Term 1 Newsletter, 2025

Welcome to Term 1, 2025 from the Principal 

We are very pleased to report that our 2024 Year 12 HSC graduates exceeded their goals and expectations. All students did their best and they have made us very proud of their efforts and achievements.  

The beginning of each new year can be a new starting point for everyone, particularly in education. At ET Australia Secondary College (ETASC) we expect students to do their best. Students achieving their best usually enjoy school which in turn will foster life-long learning and help students to achieve their career goals and life aspirations.   

2025 marks a fresh start for all students and especially for Year 7 students who are all beginning their high school experience. In Year 8, Year 9, Year 10, and Year 11 we also welcome new students who will also be first-time ET Australia Secondary College (ETASC) students. Our school provides students with a new place to belong to.   

Our Year 12 HSC students are our school leaders, and we will look to them to maintain and aim to exceed the standard of achievement they have achieved in past years. We wish them every success in their last year of high school.   

ETASC is a school model for students who will thrive in a small school environment where the teaching focus is all about preparing students for the world of work and life-long learning. The learning environment at ETASC integrates ethics and behaviour self-management skills so students can concentrate on achieving their best.   

I look forward to meeting our new students and to observing our students experiencing positive progress in 2025. I hope that every student enrolled at ETASC fully utilises the opportunities available to them in our school and in the education pathways that are presented.   

Tony Mylan 
ET Australia Secondary College Principal 

Duke of Edinburgh Information Sessions 

When: Wednesday 19th February 2025
Where: ETASC 7-10 Campus
Time: 2:30pm & 6:00pm 

ETASC will again provide students the opportunity to achieve the Duke of Edinburgh award in 2025. The Duke of Edinburgh is a non-competitive self-development program available to all young people which encourages them to set and achieve goals at a level appropriate to their needs and aspirations.  

There are four sections to develop: skills, voluntary service, physical recreation and adventurous journey. Throughout participation in this award, students develop skills in decision-making, teamwork, organisation, communication, perseverance, self-confidence, leadership, resilience, and citizenship. These are highly sought-after employability skills and great for the holistic development of young people.  

Two information sessions are being held on Wednesday the 19th February at 2:30pm and 6:00pm to provide students, parents & carers information about the program. The session will detail the course requirements, the enrolment process and the costs associated.   

An email will be sent out to parents/carers closer to the date with more details.  

Love Bites Program  

When: 13th February, 3rd March, 5th March, 30th July & 26th November
Where: ETASC  

As part of the PDHPE curriculum, Years 9, 10, 11 & 12 students will participate in the Love Bites program in Term 1. Love Bites is a respectful relationships and consent education program designed for High School students. Program facilitators are coming to the school to deliver the program to Years 9, 10, 11 & 12 students covering the following program: 

• Relationships, Love, and Control – Year 9  

• Respectful Relationships – Years 10, 11 & 12.  

An email will be sent to parents/carers closer to the date with more details.  

Years 7 & 8 School Camp  

When: 3rd March to 5th March 2025
Where: Great Aussie Bush Camp Tea Gardens  

Years 7 and 8 students will experience the great outdoors at the Great Aussie Bush Camp site at Tea Gardens. On this camp, students will participate in team-building activities including high ropes, archery, and canoeing.  

These activities will encourage resilience, trust, and initiative. Our aim is to help students build strong friendships and enhance their sense of belonging as they settle into their first term at ET Australia Secondary College.  

This camp will cover a range of learning areas including PDHPE, Geography, and Science.  

Parents & Carers, please look out for the permission note which will be sent to you via Compass.  

Year 12 Biology & PDHPE Excursion  

When: Wednesday 9th April 2025
Where: Museum of Human Disease – University of NSW 

Throughout Year 12, students will study Infectious and Non-Infectious Diseases (Biology) and Health Priorities in Australia (PDHPE). The Museum of Human Disease provides a great opportunity for students to explore three key disease processes with an emphasis on lifestyle choices and their effect on the body. Inside the Museum, students focus on pathogens, adaptations of pathogens, epidemiology and public health. They also investigate lifestyle, non-infectious disease and drug use. Students will participate in a 45-minute presentation with additional time to explore the museum.  

Parents & Carers, please look out for the permission note which will be sent to you via Compass. 

Key Dates for Term 1 2025

The first day of Term 1 for students in Years 7, 10, 11 & 12 is Wednesday 5th February 2025.
The first day of Term 1 for students in Years 8 & 9 is Thursday 6th February 2025.
The last day of Term 1 for all students is Friday 11th April 2025*
*This will be a half day for Years 7-10 students. 

Parents/Carers are requested to review and update their contact details in Compass. If you need help accessing your Compass account, please contact the school on 4323 1233. 

School Fees

ET Australia has maintained annual school fees at $1,600 for the past 2 years.  Due to the increasing costs to deliver quality education, we have made the difficult decision to increase annual school fees to $1,700 for 2025.   

A reminder to parents/carers that ETASC is a fee-paying college and the contributions made provide opportunities for students to participate in a variety of different learning experiences.  

It is a requirement of a student’s enrolment that school fees are paid by parents/carers and failure to pay fees will result in the student’s enrolment being withdrawn.  

Scholarships are available to families who are experiencing financial hardship and we encourage all parents/carers to apply for scholarships if they are struggling to pay school fees. Information regarding school fees, payment plans, and scholarships are available on the College website.  

For more information on school fees please refer to the College Handbook relevant to you: 

• Years 7 to 10 College Handbook 
• Years 11 and 12 College Handbook 

School Management System – Compass 

Compass is our web-based school management system that is accessible on any modern web browser or by using the ‘Compass School Manager’ app available on iOS or Android. To access our Parent/Carer Portal, go to: https://etaustralia-nsw.compass.education

Compass user IDs and passwords have been sent to all parents/carers, if you have any questions about Compass, please contact the College. 

From the Compass App you can: 

• Access your child’s semester reports
• Book your Parent/Carer/Student and Teacher conferences
• View up-to-date class and school attendance information
• Approve or enter upcoming or past absences for your child
• Download, print details and provide permission to attend upcoming excursions/events 
• Update your registered email and mobile number details 
• Access information regarding upcoming events and news 

Buddy Update

Our school support and wellbeing dog is a much loved and important member of our community. We encourage anyone who would like to know more about this program to visit the Dogs Connect website:  https://dogsconnect.net.au 

As always, we assure the community that this program will not involve anyone who does not wish to be involved.  

Buddy has taken to the routine of a school support and well-being dog so well that we are ready to begin the implementation of the Buddy Student Ambassador Program in 2025.  

The Buddy Student Ambassador will be an integral link between Buddy and the success of her role in our classrooms. Buddy Student Ambassadors will be passionate, knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the importance of Buddy and her role in our school. As strong communicators, they will confidently provide feedback on Buddy’s well-being. A Buddy Student Ambassador will consistently respect and model Buddy expectations in their everyday interactions within the school community. They will be confident in their ability to complete everyday care objectives to ensure Buddy can support classmates to the best of her ability. 

More details will be communicated to parents/carers as the program progresses. 

Aboriginal Support Team 

We are excited to introduce you to our dedicated Aboriginal support team who are here to help ensure the best possible experience for our Aboriginal students. Each of our team members plays a unique and important role in supporting the well-being, learning, and success of our students. 

Aboriginal Liaison Officer – Jessica Pitscheider, a proud Wiradjuri woman, is your primary point of contact for all matters related to Aboriginal student engagement and support. Jess acts as a bridge between the school, families, and community to promote cultural understanding and student success. 

Student Wellbeing Officer – Rhonda Ashcroft, a proud Wiradjuri woman, focuses on the emotional and social wellbeing of our Aboriginal students, Rhonda provides guidance, support, and access to resources that ensure a positive school experience. 

Consulting Psychologist – Kevin Hobson, a proud Kamilaroi man, is available for our Aboriginal students. Kevin provides additional mental health support and psychological services to help students manage challenges that may impact their education and wellbeing. 

NCCD Administration Officer – Kattie Young, a proud Gadigal woman, supports the overall administration of our students with a disability and those who need additional support, Kattie helps with the coordination of administration support available to students, families and student learning support and careers coordinators. 

In Term 1 2025, ETASC will be rolling out Personalised Learning Plans for each of our Aboriginal students. These plans will be developed in collaboration with the Aboriginal Liaison Officer, Aboriginal Student Wellbeing Officers, Parent/Carers and other staff members where necessary, to ensure we meet each student’s individual needs and goals. This will allow us to offer tailored academic and wellbeing support to help your child succeed. 

We look forward to working closely with you and your child as we continue to support their educational journey. 

Duke of Edinburgh Award 

ETASC will be providing students in Years 8 to 12 the opportunity to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh International Award in 2025. The Duke of Edinburgh is a non-competitive self-development program available to all young people which encourages them to set and achieve goals at a level appropriate to their needs and aspirations. 

There are four sections to develop: skills, voluntary service, physical recreation, and adventurous journey. Throughout participation in this award, students develop skills in decision-making, teamwork, organisation, communication, perseverance, self-confidence, leadership, resilience, and citizenship. These are highly sought-after employability skills and great for the holistic development of young people. 

Bronze Award
This program is open to students in Year 8 or 14 years of age and older. It involves completing physical exercise, learning a skill, and volunteering service to the community over 3-6 months. 

In 2024, several students successfully participated in various hikes throughout the year. This included two-day hikes and overnight camping. Students developed their navigation, campcraft, teamwork and leadership skills in a variety of environments. This will occur again in 2025. 

Silver Award
This program is open to students 15 years and over. It involves completing physical exercise, learning a skill, and volunteering service to the community over 6-12 months. 

Those enrolled in the Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award will participate in two, 2-night, 3-day Adventurous Journeys. This involves a day of kayaking, two days of hiking and two nights of camping. It is a wonderful opportunity for students to grow in their resilience as they are challenged in new environments. 

An email will be sent out early in Term 1 with details on how students who are ready for a challenge can sign up to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Award. An information afternoon (2:30pm) and an evening session (6:00pm) will also occur early in Term 1 on Wednesday 19th February for parents/carers and students. 

You can also review the website https://dukeofed.com.au/ for more information. 

Years 7 – 10 Meditation and Mindful Colouring 

Once a week, students will be given the choice to participate in meditation or mindful colouring to give them the opportunity to slow down and be present before tackling their busy schoolwork. 

Learning Enrichment Opportunities 

ETASC offers free tutoring for all students. 

For students who are identified as needing extra assistance with: 

• Reading – ETASC offers the MacqLit reading program.
• Mathematics – ETASC offers the QuickSmart program. We also offer consolidation of classwork and after school tutoring. 
• Writing – ETASC offers English tutoring and consolidation of classwork. 

Gifted and Talented Program 2025

During Term 1, the students in the Gifted and Talented Enrichment Program (GAT) will continue to be offered opportunities to enter competitions that tap into their particular strengths and interests. The importance of entering challenging competitions for gifted students is well-researched. Some of the areas of benefit for students include: 

• Problem-solving and analysis 
• Self-confidence 
• Discipline and persistence 
• Inquisitiveness and research skills 

Selected students will continue to work weekly as a cooperative learning group in both the areas of English and Mathematics from Year 7 to Year 10. The focus of these sessions for the students is to: 

• Ensure a thorough understanding of the concepts being covered in class. 
• Enrich the students’ understanding of the purpose of the learning and the practical application of the concepts being covered.
• Extend the students’ learning by developing a broader understanding of the topic being covered. 

Students have an essential curriculum in subjects other than English and Mathematics, and attendance at these lessons is a priority.  For these areas, students could be supported in two ways: 

• Extension and enrichment strategies could be supplied to the teachers for them to use with the students in their classes. 

• Students may be taken out for a period of time to work on a particular project based on their area of study. This may include developing resources that will assist the teachers in presenting information to their students. This will be timetabled as Project Based Learning. 

During Term 1, the Year 9 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Group will continue to meet weekly to design and make applications that model the use of scientific principles.  

Positive Behaviour Management and Rewards 

ETASC’s Positive Student Behaviour Reward system includes short-term, medium-term, and long-term rewards. Reward days which occur once each semester are the pinnacle reward of this system. 

Short Term Rewards – Fortnightly Basis
Short-term rewards will occur on a fortnightly basis and be awarded to one student from each class based on their behaviour in the previous two weeks. Teachers will consider the number of positive behaviour reports or in-class points awarded, the student’s attendance during this time and any noticeable changes in a student’s behaviour. Students will be informed of their positive award in a manner that is comfortable to them – during the whole school assembly, stage assembly, class time or on an individual basis. 

Short-term rewards include, but are not limited to:

• Chocolates 
• Free lunch – pizza etc. 
• Books 
• Trinkets, toys, stationery etc. 

Medium Term Rewards – Term Basis
The accumulation of positive behaviour reports over a term will earn students medium-term rewards. A schedule of rewards will be provided to the students at the beginning of each term. The accumulation of positive behaviour reports over the term will earn students’ rewards. 

The number of positive behaviour reports required to achieve specific medium-term rewards includes: 

# Of Positive Behaviour Reports Reward: 

• 25 – Qualifies student to attend semester reward day
• 30 – Listen to music during class time for one week 
• 40 – 5-minute early mark at the end of the school day for one week 
• 50 – Free lunch order to the value of $10 

Long Term Rewards – Semester Basis
The long-term reward for sustained positive student behaviour is an invitation to attend the reward days held at the end of each semester. Students will be invited to attend our reward day if they have accumulated at least 25 positive behaviour reports during the semester. If a student is invited to a rewards day and engages in negative behaviour before the event, their invitation can be revoked. Reward day activities are intended to be fun days with activities that students want to participate in.

Our reward days so far have included: 

• Go-karting 
• Jet boats 
• Clip & Climb 
• Laser tag 
• Mini Golf 

In determining whether students are entitled to attend a reward day the following will be considered: 

• The number of positive and negative behaviour reports a student has received. 
• School attendance – students need to maintain a regular pattern of attendance. 
• Outstanding school fees – a student’s school fees need to be no more than 1 month in arrears to be eligible to attend reward days. 
• School Contract – if a student has been placed on a school contract, they are deemed ineligible to attend reward days. Exceptions on a case-by-case basis may be considered by the Assistant Principal but this is not negotiable. 

If parents/carers have questions regarding the positive behaviour system, we welcome feedback and questions so please contact the Assistant Principal. 

Year 10 Work Experience  

Year 10 students have the opportunity to undertake three weeks of work experience throughout 2025. The dates for work experience are:  

• 30th June 2025 – 4th July 2025
• 24th November 2025 – 28th November 2025 
• 1st December 2025 – 5th December 2025 

Students will be encouraged to negotiate a minimum of 25 hours per week of unpaid work with the help of parents/carers and Jasmyn du Plessis, our Years 7 to 10 Student Learning Support and Careers Coordinator, and Olivia Whiting, our Assistant Student Learning Support and Careers Coordinator, in an area of interest to them.   

During work experience, Jasmyn or Olivia will visit all students to monitor their progress and participation as well as receive feedback from their workplace supervisor. Students are fully covered by ET Australia’s insurance policy for the duration of approved work experience.   

Students who are unable to find work placement are required to attend school.  

Year 10 Pathway Plans 

Year 10 students will begin the Pathway Plan process in Term 1 by completing a career quiz. This helps them to identify their strengths, interests and motivators. Pathway Plan meetings will commence in Semester 2. These meetings are an opportunity to discuss the student’s future study and career goals and what ETASC can do to support the student and their family. An email will be sent at the start of Semester 2 inviting you to book via the Compass Portal by clicking on ‘Parent Student Teacher Conference’.

The meetings will be with Jasmyn du Plessis, ETASC’s Student Learning Support and Careers Coordinator, and Tony Mylan, ET Australia’s CEO and College Principal.

Year 12 Mentorship Program

Each year 12 student has been assigned a staff member to be their mentor. Last year, students met to set the goals they want to achieve in their HSC and identified strategies to achieve them. This mentorship program will continue into Term 1. Students will receive a booklet to record their academic goals for the term and meet with their mentor to plan steps to help them achieve them again. Mentors will meet with the students to encourage them to keep working on those steps. They will also help students to reflect on what strategies are helping them and what things need to change to ensure they meet their academic goals. 

Year 12 Incursion

Year 12 Student Elevation Incursion 12th March 11:15am to 12:15pm
To help Year 12 students start the year with a positive mindset, a workshop run by Elevate has been booked. This seminar will help students to set goals and learn techniques for self-motivation. They will be taught the valuable skill of breaking goals into manageable tasks and examine the role of self-efficacy in performance.  

Year 11 Incursion 

Year 11 Student Elevation Incursion 12th March 9:45am to 10:45am
To help Year 11 students transition into Stage 6, a workshop run by Elevate has been booked. This seminar will equip students with the skills to be independent learners. They will assist students to learn how to use their subject syllabuses to frame their study and will be taught how to write, organise and review study notes. 

University Admissions Centre (UAC) 

Year 12 students
Your UAC PIN will be emailed to you in April to the email address you registered with NESA on Student’s Online. You’ll need the PIN to apply for university through UAC. 

Additional information will be provided to students and parents/carers throughout the year.  

Helpful links: 

How to apply to university 
https://www.uac.edu.au/future-applicants/how-to-apply-for-uni 

Steps to university for Years 11-12
https://www.uac.edu.au/assets/documents/year-11-and-12/steps-to-uni-year-11-12.pdf 

Scholarships and schemes
https://www.uac.edu.au/future-applicants/scholarships-and-schemes