College Newsletter
Term 1 Week 9 - Friday 27 March 2020
A Message from the Principal
Dear Parents, Staff and Students,
The last few weeks have been especially challenging for everyone at Cerdon College, along with the rest of Australia having to respond to rapidly changing advice regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic and endeavouring to provide high quality educational experiences for our students.
The College staff have continued to strive to provide students with a safe, positive and structured school environment where students have been able to continue their studies on a digital platform.
It is especially important at this time that your daughters maintain a regular structured learning environment.
- Students should be up and ready for classes to start at 9:05 am.
- Students should be fully and appropriately dressed and ready to partake in all activities set. No student should be doing their classes in pyjamas especially if they are on ZOOM conferences.
- Students should be undertaking work in a quiet space.
- Parents should be taking students phones from them at 9:00 am and returning the phones at the end of the school day only.
- Students should not be eating while they are online especially if they are on ZOOM conferences.
- Students and parents need to be aware that sometimes student's questions do not immediately post onto Google Classroom. The questions will be responded to during the next lesson. (This is a technology issue not a teacher issue.)
- Lessons will be posted during lesson time. Students should be online during normal lessons. Extension activities will be included in lessons.
- Students should ensure they take set recess and lunch breaks.
Guidelines for video conferencing have been shared with all staff, students and parents. The eSafety Commissioner (Federal Government) has a range of resources to help parents keep their children safe online; click here to view their website.
As has happened over the past few weeks, Cerdon College will continually advise parents and students of changes to school operations as this information comes to hand via Skoolbag.
As a Catholic community we join with the world in prayer at this time -
God Bless
Mrs Patricia Baker
College Principal
Vale Mrs Pecora
As you are aware, Mrs Francesca Pecora, a well known and loved colleague, sadly passed away on Sunday 8th March. Mrs Pecora's passing is deeply felt by all students and staff.
Mrs Pecora was a long standing member of the Cerdon College staff having taught at the College since 1994. She was a devoted and passionate Italian language teacher and worked constantly to build students confidence and skills as linguists.
On behalf of our community, we extend our prayers and sympathy to her family during this time of great sadness. Please keep in your prayers the staff and students at Cerdon College who share this grief.
We are aware that this is a time of deep reflection and sadness for both staff and students, however, it is with our faith that we can move forward knowing that Francesca has been welcomed into the loving arms of our God.
Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord
and let perpetual light shine upon her,
May she Rest in Peace.
Amen
Thank you from the Marist Mission Centre
Marist Mission Centre would like to thank Cerdon College for the fundraising that your school did last year.
We have forwarded the funds that you raised for Sr Lilibeth at Balay Banaag in the Philippines and she has sent the below reply:
“We have received the donation from Marist Sisters schools: Cerdon College and Woolwich, we have used these funds for the purchase of a screened main door, beddings and curtains, centre uniforms for children and staff, table and chairs, therapy room furniture, receiving area furniture, a TV and other contingencies for the Balay Banaag Centre run by the Marist Sisters.”
Anne Martinus
Finance and Project Manager
Marist Mission Centre, Sustaining Hope
Ancient History Incursion - Timelines Past
On Thursday, 5th March, Karl Van Dyke from Timelines Past visited the school to conduct a workshop for the Year 11 Ancient History class. Karl had also visited the day before to conduct a workshop for the Year 9 Elective History group.
In the workshop, Karl gave a very interesting talk on ancient Spartan military dress, weapons and tactics. He then passed around and discussed a range of real artefacts from the ancient world, such as a Roman tile, some Egyptian vessels and a Chinese Oracle bone. For the third part of the workshop, the girls conducted a mock excavation and analysis of a Roman legionary’s skeleton. The day before, the Year 9 class also had a lecture on using sources for ancient history.
All of the girls found the workshops to be fun, educational and inspiring. Perhaps, as a result, we might even see some future archaeologists among our current students?
Mr. S. Bridges
HSIE-A Co-ordinator
International Women’s Day 8th March
On Friday the 6th of March, Year 11 senior students Hannah Khoury, Gabriella Logiotatos, Vanessa Mekdessi, Sophia Siderides and Sophia Vicic had the pleasure of representing Cerdon College at the International Women’s Day Breakfast at Novotel Parramatta. This year's theme was ‘Generation Equality’ with inspirational and influential guest speakers, Anyier Yuol and Hannah Stack.
Anyier Youl, was Blacktown’s Woman of the Year in 2018 and she spoke about her journey from a refugee camp in Kenya to becoming a model and inspirational speaker in Australia. She was able to turn around her poor circumstances and become a woman with great influence which she has used to increase diversity in organising the ‘Miss Sahara Pageant’ with the aim of supporting women’s rights, no matter race or age.
The other guest speaker, Hannah Stack shared an educational talk on generational inequality amongst women. She provided shocking statistics that showed us that we still have a long way to go for ‘generation equality’. There are 130 million girls missing out on school and every 2 seconds, a child bride is married off. She ended by stating that even though we have come a long way considering the past, we can always do better and prove these statistics wrong.
Overall, the International Women’s Day Breakfast was a great experience that empowered students as women have ways to push past any barriers and challenges that come our way.
Year 11 Chemistry Field Trip ANSTO 2020
ANSTO, Lucas Heights - Science. Ingenuity. Sustainability.
The Year 11 Chemistry students engaged in an informative field trip experience at ANSTO, Lucas Heights on Tuesday the 10th March 2020. The students were taken, by experts, on guided tours of the innovative and specialised facilities and they had the opportunity to learn about the latest work of Australian scientists. This innovative work involves developing the latest radioisotopes used for medical purposes, identifying the crystalline structure of materials, along with imaging unbroken samples that contain fossils within them.
Participating in the day allowed the students to learn first hand about the processes that are undertaken to create these valuable isotopes, the impacts these isotopes have for the lives of humans, the costs and the important environmental considerations necessary when using these substances. Learning through this experience was valuable, adding depth to the students’ understanding beyond the classroom.
Ms Liistro and Mrs Hanson
Rotary Fundraising Function
On 11th March, the Rotary function took place. The night was organised by the TAS department and the Year 11 and Year 12 Hospitality students of Cerdon College.
To cater for this event the hospitality department organised a variety of canapés for guests such as Vietnamese rice paper rolls, Thai beef salad, Spring rolls, Chicken skewers and Sushi. To accompany the savoury canapés there was also a range of delicious desserts, such as, Cheesecake, Apple Crumble, Fruit Skewers and Panacotta.
This event was organised for the local Rotary clubs from Parramatta and Northmead, which are non-profit organisations who help with the school and to fundraise for the current Rotary project mission to help Cambodian children receive an education. This Rotary function was solely to raise money for Cambodian children to receive an education and also to have basic school supplies, hygiene resources and at home educational programs, due to school closures from COVID-19. Every one hundred dollars raised last night during the function helped one child with these necessities.
On the whole the night was an outstanding success in terms of fundraising and celebrating the wonderful work that the Rotary clubs provide for the community. We would like to recognise the hard work of the Hospitality department and students who catered for this event.
The guests were also entertained by Year 10, 11 and 12 Music students who performed a variety of individual acts. VET Entertainment students assisted in the documentation of the event by taking a variety of videos and photos.
Many thanks to the following local businesses that provided sponsorship for this event –
Rydges Hotel Parramatta
Novotel Hotel Parramatta
Riverside Theatres Parramatta
Club Parramatta (Parramatta RSL)
Adora Chocolates Parramatta
Bree Maguire and Sienna Vivas (Year 12)
Communication
The College Newsletter will be published via Skoolbag, Facebook & the Student Portal twice per term, in Week 5 and Week 10. Copies can also be found on the College Website.
For all regular announcements and up to date news on the events that take place at the College, please subscribe to the News Feed and Announcements Feed on the College Website which you can access here. You can also follow Cerdon College on Twitter, Facebook, Pintrest and Instagram; links to our Social Media can be found at the bottom of this Newsletter and on the College Website. We will continue to use Skoolbag to communicate important information about excursions, information nights and parent/teacher evenings. Please make sure that you select the appropriate group(s) to receive specific news relevant to your daughter's year group. If you are new to Skoolbag please review the infographic below.
College Uniform Shop Trading Hours
Regular Trading Hours
Mondays 8:00 am—2:00 pm (All year during school terms)
Wednesdays 8:00 am- 2:00 pm (Terms 1 and 4 - by appointment only)
See College Website to make an appointment.
Cerdon College Uniform Shop Management
Telephone: 8724 7329 (During trading hours only)
About us
Email: cerdon@parra.catholic.edu.au
Website: http://dev.cerdon.nsw.edu.au
Location: Sherwood Rd, Merrylands West, New South Wales, Australia
Phone: 8724 7300
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CerdonCollege
Twitter: @CerdonCollege