Edition #10, Friday 24th June 2022

Principal's Report

Thanks

As this is the last Lighthouse for Semester 1, on behalf of Darren Atkinson, we wanted to offer our thanks to the efforts of the community in ensuring that our students have had a rich learning experience during the semester. It has not been without its challenges, with high levels of absenteeism, for both students and staff, due to illness; ongoing cancellations of events deemed unsafe; and the unpredictability of COVID-19 and other illnesses continues to present. We wish to thank you for your support of the College and your child鈥檚 education. We wish your child a safe and restful term break.

Term 3 Return

Please note that Day 1 of Term 3, Monday 11th July, will be a normal school day, as Day 6, for all students. Later in the term, the General Achievement Test (GAT) for all Unit 戮 VCE and Senior VCAL students will be held on September 7 and will be a student free day for all other students.

Activities Week

In pre-pandemic times, we prepared for a hectic last week of term knowing that students at all levels were participating in co-curricular activities, often with many moving parts. In 2022, the College faced a greater difficulty level by adding the COVID-19 / influenza factor and made significant strategic shifts in our plans in response to the challenges of this year. Thankfully, our students enjoyed a week packed with positive learning experiences. Thank you for your continued support of your child鈥檚 learning at the College and your flexibility and understanding as programs were redefined. The events and activities illustrated authentic, relevant and multidimensional learning and we thank all the staff and students for their commitment to their particular programs. Special thanks to the event organisers and those enabling the experiences to take place.

Back to the Theatre Musical

Congratulations to all involved in our Musical Revue last week. After two years of cancellations and the associated disappointment, it is indeed rewarding to see our theatre full and our students provided an opportunity to showcase their talents. Thank you to the Production Team who have given generously of their time to create this show.

Mobile Devices and the Responsible Use of Technology Policy

Following a review of the use of mobile devices by students at the College, a new set of guidelines have been developed in order to assist student adherence to the expectations of the Responsible Use of Technology Policy. The guidelines addressing the use of Mobile Devices will be introduced to students in Term 3. Our Responsible use of Electronic Devices Policy is founded and operates within the view that students must understand their obligations with responsible use of technology, assuming that they have the capacity to grow and develop to understand their responsibilities in the use of the devices. There is zero tolerance for the use of phones at school unless permission is granted by staff. More information will be provided next term.

Ministerial Order 1359

In the effort to support students with safety, a new Ministerial Order, 1359, will replace Ministerial Order 870. This will lead to significant alterations to the current Child Safe Standards for the College. For further information or to raise concerns, please email childsafety@aquinas.vic.edu.au

Subject Selection for 2023

Some advance notification that Subject Selection for 2023 is in August. Students in Years 8 to 11 will choose subjects for next year. There will be information out to students early in Term 3 as well as information on PAM. We are planning for the Subject Selection Expo to be in person and onsite this year.

Michael Box & Nap Rodezno
Deputy Principals
on behalf of Darren Atkinson, Principal

Spiritually Speaking

One Solitary Life

This morning, as we started our second day of Year 12 retreat, I played 鈥淚 was here鈥� by Beyonce. It was at the UN on World Humanitarian Day in 2012. While the majority of the music video shows footage of major humanitarian aid work, I asked students to look particularly at this verse:

I just want them to know
That I gave my all, did my best
Brought someone some happiness
Left this world a little better just because I was here.

Our students have been reflecting on their lives and their future, how will they leave their mark on the world? It doesn鈥檛 have to be big, even making a difference for one person is enough to say 鈥淚 was here鈥�. In having this discussion, thinking about people who started with something small which has grown to help so many people, I thought of the reflection written by Dr Allen in 1926 called One Solitary Life. I have included it below for personal reflection.

One Solitary Life
He was born in an obscure village
The child of a peasant woman
He grew up in another obscure village
Where he worked in a carpenter shop
Until he was thirty.
He never wrote a book
He never held an office
He never went to College
He never visited a big city
He never travelled more than two hundred miles
From the place where he was born
He did none of the things
Usually associated with greatness
He had no credentials but himself
He was only thirty three
His friends ran away
One of them denied him
He was turned over to his enemies
And went through the mockery of a trial
He was nailed to a cross between two thieves
While dying, his executioners gambled for his clothing
The only property he had on earth
When he was dead
He was laid in a borrowed grave
Through the pity of a friend
Nineteen centuries have come and gone
And today Jesus is the central figure of the human race
And the leader of mankind's progress
All the armies that have ever marched
All the navies that have ever sailed
All the parliaments that have ever sat
All the kings that ever reigned put together
Have not affected the life of mankind on earth
As powerfully as that one solitary life

Tania Grace
Assistant Principal - Mission

Senior Years & Middle Years Report

Senior Years Report

Everyone wants to belong, to know they are part of a friendship, an interest group, a class, the year level, or a whole school. We all have a basic emotional need to feel connected, part of something special, a place we look forward to being present. Relationships form the basis of belonging, initiating, establishing, and maintaining relationships is essential.

When students transition from primary school to 海角大神, developing a sense of belonging is a key goal. It is no coincidence that it is the first of our six Core Values. Opportunities for connection are deliberately planned to initiate relationships. Multiple ways to meet people, share experiences and enjoy themselves. Through pastoral activities, in lessons, on camps or via specialty days, interest groups and clubs.

Is belonging the final destination? Having a community to belong to is just the entry point; creating an inclusive culture is the ideal.

An inclusive school community ensures everyone feels safe, respected, and comfortable in being themselves and expressing all aspects of their identities. Where differences in colour, gender, interests, ability and point of view are all equally valued. Where individuals move from tolerance to acceptance and ultimately valuing each other.

How do we as parents and staff raise adolescents to become inclusive of all people when they are passing through a very self conscious developmental stage of life, where their emotional portion of the brain is more developed than their decision making section? This is coupled with returning to school after long periods of isolation from social situations. Assisting our young people to develop these social skills continues to be a focus in our teaching and learning. Our role as parents and educators is to ensure our young people have sound guidance to enable them to progress from belonging to a community to participating in an inclusive community.

Developing healthy relationships is explicitly addressed in the Pastoral and Health curriculum and extracurricular activities such as Year 9 Starts With Me program and Year 10 Futures Week. Year 10 Futures week, as the name would suggest, is designed to support students as they make decisions about the various areas of their life including relationships and future pathways. The program included a variety of workshops, excursions and presentations.

Tuesday's program focussed on building relationships based on respect for self and others. Facilitated by Choicez Media, students engaged in workshops to develop positive affirming relationships. Students were challenged to consider personal, social and cultural factors influencing their ability to experience positive and respectful relationships. Importantly students had the opportunity to develop their own responses to potential social situations to build their capacity to be respectful and inclusive.

Regarding Future's Week, I would like to thank the parents and family members who presented to the students on Friday. Thank you for taking the time out of your day to share your education, career and life experiences to benefit our students planning for their futures. Your encouragement and inspiration raised awareness, provided a platform for further discussions and was greatly appreciated.

Thank you also to the parents who were able to attend Darren Pereira鈥檚 presentation. I hope the insight into the advice given to our young people wondering about their futures was helpful. Next term includes subject selections for 2023 and conversations relating to each person鈥檚 strengths, interests, and directions will be occurring. We hope these discussions are extended at home to assist your children make decisions on their next two school years.

A final thank you to all our staff this week (and every week). Thank you for your dedication to the care and education of our students; the detail in the planning and resourcing and the additional commitment to overnight experiences.

I would like to wish everyone a safe and refreshing holiday period.

Rachel Crawley

Head Senior Years

Middle Years Report

The Year 9 Core Value of Perseverance comes in many forms but no-one displays it more than Ruby Gough. Ruby has recently been on tour with the 海角大神 production of 鈥楤ack to the Theatre鈥� and as you will read below, the stage is one place where she has great sense of belonging. Ruby lives with Charcot-Marie-Tooth(CMT) disease, a condition that affects the muscles in the body. There are different forms of CMT and the type Ruby has is very rare and not much is known about it. This condition, Ruby has required to use a wheelchair for the past 5 years. But to those who know her well and hopefully after reading about her today, you'll see there is way more to Ruby than CMT or her wheelchair.

Ruby, you along with the rest of the cast, were amazing in the school production, 鈥楤ack to the Theatre.鈥� Have the performing arts always been a passion of yours? "I love acting, singing and musical theatre. From a young age I鈥檝e always loved music and dance. I really enjoyed watching 鈥楧ancing with the Stars鈥� with Mum and we would dance around together. I have always liked to perform in front of people. Any time we had visitors over I would do a dance for them in the lounge room. I really loved dressing up and putting on wigs and pretending to be a different person. I also loved singing and recording myself on the iPad and now I really like spending time listening to music and singing in the car."

When did you first have this interest? 鈥淲hen I was around 3 years old we used to attend 鈥楳ainly Music鈥� and I really loved playing with different instruments and singing with the other kids. I really loved being the centre of attention when it was my birthday when I got to wear the huge birthday hat.鈥�

You are someone that lives with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. Can you explain what that is? 鈥淐MT is a condition that affects the muscles in the body and there are many different types. Most people can walk or might need a walking stick when they are older. My type is classified as severe as my nerves are affected more than others. I also have scoliosis and that is affecting the way the messages are sent from the brain down my spine to my arms and legs. This means all my muscles are very weak and not able to work. My condition is more like muscular dystrophy. At the moment there is no cure but there is a lot of research being done.鈥�

What are some of the challenges that brings for you? 鈥淭he main challenge is that I can鈥檛 stand up without help from other people. If I get hurt or injured my body is very slow to recover which is annoying. I try to do exercises and stretches in my chair so the muscles don鈥檛 get too weak. I have met some really great teachers and helpers who give me ideas on how to do activities and include me which I really like.鈥�

The theme for Year 9 is Perseverance. You are a person that I thought of straight away when I thought about students that show perseverance. What does that word mean to you? 鈥淧erseverance means doing something even when you don鈥檛 want to or can鈥檛. I think that I show perseverance just going to school and trying to be myself because I still don鈥檛 think I鈥檓 disabled, that is what other people see. I still struggle to fit in because I鈥檓 still not confident in being in a wheelchair even though it鈥檚 been 5 years. I always feel like no one truly understands and knows who I am on the inside. I am waiting on surgery on my spine and I really hope that it makes my life easier so I have perseverance to keep positive and hope that surgery will happen soon.鈥�

What are some things that you might like to be involved in after you have left 海角大神? 鈥淚 would really like to be in movies or work as an extra in TV shows to represent people in wheelchairs or people with special needs.鈥�

What will the school holidays look like for you? 鈥淚 have got a sleep study at the Royal Children鈥檚 Hospital where they will wire my brain up to machines and see what happens in my brain when I sleep. I have also started using a breathing machine (Bi-pap) at night which is helping my lungs to breathe in more oxygen at night. I鈥檓 also doing a trial at the hospital to help kids like me access Xbox switches and other consoles or devices to help me play games better, so I鈥檒l be a gamer!! I hope to go to the movies as well.鈥�

Phil Box
Head Middle Years