From the Principal – Issue #1, 2023
From the Principal
Principal
Dear Parents/Guardians, Friends & Students of SAC,
Welcome to the 2023 school year. I would like to extend a special welcome to the many new students and families who have joined us at St Aloysius College this year. We hope that in these first few days and weeks, you will experience the warmth of Mercy hospitality that quickly enables our students and their families to feel a sense of connection and belonging.
YEAR OF BLESSINGS
At our first whole staff gathering last week, we reflected on our appreciation for the opportunity to gather together, given the challenges of COVID restrictions. The Liturgy Committee has chosen the theme of “Blessings” for our Masses and liturgies this year. We recognise the complexity of this theme and acknowledge that the hardship and loss experienced by many of our families in the last few years can make it difficult to feel grateful at times. Our Christian tradition provides many ways to deepen our experience of gratitude, such as the Daily Examen, a Jesuit model of prayer that we use with our secondary RE classes. We know we have much to be thankful for and we commit ourselves to finding authentic ways to express our gratitude in the course of 2023.
Students, staff and families were impressed with the excellent results achieved by the Year 12 Class of 2022. In this newsletter, you will find a summary of the results presented by Deputy Principal (Teaching and Learning), Jacqui Jury. Every student successfully completed the SACE, with one third of the cohort achieving an ATAR over 90 and 55% achieving an ATAR over 80. Special congratulations to Dux of the College, Alisha, who achieved an ATAR of 99.7. Congratulations to Roshani (99.4) and Pari (99.2) who also achieved an ATAR over 99, placing them in the top 1% of Australia. More detail on the outstanding results from the Class of 2022 can be found in the pages of this newsletter. We look forward to celebrating with the graduates and their families at the Dux Assembly, which will be held on Friday 17 February.
Welcome to New and Returning Staff
We are pleased to welcome: Shane Meegan (Science Teacher), Amanda Tan (Science Teacher), Lilian Shan (Mathematics Teacher), Kiara Schonberger (HASS Teacher), Chelsey Webb (English/ HASS/ RP Teacher), Timothy Edwards (Mathematics Teacher), Stacey Nolan (Inclusive Education Coordinator), Angus Oosterbroek (Digital Technologies Teacher), Tahlia Gallina (Mathematics Teacher), Abbey Bowman (Science Teacher), Daniela Nudo (Year 1 Teacher), Michaela Farrugia (Year 5 Teacher), Demi Williams (Languages/English/RE Teacher), Aaron Casey (Year 6 Teacher), Inge Wishart (Year 6 Teacher), Sara Gorroick (Teacher-Librarian), Ryan Moon (ICT Manager), Ella Angel (AFL Trainee), Linh Nguyen (Mathematics Teacher) and Georgia Lawrence-Doyle (English/HASS Teacher).
Holiday Works
Another busy holiday period for the Maintenance Team saw the completion of resurfacing and soundproofing the stairwells in the Redden Centre. The Wakefield St frontage had a refresh along with many learning areas across the school. The kitchen facilities in the Staff Room also had a well overdue makeover, providing a pleasant space for staff to enjoy. The Expressive Arts Centre has been made more accessible for all people, with direct entry on the ground level into the theatre. We are so gratefully to the Maintenance Team members, Matt and Tony, for their continued hard work over the holidays.
This Newsletter enables us to share with our community the huge variety of activities taking place in the College each week. Thank you for taking the time to read this, and we hope that you will enjoy finding familiar faces and places included throughout the year. Wishing you all every blessing for the year ahead.
Ms Paddy McEvoy
PRINCIPAL
