黄色十大软件

Annual Report to the College Community

An aspect of our compliance with the requirements of the Australian Government is the publication of an Annual Report to the College Community. The report reflects our very full and diverse program at Aquinas and also shows the progress that is being made in terms of improving student outcomes and the learning environment. I would like to thank all who contributed to ensure that we have produced a comprehensive account of a really different and challenging 2021 academic year at Aquinas and to Ms Madeleine Kalla who compiles this report. The report is published on the .

The Long Walk at Aquinas

On Tuesday we will continue our tradition of joining together on The Long Walk at Aquinas to raise awareness of the issues faced by indigenous communities.  A powerful symbolic gesture, our long walk mimics the initial Long Walk by ex-AFL Footballer, Mr Michael Long, who walked to Canberra in an effort to get indigenous issues 鈥渂ack on the national agenda鈥�.  The Aquinas Long Walk is a key event in our reconciliation week activities and, amongst all of the demands on their time next week, we are privileged that Mr Long and Ms Nova Peris continue to make 黄色十大软件 a priority. Thank you to AP Mission, Tania Grace, and our student FIRE (Friends Igniting Reconciliation through Education) Carriers for planning this event. 

NAPLAN

NAPLAN testing is now complete for another year and I wish to thank coordinator Mr Phil Box, Ms Rayana Gough, Ms Heather Neil and the teachers at Year 7 and Year 9 who administered the tests, for ensuring the process ran as smoothly as possible. Our highly responsive IT Team was also on hand to quickly resolve technical issues if they arose and this made a difference to the participants. NAPLAN provides feedback about student progress that complements the various other assessment tools at our disposal. 

EISM Athletics Carnival

Congratulations to all of the athletes who represented our college at the EISM Athletics Carnival at Lakeside Stadium on Tuesday. In bright sunshine, it was great to see so many of our students give their very best efforts and represent the College so proudly. Thanks to Mr Bernie Brummell for coordinating our team and to the staff who assisted at the event.

Performing Arts at Aquinas

We are entering a season of performances and we know that the showcasing of our talented students is something that we have missed over the last couple of years.

Those who had the privilege to experience our Not Just Jazz evening last Friday will agree that it was a wonderful showcase of both student and staff musical talent and creativity.  To an appreciative audience of parents and friends, the students performed in ensembles and showed the growth in confidence and competence that comes with commitment and opportunity. Thank you to Jared Campbell, Music Program Coordinator and the other music staff for preparing the students for this event.  A big thank you to FOAM (Friends of Aquinas Music) who provided the volunteer labour and enthusiasm to stage another successful night. 

The had its opening last night and will be staged again this evening. This year鈥檚 performance is 鈥淐lue鈥� based on the famous whodunnit. Thanks to Meredith Greenwood for her work to prepare our students under difficult conditions caused by absenteeism due to COVID-19. 

is next Tuesday and  provides opportunities for Dance students to showcase their creativity through movement and I want to thank Gina Goss and Lauren Bourke for preparing the students for this event.

The Band鈥檚 Concert is coming up on Tuesday, 7th June.

After two years in which College Productions have either had to be postponed or cancelled, it is a pleasure to announce that the is on June 16th and 17th in the Mahon Theatre. The review will include musical numbers from a variety of stage shows and marks the culmination of months of rehearsals from a dedicated cast and crew, and their very passionate teachers.

Bereavement news

We sadly said farewell to a much loved staff member this week. Ms Freda Tsourlenes was a passionate and dedicated member of our Educational Support Services and known for her positive energy, love of her work and the students in her care. Ms Tsourlenes lived with severe illness over the last few years and will be remembered for her optimism and courage. Friends of Freda were able to join her three adult daughters in a fitting farewell yesterday. May Freda rest in peace.

Darren Atkinson
Principal

As we edge closer to the end of the semester, assessments move into full swing, both in class and later in the exam room. I have written before about study methods and techniques but there is a critical element to any program of preparation for assessment, planning to ensure there is appropriate time. Two years punctuated by remote learning has meant that engaging in learning outside the allocated class time has diminished. For many students and teachers a full school day in front of a screen was enough, so the necessary consolidation, extension and revision was difficult to complete. The return to on site classes for many students has not been as smooth as they would like, but becoming accustomed to work outside of class time has been a significant adjustment for many students.

This is not just about completing homework. We are aware of the research on homework, the question marks over its efficacy in the earlier years of school and also the increasing importance of setting aside some time to work on key ideas away from the instruction in the later years of school. We also understand that some habits must be formed. At Aquinas we try to structure homework to increase learning capacity over time and to build habits. In Years 7&8 our process is to have the home study for students planned in advance for each term, 3 Maths modules a week, Languages set by the teacher, all other core work, English, Science, Humanities, RE, in a paper workbook created at the College with work for the whole term. In this way we have a program for what needs to be completed, where the students are informed in advance of planned and purposeful work.

From Years 9-12 we have cycle planners. Cycle planners came from the needs of the students. When working at home students wanted to know:

• What was happening in class over an extended period of time
• What they would be required to do
• What study they should/could do
• If there was additional work
• Any due dates for homework or assessment

They, in effect, asked for a map of the cycle so they could plan. We ask the teachers to give students this map. Cycle Planners describe the work that will be undertaken in class for the next cycle, including:

• work in class, 
• preparatory work, extension
• homework and, 
• if required, assessment 

There is no limit to the submission of work over the cycle. Teachers may require as many tasks as appropriate over a cycle with as many due dates, but all students should receive this notification at the start of the cycle and it should be recorded on SIMON. The cycle planners try to meet two needs:

• To help students to know what they need to do for the next two weeks, especially the extra things that will enhance their learning
• To notify so that students can organise their learning around the other activities they want to do.

In the later years of school, high levels of competence require some work outside the classroom. We plan to assist students in developing the skills and habits to reach those levels.

Michael Box
Deputy Principal Learning

Living in true solidarity with others

It is our collective responsibility, as members of the Aquinas community, to embrace the opportunity to do good for the benefit of others. This is something that our College values proclaim, that each student must be a voice for the voiceless and that each student can leave a mark in their journey which could make the world a better place as a result. If we look at the world that we live in today, we can ascertain that we must commission our children to embrace this ideal if we want real change. 

The recent elections for the leadership of our federal government have illustrated that there are shifts away from the traditional in the way that voters elected those trusted to lead us. Younger generations seemed to have embraced the opportunity to support policies and commitments to address climate change, inflation and the prosperity of those starting out. We do indeed live in interesting times, and the election results have been a positive illustration of this, not because of the change of government but rather the interest in the diversity in representation amongst those trusted to lead. 

Yesterday, on May 26, we celebrated National Sorry Day. Although we have a long way to go in achieving true reconciliation with our first peoples, it is important to embrace the opportunity we have to educate our youth on their responsibility to contribute to this goal. It is necessary that our young people consider and use the power they have to ensure that Australia continues to be the land of opportunity where peace underpins the quality of life that most are able to live. Being sorry for the atrocities of past generations endured in the stolen generations is one thing, making change through action so that equity is experienced by all in our current times is our collective responsibility and our young must be commissioned to prioritise this in their learning and subsequent actions. 

Recently, a number of staff from the College attended an e-Encounter facilitated by CRISPAZ, an association committed to being a voice for the voiceless for the people of El Salvador. CRISPAZ was formed during the civil war that took place in the 1980s, during a time of despair and suffering for many. The association was formed by volunteers who were committed to supporting the victims of war. They continue to operate in El Salvador, providing a voice for the voiceless who continue to struggle despite the war ending 30 years ago. 

The e-Encounter was made up of 4 consecutive days Zoom meetings facilitated CRISPAZ staff and volunteers who voiced their experiences to senior staff members from 4 different schools from the Melbourne Archdiocese of Catholic Schools. The initiative is the outcome of a relationship built with El Salvador by principals of the archdiocese who travelled to Central and South America in early 2018, while in an immersion program with visits to El Salvador, Mexico and Peru.

The opportunity to attend the e-Encounter was mind blowing. We listened to many stories of suffering, we heard from experts in climate change, economics, and human rights. The hope that remains in many people despite the challenges that life has thrown at them is a significant illustration of the power of faith in each person who shared their journeys with us. We will forever be grateful for the experience. 

Later this year, there will be an opportunity for students to attend an e-Encounter as well. This will also provide the opportunity for students to come together with students from other Catholic schools in the region to share the experiences and walk in solidarity with the less fortunate. Being a former refugee from El Salvador myself, the experience reminded me of not only the gifts from God that we all have but the responsibility we share to make use of them as a way to be of service to others. 

On one of the days of the e-Encounter, we had the opportunity to read the Romero Prayer. Archbishop Romero was a church leader in the capital city of El Salvador. He opposed the actions of the government and armed forces, and challenged soldiers to be good to people and to protect rather than abuse those they were commissioned to support. Unfortunately, this challenge led to his assassination. He is now a saint of the Catholic church, who recognises his life as one that embraced Jesus鈥� Ministry in action. 

The Romero Prayer  was composed by the late Bishop Ken Untener of Saginaw, drafted for a homily by Cardinal John Dearden in November 1979 for a celebration of departed priests. It is referred to as the Romero Prayer because its message is clearly aligned to the message that Romero left upon dying for the poor and victimised. 

The Romero Prayer

It helps, now and then, to step back and take the long view. The Kingdom is not only beyond our efforts; it is even beyond our vision.

We accomplish in our lifetime only a fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God鈥檚 work. Nothing we do is complete, which is another way of saying that the kingdom always lies beyond us.

No statement says all that could be said. No prayer fully expresses our faith. No confession brings perfection. No pastoral visit brings wholeness. No program accomplishes the church鈥檚 mission. No set of goals and objectives includes everything.

This is what we are about.

We plant the seeds that one day will grow. We water the seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise. We lay foundations that will need further development. We provide yeast that produces effects far beyond our capabilities.

We cannot do everything and there is a sense of liberation in realising that. This enables us to do something and to do it well. It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity for the Lord鈥檚 grace to enter and do the rest. We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker.

We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs.

We are prophets of a future not our own.

I hope that when the opportunity to attend the CRISPAZ e-Encounter is available to students, possibly for those in Years 9 and 10, that your child applies and is able to learn about the power they have to be a real voice for the voiceless. Being in solidarity with the voiceless is not about fundraising or rescuing. It is not about maintaining perceptions that material wealth is as important as personal peace and self realisation. Far from it, it is about learning from those less fortunate, it is about respecting the dignity of others and living in peace. It is about being workers and not master builders; ministers and not messiahs. It is about being humble and making a difference not because we feel the need to rescue others but because we are called to do so. 

Please read the Romero Prayer carefully, and may God bless you and your loved ones always.

Deputy Principal

Reconciliation and Listening

鈥淎ll this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation鈥� 2 Cor 5:18

This week we began Reconciliation week in Australia. It is a significant recognition that we need to work towards reconciliation with our First Nation peoples. The week itself begins on the anniversary of the 1967 referendum where Aboriginals were officially recognised as human beings, not fauna and were given the same rights as other residents of Australia. The week ends on the anniversary of the Mabo decision, where the High Court of Australia declared terra nullis as incorrect and recognised the indigenous people as the owners of Mer (Murray Island).

The quote above from St Paul to the Corinthians calls all Christians to work towards reconciliation. So many times we read in the bible the need for compassion, justice and forgiveness. However there is so much more required to achieve this. One often requirement that is taken for granted is listening.

Listening, true listening is a skill that we often do not employ. Educator Dr James Jones describes true listening as 鈥渘ot advice, counsel or trying to solve problems. Listening is just hearing what the person has to say鈥�. True listening is also non judgemental and accepting of the person speaking. Jesus demonstrated true listening. He willingly listened to others perspectives, gaining an understanding of their concerns, values and spiritual needs. In James 1:19 we are told, 鈥淭his you know, my beloved brethren, but everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger".

This week let us begin true listening, like Jesus calls us to do. Let鈥檚 pause, put the business of life to one side and actually listen to the voices of the First Nations people, without judgement, nor forming justification, but with acceptance and solidarity. I emphasise the term 鈥渂egin'' because reconciliation cannot and should not occur in one week each year, but be a constant action every day. 

As Christian listeners, we can reconcile not only with Indigenous communities, but also with families, friends and other nations; leading to peace. 

Tania Grace
Assistant Principal - Mission

Senior Years Report

Vaping is an increasing concern across many communities, both locally and globally. Heavily advertised via social media as the 鈥榮afer alternative鈥�, the long-term effects on the developing adolescent brain are a significant concern. The lack of information and the amount of misinformation can be challenging for young people to make informed decisions and for parents trying to give sound advice. Gaining the correct information for parents and knowing how to address this with our young people is vital in preventing the uptake of vaping or the development of an addiction.

Most young people in our school community do not support the vaping trend; but some are interested. The health and wellbeing of our students is the main concern; however, all must be aware of the legislation around the possession and use of the devices used to vape.

In Victoria it is illegal for any person aged 18 or under to obtain, possess or use nicotine e-cigarettes, or e-cigarette cartridges containing nicotine, or nicotine liquids for use in a vaporiser, without a prescription. It is illegal to sell e-cigarettes to, or buy e-cigarettes for, any person aged under 18 years whether or not the e-cigarettes contain nicotine. It is unlawful to use e-cigarettes on school premises or within 4 metres of a school entrance.

Maroondah City Council in partnership with Knox City Council is hosting a webinar session to provide people with up-to-date and accurate information on the potential harms of vaping for young people. Paul Dillon, Director and founder of Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia (DARTA), will present the webinar. Paul Dillon is a leading Australian expert in drug research. He speaks openly and realistically about the current research and will provide recommendations for parents to assist with responding to the situation. I highly recommend this free parent event on Thursday 9th June, 7.30 pm. Bookings are through this link () and . 

Rachel Crawley

Head Senior Years

Middle Years Report

In the previous edition of Lighthouse, I mentioned that Perseverance is the Core Value that we focus on with Year 9 students. We have some incredibly talented students at the College, and in this article I want to introduce you to just one Year 9 student who is truly living the core value of perseverance and seeing the results. 

Maeve Wilkinson, has persevered and excelled for the last 10 years is Irish Dancing. Some of her greatest personal achievements in her Irish dancing career to date include placing second in the state for the last 8 years, placing second in Australia in 2019, winning the Australian international in 2017, placing 28th in the whole world in 2017, and most recently coming 29th in the world this year! (There are a lot of people in the world, you know!). But Maeve didn鈥檛 start out as a champion and the last ten years have provided their fair share of trials as well as trophies. As you will read below, there鈥檚 a lot to learn from Maeve about embracing the pressure, nerves and anxiety that come with performance and judgment. Also about listening to mentors, training hard (consistently), knowing that proficiency takes time, and not placing a ceiling on what you are capable of. She also reminds us that none of us are the finished article.

Meet Maeve...

Were you amazing from the start? "No, I wasn鈥檛. Yes, I had some talent, but I worked very hard to get to the stage I am now. My secrets to success have been to just train hard in class and training, and listen to what your teachers are saying. Work hard outside of class and believe in yourself."

What are some things about Irish Dancing that you love? "I love the challenge it gives you. You have to be very fit and have the endurance to not only get through your dance, but also maintain your skill for the time you are on stage. I love learning and creating new steps and dances and perfecting them to the way you want to dance. But some of my greatest memories involve competing. It is such an incredible experience. Not only have you worked incredibly hard just to qualify for the worlds, but only 1% of Irish dancers qualify. So to do well not just once but twice at the World Championships is something that I am very proud of." 

What makes you keep going? "I think because I am not fully satisfied with where I am with it and I think I have a whole lot more to give to the sport. I am a very competitive and driven person, which is a good thing because if I am hungry for something, I will work my hardest to try and get there"

Have you had any setbacks along the way? "Some of my major setbacks over the years have been some very disappointing results. Which to be honest can really give you second thoughts on why you are actually competing. I overcome these obstacles by holding my head high, even though they are very heart breaking, and just remembering that I always have another shot at the next competition."

Do you have any remaining goals? "To try and win the State or National championships. But outside of that, my biggest goal would be to make top 5 at World Championships. I also love running and I am hoping this year to run a half marathon. I love to play cricket and to be honest any sport. One of my biggest goals ever would be to represent Australia at the Olympics, it is such a big goal of mine outside of my dancing".      

Phil Box
Head Middle Years

Approaching the school year, Bailey and I sat down and considered what we wanted to bring to the role of College Captains and student leadership, and how we could encourage and support our cohort to aim high.

As a Year 12 Student Leadership group, we decided to create four goals to help our fellow students focus and manage the year ahead and beyond. Each goal aimed to have real and tangible tasks which could make it easier and less daunting to achieve.

Physical Goal: Seek Intentional Activity
This goal was to increase the general activity, not to the extent of going for a run or vigorous exercise. It's the choice of walking around at a breaktime instead of sitting down. Finding any opportunity that would usually be used sedimentary, to find easy enjoyable ways to stay moving.

Academic Goal: Compete with Yourself
This goal was greeted with the idea of 'VCE is a marathon, not a race' in mind. Looking at the competitive side of school, we decided the best way to produce high quality academic work is to build upon the knowledge you already have. Instead of thinking of yourself as inferior or superior to your peers, this 'marathon' is run by only you with this mindset, allowing you to create and meet your own checkpoints through it.

Social Goal: Encourage Involvement
Over the years at Aquinas, we're given many opportunities to be involved in College life. This can be in the form of academic programs, social clubs or extracurricular activities. Whilst the focus remains on schoolwork for many Year 12 students, the idea of getting involved in some other activities set up may help give a healthy break from long study sessions or release stress that may have built up.

Mental Goal: Have Ongoing Conversations
Mental health can be hard to maintain alone. In creating this goal, we've put it to our year level to stay vocal when they're not feeling 100%. In saying this, we also encourage this to form in smaller circles of trust, rather than constant public displays of discomfort. 

These were put in place and thought over to see where we could get the most out of our year level, and we're seeing great results of already across the first term. We're glad to be seeing the positive energetic nature of our year level evolve into what we see before us today.

Levi Mugamu, Bailey Leatch and the Year 12 Student Leaders
College Captains

After the success of the recent All-State Jazz Championship, the Music Department is on a real high and this was shared with Aquinas Families on Friday the 20th of May at the Not Just Jazz Concert proudly supported by the Friends of Aquinas Music. This evening is hosted by our Music captains Gaby Steen, Angelina Graham, Eliza Crouch, Lucy Jordan, and Sebastian Farrell with performance items from many of the All-State Jazz Championship ensembles including VCE Student performances, Senior Harmony and Harmony Tribes, Intermediate and Senior Stage Band.  

This year the night also was highlighted with performances from Aquinas Staff with special guest Assistant Principal Gina Goss and graduates Harriet Braat and the Alumni Band featuring Jay Hills, Lachlan Francis, Seb Perello, Brad Steer and Flynn Wilkinson.

The Friends Of Aquinas Music presented the evening as their major fundraiser for the year. The group raises funds for the Instrumental and Ensembles program at the College assisting with the purchasing of instruments and resources. Please enjoy the photos from the night.

A belated congratulations to our Senior Stage Band who won 3rd place in their Division at the prestigious All State Jazz Championships over the weekend. A further congratulations to James McCloud (bass trombone) and Seth Thompson (drums) who were invited to be part of the All Star Band. James was also recognised in first place as an Outstanding Soloist. Well done to everyone who participated, we are proud of you

Jared Campbell
Music Programs Coordinator

Want to save on energy usage this winter? Here are some timely ideas...

Here are some super easy ideas for reducing your greenhouse gas emissions and saving some money on your energy bills.

• Make sure your central heating thermostat is set to an appropriate temperature, between 18 and 21掳C. Close doors to all the areas you鈥檙e not using such as bathrooms and laundries.
• Check for draughts and seal windows and doors if they need it.  A door snake is an effective way to quickly and easy way to prevent door draughts. If possible don鈥檛 leave the heating on overnight. Use warmer bedding or use a heat pack.
• Wear warmer clothes around the house rather then turning up the heating.  

News from the veggie patch and chooks

The veggie patch has lots of chard, silver beet and peas growing. The students are busy keeping up with all the winter weeds. Most of the chooks have finally finished moulting.  They are feeling much happier and have a lovely warm layer of new insulating feathers just in time for winter. 

"We love when the chickens join our class in the morning and when Janet follows us around. Its fun to watch them socialize with other birds." Tamsyn, Sarah and April, 8 Gold

"We saw a chicken digging a hole in the mulch we think it was having a great time." Sam, Luka and Izzy, 8 Gold 

Karyn Myers
Environment & Sustainability Coordinator

Each year 黄色十大软件 hosts one of the many state heats for VCAA鈥檚 Plain English Speaking Award. This year Aquinas had two representatives compete in the public speaking - Ashlyn Ritchie, Year 11 and Abbey Walsh, Year 12. Both represented the school valiantly and we are pleased to report that Abbey has progressed to the semi finals in mid June. 

Well done to both students and best of luck Abbey in the next stage of the competition!

Alyce Cudmore 
English Learning Area Leader

"The Plain English Speaking Awards was a valuable experience for us as we picked up skills from Victoria鈥檚 best public speakers. My main role was being one of the time-keepers. We were tasked with the job of keeping track of how long the prepared and impromptu speeches were. All of them were incredible - I was in awe at how fluently they spoke during the impromptu speeches, especially considering how they were under pressure to whip up a speech in 4 minutes!" 
Lucy Jordan Year 9

"Helping out with the Plain English Speaking Competition was an amazing experience, we were able to witness some of Victoria鈥檚 best public speakers and see some amazing speeches. I was helping as a timekeeper, making sure the speeches went for the right amount of time. I  was able to see how the speakers managed to make the speeches longer or finish them faster, if they were running out of time. I think that the impromptu speeches were amazing since they only had 4 minutes to plan out a speech and then they had to speak for 2 - 3 minutes. The fact that they barely even stuttered, even though they were under so much pressure is inspiring."
Emmy Landsberg Year 9

"In Science, our class has been investigating Unit Ecology.  Today we discovered Invertebrates and vertebrates. We dissected three animals. The fish, the prawn and the squid. We got to look inside the animal and check if it was a vertebrate or invertebrate. We learned that fishes have a spine, prawns have an exoskeleton and squids have an endoskeleton. We had lots of fun dissecting all these organisms."

This week our Year 9 French classes have headed into the city to enjoy some French culture. They visited the NGV to bring to life their study unit in French Impressionist artists, and then put their understanding of French into practice ordering galettes and crepes and the beautifully atmospheric Breizoz restaurant.

"Our Year 9 French class had an enjoyable and interesting experience in the city. We had the opportunity of looking at impressionist paintings in which we have been examining for a number of weeks. We described and analysed each painting taking us back in time to the 19th century in Paris. It was fascinating to learn even more about the revolution of this art form, Impressionism. The paintings were magnificent. We also had the chance to order in French and eat crepes for lunch at Breizoz, Gertrude St Fitzroy which we could all agree were delicious and gave us a true taste of France. We were so grateful for this lovely day filled with learning and tasteful food."
Lucy Scutt

"What I enjoyed most about the French excursion was going to The National Art Gallery and looking at all the paintings and learning about who painted the paintings and understanding what was going on in the paintings. I also enjoyed going to the Creperie and getting to order in French!" 
Brianna Isgro

"I had a really great time but unfortunately the weather wasn鈥檛 the greatest! Luckily, the tour at the NGV was really interesting and I took many photos of the artwork in the salon room. I didn鈥檛 realise how much time had passed in the art gallery because it was really interesting to here about the art techniques and history of the paintings displayed in the rooms. The food was also delicious! I really enjoyed my crepes at the French place we ate at and hope to go back when I can to try the other dishes. Overall, it was a great experience and I hope to go on another French excursion!"
Ruth Tawng

Our Year 9 Social Arts students have been busy making things to sell in our stall which was held at lunch time on Tuesday 24th May.  We raised $70 for the Lismore floods, selling ceramic jewellery holders, rings, cards and lots of other things. 

The Social Arts crew were pretty proud that most of the things they made were sold and that we made some money for those affected by the Lismore Floods. 

"I liked it because we were watching the things we made get sold and used which made us proud" - Maya Featherstone
"It was really fun and I love this class" - Maddy Lillington-Moore
"I likes the idea that we got to sell this stuff for charity" - Jade Majic
"I liked that I was able to sell my creations and I loved giving the money too people in need" - Anika Pamamulla

"We are learning about the methods used in the media to advertise foods, particularly burgers, and make them look much more appetising. We are learning this so that we don鈥檛 believe everything we see in the ads, and we can also know what they鈥檝e done to the food in the pictures. Some of the techniques used to style the burger are the use of cardboard to add height to the burger, undercooking the burger and adding food colouring to make it look moist, using pins in the toppings to make them stay in place, and also using hairspray on the bun to make it glisten slightly." 
Lincoln Barclay

"We are learning about it because it shows how expectations don't meet reality and food can easily be manipulated to look more appetising and appealing than it really is.  Some techniques used when preparing the burger were using a blowtorch to melt the cheese over the burger, using pins to hold ingredients in place, using brown food colouring to make the burger look better cooked and having the grill lines because it wasn't cooked properly to make it stay juicy and plump.  Cardboard plates were used to space out some ingredients to give the burger height, and cotton balls were used to make the burger more even on the side that wasn't showing, tomato sauce was injected into part of the burger where it would look better and drip out."
Archer Haun

At the moment in Year 10 Modern Cuisine, we are learning about food in the media. We are learning about this to see how the depictions of food affect the influences we make on the food we eat! We previously made 鈥榯he perfect burger鈥� and presented it in a format that popular restaurants and fast food places use to present their new menu items." 
Stella Smirk

"In Food Modern Cuisine we are learning about the effects the media can have on our food choices. We are learning about this because many young people in Australia are slowly becoming obese. This is because the media that we face every day are using techniques to drag us into eating unhealthy food. Most of these techniques come from fake marketing. In our fake burger, we used many inedible techniques to attract attention. The first thing we did was partially cook the beef patty and use food colouring so the burger doesn't shrink. The last and best technique we used was we sprayed hairspray on the burger bun to make it shine."
Kane Tucker 

"The Mackillop Social Justice day was an excellent way for all of us as social justice leaders to better understand their services, including foster care, family support, alternative education, and disability services. They opened our eyes to the struggles young people face, it was really cool speaking to Taylor who was helped by Mackillop family services when she was younger and the positive effects it had on her life. For me, the biggest takeaway was seeing how far the systems have come over time and I believe that the Mackillop Family services is a very valuable resource for young people".

Sally Spicer, Year 11

"The excursion to Mackillop Family Services was an incredibly enlightening and informative. The wonderful speakers allowed us a look into what they do at the organisation and how their work benefits children and adults alike. The activities and discussions inspired me to look further into this career path. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity that was this excursion".

Isabelle Comerford, Year 11

"I had the wonderful opportunity of attending the Mackillop Social Justice Leaders Day on Friday the 13th of May. The day was full of many opportunities to learn more about Mackillop family services and the history of its community, progress and services. We learnt about how they work with many people in order to help children who are in need. I found that learning about the many ways that people cope and persevere with their struggles and past experiences to be quite interesting and beneficial. I especially enjoyed being able to meet and play with two of the dogs involved with the paw pals program. The day was full of fun and we were able to meet new people from other schools and make new friends".

Bella McDougall, Year 11

Congratulations to Year 11 student, Anthony Jordan, on his selection to compete at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham later this year, he is the youngest member of the team. We will all be cheering you on in July!

Sadly last week we lost a well loved ESS teacher, Freda Tsourlanes. She brightened each day and will be greatly missed by staff and students. Her friend and colleague, Michelle Sutton, shared some words with us...

"When I arrived back at work after living overseas, I was delighted to discover one of my new work colleagues was Freda and I was looking forward to working with her. She and I bonded quickly afterwards after being on Year 7 camp together. We had a lot of fun and laughs together, along with Mel the nurse. As Freda liked to say with a smile "what happened on camp stays on camp!". She had lots of interesting stories to tell. 

She was very wise and supportive, and we always kept in touch. Even when she was unwell, she was always thinking of others. I loved her sense of style, and she always looked glamorous and well dressed. She loved wearing designer shoes, and she would often send me pics of her favourite shoes on Instagram.

She was a wonderful, much loved  colleague who will be deeply missed, but has left so many good memories to treasure."

Tonight is the last night to see the Senior Play...Clue. 

Opening night was great! Lots of laughs and some great comic timing. If you find yourself free tonight...it is a great way to spend the evening.

Here are a couple of scenes from last night's opening...

The Aquinas Dance Showcase - "Let's Dance" will be an evening for the Year 9 dancers to perform their group learnt work and small group dances alongside the VCE dance class. VCE dance students will perform their Skills-Based Solo in preparation for their end of year exam and a Learnt Group dance work.

STRICTLY ONLINE BOOKINGS, NO TICKETS WILL BE SOLD AT THE VENUE.

This year we are bringing together our junior and senior students in the one Musical Revue to present a selection of well loved songs from popular musicals. For two nights only! Tickets always sell out fast, so don't miss out!

Our talented 黄色十大软件 students competed in the  EISM Champions Athletics carnival on Tuesday at Lakeside Stadium. It was a beautiful afternoon for the students to compete against the best athletes from all 22 EISM schools. Students qualified for the carnival based on their performance at the Division 1 carnival a few weeks ago. 

Congratulations to all the students who attended and participated. The following students won medals as top three finishers: 

U13 Girls 

• Gemma Settle 1500m (3rd)
• Zoe Fabre 800m (3rd)

U13 Boys 

• Noah Woods 100m 200m, 400m (1st), Relay (2nd)
• Fraser Brown Relay (2nd)
• James Warr Relay (2nd)
• Nicholas Tanurahardja Relay (2nd)

• Chase Stone Shot Put (1st)
• Callum Settle  1500m (3rd)
• Gallagher Robertson Long Jump(3rd)

U15 Girls

• Tegan Moore 100m & 200m (2nd), Relay (1st)
• Gabby Linton 100m (3rd), Relay (1st)
• Emma Fabre Discus (2nd), Relay (1st)
• Alovi Gomes Relay (1st)

U15 Boys

• Raphael Mclean 400m (2nd)

U16 Boys

• Eden Smith   Shot Put (1st),  Discus(2nd)

Open Girls

• Sophie Stokes 400m (1st), 1500m 800m & 200m (2nd)

The other students who had qualified for the carnival and attended were:

• U13 Kiah Singh, Tayah Mckay, Gabby Hooper, Kingston Clarke, Mikayla Robinson
• U14 Kate Bourke, Catherine Vail, Zoe Guerin, Max Pinchbeck, Olivia Haun
• U15 Charlie Psaila, Lachie Buyck
• U16 Maeve Wilkinson, Tom Vardy
• Open Elise Keeghan, Bella Flack

 Thank you also to the staff who attended the carnival - Ms Ruby Parsons and Ms Olivia Spadea. Also Mr Darren Atkinson, who presented the medals to the place getters and supported the team.

Bernie Brummell
Sports Coordinator

Congratulations to the following teams who won their EISM Grand Finals yesterday. 

• BOYS SOFTBALL defeating Luther
• GIRLS INDOOR SOCCER defeating Luther
• MIXED TENNIS who are joint premiers with Tintern

Well done also to these teams who fought hard but unfortunately lost their grand final game:

• BOYS BASKETBALL B
• BOYS INDOOR SOCCER
• GIRLS BASKETBALL A

Bernie Brummell
Sports Coordinator

The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) provides payments for eligible students to attend activities like:

• school camps or trips
• swimming and school-organised sports programs
• outdoor education programs
• excursions and incursions.