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2024 HSC Written Exam Timetable Released (Ref: 111/24)
The 2024 Higher School Certificate Written Exam Timetable has been released by NESA. Students and parents can now check the dates and times of final exams, commencing on Tuesday 15 October.
Click here to download the timetable.
For further information, search for specific classes and find tips on how to prepare, visit the NSW Government website.
Available Now: Updated Assessment and Reporting Information from NESA (Ref: 108/24)
Information on the following topics is under Assessment and Reporting on the NSW Curriculum website:
- Standards-referenced assessment
- What are standards?
- Inclusive assessment
- Adjustments for students with disability
- Formative assessment approaches
- Teacher observations
- Peer assessment and self-assessment
- Collaboration
- Worked examples
- Reporting to parents and carers
- Common grade scales
- Common Grade Scale Years 1 to 10
- Common Grade Scale for Preliminary Courses
- Making a holistic on-balance professional judgement
- Advice for using A to E grades
Contact Monica O’Brien on monica.obrien@csnsw.catholic.edu.au for further assistance if required.
Now Open: NESA Primary WRITEON Competition 2024 (Ref: 107/24)
The NESA WriteOn 2024 annual writing competition for NSW students in Years 1 to 6 is now open!
Students enter by writing an imaginative text of up to 500 words using an image as the stimulus. The image for 2024, ‘The railway station, Redfern’ (1893) by Arthur Streeton, is courtesy of the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
This year, NESA has also published syllabus-based teaching and learning advice to help teachers plan for WriteOn as part of their Term 2 programs.
Webpage link is here: WRITEON COMPETITION 2024
Student entries close at 4pm, Friday 28 June.
Notre Dame Education Lecture Series: The State of Education (Ref: 100/24)
All those interested are encouraged to attend a public lecture to be given by Professor Tom Bennett OBE on Tuesday 14 May from 6:00 to 7:30 pm at the University of Notre Dame in Sydney on “The Enlightenment: the rediscovery of practice and evidence in school behaviour“.
The topic of classroom behaviour and behaviour management is becoming increasingly relevant and pressing. All education ministers in Australia mandated the teaching of behaviour management in education degrees and this lecture hopes to facilitate a broad discussion of the topic among teachers, school leaders, parents, and the wider community.
Professor Tom Bennett OBE is the founder and director of ResearchED, a non-profit organisation that runs teacher conferences about research and education. He is the UK Education Department’s independent behaviour advisor.
This lecture is one of three lectures to be given by Tom Bennett OBE on 8, 14, and 16 May. All three lectures have the option for attendance in person or online. Register here to attend: Notre Dame Education Lecture Series – register
Privacy Awareness Week (Ref: 94/24)
Privacy Awareness Week will run from 6 – 12 May this year. It gives individuals and businesses an opportunity to assess their current privacy practices and consider areas for improvement. This year’s theme is Privacy and Technology: improving transparency, accountability, and security.
The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner has developed a wide range of resources designed to support best practices in privacy.
To access the resources, click here.
Animal Welfare Liaison Officer Identification and Paperwork (Ref: 104/24)
The NSW Animal Research Act 1985 (the Act) governs the use of animals in schools for educational purposes. Catholic Schools NSW (CSNSW) meets a requirement of the Act by issuing an Animal Research Authority to each school annually.
The details of how systems and schools meet the requirements of the Act were outlined in Memo 102 issued by Danielle Cronin (Deputy CEO CSNSW) on 26 April. Please ensure that the attached Animal Research Authority is distributed to schools and completed and retained in a centralised place within each school as soon as possible.
Further information can be obtained from Joanne Hack at joanne.hack@csnsw.catholic.edu.au.
Updated Not-for-Profit Guidelines for Non-Government Schools (Ref: 99/24)
The Education Regulation 2017 (NSW) has been updated with a new regulation under Clause 10B to clarify how certain school income and assets can be used by non-government schools to provide recognised education and care programs, including preschools, long day care and out of school hours care.
The new regulation permits non-government schools to use certain types of school income and/or assets to deliver education and care programs for current learners and future learners, without operating ‘for profit’.
Further information is also available under section 9.2 of the NFP Guidelines (2024).
National Walk Safely to School Day (Ref: 101/24)
On Friday, 10 May 2024, parents and children are encouraged to join primary schools all across Australia in walking to and from school as part of the Walk Safely to School Day.
This national initiative aims to encourage children to lead a healthier, more active lifestyle by simply including a walk at the beginning, at lunchtime and at the end of each day. The event also promotes reduced car-dependency, greater use of public transport, cleaner air, improved diets and road safety to primary school children throughout Australia.
The Pedestrian Council of Australia, the organisation behind National Walk Safely to School Day, has developed a range of resources to support parents and teachers in raising healthier, happier kids. These resources can be found here: Walk Safely to School Day 2024 – Stickers, Posters
Anzac Memorial Education Program (Ref: 110/24)
Explore Sydney’s rich history at the Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park, offering captivating live theatre, interactive workshops, and insightful tours led by educators, all centered around the poignant stories of Australians at war. Designed for students from Years 3 to 12, the award-winning programs provide an immersive journey into the Memorial’s architecture, history, and the profound impact of wartime events. Secure your school’s excursion spot by contacting education@anzacmemorial.nsw.gov.au or visit our website to book and discover the essence of our nation’s wartime heritage firsthand.
Contact education@anzacmemorial.nsw.gov.au or visit the website to book your school excursion https://www.anzacmemorial.nsw.gov.au/learning-anzac-memorial
Smart Farming Virtual Classroom Sessions (Ref: 109/24)
Australian Good Meat Education is back for Term 2, presenting the beloved Smart Farming virtual classroom experience. Tailored for both lower (F-2) and upper (3-6) primary school levels, students can delve into the world of Australian farming firsthand, guided by local farmers.
Our Life on the Farm (LP) and Future Farming (UP) sessions have expanded with new topics, offering students a comprehensive understanding of Australian farm life. Hosted on Zoom, these 30-minute sessions are aligned with the curriculum, covering vital aspects of farming environments, sustainable practices, and agricultural technology.
Students can engage directly with farmers, participate in quizzes, and gain insights into the journey of their food, all from the comfort of their classroom or home. Further information can be found here: Smart Farming Virtual Classroom
Academy for Enterprising Girls Super Assembly and HEX Career Workshops ???????(Ref: 106/24)
Our Lady of Mercy College Parramatta is hosting the Academy for Enterprising Girls Leadership Series Day on Thursday, 23 May. Thanks to support from the federal government, the day is free to attend.
There are two events within this day for which you can register to attend:
- Super Assembly (9:30-11:30am) with guest speaker Taylor Dee Hawkins.
- Career Exploration Workshop (12:00pm-2pm) facilitated by HEX.
Who should attend this event?
Our future women leaders in Years 10, 11 and 12 who want to get access to expert advice and support in launching their careers.
How do you register?
Go to https://enterprisinggirls.com.au/leadership-series/ for further details and to register your interest. Please note that there are limited seats available for the Career Exploration Workshop (which is capped at 150).
Applications Now Open to Join the Government's Youth Steering Committee (Ref: 98/24)
The current Government is looking for young people to play a role in shaping government policy and programs that matter to them. Minister for Youth Dr Anne Aly has invited young people from across Australia to apply to be part of the Government’s Youth Steering Committee.
The Committee will work closely with Dr Aly, ensuring that young people are involved in government decision-making, including the implementation of Engage! A strategy to include young people in the decisions we make.
With no experience required, applicants aged between 12 and 24 are encouraged to apply for at least seven new two year positions, alongside some existing members reappointed to the 14 person Youth Steering Committee.
Interested youth can apply here: Youth Steering Committee — Australian Youth Affairs Coalition
Available Now: 2024 CSSA Trial HSC Examinations Final Timetable (103/24)
The 2024 CSSA Trial HSC Examinations Final Timetable was released to schools on Monday, 29 April (Week 1, Term 2). CSSA communications were sent to the registered email address of the Principal and Main CSSA Contact as noted in the individual School Account in the CSSA website.
The Final Timetable will be made publicly available on the CSSA website in Week 2, Term 2.
The CSSA website is conveniently located here: https://www.cssa.com.au/
The 2024 CSSA Trial HSC Examinations Timetable is scheduled for:
- Monday 5 August to Monday 19 August.
The 2024 CSSA Trial HSC Examinations Security Period is:
- up to, and inclusive of, Wednesday 21 August.
- Examinations, including examination-related materials and student scripts, can be returned to students from 8.00am, Thursday 22 August.
CSSA website and individual School Accounts
- Individual Schools must keep up to date school data in their CSSA school accounts via the CSSA website’s Account Settings.
- Relevant personnel in CSSA-registered schools should ensure that school data available and fields of information on the CSSA website are checked, updated and completed as necessary. This will ensure that your school’s address, phone number, email address and contact details are correct – this information is critical for communication with schools and the secure delivery of CSSA Trial HSC Examinations. Finally, remember to click on the “SAVE” button at the end of the process.
Monica O’Brien
Head, CSSA Exams
Closing Date Extended: NSW Premier’s Teacher Scholarship (Ref: 45/24)
The NSW Premier’s Teacher Scholarships closure date is now Friday 17 May 2024. The scholarships are open to permanent and temporary teachers in NSW government and non-government schools and recipients will have the opportunity to undertake a five-week study tour internationally or within Australia to explore best practice in their chosen focus area.
Twelve scholarships are open to apply for, each with a different area of interest.
For further information and to find out what scholarships are available to apply for, please visit the NSW Premier’s Teacher Scholarships webpage.