St Agnes Catholic High School

Dear Parents, Students and Staff,

We are already halfway through Term 2 and it has been a busy time with a great deal happening at St Agnes. We are blessed to have enthusiastic students who are actively engaged in their learning, participating in social justice programs and in external sports. Some of these activities are published in the newsletter section “Around the Classroom”. This gives an insight into what is happening in the classrooms, on excursions, incursions, field trips and Vinnies Van volunteering. Although the weather has been a hindrance, our students have been able to participate in some PDSSSC sports such as cross country and soccer. 

I would like to thank the dedicated teachers who provide a range of learning experiences, social justice initiatives and who organise and manage sporting teams to enable our students to engage in such a wide range of activities.

National Reconciliation Week is held between May 27th and 3rd June each year, a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to see how we can all take action towards achieving reconciliation in Australia.

The date of National Reconciliation Week commemorates  two significant anniversaries in Australia’s history. The  27th May is the date in 1967 when Australia’s most successful referendum saw more than 90 per cent of Australians vote to give the Australian Government power to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and count them in the Census. On the 3rd June 1992 High Court of Australia handed down the Mabo decision. This was the culmination of Eddie Koiki Mabo’s challenge to the legal fiction of ‘terra nullius’ (land belonging to no one). The decision led to the legal recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land and it paved the way for Native Title.

The focus for this year is "Be Brave. Make Change". At St Agnes we have an Acknowledgement of Country each morning which is led by the students over the PA.  Also, students have had an opportunity to discuss issues and ask questions during Homeroom.

As Catholics we are very familiar with reconciliation and its powerful potential to set free, begin again and be given another chance . Reconciliation stops us from wallowing in self pity and challenges us to pick ourselves up and with God’s grace start again. To do that we need to be honest with our own story and appreciate where we as a community have failed or could have done better. What holds us back is fear. When seeking reconciliation we are seeking something positive. It requires us to pay more than just lip service, but to positively work towards ensuring that the dignity and rights of every Australian is upheld and celebrated. We all have a part to play. 

Let us pray during this week for concrete reconciliation and remember it starts with us in what we say and don’t say. As people of faith let us not be afraid to acknowledge and celebrate everyone blessed to call Australia home.

A Prayer for Reconciliation

God of Justice and Forgiveness,

Guide us as we continue our pathway to reconciliation. Grant us the courage to speak out against the injustices that our Indigenous brothers and sisters continue to suffer. Help us to see with new eyes, to listen to the stories of our Indigenous brothers and sisters and to feel with a heart of compassion. 

Help us to build right relations with each other based on truth and justice. We ask this prayer through Christ our Lord,

Amen

Thank you to parents, students and teachers who participated in Year 11 and 12 Student Led Conferences on Tuesday 17th May. This was an opportunity to discuss the learning progress of students and an opportunity to assist them in setting specific goals.  I encourage students to work hard and focus on continually striving to improve. Achieving a HSC is a marathon and it requires consistent work and effort.

Congratulations to our Debating teams over the past three weeks. Our debates have been against our local Catholic schools: John Paul II, Quakers Hill, Nagle College, Blacktown and Emmaus Catholic College, Kemps Creek. I would like to congratulate the debating teams for being great ambassadors of the school. Our teams have won many debates over the past 3 weeks and the students have enjoyed the experience and learned a great deal. Good luck to our 6 teams over the coming weeks as they continue to debate against our local Catholic schools. 

I would like to thank the teachers who have been coaching the teams, giving up their Friday nights to adjudicate and mentor the teams. These teachers include: Mr Patrick Loughin, Ms Brontie Dunne, Ms Silavana Dahdah, Ms Haley Fielding, Ms Natalie Udovicic , Mr Daniel Neilson and Mrs Lauren Walters.  

A third round of Year 7 2023 interviews took place last week. The Leadership team interviewed and offered places to the majority of students interviewed. It is a pleasure to meet the parents and future students, discussing the St Agnes Way of Being and a need to be committed to their learning as well as the importance of being intrinsically motivated.  I would like to thank the leadership team at St Agnes for volunteering their time to interview our incoming students. 

All students who wish to enrol at St Agnes need to complete an application form, including the siblings of students who are currently enrolled in the school. If you have a daughter or son who is in Year 6 and you want them to attend St Agnes in 2023, it is essential that you submit your enrolment form by the due date otherwise you may miss out on a place at the school.

The Tell Them From Me (TTFM) parent survey is now open. Parents are able to provide feedback on their experiences of our school through an online survey,Tell Them From Me (TTFM). This annual survey is an important part of our evaluation and planning process. Your feedback is greatly appreciated and helps us maintain our commitment to working in partnership to further improve learning and wellbeing at St Agnes Catholic High School.

Ms Jeanette Holland

Principal

There is a great deal of learning at our school! The staff and students are very much into the term, as the students are completing assessment tasks in all classes, from Year 7 all the way to Yr 12. 

Learning Reminders

We ask all parents to ensure that their daughters/sons are bringing all necessary equipment to school every day. Specifically, all students should come to school with their device (fully charged), exercise books for every subject, pens and rulers, diaries and other subject specific items depending on their timetable. We understand that sometimes we forget or misplace some of these items, but our teachers reveal that it is the same students who repeatedly come to class without these basic learning tools.

NAPLAN

This week our NAPLAN testing draws to a close for another year. Well done to all Year 7 and Year 9 students on their effort and to their families and teachers who supported them through these important tests. NAPLAN is used by the school to determine a student's strengths and challenges in reading, writing, language conventions and numeracy.  At St Agnes, we utilise a number of measures to assess literacy and numeracy skills which are critical for ongoing learning. NAPLAN is just one of these testing measures which help us gain a complete picture of our students. 

Year 10 Subject Selection

The Year 10 students are well and truly in the process of considering the best pathway for them to take in Stage 6. The students have already had an overview session (with their parents) and also, a specific meeting about what it means to be an active learner in Stage 6. The next steps are:

1. A meeting to discuss English, Religion, Mathematics and VET (3rd June);
2. Year 10 Market Afternoon (10th June p4 and p5). This is where the students will be able to speak with all Leaders of Learning/class teachers about subjects on offer here and at CathWest. They will also be completing the NESA Mandated Programme, All My Own Work.
3. Monday 20th June. The students must submit their online preferences by 2.25pm

HSC Lectures

Each year, Blacktown Library runs a series of HSC lectures in a variety of subjects for Year 12 Students. These lectures are delivered by teachers, authors and study skills experts. Students will learn study strategies and exam tips. Tickets are $10 each and bookings are essential. All lectures are held at Max Webber Library Function Centre, Blacktown.

Study Skills Tip for June – Attitude is Everything

The attitude you bring influences your thoughts and actions and the approach you then take to your learning. Your attitude will affect how much time you put into your schoolwork, how you manage challenges, and ultimately your path to achieving your personal academic best.

 Take the time to determine reasons to put in effort into your schoolwork.

 Think about which of the following reasons might be motivating for you:

• To achieve the best marks you are capable of at school.

• To give you lots of options for what subjects you can choose in the senior years.

• To give you lots of options of what you can choose to do when you leave school.

• To have a personal sense of satisfaction about doing your best.

• To show your gratitude to your parents for giving you an education.

•  To avoid getting in trouble from your teachers.

• To avoid getting in trouble from your parents.

• To avoid getting a negative consequences from not working.

• To avoid disappointing your parents.

• So you don’t feel bad about wasting your parents’ time and money giving you an education.

You may have heard about ‘carrot’ and ‘stick’ people. If you want a donkey to move forward, you can either lead it forward with a carrot (a reward) or tap it with a stick (punishment). 

Some students are motivated by working towards rewards, positive consequences of doing the right thing, while others are motivated to avoid negative consequences. Which do you think you are?

 Understanding what motivates you and what affects your attitude can make it easier for you to make positive changes.

 Learn more at www.studyskillshandbook.com.au.

 Our school’s subscription details are -

Username: stagnes

Password: 24success

Mr G Kemmis

Assistant Principal - Learning Transformation

PBS4L Update

Here at St Agnes we continue to build our commitment to our community through our use of the Positive Behaviours For Learning Framework (PBS4L) This framework is built on our pillars of Integrity, Dignity, Inclusiveness and Compassion and underpins everything we do. This applies to all members of our community and it allows the staff to set clear expectations and boundaries in a positive way. Our pillar of Compassion is built on the ideas of speaking and acting kindly, supporting one another, celebrating achievements, empowering each other and showing forgiveness. We can do all of these things and still enforce our school rules strongly. Diversity and culture can be shown in other ways such as performances on Harmony Day, involvement in activities and programs such as Youth of the Pacific and our Junior AECG, fundraising for those in need to name just a few. Diversity and inclusiveness should not be shown through uniform as this can create equity issues. Our uniform policy exists to create inclusiveness and we ask all of our students and parent community to support us in this endeavour. 

Uniform 

With the cold months taking hold all parents and students are reminded to wear their full winter uniform each day. Year 12 students are also reminded that each Friday they are to wear their St Agnes Blazer, along to any other event or specified occasion. If a student requires any uniform item, our uniform shop is open each Monday from 8am-12pm and Wednesday from 12pm- 4pm. If families need assistance with uniforms please contact your child’s Learning Mentor or Leader or Learning Pathways to discuss alternatives for purchase.  

Evans Road Update

While St Agnes and CEDP have engaged transport specialists to try and combat the issues with traffic and parking, the issues still remain. While we are aware of these problems, please ensure you continue to follow the road rules. This includes crossing the road only at designated areas to do so, parking in designated parking areas and not performing u-turns in the St Agnes driveway or at Albert Parade. The Blacktown Council and the Mt Druitt Police have been in contact with the school in regards to these issues and will continue to monitor to ensure that all road rules are adhered to.

Wellbeing 

Online safety is something that all families need to be aware of. At St Agnes we strive to work together so that all families and students are safe and use technology in the right way. If parents would like support and access to resources there are a number of these found via the following link: https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/resources. Open and honest conversations around the use of social media and other websites is often the first step to ensuring safe online behaviours. 

Mobile Phone Use

Mobile phones are a vital way that parents and carers can keep in touch with their children. While St Agnes recognises this, we do ask that students stay off their phones during the day. Phones should be turned off or kept on silent and only should be checked after leaving school at 2:25pm. If parents or carers need to contact their child, please do so via the front office on 8882 0700. Students who fail to follow these guidelines do face the consequence of having their phone confiscated and parents or carers having to collect the phone from the front office during school office hours.

Pace e Bene, 

Peace and all good to everyone in our St Agnes community.

Pentecost - Sunday 5th June, 2022

The Christian holiday of Pentecost is celebrated on the 50th day from Easter Sunday. It can also be referred to as ‘WhitSunday’ or White Sunday, due to the colour of vestments that are typically worn along with the Red Chasuble. It commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ while they were in Jerusalem celebrating the Feast of Weeks, as described in the Acts of the Apostles. It is also significant as it marks the birth of the Church.

In the Book of Joel 2:28-29, he tells of the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy; 

“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even my own servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.”

Pentecost was the moment in history after Christ had ascended.  And he had promised during the gospel narratives, during his earthly ministry, that he would leave, but that he would send the comforter, he would send the Holy Spirit. And it was in that moment in Pentecost, where the spirit came, and he empowered the early believers, more specifically the apostles that were left.

Let us pray;

Come Holy Spirit. 

Fill the hearts of your faithful. 

And kindle in them the fire of your love. 

Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. 

And you will renew the face of the earth.

Amen

‘Laudato Si’: On care for our common home 

Over the past few weeks through religion classes, students have been able to reflect on Pope Francis’ Encyclical ‘Laudato Si’. This occurred at the same time as the first anniversary of Pope Francis’ world-changing encyclical letter, “Laudato Si’: On Care For Our Common Home.” In this encyclical, Pope Francis calls on all of us as brothers and sisters in Christ to reflect on the value of relationships- relationships with one another and relationship with our planet.

As Franciscans we are challenged by St Francis to call all things our ‘brother’ and ‘sister’. Let us heed St Francis’ call and  be a community for others.

On a very practical level, what is the Laudato Si’ encyclical asking of the St Agnes community?

It is asking students to care for their immediate environment around them, tidy their rooms at home, place rubbish in the bin, and show by their actions, they have respect for themselves and others. For teachers, it is a reminder about not leaving classroom lights and Apple TV’s on, air conditioners, and air purifiers at the end of the day, saving power and costs for the community.

More importantly Laudato Si’ is a call to consider the needs of others. I would like to challenge all members of our community to reflect on the choices they make, and how they may affect others and the world around them. It is the skill of prayerful discernment, and wisely making decisions, that we want our St Agnes students to learn. This is the skill needed to be an informed, compassionate and active citizen. It is from these small steps that the world is changed. This is what Christ asked of us. To love and care for each other and join him in the Kingdom of God.

Yes! Laudato Si’ is a radical document - it is challenging us to live the Gospel.

60th Anniversary Update

Planning and organising for our upcoming 60th Anniversary Mass is well on its way. We have begun holding stage gatherings to further inform and engage our school community in this event. 

On the 27th June, as a school we will travel to St Patrick’s Cathedral in Parramatta to mark this significant event. It will be no easy feat, transporting 1,000 staff and students to Parramatta, but it will be the first time in over 2 years that we are able to come together to not only participate in Mass but to also live our faith and mission as Catholics.

We are very lucky to also have Very Reverend Father Peter Williams AM -Vicar General & Moderator of the Curia to celebrate this mass for us. The reason for such an occasion, is to celebrate 60 years of Catholic education in Western Sydney, more specifically the Rooty Hill area, maintaining the Franciscan spirit of simplicity, acceptance of all and a deep personal love of Jesus.

Mr P Madigan

Head of Mission

• air pressure differentials.
• exothermic vs endothermic chemical reactions.
• combustion requirements.
• properties of liquid nitrogen
• applications of controlled explosions 

To celebrate Reconciliation Week students were involved in a range of programs including laying wreaths and meeting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Veterans at the Indigenous Veterans Commemorative Service in Hyde Park on 27th May, to meeting two of the Kinchela Elders at Cathwest, touring the Kinchela Bus and watching an animated film that details the experiences the elders had as young boys in the home. Although the stories were heartwrenching it was a time for students and staff to reflect on the atrocities of our past and identify how acknowledging this part of our history and sharing stories helps us all heal and in turn heal country. A particular acknowledgment to Amira Osborne and Aiden Priestley who have worked tirelessly with the Junior Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (JAECG) to continue to bring awareness to the school and community around our Reconciliation Action Plan.

All PASIFIKA students from Year 7 through to 12 who have not yet applied online to be apart of the Western Sydney University PATHE program please do so to ensure you have access to the latest opportunities and workshops with Ana, Bronwyn and the team at WSU. 

St Agnes Cross Country Team participated in the PDSSSC Cross Country Championships at the Sydney Equestrian Centre, Horsley Park on 13th May. The students represented the school proudly throughout the day and tried their best in each race.

Special mention to some stand out results on the day:

12 boys: Mawiec Agok - 14th

14 girls: Andrea Plaatjes - 7th

For further information on other results, visit the PDSSSC website.

Dear Parents/Carers

SACHS Admin.

If, at any time, a parent feels dissatisfied with the outcome of a concern, the school has a Complaints Handling Policy which will be followed. This policy can be viewed from our website. Please contact the school by phone on 88820700 or by email at stagnes@parra.catholic.edu.au if you need to lodge a complaint. 

St Agnes Catholic High School offers families assistance with the following areas and much more!

- Financial hardship

- Family breakdown

- Assisting in completing forms

- Homelessness/risk of homelessness including, tenancy issues

- Centrelink

- Advocacy

- Housing

- National Disability Insurance Scheme

- Linking to services

- Parenting 

If you would like further information, please contact 0427 068 429 between school hours. 

HSC Series at Penrith City Library. Sessions are free but places are limited and bookings essential on the following links.

MATHS STANDARD

MATHS ADVANCED

ENGLISH STANDARD

ENGLISH ADVANCED