St Aloysius Newsletter

Acknowledgement of Country

From the Principal - Issue #10, 2025

The Senior Music Evening in the Heritage Room last week was a brilliant showcase of the musical talents of our Years 10 to 12 Music students. From the stunning ensemble performances of the Year 10 students, through to the eclectic range of solo vocal and instrumental performances at Year 12 level, each performance reflected the hard work and commitment of both students and staff. Thanks must go to Ms Stephanie Neale and Ms Fiona Turner, along with the many instrumental tutors, who support each student to challenge themselves achieve their best. Looking around the room at the audience of proud parents, siblings and friends, it was clear that pursuing music to this level is a family commitment, and we are grateful for the way our SAC families embrace this opportunity.

The Year 12 Drama class performance was a powerful ensemble piece, directed by Tom Coultas, that gave every cast member a chance to shine. The students' support and encouragement of one another was great to see, as they tackled some challenging themes. Thanks to the many family members and friends who came along to support the cast. No doubt some of these performers will be shining on stage again in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in Term 3.

Years 7 and 8 students have participated in camps over the last few weeks to Canberra and Strathalbyn respectively. We are grateful to the staff who accompanied students, as without their willingness to participate, these camp experiences would not be possible. A special thank you to Year Level Coordinators, Tenielle Nuske and Lisa McLaughlin, for the extensive planning and preparation for these events. Their work ensures that camps are not only valuable for learning, but they are also a chance to make memories that last a lifetime. Students also build confidence and independence that will serve them well in their secondary years.

Secondary students begin their Semester 2 subjects next week, following exams for Years 10 and 11 students. For many subjects, exams are an important part of assessment at Stage 2 level and the confidence to manage exams is developed through an effective and supportive process in Years 10 and 11. We hope that students will reflect on their learning in first semester and continue to improve in Semester 2.

Last week’s Primary Assembly was led by the Reception students and their Year 6 SIA Sisters. The SIA (Support in Action) program has been running successfully at SAC for many years and promotes the leadership of Year 6 students in mentoring their younger peers. We enjoyed a performance of Tiddalik the Frog by the Receptions, which was entertaining and educational, as well as snapshots from recent excursions and events.

Year 6 students have been actively engaging in their “Parliament is in Session” unit, where they brought civics to life by running a mock trial debating the motion: “There should be a four-day school week.” Their understanding of how ideas become law was clearly demonstrated through this lively performance. In Science, the year 6 students worked alongside educators from the SA Power Networks, who guided them in creating Solar Buddies—linking beautifully with our school values of Justice and Mercy by promoting access to energy for all.

Thanks to the families who attended the assembly, as well as the many other performances throughout the last fortnight.  Your presence always lifts the event, as students feel your encouragement and take pride in sharing what they have learnt.

Ms Paddy McEvoy
Principal

Urban Art Adventure Inspires Year 3 Creations

Year 3 students had an incredible time exploring the vibrant street art around the city as a part of their learning in Art! They were able to see a diverse range of murals, along with some graffiti and identify whether they used positive or negative space. Inspired by the amazing murals they saw,  students created their very own mural for the school!

“Dare to Dream.”

Recently twelve Year 10 students attended a STEM Careers Day at the University of Adelaide. The theme of the day was “Dare to Dream.”

Students took part in a variety of engaging activities, including speed networking and interactive sessions on topics such as cybersecurity, automated vehicles, and Deepfake technology. They also had the opportunity to hear from and meet many prominent women working in the technology sector.

Our students left the event feeling inspired by the diverse career stories they heard and gained valuable insights into the many pathways that can lead to a future in STEM. The day also encouraged them to reflect on their own strengths, values, and interests—and how these might shape their future aspirations.

A highlight of the day was hearing from old scholar Eva Balan-Vnuk, co-founder of Her Tech Path, the organisation behind the event. It was a wonderful opportunity for the girls to connect with a role model from their own school community.

Walking Together as Pilgrims of Hope

Mercy Light: Believing

Earlier this year, Pope Francis called on Catholics worldwide to be ‘Pilgrims of Hope’, in this Jubilee year. At St Aloysius College, a Mercy community steeped in Gospel values, students have been invited to reflect on what it means to journey together in faith, in hope, and in action. This liturgical theme flows through liturgies, classroom learning, service opportunities and spiritual formation across all year levels. The concept of journeying together transcends age groups and faith experiences, demonstrating what is possible when hope is at the heart of the pilgrimage.

“Hope, for us as a Christian community, is not just optimism,” says Ms Genevieve Pelekani, Faith and Mission Coordinator. “Hope is a cardinal virtue. We find our essence of hope in Christ’s death and resurrection. We’ve really tried to embrace that in our Lent and Easter reflections this year—it’s a different and more profound way of thinking about hope.”

These weekly reflections in the Cunningham Memorial Chapel, on Fridays before school during Lent and the Easter season, offered the College community a chance to pause and consider Jesus’ sacrifice, and, the good, hopeful news of his resurrection.

“The Easter Chapel Reflections were a special way to share in the liturgical tradition of the Catholic Church in a way that was unique to our community,” Genevieve shares. “Gathering in the Cunningham Memorial Chapel and praying a liturgy written specifically for our school linked us to the heritage of the Sisters, while also reflecting on what Jesus' suffering, death and resurrection mean for us today. Many people commented on the value of having a dedicated time for quiet reflection before the busy-ness of the school day began.”

Genevieve also highlights how whole-school liturgies and daily class prayer continue to foster belonging and connection.

“Whole School Liturgies and prayer in class are times to share in faith and hope (especially in this Jubilee Year), despite differences in our own contexts and backgrounds. We share in Christian prayer in the Catholic tradition but are a community made up of many cultures and faiths. Nevertheless, our hopes for ourselves and our world are shared and given voice in these occasions.”

These shared moments are enriched by the vibrant interfaith dialogue that takes place at SAC, particularly in primary classrooms.

“We’re a multifaith community,” says Ms Isabella Formichella, Religious Education Coordinator (Primary). “Students from all different religious backgrounds enjoy learning about Christianity, its traditions and its history, and we have rich conversations about the connections we see between faiths. It’s shared learning, and that offers hope for the future.”

Primary students are also introduced to faith through age-appropriate experiences that honour their spiritual development.

“Starting this year, I’ve created primary prayer PowerPoints that go out weekly,” Ms Formichella explains. “They include the Gospel reading in children’s language, themed prayers, and songs the students learn together so that when we gather for Primary Mass, it becomes a real community celebration.”

Students in Year 4 engage in focused preparation for initial sacraments—Reconciliation, Eucharist and Confirmation.

“We talk about these as part of a journey—like a pilgrimage,” Ms Formichella continues. “We’re walking with them through their primary years, supporting their choices around the sacraments. We talk about actions, choices, and forgiveness, which all connect to the theme of hope.”

The scallop shell is a widely-recognised symbol of a different kind of pilgrimage; that of El Camino de Santiago, ‘The Camino’, which is a network of European pilgrimage routes leading to the shrine of the Apostle Saint James the Great, in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, in northwestern Spain. This symbol has found its way into hearts of SAC students, symbolising their journey in 2025 as Pilgrims of Hope. Ms Sarah Kennedy, Religious Education Coordinator (Secondary) has incorporated scallop shells into each year level retreat in a special way, as a creative and reflective touch point.

“Each secondary retreat has had its own focus, but during each one, the students decorate a shell with symbols that express what the retreat has meant to them. Our Year 9s focused on sustainability and care for creation, Year 11s reflected on connection with culture, and Year 12s painted affirmations to each other—symbols of strength seen in one another. The shell becomes a sign of their own personal pilgrimage, something they carry with them.”

This sense of spiritual development continues into the secondary  years, where students are invited to explore and express their own values in a respectful and open environment.

“Our Catholic schools now carry the responsibility of passing on values,” says Sarah. “We are very gentle in how we talk about faith. We’re creating an environment where students feel safe to explore how they feel and reflect on their spirituality. We want them to have values, to care, and to walk with others in the world.”

At SAC, faith leads naturally into action—whether through Justice and Mercy (JAM) initiatives, the Mercy Matters program, or through hearing about charitable works through guest speakers and in subject lessons.

“The girls see a lot of hope in the service they do,” says Sarah. “They don’t just hear about justice—they live it. I remember one moment, just before a retreat, when Sr Meredith Evans visited with an Old Scholar who spoke about her own inspiring story of overcoming significant adversity. At the end of it, she said, ‘I am hopeful.’ That moved our students profoundly.”

Year 9s Focused on Sustainability & Care for Creation During Their Retreat

Genevieve echoes this belief, that faith in action is at the heart of a Catholic education in the Mercy tradition.

“The value of a Catholic education lies in the Gospel. The Gospels are transformative. At the recent Australasian Secondary Schools Association conference in Perth, speaker Br David Hall, spoke of how Catholic education isn’t just good for the Church—it’s good for the world. That the Gospel changes the way we see the world and the way we act in it.”

As the pilgrim shell continues to travel through our students’ hands, stories and hearts this year, it reminds the College community of a shared calling: to walk in hope, to act with mercy and to make space for reflection and connection along the journey.

Ms Maddie Kelly
Marketing Communications Officer/JAM Coordinator

From the Primary Sport Coordinator

Year 6 Knockout AFL

On Tuesday 3 June, 13 Year 6 students travelled to Seymour College to play two games of football in the inaugural Statewide Schools AFL Girls Knockout Competition.

Most had not played before and willingly put their hands up to give it a go. They had a couple of training sessions in the gym led by teacher Ms Eloise Griffiths and PE assistants Gracie Sim and Isabelle Crotty and there was a lot of improvement seen, just across the training sessions.

On the day, they came up against two formidable and experienced teams in Burnside Primary and Seymour College and gave their best all day, never giving up and continuing to develop their skills and knowledge.

From all accounts, although the results were not in our favour, the team had a fun day and are looking forward to the opportunity to play again.

I cannot highlight enough how proud I am of the team’s effort and resilience, representing SAC with pride and showing great spirit. It is what sport is all about.

Great work girls!

Ms Sarah Anderson
Primary Sport Coordinator

From the International Students Coordinator

Outstanding Achievement in Chinese Quiz Competition

Congratulations to Year 12 international student Sunny, who was awarded third place in the South Australia Chinese First Language Learner Quiz Competition, held in Term 1. The competition attracted over 80 students from across the state and tested a wide range of knowledge areas, including literacy, history, geography, and more.

Sunny’s outstanding result is a testament to her dedication, broad knowledge, and strong language skills. We are proud to celebrate and share her achievement. Well done, Sunny!

Ms Shuhong Li & Ms Xiaomeng Ding 
International Student Coordinator & Teacher

Legal Studies Students Dive into Real-World Legal Debate

Legal Studies students recently attended a thought-provoking workshop with Just Lawful podcast hosts Daniel Panazzolo and Sean Fewster, who focus on elevating victims’ voices and exploring justice in real-world cases. Tied to their current unit on dispute resolution, students examined a 2001 case of Death by Dangerous Driving, analysing evidence, legal bias, and the difference between a legal outcome and true justice. Students were challenged to recognise personal bias, critically evaluate verdicts and sentencing, and question whether our system delivers justice, or merely legal resolutions.

Attention Year 11 Science/Maths Students and Parents

LAST CHANCE TO APPLY! Final hours to submit your application for the 2026 NYSF Year 12 Program!

• Is your daughter in Year 11, studying and enjoying Science?
• Does your daughter know what career they want to pursue?
• Does your daughter love science, technology, engineering, mathematics or a related area and performing above the average in science? 
• Has the drive to find solutions to problems and fix things? 
• Is curious and constantly asking Why? How? Why not?
• Do they want to know more about STEM-related study and career paths and meet other people of a similar age who are also exploring their options? 

If the answer to any of these questions is YES, then please encouraged them to apply for the NYSF Year 12 Program now!

Apply now to join the 9 day , January 2026 National Youth Science Forum held  either at The Australian National University, Canberra (6 –14 January 2026)  or The University of Queensland, Brisbane (13 – 21 January 2026)

BE QUICK! Applications close Today, Friday 20 June 2025.

SAC students attend each year and consistently return describing it as a life-changing and worthwhile experience. They stay on campus at university colleges and are fully immersed in the world of science and technology.

Students will:

• participate in tours of science and technology facilities, 
• learn about cutting-edge research,
• engage with industry partners and research providers,
• learn about university, training and STEM career pathways,
• mix with like-minded students their age from all over Australia,
• participate in social and team building activities, and
• network with former NYSF participants.

If interested:

• Please ask your daughter to contact Mr Arman ([email protected])
• Click on the links below to access more information  

Join the National Youth Science Forum in 2026 Video

NYSF Year 12 Program Promo Video

National Youth Science Forum - Inspiring Australia’s Young Scientists - Website

Support in Action: Reception and Year 6 Buddy Program at SAC

At St Aloysius College, the SiA (Support in Action) program brings together Reception and Year 6 students in a meaningful buddy partnership. Throughout the year, our Year 6 students play a vital role in supporting their younger peers - whether it’s during major school events, in the classroom through shared learning activities, or out in the yard during recess and lunch.

This term, the Year 6 classes have supported the Reception students with their Drama and HASS learning. Each week, they have collaborated to explore and bring to life Dreaming stories through dramatic performance.

This experience has helped students develop storytelling skills, build confidence, and deepen their understanding and respect for First Nations history and culture. The term culminated in a special performance at the Primary Assembly, where students proudly shared one of their Dreaming stories with the school community and their families.

Year 8 Camp at Wirraway Homestead

Over three days and two nights, our Year 8 students embarked on an enriching adventure at Wirraway Homestead in Strathalbyn. Immersed in nature and hands-on experiences, they explored the outdoors through bushwalks, learning about the local flora and fauna while deepening their appreciation for the environment.

Life on the farm offered unique challenges and rewards. Students took part in sheep herding, where teamwork and clear communication were key to success. Horse riding and grooming sessions provided not only practical equestrian skills but also opportunities to build trust and form meaningful connections with the animals.

The camp was filled with engaging team games that encouraged strategic thinking and collaboration, while archery tested their focus, precision, and self-discipline. Each activity was thoughtfully designed to support personal growth, resilience, and camaraderie.

More than just a break from the classroom, the camp was a valuable extension of our students’ education. We are incredibly proud of their enthusiasm, willingness to step outside their comfort zones, and the way they supported one another throughout the experience.

Students Reflected:

"Our favourite part of camp was horse riding which helped us overcome our fear of horses. The food was incredible and inclusive for all dietary requirements. The dorms were large and spacious, and a highlight from camp was the horseshoe puzzle challenges. The instructors modified the horseshoe challenge every time we played to create a different experience for all of us. Another experience we all enjoyed was archery, even though we struggled to hit the target at first, eventually we did all aim and hit the targets." Charlotte, Raya and Georgina

"We loved spending time with our cohort in an engaging, fun environment at our Year 8 camp. We developed our teamwork skills in group activities, and were able to test and strengthen our bonds with each other.  At first, sheep herding was difficult, but once we worked together and communicated, it worked and became something to laugh about! At this camp, we made memories that we will never forget, from night time hide and seek in a random paddock, to stepping out of our comfort zone by riding horses. This activity was the highlight of our trip, even in the soaking rain!" Leila and Nekeesha

“Year 8 camp was an amazing opportunity to make new connections within our cohort, but also to strengthen existing friendships with the challenging team bonding activities. At Wirrway Homestead, we had an awesome experience with the horses, which allowed us to step out of our comfort zones and fears. One of our favourite experiences during this camp was the night walk, where we got to zone out and take in the atmosphere while gazing at the Southern Cross and the stars. Overall, this camp gave everlasting memories that we will cherish forever.” Charlize, Arabelle, and Mia

From the Music Department

Celebrating Student Talent

The school community was recently treated to two musical events that showcased the dedication, creativity, and progress of our talented students.

Senior Music Evening
The Senior Music Evening on Tuesday 10 June featured impressive performances from students in Years 10 to 12. The Year 10 Music students presented engaging group pieces, demonstrating their growing ensemble skills. The Year 11 and 12 students performed works that formed part of their semester assessments, with the Year 12s presenting a mix of solo performances and original compositions, highlighting both their technical skill and creative flair. The evening was a testament to the hard work and passion of our senior music students, and we look forward to their continued development throughout the year.

Year 7 Band Program Concert
Equally inspiring was the Year 7 Band Program Concert, the culmination of a semester’s work by our enthusiastic Year 7 Music classes. Each student has been learning a woodwind or brass instrument as part of the curriculum, and their progress was evident in their confident performances. The concert also featured a performance by the Middle School Concert Band, and provided a valuable opportunity for all students to gain experience performing in front of an audience.

Both events were a celebration of learning, growth, and the joy of making music together. We extend our congratulations to all the students who performed on the evening and thank the Music staff and instrumental tutors who worked with the students in preparation for the evening.

We are now looking forward to the Sunday Soirée concerts on June 22, where we will hear performances from our private instrumental and vocal students!

Ms Fiona Turner
Music Coordinator

From the Drama Department

Year 10 Drama - A Night of Laughter and Talent!

In what can only be described as a fun and enjoyable night of comedy, the Year 10 Drama Night, a celebration of short group plays, was held last week and it was a great success.  The students performed marvelously on the night in front of a very supportive audience of family and friends. Congratulations to the talented Year 10 Drama Students!

Year 10 Drama Teachers
Tom Coultas and Lucy Newton

Congratulations to our talented year 12 Drama students

Our incredible Year 12 performers lit up the stage with energy, talent, and flair, captivating a warm and enthusiastic audience. Enjoy these snapshots from another truly unforgettable Drama night!

From the Uniform Shop

Uniform Shop Trading Hours

• Tuesdays and Thursdays (8.15am – 11.30am)
• Wednesday (1.00pm – 4.00pm)

For a fitting and to make an appointment with the Uniform Shop, please click here.

Our full range is available online by clicking here.

Please note – we will no longer be accepting any formal uniforms and bags for second-hand sales from Friday 4 July, 2025. Existing second-hand stock will still be available for purchase until sold out.

You are still able to sell all PE uniforms.