Now 27th April 2015

AQUINAS CATHOLIC COLLEGE MENAI
27th April, 2015
Vol.23.No.10
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
At today’s College Assembly we took time to remember those who have fallen in this country’s service and those
who have and are serving in our armed forces; particularly those who are currently overseas. Our Modern History
and Drama students presented a poignant presentation depicting the cost of war on families and combatants in
World Wars 1 and 2 based on diary excerpts and letters. The service also included a wreath laying, Reciting The
Ode, The Last Post and Rouse were also played in a fitting reflective service marking 100 years since the landings
on the Gallipoli Peninsula. We were also lucky enough to welcome and hear some brief words from Sutherland
United Services President, Jim Mac Intyre, himself a Royal Australian Navy veteran of World War II.
Students also heard the words of Kemal Atatürk who wrote in 1934 the consoling and healing words of an ex foe to
those who had lost sons and daughters in that campaign;
“Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives ... You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country.
Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by
side here in this country of ours ... You, the mothers who sent their sons from faraway countries, wipe away your
tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land they have
become our sons as well.”
Lest we forget
Lest we also forget the God given example of forgiveness.
The College is seeking expressions of interest from parents, families and friends who would be able to offer their
time to support some of our students during our Exam blocks in either Week 6 of this term [25 th – 29th May] and or
Week 6 of Term 4 [9th -13th November]. A number of students are eligible to have a reader and or writer as per
BOSTES guidelines. No experience is necessary and a briefing will be held to train those able to assist. With all of
junior exams now occurring in the one week it is not possible to only have Year 11 students fulfil this role. Anyone
willing to help is asked to leave their names and contact details with the Front Office Staff. Any assistance in this
area would be greatly appreciated by the students.
Students and staff have made a great start to Term II despite the wild weather that beset Sydney and beyond in
Week 1. We had a trying time with a number of rooms being inaccessible on Tuesday and Wednesday, but those
issues paled into insignificance given the experience of schools and communities in the Hunter and Newcastle
region. I have been most impressed with the standard of uniform and take this opportunity to remind all regarding
the key points to note for winter uniform are:
 Blazers are a compulsory uniform item for all students Years 7 – 12
 Blazers should be the outermost garment whist travelling to and from the College and at official College
functions
 Ties are to be worn as part of the boys’ winter uniform
 All students are to wear black leather low-rise, black leather lace-up school shoes
At all times hair is to be tied back, no make-up is permissible and any jewellery that is worn is as per the College
diary.
Anzac Road Menai NSW 2234
[email protected]
Phone 9543 0188 Facsimile 9541 0398
www.aquinasmenai.catholic.edu.au
‘Enlivened by the Spirit’
The College’s reputation in the Community is in no small way reflected by the behaviour and presentation of our
students in public. The pride and effort taken in the way in which the uniform is worn directly reflects on our
students. As such the College staff will take every opportunity to ensure that the College uniform is worn correctly.
The way in which the vast majority of our students meet these high expectations is most pleasing and is a source of
positive comment in the wider community.
Gum tree adjacent to Gate 1
Cross section
Room 12
A number of students have been achieving fantastic results ion their chosen fields of sporting and endeavour and in
the holiday period the following achievements have been
Nicole Miro [Year 10] competed at the Multi Class Australian Championships held @ Homebush Aquatic
Centre where she had an outstanding meet competing in the Under 16 Age Group, achieving the following Results;
1st Girls 400m Freestyle
3rd Girls 100m Backstroke, 50m Freestyle, 200m Individual Medley, 50m Backstroke
4th Girls 100m Breastroke, 100m Freestyle
5th Girls 100 Butterfly
Fantastic Results Nicole!
Renee Stortenbeker [Year 12] became the Under-19 Australian Beach sprint Champion @ the Australian
Surf Life Saving Carnival held at Kirra Beach in Queensland. She capped off a great weekend by also being part of
the Elouera SLSC team who were bronze medallists in the Under 19 Women’s Beach Relay. Well done Renee!
At the same championships Madison Kelly Makovec and Mikayla Ebb [Year 9] were members of the North Cronulla
SLSC Under 17 Marchpast team that were silver medallists. Great work Madison & Mikayla!!
Deanna Kalivitis [Year 9] was named as a member of the NSW Under 16s Women's Basketball Team. This
team will travel to Tasmania to play in the National Competition in the July school holidays. Congratulations
Deanna & “Go the Blues!!”
Best wishes also to Mr Roberts our Year 12 Coordinator who this
week Captains the Australian Opens Men’s Touch Football team who
are contesting the World Cup being held in Coffs Harbour. Pictured
below with Mr Roberts is his cousin Louise Winchester [Australian
Women’s Captain & Marist Penshurst Staff Member]. They are
heading into their fourth World Cups, having been successful at
Japan in 2003, South Africa in 2007 and Scotland in 2011.
Ex-student Jordan Holmes who left the College in Year 10 in 2013 to take up a scholarship at AFC Bournemouth,
England was also recently named in the Young Socceroos squad who will play a series of friendly matches in New
Zealand. Well played Jordan.
A number of families had a difficult Easter break and none more so than two Aquinas families who felt the grief of
the death of young women from cancer. Please keep Tracey Walker [mother of Bailey in Year 7] and Kerri Smith
[mother of Grace in Year 8] and their families and friends in your collective thoughts and prayers.
Eternal rest grant unto Tracy and Kerri, 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.
James Corcoran
Principal
Post script:
as normal.
The foreshadowed industrial action for tomorrow has been postponed and the College will operate
‘Enlivened by the Spirit’
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Assistant Principal
Key Dates
Week 2 (B) Term 2
Monday 27th April

Tuesday 28th April



100 year anniversary ANZAC ceremony and assembly in hall during Pastoral and
Period 1
SSCCC Football at Moorebank
Year 11 Parent teacher online bookings open at 4.00pm
Tuesday B lessons







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

Year 11 Parish Mass at 8.20am
Year 12 Retreat
Cronulla Sharks RL knockout
Year 10 Careers Day
Year 7 Geography excursion
Round 1 Debating
Year 12 Retreat
Year Group meeting period 4
Year 12 Retreat
Year 7-2016 Enrolment application close today
Sport
Wednesday 29th April
Thursday 30th April
Friday 1st May
Week 3(A) Term 1
Monday 4th May





NSWCCC Swimming at Homebush
SSCCC Touch Football at Bosco College
Year 11 Term 1 reports released online
Staff Meeting
Blessed Edmund Rice
Wednesday 6th May
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Thursday 7th May

Year 10 Parish Mass at 8.20am
Round 2 Debating
Year 12 Online bookings for Parent/Teacher open at 4.00pm
Year 11 Parent Teacher interviews from 3.30pm to 7.30pm-Students to attend in full
school uniform in hall
Salvation Army Red Shield appeal meeting at lunchtime
Friday 8th May


Friday week A lessons
Sport
Tuesday 5th May
Term 2 return
Can I commend the way in which students have returned for Term 2 in full winter uniform, it is great to
see them so well-groomed/dressed ensuring that they uphold our standards whilst being the best possible
advertisement for Aquinas Catholic College. A reminder to all students that the Blazer MUST be worn to
Pastoral class of a morning and when leaving school of an afternoon.
Whilst on the start to Term 2 I would also like to commend all staff and students for the way that they
coped and got on with business given the atrocious weather that Sydney (and we were not spared at
Aquinas) experienced across Monday to Wednesday of Week 1. I am extremely grateful to the staff for the
duty of care afforded to all students to ensure their safety and well- being and I also congratulate the
students for their calmness and patience in coping with the adverse weather that put many of our
classrooms out of action and saw many trees down around the school. It was heart-warming to see many
classes undertake lessons in the hall on these days and for students to continue to focus on their learning. A
special thanks to Mr Phil Knight our maintenance person who worked tirelessly on these days to ensure
that the College functioned as normal as possible.
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I commend to you a piece of writing below from some of Mrs Moffit’s Year 8 Science students who offered to write a piece
about the many fallen trees around the area as a way of explaining how and why these events occur.
Why Trees fall over in heavy rain
Trees have a complex root system used to absorb water and minerals and to anchor the tree to the ground. This root system also
supports the trunk and the leaf canopy above. In severe cases, like the storm from Monday 20/4/2015 to Wednesday this week,
Sydney has averaged 44mm of rain in two days and has had wind gusts of up to 100km/h. The average rainfall for the month of
April is usually 20mm-40mm.
In the case of the Gum tree near Room 12, the high winds and torrential rain caused the dirt to become soaked which can loosen
or wash away the soil around the roots. It was also enclosed by an elevated brick garden bed, this retained all the water that fell
and was absorbed into the soil below. As a result it fell due to the water logged soil, causing the roots to slip and fall from the
pull of gravity.
As trees also make every effort to remove the excess water they have absorbed they pump it out of their leaves via the branches,
called transpiration. This causes them to become very heavy and in high winds they can snap under the pressure. If the tree has
a shallow root system this will also be a factor that will contribute to it falling. Over the coming days large trees will still be
under pressure and may fall due to the soft soil.
Joshua Lane and James Selas Year 8
Robert Nastasi
Assistant Principal
Pastoral Care
The College has continued to move forward with technology with the adoption of SEQTA, for use by teachers, students and
most recently parents.
In terms of Pastoral Care, this has had significant benefits with teachers being able to monitor and support students more closely.
We are now taking the next step and implementing the ability of issuing and recording merits and demerits with this system.
Merits and demerits will no longer be issued via the College Diary. Instead, they will be issued via SEQTA. Students and parents will receive a notification of the merit/demerit each time they log on to the SEQTA Coneqt. In addition parents will also
receive an email immediately as it has been issued; along with a written explanation of the merit/demerit.
We are hoping that this move will give parents and students more immediate feedback whilst allowing teachers to monitor students more effectively.
I will take this opportunity to remind parents of our Award and Sanction System, with emphasis on the Pastoral Pathway.
20 Merits will result in a Merit Award. 2 Merit Awards, will earn a Year Coordinator’s Award (total of 40 Merits). And finally 2
Year Coordinator’s Awards will earn a Pastoral Coordinator’s Award (80 Merits).
3 demerits in a week will warrant a Wednesday afternoon Detention in consultation with the Year Coordinator.
We will still expect diaries to be signed on a weekly basis, as they ar e used for teacher /par ent communication and homework recording. Pastoral teachers will continue to check diaries each Monday. A demerit is a usual sanction for an unsigned diary.
We hope this will be a smooth transition, however ask for your support and patience through the changeover.
Many thanks for your continued support!
Mr Pay
Pastoral Care Coordinator
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RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AT AQUINAS
Welcome back. The last thing we did last term was witness a moving drama presentation on the final moments of
Jesus’ life. I would like to thank Mrs Kerry McNamara and her Year 10 Drama class who worked tirelessly and
expertly to prepare and deliver a creative depiction of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. Our gratitude goes to
Elke Burton, Abby Catalano, Courtney Chase, Gia Di Pietro, Bridget Dunn, Rochelle Gadd, Renee Gritter, Amy
Hildebrandt, Isabella Miro, Maxwell Mueller, Kendall Napier, Amelia Somerfield & Madeline Tesoriero. These
students also performed for the Parish on Good Friday. The play and therefore our term ended with these moving
words from Abby Catalano who played Mary:
“I was powerless; I had to watch my son die. I looked up at him. He was broken, so helplessly human so
weak… but not weak, this was true strength. This man really was the son of God, my son. And now every
time someone gossips, someone betrays, someone lies, someone hates, every time … I see the nails in his
hands, his eyes and his tears: they kill him again and again. We kill him again and again!”
Of course by Sunday we were celebrating Easter and the resurrection. The mood lifts as does the intake of
chocolate! Easter however is more than a day. It is a season that lasts for fifty days. It is during this time that Jesus
appears to his disciples proving to them that “He has risen!”. So we too are renewed by the fact that Jesus has
overcome the greatest evil: Jesus is alive! But he will only remain alive if we remember what he has done for us
and to do what he has asked us to do.
Mr O’Connor
Religious Education Coordinator
‘Enlivened by the Spirit’
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YOUTH MINISTRY @ AQUINAS : UPDATE
WYD16 INFORMATION NIGHT - NEW DATE
Due to the weather conditions last week,
the scheduled WYD16 information evening
for students and parents was cancelled.
The new date will be in week 5. Tuesday
19th May at 5.30pm in rooms 5 and 6. Hope
to see you all there! If any students have
any questions please see Miss Kilzi.
Students are to keep
updated and check the
notice board on Nagle
Paved
WYD16 PARENT AND STUDENT INFORMATION NIGHT
NEW DATE : TUESDAY 19 May 2015. TERM 2, Week 5
th
@ 5.30PM in ROOMS 5 & 6
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“UPDATE: YOUTH MINISTRY@AQUINAS”
WORLD YOUTH DAY 2016 - INFORMATION NIGHT @ AQUINAS
In August, 2013, 350 students and staff from Sydney Catholic Schools journeyed to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to celebrate World Youth Day (WYD) with Pope Francis. These students and teachers
joined with millions of other pilgrims from all over the world in a week of prayer, catechesis and
festivity. As is always the case with WYD, this event proved life changing for many of the pilgrims and was a once in a lifetime experience in our universal faith.
A number of students from our school have expressed interest in attending the next World Youth
Day planned for Krakow, Poland, in July 2016. As part of our school’s preparation for this pilgrimage I wish to invite parents and students to an Information Night hosted in collaboration with
a member of the Youth Ministry Team from the Catholic Education Office, Sydney, to be held at
Aquinas Catholic College on 19th May 2015 commencing at 5.30pm in Rooms 5 & 6. The Information Night will cover the following matters:

The nature of the WYD pilgrimage

Pilgrimage options

Mission work

WYD week schedule

Post-WYD retreat
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Accommodation
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Student safety and supervision
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Process for payment, dates for payment, confirmation of interest forms

Fundraising options
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Passport, visa, vaccination information

WYD portal

Collaboration with the Archdiocese
‘One Year Out’ event
Parents and students will also be encouraged to ask any questions they may have concerning
any aspect of the WYD16 experience.
I encourage all parents and students who have expressed an interest in attending WYD in 2016
and any others who may still be thinking of doing so to attend this Information Night. I look forward to seeing you then.
Yours sincerely
Catherine Kilzi
Youth Ministry Coordinator
‘Enlivened by the Spirit’
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Event coming soon
Permission notes regarding this event were handed out last week. Please make sure the permission slip is handed back to
Miss Kilzi by Thursday 30th April - Week 2
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LEARNING AND CURRICULUM MATTERS
This Week's Assessment Tasks
Year
12
8
11
Subject
General 1 Mathematics
Visual Art
Visual Art
Date
27.04.15
27.04.15
01.05.15
STUDY SKILLS TIP FOR APRIL
7 Steps to Make the Most of Class time
So what are the advantages of using class time efficiently? Well, you will complete more work in class and have
less to do at home, your teacher will be pleased with your application and so will your parents when they read your
report, and of course, you will learn more! What if you don’t use class time efficiently? You will have to do more
work at home, you will find you don’t always understand the work, your teachers will have to be continually
disciplining you and you may even make it harder for other people in your class to learn.
So what does working effectively in class mean?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Sit next to someone who will help you stay on task.
Ask questions whenever you are unsure, unclear or do not understand something.
Be polite and respectful of your teacher and your classmates.
Come to the lesson with all the books, technology and equipment you will need.
Contribute your thoughts and ideas at the appropriate times.
If you find yourself day-dreaming, ask yourself questions about what is going on.
Try at all times to stay on task and be focused on the work you are doing.
Learn more this year about how to work effectively at home and at school by working through the units
onwww.studyskillshandbook.com.au. Our school’s access details are:
Username: Aquinas
Password: 10success
Year 12 Library Study
Beginning in Week 3, the library will remain open for Year 12 students as a study venue every Tuesday night from
the end of the school day until 6.30pm. Students who want a private and silent study venue may use the common
areas in the library, while the two seminar rooms will be available for students who wish to work with their peers. I
encourage students to take the opportunity of studying in a controlled space, without the distractions that can often
be found at home.
Lisa Mirabello
Leader of Teaching and Learning
MATHS DEPARTMENT RECALL CORNER
Each week Maths Recall is included in the newsletter to encourage junior students to regularly focus on non
calculator skills. Please show your answers to your maths teacher during your next lesson, as it shows interest and
excitement about mathematical skills.
1. Calculate (0.2)2
2. Calculate
3. Evaluate –0.2 x –1.2
4. Evaluate
5. Evaluate 1 ÷ 0.2
Mrs Catherine Fensom
Assistant Mathematics Coordinator
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PEER SUPPORT WRAP UP!
We would like to thank the Year 10 Peer Support leaders for their positivity and enthusiasm throughout the Peer
Support program with Year 7 during Term 1. On the last day of term we had a BBQ to congratulate and thank both
Year 10 leaders and Year 7. Many thanks to all who helped with the preparation of and cooking of the BBQ. Lastly,
thank you to all the staff who supervised during allocated peer support lessons.
Miss Kilzi and Mrs Murphy
Peer Support Facilitators
A special thank you on behalf of Year 7.
On behalf of Year 7 we would like to take this opportunity to thank you for teaching us many things and caring for
us during Peer Support. Thank you for teaching us how to respect each other, how to be kind to each other and how
to get around the school. You also helped us to think about how we might handle different problems in the future.
Some of our greatest memories of Peer Support include:
Getting to know our leaders and other students in our group and talking and laughing with them.
You have helped us to settle into the Aquinas community by…
Teaching us about our community, helping us with problems that
we have faced this term and celebrating this new milestone of
starting high school. Our leaders helped us to make new friends
and be thankful for each other. On behalf of Year 7 we would
like to say THANK YOU!
By Nathan Mulholland and Tayla Azar
‘Enlivened by the Spirit’
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Year 7 Language Conventions
Choose the word in each sentence that is spelt incorrectly and write it correctly.
I didn’t know the answer so I took a wild gess.
Her toes went num because she had been leaning on one foot for so long.
Our neighbor grows his own tomatos in his vegetable garden.
Which sentence has the correct punctuation for direct speech?
The flight attendant asked me if I would like “tea or coffee”.
The flight attendant asked me if I would like tea or coffee.
The flight attendant asked me “if I would like tea or coffee”.
“Would you like tea or coffee?” asked the flight attendant.
Which sentence has the correct punctuation?
“Congratulations. You’ve got the job!” said the store manager.
“Congratulations. You’ve got the job said the store manager”.
Congratulations. You’ve got the job!” said the store manager.
“Congratulations. You’ve got the job! said” the store manager.
Year 9 Language Conventions
Choose the word in each sentence that is spelt incorrectly and write it correctly.
The truck driver tried to concentrait on the road ahead.
Making an effort to revise your school work each week has many benefitts.
The government official tried to negoshiate a better agreement.
Which word or words correctly completes the sentence?
During the test, Kavita had an advantage _____________ a calculator.
Despite
Due to have
When she has
Because she had
The emerald ring was _____________ expensive for my budget.
Far more
Far worse
Far too
Far to
ANSWERS Naplan Preparation - Literacy
Year 7
1 guess
2 numb
3 tomatoes
4 d
5a
Year 9
1 concentrate
2 benefits
3 negotiate
4 d
5c
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NUMERACY AND NAPLAN
NAPLAN (National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy) will be held in week 4 this
term. The Numeracy paper has both a non-calculator and a calculator allowed section.
Over the next three weeks, year 7 and year 9 students will complete questions to familiarize
them with the types of questions they may be asked in the NAPLAN paper. Maths teachers of year
7 and year 9 are given feedback from the results of the student answers. They can then help to
consolidate any areas of numeracy that need attention, during Maths lessons.
Below are some questions that were given to students in week 10, for you to try.
Year 7 Calculator
Year 9 Calculator
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Answers from Week 10 newsletter:
2/10
32%
Renee Kelly
Numeracy Teacher
MATHS CHALLENGE
Answers:
UNIFORM SHOP
(Located next to Canteen)
1. 0.04 2 figures after decimal in question
2.
1
THURSDAY 30 April
/4
8:00am—9:00am
3. +0.36 2 figures after decimal in question
4.
9
/4 cancel 7 into 21 first
5. 5
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
Maths Department
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Harmony Day Poster Competition
In Term 1, four students entered the 2015 Harmony Day poster competition. The competition involved students to create a
poster that signifies the theme “Harmony Day Everyday”.
Harmony Day is held every year on 21 March to coincide with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of
Racial Discrimination. The message of Harmony Day is everyone belongs. It’s a day to celebrate Australia’s diversity – a day
of cultural respect for everyone who calls Australia home.
Congratulations to the following students for participating and entering the competition.
Dylan Walker
Brianna Lowe
Jordan Ledwell
Jemma Bradshaw
Results of the competition will be announced later this term.
Good luck to all entrees.
Kind Regards
Ms Simone Small
CANTEEN ROSTER TERM 2
TIME: MONDAY-THURSDAY 10:00-1:35, FRIDAY 9:30-12:45
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
27/4
28/4
29/4
30/4
1/5
DIANA LARKHAM, ROSEMARY MORRISSEY
MELISSA RUPERTO, LINDA KIRGAN
MEGAN BERGHOLD, NATALIE DEL-GRANDE, KIM GLENIE
ROSE HENDERSON
JENNY KNOKE, JULIE BELLE, VERONIQUE THIBAULT, LOUISE BRYANT
SONIA BOGARD, REBECCA HARRIS
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
4/5
5/5
6/5
7/5
8/5
KEVIN HUFF
CHRISTINE KLEIN, SILVANA PIGNATELLI
PETA BOURKE, SUSAN GAYDON, MICHELLE WHEATLEY
KAREN DAVIS, CARMEL COSTA
JOANNE STORTENBEKER, BERNADETTE AHERN, LIZ GARCORZ
CAROLYN BARLOW
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