Cerdon College continues its HSC success in 2010

Brydie-Kate Cullen receives the Debbie Abrahams Award for Youth and Community Involvement from Jessica Ngoy from Maclarens Solicitors

Brydie-Kate with her parents, Shayne and Katrina Cullen

Cerdon College, Merrylands has continued its record of excellent achievement with 176 Band 6 results and four students placed in the All Rounders Achievers list in the 2010 Higher School Certificate (HSC).

Cerdon students, Ashleigh Chandra, Katie Davern, Kezia De Costa and Jessica Orap each achieved Band 6 or equivalent results in 10 or more units.

This year, 84 per cent of Cerdon’s results were Band 4 or above and all students who completed the English Advanced course and 91 per cent of students who studied 2 Unit Mathematics achieved a Band 4 or higher. All Extension 2 Mathematics and Extention 1 English students achieved either a E3 or E4 result (the top two bands for extension courses).

Of the students who completed the Studies of Religion course 46 per cent achieved a Band 6 result and all Visual Arts students achieved either a Band 5 or 6 result.

Cerdon College’s 2010 HSC results superseded the college’s outstanding 2009 results of 111 Band 6 results and one student on the Premier’s All Rounder’s list.

Cerdon College principal, Patricia Baker, said the college’s achievements are the result of a strong student work ethic, and the skills and enthusiasm of the college’s teaching staff.

‘The results are outstanding and a testament to the hard work of the students and their teachers,’ said Patricia. ‘We had a number of teachers teaching HSC subjects for the first time and we are very proud that those classes have all achieved over the state average.’

‘This is the result of our strong focus on mentoring teachers and providing good professional learning programs,’ she said. ‘Our staff have high expectations of themselves and their students in striving to do their best in all aspects of school life.’

Brydie-Kate Cullen, who is an Indigenous student, achieved outstanding Band 6 results in Ancient History, Studies of Religion and Personal Development Health and Physical Education (PDHPE). Brydie-Kate also received three Band 5 and two E3 results in her other subjects.

Brydie-Kate said she was very happy with her achievement and thanked her teachers for their support.

‘I’m really pleased with my marks,’ said Brydie-Kate. ‘I always felt well supported at school and I had brilliant teachers who really helped me.’

Brydie-Kate said that she found including activities outside of school into her schedule helped her relax away from study. She is a cadet officer for her local cadet unit, the highest posting a cadet can have, and has also been heavily involved in representative school sport.

‘I found having a balance between study and other activities really helpful,’ said Brydie-Kate, ‘I wouldn’t have made it to the end of the year without having a life outside of study.’

Next year, Brydie-Kate hopes to study a Bachelor of Arts with the Diploma of Education at Macquarie University. Brydie-Kate’s grandmother is Aboriginal and so she is considering combining her interest in her cultural background with a career in teaching.

‘I’m really proud of my Aboriginal heritage,’ said Brydie-Kate. ‘Having finished the HSC, I’m really keen to become more involved within the Indigenous community in the future; maybe in a teaching role further down the track.’

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