Updates
Catholic Mission Event – A Morning with Abraham Muma
Catholic Mission will be hosting an event at the Xavier Centre, Wollongong, following the 10:30 am Mass on Sunday 1 June 2025.
The event will highlight the Church’s mission and outreach work in Zambia, which is the focus for this year’s Socktober Mission Month Appeal in October.
You are warmly invited to attend. Please access the official invitation here.
Professional Standards for Middle Leaders – MyPaD
For: Principals, School Leaders, Middle Leaders and Teachers
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 Deaf Youth Science Camp – Student Opportunity
Registrations are now open for the 2025 Deaf Youth Science Camp.
This is a chance for Deaf and hard-of-hearing young people (aged 12-17 years old) to participate in an immersive science experience.
At the camp, participants will do hands-on science activities, go on tours of different science facilities, and meet Deaf STEM professionals. The camp is also an opportunity to develop personal and leadership skills as well as enhance friendship networks.
This camp is hosted by Deaf Youth Australia and ANSTO, and supported by a National Science Week 2025 grant.
When: Thursday 7 August - Saturday 9 August 2025
Where: ANSTO, New Illawarra Rd, Lucas Heights
Registration fee: $200
Website: www.ansto.gov.au/deaf-youth-scie.nce-camp
Registrations close: 13 June 2025 (spaces are limited).
Sound Scouts – Hear for Your Future
Being able to support a student after identifying the underlying issue is making a huge difference. Understanding the reason behind a child's learning difficulty has been of paramount importance to see them start to thrive and connect with their learning.
The Hidden Cycle Between Hearing, Reading and Mental Health
World-first research from Australian Catholic University’s Australian Centre for the Advancement of Literacy has found that children with hearing difficulties are more likely to experience both reading challenges and mental health issues.
The study, led by Dr Andrea Salins, analysed data from more than 15,000 children aged five to eleven across Australia, the UK, and the US. It showed that children with reported ear and hearing difficulties not only had lower reading skills but also higher rates of anxiety, attention issues, peer problems, and behavioural difficulties. Read more about the research: Hearing difficulties linked to reading-related mental health issues.
Hearing is fundamental to both emotional and academic growth, and when issues go unnoticed, children may struggle in silence. Early screening, including after the newborn check, is critical to identify mild or acquired hearing loss that can surface in the school years.
Sound Scouts makes it easy to proactively support students’ wellbeing by identifying potential hearing challenges with the Sound Scouts app. Term 2 is a great time to start testing as children have settled into the school year.
As undiagnosed hearing issues can impact both learning and socialising, the sooner issues are identified and treated, or managed, the better. Self-esteem can be easily damaged but not so easily repaired.
With a shocking one in six children experiencing mental health issues (National Children’s Mental Health & Wellbeing Strategy), a 7-minute hearing check is one simple way to make a difference.
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.
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.
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.
NESA – Official Notice
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.
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.
CEDoW Library
ACEN eBook of the Week
Theme: Banned Books.
Explore this week’s eBook titles for primary, secondary, and staff via the Australian Catholic Education Network (ACEN).
Click here to explore the titles.
Click on each image or scan the QR code for more information. To sign in to Sora, select "ACEN" as your school.
ClickView Highlight
This week’s featured content:
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Walk Safely to School Day
-
The Global Economy
If you have any questions, please contact Jim Gallagher, Library Services Manager, at gallagherj01@dow.catholic.edu.au.