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Every parent knows the feeling. When their child is born, the world stands still. The problems and worries that beset us in our everyday lives shrink away and vanish and the wonder of creation, the endless possibilities, the promise and hope of new life breaks like dawn over the earth.
That such an everyday occurrence should be at once so beautiful and so spiritual, (not to mention noisy, painful, and traumatic also!) and should be something that doesn’t lose its uniqueness and importance despite the countless millions of births, is so remarkable, so miraculous.
The season of Advent commences on Sunday, 3rd December. It is a time when we prepare for the time when God himself was born to the world in the humblest of circumstances, to the humblest of people, in the humblest of places. For all expectant parents, the final weeks of waiting for the birth of their child is an unforgettable time. Advent is that time for the Church and her people. As we at St Aloysius come to the end of this year, we return to the beginning of everything and prepare for the celebration of God among us.
Christmas is the sign to us of the ultimate love of God and the challenge to us as Christians to bring that love and peace to the world. Dare we dream of a world where peace, joy and goodwill to all is the reality for all time?
At this joyous time and on behalf of all in our community, I wish you and your family every happiness and blessing this Christmas.
Parish and College Fair – WHAT A DAY!
It was worth the wait. Our last Fair at St Aloysius was in 2019 and my last Fair as a Principal was in 2016 at Sacred Heart College. Unfortunately, a Fair wasn’t on the calendar at Guilford Young College in my time there. But for the previous 22 years as a principal, they were a regular and very welcome community event each year for me at Star of the Sea College in George Town and at MacKillop and Sacred Heart Colleges here in Hobart. There is something all fairs have in common (and it's not Fairy Floss). What they all share is the enormous dedication, commitment and hard work of our Fair Committee and all the volunteers that carry on their work in the days and weeks leading up and on the great day itself. It was indeed a great day.
My sincere thanks to Rod Street and his Team, to Father Mike and the Parish Council, to all our volunteers and stall holders and to all our parents and guests who turned up to make it such a brilliant event. Special thanks to Jane Baker (our WHS and Facilities Manager) for all her detailed and very generous work on the event and to the staff volunteers who turned up for another day of work when they’ve worked so hard already this year. Finally – to our students, for whom all that work was done, those who helped as volunteers, those who turned up to spend their money and to all who turned up to have fun – thank you for making the return of the Fair at St Aloysius such a joyous day.
Uniform Trial Survey
The survey on the Uniform Trial is now LIVE. We hope to have the results ready to publish in our final Newsletter for the year in December. Please take a few moments to give us your thoughts on the trial – it will be a great help to the new Principal as he takes up his appointment in 2024.
You can find the survey on this link:
Parent Forum 3 – Tuesday, 28th November, 5pm
The final Parent Forum for 2023 will be on Tuesday, 28th November commencing at 5.00pm in the Drama Room at the Middle Campus. This will be a further opportunity for parents to raise issues of interest or concern. The Uniform Trial Survey was released last week, and the results will be available for discussion at the meeting.
Parents and Friends Meeting – Tuesday, 28th November, 6pm
Following our Parent Forum on Tuesday, 28th November, we will move straight into our November Parents and Friends meeting. If you are coming for the Parent Forum, we’d love to see you stay on and join us at the P&F. There will be plenty to discuss and review and plan for 2024. One of my goals for this year is to support the P&F to grow and thrive along with this growing and thriving College and to build the already outstanding social capital of the St Aloysius P&F Association. Our P&F is a huge asset to the College (particularly when so many schools have lost this connection) and one I’m very sure the new Principal will be delighted to support. Come along and help us build for the future!
Mobile Phone Policy
If there is one consistent and growing concern that is shared by all school educators and parents it is the social, emotional, and educational cost of having mobile phones so ever-present in schools. Not only do their cameras represent a threat to privacy, but the various social media apps and other aspects of phone use are an enormous distraction to learning and, at times, actively harming our children and young adults. Mobile phone applications are built around an advertising business model that trades on the user’s attention and they are specifically designed to be addictive and to keep the user scrolling and responding to alerts. At worst, they can become an addiction as powerful as any other. There are some benefits, but they are vastly outweighed by the costs. I would like to start a conversation with everyone in our community about a mobile phone policy as we prepare for 2024. This is a complex issue and I know that it is very unlikely that we will have complete consensus on any future policy but, as Principal, I firmly believe that it is time for a new approach to this problem. Do students need a mobile phone at school? No. Are they convenient for all students and even essential for a small number? Yes. Can they cause harm to educational performance and emotional welfare? Unquestionably yes. If you are interested in this issue, please come along to our Parent Forum at 5.00pm on Tuesday, 28th November at the Middle Campus where the conversation (which we have commenced with our staff) can continue with our most important educators – our Parents.
Bullying – No Way!
As we come into our final fortnight, I will be speaking with all students about a new program at St Aloysius to commence in 2024. This program is sponsored by the Australian Government and targets the issue of bullying in school communities and provides resources and guides for schools and students. You can find more information here: Bullying No Way
We will be embracing this program in 2024 and commencing with a College wide anti-bullying survey for all students in December this year. This will be a regular feature at St Aloysius College from this December on and we will be conducting at least twice yearly (more if necessary) Anti-Bullying surveys with all students in Years 5-12 (and similar age-appropriate approaches for lower primary and early years children). These anonymous surveys provide important insights into our College welfare climate and will provide an opportunity for students and parents to tell us how we are doing in combating bullying and identifying where and with whom we need to take action. If you have any questions about the new program, the surveys or our approaches to combating bullying, please don’t hesitate to contact me at the College by phone or email.
From the National Office for Child Safety
The National Office for Child Safety recently launched ‘One Talk at a Time’, a national awareness raising and behavioural change campaign on child sexual abuse.
One Talk at a Time aims to protect children and young people from sexual abuse by helping adults understand that child sexual abuse is preventable and encouraging them to have ongoing, proactive, preventative conversations with children, young people and other adults in their lives.
The campaign is a key measure under the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse 2021-2030 and fulfils a recommendation of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
Year 11 Enrolments 2024
We have had a steady stream of enrolment enquiries for Year 11 over the past weeks and our numbers are growing for 2024. If you would like more information, please contact our Deputy Principal (9-12) Mrs Emma Puszkar or our College Enrolment officer, Mrs Melissa Dance, for more information on Year 11 courses and enrolment options.
God bless and best wishes to all in our community for the remainder of the year.
Mr Craig Deayton – College Principal
New Enrolments
We are still accepting Enrolment Applications for 2024 in:
- Kindergarten
- Year 7
- Year 11 and 12
- Other Years – subject to student movement and availability
We are now taking Expressions of Interest for 2025. You can complete an expression of interest form on the College website HERE and the enrolment process will begin early in 2024.
- Enrolments for Year 7, 2025 are due on Thursday, 21st March, 2024
- Enrolments for Kindergarten, 2025 are due on Friday, 10th May, 2024
Please do not hesitate to contact our Enrolment Officer, Melissa Dance, should you have any questions regarding enrolment, via email sacc.enrol@catholic.tas.edu.au or phone 6229 0108.
Notice of Student Withdrawals
Key Dates for the remainder of 2023
*please refer to the College Calendar for full details
| Friday, 24th November | JC Disco Day and Year 4 Silent Disco |
| Monday, 27th November |
Year 10 Exams Year 8 Camp week Year 9 Camp week |
| Tuesday, 28th November |
Parent Forum 5pm P&F Meeting 6pm |
| Friday, 1st December |
Year 10 Final Day Liturgy and Awards Ceremony Year 10 Students conclude |
| Wednesday, 6th December |
Year 3/4 Mass Year 6 Mass Reports uploaded to Compass |
| Friday, 8th December | Year 5 - Year 9 Students conclude |
| Thursday, 14th December | Kinder - Year 4 Students conclude |
| Friday, 15th December | Staff conclude |
Key Dates for the Beginning of 2024
*please refer to the College Calendar for full details
| Saturday, 3rd February | NEW Senior Campus Open Day |
| Tuesday, 6th February | Year 5, 7 and 11 commence |
| Wednesday, 7th February | Kinder (Blue and Green), Prep and Years 1, 2 ,3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10 commence |
| Thursday, 8th February | Kinder White commence |
| Monday 12th, February | PUBLIC HOLIDAY |
| Thursday, 15th February | Parent Information Evening and BBQ |
2023 Yearbooks
Our 2023 Yearbooks will be going to print in January 2024 and will be handed out on the first day of school for 2024.
This is an exciting change for us here at the College and means that we will be able to include all of our Term 4 Camps and activities as well as celebrate all of our End of Year Award winners.
Yearbooks will be gifted to all 2023 Year 10 and 11 students. All other families that wish to receive a Yearbook will need to purchase one via Qkr! for $30.
Students that are leaving the College will be able to collect their Yearbooks from the College Office, have them sent home with a younger sibling or purchase postage through the Qkr! App for $10.
If you have any questions regarding the process or your Yearbook order please contact our Marketing and Communications Officer, Georgia, via email sacc.marketing@catholic.tas.edu.au
Student Bus Fare Increase
- The full student fare will increase by 10 cents on 1st January 2024
- If you use cash for a single trip ticket, the new fare will be $2.00
- If you use a smartcard or purchase a 10-trip ticket, the new fare will be $1.60
- Smartcards like Greencard and Transportme can be topped up online
- You can buy a 10-trip ticket for $16.00 from the bus driver
- It costs the same on every trip – it doesn’t matter how far, where, or when you go
- Bus routes that travel only in a rural area, to the local school, don’t charge a fare
Some students can travel or transfer between buses for free. You may be eligible for a Student Bus Pass for Free Travel if you are:
- listed on a Health Care or Pensioner Card
- travel wholly within the rural area where there is only a fare charging service
- must use more than one bus between home and school and/or school and home
- are under a Care and Protection Order.
The student fare last increased in 2022. This fare increase is set by government policy.
For more information contact Passenger Transport (9am to 5pm weekdays): 6166 3343
It has been an exciting time at the Junior Campus over the past few weeks.
Breakfast Club
We have had our Breakfast Club return which has been a huge hit with our students. They have been filling up with toast and juice, on a Friday, ready to bring on a big day of learning. A huge thank you to all staff who have helped especially Will Jacobson who has been running the Breakfast Club with the help of many. This is a great initiative that has so many benefits for our students and their learning.
Grandparents Day
Last Friday, we had the privilege of having our grandparents and special friends visit the Junior Campus and see all the great things our students do every day in their classrooms. It was great to see the fun photos being taken in our photo booth, and all culminated in a fantastic dance performance by our Junior Campus Dance Troupe. The group was led by Andrea Reece and Grade 10 student Tayla Gray who helped our students perform several brilliant dance routines for our grandparents and special friends.
Kinder Orientation
Over the last few weeks, we have also had the privilege of welcoming our new kinder
students as a part of their transition to the College. Each student will come on three separate occasions to help with their transition and, at the same time, we have had the opportunity to be able to spend time with our Kinder parents to provide information about our Kinder program and how, in partnership, we can make next year a wonderful first year of schooling at St Aloysius Catholic College.
Thank you
Finally, I would like to thank all our parents and staff of the Junior Campus who assisted in our wonderful College Fair. It was a wonderful day which could not have happened without all their help. A special thank you to our Kinder students who did a wonderful job in the Pedlar’s Parade.
Mr Bradley Canning – Deputy Principal, Junior Campus
Senior Campus Update
Exciting times are on the horizon at St Aloysius Catholic College as we approach 2024 and prepare ourselves for a whole new era of education at the College.
The finishing touches are being added to 50 Huntingfield Avenue and we can not wait for our Year 9-12 students to start their 2024 year in our new Senior Secondary Campus.
The new campus houses a range of first class specialist facilities including physics and chemistry labs, art rooms, digital technologies and practical technologies labs, a library, VET Hospitality centre and the spectacular central gathering space. There are break out spaces, a sacred space, a Year 11/12 common room, a beautiful cafeteria and stunning outdoor spaces.
The building and fit out is 99% complete and we are making final provisions for furniture and lockers.
All of our Year 8-11 students have toured the new campus. During the tours they have been asking great questions and have been very enthusiastic about the new spaces – indoor and out. In the coming weeks we will be offering our 2024 Year 11 cohort another opportunity to visit their new home.
Students are becoming well-versed on the route and timing of the walk between campuses as we expect some student and staff movement between Middle Campus and Senior Campus to access course facilities, as well as accessing buses on Middle Campus.
Year 5 Camp – Hagley Farm
Early in November, Year 5 headed off in two separate groups to Hagley Farm School for their annual Camp.
On the first day of camp we went for a tractor ride and we learnt about cows, sheep, and farm life in general. We got to find out more about the wool industry, we herded cattle and we even got to weigh calves. That night we had a swim in the Hagley Farm pool, which everyone enjoyed.
On the second day of camp we got to do many activities including making butter and bread, learning about wool spinning and making candles. We went down to the “Olde School,” and dressed up in colonial costumes and we learned about school in the 1800’s and how different it is to now. Later in the day we looked at the church that was started by the founder of the school. Some students then enjoyed cooling off under the sprinkler.
On our way home we stopped in Launceston at the Planetarium and learnt about the solar system.
Overall camp was a very fun and chill experience!
Grandparents’ and Special Persons’ Day
On Friday, 17th November we welcomed Grandparents and Special People to our Primary classrooms to share our learning and school experiences. This year we were unable to accommodate Grandparents and Special People in classes above Year 6 due to preparations for our College Parish Fair and the exciting move to our Senior Campus.
We look forward to welcoming our Grandparents and Special People to our THREE campuses in 2024.
Billy and Andrew Blackett
On Thursday, 2nd November, College Alumni Billy Blackett, hot off the back of his Rhodes Scholarship Award, visited our Year 9 and 10s to follow on from a presentation he gave to all of our Middle Campus students in Term 3, about how to make the most of opportunities in life and get involved in giving back to the community. In 30 minutes our Yr 9s and 10s had formed groups, identified their own passions and put a rough plan together to form a community activity day incorporating their ideas!
Andrew Blackett (Billy’s Dad) followed this up in Yr 9 and 10 Religion Lessons by exploring the idea of service, volunteering and responding to the needs of others in the community, particularly through the Eddie Rice program. He shared with our students the ‘Alternative Model of Youth Ministry’ with service leading to connection and making meaning of life, to discernment of spirituality, and to faith community involvement. Andrew captivated students with his humour and engaging personality, leading to students reflecting on and identifying their own capabilities and whether they are one of the 5% who when they see a need, act upon it. An invitation was sent to Year 9s and 10s and their families to find out more about the Eddie Rice program and local opportunities for participation.
Just Leadership Days
A small number of our Year 5, 7 and 9 students recently had the opportunity to mingle with students from other Catholic schools and attend a Just Leadership Day run by Leanne Prichard from the Catholic Education Office along with Elle Bates, Vinnies Youth Engagement Officer and Kevin Meese from Catholic Mission who travelled down from Victoria to attend the Senior Day.
Students learned about leadership by exploring the qualities of a great leaders and looking at examples such as Pope Francis, Greta Thunberg, Martin Luther King Jnr, Malala Yousafzai, and their own teachers and role models. There was information on the major charities we fundraise for as Catholic schools as well as interactive games and quizzes so that students could mingle and get to know one another. In the end each group shared their own successful fundraising and awareness raising ideas and planned for events they could run in their own schools in 2025.
Applications Open for the eSafety Youth Council
Know a young person aged 13-24 eager to make a difference? Applications for the eSafety Youth Council are open! This unique opportunity gives young people a way to share their thoughts and experiences about online safety with eSafety and the Government, ensuring that issues that matter most to them are understood and addressed.
Year 3 'on country'
This week all Year 3 students went on a great adventure together to lunawani-allona/ Bruny Island. As part of their HaSS unit on ‘Change and Continuity’ the students learnt about traditional palawa histories and lifestyles. Guided by local Elder Uncle Rodney Dillon and his daughter Bron, the cohort visited a stone tool rock quarry site at Great Bay. The children eagerly searched the shore for stone tools and found many cutters, scrapers and pickers. We visited longwinny/ Murrayfield for morning tea and then continued on to the isthmus known as ‘the neck’. Here we climbed 234 steps to Truganini’s lookout, where the view was amazing! Uncle Rodney and Bron talked to the students about Truganini as well as traditional foods like shellfish and muttonbirds. Children spotted lots of burrows along the way. This annual Year 3 experience provides rich learning experiences for the students. The College is grateful to Uncle Rodney and Bron for sharing so much cultural knowledge with our young learners. The students are to be commended for excellent questions and respectful engagement.
Kelp Craft – a collaboration with College Arts
Year 8 Ceramics and Sculpture students are learning about woven vessels this term and have begun their studies by looking at examples of the world’s oldest. Our Aboriginal Student Success Teacher Ms McWatters taught the first lesson, showing students an example of a kelp water carrier made by Aunty Eva Richardson. Students learnt that bull kelp (the world’s longest and fastest growing sea plant) was traditionally used by Tasmanian Aboriginal women to make water carriers which could hold up to 5 litres. We invited local palawa woman Mrs Michelle Synnott in to bring some kelp and teach students how to shape the leaves of the sea plant into a ‘basket’. Thank you/nayri nina tu Michelle. What a unique, valuable learning experience for our students!
"In Year 8 Ceramics, we made kelp baskets. These vessels made from kelp took around 2 weeks to dry completely. The kelp was slimy and smelt very strong so it was a bit hard to work with but everyone got the hang of it and all the baskets turned out great!"
Charlize Hincks – Year 8
NETBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS – 7/8 GIRLS
NETBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS – 9/10 BOYS
DUKE OF EDINBURGH – MOUNTAIN BIKING CAMP
DUKE OF EDINBURGH – BUSHWALKING CAMP
On Monday, 6th November, Duke Bronze(2) successfully completed the Freycinet Circuit. Three days of hard work, determination and perserverance – well done to everyone involved.
STCPSSA ATHLETICS CARNIVAL
On Friday, 4th November, 64 students were selected to represent the College at the Southern Catholic Primary Schools Athletics Carnival held at the Domain Athletics Carnival. The weather conditions were testing for the students, with some showers and chilly temperatures. Regardless, they were able to produce some incredible results and should be proud of their efforts!
1ST PLACE
| Max Kull | 800m |
| Phoebe Twining | 100m Div B |
| Kallen Bennett | 100m Div D |
| Jasper Turner | 100m Div C |
| George Prevost | 100m Div D |
| Yusuke Dillon | 100m Div B |
| Toby Woolley | 100m Div D |
| Tom Rider | 100m Div C |
| Year 4 Girls Relay | Charli Skinner, Scarlett Wailes, Aryah Filipowski, Willow Jones, Lyla Harriss, Amelia Daniels |
| Year 4 Boys Relay | Cooper Gordon, Levi Ferguson, Jasper Turner, Kallen Bennett, Rueben McKenzie, Sam Verdow |
| Year 6 Boys Relay | Eddie Balfour, Tom Rider, Toby Woolley, Darcy Callaghan |
2ND PLACE
| Lachlan Vince | 800m |
| Charlotte Brereton | 800m |
| Maddison Fitzpatrick | 100m Div D |
| Lottie Crane | 100m Div A |
| Sam Verdow | 100m Div F |
| Cooper Gordon | 100m Div A |
| Amelia Daniels | 100m Div F |
| Phoebe Willis | 100m Div D |
| Isla Woodhams | 100m Div D |
| Juliet Rigby | 100m Div C |
| Aryah Filipowski | 400m |
| Sam Clark | High Jump |
| Lewi Thorpe | Long Jump |
| Year 3 Girls Relay | Lotti Crane, Phoebe Twining, Mackenzie Wolfert, Maddison Fitzpatrick, Koyuri Dillon, Natasha Suter. |
| Year 5 Boys Relay | Lachlan Vince, Yusuke Dillon, Mason Cordwell, George Prevost |
3RD PLACE
| Henry Swards | 100m Div D |
| Natasha Suter | 100m Div F |
| Rueben McKenzie | 100m Div E |
| Aryah Filipowski | 100m Div C |
| Scarlett Wailes | 100m Div B |
| Lottie Crane | 400m |
| Year 5 Girls Relay | Adele Bahr, Charlotte Brereton, Olivia Symmons, Phoebe Willis |
| Year 6 Girls Relay | Madison Cordwell, Erinn Smith, Juliet Rigby, Isla Woodhams |
| Lewis Thorpe | High Jump |
| Luke Mansfield | Vortex |
| Adele Bahr | Vortex |
| Scarlet Wailes | Long Jump |
| Tom Rider | Long Jump |
4TH PLACE
| Darcy Callaghan | 800m |
| Angus Brereton | 800m |
| Lyla Harriss | 100m Div E |
| Charlotte Brereton | 100m Div B, Long Jump |
| Adele Bahr | 100m Div A |
| Madison Cordwell | 100m Div A |
| Milo Barnett | 400m |
HUON AND CHANNEL ATHLETICS CARNIVAL
Just a week after the STCPSSA Athletics Carnival, a team of 44 students travelled to the Huonville Little Athletics Track for the Huon and Channel Athletics Carnival. Similar to the previous carnival, the students battled through some testing weather conditions, this time it was the heat. The Huon and Channel is always a busy carnival, with many events running at the same time. Some of our students run from one event to the next, with little time in between to recover. Well done to everyone who competed!
1ST PLACE
| Cooper Gordon | 100m Div A, High Jump, Long Jump |
| Phoebe Twining | 100m Div B |
| Scarlett Wailes | Long Jump |
| Lewi Thorpe | Shot Put |
| Adele Bahr | 100m Div A, 200m Div A |
| Aryah Filipowski | 200m Div B |
| Adelaide Taylor | 1500m |
| Lachlan Vince | 800m |
| Year 3 Boys Relay | Zavier Humphrey, Bodhi O’Neill, Easton Hoy, Henry Swards |
| Year 4 Girls Relay | Charli Skinner, Scarlett Wailes, Aryah Filipowski, Willow Jones |
| Year 4 Boys Relay | Cooper Gordon, Levi Ferguson, Jasper Turner, Kallen Bennett |
| Year 5 Girls Relay | Adele Bahr, Charlotte Brereton, Olivia Symmons, Phoebe Willis |
2ND PLACE
| Scarlett Wailes | 100m Div B |
| Max Kull | 800m |
| Lewi Thorpe | High Jump |
| Angus Brereton | 1500m |
| Lachlan Vince | 100m Div A, 200m Div A |
| Tom Rider | 100m Div B, 200m Div A |
| Madison Cordwell | 100m Div A, 200m Div A |
| Freya Lovell | 1500m |
| Charli Skinner | 200m Div A |
| Juliet Rigby | 200m Div A |
| Mason Cordwell | 400m |
| Kallen Bennett | 800m |
| George Prevost | High Jump |
| Matilda Reid | 800m |
| Adele Bahr | 800m |
| Year 3 Girls Relay | Lotti Crane, Phoebe Twining, Mackenzie Wolfert, Maddison Fitzpatrick |
3RD PLACE
| Zavier Humphrey | 100m Div A |
| Levi Ferguson | 100m Div B |
| Mason Cordwell | 1500m |
| Charlotte Brereton | 1500m |
| Bodhi O’Neill | 200m Div B |
| Phoebe Twining | 200m Div A |
| Jasper Turner | 200m Div A |
| Angus Brereton | 200m Div B |
| Max Kull | 800m |
| Olivia Symmons | 800m |
| Year 5 Boys Relay | Lachlan Vince, Jordan Lucas, Mason Cordwell, George Prevost |
| Year 6 Boys Relay | Max Kull, Tom Rider, Toby Woolley, Darcy Callaghan |
| Year 6 Girls Relay | Madison Cordwell, Erinn Smith, Juliet Rigby, Isla Woodhams |
4TH PLACE
| Lucy Lockwood | 1500m |
| Sophie Gray | Long Jump |
| Erinn Smith | Shot Put |
| Eddie Balfour | 100m Div A |
| Zavier Humphrey | 200m Div A |
| Lotti Crane | 200m Div B |
| Levi Ferguson | 200m Div B |
| Charlotte Brereton | 200m Div B |
| Eddie Balfour | 200m Div B |
| Adele Bahr | 400m |
| Jordan Lucas | 800m |
| Neve Windsor | High Jump |
| Charlotte Dale | Long Jump |
Inter School Horse Trials
On Sunday, 5th November, seven girls from St Aloysius competed in the 2023 Schools One Day Event. The girls did exceptionally well!
They were 2nd overall, 2nd in the High School section and 1st in the Dressage section, winning themselves a trophy, a shield and many ribbons!
CONGRATULATIONS to Aryah Filipowski, Zoe Eaves, Luci & Holly Larcombe, Taylah Coad, Chloe Daun and Grace Jones. We are proud of you all!
Sock it to Poverty
Each year we fundraise for Catholic Mission by ‘socking it to poverty’ with a Crazy Sock Day across the College. All gold coins collected on the day go towards supporting the work of Catholic Mission in education, health and disaster relief in some of the poorest countries in the world. This year we were pleased to raise $583.70 for this worthy cause.
Godly Play
Mary Aikenhead Ministries
First Eucharist
Exam Tips
With exams on the horizon for our Year 10 students, we encourage you to approach your study thoughtfully, plan ahead and be kind to yourself and manage your stress and nerves.
The key to exam success is balance! Sleep well, eat well, and stay active!
Read on for some helpful tips from our College Counsellor, Lorraine, and Mr Wright.
Managing Exam Stress
Exam stress is completely normal and very common. Enough stress can help you to stay focussed, motivated, and efficient. However, too much stress can lead to feeling overwhelmed, anxious and confused, “going blank” and unable to concentrate, and to experience a physical reaction. Negative and self-critical thoughts, catastrophising and perfectionism can interfere with your ability to concentrate and focus.
Stressful thoughts can sound like:
- "I always do badly in exams"
- "I'm going to fail. What's the point in trying?"
- "Everyone else is well prepared"
Monitor Your Thinking
When you notice unhelpful thoughts, find ways to challenge them. Ask yourself questions like:
- "What's the best thing that can happen? The worst thing? The likely thing?"
- "What would I tell a friend who was thinking like this?"
- "How would the most calm, rational, supportive person you know react to this thought?”
- "Is this thought helpful to me? Will it help me in any way?"
Leading Up To Your Exam
Make a plan of what you want to work on each study session. Break it down into smaller tasks and work on one task at a time.
Give yourself mini rewards once you complete a study goal.
Get a good nights sleep. Sleep is the time when our brains consolidate working memory into short term memory and short-term memory into long term memory. Sleep really helps. Don’t skip sleep to study!
Other practical tips you mentioned in your email here
- GET ORGANISED – make a study timetable, make lists, organise your notes.
- CHANGE IT UP – use a variety of study methods – paragraphs, mind maps, post-it-notes with quotes and formulas, record audio study notes to listen to on the bus or as you go for a walk.
- LOOK AFTER YOURSELF – physically, mentally and emotionally. Take breaks, nap, sleep well and make sure you stay active and social. Stress is normal and manageable! If you are worried about you – seek help!
- LIMIT TECHNOLOGY – print off your study notes and put your devices away!
- DURING EXAMS – read carefully, use all of the time, remember to breathe. Rest and look after yourself between exams!
- TEACHERS – your teachers are here to help – if you have any questions about study or a specific subject exam do not hesitate to reach out to your teacher.
If Overwhelmed During the Exam and Your Mind Goes Blank
- Breathe to calm yourself
- Close your eyes, take a deep breath and hold for a few seconds
- Exhale deliberately while dropping your shoulders
- Gently let go of tension in your body
- Repeat this 3 times
- think “I can do this”
- Open your eyes and focus
Keep It In Perspective
Plenty of people will tell you this – because it's true – exams aren't everything. Whatever happens in your exam, you can still be successful in life afterwards. So, if you don't do as well as you hoped, try to keep things in perspective.
Helpful Resources
Reachout.com Exam Stress Toolkit
- Stories and practical tips from students
- Checklist, action plans and tips about handling stress
- Secrets to study success
Exam stress | ReachOut Australia
TASC infosheet Managing Exam Stress
- Managing pre exam nerves and identifying what is normal and what is ‘too much’
- Exam ready resources
- Where you can get help
TASC Tips for Staying Calm
Some practical tips for staying C-A-L-M during written exams, helping you relax, stay positive and focused.
- Get Comfy
- Adjust your mindset
- Line it up
- Manage your time
Thank You!
A GREAT BIG THANK YOU to all the businesses, organisations and individuals who have supported the College and Parish Fair in 2023. Many thanks to the families, parishioners, students, teaching and support staff for your donations, support and time given before, during and after the Fair! It is most appreciated.
The final figure is yet to be finalised but it looks like we have raised in excess of $24000! This will be split 50/50 with the Parish.
Parents & Friends Year 4 Silent Disco
Final Parents & Friends Meeting for 2023
Please join us for the final P&F meeting of 2023.
