20 Years of being ‘Enlivened by the Spirit’

AQUINAS CATHOLIC COLLEGE MENAI

12th March, 2012 Vol.19.No.6

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Last Tuesday finally saw the College swimming carnival held on a rare recent day in Sydney where it didn’t rain! Congratulations to those students whose competitive efforts made the day a useful guide for today’s Southern Sydney Swimming Carnival being held at Caringbah pool. Well done also to those students who entered into the community building aspect of the day, particularly Year 12 and the student leaders who added bright splashes of house colours to the day. Results will be announced at this week’s full school assembly; however two swimmers deserve special mention for their record breaking feats; Madeline Scullino [Nagle] U12 50m Freestyle won in a time of 31.60 seconds and broke the mark set by

Megan Harris in 1999 by .16 seconds U12 50m Butterfly won in a time of 34.57seconds also broke the mark set by Megan

Harris in 1999 by 1.65 seconds Jake Baggaley [Rice] U18 50m Breastroke won in a time of 30.97 seconds and broke the mark set by

Samuel Walker in 2011 by 0.37 seconds U18 50m Backstroke won in a time of 29.07 seconds broke the mark set by Callum

Timms in 2007 by 0.12 seconds Fantastic efforts by both swimmers! It is noteworthy that Madeline’s swims eclipse records set before she was born. My thanks also to Mr Hardcastle our PD/H/PE coordinator who organised the day and with the support of the entire staff ran a smooth event that also ran to time; no mean feat! Recent amendments to the NSW Education Act (1990) require parents and schools to approach ‘known’ student absences in a new way. Brochures outlining these changes and subsequent processes are now included with enrolment packages, and are also available from the College Office or on the College website. Each application for leave must be made on a Board of Studies form. These proforma are located under the “Forms” tab on the College website.

I would ask that parents take note of the following procedures;

As usual, if a student is absent due to illness parents are to ring the College Office to notify the absence and then send a signed note with the student on the first day they return to school. A doctor’s certificate can also be provided at this time noting that the student was ‘unfit for school’

If there are exceptional domestic circumstances requiring students to be absent for a full day or longer parents are to submit an ‘Application for Exemption from Attendance at School’ [i.e. Form A.1, Part A] located on the College website.

An explanatory note of explanation would be appreciated given the minimal space available on the form

Anzac Road Menai NSW 2234 Phone 9543 0188 Facsimile 9541 0398 admin@aquinasmenai.catholic.edu.au www.aquinasmenai.catholic.edu.au

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Forms for Application for Exemption from Attendance at School for Employment in the Entertainment

Industry’ [i.e. Form A.2] and Application for Exemption from Attendance at School for Accredited Elite Sports Programs’ [i.e. Form A.3] are also available in the same location

If requests for exemption from attendance fall outside of these areas, please contact the Principal or Assistant Principal to discuss the required processes

If exemption is granted, parents will receive a letter of confirmation along with a ‘Certificate for Exemption from Attending School’ a copy of this is also placed in the student’s record

Please note that requests cannot be considered retrospectively. If this is the case an ‘Absence Unjustified’ must be recorded on the roll and on reports.

Concurrently, the College will be introducing a system of notifying parents and carers of unknown student absence via SMS. More detail about this system will be published closer to its implementation. Late last week we received the preliminary 2011 ESSA Results for our current Year 9s. The ESSA test is an online tool that is a state wide Science assessment program based on the NSW Science Years 7-10 Syllabus, which mandates the teaching of science in contexts that assist students to see the relevance of science and to make meaning of scientific knowledge, understanding, skills, values and attitudes. The test provides information about student achievements which are then used to support learning and teaching programs. The result scale is divided into Levels One through to Six [Level 6 being the top end] and the Aquinas results were most pleasing;

As our Lenten journey continues I was interested over the weekend to see the online awareness raising in regards to Joseph Kony and the diabolical situation for all, but especially, young people in northern Congo, northern Uganda, the Central African Republic and South Sudan. The electronic campaign is a positive use of social media in bringing about positive change in our world. However, discerning the motives and purpose of such campaigns can sometimes reveal “fishing expeditions” for personal information, personal gain and even profit. Our Lenten fundraising for Caritas is based on long term involvement in developing long lasting results in places where despair, violence and poverty inhibit the lives of so many. Jack de Groot, Caritas Australia CEO, recently said, “the most important issue right now is that the people of these nations need our support immediately. They need food, they need clean water, they need shelter, they need medical assistance, they need psychological support and they need to be protected from these terrible acts of violence. These people have no idea where their next meal will come from. They are constantly on the move which makes it almost impossible to develop livelihoods, achieve food security, get an education and keep their children safe – all of the things we are able to take for granted.” Right now Caritas Australia has programs in the Congo where around 30,000 people from 5,000 families are receiving food clean water blankets and other basic necessities. In Uganda, Caritas is assisting 800 farming households to develop sustainable crops, generate vital incomes and ensure they have access to clean water which dramatically reduces the spread of disease. I hope that as we here at Menai make our Lenten contributions that we realise they can and do have positive effects in the lives of people we may never see, or only see appear as a flash in an online environment. We also remember in our prayers Olivia Regan [Year 10] and her family on the recent passing of her grandmother. May she rest in peace. James Corcoran Principal

Levels Aquinas % State %

1 – 3 26% 39%

4 – 6 74% 61%

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Key Dates Week 7 (A)-Term 1

Robert Nastasi Assistant Principal

Monday 12th March SSCCC Swimming at Caringbah Pool

Year 7 Peer Support period 1

Tuesday 13th March Year 7 Peer support period 3

Wednesday 14th March College Assembly period 4

Open Night at 7.30pm throughout College

SSCCC Rugby League trials (15’s and Opens)

Thursday 15th March SSCCC Rugby Union trials (15’s and opens)

Friday 16th March Public Speaking final at 6.30pm

FROM THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

Week 3 of Lent brings you the story of Colletta

Colletta lives in Zimbabwe. With Caritas Australia’s support, her community has set up a vegetable garden and repaired their village borehole. Colletta, who was very ill seven years ago, now has safe water to drink, enough food to make her medication effective and even has vegetables left over to sell to pay for school fees and other expenses. Your donation to Project Compassion enables marginalised communities to participate in their own development and create a future free from poverty.

2012 Pentecost Consultation Evening

On Thursday February 23rd College captains Damian Cohen and Caitlin Maxwell attended the annual Pentecost Consultation evening at Southern Cross Vocational Catholic College. This event each year determines the basis for Cardinal Pell’s Pentecost statement. The central issue explored this year was ‘sin and forgiveness’. We participated in small group discussion sessions focusing on a key question around topics such as justice, the ability to forgive and the significance of remorse. Each group then had the opportunity to present the keynote speaker, Mr Anthony Cleary, Director of Religious Education and Evangelisation for the Catholic Education Office with a thought-provoking question. His answers, as well as his opening speech, were informative and insightful, as well as highly relevant to our lives as young Catholics. We would like to thank Mr Strudwick for his efforts in organising our role in the event and attending the session with us. Damian Cohen and Caitlin Maxwell

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Religious Education at Aquinas

As we begin our third week of Lent it is important to remember that this special season is a time for preparation through prayer, penance and almsgiving; a time for remembering and reflection; a time for repentance and renewal; a time of forgiveness and growth. Various opportunities are available to support us through this season, including Parish based reconciliation and station of the cross services. In the lead-up to Holy Week, four parishes in Sydney will also be hosting a Night of Mercy. These nights will be profound experiences of prayer, music, reflection and

opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The evenings will include a talk by Bishop Julian Porteous and music led by the contemporary musician and composer, Stephen Kirk. All are welcome to attend these special Lenten events. Parishes hosting a Night of Mercy include Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Caringbah at 7.30pm on Wednesday March 28th and St John Bosco Parish, Engadine, at 7.30pm on Thursday March 29th. On Good Friday, Aquinas students have been invited to be a part of the Holy Family Parish celebrations. In particular, I would like to invite any student who would like to participate by reading at the Good Friday liturgy to see me during the week. Finally, this week Years 7-10 will submit their first assessment task. All activities should be clearly labelled with the students’ name, pastoral class and teacher’s name, following the conditions outlined on the assessment task notification. These tasks are due during morning pastoral on the following dates: Due Tuesday, March 13th, Week 7 Term 1:

Year 7 – School and Church Communities Assessment Task 1

Year 8 – The Settings of the Gospels Assessment Task 1

Year 10 – Church in History Assessment Task 1 Due Wednesday, March 14th, Week 7 Term 1:

Year 9 – Catholic Church in Australia Assessment Task 1

Mrs Catherine Nolan Acting Religious Education Coordinator

Reflection on the Gospel

Sunday’s Gospel (Jn 2:13-25) told of when Jesus drove the money changers from the temple. While it seems like the animals and money changers should not have been there, Passover is a time when thousands of Jewish pilgrims come to Jerusalem to celebrate from distant places. They would have needed to be able to purchase items such as a lamb, one for each household, in order to celebrate. During the weeks leading up to Passover, animals were brought into the Temple so that pilgrims could buy what they needed. It was also the time when Jews paid their taxes to support the ongoing sacrifices in the Temple.

This is the background to Jesus’ actions in the Temple. It is not really a cleansing since all of the animals and money changers were there to help people during this Passover time. Jesus’ actions must be understood as announcing the end of such Temple sacrifices – He points to himself as the new living Temple where God dwells. With the coming of Jesus, a building made of stones is no longer needed to reconcile us with God. Adapted from a reflection by Mary Coloe

Did you know?

St Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland, whose feast day is March 7th, was not born in

Ireland. He was taken to Ireland as a slave in his teenage years, escaping a few years later. After being ordained a Bishop, he was

sent to take the Gospel to Ireland.

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Aquinas Day: Thursday 26th April 2012

Food and Drink stores:(Lower Paved area)

Pizza BBQ KFC Lollies Krispy Kreme Frozen Frenzies Drinks Iceblocks

Next week: Prices for activities and food, more details on activities, and thoughts of people from past years!

Outdoor activities: (Oval, upper paved, Basketball Courts)

Relay games Soccer/Football Pass-the-footy Other Oval games

Aquinas Day Talent Quest 2012 is looming, please fill out audition forms, its great fun!

Games/Music/dance:(Outside Rooms 1 – 11, and inside rooms 1 – 11)

XBOX and WII Guitar Hero Disco Rave Cave Dance Dance Revolution Love Song Dedications

44 Days to go

In 2012, students will be in House Colour groups. Year 12 House leaders will be with House groups on the day.

20 Years 

AquinasDay2012

20 Years of being ‘Enlivened by the Spirit’ 6

20 Years of being ‘Enlivened by the Spirit’ 7

Eight students represented Aquinas at the first round of the Catholic Schools Debating Association Public Speaking Competition on Friday night.

They traveled to Santa Sabina, Strathfield, and wowed their audiences using topics such as “Second-hand” and “News Flash”. It was obvious that a lot of thought and preparation had gone into their speeches as the students were confident, polished and very well-received.

A big thank you to Mrs Fensom who adjudicated, and Ms Roche and Ms Curis who came along to support the students.

We congratulate:

Year 7: Samantha Gonzalez Year 7: Joshua Sutton Year 9: James Carroll Year 10: Apryl Sutton as they were selected to continue on to compete in the next round.

We wish them success!

Sally Millar Debating and Public Speaking Coordinator

DEBATING AND PUBLIC SPEAKING NEWS

12th March 2012

Last Tuesday Aquinas Catholic College held its 20th swimming carnival. Congratulations to the 32 students who are representing the College today at the Southern Sydney Carnival: Madeline Scullino, Isabella Miro, Greyson Si, Lachlan Anderson, Madelyn Brown, Emily Cannon, Nicholas Capovilla, Kaden Perkinson, Georgia Cairncross, Georgia Selmon, Alex Brown, Liam Jefferys, Baillie McKellar, Carly Eyles, Marcus Baggaley, James McKirdy, Sarah Bonnici, Ryan Dwyer, Mitchell Gill, Annalise Field, Taylor Landin, Jake Baggaley, Laura Bonnici, Avalee Isaacs, Barron Si, Brodie Ellis, Louise Spratt, Sarah Roumanos, Blaine Carrick, Andrew Nielsen, Ben Leghissa and Michael Bonnici.

Mrs Capovilla Team Manager

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LITERACY AND NUMERACY TUTORIALS

SPELLING The overuse of spell check and texting has left a legacy - too many high school students are now poor spellers. During exams students will be tested on their comprehension, written and vocabulary skills. Don't fall into the trap of thinking bad spelling is acceptable - spelling errors lead to clarity errors, which lead to loss of marks. Computers cannot comprehend or interpret a subject; therefore, they are not always reliable. If you were to type the following sentence into a computer, it would accept it as correct. I insist on eating grandfather before we begin our journey. Computers will often accept the bizarre – teachers won’t. It is important to remember that grammatical errors can lead to clarity errors, which lead to loss of marks. Also, you can’t use grammar or spell check during a written exam, so it’s best not to become too reliant upon either one in the first place. Kate Wilson Literacy and Numeracy Teacher

Learning Difficulties, Disabilities & Early Intervention ExpoLearning Difficulties, Disabilities & Early Intervention Expo Saturday 24th March 2012 9amSaturday 24th March 2012 9am--3pm3pm

Caringbah Baptist Church 74-76 Captain Cook Drive Caringbah All Welcome, Entry is Free

More than 50 exhibitors to advise and inform Parents and Carers on services More than 50 exhibitors to advise and inform Parents and Carers on services available in the Sutherland Shire & St George to support children 0available in the Sutherland Shire & St George to support children 0--16 yrs 16 yrs

with additional needs and their families.with additional needs and their families. Professional Guest Speakers throughout the day. Full speakers timetable Professional Guest Speakers throughout the day. Full speakers timetable

& brochures available ph 8544 8604 or email ssldsg@learningdifficulties.org.au& brochures available ph 8544 8604 or email ssldsg@learningdifficulties.org.au

From the Careers Office I have just established an edmodo account for Aquinas Careers. I would like all students in Years 10, 11 and 12, and interested parents to please join this group. If you are not familiar with edmodo, it is similar to facebook, but specifically for the education community. it is much more secure. I am hoping that everyone will join the Aquinas Career group, so I can quickly and easily disseminate information to you. It also gives you the opportunity to add comments or questions for me to answer. To join, you will need the code tu2p7j (Please note you have to register before you can log on) I look forward to seeing you at www.edmodo.com Lisa Higgins Careers Adviser (Tues, Wed, every second Thurs)

From the Careers Office

318 Squadron Australian Air Force Cadets

318 Squadron Australian Air Force Cadets are now recruiting. Are you interested in aviation, bushcraft, shooting and survival training? If so collect an information sheet from the front office. For further information: Evan Moses Administration Officer Mob: 0425 289 585

20 Years of being ‘Enlivened by the Spirit’ 9

Maths Recall is included in the newsletter each week and is designed for Stage 4 and 5 or junior, students. The questions may focus on Working Mathematically problems and all are intended to be done without a

calculator.

Questions

1. Write in ascending order.

2. Simplify

3. Simplify

4. Simplify -3

5. Simplify

Mrs Catherine Fensom

MATHS DEPARTMENT RECALL CORNER

STATIONS OF THE CROSS

Each Friday during Lent in the Church

7:00pm (English) 7:30pm (Italian)

Come and spend some time

with Jesus

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CANTEEN ROSTER TERM 1

TIME: MONDAY-THURSDAY 10:00-1:30, FRIDAY 10:00-12:30

MONDAY 12/3 MELISSA BIRCH, ANITA MORTON

TUESDAY 13/3 KAREN WILLSON, SALLY DONOVAN, MELISSA TOWNSEND-CRYER

WEDNESDAY 14/3 VERONIQUE ROCA, SONIA NIELSEN, ANICK BRADSTOCK,

NICKY RODRIGUEZ, KRISTEN KASPARIAN

THURSDAY 15/3 KATE HORN, JENNY DAY

FRIDAY 16/3 AMANDA KEYES, MAREE HOGAN, DANIELLE BROWN,

JOANNE STORTENBEKER, BERNADETTE AHERN

MONDAY 19/3 HELEN HEAL, KIM GLENIE, CARINA POWDITCH

TUESDAY 20/3 CAROLYN COONEY

WEDNESDAY 21/3 JACKIE TORO, CLAUDIA ISAACS

THURSDAY 22/3 CYNTHIA SI, TANYA CHANT

FRIDAY 23/3 ANN-MARIE WALKER, CATHY CARUCCIO, KYLIE DUGGAN, LOUISE PERROU,

JANENE POPULIN

UNIFORM SHOP

THURSDAY 15 MARCH

8:00am—9:00am

Please note the Uniform Shop only sells Sports Uniforms and School bags

The Uniform Shop does not accept Eftpos or Credit

cards

College caps and sports socks can be purchased from the College Office

CANTEEN NEWS

No meat or chicken products available on

Fridays during LENT

Mini Spring Rolls pkt 3 with sweet & sour sauce $2.00 Chicken Burgers will be replaced by Vege Burgers $3.00 Cheese & Tomato pizza slabs will be available $3.00 Cheese & Spinach Triangles $3.00 Small ricotta & Spinach Rolls $2.00 Greek Salad $3.50 Salad Sandwiches / rolls $3.00 Tuna / Salmon / Egg / Cheese also available

(This menu is only available on Fridays)

Cheese & Bacon rolls will be replaced

by Cheese rolls on Fridays during Lent

MATHS CHALLENGE

Maths Department

Answers:

1. in ascending order.

2.

3.

4.

5.