Dr Kate O'Brien | Sydney Catholic Schools

Executive Director’s Excellence in HSC and VET Awards recipients 2022

More than 200 Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS) HSC graduates and VET students have been recognised by SCS’ Executive Director, Tony Farley, at a gala ceremony in Sydney.

The system’s first combined Executive Director’s Excellence in HSC and VET Awards ceremony was held last night at the International Convention Centre. It was also live streamed on the centre’s website.

The awards recognise the amazing achievements of SCS students in 2021, in either the Higher School Certificate (HSC) or Vocational Education and Training (VET).

Speakers on the night included Mr Farley and SCS’ Director of Education and Research, Dr Kate O’Brien.

Freeman Catholic College Bonnyrigg Heights alumna Keisha Sta Barbara, who was the top SCS student in the HSC Music 1 examination, provided a musical performance for the audience.

SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENTS

The principals of St Clare’s College Waverley and Trinity Catholic College Auburn accepted awards on behalf of their schools, which had outstanding results in the 2021 HSC.

St Clare’s was the highest-placed SCS secondary school in the Sydney Morning Herald’s top 150 secondary schools rankings, coming in 29th in NSW.

Trinity had the biggest ranking improvement of any SCS school, climbing 191 spots up the state ladder.

HSC FIRST IN STATE

Eight SCS students who ranked first in the entire state in a 2021 HSC subject were also recognised on the night. They were:

Tony Khattar: Clancy Catholic College West Hoxton (Construction – tied)
Brock Wilson: Aquinas Catholic College Menai (Construction – tied)
Oliver Wells: Aquinas Catholic College Menai (Construction – tied)
Jovanka Lim: Bethany College Hurstville (Indonesian and Literature)

FrankMarch 30, 2022|

HSC 2021: The full results are in …

Sydney Catholic Schools has achieved its best HSC results ever with 11 of its 33 schools ranked among the top 100 high schools in NSW.

To cap off an incredible 2021, 18 Sydney Catholic Schools ranked among the top 150 high schools and confirmed its reputation as one of the top performing systems of schools in Australia.

Sydney Catholic Schools’ unprecedented academic success saw its schools reach new heights with the number of distinguished achievers rising from 2486 in 2019 and 2511 in 2020 to 3115 in 2021.

Sydney Catholic Schools’ Director of Education and Research, Dr Kate O’Brien.

“These amazing results reflect the hard work and commitment of students, unwavering support of parents and carers and teachers and school leaders who stood out in the toughest of years as professionals who always put their students first,” Sydney Catholic Schools Director of Education and Research, Dr Kate O’Brien, said.

The results follow a series of ground-breaking HSC excellence initiatives that involved all 33 secondary schools meeting to share and analyse HSC performance data, identify key strategies for achieving academic success and find ways to share resources and opportunities across our 33 schools sitting the HSC.

“Our system-wide approach to excellence means that every student and teacher has access to a huge range of resources and experiences that a large system like ours can provide,” Dr O’Brien said.

“We’re always exploring new opportunities for our students and these results indicate we’ve hit a rich seam of success that will keep on giving” – Dr Kate O’Brien

Sydney Catholic Schools’ Executive Director, Tony Farley, said: “Our students’ results speak for themselves.”

“In the hardest of times and with the odds stacked against them, they excelled with distinction,” Mr Farley said.

Isabell PetrinicJanuary 20, 2022|

Cross Country: Mud, grit and determination

Over 2500 students navigated a mud-slicked course at Sydney Catholic Schools’ first large-scale Cross Country, their eyes firmly on the prize – a berth at the MacKillop Championships.

The first athlete over the muddy line, Harper Surjan from Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School in Carnes Hill, described the course as “wet and slippery.”

He completed the 12/13 Years Boys 3km race in 13 minutes and 57 seconds at Sydney Catholic Schools’ (SCS) first combined Cross Country Carnival at Sydney Motorsport Park, Eastern Creek.

SCS has never before held an event of this magnitude, and SCS’ Executive Director, Tony Farley, said it was the first of many more to come.

“It’s important to recognise that this large-scale combined event is the beginning of scaling combined sport all across the Archdiocese of Sydney and placing Sydney Catholic Schools at the forefront of sporting achievement and success,” Mr Farley said.

Event gets nod of approval

Spotted mingling in the crowd was Trevor Wiseman, who has a long history within School Sport Australia and is currently the National Cross Country Advisor.

“Today’s been great – I’m impressed,” said Mr Wiseman who, in 2019, was awarded a Life Membership of School Sport Australia for outstanding contribution and service to school sport in Australia.

“The setup is just magnificent” – Trevor Wiseman OAM

“Whether you’re behind the windows (in the race control rooms) or in the grandstand, you can see what’s happening,” said Mr Wiseman.

SCS’ Director Education and Research, Dr Kate O’Brien, said: “It’s just an extraordinary opportunity for young boys and girls to participate in sport.”

“Their determination to run the distance is quite extraordinary,” Dr O’Brien added.

“Congratulations to all participants!” – Dr Kate O’Brien

What’s next

Isabell PetrinicMay 5, 2021|

HSC 2020: The results are in …

Sydney Catholic Schools’ Executive Director, Tony Farley, has congratulated our 2020 HSC top achievers on their outstanding results in a challenging year.

In this video announcement he applauded the hard work of our 3876 HSC students who collectively have received 2602 merit awards.

“This morning’s results have confirmed that the students and teachers in our 33 secondary colleges have a great deal to be proud of,” Mr Farley said.

First in Human Services: Good Samaritan’s Nathan Galindo.

Impressively, five Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS) students have topped the state in their HSC courses, and Brigidine College Randwick has improved their ranking for the second straight year to remain SCS’ highest ranked school.

Brigidine is now 49th in NSW, compared to 64th in 2019, according to data derived from the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA).

The rankings are calculated using the ratio of the number of band 6 (90-100 marks) results to the number of exams sat by the school.

Freeman Catholic College in Bonnyrigg Heights had the highest number of All-Round Achievers recipients from SCS’ cohort with eight of the total received.

“SCS is absolutely delighted with the HSC results which show consistent improvement,” SCS’ Director Education and Research, Dr Kate O’Brien, said.

Dr Kate O’Brien. Photo: Kitty Beale

“All students who completed the exams should be very proud of their achievement,” Dr O’Brien said.

“It shows persistence, tenacity and this year, more than anything, commitment.

Isabell PetrinicDecember 18, 2020|

‘Like magic, I was getting A’s and B’s in maths’

Does your child struggle to reach their full potential in class? The Arrowsmith program may be the answer.

Year 6 student Amelie Kovse always struggled to keep up in the classroom until she found the Arrowsmith Program.

“I thought that I was stupid, that something was wrong with me – that I would keep failing in all of my subjects,” Amelie, now aged 15, recalled.

Then her mother heard about the Arrowsmith Program, which was coming to Amelie’s school at Sacred Heart Catholic Primary Mosman.

“Like magic, I was getting A’s and B’s in maths, English and science, compared to D’s and C’s,” Amelie said proudly.

Because of the Arrowsmith Program, Amelie’s life took a turn for the better and she can now honestly say she is succeeding in high school.

Amelie said she is keeping up with the school workload, understands the lessons and has even topped one of her maths assessments.

“Because suddenly she is achieving things on a daily basis, her self-confidence has shot up,” Amelie’s mother, Jadwiga, said.

For Amelie, taking part in the Arrowsmith Program has been life-altering and she now has big ambitions for the future. She dreams of being a scientist/biologist who finds cures for diseases, or a veterinarian.

“Arrowsmith has truly changed my life,” Amelie said. “Now I can definitely see myself going somewhere.”

What is the Arrowsmith Program?

Offered through three schools in the Sydney Catholic Schools system, Arrowsmith is best described as a cognitive strengthening program.

To put it simply, specialist teachers work with identified students to help develop and strengthen new neural pathways in their brain, in response to direct and targeted stimulation.

“Arrowsmith has truly changed my life” – Amelie Kovse

Students most likely to benefit from this program have specific learning difficulties.

“Students may find it really hard to read, to write, to spell; sometimes …

Isabell PetrinicNovember 9, 2020|

Kudos to our teachers

Let’s send virtual apples to all our amazing teachers on World Teachers’ Day (Friday 30 October).

What better day to recognise seven of Sydney Catholic Schools’ (SCS) teachers, who have been named winners of the Teachers’ Guild of NSW 2020 World Teachers’ Recognition Awards.

The awards publicly acknowledges teachers who have made a wonderful contribution to their school in advancing the education profession.

“It is an honour to have such fabulous role models for our young people in so many of our schools,” SCS’ Director of Education and Research, Dr Kate O’Brien, said.

Sacred Heart Mosman Year 2 teacher, Charlotte Allen, high-fives a pupil.

“We thank you for your expertise and commitment,” Dr O’Brien said. “These awards are validation of the teaching excellence that exists in our classrooms across the system … (they) celebrate the exemplary role models that our teachers are for our students.”

SCS’ 2020 World Teachers Recognition Award recipients are:

Charlotte Allen – Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School Mosman
Sue Farroukh – Marist Sisters Catholic College Woolwich
Sabrina Jammal – Holy Family Catholic Primary School Menai
Kevin Kennedy – St John Bosco Catholic College Engadine
Karen Perrett – St John Bosco Catholic College Engadine
Jillian Ripepi – St Christopher’s Catholic Primary School Holsworthy
Melinda Wagner – St John Bosco Catholic College Engadine

“My Year Two’s asked if I got a scratch and sniff sticker as a reward – oh, I love how the minds of 8-year-olds work,” laughed Ms Allen.

Ms Ripepi said receiving this award was “definitely” a highlight of her professional career, and …

Isabell PetrinicOctober 29, 2020|

Just one more page . . .

COVID-19 won’t stop these little bookworms!

The kindergarten kids at St Gertrude’s Catholic Primary School Smithfield have been knee-deep in reading while in iso thanks in big part to two teachers at the school.

Kindy teachers Anique Giusti and Tania Caruana have curated a short instructional video for parents, to help parents to support their child’s reading development while cooped up at home.

The video includes a guided reading scenario and a number of strategies to help students decode texts and improve their reading comprehension – and, perhaps most importantly, make reading fun.

“The video has really helped us to know how to read with my daughter” – kindy parent, Dayana Kanoon

A St Gertrude’s kindy student identifies parts of the text.

The St Gertrude’s video has been a huge hit with grateful parents who say it’s been useful to have this learning-to-read tool to keep children reading, thinking – and growing.

“The video has really helped us to know how to read with my daughter,” kindy student Ariella Kanoon’s mother, Dayana Kanoon, said. “I have also shared it with my sister.”

School principal, Linda O’Regan, said the video project is just one fine example of the great things our teachers are doing to support families during the coronavirus.

“I’m really proud of the way our staff have worked collaboratively over this period, to adapt their talents and skills to support our community – a multicultural community, comprising students with diverse needs,” Mrs O’Regan said.

Sydney Catholic Schools’ Director of Education and Research, Dr Kate O’Brien. Photo: Kitty Beale …

Isabell PetrinicMay 11, 2020|

Create the Perfect Home Study Schedule

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Remote Learning

Working to an hourly clock may seem like the ‘right’ thing to do, but this approach is putting unnecessary pressure on many at-home parents of primary schoolers.

That is because hourly time frames are more suited to a classroom, according to Dr Kate O’Brien, the Director of Education and Research at Sydney Catholic Schools.

“In primary school, much of the learning is around collaboration and working with others, so there’s a lot of development of oral language skills, social skills and organisational processes,” Dr O’Brien explained.

At home, families are doing a range of things at the same time as learning is happening, so there isn’t that same intense focus on language and social aspects, like in school, she said.

“A school may have a literacy session for an hour a day that explores the skills of the English curriculum,” Dr O’Brien said. In the home, “without the discussion in classroom learning”, a child could do the same in about 20 minutes, she said.

“This is a unique time and an opportunity to build character and the dispositions of learning, such as problem solving, persistence, speaking with accuracy and precision” – Dr Kate O’Brien

Dr O’Brien believes a holistic approach to learning is better suited to primary school students.

She said student activities should include building relationships in the home, communication tasks, and exploring the world around them.

“Cooking a cake, by going through what you need to measure to cook that cake,” suggests Dr O’Brien.

“Write down a procedure for the process or make a video of how to bake, then write about the experience.

“Go for a walk and explore the local environment. Talk along the way, share stories of your childhood and create memories for the future.

“Use the time to create positive memories for the future and …

Isabell PetrinicApril 30, 2020|

Executive Director’s Excellence in HSC and VET Awards recipients 2022

HSC 2021: The full results are in …

Cross Country: Mud, grit and determination

Event gets nod of approval

What’s next

HSC 2020: The results are in …

‘Like magic, I was getting A’s and B’s in maths’

What is the Arrowsmith Program?

Kudos to our teachers

Let’s send virtual apples to all our amazing teachers on World Teachers’ Day (Friday 30 October).

Just one more page . . .

Create the Perfect Home Study Schedule

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