Delagram 10th April 2024

From the Principal

All too often we look at life and reality with downcast eyes; we fix our gaze only on this passing day, disenchanted by the future, concerned only with ourselves and our needs, settled into the prison of our apathy, even as we keep complaining that things will never change.   (Pope Francis, 30th April)

This was a message communicated by Pope Francis on Easter Saturday as we looked toward and celebrate the hope and love that is conveyed in the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday.   In a news cycle where it can be hard to find inspirational and uplifting stories, it can be very easy to slip into this negative type of thinking.  Yet last week, I reminded our student body of all the good that is happening in and around them.  More often than not, they are the contributors to the good deeds and hope that is exhibited and enriches those throughout our community.  Over the last term, our students who baked cakes, brought in raffle prizes, wore NRL jerseys, participated in fun activities whilst making small donations to our Project Compassion contributions.  As evidenced on our social media posts, our students are having fun, getting involved and contributing to the gift of food, water and life to those in the world that not as fortunate.  To date, we have raised in excess of $2000. 

But hope lies in opportunities, and our students have had an abundance of chances to get involved in a whole range of activities.  From STEM excursions, science and engineering challenges, academic decathlons, sports representations, diocesan easter art submissions, volunteering at primary netball carnivals, providing peer support for junior students or visiting year 6 students, plenty of career experiences and visitations – La Salle Academy has been actively providing these opportunities for our students to experience, engage and to be excited.  The only thing stopping our students is themselves, and the idea expressed by Pope Francis of being ‘…settled into the prison of apathy’. 

One of my favourite quotes is from an Ice Hockey player, Wayne Gretzky.  ‘You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take’.  In other words, if you don’t have a go, you’ll never know!  I challenged our students last week, to consider their first term and think about what has held them back?  Looking forward to Term Two, what can our students do to lift their heads and see the opportunities that await them.  Another exciting term awaits us at La Salle Academy and I thank our staff for all their efforts in providing our community with such an enriching and empowering experience.  As for our students, check you emails, talk to the teachers, put your hand up and ask questions, try something new and treat everyone and everything with respect.  I do hope you all have a wonderful holiday, but I am already looking eagerly ahead to a fantastic Term Two. 

Feast Day of St John Baptist de La Salle

On Monday 8^th April, we celebrated the feast day of St John Baptist de La Salle who died on April 7, 1719.  St John Baptist de La Salle is the patron saint for all those that work within education and provides us with the reminder and continued inspiration of the value of education in young people’s lives.  La Salle Academy held a special mass service and celebratory day to recognise the historical significance of this contribution to education around the world and in particular to the Lithgow community for the last 71 years. 

St John Baptist de La Salle was born into a world very different from our own. He was the eldest of eleven children and came from a wealthy family.

During that time, few people lived in luxury and most of the people were extremely poor: peasants in the country and slum dwellers in the towns. Only a few could provide their children an education; most children had little hope for the future.

De La Salle was already a priest when he was invited to become involved in establishing schools for poor boys. He gradually devoted his own talents and advanced education to the service of the vulnerable children and the people he recruited to serve as their teachers. The community of teachers evolved to become a religious congregation which came to be known as the Brothers of the Christian Schools.

Because of the surprising success of their early efforts, they soon met opposition from religious authorities and the educational establishment. Through their faith in God and each other, they overcame these challenges and succeeded in creating a network of quality schools throughout France.

Their innovative and pioneering pedagogy featured instruction in the local language (French) and the involvement of parents, among other innovations. It was driven by a community of well-prepared teachers with a sense of vocation and mission – educators who saw themselves as brothers to one another and older brothers to the young people entrusted to their care.  (lasalle.org.au)

Final Week for Year 7, 2025 Enrolments

Just a reminder to all families that are interested in enroling their child into Year 7, 2025 - enrolment applications close this Friday, the 12th April.  If you are having difficulties in meeting this deadline, please do not hesitate to contact our office on 6354 5100.  

God Bless and have a great holiday

Mr Glenn Carpenter

Assistant Principal

What a busy term we have had at La Salle, especially in recent weeks during our Term 1 assessment period, the Easter break, and the numerous school activities that we have all been involved in throughout the term. Term 1 is always a busy time and I encourage all students to make the most of the upcoming holidays and enjoy a well-earned rest! The next two weeks
will provide everyone with a chance to regroup and recharge.  
Year 12 Reports
Students and parents will receive access to the Year 12 Mid-Course Reports on Friday via Compass. While we are already at the half-way mark for our HSC students in their respective subjects, it is important to use these reports as a means of reflecting on how students are progressing and also on areas in which each student might need to focus. It is not to late to
make some changes to study habits or lifestyle choices to set yourself up on the path to success. We encourage parents to discuss the report feedback with your son/daughter as they begin to set their final goals for the last few months of schooling.
Year 7-11 Progress Reports
Our students and parents for years 7-11 will be able to access a Term 1 Progress Report via
Compass on Friday. The progress reports provide a brief overview of the levels of
achievement and work habits for our students. It also gives an indication of some areas on
which students can focus on in the terms ahead. 
Parent Teacher Interviews for Years 7, 11 & 12
Parent Teacher Interviews for these year groups will be held on Tuesday, May 7th from 2.30pm to 7.00pm. Interviews slots will be open for bookings on Monday, April 29th for Year 11 & 12 parents followed by Year 7 parents from Friday 3rd May We would ask that if possible that senior students in particular attend the interviews with their parent/guardian. Having an opportunity to discuss the learning with the teachers individually can provide great insights for both parents and teachers. It is the sharing of such important information between the school and home that can make a significant difference in the success of our students.

Have a great holiday!
Mrs Jenny Holgate
Assistant Principal

From the Religious Education Coordinator

I can hardly contain my excitement as I welcome everyone to Week 11! As Term 1 draws to an end, there are so many people I wish to acknowledge and thank for making these 11 weeks fly by. I will always start with acknowledging all the efforts and commitment of our staff, as without them our school would not be such an amazing and enjoyable place to work. I feel truly blessed to be able to not even have to ask for help and have people knocking at the door and offering an extra pair of hands or post-it notes to help, whatever the event. 

Secondly, I wish to acknowledge our current Year 11 and 12 Leaders and students that have truly stepped up to the plate and safe to say are hitting home runs left, right and centre. No job is too hard for our champions. Over the course of the 11 weeks they have helped in the facilitation of so many school activities including Opening School Mass, Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday, St Valentine’s Day, Stations of the Cross Liturgy, RISEN, Easter Mass, St John Baptist de La Salle Feast Day Mass, and all the efforts throughout our Month of Mercy fundraising for Project Compassion. 

Lastly, I would like to extend my gratitude and thank you to all our students and parents that have donated money in Religion to our Project Compassion boxes and through supporting our activities this term. All our money raised goes towards Caritas’s Project Compassion initiative. I am thrilled to announce that we have well and truly exceeded our initial goal of $1000 and we are currently sitting over $2000. This is amazing! 

We celebrated St. John Baptist de La Salle Feast Day Mass on Monday, April 8th, at St. Patrick's Church. This was a beautiful tribute to the life and teachings of John Baptist de La Salle and I thank Father Reynold for officiating the mass. We continued our school celebrations with a short presentation from our Year 12 leaders in the Hall on the contribution, impact and biography of St John Baptist de La Salle. Concluding our morning session all staff and students joined together for a delicious slice of cake. 

As we all enter a much needed break, I wish to extend my best wishes to everyone for a happy and safe holiday. 

With warm regards,
Mrs Wilsmore-Smith
Religious Education Coordinator

Leader of Teaching and Learning

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”- Nelson Mandela

As we approach the end of this term, it gives us a chance to reflect on our
achievements and areas for improvement. We can harness that reflection and channel it into positive energy for the upcoming term.
One valuable aspect of finishing a term is the opportunity to learn from assessments.
Whether they were tests, projects, or presentations, assessments provide insight into our strengths and weaknesses. Instead of dwelling on past mistakes, lets use them as stepping stones for growth. Each assessment is a chance to learn, adapt, and improve.
For students, this means taking the time to review feedback from teachers, understanding where improvements can be made, and setting goals for the future.
It is essential to approach each new term with a growth mindset, knowing that with dedication and effort, progress will happen.
Parents and carers, your support during this process is invaluable. Encourage your children to embrace challenges and view setbacks as opportunities for growth. By fostering a positive attitude towards learning and improvement, you're helping to set them up for success not only in their academic pursuits but in life as well. On a practical level, ask to see their assessment tasks and discuss the feedback they’ve
been given. Make this discussion positive and focused on clarifying the areas for improvement. Help your son or daughter set targets that are achievable and help them to work toward those targets in Term 2 and beyond.
As we head into the holidays at the end of Week 11 and then prepare ourselves for a new term, lets remember that it's never too late to start anew. Whether it's improving study habits, seeking extra help when needed, or simply approaching each day with a positive attitude, every small step forward counts.

Dr Donna Mitchell
Leader of Teaching and Learning

Year 7-9 Pastoral Care Co-ordinator

As we near the end of term one, it's crucial to take a moment to reflect on the goals our students set for the year ahead. Evaluation is an essential part of our educational journey, allowing us to assess our progress, celebrate successes, and identify areas for improvement. As teachers, parents, and students, we all play a role in this process. I encourage all families to sit down this week and reflect on the academic, personal, and social developments over the past school term:

• What subjects did you find most challenging this term, and why?

• Which subjects did you excel in, and what do you think contributed to your success?

• What was the most memorable thing you learned this term, and why?

• What did my attendance look like this past term? What steps can I take to improve this?

• What are you proud of accomplishing outside of academics this term?

• Did you make any new friends or strengthen existing friendships this term? How did these relationships impact your experience at school this term?

• What goals would you like to set for yourself academically, personally, or socially for term 2? How can I support you in achieving these goals?
  
  By asking these reflective questions, parents can foster open communication with their children, gain insights into their experiences, and provide support in the areas their children are finding more challenging. 
  I wish everyone a restful autumn break and look forward to hearing about these reflections in term 2.

Ms Tahni Isedale
7-9 Pastoral Care Co-ordinator

Pastoral Welfare Co-ordinator Years 10 - 12

Term 1 is fast coming to an end. It is funny how as we get older time seems to go a little faster. Talking with the various year groups it is a point I make in regards to what their goals are for the year and how fast the year flies by. 

Some time soon there will be reports available. Year 12 have their mid course report where they can see how they are tracking. For most courses they are more than half way through and have completed maybe 45% of their total school HSC assessment. These results can be a very good yard stick in regards to how well they are tracking and if they are on target to achieve their desired result. I spoke with year 12 only last week about this exact topic. I gave them several ways in which they should be revising including taking notes, reading their notes, reading extra supplementary material, completing past papers and completing modules on Atomi. Your year 12 student should be completing at least 1 hour of study per subject per week. To add to this, obviously the more work you put into something the more rewards you reap at the end. My final point to add here is that most students have study lessons at school. Those that can work independently and remain focused to complete work will again reap the benefits. However I would say that most are not making the most of this time. 

Year 11’s would have just completed their first assessment task and be given results. I was fortunate enough to see the year 11 biology models. They were very pleasing and I am sure there will be some students that will be rewarded for their efforts here. Again, year 11 should be putting time aside each week to complete notes, reading and Atomi modules so they too can be ready for their final year 11 exams at the end of term 3. Year 11 is ⅓ completed already. Back to how time flies. 

As I write this report, my year 10 class are writing an extended response question in class. A taste of what is to come. If we can keep the expectations high and ensure that they are ready for what is to come in stage 6 it can only lead to students reaching their potential. 

One point that has been made is that to really achieve one of the most important things we can do is ensure that our students are sitting in the classroom and engaged in lessons. Staying home for trivial reasons, holidays during the school term only add pressure to the student and leads to them not being able to fully understand the various concepts studied in class. Take home message is be at school every day as it sets up great habits for later life.

Mr Stephen Carroll
Year 10-12 Coordinator.

Youth Minister

Two weeks ago myself and 7 of the year 10-12 students travelled to Carcoar ‘Shalom House of Prayer’ for Risen, a leadership retreat for students to reflect on their faith and to develop the skills to be able to assist in running the ‘RISE Youth Festival’ later on  in the year. Over these two days the students got to know other students from across the diocese and share their faith. There was lots of singing, dancing, games and fun but there was also an important time where the students were encouraged to reflect on their own faith and the importance of God within their own lives. I am extremely pleased with all the students who gave up their weekend to represent our school at Risen and cannot wait for RISE. I would also like to thank Mrs Wilsmore-Smith and Mr Carpenter for all their help over the Risen weekend.
Over the term I have greatly enjoyed attending many events, helping out in the classroom and getting to know so many new people within my position here as the Youth Minister. I look forward to what the next term will bring. 

Have a safe holiday!

Imogen Della Bosca
La Salle Youth Minister

Library News

What Matters? Writing Competition
Since its inception in 2004, students from all over Australia have taken part in the What Matters? writing competition to make their voices heard on a topic that is important to them. The competition is run by the Whitlam Institute within Western Sydney University and is inspired by Gough Whitlam's commitment to involving young people in shaping Australia's future. Part writing exercise, part civics and citizenship activity, this writing competition is the perfect opportunity to empower students to raise their voices on issues and know that their perspectives are valued, no matter their age, background or viewpoint.  

What Matters? is currently open to school students in years 5 to 12. Students need to respond to the question:  What Matters? Entries can be fiction, non-fiction, poetry or prose of up to 600 words, and are to be submitted online through the website:  Whitlam Institute What Matters

Prizes include: virtual author visits, writing workshops, the opportunity to shadow political speechwriters and journalists, books and opportunities for our school, and a major cash prize of $1500. If you are interested in entering, come to the library for more information.

ANZAC Day Display
Our newest library display commemorates ANZAC Day and reminds students of the vast range of resources the library offers on this significant event. Thanks to Mrs Doohan for the wonderful handmade poppies and to Mrs Prineas for the historical posters. They have certainly helped to create an eye-catching display. 

First Jigsaw Completed
One of the many activities on offer in the library is a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle. This puzzle fittingly celebrates fairy stories and nursery rhymes throughout history. Students have thoroughly enjoyed seeing the puzzle being constructed throughout the term and as we near the holidays, we are mere pieces away from its completion. Special mentions goes to Ashwika in Year 7 who has worked consistently throughout the term to ensure that the puzzle is completed. 

Puzzle Donations from Lithgow Library
I would like to extend a HUGE thank you to the staff at Lithgow library for their amazing donation of more than 20 jigsaw puzzles for our library. It is greatly appreciated and the students are definitely looking forward to the challenge of completing them! A big thank you also to the wonderful Mrs Staines for helping to organise the donation. 

Holiday Reading
As we have now reached the end of the term, it is time for our students to make plans for their holiday reading.
Maintaining regular reading practice during this time is important for many reasons and research shows that reading each day:

✅  improves your vocabulary and comprehension - reading just 20 minutes a day exposes you to 1,800,000 words a year!   

 ✅  reduces stress and enhances mood

 ✅ improves your focus and concentration

 ✅ helps to develop empathy

 ✅ develops creativity

 ✅ improves your writing skills

 Not to mention that reading is also a fantastic source of entertainment and allows us to escape into the lives and experiences of many different people from many different times and places.

Planning For Holiday Reading                       
 Before setting off on the two week break, students should reflect on their reading habits and the types of texts they prefer to read. They should use the following questions to assist them:

 ❇Do I prefer reading hard copy texts or reading books online?

❇Do I like fiction or non-fiction?

 ❇Do I enjoy written or visual texts or a mix of both?

 ❇Which genres/topics interest me?

 ❇What style of writing engages me?

 ❇Do I like to read a stand alone book or books within a series?

 ❇How much time do I want to spend reading?

 By answering these questions, students will have a much clearer idea of the types of books that will help them to continue their reading practice when they are away from school.

We have plenty of new titles for students to discover and for those travelling away, there is always something to read on SORA, our online platform.

Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday and I look forward to seeing you next term!

Best wishes, 
Mrs Devine

Careers

Careers at La Salle- Unlocking Opportunities
At La Salle Academy, we believe in empowering our students to make informed
decisions about their future careers. That's why we offer array of career education
opportunities to our students.
Join Our Careers Google Classroom: We encourage all students and parents/carers to join our dedicated Careers Google Classroom. Here, you'll find valuable resources, upcoming events, and important updates about career opportunities. To join, simply use the code [enyp3xn] on Google Classroom.
Stay Informed: Don't forget to regularly check your emails for information about upcoming career events and opportunities. We'll be sending out notifications about workshops, university visits, career fairs, and more, so be sure to stay tuned!
Upcoming Events:
 Western Sydney Uni Nursing and Midwifery Immersion Day (Full -Waiting List Available): April 30
 Year 12 FACTS Day at CSU: May 10
 Year 10 Careers Fair: May 14
 Western Sydney University Visit to La Salle (Recess): May 27
 HSC Careers Expo: June 1
 University of Newcastle Visit to La Salle (Recess): June 17

Dr Donna Mitchell
Careers Advisor

Science News

Science X: Ignite

Science X: Ignite was a three-day program specially designed to offer regional students a taster of
university-level scientific research. This year, the event occurred at The Foundations Portland,
running from Wednesday 20 th  March to Friday 22 nd  March. The event provided an opportunity for
students to begin envisioning their future in STEM (Science Technology Engineering and
Mathematics).
At the event, students joined one of two research groups to conduct an authentic research project
delivered by science graduates currently undertaking postgraduate research. The students were
introduced to cutting-edge research tools and methodologies.
Students were involved in hands-on research labs and workshop sessions, learning more
science skills and new techniques in data creation, collection and analysis. For 2024, the research
projects undertaken focused on astronomy, incorporating chemistry and physics and viruses
incorporating biology and health. 
A more comprehensive breakdown of the three-day program looked like this:
Astronomy Group
Students were introduced to the concepts of biosignatures and exoplanets in attempting to search for
life in our solar system. The types of exoplanets were discussed and which of these are potential
candidates for biosignature searches. The types of biosignatures and their limitations were discussed.
Students were introduced to spectroscopy – the science behind detecting molecules, specifically
phosphine PH 3 that could indicate life on other planets. They were also introduced to computer
modelling through WebMO and Python notebook as tools for spectroscopy.
Viruses Group
Students were introduced to diseases and modelling. They undertook data science activities with
disease data. They performed an investigation to extract DNA from strawberries.
Within both groups, students worked collaboratively and with the postgraduate students to make
discoveries, finalise their presentations and present their findings to an audience through a question-
and-answer session.
Both groups were treated to a tour of the STEAMworks venue onsite and learnt about the geology
and history connections of the venue. They received a talk from a post graduate economic geologist
about the mining of ores within Australia and the careers available in this field.
Students were under teacher supervision throughout the three days of the event.
I would like to acknowledge Mrs. Lalitha Plumb for her assistance in supervising the students at the
event and also Mr. Glenn Carpenter, Mr. Greg Devine and Mr. Peter Tracey for driving the students to
and from the event.
These students are to be acknowledged for their involvement in the event:
Molly Lambert, Dallyce Rose, Mia Hamilton, Rebecca Martignago, Glen Okon, Layla Roberts, Macy Brown, Libby Bailey, Briea Lampton.

J. MacKinnon
Organiser

Science and Engineering Challenge
On Monday 25 th March, a squad of students from Years 8, 9 and 10 at La Salle Academy participated in the University of Newcastle Science and Engineering Challenge at Charles Sturt University Bathurst. Students were organized into teams, with each team either doing one full-day activity or two half-day activities. Teams were awarded points for each activity. The school team with the most points at the end of the day was declared the winning team and had the opportunity to compete at a higher level later in the year. La Salle Academy was placed 7th out of 8 teams at the competition.
Information about each of the activities undertaken at the challenge are listed below.
Fish Traps
The aim of this half-day activity was to build structures using 3D printed rocks and sticks to catch specific types and amounts of fish represented by different sized marbles as they swam along the river.
Flight
The aim of this half-day activity was to design and build a balsa glider to travel a substantial distance, land on a specific landing zone and hit a target.
Helter-Skelter
The aim of this half-day activity was to build two towers which are tall and strong. The second tower also
needed to be resistant to shaking.
Job Juggle
The aim of this half-day activity was to complete and optimise as many work schedules as possible.
Wind Turbine
The aim of this half-day activity was to design and build a model wind turbine (including tail) that generated the greatest amount of speed and power as wind from a fan pushed the blades.
Bridge
The aim of this full-day activity was to build a light and strong model bridge to carry ‘gold’
ingots from one side of the test rig to the other.
Confounding Communications
The aim of this half-day activity is to design efficient codes to send messages along fibre
optic rods using only pulses of coloured light.
Electracity
The aim of this half-day activity was to provide electricity to as much of the city’s infrastructure as
possible, at the lowest possible cost, hopefully making a profit!
I would like to thank Mrs. Tracey Legge for her assistance during the day and to acknowledge the participation of the following students:
Year 8
Mason Evans, Noah Fitzpatrick, Harry Luka, Beau Hughan, Beau Nicholls, Ben Adam Baysa,
Kristian Scarlett, Adam Trifogli, Dante Fitzgerald
Year 9
Maddison Case, Natalie Beaton, Cassidy Penning, Deborah Hague, Rebecca Martignago, Bella Wilds
Charlotte Joyce, Mary Romanous
Year 10
Violet Younger, Zachary Fitzpatrick, Addison Schobbe, Glen Okon, Isabella Faunce, Kaiden Beckett,
Jack Luka, Aydin Bayer-Barrow, Molly Lambert, Libby Bailey, Mia Hamilton, Layla Roberts,
Mitchell Scott

J. MacKinnon
Organiser

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Planet Youth Lithgow Summit

On Tuesday 26th March, eighteen students in Years 8 and 9 represented young people at La Salle
Academy as they attended the Planet Youth Lithgow Summit at the Lithgow Transformation Hub. This
event was aimed at addressing issues pertinent to young people in Lithgow. Students were tasked with
engaging in discussions spanning various domains in Lithgow, with the ultimate goal of communicating
their needs and learning about opportunities arising in the community.
The summit provided a platform for our students to immerse themselves in workshops, discussions, and
presentations led by industry experts. Throughout the day, our students enthusiastically participated in
workshops led by skilled facilitators from Planet Youth Lithgow alongside students from Lithgow High
School, brainstorming and presenting innovative solutions to address pressing youth issues. Discussions
with representatives from a range of youth services and community members offered valuable insights
and networking opportunities. The pinnacle of the event was the opportunity for our students to step
outside their comfort zone and develop leadership skills by presenting the results of their discussions,
demonstrating their commitment to effecting positive change within the community. The Planet Youth
Lithgow Summit was an excellent experience for our students, empowering them to become catalysts for
meaningful action in their local community.
“I thought the Summit was interesting and engaging. I enjoyed the time there and hopefully get a chance
to go back later.” - Noah Fitzpatrick, Year 8
“I liked and learnt about how we can improve and make the town a better place.” - Bella Wilds, Year 9
“One thing I liked about the Summit was talking with the groups and getting to create ideas and express
our opinions.” - Jasmin Cole, Year 9

Ms Isabelle Tannous 
Organiser

Free School Holiday Program- Limited Spaces Available

School Holiday Local Library Activities

PCYC Safer Driver Course

****SAFER DRIVER COURSE****

17^th April  2024.

Did you know you could be eligible for the Safer Drivers Course (upon successful completion they will receive 20 hours of logbook credit!).

To be suitable for the course you must meet the following measures:

have a valid NSW learner license.

Be below the age of 25.

Have accomplished a minimum of 50 hours of actual on-road driving (any credit hours gained under the Structured Professional Lesson (3 for 1) scheme must be excluded)

Theory - Friday 22nd March- 4:00-7:00pm 

Practical - Saturday 23rd.

Cost: $140

***** DINNER INCLUDED ON FRIDAY*****

To book, call the club on (02) 6351 2510 or visit https://www.pcycdrivereducation.org.au/book-a-course

Basic Student Stationary Pack

Canteen- Flexischools App

We have the flexischools app for your convenience order online - See the flyers below with instructions on how to order

Free Child Car seat safety check

School Zones Reminder

A reminder to all our parents that school zones remain in place for the safety of our children and families. School zones operate on all gazetted school days, which are all the days the school is open, even pupil free days.