糖心探花

Feast of the Assumption & a Prayer for Peace

Next Friday 15 August marks the Feast of the Assumption, commemorating Mary being taken to heaven both body and soul. The Assumption signifies hope for all Christians, with Mary, the human mother of our Lord, glorified in Heaven, offering comfort and inspiration to the faithful.

15 August 2025 also marks 80 years since the end of World War II, shortly after the atomic bombs were dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. While we value having navigated 80 years without another world war, our current world is far from peace - particularly in the Middle East and Ukraine. We join in prayer to our Queen of Peace:

Immaculate Heart of Mary, we turn to you in our time of need,
seeking your intercession for peace in our world.
Guide us, Queen of Peace,
to embrace compassion and understanding,
to foster unity among nations,
and to heal the wounds of division.
Help us to cultivate peace in our homes,
in our communities, and across the globe.
Let your love dispel hatred and fear,
and may your intercession bring comfort
to those suffering from conflict and strife.
Through your prayers, may we find the strength
to be instruments of peace,
spreading love and kindness wherever we go.
We ask this in the name of your Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.

The Wedding Singer - CONGRATULATIONS!

Last Friday evening, I joined with hundreds of others in the joyous Mahon theatre as we laughed along with and admired the talented students in our College production, . Congratulations to the cast, backstage and lighting crew, live pit band and staff involved on a truly joyful night, worthy of the many hours of rehearsals across the last 6 months.

To catch (or re-visit!) this impressive performance, use to snap up one of the few remaining for the final performances on 8 & 9 August.

2026 Planning for Students & Staff

Next Thursday 14 August is a key date for our 2026 planning. For students and families, the Subject Selection Expo and parent-teacher interviews are complemented by the Careers Expo (see Learning@糖心探花 below for details). We will also be hosting our Prospective Staff Information evening where those interested in furthering their career at 糖心探花 will hear from our College Executive and be able to speak with current staff at the Subject Selection Expo.

Year 7, 2027 Enrolments closing 15 August

Applications for enrolment in Year 7 2027 will close on Friday 15 August 2025. Current families are reminded that applications for your Year 5 child need to be made via the College website at . Should you have any enquiries, please email the College Registrar at registrar@aquinas.vic.edu.au .

David Broadbent

School Principal

Here is the slide we used to ask students to focus on their future studies.

Just a reminder, Year 7 students are allocated classes in Year 8 so no choices are required. We conduct a Parent Teacher meeting with Year 7 families and their homeroom teacher on the same night as Subject Selection. Bookings will open on August 5, at the same time as other meetings. There is enough time set aside for all families to meet with the Homeroom teachers

Michael Box

Deputy Principal Learning

The annual Subject Selection Expo (SSE) is a highlight of the 糖心探花 calendar. Families are invited to explore subject displays, attend department-led presentations, and meet one-on-one with staff at Mentor Meetings to help guide student choices.

The SSE continues to showcase all departments and subjects students may choose to study at Aquinas. This year, the SSEis expanding to include a Careers Expo. This new feature is a unique opportunity for students and families to conveniently connect directly with tertiary education and training providers.

Students in Years 10 and 11 have been researching their future pathways during THRIVE periods. They鈥檝e been reflecting on their strengths, interests, and aspirations and considering how their subject choices align with these goals. The Careers Expo brings this planning to life, providing opportunities for students to speak directly with those who deliver the next stage of learning.

For Year 12 students, The Careers Expo is a timely event as they begin creating their Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) accounts and narrowing down university and TAFE preferences for 2026. Year 12 students are also strongly encouraged to attend and engage with the Careers Expo to speak directly with providers, ask meaningful questions, and clarify their choices.

Representatives attending the 糖心探花 Careers Expo include:

• Universities:
  ACU, Deakin, LaTrobe, Swinburne, Monash, Melbourne Uni, RMIT and Victoria University
• TAFEs:
  Box Hill Institute, Kangan Institute, SCU-The Hotel School (hospitality)
• Private Training Providers:
  AIE, LCI Melbourne (design, game design and animation), Collarts, JMC and Industri Education (music)
• City Football Group and Richmond Institute of Sport (sport)
• Australian Defence Forces and Victoria Police
• Apprenticeship information

The Careers Expo will be set up in the gymnasium and is open from 2.00pm - 5.00pm

Please note the following adaptations to the individual schedule for Year 11 students on Thursday, August 14:

Year 11 鈥� Subject Selection and Careers Expo Information

Year 11 students will finish their regular timetabled classes at 12:15pm (as per all year levels) and are required to remain on campus until 2:30pm. Year 11 students will attend scheduled careers events, including external providers presentations and the Careers Expo.

Parents are warmly encouraged to attend the Careers Expo with their child between 2:00pm and 5:00pm

Year 11 Students who are required to select a fifth subject or are considering a subject change for 2026 are strongly encouraged to attend the Subject Selection Expo to finalise their choices and speak directly with subject teachers and support staff.

How do students know they need a fifth subject? Students required to select a fifth subject attended an information session during THRIVE Thursday, 7th August outlining the requirements. The presentation to this session is available to students on the Year 11 website. Any questions regarding the selection of a fifth subject should be directed to either Andy Harrison, Sarah McCoy - Year Level Leaders, Mrs Crawley - Head Senior Years or Ms Greenwood - Programs Coordinator

Rachel Crawley

Head Senior Years

The first two weeks of Term 3 saw Year 8 Dominic, MacKillop and Rice students going on school camp to 鈥楾he Summit鈥�.

The students were placed outside of their comfort zones by embracing new challenges whilst building on their teamwork and communication skills. Activities ranged from walking over a bed of nails to the famous 鈥榯ough mudder鈥� course in which I think our staff enjoyed participating in more than the students!

Each group has a leader who is often a recently graduated 糖心探花 student. Our year eight students fed off the enthusiasm displayed by these leaders and it is always nice for our students to hear about what to expect in the future as they continue their journey at Aquinas.

A warm thank you to our dedicated staff and camp coordinator (Jeff Harrington) whose hard work and enthusiasm made the camp experience memorable.

Sam Storey
Head Middle Years

Student Reflections:

Camp for my friends and I was an eye opening experience that I will never forget. It challenged my comfort zone.
One of my favourite activities was abseiling.. At the top, I was very scared because it looked so high! But as I was going down, I found it super fun. And I felt like a firefighter!
The camp guides were so supportive and fun to hang out with. If you were scared or worried, you could go up to them and tell them your feelings with no judgment.
If I could do this camp again, I would. The food was scrumptious and filling. It was probably the best camp food I ever had. Even though I didn't get much sleep, I did make lots of memories.

Megan K

Camp brought joy to students and allowed them to persevere through difficult challenges. An activity at camp that I enjoyed was the laser tag, which taught me to communicate effectively and work well with my team.
I was a bit apprehensive about abseiling, but as I participated in the activity, I overcame my fear and enjoyed it.
A memory I will keep with me forever is doing the mud run, as it taught patience and communication.Thank you to all the teachers, support staff and all the camp student leaders for taking time out of their week to help things run smoothly at camp.

Thannica P  

 糖心探花 Celebrates National Schools Tree Planting Day

This week, 糖心探花 proudly took part in National Schools Tree Planting Day, with students from Years 7 to 10 enthusiastically participating in planting activities on school grounds. As part of our ongoing commitment to sustainability, students planted a variety of native species 鈥� including grasses, lilies, shrubs, and trees 鈥� to enhance local biodiversity, support native wildlife, and contribute to a greener and more vibrant campus environment. The event provided a meaningful, hands-on opportunity for students to learn about environmental stewardship and make a lasting impact on the land.

Karyn Myers

Sustainability Coordinator

Our 糖心探花 musicians are again busy both at school and further afield.

Students visiting the Sustainability Fair yesterday were entertained by members of the Year 10/11 Music Class who performed some rocking tunes at recess. In addition, two small student-led groups performed over lunchtime. Congratulations to everyone. See photos below!

Next week, the Year 7, 8 and 9 Excellence Assemblies will be entertained by a small Year 9 group 鈥淭he Dames鈥�, as well as our senior Illuminate choir.

As well as supporting and enriching school events with music, these events offer our students valuable performance experience, which makes them better overall musicians.

Today we had a double Music Friday, with Senior Stage Band performing in the Forum at recess, and Intermediate Stage Band at lunchtime. Both these bands are preparing for the Essentially Ellington Festival Down Under, which will take place on Monday next week at Blackburn High School. Reserve your free ticket !

Now is the perfect time to try a new instrument! Students have settled in to the school year and might be looking for something new to keep them engaged.

For more information, email Sally Pace, Music Admin, pacese@aquinas.vic.edu.au.

Alison Bellew
Music Program Coordinator

 Maths Faculty Update

Semester 2 began with our Mathematics teaching team reviewing our curriculum and course progressions. The robust discussions and genuine care and investment from everyone involved were motivating. We are currently determining the best course progressions for our subject offerings across the Middle Years and look forward to finalizing these plans this semester. We'd also like to extend a warm welcome to our newest Maths teacher, Mr. Andy Quan, and congratulate Ms. Georgina Bradshaw, who has been appointed as the new Middle Years Math Leader.

This past week, a select group of students from Years 7 to 9 represented 糖心探花 in the Australian Maths Competition. These students were chosen based on their effort and achievements in Semester One. Seeing some of our strongest students excited to face a challenge is a good reminder that we can only grow and improve when we encounter unfamiliar problems.

While making mistakes can often be frustrating for students, especially in maths, it's by identifying these weaknesses that we can effectively ask for help and get stronger. The mantra I've been emphasising with my classes and the faculty as a whole is to embrace the struggle. When we sit with a problem and struggle to find solutions, try different methods, and relate it to other types of problems we've solved before, that's when the strongest connections are made. It's similar to why a meal we鈥檝e cooked ourselves often tastes better. There's no need to be afraid of failure if we think of 'FAIL' as the First Attempt In Learning.

Over this term, teachers at 糖心探花 are implementing new evidence-based strategies into our teaching to help foster our students' ability to self-regulate their learning. In doing so, we hope to effectively model the behaviors and actions that help with our self-improvement.

We look forward to seeing and speaking with students and families at the upcoming Subject Selection Expo.
 

James Meade
Mathematics Learning Area Leader 

Year 9 Chinese Students Explore Chinatown

Last Tuesday, our Year 9 Chinese students enjoyed an enriching excursion to Chinatown, where they immersed themselves in traditional Chinese culture. They learned the art of brush painting, creating beautiful bamboo painting, and crafted their own bracelets through traditional knot-making. The students also explored the history of Chinese immigration to Australia and how the community established itself here. To top off the day, they savoured authentic Chinese cuisine, making it a fun and educational experience!

Jenny Liao
Teacher

Student Reflections:

The China town excursion was both fun but also very interesting. From learning how to do Chinese ink painting and making knots to looking at one of the worlds biggest chinese dragons. Then afterwards we were able to enjoy some delicious Chinese cuisine. This was a great way to teach us about Chinese culture.

James C

The Chinese Excursion to Chinatown Museum was so much fun and super educational. I loved that we got to do arts and crafts while also learning about Chinese culture. We go to do a traditional Chinese painting of bamboo as well as make knotted bracelets. Whilst the painting was a challenge we all enjoyed the new experience. We also got a tour of the museum which was super cool learning about Chinese Australian History. I think the highlight of the day was the 63m long Chinese Dragon that is still used today in Traditional Chinese Festivals.

Jess B 

VCE VM excursion Road to Zero

On Monday the 4th of August, our VM VCE students took learning beyond the classroom walls with an eye-opening excursion to the Road to Zero exhibit at the Melbourne Museum. This immersive experience, developed in partnership with the Transport Accident Commission (TAC), offered students a powerful look into road safety, innovation, and the human impact of transport systems.

The exhibit, which blends technology with real-life stories, challenged students to think critically about the role they play in shaping a safer future on our roads. Through interactive displays, virtual reality simulations, and data-driven insights, students explored the science of crash prevention, the importance of responsible driving, and the vision of a future with zero road deaths.

Student Reflections:

Maddox S - "I really enjoyed the Road to Zero exhibit at the Museum. I found it really interesting looking at the history of driving in Melbourne and how technology and laws have changed over time"

Alicia W - "I learnt that you can't depend on other people to be safe on the road"

Eden S - "I learnt about the importance of safety at Road to Zero. I found it interesting about all the changes they make to both roads and vehicles to make it safer and reduce road fatalities"

As future drivers, passengers, and citizens, our students left the exhibit not only informed but inspired. The Road to Zero initiative reminds us that safety is a shared responsibility鈥攁nd that every journey begins with awareness. We鈥檙e proud of our students for engaging so thoughtfully with this important topic. Here's to learning that makes a difference.

Jacqui Street

VCE VM Coordinator

Our VET Hospitality and VET Cookery students recently enjoyed a valuable and immersive industry experience, stepping out of the normal classroom and into Melbourne鈥檚 vibrant food and hospitality scene.

Students visited The Conservatory at Crown, where they were treated to a gourmet buffet lunch. From international cuisines to beautifully presented desserts, the students had the opportunity to observe high-end service standards, food presentation, and the ambience of a five-star dining environment, all while enjoying a delicious meal. We are very proud of the students who tried foods for the first time.

Some students explored the iconic Queen Victoria Market, one of Melbourne鈥檚 busiest and most diverse marketplaces. This visit allowed them to see fresh local produce, specialty foods, and multicultural ingredients that are part of the city's rich food culture.

To deepen their industry insight, VET Cookery students participated in a guided tour of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC). They gained behind-the-scenes access to the centre鈥檚 large-scale kitchens and learned about the logistics of catering for major events and conferences.

Meanwhile, VET Hospitality students embarked on an industry tour of the Corner Hotel, one of Melbourne鈥檚 most well-known live music venues. They explored various aspects of hospitality management, including event coordination, front-of-house operations, and customer service in a fast-paced entertainment environment.

鈥淚t was delicious. It was great to get a tour from the chef of such a large kitchen鈥� Hayden, year 12

鈥淭here was a good variety of foods to try and new dishes to experience. I tried the BBQ baby octopus for the first time and I am not sure about it 鈥� Mary, year 12

This excursion offered students a unique chance to experience the hospitality industry in action, helping them connect their classroom learning to real-world applications. It was an inspiring day that highlighted the many exciting career paths available in cookery and hospitality. We are immensely proud of the enthusiasm and curiosity displayed by our students.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the staff and establishments for their warm hospitality and invaluable contributions to our students' learning journey. We thank the 糖心探花 staff for assisting in making this such a positive experience.

On behalf of the team, please join the VET Hospitality and VET Cookery students at one of our Restaurant Nights to see their skills and knowledge in action. Bookings are essential www.aquinas.vic.edu.au/events/restaurant-night

Owen Stott
Director, Wurundjeri Trade Training Centre

Student reflections:

Kenzie - I enjoyed the buffet at the Crown Conservatory because it offered multiple cuisines, portion sizes and dishes that were delicious, detailed and flavourful. The service was polite and considerate and the environment was beautiful and overlooked the yarra.

Emma- I really enjoyed the sense of luxury that was at the crown conservatory. The setting of the buffet differed from any other I have experienced. There was a wide range of international cuisines, and there was an impressive dessert bar that we all enjoyed.

Amalie- The day consisted of a tour around Queen Victoria Market where we explored many types of unique produce used in Melbourne hospitality industries as well as their origins and how they are prepared. We then received an insightful and interesting tour of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre where we were guided around the back and front-of-house areas of the establishment and taught how to run big events with limited amount of staff efficiently. My favourite part was definitely seeing the size of the multitude of kitchens in back of house in the centre. We ended the day off with high- quality buffet with a multitude of cuisines at the Crown Conservatory. I found this helpful as we were exposed to real-life fine dining service techniques that we can input into our own learning in hospitality.

Sam: Our day in the city began exploring the Queen Vic Market. Our tour at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre was an interesting experience seeing the function rooms and kitchens that are used for thousands of guests.

Celebrating Jesse鈥檚 Success: Finding the Right Path Through Hard Work and Dedication

At our college, we take great pride in recognising students who demonstrate persistence, passion, and the courage to pursue their unique pathways. Jesse, currently in Year 12, is one such student who exemplifies these values.

Jesse鈥檚 journey began with a keen interest in community services, inspired by his own positive experience with a support worker. This early insight sparked his curiosity about roles that make a difference in people's lives. In 2023, Jesse completed work experience at VMCH (Charity Op Shop) and took initiative to seek further opportunities through his local church community. At the same time, he balanced a part-time waitering role at Nikos Tavern in Croydon, showcasing his strong work ethic and time management.

A dedicated student and an avid reader, Jesse still holds the record for the highest number of books borrowed from the ARC. His hobbies in gaming, coding, and reading reflect his diverse interests and thoughtful approach to learning.

A turning point came during the 2023鈥�24 summer holidays, when Jesse attended a church camp that ignited his passion for working with children. After discussing his goals with our VCE VM team, Jesse chose to pursue a School-Based Apprenticeship (SBAT) in Early Childhood Education and Care. The opportunity proved to be a perfect fit鈥擩esse quickly developed strong connections with the children and embraced the responsibility of building consistent, nurturing relationships.

In his final year, Jesse has shown extraordinary commitment by working through the summer holidays and voluntarily increasing his time at the centre to complete required training observations. In June 2025, Jesse proudly submitted all his coursework鈥攃ompleting his Certificate III within just 18 months.

Now, Jesse is continuing to work at a local childcare center and has already been offered additional hours. He plans to enrol in the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care and is setting his sights on a Master of Teaching (Early Childhood) at a local university.

We congratulate Jesse on his outstanding achievement and look forward to seeing all he accomplishes. His story reminds us that success comes in many forms鈥攁nd that discipline, hard work, and following your passion are always worth celebrating.

Jacqui Street

VCE VM Coordinator

VET Sport Aquatics and Recreation Mount Buller Snow Day

On Tuesday 29th July, the VET Sport Year 2 Students were fortunate enough to attend an amazing day at Mount Buller. We undertook a Snowboarding Lesson focusing on one of our major units for the upcoming Exam centered around Coaching Foundation Level Participants.

Everyone then enjoyed some free time in small groups to test out our newly acquired skills. Students were encouraged to consider a range of our other units of competency during this time such as WHS, Recreation Sessions and Facilitate Groups.

Every student experienced success on the Snowboard and they are each to be commended for their Perseverance and support of each other.

This group ventured off to more testing runs than in the past and it was great to see them challenge themselves, while sticking together and staying safe at all times.

We had fantastic weather which may contribute to many starting an expensive hobby.

Each student (and staff member) is very grateful for the opportunity and would have to say it's one of the best days at school ever.

Student reflection:

For Sport and Rec, we got the chance to go to Mount Buller, which was one of the best experiences I've had at school. The day was full of so much fun and enjoyment, and having the chance to go out and do our own thing made it awesome. I'm very glad I had the opportunity to go, and it's something I've looked forward to all year - Drew B 

Jeff Harrington 

VET Teacher

As part of the French unit in Term 3, Year 9 students had the privilege of visiting the NGV, where they participated in a guided tour of the French Impressionist painting collection. They were able to appreciate iconic works by artists such as Monet, Van Gogh and Degas. Afterwards, students enjoyed a beautiful French lunch at a local French restaurant, where they had the opportunity to interact with French speaking waitstaff further deepening their cultural experience.It was a truly enriching day that brought French language and culture to life beyond the classroom, leaving students inspired and eager to continue their learning journey.

Sarah Aluthge

French Teacher

Student reflections

On Friday, our two French classes went into the city by train to enjoy a day of cultural immersion. It was nice to be allowed the agency to arrive there by our own means. We went to the NGV to view the French Impressionism exhibit, where we saw so many incredible paintings, including a mini replica of 鈥楲e Penseur鈥�, or 鈥楾he Thinker鈥�, by Auguste Rodin. For lunch we went to Le Petit Chateau and had such a wonderful meal and dessert of galettes with different fillings. I鈥檓 so grateful we got to go on this trip, and would gladly do it again!

Clare B

After our wonderful insight into French art and specifically impressionism, we visited the cafe 'Le Petit Chateau' in the Block Arcade. We were able to determine our own seating within the cafe before being able to converse and order food - in French! Our main dish (plat principal) was a galette, a pancake made with buckwheat flour. The fillings were either ham and cheese (jambon et fromage), chicken (poulet), or eggplants with cheese (fromage et aubergine) for the vegetarian option. For myself, I had a ham and cheese galette. The flavour was truly amazing! The ham was tender with a subtle saltiness I've come to know, pairing well with the unapologetically savoury melted cheese, which over time provided a perfectly satisfying resistance to my teeth. The galette stood out to me, as unlike a 'toastie', the texture and flavours of the fillings come through unadulterated. We were offered hot chocolate (chocolat chaud) alongside our meals, which had a bold dark chocolate flavour and silky texture. Finally, we had our dessert option of a crepe, which could come with caramel or Nutella. I went with a Nutella crepe, which was presented amazingly and had a lovely nutty chocolate flavour. The filling was thick and stuck inside the mouth, almost as if it demanded our attention! To achieve equilibrium, a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream stood on the sidelines. When added to the crepe, its smooth texture and chilly temperature went at war with the lovingly warm Nutella, making for an excellent and captivating way to end off the meal. To top this all off, the cafe was the perfect place to socialise, as my friends and I talked happily throughout the experience. Thus, 'Le Petit Chateau' is a perfect place to educate yourself and enjoy French cuisine, as well as socialise to your heart's content.

Nate O

During our french excursion, we went to the NGV to look at french impressionism paintings. We compared impressionism to realistic art and learnt about some of the painting's history. I really enjoyed seeing Monet's painting of the river Seine, because of the bright colours and style. Overall the day was very fun and interesting!

Charlotte H

On Friday 25th July, Year 11 VCD students attended a workshop at Cox Architecture to discuss the key skills and knowledge for Unit 2, AOS 1. They were fortunate enough to have a tour of the office space and design studio and got the opportunity to see architects in situ.

After learning about the AAMI Park project, designed by Cox Architecture, students then headed to AAMI Park for a tour of the complex. This included seeing the Swimming Pool, Gym and other meeting spaces under the stadium before heading to the newly refurbished corporate bar and exclusive second level seats where the students were immersed in sketching the intricate structure. 

To finish the day, students went to MPavilion where they immersed themselves in the space by completing sketches and observing the environment in preparation for their SAC. Overall, a cold, great day out!

Here is a link  for more information about the Architects firm we visited.

Sarah Smith

VCD Teacher

Over this fortnight, our Year 8 students have enjoyed Summit Camp.  

 The 8 Rice students attended camp on Monday July 28th - Wednesday July 30th, and despite it being another wet, muddy and soggy experience, the groups were cooperative and resilient to the elements. With minimal complaints and soaring energy, the groups gave all the activities a red hot go and it was obvious many "achieved greatness" when conquering a fear of heights and also stepping out of their comfort zones. Once again the mud run tested the strength and endurance of the groups and I commend them all on achieving TWO rounds and loving every minute!

Some of the best memories of school life are created on camp and we hope that despite the sleep deprivation, the enjoyment was expressed to you all at home. A huge thank you to our Camp Coordinator Jeff, all the Homeroom and Support Teachers who joined us and of course the student alumni who braved the elements and guided our student groups! Our experience was made richer for your presence.

Elisa Bettiol 

8 Rice House Leader

Student reflections: 

Camp was awesome all the activities and staff there were awesome and very supportive. I was very nervous for the mud run because I hurt my wrist and didn鈥檛 want to hurt it more. But our lovely staff and The Summits lovely staff supported me and I did it and it was so fun. The cabins were awesome because I was with some of my mates. Overall great camp and thank you student leaders and staff.

Hayden E - MacKillop 

My experience on our Year 8 Camp 2025 to The Summit was that it was fun. My favorite part was abseiling and hanging out with my friends. Without one of my best friends Monique I wouldn't have completed my favorite memory on camp the abseiling. She helped me get through my fear of climbing up the tower which I am forever grateful for. My least favorite activity was the scavenger hunt and orienteering because for me they were a bit boring. What I was most scared of was abseiling and the sky bridge but overcame those activities and ended up loving them. Hanging out with my friends and doing activities with them are memories that I will keep forever. I learnt that even if I'm scared I can do anything I just have to keep going because it will be all worth it. For the next year Year 8s I would encourage you to try everything. When I first got to the camp I was so set that I wouldn't do the abseiling, sky bridge and nail walk but I ended up doing all those activities and it was so worth it because those are memories that you will keep forever. Thank you to all the teachers, activity group leaders and all staff at The Summit because without you we couldn't have completed this camp which has left us with so many memories that we will keep forever.

Georgia D - Dominic  

Year 8 Camp was by far the most memorable and fun camp that I'ave ever been on! There were so many things I loved about camp, it's almost impossible to pick a favourite, but if I had to, I would say the mud run because it was such an exhilarating experience and I have done nothing like it before! There was barely anything I disliked, but I would have to say that the croissant was pretty stale. I was super anxious about the mud run, but it ended up being my favourite part of the entire camp!! Some memories I will keep forever are going on the skybridge because Riley bet me three bucks to sprint as fast as I can, and I did! I fell over and smacked my shin and everyone was laughing, including myself! At night my friends and I stayed up for a bit because it's year 8 camp (as you do) and we were laughing and talking and giggling and it was just the best I'll remember it forever. If I was encouraging next year's year 8s' to have their best time at camp, I would say to push yourself at every opportunity you get because life is too short to not regret your decisions! And definitely do the mud run too, it isn't as bad as they say. And thank you again to everyone involved, the caterers, the bus drivers, all the teachers, the amazing camp leaders!! Everyone put in so much effort for this camp, and it was an absolutely perfect, memorable camp with cherishable memories everyone will enjoy.

Roisin A - Dominic  

Camp was such a fun experience. My favourite activities were the flying fox and abseiling. They were fun and exciting and it was so cool to see how encroaching everyone was and helped each other. The activity I liked least was snakes and nails. It was very painful. One of the best parts was just hanging out with all my friends and making memories I鈥檒l never forget. I鈥檇 tell next year鈥檚 Year 8s to make the most of it and don鈥檛 leave with any regrets give everything a go Big thanks to all the teachers, support staff, and camp leaders who made it such an amazing experience we couldn鈥檛 of done it without out you

Mackayla B - Rice

 'The Summit' Camp provider puts together a  really interesting blog about each Camp with a rundown on what happened across the 3 days and results of their values winners and activity results. Please enjoy reading more indepth information about what happened at each camp!

Spirit of 糖心探花 - Belonging

The Spirit of 糖心探花 section will focus on one core value from our mission statement and ways this value has been demonstrated at school.

鈥�Belonging: We are mindful of our diverse local and global community; we are culturally inclusive and respect the dignity of each individual.鈥�

Any person who has spent time in a theatre community will tell you how connected they become. This is no different for the cast of our 糖心探花 musical, The Wedding Singer.

Joining a collective of their peers that are just as passionate about music and performing as they are, creates a strong bond, and can really help students find their place in the school. The students really aim to make sure everyone feels they belong. They make sure to comfort their castmates that are a bit more nervous to perform, work together to learn choreography, help each other with their stage makeup, and create a family-like atmosphere.

The kindness, helpfulness and non judgemental attitudes each and every student and staff member bring to rehearsals, and performances is extremely evident. This creates the intense feeling of belonging throughout the cast and crew that holds true for so many 糖心探花 students.

The means of fundraising through casual clothes days is changing at 糖心探花 in order to meet new requirements. In the past, there used to be a levy system in which families paid a fundraising levy to support the outreach organisations that the school supported. Students in turn received four casual dress days. While a convenient method for everyone; students did not make the connections between the privilege of having casual dress and raising money for others. Approximately 5 years ago regulations changed and we could no longer use this method to support our outreach groups. The fundraising stopped, which meant outreach groups missed out, but the casual dress continued.

Starting with our next casual dress day happening later in August, we will be reintroducing the fundraising component that will meet regulation requirements. On that day, students wishing to wear casual clothing will need to donate $1 for the privilege. This will be collected via EFTPOS machines during the morning. We are planning on bringing in 50 - 60 machines to do this as efficiently as possible. Proceeds will be going towards Opening the Doors foundation who work to support Indigenous students in Catholic schools and help coordinate the FIRE Carriers program which 糖心探花 is a member.

We hope through introducing this method of fundraising we will be able to educate our students more on some of the social justice issues occurring in our society. Being able to provide support for others in their time of need is a part of our Catholic ethos and is a great way for the school to put this into action.

Tania Grace

Assistant Principal - Mission

Click on the poster to be taken directly to to book your tickets. Don't miss out, tickets are selling fast!