Department News

The Language Department

A quote:

 “A different language is a different vision of life.”

                                                            - Federico Fellini

Our Languages students have started the year very well. Our Year 8 Italian students are experiencing the start of their language journey by learning about Italy as well as how to greet others in Italian. They have just begun working on a research task about Italian cities. Fantastico!

Our Year 9 Italian Elective classes have started learning about personal descriptions and how to describe themselves and others. This has involved learning lots of new adjectives including colours. Students have been grappling with adjective and noun agreements and are doing exceedingly well. 

Our Year 10 Italian students have been learning about Italian cuisine and how to communicate when ordering food and drinks, which is both challenging and rewarding. Year 11 have started the year exceedingly well exploring their personal world. Their positive approach and diligence to their studies is commendable.

Year 12  Italian Continuers students are currently exploring the topic of future plans, Youth and Social Issues and learning to discuss their ideas about life after school and the everyday issues confronting adolescents.

At the end of last year, one of our Year 11 students, Giorgia Aiello, was fortunate enough to experience a cultural exchange to Italy. She has kindly agreed to share some of her experiences with us here:    

Hi! I'm Giorgia from Year 11 and I recently came back from a 6 month school exchange in Italy. I stayed in a beautiful little town in Tuscany, Italy, I attended a local Co-ed high school, and learnt so much about myself and the world around us. The subjects I studied while I was there were Maths, Science, English, Italian, PE, History & Geography, Physics, Art and Technology Studies. 

 

Overall my experience was amazing!! I met the kindest, smart and funny people in my class. They were so interested in learning about Australia and how Australian schools work, they genuinely thought we ride kangaroos to school every day! 

 

School was very different compared to Brigidine/Australian schools.  School started at 8:10 am, and finished at 12:00 pm, which meant we went home for lunch and had the afternoon free! Instead of having lockers, we carried our bags to each class and there was no uniform! Here at Brigidine we use our computers for almost every subject, in Italy we only used textbooks, and our notebooks - no technology!  Lastly, the class that you get put in, in year 7, is the class you spend every period, every subject and the whole 5 years of schooling with, so very different! 

 

In my free time I enjoyed shopping with my friends, watching the sunset and spending time with my host family!  I enjoyed my time while on exchange and will be returning to visit my school friends. Thanks for reading!!

 

Giorgia Aiello Year 11 Brigid

We are very pleased to see the enthusiasm with which our language students engage in their language acquisition experience. From writing and performing role-plays to writing extended texts to learning grammar points to using Education Perfect to improve on their vocabulary, students are constantly aiming to learn and improve their skills. In an ever-changing world, it is satisfying to know that our students are gaining many valuable skills that they can take with them when they finish school.

 Remember, there are countless well-researched facts and commonly held ideas about the many and varied benefits of learning a second language, but here are just SIX to consider: When you learn a second language…….

1. You can truly experience new cultures

2. You have more of an opportunity to get to know more people

3. You learn to communicate better in general

4. You are exposed to new ideas

5. You can boost your confidence

6. You can boost your academic achievement

Janine Christofides

Head of Languages

The Music Department

The music department is back in full swing this year. All ensembles have started rehearsals preparing for a few upcoming events:

On 5th March, our acapella group will be performing at the Neuroscience Staff Meeting at the Prince of Wales Hospital

On 11th March, Year 11 and 12 Recital Night, 6:00 pm Synan Hall

On 12th March, Open Day - Lateens, Handbells, and our String Quartet will be entertaining our future families as they move through DC5.

Our Choir and College Orchestra are preparing a Pitch Perfect inspired Concert for the end of Term 2 and our Open Orchestra and Small Ensembles are rehearsing for the Sydney Catholic Schools Eisteddfod. 

We would love our new Year 7 students to get involved in the Music department ensembles.

Choir rehearses Tuesday, 7:30 am in DC5

Open Orchestra rehearses Friday, 7:45 am in Synan Hall

Small Ensembles rehearse on Tuesday at lunch, speak to Ms Hanniffy if you are interested.

Everyone is welcome and no audition is necessary for the choir and Open Orchestra. 

Any student who is interested in having private music lessons at school should return the form in the music information booklet to me as soon as possible. It is also possible to hire some instruments from the school. 

The SCS Amadeus program has started in both Years 7 and 8 this year. Brigidine is a string school for Amadeus and the students have chosen to learn either Violin, Viola or Cello. Lessons are now underway with our tutors. Year 7 need to remember to bring their instrument to school on Mondays in Week A and Year 8 on Monday Week B. Instruments must be taken home for practice on the Thursday or Friday of that same week. 

On Monday, 24th February, the Years 10, 11 and 12 Elective Music classes attended Encore to watch the top HSC Music performances and compositions from the class of 2024. It was a very impressive concert with a wide variety of instruments on show, including the Mongolian Morin Khurr which was a highlight. Our girls were very inspired by the talent they saw and gave the performers a standing ovation at the end.

Speaking of the class of 2024, we are very proud of our Year 12 Music 1 students who received great results! Special mention to Amy Huang who was nominated for Encore after a magnificent violin performance. Congratulations to all our students!

Jacqui Hanniffy

Head of Music

The PD/H/PE Department

The PD/H/PE department is excited for the year ahead in PD/H/PE. We are fortunate to have our dedicated and experienced PD/H/PE staff members who bring enthusiasm and expertise to delivering engaging and stimulating lessons for our students, including Mrs Kate Elder, Mrs Kathy Mazzeri, Mrs Jen Kehati, Mrs Jodie Gordon,  Ms Maeve Hurley, Ms Nikki McWhirter and Ms Kathy Phetrasi. 

Celebrating the achievements of our 2024 HSC students is a proud moment for our PD/H/PE department. Their outstanding success is a testament to the dedication and perseverance of our Year 12 students, supported by the unwavering commitment of our PD/H/PE staff, who have guided them since Year 7.

Our HSC PD/H/PE and Community and Family Studies classes once again performed well above the state average, and we congratulate our students on their exceptional results.

In PD/H/PE, out of a cohort of 29 students, 15 achieved a Band 6 and 11 received a Band 5, with an impressive 88% attaining a Band 5 or 6.

In Community and Family Studies, out of a cohort of 19 students, 68% of students achieved a Band 5 or 6, with seven earning a Band 6 and six receiving a Band 5. 

We are incredibly proud of these outstanding results. Well done girls!

• PD/H/PE - 12.95% above state average

• Community and Family Studies - 9.59% above state average.

Years 7-10 PDHPE

Term One is off to a dynamic start for our Years 7-10 PD/H/PE students, as they explore a range of health topics and engage in various skill assessments during their practical lessons.

In the unit Managing Safety and Risk, Year 7 students have been exploring both positive and negative risk-taking behaviours while learning fundamental first aid principles such as DRSABCD. They will also be developing strategies to keep themselves safe in various water and road safety environments.

Meanwhile, in the practical component of the course, we are excited to have reintroduced Lifesaving back into our Year 7 and 8 PE program! Using the excellent facilities at Gunyama Park Aquatic Centre, students have been developing key survival skills, including survival strokes, swimming while wearing clothing, confidently using a personal flotation device, and performing the correct method for a throw rescue.

It has been wonderful to see the students grow in confidence and skill in each PE lesson. 

Under the theme Positive Choices, Year 8 students explore the topic of drug use, with a particular focus on alcohol and cannabis. They develop essential skills in help-seeking and learn protective strategies to support informed decision-making in relation to drug use.

This year, Year 8 students also have the opportunity to participate in the Lifesaving program. Through the Royal Lifesaving Bronze Star Program, they will develop key water safety and rescue skills, including various water entries, adopting a defensive position, and conducting underwater searches. Through practical water rescue scenarios, students will learn and apply correct techniques for rope rescues, tow rescues, and accompanied rescues. Additionally, they will enhance their survival skills, including survival strokes, swimming while wearing clothing, and confidently using a personal flotation device. 

Year 9 students are currently exploring the unit It Couldn’t Happen to Me, where they examine the impact of drug use on individuals and the wider community. They also investigate the consequences of illicit drug use and develop strategies to protect themselves and others in risky situations.

Meanwhile, out at Paine Reserve, students are actively engaged in T-Ball and Softball lessons, refining their throwing, catching, and batting skills as part of their practical assessment.

As part of the Risky Business unit, Year 10 students are developing personal safety strategies for a range of challenging situations. Topics include sexting, party safety, drink spiking, and road safety concerns such as speeding and driver fatigue.

In PE lessons, students are actively engaged in Soccer, honing their skills in passing, trapping, dribbling, and shooting while deepening their understanding of the game's rules and strategies. They are currently preparing for their practical assessment, where they will demonstrate their skill development and gameplay awareness.

Our main goal with the practical programs is to emphasize the importance of movement skills for lifelong fitness and to foster strategies that encourage sustained physical activity habits. It's clear that students are fully engaged and enjoying the PDHPE programs offered in Term One.

In the theory component of the Stage 5 100-Hour elective course and the 9 PASS 200-Hour courses, students are learning about the different body systems and the role of energy for physical activity. Emphasis is placed on understanding the skeletal, muscular, circulatory and respiratory systems. In the practical component, the girls are preparing for their first assessment task where they will be demonstrating their coaching skills as they deliver and present a team sport coaching session to their peers. 

Meanwhile, in 10 PASS, students are immersing themselves in the study of physical fitness and its components. Through practical participation, students have been applying physical activity concepts to improve their fitness levels and that of their peers.  As they approach their forthcoming assessment task, our Year 10 PASS students will put their knowledge of fitness components into action by designing and leading a fitness session for the class. We wish them the best of luck with their practical presentations.  

Our primary focus in PDHPE is to make physical education classes engaging, inclusive, and enjoyable for all students. By integrating this approach into both assessments and PE lessons, we aim to set students up for a lifetime of physical activity and healthy living. We’re excited to continue this focus in our lessons throughout 2025.

Vanessa Culhane 

Head of PD/H/PE

The Drama Department

The Drama department is excited to share our students; successes in the Performing Arts as Lucy Molloy (Year 9), Freya Lenartic (Year 10) and Sofia Choromanski (Year 11) have been successful in their audition for the 2025 Artist’s Evolution Drama ‘Voice in Virtue’ - a Sydney Catholic Schools partnership with NIDA!

Well done to all our students who auditioned, and congratulations again to Lucy, Freya and Sofia! We cannot wait to see you perform next Term! 

Sydney Catholic Schools Eisteddfod Updates We have more performance opportunities coming up with our SCS Eisteddfod dates throughout Term 2 and the July holidays. We have our Drama Club groups rehearsing to get competition ready, and several students who are signing up for monologue and duologue opportunities. All parents and students are encouraged to view the SCS 2025 Eisteddfod handbook for all Performing Arts opportunities inclusive of monologue, duologue, speech, poetry and more. Solo performers are registered by parents, not teachers and due by March 28th. 

Please contact tayla.whiteman001@syd.catholic.edu.au if you have any questions. 

Regards,

Tayla Whiteman 

Teacher-In-Charge Drama