果冻视频

College Captains 2022

It is with great pleasure that I am able to announce our College Captains, Vice Captains and senior leaders for 2022. We wish Levi, Bailey, Dylan, Georgia, Ben, Patrick and Ann Marian every success as they embark on these important leadership roles in our school community.

Year 12 Graduation Ceremony

It was a great pleasure to be able to invite parents/guardians to join us at the College last Thursday to celebrate with the graduating class of 2021, albeit with a raft of COVIDSafe requirements in place.  In a fitting end to a challenging year, we were able to pray and give thanks for the many blessings for which we should be grateful. Our College Captains, Mikaela and Flynn, addressed the gathering and there were reflections from other graduates on college life and a thanks to parents/guardians. The Year 12 Coordinators offer their thanks to the year cohort before moving to a ceremony in which certificates were presented to the graduates. The evening concluded with a dinner for the students and a chance to gather with their peers to celebrate the culmination of this chapter of their life. Thanks to Mrs Liz Grierson, Mrs Sharon Daley and Mr Scott Buchanan who organised the evening and all who contributed to a wonderful event.  

Year 11 Formal

Year 11 students will get an opportunity to gather to celebrate their Formal that was previously postponed on Monday, 6th December. This event will be conducted at The Grand Receptions on Cathies Lane.

Shared Stories Anthologies

Congratulations to all of the students who have had their work published in the 2021 Shared Stories Anthology titled: 鈥淐hasing Happiness鈥�. It is great to see so many students submit examples of their writing or artwork for publication and thanks to the teachers for their encouragement. Previous editions of the Shared Stories Anthology are available .

Aquinas Business Directory

Over recent weeks Dr Rodezno has been promoting the Aquinas Business Directory on behalf of the Parents and Friends Network. Thanks to the P&F Network for this great initiative to help promote family businesses in our community. If you would like your business included it is not too late. Please email pandf@aquinas.vic.edu.au to register your interest and receive the application form. 

Commencement Dates for 2022

• Monday, 24 January - Senior and Middle Years Office opens
• Friday, 28 January - Teaching Staff commence
• Tuesday, 1 February - Year 7 Parent/guardian Information Evening
• Wednesday, 2 February - Year 7 and Year 12 Commence
• Thursday, 3 February - All Students Return

Term Dates 2022 - Students

Term 1: Thursday, 3 February (2 Feb Year 12 & 7) to Friday, 8 April
Term 2: Tuesday, 26 April to Friday, 24 June
Term 3: Tuesday, 12 July to Friday, 16 September
Term 4: Tuesday, 4 October to Friday, 2 December

Darren Atkinson
Principal

This week the Class of 2022 completed transition if they are in VCE or structured work placements if they are in VCAL. They are getting ready for next year. I was going to write that they are moving on to Year 12 but the term 鈥榤ove on鈥� has a different connotation to what we want all of our students to be thinking about. When a politician or a sportsperson or a businessperson says we should move on, they tend to mean that we should forget the past and simply look forward. We don鈥檛 want students to move on, we want them to think about their learning experiences, reflect upon what has happened, what needs attention and what needs encouragement and set goals for next year to be even better than this one. In the class I conducted I met young people who were well aware of what they knew, what they enjoyed and were eager to find out what they need to do to be better in future. This is a positive and encouraging attitude.

We did not have as many of the opportunities in 2021 as we had hoped, but generally students have not tried to forget 2021 and move on, instead they are still positive about the future. And with good reason. The NAPLAN results for Victoria showed that despite the lockdown students were still achieving well. As students sit the tests in Year 7 and in Year 9 it is possible to see how the whole group have progressed in Reading, Writing, Spelling, Grammar and Numeracy over the two years. The data relevant to Aquinas indicates that strong students have maintained their strengths, students for whom the Year 7 reading and numeracy tests were difficult have improved over the two years and that student growth, regardless of ability, has been a feature of students at Aquinas. What this means is that those elements which we have stressed are the keys to students fulfilment, progress and effort, have been features of the work of our students over the last two years. These two years where it would have been easy to say "it is too hard", now we can draw a line under it and move on.

Michael Box
Deputy Principal Learning

And just like that, we encounter summer and a well deserved rest!

The last few weeks have been a great reminder to our community that the importance of social interactions are vital to learning. Students have returned and continually adhered to the changing nature of all COVIDSafe restrictions, taking part in the different activities, programs and lessons in a positive manner. Socialisation is a very important component of learning. School aged students need to develop their social skills in order to be fully functioning members of their society, and at Aquinas, much of what they learn is not just about their traditional subjects but extends to their formation of key values that impact on their moral and ethical development. As students have returned to school, Aquinas has been given physical life again, with the noise, the engagement, and the presence of the students reminding us that our College is founded on the value given to each individual that forms part of the community. 

In 2022, there will be continued emphasis placed on the lived experience of each student in relation to their belonging, stewardship, perseverance, justice, compassion and spirituality, our Spirit of Aquinas values, as they develop their personal understanding of how to grow in connection to this. There is a strong call for our students to be leaders and agents of change as the current Australian and world leaders struggle to address the issues and concerns that impact earth. It is time for leaders to be driven by their moral and ethical obligations as representatives of their global communities in compassionate, just and progressive ways. 

In the last week, there have been many interviews conducted for the selection of school leaders across the College. This is an exciting time for all those applicants and successful candidates. However, it is essential that all students are leaders, irrespective of a formal recognition or appointment to a role. It is important that all students are servant, visionary, democratic and transformational leaders, as such approaches give life to the virtues underpinning our Christian values. Best of luck to all selected leaders and I encourage the rest of the students to all lead by great example. 

Our Class of 2021 celebrated their graduation ceremony last week. It was an amazing event which recognised the efforts of all students over the period of 6 years, highlighting that despite the setbacks experienced with the interrupted nature of 2020 and 2021, the students have developed resilience, have met challenges front on and will continue to make great progress as individuals and a collective representation of the Aquinas alumni. Best of luck to the Class of 2021 as they await results, entry into tertiary study or undertake work. 

In the last week, Year 11 students have undertaken their orientation into Year 12, moving into the Year 12 area and beginning work in their 2022 courses. Our Year 10 students have prepared for exams and all students in the Middle School will finalise assessment in order to conclude their academic programs in preparation for their well deserved holidays. It is great to see the progress achieved over the year and I hope that 2022 will be experienced face to face so that the very important socialisation takes place as part of learning. 

There is much to consider when preparing for 2022 for all students. It is very important that students rest and enjoy the benefits of the holidays. Depending on their year level, students have some responsibilities to uphold as they prepare for their 2022 school year. Reading and revising texts, completing set homework, maintaining routine, resting, engaging in physical activities, etc, are all vital elements that will assist the students鈥� return to school in 2022. Please check in with your child to ensure that they complete any of the assigned and unassigned work in the lead up to 2022, especially for Year 12 and 11 students. 

The upcoming holidays will be an opportunity to recharge the batteries in the lead up to the start of 2022, with some confidence on how learning will most likely be experienced in a face to face context. Although we may be uncertain of what the future holds, I hope that by settling into school life with a strong preparation, your child will reap the benefits of being ready to go as they return in 2022. It is a great time to check and update the school uniform, to relax and enjoy summer. I wish you all the best as the current school year concludes, you rest as a family and you prepare for 2022. 

Dr Napoleon Rodezno
Deputy Principal

Meaning of Christmas

This Sunday marks the start of Advent as we begin our preparation for Christmas. It reminds me a story I once read and wanted to share with you...

鈥淟ast year, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience. I cut back on nonessential obligations - extensive card writing, endless baking, decorating and even overspending. Yet still I found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious family moments and the true meaning of Christmas. My son was in kindergarten. For weeks, he鈥檇 been memorising songs for his school鈥檚 鈥淲inter Pageant.鈥� I didn鈥檛 have the heart to tell him I鈥檇 be working the night of the production. Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his teacher. She assured me there鈥檇 be a dress rehearsal the morning of the presentation. 

So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in ten minutes early, found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down. As I waited, the students were led into the room. Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the holiday as 鈥淐hristmas鈥�, I didn鈥檛 expect anything other than fun - commercial entertainment — songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer. So, when my son鈥檚 class rose to sing, 鈥淐hristmas Love,鈥� I was slightly taken aback by its bold title. The children in the front row each held up a large letters one by one, to spell out the title of the song. The class would sing 鈥淐 is for Christmas,鈥� then, 鈥淗 is for Happy,鈥� and on and on. The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we all noticed her; a small, quiet, girl in the front row holding the letter 鈥淢鈥� upside down, totally unaware her letter 鈥淢鈥� appeared as a 鈥淲鈥�. The audience of other children snickered at the mistake. But she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood tall, proudly holding her 鈥淲鈥�. 

Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together. A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen. In that instant, we understood the reason we were there. Why we celebrated the holiday in the first place; why, even in the chaos, there was a purpose for our festivities. For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear: 鈥淐HRISTWAS LOVE鈥� And He still is.鈥�

鈥揳uthor unknown

Tania Grace
Assistant Principal - Mission

Environmentally friendly & sustainable gifts

With Christmas just around the corner it鈥檚 time to ensure you have an environmentally friendly and sustainable Christmas celebration. Most of us like giving and receiving gifts. Sustainable shopping recognises that everything we buy has health, environmental and social impact. This is your chance to support what is important to you and avoid products and services that do not align with your beliefs. Start examining your planned purchases by considering the raw materials used to create a product and includes the manufacturing process, packaging and ultimate disposal of each item, including any transportation required throughout its lifecycle.

This year I would like to encourage you to look beyond traditional gift giving and challenge the paradigm. Consider...

• Donations. A gift in the form of a donation is the most sustainable and environmental friendly gift you can give. Another suggestion have a donation bowl at your celebrations and encourage family and friends to make a donation to selected charities.
• Make items. Many of us have plenty of things in our life, many more than we need. You may  be able to make some special; preserves and jams, homemade biscuits and slices, grow a plant, make your own Christmas cards.  It is also an excellent opportunity to spend time with loved ones, encourage them to try something new and even to establish a healthy habit.
• Experiences rather than 鈥榯hings鈥�. Getting a gift of a cooking class, dinner, massage, an hour of gardening or trip to a national park is a great way to give an environmental friendly present.
• Kris Kringle / Secret Santa. A great way to reduce the amount of 鈥榮tuff鈥� we end up with is having a KK or secret Santa set up.
• Sustainable raw materials and quality products. Many shops offer a great range of sustainable, upcycled and recycled gifts, such as sunglasses made from discarded skateboards, hats made from recycled water bottles and home gardening kits. Ensure your gift has minimal negative environmental impact, will be enjoyed and will last.

5 Questions to ask about shopping sustainably for gifts:

1. Does your loved one really need it?
2. Was the gift made or grown locally
3. Is the gift made from biodegradable or recycled materials
4. Does the gift have an energy efficiency rating guarantee or environmentally-friendly grading?
5. How is the gift packed and collected?

News from the chook house

The chooks have been exploring the yard during the school day and have taken a fancy to eating the lomandra flower heads. Not an easy flower to eat given the spikes.  Students have been observing how precise a chicken beak can be and the prefect shape of a chicken head for dividing between sharp leaves especially when delicious treats are in abundance in the school gardens.

Karyn Myers
Environment & Sustainability Coordinator

As we head into celebrations for Christmas and we say goodbye to the current Year 12's I feel that this week a thank you to our Aquinas music parents is due.  On behalf of the music staff I would like to thank our parent community for all your effort and support in the challenges of 2021, particularly with music lessons happening online for a good part of the year.  We understand the challenge faced, with many parents also working from home.  I know everyone enjoyed students practicing scales and long tones while they had important online work meetings in the next room.  

Below are lyrics from American singer/songwriter Bruce Springsteen in a tribute to his mother - The Wish (Springsteen on Broadway).  I think this is a beautiful sentiment of how much parents support their children and where their musical journey may take them.

Dirty old street all slushed up in the rain and snow
Little boy and his ma shivering outside a rundown music store window
That night on top of a Christmas tree shines one beautiful star
And lying underneath a brand-new Japanese guitar.

I remember in the morning, ma, hearing your alarm clock ring
I'd lie in bed and listen to you gettin' ready for work
The sound of your makeup case on the sink
And the ladies at the office, all lipstick, perfume and rustlin' skirts
And how proud and happy you always looked walking home from work.

If pa's eyes were windows into a world so deadly and true
You couldn't stop me from looking but you kept me from crawlin' through
And if it's a funny old world, mama, where a little boy's wishes come true
Well I got a few in my pocket and a special one just for you.

It ain't no phone call on Sunday, flowers or a mother's day card
It ain't no house on a hill with a garden and a nice little yard
I got my hot rod down on Bond Street, I'm older but you'll know me in a glance
We'll find us a little rock 'n roll bar and baby we'll go out and dance.

Jared Campbell
Music Programs Coordinator

This Semester Year 11 students in VCE Product Design & Technology, needed to design and make a product for Unit 2 - Collaborative Design. The class was broken into four teams and each team was given a scenario with a Design & Technology teacher as their client/end user. Each team was commissioned to develop a design and make a chair for a specific purpose. It is with great pleasure to show you the results of creative and critical thinking of these four outstanding Year 11 Designer and Maker teams.

The Meditation Chair - Luke Brown, Aiden Grills and Ethan Nestic: Their client needed a chair for her meditation classes that were held outside and needed to connect to the environment using an art nouveau style. The students were able to develop a beautiful chair that shows wooden slats that formed a fan like spread on the seat, almost like rays of sunshine with the slats. It has a low position for sitting close to the ground and sitting in a mediation pose. Aiden and Ethan focused on the construction and Luke developed the laser design features on the finished chair. 

The Lecture Chair - Josh Leonard and Anthony Dale: Their client needed a stool where he would sit to deliver a lecture. He needed to have a comfortable stool with a side table where his device could sit to assist his delivery of the lecture. He wanted the stool to have a Cubist influence and incorporate a favourite sculpture 鈥淩ock Drill鈥� that was a very industrial based style. Josh and Anthony have produced a very unique style of stool with a nacho style backrest with a lasered graphic design that incorporates an industrial style emphasis of the final design.  

The Garden Chair - Max Napolitano and Santiago Nunez: The design request was for a garden chair that would be installed in a Japanese style garden environment. The students produced a thoughtful chair under a challenging situation of on and off site learning. They communicated effectively to develop a lounge style chair that reflected the fans of Japan in the detail of the slats of the overall effect on the lounge chair. The detailing on the arms of the chair incorporated a place to have a leisurely drink and a design feature that reflected the Japanese flag. 

The Throne Chair - Rebecca Angus and Anthony Carusi: This was an unusual design for a chair but fit the need of the client as this chair was going to be the main focus for a photo shoot where the family would gather around this chair to have family photos. The client was keen to incorporate his beloved British heritage and a favourite Beatles 1960鈥檚 pop era somehow in the final design. Rebecca and Anthony have excelled in both designing and making a throne like chair with a peak design as the backrest and a tapered back so it is easy to stand close to the chair for photos. The wide arms provide another space for gathering the family around and add to the regal essence of the chair. The striking painted design of the Union Jack and psychedelic flowers celebrate the 1960鈥檚 and the client's British background.

I would like to praise the efforts of these students for their diligence and perseverance in using a very short period of time to produce their carefully crafted chairs. Each team worked through some issues, including lockdowns and time constraints but resolved design and making issues as a team. They explored unique and creative ideas, each with their own design focus and effectively used the production stage to tackle the making experience, as well as incorporating their 'client' through the process. This emulated the experience of working in a with real clients and designers working in partnership to develop a unique and creative outcome.

I am extremely grateful to teachers who took part as clients to assist these students. They provided a connection, enthusiasm and continual interest. I am certain it will positively impact these students, broadening their understanding of designing and creating to reflect a more human centered approach to design design into Units 3 & 4 projects for 2022. 

Margaret Leonard
Teacher

This year's Film Fest has had a fantastic response with over 100 people voting in the People's Choice Awards.  It is wonderful to see when the hard work of our Media students gets the recognition that it deserves.  This work does not exist without an audience.

I am happy to announce that the winners of the 2021 People's Choice Award are Year 11 students Isabella D'Alessandro, Hannah Manners and Keira Whelan with their opening title sequence, Fall.  They can expect to receive some movie tickets coming their way soon.

Congratulations to the winners and thanks to everyone who took the time to enjoy these great films and cast their vote.

Sam Higgs
Teacher

Students from Year 9 took part in the annual Berthe Mouchette French poetry competition conducted by Alliance Francaise de Melbourne. The Competition provides students with an opportunity to practise the French language and attracts thousands of candidates each year. Four students from Year 9 achieved a brilliant 20/20 mark for their poetry competition and these finalists were invited to recite their poem online in their final rounds. We are truly impressed with their hardwork and dedication to French.

Congratulations to Thomas Koubek, Natasha Ladd, Abbie McKernan and Patrick Tran. 

Sarah Aluthge & Heidi Johnson
Teachers

"It was a really great experience participating in the French Poetry competition. I learnt a poem called 鈥淓n me baladant sur les quais鈥�. For the first round we had to do a recording of the poem, which was then judged and if we did well enough we went into the finals. It was quite nerve wracking. Overall I really enjoyed participating and would recommend it to anyone doing French in Year 9 next year."
Natasha Ladd

"6723 students across Victoria from Years 3 to10 were involved in the competition. Our task was to memorise and recite a poem on video which was then sent in to Alliance Francaise. Four students from Year 9 at Aquinas, including myself, were lucky enough to get into the finals. We still had to recite the same poem but with better pronunciation and this round was conducted over Zoom in front of the judges. 1025 students competed in the finals from 95 Victorian schools. I feel very honoured to have received this opportunity and encourage other students to participate in the years to come."
Abbie McKernan

Last Thursday the College community joined to celebrate the graduating Class of 2021. Please enjoy a snapshot of the events of the evening...

Congratulations to the following students who won the sports awards this year.

Last Friday, the Year 10 students enjoyed a Celebration Day, a time to reflect on the year and celebrate the achievements they have made as a cohort.

"Celebration Day started with mentor activities to get to know our peers and chat about future goals and past experiences. From there we all gathered in the Chapel for our very last liturgy as Year 10 students. Then we moved on to an amazing performance by The Pierce Brothers, two former 果冻视频 students. The Pierce Brothers gave us a brief summary of their high school life and how they got into music, touring the world and selling out concerts. It was great to hear some of their music they have produced and the year level cheering along and having fun. To conclude our day the teachers provided us with a lovely lunch and an early finish for the day."
Chelsea Poli

"...We did an activity that involved sharing some moments from the past, and what you want to do in the future. This was an amazing activity to see into your classmates' lives and get to know them a little bit better. Following that we shared a mass in the Chapel, the Faith and Liturgy class ran a beautiful service. In the middle two periods the Pierce Brothers, who are ex Aquinas students, came to give us a performance and talk about their journey in the music industry. Their music was absolutely incredible and their energy was through the roof."
Teagan Barden

"To celebrate the ending of our school year, our Year 10 coordinators, Mr Jess and Ms De Guzman provided us with the opportunity to enjoy live music by Aquinas' very own 'The Pierce Brothers'. The very talented duo performed for the year level and allowed us to ask questions regarding the music industry, life after Aquinas, an insight into the writing of their songs, and performances they have done overseas in Europe and North America. They were very entertaining and allowed a great change of scenery after a year disrupted by Covid."
Isaac Macklin

"Being a part of the Faith and Liturgy class provided a great opportunity to be a part of the liturgy last Friday. Through planning, speaking, and performing at the mass it allowed me to feel a lot more involved in it as opposed to previous liturgies, which was something I really enjoyed. I also found that through the mass being student directed it allowed for a greater amount of individuals watching to be more present as they were familiar with those speaking. Additionally it provided a great opportunity for those eligible from the class to become eucharistic ministers and deliver the body and blood of Jesus to their classmates and teachers. Overall I believe that the liturgy was very successful providing a more familiar approach to it allowing for greater involvement." 
Ashlyn Ritchie

"The Year 10 Faith and Liturgy class worked hard in the last weeks of Semester 2 to create an enthusiastic ceremony for the cohort to enjoy. The group actively constructed unique prayers and welcomes for the service, each with their own spark of individuality and personal character, including an incredible performance by Ashlyn Ritchie and Caedus Vaihu singing 鈥楾his is amazing Grace鈥�, and James Scott on ukulele. Father Len was asked to preside over the ceremony, and offered an inspiring homily focused on the hardships the nation has suffered over the last 18 months during COVID, before pivoting to an enhancement of justice within our community. In the lead up to the Mass, members of the Faith and Liturgy class worked to become esteemed Eucharistic Ministers and were able to assist in the distribution of Communion to the congregation. Overall, the Year 10 Faith and Liturgy class produced gratifying ceremony that embraced spirituality, assisting peers in this period of adjustment as we venture back into a world away from screens and into one where we must be valiant."
Milla Woods

"Last Friday, the Year 10s were lucky enough to have a celebration day, thanks to Mr Jess and Ms De Guzman. We started off our day at reflecting on the past few years with some games in Mentor. After that, the year level wandered down to the Chapel, with the Year 10 Faith and Liturgy class organising our final Mass as Year 10s. Then we went out to recess, and came back to an awesome performance by the Pierce Brothers. After listening to their songs and getting to ask a few questions, the school canteen had made us a lunch of our choice to top off what was a really really good celebration day."
James Dempsey

Each year we are part of The Shared Stories Anthology, a publication that showcases the best work of students across the state in Catholic schools. It recognises the talents of students in written and visual pieces across all year levels. The work goes through shortlisting and selection before being included and printed in the Anthology.

This year鈥檚 theme was Finding Happiness...The standard of art and written work at Aquinas made for a difficult process to select our work to be shared; a wonderful problem to have!

We are so inspired by all of the remarkable students whose work has been recognised and published in the Shared Stories Anthology for 2021, and congratulations to Tyson Langsdon (Year 10) for receiving the Shared Stories award for his poem and artwork.

Sandi van der Niet
Arts Learning Area Leader

Congratulations to Year 10 students Alannah Leech, Cassie Wynne and Chloe North-Coombes on their acceptance into the Monash Scholars Program 2021-2023. 

The Monash Scholars Program provides selected high achieving students from Years 10 - 12 with an exclusive opportunity to engage with Monash University. Scholars are expected to commit around 20 hours a year to the program; this will mostly involve attending on-campus events after school hours and during the holidays. Scholars who successfully gain a place at Monash University after completing Year 12 will continue to receive benefits including leadership and ambassador opportunities.

Congratulations to Year 7 students, Charlotte Kavanagh and Isabelle Bowden on recently being selection to compete in the first ever Victorian 12 and under Girls AFL team.

In light of travel restrictions, the planned National Carnival in Adelaide wasn't able to proceed however a Showcase Gala Day was held for all selected players culminating on Sunday 21st November. Charlotte and Isabelle were both fortunate enough to be selected amongst the Top 40 players across Victoria, although playing on the day in opposing sides. 

Both players handled the added pressure extremely well, played wonderful games and were thankful and grateful for the opportunity to mix it with the best in Victoria.

An opportunity for business owners of our Aquinas Community

The Parents and Friends Network are an integral part of the College community and contribute to and support key initiatives for the College. The P&F Network provide an opportunity for all parents to become involved in the community, social and fundraising activities of the College and to support the various programs and events organised by the College. 

In consideration of the challenges imposed on the community by Covid-19, especially for small businesses and the limitations to trade they may have experienced, the Network has embarked on creating an 果冻视频 Business Directory. 

What the Business Directory will provide:

• Membership to the Business Directory is specifically for parents/guardians of the College only. 
• It will offer the broader Aquinas community convenient links and contact information to businesses owned by members of the community so that they can choose to support their fellow parents/guardians.
• The 果冻视频 Business Directory will be accessed via the 果冻视频 website and will be accessible by all members of the community. 

All commercial businesses from across the services, industries and trades are welcome. If unsure about the suitability of your business, you are encouraged to submit an email of interest. If the business meets the criteria, then you will be invited to submit an application. 

If you wish to be considered for entry into the Aquinas Business Directory, please email pandf@aquinas.vic.edu.au to register your interest. An application form will then be provided.

The Aquinas Parents and Friends Network meet at 7.30pm on the first Monday of each month to discuss initiatives to support the College community in reaching the best outcomes for the students. They welcome new members, please email pandf@aquinas.vic.edu.au if you would like further information.