AQUINAS CATHOLIC COLLEGE MENAI

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1 AQUINAS CATHOLIC COLLEGE MENAI 11 th May, 2015 Vol.23.No.12 FROM THE PRINCIPAL I trust that all of our students in Years 7 to 10 are taking every opportunity to prepare for their upcoming exams by preparing their study notes, using a well-lit and ventilated study area, avoiding distracters like Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram as well as online and electronic games, limiting social activities and exercising regularly to be as organised as possible for these important assessments. A reminder to all students and families to make use of the Enhanced Learning Educational Services [ELES] Study Skills Handbook website that the College has subscribed to. To access the handbook visit the website; and use the following Username and Password: Username Aquinas Password 10success There is no such thing as Good Luck in exams, only good preparation! Week four of Term Two sees the College deeply engaged in the Semester One assessment cycle. Year 12 is in the process of receiving their exam results and feedback, with reporting being completed by staff. Years 7-10 begin their exams in Week 6. The assessment and reporting cycle continues and then culminates in the Student / Parent / Teacher interviews that follow on a number of occasions up to the end of term. As we approach the midpoint in the year our students should be well and truly in the rhythm of learning and teaching and preparing for their exams with a commitment to hard work. It is my hope that all students reflect on their endeavours and is determined to learn from their experiences. In reviewing results in a mid-year circumstance it can be useful to reflect on this with your daughters and sons using prompts like: What mark did you expect? What mark did you get? Why the difference? [whether it be a positive or a negative] and What are you going to do about it? Anzac Road Menai NSW 2234 Phone Facsimile info@aquinasmenai.catholic.edu.au Enlivened by the Spirit

2 These questions can give a structure to work from in cultivating reflective skills. These abilities ensure that lessons are learnt and understood and with this the students develop a real sense of resilience when facing the difficulties that life will eventually test them with. The capability to bounce back from adversity or disappointment is a key skill that will hold our students in good stead for the rest of their lives. With faith filled young people who can be great examples of enthusiasm in our community we can look forward to a hopeful future that the broader Aquinas and Holy Family community [and the staff at Menai] imagined for the students entrusted to their care. The 2015 NSWCCC Swimming meet was recently held at Homebush with a number of Aquinas students representing Southern Sydney Combined Catholic Colleges. Of particular note were the results of two of our elite swimmers, Nicholas Capovilla [Year 10] and Nicole Miro [Year 10]. Nicholas won three medals: Gold Under 16 Years Boys 50m Butterfly Silver Under 16 Years Boys 50m Freestyle Silver Under 16 Years Boys 100m Butterfly Nicole achieved a terrific haul of five medals Gold Under Years Girls Multi-Class 50m Freestyle Silver Under Years Girls Multi-Class 50m Breaststroke Silver Under Years Girls Multi-Class 50m Butterfly Silver Under Years Girls Multi-Class 50m Backstroke Bronze Under Years Girls Multi-Class 100m Freestyle Well done to all our swimmers and good luck to both Nicole and Nicholas who will represent NSWCCC at the All School Swimming Championships on Monday 18th May at Homebush. Congratulations also to three of our students who were successful in gaining selection in Southern Sydney Touch Football teams; Chelsea Cryer [Year 10], Connor Garrety and Bailey Pimentel [Year 9]. Families would be used to receiving the CEO, Sydney publication About Catholic Schools. It now has its own website. This means that as well as being able to access stories about our Catholic schools via the magazine you receive at the end of each term, you can now check out what is happening in Sydney Catholic schools at any time! The link for the site is Please keep the Field family in your prayers as Amy (Year 12) and Matthew s (Year 10) Grandmother died recently. Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. James Corcoran Principal Enlivened by the Spirit 2

3 Assistant Principal Key Dates Week 4 (B) Term 2 Monday 11 th May Staff Development/Pupil Free day SSCCC Cross Country at Sutherland Year 12 Reports released online Tuesday 12 th May NAPLAN testing Year 7 & 9 Wednesday 13 th May NAPLAN testing Year 7 & 9 Year 10 Parish Mass at 8.20am Round 2 Debating Year 12 Parent Teacher interviews-3.30pm to 7.30pm in Hall Thursday 14 th May NAPLAN testing Year 7 & 9 Pastoral lesson period 4 Year 11 Legal Studies excursion Year 12 Safe Travel Talk during Pastoral Friday 15 th May NAPLAN make up day Sport Week 5(A) Term 1 Monday 18 th May Tuesday 19 th May Wednesday 20 th May Thursday 21st May Friday 22nd May Robert Nastasi Assistant Principal Hospitality work placement week Year 7-10 Excursion free week NSWCCC Rugby Union at Eastwood ICAS Digital Technologies test WYD16 information night 5.30pm to 6.30pm in rooms 5&6 Year 9 Parish Mass at 8.20am NSWCCC Rugby Union at Eastwood Cronulla Sharks Rugby League boys knockout carnival for u/13 s; u/14 s and u/15 s Favourite Jersey Day to raise money for MHOC-$2 coin donation and short liturgy on Nagle paved Round 2 Opens CCC soccer vs Freeman at 1.30pm at Aquinas Science competition for select classes Sydney Writers festival incursion in library-select students Evacuation/lockdown drill during morning Pastoral Steve Angrisano concert Pentecostal statement launch Sport STUDENT ID CARDS The College has implemented an electronic sign in module at the student foyer. It is the expectation of the College that all students have their student ID card with them at all times. This ID card should be produced to the office staff when signing in and out of the College. The ID card should also be given the library staff when borrowing books/resources from the library. Enlivened by the Spirit 3

4 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AT AQUINAS We have just concluded what might be called Retreat Season. Year 11 finished last term with the first of their senior retreats and Year 12 enjoyed their final retreat in the second week of this term. We often talk about the value and importance of retreats. Our students in Year 12 now know it to be true! A lot of students in Year 11 approached the retreat not really knowing what to expect. It is in this experience that they learn how to retreat. It lays the platform for the Year 12 retreat to be a truly special and memorable event and that it was! SUNDAY S GOSPEL As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one s life for one s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit fruit that will last and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other. We often focus on the laying down one s life for one s friends as the ultimate sacrifice and therefore the ultimate act of love. There is no doubting this to be true but it is something you can only do once. Jesus commands us to love one another as He loved us. Had Jesus not laid down his life for his friends before Pilate washed his hands? Jesus put others first. He cared, He listened, He helped. That is something we can all do! Mr O Connor Religious Education Coordinator Enlivened by the Spirit 4

5 Students are to keep updated and check the notice board on the Nagle Paved Youth Aquinas: Everyday Saints MAY THE MONTH OF MARY May Devotions to the Blessed Virgin- Mary refers to special Marian devotions held in the Catholic Church during the month of May honoring the Virgin Mary as "the Queen of May". Reciting the Rosary and prayer intentions When: During the month of May Every lunchtime. Where: Room 15 All staff and students are welcome. Any questions please see Miss Kilzi Enlivened by the Spirit 5

6 UPDATE: YOUTH WORLD YOUTH DAY INFORMATION 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 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 Accommodation Student safety and supervision Process for payment, dates for payment, confirmation of interest forms Fundraising options 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 6

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8 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 Enlivened by the Spirit 8

9 LEARNING AND CURRICULUM MATTERS This Week's Assessment Tasks NAPLAN tests will be conducted across Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week for ALL students in Years 7 and 9. Year Subject Date 11 CAFS Modern History Mathematics Extension Hospitality PDHPE Visual Art Modern History Music Year 7-10 Exam Block Week 6 All students in Years 7-10 should now be preparing for their examinations in Week 6. Parents are reminded that examinations are compulsory and that all appointments should be made outside of examination times. Notifications with specific exam content will be issued this week and students should have a study timetable, separate from their homework schedule, to ensure that they are ready for each examination. This week should be spent making thorough study notes and ensuring that the content of the notification, and therefore the examination, is clear. Ask your questions early and ensure that you spend a reasonably equal amount of time preparing for each subject. Year 12 Library Study 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 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. Convert 2% into a decimal then fraction in simplest form 2. Convert 2 % into a decimal then fraction in simplest form 3. Convert the fraction into a percentage 4. Find 110% of $ of a number is 120. Find the number MATHS DEPARTMENT RECALL CORNER Mrs Catherine Fensom Assistant Mathematics Coordinator Enlivened by the Spirit 9

10 Year 12 Parent Teacher Interview Bookings Closing tomorrow The website for online bookings is: Year 11 Parent Teacher evening booking code is: EZV6Z Bookings will conclude on Tuesday 12 th May. Students will need to assist their parents/carers in selecting the teachers they intend to make an appointment with. Due to the timeframe of the evening, interviews are limited to 5 minute timeslots. Any additional time for an interview can be organised with the teacher by calling the College Office and arranging a suitable appointment time during school hours. Mr Hulme ele@rning Coordinator Year 12 Parent teacher interviews I will be present and available for interview during the year 12 parent teacher interviews on Wednesday this week. Regards Lisa Higgins Careers Adviser (Tues, Wed and alternate Thurs) Enlivened by the Spirit 10

11 NSWCCC SWIMMING Last Monday nine swimmers; Nicole Miro, Ethan Rix, Kaden Perkinson, Barron Si, Cameron Hutchison, Clare Craven, Daniel Bryant, Ella Magri and Nicholas Capovilla represented the College and Southern Sydney at the NSWCCC Swimming Championships at Homebush. All of the swimmers did exceptionally well, many swimming personal bests while Nicholas and Nicole received medals on the day. Nicholas: 16 Years Boys 50m Butterfly - Gold 16 Years Boys 50m Freestyle - Silver 16 Years Boys 100m Butterfly - Silver Nicole: Years Girls Multi-Class 50m Freestyle Gold Years Girls Multi-Class 50m Breaststroke - Silver Years Girls Multi-Class 50m Butterfly - Silver Years Girls Multi-Class 50m Backstroke - Silver Years Girls Multi-Class 100m Freestyle Bronze Congratulations to all swimmers and good luck to both Nicole and Nicholas who will represent NSWCCC at the All School Swimming Championships on Monday 18th May at Homebush. Catherine Capovilla DEBATING AND PUBLIC SPEAKING NEWS Round 2 results from the Regional Catholic Schools Debating Competition Last Wednesday 6th May, teams from years 8, 9 and 10 competed against St Pat's College Sutherland in Round 2 of the Regional Schools Debating Competition. Unfortunately the Year 7 debate was forfeited by St Pats, however, the Year 8 and Year 10 teams were successful, winning their debates. Well done to all students involved in the competition. The teams are as follows: Year 7: Michael Kerle, Joel Johnson, Emily Lane, Nicholas Katsiris, Anna Rickert Year 8: Joshua Lane, Charlotte Knoke, Benjamin Capovilla, James Selas. Year 9: Michael Monk, Samantha Kerle, Georgia Turner, Isabella Katsiris, Elisabeth Krstanovski. Year 10: Leah Anderson, Kiara Heyward, Daniel Ferraro, Lachlan Bowmer. Thank you to Mrs Lennon, Mrs Capovilla, Mrs Dickinson and Mrs Buttling for coaching the students, and to Mrs Fensom and Miss Wilson for adjudicating the debates. The teams will compete in Round 3 this Wednesday at the College against OLMC/De La Salle. It commences at 4.30pm. All are welcome to attend. Miss Cooper Enlivened by the Spirit 11

12 Answers: MATHS CHALLENGE UNIFORM SHOP (Located next to Canteen) of the number is 40 so or 1 whole of the number is 160 THURSDAY 14 May 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 Maths Department CANTEEN ROSTER TERM 2 TIME: MONDAY-THURSDAY 10:00-1:35, FRIDAY 9:30-12:45 MONDAY 11/5 PUPIL FREE DAY TUESDAY 12/5 WEDNESDAY 13/5 JACKIE TORO, LIBBY YIP THURSDAY 14/5 ZEFFY DELHAS, SARAH RAYMOND, ANN-MARIE WALKER FRIDAY 15/5 FIONA EDGAR, KAREN WILLSON, KATE BELL, NICOLE DENOBREGA THEODORA KONTOGIORGIS MONDAY 18/5 TIFFANY KUNZE, JACQUELINE HARB TUESDAY 19/5 MARY-ELLEN ROONEY, NICOLE KRAUSE, JO O HARA WEDNESDAY 20/5 DIANE FIRTKO THURSDAY 21/5 JANE LEGHISSA, CAROLINE RAMSAY, EMMY LOMONACO, CATHY FULTON FRIDAY 22/5 SARINA PANTAZIS, JULIE CUPITT, ANNE MAREE SIPEK, KATHY STEPHENS, CONJA PARKER, KYLIE GARRETY Enlivened by the Spirit 12