School of Entrepreneurs
From the SOE Head of School
As we reflect on what was the joyous occasion of Easter, one of the most significant events in the Catholic liturgical calendar, I extend my heartfelt wishes to our St. Luke's community. May this season of renewal and rebirth bring you abundant blessings, peace, and hope. As we reflect on the opportunity we had to gather with loved ones to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, let us be reminded of the profound love and sacrifice that epitomises the essence of this sacred holiday. May the spirit of Easter ignite within us a renewed sense of faith, gratitude, and unity, guiding us towards a brighter future filled with compassion and joy.
Following our College Open evening, I wish to extend my sincerest gratitude and congratulations to students for the incredible display of teamwork, passion, and dedication showcased during our recent Open Evening. It is with immense pride that we celebrate our collective efforts in highlighting what makes St. Luke's so distinctly different from other schools. The unwavering commitment of our community that demonstrated excellence, innovative teaching methods, and a nurturing environment were palpable as we welcomed prospective students and families into our community. Together, we demonstrated the true essence of St. Luke's spirit, leaving a lasting impression on all who visited. Let us continue to embrace our unique qualities and continue to strive for greatness as we shape the future of our school. Thank you for your outstanding contributions and unwavering support. I am truly proud to be a part of this growing and inspirational community.
As we approach a well deserved holiday period, I wish to express the importance of looking after yourself during this time and the opportunity you have to recharge, reinvigorate and re-energise in order to tackle the term ahead.
Ms Jacqui Genovese - Head of School, School of Entrepreneurs
A Message from the SOE Assistant Principal
As your sons and daughters get closer to the end of term, they have been preparing for or completing some major projects and assessments. This time of year often results in some late nights and early mornings that may have a big impact on how your children are able to manage themselves in their interactions with you, with each other and while at school. We encourage all families to constantly engage in conversations with their children about the importance of good quality sleep, for brain development, for memory transfer, for a general sense of wellbeing. With all the natural developments of your children, not getting enough sleep can be really significant.
Australian Institute of Family Studies Director, Anne Hollonds said the study found links between shorter sleep times and higher rates of anxiety and depression.
“The group most at risk of not getting enough sleep on school nights is older adolescents who may need to be taught how to improve their sleep, by reducing caffeine intake, limiting internet use before bedtime, keeping a consistent sleep routine and getting plenty of physical activity,”
It may seem like a common message that comes from our wellbeing team, but it is sometimes the simple things that can make the biggest difference.
Again, I encourage our School of Entrepreneurs students to sign up for our many extra curricular activities throughout the year. Term 2 will host a series of sporting, artistic, academic and special interest events so students should be regularly checking their emails, compass announcements and the grape vine to find out what is coming up!
And finally, I would like to encourage every family to continue the conversation about our College motto, ‘Live the Good News!’ which we encourage all students to do through healthy and respectful interactions with all members of the St Luke’s College community. In particular, through engaging with our 3 R's - Respect for Self, Respect for Others and Respect for our Environment.
Many thanks for your support of our community and God bless for the break ahead.
Mr Francis O’Callaghan - Assistant Principal, School of Entrepreneurs
Blacktown City Council Youth Ambassador Awards
On the evening of Friday 15th March, Mrs Ashley Pepper and I had the pleasure of supporting Shama Shanemougham of Year 11 who was nominated as a recipient of the final seven candidates who were all in the running for the prestigious title of 2024 Blacktown City Council Youth Ambassador.
During the transition from the previous ambassadors in 2023, seven students emerged from the initial interview process to take over the roles. Following this, there was an extensive selection process for the shortlist of nominations which was to result in the appointment of new ambassadors, with Mayor Cr Tony Bleasdale OAM and the Deputy Mayor, Cr Chris Quilkey overseeing the procedure. Among a pool of 120 applicants, seven nominations were selected, indicating a promising future for the involvement of 12 to 24-year-olds in shaping the city. These students came from Penrith selective High School, Norwest Christian College, Plumpton High School, Blacktown Girls High School and of course St Luke’s Catholic College. With a population of 70,000 within Blacktown LGA, there's a clear emphasis on moulding future city leaders and fostering positive change for the youth. These ambassadors are tasked with attending receptions, conferences, and establishing connections with young leaders globally while also addressing youth affairs locally. The longstanding 40-year history of the Youth Ambassador Program, which celebrated its milestone in 2023, highlights its significance in contributing to communities in various ways. In the speeches of these potential ambassadors, candidates proposed programs aimed at engaging youth across the city, such as mental health awareness initiatives like a "Mind Matters Festival," community-building programs like "Youth Together," and platforms for idea-sharing like the "Ignite Blacktown Initiative." Other proposed programs include establishing youth forums to address mental health issues, entrepreneurship programs to nurture innovation, and initiatives like a "Kids Council," where students shadow councillors in official meetings to address youth-centred issues. This comprehensive approach, spanning social media engagement, local events, and educational institutions, underscores a commitment to youth development and leadership within Blacktown.
Shama's presentation during her speech showcased an outstanding initiative that epitomised her commitment to youth empowerment and community engagement. Her proposal for the establishment of the "Blacktown Youth Committee" stood out for its innovative approach and potential to make a tangible difference in the lives of young people across the city. Through this initiative, Shama demonstrated excellence by emphasising the importance of increasing youth engagement, fostering a sense of belonging, and promoting active volunteering within the community. Her vision for the committee to address local issues, leverage social media outreach, and collaborate with schools underscored her strategic thinking and understanding of effective youth advocacy. Shama's articulate delivery and passionate advocacy for the program highlighted her leadership qualities and dedication to creating meaningful opportunities for her peers. Overall, her initiative and the excellence demonstrated in her speech marked her as a standout candidate for the role of Youth Ambassador for Blacktown City Council. Whilst Shama was not awarded the BCC 2024 Youth Ambassador, she indeed represented herself, her family and our College community in an outstanding manner and we were so incredibly proud of her approach to this program. Well done Shama! You were a standout and should be extremely proud of yourself because we sure were.
Ms Jacqui Genovese -Head of School: 9-12
AROUND THE SOE GROUNDS
Science
Year 11 Earth and Environmental Science
Year 11 Earth and Environmental Science (EES) students visited the WB Clarke Geoscience Centre at Londonderry in week 7. The ‘NSW Core Library’ is a working geoscience complex, used by geologists, petrologists and researchers who study the 1.13 million metres of drillcore and the State’s fossil collection on site. Our students undertook a tour of the facility and participated in learning activities including modelling geosurveying, analysing drillcore and understanding how geologists use index fossils to help find important minerals for mining.
Year 12 Biology
Year 12 Biology students undertook a field trip to UNSW Museum of Human Disease as part of their Depth Study into infectious and non-infectious disease. After participating in a lecture on epidemiology, the class then spent time within the museum undertaking their own research into different non-infectious diseases.
Did you know that Soil is the most biodiverse habitat on the planet? Our Stage 6 EES students do! We opened our Depth Study for Module 1 on Australian Soils by modelling soil profiles. Our edible creations showed the different horizons and used different types of foods to represent the characteristic layers!
Music
This term, students have had exposure to a range of musical experiences. This has included the visit to the Sydney Opera House for Encore 2024. Encore is a showcase organised by the NSW Education Standards Authority to display some of the best performances from the HSC music examinations in the 2023 calendar year. Students enjoyed the experience and the performances allowed them to gain an understanding of performance and composition expectations set by NSW Education Standards Authority for HSC Music 1.
In week 9, students from the St Luke’s Catholic College music team performed at the Elara Village Shopping Centre. The show provided a great opportunity for students to experience performing live music within the local community and grow their network to gain future opportunities. The performances also provided the team with a chance to grow their musical set lists and contribute to the beginning of performing arts culture at St Luke’s Catholic College. We would like to thank the community who came to support the students, and the staff who assisted with setting up and packing up. We cannot wait for the next performance opportunity at Elara Village. Watch this space!
Visual Arts
Open Night
In Week 6 Year 11 Visual Art students attended St Luke’s Open Night where they shared their work and passion for visual arts with our visitors. Students had created digital appropriations using either photoshop or photopea platforms that were on display.
Art Express Excursion
In Week 9, Year 11 & 12 students attended Art Express exhibition at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, participating in the ‘Process and Practices’ workshop, followed by a self-guided tour. Students (and teachers!) felt extremely inspired by the calibre of the HSC Body of Works on display, and the insights of former Visual Arts students about
their HSC journey. We cannot wait to see what our students have in store for us this year!
HSIE
Year 9 Law, Business, Money
In the Year 9 Elective Course, Law, Business and Money we have been focusing on the area of Law, and more specifically how NSW Court Trials operate. To enhance this experience, We have created mock trials for the students to take part in. Mock trials offer numerous benefits for our students including;
- Skill Development: Participants can enhance critical skills such as public speaking and critical thinking.
- Legal Understanding: Participants gain a deeper understanding of the legal system, court procedures, and the roles of different people within courtrooms.
- Teamwork: Mock trials often involve teamwork, requiring participants to collaborate with others, delegate tasks, and develop strategies together.
- Confidence: Engaging in a mock trial can boost confidence, especially in public speaking and presenting arguments.
- Real-World Application: Participants apply legal principles to real-life scenarios, making the learning experience more practical and engaging.
This process has been a great way to stretch and challenge our Year 9 elective students, and we congratulate them on their efforts!
Mrs Pepper and Mr Jenkins
Year 10 History: Sydney Jewish Museum Excursion
Students in Year 10 were given the opportunity to visit the Sydney Jewish Museum this term as part of their study of historical genocides. It was a great day where students attended a seminar, listened to the oral testimony of 96 year old Holocaust survivor Jack Meister, and explored the exhibitions. Here is the reflections of one of our fabulous Teal students, Trishala Sharma:
“The Jewish museum was not just informative, it was emotional. We received the once in a lifetime opportunity to meet Jack Meister who was a Holocaust survivor. Hearing his story and his resilience in the face of adverse events genuinely inspired me. We also had a tour guide who helped us explore the historical artefacts, which contributed to making this an experience I would never forget”.
Miss Wick and the 10 HSIE Team
Year 12 Modern History: HSC Core Study Intensive Seminar
Students from 12 Modern History attended the HSC Core Study Intensive Seminar Day at the Sydney Jewish Museum on Monday the 18th of March. The day was filled to the brim with source analysis, interactive content based lectures, and other educational activities designed to assist students in successfully completing the Power and Authority Core Study.
Miss Wick and the Modern Men, Ajay Subhag, Joshua Pinga, and Samarvir Brar
TAS
Year 9 Make, Bake Decorate
Our fabulous Year 9 bakers from their Elective Course, Make, Bake Decorate, have been working really hard to learn new skills both in the kitchen and behind the lens, as let's face it, it’s all about capturing the perfect Insta photo!
Throughout the term so far they have worked collaboratively in various groups to produce delicious dishes including pancakes, red velvet cookies, raspberry palmiers, chocolate coated strawberries, shortbread biscuits for IWD and brekky burgers.
They have adapted to new challenges (Pillar C3), managed their time (Pillar M3) and communicated effectively (Pillar R4) when making and constructing each recipe. I commend all of our students on their efforts and cannot wait to see how their skills progress as our program continues - it is only the beginning!
Life Design SOL/E
Students from Years 8, 9 & 10 volunteered their time for St Luke’s Open Day event at the Life Design Exhibit. Jaiden expertly discussed a plethora of Life Design FAQ’s, and not so commonly asked questions, and connected these with his experiences in Life Design so far. A ‘Create my SIM Profile’ activity was led by Tara who assisted people to identify their own strengths, interests and motivators. These profiles help students begin their journey to unlock their future pathway possibilities.
An exciting example of how students integrate and display their identified passions, through their Year 7 SIM showcase presentation was shown by Taylor, who discussed the amazing “Choose Your Own Adventure” hyperlinked digital book he authored. Sanvi, Salma, Natasha walked our guests through some fantastic Year 8 Capstone projects, where students learn to synthesise their previously created SIM with their newly established ‘Life Purpose’, giving meaning and increased sense of direction to their future endeavours. Lastly, our Year 9 2023 Pitchfest winners, Pippa and Marcus, showcased their incredible vegetable-based and allergy-safe fragrance line, which they developed as a business solution to solve the issue of chemical-laden spray perfumes aggravating asthma. They discussed how they worked through ideation, prototyping and pitching, and offered samples of their final product to our school guests.
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