Deputy Principals' Address
Mr. Mifsud
Farewell Year 12
As Term 3 draws to a close, I would like to take this opportunity to bid a fond farewell to our Year 12 students. For some of you, the past six years may have felt long, filled with ups and downs, challenges and triumphs. For us, however, those six years have flown by. It’s been an eventful and unique journey, marked by countless stories, memorable experiences, and shared opportunities, not to mention an education interrupted twice by COVID. Despite these disruptions, you’ve shown resilience, adaptability, and growth.
On behalf of all the staff, I want to say how proud we are of the young adults you’ve become. Watching you grow into confident, capable individuals, ready to take on the next chapter of your lives, has been a true privilege.
You will always be a part of our school community. We warmly invite you to visit us, whether it’s to share your news, reconnect with teachers, or simply say hello. We look forward to hearing about your exciting new adventures and the paths you choose to follow.
The Graduation Ceremony was a wonderful celebration of your journey and achievements. It was a fantastic way to come together as a school community and send you off in style. Thank you for making it such a memorable occasion.
We wish you all the very best in your upcoming HSC exams, which begin on Thursday, October 16. Stay focused, give it your best, and remember, we’re cheering you on every step of the way.
Year 11 – Congratulations and What’s Next
Congratulations to Year 11 for completing their Preliminary HSC exams! You should be proud of your efforts and progress throughout the year. As you now move into your final year of school and begin your HSC courses at the start of Term 4, we look forward to continuing this journey with you and supporting your growth.
To kick things off, enjoy Year 11 Camp, which will take place during the first three days of Term 4, starting Monday, October 13. It’s a great chance to reconnect, build new friendships, and set a positive tone for the year ahead.
Wishing you all a safe and restful break.
Ms. Batista De Mello
What an incredible term it has been! It is truly a privilege to lead and support our dedicated staff and talented students. This term, my key priorities focused on maintaining the momentum of our High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) program, strengthening our partnerships with local primary schools, the P&C, and the wider community, fostering high-quality teaching and learning experiences across the school, and successfully leading the external validation process.
High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE)
We have demonstrated strong leadership and unwavering commitment to developing a whole-school HPGE program grounded in high expectations. Our collective efforts have seen continued growth in skills, knowledge, and expertise as we expand our whole-school talent development program.
Primary School Partnerships
Our SLR students proudly supported Botany Public School at their Athletics Carnival, braving the rain with enthusiasm that was greatly appreciated. Thank you to all students for representing us so well.
Taster Lessons
I would like to extend my gratitude to Mr. LK, Ms. Fitzgerald, Ms. Welch, and Ms. Jessop for delivering engaging and high-quality lessons to Year 5 students from Mascot Public School. These ‘taster’ lessons will continue next term, welcoming students from Eastlakes Public School and Gardeners Road Public School to experience life at high school.
Community Engagement
P&C Meetings - Our P&C meetings continue to be vibrant, positive, and inspiring. It’s a joy to collaborate with such a connected and motivated group. We encourage everyone to join and be part of their exciting initiatives.
Bayside Spring Fair - What an outstanding day we had at the Bayside Spring Fair! It was a fantastic opportunity to promote our school and celebrate the spirit and talent within our community. Thank you to the SRC, P&C and staff who supported the event, including Mr. Nguyen, Ms. Blum, Mr. David, Mr. LK, Ms. Fitzgerald, and Mr. Poole. Congratulations to all students and staff who performed—your dedication and talent truly made the day memorable.
Pass the Baton
On August 16th, our student leaders represented J J Cahill Memorial High School at the Pass the Baton event commemorating 80 years since the end of World War II and bombing of Hiroshima. Organised by the Department of Education, Teachers Federation, and Japan Club of Sydney, this poignant event featured survivor Keiko Ogura, who shared her powerful testimony about the impact of nuclear weapons and the need for peace.
Thank you to students Bagus, Alya, Ryan, Sienna, Amy, Aylin, and Mr. Nguyen for organising and participating in this significant occasion.
External Validation Success
A heartfelt thank you to all staff, especially Mr. David, Mr. Mifsud, and Ms. Tickle, for your leadership and support throughout our external validation. We proudly showcased our school’s achievements and reflected on data demonstrating growth and improvement across all areas, notably in Year 7 and 9 NAPLAN Reading and numeracy. Well done to everyone for your continued commitment to excellence.
Raising the New Flags
We were honoured to witness our senior executive representatives, staff, and students raise the flags for the first time on our new flagpoles. A special moment was shared with Aunty Karen Brown OAM, an esteemed alumnus and the school’s first Aboriginal student alumna, delivered a heartfelt Welcome to Country as our student leaders proudly raised the flags. We sincerely thank Ms. Mougios for facilitating the flagpole installation and our local MP, the Hon Matt Thistlethwaite, for generously donating the flags.
Media and Communications
Many thanks to Ms. Patten for her excellent work on community flyersand social media, and to Ms. D Melia for her ongoing efforts in promoting our school through social media channels while Ms. Rosewarne was on leave.
Wishing everyone a restful break. I look forward to welcoming all staff and students back next term for another successful and inspiring chapter.