海角大神

We are an Easter people

As Christians, this Sunday we revel in the risen Lord, literally singing 鈥楢lleluia鈥�. The First Reading (Col 3: 1-4) includes the following exhortation:
So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, 鈥� not on things that are on earth. 鈥� When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

As an Easter people, it is this conclusion to the Triduum which we both await and are urged to live out in our daily lives. Similarly, our College motto urges us 鈥淭o light up and be on fire鈥�, which our students and staff have demonstrated through so many ways this term in their studies, in community, through sports, clubs, co-curricular activities, our compassion for one another and in every way we are challenged to demonstrate the values of 海角大神: Belonging, Stewardship, Perseverance, Justice, Compassion and Spirituality.

We wish every 海角大神 family a Happy and Holy Easter.

Celebrating Catholic Education Week
On Friday 15 March, Archbishop Peter Comensoli celebrated Mass at St Patrick鈥檚 Cathedral with student and staff representatives from all Catholic schools across the archdiocese. I was fortunate to accompany the Year 10 EDGE class, who then joined with the Young Speakers Colloquium at the Catholic Leadership Centre. The primary school students decamped to Fitzroy gardens, where the 海角大神 Year 11 Music class performed at the Concert in the Park. Their rocking selection of tunes had hundreds of primary school students dancing - well done to a great band, who also backed up to perform on Open Day just two days later!

The Colour of Celebration

On the same afternoon, House Spirit was on full display at the Middle School Athletics Carnival. It was great to see the high levels of participation, along with the many costumes and body-painting in House colours. Congratulations to Mackillop house on their win.

For more colour & celebration at 海角大神, please see the reports below from last Friday鈥檚 Harmony Day.

STRIVE Week: a world of opportunities & experiences

Our Year 9 students have this week been engaged in the first of their four STRIVE weeks for 2024. Students will rotate across the year through a range of experiential learning, including: My Melbourne; Starts with Me; Driver鈥檚 Education; and a House-based Camp at Bairnsdale.

David Broadbent

Principal

Parent Teacher Interviews

Parent Teacher Interviews are now open on the Parent Access Module and there is still availability for both Monday April 15 and Friday April 26 for many teachers. The interviews are online to improve the convenience for parents. Access to Homeroom teachers and Mentors will be available from today. Bookings will close on Friday April 12 for the April 15 date so that teachers can prepare for the interviews in advance.

Careers Newsletter is available on PAM

The 海角大神 Careers newsletter has a link on PAM so that parents can read of the many opportunities that are available to students post secondary school. While the articles are often directly related to Year 12 students, it is often a great motivation to students in other levels to look at prospective workplaces and courses.

Thank you for Term 1

Thank you for your efforts as families to support your children at 海角大神 this term. Students have approached their education with high expectations and a great focus and we know that this attitude comes from support at home. We hope the students have a great break and come back to school even more enthusiastic learners.

Michael Box - Deputy Principal

Important Notice Regarding the Winter Uniform

This is a reminder that students are required to wear the Winter Uniform during terms 2 and 3 each school year. The first two weeks of school will provide students with the opportunity to wear the Summer or Winter uniform, in full and not in combination, but from the 29th of April, students will be required to wear their full Winter uniform. Please refer to the for reference and make use of the holidays so that you can purchase any new required items.


Please remind your child that they must wear their College Blazer as the outer garment and not their green wool jumpers when travelling to school. Coordinators will issue detentions for students who do not comply with this expectation. Boys must be clean shaven and skirts need to be knee length.

The Importance of Easter in the Times We Live

As a child, I learnt to appreciate that Easter marks a significant point in our Catholic Calendar. I clearly recall walking for kilometres in church processions, as we travelled through the streets of San Salvador, El Salvador, on the way to the parish church in order to pray and celebrate God鈥檚 gifts to us.

Easter holds immense significance because we commemorate the central event that gives meaning to our faith; the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. We celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is the cornerstone of our Christian faith, despite the atrocities that a civil war, poverty and illnesses had given us at the same time. The suffering, in fact, made my faith relevant. Jesus was crucified on Good Friday, died, and was buried. His resurrection on Easter Sunday signifies victory over sin and death, offering us the hope of eternal life. And it was this belief that helped me survive the adversities of the time.

As an adult, I now reflect each year on the significance of Easter for our secular society. Jesus鈥� resurrection is the ultimate act of love and redemption for us as humans, yet, the Lenten season, our period of preparation through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving in the lead up to the yearly reminder that Jesus resurrected to bring love and salvation, gets lost amongst the busyness of the lives most people live. Thankfully, following Easter Sunday, we will celebrate the Easter season, which lasts for fifty days until Pentecost. This liturgical season is a time of joy and celebration, focusing on the resurrection and the great gifts we receive each day from our God.

Easter holds profound spiritual significance for our faith filled community of Catholics, as it commemorates the resurrection of Jesus as the significant foundation of our faith. We don鈥檛 have to experience suffering and adversity to appreciate the period of Easter as part of our history, identity and sense of belonging to the 海角大神 community. Although it is a time of joy, hope, and renewal, it is also a time to appreciate the power of God's love and mercy as a way for us to empower change and commitment to Gospel values when addressing the challenges we face with our fractured world. Perhaps this is a time to pray for peace, for equity and for a safe and enriching future for our children. I wish you and your loved ones a sacred, safe, reflective, peaceful and restful period in what is the most important time for Catholics.

I wish to thank you for supporting your children through what has been a very positive school term. Our students give life to the community and it is always great to see them make the most of the many opportunities available to them.

Nap Rodezno
Deputy Principal

  Holy Week

Today we enter the holiest days of the Catholic year, a time of reflection and wonder. For me the powerful emotions of the Good Friday mass leading to the culmination of joy on Easter Sunday is hard to describe. As we head from the lenten to the easter season - I hope to share a few thoughts with you.

Holy Thursday - the day of the last supper. It is also a pivotal moment for understanding true leadership; one of compassion and servitude. We often hear of servitude leadership - where the leader provides service to their colleagues to help them achieve their tasks. Jesus demonstrates this through the washing of the feet. His response to confused disciples at his actions was 鈥淚 have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.鈥�

Good Friday - the solemnity and horror of Jesus鈥� persecution and crucifixion. Even through all this bloodshed there are moments of love, compassion and forgiveness. There are three particularly powerful moments for me.

The first is when Jesus looks at the disciple he loves from the cross and says to him that Mary is his mother and to Mary that he is her son. This is significant as with Jesus gone, Mary (an older woman of that time and presumed widow) would be destitute. In his last few breaths, he did what he could to protect and care for his mother. This point always brings a tear to my eye.

Eloi Eloi lama Sabachthani is the second moment for me. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Such a truly human response from a person suffering and dying - scared of what is to come. In some ways this helps me to understand that it is normal to feel doubt towards God and his intentions for me. At the same time my heart aches for the pain and loneliness he must feel.

The final moment that in many ways leaves me amazed is when Jesus says 鈥渇orgive them Father for they know not what they do鈥�. Here is a man who has been through the most horrendous experiences of humiliation, torture and punishment and yet he asks forgiveness for those inflicting it. It makes me wonder about my own ability to forgive. So often you hear people say - 鈥淚 can never forgive鈥�.鈥�, and I reflect on whether I have said that. Maybe it is possible to forgive, if I just look past the hurt.

Easter Sunday - a time of disbelief and of joy. Lets face it, if we knew a person had passed away and then discovered them missing because they had come back to life, I don鈥檛 think anyone would believe that. However, in exploring and developing an understanding of the resurrection is a time of great faith, hope and love. In the words of St Paul to the Corinthians, 鈥淟ove never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away鈥�..And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.鈥�

This Easter, may the love of Christ continue to bring faith and hope to you and your families.

Tania Grace

Assistant Principal Mission

Once again, Term 1 has flown by and there have been so many activities and events that our staff have participated in; Camps, Excursions, Professional Learning, Meetings, Information Nights, Open Day, Sports Events, Incursions, Excursions, Assemblies, Masses鈥�and don鈥檛 forget Teaching!

Gina Goss
Assistant Principal - Staff

Senior Years Report

In the Senior Years, Harmony Day provided opportunities for students to be exposed to people鈥檚 experiences and wisdom when addressing social issues of inclusion.

The Year 12 students were fortunate to meet Tasneem Chopra, an experienced Cross-Cultural Consultant, Diversity Equity and Inclusion trainer, keynote speaker and media presenter. Tasneem, who was born in East Africa and is of Indian heritage, shared her story about growing up in country Victoria and navigating diversity, equity and inclusivity. From her experiences, Tasneem was able to provide students with a perspective on how education promotes understanding and harmony within society and urged our students to be the changemakers in raising awareness of and advocating for social justice and belonging.

Natasha Vasiliou, Year 12 Level Leader.

It was a privilege for the Year 11 students to hear from Ron Murray, a much-loved and highly respected Victorian Indigenous educator, storyteller and musician. Ron shared his stories of what it was like to grow up in Australia in the 1960s when racism and prejudice were a part of his everyday life. He spoke of how his father was a strong role model and positive influence on being able to navigate the challenges of being a young indigenous man who lived in a segregated society. However he went on to tell of the positive progress and change across his lifetime that he had been witness to in society鈥檚 approach to inclusiveness and respect fo indigenous people and culture. His strong connection to community, spirituality and the land was clearly expressed through his stories and music, forming the foundation of his vibrant, warm and proud indigenous identity. The students were mesmerised by the sounds of his didgeridoo performance and had fun guessing the animal noises he played throughout. Whilst he told stories of past experiences, his message was one of reconciliation. He used the words from a great and much loved song written and performed by Yothu Yindi' "I'm dreaming of a brighter day when the waters will be one".

Jacqui Street, Year 11 Level Leader.

Year 10s heard from Bik Walker. Born in Vietnam, her family lived through the Vietnam War. Her dad fought for South Vietnam and was detained in a 're-education' camp for 2 years after the war ended. Like many people, her family lived in fear of the reigning government. Soon after her dad's release, the family decided to make the highly perilous journey out of Vietnam by overcrowded boat. Students were leaning forward in their seats to listening intently Bik share her life鈥檚 journey. Her words were a reminder to our students that our community consists of people from diverse backgrounds and experiences, many seeking to contribute to a better life here in Australia.

Scott Watkins, Yr 10 Level Leader

Australia is viewed as a very multicultural society and this brings such potential for diverse and rich ways for thinking about our world. For families wishing to continue conversations at home on racism, inclusivity and diversity, short videos by leading specialists on various aspects of inclusion, acceptance and belonging may assist you.

Wishing everyone a very safe and peaceful Easter break and school holidays.

Rachel Crawley

Head Senior Years

Middle Years Report

Did you hear about the sardines that travelled around Australia? They ended up in Cairns. Maybe that was just an excuse to tell that joke, however that feels a lot like what this term has been with so much crammed in. Easter has come a little earlier than other years and along with NAPLAN, ICRobotics, EIS Sports, City Project, Whole School Mass, Labour Day Holiday, Camps, Whole School Assembly, Year 7 Swim carnival, Music Lessons, Starts With Me, Ensemble Launch Day, AGILE, Aths Day, Cafe N9ne, Harmony Day, Open Day, Musical Auditions, Volleyball Squad鈥�. it has been a lot to squash into a shortened term. This can mean that staff have not always managed to cover every aspect that they had planned for and that potentially there can be a carry-over into the next term in terms of content and completion of Assessment Tasks. Well done to the students for managing their time and the stresses that can come with this. Equally well done to staff, not just for managing their own time and stresses and leading them to have a busy holiday of marking but providing all these wonderful activities. They require creativity, diligent planning, staff expertise and more. Thank you to our teachers for providing these experiences.

PS How do you squeeze 4 elephants in a car? 2 in the front, 2 in the back and put their trunks in the boot.

Student of the Month for March

It was great to celebrate the Student of the Month this week with students that were voted by their peers and staff as 鈥楤eing Genuine.鈥�

Staff and students were asked to look for people in their classes who would be people who are:

Authentic: Genuine people don't pretend to be someone they're not just to fit in. They embrace their uniqueness.

Sincere: Genuine people communicate with honesty.

Consistent: Genuine people are consistent in their behaviour and attitudes across different situations and environments.

Empathetic: Genuine people demonstrate empathy and compassion towards others.

The following students were worthy winners.

We congratulate them and thank them for the positive life, example and influence that they provide at the school.

Ben Tankosovic, Heike Carter, Hudson Webber, Felicity Coker, Alicia Arndt, Henry Kerr, Tyler Socan, Zac Buyck, Jess Beveridge, Alexis Bordignon, Sharla Young, Jorja Larkin, Summer O鈥橩eefe, Sienna Stevenson, Isaac Troiani, Lola Dunn, Sarah Smith, Caitlynn Garner, Ella Rogan, Max Gidley, Aaliyah Okon, Akisha Cantelo, Max Drieberg, Ruby Ferry, Tyler Socan, Zac Buyck, Jess Beveridge, James Cahill, Toby Sanga, Charlie Volombello, Raph Jurriens, Oliver Simkin, Mabel van Marle, Gabriel Laput, Finn Williams, Zac Rogan, Austin Puddy, Emma Duffy, Tori Merrit, Fletcher Falls, Chayse Scarlett, Xavier Lopez, Mitchell Power, Georgina North Coombes, Issy Loukidis, Pia Crozier, Ashley Glennie, James Mercuri, Mikaela Hood, Charles Turner, Scarlett di Gregorio, Jonothan Doan, Ella Kennedy, Phillip Delport, Leah Anderson, Alexis Smith, Milly Foster, Max Lorkin, Ryle Anthony, and Ella O鈥橫ahoney.

Phil Box
Head Middle Years

Celebrating Diversity

海角大神 College is a school that celebrates diversity in all its forms. It was wonderful to celebrate the richness of diversity in our school and the wider community during Harmony Day activities. Students embraced this day with great enthusiasm, respect and spirit.

Cultural diversity encompasses the variety of cultures, beliefs, and traditions present globally, contributing to a rich tapestry of human experiences and perspectives. By valuing every child's cultural background, we enable them to excel in all facets of life. Nurturing an environment of curiosity, open-mindedness, and respect for all cultures, will not only promote unity but a deeper appreciation of the nuances that distinguish us.

Inclusion is about more than just words; it's about fostering a sense of belonging and acceptance for every child, regardless of their cultural background. When young people feel seen and valued for who they are, they can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Valuing and understanding all forms of diversity, helps our communities benefit from a wealth of perspectives and experiences, enhancing our collective capacity for empathy and innovation.

As parents and adult carers, instilling an appreciation for diversity is vital to equip young people with the tools they need to navigate an increasingly interconnected world. Through leading by example and showing that kindness and understanding knows no boundaries, we can encourage them to embrace multiculturalism, acceptance and inclusion. This will not only prepare young people for personal success, but also for contributing to a world that views diversity as a strength. Through collective efforts, we can help pave the way for a more accepting and vibrant future.

To find out more about Diversity and how best to embrace and celebrate it with your children, visit via this link or on PAM. If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact your child's Team Leader/Year Level Leader or yfc@aquinas.vic.edu.au for further information or professional support.

Colour Run Carnival for Caritas

Harmony Day concluded with a Colour Run Carnival for Caritas. The whole school gathered on the ovals to celebrate our community with a fun run and various activities. Thank you to all the staff who contributed to organising this huge event and all the students who were quick to volunteer for different roles, such as throwing the powder, leading the activities or playing in the bands. The number of students who joined in the fun shows the wonderful community spirit of our College, and we are proud to announce that this event helped contribute $4,025 to our Term 1 Caritas fundraiser. 

Natalie Zuccon

Intercultural Learning Coordinator

Martha Mugamu

Justice and Outreach Coordinator

Project Compassion 2024

A very BIG THANK YOU to all the staff, students, and 海角大神 families who contributed their time, effort, and donations towards our Term 1 fundraiser. Your generosity truly made a difference! Together, we raised an incredible $6,209 through various activities including Pancakes Day, Bake Sales, Student Busking, Car Washing, Sweets Stalls, Step Challenges, Hot Cross Buns, and the Color Run.

Your support will directly aid Caritas Australia, an organisation dedicated to providing humanitarian aid and sustainable development assistance to communities in need around the world. Caritas works tirelessly to address issues such as poverty, hunger, natural disasters, and social injustice, helping to create a brighter future for vulnerable populations.

Special thanks go to the many student volunteers who dedicated their time and effort to help run the events. Your enthusiasm and commitment played a crucial role in the success of our fundraisers.

If you missed the chance to contribute, or would like to continue supporting this noble cause, donations are still welcome. The donation link will remain open until Easter, so there's still time to donate. You can contribute at.

Thank you for your kindness and dedication to helping others in need.

Martha Mugamu

Social Justice & Outreach Coordinator

Environment and Sustainability News
- Tips for a sustainable Easter

Aluminium foil wrapping

Aluminium foil wrapping is completely recyclable. Simply scrunch your foil wrappers together into a ball roughly the size of your fist before you recycle them. You can also put foil wrappers inside an aluminium can and pop them into the recycling bin together.

Green purchasing


Choose ethical chocolate and seafood options. Try and source local, certified organic, fairtrade, palm oil-free and Rainforest Alliance chocolate to minimise the impact on both the producers and our planet. Many mainstream manufacturers now support Australian fauna and flora conservation by producing chocolate bilbies instead of bunnies.

With seafood, be sure it鈥檚 sustainably sourced and certified. Sustainable fishing is about fishing practices that maintain the population of fish and fish stocks. Look for certified fish, as certified fisheries meet international sustainability standards. The will help you avoid endangered fish and choose fish species with healthier population numbers.

Responsible eco consuming

You can create your own DIY Easter basket for a fraction of the price and reduce the rubbish that comes with bought alternatives. Whether it's weaving your own basket from old materials or swapping plastic grass for recycled alternatives, there are plenty of ways to cut down on your Easter footprint this year. Avoid plastic glitter which has negative impacts on the environment.


Be inspired! You can create your own beautiful Easter gifts and treats to replace wrapped eggs and lollies. Rather than buying new Easter decorations have a go at making your own. Blowing eggs and hand dying them using onion skins, red cabbage, turmeric, eucalypts leaves can result in some fantastic effects. The leftover egg yolk and white can used for a tasty egg treat to minimise food waste

Why not make an Easter tree? Similar to Christmas, you enjoy family time making decorations to hang on your Easter tree. Simply collect sticks and display them in a big vase and hang off your Easter decorations that have been hand made.

If you need to go shopping think quality over quantity and be sure your items will have a use beyond just one long weekend. If you have some time up your sleeve, consider where you can make certain things yourself, like hot cross buns.

Environment & Sustainability Coordinator 

Karyn Myers

Wow! One term down already? Even though it has been a short term, it has been packed with a variety of events for the college community. Most recently, we have had our Harmony Day celebrations with multicultural activities for Middle Years students, and guest speakers who presented to the senior speakers about their experiences and shared their culture through stories.

This term as Year 12 students our cohort has heard from two presenters in our Religion Seminar periods every cycle. The most recent guest was John Maher, who presented the sorrowful, yet moving story of his family鈥檚 experience in car accidents, resulting in the loss of his youngest daughter, Carmen. As many of 海角大神鈥� students head into a new phase of life, navigating the roads on our Ps, we will be aware of the potential dangers and strive to be safe drivers, and continue to lower the number of fatalities to zero.

Our first speaker for the year was a man named Sam Clear, who walked around the world stopping at churches to ask for unity within the Christian Church. One man he met, named Adolfo, offered him shelter and hospitality when nobody else would show kindness in Sam鈥檚 time of need. Aldoldo鈥檚 eldest daughter Melissa has been unable to complete her final year of university due to COVID-19 and financial struggles that arose from that time. In response to this, Year 12s will be raising money through the year to help her finish her course.

Our first step in doing this was through our Easter Raffle. By selling tickets for Easter hampers, we have raised a total of $550 as our first fundraiser! Thank you to everyone who purchased tickets - stay tuned for more exciting activities throughout the year.

Isobel Mugamu and Connor Haughie

College Captains

On Friday 15th March, the 海角大神 Inter-house Athletics carnival was held at school on a beautiful sunny warm Melbourne day. The students in Yr 7-9 were very eager to compete in many different events across the day. 

Last year鈥檚 winners - Rice, was very confident about retaining the shield and show the other houses they are the dominant sporting House team.

Students had the opportunity to compete in track events - 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m 1500m and hurdles, as well as field events - Discus, High Jump, Long Jump, Shot Put and Triple Jump. It was exciting to see so many students being active and competing well for their Houses.

Throughout the day, the scores between the 3 Houses were very close. Dominic won extra points in the Cheering competitions during the day. 

Coming into the relays, the last events of the day, Rice was just leading from Dominic and MacKillop. But MacKillop was consistent throughout the relays and scored lots of points to come home and win the carnival with Rice 2nd and Dominic 3rd.

Congratulations to the MacKillop House - Charlie Lowe and Riley Kwong ( House Captains), as well as Mr Sam Storey and Ms Renee Johns ( Team Leaders) for their excellent work throughout the day ensuring their team had competitors in as many events as possible.

Well done to the following students who finished top 3 in the Age Championship section of the carnival

U13 GIRLS 1st -Eloise McKie, 2nd - Mable Van Marle, 3rd0- Georgia Davis

    BOYS  1st - James Hohmann, 2nd - Ben Tornatora, 3rd - Fraser Bartlett 

U14 GIRLS 1st - Grace Cameron, 2nd - Alannah Mallia, 

                   3rd - Sienna Beck & Octavia McKrell -Bonacci

         BOYS  1st- Jordan Zupanovich, 2nd - Lenny Clarke, 

                    3rd - Lachie Baddlee & Patrick Conboy

U15 GIRLS  1st - Zoe Fabre. 2nd- Charlotte Jones, 3rd- Charlie Lowe

        BOYS   1st - Riley Kwong, 2nd - Kingston Clarke, 3rd- Joe Vardy

A huge thank you to all the staff and yr 10 helpers on the day, that made the carnival a special day and something that all the students love being involved in.

Our best athletes from the day and last year鈥檚 squad have been selected in the 海角大神 Athletics squad for the upcoming EISM carnival on Monday 22nd April at Lakeside Stadium, where we hope to retain the Division1 trophy again.

Students have been training since the carnival and will continue the training in the first week back in term 2.

Six 海角大神 College students competed in the 'FIRST' Robotics competition in Sydney on the weekend of the 16th and 17th March and were so successful they are heading to Houston next month for the World Robotics Championships. (FIRST - For Inspiration of Science and Technology.)

"The 海角大神 students did an amazing job only losing in the finals. after playing over 20 matches. This is an amazing result as we lost to the number 6 robot in the world. 3700 teams are competing worldwide. So it was a great result. The team has 6 current 海角大神 Students and 6 alumni students in the team and they did an amazing job keeping the robot on the field and running repairs. As a result of coming second, the team has been selected to compete in America next month." Andrew Russell - 海角大神 Head of Technology and member of the ICRobotics group

海角大神 College has the students compete through an outside organisation called ICRobotics - a pathway group that includes students from other schools such as Melbourne High and Avila College.

If you are interested in their competition and robot click on   for more information.

Keeping P.A.C.E (Personal and Communal Engagement) is a semester based program run on a Thursday afternoon for Year 9 students. It is an opportunity for our students to take a hands-on approach to various issues in our community. Students will be rotated every 3 -4 weeks through different tasks across the semester

The recent rotation included Sustainability, Poverty and Homelessness and Refugees. Students will be involved in packing kits, building frog hotels, and various other tasks that will help them not only learn more about issues but also give back to the community in a practical way.

In the last two weeks we have seen the next stage take shape in the SAM project with the frame work going up. The next major stage will be the installation of the roof canopy. It is really easy to see the shape of the structure now - it is on schedule and estimated that it's already 42% complete. It's going to be a very impressive building!