From the Principal

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Catholic College

Deo Duce - With God as Leader

Coming Events

2 Cross Road

Cronulla NSW 2230

Phone: 8522 1500 Fax: 8522 1555

De La Salle

Cronulla

Newsletter Term 4 - Week 3

16 October - HSC Exams 7 November 2 November Geography Field

Trip 7 November Archbishop’s Student Leadership

Forum 7-8 November Year 12 Official Sign-Out Days 8.30am-3.00pm 10 November Year 12 Formal 6.30pm

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Reflection

Todays prayer is about transition for Year 12 students— transition to work, TAFE, university and the opportunities that lie ahead. For Year 11 it reflects their transition to Year 12 and the many challenges that lie ahead of them as they journey to the Higher School Certificate.

For Times of Transition God of Love, You are with us in every transition and change. As we enter into this new era with excitement and even some anxiety, we recall your deep compassion, presence, and abounding love. We thank you for the gifts, talents and skills with which you have blessed us. We thank you for the experiences that have brought us to this moment. We thank you for the work of others that gives breadth and depth to our own work. Be with us as we move forward, rejoicing with you and supporting one another. We ask this in your Holy Name. Amen

St John Baptist De La Salle …

Live Jesus in your hearts... Dear Parents and Caregivers, At the end of last term the Year 12 Graduation Assembly took place where the College recognised the achievements of our graduating class. Listed below are the major awards and the names of the recipients. We congratulate these students on the outstanding work they have done over the HSC year and the contribution they have made to the College. At present our Year 12’s are sitting their final HSC examinations. I ask our community to continue to pray for them at this very important and stressful time. Achievement of Academic Excellence Awards 2017: Kristen Anderson Natasha Bini Chelsea Bronner Harrison Galea Jovan Jaramaz Cameron Kirk Tia Naris Ryan Oldfield

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From the Principal (Cont.) Southern Sydney Business Education Network Vocational Education & Training Excellence Award 2017 - Jay Grech

The Australian Defence Force Long Tan Leadership & Teamwork Award—Sharon Hussein

The Australian Defence Force Academy Education Award—Lena Bradbury

The Sportsman Award—Liam Elton

The Sportswoman Award—Jessica Woolbank

La Salle ‘Touching Hearts Awards’ 2017 for 30 hours of community service:

Emily Allen Eliza Benson Daniel Bismire Rebecca Carroll Sophie Haes Anna Hayes Amber Ho Sharon Hussein Kathryn Jones Jessica Misek Eilish Murphy Ava Sukkar Taisei Tam

The Archbishop’s Award 2017—Emily Allen

The Brother Celestine Award for Service to the College Community 2017—Sharon Hussein

The Lasallian Award for contribution to the Religious Life of the College 2017—Kathryn Jones

The Saint John Baptist De La Salle Award—Eilish Murphy

Australian Catholic Youth Festival

The Australian Catholic Youth Festival will take place from 7-9 December. A group of approximately 50 students will attend this

three day event at Homebush. The remainder of Year 12 (2018) will attend one day of this event on Thursday 7 December. During

the week parents would have received a letter from the College outlining the event and organisational details. This is a significant

opportunity for our young men and women to experience an event similar to World Youth Day and to explore their faith. Activities

at the festival have been designed to cater to people at the different stages of their faith journey. It is an opportunity for our

students to be inspired and challenged at their level. I ask parents to support this initiative of the Australian Catholic Church and

ensure their son/daughter is in attendance on this day.

Year 12 2018

Can I thank those parents who attended the information night last Monday. We at the College

appreciate your support of these evenings. By now your son/daughter should be settling into the

routine of Year 12. As mentioned on the night, it is imperative students establish good study

habits and routines from the onset of Year 12. Resources on our website around study skills and

career paths are available to students and parents. Mrs Kennedy is available to assist students in

researching career options and Mrs Fraser is available to assist with establishing study programs.

For pastoral matters please contact your son/daughters pastoral teacher or Mrs Fuller or Mr

Layton. For subject specific queries contact the subject teacher or the subject Coordinator.

Craig Mooney

Principal

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I would like to acknowledge our Year 12 HSC students for the exemplary way they are conducting themselves during their HSC examinations: the College is very proud of your commitment and effort. I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the College staff who have provided support and guidance, all in an effort to help each student achieve their personal best including working with them in the school library during the recent school holidays. Our new Year 12 students have also started the term well receiving the feedback from their final Preliminary exams. Year 11 reports will be issued Week 5 of this term. Students need to acknowledge and celebrate their successes and reflect on the challenges ahead to improve and achieve their personal best during their HSC year. Teaching and learning is not an object to be gained merely by the asking; it relies on building positive relationships between the learner and the teacher for growth to occur. So how do we achieve this?

Listening and acting on teacher feedback

Working together with teachers and peers in class to create and maintain the best learning environment

Studying regularly at home and in the College library

Taking care to respect our beautiful school environment and one another

Relying on family and friends for support - especially if or when you hit a rough patch with your studies

If we all work together on this HSC journey in the true spirit of a Lasallian Community we will not only fulfill our own goals but actively contribute to the goals of our peers. To this end, let me make it quite clear that no student’s behaviour that infringes on the learning in a classroom will be tolerated. Year Coordinators and KLA Coordinators will be supporting all classroom teachers in their teaching and learning goals and students who are unwilling to contribute positively to our learning culture may lose the privilege of being part of it. Most of our student body have returned this term impeccably dressed in their summer uniform. There are a few students however who need to revisit the uniform policy (on the last page of this newsletter) and remember that adhering to this is a requirement of your enrolment at the College.

I wish to again remind all students driving to and from school of their responsibil-ity to act in a safe manner at all times, especially in Cross Road and Gunnamatta Street where there is traffic congestion and many pedestrians. Could parents please discuss and re-emphasize with their son/daughter this issue of being a responsible driver? Please be aware that parking inspectors frequent the streets surrounding the College and a number of parents and students have been booked for illegal parking and picking up or dropping off students in areas that are deemed illegal, especially the bus stop

at the front of the College. You are also requested not to park in Grosvenor Place as it is too narrow and often trucks cannot gain access. Compliance with this request is appreciated. I look forward to working with our new Year 12 students over this term as we set our expectations high and work together towards the achievement of their HSC in 2018.

Michelle Morrison Assistant Principal

From the Assistant Principal

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News from the RE Department

Annual Catechist Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral on September 24 recognised the Catechists across Sydney who give of their time to teach children in the State Schools about their Catholic faith. Mr Breen and eight of our thirteen Catechists and their families participat-ed in the liturgy. Students were presented certificates by Bishop Brady recognising their efforts this year. The College is very proud of this tradition and this was a fitting tribute to the strong tradition we have established at the College.

The social justice initiative for term 4 is the St Vincent De Paul Christmas Appeal. This will be launched this week and the student leaders work with the students on community based activities designed to raise money purchasing movie tickets and Coles/Myer vouchers. These gifts are presented to the St Vincent De Paul Chapter Cronulla at our Thanksgiving Mass on Tuesday 12 December 9.30am. Please encourage and support your sons and daughters as they provide for those people experiencing difficulty at this time.

The St Aloysius Youth Mass celebrating the feast of Christ the King is held on the last Sunday of the liturgical year, 26 November. Students and their families are invited to be part of this 6pm liturgy. The 2017 Australian Catholic Youth Festival has been organised from 7 - 9 December, 2017 at Olympic Park Homebush. As part of the College’s faith formation program, students will be attending ONE day of this festival, which promises to be a meaningful experience and lots of fun. International speakers and musicians will inspire and challenge our students to be the best they can be at this event. This festival is a great way to experience some of the magic that is experienced by pilgrims when they attend World Youth Days around the world. Students and young adults from all over Australia will be attending this event. Students will receive the details in a package that needs to be signed and returned by Friday 27 October. You will receive this material via email. World Youth Day 2019: Panama This will be held 22 - 27 January 2019 in Panama City, Panama. These dates fall during the January school holidays. Pilgrimage groups are expected to return to Australia approximately around the 2 - 3 February 2019. Students in Year 12 (2018) are invited to this event to be post-school WYD pilgrims. Expressions of Interest for World Youth Day Any Year 11 student who would like to attend WYD 2019 as a young Adult pilgrim, please speak to Mrs Cullen.

From the RE Coordinator

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What is the theme for World Youth Day 2019? “I am the servant of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38). Will Sydney Catholic Schools be sending pilgrims to Panama? Yes. Students who are enrolled in Years 11 or 12 in 2019 (students currently in Year 9 & 10) will be eligible to attend WYD Panama. Students who graduate Year 12 in 2018 will also be invited to attend WYD as a part of a special post-school WYD pilgrimage group, travelling with other groups from the Sydney Archdiocese. What pilgrimage options will be made available? The Sydney Archdiocese will identify a range of pilgrimage options for young adults and for school students. These pilgrimage options will be planned with the official tour operator. Pricing details and itineraries will be made available this term. What will pilgrims be doing in the week prior to WYD week in Panama? Student and staff pilgrims attending WYD celebrations will undertake a pre-pilgrimage prior to arriving in Panama. During this time they will visit sites of religious and cultural significance and participate in mission/outreach work in their chosen country of pilgrimage.

This mission approach may involve work of a physical nature and is aimed at enriching the overall WYD experience of our pilgrims and their host communities.

Maree Cullen RE Coordinator

HSC 2018 Thank you to all Year 11 2017 parents and students who attended the HSC Information Evening in the first week of this term. The presentation is now available on the College website. The HSC College Assessment Calendar, Assessment Handbook and Assessment Schedules will be emailed to all students during week 3 of this term. These documents will also be found on the College website at that time. The BOSTES 2018 HSC Rules and Procedures booklet will also be issued to all students in the next few weeks. HSC 2017 The wait is over! The 2017 HSC written examinations began on Monday 16 October with the first of the English Standard and Advanced examinations, and concludes on Tuesday, 7 November with Design & Technology, Retail Services (VET) and Drama. Again we wish our students the best of luck throughout the exams and we will keep them in our thoughts and prayers. The HSC 2017 Facts and Figures Sheet was recently published on the NESA website. I have reproduced it below, for your information.

From the RE Coordinator (Cont.)

From the Curriculum Coordinator

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From the Curriculum Coordinator (Cont.) Enrolment Snapshot NESA takes a snapshot of HSC enrolments on 1 September every year. In 2017, 77,975 students are studying one or more HSC courses. Of these students 70,270 are on track to complete their HSC this year. The Cohort More than 60,000 will sit the compulsory English exam. More than 70,000 are on track to complete their HSC program – making the HSC the most popular school credential in Australia in 2017. Around 78,000 students are enrolled in at least one HSC course. Most started 13 years of school in 2005 and around 9 in 10 will complete their HSC courses at the end of term three.

The Exams There are deadlines for major projects for 9 practical courses from 31 July. Practical course project deadlines and performance exams will be held in August and September. Performance exams and oral exams for 52 language courses will be held in August and September. 117 HSC written examinations totalling around 300 hours are scheduled from 16 October to 7 November. 96 exam committees and around 300 committee members are involved in develop-ing 125 written exam papers.

Each exam will be reviewed at least six times before more than 700,000 exam papers are printed. HSC exams will be held in over 750 exam centres staffed by over 7,500 supervisors and presiding officers. Around 350 students will sit HSC exams overseas. More than 5,500 markers will work across NSW in 9 marking centres and from home. Around 65 per cent (3,600) of HSC markers will mark online with 70 courses to be marked online. Around 72 per cent (2,600) of online markers will work remotely after attending a briefing and practice marking sessions at a marking centre. Each student will have their English exams marked by at least 11 markers, and their Mathematics exam by at least 6 markers.

Results and Eligibility HSC results will be issued online, by email and via SMS from 6.00am on Thursday 14 December. To be awarded the internationally recognised HSC, students must complete at least 12 units of preliminary courses and 10 units of HSC courses. Completing at least four subjects, including English, is compulsory. Most students complete preliminary courses in Year 11, HSC courses in Year 12 and are awarded an HSC at the end of Year 12.

At De La Salle Cronulla:

217 students were enrolled in 42 Board developed courses including a number of courses delivered by external providers such as TAFE and Open High School.

170 students were eligible to receive an ATAR.

General Mathematics 2, Studies of Religion I and Design and Technology are the three most popular elective courses.

Hospitality is the most popular VET course.

100 students were enrolled in at least 1 Board (Content) Endorsed Course (Catholic Studies 1U, General Mathematics I 2U, Marine Studies 2U, Sport, Lifestyle and Recreation 2U, Exploring Early Childhood 2U as well as a number of courses delivered by external providers).

Tony Ginestra

Curriculum Coordinator

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From the Acting Year 12 Coordinator

The start of the HSC year is now here and the focus for students is on building on the knowledge and skills gained in the Preliminary Year. It is also a great time to get involved in the life of the College as there will be a number of opportunities for students to give their time and energy to make a difference to others. Year 12 Parent Information Evening Thank you to those parents and students who were able to attend the evening. It was great to be able to pass on ‘Where we are right now?’ in terms of the HSC and look back at the skills students have gained in their Preliminary Year. Students have now received feed-back in each of the courses they are studying and hopefully have shared this with you. It is important to act on this feedback and put strategies in place that will help them reach the goals they have set for themselves. The information from the presentation is currently available on the school website for any student who was unable to attend. U Turn The Wheel On Wednesday 18 October, Year 12 students were part of the U Turn The Wheel program coordinated by Rotary and supported by Sutherland Shire Council. There were six sessions throughout the day where the underlying theme promoted students to take individual responsibility for the choices they make as drivers. The rate of 17-20 year old drivers involved in casualty crashes fell 23% between 2010 and 2015 partly due to the U Turn The Wheel program that is being delivered to every senior student in the Sutherland Shire. Student Survey - Preliminary Exams Feedback Year 12 students will be completing a survey on Wednesday, 1 November. This survey will ask students to reflect on the Preliminary year and identify the areas they need to develop. The Year 12 Pastoral team will look at student responses and plan activities for the Pastoral session that will take place on Wednesday, 29 November. We thank you for your continued support with attendance and the school uniform but want to remind students that they will be placed on detention for failing to comply with the College policy which can be found on the College website and on the last page of this news-letter.

Danielle Fuller Acting Year 12 Coordinator

Good luck to all our Year 12 students currently sitting their HSC exams. To discuss course options at TAFE - it is suggested that interested students make an appointment to speak with the TAFE Course Counsellor at our local Gymea campus. You can of course also go online to search Course information and Application processes as well. UNIVERSITY (Note - “Early Offers” from specific universities have already begun) UAC in brief:

15/12/17 ATARs are released.

‘Offer Rounds’ will be made through Dec 2017 and Jan 2018. Specific dates listed in UAC Guide & on website.

‘Change of Preferences’ is possible during this process, see the UAC Guide/website for details of these.

Later ‘Offers’ can be made as late as mid-Feb 2018 - Check the UAC Guide/website for details. All current TVET students (i.e. those who have just completed their Preliminary Course here at school) please note: Whilst you have begun Year 12 topics here at School -- Your TVET Preliminary classes will continue till mid/late December 2017. Your continued attendance and commitment each week are therefore both expected and essential as these remain an integral part of your overall Preliminary results and subsequent HSC.

I am available in the Library most days between 8.00am-3.30pm to discuss possible study and career options with all students.

Cheryl Brown Careers

From the Careers Department

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Graduation Assembly and Mass

Congratulations

Year 12, 2017!

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