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We are already half way through Term 1! There have been many opportunities across a range of areas for our students already this year. Being people that turn up and have a go is always my baseline that I want our students to work from. You cannot show up and just make up the numbers, you have to be engaging in and actively participating in order for us to grow as a community and for students to flourish. As ever, I ask your support in encouraging your children to do their best in all activities, whether it be their least or most preferred. This assists in developing the grit that is needed to be successful in any aspect of life. In line with this, I ask that you be active in your interest in your child’s school life. The influence of parents on your child’s attitude to education cannot be overstated. Asking, “What did you learn today?” at the dinner table may seem a bit daggy, like it comes from a US sitcom, but it is saying to your child that you are interested in them and that school is important. In today’s digital age, we are all receiving so much information, much of it misinformation or, worse, disinformation, that it is difficult to know what is right and wrong. We have a crucial role in arming them with the tools in finding their way through this overload of information. Schools work in a trust relationship with students and families and, for our students to thrive, we need them trusting that we are working in their best interests. You can assist this by speaking positively about education in general and St Aloysius Catholic College, in particular. I am not saying that you will be happy with every decision we make or that we won’t make mistakes. You can trust that all decisions we make are with the students' interest at the centre of what we do. If you do have an issue, please contact the relevant person at the College and we can work together to resolve it.
Often we focus on education for preparation for work and this is certainly a key part of what we do, but education for its own sake has been crucial to our development as a society. As a Catholic College, St Aloysius seeks to develop the whole person, character, spirituality and personal development. The moral basis of Jesus' teaching seeks us to be empathic and compassionate to those in need. To look beyond what is in it for me. Looking at the world today, we need people grounded in these values more than ever.
St Aloysius Catholic College has a terrific staff, teaching and support, and we have a fantastic cohort of students from a wide range of backgrounds. I ask that you trust us and support the expectations of the College. Of course, from time to time, there will be conversations that will be challenging. We will always aim to be consistent and treat people with dignity and respect.
God Bless and Be the Good,
Mr Paul Reidy – College Principal
Showing the Spirit of Jesus at
St Aloysius Catholic College - Junior Campus
Long-standing families within Catholic Education would be familiar with The Making Jesus Real framework. Making Jesus Real, or MJR, was first imagined by Peter Mitchell, who many students and staff know as Mitch. Mitch has inspired many people to demonstrate the Spirit of Jesus to enrich the lives of others. Last week, Mitch met with Matt Gardiner and myself to discuss how we, as a community, can "show the spirit of Jesus”. Mitch reiterated that living Gospel values are not just something we learn in our Religious Education lessons; they are something we can live out daily, right here in our school and at home!
Here are some ways our students have been demonstrating the spirit of Jesus:
- Kindness: We've seen students helping their friends with their work and offering comforting words when someone feels sad. A simple smile or a "thank you" can make a big difference!
- Treating people respectfully means listening to our teachers and friends, using kind words, and treating everyone fairly, even when disagreeing.
- Helpful Hands: We've had students volunteering to tidy up the classroom, helping younger students in the playground, and even offering to carry books for their teachers. Every little bit of help makes our school a better place.
- Forgiveness and Understanding: We all make mistakes, and showing the spirit of Jesus means forgiving and understanding others. It's about remembering that everyone deserves a second chance.
- Being Thankful: Taking time to thank our teachers, friends, and family shows that we appreciate all the good things in our lives.
We've been so impressed with how our students embrace these values. It's wonderful to see their positive impact on our school community. We will continue to acknowledge students who demonstrate the spirit of Jesus at our upcoming Bugs and Bees gatherings and reinforce the message with every interaction we have on campus.
How can you help at home?
- Talk to your children about the importance of kindness, respect, and forgiveness.
- Encourage them to look for opportunities to help others.
- Celebrate their acts of kindness and compassion.
- Lead by example, showing your children how you try to live like Jesus.
Finally, I would like to take an opportunity to thank our incredible staff, who have worked tirelessly to ensure your child’s start to the school year has been a positive one. The impact our teachers have cannot be questioned, but it can be even more profound when we work together. Your continued partnership will ensure our children have a clear and transparent support network in and out of the classroom, allowing them to achieve personal success in 2025.
Yours Faithfully
Samuel Morey – Deputy Principal: Junior Campus
Welcome to Kindergarten at St Aloysius
Year 2 First Nations Excursion
This cohort of students visited TMAG last year. They really enjoyed re-visiting the permanent exhibitions, ningina tunapri and mapiya lumi. The College is grateful to TMAG for the loan of their CLD classroom space so we could sit quietly and sketch canoes. Thank you to the parent volunteers for their participation and support.
First Nation students in Year 3 will visit TMAG to see the same exhibitions on Wednesday, 19th March and Year 4 students will attend on April 2nd.
Explorers Launch
Come along to our new look Explorers for 2025!
We will be running one long 'drop in' style session from 8:40am-11:30am every Friday during term time. Come for as long or as short, a visit, as you like!
For more information contact grace.gardiner@catholic.tas.edu.au or call the Junior Campus Office.
A Wonderful Start to the School Year
As we embark on another exciting school year, it has been truly heartwarming to witness the energy and enthusiasm of our students as they settle back into school life. A special welcome to our Year 5 and Year 7 students, who have made a fantastic start to their journey on our Middle Campus. Transitioning to a new environment can be a big step, but their resilience, positivity, and eagerness to embrace new experiences have been commendable.
Getting back into the rhythm of school routines can sometimes be tricky, but our students have taken it in their stride. Their commitment to learning, their engagement in activities, and the kindness they show one another make our college a truly special place to be.
The start of the year has been a busy and vibrant one! Our Year 7 and 8 students showcased their school spirit at the Athletics Carnival, while our Year 5 and 6 students made a splash in their swimming events. The Year 7s have also enjoyed their Ready Program and camp, where they built friendships and strengthened their sense of belonging. Our Year 8 students took time to reflect and grow during their Reflection Day, and we have celebrated important milestones as a school community, including our Commencement Liturgy and Student Leaders' Commissioning Ceremony. The observance of Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday has reminded us of the importance of reflection, kindness, and living out our values each day.
One of the most inspiring aspects of these early weeks has been seeing our student leaders step up to take on their roles with confidence and enthusiasm. Their commitment to making our school a welcoming and inclusive place has been evident in the way they have led events and supported their peers.
As we move forward into the term, I encourage all students to continue embracing challenges, supporting one another, and striving to ‘Be the Good’ in all they do. An important part of this is ensuring that our school remains a safe and respectful environment for everyone. I remind all students of the importance of keeping hands-off play and respecting the safety of others. By following the college expectations and looking out for one another, we can continue to build a community where everyone feels secure and valued.
It is a privilege to be part of such a dynamic and caring school community, and I look forward to all that the year ahead holds.
Year 7 Ready Program
As part of the Year 7 Ready Program, Anne McWatters (Aboriginal Student Success Teacher) and Polly Marriott (Director: Mission) lead walks around the Peter Murrell Reserve, guiding the students in Care for Country and Care for our Common Home from both an Aboriginal and Catholic Perspective. Students were introduced to the concept of ‘dadirri’ meaning ‘deep listening’ as well as an ecological ‘examen’ prayer encouraging reflection on their experiences in nature. Presenters such as Dan de la Motte of Anchor Retreats, Leanne Prichard and 'Magic’ Marty Ogle of Making Jesus Real from the Tasmanian Catholic Education Office also ran sessions on Sacred Space, the Sacred in Me, and how we serve others. Thank you to Vinnies Hobart who loaned us their ‘Cost of Living’ life size Monopoly style game which was a huge hit.
Year 7 Camp
On Wednesday, 19th February we arrived at school with all of our luggage ready to depart for our first High School camp. We loaded onto the buses in class groups, dreading the long five hour trip ahead of us. There was a lot of chatter and excitement in the air as we headed to Camp Clayton, in Ulverstone.
At around midday we arrived at Cambell town for a break from the bus and to stretch our legs where we ate our recess and learnt how to read a sundial. Some people played on the equipment, climbed the tree log while others just sat enjoying the break. We loaded back on the buses after about an hour to continue our journey to Camp Clayton. The bus ride was still quite long as we were only half way. On the bus we started singing and this is where most of the memories were made. When we finally got to camp, we got our bags off the bus and assembled in the main hall to get given our groups and some basic information and rules about the camp.
After we were split into our groups, we gathered around our leaders ready for our first activity. Each group had a nickname. The nicknames were based on Australian animals so we didn't forget our groups. After our activities for the first day, were over we went back to the hall and we all sat down ready to find out our cabin groups. There were 8-10 people in each cabin. There was also 3 different areas where we were all sleeping. The boys had their own area and the girls were split into two groups.
After we split into activity groups, we raced to the events that were planned. The activities were archery, high ropes, rope swing, rock climbing, trampolines, zipline, and mini-golf. The high ropes were wires suspended around 12 meters in the air. They were obstacles along wire, and most only made it about half way along the top. The rope swing had most people screaming. You were harnessed to a rope and pulled up by your team to be 12 meters up in the air. After a count of three, you would pull the red string on your harness and suddenly drop and then swing, fun and exciting. The zipline was a lot of fun. You had to climb up a massive rock wall then zipline a long way down into the paddock. Everyone enjoyed themselves and some even faced their fears.
Camp Clayton was an enjoyable first high school camp experience. We made lots of new friends and learnt quite a few important life lessons.
By Marni, Kirby and Aoife in 7E.
Year 8 Reflection Day
The Year 8 Reflection Day set students up for a positive year ahead with the theme of the day based on Mr Reidy’s catchphrase “Be the good”. Mr Reidy started with an address to the students on why this phrase resonates so much with him. Students then took part in a rotation of activities including ‘to do good’ where they heard about the fabulous work of local Kindness Project ‘1000 Hearts’ and had a go at heart making themselves!
Dear Students, Parents, and Staff,
Firstly let me introduce myself, my name is Seamus Toman and I have arrived at St Aloysius from Ireland via Rockhampton, Queensland. I have been totally humbled by the welcome I have received from the students, staff and St Aloysius Community. I look forward to working with you and serving this community for many years to come.
So what has been happening on the Senior Campus? The year has started at a brisk pace, the Ignite Program has made an impressive start, the Athletics Carnival demonstrated the camaraderie and supportive nature of the students. The Opening Liturgy, Campus Assembly, and Ash Wednesday have all witnessed respectful behaviour from the students and this has been very pleasing.
As we cross the halfway point of the term, our focus now turns to academic achievement. Please continue to check in with your child and encourage them to work to the best of their ability. If you have any concerns regarding assessments and examinations, reach out to your child’s subject teacher. Education is a partnership, the saying “it takes a village to raise a child” resonates here. Let’s work together to maximise your child and our student’s time here at St Aloysius.
St Aloysius is a school that has a great sense of community. Part of that is wearing the uniform with pride and a sense of belonging. It is so good to see the students streaming into school in their formal uniform complete with blazers.
Once again, thank you all for a fantastic welcome and I look forward to working with you all throughout the year.
Year 9 Ignite Program
CLEAN UP AUSTRALIA
RAFT BUILDING
SURFING
SUMMIT WALK
From Gumnuts to Buttons
Each year our students in Year 9 learn about the impact of British colonisation on Indigenous Australians. This unit allows for an in depth look at the traditional lifestyles of the Palawa (Tasmanian Aboriginal people) of Lutruwita/Tasmania. Students also learn about significant Palawa people who lived during the early 19th century; an era of intense conflict that saw Tasmania’s First Peoples dispossessed of their traditional lands.
This year, our Aboriginal Student Success Teacher Anne-Marie McWatters was joined by Palawa knowledge sharer Adam Thompson, in teaching the young Year 9 historians. Adam brought in a range of cultural items including red ochre, kelp water carriers and stone tools, including spongelite. He shared his knowledge of people like Manalikina/Mannalargenna (Adam’s ancestor), the storyteller Wurati/Wooreddy and young Mathinna. Students were highly engaged in the lessons, asked questions and took extensive notes. Many sketched items during the lesson while they examined cultural artefacts and listened attentively.
Adam Thompson is an author and co-director of the first Tasmanian Aboriginal screen production company, Kutikina Productions. He worked for over 20 years in many different roles, with the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre. As a history officer, Adam has helped preserve his community’s history through research, recording oral history and collecting and cataloguing community photos. Selected by his community to bring home Tasmanian Aboriginal remains from the British Museum, Adam also negotiated the return of more of his people’s remains from multiple institutions across the United Kingdom. He has worked as a ranger on the Bass Strait Islands and coordinated statewide land management programs.
The College is very grateful to Adam for regularly coming into the College each year to help with the delivery of various History and English units of study, ensuring we include Aboriginal perspectives as a cross curriculum priority in our teaching and learning.
Commencement Liturgy
On Thursday, 27th February Years 4-12 gathered in the Middle Campus Courtyard to celebrate the beginning of a new school year and to Commission our staff and new student leaders. Once again we were blessed with beautiful weather. Well done to our Middle Campus band who performed with very little rehearsal time.
Project Compassion Launch
On Monday, 3rd March our Faith and Mission Leaders from Years 6-12 represented the College at the Launch of Project Compassion at Corpus Christi Church, Bellerive. Project Compassion is the major Fundraiser for Caritas, the second-largest humanitarian network in the world, which supports emergency aid and grassroots programs in over 200 countries and territories.
Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday
It was pancakes galore at the Middle and Senior Campuses. Thank you to all student leaders and staff who assisted with pancakes. And to those who waited patiently in line to buy one! Your efforts have raised almost $500 already for Project Compassion. That’s enough to build a toilets for a family in Samoa and provide rehabilitation devices to physiotherapists in Cambodia!
Thank you also to Fr Mike and Deacon Mick for their oversight of five Ash Wednesday prayer services across the College as well as visiting the Kinder and Prep students in their classes to explain the ash on our foreheads is a sign on the outside of the good we are trying to do in our hearts on the inside during Lent.
Making Jesus Real
It was an absolute pleasure to work with students and staff from Years 7 and 8,
using the Make Jesus Real (MJR) philosophy. We tended to focus on a new acronym MAD – Making a Difference (Just like Jesus). The students were extremely receptive in discovering how they can make a positive difference in their own lives and others lives at home, school and in the community.
Again, it was mentioned that the students still are back-chatting at home (and sadly a few at school) and that makes a negative difference. We also looked at making a difference to our planet and to our health. We actually spoke about taking care of ourselves and spoke about the impact of social media and especially ‘fads’ such a vaping. We looked at the acronym GATE – being GRATEFUL, APPRECIAITVE, THANKFUL & ENTHUSIATIC.
The students were amazing (plus their super staff) and we had a real ‘magic’ day – please ask them about their day with ‘Magic Marty’ (eg How was your day with Marty last week?) - hopefully, they will positively engage you with ideas about ‘Making a Difference’.
Marty Ogle – MJR Coordinator
Parish Sacramental Program
Do you have a child in Year 4 or above considering completing their Sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation and First Eucharist. The Parish program is about to start which, for each sacrament, includes roughly 2-3 hours of family activities either after school or at the weekend. This is a family centred, Parish based school supported program and is based on an experiential catholic lifestyle approach, rather religious instruction.
For more information, please contact Pauline.marriott@catholic.tas.edu.au or sign your child up here: Expression of Interest for Sacraments 2025
We are on the hunt for a new Parish Associate!
JSSATIS 2025 and beyond!
Secondary Athletics Carnival
On February 11 and 12, we opened the school year with our Middle and Senior Campus Athletics Carnivals, with our Year 7/8 students competing on day 1, followed by our Year 9–12 students on day 2. The weather went from a little overcast and drizzly for our Year 7/8s, with the Year 9-12’s battling the heat. Regardless, the students were up and about and we congratulate them for the level of participation and wonderful sportsmanship on display across all Year levels.
Congratulations to Charity House, who has triumphed once again, securing the trophy for the third consecutive year.
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During our Middle Campus assembly this week, we presented our Track and Field Champions as well as our Champion Runner-Ups for the Year 7 and 8. A special commendation goes to Lewis Thorpe, who broke the Year 8 Boys Javelin record with an impressive throw of 50.6m, surpassing the previous record by 20m. This one will be in the record books for some time!
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Track Champions/Champion Runner Ups |
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U13 Girls Track Champion |
Charlotte Brereton |
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U13 Girls Track Champion Runner-up |
Adele Bahr |
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U13 Boys Track Champion |
Angus Brereton |
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U13 Boys Track Champion Runner-up |
Lachlan Vince |
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U14 Girls Track Champion |
Freya Lovell |
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U14 Girls Track Champion Runner-up |
Olive Sherwin |
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U14 Boys Track Champion |
Oscar Pither |
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U14 Boys Track Champion Runner-up |
Seth Duggan |
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Field Champions/Champion Runner-Ups |
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U13 Girls Field Champion |
Adele Woodward & Grace Burton |
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U13 Boys Field Champion |
George Prevost |
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U13 Boys Field Champion Runner-up |
Flynn Mason |
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U14 Girls Field Champion |
Charlotte Dale |
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U14 Girls Field Champion Runner-up |
Freya Lovell |
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U14 Boys Field Champion |
Lewis Thorpe |
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U14 Boys Field Champion Runner-up |
Tyler Daun |
Please stay tuned for our upcoming Senior Campus assembly in week 9, where we will announce the Track and Field Champions and record breakers for Years 9-12.
Primary Swimming Carnival
On Thursday, 20th February our Year 3-6 students participated in the Primary Swimming Carnival, marking the commencement of the year's events for our primary students. Congratulations are extended to all our students who demonstrated remarkable enthusiasm and perseverance, stepping out of their comfort zones to achieve their best. Our Year 3 students deserve special recognition for overcoming initial apprehension and actively participating in their first swimming carnival, with their nervousness giving way to excitement as the day progressed.
Congratulations to the winning house, FIDES!
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We express our sincere gratitude to all contributors to the successful carnival, including staff, in particular Mrs White, the Year 10 students assisting, swimmers, and our dedicated parents who provided enthusiastic support and helped create a vibrant atmosphere.
Representative teams will be selected from our carnival results, to represent the College at JSATIS (Year 4-6) and STCPSSA (Year 3-6) Inter School swimming carnivals later this month.
Run the Bridge
Artist in Residence – Tom O'Hern
Work Experience Opportunity with Fairbrother
Key Dates for March and April
*please refer to the College Calendar for full details
| Monday, 10th March |
Public Holiday |
| Tuesday, 11th March |
SSATIS Athletics Carnival – selected students |
| Wednesday, 12th March |
Grip Leadership Conference – selected students |
| Wednesday, 12th March |
NAPLAN commences – Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 |
| Thursday, 13th March |
Year 10 NITA overnight camp – selected students |
| Monday, 17th March |
Year 8 camp rotations begin |
| Monday, 23rd March |
JSATIS Swimming Carnival |
| Tuesday, 24th March |
VET Information evening, Senior Campus, 6:00pm – 7:00pm SATIS Athletics Carnival, Launceston – selected students |
| Friday, 28th March |
Purple Day – Project Compassion Fundraiser STCPSSA Swimming Carnival |
| Friday, 4th April |
Kindergarten Open Day, 11:30am – 1:00pm |
| Wednesday, 9th April |
Gradparents Day |
| Thursday, 10th April |
Year 10 Reflection Day Term 1 concludes for students |
Term Dates for 2025
2026 Enrolments
Kindergarten, 2026:
2026 Enrolment Applications are welcome and due Friday, 9th May 2025, please complete an expression of interest HERE.
Year 7, 2026:
2026 Enrolment Applications are welcome and due Friday, 14th March 2025, please complete an expression of interest HERE.
Year 11 and 12, 2026:
2026 Enrolment Applications are welcome, please complete an expression of interest HERE or contact Melissa Dance, Enrolment Officer for further information, sacc.enrol@catholic.tas.edu.au or 6229 0108.
Current Year 10 families – your students current enrolment will roll over into Year 11 for 2026.
If you and your child would like to have a conversation about future plans, please do not hesitate to contact our Careers Advisor listed below for advice and planning:
Marcelle Ottaway – Careers Advisor: marcelle.ottaway@catholic.tas.edu.au
