School of Entrepreneurs
News from the School of Entrepreneurs
From the SOE Head of School
Welcome to the 2023 Academic year! I wish to express a warm welcome to all students and their families who are returning to our community as well as those who have recently commenced. I would also like to welcome back all staff and acknowledge our newest members commencing this year.
One of our College goals for 2023 is to stretch and challenge all learners. This year I seek to begin by challenging the School of Entrepreneurs to consciously invest in themselves by pursuing academic growth and development of character. How can you move beyond your realm of comfort? What strategies might you use to challenge yourself in the classroom and beyond? What might your work ethic look like in the process? Making positive small adjustments to our everyday practice will allow all learners to be the best version of themselves. This doesn’t always mean that drastic changes need to be made to do this, rather small incremental changes that can help to ‘nudge’ your growth. I look forward to visiting classrooms this year to witness the challenge in action.
Point of Clarification: In recent correspondence, it was noted that the House Leader is the first port of call for any issues. I would like to take this opportunity to make a correction to this. The first point of contact for any issues is the Mentor of your son/daughter. The referral process will take effect from this point to reach out to the necessary staff members.
If you have any questions throughout the year, please feel free to contact Mr Blomfield or I through the following email address: stlukesstage5parents@parra.catholic.edu.au or call the College office on 9854 3100. I wish all of our families of the St Luke’s Catholic College community a year of happiness, health, growth and success. I look forward to working with you all in the year ahead.
Sending blessings to you all.
Ms Jacqui Genovese - Head of School, School of Entrepreneurs
A Message from the SOE Assistant Principal
Welcome to the Net 2023, and a special welcome to those families who have joined the St Luke’s community this year. Welcome also to those students and families who, for the first time, are joining the School of Entrepreneurs (SOE).
What’s different, you may ask? Well, in many ways, nothing. Classes continue, consolidation and flipped learning must be completed and handed in, the uniform remains the same. The key difference is that expectations now come into sharper focus. SOE students are moving toward, or are already, on an HSC pathway. They model good practices to the remainder of the school - in learning, in behaviour, in grooming, in care and compassion and in participation. There will be plenty of opportunities to throw yourself into a range of activities offered formally and informally at the College.
I ask families to help get the little things in place each day. Although we’re now working with the “big kids”, a checklist on the way out the door still has value. Got your pens, pencils and calculator? Check. Wearing the correct uniform correctly? Check. Is the computer or IT device charged for the day? Check. When we solve little problems bigger problems don’t arise.
I look forward to working and speaking with you during the year.
St Luke, pray for us.
Mr Anthony Blomfield - Assistant Principal, School of Entrepreneurs
FROM AROUND THE GROUNDS
YEAR 11
Year 11 Drama Excursion
On Friday evening, Year 11 Drama students attended Onstage, a program which featured exemplary group and individual projects by the 2022 HSC students.
Students were able to watch some contemporary and thought provoking pieces of drama, as well as individual projects which included costume, lighting and set design, promotion and program and theatre review.
The Year 11 Drama students are now buzzing with excitement over what they will be working towards over the next two years.
Year 11 School of Now (SoN) Orientation - CathWest
On Wednesday 8th February, fifteen of our Year 11 students attended their School of Now (SN) Orientation Day at CathWest. The SoN provides students with an opportunity to engage online with subjects that are not offered on our College campus. Our students had the opportunity to meet face to face with their teachers as well as to build connections and network with other students across the entire Diocese who are also enrolled in these subjects. Our students are engaged in a range of courses including Engineering Studies, Economics, Mathematics Extension I, Software Design and Development and VET Information and Digital Technology.
Our Engineering students were quite engaged in their activity of pulling apart common household items in order to extract key components for further analysis.
We look forward to the progress that these students make in their learning through this alternative mode. A huge thank you to Mrs Siric for accompanying our students on this day and for the support she continually offers this cohort throughout the course of their study.
Year 11 Ancient History
Keeping students engaged and excited to learn on a Friday afternoon can be challenging, however, a bit of food can help! Year 11 Ancient History is currently studying The Investigation of Ancient Sites and Sources and the methods of archaeologists. On Friday of Week 3, Year 11 participated in a Cookie Excavation activity, demonstrating the skills of carefully extracting the artefacts (choc chips) from the site (the biscuit.) They were given toothpicks and skewers as their tools, resulting in some students applying a destructive approach to the task, while others were more methodical in how they excavated their cookie. The students realised how meticulous and patient archaeologists would have to be on a real site, the importance of recording your findings, as well as the numerous challenges they would face including the weather (aka melted choc chips!) All in all, it was a success for Mrs Zorzo, as the Year 11 class thoroughly enjoyed the hands-on activity (and the cookies too!)
YEAR 12
Year 12 Retreat
The Year 12 retreat was held at Benedict XVI Retreat Centre from January 31 to February 3 this year. Students were a little apprehensive as to what to expect as they had never experienced a Retreat before.
Retreat focussed on our students being the “Now of God” as stated by Pope Francis at the closing mass of World Youth Day in Panama. He stated “encourage dreaming of and working for tomorrow, starting today”. “Not tomorrow but now”, he said. “Realise that you have a mission and fall in love”, “We may possess everything, but if we lack the passion of love, we will have nothing”.
Students were given time to reflect on their HSC journey and were encouraged to let go of everything holding them back. We welcomed Chris Doyle to share with the group in his way of weaving contemporary music, humour and scripture together.
There were many highlights but I would have to say that the last night in which students read a letter they had written to their future selves in 2022, and without knowing also read a letter from their loved ones was most notable. The letters from loved ones all touched our students and emotions ran high as well as tissues disappearing quickly!!
A big thank you goes to Mrs Roach, Miss Chand and Mr Blomfield for the great support and leadership provided whilst on Retreat. A big thank you also goes to all of the House Leaders, Ms Genovese and Mrs Bauer for visiting us throughout the week.
Mrs Julie Atkins
Leader: Faith and Formation
Retreat was a memorable experience and I was impressed with how engaged our students were with the range of activities we programmed. I got to work with Group 2 aka ‘2 cool 4 school’ and we are richer for having shared our experiences, understandings and reflections with one another. I was also blessed to be on the winning trivia team ‘The Arctic Tim Tams’ for some evening fun that was not competitive at all…
Mrs Annie Roach
House Leader King
It was a privilege to be a part of the first ever Year 12 retreat. This proved to be an experience that focused on deepening empathy, connection and faith for all of our students.
Ms Rowena Chand
House Leader Teresa
Year 12 student reflection
“Year 12 retreat was a great experience with many activities to connect each student with one another. A main activity that helped each student connect with one another was the activity that involved each student reading the letter that one of their parent’s wrote to them. Each one of these letters were sincere and helped the students understand that there was love for them behind their future Year 12 journey.”
Riley Bettiol
Year 12 HSC Meet the Music Excursion
On February 9 students from the HSC music class attended a Meet the Music Concert at the Sydney Opera House. This concert featured renowned conductor Simone Young leading the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Mahler's First Symphony.
A particular highlight was that our group was seated directly behind the orchestra providing an intimate view of the musicians working within the orchestra. It felt as though we were a part of the orchestra as we experienced the same view of the conductor as the musicians.
As we were seated directly behind the percussion section, we witnessed the skill and focus of these musicians. We watched on as the timpanists constantly tuned their drums to different pitches for different sections of the music, using an array of mallets to create a variety of tone colours. We experienced the depth of skill and variety of tone colours and effects created by percussionists performing on the bass drum and cymbals, two instruments that are often perceived as quite simple to perform. And finally we experienced the huge brass section required in Mahler’s First Symphony (from behind, which our ears were very thankful for).
Overall, our group had an amazing opportunity to experience some of the best musicians in the world performing some of the greatest music composed.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award - Update!
Congratulations to the 11 students from 2022 who have completed their Bronze Award -
- Aariz Abdullah
- Isaiah Acosta
- Charvi Balakrishna
- Ahana Biradar
- Alexander Chesnakov
- Isaiah Dela Cruz
- Ariel Delos Santos
- Lara Derjani
- Weston Malicdem
- Christopher Misquita
- Caleb Quintos
There are a few students who only have a few hours left to complete (you can do it!). Once this happens, students will receive their certificate of completion and Bronze pin. In 2023, we have 23 Year 9 students who have registered for their Bronze Award as part of their elective course. We will also have a range of students from Years 9-12 completing their Bronze, Silver and/or Gold as part of an extracurricular club. These students will meet every Monday A in Modular 5 during late start for guidance and mentoring. I look forward to sharing more updates as we progress through our second year of the Duke of Ed Award here at St Luke’s.
Mrs Annie Roach
Year 9 Elective: CSI Forensics
The CSI class is starting the year learning the basic skills needed by forensic investigators! These include being observant, writing descriptions, and becoming “Sketch Artists”.
Here our CSIs are making observations of potential evidence left behind in a mock crime scene, and their finished “Bird’s Eye View” sketches of the scene.
These budding investigators have also tried building up suspect “Identikits” from witness descriptions, resulting in some very interesting interpretations!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Wellbeing
Wellbeing activities and Positive Education lessons are an essential part of schooling especially in today's fast-paced and highly competitive world. Children are exposed to various stressors that can have a negative impact on their mental and physical health and so a school should be offering and prioritising the development of students’ overall wellbeing by incorporating activities and lessons that promote positive thinking, self awareness and resilience. St Luke's College is one of a handful of schools that dedicate a considerable amount of time towards the development of the students wellbeing.
Year 7 and 8 students participate in Manage Me Monday’s where time is dedicated for students to prepare for the week and wellbeing teachers develop the students management skills and other key organisational skills. Wellbeing Wednesday focuses on teaching students life skills that help them develop a positive mindset, cope with stress and adversity and cultivate a sense of purpose and fulfilment. These lessons are designed to help students understand their strengths, values and emotions and build resilience skills that can be used throughout their lives. Feel Good Friday builds a sense of teamwork/belonging and also includes mindfulness activities.
It is important to understand that these activities and lessons are not just an added extra in the school curriculum, but they play a critical role in shaping the future of our children. As parents, there are many things you can do to support your child’s participation in wellbeing activities and positive educational experiences and lessons. Encouraging them to take part and discussing the importance of self-care and positive thinking.
After a couple of weeks, it was great seeing so many students being involved in mindfulness activities, sport and peer support.
YEAR 9 ‘WALK THE TALK’ . . .
St Luke’s College has been chosen as one of twenty who will be connecting with their local shelter as part of Women's Community Shelters Walk The Talk education initiative. Walk the Talk is aimed at preventing domestic and family violence through contextual learning, re-
enforced with concrete actions. It's also a phenomenal service learning opportunity for teens. Most projects attempting to promote entrepreneurship in young people focus on making profit. However, studies indicate that entrepreneurship is not just about making money, it is about adding value. The proposed program has a strong practical component that will realign the school community relationship – students will work on real projects aimed at addressing the needs of their local community. Phase one will offer Year 9 girls a half-day training session with Australia’s leading provider of in-school workshops for girl teens, Enlighten Education - www.enlighteneducation.com
Enlighten works with approximately 25,000 teens each year and has been operating since 2003 across Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia. Awards include being Finalists twice for the Australian Human Rights Award for business (2011 and 2012) and being named Small Business of the Year for Children in 2007. We are one of only a small number recently identified by the New Department of Education as being Quality Assured wellbeing providers.
At the same time, Year 9 boys will be attending a half day workshop of an evidence based curriculum, Enlighten Educations’s Goodfellas program which will equips boys with the skills to connect and build strong relationships, advocate for themselves and their peers and become a force for good in a more cohesive year group, reducing behavioural, conflict and engagement issues.
The Goodfellas program is delivered through a 3.5 hour seminar-style workshop, delivered by a professionally trained facilitator. The workshop goes through a series of myths relating to masculinity and progressively debunks these. The workshop builds capacity, knowledge and skills through collective conversation and small group work, using a scaffolded learning approach. Gaining understanding of local context and need prior to the workshop, allows the content to be tailored to deliver the best outcomes for the cohort.
For more information visit: https://www.enlighteneducation.com/goodfellas/
Please Note:
All Year 9 students must be at school by 9am on Monday, 6th March. There will be no late start on this day for Year 9 students.
From the House Leaders
The House System is now in effect at St Luke’s. Students have been allocated to one of six Houses and experience mentor time with a mix of their peers from Years 7-12. During the first few weeks of mentor, teachers have been facilitating ice-breaker activities with their groups with a goal of each student knowing the names of their peers. This will help students build connections within their mentor groups and Houses where they feel known across our schools. Next week, students will engage in their first House Meeting and together with their peers and leaders have another opportunity to contribute to shaping the identity and culture of their House.
Below is an overview of the Houses, the House Leaders and the Student Leaders, which was presented in a House Launch Assembly towards the end of 2022.
Free webinar - Navigating Online Friendships
This 30-minute webinar is designed for parents and carers of young people in secondary school.
It will cover:
- how to support young people to have safe and respectful relationships online
- what to do when something happens at school and ends up on social media or private messaging apps
- how to report to social media platforms and eSafety.
Thursday 23 February