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WELCOME BACK! WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU
With the College Fair coming up on Sunday, 19th November and aware of all the work that has been invested by the Fair Committee and their band of volunteers, I want to express my sincere thanks to our St Aloysius College Parents and Friends Association and our parent community, as a whole, for the return of this fantastic community event and all that you do for us each year. I know also that I speak for all of my predecessors in the role of Principal in expressing my gratitude as we have, since our foundation in 1960, always relied on parent support in fulfilling our Mission. That the College is the wonderful and highly respected school it is today is due in no small way to the work of our very active parent volunteers, the Board, sports coaches, and the highly valued parental support we enjoy in the education of your sons and daughters.
As we commence our final term for 2023, I welcome back all students, staff – and especially parents – to the final busy, sometimes hectic but hopefully fulfilling and rewarding weeks ahead.
SENIOR EXAMS
We are nearing the exam period for our Year 11 and 10 students (7th November for our TASC 11/12 Exams and 27th November for Grade 10 Exams). I’m sure students will not be short on advice on how to manage their time and study routines. Please be assured that our teachers will remain available to help at any time over these final weeks. This can be an anxious and stressful time, and while some anxiety is to be expected (and beneficial), we don’t want that anxiety to be overwhelming or out of perspective. Our counsellors are always available with helpful hints on handling exam stress as are our pastoral care teams – Pastoral Care Teachers and House Heads. Rest assured – we are with you all the way and I’d like to wish all students every success over these final weeks.
SENIOR CAMPUS NEWS
Our Senior Campus is now 92% complete and is due for completion on 8th December. We will commence moving in on 11th December. We are in the process of assessing all furniture and equipment needs for occupancy of Years 9-12 with the smaller cohort for senior secondary considered. The Senior Campus project remains ahead of schedule for 2024. The projected growth of Years 9 and 10 to 6 streams (168 per year group). Based on 65% retention into Year 11 in the medium to long term, the projected enrolment for the Senior Campus would be 350-400 with Years 10-12.
We are planning an Open Day for all parents and students on 3rd February next year. This will be an opportunity to tour the new Senior Campus and view the outstanding facilities and grounds which our students will enjoy next year and beyond.
MIDDLE CAMPUS NEWS
As soon as we finish this year, the Year 5/6 demountable buildings will be dismantled and transported to our friends at MacKillop College ready for the start of the 2024 year. For 2024, Years 5 and 6 will move into the O’Loughlin Learning Centre which has a full suite of purpose built classrooms and break-out rooms as well as internal toilets which will be a significant improvement on the current classroom and toilet facilities.
JUNIOR CAMPUS PROGRESS
Planning to commence in Term 4 on building to accommodate an additional 3 three classes in 2025.
WELCOME TO OUR NEW BUSINESS MANAGER
Last week we welcomed Pam Cosker, our new Business Manager to the College. Pam joins us from her previous role at the Archdiocese and comes with a wealth of experience in financial management in senior positions in the Catholic system. We are delighted to welcome Pam to St Aloysius College, and I know I speak for everyone in our community in offering her every best wish and blessing for her new role.
RAIN EVENT
Last week’s rain event was the ultimate test for the new drainage and water management systems which were constructed at both campuses following the floods of 2019 and 2020. I’m very pleased to say that all campuses (including the new Senior Campus) passed their trials by rainwater with flying colours. We received no damage at all and the Senior Campus construction site – remarkably for a new build – handled the rain and drainage without a single issue.
BOARD MEMBERSHIP
The College Board fulfils a crucial role at the College, providing advice, guidance and support to the Principal and staff through their expertise and experience across a range of fields. The Board is charged with the responsibility of working with the Principal for our parents and students in strategic planning, ensuring a high standard of education and care, financial management and safety. We have three vacancies coming up for 2024 and I encourage all parents to consider putting their name forward or that of a suitably qualified parent to the Principal for service on the Board. All Board nominations are forwarded to the Archbishop for consideration and appointment and, as I mentioned at the outset in this Newsletter – parent involvement in the College is vital and service on the Board is one of those deeply appreciated and highly valued parent contributions.
TERM 4 PARENT FORUM
I’ll be scheduling the next Parent Forum in Week 5 of Term 4. This will be a further opportunity for parents to raise issues of interest or concern and we should also have the results of the first Uniform Trial survey to share.
UNIFORM TRIAL SURVEY
Week 1 of this Term was a formal uniform week and I’m pleased to say that all students did a marvellous job adapting to the new (trial) system. We held our first Formal Assembly for Term 4 during that first week and this was a great success.
The first Parent and Student survey on the new Uniform Policy trial will be released next week. I will be writing to all parents to again outline the goals of the trial and we will be doing some minor tweaking to the policy. Well done everyone!
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR VACANCIES ON THE CATHOLIC EDUCATION COMMISSION TASMANIA (CECT)
Nominations are sought for three ordinary member vacancies on the CECT for 2024. Nominations are welcome from people with the relevant skills, knowledge, and experience in areas such as education, legal, theology, finance, governance and government relations and who have the time to commit to this challenging and important role for Catholic Education Tasmania.
Nominations are due by the close of business on Friday 10 November 2023.
SENIOR DINNER
WORLD'S GREATEST SHAVE
The campaign was launched back in Week 7 by Mr Kay who shared Year 7 student Maddie Arthur’s story of her battle with leukaemia. At the time Maddie was over in the UK but shared a video message with the Middle Campus.
The final total was $10,813!!!
An unbelievable amount of money and a donation much appreciated by the Leukaemia Foundation. A representative from the Leukaemia Foundation visited students at the Middle Campus today in an assembly to share their appreciation for all the work and generosity that went into the campaign.
This campaign was a huge community effort, and it was so encouraging to see the different ways people contributed. Thank you to everyone who donated, gave up time to organise events or fundraising initiatives, or participated in the shaving/colouring/waxing! It was a positive experience for everyone involved and we hope the money raised can help the Leukaemia Foundation in their fight against blood cancer!
YEAR 11 – FINAL DAY CELEBRATIONS
STUDENT LEADER EXCURSION
STATE CHESS TOURNAMENT
At 6am on Monday, 30th October, St Aloysius Catholic College Primary and Secondary Chess teams headed to Launceston to compete in the State Chess Tournament. Sixteen secondary teams, a total of 107 students, and nineteen primary teams, a total of 109 students, were in attendance at Scotch Oakburn College for what was the largest State Chess Tournament ever held.
St Aloysius has not participated in a State Tournament since 2018. Our primary team consisted of five students from Year 5 and 6: Ashton Kiemele, Raphael Martini, Lachy Booth, Archer, Wass, and Lucas Rain. Our secondary team was made up of Year 8 students, and one Year 9 student: Logan Gathercole, Imogen Martini, Harrison Payne, Solomon Crowley, and Noah Cowmeadow. It was a fierce, tense, and challenging day of competition, especially for the Secondary team who were playing students up to and including Year 12. The Primary team had a little more success - at one point in the day we did begin to plan our trip to Adelaide to compete in the Nationals, but sadly, the team finished in the middle of the pack.
The team conducted themselves very well. When they lost, they did so with a handshake, a congratulatory comment and a smile on their faces. When they won, they acted with good grace and also gave a handshake and thanked their opponents for their game. While we may not have achieved the results we were after on the Chess scoreboard, the outstanding sportsmanship demonstrated throughout the day definitely made both teams winners.
It was a pleasure and a privilege for Miss Kelly and myself to accompany the teams. We are grateful to the students for their positive attitudes and outstanding behaviour, and to the parents who dropped them off so early, and picked them up in the early evening on return.
The team and myself are also very grateful to Ms Jane Baker for her oustanding organisational skills – our bus was organised, the risk assessments checked, and the Compass event was published, all by Ms Jane Baker. Thank you.
If students at any campus are interested in Chess, watch out for the notices at the beginning of next year advertising Chess Club. We meet once a week on both campuses and compete in the Kingborough/Huon regional tournament, the Hobart Regional tournament, and if we qualify, at the State Tournament. Chess Club is lots of fun and improves your chess game, but also provides the opportunity to meet new people and consolidate existing friendships.
Mrs Sally Broadribb
EXPLORERS – BUSH SCHOOL
Our SETUP for Success program, Explorers, recently held nature play sessions with a specific focus on understanding Aboriginal connections to Country. Palawa sharer of knowledge, Mrs Michelle Synnott, conducted the sessions in which the young children cooked wattleseed damper on an open fire, engaged in sensory play with kelp, practised threading to create shell jewellery and played inside the miniature bark shelter. Year 10 Childcare students attended the sessions and supported the young learners. Thank you/nayri nina tu Mrs Andrea Reece, our Early Years Coordinator, for organising such wonderful opportunities for the toddlers and parents who attend the Explorers program.
DUKE OF EDINBURGH
Last week, a group of 33 students from Year 10 embarked on their Duke of Edinburgh camp. They were blessed with incredible conditions and the students undertook a range of activities including:
- Canyoning with Cradle Mountain Canyons
- Mountain Biking from Sheffield to Railton
- Kayaking on Lake Barrington
- Hiking up Mount Roland
The students had a ball and learnt some valuable life skills along the way. Stay tuned for more Duke Adventures in the next College newsletter!
MATHS AFTER SCHOOL
ADF CAREERS – EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SENIOR STUDENTS!
YEAR 3-6 ATHLETICS CARNIVAL
YEAR 5/6 BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Year 5/6 Boys Division 1
Jay Bond
Max Kull
Archer McMeekin
Geordie Oakford
Harry Roudon
Lewi Thorpe
Lachlan Vince
Toby Woolley
Cooper Lorkin
Jordan Lucas
Hughie Palmer
Jye Meredith
Miles Nosworthy
Tom Rider
Lloyd Sergio
STATE NETBALL FINALS
TASMANIAN ALL SCHOOL TRACK AND FIELD
KIPLI TAKARA
All secondary Food Studies and Catering and Hospitality students have recently been learning about Tasmanian native foods and palawa bush tucker. They cooked with tinputina/kunzea, wurayni/wattleseed and lemon myrtle. To extend their understanding, some students are attending kipli takara piyura kitina-ta (food walks at Risdon Cove) this term. The bush tucker walking tours are organised by palawa kipli, a native food business and, the first ever Tasmanian Aboriginal catering company. Guided by the manager, Kitana Mansell, students walked the culturally rich landscape and along the way were able to taste native bush tucker currently in season along the track. The experience ended with a unique tasting of native flavours including smoked payathanima (wallaby) and white chocolate with tapu (pepperberry). Kitana from palawa kipli also visited the College, bringing tasting platters for our students to enjoy a modern take on traditional palawa foods.
TAKARA NIPALUNA
First Nation students in Year 5 and 6 recently attended an informative truth-telling performance called takara nipaluna/walking Hobart. Students were led on a guided walking tour of Hobart and its waterfront, retracing the steps taken in 1832 by 40 members of the Aboriginal resistance, as they progressed to the old Government House to negotiate an end to the Black War. Nunami Sculthorpe: a palawa/ walpiri woman, was an excellent guide. The school booking was made through the Theatre Royal, Hobart.
SOCK IT TO POVERTY
On Friday, 3rd November we are holding our annual 'Sock it to Poverty' Day!
Students are invited to wear crazy socks and bring along a gold coin for Catholic Mission.
Catholic Mission fund education, health and disaster relief in some of the poorest countries in the world.
FIRST EUCHARIST
This weekend we have our sacramental students for 2023 receiving the Sacrament of the Eucharist for the first time at 10:00am Mass on Sunday. We congratulate them on this important occasion in their lives. All are welcome to come and celebrate with them and enjoy morning tea afterwards in the Parish Foyer. A reminder that Children's Liturgy is on each week at 10:00am Mass on a Sunday as well. MAKE JESUS REAL (MJR) SESSIONS
Recently I had the pleasure of working with the Year 5, 6 and 7 classes and we explored the many ways we can be kinder at school and at home. We used the ‘Make Jesus Real’ workbooks to discover simple ways to be better. The year 7s looked at an amazing YouTube about an extraordinary man by the name of Zion Clark – why not look him up by googling Zion Clark AGT. He has overcome so many obstacles and the students and staff were inspired by his positive attitude and welcoming smile.
One of the questions I asked the classes was ‘Who back chats or talks back at home?’ Sadly, a large number of students put up their hands – some even thought it was funny which I quickly assured them that it definitely wasn’t funny and that it can easily become a hard habit to break. One student asked me what they can do to break this habit. Here are a few steps that families might undertake if this is a problem at home.
- I firstly stated that being a parent is difficult and children need to recognise this and appreciate that they can help alleviate the stresses at home.
- I said to the children a) ‘Who loves their parents?’ b) ‘Who wants to make them happy?’ 100% of the students answered YES to these questions.
- If they really want to break the habit, I advised the students to go home and ask the adults at their home ‘Can you please help me to stop talking back?’
- By recognising that they are doing this, they are half way to solving the habit. So parents/carers please sit with your children and work out a plan to stop this habit.
- Then reward them when they try and stop – work out a reward between you when you sit to discuss trying to break the habit.
I must say that all the classes listened so attentively and I pray that hopefully, what we spoke about will make them better members of a family, of a class and of society.
I also took a short breakfast session with some staff and we looked at a number of MJR concepts and sayings and focussed on how we GTS – GREET, TREAT and SPEAK to others. Again, it was super to be back at St Aloysius and seeing and hearing the positiveness from both students and staff.
All the best, Marty Ogle
IGNITE CONFERENCE
(Photo from Archdiocese online publication)12 Tasmanian students, including 7 students of the College, travelled to Sydney for the annual Ignite Conference from 29th September to 1st October. The conference included daily Mass, the opportunity to attend the Sacrament of Reconciliation, workshops, music, presentations and Eucharistic Adoration. St Aloysius student and Parishioner, Simon Macfarlane, is quoted in the Catholic Standard as saying it was an “uplifting celebration…the workshops were informative, inspiring, fun and I learnt a lot. The nightly rallies used stage lighting to penetrate the darkness, reflective of what was happening in the attendees’ hearts with Christ lighting up the darkness. The music was great too.”
PARISH YOUTH GROUP
Youth Group is back up and running on Wednesdays from 4:00pm-6:00pm in the meeting room under the church. With the Youth Ministers from 24/7 working to form new youth groups across the state, a new structure is being looked at with the older participants, many of our own student leaders, having the chance to rotate leadership opportunities within the group, under the guidance and support of Parish Associate, Maggie Sandric.
SPHERES YOUTH ALPHA
On Saturday, 9th September our Parish Associate Maggie and Fr Mike took a group of Year 9 and 10 students to a conference at the Abundant Life Church in Lauderdale called ‘Spheres’ by Alpha. It was a day of learning about student leadership in faith-based schools and how we can best bring programs like Alpha into our College community. Deep conversation and planning allowed the students to form a greater understanding of how they can be leaders in our College. Over the next 6 months these students hope to bring aspects of the Alpha program into our College Parish community to add to the life of our vibrant College!
WELLBEING WEEK
In the last week of Term 3, we celebrated Mental Health Week at the Middle Campus. We had a range of activities throughout the week. Our College Counsellor, Lorraine and her brother Mick, who is the Cripps Ambassador, presented a session which was a mixture of comedy and how to cope with anxiety. This session was a big hit!
Other activities included a lunch time Zumba class for students with a professional instructor, Tania, and having author and social worker Jess Sanders speaking to more of our students on positive body image. We had a staff versus student basketball match and a special assembly where we had students and staff participate in a Masked Singer event. These brave people performed a song in front of the middle campus and viewers had to guess their identities. We also had a pilates and meditation session, and a sip and paint session for staff and an evening of staff racing at Hyperdrive. Throughout the week we promoted lots of organisations and activities that can support our mental health. A big thank you to everyone who was involved in the week.
COLLEGE AND PARISH FAIR – SUNDAY 19TH NOVEMBER, 11.30AM-2.30PM
WHITE ELEPHANT STALL / CAKE STALL / SWEET STALL
TOMBOLA JARS
FAIR WHEEL
- Toys, games or books
- Fancy food items or alcohol that could be added to a hamper
- Homeware items, big or small
- Gardening or hardware items or tools
- Pamper pack Items
- Voucher from a local business
- The possibilities are endless!
If you can help please reach out to Yvonne Balfour y.balfour@bigpond.com or 0400 390 137. THANK YOU!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Thank you all for your support it has been AMAZING!
SAVE THE DATE – PARENTS & FRIENDS YEAR 4 SILENT DISCO
PARENTS & FRIENDS MEETING SCHEDULE FOR TERM 4, 2023
