St Aloysius Newsletter

Acknowledgement of Country

From the Principal - Issue #2, 2025

The first fortnight of the school year is full of new experiences for staff, students and their families. Settling into the school routine is a significant time of transition, especially for families with children starting Reception or Year 7, as well as all those students who have joined the College at other year levels in 2025. We have welcomed over 150 new students to the College in the last two weeks, and we look forward to seeing them flourish here at SAC.

Visiting classes from Reception to Year 12, students and staff are building relationships and gaining confidence in navigating the school environment. I am always amazed at how quickly the Reception students settle in, thanks to the excellent care provided by teachers and support staff. Thanks also to our families, who cultivate that confidence at home, reassuring the girls that they will feel a strong sense of connection and belonging.

Thanks to the many parents who came along to meet the teachers in the last fortnight. Good communication begins with putting a face to a name and we hope that you found these brief conversations helpful. They will be supplemented with more detailed meetings throughout the year with a focus on student learning and wellbeing. The collaboration between parents and teachers is an essential part of an excellent education.

Our Opening Mass at the Cathedral last Friday was a fitting way to start the school year. Centred around the Jubilee year theme, Pilgrims of Hope, students brought their own hopes for the year to the Mass on posters they had created in their Religious Education lessons. Father James McEvoy celebrated Mass, the choir led us in song and there was a tangible sense of celebration. This theme reminds us that we are educating young people for a future where good things will happen, and that we have the privilege of walking together with them on this journey.

Educational experience is so much more about the journey than the destination, given that learning is lifelong. This came home to me as I watched the Reception students prepare beautiful bookmarks and a heartfelt video to send good wishes to the Year 12 students in their final year of school. I have watched the current cohort of Year 12s since they were in Reception, and whilst they look very different from their first year at SAC, their character is in essence the same. The continuity of care that we can provide in a Reception to Year 12 setting is a gift, and it is a joy to share that gift with the students and families of the Class of 2025.

With best wishes,

Ms Paddy McEvoy
Principal

From the Deputy Principal (Teaching and Learning)

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) takes place each year for students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. The tests will be scheduled between Wednesday 12 March and Friday 21 March. Please note that this timeframe allows for catch-up days for students who may miss a test. All tests will be conducted online, with the exception of the Year 3 Writing test. Students will participate in 4 tests in total in the following domains:

• Writing
• Reading
• Conventions of Language
• Numeracy

In preparation for NAPLAN tests, students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 will sit a National Practice Test on Tuesday 25 February at the following times:

The test is for practice only and will not produce student test results for schools.

Students in all year levels will need to provide wired headphones for use in the practice test in February and the NAPLAN testing window in March. If your daughter has received a new device this year, please note that headphones will need to be USB C type.

Participation in the National Practice Test will provide students with an opportunity to become familiar with the types of questions they will experience in NAPLAN Online 2025.  Students, teachers and parents can also use the public demonstration site at any time to become familiar with NAPLAN Online:

NAPLAN Public Demonstration Site

If you have any questions about NAPLAN, please contact me at the College.

Ms Jacqui Jury                             
Deputy Principal (Teaching & Learning)    

Educated Girls are Pilgrims of Hope in SAC’s 145th Year

Mercy Light: Leading

Cast your eyes across any schoolyard in Australia during the first morning of a school year, and you’ll likely notice similar happenings: new students, nervously peering around their environment. Perhaps you’ll observe people with tear-glazed eyes – a swell of nerves, pride and anticipation for the coming year. Excited friends and classmates eagerly reconnect after the summer break. Teachers warmly welcome students and caregivers into their classrooms.

Scenes unfolding in the infant weeks of 2025 at SAC are similar. And, as new-year jitters begin to settle, constant is the hum of joy echoing through campus as more than 1,200 girls arrive each day. Though they may not realise it, these girls and young women walk in the footsteps of thousands who’ve gone before them. St Aloysius College celebrates 145 years of educating girls this year. In 2025, the College also celebrates with Catholic communities globally, a Jubilee year, the theme for which is ‘Pilgrims of Hope’.

To be a pilgrim is to seek, to connect and to grow. Catherine McAuley, Foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, was a pilgrim who broke boundaries for women in 19^th Century Ireland, where she walked with suffering children and women on the streets of Dublin. Catherine and her Sisters of Mercy became known as ‘the walking nuns’. Back then, nuns were cloistered, meaning that their lives were mostly spent in spiritual contemplation. The Sisters of Mercy, in walking with those in need, carried faith into the streets and shone a light of hope across the darkest alleys of their community.  Their pilgrimage nurtured connection and led to the growth of a global community, of which SAC is part. Supporting the poor, with a particular vision to educating girls and women, was and is at the heart of the Mercy mission.

Educated girls can have confidence about their place in society and their role as leaders who can contribute to a just and peaceful world.  Today, schools of research validate what Catherine advocated; that educating girls means giving them a voice. Research provided by the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools suggests that, “Girls’ school students are more likely than their female peers at coeducational schools to experience an environment that welcomes an open and safe exchange of ideas. Nearly 87% of girls’ school students feel their opinions are respected at their school compared to only 58% of girls at coeducational schools.”[1]

Year 12 Justice and Mercy Leaders, Clodeta and Harnaaz, agree that an all-girls’ education fosters confidence.

“We’ve both been at SAC since Year 5. The personal development we’ve experienced has been life-changing. Having a main focus on girls means that we have access to all the leadership opportunities available to students in school, and we are encouraged to step out of our comfort zones through extra-curricular and academic programs,” says Harnaaz.

Clodeta adds that, “we are constantly empowered and reminded by the Mercy values [Compassion, Service, Justice, Respect, Hospitality and Courage] that we as young women can make a difference. Personally, I feel that going to school in an all-girls’ environment has helped me focus more on my ambitions and given me confidence.”

“I have really enjoyed being exposed to texts with strong female protagonists,” shares Harnaaz. “Our teachers encourage us to engage with books and media where girls are empowered, or challenging traditions and breaking stereotypes.”

“We also realise, now that we are in Year 12, we are role models for younger girls. That is a profound feeling,” Harnaaz reflects.

“When girls can see what is possible for them from a young age, then they can become it,” insists Clodeta.

“The Sisters of Mercy were the walking nuns, so girls and women could see a different way for their lives through those women, just like we can see examples in the women around us,” she says.

As JAM Leaders, Clodeta and Harnaaz have an important role of upholding the Mercy Values and, together with a team of secondary students and Year 6 Primary JAM Leaders, will work on awareness and fundraising campaigns this year to bring attention to many causes touching the lives of vulnerable people.

“Catherine McAuley laid the foundation, doing things that were against people’s expectations in her time. She led the way for women to stand up for social justice. Now, we can look to her story and think, ‘what do we want to do?’ And we feel empowered to take those decisions, and a lot of that is because we have been supported in a girls’ school environment,” Clodeta explains.

In this Jubilee year as ‘Pilgrims of Hope’, SAC students walk courageously in the footsteps of girls educated in the Mercy tradition of this College for 145 years, and in building the confidence to pursue their dreams, they encourage others to do the same.

[1] Quick Facts – ICGS Dr. Richard A. Holmgren, Allegheny College, Steeped in Learning: The Student Experience at All-Girls Schools

From the Deputy Principal

(Pastoral Care)

Year 7 to Year 11 Students Representative Council (SRC)

At St Aloysius, we have a proud tradition of working to nurture student leadership across our school in a wide range of areas. One of those includes our Student Representative Council (SRC), which is a formal group of students, elected by their peers to represent them and their points of view.

As an SRC, students facilitate leadership and decision making by bringing important issues to the notice of the school community, as well as organising whole school events and taking on additional responsibilities.

We congratulate our 2024 SRC members, a strong group of passionate and energetic young leaders, and look forward to seeing all of our leaders take on their new role in the Secondary school.

We would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate every student who nominated themselves on their willingness to become involved in the leadership of our school community. We look forward to many of the nominees taking up other informal leadership opportunities this year including lunch time clubs, JAM, tour guides and other activities.

Congratulations to the following students:

Ms Jacqui Mcilroy
(Deputy Principal Pastoral Care)

From the Religious Education Coordinator (Primary)

SACRAMENTS

Students at St Aloysius College have an opportunity to prepare for the Sacraments of Reconciliation from Year 3 and Confirmation and First Holy Communion from Year 4. Students will learn about these sacraments through the Religious Education program with their teachers and will attend a one-day workshop at school. Students will then celebrate their sacraments in the Adelaide Cathedral Parish or in their own parishes. Parents are required to attend a meeting leading up to the celebration to participate in the family preparation. If you wish for your daughter to be prepared for these three important Sacraments this year, please click here to access a letter and complete the online form by Thursday 20 March, 2025. Please note your daughter must be baptised Catholic in order to celebrate these Sacraments.

Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday

Primary School students will celebrate Shrove Tuesday on the 4th March by enjoying some pancakes with their class. If you are a registered volunteer on the SAC database and would like to help cook pancakes, please email me (Ms Isabella Formichella) [email protected]. Volunteers would be required from 8:30am – 10:00am. Students are asked to donate pancake mix and toppings such as jams, honey, maple syrup, sugar or lemons to enjoy on the day.

Please click here to access the Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday Letter and further information about Project Compassion.

Justice and Mercy News

We were thrilled to launch this year’s Justice and Mercy (JAM) program on Friday of Week 2! The JAM group is the bedrock of SAC’s Mercy Values. With a meeting each week dedicated to team-building, discussion, reflection and action, JAM provides engaging ways for students between Years 6-12 to come together to make a difference in our local community and to learn more about issues that affect us all. Some exciting initiatives coming up include:

• Thursday 13 February (Week 3) – Anniversary of the Apology to the Stolen Generations
• Friday 7 March (Week 6) – International Women’s Day
• 17-21 March (Week 8) – Harmony Week
• Thursday 20 March (Week 8) – An Evening with Gemma Sisia AM, Founder of The School of St Jude. See flyer below for further details and RSVP at this link by Thursday 13 March: https://www.trybooking.com/CYZRM
• Ongoing opportunities each week to volunteer at Sister Janet Mead’s Adelaide Day Centre for Homeless Persons.

This year, we welcome recent Old Scholar, Grace Campbell, who graduated last year, to the role of JAM Student Support Coordinator. We look forward to seeing many student from Years 6-12 at our weekly JAM meeting – held Fridays at lunch time in the McAuley Auditorium, unless otherwise advised.

Ms Maddie Kelly
Communications Officer | JAM Coordinator

From the Music Department

Unlock Your Musical Potential!

Are you passionate about music? Do you dream of playing an instrument, singing in a choir, or rocking out with a band? Look no further! SAC offers a vibrant co-curricular music program that caters to all musical interests. Whether you’re a budding musician or an experienced performer, there’s something for everyone.

For more information about the Instrumental or Music Curriculum Extension Program, please don’t hesitate to contact the Music Department at [email protected].  We’re looking forward to a great year of music making!

Ms Fiona Turner
Music Coordinator

From the Secondary Sport Coordinator

Sport begins for 2025!

I’m very excited to be welcoming some new and familiar faces to the Secondary Sport program this year! Proudly led by mostly old scholars and teaching staff, our teams are set to commence trainings and games next week  (Week 3). Volleyball, Tennis, Touch Football & Basketball matches will commence Saturday 15 February and run through to Saturday 5 April (no games on the long weekend). Dance and fitness sessions will also commence on their allocated lunchtimes. Water Polo will start up later in the term, in Week 7.

Team lists, training schedules and information packs can be accessed on the Term 1 Sport SEQTA Portal. Draws will be uploaded as soon as they are released by the association (hopefully early Week 3!).

Students are required to arrive at games 15 minutes prior to the start time to meet their coaches for warm up. Please ensure your daughter has the appropriate playing uniform ready for Round 1 (this information can be found in the handbook or the information pack on the portal).

Good luck to all teams and I look forward to seeing you all out at your first trainings next week!

Ms Meg Henderson
Secondary Sport Coordinator

From the Catherine McAuley Library

Join the 'Read 25 in 25' Challenge: A Year of Reading, Growth, and Inspiration!

The library staff have felt inspired by author Gretchen Rubin’s reading challenge for this year. Author of The Happiness Project, and other books on positive habits, happiness and human nature, Rubin has issued the challenge to ‘Read 25 in 25’. 

We will be encouraging our students to consider how they may want to connect with this challenge. Whether they feel they’d like to read 25 books over the course of the year, prioritize 25 minutes of reading each day, listen to 25 minutes of an audio book, read aloud to 25 different people, read in 25 different cosy places – we’d love for our students to come up with creative ways of engaging with this initiative. We will be providing ways for them to record and celebrate their reading journey along the way, and we look forward to seeing the benefits of including reading as a regular part of our routines and lives.

Ms Ali Ripberger
Teacher‑Librarian & Information Services 
Coordinator

From the OSHC Director

Our Out of School Hours Care program is back for another year. We have an exciting program that extends your child's learning opportunities through play and leisure activities. 

If you have not provided us with your 2025 bookings please contact the Director Tegan or any of our amazing Educator team.

If you are a new family and interested in using the service for the first time we look forward to welcoming you. Check out our 2025 Parent Handbook for all the service details and updated Enrolment form to start your child's learning journey with us.

We are here if you have any questions, so please do not hesitate to contact the service any time.

Blankets of Love

From the SAC Uniform Shop

The Uniform Shop now has extended trading hours for Term 1.

Shop Hour:

• Tuesday 8.15am – 11.30am
• Wednesday 1.00pm – 4.00pm
• Thursday – 8.15am – 11.30am and 3.00pm – 6.00pm

SCHOOL HOLIDAY HOURS:

• Monday 14 April 8am-4pm
• Tuesday 15 April 8am-4pm
• Wednesday 16 April 8am-4pm
• Tuesday 29 April 8am-4pm

We have a large selection of second-hand items available while stocks last, and all new stock is plentiful.

Uniforms can also be purchased from our Online Shop.

For full uniform fittings and to make an appointment with the Uniform Shop, please click here.

Pilgrims of Hope, Walking Together