Caroline Chisholm College Newsletter

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

Did you know you can go to university without an ATAR? You can even go to university without a HSC. Over the last week, I shared our exciting plans for a new educational pathway with our teachers, parents and students in Years 9 and 10. It is called Learn+. This program will see students completing diploma studies at the college either alongside, or instead of their HSC. Once complete, they can carry these credentials into university study or the workforce. For those planning to attend university, the Learn+ diploma will guarantee them university entry, without having to join the ATAR queue. Initially these diplomas will be in the fields of business, event management, marketing and innovation, and will see students benefit from partnerships with Australian Catholic University, University of Technology Sydney and Western Sydney University. We are currently negotiating with other universities to ensure there is a pathway for every girl. We are also exploring a range of other diplomas that can be delivered over three (or in some cases two) years.

Learn+ represents a significantly different approach to learning in Years 11 and 12. You have no doubt heard or read my thoughts about the ATAR, the pressure it puts on students, and the rather narrow approach to learning required for success in the HSC. The HSC will continue to be the pathway of choice for most students, but Learn+ fills a gap in learning options for those students who have a clear sense of their strengths and their plans, and who are independent and mature enough to embark on tertiary studies while still quite young. At Caroline Chisholm we never underestimate what our girls are capable of, and, given the opportunity, I believe our students will excel when they are appropriately challenged with learning experiences that they find relevant and engaging.

Early in Term 3 we will be holding a more detailed briefing about Learn+ and we will begin the process of helping students discern if that pathway is right for them.

The other exciting announcement from last week is that in 2020 we will be taking students on a pilgrimage to the United Kingdom to journey in the footsteps of Caroline Chisholm. In partnership with Harvest Journeys, we will travel to London, Northampton, Stratford-Upon-Avon and other sites significant in the life of our patron. Our college is approaching 45 years old, and it is fitting that we learn more deeply about the contribution Caroline Chisholm made to the women and the disadvantaged in early Australia. What better way than to travel to her home, visit the church of her baptism and the site of her grave, as well as seeing and experiencing many of the sites and attractions of London and surrounds. The pilgrimage will be available to students in Years 10, 11 and 12 and will take place during the April school holidays in 2020. A brochure was sent to parents this week.

Congratulations to all the students engaged in our first Chisholm / St Dom’s musical; “Pop Stars”. The boys and girls have worked hard for months putting together a professional and fun show that sees a girl band compete with a boy band for the title of “Pop Stars”. I am grateful to the team at St Dominic’s College and their Principal, Mr Ronchetti for inviting us to participate in this event. I want to acknowledge the hard work, enthusiasm and creativity of our Creative Arts team, particularly Mr Richard Caws, Mrs Christine Lewis, Mrs Sara Lemaire, Mrs Karen King and Mrs Brooke Hughes, as well as a small army of workers and helpers. These opportunities are a labour of love for our staff, who have given up so much of their time on evenings, weekends and holidays to present a good show, and their efforts are recognised and appreciated. I know the shows were sold out, so I hope you were able to get along and enjoy the spectacular.

As we approach the school holiday period, I pray it is a time of rest and well-being, particularly for our staff who have worked tirelessly throughout the term supporting the learning and growth of your daughters. May God richly bless your time with family over the coming weeks. At busy times like these past few months, I am encouraged by God’s words to the Israelites in the book of Exodus (33):

"My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

Mr Greg Elliott
Principal

Personal Fundraising
Students and parents are reminded that the college policy is that students are generally not allowed to conduct personal fundraising at school. This includes selling chocolates and other items for sporting clubs and the like. The only exception is where a student has a particularly charitable cause she wants to support because of a personal connection she has. In these cases, the student would need to apply in writing to the Principal or Assistant Principal, explaining the cause, the reason for her wanting to support it and the way she would like to do this. Generally permission will only be given for a student to raise money for a limited period of time.

“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 Matilda Fagan (7 Macarthur), Sienna Hackworthy (7 MacKillop), Jessica Topp (9 Kenny) and Meg Whittaker (9 MacKillop) 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 student who handed an item in over the last fortnight: Isabella Fava (10 Wright).

Mr Greg King - Assistant Principal 

Report profiles – Years 7-11

➢     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 ‘Relates to others to enhance learning’ means. Here are some of their answers.

To relate to others to enhance our learning can mean various things in different contexts. It extends beyond working with other people. It means bouncing our ideas off our peers and listening actively to others’ opinions to deepen our own personal understanding of learning.
Brianna, Carla and Lily Year 12

To communicate and interact with peers to understand concepts and other perspectives. To collaborate with others and seek feedback. To listen to others and try to understand others.
Riya and Chanel Year 9

Working with one another to get a task done.
Hannah and Jessica Year 9

I learn from my peers by understanding how they organise their daily routines and understand the strategies they use to study effectively. I ask for help and seek advice to help me manage my workload and study. 
Taylah and Natalie Year 12

Relates to others to enhance learning means being able to understand other individuals and appreciate their learning capabilities. This will help me to work efficiently and develop my own skills. 
Megan Year 10

STUDY SKILLS TIP FOR JULY: TOP TIPS FOR OVERCOMMITTED STUDENTS

Maybe you are an elite athlete? Or a dedicated performer? Or someone who has many talents across lots of different areas and doesn’t want to give up any of your activities? No matter the reason, the bottom line is you are time poor. You struggle to fit in everything you need to do for school, because of all the other commitments in your life. The bad news is that there is no magic solution that will easily fix this issue for you. You cannot create more time. The good news is that there are things you can do to make more efficient use of the time you have.

These tips are an abbreviated version of the handout available on

www.studyskillshandbook.com.au – just visit the ‘Things to Print’ page to see the full version.

Remember to be kind to yourself.  It is difficult to have enough time to excel in every aspect of your life! All you can do is make good choices with the time you have and make the most of that time and still try and get the best results you can.

Learn more at www.studyskillshandbook.com.au. Our school’s subscription details are - 
Username: forccconly
Password: 55results

Ms Deborah Scollard - Assistant Principal

Subject: Creativity

This food for thought is for teachers and students!

Do you think you are a creative person?

Neuroscience proves that creativity declines following mid 20s as humans are conditioned to view the world in set ways so we become ‘prisoners of our experiences’. This is often referred to as ‘Experience Bias’. (Source:‘Fly! Life Lessons from the Cockpit of QF32’, Richard de Crespigny, Sept 2018, p136)

The Experience Bias Test

Start a timer and determine whether ‘Z’ should be on the top or bottom row. If you’re stuck, ask someone younger than   you and see if it helps you find the correct answer. The answer will be in the next food for thought.

Food for Thought is brought to you by Ellie and Simone, Leaders of the Learning Committee

Over the past few months, Jaspreet Bhullar, Faith Clark, Paige Colgate, Alison Coutinho, Alyssa Dunworth, Alanah Eisenhuth, Saakshi Singh and Charlotte Williams have competed in the 2019 NSW Mock Trial Competition. We competed in four trials against other schools across Western Sydney.  We took on the various court personnel positions - these roles included: barristers, witnesses, solicitors, magistrate’s clerk and court officer appearing both for the prosecution and the defence. However, due to two forfeits from other teams, we were only given the chance to compete in two of the four trials. Despite this, we won our first trial and were narrowly beaten in our second.

Preparation for the trials involved a lot of hard work and dedication, meeting at lunch to prepare the team’s plan and at home to create questions for cross examination, examination in chief, learn witness statements, construct opening and closing addresses and prepare detailed solicitor’s notes for presentation at the case. In addition to this all members had to aid in the development of a team strategy to successfully win our case. 

While participating in the Mock Trial competition, we were able to experience both criminal and civil cases, yet the two that we competed in were both criminal. In our first case, we were the defendant for an individual who had been accused of stealing. In our second case we again appeared for the defendant who had been accused of setting her boss’ house on fire. Both cases were equally interesting to prepare and present, and to have both our clients acquitted was simply an additional bonus.

We would like to thank Mrs Wilson and Mrs Vella for their dedication to our team, giving up their lunch times and afternoons to support us in preparing for the cases. Each of us are very appreciative of the opportunity to participate in the Mock Trial competition and we are grateful for the skills it has given us to potentially seek a legal career. 

Written by Alyssa Dunworth, Paige Colgate and Alanah Eisenhuth on behalf of the Mock Trial Team.

On 23rd June Hannah Gotzman (year 11) and Ashleigh Gotzman (Year 7) competed in the Riding for the Disabled (RDA) Metropolitan Regional Dressage Competition at RDA ‘Tall Timbers’, Box Hill. Ashleigh had the daunting task of opening the competition riding Moe, a cross draught horse. Hannah was the second competitor, riding Theo, a thoroughbred. Both girls demonstrated excellent horse skills and completed the course confidently.

Hannah placed 3rd and Ashleigh placed 4th on the day. Overall, Hannah has qualified for the RDA NSW State Dressage Competition to be held on the 9th, 10th and 11th August at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre.

Ashleigh competed in the RDA NSW State Mounted Games held at the Sydney Royal Easter Show earlier this year and placed 5th.

Both of the girls are dedicated to their role of rider and volunteer at RDA NEPEAN. 

Well done Hannah and Ashleigh!

Mrs Kimberley O’Brien and Mrs Janene Clifton

This year we had two teams participate in the Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) run by Rotary. Our Year 10 team, (comprising Vivien Toth, Christine Muscat, Elise Flynn and Georgia Youssef) represented France and our Year 11 team (comprising Alanah Eisenhuth, Alannah Hader and Nilisha Buksh) represented Switzerland. This event ran over two days on 22 and 23 of June and students from a number of local schools debated current significant global issues and negotiated a range of formal agreements, voting on Resolutions that the United Nations might put into action to make the world a better place. Congratulations to Christine Muscat who earned the Most Outstanding Individual Speaker award for her excellent arguments. Each of our students demonstrated an intelligent and thoughtful approach to the significant political, social and economic issues that they addressed. Our students have been invited by Penrith Rotary, our sponsor, to address one of their meetings and share their experience with the Rotarians.

Mrs Natalie Vella - Leader of Learning HSIE

On Thursday 30th and Friday 31st May, ten Year 10 students accepted an invitation and opportunity to attend the Business Innovation Challenge, hosted by Macquarie University in collaboration with Medtronic and Incept Labs.

We were divided into ten different groups, a major obstacle in itself. The ‘challenge’ presented to students entailed finding a solution to an IT problem for transnational medical technology corporation, Medtronic, requiring us to find innovative ways to ensure that information trafficked from HQ is adopted by all employees - an initially overwhelming task. Over the course of the two-day inquiry learning experience, we became more comfortable with our groups, as we passed through a number of ‘stage-gates’ where we were able to pitch our concepts for appraisal from Medtronic board members including Medtronic IT specialist Hannah Han and Dr Robert Kay from Incept Labs. Following numerous idea adaptations, all teams presented to the students, teachers, Macquarie University representatives, and Medtronic Board Members, with only five minutes to ‘sell’ our solution and concept. It was definitely a moment of pride, revealing our carefully crafted idea to all, but also stressful watching the faces of Medtronic!

A number of awards were presented on the day for best idea, best pitch, and best teamwork and the recipients from CCC were Georgia Yousef, Maddison McCarry, and Azahlia Stevenson. Monique Buksh, Hannah Stephan, Christine Muscat, Vivien Toth, Elise Flynn, Amber Dempsey and Nicola Willmette received commendations for their efforts throughout the two-day period.

It was definitely a challenge by all means, but it was worth it. All that participated received a micro-credential, an asset which exhibits their competency in entrepreneurial thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork, which will be invaluable in the future.

I would like to thank Mrs Vella, Mrs Mills and Mr MacNamara for their efforts in organising such an unforgettable, and invaluable experience for the students, allowing us to apply our commercial skills in real-life situations.

Written by Monique Buksh, Year 10 Commerce