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As we come to the end of the 2024 school year, I thank you for your support of St Aloysius Catholic College throughout the year. I have enjoyed my first year as College principal and am very grateful to be part of this welcoming community. Our students are taught and supported by passionate and talented staff. I have witnessed the many opportunities that St Al’s offers and, more pleasing, the many students taking up these opportunities. As a baseline I would like us to be a community that “turns up and has a go”. Whether that is academic, sporting or spiritual, we should strive to do our best, whether or not it is our favoured area. I feel that we have made progress this year in developing good habits, those little things that will assist us in achieving success. I look forward to continuing this growth with you next year.
As Christians, we entered into the season of Advent on Sunday. It signals the beginning of a new Church year but also a joyful period of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus at Christmas. Advent is a time of expectation, knowing what is coming but not being able to speed it up. In our material world, it is a busy time with gifts being bought and end of year parties and farewells being held. These celebrations are a time of joy but it can also be a bit much where we feel we are rushing from one thing to the next. If we let it, the season of Advent can be a period of reflection, of finding a moment of space in our busy world to reflect on our year and be grateful for the good and seek ways to move away from the things that were not so good for us, and also to see new possibilities opening up ahead of us.
Christmas is an ideal time for showing love for those in your family, and maybe even further afield, for others in need. My mother-in-law, who had a large family of her own, would invite people without anyone else to share Christmas with, to join her family. Her’s was a family without a lot of material things but a whole lot of love. Remember the gift of Jesus arriving for us at Christmas.
A teacher relayed a conversation to me that they had with a student questioning God’s existence. The student felt everything could be explained by science. Science is marvellous, it tells the how, but it doesn’t explain the why. I’m pretty interested in the why. Why the opening chords of a certain song can move me to tears? Why we know right from wrong? Why we exist? At a Catholic College, we would see Jesus as the Why.
Have a wonderful Christmas and treat yourself, and those around you, with kindness.
Mr Paul Reidy – College Principal
This year’s production has been underway for some time, and we will be adding material to it up to and including our final day of the year.
The publication promises to be a fantastic record of the year, encompassing all of our 1200 students, our 50+ co-curricular activities, our 50+ community service projects and over 100 representative sport teams!
Yearbooks can be ordered via the Qkr! App now, under the Payments and Subcripstions tab. Yearbooks will be ready to collect early in the new school year.
End of Year Events
The end of the year is fast approaching, and to celebrate the accomplishments of our students and Advent season, a series of events will occur at the Junior Campus.
Please see below for further details:
Early Years Athletics Carnival
Date: Wednesday, 11th December
Time: 8:50am - 10:40am
Location: Junior Campus Oval
Students in Prep to Year 2 will participate in sprint and novelty races. Family members are most welcome to attend.
Year 4 Awards Ceremony
Date: Friday, 13th December
Time: 1:45pm
Location: Sisters of Charity Centre
This event is for Year 4 parents and guardians to celebrate their time at the Junior Campus at St Aloysius Catholic College.
Kinder Nativity
Date: Monday, 16th December
Time: 12:00pm
Location: Sisters of Charity Centre
The three Kindergarten classes will perform a combined nativity for families and friends.
Prep-Year 3 End of Term Assembly
Date: Monday, 16th December
Time: 1:45pm
Location: Sisters of Charity Centre
Families of award recipients will be notified.
Junior Campus Nativity (Parent Show)
Date: Tuesday, 17th December
Time: 1:45pm
Location: Catholic Church of Christ The Priest*
Our annual nativity performance will continue this year with the Year 4 students presenting Straw and Order, a sincere yet age-appropriate take on the birth of Jesus.
*Please note we may need to move this performance to the Sisters of Charity Centre.
End of Year Reports
You will receive your child’s end-of-year report at 4:00pm on Friday, 13th December.
These reports are a summative evaluation of your child’s progress against their relevant achievement standards. I thank every Junior Campus educator for the time and effort put into these reports. Please take the time to sit with your child and celebrate their performance.
Staff Name Change
Mrs Lilli Brown, our dedicated Prep Blue teacher, recently changed her last name to Buchanan. She will now be referred to as Ms Buchanan, and this change will be effective immediately. All future communications, documents and correspondence will reflect this name change.
Year 4 Leadership, 2025
Year 3 students were recently provided applications for Year 4 Leadership roles for 2025. If your child would like to apply for a leadership role, please discuss the application form with them. Leaders for 2025 will be announced at the End of Year Assembly on Monday, 16th December.
Parents of successful applicants will be notified before the assembly.
Thank you to all of our community members for your ongoing support of initiatives at the Junior Campus this year. As staff, we do not always get it right, even with the best intentions. I know that I am a flawed human constantly striving to be better in all aspects of life. With this in mind, we are very grateful for your empathy and understanding during the highs and lows of a school year. As we move through the season of Advent, I pray that you find inner peace and happiness in the business of end-of-year plans. For those travelling abroad, interstate or locally this Christmas, enjoy spending time with your loved ones. God bless and take care.
Yours Faithfully
Samuel Morey – Deputy Principal: Junior Campus
Reflecting on a Wonderful School Year
As we approach the conclusion of another remarkable school year, it is the perfect time to pause and reflect on the journey we have undertaken together. This year has been filled with growth, discovery, and countless moments of joy and achievement for our Year 5 to 8 students. We are immensely proud of our students and their efforts, not only in their classrooms but also in the rich variety of experiences they have embraced. From engaging lessons that sparked curiosity and deep learning to camps, retreats, excursions, and incursions that fostered independence, resilience, and teamwork, it has been a year of incredible development. Our students have also excelled in extracurricular activities, showcasing their talents and passions in sports, the arts, and community service.
None of this would have been possible without the dedication of our wonderful teachers and staff. Their commitment to nurturing and guiding each student on their learning journey has been truly inspiring. We are grateful for their hard work and the positive impact they have made in the lives of our students. To our families and the wider parish community, we extend our heartfelt appreciation. Your support, encouragement, and partnership have been invaluable in creating a vibrant and caring environment for our students to thrive. Together, we have built a community grounded in faith, compassion, and shared purpose.
As the school year draws to a close, we give thanks for the blessings of this year and look ahead with hope and anticipation to what the new year will bring. We wish all our students, families, and staff a joyful Christmas. May this holy season be a time of peace, love, and celebration for you and your loved ones. We also hope you enjoy a safe and restful summer holiday, filled with relaxation and cherished moments. Thank you for being part of this wonderful journey. We look forward to welcoming you back next year, ready for new challenges, opportunities, and successes.
Mrs Nickie Birchall – Deputy Principal: Middle Campus
Year 6 Canberra Trip
Our second day of camp included the AIS and Questacon which were trip highlights. At the AIS, we were treated to a tour of many elite facilities, including the pool Ariane Titmus trained in before the Olympics. We also loved the games arcade, and many students spent nearly all their money at the Gift Shop. That day we also went to Questacon, where every room was filled with science including the colour changing chandelier in the main room and the earthquake simulator. Most people’s favourite part of Questacon was the huge zero gravity slide which was a 7 metre free-fall!
Highlights from our final day on camp included visits to the National Art Gallery and the High Court. At the High Court we got to see the first and third court room, which was really incredible because the public don’t normally see court room three. Afterwards, both bus groups drove through lots of different countries' embassies and some of the guards waved to us from outside the bus. After morning tea we headed to the Canberra airport where we caught a flight to Melbourne. We were in Melbourne for two hours, so we were allowed to buy dinner and go on a shopping spree. Whilst we were there some of us even saw LazarBeam! Afterwards, we hopped on a flight back to Hobart which didn’t arrive until 9:17pm.
Written by Neve Windsor and Isabella Chrestesen Barrett, Year 6
Year 4 to 5 Transition
Dear Senior Campus Families,
As we approach the final weeks of the year, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all of our students who have been working hard and achieving great things.
A special congratulations goes out to our Year 11 students, who have successfully completed their TASC exams. This is a significant milestone in their academic journey, and we commend them for their dedication and focus throughout this period.
Last week, our Year 10 students also completed their exams, and we want to wish them all the best as they finish up. Their hard work over the course of the year has been commendable, and we look forward to seeing many of them return in 2025 as they embark on their Year 11 studies. On Monday, we held our Headstart program, where students were introduced to their subjects for 2025. This is a great opportunity for them to get a head start on their Year 11 learning and begin preparing for the exciting challenges ahead.
Additionally, we want to extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the award winners at our Senior Campus Awards Assembly last week. It was a wonderful celebration of the dedication, effort, and achievements of our students. Each award recipient should be proud of their accomplishments. A special congratulations goes out to our Year 12 graduates as well. Their hard work, resilience, and commitment have led them to this significant achievement, and we are incredibly proud of all they have accomplished throughout their time at the College.
We would also like to wish our Year 9 students an enjoyable and enriching experience as they head off to Freycinet for their camp, this week. This camp is a fantastic opportunity for students to build teamwork, strengthen friendships, and engage in outdoor learning experiences. We look forward to hearing about their adventures when they return.
Looking ahead, as many may be aware, I will be taking leave during Term 1 and Term 2 in 2025. It has been an incredibly rewarding year at the Senior Campus, and I am truly grateful for the continued support from our families, staff, and students throughout 2024.
As we approach the holiday season, I wish all of you a very happy and holy Christmas, and a safe and restful break. We look forward to welcoming our students back next year for another exciting chapter in their learning journey.
Please be reminded that the final day of school will be Wednesday, 18th December and students will conclude the day at 12:00pm. We encourage students to finish strong in this final week, maintaining their focus and continuing to uphold the high standards we set together.
Thank you once again for your support throughout 2024, and I look forward to seeing everyone in Term 3 next year!
Year 12 Graduation
What a wonderful and momentous day it was as we celebrated our first-ever Year 12 Graduation! Ed, Raf, and Talia, have made their mark, and we are so proud of everything they have achieved at St Aloysius.
The day was filled with joy, reflection, and gratitude, beginning with a beautiful Mass, where we celebrated not only the academic accomplishments of our Seniors but also the community spirit that defines their time here. Following the Mass, all of Senior Campus students enjoyed an extended recess and sausage sizzle before moving on to our Graduation and Awards ceremony.
This was another highlight of the day, as students from Years 9-12 were recognised for their efforts and achievements. Our students also showcased their incredible musical talents, with performances that were nothing short of impressive. Special mention goes to our Year 12 students who received their Graduation Certificates, and commemorative candles, stoles and medallions as they officially closed this chapter of their school lives.
We want to extend a huge thank you to everyone who contributed to the day and those staff who have supported our students throughout their educational journey. As we bid farewell to our first Year 12 cohort, we want to wish all the best to everyone who is moving on to new endeavours and we hope that St Aloysius holds a special place in your memories.
KHH Giving Tree Opening
Our Year 4 SRC were guests of honour at the Official Opening of the Kingborough Helping Hands Sharing Tree in Channel Court. St Aloysius have had strong links with the Sharing Tree and were instrumental in its establishment 7 years ago, writing letters to the Kingborough Council to have it instated. Every Year 4 student has also made a clay decoration to adorn the tree.
Helping Hands have received over 300 requests, already, from families requiring assistance this festive period and feel strongly that no child should go without.
Vinnies Christmas Appeal
Our Vinnies Christmas Appeal is off to an excellent start with the Middle and Senior Campus students having a designated week each to bring in hamper and pantry items in exchange for wearing their sports unform for the day! This has proved to be a very popular initiative with full laundry baskets of items being collected daily! These donations will be packed by the Kingston Vinnies Committee and distributed to local families in time for Christmas.
We are still collecting donations at all three campuses. Here are some ideas:
Parish Feast Day
On Sunday, 24th November, the Parish celebrated the Feast of Christ the King with a combined 11:00am Parish Mass and barbecue lunch in the Sisters of Charity Centre. Live music was provided by some of our College musicians!
Mary Aikenhead Ministries pilgrims visit
Our Mary Aikenhead Ministries pilgrims were blessed with beautiful sunshine, between the showers, as they visited the Junior Campus convent as part of their History of the Sisters of Charity in Tasmania tour. These visitors from the mainland who are employees of Mary Aikenhead Ministries, in health and education, were very impressed by the College facilities and the birth to Year 12 opportunities and connections that we offer across the College.
Justice Action Days
A huge thank you to Leanne Prichard, Elle Bates (Vinnies), Maria Fracalossi (Catholic Mission), and Penny Edman (Caritas) for facilitating an engaging and informative Just Leadership Day for our Southern Primary and Secondary students.
After a looooooong bus journey in some terrible city traffic, our primary students enjoyed a lovely day with Maggie and Miss Stanfield hosted by Holy Rosary.
For the Secondary day, hosted at our Middle Campus, we were lucky enough to have representatives from across our 2025 student leadership team join in sharing ideas with three other schools and this was an excellent chance for them to bond as a group and start working on planning for fundraising, awareness raising and outreach for 2025. In fact, they were so enthusiastic that, at the end of the day, when the other schools had left, they headed straight down to the Principal Mr Reidy's office and after a quick rehearsal with his PA, Mrs Adams, they met him in the boardroom to put their ideas across! How's that for a quick turn around!
Sock it to Poverty
We socked-it-to-poverty raising $794 with crazy sock day on 22nd November. This money will assist communities in Mongolia, in particular children in care homes.
Remembrance Day
A Remembrance Day prayer service was held at the Junior Campus as well as PA Prayers at both the Middle and Senior Campuses. Utilising Vivi, a Remembrance Day screen was shown as the screensaver on all MC and SC televisions from 8:00am until midday.
Emma Callanan also accompanied two Year 4 JC students, Jacob and Laura, to a Remembrance Day Service at Kingston Beach where they laid a bunch of flowers.
Parents and Friends Trivia Night
Our Parents and Friends Trivia Night was a great community event with over 100 people coming together to show their general knowledge and (or!) have a great night socialising with friends!
Thanks to Dave and Scott for being fabulous hosts and to all those who contributed time or prizes.
Annual Mun Run Challenge
Year 9 Girls SATIS Tennis
At the start of Term 4, Emily Kull, Bessy Brereton and Alice Daley decided to sign up for the Year 9 SATIS girls tennis, with Mr Sutton as their coach.
The girls joined hoping to have an enjoyable time.
Throughout the weeks, we realised that as a team, we had great dynamic on the court. The team flew through all the scheduled games winning all but one, their skills have grown significantly over the weeks and they found themselves winning most matches 4-0. On Monday, 25th November, the girls played Fahan in the grand final. The week before at Duke camp, Emily had injured her ankle, so the girls got Heidi Doyle to take her spot. In the girls PE lesson they taught Heidi how to serve and play. Heidi was a natural on the court, winning all of her three games. The girls won ⅔ singles and ⅔ doubles. They won most of these games either 4-0 or 4-3.
With these results, the girls came out on top, winning the SATIS Year 9 Girls Tennis Pennant for 2024.
Emily Kull, Year 9
Congratulations girls on an incredible outcome!
Schools Triathlon Challenge
Artist in Residence – Tom O'Hern
Our mural at the Middle Campus is now complete! We are very thankful for Tom O’Hern and his guidance in this collaborative project, the end result is spectacular! Well done to all the visual art students involved, everyone’s participation has left a mark on our school for years to come.
Stay tuned, as we have another fun project planned with Tom O’Hern in 2025!
Teenage Boss – CASTING NOW!
Music Tuition
Kunanyi Connection
Nunami Sculthorpe Green, a palawa/Walpiri woman, guide and founder of Blak Led Tours, led 14 Year 10 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, along with their buddies, on a storytelling walk to Sphinx Rock on Kunanyi/Mt Wellington. Along the trail, students engaged in learning about different ways to connect to Country. They examined native plants up close, with Nunami explaining their traditional uses, and paused at rock shelters that revealed deeper ties to the land's history.
Nunami shared the palawa creation story, and offered us kunzea tea. The students learned about the palawa concept of ningina, which emphasizes respect and reciprocity with the land. This led to thoughtful conversations on how they could 'give back' to Country, enhancing their appreciation for sustainable cultural practices. The walk provided opportunities for learning, reflection, and connection.
This was an excellent tour that focussed on spiritual custodianship/stewardship and respect for Country. The College is grateful to Nunami, who demonstrated a rich understanding of palawa history and culture.
Year 3 Day Excursion to Lunawuni/Bruny Island
To enrich their understanding of Term 4 HaSS unit: Change & Continuity, all Year 3 students ventured out on a day trip to Lunawuni/Bruny Island. Visiting the traditional lands of the Nuenonne people, we were guided in our learning by Trish Hodge from Nita Education. Children learnt about
thermoluminescence dating and the ancient history of Tasmanian Aboriginal people living through multiple ice ages. The children enthusiastically searched for stone tool relics at the rock quarry. Finding crabs was a particular highlight for many and Trish helped students identify each species. The young students and staff learnt about a variety of different bush tuckers at the same site. After morning tea, we visited the isthmus where students learnt about yolla/muttonbirds. We climbed up to Truganini's memorial at the lookout and enjoyed spectacular views. The College is grateful to Trish Hodge for facilitating the day and teaching us so much new information.
We were so impressed by Trish's wealth of knowledge, not only about Aboriginal history but also science. For most students it was the first time they had heard someone speak to them in palawa kani (the language of Tasmanian Aborigines). It was a high quality, culturally appropriate, educational experience.
Year 7 Orientation Day
On Monday, 25th November our current Year 6 students welcomed those children from other schools who will be joining us for the start of their secondary schooling in 2025. The day included activities with our Aboriginal Student Success Teacher and Year 9 Palawa student Jesse and current Year 7 students Jack and Kane.
A highlight of the day was a guided tour of the Campus and were shown a variety of plants and trees that First Nation students planted four years ago. Children smelt the aromas of the kunzea flowers and eucalyptus leaves. They tasted the nectar of banksia and learnt how to make a traditional whistle from the blue flax lily. Jesse, Jack and Kane showed everyone a traditional yamina/grass tree fire stick, which we tried to keep alight during the tour. We also stopped to look at different art works around the College, including the mural painted by Reuben Oates in 2016. Together we sat around the sand yarn circle where children were welcomed onto this Country.
Rex Greeno: Memories through Sea Stories
If you are looking for something interesting to do with your children over the summer break, there is a fabulous exhibition at TMAG called Memories through Sea Stories.
It is an exhibition of works by Tasmanian Aboriginal Elder Rex Greeno - artist, fisherman, and maker of tuylini, ninga and pyerre (Tasmanian Aboriginal bark and reed canoes) - that tells a story of deep connection to culture, family and the sea.
Inspired by Rex’s life experience as a commercial fisherman Rex Greeno: Memories through Sea Stories shares a collection of drawings that feature life on and by the sea, his passion for traditional watercraft, and the sharing of Ancestral knowledge and skills passed through generations.
Rex was born and raised on Flinders Island off Lutruwita/Tasmania.
The exhibition opened on Thursday, 5th December and runs through until April,2025.
Congratulations to Jasmine Taylor (Year 8), Jasper Mason (Year 8) and Lewis Thorpe (Year 7) who attended the National All Schools Athletics Championships in Brisbane over the weekend.
And to Elsie (Year 4) and Adele Woodward (Year 6) who attended the National Primary All Schools Athletics Championships the weekend before.
Extra congratulations to Lewis, who received a bronze medal in the Mens U14 Javelin! What an incredible result on the National stage – well done Lewis!
Lost Property
We have a large amount of lost property items at each campus office. If your child is looking for a lost piece of uniform, prescription glasses, sunglasses, a lost wallet, a lost watch, a hat, a drink bottle, a luchbox, even shoes, please take the time to search our lost property buckets.
Valuable items such as glasses, wallets and watches are kept behind the counter, just ask our friendly administration staff.
Items not collected by the end of the day on Monday, 16th December will be donated to charity or placed in the second hand uniform borrowing cupboard.
Key Dates for October and November
*please refer to the College Calendar for full details
| 9th – 13th December |
Year 9 Camp, Group 1 |
| 13th – 15th December |
Year 9 Camp, Group 2 |
|
Wednesday, 11th December |
Early Years Athletics Carnival |
| Friday, 13th December |
Reports uploaded to Compass |
| Tuesday, 17th December |
Middle Campus Beach Day |
| Wednesday, 18th December |
Term 4 Concludes TASC results released |
Term Dates for 2025
2025 and 2026 Enrolments
Kindergarten, 2025 and 2026:
There are limited vacancies available for 2025 so please complete an expression of interest HERE.
2026 Enrolment Applications are 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, 2025 and 2026:
2025 and 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 – if you are planning for your child to continue their education elsewhere next year, you will need to withdraw their enrolment for 2025, otherwise, it will be assumed they are continuing at the College. To do this please email sacc.enrol@catholic.tas.edu.au.
This applies to students in all years that will not be returning to the College in 2025.
If you and your child are undecided and would like to have a conversation, please do not hesitate to contact either of the staff listed below for advice and planning:
Brad Canning – Deputy Principal: bradley.canning@catholic.tas.edu.au
Marcelle Ottaway – Careers Advisor: marcelle.ottaway@catholic.tas.edu.au
We are pleased to confirm that, once your child has enrolled at St Aloysius Catholic College, their enrolment will continue until they complete Year 12. This is unless you choose to withdraw the enrolment earlier.
