Welcome to Term 3 Week 2
What's in this week's Connect
- Check-in Assessment: Information for Parents & Students
- Term 3 Mini School & Careers Camp
- eSafety Webinars: Term 3
- Careers: Webinars for students; Career Ideas; Competitions; Scholarships
- University Information & Open Days: Updated weekly
- Learning & Wellbeing Coaches 2025
- Wellbeing: General links
We would love to hear from you. If have something to share in our school newsletter please email it to: finigansde@det.nsw.edu.au
Check-in Assessment: Information for Parents & Students
The Check-in assessment is an annual online reading and numeracy assessment for students in Years 3 to 9 in NSW public schools. It helps teachers identify how students are performing in literacy and numeracy and informs the next steps in teaching and learning.
Assessment Details
Each student will complete:
- Reading test – Approximately 50 multiple-choice questions (up to 60 minutes)
- Numeracy test – Approximately 50 multiple-choice questions (up to 60 minutes)
These assessments provide:
- An overview of student learning at each year level
- Identification of student strengths and areas for improvement
- Feedback aligned with NSW syllabuses and the National Literacy and Numeracy Learning Progressions
- Valuable information to support planning, programming, and teaching
Students requiring additional time will be supported to complete the assessments.
Schedule for years 7 – 9
Note: Years 3 – 6 will commence in week 6 with more information to come in the following weeks.
The Check-in Assessment can be administered on a laptop, desktop PC, Chromebook, Android tablet or iPad (but not an iPad mini). Audio files are available for various parts of the assessments, so headphones are recommended. To access the assessment, students need to log onto the following URL – Welcome to the NSW Department of Education portal - Assessments.
If you have any questions, please contact Michelle Grasso on michelle.grasso2@det.nsw.edu.au or on 0439383040
Term 3 Mini School & Careers Camp
Please note: We have extended the due date for permission forms for Mini School and Careers Camp to Friday 1st August.
Please complete the online permission form via the link or QR code below by Friday 1st August.
Invitations were sent out in the last week of term for Mini School and Careers Camp. This term, the program includes a very special evening activity to see the school performance at for the Queanbeyan Performing Arts Festival. In order to secure tickets for the performance, consent for Mini School and Careers Camp is due back by Friday 1st August.
Complete the online consent form to secure your spot!
Online consent form for Mini School and Careers Camp.
eSafety Webinars: Term 3
The eSafety Commissioner has some free webinars coming up to give parents and carers the knowledge, skills and tools to support their children to have safe online experiences.
Term 3 Topics include:
Go to the eSafety Commissioner website to learn more and register for the webinars.
https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/webinars
2025 HSC Written Exam Timetables
Personalised 2025 HSC written exam timetables have been released via Students Online.
Please see below link for other key NESA dates.
Careers
Webinars for Students
Career Ideas
Find fresh career ideas below.
How to become a baggage handler
Looking for a hands-on career in airport operations? Find out how to become a baggage handler in this weeks Job Spotlight.
Exploring careers in psychology
Explore the diverse world of careers in psychology, from clinical therapy to forensic analysis and everything in between.
Volunteering when you have a disability
Discover how volunteering can build confidence, skills and connections for students with disabilities whilst making a positive community impact.
Bringing careers to life with First Nations storytelling
Students research unfamiliar careers and transform facts into engaging stories, combining First Nations storytelling traditions with career exploration.
How to find a place to live at university
Thinking of moving away to study? We have some tips on how to find a place to live at university that will work for your budget and needs.
Competitions
Sony World Photography Awards Youth Competition
Enter your favourite photographs taken in 2025. Submit up to three of your striking single images from the past year and share them with the judges.
- Opens: June 1, 2025
- Closes: January 6, 2026
CreAIT High School Competition
CreAIT is a competition for high school aged students to showcase their creativity! Submit an original artwork (can be hand drawn or digital) in response to the theme: Harmony in Chaos.
- Opens: June 2, 2025
- Closes: August 8, 2025
Scholarships
Public Education Foundation Scholarships
The Public Education Foundation offers a range of scholarships to help students at public schools reach their potential.
The scholarships are designed to support public school students facing social barriers and financial disadvantage, ensuring that all young learners have the opportunity to thrive academically and reach their full potential.
Scholarships for Students Now Open for Application
Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary scholarships for 2026 are now open! We're excited to announce that new scholarships have been added to our offerings this year. We encourage you to visit our website for more information and to explore all available opportunities.
Our scholarships enable students to overcome social and economic barriers to success by providing financial support to cover additional costs associated with public schooling. These scholarships support the students in reaching their full potential. A First Nations student shared with us how the scholarship support helped her - "I used the scholarship funds to buy school supplies and laptop. My proudest achievement was being able to balance my studies with my sport without being stressed by not having school stationary or laptop for studying."
For more information, email us at scholarships@publiceducationfoundation.org.au
PEF National Teritary Scholarship
The Public Education Foundation’s National Tertiary Scholarship is open to current Year 12 students attending public high schools in metropolitan regions across all states and territories in Australia.
Bond University Scholarships
Vice Chancellor’s Elite Scholarship: Bond University
These full-fee scholarships are awarded each year to a small group of outstanding applicants. Vice Chancellor’s Elite Scholars are selected on the basis of exceptional academic achievement, proven leadership ability and personal character.
Bond University Sport Scholarships
Bond University is committed to helping students achieve excellence both academically and athletically. Each year, a number of prestigious full fee sports scholarships are awarded to outstanding young athletes. Among the most generous in Australia, these scholarships provide a combination of tuition and remission and cash bursaries to help students balance their sporting goals with their university studies.
University of Canberra (UC) Scholarships
University of Canberra - The Snow Scholarships Applications are now open!
Snow Scholarships have been co-created by Snow Foundation and UC. Snow Foundation believes in the power of education to change lives and open doors – helping students realise their potential and grow into confident, purposeful leaders. In partnership with the University of Canberra, they’ve committed $20 million to back students who have big dreams and just need the support to get there. The Snow Scholarships are designed to support students in Canberra and regional or rural NSW who face barriers to higher education.
Scholars receive:
- up to $30,000 per year to support living costs, travel, and accommodation
- wrap-around academic, personal, and leadership growth
- a welcoming, diverse community of peers and mentors.
With a Snow Scholarship, higher education isn’t just a hope – it’s a pathway.
Find out more and apply for Snow Scholarships
The Aunty Agnes Shea Early Childhood Education Scholarships
Do you have an interest in Early Childhood Education and Care? Do you want to see our Booris thrive in the world?
The Aunty Agnes Shea Early Childhood Scholarships are available to Aboriginal people in the ACT seeking to start or progress their careers in the Early Education and Care Sector.
On offer:
- Cert III or Diploma in Early Child Eduation and Care, or Bachelor of Early Childhood Edcaution (birth to 5 years).
- Ongoing Support from the Scholarship team and broader Yerrabi team to help you succeed in your studies.
University Information & Open Days
Open Days Guide 2025
Click HERE to download a copy of the Open Days Guide 2025, for students and their families.
Gap Year Guide 2025
Click HERE to download a copy of the Gap Year Guide 2025, for students and their families.
The 2025 University Early Entry Guide
It’s arrived! The 2025 University Early Entry Guide!
- Early Entry Guide 2025: School Licensed Edition
- Early Entry Quick Reference Guide: Early Entry QRG 2025
- Early Entry – Accepting offers: Study Work Grow Education
Rising Sun Pictures & University of South Australia
A decade-long partnership that has played a key role in developing industry-ready visual effects (VFX) artists who are now contributing to some of Hollywood’s biggest productions.
Specialised courses have been tailored to meet the evolving demands of global VFX industry. The collaboration has now led to a bachelor’s degree in visual Effects along with a suite of specialised post-graduate courses including 3D Animation, Creature Effects, Compositing and Tracking, Dynamic Effects and Lighting.
Study with RSP | Getting started in VFX
University of Canberra (UC)
University of Canberra - Early Offer Scheme Now Open for Applications!
If you’re a current Year 12 student applying to UC for undergraduate study next year, you could receive an early admission offer under the Early Offer Scheme using criteria other than your ATAR.
Applications for Early Offers opened on 19 May 2025.
Important dates:
- 19 May 2025 : Applications
- 17 August 2025 : Applications close
- 31 August 2025 : Early Offer document deadline
- 15 September 2025 : Offers released
What do you need to apply?
- Your official Year 11 NESA (NSW) report
- A 300-word personal statement about which course you are interested in studying, and why you have chosen to apply for this course at the University of Canberra.
To find out more and to start your application, click here.
University of Technology Sydney
UTS: Bachelor of Information Technology Co-operative Scholarship program
The Bachelor of Information Technology is a cooperative education program between the University and sponsoring organisation. The aim of the program is to produce graduates who will become leaders in information technology in Australian organisations. Click HERE to find out more.
University of Wollongong
University of Wollongong - Early Admission Applications
Early Admission applications for current year 12 students are now open!
UOW Early Admission is our early entry offer program for students completing Year 12 (Higher School Certificate or other Australian equivalents) during 2025.
When you apply for Early Admission, UOW considers your unique skills and experiences, alongside Year 11 results, so you can earn an offer to university before you sit your first exam.
For students completing the HSC in 2025, your results will automatically populate into the Early Admission system when you apply.
All applicants will need to answer the following four questions:
- Academic Readiness: What are your study strategies when preparing for an important assessment task?
- Motivation and Passion: What has influenced your decision to pursue your course or courses of interest?
- Communication and Collaboration: Describe a time when you worked with others to achieve a goal.
- Planning and Persistence: Tell us about a time when you set yourself a goal and worked really hard to achieve a good result.
Apply Now - https://www.uow.edu.au/early-admission/
Charles Sturt University (CSU)
Charles Sturt Advantage Early Offer - Session Recording
CSU held their first Charles Sturt Advantage Early Offer webinar for the year, and if you missed it you can catch up by watching the recording. You'll see Rebecca Baker speaking with Jordan Stewart CSU’s early offer co-ordinator and answering student questions live via the Q&A.
You'll see students questions being answered live via the Q&A.
View it on the CSU website: https://study.csu.edu.au/information-for/school-leavers/charles-sturt-advantage
Charles Sturt Advantage (Early Offer)
- Round 1 - Early bird applications close 31 July 2025 and offers will be made from 1 September 2025.
- Round 2 - Applications close 31 August 2025 and offers will be made from 19 September 2025.
- Students Apply Here - https://study.csu.edu.au/information-for/school-leavers/charles-sturt-advantage
ADFA Open Day 2025
- Organisation: Australian Defence Force Academy
- Location: ADFA Canberra Campus and Online
- Date: 16 August, 2025
La Trobe University
Course updates:
- Bachelor of Biological Sciences - New core subjects and course location
- Bachelor of Laws (Honours) / Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics -New specialisation course
- Bachelor of Arts Explorer tool - Explore over 34 different arts majors or add your interests to refine your selection
Open Days 2025:
- Melbourne (Bundoora) - Sunday 3 August 2025
- Shepparton - Sunday 10 August
- Mildura - Wednesday 13 August
- Sydney - Saturday 16 August
- Albury-Wodonga - Sunday 17 August
- Bendigo - Sunday 24 August
Macquarie University (MQU)
- Open Day: 16 August 2025, 10am – 4pm
National Institute of Education: UCAT & Pathways into Medicine
UCAT and Pathways into Medicine Webinar Recording and PDF Slides - Students in Year 9, 10, 11 or 12 considering a career in medicine or dentistry, and missed the previous ‘UCAT and Pathways into Medicine/Dentistry’ information session, you can access the recording and PDF slides of the presentation here https://www.nie.edu.au/ucat-free/free-ucat-information-sessions
6 August 2025 at 7.00 pm (AEST)
Torrens University
Virtual Open Day Catch Up | Torrens University - For students who missed Torrens University's February Virtual Open Day, the recording is now available. Hear from academics about courses, scholarships, internships and what sets Torrens University apart. https://www.torrens.edu.au/whats-on/open-day/virtual-open-day.
Western Sydney University
We believe chasing big goals shouldn’t mean leaving everything behind. That’s why thousands of students are choosing to stay near and go far – with a world-class education close to their community, then can focus on what really matters: their goals, their time and their people.
CLICK HERE for more information on HOW TO APPLY
Scholarships, Early Entry, Alternative Pathways:
- Western's HSC True Reward Early Offer Program - HSC True Reward acknowledges that students are much more than their scaled ATAR. The program recognises a student’s subject performance, which best reflects their strengths and areas of interest, as an indicator of future success at university. Offers based on Year 11 or 12 results are made from September. For more information visit https://bit.ly/43e4Gtu.
- Western Sydney University Indigenous Entry Pathway Program - The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pathway Entry Program is an alternative University Entry Program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Applicants can gain entry to any undergraduate degree at Western by completing the entry assessment and be supported throughout their education. The next assessment days are online and on campus in June 2025. For more information visit https://bit.ly/47iMOwF.
If you have any further questions, reach out to WSU’s friendly Student Services Hub team by phone, email, text or chat.
Ph: 1300 668 370 | Email: study@westernsydney.edu.au | SMS: +6482 095 590 | Chat live online (click icon bottom right on web)
Resources for Students
The Importance of a USI - A Unique Student Identifier (USI) is a student’s education number for life. All students undertaking nationally recognised training such as VET or a First Aid course, must have a USI to get their certificate. Higher education students need it to access a Commonwealth Supported Place, HELP loans and to graduate. Students can create their USI in under 5 minutes using their ID. For more information visit www.usi.gov.au or email stakeholders@usi.gov.au.
Learning & Wellbeing Coaches 2025
The Learning and Wellbeing Coaches for 2025 are as follows:
- Primary:Homeroom Teacher
- Year 7 & 8: Mark Huynh (supported by Milly Hammond on Fridays)
- Year 9: Aamir Aftab & Tracey O'Leary
- Year 10: Jessie Norman/Shane Spellman (job-share) & Dylan Wood
- Year 11: Donna Needham
- Year 12: John Preston
Wellbeing links
To access the school counselling service students from year 6 to year 12 can self refer.
https://forms.office.com/r/2xBCyq7Gff?origin=lprLink