Year 11 Leader of Wellbeing

Mr Mark Barroccu

The focus of the Year 11 Pastoral Program remains centred on personal growth and the transition to adulthood. We concluded Term 2 with a refreshing morning walk to the Edna Hunt Sanctuary in Eastwood, which served as a reminder of the importance of relaxation and mindfulness.

Additionally, we wrapped up the significant process of selecting the College Leaders for 2025. This process included voting by both students and staff, a series of leadership workshops, and speeches delivered to both the group and staff to finalise the College Leadership team. Congratulations to all the students who were successful in their respective portfolios.

Art Night

RYDA Excursion

Year 11 attended the RYDA Road Safety workshop that gave them the opportunity to explore the dangers and importance of safe driving practices. Reflections from students below:

On Tuesday 10 September, Year 11 travelled to Cricket NSW Centre at Silverwater to participate in the RYDA safe driving workshop. On the day, students participated in six practical and powerful workshops that aimed to lay the foundation for safe road use throughout the students’ lives. 

The first workshop of the day was ‘​​Speed & Stopping’. Students made their way to a closed section of roadway at the venue where they observed the relationship between speed and stopping distance through a practical observation of a car hitting a test dummy. 

‘Drive S.O.S’ was the next workshop where students understood the role that vision plays when driving. Peripheral vision was a main focus, and it was demonstrated at what angle of our eyes we can see colour and how long it takes for an average person to process a visual stimulus, which helped students learn how to  “Drive So Others Survive”.

‘The ‘I’ in Drive’ was the next workshop. This workshop was a reflective session designed to show how certain personality traits including the ability to speak up, be risk aware, thinking socially and how self-control are important aspects of the total road safety equation.

‘Road choices’ involved a discussion led by a Police Officer, who explained the key risk areas for young drivers and passengers and the harsh consequences for drivers who partake in unsafe and illegal driving practices. 

In ‘Crash Investigators’, students were provided with the opportunity to speak with a crash survivor, learning about the specific factors that led to the incident occurring. These included road users, roads and roadsides, vehicles and speed.

The last workshop, ‘Mind Matters’ was focused on a true story about a teenage girl named Genevieve who tragically lost her life whilst going to a party in a state of over-excitement. Working in teams, students developed strategies to recognise and change harmful mind states and plan to avoid risk.

The RYDA excursion was engaging and effective for Year 11 students in developing driving skills at an age when they will begin to drive alone. 

James McNally and Ryan Nafranowicz

Preliminary Course Exams

This Term, Year 11 had their first experience with a full length exam block over two weeks for their preliminary exams. Students experience a glimpse of what to expect during the HSC trials and exams facing significant challenges due to the condensed exam schedule.

Sydney University Visit

Year 11 also had the opportunity to explore university life during a visit to the University of Sydney campus. Selected students were given a tour, where they could ask current university students about campus life, university operations and any specific questions they had about the institution. The visit included course specific workshops in areas such as Engineering and Law, offering insights into the study and structure of these fields. Through interactive activities, students gained a clearer understanding of the course content, which will help them make more informed decisions about their future university courses. Overall, the day was a valuable and enlightening experience.

As we wrap up the Term, Year 11 participated in a planning day for their Year 12 journey, working with staff to lay a solid foundation for the challenging year ahead. I wish all families a safe and restful Term break.