St Aloysius Newsletter

From the Principal - Issue #3, 2026

Acknowledgement of Country

From the Principal - Issue #3, 2026

Dear Parents/Guardians, Friends & Students of SAC,

This week we celebrated the achievements of the Class of 2025 with a beautiful assembly. Surrounded by family and friends, we congratulated them on the hard work and commitment that helped them achieve outstanding results and thanked them for their generous contribution to the life of the College. Old scholar Sarah Cumming (Class of 1997) was our special guest for this event and her words of encouragement reminded everyone how Mercy values continue to shape lives well beyond school. I am sharing here the speech of Emily Thomas, Dux of the College for 2025. Emily’s words of gratitude reflect a wisdom well beyond her years.

Ms Paddy McEvoy
Principal

I am sincerely humbled to have this opportunity to speak to you for one last time, with gratitude for all that this College has taught me and for the opportunities each of us has been given, opportunities we so easily take for granted. So improbable is this moment to me that even if angels had descended from the heavens and told me I would be standing here today, I still would not have believed it. I feel so incredibly blessed to have this moment and to be able to share it with you.

Year 12 is a phenomenon. There is something about it that resists explanation, something that binds people together in a way no other year quite does. It carries with it a bond unlike any other, one that quietly transforms peers into friends, and friends into family. It is in our shared series of “lasts” - our last Mercy Day, the last time we button our uniforms, the last walk to school - that the weight of these moments settles in, carrying both the sweetness of memory and the ache of knowing they will never come again.  Something that truly defined the Class of 2025 is that when one of us faced hardship, none of us carried it alone. We created a collective strength to bear that weight together. With this bond in mind, I dedicate this DUX award to the Class of 2025, because it is together that we have achieved excellence.

No success is ever the result of individual effort alone, and we carry this truth with us as we reflect on the people who guided us. On behalf of the graduating class, we owe our teachers more than words can express.You have served us with patience, belief, and care for that we will forever be in your debt. Everything we become traces back to the seeds cultivated and nurtured by every teacher who has taught us. It gives me great honour to imagine a future where we may give back to you, whether as nurses caring for you, teachers guiding your children and grandchildren, or simply as people who carry forward the values you instilled in us.

I would also be remiss not to honour Catherine McAuley and the Sisters of Mercy, whose vision of educating young women continues to shape generations. Thousands have walked these halls before us, and thousands will follow, but we carry the responsibility of being a living testament to that vision. Thank you, Ms McEvoy, for continuing to lead this community with the values first instilled by our founders.

Along the journey of life, I have learnt that what we sometimes believe we have lost in this life is often returned to us many times over, if only we are willing to see it. When we stop looking at what is absent and instead recognise what surrounds us, we begin to understand how abundantly blessed we are. I have been blessed not only with a family bound to me by blood, but with people bound to me by love, those who have supported me like a sister, guided me like a mother, and loved me like a father. Your quiet encouragement, your steady presence, and your unwavering belief in me have shaped me in ways I will carry forever.

To my sisters Nava and Mandi, you have taken on many roles throughout my life, second mothers, teachers, doctors - but above all, my best friends. The sacrifices you have made and the responsibilities you shoulder have made it possible for me to be able to be standing here. You have paved the way before me and set the bar impossibly high, a standard that continues to shape the woman I am becoming.

It is often through another’s sacrifice that we are gifted the beauty of our own lives - blessings we inherit without ever fully seeing the cost. For me, that was my mother. You left behind the only life you had ever known, fleeing a country of hatred in search of opportunity, safety, and community for your children. You walked that path alone, so that we would never have to. Though you were denied the opportunity to complete your own education due to injustice - something I hope we all strive to abolish - I say without hesitation that you did, because you were with me every step of the way. In the darkness of winter mornings, in late-night pick-ups, in moments of worry, your love and presence were constant, proof of a love that fascinates me; to me, a mothers love mirrors the love of God: steadfast, patient, and infinite. In that love, I see the true role of a mother: service in its purest form, giving without counting, carrying without complaint, and shaping the hearts of her children long before they can shape themselves. Whatever light I carry into the world began with you. If there is any meaning in what I have achieved, it is because you carried it long before I ever could.

I want to acknowledge God, for as the sacred texts remind us: “With a look He granteth a hundred thousand hopes, and with a glance He healeth a hundred thousand incurable ills.” Without His divine confirmations, I would not be standing here today.

Sitting where you are now, it is easy to believe that those who stand at this podium must simply be ‘smart’. But there is no such thing as being inherently smart. I am not naturally gifted; I am persistent, dedicated, hardworking, creative, and willing to learn. While some things may come more easily to others, success is never built on ability alone, it is shaped by effort, discipline, and the courage to keep going not just when it is easy to but when everything feels like an obstacle in your way.

We all know what academic success requires, so I won’t dwell on it, but I do want to share one lesson that stayed with me - that growth is built quietly over time, not suddenly in Year 12. How often did we tell ourselves that the work in earlier years didn’t matter, scrolling through our phones and promising ourselves we’d try when it finally mattered? But success rarely begins under pressure. It begins much earlier, in the years we are tempted to dismiss, through the habits we form and the small decisions we make to do what needs to be done today rather than waiting for tomorrow to force our hand. The most valuable advice I was ever given was simple: “look at what you need to do right now, and just do your best.”

However, beyond results, we must recognise the responsibility each of us carries in shaping the culture of SAC.  Every day, we wear the words Loyal en Tout, loyal in all things. Loyal to God, to one another, to our school, and to ourselves. This loyalty is not passive; it asks something of us. It calls us to embody the Mercy values in everything we do, to act with compassion, to choose justice, to lead with courage, and to uphold integrity, even when no one is watching. So, if you take only one thing from my speech, let it be this: never be the reason someone doesn’t want to come to school, doubts their worth, or feels excluded. Be the reason someone smiles in the corridor. Be the reason someone feels seen. Be the person people are grateful to call a friend.

So may we leave not just with knowledge and experiences, but with hearts ready to serve, spirits eager to uplift, and a commitment to excellence that reaches far beyond ourselves. After all, you can take the girl out of SAC, but you can’t take SAC out of the girl.

Thank you.

From the Catherine McAuley Library

Library Lovers’ Week

Library Lovers’ Week is a wonderful way to begin our annual calendar of library celebrations and events. This special week recognises the many ways libraries make a difference in our lives. Our SAC community is enriched by the well-resourced and much-loved Catherine McAuley Library.

Throughout the week, students of all ages participated in themed library sessions and enjoyed creative workshops during break times. It was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our library, the joy of reading, and the strong sense of community and connection that so many at SAC experience here.

From the Primary Coordinator

“We should be shining lamps, giving light to all around us.”

Last week we proudly presented leadership badges to our Year 6 Music, JAM and House Leaders, along with our Semester One SRC representatives. This is always a special moment in the life of our school, as we recognise students who have stepped forward with courage, enthusiasm, and a generous spirit.

Our theme for the year, Animated by Love, invites our leaders to model the kind of service that flows from compassion, kindness, and a desire to uplift others. Leadership is not simply about a title or badge - it is about the way we choose to act, speak, and care for those around us. In receiving their badges, our students have committed to leading through service, joy, and a genuine love for their school community.

Catherine McAuley reminds us, “We should be shining lamps, giving light to all around us.” This call to be a light captures the heart of our leadership vision. Whether supporting younger students, helping organise school events, guiding peers in music or JAM activities, or representing their class on the SRC, our leaders shine through the small, everyday actions that strengthen our community.

We congratulate each student who accepted a leadership role for Semester One. We know they will bring creativity, energy, and compassion to their responsibilities, and we thank them for saying “yes” to serving others.

May they continue to lead with hearts animated in love, and may their leadership inspire others to shine just as brightly.

Ms Abby Matte
Primary Coordinator

From the Faith and Mission Coordinator

This week, we join Christians around the world in beginning our Lenten journey towards Easter.

These early days of Lent are rich in tradition. The custom of pancakes on Shrove Tuesday dates back to a time when households needed to consume perishables such as butter and eggs, prior to commencing their Lenten sacrifices. Thanks to the generous support of our parent volunteers, R–6 students celebrated Shrove Tuesday with freshly cooked pancakes, topped with delicious mixes donated by our school community. These donations will continue the spirit of giving, as our Primary JAM leaders prepare to deliver them to the Adelaide Day Centre in the coming weeks. It was a wonderful way to gather together in our class cohorts, enjoy a shared tradition, and begin preparing our hearts for the Lenten season.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a time of prayerful preparation for Easter. In the Christian tradition, the 40 days of Lent are characterised by the practices of prayer, fasting and acts of charity. Classes gathered in their learning spaces on Wednesday morning to participate in reflective liturgies marking the beginning of the Lenten season. Our Ash Wednesday liturgies focused on Project Compassion, the campaign run by Caritas Australia in which funds are raised to support vulnerable communities.  In these quiet, prayerful moments, students and teachers joined together to consider how they might show kindness, compassion, and renewal in the weeks ahead. The ashes which mark our foreheads signify our commitment to “be faithful to the Gospel” and to be animated by love, following the example of Jesus.

Ms Genevieve Pelekani
Faith and Mission Coordinator

Chinese New Year 2026 – Year of the Horse

Students across different year levels came together to celebrate Chinese New Year and welcome the Year of the Horse, learning about the traditions and cultural significance of this special occasion. As a school community, we are proud to honour and embrace the diversity that strengthens our connections and enriches our shared experiences. Wishing all our families a joyful and prosperous year ahead!

From the Visual Arts Coordinator

Celebrating Creative Excellence – Pip Selected for the 2026 SACE Art Show

We are delighted to announce that Philippa Stevanja, one of our 2025 Visual Arts–Design students, has had her Stage 2 work selected for inclusion in the prestigious 2026 SACE Art Show.

The SACE Art Show is a highly respected annual exhibition showcasing some of the most accomplished Stage 2 Visual Art and Design works from across South Australia. This year, just 142 student works have been selected statewide, making Pip’s inclusion a significant and well-earned achievement.

Pip’s selected work centres on an original fantasy-adventure game concept titled Calamitus, inspired by popular video games, gaming franchises, and conventions such as AVcon. Designed to appeal to gamers aged 13–25, the game presents a world corrupted by a destructive god, with its title derived from the Latin word calamitosus, meaning destructive and ruinous. This name immediately communicates the narrative tone and identity of the game.

As part of her brief, Pip designed four original characters representing opposing elements of nature — water, fire, ice, and air — supported by a cohesive range of merchandise including posters, trading cards, stickers, animations, and 3D-printed keyrings. Her work demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of character design, branding, and marketability, particularly in relation to gaming culture.

Each character was carefully developed with symbolic names, dynamic silhouettes, and purposeful colour palettes. From Lyra, whose flowing form and coastal colours reflect her water element, to Agni, a fire-based draconic character inspired by mythological symbolism, Pip’s designs thoughtfully combine lore, personality, and visual storytelling. Neve, representing ice, conveys authority through sharp forms and a restrained colour palette, while Zeph, inspired by Greek mythology and the west wind, embodies symmetry and nature through fae-like features and balanced design.

Pip’s work was influenced by industry professionals such as Jen Zee and Ignio Straffi, whose use of mythology, bold colour, and strong silhouettes informed her visual style. Throughout the process, Pip also demonstrated resilience and adaptability, overcoming technical challenges related to new Adobe software and export quality, gaining valuable industry-relevant skills in the process.

In addition to her academic success, Pip was also one of SAC’s two Visual Art Leaders in 2025, contributing positively to the Visual Arts community through leadership, collaboration, and dedication.

The 2026 SACE Art Show will be held at the Light Square Gallery, located within the Adelaide College of the Arts, at 39 Light Square, and will run from 17 March to 10 April. We encourage members of our community to visit the exhibition and celebrate the exceptional creativity of South Australian students.

We are immensely proud of Pip’s hard work, artistic vision, and leadership, and congratulate her on this outstanding achievement.

Ms Michelle Barratt
Visual Arts Coordinator

Year 9 Art & Design Explore Fragrance Houses to Inspire Ceramic Perfume Bottle Creations

Throughout February many of the Yr 9 Art and Design classes visited the fragrance departments of various department stores in the city gathering visual research about product design. They will use this visit, where they were able to explore the form and function of the vessels, to inform their own ceramic perfume bottle designs. The students enjoyed learning about the history of iconic brands such as Channel and Dior from the knowledgeable fragrance assistants. We can't wait to see the original designs they develop from this experience. 

Safety First: Building Strong Foundations in the Science Lab

Our Year 7 students have been focusing on an essential part of practical science: laboratory safety. They have been learning how to identify potential hazards in the lab, understand the importance of safety equipment, and follow clear procedures to keep themselves and others safe during experiments.

A key practical skill they have developed is how to safely set up and light a Bunsen burner. Students practised checking equipment, connecting the gas supply correctly, using a safety flame, and adjusting the air hole to produce the correct working flame. They also learned the importance of tying back long hair, wearing safety goggles, and maintaining a clear workspace."   Hope this is ok, many thanks

Lighting the Stage, Amplifying Creativity

New lighting in the Drama theatre

The Drama faculty are very excited to share some news that's going to make a genuine difference to our drama students' learning experiences. We've just installed a new cyclorama (backdrop) and three new spotlights in our theatre, and while that might sound like a simple equipment upgrade, the impact on what our students can actually achieve is significant. Students can now explore more advanced image and video projections and  theatrical lighting techniques. Students can spotlighting solo performers, creating dramatic contrast, building atmospheric layers that support their theatrical vision. They're learning the same technical skills they'd encounter in professional theatre or if they pursue performing arts at tertiary level.

But beyond the technical side, there's something deeper happening here. When students can fully realise their creative vision, when the lighting can actually do what they've imagined, it validates drama as serious, professional work. They're not just "playing around"; they're developing genuine technical theatre competencies.

The faculty have already noticed the difference in rehearsals. Students are experimenting more confidently, taking creative risks they wouldn't have attempted before. That's what our new lights do. They don't just improve the final product; they transform how students engage with the learning process itself.

Mr Tom Coultas
Drama Coordinator

Upcoming Events

School Photo Day 2

To place your order, please go to the photographer’s website www.advancedlife.com.au and enter SAC’s unique online order code (sent via email). Alternatively, please collect a sibling photo envelope if you wish to pay cash from the front office. Students who missed their individual photo, will have the opportunity to have it taken on this day. If you have any queries regarding your order, please contact AdvancedLife Photograpy on (08) 8127 3049.

LITTLE LENT IN THE CUNNINGHAM CHAPEL

2026 Open Night is coming soon!
Please share with family and friends who may be interested in SAC