Term 2 Newsletter, 2026

Excursions and Events 
There are a number of School Events planned for Term 2. 

Parents/Carers will be emailed with details of each event. Where permission is required, we ask that you give permission through the Compass Portal as instructed. This will ensure that your response goes directly to the staff member who is responsible for that event. 

Students without parent/carer consent provided cannot be included in the event. Phone calls, handwritten notes and texts are not acceptable unless a prior agreement has been made with the Assistant or Deputy Principal. Some events will be limited due to transport or other considerations, so getting in early will be important, once you are notified those bookings are open. 

Additional Public Holiday
When: Monday 27 April 2026 – granted because Anzac Day falls on Saturday in 2026.

Year 10 Information session for Year 11 enrolment in 2027 

When: Friday 5 June 2026
Where: ETASC Years 11 & 12 Campus
Time: TBC 

More information will be emailed to parents/carers closer to the event. 

Visitor Management at Years 7–10 Campus – Important Guidelines  

For the safety, security, and well-being of all students, parents and carers are reminded that access to the Years 7-10 campus is limited. When visiting the school, please do not proceed past the planter boxes positioned near Reception. 

This boundary helps us maintain appropriate supervision, support child protection requirements, and ensure a safe learning environment for all students. 

Please report to the reception desk, where staff will be happy to assist you. 

We appreciate your cooperation and support in helping us keep our school community safe.

Parent Information Session
Supporting Your Child’s Career Journey 

Parents and carers from Years 7 – 12 are invited to attend an engaging online presentation with Alana Kilmartin, founder of Unserious Careers. The session will take place on Monday 25 May 2026 from 7:00pm – 7:45pm via Zoom and will include a short presentation followed by a live Q&A. 

In this inspiring session, Building a Strong Career Support Team, Alana will share insights from her work with over 250 high schools across Australia and from her book Unserious Careers. The presentation is designed to help parents better understand how to support their young person as they explore future career possibilities. 

With the world of work rapidly changing, many parents are asking questions such as: Will their job even exist in 10 years? or How do I guide my child when careers look so different to when I was at school? This session will explore these questions and provide practical guidance on how parents can support their children during important decision-making stages. 

Alana will discuss why every young person’s pathway is unique and how parents can help their children navigate subject choices, career exploration, and the transition from school into further study or work. She will also introduce key ideas such as the “Casual Jog Years”, explain what a “Career Fan” is, and highlight why the support of parents becomes even more important once school has finished. 

This session will be valuable for parents whose child may feel unsure about their future, lacks motivation to talk about careers, is considering a gap year, or has chosen a pathway that raises questions. 

Registration for the Zoom presentation will be managed by Unserious Careers. 

To register and access the event, please visit:
https://www.trybooking.com/DKHHF 

We encourage all parents and carers to join this informative and practical session. ETASC has covered the cost of this session.  

School Starting Times and First Day of Term Arrangements 

• Years 7 and 8 students are required to be on campus at 8:55am for a 9:00am start time every school day. Students enter our Years 7 to 10 campus via the school reception area located on Level 1, Imperial Shopping Centre, Gosford. Accessing the Imperial Centre via the Erina Street entrance is the most direct entry point for the school. The school hall is open for students and supervised by staff every morning from 8:30am. 

• Years 9 and 10 students are required to be at school at 9:05am for a 9:10am start time every school day. Students enter our Years 7 to 10 campus via the school reception area located on Level 1, Imperial Shopping Centre, Gosford. Accessing the Imperial Centre via the Erina Street entrance is the most direct entry point for the school. The school hall is open for students and supervised by staff every morning from 8:30am. 

• Years 11 and 12 students are required to be on campus at 8:40am for an 8:45am start time every school day. Students enter via the school reception located in the driveway of 125 Donnison Street, Gosford. For those students who arrive before 8:40am, students are welcome to use the student common area from 8:30am. 

• If a student arrives late to school without a valid reason, they are required to surrender their mobile phone to reception for the day. Failure to do so will result in the student having to surrender their phone to the Assistant or Deputy Principal every day for a period of 10 weeks. 

Withdrawal From School 

ETASC requires four weeks’ notice of withdrawal of a student from school. Parents are liable for school fees up to the withdrawal date or four weeks after notice is given, whichever is the latest.
Notice of withdrawal must be made in writing to the Deputy Principal. 

Regular Pattern of School Attendance Required by Students 

A reminder to parents/carers that for their child to continue their enrolment at the College, students need to maintain a consistent pattern of attendance. 

The New South Wales Education Standards Authority (NESA) requires all students to have a minimum attendance percentage of 85% throughout the year. 

This means the College expects every student to attend school every day unless they are too sick to attend. In the event of absence caused by illness, the College requires an explanation of the absence within 24 hours of the student’s absence. Notification can be provided via the Compass Portal, email, or phone call. In the event of three or more consecutive days off, the College can request a medical certificate to support the provided reasons. If you have other reasons for a student being absent for the day (family emergency for example) please provide the College office with an explanation so we can account for the student’s absence. 

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

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

Reporting a Student’s Absence  

It is a government requirement for parents/carers to notify and provide a reason for their child’s absence from school on every occasion. To ensure notifications are always received and recorded by the appropriate staff members, a generic email address can be used for absentee notifications. We request this email address be used rather than emailing individual staff members. This will ensure the notification is received by the Reception staff, regardless of who is working on the day. Where an explanation has not been received within 7 days from the first day of any period of absence, the school will record this as unexplained on the student’s record. 

Methods for notifying the school of absences are:
Email: attendance@etaustralia.com
Phone: 02 4323 1233 after 8:30am
Via the Compass App 

When your child is absent from school and we have not been notified, an email and push notification via Compass will be sent to inform you of their absence which you are able to reply to. Parents/Carers can sign into the Compass Portal and enter an attendance note for their child for future and past absences. 

COVID-19, Other Illnesses and School Attendance 

ET Australia follows NSW Health guidelines to minimise COVID-19 transmission, keeping schools open and the community safe.  

NSW Health advice is that if a student is unwell and has any symptoms, they should always test for COVID-19. If the test comes back negative for COVID-19, the student should still not return to school until the student no longer has any symptoms. NSW Health advises that it is important that students do not attend school if they are unwell. COVID-19, other viruses, influenza, common colds, and stomach bugs can all be contagious. Health advice is that students who are sick should always stay home to rest and recover and avoid putting other students and staff at risk of getting sick. Students who present with symptoms at school will be sent home immediately and will not be able to return to school until they no longer have symptoms. 

Request for Student Leave 

The Department of Education’s requirement for school attendance also affects opportunities for families to take holidays during school terms. Some schools are withdrawing the option of families taking students out of school for holidays. ETASC is flexible, but the Minister for Education requires us to ensure all student leave during term time be approved by the College Principal in advance. A Student Leave Request form is available from reception and needs to be completed 4 weeks prior to the planned absence from school. 

Please contact the College office on 02 4323 1233 if you have any further queries about holidays during school terms. 

ET Australia Secondary College – A non-smoking High School 

ETASC is a non-smoking Secondary College for ALL students and staff – this includes the use of vape pens and e-cigarettes. 

Students who are caught smoking cigarettes or using vape pens or e-cigarettes during school hours will have their cigarettes, vape pens or e-cigarettes confiscated and destroyed. Parents/Carers will be contacted to inform them of this behaviour. 

Advice from NSW Health clearly outlines that it is illegal to sell cigarettes, vape pens and e-cigarettes or accessories to, or buy these products on behalf of, a person under 18 years of age. 

Please visit https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/tobacco/Pages/e-cigarettes.aspx for more information from NSW Health. 

Any student smoking during school hours will be in breach of school rules and will be treated the same way as any other breach of school rules. Repeat offenders will be placed on a school contract that will stipulate the behaviour required to maintain their enrolment at the College. The school contract with the student will include the provision of access to quit smoking programs and access to the College psychologist to develop strategies to use instead of smoking during the school day. Breaching the school contract will result in the student’s expulsion from the College. 

Banned items – Reminder 

Students are prohibited from bringing certain items to school: 

• Chewing gum 

• Aerosol cans – deodorant etc. 

• Knives 

• Liquid paper 

• Permanent markers 

• Laser devices 

• Metal or opaque drink bottles 

• Cigarettes 

• e-cigarettes or vapes 

• Cigarette lighters or matches 

• Gel Blaster/Gel Gun 

If students bring these items to school, they will be confiscated. 

If students continue to bring these items to school, appropriate action will be taken in accordance with the consequences for breaches of the expected behaviours outlined at enrolment and in the Years 7 to 10 College Handbook and Years 11 and 12 College Handbook. 

Medication Taken at School 

In accordance with our First Aid and Medications Policy, parents/carers are required to complete an Authorisation for Administration of Student Medication form for any medication that is required to be dispensed during school hours. 

Parents/Carers will also be required to provide the medication in its original packaging which has the Doctor’s instructions on the label. 

Please contact the school office if you would like any further information or require a form to be sent home. 

For more information on medication taken at school please refer to the College Handbook relevant to you: 

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

School Lockers 

Lockers are provided at no cost for students to store their school bags to improve security, and work, health and safety. Students are asked to clean out their lockers at the end of every term. Items left in lockers at the end of each term will be discarded. If you value the contents of your locker, please take it with you. 

Students are encouraged to keep lockers always locked, even when empty. We are keen to prevent unauthorised access to lockers and/or to have other people placing objects in lockers that do not belong there. 

Enrolments 

Enrolment places are still available for the current year groups in 2026: 

• Year 7
• Year 10 
• Year 11 

Places are not available in our other year groups, and a waiting list is in place. Please contact the school office if you would like to make an enrolment enquiry or would like more information.

Lunch Orders – Lunch Options for 2026 

Students in Years 7 and 8 will have the following lunch order options in 2026:  

Monday – McDonald’s 
Tuesday – Subway 
Wednesday – Sushi 
Thursday – Subway 
Friday – Hot chips 

Years 9, 10, 11, and 12 students have permission to buy food from the food court in the Imperial Centre for the first 15 minutes of each break every day. The school staff provide student supervision in the food court during breaks.  

As soon as students have received their food and drinks, they must make their way directly to Kibble Park. During breaks in Kibble Park, students are always supervised by school staff.  

Students will only be permitted to enter the food court if they are purchasing food or drinks. If students go to the food court and do not purchase food or drinks, they will be banned from accessing this privilege.  

 Years 11 and 12 students are also permitted to go to Shop 3 Café unsupervised to buy food and drinks during breaks. As soon as students have received their food and drinks, they must make their way directly to Kibble Park. During breaks in Kibble Park, students are always supervised by school staff.  

Teaching Staff 

Contact details for all members of school staff are in the College Handbook relevant to you:

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

Year 10 Information session for Year 11 enrolment in 2027 

On Friday 5th June 2026, Year 10 students will have an information session at the Years 11 & 12 campus to find out what ETASC offers senior students. The information will include: 

• Course overview including the subjects offered 
• Access to alternative subjects via distance education
• School-based apprenticeship opportunities
• TVET opportunities 
• Day-to-day experience at the Years 11 & 12 campus 
• Testimonials from the current Year 11 & Year 12 students. 

Application forms for Years 11 & 12 along with an overview of the course offering will be available for Year 10 students to take home on the day.

Assessment Week  

Assessment week will be held during Weeks 4 & 5 of this term for all year groups. All students will be completing a separate KLA examination each day. Revision time will be conducted before the examination. Adjustments and support will be available to students who qualify. Anxiety around assessments is normal and we encourage students to reach out to their teachers for support and reassurance during this time. We also encourage students to take home revision notes and to get a good night’s sleep to help them feel prepared and ready for their examinations. If you know your child will not be present during this time, please contact Assistant Principal Brooke Gordon. If you have any questions, please contact the Curriculum Coordinator Kimberley Wheeler.  

Years 7-10 Compass Learning Tasks 

Students can access their assessment schedules via their Student Portals under the Learning Tasks tab in Compass. This information will make it easy for students and parents to stay organised and informed about when assessments take place and if they are submitted on time. Each task or assessment clearly displays the due date, assessment type, and relevant instructions. Students can quickly see what assessment is coming up and whether it has been submitted or is still outstanding. Parents can also access this information via the Compass Portal, enabling them to monitor progress, support time management, and ensure important deadlines are not missed.

Years 7 – 10 Individual Education Plans (IEPs)  

Individual Education Plan (IEP) meetings will continue in Term 2. These meetings are an opportunity to discuss the students’ individual learning needs and plan for reasonable adjustments that ETASC can make to provide targeted support for your child. An email will be sent inviting you to book via the Compass Portal by clicking on ‘Parent Student Teacher Conference’.   

Please bring to the meeting any diagnostic paperwork or specialist reports that you have not previously provided to the school. The meetings will be with either Jasmyn du Plessis, Olivia Whiting, ETASC’s Student Learning Support Coordinators, or Lauren Pal, Stage 5 Assistant Student Learning Support and Careers Coordinator.   

If the time slots are not suitable, please email Jasmyn.duPlessis@etaustralia.com for Years 9 and 10 students. Email Olivia.Whiting@etaustralia.com for Years 7 and 8 students, so an alternative time can be arranged.  

Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 Student Assessment Handbooks  

Student Assessment Handbooks are available on the school website and are important documents for Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 students to read to be informed about how to successfully achieve their academic school requirements.  

Each of the handbooks has the relevant information for each year group on submitting assessments, the misadventure process and helpful hints on how to study.  

Each handbook has the assessment schedule for each subject and the term and week that the assessment is scheduled to take place – please note this may be subject to change. 

For Years 9 and 10 students, there is information on what an ‘N’ Determination Award (N Award) is and how to avoid one, study skills and who to talk to if you need help.  

We encourage all students and parents/carers to read these documents thoroughly to ensure they are informed of the expectations for their learning this year.  

If you have any questions regarding the above content, please contact Kimberley Wheeler, the 7-10 Curriculum Coordinator on 4323 1233 or Kimberley.Wheeler@etaustralia.com. 

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. 

Stage 4 Spelling and DEAR 

Year 7 and 8 students will participate in DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) during Term 2. Please encourage students to bring in a novel of their choice or to borrow one from the Knowledge Hub.

HSC Numeracy and Literacy Minimum Standards tests 

Year 10 students will be participating in their second opportunity of HSC Numeracy and Literacy Minimum Standards tests. These tests are used to show the level of numeracy and literacy achievements of students before they exit the school system, whether it be in Year 10, Year 11 or Year 12. Students who acquire a level 3 in each of the standard tests have reached the state level of achievement and do not need to continue the testing process. Students are given multiple opportunities throughout the year to acquire a level 3. ETASC students will be participating in the second round of testing in Week 7 of Term 2. For more information please see the website https://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/11-12/hsc/hsc-minimum-standard. Any questions please contact the Curriculum Coordinator, Kimberley Wheeler.

Year 10 Work Experience   

Year 10 students have the opportunity to undertake three weeks of work experience throughout 2026. The dates for work experience are:   

Monday 29th June 2026 – Friday 3rd July 2026
Monday 23rd November 2026 – Friday 27th November 2026 Monday 30th November 2026 – Friday 4th December 2026 

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 9 to 10 Student Learning

Support and Careers Coordinator, and Lauren Pal, our Assistant Student Learning Support and Careers Coordinator, in an area of interest to them.   

 During work experience, Jasmyn or Lauren 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.

Year 10 Pathway Plans  

Pathway Plan meetings will commence in Semester Two. 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 Two inviting you to book via the Compass Portal by clicking on ‘Parent Student Teacher Conference’.   

The meetings will be with Jasmyn du Plessis, Stage 5 Student Learning Support and Careers Coordinator, and Tony Mylan, ET Australia’s CEO and College Principal.

Stage 5 DEAR 

Years 9 and 10 will continue to participate in DEAR (Drop Everything And Read) twice a week. Please encourage students to bring in a novel of their choice or to borrow one from the Knowledge Hub. 

SYNC – Skills You Need Consolidating 

This year ETASC will continue with SYNC for Years 9 and 10 students. Each lesson aims to help students establish and practise the fundamental skills necessary for further education and work. These practical skills enable students to practise problem solving, critical thinking and group work. 

Classes include:  

• Nutrition – properly reading food labels, budgeting, planning, food wastage and cooking skills; 
• Computer Skills – desktop usage, using Microsoft Office, typing skills, film editing and website building; 
• Careers – resume writing, cover letters, how to research jobs, skills selection and how to apply for jobs; 
• Independence Days – car maintenance, practical living skills and household upkeep. 

These units will help to round out the students’ employability skills. 

Curriculum Update 

Year 11 students have completed their first term of senior school, adjusting to the greater workload, including homework and take-home assessment tasks. Year 12 students are now halfway through their HSC courses and, hopefully, will increase their practise of past HSC questions in preparation for their HSC. 

Year 12 Reports   

Student reports were emailed through Compass at the end of Term 1. Year 12 received their Semester 1 report with comments on their achievements and how to improve their academic progress.

Year 11 Reports 

Student reports will be emailed through Compass at the end of Week 2 this term (last week of April). Year 11 will receive a progress report to give parents an indication of students’ work habits and knowledge of subject content.

Assessments  

At the start of the term, a message will be sent through Compass with an outline of each assessment task and the due date. Many tasks require students to research and write responses outside of class time. Remember to take advantage of the after-school session from 3:00pm-4:00pm where teachers are available to answer questions. These tasks require students to work on them throughout the term and are not designed to be done in one night. If a student is absent on the day an assessment task is due, please ensure the Illness/Misadventure Form is completed, with documentary evidence and emailed to Christina.Clark@etaustralia.com within 24 hours. 

HSC Minimum Standards-Intervention  

In order to receive the HSC, all students need to receive a level 3 in the HSC Minimum Standards Test. There are three tests: reading, writing and numeracy. Last term, students were given the chance to complete these tests. Any students who did not receive a level 3 will be taken from class and given access to intervention in small groups. The aim is to help these students practise and develop the skills needed to gain a level 3. Students will be given another opportunity towards the end of Term 2 to resit the HSC Minimum Standards Test. 

Year 12 Mentorship Program  

Each Year 12 student has been assigned a staff member to be their mentor. Last term, they met to reflect on strategies that worked to achieve the students’ goals. This mentorship program will continue into Term 2. Students receive a booklet to record their academic goals for the term and meet with their mentor to plan steps to help them achieve them. Mentors meet with the students to encourage them to keep working on those steps.  They 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 Practice Trial HSC-Weeks 10 & 11 

To help Year 12 students prepare for their Trial HSC exams in Term 3, they will have the opportunity to sit practice Trial HSC examinations at the end of Term 2. They will be able to use their summary notes and get feedback. This will give students a taste of what the HSC exams will be like in a way that builds confidence in achieving them. 

Subject Selection  

In Term 2, Year 11 students will be informed about the process of subject selection, and parents will be sent a detailed email. Parents will be required to complete an online form to finalise the subjects their child selects to study for the HSC. Parents are encouraged to attend Year 11 parent interviews at the end of Term 2 to discuss with teachers their child’s capabilities in subjects, which will be helpful in the decision-making process.  

Parent Interviews 16th and 18th June  

Parent interviews will be happening after school on the 16th and 18th of June. Teachers of each subject will be available to discuss your child’s progress and to offer strategies to help your child improve. It is a great opportunity to raise any concerns and discuss ways to best support your child. It will also be useful for parents of Year 11 students to discuss subject selection options with teachers.   

Year 11 Student Incursion 17th June Time Management Elevate Workshop   

To help students develop routines to balance study and lifestyle, a time management seminar has been organised. Students will be shown how to work smarter by completing high-value work. They will also be shown how to utilise study groups to leverage time and learn techniques for overcoming procrastination.

Years 11 and 12 – Individual Education Plans (IEPs)  

Years 11 and 12 Individual Education plan meetings will continue throughout Term 2. Individual Education Plan meetings are an opportunity to discuss students’ individual needs and to develop reasonable adjustments that ETASC can make to provide targeted support to your child. If you feel your child would benefit from an Individual Education Plan but have not heard from the school, please contact Elissa at Elissa.Cosentino@etaustralia.com. 

University of Newcastle – Gosford campus tour 

Years 11 and 12 students are invited to tour the new University of Newcastle campus in Gosford. This provides a great opportunity for students to explore the state-of-the-art facility, meet University staff and students, and discover the exciting study opportunities. 

If you have any questions regarding the above content, please contact Christina Clark, the Stage 6 Curriculum Coordinator, on 4323 1233 or at Christina.Clark@etaustralia.com