黄色十大软件

This last edition of The Lighthouse for 2021 marks the end of another challenging year as we have navigated the disruption caused by COVID-19 and the associated uncertainty in our life. It is important not to dwell on any disappointment, but to celebrate that it was also a year in which there were many memorable experiences at 黄色十大软件. Certainly, the last few weeks have seen us finish the year strongly and students entered the period of final assessments with purpose and strong endeavour. We have also managed to include some of the large group rituals that are so valued because of their role in building collective memories. We also recognised the 60th birthday of the College with our bumper edition of Illuminare that showcased various aspects of the last six decades. We look forward with optimism that 2022 will see us return to the natural rhythm of the school year that we have so sorely missed.  

We also endeavour to reach out at this time of the year and show our support for our wider community through agencies such as St Vincent de Paul. Thank you to all who have contributed through our Wishing Tree, or other opportunities, to our efforts to share joy this Christmas. Thank you especially to our College Chaplain - Fr Dispin John - who gives so generously of his time to the students and staff of our College and has celebrated mass with us over the last week. As we enter our Advent Season we wait expectantly for the birth of our saviour and the joy this brings. I wish each of you a very Merry Christmas and a happy and safe holiday.

Celebrate Excellence @ Aquinas

Congratulations to all students who have achieved excellence this year. We look forward to acknowledging your achievements at our Excellence Evening on Monday, 28th February 2022. More information will come when school resumes. ATARs will be available for VCE students on December 16 and we will share a summary of these results at this time. We also look forward to sharing results of the atEast Awards for students undertaking School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships.

Year 9 SEB

Our Year 9 students were able to participate in the final Special Education Block, City Experience and Camp last week and, over recent weeks, many were also able to learn from operating Cafe N9ne. These types of rich experiential learning opportunities have been the most difficult to replicate in remote learning and it has been great to see the students participate with such enthusiasm when they have had the chance. All reports indicate that the students showed their appreciation of the opportunities through excellent participation and conduct.

Year 11 Formal

Our Year 11 students were able to gather and celebrate the end of a very successful year at The Grand on Cathies Lane on Monday evening. It was clear from the smiles on the evening that the students appreciated the opportunity to be able to gather as a group and enjoy the opportunity to dance. Thank you to the coordinators, Mr Paul Tato and Ms Crystal Delosa, supported by the Mentors for making this opportunity available to the students.

Year 7 2022 Orientation Day

There was great excitement on Monday as our incoming students, the graduating class of 2027, were in attendance at the College for their Orientation Day. Some of these students have not had the opportunity to visit the College on school tours, or did so some time ago, and therefore an introduction to the school environment is an important aspect of the day. The students also completed activities related to our core values and the origins of our House names. 

Introducing our new Careers and Pathways Team - IMPACT

Following a review of our careers services this year and in an effort to continue to build upon the excellent resources we have available to assist students in their transition to work, study and/or further training, we welcome Ms Meredith Greenwood in a new role as Course Coordinator to the existing team of Ms Fran Jennings (Careers Counsellor), Ms Anne McLaughlin (Pathways Coordinator) and Ms Ebony Monteau (VET Coordinator). Ms Greenwood will be working with students in regards to their subject selection in particular. This team will be located in the ARC to improve accessibility for all students. 

Farewell

There are a number of staff retiring at the end of this year and it is fitting to acknowledge them and say thank you for their service to 黄色十大软件: Mrs Janet Blackwell, Mr Leo Franken, Ms Julie Harding, Mr Chris Kelly and Mrs Rosie Lloyd. There are also a number who have resigned to pursue professional opportunities elsewhere and we wish the following our best wishes: Mr Andrew Bain-King, Ms Louise Clowes, Ms Sarah Doisneau, Mr Ben Johnson, Ms Heidi Johnson, Ms Cheryl Kane, Ms Jacqui Patterson, Ms Megan Sellenger, Ms Kyla Vaz and Ms Shurong Wang.

College Leadership 2022

We welcome new faces to the leadership group at the College in 2022:

• Religious Education Coordinator - Bernard Green
• Head Middle Years - Philip Box
• Year 7 & 8 - Elisa Bettiol, Andy Harrison, Sam Storey
• Year 9 - David Mulholland, Jacqui Street, Tom Wilson
• Head Senior Years - Rachel Crawley
• Year 10 - Scott Watkins, Jess Weltner
• Year 11 - Belinda de Guzman, Paul Jess
• Year 12 - Scott Buchanan, Crystal Delosa
• Director Student Services - Sharon Daley
• Campus Coordinator - Paul Tato

Commencement Dates for 2022

Monday, Jan 24 - Office opens
Tuesday, Feb 1 - Year 7 Parent Information Night
Wednesday, Feb 2 - Year 7 & 12 commence (including school photos)
Thursday, Feb 3 - Years 8 - 11 commence (including school photos)
Friday, Feb 4 - Year 7 Swim Day

Term Dates 2022 - Students

Term 1: Wednesday, 2 February (3 Feb - Year 8-11) to Friday, 8 April
Term 2: Tuesday, 26 April to Friday, 24 June
Term 3: Tuesday, 12 July to Friday, 16 September
Term 4: Tuesday, 4 October to Tuesday, 6 December

Darren Atkinson
Principal

My article today will be both brief and data free. On your behalf I would like to thank the staff at Aquinas for their care, attention and flexibility during 2021. We assumed that this year would be some sort of return to normal, but for all of us it was a very challenging year. 

On behalf of the College we really value the support we have received from students and parents. Learning at school is a partnership that requires effort and attention and throughout this year the encouragement we received from the school community was greatly appreciated.

I hope that over the break you are able to spend some time with your family and enjoy them over the break. We know how much fun the students at Aquinas are and we hope that you are able to benefit from their company at a great time of the year.

We look forward to seeing you in 2022.

Michael Box
Deputy Principal Learning

Recharging, refocusing and resetting while enjoying a well-deserved holiday break

As the holiday period begins, it is important to take the time to reflect on the great gifts that 2021 has given us. It is amazing that despite the fact that the world continues to face the challenges of the COVID-19 Pandemic, we experience a relatively safe and prosperous life in Australia. Although the dangers of the pandemic continue to threaten our way of life, we now have the opportunity of enjoying the Christmas period with some freedom and a sense of normality. I hope that the holidays are safe and provide an opportunity to celebrate the festivities of Christmas and the new year with your loved ones. 

As we reflect on the year that was 2021, it is appropriate to consider that many of our students have suffered enormous disappointment and setbacks, and the outcomes of this may have long lasting effects. Whether it be as the direct result of the lockdown periods, returning to school under strict conditions, remote learning, the loss of income for our older students whose jobs may have been affected, witnessing the hardships experienced by parents or other family members, or facing social challenges upon returning to school, it is certain that the negative impact of the year could have hindered your child鈥檚 ability to cognitively understand what was going on around them as this was happening. Although the lockdowns provided protection and safety for all, they may have also impacted the development of the students across many of the aspects of personal growth.

It may be a good strategy for you to discuss how your child plans to approach 2022 upon returning to school, by helping them to set up their learning goals for the year. It is great that sport, exercise and other extracurricular activities are now back on for the community to enjoy but please consider that a return to normality for the young person may not be an automatic achievement. Many students have struggled to maintain friendships, while others have shifted their mindsets and perceptions of their roles within the school. There is a reason why this may be the case for your child. 

A recent study by Kate Bray and Sarah Whittle, Associate Professors at the University of Melbourne, researching the impact of empathy as a possible trigger for depression and/or anxiety, draws a parallel between Affective Empathy in children resulting in negative outcomes when there is an obvious lack of Cognitive Empathy present in the empathetic process. When one considers empathy as a virtue, it is difficult to grasp how Bray鈥檚 and Whittle鈥檚 findings can be possible. That is, how can empathy, or more directly, being empathetic towards others, lead to depression or anxiety?

The answer is more simple than expected. The key is that for many students, their inability to process emotions cognitively, leads to confusion and the offset of affective processing instead. In other words, for children to be able to display real empathy towards others, they must be able to apply both emotional (affective) and cognitive empathy as a way to process and support the person to whom they display empathy. Listening to the worries and challenges of others can have detrimental impact on the listener, and when this is compounded by the listener鈥檚 inability to think of the issues rationally, it can become detrimentally affective to them, making them live (and suffer) the issue with the person who they aim to support or who they happen to be with. How often have the worries of your child been the result of someone else鈥檚 problems? 

The same could be said to how the students have interpreted the challenges they experienced in 2021. An inability to process rationally, to understand cause and effect and to appreciate the reasons behind the turbulent year can lead to unnecessary anguish, burnout and both depression and anxiety in young people. It is for this reason that helping your child to process their thoughts rationally, using a growth mindset as a way to address their challenges and looking at the year ahead with optimism is a key to ensure their success in 2022. 

A key to emotional growth is the young person鈥檚 ability to rationalise the issues or problems that they face. Understanding that friendship groups evolve and change, recognising that their imperfections make them unique, acknowledging that limitations provide the opportunity to grow and that the setbacks of the pandemic will only be temporary and not permanent, will assist your child to set their path to positive achievement while resting and enjoying the fruits of their efforts. 

May the holidays be filled with joy and prosperity for you and your family, and should you need support for your child in their preparation for 2022, please make contact with your child鈥檚 pastoral leaders at the start of the 2022 school year. For any mental health support, please access any of the following services during the school holidays:

• Your family GP
• Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 - 24 hours
• Lifeline: 13 11 14 - 24 hours
• Headspace Knox - 9801 6088 or after hours on 1800 650 890
• Child & Youth Mental Health Services (Eastern Health) - 1300 721 927 (Option 2) - 24 hours

Upon returning to school in 2022, please consider accessing the Youth and Family Centre at Aquinas if counselling support is required to assist your child. All the best in supporting your child recharge through rational thinking and personal growth. 

Dr Napoleon Rodezno
Deputy Principal

Advent Reflections

In Matthew鈥檚 Gospel, Jesus asks his disciples, 鈥淲hat is your opinion?鈥�. He wants to know what their thoughts are about whether or not a man should leave ninety-nine of his sheep to find the one that went astray. We all have opinions on a variety of topics. We鈥檙e all willing to share our thoughts on issues that may or may not directly impact us. Advent gives us an opportunity to reflect on Jesus Christ and the meaning behind the lessons He taught.

Being a parent has taught me the significance of unconditional love. Having children who possess various opinions at times, has shown me that you can truly love your kids, regardless of their beliefs. Jesus showed us the importance of loving each other unconditionally. Just like the man who went to find his one sheep that got away, God loves each and everyone of us like His own.

It鈥檚 easier for us to love others when they share their opinions on less significant issues, like 鈥� What do you want for dinner? Or, who do you think is the best team? But how do we love when the subject is more personal or filled with passion, like 鈥� How should we handle immigration? Or, what is the best way to deal with those who are struggling with identity issues?

Our faith teaches us to love our brothers and sisters to 鈥淟ive Jesus in our hearts…forever鈥�. May we allow Jesus to live in our hearts during the Advent season so we can love all others, regardless of their opinions.

Tania Grace
Assistant Principal - Mission

In the last edition of The Lighthouse for 2021 I would like to acknowledge and commend our wonderful staff who have continued to go above and beyond. In this edition we will also farewell some of our staff, and we are truly grateful for the gifts and talents you have shared with the Aquinas community. We hope that you keep in touch, knowing that you will always be a part of the Aquinas family, and wish you well in your future endeavours. 

I would like to wish you all the very best for the Advent season and the New Year. I have felt very privileged to have spent this year at Aquinas in such a supportive and caring community.

Take care and be kind always.

Gina Goss
Assistant Principal - Staff

As we move into the festive season it is an excellent time to consider our sustainable approach to food choices. Sustainable produce has been produced and grown with careful thought of its health, environmental and social impact. This includes where it was made, materials it was made from, packaging and food miles. According to the EPA Victoria "the food we eat makes a bigger contribution to our ecological footprint than our home energy used and transport combined".

It can be difficult to consider the environmental and sustainable impacts of every item of food that you consume but here are some questions to help get you started.

1. Do you need to purchase? Avoid, reduce, recycle. Grow some of your own foody.
2. Is the produce in season? This will ensure local produces are supported and food miles are reduced.
3. Is the product free range, organic, marine stewardship council certified? Choosing products that are free-range, organic or Marine Stewardship Council certified supports food production that cares for the environment.

• free-range poultry accreditors include  (Free Range Egg & Poultry Association), . There is even a  you can use to confirm whether your eggs are truly free-range.
• free range and humane choice meat (put link in previous phrase?) is a whole farm accreditation system for Australian and New Zealand true free range, pasture raised pork, beef, lamb, chicken and egg producers.
• sustainable seafood guide;

The chooks would also like to wish the Aquinas Community a merry Christmas and safe and happy New Year. They will be well cared for over the holidays with many staff generously looking after them onsite during the holiday period. Enjoy a restful, relaxing and restoring summer break.

Karyn Myers
Environment & Sustainability Coordinator

To finish off a year of ups and downs the Aquinas Music Department would like to congratulate all the Junior and Senior Music Captain applicants. The role of Music Captain is important as part of the College Student Leadership team in addition to being a vital member of the music faculty.  Music Captains have a strong student voice in the management and planning of events, programs, and performances held at the College and our local community.  

For our 2022 Senior Music Captains, we wish to announce Angelina Graham, Eliza Crouch and Gaby Steen into the role and Lucy Jordan and Sebastian Farrell into the Junior Music Captain positions.

In 2022 we are looking forward to our return to attending Generations in Jazz, which will see our students enjoy Australia鈥檚 finest big band, vocal, and jazz performer. Ross Irwin of the Cat Empire will again be presenting the Victorian All-State Jazz Championships which Aquinas will attend.

As a special note, I would like to thank retiring long-serving staff Julie Harding for her service to the College and our music faculty.  The success of the current music program is built on the excellent foundation built in the junior years classroom program which has been led by Julie Harding. Her passion to give every student the opportunity to participate regardless of musical ability and talent is highly valued by the department and her relationships built with students will last long into their adult lives. Also leaving the department at the end of this year is Mrs. Lisa Clayton, who has been a member of the team for the past few years where she has accompanied choirs, directed concert bands, and provided individual piano lessons to many students across Years 7-12.  Lastly, we see Mr. Kailen Cresp who has been a large part of our concert band leading the Senior concert Band and our beginner band program, and working in our woodwind program teaching Flute, Oboe, and Bassoon leaving the College. Kailen has been a dedicated teacher to his students and has shared a huge knowledge of classical music and performance with all students and staff he has shared his time with. Students of these three teachers have cherished the time they have had with them. We wish them all the best in their future endeavours.

A final congratulations to the College鈥檚 music students for a successful year. As I have mentioned many times in my Lighthouse articles, research supports that students who participate in music are more likely to have success in their academic studies but also have a high level of resilience.  I would like to encourage all students to continue playing and practicing over the holidays with their family and friends and to also take the social aspect of music making to their extended families.  On behalf of the Music faculty, we wish everyone a happy and safe holiday and we look forward to returning to lessons and rehearsal into the new year.

Jared Campbell
Music Programs Coordinator

Our Year 9 students were able to participate in the final Special Education Block, City Experience and Camp over the last week of Term 4. These rich learning experiences provided an opportunity to engage again with their cohort and prepare for the year ahead.

Here is some of their feedback on their experiences: 

"I had a great time at Camp Coolamatong last week!  Much like many others, my favourite activity of the camp was tubing.  Another enjoyable yet challenging activity was the overnight expedition.  Each member of the group was given a role to play out; some were responsible for navigation, some taught us new skills e.g. setting up a tent, and others led us in different ways.  We worked as a team to set up camp for a night and complete the activity we had chosen, which was either hiking, biking or kayaking.  Overall it was a great experience that taught me a lot surrounding perseverance."
Charlotte Callanan

"...When we arrived we had a introduction to how the camp would run and then I was off to head to the expedition which was a 15-20km hike. After a 3km hike and a 1 hour boat ride we finally arrived at the camp ground. The next morning everyone rose early and we had a 11km hike and a 40 minute boat ride back to Camp Coolamatong. Everyone was really tired from the past 2 days and was ready to shower, eat and sleep. We had other activities like stand up paddle boarding, raft building, archery, survivor adventure race, movie night and trivia. Camp Coolamatong was really fun and heaps of GRIT was shown by the Year 9 Rice students."
Stella Smirk

"...Back at camp, most people鈥檚 favourite activity would either be tubing or stand up paddleboarding, which were both fun especially with the hot weather. Other activities on the camp were archery, raft building, Survival and Adventure Race. My personal favourite experience would either have to be tubing with my friends, or camping for the night during the expo. I think everyone learnt a lot from this camp, so a big thanks to the Coolamatong staff, and all of the teachers and staff that put all of the effort into making the camp as enjoyable as possible."
Teegan Bruton

"Camp was a great way to finish off Year 9. The activities were lots of fun, but they were also challenging. The expedition made us persevere to reach the destination, especially in the hot sun. It was an enjoyable experience to be able to work with our peers and teachers to challenge ourselves and put us out of our comfort zones." 
Connor Haughie

On Monday we welcomed Grade 6 students for their final transition activity prior to beginning Year 7. Orientation day provides the future Year 7 students the opportunity to meet and introduce themselves to staff and students in their Homeroom; sample curriculum; familiarise themselves with the layout and building locations; and begin to share their strengths and interests.  

We are pleased to announce the following students who will be our Year 10 Leadership Team for 2022! Well done to all applicants and thank you to the exceptional students who showed interest in the role. We are looking forward to working together in the new year. Congratulations.

Jess Weltner and Scott Watkins
Year 10 Leaders for 2022

On the last day of the College year, the Years 7 and 8 cohort gathered together for the end of year Mass. The joyous Mass was prepared by the Year 10 Faith and Liturgy class, and we were once again blessed with Father Dispin presiding over the Mass. It was a moment to give thanks to our Middle Years community and reflect on the year. Father Dispin encouraged us to take time to be quiet and mindful over the holiday period.

Catholic School Parents Victoria (CSPV) has a critical role to play in the Victorian Catholic education landscape, providing opportunities for parents of children in Catholic schools to provide their perspective on various areas in education that impact families and students. Partnerships between parents/guardians and Catholic places of learning are vital. CSPV is looking to become more involved in the secondary education environment - as a support and point of resource for Catholic secondary schools.

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Wishing everyone in our Victorian Catholic education community a very Merry and Blessed Christmas.

Matthew Williams
Chairperson
Catholic School Parents Victoria (CSPV)