Dear Parents/Carers, Students and Friends of St Aloysius Catholic College,

A warm welcome back to Term 3. We are now in our fourth week of term and heading (hopefully) into the warmer weather and longer days of Spring. This will be a very important term for the College and a most important time for our current Year 10 students as they make their decisions for next year. It is also a most important time for our new Kindergarten families as we complete interviews for our 2024 Kinder intake. Just as it is exciting to take that step from high school into senior secondary, it is probably more exciting to start that first day at school. 

Welcome Mr Paul Reidy – St Aloysius Catholic College Principal 2024

At the start of this term, we were delighted to hear the announcement that Mr Paul Reidy had been appointed as our new College Principal to commence in 2024. As you are aware, I will be finishing up my career as a Principal at the end of 2023 and, although I have only been at St Aloysius for this year, it has been a joy to work with the staff, students and community during this very important time in the College’s history. I have had the privilege of working as Principal in five of our Catholic Colleges in Tasmania over 29 years and, although it would be impossible for me to pick a favourite from among them, my year at St Aloysius will be the most memorable of the 29 for many reasons. The College is poised for rapid growth and a very exciting future as we add Years 11 and 12, a brand new senior campus and launch our College Master Plan later this year. In the years ahead, St Aloysius Catholic College will grow to become Tasmania’s largest Catholic college as well as the Tasmanian Catholic community’s only K-12 Co-educational college. Leadership of this College in the years ahead will be an exciting journey and, as I retire from this wonderful job, I wish Mr Reidy every success and blessing as he takes up his role next year.       

Senior Secondary Campus 2024

One thing I am pleased to announce is that construction of our Senior Campus is ahead of schedule and will be ready to welcome our new intake of Year 11 students in 2024. Having been involved in all the final steps of planning and fit-out over this year, I am very confident that our students will have facilities that are second to none for their senior studies and a wonderful school environment. Planning has been underway for many months on our 2024 Years 11 and 12 course offerings, staffing and timetable and, with our first students due to commence their senior secondary studies in the brand new facilities of the Senior Campus, we are looking forward to day 1 of 2024 with great excitement. 

St Aloysius Catholic College – Future Directions 

One of my roles as Principal this year has been to draft a paper on the future directions for St Aloysius and that has meant consulting widely on the major planning decisions we need to take to move the College into an exciting new era. I have been working closely with the Board, the Catholic Education Office and the staff of St Aloysius to draft a Directions paper and that paper has been discussed by all of those groups and is now ready for the parent consultation process. Accordingly, I invite you to a Parent Forum on the future directions of the College where the major recommendations of the paper will be presented for discussion and question. Following the Parent Forum, I will be forwarding the Directions Paper to the wider College community. 

Uniform Trial 

We recently sat down with student leaders and representatives to discuss trialling some proposed changes to the College Uniform policy. These proposals speak to some wider issues relating to school uniforms which have been discussed by educators across Australia and the world – at least those parts of the world where school uniforms are common. Uniform issues can seem trivial – especially when we are dealing with minor matters – and it’s true that enforcing uniform rules can be time consuming, can lead to conflict at home and endless reminders at school and can sometimes distract from our core purpose of educating students. However, school uniform policies also speak to very important issues – equity, identity, justice, comfort and freedom of movement. Uniform rules should be clear, just, reasonable and fairly applied across the school. Particularly important is gender equity and we need to ensure our College uniform allows both girls and boys to be active, warm and comfortable. We also need to ensure we uphold and maintain our formal uniform as one of the key symbols of our College identity and the uniform for our many formal events. So, we have listened to our students and agreed to trial some changes to uniform policies for the rest of this year and into the start of Term 1 next year. There will be a letter outlining the trial and the changes sent home via Compass.

Early in Term 1 of 2024, we will survey all students, staff and parents on the Uniform trial, and it will then be up to Mr Reidy and the College Leadership Team to make some decisions about uniform for the future.   

Voice Referendum   

The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has asked all schools and parishes to host community discussions on the upcoming Voice Referendum. The Bishops reiterated their support of the Uluru Statement from the Heart which called for a Voice to Parliament for Indigenous Australians.  A copy of their May 25 statement is linked here for your reference:

Statement regarding an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.pdf

The College will join with the Parish in hosting an information session.  This discussion opportunity will be held at the Middle Campus on Tuesday, 12th September 2023 between 5.00pm-6.00pm. We invite all interested families to join us for this discussion.

A formal invitation and details will follow.

We will also be holding an educational student forum on the Voice at school, and will be encouraging all students to be involved in the discernment discussions.  

A referendum to change our Constitution is a rare event and referendums that result in change, even rarer. As such, we have an invaluable opportunity this year and together we can look forward to doing the best we can to educate your children, our students, the future voting citizens, about this very important debate.

ST ALOYSIUS DANCE CLUB

On Friday, 7th June, the last day of Term 2, the Junior Campus Grade 3/4 Dance Club represented St Aloysius Catholic College at the Southern Tasmanian Dance Eisteddfod (STDE). The group was made up of 32 students, who had been practising their hearts out for all of Term 2.

Mrs Reece coordinates the Dance Club but being that she is not a trained dancer, she was very grateful to three of the College’s Grade 10 students: Maya Downie, Tayla Crack and Tayla Gray, who did the amazing choreography for the dance. The Grade 10s came to the Junior Campus to teach the choreography, and then the students were left with Mrs Reece to guide them in their practise each week. Dance Club rehearsals are usually at recess, each Wednesday. However, during the lead up to the performance the students were rehearsing almost every day. They went over and over each move, fine tuning their performance for the big day…… and it paid off!

Their performance was full of energy and the judges commented on how well the group danced together and their excellent energy, awarding our Dancers 3rd place!!!!

The students were prepared that winning or being awarded a place was not our intention in participating in the event. Our involvement was with the intention of giving the students the experience of being part of the dancing community and a chance to have a culminating performance for their dance. We are so immensely proud of how these students represented the College.

The day started at 7:30am, when the dancers arrived at the Junior Campus, with hair and make-up done, ready for final checks and boarding the bus by 9:00am. On arrival at Wrest Point we did final costume changes and found a space to do a warm up and run through of the dance. It was a busy space with many high schools, primary schools and college students present. After a quick run through we went up to the auditorium where we were able to sit in the audience and watch a couple of the high school dance performances. This involved moving very quickly and quietly into the auditorium, in between dances. As we entered and departed the auditorium, we had to sit on the floor or on the steps if the bell for the next dance performance was rung. We had to do all this in silence. All 32 students followed these instructions quickly and respectfully.

Once we had viewed the performances, we were told it was our turn to line up backstage. There were a few groups lined up before us so we were required to wait
for some time, lined up in the stairwell and backstage. During this time we had to be totally quiet because any voices could be heard in the auditorium. We had fun taking photos and dancing along to the music, in silence, to help pass the time.

Then it was our big moment! The St Aloysius Dance Club went out and performed their hearts out, remembering all that they had learned (even the last minute changes done during the final week). The staff, grade 10s and their families watching were so proud and all cheered loudly when they finished!

The students had little time in the day for relaxing. They had a lot of fun together but they were expected to line up, wait, and follow instructions for much of the day. Every single student, Grade 10s included, behaved beyond expectations and represented the College superbly!

Putting together a dance performance like this takes a lot of resources and
assistance. A big thank you to:

• The staff attending – Mrs Boon, Mrs Stevenson and Mrs Frost - who made the
  experience smooth and calm for Mrs Reece and the students.
• The Grade 10 students – Maya Downie, Tayla Crack and Tayla Gray - for the
  amazing choreography and for their support in the lead up and on the day.
• Mrs Carol Reynolds – for most of the costumes, jazz stockings and tights - this
  can be a huge cost to groups. Mrs Reynolds has for many years happily shared her dance resources.
• The parents who helped with morning preparations – Shanna Rogers, Emma
  Nugent, Aimee Gaggi, Karen Taskunas, Kelly Wolfert, Renee Fitzpatrick, Cecilia Martinez, Amelia Newman, and Claire Overeem (apologies if I missed anyone) – we were flat out getting costumes, makeup and hair sorted and would not have been ready on time without all your help!
• The College leadership, particularly Mr Brad Canning, for supporting our
  participation in this event, extra rehearsal requirements and additional
  resources required for the day.

ST ALOYSIUS CHESS CLUB

It’s been great to have the St Aloysius Chess Club up and running again in 2023 at both the Junior and Middle School Campuses. We have approximately 45-50 students from Grades 2-11 participating each week in the Chess Club.

Chess Club at each Campus is coached by James Briant of Black Square Chess. Students engage in a lesson, before having the chance to play others in the club and practise their skills. 

All students also have the opportunity to participate in Inter School Chess Tournaments held each term. 

Term 2 Junior Inter School Chess Tournament

On May 25th, St Aloysius entered 16 Years 3-6 students in the Kingborough and Huon Valley Primary Schools Inter School Chess Tournament held at Huonville Primary School.

Our students did extremely well, winning the competition! Most impressive was the way in which our students conducted themselves. They all played with good sportsmanship, congratulating their opponents when they themselves lost, and behaving humbly when they won. They talked freely with students from other schools, and I'm sure new friendships were made.

Congratulations to Ashton Kiemele and Raphael Martini who won the overall competition. Congratulations to all students who played as the points earned helped the team to win the overall teams competition. Good work! 

Greater Hobart Inter School Chess Tournament

On June 26th, it was the Senior Chess Team’s turn to travel to The Hutchins School to compete in the Greater Hobart Inter School Chess Tournament. The competition was very tough. However, the team performed admirably, taking out 5th place, with The Hutchins School taking the win on this occasion. 

If your child is interested in being a part of the fun of Chess Club, details are as follows: 

Junior Chess Club (Years 2-4) meets from 3-4pm each Thursday afternoon at the Junior Campus.

Senior Chess Club (Grades 5-11) meet each Tuesday afternoon from 3.15-4.15pm at the Middle Campus. 

Term 3 Inter School Chess Tournament

We look forward to entering our two teams in the combined Kingborough and Huon Inter School Chess Tournament later this term. 

For further information about either Chess Club, please contact Coach James Briant at blacksquarechess@hotmail.com or phone 0404181451. Information can also be found on the Black Square Chess website: https://blacksquarechess.com/ 

ST ALOYSIUS SOCCER CUP

World Cup fever is alive and well at the College!

At the Middle campus we have been treated to some exciting soccer matches between students. They have been fast and furious and full of excitement – just like the FIFA Women's World Cup!

A big shout out to Year 9 student, Declan, for photographing the matches. Your action shots are great! 

TREE PLANTING DAY SPARKS NEW DAY OF LEARNING – MIDDLE CAMPUS

Planet Ark’s National Tree Day began in the year 1996 and is now Australia's largest community tree planting and nature care event. St Aloysius Catholic College honored the annual, National Plant a Tree Day on Friday, 28th July, by planting saplings and bushes at Coffee Creek near the Peter Murrell Reserve.

Kingborough Council’s Natural Areas Interpretation Officer Bridget Jupe (BJ) started the day with the students and staff teaching them about all of the different animals around the area, different techniques and how participating in National Plant a Tree Day can help the local environment. Staff and student volunteers built on from last year's work across from the college's Huntingfield Campus. BJ talked about how the trees that were planted by other St Aloysius students four years ago have changed the environment dramatically. 

Lucy, Year 9: “National Plant a Tree Day is a day where all of the volunteers can come together and experience a different type of learning”. 

St Aloysius is proud to be supporting National Plant a Tree day for as long as they have, we look forward to volunteering next year bigger and better! 

Story and photos by Declan Shai.

TREE PLANTING DAY – JUNIOR CAMPUS

Our gardening club students at the Junior Campus participated in National Tree Day by planting trees at school.

MATHS AFTER SCHOOL WITH MR ELKHAIR

For more information contact Tom Elkhair - thomas.elkhair@catholic.tas.edu.au

ENROLMENT ENQUIRIES FOR KINDERGARTEN AND YEAR 7, 2024

Kindergarten, 2024

Applications are still being accepted for Kindergarten in 2024. If your child was born in 2019, they are eligible to attend Kinder in 2024. Families new to the College will be contacted to arrange an enrolment appointment and tour of our Junior Campus.

If you already have children at St Aloysius and have another due to start Kindergarten in 2024, please reach out to us to confirm their enrolment.

Year 7, 2024

Applications for Year 7 in 2024 are also still being accepted. All families will be contacted to arrange an enrolment appointment and tour of our Middle Campus.

Enquiries for all other year levels are always welcome.

Please contact Melissa Dance (Enrolment Officer) with your enrolment enquiry either at sacc.enrol@catholic.tas.edu.au or by phone: 6229 0108.

CHANGES TO CANTEEN AND CAFE

TERM 3 HOUSE LEADERS - JUNIOR CAMPUS

Congratulations to our newly elected Term 3 House Leaders!

PEER PRESSURE

Students at the Middle Campus have been learning what peer pressure is, the circumstances it can occur in, how it affects people and how to deal with peer pressure. 

MAKING JESUS REAL

Recently, Marty Ogle, as part of our 'Making Jesus Real' program, took sessions with the Year 3s looking at all aspects of social media and the internet. We discussed the positives and the negatives involving the use of all devices including phones, computers, iPads, gaming devices and even smart TVs.

We looked at how it is possible to do history checks with these devices and how we need to

• Respect them by taking care of these devices because they are very expensive
  but, more importantly, respect others and ourselves when we use them.
• Make good choices when using them. For example, when we are asked to stop
  using them by an adult at school or home, we should do so straight away rather than talk back or complain.
• Be aware of the dangers and the good things that social media and these devices can bring into our lives.

We also looked at how the students talk at home and at school to adults eg a large number indicated that they back chat so you may have seen an ‘Okay with a smile’ written on their hands.

Please ask them why this was drawn on their hands – to remind them when they are asked to do a chore, stop gaming or go to bed.

The students were amazingly good listeners and participated in the ‘magic’ during the sessions.

THE NED SHOW

WORK EXPERIENCE

Ryan Brooks – Kingston Animal Hospital

Jesse Cowen – OJ Griffiths Construction

David Walters – Nyrstar

Olive Morgan – Derwent Estate

JAPANESE CALLIGRAPHY

BOOK WEEK

SATIS SPORT – TERM 3

It’s fantastic to see a number of SATIS sports being played this term. We have a team in four rosters; Year 7 Girls Basketball, Year 8 Girls Basketball, Year 7 Boys Soccer and for the first time in many years, a Year 9/10 Boys Football team.

Well done to those students who have signed up to participate this term and in particular, those who are trying a sport for the very first time!

• Year 7 Girls Basketball 

Ruby Harris, Indie Hunt, Grace Kinder, Bonnie McClay, Ruby Morrison, Ruby Rigney, Bella Swan, Molly Wilcox

Results/Ladder https://satis.com.au/sports/basketball/

• Year 8 Girls Basketball 

Piper Bradley, Bessy Brereton, Annabel Jones, Izabella Klasen, Emily Kull, Isla Sherwin, Ava Thompson, McKenzie Young

Results/Ladder https://satis.com.au/sports/basketball/

• Year 7 Boys Soccer

Elijah Abbott, Mark Ashlin, Ryan Bereznicki, Darcy Castle Roberts, Zackary Cox, Irmuun Delgermurun, Zander Hanson, Wyatt Hurd, Edward King, Campbell Leitch, Joshua Periera, Blake Pickett, Angus Twining, Thomas Webb

Results/Ladder https://satis.com.au/sports/soccer/

• Year 9/10 Boys AFL

Harrison Bones, Jackson Brain, Jasper Brereton, Samuel Cambridge, Sam Cordwell, Sean Coulson, Jesse Cowen, Nash Cuthbertson, Seth Denny, Archer Gill, Vincent Hall, Brady Harris, Shaun Kongwa, Joel Latham, Harry Page, Ryan Parry, Finley Piva, Bradley Scanlon, Roy Stevenson, Lucas Sullivan, Archie Watt

Results / Ladder https://satis.com.au/sports/afl/

SATIS SPORT – TERM 4

Term 4 brings more exciting sporting opportunities, to be opened shortly for registration. It is reminded that parents will need to register their child’s interest through Compass Events once registration is open. Parental consent is required, students can’t verbally sign up. 

Year 9 and 10 Girls Tennis

Year 7 and 8 Girls Tennis

Year 7 and 8 Girls Aussie Rules

Year 9 and 10 Boys Cricket

Year 7 and 8 Boys Cricket

Year 7 and 8 Boys Tennis

Year 7 and 8 Boys Volleyball 

Year 9 and 10 Boys Volleyball

TOUCH FOOTBALL 

If enough interest is received, SATIS have floated the idea of a touch football roster for Years 7/8 and 9/10. At this stage, all SATIS schools are seeking student interest to determine if running a roster is viable. 

Mondays Year 7/8 Boys and Girls

Wednesdays Year 9/10 Boys and Girls

If your child is interested and would like to put their name down, please see Mrs Skinner or email simone.skinner@catholic.tas.edu.au 

SOCCER BBQ/PRESENTATIONS 

TRIATHLON CHALLENGE 2023 

The Triathlon Challenge 2023 is coming for both Primary and Secondary students. Entries will open shortly, but please note the following event dates: 

Years 7-12 Thursday 30th November 

Years 3-6 Friday 1st December

NINJA WARRIOR

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE

We have been fortunate to have Rhi Headley (rhibloom.com) visit St Aloysius Catholic College in Term 2 and work with our 7-10 Visual Art students. Rhi began by demonstrating observational sketches using specimens borrowed from the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery as well as various botanical flora. Numerous techniques were taught such as frottage, continuous line drawing, contour lines, double lines, and feathering.

Year 7 and 8 Art students are now planning and installing their work around the school on glass windows using paint pens. Students were required to write a proposal which was sent to the relevant teachers for permission. Stay tuned to see the results.

Year 9/10 have been lucky enough to work collaboratively with Rhi to design a mural which is located at the entrance to the Art room.

CHILDREN'S DAY

On Friday, 4th August we celebrated National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day at our Junior Campus.

74 proud, young palawa students visited the Sisters of Charity Centre throughout the day where they received best wishes for a happy day from the College Principal and Deputy Principal.

The students were given the opportunity to play inside a mini, traditional bark hut. They had fun decorating the inside with feathers and imagined sleeping overnight in the shelter.

The theme for Children’s Day in 2023 is “Little Voices, Loud Futures”.

St Aloysius Catholic College is grateful to local palawa artist Danny Gardner for making the sensational, mini bark shelter for all students to enjoy into the future. The hut provided a perfect background for the children as together they read Little J & Big Cuz’s story ‘The Stormy Night’ by palawa author Adam Thompson.

NAIDOC WEEK ART

Many classes celebrated NAIDOC Week by making art. Here are some photos of various displays from both Campuses. 

HOMELESSNESS AWARENESS

Last week was Homelessness Week and a number of our students attended the Vinnies Homelessness Awareness Breakfast, at the Domain, where they heard about the issues facing many in our community. 

Coming up soon, we have over 30 students signed up for our annual Vinnies Sleepout where they will be able to get a glimpse into some of the challenges facing thousands of people in Tasmania each night who do not have a secure place to sleep.

VINNIES WINTER APPEAL

Thank you to all of our College families for your generous donations to the Winter Appeal in 2023. Once again, we filled the truck! Your donations along with the fundraising efforts of our Vinnies leaders will go towards helping Tasmanian families doing it tough this year.

SENIORS RETREAT

The end of Term 2 saw our first Senior Students’ Sisters of Charity Street Retreat which took place in both Hobart and Sydney simultaneously. Our Hobart students had the chance to go on a bus tour of Hobart with CET’s Leanne Prichard visiting sites of significance to the Sisters including the waterfront, Female Factory, St Mary’s Cathedral and Cornelian Bay Cemetery. In Sydney, Sr Anne Taylor guided students and staff around Kings Cross, past St Vincent’s Hospital to the waterfront and on to Parramatta Female Factory. There were tens of thousands of steps clocked as we learned more and more about the history of the Sisters and their legacy today, especially in health and education. Participants of both retreats had the opportunity to delve further into social justice issues and support with a visit to Vinnies and the Migrant Resource Centre in Hobart; and in Sydney a $10 meal challenge, visit to the Jewish Museum and an ‘Urban Walk’ tour of Kings Cross with an incredible guide Andrew, hearing first-hand about the challenges of drug addiction and homelessness.

The 3 day trip turned into 4 with cancelled flights for our Sydney cohort but, resilient as they are, a trip to the footy was organised and a 24 hour delay including a 4 hour stop-over in Melbourne wasn’t too bad…

This retreat was an incredible experience for all those involved and no doubt will stay with them for a long time to come!

SYDNEY STREET RETREAT

HOBART STREET RETREAT

CATHOLIC EDUCATION WEEK MASS

Many thanks to Craig Deayton, Polly Marriott, James Wright, Janelle House and Maggie Sandric for accompanying our students to the Cathedral for last week’s Catholic Education Week Mass.

Catholic Education Week celebrations are an important part of recognising the contribution made to the lives of over 16,500 students across Tasmania. 

The Mass was a wonderful celebration of the strength and life of Catholic education in Tasmania and it was fantastic to have St Aloysius student representatives from all levels: Junior, Middle and Senior school.

ST ALOYSIUS FEAST DAY UPDATE

The College Faith, Identity and Culture Team, along with student leader support, have proposed that the money raised from this year’s St Aloysius Day Middle Campus sausage sizzle be put towards the charity, Beyond Blue. As St Aloysius responded to the health troubles of his time it seemed fitting to support a mental health charity when the need in our society is so great.

As well as supporting financially, the College also sought to raise awareness by supporting ‘Shorts Day’ for Speak up Stay ChatTY on the 22nd June, the day after our Feast Day and the shortest day of the year.

BLACK SQUARE CHESS – ST ALOYSIUS CHESS PROGRAM

SANDY BAY ROWING CLUB – LEARN TO ROW

The Sandy Bay Rowing Club are inviting St Aloysius students along to their "Junior Learn to Row Program"! Where students 13 years and older can come along and try rowing for 4-6 weeks. During these sessions they are taught basic rowing techniques on and off the water.  There is a cost of $100 for the program to cover Rowing Tas and SBRC insurance, at the end of the program they can decide if they would like to join up to full membership and this $100 comes off their fees.  

You will initially join up as a club member, but you are given the opportunity to row under the name of your school at the school regattas once the club season is complete.  

LITTLE ATHLETICS FREE COME AND TRY DAYS 

KINGBOROUGH COUNCIL BBQ & BEATS

Every Friday afternoon during term 3 there is a free BBQ for young people on the Basketball Court at Kingston Park, 3pm - 4.30pm with the Youth Beat team from Mission Australia.  BBQ, Youth Services, music, games and activities!  All welcome.