Delagram 23rd May 2025

From the Principal

“No one can discover you until you do. Exploit your talents, skills and strengths and make the world sit up and take notice.”
Rob Liano

Recently we held a very successful Careers Fair at La Salle Academy. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the various businesses and organisations who made themselves available to promote their respective industries. But it was more than that. Our guests engaged with our students, promoted a sense of self-belief, empowered our students sense
of hope for their future and most importantly invested in our youth who will be the future leaders of our community. Equally, I acknowledge and applaud our students for their engagement, effort and focus in ensuring they presented themselves well whilst gaining as much information as they possible could. Our careers day, embraced this enthusiasm and provided our students with direction whilst giving them the skills to engage in presentations and interviews.

In Pope Francis declaration that the 2025 Jubilee year’s theme would be ‘Pilgrims of Hope’, he stated that:
"Signs of hope are also needed by those who are the very embodiment of hope, namely, the young. Sadly, they often see their dreams and aspirations frustrated. We must not disappoint them, for the future depends on their enthusiasm". Pope Francis, 2024

This is the season for hope. Our Year 12 students are busily preparing for their HSC trial exams which commence in Week 3 of Term 3, and our Year 11 students will be starting to consider their Preliminary exams which at the end of Term 3. These are all significant milestones in our students educational journey as they too, work towards their goals. And whilst our Year 10 students completed their Careers day, they now have significant life choices to make in regards to continuing their education at La Salle Academy or opting to start work or apprenticeships. Our upcoming Work Experience in Weeks 9 &  10 will play a big role in assisting our students with this decision.

Our students are not the only members of our community to engage in hope building ventures at La Salle Academy. Since the start of the term, our staff have engaged in, and completed an extensive curriculum review coordinated by the Catholic Education, Diocese of Bathurst Ltd. We acknowledge and thank the members of our head office and teachers from our peer secondary schools who engaged in an open, honest and collegial process of ensuring that we are on the right track to provide the best outcomes for our students. I am delighted to report that we have attained our compliance standards, yet we will not rest on these achievements and will look to take on board the recommendations to ensure that what we offer at our school will maximise each and every student’s ability to achieve to the best of their potential. Within this commitment to enact the recommendations, lies further hope in building a community of excellence and achievement for all of our students, and a learning and community culture that is truly reflective and representative of our great Lithgow environs. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of our staff for their preparation, participation and commitments to this review process.

All of this coupled with our continuing commitment to ensuring that that we resource our school effectively through building project, technology and sound wellbeing structures. Hope remains strong at La Salle Academy. As we each engage separate paths of hope, may we keep our students and all of our community in our thoughts as we journey this road together.

PRAYER FOR Youth (holyspiritcatholic.com)

We offer to you, Loving God, the gifts and needs of youth.

Bless them with your guiding grace as they face the challenges and opportunities in their lives.

Touch their hearts with the gentleness of your love, that they may know they are valued and valuable beings.

Send your spirit of hope to their lives, that they may believe in themselves and know they are needed in this world.

Grace them with the gift of joy that they may celebrate life through laughter and tears alike.

Guide us, as we continue to grow in appreciation of the many gifts of young people, in the ministry opportunities we offer to them, in the journey of faith we walk with them, in our shared mission as a community called to discipleship in the world.

We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless
Mr Glenn Carpenter

Assistant Principal

Reports and Mid-Year Assessment Tasks
Our Year 11 students are in the process of completing their second assessment tasks having reached the mid-course point of their 2025 path of study. Year 11 reports will be available to parents and students via Compass at the end of week 6. I would like to congratulate many of our Year 11 students for their application to this higher level of study. For many it is a good time to evaluate their strengths and areas on which to focus on in the coming months.
All students in years 7-10 are also completing their Semester 1 assessments and reports will be prepared in the coming weeks. Many students have made use of study materials and revision that is available to them on their Atomi learning platform. We encourage all students to access this useful tool in combination with the guidance for their teachers to help prepare them of their assessment and in class tasks.
Students Online Accounts
All students in Year 10 – 12 have a NESA Student Online account where RoSA Grades, personalised HSC Exam Timetables and the all-important HSC Results in December. A number of our student have still not activated their NESA account and in the coming weeks we will be running some sessions with students to get their accounts set up. If you have already done this and haven’t logged in for a while, it a good idea to go to students online
https://studentsonline.nesa.nsw.edu.au/ and update your knowledge on what you can get from this site.
HSC Minimum Standards Testing - Year 11 and 12
Year 12 students will be sitting their second opportunity to complete their Minimum Standards Tests next week. Year 11 students will also be stating their Minimum Standards Tests. Students will complete these tests in small groups and will be notified via Compass when these tests will be conducted. There are a number of opportunities each term to re-sit these test and students will be notified when these test will be conducted.
Feedback of student results will be provided as soon as it becomes available, usually within two weeks.
For further information, please see the HSC Minimum Standard Information on the NESA website.

Have a great fortnight
Mrs Holgate

Religious Education Coordinator

 Celebrating Faith, Service and Community at La Salle
Over the past fortnight, our La Salle community has come together in true Lasallian spirit to celebrate Catholic Schools Week and participate in meaningful Retreat Days led by the Lasallian Mission Youth Leaders.

Catholic Schools Week (Week 3) was a joyful and active reminder of our shared faith and commitment to service. We began the week with a beautiful whole-school liturgy, reflecting on the theme of belonging, community, and faith. Students and staff were also invited to participate in many initiatives that lived out our call to be people for others.

Our Year 12 students teamed up with Maree Wilsmore to prepare and cook over 30 meals for Bathurst Uniting Support Services (B.U.S.S), providing much-needed support to individuals experiencing homelessness. Across the week, students generously donated canned goods and non-perishables for Nanna’s Touch to support local families in need.

A fun highlight of the week was Jersey Day, where students proudly wore their favourite sporting jerseys, followed by a friendly Touch Football match between students and staff – a spirited reminder of our unity and enthusiasm as a community.

In Week 4, we were blessed to welcome back the Lasallian Mission Youth Leaders, who guided all students from Years 7-10 and  12 through specially designed Retreat Days. These sessions provided a space for prayer, reflection, personal growth, and community building, helping our students to strengthen their faith and values in a supportive and uplifting environment.

We are proud of the active participation and generosity shown by all our students throughout these two weeks. Events like these are a powerful reminder that being part of a Catholic school means more than just learning – it’s about living our faith through service, reflection, and love for others.

Warm regards,
Mrs Wilsmore-Smith
Religious Education Coordinator

Leader of Teaching and Learning

FACTS Day
On Friday 9th May, our Stage 6 students ventured out to Charles Sturt University (CSU) for the annual FACTS Day. This acronym stands for Facts About Careers and Tertiary Study and is organised by the Central West Careers Advisers Association to assist students to explore their future career and employment opportunities. The day began with a presentation where students could choose to listen to guest speakers who were either working in industry or attending university. Following these presentations, students attended a careers market where nearly 70 exhibitors were present. The exhibitors were varied and included representatives from the defense forces, universities and TAFE,  private colleges and industries such as mining and construction. 

The students really valued the opportunity to explore such a diverse range of career and employment opportunities and took advantage of being able to gather as much information as they could by engaging in thoughtful discussions with the exhibitors. They are to be commended for their exemplary conduct and the wonderful way they represented La Salle Academy to the rest of the community. Special thanks goes to Mr Carpenter for organising the day and to Mrs Hotham and Mrs Houghton for their support in supervision on the day.

Learning Walks
One of the teaching and learning initiatives that has been implemented this year to further develop our focus of student learning and engagement is that of Learning Walks. These walks involve a group of 3-4 teachers visiting a range of classrooms to observe the learning of our students for a short period of time during a range of lessons. The teachers also spend time interacting with the students and ask them questions to elicit their level of understanding of the lesson focus and learning objectives. These questions include: 

*What are you learning? Why?

*How are you doing?

*How do you know?

*How can you improve?

*Where do you go for help?

Learning Walks enable staff to focus on what learners are actually doing: how they’re engaging with information, how they’re working with concepts, and how the learning is being structured in real time. This process also helps students to understand their role as a learner and encourages them to take responsibility for their own learning and to be resilient in the learning process. 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education
During our recent Parent-Teacher Conferences, a common topic of discussion was that of the use of AI in education. Many parents have valid concerns about this technology and are seeking advice on best practice to guide their children to ensure they are using this technology correctly. New research from Monash University’s Centre for Learning and Analytics (CoLAM) highlighted the importance of ongoing professional development for teachers and students in AI literacy and the promotion of safeguards. While this is an ever evolving space, we continue to work with students to develop their digital literacy and ability to critically evaluate AI output. Here are some tips you can use at home to further the conversation and understanding around AI use:

1. Understand the Tools
Learn about the AI platforms your child may use (e.g., ChatGPT, Khanmigo, Grammarly, Duolingo Max). Explore what each tool
can and can't do—especially with homework. AI is great for explanations and practice, but it's not a substitute for real
understanding or teacher feedback.

2. Set Clear Guidelines
Establish rules for when and how AI can be used:

•  Okay for brainstorming
  
  
• Not okay for copying answers
  
  
• Check AI’s output with you

 Help your child view AI as a learning coach, not a shortcut.

3. Promote Ethical Use
Teach children to:

• Use AI responsibly and honestly.
  
  
• Avoid using it to cheat or plagiarise.
  
  
• Be aware that AI may be biased or incorrect.
  
  4. Balance AI with Other Learning Methods
  Encourage the use of AI alongside books, hands-on work, discussions, and real-world practice.
  Technology works best when it supports—not replaces—traditional learning.

5. Encourage Active Learning
Help your child:

• Ask AI to explain confusing concepts.
  
  
• Generate quizzes to test their understanding.
  
  
• Summarise lessons in their own words.
  
  
• Use AI to spark curiosity and question
  6. Be Involved

Check in regularly:

• What did you use AI for today?
  
  
• What did you learn?
  
  
• How did AI help?

Your involvement helps ensure that AI use stays positive and productive.

7. Teach Critical Thinking

Model and encourage these questions:

• "Is this answer right?"
  
  
• "Can I explain this myself?"
  
  
• "Where else can I check this?"
  
  

AI can help develop thinking skills—if students don’t take its answers at face value.

8. Protect Privacy

Stick with age-appropriate platforms and avoid entering personal information into AI tools.

It is clear that AI is here to stay, so it is vital that we work in partnership to ensure our students are adaptive learners who can confidently navigate the 21st century digital landscape.

Yours in learning, 
Mrs Devine

Pastoral and Wellbeing Co-ordinator Year 7,9 and 11

Celebrating Success and Supporting Student Wellbeing

As we reflect on a productive and engaging Term 1, we are proud to celebrate the outstanding commitment of our students. Last week, we had the pleasure of presenting certificates to those who achieved 100% attendance throughout the term—a fantastic accomplishment that demonstrates dedication, resilience, and a positive attitude toward learning. Congratulations to all recipients!

I also want to congratulate our Year 11 and 12 students who attended the CSU Careers Fair last week. It was an inspiring day, with over 1,000 students in attendance from across the region. Our senior students represented the school with maturity and curiosity, taking full advantage of the opportunity to explore a wide range of career and study pathways. Well done!

Recently, a few incidents have been brought to my attention well after the day of the issue. I encourage students to speak to their teachers on the day if they are experiencing any difficulties—whether academic, social, or emotional. Addressing concerns early helps us support students more effectively and ensures small issues don’t grow into bigger ones. Our staff are here to help, and we want all students to feel confident reaching out. 

We also recognise the important role parents and carers play in identifying when a young person may be struggling. If you’ve noticed any changes in your child’s behaviour, mood, or wellbeing, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me. We are committed to working in partnership with families to ensure every student feels supported, connected, and equipped to succeed.

Let’s continue working together to make Term 2 a positive and successful experience for all our students.

Warm regards,
Mrs Tahni Hotham
Wellbeing Coordinator (Years 7, 9 & 11)

Pastoral and Wellbeing Co-ordinator Year 8, 10 and 12

We are fast approaching the middle of the term already! I hope we are all settling back into the normal routine and making the most of the opportunities that come up.
As we move into assessment season, it’s common for students to feel increased pressure.
Parents play a vital role in supporting their wellbeing during this time, as well as their teachers.
Here are some tips to help students as they approach the busy assessment season:
● Planning: Map out key due dates and break tasks into manageable steps.
● Promote Healthy Habits: Ensure you are getting enough sleep, eat well, stay
hydrated, and take breaks.
● Check In Emotionally: Take time to think about how you’re feeling. Sometimes a
listening ear makes all the difference. The wellbeing space is always open for you to
come in and have a chat.

This term has seen students be involved in several activities which has been a highlight!
Year 10 engaged in the Careers day in week 3. It was great to see so many students take
this opportunity seriously, dressing up for the occasion and engaging in interviews.
Opportunities like these are excellent as it enables students to picture what the next couple
of years will look like and think about career paths that they may not have thought of.
Coming up next Thursday Year 10 will be involved in the RIEP (Regional Industry Education
Partnerships) here in Lithgow, another fantastic opportunity for our students here.
Year 8 and 10 attended a police talk in week 2 which spoke about all issues surrounding
adolescents in the area. This was a good opportunity for students to ask questions and talk
about concerns they may have.
In week 8, year 10 will attend the RYDA workshop for safe driving in Bathurst. Please see
below some information that is available for parents. Students will be receiving permission
forms late next week.
Year 12 are also in the midst of assessment tasks and are progressing well. As their new
Wellbeing/Pastoral coordinator, I will be touching base with all of year 12 in regards to how
their studies are progressing.
If you have concerns about your child’s stress levels or need extra support, please reach out
to me. We’re here to help.

Mrs Soliette Markovic
Year 8 & 10 Pastoral/Wellbeing Coordinator

Library News

Reconciliation Week Display 
As Reconciliation Week is “ a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia” (Reconciliation Australia, 2025), it is vital that students are provided the opportunity to explore these themes through the written word. The National Reconciliation Week (NRW) 2025 theme, Bridging Now to Next, reflects the ongoing connection between past, present and future. Bridging Now to Next calls on all Australians to step forward together, to look ahead and continue the push forward as past lessons guide us. Our newest library display showcases some of the many texts on offer which address these themes and students are encouraged to seek out these texts to further their own understanding. 

Premier’s Reading Challenge Continues
The Premier’s Reading Challenge continues this term and our students are working well to achieve their goal of reading twenty books by Friday, 19th September. A reminder to all students to ensure that all completed novels are added to their online reading logs. Students who have continued to add to their reading logs have been issued with a library certificate acknowledging their efforts. Special mention goes to Emily H. in Year 8 who has been working very hard and is close to completing the challenge, well ahead of schedule. Well done, Emily!

Dorothea MacKellar Poetry Awards
The Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards seek to capture the imaginations of school students across Australia, inspiring them to express their thoughts and feelings through the medium of poetry in their pursuit of literary excellence. The standard of entries year after year is consistently high, yet the winning poems never cease to impress the judges. From reading the entries of both the primary and secondary students, one can get an idea of the current events and issues that have had a great impact on young Australians over the decades.

The awards are held every year between the 1 March and the 30 June with the winners announced on the first Friday in September.

Students are invited to take inspiration from wherever they may find it, however if they are looking for some direction, they are invited to use this year’s optional theme to inspire their entries. The optional theme for 2025 is “All the Beautiful Things”. Students are encouraged to write about topics and experiences that spark their poetic genius (in whatever form they choose.) The rules of the competition are:

• Only students enrolled in an Australian education facility (Kindergarten to Year 12) are eligible to enter.
• Poems must be no more than 80 lines with no illustrations, graphics or decorations included.
• Poems on any subject are accepted, the annual theme is optional.
• Poems that have been previously entered in the Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards are NOT ELIGIBLE to be entered.
• Poems entered in other competitions are eligible to be entered.

The competition closes on 30th June and winners are announced on 5th September.

Any questions regarding submission, please contact the library.

Happy Reading, 
Mrs Devine

Mission Leader

Happy Friday, Everyone!
In Week 3, La Salle Academy had the pleasure of celebrating Catholic Schools Week. Catholic Schools Week is a way to celebrate education and the successes of another year. The 2025 Jubilee year theme is the ‘Pilgrimage of Hope’, which signifies a call for reflection with trust in God’s promises and to preach hope with others, especially in a world of hardships and challenges. 

Thursday, Week 3, the Year 12 cohort and I cooked a total of 33 meals for the Bathurst Uniting Support Services (B.U.S.S), which is a program for those who are homeless, poor, socially isolated and those with addictions. The program's mission is to create connections and affirm dignity by helping individuals connect with their community. I hope our meals tasted great and nourished people in need. 

I especially know the curry sausages my group and I made looked delicious. 

Our school community also gathered 70 cans/tins of food for a local Lithgow organisation, ‘Nannas Touch’. Nanna's Touch is a compassionate support hub where those in need of food can be sustained. It is so lovely and humbling to be a part of this, knowing that our kindness helps those in need. 

Have a great following week and upcoming weekend! 

Thank you
Your Mission Captain
Amira Kathir! 

Finance

SCHOOL FEES FOR 2025
Thank you to all those who have either paid their first instalment or have set up a Payment Plan for this year's fees. Statements for the second instalment have been sent via email on Friday 9th May and are due today the 23rd May. Your account is also accessible also through Compass.
If you still have not set up a Payment Plan to date, please look into this urgently as the weeks are moving along quickly leaving less time to have your account finalised.
If you have any questions relating to your account, please let us know by contacting the school office. If you have not received your School Fee Statement via email at all, please contact the school office to ensure that we have the correct email address on our system.

Fee Billing Dates for 2025 are listed below:
Fees will be generated at the beginning of the year and split into 3 instalments. Instalment due dates are as follows:* Term 1 Statement Date 28/02/2025 and instalment due date 14/03/2025* Term 2 Statement Date 9/05/2025 and instalment due date 23/05/2025* Term 3 Statement Date 1/08/2025 and instalment due date 15/08/2025

A reminder that payments can be made by the following payment options:
• Account balances can be accessed via Compass and payments can be made on the App.
• BPay Payment References are readily available on the Fee Statements.
• Direct Debit Forms are available at the school – just call or email to enquire.
• EFTPOS is available in person at the office or you are welcome to make payment over the phone.
• Centrepay Forms are available from ServiceNSW or call / email and we can arrange one to be sent.

Please don’t hesitate to contact the office by calling (02) 6354 5100 or by emailing the school on lasallelithgow@bth.catholic.edu.au if you have any questions relating to your account or if experiencing any difficulty so we can arrange a suitable solution.

Thank you and have a great weekend!

Kind regards,
Narelle Lee
Office Manager

Questacon Excursion

Questacon Visit

Last Wednesday (14.05.25), Questacon visited La Salle Academy to run a free innovation workshop with our Years 7,
8, 9, and 10 students as part of Questacon’s Across Regional Australia initiative. Randomly chosen students from
Years 7 and 8 attended the event Periods 1 & 2, whilst randomly chosen students from Years 9 and 10 attended Periods 3&4. During the event, students were immersed in problem-solving, technology, and creativity by designing and constructing a roller coaster prototype using a provided wooden frame, cardboard, masking tape, scissors and other useful accessories.
The students were guided through the event by enthusiastic and engaging workshop facilitators from Questacon,
namely Helen, Madi, Angus & Stephanie who created a supportive environment and encouraged students to:
• take safe risks and frame failure as a learning moment to be celebrated alongside success
• develop skills of analysis and creative problem solving through the ‘innovation process’
• rethink familiar everyday materials to create physical prototypes
• build positive attitudes towards STEM
In small groups, the students discussed what special features make a great roller coaster and how to incorporate these features into their prototype. They attempted to build the roller coaster prototype and to incorporate these features. To test the efficacy of their design, they rolled a marble through the course to determine if the marble would remain on track. If the marble didn’t make the whole course, the students attempted to tweak the design until the marble roll was successful. Both the Years 7 & 8, and Years 9 & 10 groups produced workable prototypes that the presenters seemed impressed by.
Students were provided with 50 minutes to construct their roller coaster. Once this time was up, they spent 5 minutes sharing with other groups why they chose to design and attempt to build this particular roller coaster and to test their roller coaster in front of these groups. They shared what worked well with their roller coaster, any challenges they faced in its construction or working, and how they may have tweaked the prototype to improve its performance.
Experiences such as this Questacon visit help to equip students with critical and creative thinking skills, and build their confidence to tackle problems across the curriculum and beyond.
With Years 7 to 10 having taken part in this STE(A)M experience and having witnessed the enjoyment from these
students, it is hoped that there would be an increased interest in attendance at the Science and Engineering Challenge in 2026.

Thank you.
J. MacKinnon
Science/STE(A)M/Agriculture and Languages Co-ordinator

Agriculture Immersion Day

 On Friday the 16th of May Mrs Dixon, Miss Walsh and 3 of the Primary Industries students- Glen, Eilish and Macy. attended the Agriculture Immersion Day at Cowra Agricultural Research and Advisory Station. The students got to see the behind the scenes research on how Perrenial crops are grown and the greenhouses used. They learnt about new data development and state of the ark  technology that can be used within the agriculture industry.The students also learned all about careers with the Local Land Services.

Important Information

Catholic Education Benefits All Australians

Catholic schools are Australia's largest non-government education provider, delivering choice, affordability and value for all. With the election coming up,parents might be interested in finding out more information by going to https://ncec.catholic.edu.au/2025-federal-election/ There is a great short video explaining how school funding works.

CEBD Community Charter

Karate Classes

We are a local karate school who have been operating for over 25 years with experienced, qualified instructors.
We provide fun, affordable karate classes for kids, teens and adults to develop fitness, determination, focus and self defence in a safe, welcoming environment.
Our karate school is a traditional school that follows the virtues of respect, peace and perseverance and helps to develop students in the dojo as well as in their daily lives.
We are offering a FREE trial lesson to all new students.

Kind regards,
Tamara Snow
Blue Mountains Karate Admin and Instructor

Phone: 0425 370 859
Email: info@karatensw.com.au
Website: karatensw.com.au
Facebook: chito ryu karate blue mountains

Student stationery pack

Becoming a foster carer

Canteen- Flexischools App

Canteen cut off times for order are as follows:

Recess: 10am

Lunch time : 12pm 

If you are interested in helping in the canteen please call our office 6354 5100

Thank You

Regards
Leanne
Canteen Manager

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

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.