AQUINAS CATHOLIC COLLEGE MENAI 30th April, 2012 Vol.19.No.9 FROM THE PRINCIPAL As we begin Catholic Schools Week the Term is gathering breakneck speed. We have commemorated Anzac Day, celebrated Aquinas Day and have seen Aquinas students and staff involved in all manner of educational endeavours. Year 10 have their Careers Day tomorrow to assist them transition into the next phase of their lives either here at Aquinas or into further training or work, there are Geography, Art and Drama Excursions, TAFE immersions and our Year 12s will begin their last retreat experience at Aquinas as they explore the theme the ‘Search for Happiness.’ Sporting activities have also been prominent with the College Cross Country held, Basketball, Rugby League and Soccer knockout teams selected and in training for their respective competitions. We are indeed fortunate to have a dedicated and generous staff that is more than willing to support our students in such a variety of learning experiences. I know that on the last day for the class of 2011 that they were most appreciative of the time and interest the entire staff had shown them over the preceding six years. In our Aquinas Day Liturgy, on the Feast Day of St Mark the Evangelist we were reminded in the readings of the importance of being humble and our role in being commissioned members of our church with a duty to proclaim the Good News. Fr Phil, in his homily, challenged us to question if we were listening to God’s call to us especially in this season of Easter, were we really listening? It was also a point of our gathering to explore being good citizens and Christians in the light of Anzac Day; sometimes a difficult topic given the inhumanity of war. St Thomas Aquinas explored this theme himself in a medieval context and wrote, “How is it they live in such harmony the billions of stars – when most men can barely go a minute without declaring war in their minds about someone they know?” His point about “declaring war in their minds” is a stark reminder to us that thoughts are as damaging as actions when it comes to our interpersonal relationships with each other. His thoughts on redemption; “Three things are necessary for the salvation of man: to know what he ought to believe; to know what he ought to desire; and to know what he ought to do” were illustrated by the story of Ordinary Seaman ‘Teddy’ Sheean [an ex-student of St Patrick’s school, Launceston] who died at just 19 years of age in 1942 on the HMAS Armidale in the Timor Sea in a courageous act of heroism. Despite being wounded, he returned to his gun post on a rapidly sinking ship to protect his defenceless shipmates in the water as they were being machine - gunned by Japanese aircraft. His example that day showed he knew what he believed, knew what he desired and most certainly knew what he ought to do. He drove off the aircraft as he and the ship disappeared beneath the surface and in laying down his life in the protection of others gave yet another example of the love that Jesus showed for us. St Thomas wrote that; “To live well is to work well, to show a good activity.” I would wish that none of us are called upon to be in a situation like the extraordinary Teddy Sheean, but I do hope that that Aquinas students live well and by their example, show how to live well by their positive activity as St Thomas urges us all to do. Beyond the College at Menai congratulations are in order for Tehlia Davis [Year10] for her part in the gold medal performance in the 16 member synchronised ice skating team at the recently held French nationals. Bien Fait! Congratulations also to Mr Steve Roberts who captained the Australian Touch Football side to a 3 – nil series whitewash of New Zealand over the weekend in Mudgee. Well Done! As a matter of practicality I take this opportunity to remind parents to update the College office of any changes to contact details, particularity as email addresses and mobile numbers provide us with readily accessible modes of contact especially in relation to student absences and newsletter delivery. Year 8 parents will also receive a new set of Science results for the ESSA test due to a scaling discrepancy in the Report to parents that has been identified by the reporting agency. As a consequence, the original reports sent to parents for our school understated the performance level achieved by students. Anzac Road Menai NSW 2234 Phone 9543 0188 Facsimile 9541 0398 [email protected] www.aquinasmenai.catholic.edu.au 20 Years of being ‘Enlivened by the Spirit’ We also remember in our prayers Monica [Year 10] and Louise [Year 7] Denton and their family on the recent passing of their grandmother. Similarly, we also pray for Emily [Year 12] Chudowolski and her family on the passing of her grandfather and James [Year 8] Black and his family on the passing of his grandfather. May perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. James Corcoran Principal FROM THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL Key Dates Week 2 (B) Term 2 Monday 30th April Catholic Schools week Opens CCC Rugby League Gala Day at Ryde SSCCC Soccer st Tuesday 1 May Year 10 Careers Day Year 12 Geography Excursion Year 9 English Excursion to the theatre from recess Wednesday 2nd May Year 12 Retreat SSCCC Cross Country Year 7 Parish Mass U/13; U/14 and U/15 Cronulla Rugby League Knockout rd Thursday 3 May Year 12 Retreat Year 10 Visual Arts Excursion th Friday 4 May Year 12 Retreat Year 11 Drama Excursion Welcome back to Term 2 & some reminders I congratulate all students and their families on the way in which most have returned and applied themselves to school life in Term 2, this was none more evident by the spirit of great generosity at the Aquinas feast day celebrated last Thursday. I do also remind families/students that this College has a great reputation in our community and much of this rests with the way in which our students present themselves day in and day out. To that end I remind students that College Blazers must be worn to and from Pastoral class/school of a day and would ask that parents/carers insist on this as their son’s/daughter’s leave home or hop out of a car of a morning. In addition to uniform I have once again noticed an increase in canvas, skate, slip on and vans type shoes on a sport day which are not part of our uniform policy as they don’t meet OHS standards. As I indicated in Term 1, students must wear shoes suitable for rigorous sporting activity on a Friday and that they no longer need to be a predominant white colour as long as they are a sport designed shoe, not casual or a walker. To this end students with incorrect shoes will go on an automatic sport detention that day, unless they are in a representative team then they will do a Wednesday detention. Your support on this matter from home would be appreciated. I have recently had a complaint from a neighbour who has indicated there is major congestion in the mornings with people doing U-turns at Dapto Place in order to arrive at the drop off area for students in front of the College. I would encourage parents and carers to avoid such behaviour and to travel further down to the roundabout as a course of safety, responsible behaviour/modelling and to avoid Police fines. Robert Nastasi Assistant Principal 20 Years of being ‘Enlivened by the Spirit’ 2 Religious Education at Aquinas The last few weeks have seen numerous opportunities for students to participate in the religious dimension of our College. In Week 10 last Term, Year 9 students were given the opportunity to attend a reflection day run by Chris Doyle of Karis Ministries. It was an enjoyable day and gave students the opportunity to step out of their comfort zone and take time to reflect on the important things in life. Thank you to the staff who supported the students through this experience. On Holy Thursday and Good Friday Drama students led their peers and the Holy Family Parish through a very moving Stations of the Cross experience. Aquinas students also read at the 3pm celebration of the Lord’s passion. Thank you to these students for all of their hard work, and to Mrs McNamara for sharing her expertise. Last Thursday the College community celebrated Aquinas Day. The day started with the celebration of the Eucharist. It was a great way to celebrate the lives of our patrons, St Thomas Aquinas, St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, St John Baptist de La Salle, Blessed Edmund Rice and Nano Nagle. We also celebrated Mr Wilson’s reception into the Catholic Church. Thank you to all staff and students who participated in this significant liturgy and to Mr Wilson and his family for sharing this important celebration with us. This term, students will focus on various topics in their Religious Education lessons. The following is a list of topics each year group will study: Year 7 – The Liturgical Year; The Bible: Sacred Scripture; Old Testament: Overview Year 8 – Symbol and Ritual: Sacraments of Initiation; People and Ministries in the Church Year 9 – Key Church Teachings; Mary Year 10 – Eucharist; Working for Justice in Australia Year 11 Catholic Studies – Church in Australian Society 1 unit Year 11 Studies of Religion – Religious Tradition Study: Judaism 2 unit Year 11 Studies of Religion – Religious Tradition Study: Christianity; Religious Tradition Study: Islam Year 12 Catholic Studies – Catholic Moral Teaching and Conscience 1 unit Year 12 Studies of Religion – Religious Tradition Depth Study: Judaism 2 unit Year 12 Studies of Religion – Religion and Non-Religion; Religion and Peace The season of Easter is a time of celebration, a time of renewal, of peace, of promise and of new beginnings.