School of Entrepreneurs
From the SOE Head of School
Greetings all,
I hope everyone in the community is doing well.
Term 3 has been a productive term for all students in the School of Entrepreneurs. Stage 5 and 6 have embarked on various learning opportunities both in the classroom and beyond. A highlight for me this term is witnessing the dynamic of each year group grow where each cohort has really developed a supportive culture. As students face challenges like exams and the transition into adulthood, seeing them lift each other up, share resources and celebrate one another’s successes is a testament to their maturity and compassion. A supportive culture fosters resilience, as students learn that they are not alone in their journey. It also creates an environment where everyone feels valued and encouraged to do their best.
On the news front, we are delighted to share the remarkable achievement of three Year 9 students Anaya, Kendra and Moriah who recently contributed to their team’s Gold Medal victory in the Under-15 Girls Volleyball Competition held in Sydney. The competition, which spanned five months and included 15 highly competitive rounds, brought together some of the most talented young athletes from across the region. Throughout the tournament, Anaya, Kendra and Moriah consistently demonstrated exceptional teamwork, resilience and sportsmanship making a significant impact on their team’s overall success. This outstanding accomplishment is a source of great pride for our school community and reflects the values of perseverance, discipline, and excellence that we encourage in all our students. Congratulations ladies!
As the end of the term approaches, we farewell our Year 12 students: Class of 2025. Next week we celebrate the culmination of 13 years of schooling for them and wish them all the best as they enter a new chapter of their life story. There is just one more hurdle for them to overcome - the HSC examinations. With Year 12, there are also a number of Year 11 students who are completing an HSC exam in October. During this stressful time, there are a number of things that together we can do to support and encourage them.
Supporting Your HSC Student During Final Exams
With HSC exams just around the corner, many HSC students will be feeling a mix of pressure and anticipation. While this can be a stressful time, parents can play a crucial role in supporting their son/daughter.
Avoiding Multitasking when studying
In reality, multitasking divides attention and decreases performance. Encourage your son/daughter to focus on one subject or task at a time in a quiet, calm, distraction free environment to maximise concentration. Being mindful whilst studying will pay off and prevent the brain fog accumulated from a multitasking approach.
The Importance of Sleep for MemorySleep plays a pivotal role in reinforcing what students learn. During sleep, the brain strengthens new memory pathways—a process known as "memory consolidation."
Sleep deprivation disrupts this process, making it harder to retain and recall information.
Unfortunately, many Australian teens aren't getting enough sleep, often due to late-night screen use, socialising or extended study hours. In the lead-up to exams, it might seem tempting to sacrifice sleep to cram in extra study, but this could harm performance on the day of the exam. Instead, try to establish a consistent sleep routine and remind your teen of the direct link between good sleep and better memory and focus.
Boosting Study Quality with Active LearningEffective study isn't just about the amount of time spent with classroom material, it’s also about how students engage with the material. Many students rely on passive study strategies like re-reading or highlighting notes. While these methods are easy, they don’t actively engage the brain in recalling and organising information.
Encourage your teen to use active strategies such as:
- Retrieval practice: Testing themselves by answering practice questions or explaining concepts out loud.
- Spaced learning: Instead of cramming the night before, spreading study sessions over days or weeks to allow the brain to revisit and strengthen knowledge.
These techniques help move information from short-term to long-term memory, leading to better retention and understanding.
Managing Stress for Better PerformanceA moderate level of stress can motivate students to study, but too much stress can overwhelm them, making it harder to concentrate and recall information. Research shows that up to one in four Australian teens experience high levels of stress and anxiety around final exams.
Parents can help by keeping things in perspective. It's important not to put undue pressure on students about exam results. While the HSC and ATAR are significant, there are many pathways to university or future careers beyond exam scores. Many universities offer early entry programs or alternative admission methods, so even if things don’t go as planned, options remain.
Encourage your teen to take breaks, connect with friends and family and maintain a balanced lifestyle. Showing calmness and offering reassurance can also help them stay grounded during this challenging time.
By focusing on effective study strategies, ensuring sufficient sleep and managing stress in a healthy way, parents can help their son/daughter feel more confident and prepared as they approach their HSC exams. Success isn’t just about the result, as an influencing factor that contributes to this success is the support we offer to enhance their well-being along the way.
I wish to convey my best wishes to our HSC students embarking on their upcoming HSC exams and wish them all good luck. I also encourage all our other students in the School of Entrepreneurs to take the opportunity to rest and recover from a busy term in the upcoming holidays and I look forward to seeing everyone return in Week 1, Term 4.
Ms Jacqui Genovese - Head of School, School of Entrepreneurs
From the SOE Assistant Principal
A few weeks ago, St Luke’s invited families to a workshop on Resilience and self esteem. It was a really insightful evening with families asking questions about how to best support their children in various ways.
One of the foundation pieces of advice that the St Luke’s team shared was the idea that emotion that can be linked to anxiety is like a fire alarm, it is an alert to a problem, but not always the actual problem. We discussed a range of scenarios where listening to the emotion was crucial, but too much focus on the emotion could result in calming a person, but not solving the problem that created the emotion in the first place.
We shared three steps in the process when you notice (the noticing is really important here) that your child is stressed, showing concerning emotion or shutting down:
We really encourage all families to try this conversation process out to see if it helps when dealing with some high stress situations at home.
If it helps, let others know of your success and perhaps we can help support more of our young people in difficult situations.
Many thanks,
Mr Francis O’Callaghan - Assistant Principal, School of Entrepreneurs
What’s been happening in SOE?
Religious Education
Year 9
Through scripture analysis, case studies, and interactive activities, students have been challenged to consider both the positive contributions and the criticisms of religion in today’s world.
In their FED Talk assessment, students are preparing to argue that religion is a force for good in the world. They are exploring how faith traditions contribute to moral and ethical guidance, inspire charitable works, and build intentional communities of belonging. Along the way, they have also wrestled with difficult questions about suffering, hypocrisy, and the misuse of religion, learning to respond thoughtfully and respectfully to counterarguments.
We were also blessed to have a visit from our parish priest, who helped students deepen their understanding of what it means to live a Christ-centred faith. He guided them in exploring the significance of the sacraments and how these moments of grace sustain believers in their daily lives.
It has been inspiring to see students make connections between scripture, Catholic Social Teaching, and contemporary examples such as St Vincent De Paul and other faith-based charities. These activities have helped them appreciate how religious adherence can promote the Common Good and support Human Flourishing in society.
Year 10
Over the past weeks, our Year 10 students have been exploring the question: How can we live a holy life in any vocation? Together, we have unpacked the challenges of secularism in today’s world and considered how holiness gives meaning, purpose, and direction to our lives.
Students have reflected on God’s Universal Call to Holiness, recognising that each person has unique gifts and strengths to share with the world. Whether through prayer, study, family, or service, we are all called to use these gifts for the good of others. This has been made especially meaningful through our Faith in Action focus on the St Vincent de Paul Society, where students have seen how small acts of generosity such as providing food hampers, supporting families, or raising awareness become powerful expressions of Christ’s love in the community.
Partnerships and Pathways
This term has been a busy one, with many students engaging in pathway meetings to plan their next steps beyond school. Our Year 12 students are now almost at the finish line, finalising applications, preparing for exams, and considering the opportunities that lie ahead.
Alternative Pathways
A common theme in student meetings has been concern about not achieving the ATAR needed for their chosen degree. It’s important for students and families to know that while the ATAR is one pathway, it is not the only one.
There are many options available, including starting in a different course and transferring later, moving between universities, beginning with a university diploma or preparation program or starting at TAFE and then transitioning to university.
These pathways are designed to ensure that students still have opportunities to reach their goals, even if their journey looks a little different to what they first imagined.
Several universities including Macquarie, Western Sydney, the University of New South Wales and the University of Technology all offer Diploma programs.
This is what a typical Diploma pathway looks like:
Western Sydney Airport Careers Day
A group of our students attended the Western Sydney Airport Careers Day, gaining valuable insight into one of the largest infrastructure projects in our region. The day highlighted the wide range of careers connected to the airport-from engineering, construction, and logistics to aviation, hospitality, and customer service. Students were able to ask questions, and learn about the many opportunities that will open as the airport develops. It was a fantastic chance to see how Western Sydney is growing and how our young people can be part of its future.
Academy U Hackathon
Our Year 10 Academy U students spent the day at Western Sydney University taking part in the Hackathon. The event challenged them to work in teams, think creatively, and design solutions to real-world problems. It was a fantastic opportunity to experience university life, collaborate with peers from other schools, and build skills in innovation, problem-solving, and teamwork. Students came away inspired, with new confidence in their abilities and a clearer picture of the pathways available to them after school.
Blacktown Mayoral Creative Writing Prize 2025
I would like to invite you to participate in the annual Mayoral Creative Writing Prize 2025.
It is open to adults and children (aged 8 to 17 years) who live in Blacktown city. The poems and short stories must be works of fiction.
All entries can be either poetry or short stories. They will be judged in the following age categories:
- 8 – 11 years,
- 12 – 14 years,
- 15 – 17 years
Theme: In the Moment
Weave your ideas, experiences and imaginings based on this theme into your short story or poem.
Entries close midnight, Monday 29 September, 2025.