10 DECEMBER 2018 / NO. 36 FROM THE PRINCIPAL · 12/10/2018 · Enlivened by the Spirit · WHOLENESS · HOPE · JUSTICE · REVELATON 10 DECEMBER 2018 / NO. 36 FROM THE PRINCIPAL Second

Enlivened by the Spirit · WHOLENESS · HOPE · JUSTICE · REVELATON

10 DECEMBER 2018 / NO. 36

FROM THE PRINCIPAL Second Week of Advent

PEACE

Prepare a way for the Lord. The season of Advent is a time in which we prepare for the Lord’s coming. We prepare for the feast of Christmas which commemorates his first coming as a child in Bethlehem. And we prepare also for his final coming in glory. We do this by heeding John the Baptist’s call to repentance, and by striving for ‘peace through integrity, and honour through devotedness.’ St Paul’s Sunday Missal

http://www.sydneycatholic.org/xt3advent

The Archdiocese of Sydney’s social network xt3.com also has released its 2018 Advent Calendar with the theme ‘Meet Me in the Silence.’ The calendar, also available as a free App, features daily reflections and multimedia resources to help families make the most of the season of Advent. First launched nine years ago as an online resources and advertised in the College newsletter for a number of years, this year's Advent Calendar has even more exciting content than ever before including podcasts, Advent reflections, video animations created by xt3.com, a message from the Archbishop of Sydney, the Most Rev Anthony Bishop OP, videos from both Australian and international presenters, and Advent messages from Pope Francis. The Calendar is also available as a free App for iPhone, iPad and Android devices. The link for downloading the App is beneath the calendar screenshot [above].

http://www.sydneycatholic.org/xt3advent

Enlivened by the Spirit · WHOLENESS · HOPE · JUSTICE · REVELATON 2

JAMES CORCORAN PRINCIPAL

A reminder that the Annual Presentation night is being held this Thursday, December 13th from 7:00pm in the John Paul II Hall [all attending are asked to be seated by 6:50pm]. All members of the College community are most welcome to this event we look forward to concluding the academic year on this night. Students, parents and guests will also enjoy a number of student performances that showcase the talent on display at the College. The staff carpark will be utilised by the staff on this evening, but parents are welcome to park in the designated spaces in the student carpark, accessed via Gate 2. Congratulations again to Tiana Harb [La Salle House] who has been offered an interview with the Art School of London, UAL [University of the Arts, London] is a world Top 6 university for art and design according to the QS World University Rankings® and Europe's largest specialist university for art and design. Tiana will meet with UAL in February as a result of her major work being exhibited in Art Express. Wow!! Remaining on student achievement, well done to all of our 14 sides, in Years 7 – 9, who played in the Grand Finals of the Sutherland Shire Combined Catholic Colleges’ completions last week, especial congratulations to those sides who became premiers ; Year 8 Boys Oztag coached by Mr Burke & Mr Tagg

Year 9 Boys Oztag coached by Mr Mollica & Mr Tsambalas

Year 7 Girls Oztag coached by Miss Woolnough & Mr Petrie

Year 8 Girls Oztag coached by Mrs Doran

Year 9 Girls Oztag coached by Ms Gonnet [Undefeated]

Year 9 Boys Cricket coached by Lillis [Undefeated]

Year 7 & 8 Girls Softball coached by Mrs Parker & Miss Moore

Year 7 Girls Basketball coached by Mrs Armstrong

Year 8 Girls Basketball coached by Mr Obeid

Year 9 Girls Basketball coached by Ms Dickinson & Mrs Reyes

Year 8 Girls Volleyball coached by Mrs Capovilla [Undefeated]

Year 7 & 8 Mixed Netball coached by Mrs Gawidziel [Undefeated] Some special congratulations also to Ellie De Celis [MacKillop House] who competed in the All Schools Athletics carnival last week. Ellie had to compete ‘up’ two age groups in the Under 16 3km Race Walk and finished a gallant 6th in Australia…in a time of 15:59:29 which was an 8 sec PB for her. Well done Ellie!! Please keep the Lenertz family in your thoughts and prayers as Joshua and Gemma’s [Rice House] grandmother recently passed away. Please also keep Mrs Woods and her family in your intentions as Maree’s father died last Friday.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.

May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.



Assistant Principal │ Damien Kerr

CALENDAR

2018/19

Week 9

Monday 10 December 2018

Year 10 Incursion - Senior First Aid Course facilitated by Surf Life Saving

NSW

Tuesday 11 December2018

Year 10 Mock Interviews

Wednesday 12 December2018

Year 10 Excursion - Jamberoo

Last Day for Year 10

Thursday 13 December2018

Last Day for Year 11 HSC Results Released Online

Period 5 - Summer Sport Awards and BBQ (All Classes)

Aquinas Whole School Christmas Liturgy Aquinas Awards Evening Years 7-11

Friday 14 December2018

Last Day Years 7-9

Picnic Day Years 7-9

Year 12 Morning Tea

Week 1 - 2019

Wednesday 30 January 2019

First Day of Classes for Year 7 Students

Year 10 Peer Support Students Return

Thursday 31 January 2019

Years 8 - 12 Students Return

Friday 1 February 2019

Aquinas House Sport - Round 1


Aquinas @ St Marys Cathedral │ Steve O’Connor

Aquinas has been well represented at St Mary’s Cathedral over the last few weeks. Archbishop’s Consultation - 21st November Our College Captains and Vice Captains were involved in a meeting where student leaders from Catholic Schools throughout Sydney met with Archbishop Fisher. The Archbishop conducts this meeting annually as a way to congratulate the elected leaders and to keep abreast of issues important to youth.

End of Year of Youth - 7th December A contingent of students from Year 9, 10 and 11 travelled in to the Cathedral last Friday (7/12) to mark the end of the Year of Youth which began at last years Australian Catholic Youth Festival. The day began with Mass where our own Jack Harris (Nagle) led the congregation in the singing of the Responsorial Psalm. Jack was also part of the Caspa Choir which also included Taylor Ramsey (Nagle). The day concluded with a concert that featured Fr Rob Galea. The Caspa Choir also sung at the launch of the Lights of Christmas which sees the Cathedral facade lit up every evening. It is a great activity for the family to do together to help put the focus back on the reason we celebrate Christmas. For more information click on this link.

https://www.timeout.com/sydney/things-to-do/lights-of-christmas



Be An Angel Weeks 8 & 9 │ Denise Martin

The Aquinas Catholic College community are undertaking the Be an Angel program. This program assists our local chapter of St Vincent de Paul to give gifts to those children in our community, whose families may be experiencing some difficulties at the moment.

Each student is asked to make a gold coin donation in their pastoral class for Be an Angel. The aim is for each pastoral class to raise approximately $30-$35. Each pastoral class will be assigned a child, their gender and age group. A volunteer from each class will then be required to go to the shops and purchase their gift. Gifts need to be returned by Tuesday, 11 December 2018.

Aquinas has 44 pastoral classes but unfortunately there are 51 children in our community that may go without a gift this year unless we can help them. Maybe your pastoral class could raise enough money to purchase two gifts? If you think this is possible, please get your pastoral teacher to let Mrs Martin know. Please do your best to think of others first this Christmas, especially those who may not be looking forward to the festive season. Through your support of Be an Angel, we may be able to offer a little bit of joy and hope.


Girls Night In │ Denise Martin

On Friday the 7th December 2018, approximately 75 female student and 12 female staff participated in the Girls night in held in the MacKillop Learnng Common at Aquinas Catholic College. The aim of the night was to raise some money for the National Breast Cancer foundation as well as to enjoy all things feminine. The night involved numerous enjoyable activities and began with two videos. Firstly, we watched how Hayley Raso (one of Australia’s leading female soccer players) overcame a broken back to continue to follow her dream of representing Australia in her chosen sporting field. Hayley recalled her pathway to where she is now and identified the importance of family and friends as a significant contributor to her recovery and success. We also watched a video from Cassey Maynard, who is a fitness expert for Women’s Health Magazine and Channel 7’s “The Morning Show”. Cassey reminded the girls to always be proud of their achievements and talked about the importance of friendship and the value of females in supporting each other rather than tearing one another down. She stressed the unrealistic images that are available to young females via social media and the importance of believing in each other and yourself. Cassey was an engaging speaker and we thank her, for giving up her time to make this video. Special mention and thanks to Halle Cambrey who helped organise the video from Cassey. The evening raised over $2,144, which will be donated to the National Cancer Council.

The Year 11 female students worked tirelessly to organise activities and items for this evening. These included raffles, trivia, a photo booth (complete with props), a movie room, music, the card game ‘spoons’, lolly pop pong, baking sweet treats for sale on the night and decorating the MLC beautifully. These students also approached local businesses and asked for donations or donated prizes themselves for our raffles, which also raised additional funds. A HUGE thank you to Little Bonnys (Menai), InHouse (Menai Plaza), Anytime Fitness, Top of the Crop (Menai Plaza), Laser Clinic (Menai), Panania/East Hills RSL (organised by Mr Tony Vanderklay) , Gary’s Seafood (Menai Plaza), Mcdonalds (Menai), Boost Juice (Menai Plaza), Michels Patisserie (Menai Plaza), Priceline Cosmetics, LabelMakers (organised by Mrs Helen Lyons) & Mr Peter Burke.

Another HUGE thank you to the staff that supported the evening, by either baking, donating and attending on

the night or undertaking all three activities. These events would not run as smoothly without the support of the

staff and I appreciate their efforts and time. Thank you to Ms Small, Mrs D’Astoli, Mrs Fensom, Mrs

Halliday, Mrs Gerke, Mrs Kelly, Ms Malandra, Mrs Parker, Ms Gulisano, Ms Blanch, Mrs Smith, Mrs

Rundle, Ms Ware, Ms Formica, Mrs Morales, Mrs Bosi, Ms Gonnet, Mrs Ellis & Mrs Checchin.

FRIDAY

7 DEC 2018 5-8PM


Girls Night In


Girls Night In


Last Tuesday afternoon both Year 9 Elective History classes had the opportunity to showcase their research on topic of choice from history. Students spent the past six weeks of class reading, watching documentaries, discussing theories and preparing their presentation for the afternoon. Topics included:

Titanic: A conspiracy?

The London Blitz seen through art

Sorry Day in film

Greek Mythology - what did our gods look like?

The Black Death - how to avoid it

The Port Arthur massacre and the gun control debate

9/11 and terrorism,

South Vietnamese Special Operations Unit - what was it?

The Napoleonic era seen through maps

The Ancient Greek Olympics

The JFK assassination - a conspiracy?

the Ottoman Empire

Agent Orange - was it really necessary?

The Bermuda Triangle - is it real?

Pearl Harbor - why did it happen?

Conflict in the Middle East - a history of the region since WWI

The American Civil Rights movement

Ancient Rome. Parents were invited to view the students’ presentations and were impressed by the high quality and the students’ thorough knowledge. I would personally like to congratulate both classes on the wonderful job they did, I certainly am a proud teacher!

Year 9 Elective History Afternoon │ Catherine Capovilla


Year 9 Elective History Afternoon Photos


Congratulations to the Year 8 Girls Volleyball team on your grand final win against St Pat’s on Friday 2-0. Each week you have displayed good sportsmanship, determination and a will to succeed which has proven to be the winning formula for our undefeated premiers. Well done girls! So proud of you!

Year 8 Girls Volleyball - Undefeated Premiers │ Catherine Capovilla

Year 9 Elective History Afternoon Photos Cont.


Beyond Horizons Youth Ministry Event │ Catherine Patros

On Friday the 7th of December, myself, a few students, Mr O'Connor and Mrs Kilzi attended the Beyond Horizons event celebrating the one year since the Australian Catholic Youth Festival at Saint Mary's Cathedral. Guests included Father Rob Galea, Gary Pinto and Genevieve Brynt.

The day was full of energy and was really inspiring. It gave us the chance to meet students from other Sydney Catholic schools. We had a great day. Many thanks to Mr Corcoran, Mrs Kilzi and Mr O'Connor for giving us this opportunity.

Ebony O'Loughlin Year 9


Monday 10 December

Tuesday 11 December

HELP NEEDED

Wednesday 12 December

Jeanette Cabrera,

Celine Kehoe

Thursday 13 December

Geoff Raymond

Friday 14 December

Picnic Day - no canteen

Closed until Thursday 24 January

8am—11am

Resumes normal opening hours Thursday 31 January 8am –9am

Please note the Uniform Shop only sells

Sports Uniforms and School bags

(There are second hand Blazers available, various sizes. Please contact the office for more

information)

The Uniform Shop now has Eftpos facilities

Uniform Shop Canteen Roster

Rosary & Prayer Group

Held weekly every TUESDAY

at RECESS in ROOM 5.

Everyone is welcome.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - MOCK INTERVIEW PROGRAM

Aquinas Catholic College is looking for volunteers to help out with the Mock Interview Program for our Year 10 Students scheduled for Tuesday, 11

th December from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm.

Your participation will provide young people with the opportunity to have a mock interview, to give them a real interview experience and receive valuable feedback. If you are available and interested in this program, please email [email protected] or call on 9521 0500.

mailto:[email protected]

Documents

10 DECEMBER 2018 / NO. 36 FROM THE PRINCIPAL · 12/10/2018 · Enlivened by the Spirit · WHOLENESS · HOPE · JUSTICE · REVELATON 10 DECEMBER 2018 / NO. 36 FROM THE PRINCIPAL Second