College Newsletter
Term 2 Week 8 Friday 16 June 2017
A Message from the Principal
As the term moves forward, Cerdon College next week celebrates Chavoin Day. This day allows the College to look back on the past and show gratitude to the Marist Sisters for their efforts in founding and encouraging the school to develop over the past fifty eight years. It also allows Cerdon College to celebrate the here and now, acknowledging the exceptional talents of our students and look to a future full of hope for the continued growth and development of the College.
Students from Year 7 to 12 will be involved in a variety of learning activities and will be completing many Assessment Tasks over the next few weeks. It is important that all students attend each day.
Term 2 will conclude on Friday 30 June at 3:20 pm and will re-commence for Term 3 on Monday 17 July.
Year 8 Reports will be issued on 26 June and Reports for Years 7, 9 and 10 will be issued to students at 3:15 pm on 30 June.
Given the many tragedies we have heard about in our news services in recent weeks, as a school community, let us pray:
Lord, there are many places
in our world
where people do not respect
the backgrounds, values, traditions
and cultures of others.
We know that prejudice
can turn to hatred
and even to murder.
Such intolerance often starts
in simple ways.
Lead us to live in such a way
that our first reaction
is to think good of the people,
with whom we come in contact
and allow us to focus on positive relationships
before we consider the negative.
Amen
God Bless
Mrs Patricia Baker
Principal
In Sympathy
Please keep the Titmuss family in your thoughts and prayers following the recent passing of Patricia Tracey, Grandmother of Briana Titmuss Year 11 and Bridie Titmuss Year 10.
May she rest in peace.
Amen
Student Attendance
The NSW Education Act (1990) requires every child from 6 years to 17 years of age to be at school every day the school is open. The only acceptable reason for an absence is an illness that is fully documented.
Any extended time away from school for any reason may mean that a school will require a student who has missed classes to repeat a school year, as the school may be unable to certify that a student has achieved the syllabus outcomes for that stage.
Attendance Summary as at 15 June 2017
Building Site
Access to the College Office is via the Sherwood Road footpath only. Parent co-operation in allowing Cerdon College to meet its Work, Health and Safety obligations is appreciated.
School Fees
Term 2 School Fees were due and payable on Monday 12 June 2017. Please contact Mrs Baliva at the College on 8724 7308 if you have not received your School Fees statement from Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta, or if you require any further information. Thank you.
Finance Department
Cerdon College
Canteen Volunteers
Thank you
Congratulations
Rotary was founded, in Chicago, on 23 February 1905, by Paul Harris, a lawyer, and three business associates. In 1957, the Rotary Foundation launched the Paul Harris Fellowship in memory of the founder as an expression of appreciation for those who have contributed to the humanitarian and educational programs of the Rotary Foundation.
In Australia Paul Harris Fellow recognitions have been awarded to Rotarians, and others, who have shown that they are prepared to go that extra mile in support of people in need. Indeed – it is an emphatic acknowledgement of the appreciation shown for tangible and significant assistance given for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations among people of the world.
These awards have been presented to many outstanding leaders in the community, as well as to “ordinary people doing extraordinary things“.
Below is the citation read by Mr Robert Feil from Holroyd Rotary at the presentation on Wednesday evening.
Mrs L Parker
Assistant Principal
Citation:
Patricia Baker, you were selected to receive recognition as a Paul Harris Fellow because the Rotary Club of Holroyd believes that your life exemplifies the humanitarian and educational objectives of the Rotary Foundation. We thank you for demonstrating in your life and vocation a commitment to helping persons in need, here and around the world
Trish Baker has dedicated 40 years of service to Education first as a teacher, then a Studies Coordinator, Assistant Principal and Principal – she started her teaching career in the Northern Territory and has since taught at a number of schools across Sydney.
Trish is very generous towards both staff and students encouraging them to maximise any learning and professional development opportunities that arise, works tirelessly to ensure that a number of learning opportunities are available to a diverse range of students and that the needs of all students at the college are catered for demonstrating compassion to students, staff and families.
From day one at Cerdon –she has been very involved in the life of the College including involvement in many extra curricula activities. As one example, she is very dedicated to the Debating and Public Speaking competitions, attending every Friday night, where she is regularly an adjudicator.
She has built bridges with the local parishes, local businesses, local members of parliament and the wider community, including local Rotary clubs.
As evidenced here tonight – the relationship between Cerdon College and local Rotary Clubs is indeed a strong one – Cerdon students regularly attending Rotary Leadership, Science, and MUNA programmes, staff have been recognised for Pride of Workmanship Awards and have attended Group Study Exchanges, and Rotarians often provide other support e.g. mentoring for ABW
Trish has also been a valued supporter of Rotary through her facilitation of the VET Hospitality student’s dinner.
In addition to being an educational experience the dinner has also been a highlight of the Rotary calendar and provides an opportunity for the students to showcase their skills for their parents and allow them to see the student’s talents at first hand.
The fundraising and raffles associated with these dinners have provided valued support to various Rotary programs including the refurbishment of the Rotary wing at the Children’s Hospital, support of primary education in Cambodia, particularly in relation to student’s health and fitness program, the Eggtober foundation (women’s gynaecological cancers), The end Polio Now campaign and this year Rotary’s Youth Programs.
Trish, on behalf of the Trustees of the Rotary Foundation, it gives me great pleasure to present to you the emblems of a Paul Harris Fellow: the Certificate and Lapel Pin. The certificate states that you have been named a Paul Harris Fellow in appreciation of tangible and significant assistance given for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations between peoples of the world.
Please accept our congratulations and sincere appreciation for your commitment to our common goals of world peace and understanding.
Ladies & Gentlemen, please congratulate and recognise our newest Paul Harris Fellow – Trish Baker.
Pink Day
Students made a gold coin donation to wear casual clothing with a pink theme for the day.
The Year 11 Social Justice Leaders also arranged a pink themed cake stall as a way of raising additional funds.
Staff at the College supported this student initiative by conducting their own raffle.
A total of $2700 was raised for this very worthy cause.
Our College Social Justice Leaders are to be congratulated for their fundraising efforts for this important cause. Likewise, all students in the College are acknowledged for the way they supported this student initiative.
On Friday the 9th of June, Cerdon College held a Pink Day to aid breast cancer awareness and raise money for the Jane McGrath foundation. Breast cancer in Australia is a serious issue as one in every eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of eighty five.
As Cerdon College is an all-girls school, the Year 11 Social Justice Leaders were very committed to educating their peers about breast cancer due to the high incidence of breast cancer in our community. Many of our staff and students have had their lives touched by breast cancer.
Students and teachers enthusiastically embraced the day and dressed in all things pink to support women with breast cancer. Mr Mulheron won best dressed with a jacket no one could miss, and a Bake Sale was held at lunch with lots of enticing sweets. The junior students showed off their moves as the music called for dance battles and the Nutbush. Pink Day not only brought the whole community together but also raised awareness of breast cancer and helped support nurses at the McGrath Foundation.
I would like to thank all the Social Justice Leaders and teachers who helped make this day so successful and the young girls at Cerdon College who rallied together for an important cause.
Gabriela Badrov (Year 11)
National Reconciliation Week (NRW)
National Reconciliation Week (NRW), recently held between 27 May to 3 June, commemorates anniversaries of national significance in Australia’s reconciliation journey: the 1967 referendum and the Mabo decision, respectively. In 2017, it has been 50 years since the 1967 referendum, and 25 years since the historic Mabo decision. The theme of National Reconciliation Week this year, Let’s Take the Next Steps, extended an invitation to all Australians to look forward to the next steps in Australia’s reconciliation journey.
Commemorating these significant dates and events in Australia’s history, presents all Australians with an opportunity to continue to reflect and engage in issues of importance to our nation’s history and of continuing relevance both nationally and within our local communities.
For further information about the 1967 Referendum and the Wave Hill Walk Off, the June issue of Pemulwuy, produced by the NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG), is a good starting point for parents and educators.
The newsletter, Pemulwuy, is named in honour of one of the first Aboriginal people known to have resisted the British settlement at Sydney Cove. From 1788 to 1802, along with his son Tedbury, Pemulwuy led a form of guerrilla warfare at the settlement at Botany Bay to the Parramatta area to Tongabbee (Toongabbie). Pemulwuy and Tedbury are recognised as the first Aboriginal people to resist attacks on their culture and identity.
The June issue of Pemulwuy also includes other information such as a profile of Australian Aboriginal, Thomas Harold Green, a Prisoner of War in WW2; a census snapshot of Aboriginal peoples; and the cultural significance of Catalina Park Raceway at Katoomba. The following selection of recent ABC podcasts (listed below) are also highly recommended for their further insights and perspectives into Mabo (a personal perspective by the third daughter of Eddie Mabo), the 1967 referendum (multiple views presented on the outcomes of the 1967 referendum), and a story about the importance of literacy (the story of Jack Beetson and the impact of literacy on his own life and those he has worked with and taught):
ABC Radio National podcasts
Literacy’s power to transform: Jack Beetson’s story with Richard Fidler
http://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/conversations/conversations-jack-beetson-rpt/8586728
AWAYE! Five Voices: myth, disillusionment and the 1967 Referendum
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/awaye/1967-referendum8349940/8349940
AWAYE! Don’t fence me in: 25 years since Mabo
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/awaye/mabo-documentary8487312/8487312
Mrs Sylaprany
Teacher/Librarian
Note: Pemulwuy is pronounced: “Pem-ool-we”
References
NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group Inc. 2015, Pemulwuy newsletter, viewed 7 June 2017, <https://www.aecg.nsw.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/PemulwuyJune2017.compressed_final.pdf>
Sydney Barani 2013, Pemulwuy, viewed 7 June 2017, <http://www.sydneybarani.com.au/sites/pemulwuy/>
House Morning Tea
- $500 will be sent to a poor school in the Philippines. Cerdon College students who participated in World Youth Day in 2016, visited this school as part of their immersion experience.
- $500 will be donated to the Holroyd Rotary Club to contribute to one of their community programs known as 'The Shelter Box' where people adversely affected by natural disasters are assisted.
- The remainder will be used to sustain our Saturday morning outreach venture at St Patrick's Church Hill.
The scores were extremely close this year with just one point separating Houses in most categories. Staff from Administration judged this year and the category winners were:
- Stall Presentation - Colin
- Cake - Marcellin
- Creativity - McOscar
- Amount of money raised: Colin $413.20, McOscar $306.65, Marcellin $242.15, Perroton $184.70
Mrs L Parker
Assistant Principal
Numeracy at Cerdon
With the recent requirements placed on Year 9 to achieve a minimum of Band 8 in NAPLAN in Reading, Writing and Numeracy to receive a HSC, an increased focus on what can be done to assist students to achieve this now exists.
For students to increase the probability of achieving a Band 8 in Numeracy in Year 9 the following must be considered:
● students should achieve a Band 7 in Year 7 and a Band 6 in Year 5 as there is approximately one band’s growth every two years.
● students not achieving these bands in Years 7 and 5, will benefit significantly from intervention. The earlier this intervention occurs the better.
● Literacy is one of the major hurdles students face when reading and understanding the Numeracy questions in NAPLAN. It is not about a student’s ability to read but rather their ability to comprehend what they are reading.
The College provides a number of programmes and initiatives to further develop students’ numerical learning and confidence. This includes:
● EMU, Extending Mathematical Understanding, both in the classroom and the Wave 2 Intervention Program in Year 7
● Numeracy supported classes in all years
● The use of Open Tasks to assist the development of both literacy and problem solving
● The explicit teaching of literacy of Mathematics
Grace Muscat (Maths Co-ordinator) and
Anne-Maree McEwen (Numeracy Co-ordinator)
Enrichment@Cerdon
As the term is drawing to a close it is great to see that a number of students taking the opportunity to involve themselves into a number of holiday programs. The holidays are a perfect time to enjoy some new experiences and many local libraries, museums and educational institutions offer a range of opportunities for students to participate in.
In this week’s edition read about the amazing experiences of some of our girls who attended the Gender Equality Challenge and the Teach & Meet events and the Write4Fun success of one of our students.
Write4Fun Success
Congratulations to Sophie Vo from Year 8 who was a finalist in the Write4Fun competition.
Sophie’s poem ‘The Art of Heartbreaking’ was one of only 15 poems to be selected as a finalist out of more than 10 000 entries. This is certainly an amazing effort!
Well Done Sophie!
A full list of winning poems and stories can be viewed on https://www.write4fun.net/competitions/59/winners
Gender Equality Challenge
Did you know…
Two thirds of children aged nine to eleven draw a man when asked to draw a scientist?
Only 5% of students doing 2 unit Engineering Science in the HSC are female?
In Australia, females represent 15.45 of all CEOs, yet in a 2016 analysis of 20 000 companies in 91 countries found that companies with more female executives were more profitable.
How can we create a gender inclusive and equal world?
This was the challenge presented by Apple to a group of Year 10 students, in their quest to encourage more female representation in STEM industries. Students were invited to present their thoughts about gender equality and think about what they would like to see happening in their world and what they would need to do to bring their ideas to life. The day proved to be an insightful experience and planted the seeds for further collaboration between Apple and the other schools involved.
It was a great experience being able to collaborate with different students and come up with some amazing ideas about how we can create a more gender equal world. Going to the Apple headquarters was very inspiring. It enabled us to see the passion that the organisers of this forum have for their company. Along with two other schools, we had the opportunity to present our ideas on ways companies can advocate for gender equality and expose more young girls to the joys of being able to participate in STEM related studies.
Some ideas we came up with were to host a symposium for both girls and boys to discuss this significant issue. It would include empowering speeches from many inspirational women and workshops which would broaden and challenge student thinking. We also had the opportunity to visit the Apple Store, meet some female employees and learn more about how they were inspired to do the work that they do. Overall, the day was amazing and we really encourage students to get involved in this movement.
Emma Balogh-Caristo and Perpetual Nkatiaa Boadu (Year 10)
Teach & Meet
On Thursday 15th June the Cuberider team was invited to present at the Teach & Meet event at the Powerhouse Museum Discovery Centre, Castle Hill. A variety of schools, both primary and secondary presented on special projects which they have been working on. We learned about a special app designed by primary students to learn more about the river environment, we met the submarine challenge national champions for 2016, we learned about living museums and even learned about the kids curriculum - a curriculum run by kids for kids..and teachers too. We all had the opportunity to visit the display and interact with some activities. The Cuberider team spoke about their experience through the project and briefly spoke about their findings and developing a prototype of a cream which can be used on the International Space Station.
The afternoon proved to be an enriching and entertaining event which showcased the amazing talent of our young people.
Enrichment opportunities available …
Free Museum Weekend
Saturday 24 & Sunday 25 June, 10am–5pm
This is a fantastic opportunity for all the family to enjoy an enriching experience at one of Sydney’s wonderful museums.
Visit the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney Observatory, Museums Discovery Centre and Australian Museum on the last weekend in June and enjoy FREE general admission (last entry at 4.00 pm).
Ozkids : Literary and Arts Program
Ozkids is a non for profit organization which aims to instill a love of literature and the arts in all students. The organisation offers students the opportunity to have their stories and poems or art work reviewed by a group of judges who are leaders in their field.
A selection of works is then published in the OzKids Magazine at regular times throughout the year. At the end of the year prizes are awarded for the best pieces of literature and art work submitted.
Entry is open to all school students. Closing date for your work to be considered for this year’s awards is 6th October, 2017.
Further information is available from http://www.ozkids.com.au/index.html
Alex Rider Story Competition
Calling all ALEX RIDER fans! If you enjoy action, adrenaline pumping, adventure stories and think you can write a good one, this is the opportunity for you. Students are invited to write a short story (750 words) with Alex Rider in it for their chance to win some fantastic prizes. Anthony Harrowitz, author of the Alex Rider series, will be judging the winning entry!
Further information is available on http://alexriderstory.com/
CSIRO Science Bootcamp
Science Bootcamp is an immersive CSIRO science experience for secondary school students. CSIRO Education and Outreach will host the Science Bootcamp in Sydney from the 5-6th July, 2017
The two-day program exposes secondary school-aged students to authentic scientific research in contemporary research facilities and gives the students the chance to meet and talk with CSIRO researchers. Students visit working laboratories and see the research currently being performed by scientists, researchers and technicians.
For further information and to register please visit
https://www.csiro.au/en/Education/Community-engagement/Bootcamp
The Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards 2017
The Dorothea Mackellar awards give school students the opportunity to showcase their creativity through poetry. Students are invited to submit a poem on any theme or if they wish the optional theme of All Over the World.
Students may enter up to three poems, but all entries need to processed via the school.
The competition closes on June 30.
For further information please visit
http://www.dorothea.com.au/How-to-Enter-2017-awards
ATOM Photo Competition
The ATOM Photo Comp is an initiative of Australian Teachers of Media (ATOM). It provides students with the opportunity to enter three photographs on a given theme for a chance to win some fantastic prizes. The theme for this years’ competition is My Backyard.
Further information is available on http://atomphotocomp.org
Entries close September 1, 2017.
Mrs S Agius
Enrichment Co-ordinator
Uniform Shop
Please note that as of Week 5 this term until the end of Term 3, the College Uniform shop is only open on Mondays.
Regular trading hours are as follows:
Monday and Wednesday 8:00 am—2:00 pm (Terms 1 and 4)
Mondays only 8:00 am—2:00 pm (from Week 5 Term 2 and all Term 3)
Cerdon College Uniform Shop Management
Telephone: 8724 7329 (During trading hours only)
School Zones
Parents need to take note that the area surrounding Cerdon College is designated as a School Zone. Police and Council Rangers constantly patrol the area. They will have no hesitation in prosecuting drivers for driving offences.
In NSW more than one million school students travel to and from school each day. The vast majority of students do so safely. The NSW State Government is committed to further increasing safety for children during school travel times.
The school zones were selected according to a number of criteria concerning the risks young pedestrians are exposed to, including a combination of high traffic volumes, the level of pedestrian use and crash history.
All NSW school zones are sign-posted with regulatory signs that list the operating times of the school zones.
What times do the school zone speed cameras operate?
All school zone speed cameras operate 24 hours per day, seven days a week and detect vehicles exceeding the speed limit. They are also programmed to detect vehicles exceeding the 40km/h school zone speed limit during sign-posted school zone times.
For most locations these times are: 8am – 9.30am and 2.30pm – 4pm on gazetted school days.
How do I know I am entering a school zone?
NSW school zones are sign-posted indicating the operating times of the school zone. There are also large, bright yellow markings painted on the road showing the 40km/h speed limit. In addition to the regulatory signs Roads and Maritime has also installed flashing lights (school zone alert systems) at a number of school zone sites, including all fixed speed camera sites that are located in a school zone. School zone flashing lights are used as an additional warning system to alert motorists to slow down, and are not legally required in NSW.
Are school zones enforced on pupil free days?
Fixed digital speed cameras enforce the school zone 40km/h speed limit during the stated school zone hours on all gazetted school days. Pupil free days or staff development days fit into this category and in some cases there may still be students attending schools on these days.
There are also some instances where double demerits apply on a school day. This will usually happen when the day before a long weekend is also a gazetted school day.
School days are defined as those gazetted by the NSW Government and which can be found on the NSW Government website and in most annual diaries. Both Catholic and independent schools, irrespective of their term dates, have enforceable school zones in line with Department of Education school terms. The fixed speed cameras enforce the school zone speed limit in accordance with the Department of Education school term dates.
School Calendars
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