Term 4 - Week 10

A Message from the Principal

Dear Parents, Carers and Friends of Bethany,

What a fabulous time of year it is when liturgically we turn our attention to preparing for the birth of Christ. Just as Mary felt displaced, finding it difficult to gain accommodation whilst she was heavily pregnant, let us keep in our prayers people who are displaced especially in the Holy Land due to war this Christmas. The nativity scene above reminds me of times throughout our College year. We have celebrated many new beginnings although none quite as spectacular as the birth of our Saviour, we have witnessed the love that only parents can give to their child, teachers have at times been like shepherds guarding and protecting each class whilst knowledge and care is imparted and students have fallen into line mostly and sometimes taken their own route. We have prayed together, celebrated together and reflected with gratitude on what truly matters in our relationships. May we always find time to relate to the birth of Christ as we navigate the busyness of the modern world.

Congratulations Year 12

Congratulations to the Year 12 graduating class of 2023. Yesterday HSC results and ATARs were released and we had much to celebrate. The 2023”Stars” were our smallest cohort for a few years and amongst the 162 students who sat for the HSC with 129 known ATARs, this group of students were rewarded with 145 Band 6 results. A Band 6 result equates to a mark of 90% or above or to look at it another way, a result in the top 10 percent of the state. These results are readily available on the NESA website who publish the names of these students.

The dux of the College is Grace Smith. Grace received an ATAR of 98.55 which is a testament to not only Grace’s intellect but her hard work for many years. Congratulations Grace.

Other notable results were the 2 places which we received in the state. Jaymee Louise Buena placed 8th in the state for Music 1 whilst Lara Squillaci placed 15th in the state for Biology. Congratulations also to Crystal Newcombe who received an All-Rounders Award for gaining a Band 6 in all of her 10 units. We are so pleased with Year 12 with 55% of students receiving an ATAR of 80 or more. This will stand them in a great position for university offers of their choosing.

This year Bethany remained in the top 100 schools for the 7th consecutive year. Amidst each girl’s result is a story of hard work, sometimes disappointment, perseverance, joy or grit, many qualities that we know are necessary for later in life. Every single girl should be proud to have completed 13 years of schooling and now it is time to look ahead as to the vast opportunities available that a quality Catholic education can bring. I know that Year 12, 2023 will be shining examples of quality role modelling for our next cohort of HSC candidates.

SEMESTER 2 PRINCIPAL AWARDS

Congratulations to the following girls on receiving a Principal Award for Semester 2.

Year 7

Year 8

As the staff close the academic year on Monday, I would like to thank the Bethany staff for their dedication to wanting to get the best out of your daughter. Our staff do work tirelessly and it was wonderful yesterday to see staff feel rewarded from the outstanding HSC results.

I wish each family a Merry Christmas and hope that the entire College Community travels safely until we meet again next year. 2023 has been rewarding and full of many new learnings.

Robyn Rodwell

College Principal

From the Assistant Principal

Our final week for this school year has been one of celebration across the whole school. I want to thank our Bethany educators for giving with such great energy, creativity and purpose during 2023. 

I also want to recognise our students who have worked so hard this year and contributed to the College in so many ways. Whether it be through a club that runs at lunchtime, a sporting team, debating, student leadership or just through helping out where needed, your work and contribution never goes unnoticed. On Tuesday we formally acknowledged the successes of Semester 2 for students across Years 7 - 11. It was a wonderful celebration encompassing achievement across the academic, sporting and cultural life of the College. 

I also want to say thank you to all parents for your ongoing support of the College and our community. We definitely achieve more when we work together. 2023 has not been without its challenges but there has also been a lot to be grateful for. 

I wish all our staff, students and their families a joyful, peaceful and safe Christmas and look forward to 2024. 

Kristina Flanagan
Assistant Principal

Religious Education

Christmas

In Catholicism, Christmas holds profound significance as it commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, who is considered the Son of God and the saviour of humanity. The word "Christmas" itself is derived from the Old English phrase Cristes Maesse, meaning the Mass of Christ.

Some key aspects of Christmas have been summarised below:

1. Celebration of the Incarnation: Christmas celebrates the central Christian belief in the Incarnation—the belief that God took on human flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. According to Christian doctrine, Jesus is both fully divine and fully human, and his birth marks the beginning of God's presence among humanity.
   
2. Fulfillment of Prophecy: Christmas is seen as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies that foretold the coming of a Messiah. The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem is often associated with the fulfillment of these prophecies, highlighting the continuity between the Old and New Testaments.
3. The Nativity Story: The Gospels of Matthew and Luke in the New Testament provide accounts of the Nativity, describing the circumstances surrounding the birth of Jesus, including the Annunciation to Mary, the visitation of the shepherds, and the journey of the Magi (wise men). These narratives are central to the Christmas story and are often read or re enacted during Christmas celebrations.
4. Joy and Hope: Christmas is a time of joy, as it is a celebration of the hope and salvation that Jesus brings to the world. The birth of Christ is seen as a moment of divine intervention to reconcile humanity with God and to offer the promise of eternal life.
5. Liturgical Celebrations: The Catholic Church observes the Christmas season liturgically, beginning with the vigil Mass on Christmas Eve and extending through the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord in January. Special liturgical elements, such as the Christmas Proclamation (Kalenda) and the singing of Christmas hymns, contribute to the festive atmosphere.
6. Cultural and Family Traditions: Beyond the religious aspects, Christmas has become a time for cultural and family traditions. Many customs, such as decorating Christmas trees, exchanging gifts, and gathering for festive meals, have become intertwined with the religious celebration of Christmas.

I take this opportunity to share with you an article from our Director of Mission and Identity, Anthony Cleary, as he reflects on the paradox of good times and bad times, neither of which are limited to the season of Christmas- Anthony Cleary: Dickens was right, ours is an age of paradox.

As I wish all our families a blessed Christmas, Christmas is a time for Catholics to reflect on the mystery of the Incarnation, to rejoice in the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, and to share in the hope and love that the season represents in good times and in bad.

Purpose Conference

On Thursday and Friday of last week, 20 students from Years 9 and 10 attended the inaugural Purpose Conference. Purpose Conference was an Archdiocesan Youth Conference that offered young people a powerful encounter with Jesus Christ and His Church through liturgy and Sacraments, keynote presentations, workshops and music. Those in attendance were able to hear the experiences of Jason Everet and Matt Frad, who touched on why being Catholic is so important. The girls are to be commended on their openness to the day and their ability to connect with themselves, each other and Jesus. It is my hope that this day inspires our girls to be a part of a generation of young, faithful, and active Catholics within our school and beyond.

Night Patrol

This year, we have been fortunate enough to have staff and students feed the most vulnerable people in our local community, providing them with essential items, a warm smile and friendly conversations. On Friday, 8 December, our hearts were filled with the spirit of generosity and love to bring some Christmas cheer to the residents of Eastlakes by handing out Christmas cards, cookies and sandwiches.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff and students of Bethany College for their generosity throughout the year. A special thank you to Ms Louise Anderson, who has given up her time on a monthly basis to lead sandwich making to ensure the residents we serve have fresh food. We look forward to continuing this partnership with St Vincent de Paul in 2024 and beyond.

Christmas Card Competition

'Tis the season of joy and creativity! We're thrilled to announce the winners of our annual Christmas Card Competition - Stephanie and Kristina Sertic. These two sisters blew us away with their creativity and ability to capture the theme, “O Come, Let Us Adore Him,” so beautifully. Thank you all for making this Christmas season truly special with your artistic expression. Your talent has added a unique and cherished dimension to our festivities. May the spirit of Advent and Christmas continue to inspire us all as we celebrate the joy, peace, and love that the birth of Christ brings!

St Michael’s Church Christmas Mass Times

For more Mass times around the Archdiocese, please use this link.

Please access this year’s Advent Companion, Listen To The Word, Prepare for His Birth from the Archdiocese of Sydney here.

Sara Camporeale

Leader of Religious Education and Mission

Teaching and Learning News

Newman Showcase Success.

Congratulations to all the Newman students who participated in our Newman Showcase on Tuesday the 5th of December. The evening showcased the students' talents when they transformed into teachers where they designed a variety of masterclasses and acted as experts as they taught the skills and concepts from a range of different subjects. We are so proud of the hard work these students have put into their students throughout 2023, and the commitment from all their Newman Teachers.

 As the school year comes to a close, we  want to extend heartfelt congratulations to each and every student for their hard work, dedication, and accomplishments. Your resilience and commitment to learning have made this year truly exceptional. We are extremely proud of the progress all students have  made and the positive impact this has had on our learning community. As we commence Christmas break, we hope you take this time to reflect on your achievements and recharge for the new year. May this holiday season bring joy, peace, and precious moments spent with loved ones. Wishing you all a delightful Christmas break. 

Dorian Kipriotis                                                                   Sarah Rowland

Leader of Curriculum                                                         Leader of Data and Growth

Wellbeing Update

As the school year draws to a close, I would like to pay tribute to the Bethany Pastoral team who have worked tirelessly this year to support  your daughter’s wellbeing each day at school:

Mr Steve Donlan, Ms Sylvia Eldahaby, Mrs Melanie Bullock, Mrs Laura Golding, Mrs Katrine Barnes, Mrs Marina Nashed, Ms Dimity Blank and Mrs Celise De Carvalho.

In their many and varied interactions with our students, they have worked to ensure that your daughter feels safe, connected, prepared and able to be their best each day at the College.

We have acknowledged and celebrated numerous special days this year in order to build resilience, tolerance, safety and awareness of current issues. I congratulate the girls for their leadership and engagement in these initiatives and fundraising.

This year the average percentage attendance for a Bethany student is 91%. Whilst this is above the required SCS 90% satisfactory level, this level of attendance equates to approximately 18 days off on average this year or one day per fortnight. Of course, averages only tell part of the story, however I would like these figures to improve for 2024. At the end of the term, Pastoral class 11 Yellow enjoyed a pizza lunch as the winners of the highest yearly homeroom attendance - this was 95%.

I trust that your daughter has time in the holidays to reflect on her 2023 school year to consider how she has matured, what she has learnt about herself and others, and to take pride in her achievements and self-growth. All of these will be useful building blocks next year as she navigates all things new.

Wishing you a peace-filled and Holy Christmas, and a happy holiday.

Charlotte Buxton

Leader of Wellbeing

SCIENCE by Doing @ Bethany

This semester in Science we have incorporated many real world learning experiences where students have been fully engaged and active. 

Students have engaged in building models, organ dissections and other hands on experiments that have helped to make Science at Bethany interesting, challenging and exciting while still covering the essential syllabus outcomes.

YEAR 7 

Year 7 created models of fossil casts and moulds using plaster of paris. 

YEAR 8 

As part of their topic on Body Systems they dissected animal hearts to study their internal workings. 

YEAR 9 

Year 9 Science students were involved in some STEM challenges at the end of this term. Their goal was to design an earthquake proof structure as well as a crane warning system that prevents it from tipping over.

YEAR 10 

Year 10 studied genetics in term 4 and made models of DNA. They also extracted DNA from strawberries.

The year 10 Newman Science Class also presented to the parents of Newman students who will be starting in 2024. Their engaging lesson also featured a set of games and activities for our potential new students.

Thanks to all of the Science Staff for providing students with these experiences.

Frank Milic

Science Coordinator

Library News

2023 Premier’s Reading Challenge

Congratulations to the 27 students who completed the 2023 Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC). The challenge promotes a love of reading and encourages students to read widely to improve literacy. It offers the opportunity for students to read from a wide range of authors, styles and genres and to gain new perspectives about themselves and the world around them. Students need to read 20 books in total - 10 of their choosing and 10 from the PRC list.

When students were asked what they like about the PRC, these were some of their responses:

• Reading and experiencing new things when reading different books

• To extend my vocabulary during my free time.

• As a student with a busy schedule and the majority of time glued to the laptop, PRC acts as a catalyst for me to read. With the ample benefits reading provides, PRC gives me an aim and end reward to reading, making it even more enjoyable and worth it.

• I enjoy competing in the Premier's Reading Challenge because it helps me read a variety of books that I never thought I would've read.

• The Premier's Reading Challenge is a fun period of the year where you record the books you read and log them online. It challenges and encourages me to read and explore new books and have fun at home while staying in the comfort of my bed.

• From memory, I've completed the challenge since kindergarten. I like to read so I think, why not log my reading?

• I like it as it gives me a huge inspiration to read and complete the challenge, as it sets a goal for me to read.

To recognise their incredible achievement, an awards presentation was held in the library and students were provided with yummy treats for morning tea. Many thanks to the canteen for providing such a beautiful spread of food. Special thanks to our Leader of Wellbeing, Mrs Charlotte Buxton, who presented these awards.

Congratulations to the following students who received a certificate of completion:

Participation Awards

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Bronze Awards

This award acknowledges four consecutive years of completing the PRC.

• Anvi Garg
• Ava Hatzigeorgiou
• Rainie Wu

Platinium Awards

This award acknowledges seven consecutive years of completing the PRC.

• Amy Anish
• Mya Momiroski
• Elizabeth Savell
• Vivian Tan
• Tiffany Wang

PRC Medal

Congratulations to Sienna Kovacevic (Year 9) who was acknowledged for completing the PRC every year since Year 3. Sienna received a medal and an accompanying letter from the NSW Premier. An outstanding achievement!

Announcing the Winner of the Summer Reading Challenge

Based on a comparison of statistics for borrowing Weeks 7-9 in 2022 and 2023 - The first year of the Summer Reading Challenge was a great success!

Each student who borrowed for the holidays received a raffle ticket. Congratulations to Hunter Howesmith (Year 9) for winning a $20 QBD voucher - just in time for holidays!

2023 Library Statistics

Top Borrowers for 2023

1. Rainie Wu (Year 7)
2. Jessica Hoang (Year 9)
3. Amy Anish (Year 7)
4. Amira Jouravlev (Year 7)
5. Faith Youseff (Year 8)

The 5 Most Borrowed Books for 2023

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

One of Us Is Lying by Karen McManus

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

Everything Everything by Nicolette Yoon

Holiday Reading

The school holidays provide a great opportunity for your children to take a break from their screens and reconnect with literature. Reading helps to improve our ability to focus, communicate and develop empathy for others as we take a journey with the main characters into new worlds.

Holiday hints for encouraging your child to read:

• What novels should my child read? com provides various recommendations for popular Young Adult (YA) Fiction.
• To find an appropriate text, visit your local library, bookshop (Big W and Kmart also have a wide selection) or search online (Booko, https://booko.com.au/, provides price comparisons for various retailers).
• If you are travelling, find a text that relates to your destination or the activities you will be doing there.
• Family Book Club - Share and read the chosen text with your child so that you can make it a point of discussion.
• Read the book, before watching the film, on a designated “Family Movie Night”.
• The most effective way to encourage your child to read is to read yourself. Find a good book as a way to relax, rather than be on your own screen.

It’s been such a wonderful year in the library. It is an amazing place filled with incredible students. I have been incredibly lucky to have the unwavering support of Mrs Christine Sultana who has helped to make each idea, no matter how big or small, possible.

I can’t wait to see what 2024 holds. May your holidays be filled with the sound of turning pages and escaping to magical places.

Happy Reading everyone!

Alison Sladen

Teacher Librarian

Visual Arts News

Year 7 Pop Paintings 

Year 7 Art students extended their painting skills by creating coloured Still Life Pop Paintings in the last couple of weeks of term. Students developed an understanding of mixing colours and tones to create vibrant and creative paintings. Well done Year 7 Art students!

Year 8 Watercolour Birds

As the end of the school year drew near, Year 8 Art students experimented with the medium of watercolour paints. Students worked hard at developing techniques to create paintings of birds. Congratulations on your hard work in this task and previous tasks Year 8 Art students.

Year 10 Collaborative Artwork

As part of an ongoing Collaborative Public Art Project, Year 10 Art students selected significant artworks from various styles and time periods and replicated the artworks onto canvases. The works will be hung outside the art rooms next year to pay homage to artworks that chronicle human creativity and culture. Keep an eye out next year for the wonderful artworks from the Year 10 2023 students!

Freya Wooby

Teacher

Maths Excursion

On Friday the 8th of December, Year 11 Maths Extension and Physics students were invited to visit the Australian Centre for Robotics. We met Dr Brooker and many PhD students working at USYD. They showed us the variety of applications of robotics in different fields, including dentistry, aviation, imaging and agriculture. We even competed in a robotic arm challenge to see who the strongest students were, and who could manoeuvre the arm the quickest. This excursion definitely sparked an interest for us in the field of robotics and engineering! We had an amazing time, and are very appreciative of this opportunity given to us by our maths teachers and Dr Brooker.

By Siara and Tea (Maths Extension 1 Students)

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Mandi Brooker

Maths Coordinator

Social Events Excursion

On Friday 8th December our Bethany Social Group had a fun day out. We went to Event Cinemas and watched Trolls in V Max which was so much fun.

Afterwards we ate lunch together in the Food court and did some Christmas shopping. We had to organise the day's events and make sure to consider what everyone wanted to achieve within the day. We were very collaborative and had a fun day out practising our assertiveness training and asking questions, seeking directions and organising our groups day.
Thank you to our teachers : Ms Sotirios and Ms Amy who came along and had just as much fun as we had in our social group outing.

Jina Sotirios
Teacher

Jina Sotirios

Teacher

The Perfect Pair - Gelato and Hot Weather

Piazza Yallunga was filled with year 8 students enjoying the spoils of learning another language – gelato! As an out-of-class activity for the Food unit of work, students had to use their best Italian pronunciation (and manners!) to order their favourite gelato flavour. The Piazza was filled with gelato alla vaniglia, al limone, al cioccolato, al biscotto Oreo or al caramello salato, per favore!

Prof Criniti and Prof Gianni were happy to report that all students succeeded in receiving their preferred flavour. Mmmmmm….delizioso!

Marco Gianni

Languages Teacher-in-charge

Dance Callback

Congratulations to Janna-Marie Mobellan who has been selected to be on the reserved list to perform her Core Performance Dance 'Us' choreographed by Ms Danielle Como.
Callback is a celebration of the outstanding talent of students who presented their practical work as part of the 2023 HSC Dance examinations. It is a showcase of exemplary Dance performances, from students across the state.

Danielle Como

Dance Teacher

Maths Olympiad

Chloe Tran of Year 7 placed 30th in the South East Asian Mathematics Olympiad and has been invited to participate in Singapore for the Global round in 2024
Congratulations Chloe.

Sport Update

Congratulations to Monique Johnson who has been selected in the 2024 Netball NSW Under 17s State Team. 

Oztag Intermediate Championship Premiers  2023

Futsal Finals

Lost 4-1. Had a great  tournament.

Sienna Naumovski - Player of the Tournament.

Badminton Finals

Bronze Duke of Edinburgh

Over two days on the 27th-28th of November, 16 girls completed the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh practice journey throughout Heathcote and the Royal National Park. Our journey for day 1 began at Heathcote station where we hiked throughout Heathcote National Park. Throughout the day we stopped at many different places such as Battery Falls where we admired the views and Kingfisher Pool where we stopped to swim. Towards the end of day 1, we made our way to Camp Coutts where each group set up their tents for the night. As it became dark the group learnt how to start and keep a fire running and everyone sat around the fire. We played different games with each other and also toasted marshmallows. Before bed, the whole group sat around the fire and participated in a yarn where we recapped our day and spoke about the things we found enjoyable and challenging. We headed off to bed at around 10 pm ready for day 2.

At around 6.00 am we all woke up to pack up our tents and eat breakfast before leaving Camp Coutts at 7.30 and walking across the Highway towards the Royal National Park hiking trail. We walked across a fire trail for the first 6 km before it started raining and we endured walking up and down steep hills and mountains in wet conditions. We later stopped at Uloola Falls, swam there and walked the rest of the hike uphill across steep rocky mountains. We arrived back at Heathcote station at around 1.30 pm. Throughout the hike, we all sang songs and played games which kept us entertained throughout the trip. The creeks we visited we were all lucky enough to swim at which kept us refreshed and energised throughout the trip.  

Joanne Lewis (Year 9)

Throughout Duke of Ed, we completed an array of activities that we all enjoyed so much. On the first day, we completed a 14 km hike from our starting point to our campsite. We swam in Kingfisher Pools after a big day of walking. It was so refreshing! Once we reached our campsite we got our dinner all ready and set up a campfire which we sat around till 9 pm, after we cooked our dinner around the campfire we played many games, took photos and did a recap of our day which is called the yarn, with Georgia and Tyson our two instructors as well as Mrs Barnes. On the second day, we completed 12 km of walking back to Engadine Station from our campsite. We also got the chance to swim and stopped for lunch, where we also had the opportunity to learn to crack a whip.

I had a great experience at the Duke of Edinburgh Adventerous Journey and would recommend everyone to get their friends and complete the Bronze Award. I enjoyed most of the trip including spending quality time with my friends, having less screen time, reconnecting with nature, setting up the campfire, toasting marshmallows, and cooking dinner with my friends. My favourite activity was swimming both days. Although most of the trip was positive I found some things challenging including walking around 26 km in two days including hills and slippery areas, carrying a big bag around and packing up everything back into my bag in the morning. 

Sienna Naumovski  (Year 9)

Ashleigh Munsie

Duke of Edinburgh Facilitator

School Photos

Bethany College School Photos

(Years 7, 9, 12 + Sibling photos ONLY)

09 February 2024