Updates
National Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week 2025
For: Principals and RECs
This year National Sorry Day falls on Monday 26 May and is a day when we pause to remember the Stolen Generations of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
It leads us into the Week of Prayer for Reconciliation and National Reconciliation Week which is held each year between 27 May and 3 June.
The theme for National Reconciliation Week 2025 is, Bridging Now to Next.
See here for a liturgy resource that you might find useful to help your school community acknowledge National Reconciliation Week.
Other helpful resources relating to National Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week can be found at the following websites:
Raising Hope – Laudato Si' Week 2025
Attention: Principals and RECs/Leaders of Mission
Join the global Catholic community in celebrating Laudato Si’ Week, marking the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si’ which Pope Francis signed on the day of Pentecost, 24 May, 2015.
This special week commemorates Pope Francis' landmark encyclical on climate change and care for our common home—rooted in centuries of Church teaching on creation. With this year’s theme "Raising Hope", we come together in faith and action, continuing the legacy of Pope Francis and renewing our commitment to ecological justice and a sustainable future for all.
Please note the global celebration is 24–31 May, but in Australia, many choose to acknowledge Laudato Si’ Week from 16–24 May, so as not to clash with Reconciliation Week.
The following resources may be helpful for you in marking Laudato Si’ Week with your school communities:
- Laudato Si’ Movement Laudato Si’ Week 2025
- Catholic Earthcare Caritas Australia Laudato Si' Week 2025 Resources
- Liturgy for Celebrating Laudato Si’ Week 2025 Word doc and PDF doc.
- Laudato Si’ Week Bookmark and Daily Reflection Posts
- Pope Francis’ Ecological Legacy.
“Let us sing as we go.
May our struggles and our concern for this planet never take away the joy of our hope.”
Laudato Si’ n244
Professional Standards for Middle Leaders – MyPaD
For: Principals, School Leaders, Middle Leaders and Teachers
Contact: Anna Jones at annalouise.jones@dow.catholic.edu.au
Links: https://www.aitsl.edu.au/standards
https://www.aitsl.edu.au/lead-develop/teachers-who-lead/middle-leadership-standards
The AITSL Professional Standards for Middle Leaders are now available for staff to access for their Performance and Development Plan (PDP) on MyPaD. It is encouraged that teachers and middle leaders consult the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST) and the Middle Leader Standards (MLS) when formulating their (PDP) goal(s) for the year.
Teaching staff (excluding Principals) are required to have selected at least one or two standard descriptors from the relevant APST career stage. Selection is based upon the individual's professional responsibilities and their identified areas for growth and development.
Middle Leaders are likely to find the Highly Accomplished or Lead descriptor standards most applicable to their planning for goal setting. Please note that these descriptors may be utilised for PDP purposes irrespective of formal accreditation by NESA at that level.
Additionally, the Middle Leader Standards serve as a valuable and excellent resource for delineating the scope of required developmental capabilities and should also be considered when setting leadership goal/s in conjunction with one or more standard descriptors from the APST.
The MLS are also an excellent resource for leadership teams to utilise in alignment with APST to clarify and support the importance of the Middle Leader role in driving school improvement. Middle Leaders may choose to focus on an area from the MLS when designing community goals for collaborative teams.
If you have any questions or would like support, please contact Anna Jones: Team Leader, Leadership and Professional Growth at annalouise.jones@dow.catholic.edu.au.
2025 CSSA Trial HSC Examinations – FINAL Timetable Dates Released
The 2025 CSSA Trial HSC Examinations FINAL Timetable was released to schools on Monday 28 April 2025.
CSSA communications were sent to the registered email address of the Main CSSA Contact, as listed in each school’s account on the CSSA webpage of the Catholic Schools NSW (CSNSW) website.
The FINAL Timetable will be publicly available on the CSSA webpage in Week 2, Term 2. The CSSA webpage can be accessed here.
The 2025 CSSA Trial HSC Examinations are scheduled for:
- Monday 4 August to Monday 18 August.
The 2025 CSSA Trial HSC Examinations Security Period is:
- Up to, and inclusive of, Wednesday 20 August
- Examinations, including examination-related materials and student scripts, can be returned to students from 8.00 am, Thursday 21 August.
CSSA Webpage and Individual School Accounts
School data in individual School Accounts with the CSSA must be kept up to date via the CSSA webpage in the Account Settings section of the CSNSW website.
Relevant personnel at CSSA-registered schools should regularly check, update, and complete all required fields to ensure the accuracy of the information provided.
Accurate school details—such as address, phone number, email address, and contact information—are essential for effective communication and the secure delivery of CSSA Trial HSC Examinations.
Finally, click the “SAVE” button to confirm any updates.
NESA News
NESA News provides the latest updates and information as soon as they become available.
1. HSC Written Exam Timetable
The 2025 HSC written examination timetable will be available on the NESA website from 10:00 am, Friday 2 May.
From 9:00 am, Friday 2 May:
- HSC students can access their personalised exam timetable on Students Online.
- Schools can access the HSC written exam schedule on Schools Online.
- The HSC practical and performance exam timetable and Languages oral exam timetable are available now.
View the 2025 HSC Key Dates here.
2. HSC Science Extension Exam
The sample exam is now open for HSC Science Extension students to start preparing for their online exam.
Schools must nominate their students by going to Schools Online and navigating to > Online Tests > HSC Science Extension.
The Online Exam Handbook and Key Dates are also available in Schools Online > Memos and documents.
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NESA – Official Notice
1. Stage 6 Languages – Information about Korean and Indonesian Korean Continuers Stage 6 will not be discontinued in 2026.
There is a risk of discontinuation for Korean and Literature Stage 6 in 2028 and Indonesian Extension Stage 6 in 2027.
2. Minor update to Construction Curriculum Framework Stage 6 Syllabus
The Construction Curriculum Framework Stage 6 Syllabus has been updated following the release of version 9.1 of the CPC Construction, Plumbing and Services Training Package.
There is no impact on HSC course requirements and no changes to examinable HSC content.
Further details and a summary of updates can be found in the Construction Record of Changes.