School of Entrepreneurs
Dear students and families from the School of Entrepreneurs community,
In the culminating years of secondary education, senior students often face a crucial juncture where their resilience and ability to rise to the challenge are put to the test during exams and assessments. These moments serve as invaluable opportunities for personal growth and academic development. Resilience, the ability to bounce back from setbacks and maintain focus amidst difficulties, becomes a guiding force in overcoming the inevitable hurdles encountered during this crucial phase. Embracing challenges rather than shying away from them empowers students to push their boundaries, cultivate a growth mindset, and discover their true potential. The path to success may not always be smooth, but it is through determination and perseverance that students unlock their capabilities, building a solid foundation for future achievements. Embracing resilience during exams and assessments not only enhances academic performance but also equips students with essential life skills, preparing them to conquer any obstacle that comes their way in the pursuit of knowledge and personal excellence.
In light of this, our senior students are currently modelling how to rise to the challenge that the final year of schooling presents as they are the first ever Year 12 cohort to embark on the HSC at St Luke’s. The Class of 2023 and accelerants from Years 10 and 11 commenced the first week of their Trial HSC examinations in our College Performance Hall. I am very pleased that we were able to conduct these examinations in the College Hall now, so that students were able to get an accurate sense of what to expect when the HSC examinations take place in Term 4. I wish to congratulate all students thus far on how they have conducted themselves and approached these exams. They have demonstrated that they are extremely prepared, driven to perform and resilient towards the pressure that examination blocks can bring. Examinations continue until Monday 14th August (inclusive) so hang in there Year 12. Your teachers, fellow SOE students and staff at the College are cheering you on all the way to the finish line and backing you 100% of the way. You have all got this. Stay motivated, look after yourself and commit to this chance to show what you know. GOOD LUCK!
Year 11 students are also busy preparing for their Preliminary examinations which will occur throughout Weeks 9-10 this term. More information will be distributed to students and parents very soon.
Sending everyone well wishes for the weeks to come.
Ms Jacqui Genovese
Head of School, School of Entrepreneurs
FROM AROUND THE GROUNDS
9 LIFE DESIGN
Term 2 saw our Year 9 students undertaking a unit on ‘Empowering Enterprise’ where groups chose a related problem, designed an innovative solution and pitched their business idea to various audiences.
As part of their feedback process on their prototypes, all ‘businesses’ showcased their solutions in an expo. Using their communication skills in a 30 second elevator pitch to Year 8 students, all businesses received feedback from potential customers. This feedback was then used to improve their designs, refine their ideas and solutions before pitching to classmates and teachers.
Year 9 Empowering Enterprise Expo in Action
The unit culminated with year 8 and 9 students voting on the most innovative, scalable and sustainable business solution. These finalists then presented to an external panel of entrepreneurs from UTS Start ups, a branch of University Technology Sydney that mentors, coaches and launches innovative business ideas.
Year 9 Pitch Fest Evening: School Finalists
The Pitch Fest evening was well attended by parents, students supporting their peers as well as our guests from UTS Start Ups.
Congratulations to all the Year 9 students for their engagement throughout the project and the wonderful ideas that were presented across all three classes. The range of ideas, solutions and business plans was immense and finding just 5 finalists was a challenge.
The five businesses that presented at Pitch fest 2023 were:
STELLA - Morearl, Charlotte, Ria
MAGICASE - Lily, Anshdeep
COMPASSIONATE CREATURES - Luther, Ocean, Hayden
CLASS:I - Crystle, Japnoor
JOHN VINCENT - Marcus, Pippa
A supportive and proud gathering of parents, students and staff saw these groups Pitch to our panelists from UTS Start Ups. Congratulations to the team from John Vincent! Pippa and Marcus presented a concise, convincing and passionate 3 minute pitch that left the judges impressed and astounded. A message of thanks to all the parents, students and staff who came to support Year 9 on the night and see these students showcase their learning from Term 2.
Mrs Chloe Viney
Pedagogy Coach - Life Design
Year 10 Pitch Presentations
On Tuesday 25th July, Year 10 students along with their parents were involved in an interview with a Leader from the College. This was an opportunity for students to present their ‘pitch’ that described and analysed their draft subject selections for their senior years of study at St Luke’s. As part of this process, students reflected on their strengths, interests and motivations (SIMS), purpose statements from 2021 and how this has evolved to a refined statement that more reflects their character today. They aligned these SIMS to their desired vocational pathway and finally the subjects in which they feel is right for them. This was an insightful event for all involved with the engagement level and vibe demonstrating how driven our students are, their uniqueness in their approach to learning and their sense of inquiry as they posed questions and sought personalised advice to help them choose the right subject at the right level. Thank you to all involved including the College leaders who remained that evening to invest in our students’ learning journey.
UPCOMING EVENTS
HSC Showcase Evening
Monday 14th August - stay tuned for more information to be distributed.
Ms Jacqui Genovese
Head of School: 9-12