy, and patience. These attributes were deemed essential to create a supportive environment for the Kindergarten buddies.

 

The benefits of mentorship extend beyond the immediate event. For the Kindergarten students, the presence of their Year 6 buddies (current Year 5’s)  serves as a friendly face in a new environment, easing the transition into formal education. On the other hand, for the Year 6 students, the experience offers an opportunity to hone their leadership skills, encouraging a sense of responsibility and empathy that will undoubtedly serve them well in their academic and personal pursuits.

 

A special note of gratitude goes to Shannon, Jordyn, and Lincoln, our newly appointed house leaders, for their instrumental role in guiding the Year 5 students through the mentorship workshop. Their leadership and dedication ensured that the Year 5 students were well-prepared to extend a warm welcome to their Kindergarten buddies. We look forward to witnessing the continued growth of these relationships and the positive influence they will have on the wider school community. 

 

 

 

Year 10 Road Safety Education with RYDA

 

This week, Year 10 attended the RYDA (Rotary Youth Driver’s Awareness) program at Cricket Central, Sydney Olympic Park. We attended six programs throughout the day that were informative, engaging and interactive!

These workshops addressed aspects of travelling safely on the road and following government guidelines. The workshops focused on key road safety requirements and responsibilities and eliminating personal risks to allow safe travel. The six sessions consisted of - Road Choices, Drive SOS, The ‘I’ In Drive, Mind Matters, Crash Investigators and Speed and Stopping.

 

This excursion was very relevant for the Year 10 students, as most of the year group are turning or have turned 16 and will be attempting to gain their learners permit over the course of the year. One of the highlights of the day was watching a car’s braking distance first-hand. After being asked to predict the braking distance of varying speeds, we were shocked to see that it takes a car in a school zone at 40km/h almost 40 metres to stop!

 

This taught the students the potential dangers and harsh realities of driving when around pedestrians, especially when speeding. We also examined the car safety systems including the significance of functioning airbags, secured seatbelts, road-worthy tyres and crumple zones, all which make our cars safe. Furthermore, discovering the ANCAP car rating system will allow us to ensure we always maintain high-quality car safety on the roads. (A quick tip, you should be looking to buy a car with a 4-5 star ANCAP rating!)

 

Another important aspect of the day was focusing on ‘Mind Matters’. This section addressed the importance of our mind state on the road and choosing the best strategy for us to keep safe. Using different scenarios, we could identify how distractions and mind-wandering can affect our driving performance if we are not in the right headspace and we looked at strategies to overcome this.

 

We were informed that mindstate can cause you to be unaware of the road and surrounding environment. Your mindstate can also cause you to take your eyes off the road and hands off the wheel, as well as not being attentive to the road, thereby putting yourself and other people at risk.

 

Overall this excursion was a great experience for the students. There was a lot of information to take away from the day and I am sure our Year 10 students have learned so many strategies and have become aware of the realities of driving. 

 

 

                                                  Credit: Gurnaaz, Kanishk, Marcus, Nathan (Year 9)

 

 

Mr Chris Bettiol

Leader of Wellbeing, Growth and Development (K-12)