HAWKESBURY SHOW AND YEAR 9 ART STUDENTS
written by Mrs Karolina Ortega
Four students from the Year 9 Visual Arts class have been nominated to take part in the Hawkesbury Show, where they will create a design for “Timmy the Tractor.” The students have applied their Cubist skills, which they are currently studying with Mrs. Ortega in class.
Congratulations to Hannah E., Peyton S., Mikayla T., and Nishintha S. for their dedication and for representing our college in the wider community
In the Year 10 Visual Arts class, the following students have been nominated and accepted to participate in specialist workshops in drawing, painting and photography.
Congratulations to Thomas W. and Paityn N. for being accepted into a photography course. Zoe V. has been accepted into a drawing workshop, and Abigail X. and Anya L. have been selected for a painting workshop
Well done to these students, who will have the opportunity to work with specialist teachers and develop a wealth of skills that they will utilise in their future studies in the visual arts April 2026: Term 1
In this issue:
Image 1: Example of an artwork from the workshop by Abigail X.
Image 2: Work in progress “Timmy the Tractor”
2025 BIG BATTERY RESCUE RESULTS
written by Clare Willemse K-4 eLearning Leader
Santa Sophia Catholic College is pleased to announce our first-place finish in the 2025 Big Battery Rescue National School Challenge. This K–4 initiative saw our school community achieve an outstanding result by recycling 1,792kg of batteries. This effort averaged 2,890.32g per student, securing the top national ranking and a $1,000 prize for our college. We would like to extend a big thank you to our previous Year 4 (now Year 5!) Big Battery Rescue ambassadors, who worked hard to collect, measure, and count batteries from K–4 classrooms throughout last year.
These efforts have a direct positive impact on our environment. Nationally, the challenge successfully diverted 4,526.5kg of batteries from landfills, which prevented over 14,169kg of CO2 emissions. To put this in perspective, it is the equivalent of the greenhouse gas emissions from a car driving 58,072km or the energy needed to fully charge more than 1.1 million smartphones.
We are pleased to confirm that our college will be participating in the program again this year. To build on this achievement, we are asking our student leaders to develop proposals for using the $1,000 prize money toward new sustainability initiatives in our college and playground. We extend our sincere gratitude to all families for your continued dedication to this initiative. Your commitment to recycling is helping to foster a cleaner environment for our future generations.
Image 5: Silver Great North Walk
Image 3: Impact Statement 2025 (Click photo to enlarge)
Image 4: Big Battery Rescue Podium. 2025 Winners
SCHOOL OF CONNECT CONNECT CLUBS
written by Miss Toni Matthews
Stage 3 playtime Clubs have been a huge hit this term Students have the opportunity to get involved in a range of fun and engaging activities during their breaks, including Clay Club, Yr 12 Help Hub, Gardening Club, Cricket Club and many more!
These clubs create opportunities for students to develop social skills, cooperate with others, and build confidence in a relaxed environment with both their peers and teachers. It’s been wonderful to see so many students participating with enthusiasm and making the most of their playtime.
Watch this space this year for new additions to our clubs on offer!
Image 6: Stage 3 (Year 5 and 6) Clubs Week A
[Click to enlarge]
Image 7: Stage 3 (Year 5 and 6) Clubs Week A
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Student Spotlight
Closing Message
MENTAL HEALTH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND SUPPORT
Supporting the wellbeing of our students and families is a priority in our community. If you or someone you know needs support, there are a range of confidential and free mental health services available. These services provide professional advice, counselling, and crisis support for young people and adults.
Santa Sophia Catholic College is seeking interested parents within our community to share their industry experience, knowledge and skills with our students. Sign up here.