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As I type this newsletter, we are once again in lockdown, after a very fortunate time of not being in lockdown. Unfortunately, despite the many efforts of authorities and the many kindnesses of people in the community, lockdown experiences have a negative toll on wellbeing, perhaps in particular our young people.
According to the 2020 annual State of Mind survey, researched by State of Mind and The University of Newcastle, “young Australians’ mental health is the most strained in the nation.” Across all ages of those surveyed, the amount of people reporting an increase in either depression, anxiety or stress was 78 per cent.
Aristotle said two and half thousand years ago that the good life is one that is devoted to reaching one’s potential, living ethically, contemplating and having concern for those in your community. Like Aristotle, the Danish philosopher Kierkegaard, speaking in the early nineteenth century, also believed that the ethical life is a better way to live than a life of pleasure-seeking. Kierkegaard, who knew anxiety and depression, believed in a life of faith.
Whilst pleasure is an essential element of wellbeing, Aristotle and Kierkegaard I think have something to teach us about living a good life. All of us carry fears and challenges. A life that is in part devoted to giving and service, to love and valuing people offers the possibility of transcending our own burdens, at least temporarily.
Staffing news
We are pleased to announce that Belinda McDermott has been appointed Music teacher for Years 5-10. Belinda is an accomplished Music performer and educator having had a long, established career in both Independent and Department of Education Schools. Belinda commenced at the College this week.
Eamonn Pollard
Principal
Launch of Years 11 and 12*
After significant planning around the extension of SACC, we are excited to welcome parents and students to this launch, which will include a basic overview of how Years 11 and 12 will operate at SACC, information on the upcoming building works and subject booths where you are able to have general conversations with our subject lead teachers.
Please RSVP by 5th November to samantha.wilton@catholic.tas.edu.au
Family Holidays in Term Time
John Wallis Memorial Lecture
Members of the St Aloysius Catholic College community are invited to attend the 2021 John Wallis Memorial Lecture, Around the Table with Pope Francis – a place and a voice for the poor, which will be delivered by international educational leader and social change advocate Dr Wayne Tinsey, on Wednesday 27 October, at 7.00 pm.
The event will be held at the Don Bosco Creative Arts Centre, Guilford Young College, Glenorchy (entry via Mill Lane, Glenorchy - good parking, flat access). Cost: $10 donation (suggested). Supper will follow the lecture. Books will be available for purchase. Bookings (for seating and catering purposes): https://www.trybooking.com/BUDQB
If you are unable to attend in person, the lecture will be live-streamed. Please email spirit@graciousgenerosity.com.au to register your interest so a link can be sent to you before the event.
Further information: graciousgenerosity.com.au or Eva Dunn eva.dunn@gmail.com or 0417 734 503
More information can be found in the link below -
Uniform Shop
Update of Terms and Conditions
Year 1
In Year 1 we have been looking at our environment and how we and others can care for it. We have been looking at different types of birds that are found in Tasmania. We did artwork using watercolours of an Australian Bird. We then looked at their habitats and created a special place for them using a technique called pointillism. In Maths we then participated in the Backyard Bird Count. We observed birds in our environment and collected data on the different species that live around our school.
Year 3
As part of their HASS unit, Australia's neighbours, Year 3 students were assigned a neighbouring country. Each student dressed up in the traditional clothing or colours of their countries flag and brought along a plate of cultural food to share with their class.
Year 9 History
In Year 9 History, students welcomed Legacy President, Peter Hodge into their classrooms to deliver a lesson on trench warfare and weaponry of WWI. Peter delivered an engaging and interactive lesson, allowing students to simulate an artillery fire using milk bottles. Students learnt about the hardships of WWI and enjoyed interacting with real WWI artifacts, such as weaponry, helmets and records.
SATIS
Last term the Year 9/10 Aussie Rules team demonstrated teamwork and cooperation in the SATIS roster. Their coach, Tessa Brinsmead used her expertise and knowledge to coach the team each week and develop their Aussie Rules skills. A wonderful effort from the Year 9/10 girls.
High School Netball Championships
Mannena & Laudato Si Official Opening
On Thursday, 16th September we celebrated the opening and blessing of our outdoor learning space for Aboriginal education mannena and the new Laudato Si’ vegetable garden at the Junior Campus. Both areas sit side by side with the shared intention of teaching children to care for Country and our common home: Earth.
Mannena (meaning earth in the south east dialect) was officially opened by local Aboriginal Elder Uncle Rodney Dillon. Palawa knowledge holder Jason Smith spoke to students about this year’s NAIDOC theme: Heal Country and led a smoking ceremony with eucalyptus leaves. Bron Dillon led an ochre ceremony.
In 2015 Pope Francis wrote a very moving and powerful letter addressed to all the world’s people. This encyclical letter called Laudato Si’ calls for humankind to take greater care of our common home: earth. Inspired by Laudato Si’, SACC supported our Environment Officer Michelle Dance in working with students to build a vegetable garden nearby to the sand circle of mannena. Parent Mark McKenzie volunteered his time and all the materials to build the vegetable garden.
The College is grateful to our Parish Priest Father Mike Delaney who spoke words of wisdom to all gathered, prayed and blessed the garden. It was a wonderful and very memorable event.
Year 8 Camp
First Nation students from Year 8 recently travelled to Bruny Island to learn about traditional Aboriginal land management practices. Staying overnight at the Shearer's Quarters on Murrayfield Station, North Bruny, the children were instructed by cultural burning educator and fire practitioner, Jason Smith. Students were given an introduction to using cool burning techniques to encourage the regeneration of native grasses and yucca trees. The group were joined by Uncle Rodney Dillon who spoke to the group about the history of different sites including a stone tool rock quarry site. Students had a wonderful time and came away with valuable new understandings about how to care for Country.
Vinnies Sleepout
On Friday 17th September, St Aloysius Catholic College held a sleepout for Middle Campus students in collaboration with Vinnies Tasmania. The aim of the sleepout was to raise awareness of the plight of homelessness in our country, to get an insight into how it must feel to be homeless, and to raise much-needed funds for Vinnies (Kingborough Loui's Van) to assist those who are homeless. See the report below from Year 10 students Lily Robinson and Inara Osborne.
On Friday 17th September, 24 of our students braved the cold and got involved in our annual Vinnies Sleepout. We started the night by raiding the recycling bin to find cardboard to make our beds for the night. Once we were all finished and had some sort of bed set up, we went into the warm to watch some videos of the work that Vinnies does in the community courtesy of Simon Terhell. Part of this involved a reflection activity outside which was a nice reminder of why we were there and what we were doing. After this, we watched some more videos about Vinnies and homelessness while enjoying some hot soup, self made sandwiches and fruit (the mandarins were DELICIOUS). Loui's Van and Edna from Helping Hands then paid us a visit. We had a talk then went outside to enjoy some hot milos from the van, which was very welcome on such a cold night.
After enjoying our hot chocolates, we went inside and had some karaoke and live music courtesy of Mr Privet and Simon MacFarlane. After this was sardines and spotlight around the school, then back into the chapel for a riveting game of Mafia run by the grade 9s and 10s. By this time, we were all pretty tired, and headed to our beds to sleep. Did we sleep? Not really! But this was all part of the experience. A 1.00 am downpour meant that some students got wet and had to move inside. Others slept right through! Because of the early sunrise, many of the students were up before 6.00am and in the chapel watching Mulan and eating french toast. When everyone was up, we then played The Cost of Living monopoly game in teams, which gave us an insight into how difficult it is to live with a small amount of money and stay above the poverty line. After this was done, we packed up our cardboard and other things, ready to return home to our beds, something I’m sure we all appreciated once we got home.
There were many highlights and challenges on this sleepout. Some of the highlights included the night games, karaoke in the chapel and mafia, and some of the challenges included, rain, wind, no sleep, cold and discomfort. Some of the students actually got very wet when the rain hit at 1.00am, making their experience even more real.
Despite the challenges we faced, everyone who came on the sleepout this year had a fantastic time and went home with many memories to cherish. From the sleepout, we raised $210 online for Vinnies and $204 cash for Helping Hands. A big thank you to all the staff who came along with us. We couldn’t have done it without you! We hope we have inspired many more of you to take up the challenge next year and brave the cold. Thank you!
Footy Colours Day
Footy Colours Day was held on the last day of Term 3, Friday 24th September, to raise money for the Archbishop’s Samaritan Fund, helping Tasmanians in need. There were colours and teams galore as students wore their gear for a gold coin donation. At the Middle Campus, despite the cold and wind which quickly descended, the Year 10 leaders held bin ball and longest kick activities on the oval and the Junior Campus had a handball and kicking competition as well as an AFL procession and team song sing-along. In total $802.05 was raised for the Archbishop’s Samaritan Fund.
Catholic Mission Week and Crazy Sock Day
On Tuesday, 19th October, Head of RE Julie Osborne, along with students Ruby Prichard and Inara and Natalie Osborne attended the Catholic Mission Mass at St Therese’s in Moonah for the launch of Catholic Mission Week. Catholic Mission week is Week 3 of Term 4 and St Aloysius will be running their annual ‘Socktober’ Crazy Sock Day fundraiser to raise money for Catholic Mission on Thursday, 28th October. We look forward to seeing lots of crazy socks
Sacramental Preparation: Reconciliation
On Wednesday, 22nd September, 18 young people from our Parish, from across four schools, made their Sacrament of Reconciliation in a beautiful and heart-warming liturgy at the Church of Christ the Priest. They will continue with their preparation for Confirmation and First Eucharist in 2022.
Sacramental Preparation: Eucharist Preparation
34 young people and their families took part in the Sacrament of Eucharist preparation on Tuesday at the Church of Christ the Priest. Please keep these students in your prayers as they make the Sacrament of Eucharist in the next few weeks. This is the last stage in completing in their Sacraments of Initiation which some students have been working towards for two years due to Covid interruptions. Again, parents are giving positive feedback on the interactive and engaging new Sacramental Program the Parish has implemented.
The family session which was scheduled for Saturday 16th and postponed due to lockdown has been moved to Saturday 30th October with an additional session on Tuesday 26th October from 3:00pm-5:00pm. A rehearsal will be held the weekend of the 30th/31st October after the Vigil and Sunday Masses.
Thank you to the Sacramental Team and additional staff from the College who are helping out with the running of the sessions including Kate Travers (Grade 3 Teacher), Emma Callanan (Prep Teacher), Mel Dance (Administration Officer), and Mary Macrae (Acting Business Manager). It is wonderful to see staff from around the College come together in support of our young people on their faith journey.
Youth Group
Youth Group is being held fortnightly in Term 4 and kicked off on Thursday evening with baking for Kingborough Helping Hands Loui’s Van. An updated program has gone out on Compass and the Parish Bulletin and is available on the Parish Website under the Youth tab.
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
The children’s faith formation program Catechesis of the Good Shepherd continues to be run by Catherine Sandric and volunteers in St Aloysius Church on Beach Road. A second 3-day training session was held during the holidays as part of the qualification to run a level 1 Atrium (for 3-6 year olds). The invitation has now gone out to children age 3-9 with the Saturday sessions being split into ages 3-6 and 7-9 to allow more children who are on the waiting list to attend.
From Catherine Sandric, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd facilitator:
On Sunday, 24th October we are having an open morning at the Catechesis of The Good Shepherd Atrium in St Aloysius Catholic Church on Beach Rd following the 10.00 am mass. Members of the parish /College community are warmly invited to come and see the level one atrium that lives in the St Aloysius Church. The atrium will be open from 11.00am - 1.00pm for members of the parish/College community to come and find out more about this special catechesis for our children.
The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd runs each Saturday during term time. If you would like to find out more, please come along to our open session or call Catherine Sandric 0407 552 239
Multicultural Mass
On Sunday, 26th September, the Kingston-Channel Parish celebrated Refugee and Migrant Sunday with a very beautiful, colourful and inclusive Multicultural Mass. The altar was draped with flags of the world and parishioners were invited to wear traditional dress.
Nationalities represented in the readings and the music were:
First reading: Korean; Second reading: Spanish
Prayers of Intercession: Dutch, Italian, Polish, Vietnamese, Sri Lankan, Spanish, Mandarin, German
Music: Filipino, African, French, German
Following the Mass, parishioners shared food from a variety of cultures.
World Youth Day Pilgrimage
Please find attached information for the upcoming Tasmanian World Youth Day Pilgrimage on Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st November. This involves bussing across Tasmania, stopping at various stops along the way for activities and prayer before an overnight camp at Westbury in the north of the state. Go to eventbrite.com.au & search ‘Tasmanian World Youth Day Celebration - Pilgrimage to Westbury’ or scan the QR code on the poster.
The Way to St James Pilgrimage 15- 16th January, 2022
The Way to St James Pilgrimage is a based on the famous Camino pilgrimage in Spain that has come to be seen as a rite of passage across the world. Our Pilgrimage involves a two day hike from Hobart down to the Huon Valley, exploring our stunning landscapes and finishing amidst the Cygnet Folk Festival. Whilst the original Camino is hundreds of kms long, ours is a challenging but fun filled 30km spaced over the two days. You will get to hang out with your friends, meet new people, camp overnight, eat delicious food and be entertained by musicians. It will be an all-round good time!
Families are welcome to sign up as long as all participants can meet the physical demands.
https://www.waytostjames.com.au/register
Uniform Items
If anyone has any pre-loved uniform items in good condition, we are welcoming donations at both campus offices. These are kept as emergency supplies for students/families if the need arises.
Saints dress up - Mass
On Sunday 31st October, children and youths attending 10:00am Mass at the Church of Christ the Priest are invited to dress up as famous saints in recognition of All Hallows Eve (Hallowe’en), the day before All Saints Day.
The Basics Kingborough
Quiz Night
The P&F quiz night was held on 18th September and was a huge success.
Thank you to all the individuals and businesses who donated prizes and to those who brought tickets in the raffle.
Thank you to the quiz coordinator Kerri Tomlin and her team who ran a fantastic event
Term 4 meeting
The next P&F meeting is on Monday 25th October at 5.30 pm at the Junior Campus. All are welcome.