Character education – it’s at the core of what we do
At St Andrew’s Cathedral School, we take a comprehensive approach to student wellbeing, ensuring every student is valued, known and supported.
Our unique character education programme goes hand-in-hand with our wellbeing initiatives and activities, providing students with the tools and experiences to enable them to flourish individually, in community and in society.
Find out more about how we support your child at each stage:
– Junior School and Gawura
The growth and nurturing of each student’s sense of wellbeing has always been a vital element of who we are at St Andrew’s Cathedral School.
St Andrew’s Cathedral School’s Character Strengths come to life with visual icons displayed across our classrooms and open spaces and “strength spotter” stickers stuck on our students and staff as they are spotted living out our character strengths through everyday school life.
Individual care and student support continue to be primarily embraced by the classroom teachers who seek to have strong and nurturing relationships with their students. However, if additional support is required, we do have a wonderful network of pastoral care and counselling support available through our grade leaders, specialised and executive staff, as well as our school psychologists.
We look forward to journeying with you and your child in 2024 and our hope is throughout all that we do we recognise the importance of nurturing the whole child; with hearts that love, minds that grow, and lives that give.
Bronwyn Wake
Wellbeing Coordinator K-6
bwake@sacs.nsw.edu.au
To find out more about our Junior School programmes visit our website:
– Middle School
To find out about our Tutor Groups, House system and Middle School Counsellors visit our website:
– Senior College
To find out about our Tutor Groups, House system and Senior College Counsellors visit our website:
Specialised Learning
It is the role of the Specialised Learning team to work closely with teachers, students, parents and outside professionals to cater for the individual needs of students. We also work closely with our school psychologists and Head of Careers and Pathways.
This collaborative approach ensures communication and sharing where parents and professionals work together, supporting each other to provide a learning environment that is differentiated and accessible. At St Andrew’s Cathedral School, teachers are mindful of students’ social, emotional, spiritual and academic development. We aim to create a learning environment where students can access the curriculum, have opportunities to contribute to class discussions and participate in class activities.
– Junior School and Gawura
Specialised Learning in the Junior School is led by the Primary Coordinator, Ms Cathy Dangar (CDangar@sacs.nsw.edu.au), and supported by a team of teachers and aides. Please contact Ms Cathy Dangar with any questions or to provide additional information that will assist the school in meeting your child’s individual learning needs.
Listen to a short overview of our Gifted and Talented programme by Emma Clemens, Gifted and Talented Learning Coordinator – Junior School and Gawura.
To find out more about Junior School Learning Support visit our website:
– Middle School
In our Middle School, the team is led by the Head of Specialised Learning, Mrs Tammy Campbell, and comprises of Ms Heaven Lee (EAL/D); Specialised Learning Teachers – Ms Ashleigh Maihi (Year 7-8) and Mr Rodrigo De La Hoz (Year 9); Ms Emma Walker (Aboriginal Education Mentor); and Mrs Roberta Viant (Year 9-10), Ms Emily Clear (Year 7-8) and Ms Rosi Blowes (Teacher’s Aides).
Please contact Specialised Learning with any questions or to provide additional information that will assist the school in meeting your child’s individual learning needs.
Key staff:
Mrs Tammy Campbell
Head of Specialised Learning
02 9286 9558
tcampbell@sacs.nsw.edu.au
Ms Ashleigh Maihi
Specialised Learning Teacher (Year 7 and 8)
amaihi@sacs.nsw.edu.au
Mr Rodrigo De La Hoz
Specialised Learning Teacher (Year 9)
02 9286 5489
ndavey@sacs.nsw.edu.au
Ms Heaven Lee
EAL/D Teacher
02 9286 9584
hlee@sacs.nsw.edu.au
To find out more about Middle School Learning Support visit our website:
– Senior College
Our collaborative approach ensures communication and sharing where parents and professionals work together, supporting each other to provide a learning environment that is differentiated and accessible.
This team is led by the Head of Specialised Learning, Mrs Tammy Campbell and in the Senior School comprises of Heaven Lee (EAL/D), Specialised Learning Teachers: Mrs Naomi Davey (Year 12), Adam Cassidy (Year 11), Mrs Michelle Ball (Year 10) and Mrs Roberta Viant (Teaching Assistant Years 9 and 10).
Please contact Ms Tammy Campbell tcampbell@sacs.nsw.edu.au with any questions, concerns or to provide additional information that will assist the school in meeting your child’s individual learning needs.
To find out more about Junior School Learning Support visit our website:
Gifted and Talented Education programme
At St Andrew’s Cathedral School we seek to ensure that every learner is challenged intellectually and enjoys a wide range of opportunities that enhance achievement. Gifted and talented students are recognised as having unique educational needs and are catered for in order that their learning outcomes are optimised.
– Junior School
As a Christian school, we have a responsibility to recognise a wide range of student abilities, and to provide challenging educational experiences for all students, helping them to achieve their God-given potential (Matthew 25:14-30; Romans 12:6). This includes students of high academic potential or gifted and talented students.
Student nominations may be gathered from parents, students and staff and considered alongside academic records from school-wide semester screening. Objective data from standardised tests in Mathematics, Comprehension and Vocabulary, group reading tests, Mathematics diagnostic tests, NAPLAN assessments and ICAS competitions, as well as subjective data from teachers, is collated by the Gifted Education Committee in the selection process for class placement. Full psychometric assessments, provided by registered psychologists, also provide valuable information in the development of a student profile, and parents are urged to share such information with the school if it becomes available.
The Gifted Education Committee acts corporately as arbiter of any decisions regarding student placement. The Committee considers which students would benefit most by placement in an accelerated class or other cluster grouping that offers above-level learning options, in consultation with all stakeholders. Students offered placement in the Acceleration Classes on a year by year basis.
As a K to 12 school on the same campus, St Andrew’s creates excellent pathways for gifted students as they transition to Secondary School. An innovative pathway for gifted students is the Project Catalyst Mentoring Programme. Selected Junior School students are paired with gifted Secondary School students to engage in weekly mentoring sessions. This special programme allows our younger students to be inspired by the expertise and enthusiasm of older students and work together on a project or competition of their choice.
The Junior School Gifted and Talented Coordinator position is led by Emma Clemens. Emma (eclemens@sacs.nsw.edu.au) has completed a Bachelor of Education in Primary Education, Master of Christian Education and Master of Gifted Education.
Other staff with specialised post graduate Gifted Education qualifications or training include Mrs Rhonda Robson, Mrs Kate Robertson, Mr Rhys Finemore, Mrs Lucy Whelan and Mrs Rebecca Lord.
Each year a Parent Information Evening is held, outlining the school’s position and direction in Gifted Education. At St Andrew’s, our provisions for gifted students continue to expand each year as we seek to cater for this special group of learners. If you would like to learn more about our programmes, provisions, or scholarships please be in touch.
To find out more about Junior School Gifted Education visit our website:
– Middle School
Academic excellence, challenge, opportunity, and choice, in an environment which supports the holistic intellectual and socio-emotional development of each gifted and talented learner – this is what our Gifted Education programme in Years 7 to 9 aspires to achieve.
Françoys Gagné’s Differentiated Model of Giftedness and Talent (DMGT) forms the central conceptual understanding of giftedness at St Andrew’s – gifted, the student’s potential; and talent, developed and witnessed through outstanding achievement and performance. The use of the DMGT as the foundation of our programme allows for an understanding that giftedness is diverse, can include a range of abilities and should be nourished and developed through a range of programmes and provisions.
Identifying students’ giftedness is crucial to our focus on talent development. We do school-wide, continuous data collection using a range of identification methods to ensure we correctly identify our High Potential and Gifted and Talented students.
Our Extension classes in Years 7 – 9 in core subjects and advanced classes in others, together with cluster grouping, extension and enrichment aims to support the intellectual needs of our gifted and talented students. These needs are met through faster paced lessons through curriculum compacting and telescoping, in addition to gifted differentiation practices considering content, process, product and environment. Creative and critical thinking skills are fostered throughout, with a strong focus on writing skills in English and working mathematically to a higher level and interpreting complex mathematical word problems in Maths. In Science, students are introduced to higher order demand terms in working scientifically and their ability to plan, design and carry out investigations independently are developed throughout. In addition, subject and year group acceleration is another option for our highly gifted students.
A focus on the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP) inquiry-based learning model is a major feature of our Middle School (Year 7-9) gifted and talented programme. It prepares students well for either the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme or the Higher School Certificate in Senior College. The MYP emphasises intellectual challenge and encourages students to make practical connections between their studies and the real world, preparing them for success in further study and in life.
Please contact Ms Stephenson, Head of Gifted Education (Secondary) or phone 9009 5487 if you wish to discuss the specific needs of your gifted and talented identified child in more detail. Ms Stephenson has a Masters qualification in both Special Education and Gifted Education.
Key staff:
Ms Estee Stephenson
Head of Gifted Education (Secondary)
02 9009 5487
estephenson@sacs.nsw.edu.au
Mrs Angela James
Gifted and Talented Teacher (Secondary)
02 9009 5484
ajames@sacs.nsw.edu
To find out more about Middle School Gifted Education visit our website:
– Senior College
Academic excellence, challenge, opportunity, and choice, in an environment which supports the holistic intellectual and socio-emotional development of each gifted and talented learner – this is what our Gifted Education programme in Years 10–12 aspires to achieve.
Please contact Ms Stephenson, Head of Gifted Education (Secondary) or phone 9009 5487 if you wish to discuss the specific needs of your gifted and talented identified child in more detail. Ms Stephenson has a Masters qualification in both Special Education and Gifted Education.
Key staff:
Ms Estee Stephenson
Head of Gifted Education (Secondary)
02 9009 5487
estephenson@sacs.nsw.edu.au
Mrs Angela James
Gifted and Talented Teacher (Secondary)
02 9286 9584
ajames@sacs.nsw.edu.au
To find out more about Senior College Gifted Education visit our website:
Student supports
Throughout a student’s school years it is inevitable that there may be times when additional supports are beneficial. St Andrew’s provides a comprehensive network of student support which can be accessed a number of ways:
- Secondary Tutors, and Junior School or Gawura class teachers, often know your child or young person best and can be contacted via email to provide information about ways to access support.
- A student’s Year Advisor, Head of House or Grade Leader is another first point of contact to direct students to additional pastoral supports.
- Our Counselling staff are highly experienced psychologists working with children, young people and their families.
- Mrs Blackwell (Senior School) dblackwell@sacs.nsw.edu.au
- Mrs Dos Santos (Senior School) bdossantos@sacs.nsw.edu.au
- Mr Boerma (Middle School) mboerma@sacs.nsw.edu.au
- Mrs Roberts (Middle School) jroberts@sacs.nsw.edu.au
- Mrs Wake (Junior School) bwake@sacs.nsw.edu.au
- Mr Macintyre (Junior School) wmacintyre@sacs.nsw.edu.au
- Mrs Van Eldik (Junior School) rvaneldik@sacs.nsw.edu.au
- School Chaplain Rev. Tubman: ctubman@sacs.nsw.edu.au
- External supports can be accessed via your GP.
Out of hours support:
- Lifeline 13 11 14
- Beyond Blue 1300 224 636
- 13YARN 13 92 76 (For our First Nations families)
- 1800Respect 1800 737 732
- Kids helpline 1800 55 1800
- Parent helpline 1300 1300 52
Helpful tips
When a sad or tragic event occurs there are often no easy answers but be assured that your child or young person will benefit from talking to safe and trusted adults. These ideas may also be helpful:
Be available: Let your child or young person know that it is okay to talk with you. Listen to what they think and feel. By listening, you can find out if they have misunderstandings, and you can learn more about the support that they need. You do not need to explain more than they are ready to hear but be willing to answer their questions.
If relevant – manage access to the news – as is age-appropriate: It is also helpful to take particular care about your child or young person’s exposure to news events. The consistency and frequency of news cycle images can be frightening for a child or young person who may not fully don’t understand the events and their context.
Listen to emotions: Sad and tragic events may raise many emotions for your child or young person including grief and anxiety. Take your cues from them about finding a good time to talk and follow the threads that emerge. Demonstrate that you understand how they may be upset and clarify and normalise the emotions they may be feeling.
Keep to a normal routine: Maintaining the same sleeping, eating and daily routines can help to restore a sense of control over our daily lives.
Remind them of hope: Even in times of sadness we can still find hope in our faith and in our friends and family.
Online grief resources
Junior School aged children:
- When someone dies: helping children cope
- Supporting bereaved children: a guide for parents and carers. (Cruse Bereavement Care).
- Aldo’s adventures in grief. (Dougy Centre).
Secondary School aged young people: