Parramatta Marist High School Year 11 student Dean Jacobson has topped Studies in Religion 1 course in the 2020 HSC.
Parramatta Marist High School Year 11 student Dean Jacobson has topped Studies in Religion 1 course in the 2020 HSC. After studying the course as part of an accelerated learning program, Dean was pleasantly surprised to come first in NSW after a really challenging exam paper.
“This was the favourite subject I did all year,” Dean said. “I think when you have a passion for something you will do well.”
Dean also felt lucky to be at a school with a switched-on approach to using technology in learning, which meant students were well-prepared for the additional challenges presented by COVID-19. “We actually did some extra Zoom lessons each week that we might not otherwise have done, so it was good in that way.”
Dean was full of praise for his teacher Mrs Nicole Dennis saying “she was the best teacher I could have asked for for this subject”. Nicole is “over the moon” about Dean’s achievement.
“Dean is such a focused and determined young man,” Nicole said. “He regularly seeks feedback on his work and talks about how to improve.”
Parramatta Marist Principal Mark Pauschmann is particularly proud of Dean’s collaborative approach to learning, supporting classmates in their studies.
“Dean is a very conscientious student whose commitment to studies is matched by his commitment to his fellow students,” Mark said.
Despite the challenge of completing their studies during the COVID-19 crisis, student persistence produced strong results at local Catholic schools across Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains. Nearby Cerdon College Merrylands student Paula Kahwajy topped the State in Drama. Sarah Sharp from St Columba’s Catholic College Springwood came first in Earth and Environmental Science.
Nearby Cerdon College Merrylands student Paula Kahwajy topped the State in Drama.
Sarah Sharp from St Columba’s Catholic College Springwood came first in Earth and Environmental Science.
Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta Executive Director Greg Whitby celebrates the resilience and dedication of the Class of 2020.
“Though HSC success is simply one measure of student achievement, I particularly want to celebrate the dedication and determination of our three students who came ‘First in Course’,” Greg said.
“I’m so proud of the Class of 2020. The grit and guts they’ve demonstrated under very difficult circumstances have been extraordinary.
