School of Leadership
On Thursday, my family and I attended the funeral of a 17 year old young man. An aspiring cricketer with a wicked leg spin and equally wicked wit, Archie had the world at his feet until his life was tragically cut short. The impact of his life - and his passing was felt deeply and widely with 1500 people coming to pay tribute to their son, brother, cousin, nephew, friend, team mate, student.
What struck me most about the Words of Remembrance offered in his honour was the repetition of adjectives used to describe him. Archie was “tenacious” we heard. He was “strong.” “Courageous.” Archie “never gave up.” These descriptions prompted me to have a conversation with my own three children about the importance of bouncing back, of keeping on and getting stuck in - even when it seems too hard or not worth it. Indeed, resilience is a life skill, one that as parents, carers and teachers we need to model and also expect from the children in our care.
Reminder: Year 7 2023 Orientation Day - Friday, December 2
The School of Leadership is in full swing organisation as we prepare to welcome current Year 6 students from Stage 3 and our feeder schools to an important event in the life of a student - Year 7 Orientation. The Orientation Day is designed to provide students with important information about Year 7, to familiarise themselves with the College’s expectations, the learning spaces, routines and lastly building rapport with
both staff and students. Students will be well informed about their life as Year 7 students at St Luke’s and engage in a variety of activities in groups to prepare them for the transition they are about to undertake.
A reminder to please RSVP by completing THIS FORM if you haven’t already done so.
Year 6 Thanksgiving Liturgy
Parents and Carers are very welcome to join Stage 3 students and teachers for a Thanksgiving Liturgy for Year 6 to be celebrated on Thursday, December 8.
We invite Year 6 parents to remain behind and enjoy morning tea with their son or daughter. Please RSVP using THIS FORM by Thursday, December 1 if you will be joining Year 6 for refreshments.
Lastly, I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate Mrs Jospehine Camilleri on her permanent appointment to the significant leadership position of Assistant Principal of School of Leadership. Mrs Camilleri has performed this role in an acting capacity over the course of the year and I am confident that our community will continue to benefit from the knowledge, skills and capabilities she brings to her work in this role.
Year 4 Transition Sessions in Stage 3
A very big thank you to the fabulous Stage 3 teachers and Diversity Team for facilitating a series of Transition visits for Year 4 students who will be moving to Stage 3 in the School of Leadership next year. These days were planned in order to remove the mystery surrounding the unknown Stage 3 spaces and provide students with a sense of familiarity with their new learning spaces ahead of the holidays. By all accounts, the Year 4s really enjoyed getting to know some Stage 3 teachers and were pretty impressed with the view of the new building!
Mrs Kate Kelly - Head of School of Leadership
Outside School Learning Opportunities
I had the pleasure of attending the Surf Excursion with Stage 3, Freeman and Acutis. This was such a wonderful day and I really enjoyed seeing the connections the students had with each other, their willingness to give things a go even if it was cold and windy. The students respectfully listened to the instructions of the lifesavers and as a result had an adventurous time exploring the sand and water at Freshwater Beach.
Online Behaviour
Over the past few weeks we have had much teaching time taken up responding to maters regarding student interactions via social media. Please take the time to have conversations with your son or daughter about their online activities, who they are connecting to online, the platforms they are using and what they are sharing online. Once something is shared or upload, all control is lost and this can have serious and longlasting ramifications for your child. An open and honest dialogue with your child can save much harm, embarrassment and regret. If you require any further support with matters relating to your child’s online activities, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Summer Time
As the weather heats up it is important that students come to school with a hat for outdoor play and PDHPE as well as a water bottle.
Mrs Josephine Camilleri - Assistant Principal of School of Leadership
Stage 3 Stories…
Surf Life Saving Excursion
Malala and Riley -
The Stage 3 classes, Malala and Riley went to Freshwater Beach on Tuesday 15th November to learn about being safe in the surf and how to rescue people if they are in trouble in the water. The experience for students was very rewarding and there was many a smiling but tired face by the end of the day.
Some of the activities the students participated in on the day were board riding, tube rescues, beach flag racing, beach sprints, board relays and dolphin diving through the waves.
Freeman and Acutis-
We had an awesome time on our excursion. Our favourite activities were riding the boards and learning how to use the life saving floatation devices to save our friend.
It was freezing cold in the ocean and even colder when we got out because the wind was chilling us to the bone! We also spotted a rip which we had learned about at school.
Feedback - Inside-Outside CirclesStudents in Freeman have been learning how to give and receive feedback to students they don’t usually work with. One way teachers facilitated this was through the inside-outside protocol, where students had 5 minutes to give and receive feedback to a new partner after rotating around the inside circle. Students have become more familiar with working with other students in the learning space, coming leaps and bounds since Term 1 in understanding themselves as learners. We look forward to further development through to the end of Term 4.
Stage 3 Choir Morning Tea
On Tuesday 8th November, the students currently involved in the Stage 3 Choir were invited to join Mrs Bauer for morning tea to thank them for all of their efforts so far this term. Students joined together at recess time in the Hub where they were given a special thank you from Mrs Bauer followed by some delicious treats. They even got to sit in the “Starbucks chairs” to eat together and reflect on their achievements!
Mrs Bauer was so impressed by how polite and well mannered the students were, and we thank Mrs Bauer and Mrs Bowden for organising such a memorable morning for the choir. In the coming weeks, our choir will continue preparations for what I am certain will be another fantastic performance at our upcoming Stage 3 Thanksgiving Liturgy. Again, I thank all parents of the involved students for their continued support of our Thursday afternoon rehearsals. These rehearsals will continue up until Thursday of week 9, with our last rehearsal for the year taking place on Thursday 8th, December.
Miss Passmore - S3 Freeman Teacher
From Year 7…
Year 7 HSIE
In Year 7 HSIE, students have been learning about Ancient Egypt. Some of the things we have looked at include agricultural practices and the use of the Nile, and the social structure and everyday lives of Ancient Egyptians. The students have also enjoyed expanding their vocabularies with some subject specific terminology (SSTs). Here are some of the posters from 7White:
Miss C Wick & Miss B Wick (English/HSIE teachers)
Year 7 TAS - Technology Mandatory
Students are completing their class rotations of Digital Technologies and Materials Technologies.
Digital Technologies - Students are using an online platform Roberta Lab to individually complete a series of coding activities to build up to a possible solution to the driving question: How do I program an EV3 robot to carry out a rescue? Students are using the online simulator to check and edit their coding activities so that they can achieve the rescue in the quickest possible time within the first rescue attempt.
Materials Technologies:
Students are developing a deeper understanding of the processes designers are involved in when working directly with a client. Students are given design constraints such as size and materials, they then need to consult their client on what they would like . After loads of planning and prototyping, the students are about to embark on the production of the piece ace of jewellery. They will also need to create packaging for the jewellery item.
Year 7 Life Design -
Students have been spending the term collating their understanding of their personal SIM (Strengths, Interests and Motivations). One activity in particular this term required students to work in collaborative groups to create the tallest tower in a set time frame using only marshmallows and spaghetti. Needless to say the students enjoyed the challenge and worked in collaborative groups to utilise their variety of strengths to create a lasting tower.
Another activity conducted in Life Design last term was the creation of their own individual Motivation Map which showed what students were both intrinsically and extrinsically motivated by. Students were able to identify what they valued and essentially able to explain ‘what motivates them, moves them’. Students created a variety of different Motivation Maps that helped them to outline their clear goals for the term ahead.
Mrs Viney, Mr Jones, Mrs Pepper and Mrs Villarosa - 7 Life Design Teachers
Year 7 Maths -
Students have started their ratios assignment involving Smarties. Each student was given their own unique packet, requiring them to synthesise the different ratios between varying colours. No two packets were the same, so it sparked lively discussion amongst students about whose packet was the best based on range of colours or number of Smarties.
Mr Hegarty and Mr Dela Paz - 7 Maths Teachers
Pitchfest
We are pleased to share that the Stage 4 Pitchfest team has progressed to Round 2 of the competition. The team met with CEO of Spill the Beans and convenor of Pitchfest, Ms Helen Baker, last week. They received very detailed and specific feedback on their business ideas.
Helen was very impressed with each team member’s deep knowledge of, and commitment to, their social justice campaigns. For instance, the team has developed business ideas to combat environmental disasters, mental health, homelessness, and animal care.
The team will be working extremely hard over the next couple of weeks to incorporate the feedback into their pitches and resubmit. This will put them in the running to be mentored by Marc Randolf, founder of Netflix.
We wish them all the best!
Mrs Kirby - Leader New Metrics
Shine 2.0
A second group of Year 7 girls took part in Shine 2.0 version wherein which girls learnt about how they could ‘shine brightly’, as well as understanding what contributes to our light being dimmed. Discussions and group work was conducted to learn about being the best version of yourself, what makes a good friend and how to manage challenges in friendships. Another topic explored was that of body image and the importance of positive body image and self talk. The girls enjoyed the opportunity to connect with their peers and establish positive connections with one another throughout the day. Many thanks to both Ms Bowd and Mrs Camilleri for their assistance and support in managing and organising the day.
Ms Bowd and Mrs Camilleri - Wellbeing Leader and Assistant Principal for School of Leadership
From Year 8…
Year 8 Police Liaison Officer Visit
In Week 4, Year 8 students had a visit from the Police liaison officers from the Mt Druitt and Riverstone Police Branches come out and talk to them about safety online, the challenges students may face and getting help if in sticky situations online. The officers shared valuable information with the students such as the AWARE acronym for considering what they are posting online. There were also a range of options for students to turn to if they needed help with the safety.
Miss Rowena Chand - Year 8 Coordinator of Pastoral Care
Year 8 CAPA
In Year 8 CAPA, students have been experimenting and developing their own journeys in music and art. Students this term will be creating two projects, one music and one art. Students will choose from a range of projects which include a Body of Work (music or art), composition (music) and a Viva Voce (music or art).
Miss Cascarino - Stage 4 CAPA Teacher
Year 8 Science
This term in Science students have been learning how scientists classify different living organisms based on their structural features. They have been designing keys to identify animals and have been researching how different species have adapted to live in their environment. Students are now applying what they have learnt this term to design a new animal species that has adaptations to survive their chosen environment to increase diversity on the planet.
Miss Rees- Stage 4 Science Teacher
Year 8 HSIE
Within Year 8 History, students have been exploring and examining the way of life in Japan under the Shoguns. Last week students were provided opportunities to immerse themselves into the cultural aspects of Japan.
Students choose from a range of activities: recreating a famous castle via Minecraft Education, constructing origami, Tanka poems or practising caligraphy.
Mrs Alessia Rietdjik - English and HSIE Teacher
Year 8 TAS- Technology Mandatory
Students are undertaking in-depth skills-based work in either basic Timber focus or Food Technology focus.
Timber - students need to measure, mark and cut, then drill timber their timber pieces to make a simple yet enjoyable wooden toy. Students got to use basic woodworking hand tools whilst learning the importance of the need for accuracy in measuring timber.
Food Technology
Students are currently completing a unit called Operation Christmas Give back. So far the students have spent time improving their kitchen skills and hygiene knowledge. They have also spent time researching local charities that we could potentially donate our Christmas cookies to.This week ( week 5), the production started. Students needed to roll out and cut the cookie dough and start baking. Throughout the two classes we aim to make approx 500 cookies.
Year 8 - The Orbispace Initiative
In preparation for our Pitch for the Planet, the Year 8 Orbispace team has been working extremely hard to develop solutions to the issues concerning sustainable agriculture in India.
The team has identified several issues that are affecting ongoing sustainable farming practices, such as soil erosion, poor water and soil quality, decreasing land availability and limitations in infrastructure that would support improvement in the supply chain.
Initial ideas included the use of natural loofah as a water filtration solution; however, problems arose regarding mould and other contaminants breeding in situ. The team settled on capitalising on the properties of the gymnosperm family, a native tree species in India. The healing properties, together with the highly successful filtration of bacteria such as E.Coli, offered hope for an authentic and viable solution.
The team will continue to work on building prototypes and developing their pitch to the Community at The Sydney Start Up Hub on Tuesday, 6 December.
Mrs Jo Kirby - Leader New Metrics
Year 8 Farewell our dear staff
Over the last few weeks Year 8 have farewelled Ms Bowd our wellbeing leader and Mrs Mantle a Teachers’ Assistant who worked closely with year 8s. The students created cards for both of these fabulous ladies to celebrate their time with these teachers. We wish both Mrs Mantle and Ms Bowd all the best in the next steps of their journey- We will miss you!
Year 8 Life Design - Capstone Projects
During the final term of Year 8 Life Design, students have been working on collating their knowledge and understanding of who they are and what their purpose is by creating their Capstone Projects. This week, our Life Coaches Richard and Ms Ciaparra ran a workshop to best explore what each students’ purpose is. Students were able to unpack in greater detail what their SIM (Strengths, Interests and Motivations) are which has allowed them to unpack their greater purpose. Students and Life Design teachers were able to then engage in Coaching Conversations to best unpack what their Purpose Statements are. These statements will be used in conjunction with their Capstone Projects due in Week 9. Both staff and students are looking forward to showcasing what they have been working on during their final showcase. Many thanks to Richard and Ms Ciaparra for running the workshops this week.
Ms Chand, Ms Galvin, Mr Jones and Mrs Villarosa - 8 Life Design Teachers
Upcoming in Year 8
- Friday, 25th November
- Multicultural Day.
- Monday, 5th December
- Year 8 Capstone Presentation - NAVY.
- Tuesday, 6th December
- Year 8 Capstone Presentation - WHITE.
- Wednesday, 7th December
- Year 8 Capstone Presentation - TEAL.
- Year 8 Liturgy.
- Thursday, 8th December
- Year 8 SOL Celebrations- Offsite Excursion.
- Friday, 9th December
- Year 8 SOL Celebrations- Offsite Excursion.