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A St Aloysius College Publication Summer Edition 2020
Contents Principal’s Welcome ........................................................... 3 Alumni Profile – Erin Lehane ....................................... 4 Alumni Profile – Stephanie Mahon R. M ................ 6 Acts of Service ...................................................................... 8 College Co-Captains’ Message ................................... 10
Garden of Hope CREATED BY YEAR 7 STUDENTS The beginning of secondary school
College Prefects.................................................................. 12
was certainly very different for this
Mercy Day 2020 ..................................................................13
were adjusting to College life and
Farewell to our Deputy Principal...............................14
were required to undertake home
Wellbeing Wednesday.......................................................15
of the way in which they tackled
Online Art Exhibition.......................................................16
throughout the time away from
Student Achievements.....................................................18
As the Year 7 students returned to
year’s Year 7 students. Just as they developing new friendships, they learning. We are extremely proud this and kept their spirits high the College.
face-to-face learning in Term 4, after many weeks of home learning, they reconnected with staff and fellow students. It was lovely to see the girls share stories with one another. As a year level they took part in an Art activity, colouring flowers to build a “Garden of Hope”. These flowers (as featured on the cover) decorated the Year 7 learning area displaying color and hope for the final weeks of term.
Cover Image: ‘Garden of Hope’ created by Year 7 Students
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Always Aloysius – Summer Edition, 2020
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, a summer, I am sure, we are all certainly looking forward to! laughter in corridors, buzzing classrooms and shared lunches. Perhaps if we were to rate 2020 out of five stars it would be lucky to receive one! As 2020 draws to a close, I have been spending some time reflecting upon what has been a monumental and historical year; a year where every Victorian has made tremendous sacrifices in a concerted effort to combat a lethal virus. For over a hundred days we have all experienced a ‘hard lockdown’, with a nightly curfew and tough restrictions on exercise, shopping and visiting friends and family. Just about every industry has been affected by the pandemic, and education has been no exception. As a school, many of our students have had more than six months learning at home but some normality thankfully returned in late October Term 4 with all students learning on-campus for the first time since mid-March. As I have reflected on what 2020 has meant, a long list of things ‘missed’ came firstly to mind – our Year 7s and our Year 12s for instance have missed milestone events, from camps, to dinners and farewells; these are rites of passage that are impossible to retrieve. All students have missed House events, concerts, the College musical and the simple things which make St Aloysius what it is – incidental chats, broad smiles,
Nevertheless, as I have reflected more on 2020, I have come to believe perhaps I have been a little harsh in my marking. Yes, certainly things have been missed but other things have been learnt, and in certain areas there have arguably been improvements. As we celebrated New Year’s Day this year, no one could have predicted that just three months later we would need to move all learning online – a challenge that was not only met but ultimately exceeded every expectation. Our students met the challenge in a way they should be proud of – and in a way which shows how independent and resilient they truly are. Our staff adapted to the challenges thrown at them with the utmost professionalism and revealed fantastic role-modelling in being true lifelong-learners. Our community rallied around with the spirit that is genuinely St Aloysius. Our carbon-footprint has been reduced and our photocopying levels are permanently reduced. So perhaps 2020 has really been three stars! Finally, I leave you with two items that are definitely five stars out of five! Firstly, this edition of Always Aloysius – despite
“Our students met the challenge in a way they should be proud of” our learning at home - is packed as always with wonderful stories and great work. Secondly, I would like to thank and recognise the outstanding contribution of Pauline Cutajar – Deputy Principal Wellbeing and Development -who will be leaving St Aloysius at the end of this year to join the Leadership Team at Shelford Girls Grammar School. We wish Pauline all the very best for the future and thank her for the wonderful commitment displayed daily to our students and staff – thank you Pauline. The unwavering support of St Aloysius Staff to our students has certainly been second to none, to all I say thank you. To our Alumnae, thank you for keeping your connection with the College and for always being part of our wonderful, and proud community. As this year has shown few things are constant, things change but what stays are the values of St Aloysius College. Mary Farah Principal Always Aloysius – Summer Edition, 2020
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Alumni Profile ERIN LEHANE – CLASS OF 1998
corporal. During this posting she deployed to Afghanistan, serving in Tarin Kot as a member of the Force Communications Unit Seven. On return she served as a cryptographic custodian and troop sergeant, before posting to HMAS Adelaide, as part of the commissioning crew. Warrant Officer Class Two Lehane posted to Headquarters Forces Command in January 2017, as the Communications Systems Supervisor within the Army Frequency Management Cell where she provided radiofrequency spectrum support to army before moving into the Communications Systems Engineer role for 2018. She is currently working in the Force Modernisation cell within Forces Command.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Warrant Officer Class Two Erin Lehane enlisted in the Australian Army Reserve in Melbourne, Victoria on 18 January 2000. After completing her basic training she posted into the 108th Signal Squadron as a radio operator in the Royal Australian Corps of Signals. Here she completed her initial employment and trade training, qualifying first as an Operator Radio, in 2000, and then as an Operator Specialist Communications, in 2002. Whilst posted to 108th Signal Squadron, she served in several different radio detachments and the cryptographic vault as both a soldier and detachment commander. During her time within the squadron she also undertook several periods of continuous full time service.
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In this tenure, she deployed to Malaysia as a company signaller for Rifle Company Butterworth 68. Relocating to Brisbane in 2006, Erin was posted to the 7th Command Support Regiment. In the course of this posting she deployed with the 8th Brigade, supporting the multi-national Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands, serving as a detachment commander in the communication centre. On return to Brisbane she undertook a further period of continuous full time service and applied for a transfer into the Australian Regular Army. In January 2012, Erin enlisted into the Australian Regular Army and was posted to the 7th Combat Signal Regiment as a
Concurrent to her service, she has undertaken civilian employment as a recreational access worker, a high ropes instructor, a first aid trainer, and as an optic fibre technician. She has also undertaken tertiary studies; graduating with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Victoria University, in 2000, a Trade Certificate in Telecommunications through Brisbane City Council, in 2009 and is currently undertaking post graduate studies in Engineering for Telecommunications Management through the University of Technology Sydney. Warrant Officer Class Two Lehane enjoys travelling with her partner Hayley and their daughter Matilda. Although she no longer plays, she is passionate about Australian Rules Football and is an avid supporter of the Western Bulldogs.
Alumni Profile “WHERE ARE THEY NOW?” What Year did you graduate? 1998 What did you study after Year 12? BA – Recreation and Fitness Leadership Telecommunications Traineeship – Optic Fibre Technician (in Brisbane) I am still studying (Currently doing a Masters in Engineering Telecommunications Network Management). What advice would you give to someone considering undertaking this study path? The course I did was largely focussed on human movement and I don’t think it’s even offered anymore. Be prepared to do post graduate work to really get where you want to go. You don’t have to know what you want before you start, just find a place to start and see where you end up. What influenced your choice of career? While I was studying at University I joined the Army Reserve for something a little different as a part-time job. When I completed my Traineeship I had a trade and a University qualification, I had lived in several different cities, travelled quite a bit of the world and still didn’t know what I wanted to ‘be’. I was offered a full time contract with the Army to deploy on the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands. After 12 years my job in the Army was still a technical and physical job that I enjoyed so I transferred to the Regular Army and haven’t looked back since.
How did your experiences at St Aloysius College prepare you for this path? You know I am ever grateful that I had a solid foundation in my education at St Aloysius. I have the foundation skills that put me ahead of my peers just by virtue of my education. However, the thing I have gained most from my studies was learning how I learn and study best. Knowing what I need to do to learn and retain information, whether it’s a new skill or topic or rehashing something has been the most valuable thing I learnt from my high school years. What impact has Covid-19 had on you? Tough question. First and foremost I can say it has been busy. Whilst I have had some time working from home largely that isn’t possible in my line of work. Things have been busier than ever, made harder by trying to avoid public transport to get to day care and work. I am currently assigned to the Joint Task Force as part of the ADF support to the COVID-19 response.
Who or what has inspired you? I have been privileged to have had some exceptionally good mentors over the years. I am inspired everyday by my family and I am driven to be a better person and role model for my daughter. I have an innate desire to help people and that has been self-serving in that I have always felt good about myself for helping others. Serving in the ADF is just one way to help others and that was a large motivation for joining full-time. What are your career aspirations/goals in the coming years? Looking after my family, hopefully having baby number two, finishing my Masters and learning my new role are all on the list of things I want to do/do well in the next few years. My family and I are posting to Darwin at the end of the year (which comes with a promotion for me) and getting everyone settled and finding my feet with a new level of responsibilities will keep me busy for a little while.
If you could give your high school self some words of advice, what would it be? You don’t have to ‘be’ anything. Find things you enjoy, work hard and you will end up where you are meant to be. Don’t sweat on being ‘included’. People will like you for who you are and having a few good friends is better than fitting in with the crowd.
Always Aloysius – Summer Edition, 2020
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Alumni Profile
STEPHANIE MAHON R. M – CLASS OF 2000
What Year did you graduate? I graduated in the class of 2000 What did you study after Year 12? I went on to complete 1 year of Nursing, and transferred to Bachelor of Midwifery (my dream job since I was 13). Graduating from Bachelor of Midwifery in 2004. I have just completed a Post-Graduate Certificate in Health Services Management, June 2020. What advice would you give to someone considering undertaking this study path? Subjects such as year 11 and 12 Physical Education and Maths were the subjects that prepared me most for University. Physical Education gave me a sound knowledge of anatomy and physiology, this foundational knowledge led me to understand much 6
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more than if I was learning it at university for the first time. Knowing about chemical structures, muscles, bones and relationships between all these components was crucial in understanding the relationship and changes in a woman’s and babies’ bodies during pregnancy and postpartum. While university was wonderful, having this prior learning made it much easier for me to complete core subjects. What I didn’t realise at the time, was that all subjects are likely to help you in the future, despite your career path, as the more you learn the more adaptable you are to thinking broadly – especially in healthcare. I certainly wish I paid more attention in maths at school. This is crucial to health and safety in medication administration as a midwife. For example the amount of medication we administer is based on the patient’s weight, which means the amount of the same medication you administer to one patient could be entirely different to the next patient. Therefore, throughout the shift you will be calculating volumes and drip rates regularly. It’s not as hard as it sounds, but it is crucial that your calculations are correct. What influenced your choice of career? When I was a child / teenager I had an obsession with caring for babies and small children. I was the neighbourhood babysitter as a teenager. Every subject I chose at school was with the intention to set me in the direction of becoming a midwife. How did your experiences at St Aloysius prepare you for this path?
There are many ways you can achieve your goals and chosen career path in life if you remain focused and believe in yourself. What influenced your choice of career? Having teachers that supported my individual interests was crucial to my learning. What we understand in the workplace now is that the most optimal learning environment is that which has set up a space of what we call ‘psychological safety’ – i.e. at school would be the ability to ask questions comfortably and a curriculum that allows teachers to focus on individual student learning interests. There are some stand out teachers from my time at St Aloysius; In my mind I know for a fact they have played a big role in my success as a midwife. What impact has Covid19 had on you? I manage 4 departments in a large metropolitan maternity hospital. As we are an essential workforce (babies don’t stop coming due to a pandemic!), we still have to come in to work every day. One of the first things you learn as a nursing student is about something called “universal precautions” – this is the foundation of safety when it comes to prevention of spread of disease. Universal precautions works on the assumption that everyone we come in to contact with has the potential of carrying a contagious disease. So when the pandemic was declared by the world health organisation, as a workforce we were already donning Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) where appropriate, when
Alumni Profile “WHERE ARE THEY NOW?” working with women and families and hand hygiene is one of our most basic and common practices. The major difference now is all staff are required to wear PPE at all times in the hospital, not just when in contact with patients – it feels like a scene out of a movie! Everyday everyone who enters our building undertakes a questionnaire and temperature check to ascertain safety prior to entering the building. We are getting very used to having covid – 19 swabs as well for the mildest of symptoms as we are dedicated to caring for our community and all feel strongly about keeping our new mothers and newborns safe. What have you learnt from Covid-19? I have learnt that public education is crucial in health and hygiene. A lack of understanding of disease spread leads to catastrophic outcomes. That government policy and structure is crucial for public safety. It has highlighted to me how lucky I am, not only choosing a job that I love, but that my job is needed in the community, I will always have the safety of work and financial stability. In a time where I have seen a lot of friends losing their jobs due to the pandemic and nature of their roles, I feel very greatful.
physical and mental health, anatomy and physiology. I also loved home economics – learning to cook was very exciting to me! If you could give your high school self some words of advice, what would it be? Stay focussed – it’s worth it! Having a goal to work towards was crucial in keeping me engaged as a student. Even if people around you don’t know your goals – stay true to yourself because you’re the only person who can do the work to achieve the desired goal. You don’t have anything to prove to anyone else – ever! A lesson that took me a long time to learn. Who or what has inspired you? My Mum and Dad have been my most inspirational motivators. Despite the negative and positive flows of normal life, they reminded me of the bigger picture and helped me work out what I was most
passionate about. My Mum was a counsellor for Nursing Mothers, now known as the Australian Breastfeeding Association, when I was a child. Being around mothers and babies during my early years set up my passion. Having an understanding of the importance of breastmilk chemistry early on and the impact on gut health and long term health was very interesting to me – this was a major reason I became a midwife. What are your career aspirations/goals in the coming years? I am blessed to be in the position I am in, my goal was to become the manager of a specific workforce in my organisation – which I achieved in January 2020. I would love to take time to consolidate this position now, as the pandemic created other challenges which have led me to focus in ways I would never have expected to.
What do you recall of your time at St Aloysius? What is your fondest memory? I fondly remember school camps with my friends and the Physical Education subjects - both theory and practice was just incredible. I have always been interested in Always Aloysius – Summer Edition, 2020
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Acts of Service 2020 “In a world which, unfortunately, has been damaged by the virus of indifference, the works of mercy are the best antidote.” – Pope Francis Year 11 students were asked to reflect on the many acts of service they have provided in 2020. This year has been challenging, however it has not stopped our girls from providing service to others. Service comes in many forms, for small acts of service can make a big difference to others. Here are some examples of services provided:
SARA OSMAN
LAURA DO
When the 9 tower blocks were in hard lock
I made and sold face mask for the
down two students and myself volunteered at the mosque in North Melbourne to provide food and essentials for the people in the towers.
community of Victoria, reaching out to help people in Ballarat/Geelong/Dandenong. I donated the money I collected from the sale of masks.
VIVIANA LANCEROTTO I made baked goods and went grocery shopping for my grandparents during isolation.
AVA CASEY When my sister was bored I spent time with her and we did fun things that made
ALICIA NGUYEN
us both laugh. This act of service brought
I gave a mask to a homeless person when
happiness into our lives and made us smile
they were mandatory.
during the hard time of lockdown.
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Always Aloysius – Summer Edition, 2020
KYLIE LA An act of service I have done is helping my brother with his homework. He has been struggling so as an older sister I decided I should help him. He was grateful and also understood his homework better.
BLAISE SEGAFREDO I have been recently looking after my neighbours’ children during quarantine. They are both essential workers and under a lot of stress, so it’s good that i can provide them with a bit of relief in this hard time.
MIA PATELMO-CHRISTY I looked after my siblings while my parents had to work throughout lockdown.
Acts of Service 2020 “While we are unable to meet and see as many people this year, such small interactions are gifts that remain limitless. Our connections with another person sustains us.” pen and paper to a sister who I only knew by name and enjoyed doodling little petals along the border, hoping my message felt heartfelt. I sent the letter digitally, then a few weeks later I received a reply. I had the privilege of meeting a warm and intelligent woman who didn’t seem to mind how excitedly I talked about my pets. While we are unable to meet and see as many people this year, such small interactions are gifts that remain limitless. Our connections with another person sustains us.
When case numbers for the virus teetered, my travels were condensed to my house, going to school, then immediately returning home. During this time, the Social Justice committee organized a project in which students could reach out to the Sisters of Mercy who were mainly confined inside the convent. I introduced myself through
Then case numbers swelled, while places we can now go to are restricted to our houses and staying in our houses. More time is spent swinging on a chair and staring absently at the dimmed lighting of a screen than talking. Still, our College continued to buzz. There was the Stepchallenge as well as the Online Olympics to get students competitive and out the door for a little while. For the less sporty and active people, they could participate in the Principal’s Reading Challenge or spend after school playing online in Chess Club. On Wellbeing Wednesdays, the morning began with Eden’s soothing voice and her caring
reminders. Students woke up a bit more at their home desks as videos are shared from the same screen, there was the occasional background noise of barking dogs or kids (or both, at the same time), and there was the constant support of teachers who were willing to stay on call after school on the day before a test. Covid-19, for many people, has been devastating, demanding, and quite exhausting. I found these small pockets of giggles when a mic is momentarily unmuted, or the exchanging of sincere wishes for health and safety over email. I am again reminded of our school community that was for the moment reduced to inside my laptop screen but still brims with evergrowing kindness. Elise Ho Year 11
Always Aloysius – Summer Edition, 2020 9
College Co-Captains’ Message “Sometimes you never know the value of a moment, until it becomes a memory.”
Wow, what a year. I would have never thought to be granted the opportunity to be a College CoCaptain let alone in a pandemic! Trying to maintain my role as a leader without the physical presence of my community on campus was a real challenge as friendly smiles and approachable demeanors were not entirely doable online. However, despite this and with the help of the Prefect Team we tried our best to bring the community closer together in a safe environment. 10 Always Aloysius – Summer Edition, 2020
Following a quote from Mother Theresa, “You can do what I cannot do. I can do what you cannot do. Together we can do great things,” I would have not been able to achieve the best I could from my role as a Co-Captain if it weren’t for the help of my fellow Prefect Team and peers. The first stage of remote learning allowed everybody to reflect and focus on our personal goals, accommodating our interests. This was enriching in the sense and by the time we came together as a team, we were able to unite our individual differences being a voice for the girls at St Aloysius, we brought together our different interests and hobbies whether they be sports, music or academia. Essentially, this year has taught me how to collaborate and communicate with the St Aloysius community, interacting in and outside of school hours utilising social media platforms and technology. This highlighted the most important thing that I learnt this year, that the spirit of St Aloysius never truly dies even during the state of a pandemic. Subsequently, this was also highlighted through St Aloysius Day. Although we performed activities within our pastoral
groups, we took this year’s St Aloysius Day in another direction where we focused on the girls’ ability to work together participating in various activities organised by the Prefect Team. This enabled students to develop meaningful relationships within their pastoral groups. This ensured that my goal of bringing the community closer together, was achieved. It is memories like these that will benefit the friendly dynamics between the girls in the future, as they reflect on their experiences within high school. My role as College Co-Captain has been a good one, a memory I will never forget, leaving my mark at St Aloysius the best way that I could. My concluding year at St Aloysius, with the opportunity to represent the community as College Co-Captain has gone faster than I had anticipated. This saddens me, however, brings light to the beginning of my new journey. To end with a Dr Seuss quote, I would have wished to savour every moment of this year as, “Sometimes you never know the value of a moment, until it becomes a memory.” Georgia-Mae Salvo College Co-Captain
“When everything is uncertain, everything that is important becomes clear.” facing our individual challenges along the way. Being the College Co-Captain has been a wonderful and rewarding experience. To lead such a wonderful school makes it even more worthwhile. If there is anything I would like to take away from this year, it is the appreciation and gratitude that I have towards the College, that has only grown deeper.
It seems like a lifetime ago when we embarked on the application to be a part of the Prefect Team. It was during that process that we learnt the integral values of leadership, compassion, communication and courage, just to name a few. If we thought we knew what those words meant in 2019, we were wrong. If anything, the definitions of these qualities have only been clarified and exemplified in this strange and unusual year. This year has asked more out of all of us, asked us to all be leaders in our own lives, all
The 2020 highlight reel may be short, but it definitely means a lot more to us. Each day we spent on campus holds the same value to a whole month in each other’s presence. Never have I been more grateful for a formal in January in 40ºC weather. These memories, although limited, have only cemented themselves to become a fonder part of the year that I hold very dearly to my heart. In tough times, it was these moments of happiness that got me through and knowing that soon we would be able to spend time together again. I am a firm believer that when everything is uncertain, everything that is important becomes clear. This has held true in tenfold in relation to our school community. The heart and soul of St. Aloysius College is its people, and I learnt that the hard way.
I cannot express my gratitude towards our community enough. It means a lot to know that we are cared for, a hot chocolate in the mail goes a long way! However, despite the lack of physical interaction, I believe that this year has brought us closer together and taught me to cherish the time spent with those that matter to us. For our cohort of Year 12s especially, despite it not being the year any of us envisioned, we have made lots of memories, even if they were through the pixels on our screens and facilitated by Microsoft Teams. From the conversations that have been held on a Google document or completing Kardashian quizzes during pastoral, this year has forced us to find innovative and creative ways to fulfil the interaction that we all needed; with some of us even going out of the way to connect more than we usually would. Even though these were some unprecedented times, I think we should all be proud of ourselves for the persistence and dedication that this year has asked of us. After all, who else can say that they completed Year 12 in a pandemic? Eunice Abis College Co-Captain
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2021 College Prefects “Leadership is not a position or title, it is action and example.” We are proud to introduce the 2021 College Prefect Team:
Maggie Twyford College Co-Captain
Bethany Pearce College Co-Captain
Agom Agong
Ava McLeod Arts Prefect
Elise Ho Liturgy Prefect
Amelie Milazzi
House Cup Prefect
Fallon Prefect
Mc Auley Prefect
Emma Tabone Scully Prefect
Michelle Nguyen Verdon Prefect
Social Justice Prefect
Medot Tadesse
Chelsea Stewart Sport Prefect
Student Action Prefect
Gabrielle Dempsey
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Trinity Foo
Mercy Day 2020 listened to presentations and participated in discussions on how they could support the charity. Students’ ideas and plans were shared with their pastoral groups with the expectation of implementing these actions in the future. After the students were dismissed, the staff ‘virtually’ gathered together for a shared lunch from their homes and participated in a quiz created by the Staff Association. It provided an opportunity to join in a light-hearted celebration of our efforts and commitment to our students. A different day in comparison to what many of the girls and staff are traditionally accustomed to, however, it still brought a sense of unity in continuing the heritage and ethos of Mercy. Mercy Day is about coming together as a College community to celebrate being a Mercy school in the legacy of Catherine McAuley and the Sisters of Mercy, and this year was no different. We might have been isolated physically but this did not stop us from joining spiritually. Fr Hien Vu, our College Chaplain celebrated for us in a pre-recorded mass. This also enabled staff and students to participate by recording their sections at home to be added into the presentation. Our mass video allowed us to share in prayer in the presence of our Lord as a whole school community.
In preparation for the day, we were very privileged to connect with other Mercy schools across Australia. This culminated in joint videos presented in the mass, demonstrating that even in our remoteness we are able to share resources and unite under a common inheritance.
Michael Chesser Catholic Mission and Mercy Ethos Leader
In previous years the College used Mercy Day as an opportunity to raise funds for various Mercy based charities. This year our focus for the day focused on the awareness and understanding of the organisations and communities we support. The girls gathered in several groups with House members to learn more about the supported charity or organisation. They Always Aloysius – Summer Edition, 2020 13
Farewell to Deputy Principal FAREWELL TO OUR DEPUTY PRINCIPAL, WELLBEING & DEVELOPMENT
It really seems like a lifetime ago that I joined the St Aloysius College Community as Head of Students & Programs, but I guess that’s what happens when you happen upon a community where you feel instantly at home. I can still vividly remember preparing for my interview as the timing was rather unusual. The position was advertised early in Term One 2014 with a commencement date of early Term Two. At the time I was Year 7 and Transition Co-ordinator at Sacré Coeur, a school and role that I loved dearly. So, for me it was odd that I was even considering a move at that time, after all why would you even consider moving
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from a school where you feel loved and happy? But it really is true what they say “...everything happens for a reason,” and whilst it was a risk for me to leave at that time of year, something or someone was telling me that this was definitely the right move for me. As soon as I entered the St Aloysius College Reception area prior to my first interview, I felt at instantly home; and on meeting Mary Farah shortly thereafter the deal as they say, was sealed. I realised there and then that with Mary as the leader, St Aloysius College was definitely somewhere that I wanted to be. Mary’s energy and passion were then and continue to be contagious! Following that initial realisation, it didn’t
take long for me to realise that I had landed my dream job. To this day, there is so much that I continue to be grateful to Mary for, not least of all has been the opportunity to develop and implement a wide range of programs, that I will continue to hold dear to my heart. Such programs as the Year 6 – 7 TLC Transition Program, The Nourish – Pastoral Care Program, the Prefect Mercy Formation Conference, The Japanese and Italian Exchange and Overseas Study Programs and the on-going work that I have been privileged to be part of each day, that is working with an incredible community of staff, students and families, that have allowed me to be a small part of their stories; I can only hope that I have made some small difference to each of you. To the valued alumnae of St Aloysius College, I have always enjoyed opportunities to meet with you, to hear about your lives beyond the gates of St Aloysius, thank you for your warm and generous interactions and I hope that our paths cross again. In closing, to say that I have enjoyed my time at St Aloysius is an understatement of monumental proportions! I feel incredibly blessed to have been part of such a remarkable community that lives and breathes Mercy each day. I will undoubtedly miss the community but will treasure deeply the many happy memories of my time here Pauline Cutajar Deputy Principal, Wellbeing & Development
Wellbeing Wednesday WITH EDEN
This year has been a challenging year for us all, and particularly for students adapting to remote learning. Young people rely on their friends for support, and the social distance requirements along with the lockdown restrictions have made it difficult for young people to connect and live a “normal” life. As the College Psychologist/Counsellor, my discussions with students at St Aloysius College highlighted some of the specific barriers students were facing during remote learning, as well as dealing with the worries of COVID-19 and the impact the restrictions were having. I felt the need to provide additional strategies to all students at St Aloysius College, and wondered how I could communicate the solutions I had been discussing individually with students in counselling, to the entire community. This is where Wellbeing Wednesday with Eden was born. It commenced at the beginning
of Term 3 2020 following the second round of remote learning. Wellbeing Wednesday with Eden is a brief, 2-minute weekly video addressing a range of wellbeing concerns that have arisen during lockdown and COVID-19 restrictions. Pastoral Leaders shared these videos every Wednesday morning to remind students of how to manage some of the common concerns. Topics covered included:
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Staying Connected and Dealing with Loneliness Returning to School and Dealing with Return to School Nerves.
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Dealing with Distractions and Facing Boredom.
•
•
Resilience: How to be GREAT- Using the acronym GREAT, students were encouraged to engage in Gratitude; Relaxation and routine; Exercise; Acknowledging and accepting feelings; and Tracking thoughts and challenging unhelpful ones.
2020 has brought about many challenges, but it has also led to the introduction of the Wellbeing Wednesday videos that will likely continue into 2021. Eden Foster College Psychologist
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Online Art Exhibition 2020 St Aloysius College Visual Arts and Technology students in Year 7 to Year 10 rose to the challenges of online learning by completing new and innovative practical work in ways we would never have imagined. Their work was featured in online exhibition rooms showcasing work in areas from pastel pictures of fruits, recreating a famous art work at home, exploring stories in symbols and icons, designing houses and drawing plans to hand and machine stitched faux chenille pillows, tote bags, making fashion magazines, learning and practising knife cutting skills and learning how to advertise food. We are so proud of our students and what they have achieved in Art, Food Technology, Textiles and Visual Communication Design. Ric Roberts Visual Arts Learning Leader
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Student Achievements Our students have wonderful successes…here are some examples of some of the great achievements of the past months
BACHELOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY COURSE AT PSC Congratulations to Sarah Conway. We are very proud of Year 12 VCAL student Sarah Conway who has been offered a place in the 3-year Bachelor of Photography Course at PSC starting in February 2021. Sarah recently completed an online interview where she was required to show her folio and discuss her passion for photography as a future pathway. Sarah has been committed to her education in photography since completing the elective in Year 10. She has developed her skills by taking part in a range of short holiday courses and taking photographs at every opportunity. She has converted her garage into a home studio. We are very proud of Sarah and wish her all the best in her course next year. When asked why she wants to study photography, Sarah answered that it’s her biggest passion and because it’s in her blood. She grew up around photography as her Uncle is also passionate about it and her Dad shared his love of photography with her also. Once she finishes her Bachelor of Photography, she hopes to secure a mentorship with a photographer, then eventually start her own photography business. She acknowledges that she would not have been able to get this far without persistence and passion but also because of the people around her, such as her teachers, her Mum, family, and friends.
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MONASH SCHOLARS’ PROGRAM Monash Scholars is a prestigious program for high achieving secondary school students. The program is offered by Monash University to provide high achieving students with a unique head-start into university life. The program provides opportunities for personal and academic development as well as giving students the knowledge, skills and confidence to make the right study choices. It also enables these students to expand their network of like-minded peers. Congratulations to Year 10 students Alyssa Hanson & Kyarah-Jayne Pumo for being selected into this prestigious program.
Alyssa Hanson
Kyarah-Jayne Pumo
THE YOUNG JOURNALIST AWARD (ACU) The Young Journalist Award, brought to us by Australian Catholic University, is an opportunity for young people to explore the interesting and inspiring stories that are everywhere around them, and share those stories with the wider community. This year for the first time, the award was open to young writers and those interested in photography and digital journalism. The year’s theme for 2020 was “Living it up – Stories of Celebration.” Inspiring stories that students explored included sporting, academic or arts achievements, personal milestones, cultural and religious celebration or community events.
Gillian Fox
Eve Zabarauska
As part of their Academic 8 program students were asked to creatively deliver a response to this prompt. Academic 8 works to develop students’ recognition of cross curricular connections and helps build their skills to enhance their learning in both English and Religious Education. This project worked to highlight their understanding of audience and purpose in their project and further improved their literacy skills while increasing their ability to transfer and connect knowledge. Congratulations to every student that took part! Tamara Lourdes Religious Education Learning Leader
Tayla Rayner
Congratulations to the following students: Gillian Fox Runner up in the Intermediate Photo Journalist Section Eve Zabarauska Highly Commended in the Intermediate Printed Journalist Section Tayla Rayner Highly Commended in the Intermediate Digital Journalist Section (Video) Amal Hamed Highly Commended in the Intermediate Digital Journalist Section (Podcast)
Amal Hamed
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Strive for Higher Things
