海角大神

CIS Accreditation

It鈥檚 been a very busy week at the College. After many months of preparation we were finally able to host the visiting Accreditation Team from the Council of International Schools this week, albeit virtually. This team of distinguished educators from across the world included Mr Andy Curtis (Jakarta, Indonesia), Ms Carmel Platt (Auckland, NZ), Dr Darshini Jeremiah (Singapore), Ms Kim Davis (Kobe,Japan), Mr Richard Henry (Singapore), and led by Dr Tarek Razik (Jakarta). We have been able to showcase our work as a College across 10 focus domains including Purpose and Direction, Leadership, Teaching and Learning, Wellbeing, Staffing, Environment and Catholic Life. The Accreditation Team have also visited many of our classrooms this week to speak to the students about their learning. Thank you to all who have contributed to the Self Study and especially the School Advisory Council who made time on Sunday to meet the team. We look forward to receiving recommendations from the Accreditation Team to guide our continuing school improvement journey.

Catholic Education Week

This week is Catholic Education Week and while we would love to have gathered together to celebrate Catholic education at St Patrick鈥檚 Cathedral as in previous years, we are invited to participate in a COVIDSafe virtual celebration instead. Please follow to hear a message from Archbishop Comensoli as well as samples of student creativity from across MACS schools.

Open Day

A reminder that this Sunday, March 21, is Open Day from 12pm to 3pm.  Tours will be conducted regularly with the last tour departing at 2.15pm.  Bookings are not required. Parents with a child in Grade 5 are reminded that the enrolment period for the 2023 Year 7 class closes on Friday, August 20th, 2020. Please note that we do not presume that you are enrolling your child at the College and that an application is required. Current families are also welcome to attend, especially if you have not toured the facilities in some time. Should you have any questions please contact College Registrar, Ms Madeleine Kalla on 9259 3008.

Harmony Day - Friday, March 26

Next Friday is Harmony Day at 海角大神. Harmony Day is an opportunity to celebrate our cultural diversity with an emphasis on inclusiveness and mutual respect. It culminates a special week commencing on March 21 with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Thank you to those who are working on planning this day so that we can bring many different cultural experiences into our school. More information about the program for the day will be made available next week.

Middle Years鈥� Athletics Carnival

There was great spirit at the Middle Years鈥� Athletics Carnival last Friday in absolutely beautiful weather with some special efforts from our athletes and fine cheering support from their House teams on the day. Congratulations to Dominic House on their first win in many years. Dominic won by just 7 points 3345 to 3338 from MacKillop followed by Rice. Thanks to Sports Coordinator, Mr Brummell, and his team on staging a day of great fun and challenge.

EISM Swimming Championships

We wish our swimmers the best of luck at the swimming championships on Monday night at MSAC and congratulate them on their dedication to qualify to compete on the championship evening. Thanks to the staff members who are making our participation possible.

Advance Notice

The last day of Term 1 is Thursday, April 1 2021. School resumes for students on Tuesday, April 20 2021. Monday, April 19 is a Staff Professional Learning Day.

Darren Atkinson
Principal

Seeking answers to complex questions during Lent

In recent weeks, a positive motion to ensure that young people understand the true meaning of consent has gained momentum. Through the media, there has been a projection of the authentic voice of many of the sufferers that has led most education leaders to reflect on the importance of supporting the enhancement of compassion, respect and value in our young people as they learn to relate to others. This has had a positive impact on the ways that we are challenged to consider how to educate young people on the responsibilities we all share when it comes to upholding respectful relationships and I am confident that in partnership with you, our efforts at the College will lead our students to continue to learn the value of respect. 

For most, our society is vibrant and full of opportunities, yet, somehow, we may at times find ourselves questioning why we are challenged to make sense of the imperfect circumstances we often share as a society instead of the rejoicing of the gifts we are given, and the obligation we have to replicate the example of Jesus in the way that we live our lives when we call ourselves Christians. Sunday鈥檚 Gospel reading, John 3:14-21 gives great meaning to our calling as Christians. In the sermon following the Gospel reading during Mass, my local parish priest, Fr Binh Le, reflected on the love that Jesus has for us. In his newsletter, he asked three key questions, which gave me the opportunity to reflect on my faith during the period of Lent:

• What have been some of the moments of exultation in my life?
• What have been the periods of darkness?
• Is there a struggle in coming to the light?

I consider that it is important to remember that faith in goodness must lead us in how we treat others and that it is our obligation to seek justice for the underprivileged in our society. I wish to share with you an experience that I hold dearly, one that showed me, at an early age, the need to be respectful of others and just as importantly, to oneself. It is a reflection based on my childhood and my understanding at the time of how my faith in goodness developed from my faith in God. From that point, it was important for me to become a faith leader concerned with an appreciation for Gospel values and liberation. I do this openly and sincerely, as I realise that as a faith leader in our community, it is essential to share how my faith informs my practice as a member of the College community, and how this assists me in supporting the education of our students. 

I found God in amongst chaos...

My life of faith began with the realisation that God鈥檚 reality exists beyond my comprehension, and she has always made me aware of this through my personal life experiences. Like many of those educated in strong Christian contexts, up until the age of 12, I was in great fear of what I thought was God, seeing her as a strict parent who saw every emotion, every thought and every action I had with great disapproval, as I believed that she was solely focused on the imperfections and the faults I often displayed in all of my actions. I considered God to be forever disappointed in me, and the reason was my guilty conscience, one that had begun to question the scriptures and their message as they had been taught to me by others. It was a time of mistrust in my life; I grew up in a war-torn country, where a civil war claimed the lives of approximately 75,000 people and created much unrest and pain. The country was El Salvador and the time was 1984. I had practiced my faith in a strongly literal way, where the meaning behind the scriptures led to impersonal understanding which was distanced from the meaning I was able to capture, only after very confronting experiences, in the years to come. At the time, I attended a Catholic school which was strict, and where my relationship with God was based on fear of sinning because I believed that the God I prayed to was unforgiving of my imperfections.

The revelation of the grace of God came to me as I sat at the back of a bus, together with my father, when suddenly a bomb exploded not far away from us. The bomb blasted a car which sat in traffic 3 or 4 spaces back, yet the bang was so powerful that I was pushed forward with great force, and lost part of my hearing for some time in the months that followed. The buzzing sound was nothing when compared to the shock that followed, and to this day, my memories vividly remind me of how my heart palpitated rapidly and my hands shook uncontrollably as I tried to make sense of what had happened. I later realised that a bomb had exploded, leaving a trail of debris everywhere, and despite the familiarity that these events presented at the time, nothing could have prepared me for the experience. People screamed, cried, tried to get out, while my father held me tight. I looked up and suddenly realised that the bus was not moving, and people yelled in fear, while my father demanded to know if I was alright. It was not the only time that I had faced death like that, but it is the first time that I realised God鈥檚 love for me amidst the chaos. 

Despite being saved from a probable death, and seeing my father safe by my side, I was scared and worried for what was to come. I witnessed at that point in my life journey the saving grace of God in the actions of others, and in the calmness exhibited in the world around me as I tried to make sense of what had occurred by the actions of not God, but humans. While I sat down outside on the pavement, after being removed from the bus by the emergency officers, I recall seeing the goodness of people, but more importantly, the power of God in the beauty of the earth within the chaos that existed in front of me. People helped each other, and despite the fact that it could have all been avoided had the bomb not had exploded in the first place, it had happened, and through this struggle, humans tried their best to make it better for one another. The bomb did not destroy God鈥檚 creations; in fact, the chaos only highlighted the beauty of the volcano to the north of the city, which seemed imposing in the background, making the scene a splendid picture. The trees were not damaged, and some birds suddenly appeared, flying above the mess. I felt a serenity, despite the unsettledness in the uncontrolled movement all around me. This illustrated how powerful God鈥檚 grace is. Humans worked within the limitations we all have, but God鈥檚 saving grace empowered all to display love in a time of sadness, and this love was the integral part of the picture that I have printed in my memory. As this happened, the blue sky remained majestic, the dust settled, and I realised that life had gone on, and I was under God鈥檚 saving grace while the scorching sun burnt my skin.

It was then that I realised that my faith was a gift; had I died that day, I knew that God was to welcome me in the Kingdom, despite not understanding what that exactly is. The liberation however, came from my feeling of being loved when I realised that I was completely in the hands of God, not because I was still alive on earth but because he had shown me his saving grace in the actions of others, and the gift of the earth as a place to worship her. That day, on the 1st of May 1984, I understood the existence of the Holy Spirit, and the experience has influenced me to this day. My faith since then has been on a loving God who loves me the way that I am, and I know that I am her creation.

So how does this relate to my mission as an educator today?

Focusing on how great the world is, even when tarnished by the impact of humans in it, has made me a theologian whose faith immerses me in a life of hope, where I live to interpret reality in terms of God as reality and my experiences within it. I seek to have a relationship with God which moves me away from the now to a reality that is unexplainable; yet is rich and gives me purpose, despite my inability to explain and fully understand exactly what I feel when God touches my soul.

We are challenged to consider the different ways in which faith leads us to practice our obligations towards others. Although I can identify my journey and practice as a man of faith within the many perspectives I have adopted in my journey, I acknowledge that faith is developed in an intimate sense, and only happens when we seek its true meaning for ourselves. For me, I seek to find God in all my actions and hear her voice in the revelation of Jesus; in his ministry, death and resurrection, and in the dynamic relationship that is presented in the Holy Trinity, where God鈥檚 spirit is amongst us through Jesus. Faith in this perspective has allowed me to reflect on how my practice is multifaceted and intertwined, focused on God鈥檚 reality, as I seek for my life and my actions to be completely in God鈥檚 hands. For me, this brings reward and fulfilment beyond description and gives me the vision and mission to practice my profession.

Although practicing theology as an educational leader is not always clear cut, it is equally empowering and fulfilling to consider that our reality as leaders is controlled and created by how we respond to our challenges. Through God鈥檚 revelation to us, we are assured of the meaning of each action in what we do. This leads us to fully encounter the Kingdom of God in her reality within the journey we take. Being a faith leader is not about position, experience or status but rather service, and the College is thankfully full of such serving and liberating professionals.

As I now reflect to the day that I realised God鈥檚 presence, as a 12 year old young boy, I was confronted by a reality that existed well beyond my comprehension. I witnessed a power that was real and existed right in front of me. It was not the power displayed by the emergency workers, or the army officers, nor was it the warmth in my father鈥檚 hugs as he tried to make me feel safe but rather the impressive nature that was not affected by the chaos that humans had brought upon themselves. The birds, the sky, the volcano and the goodness that surrounded me was mystic and an example of God鈥檚 Reign. And this personal experience with God removed the chaos away from me in a way that has motivated my commitment to Catholic Education over the years. Teaching the importance and relevance of Faith through example is now my commitment to my profession. I implore you to reflect on your faith during this very crucial time in our calendar, and I encourage you to discuss with your loved ones how faith can help guide us in times when answering hard questions can leave us in states of uncertainty and in fear. 

Now over to you...

I invite you to do this with caution as my purpose is not to evangelise but rather share in my fortunes and challenges. Faith in goodness comes in many forms and leads to different experiences. However, faith in goodness, or as it is for me, in God, can lead you to realise the power you have as an individual, and collectively as a member of a community, to be a point of difference for the better. As we try to comprehend what has happened to the many victims that we hear about in the media, and as we try to protect those victims from the hardships of disrespect and abuse at the hands of perpetrators, I ask you to consider the impact that faith in goodness and care for others can have as you answer the hard questions when teaching your children the power of compassion. Respect for oneself and others makes consent an easy value to uphold. I wish you the absolute best when you engage with your children to deliberate the meaning of respectful relationships, respect for the dignity of others and responsible behaviour. Your child is your blessing and a gift from goodness. We will continue to do our bit at the College to support you and your child in their growth and we rely on your lead and impact in their growth and development as a key component in the process. Respect for others is our collective responsibility and faith in goodness makes this possible. 

As always, please feel free to respond or comment by emailing me at rodeznone@aquinas.vic.edu.au

Dr Napoleon Rodezno
Deputy Principal

Lenten Reflection

During Lent, we spend time reflecting on who we are and how we can grow closer in our relationship with God and with others. Sometimes we do this through an examination of conscience; a series of questions that help us to look at what we do and in turn how we can grow and change for the better. There are many different examples and the one I have chosen below is based around the beautiful prayer of St Francis. I hope this gives you the opportunity to self reflect.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: - 
Have I allowed the Spirit of Jesus into my life, or have I been busy about many things, seeking my peace elsewhere? 

Where there is hatred, let me sow love: - 
Am I willing to take that extra step needed to bring bitterness and resentment to an end? 
Do I have the courage to love my family, my friends, my neighbours, even myself 鈥� the way Jesus loves 鈥� sacrificially? 

Where there is injury, pardon: 
Is there someone in my life who cannot feel healed and made whole until I say, 鈥淚 forgive you?鈥�

Where there is doubt, faith: 
Have I been the sort of person in whom someone can believe?
Am I willing to put my own faith on the line, even at the risk of being mocked or put down? 

Where there is despair, hope: 
Do I project the image of a hopeful person? - Am I optimistic? 
Do I care and take time to listen with the ear, but also with the heart? 

Where there is darkness, light: 
Do I seek to live and act in the light or would I rather hide under cover of darkness?

Where there is sadness, joy: 
Am I a joyful person, or a prophet of gloom? 
Are people enriched and gladdened or diminished and saddened whenever they meet me? 

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love: 
Have I discovered what it means to be, like Jesus, a person for others? 
Do I believe that the more I give in love, the more I have to give?

For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life: 
In what way am I a prisoner of self today, held captive by fear or guilt or doubt or sin? 

Sourced from;

Tania Grace
Assistant Principal - Mission

The start of every school year seems to move so quickly; meeting new staff and students, school photos, camps, assemblies, opening Mass, Cafe N9ne, swimming and athletics carnivals, excursions and classes. Oh, and let鈥檚 not forget that brief lockdown! The Teaching and Non-Teaching staff continue to develop and deliver rich curriculum and engaging activities to our students. All this whilst we are undertaking our CIS accreditation 鈥渧irtual鈥� visits this week. I have had the pleasure of leading some of the virtual tours, and have been so pleased to hear the students speak of the teachers and staff in such a positive manner. They are genuinely grateful for all the hard work that staff do for them and our CIS visitors were quick to pick on this as well. 

Please remember to keep the communication lines open with the 海角大神 staff should you have any questions, concerns or commendations. We are in partnership with you and the students and welcome contact via phone, email or meetings in person. Enjoy this lovely Autumn weather.

Gina Goss
Assistant Principal Staff

In this edition of The Lighthouse, I would like to introduce some new staff members to the 海角大神 community:

David Mulholland is a new Physics teacher at 海角大神. He studied Mechanical Engineering at Loughborough University in the UK before deciding to travel and "see a bit of the world". On returning he began his Post Graduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) and taught for one year in his native Wales. The taste for travel and the possibility of combining this with teaching led him first to find work in Ramingining (NT), and then in international schools in Yangon, Kyiv and Muscat. Along the way he married his now wife (an 海角大神 alumna) and managed to have three children who are all now happily enjoying life and family in Australia. David feels very welcomed by 海角大神, even if initially being daunted by a school that has 13 different Homerooms in Year 8 alone. Outside school Dave likes most sports but especially running, proof that you don't have to be good at something to enjoy it. 

Damian Perry has joined 海角大神 from St James College after 12 years teaching boys, it is a pleasure to be back in a co-ed environment. He is a qualified IT and History teacher, but has taught Media, RE, English, Geography and Photography over the years. He has coached many Debating teams to finals, supported Write a Book in a Day teams to 6 years of awards, written four College Musicals and directed a Focus on Ability film festival entry. He ran a weekly radio show on Southern FM with his most talkative students and also a podcast (it's up on Apple Podcasts!). As much as he loves being a teacher, he also: writes novels, plays and short stories, having won a number of awards over the years. Damian is a man of the world, having spent a year in Canada, a year in Japan and many weeks travelling across Europe. He is married with a step-daughter doing VCE, and as a family they enjoy playing board games and walking up in the mountains. Damian is a massive Terry Pratchett fan, but also loves to read Douglas Adams, Stephen King and Robert Jordan, amongst many other authors. 

Dale Fredericks has recently been employed as a laboratory technician for the Science learning area at 海角大神 College. She has three children, two of whom currently attend Catholic secondary schools, and her hobbies include painting and digital art. Dale completed a PhD in genetics at Monash University in 2001 and worked as a research scientist in the fields of molecular biology, biochemistry and green chemistry for many years. After having her third child, she then took up a teaching position at Monash University but was keen to get back to laboratory work, and the laboratory technician position seemed an ideal opportunity. When researching the position at 海角大神 College, Dale was immediately impressed by the values the College presented. Her recent experiences at 海角大神 have also demonstrated to her the dedication of the staff to enhance the learning experience for the students. She looks forward to contributing to the maintenance of the high education standards at 海角大神 in her support staff position.

Mike Barclay is teaching in the Mathematics department at 海角大神 College. He completed an Engineering Degree followed by a Diploma of Education. Mike has a wife and two children, aged 7 and 9. He has two horses, a labrador and soon to adopt a few miniature ponies. Mike's family volunteer for a dog rescue organisation and have rehomed over 30 kelpies and recently trained a sniffer dog. They have volunteered in an orphanage in Thailand where they lived for three months and taught the children while his wife volunteered at a local hospital as a nurse. Mike is currently in the process of building his dream house on his 10 acre block in Kilsyth. 

We welcome David, Damian, Dale and Mike to 海角大神, and I will introduce some more new staff in the upcoming editions.

There has been a real buzz around the Music Department as we get closer to the end of Term 1 and as our students have been enjoying the regularity of rehearsals and lessons.  There have been lots of recruitment opportunities for the Year 7s and for students who don鈥檛 yet learn an instrument to trial instruments and they have even had visits from our College Music Captains in Homerooms this week. 

We have begun our performance calendar for the year with the 海角大神 PEP Band performing at the College Athletics Carnival last Friday which added a great deal of excitement to the day.

Unfortunately the 2021 Generations in Jazz tour for stage bands and selected vocal ensembles had been cancelled this year with the event being postponed until 2022.  However the opportunity to perform and participate at the all-new 鈥淎ll-State Jazz Festival鈥� early in Term 2 has the groups busily working towards exciting performance goals. This will then lead into the return of the Friends of 海角大神 Music Not Just Jazz Soiree later in Term 2.

The College鈥檚 Open Day this Sunday also sees performance opportunities for the our funk band, which brings together several elements of our ensemble program in a lively and fun group. The funk band features students from the brass, woodwind, vocal and rock instrument and the band performs classic and current hits in funk, soul, RnB and disco styles. Get your boogie on!! The funk band will also be performing later in the year at our local primary school fetes during October and November.

Jared Campbell
Music Program Coordinator

Well done to all participates in the Clean Up Australia Day.  It was terrific to see our students taking care of the beautiful 海角大神 College grounds. The Middle School students did a very thorough job and should be very pleased with their efforts. Congratulations to Mr Smith and 7 Green who collected over 5 bags of rubbish on Clean Up Australia Schools Day. They have won additional Golden Bin points for Dominic House. An honourable mention to Ms Johnson's 8 Orange Homeroom who did an amazing effort as shown in our wonderful photos. 

Earth Hour Saturday 27th March 8:30pm
Earth hour will be held on Saturday 27th March at 8:30pm. For one hour individuals, households, schools and businesses are encouraged to switch off as part of a world wide movement to highlight environmental issues and to reduce carbon emissions.  

You can reconnect with the natural environment during Earth hour and discuss ways you can support Australia鈥檚 switch to renewable energy sources.  You can sign up and learn more at

Karyn Myers
Environment & Sustainability Coordinator

Introducing our Senior Sport Captains - Mikayla Aloi & Owen Foxwell

"Sport has always been a massive part of my life and to participate in sport is an extreme privilege. Sport at 海角大神 is one of the best parts about the school and to be able to have the opportunity to participate in many activities, competitions and carnivals at 海角大神 is great. For me, sport has always been something I am passionate about and the sport curriculums at 海角大神 have helped me develop more skills and become involved within the school. I am very grateful for the sports 海角大神 provides, such as, EISM, athletics, swimming and cross country carnivals to which I have always participated in, as well as any other sporting activities the school holds." Mikayla Aloi

"It was a huge honour to be named Sport captain for the College as sport is something I am extremely passionate about and is a lot of the reason for who I am today. 海角大神 provides countless opportunities for everyone to participate in sport through the EIS competitions, athletics, swimming and cross country carnivals. Being Sport Captain means a lot to me as these opportunities I have stated have created so many memories over my schooling that I won't ever forget, and as Sport Captain I want to be able to be a role model to encourage and help the students from the younger years reach their sporting goals at 海角大神 College." 
Owen Foxwell

To comply with current DHHS requirements, potential attendees of the 海角大神 College Open Day are asked to perform a COVID-19 symptom self assessment () prior to leaving home, and to not attend this event if they or anyone at home has:
鈥� Fever or flu-like symptoms such as a high temperature, coughing, sore throat and fatigue.
鈥� Shortness of breath.
鈥� Been in close contact with someone who has returned from overseas in the last 14 days.
鈥� Been in close contact with someone with a confirmed case of COVID-19.
Please refer to the 海角大神 College COVIDSafe public event registration () for more information.

200 Years of Religious Education in Australia

Catholic Education Week is an opportunity for all Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Melbourne to celebrate their Catholic identity and the role we play within our community. In 1820, Fr John Therry along with convict George Marley opened the first Catholic school in Parramatta, with 31 catholic and protestant students. By the 1830鈥檚 Bishop Polding took responsibility for all catholic schools which had grown to 13 primary schools. 

His vision was to ensure all children - no matter their faith, status, gender or ability were able to access an education. Catholic schools are the largest providers of education in Australia outside of government schools. We have 1,751 schools, approximately 768,000 students and 98,000 staff. Education in all ways has developed to best suit the needs of the students. I am sure many of you have heard the stories from parents and grandparents about their own schooling, how different it was from your own and in turn, how different your child鈥檚 education is to what you experienced. 

Religious education, like all subjects, has also developed their practice. With the Horizons of Hope and Pedagogy of Encounter as our guiding documents, RE has developed into an opportunity for all students, no matter their level of faith, to explore Jesus鈥� message in an open, contemporary manner. By incorporating our core values, students can develop an understanding of how our values and beliefs provide an opportunity to grow into a global citizen, witnessing Christs love and forgiveness in the community around them. The formal celebrations were due to be held from October 2020 to October 2021. However, due to pandemic restrictions, the celebrations will now be held during the 2021 school year. 

At 海角大神 we will celebrate 200 years of catholic education during our Patrons mass where we will also celebrate 60 years since the 海角大神 was opened.

Tania Grace
RE Learning Area Leader

Our Year 12 Physics students attended the annual VicPhysics day out at Luna Park last Friday. The day is aimed at giving students real life experiences of the concepts recently studied in Unit 3 Area of Study 3 "How fast can things go?" 

Students were tasked with identifying the forces they experienced on a range of rides and then performing calculations that are similar to those in their upcoming School Assessed Coursework.

David Mulholland
Teacher

"The trip to Luna Park helped us to understand the physics we had previously learnt in class and apply it to real world applications. It allowed us, as a class, to work together with the added benefit of enjoying a day beyond the classroom."
Goerge Sajive

"Luna Park allowed us to see what we had previously learnt in action, therefore solidifying our understanding and comfort with the content. Additionally, it was a great opportunity to get to know everybody in the class better and build friendships within the group. If anybody has plans to go to the park anytime soon, I recommend the "Enterprise"."
Chelle Wynne

"Luna Park was heaps of fun. I loved going on all the thrilling rides, experiencing the forces we'd learnt about in class, and learning in a really practical way." 
Reuben Steen

"Going on the excursion was nerve wracking yet so exciting. At first we visited the Triennial Exhibition at the NGV, the artwork was scattered around the building which made it even more fun to have to find. Each design was unique in its own way and were very creative & amazing to look at. We then had time to walk up and down Collins street and go into high end fashion stores. This was the nerve wracking part as going into the stores for the first time was a bit scary but ended up being an amazing experience, so good the Bvlgari employee we were talking to let us try on these bracelets and it wasn't until after we realized just how expensive they were. This excursion allowed us to not only develop communication skills but design and thinking abilities to help us with future projects in viscom and other life experiences."
Maddison Raven

"My excursion to the CBD was nothing short of inspiring, entertaining and enjoyable. There was so much to see at the NGV and no photo could capture the experience of the NGV. The small trip around the high end boutiques have opened my eyes on innovative designs and the history behind these beautiful accessories, clothing and much more."
Trinity Le

"I was intrigued by the variety of contemporary art, design and architecture displayed at the NGV Triennial. Appreciating the work of different artists was a great experience." 
James Ventura

"When I went on the Vis com excursion, I didn鈥檛 know what to expect.  The Triennial Exhibition at the NGV was actually supposed to happen last year but due to COVID, it was postponed to this year which allowed my classmates and I to explore the international artists and their incredible designs. What impressed me the most was how every single artist thought outside the box, and how unique and creative they were. While the NGV was amazing, we also went through the really expensive stores along Collins street. I鈥檒l always remember the Bvlgari worker who was extremely nice and allowed my friend and me to try on some of his favourite bracelets which came to a total of $65,000!!!!"
Ebony Barker 

"The city brought many interesting designs that have sparked inspiration for our upcoming portfolio. It's good to get out of the classroom for some more practical activity with some mates."
Thomas Maxwell

During Semester 2 in 2020 students in Year 11 Product Design and Technology worked in groups on their Unit 2 project Collaborative Design. They worked in a design team collaboratively to produce the product design process.  Students worked through the design stages together and completed the product using a variety of  materials and processes.

It was great to see each member contribute and helping out other members when needed. Installing the fountain was also an excellent group effort with the help of our maintenance staff. We hope the students and staff enjoy the new feature in the garden and particularly the birds when they stop to refresh. Well done to students Alice Hong, Nick Hendy, Ethan Nugent and Mitchell Sheehan.

Kathy Thompson
Teacher

"Yesterday's excursion to the aquapark was a great experience for our class to get out and have some fun that also tied in with our current units of study in sport and recreation unit two. We were provided with some excellent examples of educating user groups and OHS/WHS. For educating user groups the park had a range of specific instructions and methods of conveying instructions that were efficiently tailored to suit the types of users participating in activities there, a giant electronic billboard with speakers (displaying instructional videos) is an efficient way to convey safety messages and instructions to a large amount of people at the same time. Before each activity we were pulled aside by the instructor as a group and instructed the correct way to put our harnesses on, before climbing the high ropes we also had to ensure we knew how to use our harness clips so we were put through a small section of the ropes on the ground, this had to be completed before we could move onto the course. There was also a plethora of signage around each part of the park instruction cautions and 鈥渂efore proceeding you must鈥� (clip both parts of your harness). Overall I am very thankful for the opportunity to have such an amazing experience with my classmates and find evidence outside the classroom supporting our study."
Will Watts

"Yesterday's excursion at the aquapark was awesome. Participating in the high ropes course and kneeboard was an awesome experience which tied in with our current area of study focusing on educating User Groups and OHS/WHS. Besides being a whole heap of fun, the excursion also detailed the components of our area of study and allowed me to gather a greater understanding through practical theory...Being able to experience this type of environment put me outside of my comfort zone but was incredible..."
Sebastian Di Simone
 
"It was good to test yourself on the high ropes course and learn how to kneeboard as well as experiencing work health and safety procedures and risk management plans first hand, being educated by the staff their gave us an insight on methods of educating different user groups, we were educated with video on a big screen and well verbal instruction on safety and how to successfully kneeboard or wakeboard."
Isaac Plimmer

"Overall yesterday was an amazing day trying new things and working as a group. It was good to see how they run their activities with all the OH&S and how safety is a priority. This was a really fun way to relate back to our study unit by learning all their procedures and what they have to put in place so everyone is safe. This experience was amazing and a great way to see all the information we have learned from a textbook into reality."
Tianna Aloi

"In yesterday鈥檚 excursion to the cable park, I experienced a lot of new things that I never would have done otherwise. It is definitely something I would like to do again someday, even though at times it pushed me harder than I expected. The kneeboarding definitely stood out to me, I enjoyed this part the most, even though at first I wasn鈥檛 all too keen on it. Overall, the excursion was very enjoyable and I feel as though it was a great opportunity to try and learn new things that I probably would not have done on my own. Even though I pulled up very sore the next day, it is something I鈥檒l definitely do again in the future."
Rachel McPherson

海角大神 is offering an in-class and after-school tutoring program this year as part of the Victorian Government Initiative to support students whose learning may have been disrupted as a result of COVID-19, and have fallen behind as a result of this.

The program consists of two components. The first of these is in-class tutoring (occuring during the school day), and the second is after school tutoring.  The in-class component of this program started last week. Information was sent out to guardians of the students involved in the last week of February from both Mr Michael Box and Dr Napoleon Rodezno. 

An overview of the In-Class tutoring program: 

How were students chosen to take part?  Students were selected for the program based on a number of measures, including:

• Progressive Achievement Test data
• Coordinator identification
• Indications of decreasing engagement with school work, homework tasks, assessment tasks over the last year 

How is it run? 

1. Students will be allocated one period per week for in-class tutoring. These periods will change each week, so that students don鈥檛 repeatedly miss the same class.
2. Students will be placed in a group and given a group number. Groups will be between 3-7 students each.
3. Each year level is assigned to a specific day for in-class tutoring. Their tutoring will occur on these days:
   • Monday: Year 11
   • Tuesday: Year 10
   • Wednesday: Year 9
   • Thursday: Year 8
4. Students will be emailed the period that they will attend tutoring each week. That is, the day of tutoring will not change, but the period of the tutoring will. 
5. Students will be issued a class pass to advise of when students have arrived for tutoring. This will be issued by their group tutor. 

How is student learning monitored? The work undertaken by students in each tutoring period is recorded so that learning progression can be monitored. This also allows us to set learning goals which can be followed up and continually adjusted as these goals are met. 

At present, the program is in its infancy. However, as it progresses, there will be scope to include additional students referred by teachers who may also benefit from the program. Additional invitations will be sent out in the coming weeks. 

An overview of the after school Tutoring program:

The after school tutoring program is running for both Year 7s and Year 12s, Monday to Thursday. 
 
Year 7: After school tutoring will run from 3.30-4.30pm in D1.31 Monday to Thursday. This is open to all Year 7 students to begin with. It is not compulsory, but we have received requests from staff recommending students. 

The focus of these sessions will be literacy, numeracy, general organisation and study support.

Year 12: After school tutoring will run from 1.30 - 3.30pm on Mondays, and 3.30 - 5.30pm Tuesday to Thursday in rooms I1.17 & I1.18. This is open to all Year 12 students. The government funding grant is intended to be used to focus on enhancing numeracy and literacy, in particular. However, where able, we will be trying to provide tutoring for students based on their requests for subject areas and availability of staff. Student attendance and requests are taken each night to help with planning. 

The aim is to provide students with different options throughout the week so that they can then plan their weekly study. Quiet, individual study is still available. 
 
Elisa Di Gregorio and Jacob Kogelman
Teachers
 

The 海角大神 Athletics carnival was held last Friday at school. On a beautiful day, the Middle Years students had a magnificent day doing lots of different activities. The students could compete in track events - 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m and 45m hurdles and field events - high jump, long jump, triple jump, discus, shot put.

As well as these events, there was music, dancing,  bands playing and lots of cheering which helped make the day so exciting.
Over the past 10 years, Mackillop have won 9 of the past 10 years till last year when Rice finally won. The scores throughout the day ebbed and flowed with all three houses leading at different times. Coming down to the final race, the U15 girls relay results determined the winner, with Dominic winning from Mackillop by just 7 points (3345 points -3338 points) and Rice coming 3rd on 3020 points. The closest result we have ever had.

Congratulations to all the students who participated in the events and supported everyone throughout the day. Thank you also to all the staff who helped make this event flow so smoothly and also the Year 10 students who assisted with the carnival.

Well done to the following students who were the top 3 competitors in each age group.
GIRLS
U13  1st  ALEX OLDAKER, 2nd ALEISHA HARMER, 3rd ZOE GUERIN
U14  1st  MADDIE PAYNE, 2nd EMMA FABRE, 3rd KENNEDY CROZIER
U15  1st  ELLA WHITE, 2nd TIANA TOSTI-GUERRA, 3rd GEORGIA SCHEER

BOYS
U13  1st  OSCAR HIPFEL, 2nd CHRIS GALEA, 3rd CALLUM SETTLE
U14  1st  TRISTAN PAWLIK, 2nd EDEN SMITH, 3rd LACHLAN BUYCK
U15  1st  ISAAC GHOSN, 2nd AIDEN CAMPBELL, 3rd TOM VARDY

The top students from each event have now been selected in the 海角大神 Athletics Squad for 2021. The squad will begin training next week for the EISM Division 1 carnival which is being held on Tuesday 4th May at the Lakeside Stadium in Albert Park.

Bernie Brummell
Sports Coordinator

"On Friday the 12th of March, the Middle Years students had their Athletics Carnival. The day was taken up with multiple track and field events and even some dance challenges. Throughout the day, all of the Houses supported their teammates and encouraged their peers to get more people involved in events and get points for their house. 

As Dominic Captains, we tried to get as many individuals as possible to get out on the track and have a go at an event. MacKillop was in the lead for most of the day, until right before the relays. After lots of hard work to get together relay teams, Dominic managed to dominate the track, leading us to win the Athletics Carnival. 

Overall, it was a very fun and rewarding day for all students, and we hope to see Dominic take the win again next year."

Amelie & Lucas, Year 9 Dominic Captains

"Athletics day this year was so much fun. Not only did we get to compete in all of our favourite events but we also got to dance and cheer our friends on. I personally really enjoyed the sense of belonging that the day gave off how everyone was involved no matter how fast you can run or how far you can jump. It was also awesome to be able to compete and win points for my house. It was a great feeling when the people watching were cheering you on and everyone鈥檚 enthusiasm really encouraged you to do the best you could. What an awesome day it was especially when it was announced that Dominic won!"

Maddie Payne, Year 8

"On Friday we participated in our first athletics at 海角大神 College. The day was jam packed with heaps of fun events and so many opportunities to give things a go. (Nick) Personally my favourite event was the running events. They were a lot of fun and a great challenge for me. (Holly) 

Overall the day was amazing and it was so fun to participate in all the events. For Dominic to win for the first time in ages was absolutely awesome. The great sportsmanship from everyone was also amazing to see and how everyone had a smile on their faces was great!"

Nick Schulties and Holly McGill, Year 7

"Athletics Day was a spectacular sporting event for everyone to enjoy. There was a broad range of talent shown throughout the whole day. Everywhere you looked there was something exciting to watch like 100m sprint, 45m hurdles, High Jump and much more thrilling competitions. It was a great experience overall and will be remembered for many years to come. Thanks again for all the teachers and students involved in the athletics carnival."   

Max Pinchbeck, Year 7

"I absolutely loved the Athletics Carnival. It just had a beautiful atmosphere and it was so much fun! Even though we all had a House, the spirit was high and we all worked together as a school community. I loved seeing so many people having a go. It was so amazing to see lots of people participate. Even though Dominic won we all had a great day. It was an amazing first experience, as a Year 7 I can鈥檛 wait to do it again."

Holly Kenna, Year 7 

As our students returned from Continuing Learning in Term 4, 2020 each Homeroom began working on an installation reflecting on their thoughts and feelings. This week we were able to install this beautiful artwork in the Middle Years building. 

Last week Year 12 students had the opportunity to participate in an important seminar about road safety presented by John Maher. Over the last twelve years 海角大神 has developed a close working relationship with John to ensure our students have access to these important messages. A quick calculation shows that approximately 3 600 海角大神 students have participated in this seminar. That鈥檚 our student population twice over! This unique presentation is inspirational in many ways, emotive in spaces but an important part of our efforts to provide a well-rounded holistic and contemporary education. 

John conducts a warm conversation about his devotion to faith and family amidst the Maher family鈥檚 tragic experience of road trauma. The Maher family lost one of their daughters, Carmen on a quiet country road just outside Bendigo. John shares his families鈥� heartbreak carefully explaining to the students why he avoids the word accident. John explains Carmen was a vibrant young person who at a similar age stayed up to the early hours of the morning chatting with her lifelong best friend. The fatal action Carmen took was to drive her friend to work that morning fatigued. Carmen feel asleep at the wheel resulting in her tragic death. No drugs, no alcohol, no stereotypical risk taking such as speeding simply fatigue and inexperience. Accidents are often things that cannot be prevented. John explains this wasn鈥檛 an accident. The room is always silent at this point of the presentation albeit quiet sniffles as the gravity of Johns loss hangs in the air. The tension is somewhat broken when John invites students to remember how precious they are to their friends and family, with a light hearted wink and joke 鈥渆ven your teachers think you are precious gifts from god….most of the time鈥�.

Johns warmth, sense of hope and optimism and sprinkling of 鈥榙ad jokes鈥� enables a difficult conversation to occur, hopefully achieving the desired outcome smart and safe road use. Each year the staff in the room comment on how proud we are of our students. The manner in which they engage with John and their peers. The support they show each other, genuine acts of friendship and kindness is arguably what the world needs more of.  An opportunity to share a social conversation with John and the added bonus of healthy snacks supports our students to move ahead with their day but take this experience with them and share with others. This presentation is not your typical horrific account of road trauma, it is more important than that. 

This presentation is just one way we remind young people of how important they are and that each and every action should be one that enables them to continue to 鈥榮hine their light鈥� for all to see for many years to come. 

John has kindly provided a recording of this session available for parents, if you would like to listen to this recording, please contact me on kanecl@aquinas.vic.edu.au for the link.

Cheryl Kane
Child Safety and Wellbeing Coordinator

FOR ALL PARENTS, GUARDIANS AND CARE GIVERS...we invite you to be involved in this Year 10 initiative

At the end of this Semester, all Year 10 students will participate in an exciting new program aimed at engaging them in to consider future pathways and career planning. 

The program will offer a range of external keynote speakers, small workshops, reflections and planning sessions, wellbeing practice and many other activities. It will be a great opportunity to start thinking about their future and to launch the subject selections process for 2022. 

We invite and encourage parents, guardians and other members of the community to offer advice and support to the Year 10 students through participation in the planned workshops as facilitators. Please consider the role as facilitator which involves offering your guidance to the students by sharing your vocational pathway story.  

Stay tuned for more detailed information soon. We welcome all vocational journey stories, from the early planning, the execution, changes, setbacks, successes, and anything else related to your vocational life will be great advice for our young people to consider as they plan their journeys ahead. 

Please consider the opportunity as a way to support our students and the College in this endeavour. If you are interested in participating please email our Year 10 Level Leaders jesspw@aquinas.vic.edu.au or deguzmanbk@aquinas.vic.edu.au

Parent Teacher Interviews - Online

While there are a number of situations from lockdown in 2020 that we would prefer not to repeat, the Parent Teacher Interviews for April (Term 2), will once again be held online.

More information will follow in the next edition of Lighthouse, and access information will be posted onto PAM as it is finalised.

We understand that for some parents and teachers this would not be the first preference and we are hoping that second semester鈥檚 evenings, especially the Subject Selection Expo will be able to go ahead in person.