St Aloysius Newsletter

Acknowledgement of Country

From the Principal - Issue #14, 2025

Dear Parents/Guardians, Friends & Students of SAC,

The Australian Catholic Education Conference was held in Cairns last week with the theme “hope, anchored in faith”. The program included high-quality keynote speakers and relevant and inspiring workshops and attracted almost 1500 delegates from across the country. It was a privilege to be there alongside my Mercy Education colleagues from Victoria and WA. I was particularly moved by Sr Nathalie Becquart’s synodal vision for Catholic Education, which prioritises listening and creates a home of hope within our schools and parishes. She encouraged us to build bridges and cultivate dialogue so that our schools are always welcoming. I hope that every student, family and staff member will experience this welcome at SAC.

Back in Adelaide, staff and students moved deftly from the adventures of Science Week, with all its experiments and engaging activities, into Book Week, with guest speakers, a morning tea and a book week parade to name just a few of the activities on offer. Thank you to the many families who came along to the parade, and to our fabulous Library team and primary staff, who brought it to life (the Alice in Wonderland staff costumes were incredible!). Year 12 students decided to use the parade as an opportunity to honour Angel, the student they sponsor at the School of St Jude, by coming to school dressed as angels themselves. I think this sponsorship shows how much they value the transformational power of education and enables them to look beyond themselves and demonstrate mercy in action. I appreciate the generosity and leadership of the Class of 2025 in sponsoring Angel.

Science Week and Book WEEK showcased creativity in action!

Dressed as angels for Book Week, the Class of 2025 shines through their sponsorship of Angel, a student at the School of St Jude in tanzania

Our Year 10 Student Representatives are also showing great leadership, attending the Active Citizenship Convention at Adelaide Oval last week. It was a great opportunity to mix with like-minded students from other schools and share their passion for justice. Here are some reflections from Eva and Gianna on this experience:

"Attending the Active Citizenship Convention was a valuable experience for me. I gained a deeper understanding of how young people can actively participate in democracy and realised that our voices are genuinely important and valued when shaping decisions. Hearing from many leaders and being a part of the discussions encouraged me to stay involved in issues that affect our futures and community." Gianna

"The Active Citizenship Convention was truly an eye-opening experience that has encouraged me to continue making a difference in my school environment. From the learning experience, I was left feeling inspired to make a positive impact through both the community inside and outside of school. It was a valuable opportunity to connect and interact with other schools to see their different opinions and ideas." Eva

TAKING Action at Active Citizenship Convention

Fourteen students from Years 4 to 6 celebrated the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion at St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral last night. Many thanks to Ms Isabella Formichella, who prepared the students so beautifully for the sacraments, and to their teachers who attended to support them. Accompanying young people as they strengthen their faith is such a privilege, and the partnership between home and school is at the heart of this mission. Thanks to all the families who entrusted us to walk this journey with them.

I look forward to seeing many dads and significant men in the lives of our students at next week’s Father’s Day Breakfast!

Ms Paddy McEvoy
Principal

Sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion at St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral

SAC’s First Nations Strategic Planning Committee

Wednesday 20 August marked the first meeting for SAC’s First Nations Strategic Planning dedicated to improving outcomes for First Nations students. Lead by Barb Fox the committee is made up of eight members, six of whom are First Nations peoples, and is guided by SAC’s overarching Strategic Plan and Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).

L-R: Kiah Buckskin-James, Indi Bament-Sitkowski, Viv Graney, Barb Fox, Alex Kirkham and Rachel Gould.
On screen: Joanne Buckskin

The committee will focus on three key areas:

• Culture and Wellbeing
• Curriculum and Learning
• Faith Formation

At our inaugural meeting, we welcomed:

• Barb Fox (Larrakia & Tiwi - First Nations Project Coordinator)
• Kiah Buckskin-James (Kaurna, Narungga & Wirangu, Southern Arrernte - Parent)
• Joanne Buckskin (Kaurna, Narungga & Wirangu, Southern Arrernte – Grandparent)
• India Bament-Sitkowski (Narungga – First Nations Student Support Officer)
• Alex Kirkham (Wurundjeri – SAC Teacher)
• Viv Graney (First Nations Focus Teacher)
• Rachel Gould (Director of Student Wellbeing)

We also acknowledge Joel Bayliss (Gudanji & Wanbaya – Parent) who sent his apologies.

Key ideas from our first meeting include:

• Strengthening connections among First Nations families through opportunities to meet and yarn
• Enhancing consultation and collaboration with families
• Hosting cultural workshops for First Nations students by First Nations people
• Supporting First Nations perspectives in curriculum design
• Complementing and strengthening the ongoing academic support of First Nations students

"The meeting was very inspiring and was a great example of working together in partnerships. Our beautiful school needs active working parties to support cultural learning, I feel very privileged to be a part of this process." Joanne Buckskin

"I'm really excited to see what more we can do to engage our Indigenous students in secondary school and build their sense of connectedness with culture." Rachel Gould

"... as Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander have been coming together for 60000 years. We share and yarn. So whatever we come up with, we need to share this other Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander parents within the school." Joel Bayliss

We are excited to begin this important work and are committed to listening and learning from our community. We warmly invite feedback, ideas, and involvement from all First Nations parents and carers. Your voices are vital in shaping a culturally safe and empowering environment for our students.

If you would like to connect, contribute, or learn more, please reach out to Barb Fox (bfox@sac.sa.edu.au) or any committee member.

Ms Barbara Fox
Larrakia & Tiwi - First Nations Project Coordinator

A Warm Welcome from Afar: Japanese Students Experience SAC’s Spirit of Hospitality

Earlier this term, St Aloysius College warmly welcomed 28 students from Toho and 14 students from Kogakuin, Japan, for short Study Tours. During their stay, the students participated in English classes at ELSA (English Language School of Adelaide) and joined Year 8 and 9 students in various lessons at SAC. Our students showed the College values of Hospitality, Respect, and Courage in hosting their Japanese buddies.

The visiting students expressed their gratitude through song, laughter, and heartfelt words. The Toho students sang their school anthem and shared a moving farewell message. They spoke of the creativity and responsibility encouraged at SAC, and how they enjoyed the free and welcoming atmosphere. They also reflected on similarities between both schools, noting how students respect each other’s differences and enjoy spending time together. Although they were initially nervous, the Toho students quickly felt comfortable and welcomed, describing the kindness shown to them as an example of Omotenashi — a Japanese word meaning heartfelt hospitality. They promised that if SAC students visit Japan, they too will be welcomed with the same spirit.

SAC students reflected positively on the exchange:

• “I loved meeting new people and making new friends.”
• “Everyone is very cheerful.”
• “My Japanese friend liked sitting on the sofa in class because they don’t have sofas at her school.”

As Yasmin H beautifully summed up:
“This whole experience has been such a wonderful opportunity for me. Even in such a short time, I believe everyone should experience this at least once in their lifetime. Playing badminton and volleyball together with other exchange students was such a joy. We all exchanged numbers and social media accounts so we can stay in touch, even across the distance.”

The Japanese students also shared what they enjoyed most about SAC:

• “Everyone is very friendly and kind.”
• “I liked going outside to the parklands during PE.”
• “I liked playing sport in the gym.”

This enriching exchange gave SAC students a chance to practise hospitality, form lasting friendships, and strengthen cultural connections.

Ms Lucyna Zwolski
Acting Study Tour Co-ordinator

Maths Minds Shine at MASA Quiz Night

On Tuesday 12 August, 24 budding mathematicians descended upon the hallowed halls of Blackfriars College to compete in the annual MASA Quiz Night.

The Quiz Night consists of General Knowledge, Mathematical Questions and Logic Puzzles for students to sink their teeth into. Our students were challenged and engaged throughout the evening, and well fed by their very generous families.

We would like to thank the students for coming along and bringing a wonderful attitude and enthusiasm for Mathematics and we hope to see them and any other students again next year.

Laura Flynn & Nicoletta Romanelli
Mathematics Teachers

PPEP Talk® Empowers Year 9 Students with Knowledge and Confidence

Our Year 9 students recently participated in a PPEP Talk® presented by the Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia. The session provided students with important information and practical tools to manage period and pelvic pain, an opportunity for learning that was both informative and empowering.

Feedback from the students was overwhelmingly positive:

• 100% of students said they found the session informative
• 100% said they learned tools to manage period and pelvic pain

Students reflected: 

“This was really informative and very interesting”

“It gave me some tools to help with any type of period pain”

“I really enjoyed this!”

We thank Sarah from the Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia for leading the session and supporting our students’ wellbeing. 

Families who would like more information or want to access the free online session can click here for details.

Ms Rachel Gould
Director of Student Wellbeing

'Songs Inside' Brings Music and Message of Hope to Year 12 Winter Sleepout

Mercy Light: Connecting

The Year 12 Winter Sleepout has never been about comfort; it’s an immersion that offers willing students the chance to step into the reality faced by over 7,000 South Australians experiencing homelessness — to feel, even briefly, what it means to go without the warmth we often take for granted. That being said, hearts were warmed this year as a number of special guests joined part of the experience for an evening of connecting, listening and sharing stories. Two of the St Vincent De Paul Society’s key staff – Donna, Community Programs Manager, and Tanya, Wellbeing Case Coordinator – opened the Winter Sleepout with inspiring recounts of their experiences working closely with some of our community’s most vulnerable people. Vinnies, as its commonly known, pioneered Winter Sleepouts for students more than 15 years ago, helping students to reflect on how socio-economic challenges affect people experiencing homelessness and hardship. Donna and Tanya’s session foregrounded the evening, which was followed by input from members of Young Mercy Links SA, where Year 12s had the opportunity to hear from SAC Old Scholars about how they continue to serve others in their lives beyond school.

Following these stories of justice and solidarity, the evening then turned to an experience of creativity and reflection. Can you recall an experience that you wish you could return to again and again? For the Year 12s, that came in the form of viewing the award-winning documentary Songs Inside and a captivating Q&A with filmmaker Shalom Almond, and two of the film’s participants Erin and Clancy — an encounter that was truly music to the students’ ears. Shalom, who is based in Adelaide but has worked nationally and internationally, is an observational filmmaker whose work chronicles transformative journeys that convey authentic, personal and compelling stories. Insights conveyed in her films have the power to open hearts and minds. Songs Inside is Shalom’s most recent project, filmed in Adelaide Women’s Labour Prison, and follows the stories of women participating in the Songbirds music program, led by First Nations singer-songwriter, Nancy Bates.

Erin and Clancy were participants in this program and generously gave their time, together with Shalom, to view the film with the Winter Sleepout participants and engage in an hour-long conversation afterwards.

Recalling the Songbirds sessions with Nancy Bates inside prison, both Erin and Clancy conveyed that creative expression can bring healing, dignity and hope.

“Our time with Nancy was like a counselling session without being a counselling session,” shared Clancy. “Through the process of making music, through the arts, it helped us to express the deepest parts of ourselves.”

“I found a lot of comfort in writing lyrics... it was magic,” said Erin, who has continued writing lyrics and who is proud that her words, paired with music, were given life onstage when the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra visited the prison to perform with the Songbirds.

The courage of Erin and Clancy in sharing their stories reminded our students that behind statistics are human lives — women with families, with creativity, with dreams, who have faced immense challenges yet continue to rise with resilience. Their reflections on homelessness, recovery, and reintegration into society after incarceration were raw and eye-opening. Erin urged the students:

“I want you to see how lucky you are to be actually sleeping out there with your friend next to you within the walls of this school, and think about how you would feel if it was just you outside on the footpath in the cold on your own.”

This sentiment struck a chord with the Year 12s, many of whom carried those words with them as they lay on the cold ground later that night.

Clancy’s compelling message also stayed with the students:

“If you’re going through something right now, it doesn’t have to define you forever. Things can change, and you can come through the other side.”

Reflecting on the experience, Year 12 JAM leader, Clodeta T, wrote the following passage:

“‘Songs Inside’ provided me with information about the treatment of women in the prison that I did not previously know. I got to learn about how music can help people heal parts of their lives and allow them to feel the peace they have always wanted. What touched me the most was the fact that many women were in prison because of generational trauma, something that happened to them when they were younger and caused them to become who they are and then eventually end up in prison.

This film has made me very thoughtful and grateful for everything that I have. It has opened my eyes to see things in a new way, things that we usually take for granted I have learnt how lucky we are to have. Even simple things like, support from friends and family some of those people did not have anyone to run to when they needed help.

 I felt very lucky to be able to have this opportunity to have people come out and speak to us and answer some of our questions. Our guest speakers made the whole night feel more impactful. During the sleep out I was extremely grateful to be able to have my friends by my side. This night would have been completely different if I experienced it alone. Just having the presence of my friends made the night feel less cold and frightening. The sleepout was an experience I will never forget and I will always be grateful for, as well as having the opportunity to view the film ‘Songs Inside’.”

Clodeta’s reflection captures the essence of why the Winter Sleepout is such a formative experience: it is not simply about giving something up, but about opening oneself to the voices of those whose experiences can change the way we see the world.

As these Year 12 students discovered, empathy grows when we are willing to really listen – whether to the music of the Songbirds, the lived experiences of Erin and Clancy, or the quiet lessons of one night without comfort.

Through the Winter Sleepout, our Year 12s were invited not only to imagine a fairer world, but to begin shaping it, with compassion, creativity, and courage.

Ms Maddie Kelly
JAM Coordinator

Step and Connect

St Aloysius College is excited to introduce the Step and Connect program, a new initiative designed to support a smooth and confident transition for pre-school children from Chancery Lane into the school environment. This program offers a series of engaging, play-based sessions with a Literacy and Numeracy focus, held in our Reception classrooms and facilitated by our Reception teachers. It provides children with the opportunity to become familiar with school routines, spaces, and staff, while building relationships and easing the transition into formal schooling.

In the first session, children explored mathematical concepts through hands-on activities such as creating number mini-books, exploring shapes with geo boards and pop sticks, and engaging in ordinal number games using ladybird stones and race cars. The activities were designed to be student-led, allowing children to move freely between stations and engage at their own pace.

The second session began with an interactive group experience where children read and discussed the steps of a playdough-making procedure. This introduced the concept of procedural texts and led into literacy-focused activities such as bookmaking, crafting dragonflies by following visual instructions and using iPads to follow steps and create digital drawings.

Step and Connect not only benefits the visiting children, but also empowers our current Reception students to act as role models and share their learning. The program fosters collaboration between educators and strengthens the connection between our school and Chancery Lane, creating a shared commitment to early learning and development.

With sessions planned regularly throughout the term, Step and Connect is set to become a meaningful part of our transition program, helping children take their first steps into school life with confidence.

Ms Olivia Spadavecchia
Teacher

From the English Coordinator

Bell Shakespeare ‘Players’ perform at SAC

Describing the performances by the Bell Shakespeare Company ‘Players’ is best done  by paraphrasing Shakespeare himself; “By the pricking of my thumbs, something [wonderful] this way comes”! This year's shows focussed on single plays, perfectly aligned with our curriculum – Romeo & Juliet for Year 10s and Macbeth for Year 11s. The performances drew out the main events and concerns of Shakespeare’s timeless tales, using humour, contemporary speech and banter between the cast to better enable student engagement and understanding.

A few students shared their responses:

"In the midst of Book Week, Year 11 students had the opportunity to watch the Bell Shakespeare Company's performance of Macbeth. This was a thoroughly enjoyable performance which deepened my understanding of William Shakespeare's famous tragedy. Going into the performance I had little knowledge of the text. however the interactive components made the storyline easy to follow. The performance struck a balance between educational and humorous, making it entertaining and allowing me to gain a deeper appreciation of Shakespeare's work." Liliana

"Through dynamic performances and clever direction, the production made Shakespeare’s language and themes approachable for a student audience.The balance of humour and drama captured out attention and created an enjoyable and education experience that has deepened our understand and appreciation of the text." Isabel

"The Players’ show was both engaging and insightful, offering a clearer understanding of Romeo and Juliet. I particularly appreciated how the actors balanced humour with the play’s serious themes, making the story fun while remaining true to Shakespeare’s work. Their interpretation highlighted the complexity of the characters and the consequences of their choices. My favourite moment was the intense sword fight, which powerfully conveyed the conflict and foreshadowed the tragedy to come." Amelia

Aamina’s Voice Shines in State Public Speaking Final

‘How the World’s Hardest Battles Go Unseen’

Congratulations to Year 9 student Aamina who competed in the Legacy Junior Public Speaking Awards Final on Friday 15 August having won her initial heat.  Aamina gave a rousing speech entitled ‘How the World’s Hardest Battles Go Unseen’ which tied into the Legacy theme of mateship and the importance of speaking up in relation to racial injustice.  Competing against the state’s top public speakers is no small feat, and Aamina has done SAC proud throughout the competition.

Lucy Combe
Public Speaking Coordinator 

From the Science Coordinator

We Decoded the Universe!

Science Week 2025 has been an incredible celebration of curiosity, creativity, and discovery! It has been a week of hands-on activities, mind-bending presentations, and cosmic adventures for all ages.

The week started with hands on activities in the courtyard, followed by the world famous science show with our own Professor Dummkopf and assistant. Mr Arman blew some minds with his talk on dark matter, dark energy and the universe whilst other students were trying to crack the codes in the Redden lab for an Escape room activity.

Some of our middle school students inspired and were inspired by the Years 1-3 students with some science collaborations and some lucky students visited the space discovery centre for an excursion.

Such a range of activities requires a lot of organisation and involvement of many staff and students. A huge thank you to staff, STEM leaders (Emily and Taya),  guest presenters and students for making Science Week unforgettable. Together, we truly decoded the universe! 

Year 7 sTUDENTS Get Hands-On with the Cosmos at the Space Discovery Centre

Over Weeks 4 and 5, the Year 7 students visited the Space Discovery Centre at Lot 14. The excursion tied in with both Science Week’s theme Decoding the Universe and the Year 7 Space Unit, My Place in Space.

Students heard from an Adelaide University student, who explained the roles of satellites, how they orbit the Earth, and why so much space junk exists (including in the “graveyard orbit”). They also saw models of satellites, some as small as a 10 cm cube - before exploring the Space Gallery and engaging with the interactive exhibits.

Students Reflected:

"Going to the Australian Space Discovery was a one-of-a-kind experience for all of us, while we were spending our time there, we learnt how big some stars are compared to our sun. We got the opportunity to learn about space junk and how much of it there is, and we talked about how big some of the black holes were in our solar system. Overall, it was an amazing opportunity to learn more about our amazing planets and solar system and knowing that there aren’t just aliens out there, there are much more." Ruby

"Something I enjoyed was going around to the interactive exhibitions and learning about rockets, space junk, the moon, different planets, and so much more in a fun and interactive way to learn! Overall, it was an experience that many of us enjoyed, and we all learnt so much from!" Juliette

Oliphant Science Awards – Celebrating Student Achievement

The Oliphant Science Awards is an annual competition for South Australian school students, designed to support, encourage, and celebrate science education across the state. Open to students across all year levels, the competition offers a variety of categories including science-themed posters, games, science writing, multimedia, and science inquiry. This year, St Aloysius College proudly submitted an impressive 53 projects from students in Years 3 to 9. We congratulate all participating students for their creativity, effort, and scientific thinking.

Of these entries, four projects received a Highly Commended award, and two were named overall winners in their category.

 Overall Category Winners

• Serena (8JT) – Multimedia Category: The Digestive System
• Ella (9CW) – Games Category: Pathogen Pursuit

Highly Commended

• Emilia (3CE) – Photography Category: Patterns in Nature
• Sharvi (5AC) – Poster Category: Lifecycle of a Star
• Toshi (7PS) – Poster Category: The Impact of Plastic Pollution
• Arabelle, Sienna, Amira (8SN) – Multimedia Category: Unlock the Respiratory System
• Aamina (9AK) – Science Writing Category: “If It Happened Here: What If a Nuclear Bomb Hit Adelaide?”
• Aria, Reet, Isla (9AK) – Games Category

We are incredibly proud of all our students who took part in this competition. Their achievements reflect the enthusiasm and talent for science that thrives at SAC.

Ms Linda Kitto
Science Coordinator

Physics homework isn’t always at the desk for this SAC student!

On Monday night, 11 August, one of our senior Year 11 Physics students, Banafsha braved the elements to attend a special lecture at The University of Adelaide by a renowned quantum physicist Dr Sol Jacobsen (PhD 2010). Dr Sol who has been jointly awarded the Australian Institute of Physics’ (AIP) federal medal for Women in Physics for her significant contribution to physics, gave an edge of your seat insight into our future in Quantum Computing and electron  spintronics — the physics of harnessing the quantum spin of electrons to store and process information. 

Banafsha said it was a great chance to hear directly from a leading physicist about where the future of technology is heading and how Physics fits into that. She left inspired by how the physics she studies in class connects to breakthroughs in ultra-fast computing and energy-efficient data storage as well as the contributions women in Physics are making in our world.

Well done Banafsha, it was a great evening, time well spent!

Mr Paolo Arman
Physics Teacher

From the Catherine McAuley Library

Book Week 2025 – An Adventure from Start to Finish! ✨📚

Book Week 2025 began with a fun-filled author/illustrator visit from a favourite regular guest at SAC, Andrew Joyner. Andrew shared inspiration, enthusiasm and encouragement with our Year Six students, with many fantastic self-portraits created during the session. There were lots of special activities over the course of the week; a fun lunchtime adventure with passports and stamps hidden around the school, a Literary Quiz for secondary students with a record number of enthusiastic participants, and of course, our much-loved annual bookmark competition. Year 5s and 6s booked flights on an Amazing Race, Year 3s and 4s journeyed on a ‘Ticket to Read’ scavenger hunt, and Reception to Year 2 went on a Sensory Safari. The highlight of the week is always the fun, excitement and colour of the Book Week Parade. This year was no exception with some spectacular costumes worn with big Book Week smiles! We are thrilled that students participated with joy in Book Week celebrations and shared their love of reading as we all embraced the theme of ‘Book an Adventure’ in 2025!

This year’s theme, ‘Book an Adventure’, was certainly embraced to the fullest ✨❤️ enjoy the highlights video!

Pilgrims of Hope - Walking Together