海角大神

Commissioning of Leaders

It was wonderful to have our College community gathered for the first time in 2024 for our Opening College Mass on Monday 19 February. We thank Fr Dispin John for celebrating and both blessing and commissioning our 2024 student leaders.

It was a great delight to then have student leaders present all items at our College Assembly the next morning (bar the Principal鈥檚 address!). This assembly witnessed the 海角大神 tradition of welcoming our Year 7 students as they paraded into the assembly, with Alex and Indiana providing a response on behalf of their Year 7 peers. Once again, we were blessed with the musical talents of our students enlivening the assembly.

Belonging

A common theme among various student addresses to the assembly was exhorting students to participate in the many opportunities at 海角大神, as elucidated by 2023 Year 11 Dux and 2024 Vice Captain Lucas Mandaliti:

鈥淥ver my time at 海角大神, I鈥檝e learnt that the only way to truly enjoy high school is to take advantage of every opportunity offered to you. If I were to give one piece of advice to all of you, it would be to immerse yourself in high school fully. Whether it鈥檚 joining an EISM team, making time to talk with your teachers after class or joining that band that you鈥檙e not quite sure about joining, you鈥檒l only regret the things that you didn鈥檛 do, not the things that you did do.鈥�

The benefits of physical exercise to mental health and the ability to then focus on studies is expounded in multiple peer-reviewed papers. In addition, our many clubs are now in full swing, providing an avenue for all forms of interest, from AFL SUpercoach to Dungeons & Dragons, to Gardening & Chook club, Lego League & Robotics, Social Justice, Philosophy, and so much more. Our music program is also in full swing, with Year trials occurring across this week. Stay tuned for an announcement about the 2024 College Production!

Celebrating Excellence

On Monday 19 February, we welcomed back high achievers from the Class of 2023 as well as acknowledging many current students as 2023 Year 7 - 11 high achievers and exemplars in academics, vocational studies, sports, the arts and community service. In his acceptance and thanks speech, 2023 VCE Dux Jackson Boundy (ATAR 99.00) highlighted 鈥渢he importance of doing stuff well, always the best you can, just out of principle鈥�. For the full list of award recipients, please see the photos and awards from the  Excellence Evening in the article below.

On the same evening, Year 12 Vice Captain Bella Schneiders won the local division of the Lions Youth Of The Year Finals with her speech "The Moral Grey Space". Bella notes

鈥渢he speech touched on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the complexity it has brought to notions of success and societies鈥� standards. It advocates for embracing this newfound "grey space" as a recognition of the multiple and varying nature of our experiences and the need for acceptance in navigating the post-pandemic world.鈥�

We wish Bella well for the District finals in the next stage of the competition!

Year 7 Swim Carnival

While the extreme weather resulted in a change of venues to move indoors, this did not dampen the enthusiasm of staff and students. Congratulations to Dominic house for their victory! It was a great delight to later be able to join Year 7 students for dinner at their camp, a key experience in belonging at 海角大神 and forming new friendships and teamwork skills.

2026 Year 7 enrolments now open

Enrolments for Year 7 2026 are now open. Applications need to be made via the College website at www.aquinas.vic.edu.au/enrolment. Applications will close on Friday, August 16 2024. Please contact the Registrar on registrar@aquinas.vic.edu.au if you have any questions.

Open Day

On Sunday 17 March we will hold our Open Day from 12.00 - 3.00pm. We look forward to showcasing the College and welcoming both prospective families and any current families wishing to tour the campus with our student guides and/or speak with staff.

David Broadbent
Principal

Maths in the Middle Years at 海角大神

When we plan for students to succeed at high school we know that being able to read fluently and being proficient at Mathematics are important keys to developing not only a love of learning but practical life long skills as well. Our understanding of how children learn and how to space activities to enhance that learning is growing all the time. We are often asked why we do not use a traditional method of teaching mathematics in the Middle Years, such as the whole class lesson, everyday. Our answer has two parts. Firstly, what we do is not as far away from a traditional method as you might think. Secondly, the method that we use helps us to understand and diagnose what each individual student needs.

A mixed ability maths class in any school can contain students whose level of understanding ranges by up to 8 school years. Over a sequence of whole class lessons, students working well above or well below the level pitched by the teacher struggle to remain motivated even when teachers try to differentiate by providing extension tasks and modified tasks to support them. Our testing prior to beginning Mathematics at 海角大神 shows that our students have a broad range of abilities and staff work to see progress and growth, effort and mastery. The evidence shows us that a programme of whole-class teaching to mixed ability or streamed classes leads to less progress for children than more modern approaches. Our evidence shows that, on average, students make much more progress per year with our maths programme than in a standard classroom. Our maths courses in the Middle Years provide a rounded programme of a balance of whole-class instruction, collaborative work and individual study targeted at the level of each student. The lessons provide a consistent approach to the explicit teaching of Mathematics aligned to the Victorian Curriculum.

In a two week cycle students undertake whole class activities through:

• Starter activities led by the teacher for the whole class to participate and share ideas.
• Big Ideas lessons where students with their teachers can discuss and explore a year level specific topic/skill. These lessons are scaffolded in a way to be accessible to all students.
• Environment and Sustainability
• Rich Tasks where students discuss approaches to solving problems and apply their knowledge.
• Mini lessons where small groups of students work directly with a teacher to take the next step on a topic.

There is also structured time for students to choose the modules of learning and work at their level. They can also work productively with other students: they don't have to work on their own, and they always have their teacher to assist and explain. And while some content is delivered via a computer programme called Maths Pathway to accommodate the level of the student, students still complete their work in maths exercise books that look very similar to a workbook from many years ago. Maths Pathway is an online, adaptive textbook that meets the ability of individual students. Maths Pathway does not lighten the load for a teacher, instead it focuses the instruction on what every student in the class needs to progress.

The diagnostic testing in Maths Pathway reports whether a student has mastered mathematical concepts. While we may be used to a pass mark that is 50% or 70%, these tests want to know if a student can complete the basics every time, because otherwise once the tasks get harder and require a number of operations not succeeding will be inevitable; for example, subtracting fractions will be impossible if a student cannot already subtract positive and negative numbers. It is easy to blame the Maths Pathway program for providing work that we know our children should have mastered in primary school. However, this only happens where a student has not been able to answer questions on maths concepts in the diagnostic tests. Our job as educators is to use this crucial information to address gaps and motivate students. This is critically important, as this develops a solid foundation for their senior years in school.

We understand that parents are presented with a lot of information about exactly how much time their child is spending on maths and where their gaps in knowledge are. For that reason we want to help parents to also support their children by understanding the information they are getting.

There will be a Middle Years Mathematics meeting in the near future. Parents will be invited by email closer to the time.

This discussion about Mathematics in the Middle Years at 海角大神 is a collaboration between

Michael Box - Deputy Principal

Dave Rennison - Maths Coordinator

Jess Lane  - Middle Years Maths Coordinator.

Why is resilience so important for personal growth?

As adults, we are likely to uphold the view that building resilience in young people is crucial for their overall wellbeing and success in life. We know, likely from our own experiences, that building resilience enables individuals to adapt, overcome challenges, and thrive despite the inevitable adversity that a healthy life brings. 

As parents, there are some strategies that you can implement when supporting your child to achieve their personal goals by building resilience. Here are some suggestions for your consideration:

Supportive relationships within the family, friends, and mentors provide a strong foundation for resilience. Encourage your child to hold open communication and create a safe environment where they feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and feelings. Allowing them to express their concerns, fears and setbacks is instrumental in enhancing their capacity to self-reflect and identify learning opportunities from any challenges they face.

Helping young people develop problem-solving and decision-making skills is crucial. Encourage them to break down problems into manageable steps, brainstorm solutions, and evaluate outcomes. This helps them feel empowered and capable of overcoming obstacles by tackling the issue a bit at a time.

Teaching young people how to manage their emotions, coping skills when facing stress, and regulating their behaviour will help them make positive decisions about their sense of control. Techniques such as deep breathing, mindfulness, and positive self-talk can help them stay calm and focused during challenging situations.

Encouraging a growth mindset that embraces challenges and sees failure as an opportunity for growth is also crucial. Teaching your young person to see setbacks as a natural part of learning, and encouraging them to persist in the face of obstacles will take them a long way.

Help your child to develop confidence in their abilities by providing opportunities for them to succeed and receive recognition for their achievements. Encourage them to set realistic goals and celebrate their progress along the way.

In addition, you should also consider the importance of a balanced life through valuing physical and mental health. Regular exercise, appreciation for the environment, nutritious eating, appropriate and adequate sleep, and stress management are all crucial strategies. This will provide the context where students can seek help when needed, and enjoy their part in contributing to their community. 

By implementing some of these strategies, and role modelling a healthy approach to life, adults can play a vital role in helping young people develop the resilience they need to navigate life's challenges, gifts and successes.

Nap Rodezno
Deputy Principal

Cleansing of the Temple

This Sunday鈥檚 gospel reading is about Jesus and the cleansing of the Temple. It is one of the few times we see Jesus angry. To understand the context of the story it is important to understand the culture of the time.

The concept of shedding blood for their sins through animal sacrifice was normal practice for the Jewish community of the time. What animal you sacrificed was dependent on what you could afford. To purchase an animal involved two steps. Firstly the conversion of your Roman coins to Jewish coins so that you could make your purchase, and secondly the purchase of the animal itself. In both cases, the cost was over inflated, taking advantage of the community. Jesus鈥� anger was not so much at the practise of sacrifice, but at the stall holders taking advantage of the faithful.

Jesus also takes this moment to emphasise that it is not the physical temple that needs cleansing but the human. The church is not a structure but a community of people. Each of us make up the church and Jesus challenges us to look inside ourselves and reopen our relationship with God. Pope Francis explains that this gospel reading identifies the harmony between our liturgical celebrations and what we experience in life.

As for Jesus' statement on tearing down the temple and rebuilding it in three days鈥�. He is referring to himself. He is the new sacrificial lamb whose blood was spilt so that sins may be forgiven.

Tania Grace

Assistant Principal Mission

Senior Years Report

This week, I was lucky enough to hear one of the sweetest sounds in the classroom: "Aha, yes! I've got it". The class had been working on an area of algebra students often find demanding. The exclamation was one of joy, the reward for perseverance. The significance of this moment was not the end point (getting the answer correct) but the resilience by the student displayed across the week.

What is important to know is that the student did not gain a complete understanding after the first explanation given in class or after their first attempt, not even within the first double lesson. After reviewing their process, learning from errors, and being willing to ask questions, it was in the middle of our third lesson that they finally 'got it'. An achievement that was gained due to their approach to learning rather than their ability level.

As teachers, we are acutely aware of learning mechanics and plan to provide students with links to prior learning, connection to real life, explicit teaching, multiple exposures, feedback and spaced practice. However, just as the saying goes, "you can lead a horse to water.........", teachers can not make students have an 'aha' moment. The student must be an active participant in their learning and have the resilience to apply a sustained effort to reap their rewards.

Developing perseverance and resilience is valued and taught in multiple ways across the College. Before students returned to school staff participated in a professional learning Toolbox session, focussing on Mental Movies. Mental Movies describe the types of stories we play over and over in our heads that erode our self-esteem and impede鈥檚 resilience eg, fortune telling - this describes what we say about our future, "I'm never going to get this," or setting the bar too high which can look like expecting oneself have the correct or complete responses to problems on their first attempt. Being able to name our shame, i.e., "I'm setting the bar too high", is the first step to taming negative thinking. Similar sessions with Toolbox occur during Yr9 SEB and Yr10 Futures Weeks.

Year 11 assemblies this year have been focusing on Study Smart skills and developing a resilient approach to learning. Ms Street, Yr11 Level Leader, shared an excerpt from Nedd Brockmann's book "Showing Up" to inspire a determined approach to learning and life.

"Sometimes we set out to achieve things and fall short. Sometimes we don't get those things we want. But far from being failures, we are elevated by the act of trying, and carried higher by our refusal to quit鈥︹��.These times when things don't go as planned, that is where resilience grows鈥�..I shake off my feelings of disappointment, and choose instead to find the courage to face adversity". Nedd Brockmann.

Next week, the Yr10 THRIVE lesson incorporates building a resilient approach to the mid-term slump. Throughout our curriculum and co curricular programs we strive to support students with their learning by providing the tools to become resilient learners.

Rachel Crawley
Head Senior Years

Middle Years Report

We have been working with our Staff and Students and hopefully all of our College Community to make sure our interactions with each other are Safe, Fair, and Kind.

At 海角大神, we have also introduced a Student of the Month initiative to reward students who best display whatever that month鈥檚 value is that we are focusing on. This award is voted on by their peers and teachers and 2 students from each homeroom are celebrated each month. On Wednesday we honoured February鈥檚 recipients who were deemed to be people who best demonstrated 鈥淔airness.鈥�

With the winners, we discussed that fair people endeavour to create an environment where everyone is treated justly and equitably and that they encourage cooperation and collaboration among classmates. They help promote the idea that individuals should receive what they deserve based on their actions and merits, rather than factors like race, gender, or status.

The students said that people who treat people fairly make others feel included and valued. We reminded them that the more they do this the more they influence others to do likewise and continue to build the positive culture that we continue to strive for at 海角大神.

Congratulations and thank you to the following students who were voted as Student of the Month for Fairness in February.

Arnav Chakravarthy, Ariana Yuzon, Zali Smith and Aston Tkatchenko, Stephanie Skaliotis, Omar Muhamud, Indiana Martens, Aidan Bleakley, Sam Ferrall, Milla McDonald, Georgia Young, Charlie Bufalino, Abigail Phayer, George Bundy, Kate Langford, Sophie Le Fevre, Evie Atkinson, Chrys Skaliotis, Mitchell Power, Isaiah Oztan, Alina Ingram, Sampson Quinn, Zia Smith, Olivia Laurence, Will Hayes, Levi Bench, Toby Hunter, Grace Seadon, Nate King, Giovanni Mekheel, Clare Britton, Sylvie James, Zahra Darmody, Thomas Hooper, Tyler Socan, Lily Peace, Elsa Castellino, Ella Sadler, Toby Sanga, Cooper Box, Jarrod Fernandez, Arnold Spicer, Hugh Mercuri, Ryley Corcoran, Xavier Niemann, Harley Jemmeson, Beau Blackshaw, Zoe Fabre, Abbey Bruni, Hailey Coulson, Gabrielle Graham, Leila Maartensz, Deon Jito, Riley Kwong, Ruby Bracegirdle, Tianna Potgeiter, Josh Gill, Aiden Kors, Jess North-Coombes, Layla O鈥橬eill, Tom Vozzo, Aurelie Richmond-Trask, Henry Wassenberg and Travis Pearson.

Phil Box
Head Middle Years

Clean Up Australia Day 鈥� Step Up To Unite

This weekend is Clean Up Australia Day, Sunday 3rd March 2024. The theme is 鈥淪tep Up To Unite鈥�.  

You can join a local event to participate in and undertake some positive environmental action. Small actions make big changes. You can search for your nearest site by entering your postcode here:  

海角大神 College will be participating in the Schools Clean Up Day on Friday 8th March. Classes in Year 7 鈥� 10 will be assigned to different areas of the school to collect rubbish and clean up the school grounds. It is a great opportunity for students to learn about the impact of rubbish on their local environment while playing an active role in their community.

Inspire your family and friends to make a change by sharing your pledge and tagging @CleanUpAustralia #CleanUpAustralia

Karyn Myers

Environment & Sustainability Coordinator

Project Compassion 2024

It's exciting to see the progress that has already been made with our Project Compassion fundraising efforts. Over the past two weeks, small social and class groups have come together in creative ways to support our cause, demonstrating the true spirit of compassion and generosity.



Food Fundraisers

To combat the crazy hot days last week, students from our Social Justice group set up Zooper Doopers stands in the Forum and 7/8 Quad. It was a very successful endeavour, with $412 worth of cool sweet treats being sold across three lunch times.

A big thank you to Tyler Socan, Nate Olavides, Ria Jijose, Rose Ennis, Samantha Mugamu, Louis Kluever, Amelia Cossette, Seah Jo, Addie Miller, Elicia Bracher, Freya McCurdy and Maddy Gimena for your help with the Zooper Doopers.

On Monday we were also able to finally hold our (belated) Shrove Tuesday Pancakes Fundraiser. 

Again, a very big thankyou to our student volunteers for helping making this event run so smoothly: Talia Henson, Beth Gall, Livia Mondoca, Penny Weston, Bella Ritchie, Riyana Hammound, Ruby Martin, Kiah Singh, Holly Dwyer, Jake Barclay, Felicity Chambers, Rose Ennis, Ria Jijose, Will Elliot, Maria Skaliotis, Owen Prior, Josh Crachi, Keeley Allison, Addie Miller, Elicia Brcher, Elissa Newton, Freya McCurdy, Maddy Gimena, Monique Bambrey, Chloe Lopez, Josh Tolcher, Ruth Tawng, Chelsy Lian, Bianca Le, Amelia Cossette, Zoe-Jane Philp and Seah Jo.

If any other students would like to help out in future fundraiser activities, I would love to hear from you. Keep an eye out for information and sign-up notices on SIMON, or just simply send me an email expressing your interest.

Class Fundraising Initiatives:

In addition to these community-wide efforts, some RE classes are actively engaged in their own fundraising endeavours, e.g. Bake Sales, Car Washes, Easter Raffles.

Notably, our Year 8 students have embarked on a Step Challenge, where they will compete to accumulate the most steps over the course of a month. This creative and healthy initiative not only raises funds but also promotes physical activity and teamwork among our students. We are proud of their commitment to making a difference and eagerly anticipate the results of their spirited competition.

There are also a few more whole school events coming up that you and your families could take part in to aid in our fundraising efforts.

Hot Cross Buns

We are happy to announce a partnership with Bakers Delight in running a hot cross bun drive. For the next two weeks, you will be able to , with a portion of the proceeds going directly to Project Compassion.

Colour Run

Our upcoming Color Run fundraiser is set to coincide with our Harmony Day activities. With every step taken and every burst of colour, we will not only raise funds for Project Compassion but also celebrate the unity and spirit of our student body. Stay tuned for more details on how you can support and cheer on our students during this fun event!

Learn More and Get Involved

To learn more about Project Compassion and the incredible work of Caritas Australia, head over to . Your support and involvement does make a real difference in the lives of those in need. Together, let's continue to spread compassion and make a positive impact in our world. 

As we continue our journey of compassion and generosity, I would like to extend my gratitude to everyone who has contributed their time, funds, and enthusiasm to make our fundraising efforts a success.

Together, we are making a tangible difference in the lives of others, embodying the values of empathy and solidarity that define our school community.

Martha Mugamu

Social Justice and Outreach Coordinator

Today we hear from our School Vice Captains Bella Schneiders and Lucas Mandaliti.

Inspiration for leadership hasn't just stemmed from one action, or one teacher or one friend that I could pinpoint that 'sparked the passion' to aspirations to be a leader, but rather it was a combination of the people in my life; that gave me rise, to choose how to shape my future. Leadership for me was always about the voice, the way a position could allow me to express my peers' opinions, by hearing them actively and further the quality of 海角大神 College.

Being appointed Vice-Captain of 2024, wasn't only about what we could achieve in the short-term; not just what we could give the year 12's. It is our goal to improve the sustainability of leadership, for the years to come. We want to create passion and drive in the years below us for leadership, and to make the positions of leadership to be one of prestige and given to those who are ready to be a voice for the community.

My own drive and inspiration stems from my family, because they were never the ones to tell me to "achieve greatness", their expectations were to simply "achieve my full potential." That is what inspires me, that's what drives me, and I can promise that for those of you in year 7,8,9 and upwards, my advice is not to 'do your best' or 'achieve greatness,' but to simply give it your all, by saying yes to every opportunity that presents itself, you are doing what is best for you, you are 'achieving greatness'.

But remember to find balance, to be at peace with all you will do in your years at 海角大神, so try out for the music program, come down to the 海角大神 Old Collegians Football Club, find ways to make you feel relaxed and calm, whilst trying to do all that the next years of school will ask of you.
I am wishing you all, year 7-12, the best for the rest of your time at the College. Enjoy, say yes, and thrive.

Bella Schneiders

What inspired you to try out for a leadership position?

I have always been interested in leadership, starting from primary school. When the opportunity for Year 12 leadership arose, it was one I could not miss.

What are your goals this year when it comes to being vice captain?

This year, I aim to make an impact on the future of 海角大神. Through working with the younger year level鈥檚 leadership and implementing systems for change, I hope that not only the Class of 2024 but all future years will be able to enjoy all sorts of opportunities that the years before us could not.

Who inspires you in your life, either from the school or outside?

My biggest inspiration is my mum. I鈥檝e always admired her emotional intelligence and sense of compassion that she can鈥檛 help but use for the better. She鈥檚 truly inspired me to be the best version of myself and see the best version of other people.

What wisdom or advice would you like to give to the new year 7 students at 海角大神?

The most important piece of advice I have for new year 7 students is to immerse yourself in all our school has to offer. Whether it be a new club, trying out for the musical, playing in EISM, or joining a band, high school is the perfect place to try new things and actually enjoy opportunities you may never receive again.

What鈥檚 something fun that you like to do in order to have a good school study / relaxation balance?

In order to balance school life and home life, I always try having something to look forward to when I get home, taking my mind off of school. It can be a large shock moving into any new year level with the workload increasing. It鈥檚 important to have other hobbies and interests such as video games or a sport that you can focus on outside of school.

Lucas Mandaliti

Father Dispin presided over the Mass and Commissioned David Broadbent as our New Principal.

Here are beautiful photos showing the Opening Mass for 2024.

The students presented David with a candle and a plaque with the Schools Values.

The School Leaders were then given a Blessing and inducted into their position of leadership for the year, given badges from their Learning Area leaders.

On Monday the 19th February the 海角大神 College community came together to Celebrate Excellence! We acknowledged the students from all year levels who have had outstanding academic and community achievements. We also celebrated the outstanding results of the Class of 2024. Congratulations to all students who received awards, we are very proud of you all.

The Dave Mallia award is presented annually to the highest performing student in Humanities. The recipient for 2023 is Charlie Cooper.
Charlie has a deep interest in Humanities, completing three subjects in the domain: History, Global Politics and Legal Studies, attaining excellent results in these subjects. This year Charlie will attend Monash University, where he will study a double degree in law and global studies. After concluding his studies, he hopes to enter the legal industry.

The Jan Roczniak award is given to the highest achieving girl in science. The recipient for last year is Cassie Wynne.

Cassie undertook and performed exceptionally well in three VCE science subjects: Biology in 2022, and in 2023, Chemistry and Physics.

This year Cassie has accepted a position at Monash University to study a double degree in Engineering and Science. With plans to specialise in Environmental Engineering, Cassie aims to work in the fields of renewable energy, carbon capture and environmental remediation, developing and implementing solutions to reduce the effects of climate change.

The award for Dux of the College is the Patrick Ryan award and Jackson Boundy was the 2023 recipient.
Since graduating from 海角大神, Jackson has accepted and deferred a bachelor of engineering at Monash University to take a gap year. Jackson has started his own business, Stellar Tutoring while continuing with an online programming course run by Harvard university, to further his education.

In the next Edition of the Lighthouse we will explain more about the other specialised awards given out at the Excellence awards night.

We have had some beautiful photos taken of the Awards Ceremony, year level groups and individual photos of the award winners. If you would be interested in purchasing them they are on the HM Photos website to look at. 

Password: ACCE190224

 For families there is a discount code which will reduce their digital photos 40%, from $30 to $18. (This code does not apply to packages.)

The discount code that families can use for 40% off digital is ENJOY40

This is also found on top of the page when they are viewing their photos.

PREPARATIONS FOR HARMONY DAY

Celebrating our cultural diversity

Over the past few weeks, Year 9 PACE students have been tasked with an important new project for promoting global citizenship in the College. Their job was to paint 30 full size country flags to represent all of our students who were born overseas. We look forward to our flags collection growing in the future to eventually represent all students鈥� family backgrounds, as well as all our staff. A huge thank you to Arts Learning Area Leader, Sandi Van der Niet, for providing her time and expertise to ensure the flags turned out not only beautiful, but also accurate.

Harmony Day

The flags will be proudly flying in the Forum for our annual Harmony Day on Friday March 22nd. For those new to the College, Harmony Day is a day to celebrate the cultural diversity of our community. Across the day, students are involved in various activities, performances, and hear from inspiring guest speakers.

Colour Run Carnival

Our 2024 Harmony Day has some exciting new changes, with a whole-College Colour Run Carnival during the afternoon. Alongside the run, students will participate in games, activities and sports, and enjoy the various College bands who will be performing. Information about this activity will be provided to students in Homeroom/Mentor, and we encourage all students to get involved in the afternoon activities to help us celebrate as a whole community.

All students will attend the various activities on the ovals in P6 & 7 of Harmony Day and they are invited to participate in the optional Colour Run segment of the afternoon.

The entry fee for the Colour Run is $5, with proceeds being donated to Caritas Australia.


You can purchase a ticket atTryBooking link until 21st March.


Parents and guardians need to please complete the Permission Form on PAM by Friday 15th March.


Students participating in the Colour Run will need to bring a white t-shirt (short- or long-sleeved) and shorts/pants to cover their PE uniform for the run.


Please also bring a bag to put these clothes in after the run.


We look forward to a wonderful (and colourful) afternoon celebrating with the whole College community.



Natalie Zuccon

Intercultural Learning Coordinator

Martha Mugamu

Social Justice Coordinator

The Church is currently in the Season of Lent, which is a time of preparation for the celebration of the Easter Triduum, shorthand for Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. It is the central celebration of Christianity that reveals Jesus鈥� identity as the Messiah and Saviour promised by God.

Our students are experiencing Lent in various ways in the Religion classroom. One of them is through Caritas Project Compassion. Some Year 8 classes are signing up to a steps challenge to raise awareness and funds for Caritas:

" In Year 8 RE this term, we have been learning about the Caritas Project Compassion. We have been raising awareness about poverty and others suffering in other countries. We have done this through the steps challenge. This allows us to get involved in the school community and activities." - Ruby McRitchie 8 Red

"I like getting involved in school activities, especially when it is raising money for Caritas Project Compassion. Caritas helps the people who are suffering, so raising money for Caritas helps the disadvantaged. The steps challenge is a good way to get involved and get your steps up in the day." - Jess Beveridge, 8 Red

"I love to get involved in the Caritas Project Compassion as I want to raise awareness for the suffering and disadvantaged people. The steps challenge is a very good way to get us year 8's involved in school and community events. It also helps us achieve our daily step goals. " - Ella Sadler 8 Red

After Ash Wednesday services, we will soon be moving into Easter ceremonies all of which involve Year 10 and 11 EDGE students, Year 10 and 11 RE Music students as Masters of Ceremonies for multiple celebrations.

New initiatives in the Religion Learning Area include the introduction of Year 10 and 11 Religion Music subjects that have been ably led by Gabrielle Mercer, who is an accomplished music teacher, musician and liturgist. The programme is designed to give students the opportunity to develop their musical skills as well as learning the context in which music enhances liturgical celebrations. As a tool for prayer, it enables the faith learning community to better enter into communal celebrations that reflect our community and personal faith traditions.

The Year 9 PACE programme has been revamped this year to give students a more 鈥榟ands on鈥� experience of Catholic Social Teaching. 9 PACE is an opportunity to explore community issues, to work on activities to support those in need and to raise awareness of such issues to our school community. Each theme will be a 3 - 4 week block and classes will rotate through the blocks across the semester. Such topics may include:

• Homelessness & Poverty
• Refugees and Asylum Seekers
• Environment and Sustainability
• Dignity,Respect, Compassion and Empathy
• First Nations
• Human Trafficking and Slavery

We also have a return of VCE Religion and Society Units 3&4 in 2024. After a one year hiatus, we are back in the academic game with a small but dedicated group of students investigating the role of religion in society. It is a great way to learn humanity skills that are relevant to students both in their personal lives and future academic pursuits that call for critical thinking and analysis of how our human society operates and how we respond to the ultimate questions of human existence and purpose. There is a detailed investigation of Catholic beliefs and all nine aspects of religion.

Bernard Green
Religious Education Learning Area Leader

As we approach Week 4 in Science, I thought it would be a good opportunity to show case what our Year 7 students have learnt and engaged in so far. We started off the year with our unit titled 鈥淏eing a Scientist鈥�. To date, we have focused on the different branches of Scienceand gained an understanding of the Science classroom and how it differs from a normal classroom setting.

In Week 3, we researched accidental discoveries and the impact these discoveries have had on our lives today. We also focused on playing it safe in the laboratory, and how observation plays a big part in our learning and understanding of scientific concepts. This led to completing several practical investigations. One of these included making slime. Students used curiosity, wonder and questioning to understand how the consistency of slime changesand why. Students really enjoyed investigating the slime.

We also completed an investigation called Mystery Boxes. Students used their senses to work out what object were hidden inside the boxes. In Week 4 we completed an investigation called Making Observations. Students worked on different stations around the laboratory and completed several different practical observations. Their task was to observe what happened when different substances were mixed with each other. Overall students accurately recorded the outcome of their results for each investigation they completed.

Melissa Campbell
Teacher

In year 12 VCE VM, the early weeks of term one have seen our students busily planning a camp to Wilsons Promontory. Students are responsible for planning and preparing all aspects of the camp such as setting the itinerary, creating a packing list, developing risk management strategies and designing a menu for their group's meals.

We were greeted with amazing weather, as students led us around Wilsons Prom on hikes, prepared delicious meals to eat together and enjoyed team building activities on the beach. We experienced the local wildlife up close and personal, but luckily didn't have to share tents with any wombats unlike in previous years.

The students did a great job in their planning and implementation of activities on the camp. They further developed their independence and team work skills and got to experience an amazing part of Victoria.

Michael O鈥橦alloran

VCE VM Coordinator

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