Welcome to the community of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic College Burraneer. Striving for excellence, we are the only specialist all-girls school in the Sutherland Shire.
Dear Parents and Carers,
As we conclude Term 3, I would like to express my gratitude for your support throughout the term. This term has been significant for our students, offering a wide range of extracurricular opportunities that have enabled them to explore new interests, develop their skills, and forge friendships.
In the spirit of our recent Mercy Day, let us be reminded of our college prayer, which calls us to live a life rooted in Gospel values and a deep love for all people. May we strive to embody these principles in our daily actions, fostering compassion and understanding in our community.
Inspired by the spirit ofCatherine McAuley, We lovingly offer ourselves in service to you. As we follow the way of the cross, we pray that Catherine, and the many others who have walked the path of Mercy,encourage us on our journey. We pray for your grace to ignite in us a love for all your people, So that: Where there is poverty; we show mercy Where there is misery; we bring mercy Where there is hunger and thirst for justice; we are mercy Let us remain faithful to the Gospel believing that ‘anything we do for your people here, we do also for you’.
Our Lady of Mercy Keep us under your protection and bless our school
Catherine McAuley Pray for Us
Mercy Day
The annual Mercy Day celebrations infused our college with a lively spirit of faith and friendship. Students eagerly organised food and game stalls and enjoyed a wide range of activities throughout the day.
Days like these cultivate a strong sense of belonging and strengthen the bonds within our community. They highlight the values we share and the support we provide one another, creating cherished memories and lasting friendships.
A huge congratulations to Mrs Alison Redman, who was awarded The 2024 Living Mercy Award. This award recognises individuals in our community who exemplify our values through their actions. College staff were invited to nominate a colleague who truly embodies the Mercy Charism, and Mrs Redman was a standout choice. Our Living Mercy Award winner embodies unconditional kindness, positive regard and welcoming hospitality. Mrs Redman truly reflects the words of Catherine McAuley who said, “If the love of God really reigns in your heart, it will quickly show itself in the exterior.”
Mrs Redman exemplifies the essence of servant leadership, always putting others first and radiating kindness in everything she does. As a teacher, she goes above and beyond to ensure that her students feel valued and thrive in their learning environment. Her excellence in thorough planning, programming, and assessment of learning further enhances her students’ experiences. Her genuine care and dedication shine through in every interaction, fostering relationships that encourage students to reach their full potential. We are incredibly proud to have Mrs Redman in our community.
Year 4 Curriculum Day
Last week, we had the pleasure of welcoming Year 4 students from our feeder schools for a special ” High School Experience” day. The Year 4 girls participated in engaging workshops in CAPA (Creative and Performing Arts) and PDHPE (Personal Development, Health, and Physical Education), all led by our enthusiastic Year 😯 students. It was a fantastic opportunity for the younger students to get a taste of high school life, learn new skills, and draw inspiration from their older peers, sparking their excitement for the years ahead.
Europe 2024
Mr Hughes, Ms Mahoney and Mrs Watson are taking 27 Year 10 students on our inaugural Europe trip during the upcoming school holidays. We wish them safe travels and an enriching experience abroad. This journey promises to be an exceptional opportunity for our students to engage in meaningful learning. We invite you to follow our social media channels to stay updated on their activities and experiences during the trip.
I would like to extend our sincere appreciation to Mr Hughes, Mrs Watson and Miss Mahoney who are accompanying the group. Their willingness to dedicate time away from their families to support our students is commendable and greatly valued. Thank you for your commitment to providing this transformative experience.
Facebook: OLMC Burraneer
Instagram: olmburraneer
I wish all families a safe and restful holiday break and look forward to working with you in Term 4
Christine Harding, Principal
Principal’s Post on Empowering Young Women
Since 1935, Our Lady of Mercy Ctholic College has held a legacy of instilling the values of leadership, excellence and service, nurturing confident young women. We empower our girls tomake their mark on society with confidence and compassion.
Managing smartphone use: Can we prevent addiction and maintain device usefulness?
In today’s digital age, the pervasive presence of smartphones, tablets, laptops, and wearable devices presents a double-edged sword. While these technologies can enhance productivity and provide easy access to information, they also pose significant risks to mental health and interpersonal relationships. This issue is particularly pressing for adolescents, who are most susceptible to smartphone addiction. Please read the recent report, which highlights the growing concerns among educators, psychologists, and parents about the negative impacts of excessive device use on young girls. As we navigate this digital landscape, it is crucial to support our students in developing healthy usage habits to ensure their well-being and academic success.
Issue 3/2024 March 20 ICGS e-Brief
As a recent article in Harvard Business Review observed, smartphones, tablets, laptops and wearable devices bring with them a double-edged sword (Meister & Dael, 2024). They can improve productivity, provide ready access to useful information and make work tasks easier to complete. Yet they can also have a negative effect on mental health, affect healthy relationships and take time away from other tasks yet to be completed.
With adolescents being the group most prone to smart phone addition, these negative effects have for some time now been of growing concern not only to educators and psychologists but to parents, families and caregivers of the young girls attending our schools (Gutiérrez et al., 2016; Avci et al., 2023). Adolescent girls are known to report problems associated with technological device use, particularly social media and smartphones (Nagata et al., 2022). In fact, the Financial Review recently questioned if “smart phone addition [is] dooming a generation of girls” (Hare, 2024). Recent student test data from the OECD’s Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) shows that these concerns are certainly valid. The 2022 PISA results have revealed a decline in Australian students’ knowledge of maths, science and reading.
Furthermore, when PISA data from adolescents today is analysed with comparable data from 2000, it is clear that current students are up to two years behind their millennial peers (Bita, 2023a). It has even been observed that globally, the overuse and distraction of digital devices has caused student grades to drop (OECD, 2022; OECD Media Office, 2023; Schleicher, 2023).
Digital devices certainly don’t come without their risks. As 2022 student testing shows, Australian students who “spend more than three hours a day using digital devices for ‘leisure’… performed in the maths test at a level nine months behind classmates who did not use smartphones or laptops for fun” (Bita, 2023b). And as the OECD report, the use of digital devices such as mobile phones for leisure purposes are generally “associated with poorer [academic] results” (Cormann, 2022). But in a world where digital devices and smartphones are not disappearing, we can support girls at school and home to develop responsible usage habits and avoid addiction risk, providing them with the strongest skill set to achieve their best at school and beyond.
The risks extend well beyond student academic performance. There can be a significant impact on adolescents’ general wellbeing in this space. Overuse of smartphones “brings the risk of dysfunctional behavior, dependency, and overuse, which can facilitate a wealth of detrimental downstream impacts on our health, relationships, and productivity” (Meister & Dael, 2024). As Meister & Dael (2024) suggest while writing for the Harvard Business Review in March this year, “[t]his is when mobile phone use can become problematic”. But addressing this challenge and supporting girls’ healthy development does not mean banning all devices and the potential ensuing daily arguments! Judicial, responsible use is key, and can be learned from an early age to support positive decision making in adolescence (Cheng & Cao, 2023; Gupta et al., 2023; Hartati et al., 2023).
Families and caregivers may find themselves asking if their adolescent daughters are facing a risk of addiction to smartphones, or even just negative effects of excessive device use. The first thing to consider is their relationship to their phones. Does the need to regularly check the phone result in a loss of control, with an uncontrollable urge to check the device (Meister & Dael, 2024)? The second is dependence. Is there any anxiety, stress or irritability in the absence of the device? Does your adolescent need it with them for all their daily activities (Meister & Dael, 2024)? The other areas of concern focus on coping mechanisms and emotional regulation.
It is well worth considering if girls are using their smartphone as a coping mechanism for “negative emotions such as boredom, frustration, or stress” (Meister & Dael, 2024). Temporary stress relief is one way many age groups make use of smartphones, but this becomes concerning “when it’s used as a habitual and primary coping mechanism” that prevents girls from developing healthy and more holistic methods of addressing their emotions (Meister & Dael, 2024). Other major red flags that can accompany these concerns surrounding smartphones are increased negative emotions as a result of spending time on the device (such as stress, anxiety or loneliness), a negative impact on performance and focus, becoming a distraction to “real-world” activities, and damage to social relationships when smartphones are prioritised over “real-world relationships” (Meister & Dael, 2024).
Rather than banning or reducing screentime, Meister and Dael (2024) suggest we should reframe our approach as one of creating healthy boundaries and making intentional decisions in this space. So how do we do this? Being able to identify the signs of “problematic use” is essential, as is making a commitment to change. Experiments or policies involving the removal of phones can be eye opening. From 2024 in Australia, all state schools and many private schools have banned the use of phones and other wearable technology during school time (The Educator, 2023). Engaging with girls’ schools who have implemented this change, Loren Bridge, Regional Executive Director, ICGS, observed that girls reported feeling less pressured, stressed and anxious about needing to constantly check their phones once the devices were no longer available throughout the day. This raises some interesting thoughts about the removal of constant exposure to smartphones for adolescent girls.
Having dedicated strategies to developing this intentional approach is crucial. Establishing healthy boundaries is one of the most common. This can include having locations where phones are unavailable, such as beside the bed at night, or having phone-free times such as family meals. Other strategies include switching off or reducing notifications and setting particular times of day to engage with leisure activities such as social media. Families can also encourage girls to develop alternative “emotion and stress-regulation strategies… [such as] physical exercise, meditation, hobbies, building human relationships, or spending time in nature” (Meister & Dael, 2024). This can help provide a replacement for the void girls may feel when they use their smartphones less often as well as a healthy alternative for emotional regulation. Lastly, professional help is available for severe addiction. However, if we can support girls to responsibly use these devices from an early age, and support them during this critical period of adolescence, we can give them the space to develop healthy relationships with the technology that is continually becoming further embedded and essential in the world.
This newsletter article finishes our investigation into the topic of resilience.
Adolescence is a particularly challenging period for developing resilience due to a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors. Here are some reasons why many adolescents might struggle with resilience:
Brain Development: During adolescence, the brain is still developing, particularly areas involved in impulse control, emotional regulation, and decision-making. The prefrontal cortex, which helps with executive functions like planning and managing stress, matures later in adolescence. This developmental stage can make it harder for adolescents to handle stress and bounce back from setbacks.
Emotional Turmoil: Adolescents often experience heightened emotions and mood swings due to hormonal changes. This can make it harder for them to manage stress and navigate challenges effectively.
Social Pressure: Peer influence and social media play significant roles in adolescents’ lives. They may face pressures related to appearance, social status, and fitting in, which can impact their self-esteem and ability to cope with adversity.
Limited Experience: Resilience is often built through facing and overcoming challenges. Adolescents may have had fewer opportunities to develop coping skills compared to adults who have had more life experiences and practice in handling difficulties.
Support Systems: The quality of support systems, including family, friends, and school, can significantly impact resilience. If adolescents lack a stable and supportive environment, they might find it harder to develop resilience.
Mental Health Issues: Conditions such as anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues can affect an adolescent’s ability to cope with stress and setbacks. These issues can make it more challenging to develop and use resilience skills effectively.
Educational and Socioeconomic Factors: Adolescents facing economic hardships or educational challenges may have less access to resources and support systems that promote resilience. These external stressors can exacerbate difficulties in developing coping skills.
Many of the factors listed above play out during the time your daughters are at school learning. The developing nature of adolescence leads to challenges often being construed as the worst thing that could’ve possibly happened. When, in most cases, supportive measures outlined in the week 3 newsletter are very helpful in building a student’s capacity to navigate any problem that arises with logical reasoning and confidence.
Encouraging adolescents to view challenges as opportunities for growth and helping them build strong, supportive relationships will contribute to greater resilience.
Student and Parent Term 4 Reminders
Uniform
Summer uniform is compulsory for Term 4 and the remainder of the year. College scarves can now be packed away as they are no longer permitted.
If your daughter has grown between the uniform changeover and you have some difficulty in taking the hems of skirts or dresses down we will have support available at school to help with this. All garments are worn to the knee.
The change back to simple sleepers (10mm in size) has been well adopted. Safety is always paramount in a school community and smaller/simpler earrings helps us to ensure this.
Sports uniform is only worn on Thursdays and during PDHPE Practical lessons. Shoe choice is important for support (no skater styles vans, converse or Sambas). Additional garments/jumpers are not to be worn.
There are to be no long sleeve undergarments worn with the sport uniform.
Parking and dropping off around the College
Please respect the surroundings of the college when arriving and departing the school each day. We do ask that you especially consider our neighbours houses and properties during these times. We have a strong relationship with them
I hope students and families have a wonderful vacation period and we look forward to the final term of the 2024 school year.
Paul Hughes, Dean of School
R U OK? Day
Our Lady of Mercy’s community celebrated R U OK? Day with a day of activities, fun and engaging with one another. It is important to stop and have check in conversations with those around us who may need the support. R U Ok connects our community by helping us to look after each other’s wellbeing.
Dean of Mission – Marg Marriott
We are so grateful for the efforts of the OLM community with Mercy Day. Father Adrian celebrated his final Mass with us at St Aloysius Cronulla, and we were joined by some wonderful Sisters of Mercy and local educational colleagues. Our Vocal Ensemble was led by Mr Peter Lee and Ms Verneen Mason, and as always they sang with great heart.
The fundraising component in the support of Mercy Works Indigenous Projects was a source of great joy as homerooms provided opportunities for food, drinks and fun. We were able to raise a substantial sum of approximately $3,500.00, and we raised a great deal of school spirit, homeroom cooperation and smiles all around. The entrepreneurial spirit of our staff and students shone through as we found creative ways to attract tokens and have a great time whilst doing it. There was OLM Radio, a Footy Passing competition, inflatables, guessing competitions, corn hole and cup pong games together with an endless array of treats to eat and drink. It was the investment of time and effort made by staff and students into the Mercy Fair that made it so special. The entertainment continued on with an ice bath challenge. The teachers who received the most nominations were challenged to tough it out in the ice water – Mr Trevilion was victorious, having been in training for the event for some time.
It was a source of great pride to have local Cronulla Parish Vinnies representatives John and Imelda O’Neil join our Year 9 Food Tech students this week. The students had completed an authentic Assessment Task linked to providing appropriate homemade food snacks for Vinnies clients locally, and with Van Services. Students discussed their recipe design process with John and Imelda and even the packaging was very thoughtfully considered to allow clients the ability to keep their perishable snack for a few days, or be able to send it into school with a child. The snacks were delivered to clients in need locally and more widely across Sydney and they were received with much gratitude.
Year 10 engaged with the very popular Outdoor Education Program at The Tops over two days. There was spiritual input, time for group interactions, and prayer. Special thanks to Father Adrian for joining us, and the awesome staff who were able to facilitate the days.
Leaders from Years 7-9 represented the College at the Junior Mercy Day at Monte St Angelo, North Sydney recently. We travelled by train and engaged with students from the other Mercy 5 schools from Sydney. It focussed our attention on the struggle of those who do not have secure access to clean water. Our students were a credit to OLM and their families.
Mrs Marg Marriott, Dean of Mission
Mercy Day 2024
Calendar Update – Term 4 Important Dates
Monday 14 October Staff Professional Learning Day (No Classes)
Tuesday 15 October
All students return in summer uniform for Day 2 of their timetable
Wednesday 16 October to Monday 21 October Years 7-10 PAT testing
Wednesday 23 October Year 8 and 10 SCS RE Test
Tuesday 29 October Year 11 Reports published
Wednesday 30 October Year 11 Parent, Teacher, Student Conferences + HSC Info Evening
Monday 4 November to Tuesday 5 November Year 9 Camp
Friday 8 November St Aloysius Parish Centenary Mass
Monday 11 November to Tuesday 12 November Marine Studies Camp
Tuesday 19 November Year 7 2025 Orientation Day and Parent Information Evening
Friday 22 November Year 9 Reflection Day
Monday 25 November to Wednesday 27 November Silver Duke of Edinburgh Hike
Monday 25 November to Wednesday 27 November CAPA Camp
Monday 25 November to Friday 29 November Year 10 Work Experience
Monday 2 December to Wednesday 4 December PASS Camp (Years 9 & 10)
Monday 2 December Performing Arts Evening
Tuesday 10 December School Awards Presentation at DLS Caringbah Hall
Tuesday 10 December Year 7-10 Reports published
Thursday 12 December End of Year Mass at St Aloysius Church (9.15am)
Friday 13 December Picnic/Activities Day (Last day of term for students)
Tuesday 17 December – Wednesday 18 December Years 7-10 Parent, Teacher, Student Conferences
Year 7 2027 Enrolments Are Now Open in Compass
To apply, click the cog wheel on the top right-hand side of your existing parent Compass account and then “Family and Enrolments” in the drop-down. If you are applying for your currently enrolled child please click on their name in Student Profile, complete the profile to get to 100% and you will then be able to create an application.
For new students, please create a new student profile before submitting an application. You must select at least two school preferences to submit. Upon submission, you’ll receive a confirmation email, and your Compass account will display the status as “submitted.” Here is a step-by-step guide if you need assistance.
Our Open Day next year will be held on Tuesday 4 March, and final enrolment applications are due in late March/early April. We will confirm the enrolment deadline during Open Day.
Please feel free to share this information with friends, family, and community members who may be interested in enrolling at OLM for Year 7 2027.
Leader of Pathways and Partnerships – Lisa Formica
Teamwork is the ability to work together towards a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments towards organisational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.
UAC
For students intending to study at university post-school, UAC is the organisation you need to apply through. However, they also do a lot more than just process your applications. Their website is full of resources to support your post school decisions. UAC run informative webinars throughout the year. They also provide booklets to explain all you need, including ATAR calculations and scholarships available through UAC. They also provide updates on the changes to university course offerings and a list of open days.
If you are unsure what you want to study, UAC has a Year 10 Subject Compass as well as a Year 12 Course Compass to assist.
Parents and students are able to register for their newsletters. Parent workshops are also offered by UAC.
Careers is an area that is constantly changing and evolving as the world of work keeps doing the same. To help families stay up to date and informed of all topics Careers related, here at OLM, we subscribe to the Jobjump website. This provides all students with a variety of information and resources to assist those searching for career information. Each week Jobjump provides a thorough Careers Newsletter covering a large variety of topics. Please use this link to access the most recent Careers information.
UTS Stem X Holiday Workshop – 2 October
UTS wish to share that we’re running our next FREE Holiday STEM Workshops on Wednesday 2 October (places are prioritised for girls and young women). Registration details in the flyer.
Year 10 Work Experience
Our Year 10 students will be undertaking work experience in Term 4 (25 – 29 November). This is a very exciting time for Year 10, and also a little daunting. The benefits of work experience are well-researched. They allow students to confidently move forward in their studies, whether this is because they have explored a career option they loved, or they discovered a career option was not what they thought it was, and is no longer of interest to them. It also allows students to develop skills in the job search process, which will benefit them as they apply for part-time work, and scholarships in the future. Getting up and “going to work” for a week is valuable in itself to allow students some independence and an idea of the reality of work.
If you are interested in offering students a work placement opportunity through your workplace, please reach out to me. I am looking forward to sharing photos of work experience when our students have completed the week.
Lisa Formica, Leader of Pathways and Partnerships
Leader of Learning – Integrated Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment – Lisa Romberg
Parent, Student, Teacher Conferences
We invite parents and carers to attend our Year 11 Parent, Teacher and Student (PTS) Interviews to discuss your daughter’s progress for 2024. Reports will be released prior to these conferences to allow you time to review and reflect on what you would like to discuss with each teacher.
Date and time: Interviews will be held on 30 October 2024 from 3:30-6:00pm. Bookings are essential. Location: Interviews will take place in the Coolangatta House. Student Attendance and Attire: We kindly request that students attend the interviews in their school uniform, accompanied by you, their parents or guardians. This ensures a professional and cohesive environment during discussions about your child’s progress and development. Purpose and Benefits: These interviews serve as a valuable platform to promote communication between the school and home. They enable both teachers and parents to collaborate effectively towards enhancing your daughter’s learning and social wellbeing. Your participation is highly encouraged as it plays a vital role in supporting your daughter’s educational success. How to Book: Bookings will open on Wednesday, 16th October 2024 and will close on Tuesday, 29th October at 9am. To book Parent, Student Teacher Conferences, please open your Compass App, select the Community drop down menu into Conferences, select the Conference Session and follow the ‘How to Book’ prompts. Each interview is 10 minutes. This will allow you to meet with multiple teachers. We would like you to consider booking a time slot with each of your daughter’s teachers as they are able to provide you with information and feedback as to how your daughter is progressing in her learning and any suggested areas for growth. Please allow enough time between bookings to find your daughter’s teachers. Unfortunately, we cannot schedule meetings for the following teachers; Megan Shipard
ICAS Competition Results
Congratulations to all students who took part in the ICAS competition during term 3. The following students have achieved commendable results in these ICAS competitions and we commend them on their application and effort.
Year 8
Saoirse O’Brien – High Distinction in ICAS English this placed Saoirse in the top 1% of the State, congratulations on this significant achievement
Sophie George – Credit in ICAS English and Credit in ICAS Science
Emilee Karpathakis – Credit in ICAS Science
PAT Testing
PAT Testing
PAT Testing (Years 7-10) and RE testing (Years 8 & 10) will take place in Term 4, Week 1. Information has been sent home to all students and families this week about PAT testing.
Information for students about the organisation for PAT Testing
It is highly recommended that all computers are rebooted at least 24 hours (preferably a week) beforehand. This is to avoid slowing down computers and ensure all devices being used for PAT testing have installed and downloaded all latest updates.
During the period of testing, please ensure you come to school on time each day with:
a charged laptop
plug-in earphones are preferable over bluetooth or airpods
pen or pencil
Why do we do RE Testing in Year 8 and 10?
Sydney Catholic Schools require students to complete RE testing in Years 8 and 10. Students have been preparing for this testing throughout the year in their RE classes.
Why do we do PAT Testing each School Year?
Sydney Catholic Schools require all students to complete PAT testing once a year in reading and numeracy.
At OLM Catholic College Burraneer we use PAT Adaptive.
PAT Adaptive assessments are comprised of three small blocks of items (approximately 10–14 items)
PAT Adaptive assessments adapt to the differences in students’ demonstrated ability as they complete the test, providing personalised test pathways
The system assigns easier or harder sets of items (‘testlets’) based on each student’s performance on prior items within that test
What is PAT Testing?
PAT testing is an assessment tool that measures students’ level of achievement. Like NAPLAN it is a point in time assessment that is mapped to the Australian Curriculum. Students and parents are reminded that it is ONE piece of the puzzle.
PAT has been developed to:
provide evidence to support teaching and learning
measure growth in learning
emphasise that all students can demonstrate progress.
How does OLM Catholic College Burraneer use PAT testing?
PAT results are used to:
help review and inform teaching programs
assess each students learning growth
support College and other data such as NAPLAN data which is used to place students in the most appropriate classes for the following school year.
Do students need to study for the PAT tests?
Students do not need to specifically prepare for thePAT tests. The content tested is below and has been covered by teachers during the course of teaching this year.
PAT Maths strands tested are:Number, Algebra, Measurement, Space, Statistics, Probability
PAT Maths also reports on the mathematical proficiencies of:UnderstandingFluencyProblem solvingReasoning
PAT Reading tests students ability to
Retrieve directly stated information
Interpret explicit information & Interpret implied information
Reflect on the text
Scanning for key informationNavigating text structuresRewordingClassifying and re-organisingLabellingUsing grammatical structures
Developing an interpretationComparing and contrastingGeneralising and summarisingMaking connectionsInterpreting language & toneReasoning
Recognising textual features & purposeRecognising authorial techniquesExtrapolating beyond the textEvaluating and critiquing
Study Skills
A timely reminder with Term 4 approaching and students are preparing for tasks that there is a multitude of information available to students and parents to assist with studying and the feelings that are associated with learning. Below is one article and the link to the website.
PREPARING FOR EXAMS/TESTS
Do you have exams this semester? Follow these steps to help you achieve your personal academic best:
1. Find out what you need to learn: ask your teacher if you will be tested on the whole year’s work or just the second half of the year. You may like to work through the PREPARING FOR EXAM/TEST BLOCKS unit to help you put together a study plan.
2. Make your study notes: work through the SUMMARISING unit to learn how to make brain-friendly study notes. On the THINGS TO PRINT page you will find a very useful Study Notes Checklist. You want to get your study notes finished as quickly as possible.
3. Learn your study notes: make sure you remember what you study by using the techniques in the ACTIVE STUDYING unit. Studying isn’t just about reading—it’s about remembering. If you are interested in exploring learning preferences, you can find more in this unit on this topic.
4. Practise the skills of the subject: do as many different questions, revision sheets, chapter reviews, sample essays or past examination papers as you can. There are suggestions on how to make sure the practise you do is effective in the ACTIVE STUDYING unit.
5. Review your test-taking techniques: this ensures you make the most of the time in the exam. Don’t let nerves trip you up! You can learn more about what to do the night before, the morning of the exam, how to approach multiple choice questions and essays in exams and much more in the TEST-TAKING unit.
And remember, don’t leave your study until the last minute – get yourself organised well in advance.
Bonus Tip: When you get your exam paper back make the most of it by using the strategies in the AFTER TESTS AND EXAMS unit.
You can learn more about being more effective and efficient in your schoolwork at www.studyskillshandbook.com.au by logging in with these details:
School username: OLMBurraneer
School password: Mercy
Assessments
Thank you for your ongoing support of our assessment policy. For students in Years 9 and 10 who missed more than one assessment task, these have been noted on the front page of the Semester 1 report. Where independent evidence has been provided this has been noted.
Exceptions were those tasks that fell on days where other school events were held.
For Semester 2 reports, a reminder to all students and parents that missed Assessment Tasks in Year 9 to 11 require a Medical certificate from a Doctor of Pharmacist for in-class tasks that are missed due to illness. For hand-in tasks it is expected that all students submit these tasks on-time for electronic submissions, whether they are present or not. If unable to submit on time, a medical certificate is required.
This procedure promotes fairness and equity to all students for RoSA (Record of School Achievement) Grades which are submitted to NESA for students in Years 9 to 11. This College procedure is one followed by schools to ensure that students know and follow expectations which is particularly essential in Year 12.
These students have been nominated by their class teachers as displaying a growth mindset in their learning. This has been demonstrated through areas such as:
The highlighted students were randomly selected as the recipients of the Burraneer Best awards at Term 3, Week 10 assembly.
Year 7
Year 8
Year 9
Year 10
Year 11
Amelia Andrighetto x 2
Rebecca Ashamalla
Starla Abraham
Camila Alispahic x 3
Chanel Beydoun
Charlotte Bain Blatch
Tiffany Ashram
Tilly-Rose Buchan
Holly Andrew x 2
Amelia Buhagiar x 3
Stella Bloom
Kyla Brusolin
Mandy Cao
Amelia Baillon
Angelina Defrenza
Charlie Doyle
Katherine Chen
Sophie Carrig
Annabella Bayer x 2
Zarina Gill x 2
Saira Gill
Evie Cohen x 2
Abby Daley x 2
Alessia Carageorge x 2
Kaitlyn Gindy
Jessica Green
Penelope Crimmins x 2
Mya Docherty
Ruby Cavanagh
Amber Govindrulu x 2
Olive Handel
Jasmin Croston
Clara Doyle
Addison Cawley x 2
Elani Moshous x 2
Sierra Haywood
Olivia Douglas
Molly Gargett x 2
Bridget Clarke x 2
Mia Rajkovic
Chloe Eve Jones
Olivia Gregoire
Amabel Garvin
Selena Contarino
Sofia von der Hocht
Chloe Jones
Ella Grumley
Milan Goldsmith
Summer Cordingley x 2
Olivia Wellington x 3
Scarlet Kordovolos
Jessica Hammon
Isabelle Hargreaves
Evie Cross
Elyse Kyriakou
Jayde Hartup x 2
Emily Hubbard
Scarlet Davies
Piper Moss x 4
Tamarli Haydon
Chloe Jones
Charlotte Dawson
Tia Psyhogiou
Audrey Iffland
Sevi Kadi
Lara Duffy
Georgia Pyper x 2
Florence Jessop
Charli Liu x 2
Chloe English
Isla Renshaw
Isla Jones x 3
Josie McDonald
Tiarne Evans x 3
Evie Riccio
Emilee Karpathakis
Zulai McTackett
April Farrugia
Semara Russell
Tenya Kotouc x 2
Addison Metcalfe x 3
Chloe Gillan x 2
Emily Ryan
Charlotte Libro
Tannah Moore x 2
Amelia Gray
Elsa Scmidt-Liermann x 2
Ella McGuinness
Lola Norton
Gabriella Gregoire
Natalia Tsigolis
Isabella Natoli
Ruby O’Brien
Kiara Hall
Sandra Vasinova x 2
Indie Ponder
Isabella Prany
Sophie Hammon
Zara Walsh
Mileta Richards
Sienna Puckeridge
Mia Harper
Mia You
Emma Romyn x 2
Allegra Rolfe
Sarah Hickey x 2
Estella Sainz
Isla Russell
Emilia Jennings-Smith x 3
Kayla Skapetis
Mia-Grace Schembri
Gabriella Kent
Matilda Smith
Olivia Sinclair
Samara Lester x 2
Liesel Spinner
Amber Sullivan
Arabella Maceri x 2
Dana Traycevski
Scarlett Tsigolis
Mia Martin
Zoe Underwood
Maddison Vilivili
Zara Mawer
Charlotte Wardell x 3
Kiara Ward
Hannah McKay x 2
Emily Ye x 2
Lucy McLean x 2
Alice McNamara
Olivia Middlemiss
Laila Nicholson
Ella Paff
Catherine Palamara
Millie Pavlovich
Alannah Pike
Holly Sweeting
Sienna Vitale
Lily Wallace
Ashleigh Webster
Monday Afternoon Open Learning
Our Monday Afternoon Open Learning started last term. We had 60 students who attended one or more weeks. This will be held in the Library each Monday afternoon from 3pm until 4pm.
This time will provide students with the opportunity to collaborate with fellow students, complete any group tasks or learning experiences or provide a quiet space for study and home learning. In addition teachers will be available to assist students with their learning. This includes: * assistance with time management and planning * tips and tricks to developing study tools such as mind maps, study notes, flash cards * subject specialists who can help answer questions.
Lisa Romberg, Leader of Learning – Integrated Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment
Creative and Performing Arts Faculty – Ciara Gabriele
Hamilton Musical Performance
Our Year 9and 10 Elective Musical and Drama class watching Hamilton Musical at Sydney Lyric Theatre.
Year 9 and 10 Dance – Matinee Performance of “Twofold” by Sydney Dance Company
On Tuesday 22 of September, Year 9 and 10 Elective Dance students travelled to Walsh Bay to watch a performance bySydney Dance Company.
The students participated in a Q & A session at the end of the performance with the performers and Sydney Dance Company director Raphael Bonachela.
Verneen Mason, Instructional Leader Creative and Performing Arts
Exciting Achievements at the Sydney Catholic Schools Athletics Championships
At the recent Sydney Catholic Schools Athletics Championships, the students of OLM Burraneer showcased their exceptional talent and sportsmanship, making a lasting impression on the entire sporting community. With a mix of determination, skill, and team spirit, our athletes brought home impressive results and demonstrated the core values of our school.
The Championships, held at the Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre, were a platform for our students to compete against some of the best young athletes from Catholic schools across Sydney. OLM Burraneer athletes stood out in various events, earning outstanding results in multiple categories.
Gold
Veronica Rogers- 12 years 1500m, 800m
Charli Moses- 13 years 1500m, 800m
Jayde Hartup- 13 years Hurdles, High Jump
Allegra Little- 14 years Hurdles, Long Jump, Triple Jump
Lilliy Kate Mewton- 14 years Discus, Shot Put
Silver
13 years 4x 100m Relay- Felicity Barnes, Jayde Hartup, Sianna Khoury, Semara Russell
14 years 4x 100m Relay- Allegra Little, Skyla Sleeman, Andie Smith, Montana Smith
Allegra Little- 14 years 100m, Discus
Bronze
Roma Taylor- 15 years 1500m
New Records
Allegra Little- 14 years Hurdles, Long Jump, Triple Jump
Lilliy Kate Mewton- 14 years Discus, Shot Put
Jayde Hartup- 13 years High Jump
Congratulations to Allegra Little who was the 14 year old girls Age Champion. Best of luck to our students who will now represent Sydney Catholic Schools at the NSW CCC Championships in September.
Bronze Duke of EdinburghHike
Our Bronze Duke of Edinburgh students completed their qualifying journey hiking from Gerringong to Minnamurra, staying overnight at Kendalls Beach, Kiama. The girls displayed excellent team work, motivation and organisation to complete their journey. Special thanks to Mr Mackenzie, Mr Hoban and Mrs Tregoning for joining the girls on their expedition.
NSW Combined Catholic Colleges Athletics Carnival
Congratulations to the following OLM Students who represented Sydney Catholic Schools at the NSW Combined Catholic Colleges Athletics Carnival. Well done on your outstanding results
Allegra Little- 1st 14 years Hurdles, 1st Long Jump, 2nd Triple Jump
Jayde Hartup- 2nd 13 years High Jump, 5th Hurdles
Veronica Rogers- 1st 12 years 1500m, 2nd 800m
Charli Moses- 3rd 14 years 1500m, 7th 800m
Layla White- 2nd 14 years 1500m, 3rd 800m
Lilliy Kate Mewton- 3rd 14 years Discus, 6th Shot Put
Roma Taylor- 9th 15 years 1500m
NSW All Schools Netball
Congratulations to Matilda Fanning (Year 10) who was apart of the NSW CCC Netball team who placed 2nd at the NSW All Schools Tri Series Tournament. Matilda has now been selected in the NSW All Schools Netball Team.
NSW Girls State of Origin Oz Tag
Congratulations to Sienna Bedwell (Year 8) who represented NSW in the 14 Girls State of Origin for OzTag. Sienna and her team competed in Coffs Harbour and won the series. Congratulations Sienna!
Technical and Applied Studies Faculty – Ellouise Bernie
Vinnie’s Project – Year 9 Food Tech
Year 9 Food Technology students have gained an awareness of food security issues not only globally, but also locally as they have studied the topic of Food Equity this term. Other issues around the future of our food, sustainability, food waste, ‘food miles’ and current food production practices have also been investigated.
We are so proud of our Year 9 Food Technology students who saw a need and created a snack specifically for distribution to Vinnies clients in our parish and Van Services. Mr John and Mrs Imelda O’Neil from Cronulla Parish came to hear from the student chefs about their packaged creations and take them for distribution. Fr Adrian was on hand to provide his thanks to our thoughtful students who undertook this task with great heart.
Student feedback:
From designing and creating a food item, I have developed a sense of knowledge around food insecurity and the struggles of people in need. With my knowledge on nutrition, I felt happy to give back to others, creating a nutritious healthy snack food item.
On Monday we prepared and cooked a food item for Vinnies recipients who we felt might like a little sweet treat. We hope to show them that we care and understand what they are going through in needing a helping hand. From this activity I have learnt how we can make a difference in the lives of others. It was a joyful experience.
Ellouise Bernie, Instructional Leader of Curriculum – TAS
English Faculty – Susan Kamp
Sutherland Shire Public Speaking Competition
A small group of our talented Public Speakers competed in the Sutherland Shire Public Speaking Competition along with over 50 students representing a variety of Secondary Schools. Well done to Sophie George, Saoirse O’Brien, Chloe English, Sophie Hammon and Sophie Mooney.
Sophie George and Saoirse O’Brien both spoke eloquently in the Junior Division with Saoirse being selected to progress to the next round.
The Senior Division was particularly competitive and congratulations to Sophie Mooney and Sophie Hammon who will also progress to the following round.
Poetry Competition Winner
The Winners of the 2024 National Speaking 4 the Planet Competition have just been announced and our Deanna Tsotras of Year 8 has been awarded FIRST PLACE. She wins a $100 voucher as well as other various prizes .
This year’s theme was: Trees: the Guardians of Life, with entry word limits restricted to 30 words.
Deanna’s winning entry is below:
Sutherland Shire, enormous jacaranda trees stand tall.
They are the defenders of life, and they will never fall.
Branches stretch out; arms embrace.
Drawing us within for comfort and grace.
Ms Susan Kamp, Instructional Leader of English
Local News
One Meal
Digital Dangers & Our Kids
2028 International Eucharistic Congress
During the recent conclusion of the 2024 International Eucharistic Congress in Ecuador, it was formally announced that Sydney will host the next gathering in 2028. This is significant for us, and will mark the 100th anniversary of when Australia last hosted the event. Please see attached a media release from the Archdiocese of Sydney regarding the 2028 International Eucharistic Congress, and an accompanying Pastoral Letter from Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP.
