‘Enlivened by the Spirit’ Anzac Road Menai NSW 2234 Phone 9543 0188 Facsimile 9541 0398 [email protected]www.aquinasmenai.catholic.edu.au FROM THE PRINCIPAL AQUINAS CATHOLIC COLLEGE MENAI 14 th December, 2015 Vol.23.No.37 Last Wednesday night, our annual Awards Evening, was a tremendous celebration of the work of our Year 7 – 11 students’ accomplishments in curricular, co-curricular and extracurricular domains. It was pleasing to see so many family members supporting the students in acknowledging their endeavours throughout 2015. Our guests noted the outstanding appearance, deportment and manners of the students and greatly appreciated the music and drama interludes that punctuated the formal presentations. Thanks very much to all of our staff that ensured the evening went to plan and in a special way I would like to mention the efforts of Mr Nastasi, Ms Mirabello, Mr Bulmer and Mr Munro who worked diligently to make the night a success. Thanks also to Mrs Bosi, Mr Smith, Mrs McNamara and Mr Broady who helped the students prepare for their performance on the evening, Bravo!! Well done to all award winners [listed in the following pages], but special congratulations to the following students; Year Duces & Special Awards Year 7 Dux Kayla Khoury Year 8 Dux Keziah Netto Year 9 Duces Keira Dailly & Sarah Larkham 2015 ANSTO Science Award Elisabeth Krstanovski & Jackson Roca Year 10 Duces Mikayla Jee & Matthew Mulligan Australian Defence Force Long Tan award for leadership and teamwork Leah Anderson Year 11 Dux Joshua Swan The Academy at Western Sydney University Access Award Cassandra Bruce Aquinas Shields Year 7 Amelia Kirgan Keeley Lennon Year 8 Grace Edgar Jack Harris Charlotte Knoke Joshua Lane Year 9 Alexandra Bolton Keira Dailly Jacqueline Brown Micaela Jefferys Elisabeth Krstanovski Sarah Larkham Ryan Mulligan Year 10 Victoria Efstathiou Kayla Green Renee Gritter Mikayla Jee Natasha Krois Olivia Lavidis Matthew Mulligan Amelia Somerfield Isabella Wijesekera Year 11 Cassandra Bruce Dylan Foskett Liam Jefferys Miah-Rose Lake Jenna Lennon Stephanie Sargeant Joshua Swan
Last Wednesday night, our annual Awards Evening, was a tremendous celebration of the work of our Year 7 – 11 students’ accomplishments in curricular, co-curricular and extracurricular domains. It was pleasing to see so many family members supporting the students in acknowledging their endeavours throughout 2015. Our guests noted the outstanding appearance, deportment and manners of the students and greatly appreciated the music and drama interludes that punctuated the formal presentations. Thanks very much to all of our staff that ensured the evening went to plan and in a special way I would like to mention the efforts of Mr Nastasi, Ms Mirabello, Mr Bulmer and Mr Munro who worked diligently to make the night a success. Thanks also to Mrs Bosi, Mr Smith, Mrs McNamara and Mr Broady who helped the students prepare for their performance on the evening, Bravo!! Well done to all award winners [listed in the following pages], but special congratulations to the following students;
Year Duces & Special Awards
Year 7 Dux Kayla Khoury
Year 8 Dux Keziah Netto
Year 9 Duces Keira Dailly & Sarah Larkham
2015 ANSTO Science Award Elisabeth Krstanovski & Jackson Roca
Year 10 Duces Mikayla Jee & Matthew Mulligan
Australian Defence Force Long Tan award for leadership and teamwork Leah Anderson
Year 11 Dux Joshua Swan
The Academy at Western Sydney University Access Award
Cassandra Bruce
Aquinas Shields
Year 7 Amelia Kirgan Keeley Lennon
Year 8 Grace Edgar Jack Harris Charlotte Knoke Joshua Lane
Year 9 Alexandra Bolton Keira Dailly Jacqueline Brown Micaela Jefferys Elisabeth Krstanovski Sarah Larkham Ryan Mulligan
Year 10 Victoria Efstathiou Kayla Green Renee Gritter Mikayla Jee Natasha Krois Olivia Lavidis Matthew Mulligan Amelia Somerfield Isabella Wijesekera
Year 11 Cassandra Bruce Dylan Foskett Liam Jefferys Miah-Rose Lake Jenna Lennon Stephanie Sargeant Joshua Swan
‘Enlivened by the Spirit’ 2
I am very conscious that as reports are released and digested by students and parents that there can be a feeling of
disappointment if the results reported do not match expectations, realistic or otherwise. Having a deficit view can
lead to an overly negative outlook. It is indeed concerning when a student’s reaction to an excellent mark is seen
from the deficit model and receiving an 18/20 evokes a, “Where did I go wrong?” question. Whilst wanting to
improve is vital to education and indeed all manner of life experiences it should not be at the expense of
acknowledging a terrific effort in the first place. Developing a growth mindset is an excellent way to develop
resilience, a key lifelong skill. I came across the following table in a recent educational journal and thought that if
offered and excellent way in which to develop a sustainable view of interpreting assessment task, exam and report
outcomes.
FIXED MINDSET Instead of:
GROWTH MINDSET Try thinking:
I’m not good at this. What am I missing?
I’m awesome at this. I’m on the right track.
I give up. I’ll use some of the strategies we’ve learned.
This is too hard. This may take some time and effort.
I can’t make this any better. I can always improve so I’ll keep trying.
I can’t do maths. I’m going to train my brain in maths.
I made a mistake. Mistakes help me learn better.
He / She’s so smart. I’ll never be that brainy. I’m going to work out how he / she does it.
It’s good enough. Is it really my best work?
Plan A didn’t work. Good thing the alphabet has 25 more letters!
Nicole Miro [Year 10] has recently returned from a highly successful Pacific School Games swim meet in Adelaide. She won a total of twelve medals, including two gold medals. Congratulations Nicole on such stellar results!
1st
Place Girls’ Under 13 -15 MC 200m Individual Medley Girls’ Under 13 -15 MC 200m Freestyle Relay 2
nd Place Girls’ Under 13 -15 MC 50m Breaststroke
Girls’ Under 13 -15 MC 100m Breastroke Girls’ Under 13 -15 MC 100m Butterfly 3
rd Place Girls’ Under 13 -15 MC 50m, 100m & 200m Freestyle
Girls’ Under 13 -15 MC 50m & 100m Backstroke Girls’ Under 13 -15 MC 50m Butterfly Girls’ Under 13 -15 MC 200m Medley Relay
Congratulations also go to Maddie Lynch [Class of 2015] on her selection to perform in Offstage on Saturday 20
th January, an terrific opportunity for students whose HSC Drama monologue was of a very high standard. Well
done Maddie!!
A post script to the 2015 rugby league season occurred last
Thursday when Matt Schubert representing the NRL visited the
College and presented some Year 11 members of the Opens Rugby
League side with a $3 000 cheque for their efforts on the GIO Cup.
Finishing as Sydney City Champions and then runners up in NSW
was an outstanding result with over 200 sides starting in the
competition. Well done to all members of the squad.
Source Principals’ Digest
‘Enlivened by the Spirit’ 3
Please keep the Dunn family in your thoughts and prayers as Bridget’s [Year 10] grandfather recently passed away.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
As this will be the last newsletter for 2015 I would like to, on behalf of the entire staff of Aquinas, wish all members of the wider Aquinas community safe, relaxing, happy and most significantly, a holy Christmas and look forward to all the joys that 2016 will bring us all a year that is clearly ‘Enlivened by the Spirit.’
Advent Wreath Week 3 Scene from the 2006 movie The Nativity Story
James Corcoran Principal
Assistant Principal
Key Dates Week 11 (A) Term 4
Monday 14th December Monday week A lessons
Tuesday 15th December Year 7-9 Reports issued online at the end of the day Year 7-9 Picnic day to Austinmer beach-students must have returned a
note and can wear appropriate mufti including enclosed shoes-NO THONGS/SANDALS. Own food required
Students in Year 7-9 last formal day finishing at 3.05pm Parent Teacher bookings for Wednesday 16/12/15 taken online via www.schoolinterviews.com.au; EVENT CODE: 5NNDS between 9.00am and 11.00am today only
Wednesday 16th December Parent Teacher interviews in the Mackillop Learning Common from 9.00am to 10.30am. Students to attend also and in school uniform
Pupil free day Staff Development/Pupil Free day HSC Results released today at 6.00am
Thursday 17th December Staff Development/Pupil Free day Year 12 ATAR’s released today. HSC students return for a morning tea
with staff
Friday 18th December Staff Development/Pupil Free day College/Office closed
Thursday 28th January Year 7-2016 return today for a 8.35am start in full summer uniform Year 10 Peer Support Leaders
Friday 29th January All Students Year 7-12 attend in full school summer uniform today-Normal lessons Friday A Periods 1-3 then Wednesday A lessons 4-6 for all year groups and a 3.05 finish
College Photos taken today-students are to return envelopes/monies to present to the photographer (no cash)
No Sport today
Week 1 (A) Term 1 2016
College Photos 2016 and first week back schedule A reminder that photos for students across Year 7-12 will take place on Friday 29th January 2016-Week 1, Term 1. Envelopes to order photos have been distributed to students this week and as per previous years need to be completed and returned directly to the photographer on that first Friday with the correct monies, (no cash) or alternatively orders can be completed online. All students across Year 7-12 return on this day in FULL SUMMER UNIFORM for the purposes of photos. There will be no sport on this day and it will be a 3.05pm finish time. End of the 2015 school year Many thanks to the entire Aquinas Catholic College community for another wonderful academic year full of great highlight, none more so than the outstanding Presentation evening we celebrated last Wednesday night. For families wishing to book optional parent/teacher/student interviews for next Wednesday 16/12/15 between 9.00am and 10.30am you can do so via the following way online: Parent Teacher bookings for Wednesday 16/12/15 taken online via www.schoolinterviews.com.au; EVENT
CODE: 5NNDS Bookings will be taken between 9.00am and 11.00am on Tuesday 15/12/15 only
Can I remind families that Year 7-2016 return on Thursday 28th January (Feast of St Thomas Aquinas) and that the entire College Year 7-12 starts back on Friday 29th January 2016 in full summer uniform (not sport uniform as there will be no sport that day). Please ensure that every effort is made so that students return meeting correct uniform and grooming standards, including correct school shoes (which are a hard black leather and have a heel) and correct hairstyles which are of a natural colour, uniform and without any shavings, undercuts or irregular styles (number 3 all round). This will avoid any embarrassing phone calls to parents/carers on the first day. Wishing you all a happy, safe and holy Christmas and holiday season
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