From the Deputy Principal
We ended Term 2 with much celebration, collectively entertained by the College Musical, and participating in the fun, colour, and games of St Aloysius Day. Term 3 is, in some ways, like traveling on parallel lines – a term for consolidation of knowledge and preparation for innovation.
Our Year 10 students are preparing their senior years pathway with subject selection interviews well underway. They have completed interviews with Ms Abelardo, Career & Pathways Leader, and the course Future Me offered students information about subjects and possible career opportunities. On campus and no doubt at home, the Year 10 cohort have been asking many questions, processing much information, and reflecting on their individual interests.
Year 12 students discover Term 3 is the completion of the final SACs, the collation of subject content, and the combination of the creative elements of folios and performances, as they look ahead to practice examinations during the term break. Already, our Year 12 students can see a different-looking future on the horizon as they grow in independence and contemplate how next year looks for them. Some of our Year 11 students are also looking at next year, hoping to give back to the College in a leadership role. These students are preparing for interviews after submitting their applications for membership on the 2025 Prefect Team.
Currently, we are preparing for a number of special visitors to our College, from Louisa Rennie, the new Chief Executive Officer of Mercy Education, to students and staff visiting from our partner school in Kyoto, Japan. In preparation for their secondary schooling, we commence our Transition Program for our 2025 Year 7 students with PAT testing. Over the next few weeks, these new students will join our campus in groups to meet teachers, undertake some fun activities, and create new friendships prior to an extensive Orientation Program in Term 4.
I encourage students to attend Academic Consolidation for Everyone (ACE), a space and opportunity for all students to receive assistance and support in their classwork. Highly recommended as Term 3 is a busy time academically across all year levels, ACE runs in the DTIC on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 3:30 to 4:15 pm. Students just need to sign in and out, and they can work quietly or take advantage of the assistance from teachers.
Schools are busy places with active communities, and we have many events throughout this term. For students, the House co-curricular activities continue with House STEM competition, House Social Justice Projects, House Performing Arts, and House Visual Arts competitions reaching the final stages – there is still opportunity for students to challenge themselves, choose innovation, and influence the House Cup winner. In a few weeks’ time, we will have debating, public speaking, and voice choir competing in the Frayne Festival, and our ACS Winter season is nearing finals. Year 9 students will be working on Mercy RITES tasks, and after the ‘Seeds of Justice’ program, it will be time to celebrate Mercy Day. For our parents, we have a Cybersafety Parent Forum for Years 7-9 parents and Father’s Day Breakfast on Friday, 30 August. Please check direct messages for information.
Ad Altiora.
Rachel Valentine
Deputy Principal