Expressions of Interest Welcome for Kindergarten 2024 and Year 7 2025.

Kindergarten, 2024 enrolments are welcome! Kindergarten children must be aged four on the 1st of January of their Kindergarten year. Applications are due by Friday, 5th May 2023. Families new to the College are required to have an enrolment appointment prior to this date. Applications for Year 7, 2025 are also still being accepted. All enrolment enquiries are requested to complete the Expression of Interest form on the College website and the College will then contact you regarding an enrolment appointment and tour of our facilities with a Deputy Principal. Enquiries for all other year levels are always welcome subject to availability. The Expression of Interest Form is available here.

Enrolment Officer, Melissa Dance is available to assist you with all of your enrolment requirements, either at enrol@staloysius.tas.edu.au or by 6229 0108.

Congratulations to our Emerging writer!

Year 7 Camp

The Year 7 Camps took place from 27th February to 1st March this year. In two groups, students visited the Spring Beach Youth Camp, in Orford, for two days of activities. Students were given the opportunity to push themselves outside of their comfort zones, by participating in exciting activities such as abseiling twelve metres down a cliff face, kayaking on a dam, traversing a rock wall and flying down a zip line.

The camps were a fantastic opportunity for students to form positive relationships with their peers and teachers in a new environment. Students strengthened their sense of community by enjoying meals together, practising new skills and immersing themselves in nature.

Overall, students were well engaged and represented the College with pride. There were many special moments on camp. Some highlights included a sunrise walk on the beach, students cheering each other on as they faced up to the flying fox, a table of students sharing their juice with another table when theirs was spilled, and a few motivated students mustering their peers for a game of flags during some free time.

Thank you to the staff who gave up their own time to help plan and participate in the camps and the students who represented St Aloysius Catholic College proudly and respectfully.

Breakfast Club

Musical Notes!

Did you know that your child could take private music lessons on various instruments at
school? Instrument lessons offered include piano, voice, drums and guitar. If your student is interested in taking private lessons, please contact the respective Office for the contact details of the teacher.

Kingborough's Got Talent

Welcome BBQ

Each year, the College hosts a welcome BBQ for First Nation families and anyone interested in Aboriginal education at St Aloysius Catholic College. The event provides everyone with an opportunity to come together, meet key staff and some of the sharers of knowledge who support teachers with the delivery of cross curriculum priorities. It’s also a wonderful way to welcome new students and their families to the College. This year a record number of people came along to the BBQ. Guests were welcomed onto Country by Uncle Rodney Dillon before participating in a smoking ceremony and watching traditional dancers perform. Dressed in kangaroo skins and adorned in ochre, Leroy Hart and Linton Burgess delighted and inspired students with cleansing dances around the fire. Parish priest Fr Mike Delaney led the group in prayer and College Principal Mr Craig Deayton addressed the crowd, acknowledging the 150 First Nation students enrolled at the College.

A real highlight of this year’s BBQ was the food. The first Tasmanian Aboriginal food business 'palawa kipli’ cooked up a modern traditional BBQ style feast, that showcased the importance of palawa food culture here in Lutruwita / Tasmania. The College is grateful to Kitana Mansell from palawa kipli for the wonderful catering. Thank you to all students, families and Catholic Education staff who attended and made this a truly memorable event.

Kindergarten

Our new Kindergarten students have been learning about the Aboriginal creation story of lutruwita/Tasmania this week. Local knowledge holder Bronwyn Dillon came into our Junior Campus and guided the young children in improvised play. Much fun was had as we held mini ice-bergs, sprinkled seeds, grew great gum trees and scattered shellfish in the muka/ocean. Children built miniature bark huts and watched the sun and moon move across the sky. The interactive lessons took place in our outdoor classroom: a sand circle used for Aboriginal education.

Work Exposure in Government Program (Year 10 & 11)

Attention all Year 10 & 11 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students; there is an upcoming regional WEX program in nipaluna/Hobart. The Work Exposure in Government (WEX) program is an opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to learn about careers in the Australian government. If you would like more information about WEX, please contact wex@etmp.com.au or wex@niaa.gov.au 

To complete an application, click here. Applications close on the 21st March 2023. 

Commencement Liturgy and Leadership Commissioning

On Friday, 10^th March we celebrated our Commencement Liturgy and Leadership Commissioning in the courtyard of the Middle Campus, with students in Years 3 to 11 in attendance. It is wonderful to be able to welcome families back to celebrations such as these and we were blessed with lovely weather. The Year 5 and 6 choir did an excellent job of not only singing but providing some funky actions and dance moves as well! Playing and singing alongside them were some of our very talented Year 7-11 specialist musicians and singers.

Andrew Chinn

In week 6, Australian religious songwriter and singer, Andrew Chinn, visited our College to share his songs with our primary students. He ran a number of workshops for our Kindergarten to Year 6 students, including two choir workshops culminating in two fabulous, energy filled concerts at both our Junior and Middle Campuses!

Andrew has been song writing since 1993, his music is used in schools across Australia, New Zealand, the USA and Canada, and he has visited more than 1000 different schools around those countries. Many young adults who attended Catholic primary schools would still remember the words and actions to ‘These Hands!” and it even became a tiktok trend in 2022! Andrew’s music is available on iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music.

Ash Wednesday

On Ash Wednesday, liturgies were held at both campuses, as well as the distribution of ashes to Kindergarten and Prep students in their classes. Mr Deayton spoke to the Middle Campus of the significance of ritual and heritage and that in receiving the ashes we continue an ancient tradition.

Project Compassion Launch

Galilee House Leaders attended the launch of Project Compassion in the newly renovated St Mary’s Cathedral, followed by some delicious pancakes that afternoon to get the fundraising started. Thank you to our Vinnies and mini-Vinnies students for the poster making, preparation and publicity as well as Mrs Deb Crawshaw, Mrs Fran Newlands and their talented cooking crew, for all of their assistance!

 

Dave Jorna – Project Hatch

On Tuesday, 28^th of February, our Year 10 students participated in their Reflection Day, 'The Real Gift', facilitated by Dave Jorna of Project Hatch. This day was engaging, fun and affirming for our students. 

As well as a number of games, some healthy competition and a fabulous sing-off, Dave discussed the 'code' we live by and what three values words we choose (such as strong, thoughtful, kind) to remind us. This code can assist our wellbeing by helping us build resilience and be true to ourselves.

He went on to explain how our top 5 people have such a huge influence on our lives and that we have power making that influence positive, by choosing who to let into our top 5. The day finished with our students sharing affirmations of each other. Dave was very impressed by the number of students who came up to him afterwards to thank him for the day, including a number who shook his hand.

This day provided an excellent transition experience into the responsibilities and maturity of Senior school. The staff attending commented on the students' participation and engagement and the positivity of the day. Please find more information about Project Hatch here.

Spirit of Jesus - Year 4

From Marty Ogle:

'I was lucky enough to recently work with all the year fours and we looked at a number of habits and discussed how we can change the negative habits (eg calling out) into positive habits (eg putting your hand up). We also discussed back-chatting at home (eg saying no when asked to do a chore/go to bed etc) and how it can become a terrible habit but that it can be changed by saying ‘Okay’(with a smile) bringing joy to the home. Many of the students would have come home with the 'OK' with a smile on their hands to remind them that when asked to do a chore, get up straight away in mornings etc that a simple 'Okay can change the atmosphere in their homes. 

The children were extremely enthusiastic about implementing positive GTS (greet, treat and speak) moments and the acronym WEST which stands for Welcome/ Encourage/ (saying )Sorry/ (saying ) Thank You. These are habits for home/ school especially when speaking to adults, school staff and fellow students. We spoke about how they are leaders in the Junior Campus and that with these habits they can really make a positive difference.

I look forward to catching up with them again soon.'

From Polly Marriott:

'Student feedback was that they loved the day with one Year 4 even exclaiming it was the best day at school EVER! We hope that parents are still benefiting from an ‘ok with a smile’ attitude from their children!'

Making Jesus Real – Year 5 & 6

From Marty Ogle:

'It was my pleasure to recently work with the year 5/6’s at your school and we focused on the theme ‘Accountability’ and how important it is ‘to claim the blame’ when we do something wrong. Teachers and parents/carers must hold young people accountable for their actions and as a class, we discussed how the ‘Art of Reflection’ will help us to correct mistakes. Tied into this was also how essential it is to understand and use manners. We looked at habits and how we need to work on changing negative habits and cultivating positive habits.

We also introduced the term ‘If it is to be, it is up to me.’ If you like to follow up on this why not visit The MJR podcasts – a GPS for Life.

Again, the students were an amazing group due to their enthusiasm, love of magic and their ability to see and be the Spirit of Jesus – why not ask them what they learned in the session, eg about not back chatting, saying OK with a smile, making someone’s day with a smile or compliment. Some of Year 6 parents/carers should have received a written letter from your child, asking for help concerning them being held accountable.

God Bless.'

Year 5/6 Pizza Fundraiser!

P&F Fundraiser: Easter Raffle