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Sydney Catholic Schools

HSC 2023: Eight students place First in Course

Eight students from Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS) have received First in Course honours in the 2023 Higher School Certificate (HSC). 

The students represent seven different schools from right across the Sydney Archdiocese and placed first in a diverse range of subjects, including four languages courses. 

Marist Catholic College Penshurst student Sylvia Veljancevski and La Salle Catholic College Bankstown student Ivona Ristevski placed equal first in Macedonian Continuers; Casimir Catholic College Marrickville student Nicole Joanna Tapang placed first in Filipino Continuers; and Marist Catholic College Penshurst student Paula Karoglan placed first in Croatian Continuers. 

SCS students topped both Studies of Religion courses, with Marist Sisters’ College Woolwich student Gabriella Michalopoulos placing first in Studies of Religion I and Brigidine College Randwick student Yasmeen Janschek placing first in Studies of Religion II. 

All Saints Catholic College Liverpool student Adam Schon also placed first in Information and Digital Technology Examination, while Good Samaritan Catholic College Hinchinbrook student Jaquelyn Loria placed first in Tourism, Travel and Events Examination. 

The eight students were among 128 students from 89 schools in the state who topped their HSC courses.  

The students were acknowledged in a ceremony on Wednesday morning at Western Sydney University in Parramatta by Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning, The Hon. Prue Car. 

Brigidine College Randwick student Yasmeen Janschek said she was pleasantly surprised after finding out she had placed first in Studies of Religion II. 

“I couldn’t believe it to be honest. I was very excited. I thought that I had done pretty well but I did not expect to get first at all,” she said. 

“It was all up to my teacher, Ms Wood, she’s just amazing. She took me through every part of the syllabus …

December 13, 2023|
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Innovation in HSC Design and Technology major projects

Three Year 12 graduates from Sydney Catholic Schools received seed funding through education initiative UpRising to develop their 2023 HSC Design and Technology major works.

The strategic partnership with the NSW Government, Institute of Technology Education (iTE), universities, and future-focused businesses aims to give senior Design and Technology students the entrepreneurial skills and support to turn their major works into viable commercial products, supporting the innovation ecosystem.

It was started by former Sydney Catholic Schools Technology and Applied Studies (TAS) teacher Richard Hainsworth in 2021, with 50 students from nine NSW government, Catholic and independent schools in the pilot.

Here UpRising’s 2023 seed funding recipients share the concepts behind their societal need-driven designs.

The projects

Eva Kolokotsas, Domremy College Five Dock

Mycelium coffee table

Domremy College Year 12 student Eva Kolokotsas with her HSC Design and Technology major project, a coffee table grown from mycelium.Eva grew a biodegradable coffee table after observing the amount of curb-side furniture around Sydney destined for landfill.

She discovered mycelium – mushroom fibres that can be harvested and heat treated to create a strong lightweight, sustainable building material – while researching sustainable packaging.

“There is a lot of waste of fast furniture,” she said. “I thought I could use mycelium to solve that need.”

Eva grew and harvested mycelium before mixing it with hemp hurd, water and other materials to produce her design, then baked it in an oven. 

“The heat kills off all the active mycelium, so I’m left with the raw material,” Eva said. “It doesn’t alter the size but it makes it much lighter. You can biodegrade it.”

Eva plans to study law at university next year. Through UpRising, a …

November 2, 2023|
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Meet our VET Student of the Year

People, food, and seeing fare migrate from paddock to plate – Charlize Ashby has a passion for all things hospitality and the award to prove it.

The Brigidine College Randwick Year 12 student was named ‘VET in Schools Student of the Year – NSW Central and North Sydney Region’ in the 2023 NSW Training Awards.

The awards are held annually to recognise outstanding achievement in the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector.

Charlize, who has completed a Certificate II in Kitchen Operations, is now one of three finalists for the state-wide award from a pool of 40,000 students.

“It was so amazing that the hard work I put into hospitality paid off,” she said.

“I’d see it on my timetable and think ‘I’m so excited for that’.”

VET ambassador

Part of being a NSW Training Awards regional winner and state finalist is to be an ambassador for VET, speaking with other students and schools about her experience as a hospitality student. As a self-described people person, she relishes the opportunity.

“I love how hospitality is inclusive of everyone.” – Charlize Ashby

“There is a mix of theory and practical skills,” she said.

“You can stop thinking about the books for a moment and create something in the kitchen to eat, serve to your friends or take home to your family.”

Charlize has put her hospitality qualification and Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) gained through her school to work in her roles at Mad Mex and Merivale Venues.

She has also catered for 800 school open day guests and was booking manager at Kingsford restaurant Pinocchio’s for a night.

Classroom and career

NSW Training Awards winner Charlize ... </p srcset=

September 14, 2023|
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Our Unearthed High finalist

Meet our triple j Unearthed High finalist: Indie musician Abby Taylor of Brigidine College, Randwick. The incredible singer-songwriter talked with us about her music, how she creates it and performed a cover of one of her favourites.

Abby’s entry ‘Sink’ was among more than 1700 uploads from talented high schoolers across the country and was selected as a finalist. You can hear it at triple j Unearthed

Discover more of Abby’s music on SoundCloud ??

September 23, 2020|
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Sydney Catholic Schools
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Sydney Catholic Schools’ students perform an ‘Acknowledgement of Country’

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