麻豆国产AV

Reflections on Term 1

We start each year with a great sense of expectation and enthusiasm and, as we come to the end of Term 1, it is worth reflecting on what has been achieved and feel rightly proud. In addition to our comprehensive classroom learning program, there have been a number of activities related to building relationships and being inclusive of each other, such as our camps programs for Year 7 and Harmony Day. There have been activities designed to push students outside their comfort zone, such as Year 9 Cafe and Challenge Walk. For those who love sport we have resumed EISM competitions, Swimming Championships and our Interhouse Athletics. We were also able to celebrate the excellent results achieved in 2021 at our Celebrate Excellence! evening and gather in prayer as a community for Mass. Each of these opportunities, and a myriad of others not mentioned, have required great commitment from our staff, support from our families and School Advisory Council, and enthusiastic participation from our students and, for this, I am grateful and offer my thanks. I hope that you have an enjoyable and restful break.

Harmony Day

Harmony Day continues to be one of the highlights of our College calendar and this year proved no exception. The students were given the opportunity to hear from an array of outstanding speakers, all sharing insights into the personal stories and there was also dance, music and food to help highlight and celebrate the wonderful riches that our cultural diversity can offer in Australia. A focus of Harmony Day was the plight of those less fortunate that agencies such as Caritas support both financially and through advocacy. Striving to see 鈥淕od in the other鈥� is truly a Lenten mission.

Year 7 Parent Forum and Welcome

Last Tuesday night many Year 7 families accepted the invitation to hear a guest speaker present on a broad array of matters relating to digital wellbeing. He provided those present with some tools to begin a conversation with their children about what may be concerning them in the online world. We also enjoyed a brief social gathering hosted by Parents and Friends Network to welcome new families to the College.

Parent Teacher Meetings

A reminder to all parents and students that our Parent Teacher Meetings for Semester 1 take place on Tuesday 26th April or Thursday 28th April from 2pm to 8pm. These are important meetings to receive feedback in regards to student progress to supplement the information provided in PAM. Following positive feedback from 2021 and to ensure we maintain a CovidSafe environment we will be conducting the meetings online.  To accommodate the interviews, school will conclude at 12.15pm on Tuesday 26th and there are no classes on Thursday 28th.

Open Day Thanks

We enjoyed an excellent turnout on Sunday 20th for Open Day. The College was presented very well and we have received a number of compliments from visitors, especially about the fine young people who acted as student guides and showed off their school with such pride. Thank you to all staff, student volunteers and other helpers who made for such a successful day. We are expecting that there will be continued healthy interest in enrolment and applications are open for those wanting a place in Year 7 in 2024. Applications close on August 19, 2022. Current families are reminded that we do not presume that you will be seeking enrolment for younger siblings and that an application is essential.

EISM Swimming Championships

Congratulations to the team that represented Aquinas at MSAC on Monday evening. It was great to see so many students take this opportunity to test themselves against the most able swimmers in EISM and get such pleasing results. Thanks to the coaches and the many parents who make participation in events such as these possible.  

School Uniform

We allow a two week change over to full winter uniform from the start of Term 2 i.e. students can wear summer uniform if the weather is still warm up to Friday 6th May.  From Monday 9th May, all students must wear the full winter uniform which includes their blazer. The College Hat is not required in Terms 2 and 3, but all students are encouraged to remain Sun Smart, especially during outdoor activities.

Easter

For Christians, Easter is the most important festival in the liturgical calendar as it celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is the cornerstone of our tradition and the essential truth on which our belief is founded. Easter is a time of saying thanks for the year that has passed, asking forgiveness for the many times that we have failed to live up to our own expectations, and going forward confident that we are forgiven and loved. It is also a time that many families get the opportunity to catch up and share a meal together. Whatever Easter may mean for you, I hope that your family celebration is rich and life-giving.

First Week of Term 2

Monday 25th April - ANZAC Day Public Holiday
Tuesday 26th April - Students return (classes end 12.15pm for Parent Teacher Interviews)
Thursday 28th April - No student classes (Parent Teacher Interviews)

Darren Atkinson
Principal

In class, if you tell students what it was like  to be a teenager in the 80s or 90s, or in my case earlier than that, one of the curiosities for them is the home phone. The single home phone. The single home phone, often regulated by interrogating parents. While they understand and believe that this was the case, they really struggle to reconcile that young people 鈥榖ack in the day鈥� did not have a direct conduit to communicate with their friends. Today young people expect to be able to communicate with each other when they like, via voice, text, chat in a group, photo and video. As families you understand how ever-present this is and how hard it is to regulate. The move from a young person being family dependent to a fully social being is necessary for all of us, but access to multiple means of always-on communication accelerates this process  in a way that can be troubling.

In that light we have been using a program provided by Optus called the program, where students, depending on their year level, explore 

• Cyber Security
• Digital Identity
• Cyberbullying and Respectful Relationships Online
• Digital Discernment
• Digital Balance

It is a program endorsed by the office of the eSafety Commissioner and the titles of each session remind us that we have an obligation to be safe but also an opportunity to use technology for enrichment and enjoyment. The on cyberbullying across the world begins with 鈥淎s children spend more time in the digital environment, their access to opportunities increases but so does their exposure to risk.鈥� 

Dom Phelan is the presenter who delivers this program to students. Last week he ran a session with Year 7 parents as well. He taught the members of the audience about how to maintain privacy on apps, what to notice if a child鈥檚 behaviour changes and he also celebrated some of the creativity that young people can develop through using the technology. His message was for all of us to be wary, but not afraid. 

In the one phone house the risks were often managed quite simply, the stern parent denying access to the caller. In navigating the technological world our young people live in, being informed about how the tech works and how it is used can enable us to understand and manage the risks while at the same time benefit from the rewards.

Michael Box
Deputy Principal Learning

A time to reconsider our messages to our young ones

The end of the term is upon us and after 10 weeks of school with relatively little disruptions to face to face learning for most staff and students, it feels like we are back to normal. During the last week, I have communicated with students the importance of perseverance, respect, effort, purpose and control. These virtues are very important for our students as they may hold a significant influence in assuring levels of success, individual efficacy and vision. I hope that your child is making the most of the opportunities they have to achieve personal development as students of such a wonderful school. Doing their best and achieving their goals is their responsibility and our supporting this process our collective aim as a school community. 

Well done to all the students and their parents and guardians for completing the term following the last two years of uncertainty and despair. During the last edition of the Lighthouse, I discussed the importance of our collective responsibility when addressing bullying behaviours and the victimisation of the individual. I stated that it is important that our students understand the impact that they can have on others and the relevance of their contributions when ensuring that their peers feel safe to be who they are without being scrutinised for being different or having other ways of being. 

We are all blessed with our individualism and it is our imperfections that make us perfect children of God. Teaching our children to celebrate their uniqueness is very important and something that I recommend that you do on an ongoing basis. Often, our children may be measured against unrealistic standards, and this can lead to unrest and a sense of failure. It is important that our children are allowed to freely establish their own vision and goals for their lives and that in this process, they are celebrated and recognised for their contributions. 

What we modelled as parents can have a massive impact on the ways that our children see the world and find purpose in it. Comments about politics, views on current affairs, disapproval of events or acts can impact your child both positively and negatively. It is important that considerations are made about what is said in their presence and what behaviours become acceptable or not, as this may influence your child鈥檚 thinking and considerations as they find their place in our society. 

Over the last week, we have seen an increase in the amount of waste left behind in the yard by some students, where rubbish is being left on tables and chairs in communal areas. This obviously leads to an increase of rubbish to be disposed of by our cleaners and property staff. This is of great concern because the irresponsible accumulation of waste is the direct result of students not taking responsibility for their actions. I hope that you can encourage your child to do the right thing by using the available rubbish bins and to be diligent in the use of recycling guidelines when doing so.  

Today I wish to discuss with you the growing concerns that emerge from inappropriate and irresponsible application and interpretation of the issue of consent. All our students are explicitly taught the relevance and importance of consent within their HPE and Respectful Relationships curriculum, but there is a responsibility for parents and guardians to also explain this to their children. Please use this link to access information on consent .  

Some students may also benefit from exploring the information on the effects of Pornography which can be found here. Holding these discussions is very important, please find the link to the site . 

The complexities of the cyber world that we all live in have led our young people to be faced with many challenges due to the great accessibility to endless information. Helping them understand their values, principles and vision is a key in enhancing the process of growth by our young people. I wrote last year on the issue of consent as the media promoted the notion that young people needed more direct, explicit teaching about this in schools. This was related to the challenges that many women faced in society when abuse of power by men led to sexual and physical abuse. Although more direct, explicit teaching about consent is a welcome strategy for schools, and our College continues to make the required adjustments to support students in their personal development, it is clear that values of respect for oneself, for others and for the earth must start and be continually reinforced at home. 

There is a clear need for us to continue to support our young people to overcome the challenges that emerge for them in the current world, and it is our responsibility that each generation forth has a better understanding and handling of how each person can contribute to our diverse world in positive ways. Teaching young people to be positive, to find happiness and self-realise their potential is a key to this. It will encourage them to find their place and be of service to others. 

If you need support regarding how to discuss Consent and other related matters with your child, please feel free to contact the Youth and Family Centre at the College. Our counsellors are experts in supporting families to address some of these matters. You can can their support by emailing them at yfc@aquinas.vic.edu.au

I wish you a safe and happy Easter celebration. May Jesus鈥� death and resurrection continue to remind us of our purpose on earth as examples and champions of peace, faith, compassion, love and respect. May you continue to be the model that your child needs you to be.

Nap Rodezno
Deputy Principal

Who throws the first stone?

This Sunday the gospel reading talks about a woman being taken to Jesus accused of adultery. The scribes and Pharisees are testing Jesus to see if he will follow the laws given to Moses and have her stoned. Instead Jesus says 鈥淚f there is one of you who has not sinned, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.鈥� Jesus continues to write on the ground, minding his own business. One by one each of the scribes and Pharisees leave and when there is no one left Jesus says to the woman 鈥淲here are they? Has no one condemned you?鈥� 鈥楴o one, sir鈥� she replied. 鈥楴either do I condemn you,鈥� said Jesus 鈥榞o away, and do not sin any more."

How often do we judge and condemn others? How often do we forgive and reconcile? How often do we judge ourselves harshly and condemn ourselves? During Lent we focus on our failings - not so we can put ourselves down but so that we can grow and develop. We are reminded, like in this Sunday鈥檚 reading, that we can be forgiven and not condemned. A message of hope.

Last week we celebrated Harmony day where we are not only celebrating the many cultures in our society - but also educating ourselves so that we can be advocates for others in our community. The whole purpose of Harmony day is not to judge others but to work together in open dialogue.

An indigenous educator I know talks about Jesus鈥� teachings and has the acronym FLUTE when he speaks to students. He says that if everyone tried to have 10% more Forgiveness, Love, Understanding, Tolerance and Empathy; imagine how much better our world would be. 

So through this week as different situations arise, stop and think - should I be the first to throw the stone or the first to forgive?

Tania Grace
Assistant Principal - Mission

Professional Learning (PL) assists staff in the proficient delivery of their teaching and non-teaching duties at Aquinas. From time to time, I will publish reports from staff who have undertaken PL sharing their experiences and knowledge with our broader community. Here are some reports from staff who have attended  PL this term.

Gina Goss
Assistant Principal - Staff

Isabel Fernando - Language Support Coordinator
"To assist my work as Language Support Coordinator,  I recently attended an engaging seminar run by ACER: Using PAT Data to Enhance Student Learning. The day focussed how teachers can use data to support curriculum development in a meaningful and impactful way. The skills and knowledge from the seminar were immediately useful in seeing the human story in what can sometimes feel like a plethora of student data.  I look forward to sharing how developing a more granular approach to rubrics and other learning progressions can celebrate the smaller wins of our students and I am hopeful this will in turn highlight the nuanced and complex work we do in our classrooms everyday."  

Maria Hawkes and Janine Hulston - Science Teachers
Dr Hulston and Mrs Hawkes attended and presented at the recent STAV VCE Chemistry Science Conference on Wednesday 16th Feb. Important insight was gained from Maria James, Head of VCAA Chemistry on the upcoming change to the chemistry study design. Dr Hulston and Mrs Hawkes presented information on Sustainable Concrete, a term based project completed as part of the Year 9 Future Science elective. Mrs Hawkes also presented on her research conducted as part of the Deakin Chemistry Education Professional Learning  (DeCEPL) Project looking at the systems thinking approach in chemistry utilising the Mahaffy tetrahedron.

Kathy Thompson - Technology Teacher
"The STEAM Futures Conference offered many innovative and creative possibilities to explore. Hearing from Melbourne based designer and Monash University academic Leah Heiss speak about the many projects she has been a part of in the medical and design field was inspirational. Seeing where she got her ideas from and how solutions were found with the end user being at the forefront of the design process, was motivating and exciting. It was great to see that medical devices could be beautifully designed with empathy towards the end user in mind.

After a full day of being immersed in the various workshops and talks, I took away many possible ideas and opportunities our Technology and Art departments could introduce and implement into the classroom. From having a working Farmwall growing in the Food technology classroom setting using aquaponics to a more traditional metal foundry program finding its way back into the classroom setting and workforce. 

Participating in the Virtual reality session literally opened my eyes to the many possibilities available to students particularly in the Art and Design field. I could see the endless expressive and collaborative opportunities the VR system allows for students learning Art and Design subjects that would only enhance their learning experience and folios. By the end of the conference the term STEAM for me extended into STEAMED as I took away the importance of EMPATHETIC DESIGN being the starting point for any innovative design solution."

Leah Heiss Hearing aid        Diabetes jewellery (nanotechnology)   Heart smart necklace

Farmwall in schools

Virtual Reality fun

Damian Perry - Technology Teacher

"The A in STEAM is something that I am passionate about, and was the focus of both the keynote speech and the Virtual Reality workshop we attended at The STEAM Futures Conference.

Some of the interesting concepts and ideas that are worth taking a closer look at:

• The multitude of new materials in the tech/art world that can be used to create interactive wearables, redefine current technologies and create innovative art installations. Stretchable computer chips are already being used to monitor biorhythms and flexible computer screens and keyboards.
• Start at the end user. A company spent thousands of hours developing a diabetes delivery system that was almost one hundred percent efficient, but was carried around in a small suitcase with a giant button on it. Working with end users, the final design was a small necklace that worked almost as well, with the added advantage that the device would actually be used by its primarily teenage target audience.

Over the course of the day I created a complete computer game in half an hour using Microsoft鈥檚 MakeCode site. I performed 鈥渙pen heart surgery鈥� and created a sculpture made out of fire in virtual reality. I saw wearables printed on paper to test for UV exposure and sensors built into mattresses to perform checks on patients in hospitals and aged care facilities. 

From here, I am working on a partnership with a Virtual Reality company to introduce VR into the Year 9 and 10 programming curriculum."

Senior Years Report

Year 12 students are currently coming to the end of their first round of School Assessed Coursework tasks (SAC鈥檚). These are their first collection of high-stakes assessments and now they await their results. This can be a delicate time for many students. Perspective is important.

Some may recall Reuben Steen, College Dux 2021, speech at the Excellence Assembly earlier this year. In his acceptance speech, Ruben shared with the audience a poor result he had received in his first SAC. He spoke of his disappointment which led him to worry and resulted in a dip in his motivation towards his study. Most importantly, he recounted his response to the situation, how he addressed these feelings, pushed through the worries of not meeting his expectations, took action and grew from the experience. 

Reuben鈥檚 advice was that your VCE score is not hinged on a single score. Each attempt you make provides experience and the opportunity to gain feedback on what is working well and where attention and adjustment are required. Skilled learners know how to ask questions, accept help to understand further and persevere past the difficult moments. Students who apply themselves by completing practice tasks, gaining feedback through class tasks and cycle planner tasks will continue to deepen their understanding and refine the work produced. 

Parents and carers provide meaningful encouragement and guidance at these times and the Mentors and Level Leaders are available for further advice and information. Year-level assemblies have addressed concepts such as managing stress. If you are seeking further information the VCAA provides parents with a FAQ section; has a school survival series that focuses on surviving the final year with specialist interviews answering the question: is there a common characteristic of students who do well in their final year?

Term 1 has been a significant milestone. It is the first time that learning has been delivered full time on campus in two years. The last time this occurred, Year 12s were in their final year of middle school and the Year 10s were finishing their first year of secondary school. I want to acknowledge and congratulate everyone: the staff, students, and families for the tremendous efforts in readjusting back to attending school for a sustained length of time. 

Rachel Crawley
Head Senior Years

Middle Years Report

Forming great habits early in the year! 

The Aquinas Resource Centre (The ARC) is a wonderful resource that is there to be utilised outside of mainstream class times. For those who work best in the morning, it is open before school, opening up at 8am, and is a great place to go to do some focussed homework or organise a student鈥檚 day in a quiet supervised environment. It is also open after school until 4:30pm (4pm on a Friday) for those who might like to get an hours homework in before heading home. If you need to cram before a test or finalise some work during the day, it is also open during recess and lunch.

There are various reasons that spring to mind about the advantages of using the ARC outside of normal school hours.

• It is great habit-forming. Understandably, expectations around homework escalate as they make their way up the different year levels at Aquinas. Setting good routines is a really solid platform to build from as they go up through the school. Most students tend to know what homework they have got, setting aside a specific time to get it done can be one of the challenges. Treating 50 minutes in the ARC after school like a Period 8, could be a great routine to start doing.
• It is so well-resourced in so many ways. The ARC has amazing digital, physical and human resources all in one place! No doubt your house does too, but in the ARC we have great researchers on hand (no doubt your house does too!) who are more than willing to assist the students (no doubt your house does too!) if they require guidance and can really help them access all the resources required for whatever assignment or classwork they may have.
• It鈥檚 distraction-free. No doubt your house is too! However, we hope to provide a place where students can be immersed in a focussed session with other like-minded students and, depending on their year level, get a good proportion, if not all, of their homework done before heading home.

We are bringing in after-school detentions on a Monday (no doubt your house is too!?!) for students whose teachers believe they are having difficulty meeting deadlines. We see this as a last resort after other strategies have been explored. One really positive proactive tactic could be the use of our ARC and all its great resources. It鈥檚 open every day!

Phil Box
Head Middle Years

Eco-friendly Easter Inspiration 

There are lots of ways to cut down on your Easter footprint this year. Before you purchase your Easter goodies consider where your chocolate comes from. 

Fair Trade Ethical Chocolate Fairtrade offers you the power to change the world every day. Conditions for cocoa farmers can be anything but pleasant. Fair trade ethical food certification is about ensuring farmers and workers in developing countries have decent working conditions and are paid a fair price for their labour and products. It also centres on environmentally-sustainable farming practices.

Purchasing Palm oil free or certified sustainable palm oil Easter items - Palm oil is found in a wide range of foods and products, including cosmetics, cleaning products and Easter eggs. Palm oil plantations are a serious environmental issue because they are responsible for large amounts of deforestation and threats to endangered wildlife such as orang-utans and elephants in areas like Malaysia and Indonesia. Clearing rainforest to make way for plantations has also taken a heavy toll on local communities, and become a critical factor in climate change. Palm oil is often used in the production of chocolate. Look for Easter products and for chocolate with Certified Sustainable Palm Oil or are Palm Oil Free labels.

Like to know more, click here for product lists;

Packaging - Aluminium foil is 100% recyclable. The Colourful foil wrappers can be recycled Australia-wide, so once you鈥檙e done gorging, scrunch them into a big ball (about the size of a table tennis ball) and pop them in the recycle bin. If you don鈥檛 have enough to make a small ball then simply put the aluminium foil into an aluminium can for recycling. Remember don鈥檛 recycle the small tiny pieces individually as they can incorrectly sorted as paper.\

Check out this guide to recycling aluminium foil;

Chocolate with a Cause - Why not support a good cause through your chocolate purchase? In Australia rabbits, the iconic Easter animal is an introduced species that cause a lot of problems. Did you know there are Chocolate Bilby鈥檚 and wombats available this Easter that have a portion of proceeds going towards the conservation of the respective animals? 

Pink Lady Chocolates is a sponsor of the Save the Bilby Fund () and they donates funds from every Bilby sold. The Save the Bilby Fund has been working tirelessly to help the plight of the Australian Bilby. Pink Lady Chocolate is 100% Australian owned and manufactured.

Karyn Myers
Environment & Sustainability Coordinator

As we approach the end of Term 1, the Music team is winding up the recruitment process which has seen staff visiting classrooms and running both individual and group trial sessions for many of our students who have not had the opportunity to learn an instrument over the past couple of years.  

I am pleased to announce that this year we have seen the largest uptake from the Year 7 students in the history of the College with almost 100 students enrolling in the instrumental music program.  This number has doubled in the past five years which is outstanding for the growth of our program. 

The students who have joined us in 2022 are excited and engaged in all the different instruments on offer and participating in all of our ensembles including Junior Guitar ensemble (Monday 8:00 am) and the Ignite Choir (Tuesday 8:00 am). The Beginner Concert band students have also started rehearsals with our largest beginner concert band for woodwind, brass and percussions students in recent history led by Ms. Bellew, Ms. Munday, and Mr. Barber.  

Starting the journey of learning an instrument is a challenge so I congratulate all the new Year 7 students who have joined the program and wish them well for the next six years.

Jared Campbell
Music Programs Coordinator

SPECIAL REPORT: Vaping & E-Cigarettes

Vaping is becoming a trendy pastime that is growing in popularity across Australia, especially amongst teenagers. It is the act of inhaling a vapour created by an electronic cigarette, or e-cigarette. Many teenagers are succumbing to peer pressure around this risk-taking activity due to the ease of accessing and hiding vapes. They are often cheaper than conventional cigarettes, making it more cost-effective and attractive to young people.

Although under 18s are not legally allowed to purchase any type of e-cigarette or vaping product in Australia, teenagers are finding ways to access them online. Australia has strict regulations in place for nicotine-containing products, and attempts are being made to regulate vaping and ban the importation of them. Many of the flavoured liquids associated with vaping, contain not only high levels of nicotine, but other potentially harmful additives. Many of these 鈥渆-liquids鈥� contain chemicals that are likely to be toxic, that when inhaled or vaped repeatedly, can cause severe damage to the lungs.

Vaping is often marketed as being the 鈥渉ealthy鈥� alternative to smoking. However, doctors strongly advise that if you do not smoke, then you should not start vaping. Most teenagers are unaware of the associated risks and potential impact vaping can have on their development and overall health. Parents are encouraged to discuss the dangers of nicotine addiction and include e-cigarettes in the discussion alongside alcohol and drugs.

This Special Report highlights the facts around vaping and e-cigarettes and what are the potential risks. We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this Special Report, and as always, we welcome your feedback.

If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact the school for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to your special report 

"Creativity is intelligence having fun" - Albert Einstein

When thinking about what our young people need to grow, to develop into connected members of society, to communicate successfully and express themselves fully, The Arts provide remarkable opportunities.

Whether making fish from clay, developing soundtracks digitally, performing monologues or stretching before dance class, our students are learning a lot more than the obvious. With the juxtaposition of freedom and discipline that The Arts inherently has, students learn that mistakes and practice, spontaneity and technique, performer and viewer are part of the experience.   

Where there are rules and correct methods, there are also opportunities to break them, leading to mistakes or masterpieces…it is a fine line!  With accessible entry points and no 鈥榗eiling鈥�, Eureka! moments abound.

To be able to try new and different ways, to evolve and develop through practice and trials, to be uniquely yourself is a valuable part of The Arts. As an expression of self, a collection of memories, experiential accounts of experiences and events through history, a showcase of evolving opinions and values, there are so many benefits our young people gain from studying Arts.

At home, there are many places that Arts practice can be supported; 

Encourage originality and creative risk-taking
There is so much content readily available.  To champion individuality, creative risk-taking and self expression builds confidence and shows how diversity is valued, differences are celebrated and validates experiences. Being encouraged and supported to take creative risks is empowering!  You are unique, your point of view and perspective matters - this can be expressed through The Arts in so many ways. Through seeing your child express ideas and thoughts, you will learn so much about them and how they view the world.

Be an audience to your young performer and artist
Having a safe place to fall, get up and try again builds a child's resilience and gives them an opportunity to work through mistakes, correct technique and see their effect on a viewer. Not everything is great, not everything is right the first go. Persistence, practice and new approaches are ways to develop ideas and expression - equally it is important to allow spontaneous, free and loud/messy creative exploration; it lightens the soul!  Encourage creativity and reflection without judgement.

Change the conversation
From 鈥業 could do that鈥� to 鈥榳hat inspired them to do that?鈥�.  Thinking about the intention behind a song, garment, design or artwork begins a conversation about why people create - let鈥檚 face it there are a billion songs and paintings, so what motivates a person to create? With your child it could be a shift from 鈥榯hat's great鈥� to 鈥榳hat made you choose those colours?鈥�. A meaningful conversation about creative choices could ensue!

Sandi van der Niet
Arts Learning Area Leader

As part of the Studio Arts study looking at Art Industry contexts, our VCE classes travelled into the National Gallery of Victoria to see 3 impressive exhibitions - Bark Ladies, Top Arts, Who are You and We Change the World.

With a diverse range of themes, media and styles, our students were able to immerse themselves in the work of established and emerging artists.  Viewing and sharing art is incredibly valuable in providing different perspectives and connecting communities, it also provides inspiration for our young artists鈥� own practice.  I would encourage you to visit the NGV and see these remarkable exhibitions!

"The annual visit to the National Gallery of Victoria was definitely a worthwhile experience. Taking a step back and switching from the role of an artist and becoming a viewer has definitely helped in expanding the ideas in our heads, but also serves to remind us of what we are creating, not just a piece for school, but one which bears significant meaning to us."
Rainier
 

The students in Year 10 Food Modern Cuisine have been learning about the sensory properties of food.  This week the focus has been on how the appearance of food can affect the experience of eating it.  The students prepared the traditional Italian dessert tiramisu which is a trifle made with coffee and mascarpone cheese.  However, to mess with the eater's senses, the dish was served in a plant pot complete with chocolate soil and mint "plant" garnish.  Apparently, after one student bought this home, this ruse worked so well that their Dad asked where they should put it in the garden.

Caitlin Stewart & Sam Higgs
Teachers

The Year 9 Social Arts students have taken on the challenge of making our Year 9 building a little brighter, with some amazing results!

VET fashion @Aquinas

"We did millinery for the first time and found it to be a very fun and exciting experience. We created a client profile and designed a head piece for a specific event. It was very hands on and fun to experiment with and utilise different types of materials. It showed us how three dimensional and varied headwear can be."
Mikaela and Lexi

"The millinery project was a great opportunity to experience other areas of the fashion industry. It was great to be able to work with other materials like wire, sinamay and flowers and to try out different construction processes."
Sydney

"The millinery task was different from anything we've done in fashion before. It gave me the opportunity to work with two new forms of media. While I found making flowers out sinamay rather challenging and wouldn't recommend, working with chain in order to create my second headpiece, however, was really fun. I also enjoyed the creative freedom this project allowed me."
Jade

"The millinery project was interesting and insightful into the construction of headpieces. We were able to trial and experiment with multiple techniques to create the desired pieces, which I found especially fun. The design process of each headpiece was a challenging but rewarding experience, where I got to be creative and think outside of the box to adhere to my theme. Overall the project was really enjoyable to complete, and a great introduction into the construction and design of headpieces and millinery."
Imogen

If you see some fit but tired looking Year 11 students around, it's highly likely they are in the Year 11 VCAL program.  Students have had a busy time of late with three fitness and conditioning sessions completed as part of their Sport & Recreation subject where they are completing a unit 'Participate in Conditioning for Sport'.  

To link into our current PDS study around resilience, we also took the opportunity to hear from the coaches & trainers about their journey and inspiring stories of resilience and challenge.  

Our first session was a Thai Boxing and Yoga class at World Fitness Cartel Chirnside Park.  Head coach Daniel and professional fighter Erin tested our listening skills and ability to follow directions.  Students had a great time learning about the disciplines of martial arts and also hearing Daniel and Erin鈥檚 stories about their careers and being professional fighters.

Next we had the opportunity to complete a session at Ringwood F45.  Students and teachers were left tired and sore after a gruelling conditioning circuit and learning about the F45 style of training.

Finally we participated in a spin class at Infinite Cycle under the guidance of former AFL premiership player Alex Johnson.  Competitive instincts came to the fore as we all battled to be the leaders of the peloton.  Alex then shared his remarkable journey of overcoming seven ACL injuries to return to AFL football.

Thanks to all our providers for their expert knowledge and engaging stories for the students.

Michael O鈥橦alloran
VCAL Coordinator

"At WFC we met Dan who is the owner of the gym and Erin who is a professional fighter with an undefeated record. They talked to us about their journey and how they started their Thai boxing careers which was very interesting to listen to. During our activities we all got out of our comfort zones and tried things that we have never tried before. It was a great experience.  We learnt ways we can protect ourselves from others and by doing this we learnt how to fight back by using different types of punches and kicks. We also did a yoga class which was very calming and let us relax our bodies. It was challenging but we were all able to get it done."
Ruby Haberfield

"The Muay Thai excursion was very fun and great for resilience.  It taught me how to push through and strategies needed when fighting in the sport, such as the push kick and roundhouse. We did many combos using all our energy and making me very sore.  In F45 we did circuit training, using 9 exercises based on your lower body strength and endurance. This can help in the future preventing injuries and building muscles.  The spin cycle class was great for our quads and endurance as it was 45 minutes of bike riding straight. it pushed my limits and made me very puffed."
Jayke Mantini

"The past 2 weeks I have been fortunate enough to go Muay Thai boxing, F45 and Infinite Cycle. I enjoyed all of them but my favourite was the Infinite Cycle. It was good to meet Alex Johnson and learn more about his resilience in his AFL career and his life." 
Billy Box

"F45 was different from what I expected. I had thought, "now we are going to the gym",  it was far from that though. We were all pushed to the max in a circuit exercise, with 9 stations and we had to do different exercises on each for 45 minutes with only a 20 second break in between each. It was really good. I enjoyed it, just the next day my leg hurt a bit but other than that I would say it was a great success."
Luke Walter

"I liked the F45 session because it challenged our fitness and they adjusted it to each person鈥檚 abilities and strengths. Muay Thai was very similar, it was amazing for fitness and a good way to learn and strengthen our muscles.  We got taught many punches and kicks and that these skills can come in handy if ever stuck in a self-defence situation in the real world."
Ben Baines

"We went to Infinite Cycle, owned by former Sydney Swans player Alex Johnson (AJ). AJ took us for a spin class, then shared his story.  AJ story is a perfect example of a resilient, hard worker. He was drafted in 2010 at 18 and was fortunate enough to win the premiership with his team in 2012 against Hawthorn. Unfortunately AJ went down with an ACL injury and he ended up with 5 ACL injuries on his left knee. We were all amazed by AJ's perseverance over six years and how he always had the same goal and nothing could get in his way, even 12 knee operations. Alex Johnson is a very good example of resilience and it was such a great opportunity to meet him!"
Amelia Chapman

On the 10th of March our Year 11 Visual Communication students became immersed in the world of architecture. They were taken on a tour of significant sites in the CBD and were privileged to get a first hand insight into the studio at Cox Architecture. This knowledge will help them design a sports stadium for the Commonwealth Games 2026 which is earmarked to take place in Victoria. Below are some student reflections.

Sharon Harte and Pina Perinetti
Teachers

"I was really impressed by the design process of those in the studio. I found it really interesting to see how they explained their thought process when coming up with such ideas like AAMI park. Mainly, I was impressed by the scale and detail of their models and found it really interesting to hear Patrick's story in architecture."          
Chris Barber

"The first main place we went to was the sustainable house also known as a zero waste home that they have built to completely  run off the earth. Chefs Jo Barrett and Matt Stone live in the zero waste home full time. They cook with the veggies that they grow in their eco garden. They have fish they have to cook and eat and bees to pollinate their garden and for honey. The house has straw based panels, they are durable and fire resistant. There are  around 25 solar panels all over the house to power the lights and all electricals in the house." 
Megan Collins

"Cox Architecture was very impressive as a whole and I really enjoyed being able to see the full process that goes into such a big project. The 3d models both physical and digital were amazing to see and understand the importance of modelling. I enjoyed seeing the studio process and how together everyone felt, the steps into the project and how everyone was involved. Overall going to Cox really inspired me to work harder towards my future."
Maia Weston

"I was inspired by many things during our excursion, for example the uniquely designed buildings in all textures, shapes and sizes. When designing my stadium I will implement many things that I saw on the excursion including the stained glass and big shapes made into patterns. I was also inspired by the work at Cox architecture because you could see the whole design process that it takes to build a stadium, the cost and the span of time that it took."
Tahlia Sekac

"I was very fortunate to be able to experience the workplace of cox architecture. The range of projects that they worked on and are currently creating was amazing to see as there was such a wide range, things from stadiums to schools. It fascinated me how many stages were required before they could start building the project."
Sam Tsoukatos

Last Friday the College to time away from traditional timetabled classes to acknowledge, respect and celebrate the diversity of our community for Harmony Day. A wonderful celebration spent immersing ourselves in multi cultural activities, learning about the lives of others in our immediate community. 

The day commenced with students being inducted as our latest FIRE Carriers and was filled with activities and presentations from guests. Lunch time was buzzing as students flocked to the Forum to enjoy cuisine from various Food Trucks; while the afternoon was spent participating in social justice activities and an Athletics Carnival for the Senior students. Thanks to everyone for your enthusiastic participation.

Here are some of our students thoughts about the day...

Dungeons & Dragons Club

Why did you join DnD club?
Pip: I joined the club because I really like DnD and wanted to have some experience with DMing.
Sean: I thought being a DM would be more fun than playing and allow more creativity.
Abigail: I thought it would be fun.

Have you been the Dungeon Master (DMing) before?
Pip: No, but I've played before. (Before my first DMing experience...) I did run the campaign with my parents to practice. What we've done so far was good.
Sean: I had a group of three Year 7s and a Year 12. It was very fun. Me and my partner Oliver created some scenarios just in case to make it a little more fun. It was fun overall. 

What's the difference between DMing and playing as a character?
Pip: I think that playing as a character you get to think of weird plotholes and questions that the DM hasn't thought of. As the DM you have to think on your feet a bit more.

How has it been since you've joined as a player?
Abigail: Pretty good, but I want to get into the gaming more because we spent a lot of time setting up.
Emily: I rolled a 20, even though my strength is low, so I bashed it really hard. and we're in a room with a crocodile now.
Brodie: I like that it's not too serious. It's more about having fun.
Brayden: Starting up and getting to know everyone's characters has been fun. The wacky names and fun things people have added to their character like Darian's character is called r-r-r-rhumbus (with a Scottish roll of the r).

Hospitality Club

What interested you in joining the Club in the first place?
I wanted to be able to learn new skills as I didn鈥檛 get the chance to do Cafe N9ne.

What are you enjoying most about participating in the Club?
Each week being able to do a new activity for example monstershakes, Chocolate decorating, etc

Is it different/better than their expectations?
It is different from what I expected but I still enjoy it.

On Tuesday 22nd of March, 2022, three members of our community graduated at the Karralyka Centre in Ringwood. They received a leadership and health certificate to celebrate their participation in the Journey Tracks Youth Cultural Leadership Days. Our three graduating students, Christine Clifford (Year 8), Mathew Clifford (Year 10) and Chloe Zouch (Year 11) represented the school proudly throughout the program and were acknowledged for their leadership as members of their Yorta Yorta country and our wonderful society. This was a terrific achievement, one that proudly celebrates our rich and diverse community. 

It was an absolute pleasure to welcome the family and friends of our 2021/22 Leading Light inductees to Aquinas on Friday 18th March, when we officially inducted them as inspiring Aquinas Alumni. We were honoured to hear and share their outstanding achievements with them and our community. Although not all 6 could be present, all were celebrated and recognised. Congratulations Marty Alix (PY 2013), Luke Brouwer (PY 2009), Rebecca Glenn (PY 1998), David Powell (PY 2009), Ruby Tribe (PY 2014) and Angela Wood (PY 1995).

You can read more about these inspiring alumni in the latest edition of 

Over Term 1 the ARC started our Reading Achievement draw, encouraging students to leave a short book recommendation for the chance to win a $30 Dymocks voucher. Each recommendation was then put into a tombola, and yesterday Mr Atkinson drew six prize winners for Term 1. We were overwhelmed by the number of entries that we have received, particularly from the students who join us each week for Book Club. The students were so supportive of their peers and there was great excitement as each winner was drawn. These enthusiastic participants serve as a vital reminder of the importance of reading for pleasure. We look forward to starting again with rewarding reading in Term 2.

Congratulations to:

Charli Pearson (Year 7) for reviewing Heartstopper Volume 2 by Alice Oseman
Jemima Markic-Hearn (Year 7) for also reviewing Heartstopper Volume 1 by Alice Oseman
Ewan Dawson (Year 7) for reviewing Lore by Alexandra Bracken
Ria Jijose (Year 8) for reviewing The Betrayed by Keira Cass
Zoe Staples (Year 8) for reviewing Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
Carla McCann (Year 9) for reviewing Crank Palace by James Dashner

David Scott and Anne Stebbing
ARC team

On Monday night 31 Aquinas students qualified for the EISM Champions Swimming Carnival, which was held at MSAC. This carnival is for the best swimmers from all 3 divisions in the EISM. It is also used as a selection process for the EISM team, to compete in the upcoming Victorian Schools Championships.

Well done to all our swimmers for their hard work throughout this term. Thank you to the staff who attended the evening- Ms Jess Lane, Ms Karyn Myers, Ms Olivia Spadea, Ms Megan Lemieszek, Mr Darren Atkinson (who was presenting the medals for a number of the events).

Bernie Brummell
Sports Coordinator

The following students finished top 3 in their events:

Under 13 Girls

• Freestyle & Medley Relays: 3rd - Isabelle Bowden, Gabby Hooper, Zoe Fabre, Mikayla Robinson
• Zoe Fabre: 3rd 50m Freestyle, 3rd 50m Breaststroke

Under 13 Boys

• Ryan Martin: 1st 50m Breaststroke

Under 14 Boys

• Freestyle & Medley Relays: 2nd - Tristan Hew, Tharwin Prarom, Griffin Box, Jordan Bruton
• Tharwin Prarom: 2nd 50m Freestyle,  2nd 50m Backstroke, 3rd 50m Butterfly
• Tristan Hew  3rd 50m Breaststroke

Under 15 Girls

• Freestyle Relay: 2nd - Lucy Crouch, Grace Rider, Alyssa Martin, Gabby Linton
• Grace Rider: 2nd 50m Breaststroke

Under 15 Boys

• Oscar Dubois:  2nd 50m Breaststroke

Senior Girls

• Medley Relay: 1st - Juliet Postill, Grace Higgins, Caitlyn Sultana, Lexie Quinn
• Freestyle Relay: 2nd-  Juliet Postill, Vanessa Linton, Teagen Barden, Lexie Quinn

The Other Swimmers On The Evening Who Swam Were

• U13 Boys: Dylan Jones, Henry Wassenberg, Nicholas Tanurahardja, Hayden Dalton
• U15 Boys: Lachie Buyck, Sam Guerin, Ethan Fredericks
• U16 Boys: Sebastian Varela-Torres, Tom Vardy, Connor Haughie, Will Clemow

Freestyle  27.55s Breaking The Old Record Of 27.86s From 2012

Backstroke 31.55s Breaking The Old Record Of 32.31s From 2014

Butterfly 29.6s Breaking The Old Record Of 31.44s From 2019

100m Freestyle  1:00:12s Breaking The Old Record Of 1:03:64 From 2020

Congratulations Year 8 student, Tharwin Prarom for his outstanding results in swimming at the the recent 2022 Victorian Age Championships. Tharwin won 3 gold, 2 silver and 6 bronze medals and was also awarded the Henry (Hicks) B Ive Trophy which is awarded to the boy achieving the highest number of aggregate points in all strokes in the 12-13 age group. 

Well done Tharwin!

Well done to Year 11 students Ava Campbell and Jacinta Hose who have been selected for the U17 Girls Victorian Metro Football squad for 2022. They will play against teams from other states over the next month.

We have been in contact with the Lismore Catholic Education Office, and the stories they shared were heartbreaking. For example, Trinity College has been completely damaged with most of the 1200 students and 150 staff losing their homes as well. This means many of these students are learning remotely without being in their own homes, and without technology and resources. 

As an immediate response, the 麻豆国产AV community has pledged to put together care packages for the staff and students at Trinity College to help lift their spirits. These care packages could include some personal items ie: a "mug pack" to replace their lost items, as well as some practical items such as gift cards for clothes and personal items.

The College is aiming to raise approximately $20,000 in donations, including physical items for this cause, and invite our Aquinas community to help us achieve this goal.

How you can help: 

• Should you have any contacts who may be interested in donating new items which could be included in the care packages, for example, lip balms, candles, lollies, socks etc, please forward their contact information to gracetl@aquinas.vic.edu.au.

• If you would like to donate, the College has set up a fundraising account for contributions which will then be used to purchase urgently needed gift cards. Please note, these donations are not tax deductible as we are not a charity organisation.

• Account details:
  麻豆国产AV 
  BSB 083 004
  Account 218667377

It's time to think about your winter uniform needs...

From Monday 9th May, all students must wear the full winter uniform which includes their blazer.

 is our uniform supplier. Online ordering is also .

1/210鈥�214 Canterbury Road
Bayswater North
(03) 9070 8284

Monday to Friday 9.00am - 5.00pm
First Saturday of the month 9.00am - 12.00pm

The latest edition of Illuminare, our alumni magazine, has just been published. Enjoy reading about our inspiring Leading Lights, the achievements of our Class of 2021, and catch up with the Class of 2011.