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2025 CSSA Online Trial HSC Examinations – webinars (Ref:105/25)

The CSSA is hosting the TWO webinars to assist schools with their preparation for the 2025 CSSA Online CSSA Trial HSC Examinations

1. Enterprise Computing AND
2. Science Extension AND
3. Software Engineering.

The webinars will cover the responsibilities of schools throughout all stages of the 2025 CSSA Online Trial HSC Examinations.

Registration details for the webinars were emailed to the main CSSA contact person last week.

The email was sent to the email address of the main CSSA Contact, as registered in individual School Accounts in the CSSA webpage of the CSNSW website. 

Each school is responsible for keeping details in its School Account up-to-date on the CSSA webpage of the CSNSW website. 

Webinar - Session 1 for Principal/Teacher/Test Supervisor ONLY

• Session 1 is for Principal/Teacher/Test Supervisor in schools ONLY
• The webinar will be held on Tuesday, 13 May 2025, 4.00pm-5.00pm
• Registration was required by 5pm, Friday 9 May 2025
• The main CSSA contact in each school, as registered with the CSSA, is responsible for ensuring the relevant staff in their school have access to this webinar
• The main CSSA contact can forward the registration link to the relevant staff in their school ONLY
• Note: Parents, students and other external parties are not permitted
• This webinar will be recorded and made available

Webinar - Session 2 for IT Coordinators ONLY

• Session 2 is for IT Coordinators in schools ONLY
• The webinar will be held on Thursday, 15 May 2025, 4.00pm-5.00pm
• Registration was required by 5pm, Friday 9 May 2025
• The main CSSA contact in each school, as registered with the CSSA, is responsible for ensuring the relevant staff in their school have access to this webinar
• The main CSSA contact can forward the registration link to the relevant staff in their school ONLY
• Note: Parents, students and other external parties are not permitted
• This webinar will be recorded and made available

2025 CSSA Trial HSC Examinations - final timetable dates released (Ref: 100/25) 

The 2025 CSSA Trial HSC Examinations FINAL Timetable was released to schools on Monday, 28 April (Week 1, Term 2). 

CSSA communications were sent to the registered email address of the Main CSSA Contact as noted in the individual School Account in the CSSA webpage of the CSNSW website. 

The FINAL Timetable will be publicly available on the CSSA webpage in Week 2, Term 2. 

The CSSA webpage is conveniently located here

The 2025 CSSA Trial HSC Examinations FINAL Timetable is scheduled for:

• Monday 4 August to Monday 18 August

The 2025 CSSA Trial HSC Examinations Security Period is:

• up to, and inclusive of, Wednesday 20 August
• Examinations, including examination-related materials and student scripts, can be returned to students from 8.00am, Thursday, 21 August

CSSA webpage and individual School Accounts

• School data in individual School Accounts with the CSSA must be kept up to date by individual schools in the CSSA webpage of the CSNSW website | Account Settings.
• Relevant personnel in CSSA registered schools should ensure that the school data available and fields of information on the CSSA webpage are checked, updated and completed as necessary. This will ensure that your school’s address, phone number, email address and contact details are correct – this information is critical for communication with schools and the secure delivery of CSSA Trial HSC Examinations. Finally, remember to click on the “SAVE” button at the end of the process.

Event programme available now – 2025 CSNSW Behaviour Symposium (Ref: 94/25) 

Catholic Schools NSW is delighted to offer you an opportunity to engage in a premium professional learning event that focuses on behaviour and respectful relationships. The 2025 Behaviour Symposium will be held on Thursday, 22 May, and Friday, 23 May 2025, and will feature Tom Bennett OBE, a leading expert in behaviour management. 

Click here to download the full programme with workshop synopsis. 

Subsidised by the Commonwealth Government’s Consent and Respectful Relationships Education funding, this event is not to be missed. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by clicking here.

Day 1 (Thursday, 22 May) of the event focuses on early career teachers, as well as experienced educators looking to improve their professional practice. Assistant Principals will also benefit from the day as Tom Bennett will be facilitating a Masterclass on behaviour management. Finally, other System Leaders responsible for consent and respectful relationships education and student wellbeing will also benefit from Day 1 keynotes and workshops.

Day 2 (Friday 23 May) has a focus best suited to System Leaders, such as Diocesan Executive Directors, School Principals, other School Leadership Team members, Leaders of Mission and Evangelisation, Heads of Wellbeing, Child Protection, Safeguarding and School Safety. Those leading consent and respectful relationships education will also benefit from the presentations.

Other speakers at the symposium include Andrew Fuller (Clinical Psychologist), Melodie Wyttenbach (Roche Centre, Boston College), Dr Matthew Tan, Karen Doyle, Alex Kohn and Dr Jacqualine Amos.

Professional Learning 

Early bird savings extended: 2025 CSNSW K-12 Curriculum Reform Conference (Ref: 107/25) 

To support broader participation and enable more schools and dioceses to coordinate large group attendance at this premier event, we have extended the early bird registration period. This allows registration at this highly anticipated two-day conference, at 2024 prices.

Join the conversation with your NSW Catholic education community in September 

Catholic Schools NSW recognises the current financial pressures on schools and dioceses, so to ensure broader access to this high-calibre Catholic-focused professional learning in September, we are extending the early bird registration period. 

Once again, we will bring together experts in education, curriculum, pedagogy, assessment and Catholic mission to support and inform diocesan school systems and schools in the implementation of the NSW curriculum reform. 

Enlivening hearts and minds, focusing on the NSW K-12 Curriculum Reform, will allow us to collectively explore our thinking and practice for advancing the mission of Catholic schools.

Session and Master Classes will include: 

• leadership and leading change
• the Liberal Arts for contemporary Catholic schooling
• NSW curriculum reform and new syllabuses
• delivering quality curriculum and assessment
• artificial intelligence in teaching and learning 

                  “Thanks for a great conference. I had leaders, and teachers who all gained valuable insights.” 

                                                                       2024 Participant

Unlock 2024 Pricing for Our Two-Day Conference with this extended Early Bird Offer!

Last year’s conference was sold out. Register now for the two-day conference at 2024 prices. 

Once you have your discounted tickets, you will continue to save on the range of accommodation styles in the Sydney Olympic Precinct, with our promotional discounts for delegates. Details are on the CSNSW website.

                                                       REGISTER AND SAVE TODAY

                      “Thank you for an incredible conference! So much valuable learning to take away.” 

                                                                         2024 Participant

Please note this conference is specifically for Catholic educators in NSW. Contact professionallearning@csnsw.catholic.edu.au for any enquiries.

Event: 'Building Independence Through Inclusive Education' (Ref: 102/25) 

Save the date! 

On Monday, 21 July 2025, St Gabriel's School will host a Professional learning experience: 'Building Independence Through Inclusive Education' 

Open for educators and allied health professionals to attend, this event will explore practical, evidence-based strategies and ideas to support neurodiverse students in the classroom and beyond. 

Date: Monday, 21 July
Time: 8:30am - 3:30pm
Venue: St Gabriel's School, Castle Hill, Sydney.

To express interest in this event, click here

School Updates & Newsletters

NESA News (Ref: 108/25) 

Subscribe to NESA News 

Subscribe to the NESA News here

By subscribing to the NESA News, you will receive the latest updates and information as soon as it becomes available., 

NESA – Official Notice 

1.  New K-12 Curriculum Reform Material 

More than 20 new resources are now available to support teachers delivering reformed syllabuses: 

• K–10: English and Classical Languages
• 7–10: Visual Arts, History, Engineering Technology, Aquatic Technology, Commerce, PDHPE and Science
• 11–12: Ancient History and English Life Skills. 

Resources include sample scopes and sequences, sample units, outcomes worksheets, teaching advice and sample formal assessment tasks. 

Available here 

2. New 2025-2026 Statement of Expectations

In May 2025, the Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning, Prue Car, attended the NESA Board meeting and presented her 'Statement of Expectations' (the Statement).

The expectations are designed to support teachers in ensuring that all students in NSW, regardless of their location, have access to quality schools, teaching, syllabuses and assessment. NESA's progress on each of the areas identified in the Statement will be evaluated in the first half of 2027. 

In summary, the expectations focus NESA's efforts on:

1. Lead a statewide approach to anti-bullying for all schools in NSW
2. Continue to deliver the Curriculum Reform rollout as scheduled
3. Successfully deliver and improve the Higher School Certificate (HSC)
4. Implement changes to the regulation of Section 83C of the Education Act
5. Action recommendations from the Teacher Education Expert Panel
6. Commitment to Aboriginal Education

The key directions in each Statement of Expectations inform the Board's strategic priorities and policies. The Board, in turn, sets the strategic direction for NESA, guides it in fulfilling its functions, and delivers policy directions set by the Board and the Minister.

A copy of the Statement is available here.

3. New K-6 Professional Learning for NSW Curriculum 

Five new online professional learning courses are now available to support teachers preparing to teach the new Primary curriculum from 2027. 

The Primary curriculum overview course introduces:  

• the structure and evidence base of the K–6 syllabuses
• the importance of vocabulary and language development
• NESA's Statement of Equity Principles, and Capabilities and priorities.

The Creative Arts K–6, HSIE K–6, PDHPE K–6, and Science and Technology K–6 courses explain:

• syllabus features, their intent and the evidence base informing them
• syllabus rationale, aim and structure
• the organisation of content and how the content can be connected to other learning areas
• finding information and support on the NSW Curriculum website.

Each course contributes 1 hour of PD. 

Enrol here

4. Minor Update to Information and Digital Technology Curriculum Framework Stage 6 syllabus 

Effective: Immediately 

Reference: NESA 21/25 

Published: 9 May 2025

The Information and Digital Technology Curriculum Framework Stage 6 Syllabus has been updated following the release of version 9 of the ICT Information and Communications Technology Training Package.

No impact on HSC courses and their requirements. No changes to examinable HSC Content. 

The Information and Digital Technology record of changes provides further detail and a summary of changes.

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