Our Class of 2031!

A sincere thank you to Mr Kelly and Miss Tran for their outstanding presentation to our incoming Year 7 students of 2026. Their enthusiasm and expertise shone through as they covered a wide range of topics, including friendships, the role of a year adviser, Cecil culture, camp, phone/uniform policies, timetables, our exciting rebuild and facilities, subjects, teachers, and the various support systems available throughout our school.

Their passion for education and commitment to our students made a lasting impression, setting the stage for a positive transition into high school. We are fortunate to have such dedicated young teachers leading the way and are looking forward to seeing the class of 2031 at our Orientation Day on Tuesday 2 December 2024.

Inclusive Education at its best! Our Amazing Yellow Class

Thank you to our dedicated Visual Arts teacher, Mrs Connie Mandalakoudis, and our wonderful School Learning Support Officers for supporting our students to explore their creative side in their art class last week.

I am looking forward to more visits! What a fantastic class of motivated and eager students.

Year 9 NAPLAN

Thank you to our Year 9 students that attended the NAPLAN tests this term. Each year, students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9 across Australia take part in the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN). This nationwide assessment helps measure key skills in reading, writing, spelling, grammar, and numeracy, providing valuable insights into students' progress and learning needs.

NAPLAN is not about passing or failing - rather, it’s a way to understand how students are developing these essential skills. The results help teachers and schools identify strengths and areas for improvement, ensuring that every child receives the support they need to thrive in their learning journey. NAPLAN results, including the national report, are typically released in August.

Well, done to our Year 9 students on trying their best across all areas!

Every Step Counts program for Year 9 and Year 10 students

The Every Step Counts program, facilitated by Dale Palmer across schools in NSW, is an educational initiative that addresses critical social issues affecting teenagers.

The program focuses on topics such as domestic violence, consent, pornography, and social media, aiming to equip students with the knowledge and skills to navigate these challenges responsibly. Through open discussions, workshops, and interactive activities, Every Step Counts fosters awareness, promotes respectful relationships, and encourages informed decision-making among young people. We look forward to Dale returning to our school next term to work with our year 7 and 8 students.

Celebrating International Women's Day at Cecil - a call to Accelerate Action

This year, I was thrilled to join our school community in celebrating International Women’s Day (IWD 2025), a day that serves as a powerful reminder of both the progress we’ve made and the work still ahead in the fight for gender equality.

The theme for IWD 2025, Accelerate Action, encourages us all to continue breaking down barriers and working toward gender parity a message that resonates deeply with us at Cecil, reinforcing important values.

Our celebrations on Tuesday 11 March, were designed to inspire, empower, and educate. We began with a Welcome to Country by Maddison Eades, honouring the traditional custodians of the land. Our students, including Mia Arcaba, Maya Culic, and Angela Tran, shared personal insights and perspectives on gender equality.

We were also fortunate to hear from Adriana Assey, a Project Engineer and Co-Chair at Engineers Australia Sydney, who provided invaluable insight into the field of engineering and the ways women can thrive in traditionally male-dominated industries.

Our dancers then took the stage, celebrating the strength and resilience of women everywhere. Thank you to Mrs McRae Taylor and Miss Sentic for their work to inspire our dancers.

Aunty Carol, our Aboriginal Community Liaison Officer, delivered a powerful speech about the spirit of women and the amazing world that lies ahead.

Our celebration continued with a slideshow prepared by members of our Student Representative Council with a short video representing gender equality, followed by a panel discussion led by Eliana Ng featuring inspiring teachers and students, Miss Sahid, Mirela Trifunovic, Brooklyn Touche, and Isabella Capasso.

I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all staff and students involved and our dedicated Hospitality teachers Miss Marando, Mr Colussi and their students, for their amazing service and the delicious food they provided. Your efforts made the event even more special!

As our School Captain Rewana Shiltagh beautifully said,

"International Women’s Day is not just about celebration;

it’s about reflection and action.

While we celebrate the progress we’ve made, we must also acknowledge the work that lies ahead.

Each of us has a role to play in continuing the fight for gender equality".

Thank you to everyone who supports this important cause - your efforts inspire us all.

Christine Lord

Deputy Principal - Year 9

In our community