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A St Aloysius College Publication Summer Edition 2018
Contents Principals Welcome............................................................. 3 Women of Impact................................................................ 4 Class of 2017 – Alumni Event.......................................... 7 Class of 2018............................................................................ 8 Performing Arts and Technology Precinct........... 10 Japanese Global Connections.......................................12 Italian Global Connections............................................13 Reflection Days....................................................................14 Reach Concert.......................................................................15 Art Design and Technology Exhibitions.................16 Father Daughter Breakfast............................................18 Farewell to Rosemary Moylan..................................... 19
Cover image: Photo taken by Sarah Conway - Year 11
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Always Aloysius – Summer Edition, 2018
St Aloysius College 31 Curran Street, North Melbourne VIC 3051 Ph: 03 9325 9200 Email: principal@aloysious.vic.edu.au Website: www. aloysious.vic.edu.au Design: DMC Group / dmcg.com.au / info@dmcg.com.au
Principal’s Welcome Welcome to the Summer edition of Always Aloysius. It only seems like yesterday that we completed work on the previous edition of Always Aloysius and now we are at the end of another academic year. They say as we get older time flies faster, but I also think that by their very nature schools enhance that feeling - we count the year down in semesters and in terms, trying to pack in an ever increasing amount of experiences and moments to the one constant that is time. I, for one, though would not have it any other way, for time is far too a precious commodity to waste and the six years of secondary schooling (as I am sure you will all attest to) flies by in a moment, leaving us with cherished memories and a Well of stories, friends and learnings to which as adults we can return to time and time
again for inspiration, for solace, for grounding and for reflection. In a true sense, this is what Always Aloysius really means, and although we perhaps do not think about it on a daily basis our experiences and time spent in the hallways and classrooms of St Aloysius College have shaped who we are, how we think, how we perceive the world. We are Always Aloysius. This edition highlights the events and the achievements of a second semester guided and inspired by the 2018 College theme ‘So reach out and welcome one another in God’s glory’. In a whole myriad of ways the College continues to reach out in the name of Mercy to new families and new friends, building new local and global connections, reaching out to build new learning spaces and to design new curriculum, reaching out to
explire and understand God’s Words in a contemporary world. These continue to be exciting days and times at St Aloysius College and I draw your attention to the continued re-juvenation of the College Campus with the opening of the Materials Technology and Performing Arts Centre. Finally, I would like to thank and recognise the outstanding contribution of Rosemary Moylan who will retire this year after nearly 30 years at St Aloysius College. Many of you will remember Rosemary in the Resource Centre and Rosemary has certainly left a firm legacy of improvement and development and she will be missed by all. On behalf of tge College we wish Rosemary well in her retirement. In the footsteps of Catherine McCauley, Mary Farah Principal
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Women of Impact Sr Sylvia Williams RSM I commenced at St Aloysius College in Year 9 in 1959 and left 3 years later. After arriving in Australia, aged six, I had attended Our Lady’s Primary School, Sunshine and then St Anne’s Central School, West Melbourne. During my time at St Aloysius College I travelled from Sunshine for two years and then from Fawkner. My happy memories of school days include the travel. Looking back, the travel time and difficulty for us – buses, trains, walking in heat & rain - was more than what most students endure these days, however we enjoyed the time meeting friends and chatting. My years at St Aloysius College provided many and varied opportunities. I particularly remember Miss Wallace – she may have been the only lay teacher at the time – and Maths classes, however all teachers were approachable and dedicated. Another favourite was Mrs Hooper in the tuckshop who was interested in everyone and never missed a day as far as I can remember. I also fondly remember the many ‘extracurricular’ activities such as sport (I was in Padua House), elocution classes, dancing, drama, singing, YCS and school retreats. These activities led to occasions such as school balls (girls only!) but also with the boys from St Joseph’s College and Assumption College, singing in the choir for the annual St Patrick’s Day concert in Melbourne Town Hall and marching in the Parade in the city on St Patrick’s Day. There was also a monthly 4
Always Aloysius – Summer Edition, 2018
prayer gathering at St Francis Church on a Sunday afternoon that we were encouraged to attend and this provided another opportunity for friends to meet. In the 50’s and 60’s as teenagers we enjoyed freedom and independence, and within family guidelines were able to safely go anywhere and do almost anything we wanted. Christmas jobs were also popular and stores such as Myer employed many girls from St Aloysius from early December. I sold handkerchiefs one Christmas and Helena Rubenstein make-up another year. We were the ‘Ladies in Black’! After leaving school I worked in the State Savings Bank, Merlynston Branch for a year then decided to enter the Sisters of Mercy. After the Novitiate and further study I commenced teaching and was involved in schools until the end of 2008. I taught in Camperdown, Kangaroo Flat, Seymour and Terang before commencing many years as Principal at Catholic Regional College St Albans, St Mary’s College Seymour, Catholic College Bendigo and St Joseph’s College Mildura. In 2009 I was appointed Assistant Director responsible for Administration & Finance at Mercy International Centre, Lower Baggot Street, Dublin. I returned to Australia at the end of 2015 after six wonderful years at the heart of Mercy, the original convent that Catherine McAuley had built and commenced her work. Since returning I have been a Director on the Board of Mercy Education Limited and therefore am enjoying contact with schools again.
As a student at St Aloysuis College
Women of Impact Maria Ruberto This year I celebrate 23 years in my vocation as a psychologist, and as an alumni of St. Aloysius College, the Mercy Cross has always been at the centre of my work. During my university studies I began working part-time at RMIT Student Services, with students who sought to find solace in someone who would listen. It was from those very early years that I could see young people had a lot to say about who they were, what they believed and how they would like to be treated. I was then fortunate enough to enter the Catholic Education system working under the Brothers of the Sacred Heart where Brother Bouchard and Brother Mark led the school through strong Christian values as I continued to learn through their compassion toward disenfranchised families. We unloaded food trucks, ran early morning breakfast clubs, loaded up the washing machines and hung uniforms on the lines to dry. We drove families to court, to mediation, to hospital appointments and to alternative homes when their own was unsafe. My work was briefly interrupted by marriage and children, and I found myself curious about broader perspectives and began working under a Programs Initiative with the state government schools. An initial contract of one year, lasted ten. My love of developing and implementing group training was born of my drive to help make people’s lives better, by influencing more than one person at a time.
I then realised that training young people was not enough and that if education was to improve, we needed to train the educators in the very same concepts. I was then offered a state-wide position to lead a departmental initiative called It’s Not OK to Be Away. Under this banner I was able to investigate anxiety in schools deeply, unpack its elements and create training to educate teachers on how to manage these symptoms in the classroom. The joy was immense but the connection to people was profound. I then followed my clinical work to the Royal Children’s Hospital Mental Health Unit. I spent four years in their program development and training unit, as a reachout service to schools who were supporting young people with mental illness. My passion drove my work into private practice. I have been so blessed to share the lives of clients in my clinical work. They all come in exasperated and hurt, but have the courage to create the hope required to lead a life of wellness. I believe that information enables people to make better decisions, so I kept talking. I was then asked to join the creative writing project for Beyond Blue within their schools initiative SenseAbility program that is continues to be offered free to every school in Australia. I also had the privilege of working with reachout.com creating online webcasts and curriculum for Classroom Wellbeing which again remains free and accessible to all schools across Australia. My pathway, however, would not have been possible if not for the networking of
colleagues and professionals I have had in my life. To those people who shared my values, were compassionate and held integrity in making a difference to the lives of others. These people were my change agents and taught me that collectively great things can happen. They were right. Today my work is strongly aligned to the development of mental fitness and emotional health where my organisation delivers training through many forms of education including Mental Health First Aid, Neural Resilience, GENOS Emotional Intelligence, Eating Disorders and as a certified member of the International Association of Applied Neuroscience.
My current purpose is to lift women’s voices, help protect their rights and allow their strengths to be acknowledged rightfully and without prejudice. To have women know that they are vital to fabric of our society.
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Class of 2017 Alumni Event On 13th September the College hosted a reunion for the Class of 2017. Mary Farah, Theresa Daunt, Michael Chesser and Jodie McLeod all welcomed quite a large group of girls who had lots of stories to share about the last 12 months since their graduation. They all happily chatted about the courses they are currently studying and how much they are enjoying the difference of University life. It is wonderful to see students from the College pursing courses in a variety of subjects such as Nursing, Commerce, Design, Media & Communications, Osteopathy, Primary Education, Arts, Bio Medicine & Film & Television. It is a reminder that the College helps prepare the students to select a course that fulfils their desire and utilises their potential. They agreed to come back again to the next gathering and revisit the College, a place that still held so many wonderful memories for them. Rose Parente Alumni Co Ordinator
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Class of 2017 Alumni Event “In September, St Aloysius College welcomed the class of 2017 back to the College for a reunion. It was a wonderful opportunity for us to catch up and see where the first year out of high school had taken everyone. It was nice to be able to renew old relationships, not only with classmates, but also with teachers and the College itself. This gathering reminded me that no matter where life takes us, there is always a familiarity in the walls and memories of St Aloysius. Keeping in connection with the College is a valuable relationship to maintain as it means you are still part of the St Aloysius Community. A big thank you to the staff of the College who made the reunion possible and to the students who attended. “ Brooke Sekhon Class of 2017
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Class of 2018
The 2018 Year 12 cohort were excited yet a little nervous for their Valedictory Liturgy, which was held on Wednesday 24th of October at St Brendan’s Church Flemington. With tea-light candles in hand, the girls lined up ready for the opening procession, which began the service in reverence and with a sense of prayerfulness. The angelic singing of the Choir lead by Ms Natalie Ward and accompanied by Ms Karen Ngo on the organ added to the
spirituality of the celebration with hymns chosen by the Year 12 students. Nyandeng Goch, on behalf of the students spoke in relation to how the chosen passage of scripture displayed their growth journey during the students’ time at St Aloysius College, not only spiritually but also academically and personally. Miss Mary De Bono also added a heartfelt reflection on the student’s journey on how they have matured into beautiful young women about to journey on the next path
in their lives. Inspiring words were also added from Dea. Jaycee Napoles and Fr. Hien Vu who concelebrated the liturgy with us. It was a lovely service joined by family and friends of the College community, a time to come together in prayer and communion to celebrate a momentous occasion. Michael Chesser Catholic Mission and Mercy Ethos Leader
“Thank you to the most precious and important people in our lives; to the ones that have been here since the beginning of it all, our parents. Thank you for the sacrifices that you’ve made, for the constant hard work, for never giving up on us and giving us warm love and support to work hard in school.” Hanna Collado - 2018 Valedictorian. 8
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“To the wonderful, competent, strong, beautiful women of the graduating Class of 2018, Strive for higher things, grasp every opportunity in life, never doubt your abilities, believe in yourself and start to live this new chapter in your life the way that you want to.”
“Throughout all of our challenges at school the support from teachers has been constant. Thank you for being patient when our dress was too short and for the lost ribbons in our hair... Thank you for moulding, shaping and watching us grow into the person that we are today.”
“We’ve stayed up all night, we’ve felt the heavy exhaustion on our body and the weight and pressure of this year, but we made it.” Quote excerpts from Valedictory Speech presented by Hanna Collado
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Performing Arts and Technology Precinct To ensure that the College fully utilises its facilities and ensures they meet 21st Century learning requirements, it is continually looking at areas within the existing facilities that can be maximised. To facilitate this the College invested significant time in reviewing the layout and utilisation of all its facilities during 2018 resulting in the issue of a refreshed College Masterplan in August. The updated Masterplan, initially approved during 2017, incorporated a number of new initiatives. During 2018 funding was secured to enable the creation of a “Performing Arts and Technology Precinct” on the south west corner of the College campus. The buildings were opened by Senator Scott Ryan, President of the Senate at a Ceremony held on 11th October 2018. The new buildings:
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Arose from the 1970’s Physics laboratory block and incorporated: •
a dedicated Music room, including 3 Practice Rooms enabling the College to provide a point of difference to other school offerings for 2019 and beyond;
BEFORE
• •
•
disability access via a lift; a safe learning environment by the removal of hazadous materials (such as asbestos walls) throughout the area; and updated locker and maintenance facilities in an area that has not been updated since the early 1970s
AFTER
Arose from a 1950’s series of Arts rooms and incorporated: • • •
BEFORE
AFTER
a dedicated modern Textiles environment; a redesign of stair access to remove OH&S compliance risks; and the provision of disability access to the precinct
BEFORE
AFTER
St Aloysius continue to strive to provide enhanced facilities to facilitate improved student outcomes and have accordingly identified the following additional areas designated for attention over the forthcoming years: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Upgrade of general purpose classrooms to provide dedicated pastoral rooms and internal locker spaces for senior year levels; Creation of dedicated, discrete Counselling Offices; Development of external learning spaces and courtyard to dovetail with the Performing Arts and Technology Precinct and create a Community Hub; Modernisation of the College Science block; and Integration of outdoor spaces into curriculum offerings
Jonathan Stringfellow Business Manager
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Japanese Global Connections During the first two weeks of August, St Aloysius College, welcomed 12 students and a staff member from our sister-school Kyoto Seibo Gakuin. Kyoto Seibo Gakuin is a Catholic School for girls in Fushimi, Kyoto, which St Aloysius College staff and students visited in April of this year. The Japanese students enjoyed a rich program that included a mix of language immersion classes at the College and a range of excursions throughout Melbourne such as the Melbourne Zoo, NGV, The Australian Catholic University and Victoria Market. The group also took a day trip to Torquay, where the girls enjoyed team games at our Torquay facility as well as a traditional lunch of fish and chips on the beach. All 12 Japanese girls were hosted by College families, including staff and it was wonderful to watch beautiful friendships blossoming so quickly. It was also heartwarming to witness the way that our College community so warmly welcomed our visitors, a lovely demonstration of Mercy hospitality. We are very grateful for the generosity of each of our Host Families in hosting a Japanese Student in their homes. Programs such as this would not be able to run without such wonderful support from our College community. Pauline Cutajar Director of Students & Programs
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Italian Global Connections In Term 3, St Aloysius hosted a group of thirty middle years students and their teachers from Setti Carraro College in Milan, Italy. The College has a special association with St Aloysius as a sister school partner. This arrangement enables our middle and senior years Italian language students to partake both here and abroad in a biennial exchange of academic and cultural experiences. The visit although brief, was a chance of a lifetime for our language students. There were a variety of lessons and subjects to introduce our hosts to, also new routines, modes of transport and bell times. Many conversations went well past the school day face to face on campus and at home on other social platforms. Our hosts were treated to the best that Melbourne had to offer including our unique heritage from our first peoples to our most recent migration, colonial to cutting edge sustainable architecture, stunning gardens, native animals, pristine landscapes and not forgetting travel by tram! Our sincere thanks go to the community of parents and teachers who generously gave their time and personally assisted with hosting and welcoming the students into their classes. The chance to cement new skills and forge friendships with native speakers from Setti Carrraro is one that our languages students will surely cherish now and well into the future. Jo Donato Languages Teacher
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Reflection Days Opportunities for prayer and reflection are an essential part of the life of St. Aloysius College. A time to come together as a year level and celebrate our Mercy Values. Our Year 7s began with a day spent learning about Catherine McAuley and her work, they spent time exploring the circle of Mercy and importance of celebrating who they are. These days are designed to give the girls a time to move away from their everyday routine and think about where they fit in the world today. All activities for the day have a strong faith component and finish with a celebratory liturgy. Year 7: “Mercy in Our Lives – Catherine McAuley and Our Response to Mercy” Exodus 34: 6-7 “Year 7 Reflection Day was fun! We wrote letters to our future selves to read in Year 12 which made us all reflect on ourselves. We also did art activities that were really fun and educational. During the reflection day we also learnt about the Mercy values, before I didn’t really know what they were but now I do.” – Anika Elliott The Year 8 “A day to grow and grow” Mark 4: 30- 32 ‘My favourite session of Reflection day was the rose session. I liked this activity because it made me reflect on all the positive people and things in my life as well as the negative thoughts. After this activity, I was able to reflect on all the positivity which made all the negativity seem minor.” – Manasa Chandrapt 14 Always Aloysius – Summer Edition, 2018
The Year 9 Net team day: “Created to be great” Genesis 1: 27 “A closer bond with Jesus and a better understanding of him. We also have talked and worked with new people we wouldn’t normally talk to. We gained new friendships, experiences, memories and a good message : created to be great.” – Amy Do’tran. Year 10 Michelle Newland “Journey of recovery” Jeremiah 29: 11 “It’s just nice to have a day to be able to reflect on ourselves our fears and our goals” – Greta Linehan Year 11 “Courage vs confidence” (Scripture Acts 27) Guest speaker St Elizabeth Young and Yoga instructor Chantelle Nicole “The day was insightful and gave us a chance to reconnect with not only ourselves, but also our friends and the cohort. St Elizabeth Young was an inspiration that empowered us to help others.” – Julia Pham Year 12 Overnight Retreat Melbourne University, Isaiah 43:18-19 “Hope is a thing with feathers” – Emily Dickinson. “A special time of preparation getting ready for the year ahead while connecting with our Faith and Mercy values” – Theresa Ho Tamara Lourdes Religious Education Learning Leader
Reach Concert Arts Week celebrations opened with the ‘Reach’ Concert. Many parents and family members came to support our College Ensembles, classroom Drama performances and both Music and Drama solo performances. Our Orchestra, College Choirs, Guitar Ensembles, String Ensemble were all focussed, displaying quality musicianship. The College congratulates all the musicians and actors on their confident performances. 2018 Arts Prefect, Tahlia Pizzicara, confidently led the audience through the evening’s program. Rachel Valentine Deputy Principal
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Art Design Title Here and Technology Exhibitions In 2018 we doubled the scope of exhibition opportunities for our students. We adopted the model where we would show the work from Years 7 to 10 and then VCE (Years 11 and 12) separately. Year 7-10 Arts & Technology Exhibition The Year 7-10 Arts & Technology Exhibition was held in the College hall as part of the ‘Arts in August’ festival on August 27. It was a truly amazing display of the creative talents of students in middle secondary Arts and Technology. Some of the highlights were; sketching in threedimensions, by making a model of a small structure students visualised directly in foam core (Visual Communication Design), graphite portraits of a celebrity. (Art) and creating logos to represent student’s identities (Visual Communication Design).
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VCE Arts & Technology Exhibition VCE students in Studio Arts, Visual Communication Design, Media and Food Studies were given the exclusive opportunity to show their work following its submission late in Term 3. The opening was a wonderful evening where we were treated to a poignant Drama Solo performance by Mia Simpfendorfer and beautiful background music by Linnet Wong. Media films were screened in a ‘theatrette’ set up back stage and each of our students in Visual Arts and Technology; Food Studies were given ample space to show the results of their hard work. Ric Roberts Learning Leader, Arts
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Father Daughter Breakfast In celebration of Father’s Day, we hosted a lovely breakfast for our families. This event provided valuable time for Fathers to share breakfast with their daughter(s) and hear from an inspirational speaker. This year we heard from Trevor Waller, Microsoft Delivery Specialist who addressed the audience at our breakfast. He shared information about the various technology available to assist us in our day to day life. He reminded us of the ever changing world our students are growing up in and how this will affect the way they study and work in the future. This event is always a wonderful celebration as many Fathers joined us with their daughters. Jodie Mcleod Community Development Manager
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Farewell to Rosemary Moylan When I became a member of staff at St Aloysius College in 1987 I would never have imagined I would be here 30 years later. I came to St Aloysius after teaching in government high schools for 10 years. In that 10 years I taught at five different high schools so you might say I really settled in at St Aloysius. At the beginning of my time here, I was primarily employed to teach shorthand, typing and business law in the STC program which was an alternative course to HSC, as well as other ‘Commerce’ subjects such as Legal Studies and Economics. There were two rooms of manual typewriters and blackboards which were important for teaching shorthand. It was a big deal when we managed to get a few electric typewriters and an even bigger deal when one, lone, large computer came on board for the students to share. Students today are fascinated by the ‘thing’, which is an electric typewriter that we still have in the workroom of the Resource Centre. For me St Aloysius College was the perfect place to teach. Its location was ideal for an excursion to the Law Courts, Parliament House or the Australian Electoral Commission. The students were amazing; warm, personable and eager to learn. This remains a core feature of the school today. The staff, both teaching and non-teaching, have always been a diverse and dedicated group of professionals, with the interests
of the students foremost in their minds as they go about their challenging work. St Aloysius College has always been a very happy and rewarding workplace for me. I have been given many opportunities to work in a variety of roles over the years and after completing a Graduate Diploma in Teacher Librarianship in the mid 1990’s I have spent the last 10 years working as a Teacher Librarian. It has been a privilege to be a part of this special community, with its unique culture, and as such I will carry lots of wonderful memories with me into retirement. Although there have been many changes over the years, the heart and soul of St Aloysius College remains the same. As I leave I would like to acknowledge all the Principals I have worked with. Sr. Frances Baker for taking on a ‘department teacher’, Sr. Joan Thomas, Mr John Davidson and Ms Mary Farah for all the support and encouragement shown to me over the years. I have every confidence St Aloysius College will continue to prosper and provide a rich, holistic educational experience for their students well into the future and for all those involved I offer my best wishes. Rosemary Moylan
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Strive for Higher Things