Cessnock students on 2016 HSC Distinguished Achievers honour roll

Six students from St Philip’s Christian College Cessnock were named on the Distinguished Achievers honour roll with scores of 90 percent or better in a subject.

Cody Shiner placed in the top two percent of the state in the VET automotive examination, which he studied for in the school’s Trades Training Centre.

Cody has received early entry into mechanical engineering at university, and is also hoping to gain an apprenticeship as a plant mechanic or fitter.

Alex Walsh and Isabel Mahler both earned band six results in Music 1.

Alex – who featured in the Newcastle production of Hairspray this year – also scored a band five in dance, which she studied by distance education along with five St Philip’s Year 10 students, who all received marks in bands four, five and six.

Alex has accepted an offer to study a Bachelor of Arts majoring in dance and performance at Macquarie University.

Hollie Roberts (food technology), Cameron Thomson (mathematics), and Mitchell Heaney (PDHPE) also achieved band six scores.

St Philip’s Cessnock director of studies Amber Carter said these results reflect the college’s expectation of high standards of personal achievement for its students and an innovative and contemporary curriculum.

“Our team of dedicated Senior School teachers work closely with HSC students to ensure they have personalised learning targets and achieving beyond expectation,” Ms Carter said.

“We are extremely proud of our HSC students and we wish them all the best in their future endeavours.”

Mount View High School also had six students on the distinguished achievers list, including Kate Norris, who placed second in the state in the retail services exam, and also received a band six in community and family studies.

Kate said her results came as a pleasant surprise, and that she was now considering studying business at university or taking a gap year.

Chloe Brown earned two mentions on the list with marks of 96 in Music 1 and 93 in drama, for an overall ATAR of 90.2.

Chloe’s music performance also earned her a nomination for the HSC showcase Encore.

Jessica Ritchie scored 93 percent in senior science and said she was “shocked but really happy” with her results.

Jack Carney said he was pleased to receive a band six in engineering studies, and that he was hoping to study a combined degree in chemical engineering and business at university.

Kate Moore (drama) and Josephine Baker (PDHPE) were also named on the honour roll.

Mount View principal Desley Pfeffer said the school was thrilled for the success of all of its students.

“In addition to the strong performance in the top bands of achievement we have seen many personal bests in the HSC results, which will enable students to follow their dreams beyond Year 12,” Ms Pfeffer said.

“The students, and their teachers, have worked so hard towards these results and it is wonderful to see their efforts so justly rewarded.

“There are many new teaching, learning and wellbeing initiatives that we have already, and are continuing to put in place to support our students and it is so gratifying to see the positive effect that this is having for our students.”

Cessnock and Kurri Kurri High each had one student on the distinguished achievers list, with Samantha Flemming (Cessnock) earning a mention for PDHPE and Jasmine Bacon (Kurri Kurri) for English Extension 2.

Bellbird resident Gracen Blissett, who attended St Mary’s at Maitland, gained an ATAR of 91.55 with four mentions on the distinguished achievers list.

Gracen said she was “ecstatic” when she received her results, which included 94 percent in French beginners and 92 percent in PDHPE, society and culture and studies of religion.

Gracen is hoping to study physiotherapy at university next year.

Fellow St Mary’s student Caleb Whitaker, of Nulkaba, was also on the honour roll with band sixes in engineering, mathematics and PDHPE. 

APPLY NOW: Cessnock City Council’s Mayoral Academic Scholarships are now open. Read more here.