Welcome to Scholaris

Priority 

CSSA Online Trial HSC Examinations – Familiarisation Activities (Ref: 168/25) 

The CSSA Familiarisation Activities are now live!

Schools can support and prepare their HSC students for the 2025 CSSA Online Trial HSC Examinations by engaging in the CSSA Familiarisation Activities unique to Enterprise Computing, Science Extension and Software Engineering on the Gradeo platform. 

CSSA Familiarisation Activities are available to schools from 21-25 July 2025. 

The CSSA School Readiness Guide is available here and contains all of the information required for successful school preparation.

NESA News (Ref: 167/25) 

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.

1. NAPLAN Student Reports 

Printed copies of NAPLAN student reports have been sent to schools. 

Please distribute the reports to parents / carers within 1 week of receiving them. Digital copies are also available to download from Schools Online. 

If your school has not received the printed reports by Friday 25 July, please email the NAPLAN team. 

Read more about NAPLAN results and reports here

2. Strengthened eTAMS security

NESA is making eTAMS more secure over the coming months. 

From Term 4, signing in will require multi-factor authentication, introduced to keep your account secure. 

To prepare for the change: 

1. sign in to eTAMS using your current credentials
2. check your personal details
3. use an up-to-date personal email address and mobile number
4. confirm any changes. 

From Term 4, you will need to:

• sign in to eTAMS with your email address, not your NESA number
• reset your password in line with our updated password policy
• set up multi-factor authentication for added security. 

Further updates will be provided to you via email from NESA to assist you with the change.

3. Install the new HSC lockdown browser 

A new lockdown browser is now available. Schools must ensure the browser is installed on devices that are student-owned or managed by the school for:

• HSC minimum standard tests
• HSC online exams  
• HSC ExamWriter. 

An updated installation guide and list of supported devices are available on Schools Online > Memos and Documents. 

School sectors will install the lockdown browser on centrally managed devices. 

Refer to the email sent to principals from NESA in the last week of Term 2 for more information.

4. New Science and Engineering 7-10 resources 

New resources are now available for Stage 4 and Stage 5 Science and Engineering courses, including teaching advice for Developing talent in Science, and advice on writing for Engineering 7–10. 

Visit the NSW Curriculum Website here

5. Looking for a syllabus? You can now locate any NSW syllabuses by stage or learning area on the NSW Curriculum website. 

NESA has a new navigation tool that makes it easy to find either a current syllabus or new syllabus, as well as implementation information. 

View the NSW Curriculum Reform timeline to see when remaining syllabuses will be released.

6. HSC exam resources now easier to access 

You can now find HSC exam papers and HSC standards materials in one place at nsw.gov.au/NESA

Bookmark our new Resource Finder to quickly search and access all exam resources. Existing web addresses will automatically redirect to the updated location.

Programme Now Available: 2025 CSSA Symposium – Excellence in P-12 Religious Education in Catholic Schools (Ref: 165/25) 

Catholic Schools NSW invites School and System Leaders, Religious Education Coordinators, Classroom Teachers, Key Learning Area Coordinators, and Stage P-6 Year Coordinators in Catholic education to join us at the 2025 CSSA Symposium – Excellence in P-12 Religious Education in Catholic Schools on Friday 5 September 2025 in Sydney.

The programme for the symposium has been finalised and can be downloaded by clicking here. Be sure to secure your tickets today!

This year’s CSSA Symposium focuses on academic excellence in P-12 Religious Education and delves into the purpose of a properly constituted Religious Education curriculum. It will explore the role of Catholic schools as ecclesial communities and the importance of educators in bringing to life the Mission of the Catholic Church for students, their families, and the wider school community.

The event will emphasise excellence in curriculum, assessment, and faith and mission programs for evangelisation and catechesis. Discussions will highlight opportunities for educators to design and deliver quality curriculum, assessment, and faith experiences across the full continuum of learning from pre-school to Year 12.

Date: Friday 5 September 2025

Time: 8:30am - 4:00pm (registration desk opens at 8:00am)

Location: The Amora Hotel, Jamison Sydney

Cost: $350.00

Tickets: https://csnsw.link/2025-CSSA-Symposium-Register-Now

The location is close to Martin Place Metro, Circular Quay and Wynyard Train Stations, Light Rail, Buses or Secure Parking Stations.

As you would be aware, due to changes by the Commonwealth Government for the Non-Government Reform Support Fund that was available to cover the costs of prior CSSA Symposiums, the CSSA has reintroduced a fee for registration to each CSSA Symposium. This fee charged is reflective of covering costs incurred to host the event.

Professional Learning 

2025 Connected Catholic Communities Symposium (Ref: 166/25) 

Catholic Schools as faith communities of connection and relationship are ideally positioned to provide a platform of outreach to families and the wider community to mitigate out-of-school factors impacting learning, through social offset partnerships. Learn more at the Connected for Impact Symposium in August.

‘‘Children’s educational opportunities are inextricably linked to where they live - we must continue to address the persistent disparities that exist beyond school walls.”

The Improving Outcomes for All Report revealed that "... the impact of out-of-school factors could account for up to 60% of variability in students test scores." 

So, despite the amazing dedication, commitment and expertise of our wonderful Catholic educators and staff, in-school interventions alone may not be enough. 

Impactful and sustainable strategic partnerships support students and families, whilst allowing schools to focus on their core business - teaching! 

This year’s Symposium Connected for Impact will focus on the “How” of creating these strategic partnerships.

Paul Milgate, who has been leading the Family Connect in Schools service in the Diocese of Lismore, will be the keynote speaker at our Symposium in August. He will share his extensive experience in leading and developing a systemic approach to extended services operating in schools that deliver positive social impact and return on investment. 

He will be joined by Social Impact specialist Les Hems from Right Lane Consulting and CSNSW Demographics expert Geoff Miller. 

This year, they are leading the Extended Services School Project (part of CSNSW Connected Catholic Communities Strategy) which is supporting schools in reaching out to and networking with families, parishes, communities, and support services to establish predictable, integrated support systems that extend beyond the classroom. It connects students and families with vital supports that create significant benefits.

This value flows back to schools through better student attendance and behaviour, greater teacher and school leader productivity, stronger school reputation and increased enrolments. It allows schools to focus on their core business—teaching!

Date: Thursday 14 August 2025, 9am – 4pm
Venue: Amora Hotel Jamison, Sydney  
Cost: $100 for the full day

Register: 2025 Connected Catholic Communities Symposium | Catholic Schools NSW

‘Enabling our students to experience the fullness of life’- JOHN (10:10)

Webinar: Understanding the 2024 Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) results – Where to next? (Ref: 161/25) 

In June, the Australian Government released the results from the sixth national Australian Early Development Census. This webinar will explore the latest AEDC findings and the emerging trends in child development across Australia. Panellists will consider the implications of the results and the action necessary to optimise children’s development. Register now. 

Date: Tuesday 5 August 2025 

Time: 12:30pm-1:30pm AEST 

Cost: Free

Early childhood is a time of rapid development that provides the foundation for lifelong health and wellbeing. Understanding how children are faring helps to ensure the right kinds of services, supports and resources are available to help children and families thrive.

The Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) is a national measure of children’s development as they enter their first year of full-time school. The Australian Government has just released the results from the sixth national AEDC collection. This webinar will explore the 2024 AEDC findings and the emerging trends in child development across Australia. Panellists will explore the implications of the results and the action necessary to optimise children’s development. 

The webinar will be hosted by Prof Sharon Goldfeld AM, Director of the Centre for Community Child Health.
Panellists include: 

• The Hon Blair Boyer MP, Minister for Education, Training and Skills SA
• A/Prof Yasmin Harman-Smith, Head of Early Years Systems Evidence, The Kids Research Institute Australia
• Dr Michelle Lucas, Executive Director, Logan Together
• Janet Williams-Smith, Inclusion and Early Intervention General Manager, Early Childhood Australia. 

This free webinar is for researchers, policymakers, service providers, practitioners, advocates, and anyone working to improve the lives of children. 

Register now to join us on Tuesday 5 August 2025 at 12:30pm AEST

Registrations Open! CSNSW Early Years Symposium - Thursday 4 September 2025 (Ref: 149/25) 

The 2025 Early Years Symposium is for early childhood educators, teachers and leaders. Click here to register.

Hear from keynote speakers - Anne Hollonds (National Children's Commissioner), Br David Hall fms, Dr Amie Fabry (Director Professional Learning and Director Early Childhood, The Learning Future) as they speak to the UN Conventions on the Rights of the Child, Article 5 - Governments should let families and communities guide their children so that, as they grow up, they learn to use their rights in the best way. The more children grow, the less guidance they will need.

Additionally, the Australian Institute of Family Studies will unpack their rapid evidence review, Understanding Preschool Delivery, and other early years work.

Who should attend? Early childhood teachers, educators, teachers, and leaders.

Date: Thursday, 4 September 2025 

Time: 9am - 3:30pm 

Venue: Tenison Woods House, 8-20 Napier Street, North Sydney 

Don't miss out on this opportunity to be part of a transformative conversation about the future of our children. Click here to register.

Student Resources

Australian Education Research Organisation School writing instruction framework (Ref: 164/25) 

The Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO)has developed a free school writing instruction framework to support teachers and school leaders in delivering effective writing instruction to primary and secondary students across all learning areas.  

Students knowing how to write well and to think critically and logically is of the highest importance in Australian schools.

In 2022, AERO's analysis of Australia's NAPLAN results showed a decline in students' writing skills since 2011. This analysis demonstrates a growing need for increased support of teachers and school leaders to help students improve their writing. 

AERO has developed an evidence-based writing instruction model to help teachers and school leaders deliver effective writing instruction to students, as well as offer free professional development courses. 

To access the school writing instruction framework and professional development courses, click here. 

Foundations in the Classics Homeschool program (Ref: 163/25)

Augustine Academy is hosting the Foundations in the Classics Homeschool program at Campion College Australia.

Offered to students aged 13 to 17, this program teaches foundational Liberal Arts which includes the core units of Literature, History, Philosophy and Theology. Over the course of the year, students will have the opportunity to study Ancient, medieval, Renaissance, and modern eras exploring key authors and texts of the times.

Classes are held every Wednesday over the course of 10-week terms. Each term concludes with a certificate of completion to commend the student's growth in learning. 

Where: Campion College Australia, 8-14 Austin Woodbury Place, Toongabbie NSW 2146

When: Term 3 begins Wed 23 Jul

Cost: $300 per five-week block

Open to: Homeschoolers aged 13-17

For more information on the course outline and how to apply, click here.