From the Head of Campus
I would like to welcome back to St Matthews all our students and families and in particular I extend a warm welcome to those families new to our school community this year. I look forward to meeting many of you over the course of the term and year ahead.
We have started the term off running, with a great energy and enthusiasm for what is shaping up to be a fantastic year.
Year 11 Mass and Badge Ceremony
Already we have had a wonderful community event in our Year 11 Mass and Badge Ceremony held at our Parish church, St Mary's last week. This was a wonderful celebration of our incoming senior students shared with family, friends and many members of staff. We were fortunate to have both Fr Owen and Fr Garry celebrate Mass with us.
Year 11 2025 - Mass and Badge Ceremony
Welcome Mass and Student Leader Commissioning
On Wednesday we officially opened the new school year with a Mass celebrated by Fr Owen. The Mass was our first opportunity to come together as a faith community- filled with hope for a wonderful year ahead - aligned with the 2025 Jubilee theme, the Year of Hope.
After Mass, the school student leaders were commissioned into their roles for 2025. The leadership team is a wonderful group of young people, and I look forward to working alongside them in 2025. Congratulations to all student leaders! Thank you to all the families who attended our Mass and Commissioning ceremony and joined us for the celebratory morning tea.
Celebrating the Class of 2024
During the Commissioning ceremony we were fortunate to celebrate the wonderful success of our 2024 cohort with 3 past students to recognise their wonderful academic performances in the HSC. During the ceremony we also announced our 2024 Dux; recognised students who were announced on the NESA Honour roll for outstanding achievement and those that gained the highest mark for a subject throughout the Bathurst Diocese.
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Jim McCarney |
Dux 1st in Diocese English Extension 1 1st Diocese Legal Studies Academic Excellence/NESA Honour Roll in: Ancient History English Advanced English Extension1 Legal Studies Studies of Religion 1 Visual Arts |
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Stella Walker |
1st in Diocese Studies of Religion II Highest Diocesan Mark 94/100 1st in Diocese Ancient History 1st in Diocese Business Studies Academic Excellence/NESA Honour Roll in: Ancient History Studies of Religion II |
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Gabrielle Tipping |
1st in Diocese Geography 1st in Diocese Visual Arts Academic Excellence/NESA Honour Roll in: Geography Music 1 Studies of Religion II Visual Arts ARTEXPRESS Selection |
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Ella Clift |
1st in Diocese Drama Academic Excellence/NESA Honour Roll in: Drama |
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Noah Gregory |
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year Academic Excellence/NESA Honour Roll in: Studies of Religion 1 |
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Klancie Freebody |
1st in Diocese Music 1 Academic Excellence/NESA Honour Roll in: Drama Mathematics Standard 2 Music 1 Studies of Religion II |
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Kasey Paterson |
1st in Diocese Modern History Academic Excellence/NESA Honour Roll in: Drama Modern History |
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Lucinda Keen |
Academic Excellence/NESA Honour Roll in: Visual Arts |
Ella, Stella and Jim - High Achievers of the 2024 HSC cohort
New Courses in 2025
We are excited to have been able to further extend our already rich and broad curriculum to include 4 new courses in 2025. These courses predominantly are in the Vocational Education and Training (VET) space and attract an Australian recognised qualification in addition to satisfying requirements here at school or for the HSC and ATAR. In Stage 5 we have introduced Active Volunteering - with students receiving a Certificate 2. Led by Mrs Mitchell students will have the opportunity to engage in a range of school and community volunteering opportunities - at the heart of our Service value here at St Matthews.
Elective History is another course introduced in 2025 for our Stage 5 students.
In Stage 6, 2 VET courses were introduced for 2025. Both allow students to study this as a part of their HSC pattern of study and can sit an HSC exam and therefore results can contribute to an ATAR (university) pathway.
Primary Industries (certificate 2) will be taking full advantage of our new amazing facilities such as the cattle yards and tractor. TAS and in particular Agriculture is a growing area in our school, well supported by the CEDBL and I’m looking forward to the different programs and initiatives we see from the students.
Entertainment and Live Production (Cert 3) is another fantastic inclusion to our senior suite of courses. Students will gain knowledge and practical skills to run events and live production including lighting and sound. I look forward to having our own ‘Roadies’ for assemblies and events here at school.
Year 11 CAPA Excursion
Our senior drama, music, entertainment and art classes are currently in Sydney on an overnight excursion attending a variety of workshops and performances, including the Onstage performances of the outstanding 2024 HSC drama major works and Art Express - a showcase of 2024 outstanding HSC artworks. Such opportunities to see the work expected at the HSC level is invaluable for our students and it’s great to see them have this wonderful opportunity. Thank you to Mrs Skinner, Mr Hull and Mrs Mitchell for accompanying our students.
Parent Information Sessions - Tuesday 18 February - Secondary Campus Hall
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7 -10 Information Session (Year 7 families and new families to SMCS Y 8 - 10) |
5.30 - 6.30pm |
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Duke of Edinburgh Information Session -Interested students & families (Y9-11) |
6.30 - 7pm |
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Y11 - Information Session & Assessment Handbook |
7pm - 8pm |
Ms Blaney McCarthy- English | Head of Campus - Secondary