Caroline Chisholm College Newsletter

Dear Parents, Friends, Staff and Students of Caroline Chisholm College,

It’s hard to miss the new building that is emerging on our site. Our new Performing Arts complex has emerged from the ground and is making an impressive statement on our campus. This stage of the building program will be finished for the start of school in 2020.  It will contain a state of the art performance space, with audience capacity of 450, professional sound and lighting and a beautiful timber sprung floor for dance. Upstairs will see two large music rooms that will combine to make a recital hall. There will be numerous rehearsal spaces and a recording studio. Two large agile learning spaces will occupy much of the rest of the top floor, with a large senior student 'common' - a space for gathering and relaxation (with their own kitchen!) and a beautiful chapel. We will, at the same time, be transforming our Visual Arts wing, with four new studios, a light room for photography and film and a big gallery space. Finally, for the start of 2020 we will have a new canteen, new toilets and a grand foyer outside of the Performance Centre, with its own cafe. We will also have a garden courtyard in the Performance Centre dedicated to the late Mr Mark Herrick who passed away earlier this year.

Stage Two, which begins in the new year, will see the classrooms above the administration area refurbished with a bold and sophisticated new layout of five agile learning spaces. By this time next year we will be celebrating the best school facilities in our region which place the students at the heart of the architecture, the design, the furniture and the style. Thank you to our students, families and staff for your patience during the inconvenience and discomfort of the construction.

At our Pastoral Care meeting on Monday, Mr King led a discussion with our Year Leaders and our Counsellor about mobile phone use and the many media articles reporting on the negative health and well-being impacts of phones on young people. Popular in the media at the moment are stories about schools which have banned mobile devices altogether.  This is not going to happen at Caroline Chisholm College. Let me explain why.

We have a very safe and supportive environment at the college. In our annual school climate survey, students, staff and parents agree that the college has created a sense of wellbeing and security that supports student learning and development. Whilst some students no doubt struggle with feeling anxious, there is almost no poor behaviour, no disrespect of teachers, no violence and excellent levels of cooperation. This is not because we are a strict school; quite the opposite. The college has high expectations, but they are communicated in an atmosphere of trust and respect. Students are so open to learning and to supporting each other that there is little need for our staff to exert discipline. Rather, we are teaching self-discipline. All schools are coming to terms with the impact of communication technologies, however, I will resist imposing rules that shift the focus away from self-discipline and on to policing and punishing. Please support us in this by discussing the impact of mobile phone use with your daughter. We have routines about phone use at school and it is a good idea to have good routines at home too. Some families have the expectation that there are phone-free zones (the dinner table) and times (bed-time, meal times). Let's support and educate our young people to self-regulate and evaluate the choices they make with a view to growing as healthy young adults.

Congratulations to all our CSDA debating teams and their coaches. We finished the season with quite a few wins under our belt, which is terrific considering we are only just developing a culture of debating at the college. Thanks to the teachers, adjudicators and parents who supported the teams. I would like to express special thanks to Miss Jaden Ellis who coordinated the competition this year. Congratulations also to our Year 12 Chemical Titration teams who competed at the Western Sydney University this weekend. The great news from this event is that the team made up of Claudia Dixon, Jade Ellison and Catalina Lecaro were the winners and now proceed to the National Finals. Thanks to Ms Liesel Ashley for training the girls.

We are entering Refugee Week and it is a timely occasion on which to reflect on the fact that today, there are more people displaced from their homes and seeking shelter than at any other time in the history of humanity, Remember, this is through no fault of their own. Whilst we work to encourage compassion for asylum seekers and refugees everywhere, let us pray that God will inspire world leaders and the leaders of Australia, to act with a sense of humanity and solidarity so as to give these people, our brothers and sisters, the gift of hope.

Amen.

Mr Greg Elliott 
Principal

Parent Parking
We understand that parking near the college to pick up students is never easy and is harder at the moment with the building happening. However, we request that parents follow parking directions on the streets and are considerate to our neighbours. We have had a complaint from neighbours who live in the complex of town houses on The Lakes Drive just west of the college. Parents are parking on the grounds while waiting for daughters in the afternoon. This is private property and only residents and their guests are allowed to park there. The residents have told me they plan to contact the police about this. Please be courteous and not park on their grounds.

Opal Cards
We have been contacted by Busways about the number of students who do not seem to be using their Student Opal Cards properly. They must be used on all trips students make to and from school. They must tap on and off each time. This is a small price for free travel, in my view.

The data from Opal Cards is also critical for the bus companies to lobby the government for extra services. If students aren’t tapping on and off, there is no data that a particular route is overcrowded. Similarly, if students aren’t tapping their cards, a service could appear to be under-used and could be cancelled.

Please see the separate notice from Busways in this newsletter about using Student Opal Cards.

Piercings
I would like to remind students and parents that the only facial jewellery allowed at the college is in the ears (up to 2 earrings in each year, small hoops or studs). In particular, there is to be no nose or lip jewellery, nor can students wear plastic studs or cover nose jewellery over. I mention this before the holidays as this is a time when a number of students seem to think there is time for a piercing to heal before returning to school. This is not the case over a two week break and there will be no tolerance or allowance of time for a new piercing to heal once the students return to school. There is categorically no facial jewellery (including plastic studs) to be worn by any student in any year, from Year 7 to Year 12. Students who refuse to remove non-uniform jewellery, in addition to receiving warnings leading to detentions, will be removed from class and not allowed to return until the jewellery is gone. It would be greatly appreciated if parents could support us in following the college uniform policy which they agreed to on enrolment by not allowing these piercings while their daughter is a student at the college.

 “Doing the Right Thing Awards”
Students who provide service to the college for a variety of reasons are eligible for a “Doing the Right Thing Award”.  Congratulations to Laura Sunderland (7 Wright), Jasmine Yeomans (7 Kenny) and Taylor Tannous (7 Kenny) who receive vouchers for the canteen for being the students drawn from the box.  All students who put in award slips will have points credited to their house.

Appreciation of Honesty
Students at Caroline Chisholm College regularly display outstanding honesty in returning items they find on the college grounds. Often these can be of quite substantial value. Students handing in found items receive a certificate of appreciation. I would like to congratulate the following students who have handed items in over the last fortnight: Mariam Tadros (7 Macarthur), Montayah Astruc (8 Gilmore), Maddison Gomesz (8 Kenny), Olivia  Eilersen (8 Macarthur), Aaliyah Leaupepe (8 MacKillop), Emily Montgomery (9 MacKillop), Isabella Clarke (9 Wright), Piper Gorringe (9 Wright), Bella’Rose Van der Steen (11 Kenny)

Mr Greg King - Assistant Principal 

Report profiles – Years 7-11

As you are aware, the College has changed the ‘Student Profiles’ on the reports. The new profiles are:

 ➢     Manages her learning

 ➢     Takes opportunities to extend her learning

 ➢      Relates to others to enhance learning.

This week I spoke to some of our students and asked them to explain what ‘Takes opportunities to extend her learning’ means. Here are some of their answers.

Taking opportunities to extend your learning involves asking questions when you don’t understand something. It also involves going out of your way to extend your knowledge by watching or reading the news, or by researching to improve your knowledge. Extending your learning is about making the most of your learning. It is important if you want to excel in any area. 
Layla and Sofia Year 7

Participate in co-curricular activities.

Completing practice questions and seeking feedback.

Further research to enhance learning.

Asking questions.

Taking risks and challenging yourself.

Extending classwork outside the classroom.
Alyssa and Nevine Year 11

Use your free time to deepen your understanding of a topic or to finish work. It also means using feedback that you receive to improve your work. It can also include looking over your work to see what can be improved and then spending extra time and energy to make these improvements. 
Georgia, Olivia, Milana and Tahlia Year 7

Asking your teacher or peers questions.

Doing extra study and research.

Pre-reading to gain an understanding of materials and information given in class.

Asking for feedback and applying it.
Sarah, Emily and Vivien Year 10

Ask the teacher to explain things in more detail.

Take time out of your day to go to the library and research the learning task.

Ask other students how they are interpreting the work and learning tasks.
Amy and Emily Year 10

Ask questions.

Go to workshops.

Ask your peers for help when you are stuck.

Take opportunities to engage in extension work.

Get involved in class and in learning.
Ella and Ebony Year 8

HSC Minimum Standard Literacy and Numeracy

From 2020 all students are required to demonstrate a minimum standard of literacy and numeracy to be eligible for the award of the HSC. All students must complete online reading, writing and numeracy tests to demonstrate that they have met the HSC minimum standards. Current Year 10 students will complete the online Minimum Standards tests during week 9 this term.

Tuesday 25 June                    Minimum Standard Reading Test

Thursday 27 June                  Minimum Standard Writing Test

Friday 28 June                        Minimum Standard Numeracy Test

Any student who is absent on the day of the tests will be given an opportunity to sit the test at the beginning of term 3. Please be assured that the teachers are working with your daughter to ensure she is developing the necessary skills to meet the minimum standard of literacy and numeracy.  If you have any questions about the minimum standard requirements, please contact Ms Scollard at the College.

 Year 11 (2020) Subject Selection

 How do you choose the right subjects?
Over the next few weeks Year 10 will begin the process of selecting their subjects for years 11 and 12. Students and parents often ask us how to choose subjects for year 11 and 12. Our advice is quite simple: students should take courses in which they have an interest and ability and which will best suit their future needs. 

The NSW Educations Standards Authority (NESA) give the same advice:

Your aim is to attain the best HSC result you can. So, you should choose courses that you are good at, interested in and may use in the future.

When considering which courses to study, explore the content of a course. For example, what are the course outcomes? Will you be required to submit a major work, or perform, as part of your exams? Talk with your teachers about your strengths and weaknesses, as well as individual course requirements, before making your selections (NESA subject selection).

Students should focus on choosing subjects they will enjoy doing for the next two years and subjects they feel will challenge them and help them grow as a learner.

Year 11 (2020) Subject Selection Process
Students have now received a copy of the Year 11 Subject Handbook (2020). During week 9 of this term, KLA Leaders of Learning will speak to the year 10 students to explain the subjects on offer and will answer any questions about study in years 11 and 12. On 24 June there will be a parent information evening during which we will explain the requirements of study in years 11 and 12. Reports will be issued at the end of this term. KLA Leaders of Learning for Religious Education, English, Mathematics and Science will also provide students and parents with some recommendations for study in year 11. Parents will have an opportunity to discuss these recommendations with their daughter’s class teacher at the parent / teacher /student interviews on 23 July. Students will then submit their subject preferences using an online form. On 13 August students and parents will be able to meet with a senior leader in the College to discuss their pattern of study for 2020 and to finalise their subject choices. Students are also welcome to make an appointment with Mrs Mills to discuss career pathways or with Ms Scollard to discuss subject choices.

Ms Deborah Scollard - Assistant Principal