Department News

Languages Department

This Term, Year 8 Italian classes have been learning about Italian Festivals. Class Italian 8 (4) researched various festivals and presented them to their classmates.

Please enjoy their lovely work!

Janine Christofides

Head of Languages

Music Department

Term 3 is the big HSC term in the Music Department. Congratulations to all the Year 12 music students across Music 1, Music 2 and Music Extension who completed their HSC practical examinations last week. These exams make up the large majority of their marks for Music. All the students performed beautifully! 

A huge congratulations to Marianne Phamnyugen who has been selected to perform one of her HSC pieces in the Sydney Catholic Schools HSC Performing Arts Showcase! 

As we farewell our Year 12 Music family, I would like to thank our Music leaders Sarah Birrell and Celine Chia as well as our Arts and Culture Captain Marian Ibarra for their help over the last year. They will be missed by the Music staff and students across all the ensembles for their enthusiasm and dedication.

It is my pleasure to announce our new Music leaders for 2024:

Arts and Culture Captain- Maika Joss

Choir Leader- Molly Menzel

Orchestra Leader- Amy Huang

Junior Orchestra Leader- Alicia Gunawan

Last Friday our Gregorian Chant group led by our wonderful teacher Ronan Reilly, sung the morning prayer at the Principal and Pastors Day at Homebush. It was a wonderful experience for the girls to perform and show the principals how well the students in the Jubilate Deo program are progressing. The students will now continue to work towards the Mass in Week 7 next term at St Mary’s Cathedral which will be sung entirely in chant. It is going to be a wonderful occasion with beautiful music.

Jacqueline Hanniffy 

Head of Music      

PDHPE Department

Years 7-10 PDHPE

Throughout Term 3, PDHPE students across Years 7-10 have been working through a diverse range of health topics in their theory lessons and they have completed a series of dance assessments in the practical component of the subject. 

Year 7

Year 7 have been studying a unit called ‘Be Smart, Don’t Start’, which examines strategies to make safe and informed decisions in relation to drug use. Here the students assess the impact of drug use and predict how this might affect the future health, safety and wellbeing of individuals and communities. Year 7 also completed an assessment task reporting on the dangers and consequences of Vaping. In the practical component of this subject, students have learned a variety of bush dances, culminating in a group dance assessment where students added their own creativity and flair to the original routines. This has been a great way to get moving and keep fit whilst having fun!

Year 8

In the unit  ‘Are You Okay?’  Year 8 has been exploring  groups to which they have a sense of belonging and how these help them to feel supported and connected. They have  discussed strategies for coping with loss and grief and ways of giving support to others. Students have also studied the impact of stress on mental health and how they can access and assess resources and services that support young people’s mental health. For assessment, Year 8 created infographics on how to cope with anxiety and researched how resilience is an important characteristic to develop in life. In the practical component of PDHPE, Year 8 students have been learning high intensity aerobic dance moves to increase their fitness, building up to their group practical assessment, where students choreographed their own aerobics routine. Year 8 produced a range of energetic and vigorous routines. Well done Year 8!

Year 9

Year 9 students have been studying the unit ‘Women’s Health Issues’. In this unit, students explored the various health issues affecting women and their impact on wellbeing, such as the sexualisation of women in the media, body image, women in sport, violence against women, breast and cervical cancer and disordered eating. Students also analysed how norms, stereotypes and expectations influence their health. This unit corresponded with their Term 3 assessment task, in which Year 9 investigated the issue of cervical cancer. Here our girls designed their own websites to inform young women about the risk factors, and signs and symptoms of cervical cancer and preventative measures that are needed. In the practical component of the course, Year 9 were introduced to various dances that reflected a theme or culture. Students were given the opportunity to express their creativity in the composition and performance of a group choreographed dance routine that brings together elements of their chosen theme. Year 9 impressed us with their outstanding routines, and we are proud of their preparation and dedication in the lead up to to this assessment. 

Year 10

Year 10 students completed a unit called ‘Talking Sexual Health’ where they developed their self-management and interpersonal skills to enable them to lead healthy, safe lifestyles.

Their Term 3 assessment task focused on Sexting. Here Year 10 researched the damaging impact this could have on an individual and investigated support services available to victims of sexting. In the practical component of the subject, Year 10 were taught how to Jazz Dance by our qualified dance choreographer Jessica Powell Antonini, who led our Representative Dance teams to victory in the Sydney Catholic School Dance Eisteddfod. With expert instruction, the students were then able to refine and apply their movement skills to compose and perform their own innovative sequences. For their practical assessment task they expressed their creativity in the composition and performance of a group choreographed Jazz Dance routine. Year 10 performed some fantastic routines! We are very proud of their efforts.

Years 9 and 10 PASS Elective Courses

Our Years 9 PASS elective classes have received specialist tutoring in the art of Kickboxing from instructor Chris Ingrati from Jai Martial Arts Maroubra. Throughout term 3, PASS students experienced a Muay Thai curriculum that aligns with the PASS syllabus. Muay Thai focuses on close, medium and longrange kickboxing skills incorporating the use of hands, elbows, knees and feet.  Our 9 PASS elective students have learned new skills and movement sequences, including basic 5 punch combinations, defending straight and hook punches, roundhouse kicks and moving whilst performing punch combinations. In their Kickboxing practical assessment, students were assessed individually and worked hard to demonstrate actions and strategies that contribute to active participation and a skillful performance. 

This term, Our 10 PASS elective classes were the pioneers of a new practical assessment on Acrobatics. The students dazzled us with their handstands, cartwheels, rolls, partner holds, and acrobatic sequences. Additionally, the 10 PASS students were presented with an opportunity to embark on a novel journey through a short unit on Circus skills. The introduction of this being a captivating addition to the PASS course. 

Year 11

Our Year 11 PDHPE and CAFS  students studied hard this semester for their yearly examinations. We wish them all the best as they receive their results in the coming weeks. 

Year 12 

Our Year 12 students have been steadily revising in preparation for their HSC. We know they are very well prepared and wish them all the very best as they sit these final examinations. 

Vanessa Culhane

Head of PDHPE