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Oremus let us pray - St Aloysius

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Friday, 3 February You are not a human being in search of a spiritual experience. You are a spiritual being immersed in a Issue 01/12<br />

human experience. – Teilhard de Chardin SJ (1881‐1955), priest & palaeontologist<br />

THE RECTOR<br />

A warm welcome to the new school year. I hope you had a grace<br />

filled Christmas break and are looking forward to all that 2012 has to<br />

offer. A special greeting to the staff, students and families who join<br />

<strong>us</strong> for the first time. I hope you may find here a community of<br />

friends and experience a real sense of being part of a mission that<br />

calls <strong>us</strong> to love and serve throughout our lives. May your time with <strong>us</strong><br />

at <strong>St</strong> Aloysi<strong>us</strong>’ College be one which changes <strong>us</strong> all for the better. The<br />

beginning of a school year is important filled with possibility and<br />

promise. It is 133 years since <strong>St</strong> Aloysi<strong>us</strong>’ College was founded by<br />

Fr Joseph Dalton in 1879 and over those years the hearts and minds<br />

of so many students and families have been shaped by the<br />

commitment and passion of people like you, and the tradition in<br />

which we serve.<br />

In many ways when you come to a Jesuit school, you join a family.<br />

You become part of a broad network of Jesuit schools in A<strong>us</strong>tralia<br />

and around the world. The Jesuits (Society of Jes<strong>us</strong>) is an<br />

international order of over 18,000 priests, brothers and scholastics<br />

with ministries in over 120 countries. Internationally we have a wide<br />

scope of works. These include educational endeavours (universities,<br />

secondary and primary schools, and popular education initiatives);<br />

social ministries (work with refugees, indigeno<strong>us</strong> peoples and the<br />

economically excluded, as well as policy roles in globalisation<br />

disc<strong>us</strong>sions); parishes; prison, hospital and migrant chaplaincies;<br />

spirituality and formation ministries; communications (print, film and<br />

web media) as well as other ministries.<br />

Last week the Superior General of the Society of Jes<strong>us</strong>, Fr Adolfo<br />

Nicolás visited A<strong>us</strong>tralia to attend a meeting of the Jesuit Superiors of<br />

our Asia Pacific Assistancy. Many of <strong>us</strong> had an opportunity to meet<br />

him in Sydney at a gathering at Saint Ignati<strong>us</strong>’ College, Riverview.<br />

The visit by Fr Nicolás was an occasion for <strong>us</strong> to reflect on our<br />

mission today, and to remember that we are part of a global<br />

community that is seeking deeper meaning. Fr Nicolás was born in<br />

Spain and has spent most of his life working in Asia. In 2008 he was<br />

elected the thirtieth Superior General of the Society of Jes<strong>us</strong> since<br />

Fr Ignati<strong>us</strong> in 1540. This was his first visit to A<strong>us</strong>tralia since being<br />

elected Superior General. Many have commented on the similarities<br />

between Fr Nicolás and former Superior General Fr Pedro Arrupe.<br />

Blessed with a warm and engaging personality, Fr Nicolás is humble<br />

and down to earth possessing a good sense of humour. His presence<br />

exudes a calmness and at the same time, a contentment in life which<br />

is clear to all he meets. When he speaks it is like he is having a<br />

conversation with you rather than giving an address. In response to a<br />

question about his childhood he described himself as a slow and shy<br />

boy – a wonderful self-perception given the position he now holds. It<br />

gives meaning to the phrase “nothing is impossible with God”.<br />

Fr Nicolás in his address reminded <strong>us</strong> of our responsibility to the<br />

young people of today. “God has much to do with youth and their<br />

joy”. He noted that in schools, there can be a danger of becoming so<br />

concerned with administration that opportunities for relationships are<br />

neglected. He continually <strong>us</strong>ed the word “presence” in his address<br />

highlighting the importance of good relationships. He invited <strong>us</strong> to<br />

consider this call to be “present” with young people, to accompany<br />

them on their journey. He encouraged a type of companionship that<br />

is emotionally attuned which tries to guide rather than decide for<br />

others. Only if we have their confidence may we be able to discern<br />

with them how they make their choices. “Young people need some<br />

guidance to discern their direction in life and our spiritual<br />

accompaniment is so important. Our first concern will be to help<br />

them become free; from the decisions made about and for them by<br />

others.” He reminded <strong>us</strong> that young people learn best when they<br />

discover things for themselves. “We need to learn to accept that they<br />

want to swim and be willing to <strong>let</strong> them swim in troubled waters,<br />

rather than j<strong>us</strong>t instruct them on dry land. When we are willing to<br />

swim with them, then they will learn from <strong>us</strong>.”<br />

Young people may have a hard time making well-founded decisions.<br />

“They know that they will not remain young forever. That is why<br />

they seem to be in a hurry to make the most of their youth. We have<br />

to understand this and work to accompany them in this adventure.”<br />

Fr Nicolás encouraged <strong>us</strong> to reflect together on the “how” question<br />

rather than simply respond to the “what”. This is an interesting<br />

reflection on language – ‘how’ helps <strong>us</strong> to look deeper. Enquiry is<br />

sometimes like a tree where we should search for the strength of the<br />

roots rather than be captivated by the superficial r<strong>us</strong>tling of the<br />

leaves. His educational vision is broad. Education is not j<strong>us</strong>t about<br />

helping our students pack content into their baggage but also to<br />

understand the processes of learning and play. In our measures of<br />

‘success’, he encouraged <strong>us</strong> to find ways of evaluating service, the<br />

quest to love and serve, to participate and inquire deeply, rather than<br />

place too narrow a foc<strong>us</strong> on ATAR scores or sporting premierships.<br />

In response to a question about how we find our equilibrium amidst<br />

our continual strivings for success, he spoke about failure. “Failure is<br />

something we don’t talk about a lot but it’s something we all<br />

experience at one time or other in our lives. We need to spend time<br />

teaching the young that it is OK to fail - that failure is a chance to<br />

begin again”. He asked “what is the quality of our presence among<br />

the young who are poor, excluded, or vulnerable, the young who are<br />

most in need?” Given the universality of the Jesuits, he is confronted<br />

with the problems of the world more than most. Where many of <strong>us</strong><br />

would look at crisis as a negative, he sees it as a positive – an


opportunity to face the reality with creativity, to understand<br />

experience and go to the deeper parts of life. “That is how<br />

transformation occurs.”<br />

Fr Nicolás’ view of faith is incl<strong>us</strong>ive and welcoming. At one point he<br />

suggested that it is better to be an agnostic who is still searching than<br />

a Christian who has stopped searching. He asked <strong>us</strong> to consider how<br />

we can be “real bridges between the young and the Church”. He<br />

spoke of his relationship with Pope Benedict XVI and of how the<br />

Pope appreciates the spiritual depth and intellectual rigour of the<br />

Jesuits, especially their mission “to go to the frontiers.” Fr Nicolás<br />

challenged <strong>us</strong> to find these frontiers. During question time Chris<br />

Chan (SAC 2009) asked Fr General how can you dedicate yourself to<br />

a life of service, amidst your professional career? In Fr Nicolas’<br />

response he commented that rather than commit yourself to a service<br />

that you undertake only once a week or once a month, try to find a<br />

way in your workplace or your profession where you can make an<br />

ongoing commitment to helping the disadvantaged, the marginalised<br />

– those most in need. Of course there can be a tension between a<br />

genuine presence with people and the challenge to go to the frontiers.<br />

Jesuits and their companions, who include so many of you, often<br />

have to live that tension. However Fr General also reminded <strong>us</strong> not<br />

to get so b<strong>us</strong>y that we lose our sense of purpose or presence. It is a<br />

good thought as we begin a new year.<br />

Peter Hosking SJ<br />

THE PRINCIPAL<br />

A very warm welcome to all in the school community as we<br />

commence the 2012 school year, in this the 133rd year of the College!<br />

We welcome especially our new boys and their families to the College<br />

community. We also welcome our new members of staff: Eliza<br />

Collins (Junior School), Suzana Juric (Science), Deanne Kyriacos<br />

(English) and Elizabeth Sheehy (English). David Comito (PDHPE)<br />

will join <strong>us</strong> at the end of February. A young Polish Jesuit scholastic,<br />

Kamil Mrówka SJ, has joined <strong>us</strong> for his Regency and will be working<br />

in camp<strong>us</strong> ministry.<br />

As reported in my January <strong>let</strong>ter to the parent body, we were<br />

delighted with the HSC results for the Class of 2011. The Class<br />

included a record seventeen boys on the Premier’s All-rounder list.<br />

There were 287 merits (individual subject results over 90).With<br />

regard to the ATAR mark, nine boys received an ATAR over 99.<br />

The median ATAR was j<strong>us</strong>t over 90. Five students featured in the<br />

Top Achievers list.<br />

The 2011 cohort’s results were impressive in all respects. The median<br />

mark is important beca<strong>us</strong>e it records the success of the cohort as a<br />

whole and that it is not only the boys at the very top who have<br />

achieved so well. We were also delighted with associated results in the<br />

creative arts, combining both strong academic performance and<br />

standout expressions in the vario<strong>us</strong> disciplines acknowledged with<br />

their nomination and incl<strong>us</strong>ion for <strong>St</strong>ate exhibition.<br />

At our first College assembly, we<br />

acknowledged our four Top Achievers, the<br />

seventeen boys on the Premier’s All<br />

Rounders’ list and our top students in terms<br />

of the ATAR rank. Luke McAlpin was<br />

acknowledged as the College Dux. In<br />

acknowledging the academic efforts in such a<br />

way at the beginning of the year, as we do at<br />

the Annual Prize Giving in Term 4, we are<br />

not only marking individual achievements<br />

but also giving appropriate recognition to the<br />

core work of students and staff alike. In<br />

recognising individual academic excellence by members of the Class<br />

of 2011, we celebrate the gifts of these young men, j<strong>us</strong>t as we<br />

celebrate on many occasions the gifts of our sportsmen, m<strong>us</strong>icians,<br />

actors and the like. And j<strong>us</strong>t as those performing at high standards in<br />

sport or on stage are able to make best <strong>us</strong>e of their gifts through<br />

training or rehearsing, so too these young men have worked hard<br />

over a number of years to achieve such fine results. We hope, too,<br />

that their effort and achievement will serve to encourage and inspire<br />

those who follow in their footsteps.<br />

At the same time it is always important to remind ourselves that<br />

academic results are only part of the picture, even as far as the<br />

academic picture. <strong>St</strong>udents who achieve to their potential deserve our<br />

praise no matter what the rank. Learning to learn, the desire to<br />

understand, the experience of cooperative learning, a love of learning<br />

itself, are all deeper elements of the education we seek to give. Other<br />

elements of school life were also recognised at the Assembly – it is<br />

never j<strong>us</strong>t about academics. Achievements in the co-curricular area<br />

over the holidays are acknowledged. The SRC representatives for the<br />

coming year received their badges – these boys play a role of service<br />

and leadership that help shape the school. The School Captain, Tom<br />

Morgan, also addressed the assembly.<br />

In all that we do, generosity in involvement is undoubtedly a mark of<br />

the Aloysian as further evidenced by the many comings and goings of<br />

staff and students over the holiday period. The benefits, I believe, go<br />

beyond the particular activities into shaping and moulding an ethos<br />

here at <strong>St</strong> Aloysi<strong>us</strong>’ that celebrates participation and the genero<strong>us</strong> <strong>us</strong>e<br />

of one’s gifts in building community.<br />

The holiday period, as <strong>us</strong>ual, saw much school activity. Thirty-seven of<br />

our Seniors participated in our twenty-eighth Kairos retreat in Bowral,<br />

with the student leaders being Matthew Jepson (Rector), Patrick<br />

Furlong Alexanderson, Cameron Gray, Paddy Morgan, Mitchell<br />

Arnold and Matthew Cosgriff . Two groups of Year 11 boys went on<br />

the Philippines Immersion experience, where they lived and worked<br />

with the homeless, the prisoner and the indigeno<strong>us</strong> tribal peoples. The<br />

impact of such experiences can be seen in two groups of the Class of<br />

2011 who undertook immersion experiences in Vietnam in December<br />

and January. Nine will work for 6 months or a year in remote villages,<br />

teaching English, and two other young Old Boys will be working in the<br />

Jesuit school in Micronesia for a GAP year.<br />

A group of our students also undertook the biannual French tour<br />

accompanied by Ms Robinson and Mr Caillard. This tour, along with<br />

the similar Japanese tour, is an integral part of the Language<br />

programme at the College. Later this term a group of French<br />

students will be with <strong>us</strong>.<br />

In December, the College Water Polo squad competed in the Trans-<br />

Tasman Schoolboys Cup in Melbourne, an invitational event for the<br />

best school teams in both countries. The team of Andre Anderson,<br />

Marc<strong>us</strong> Anderson, Matthew Jepson, Jordi Nikopoulos, Antony<br />

Peronace, James Reid, Jackson Scott, Paul Sindone, Eliot<br />

<strong>St</strong>untz, Rhys Thompson, Harrison Williams (C), Max Whelan-<br />

Young and Ciaran Wolohan defeated the much-fancied Newington<br />

9-8 in the tensest of encounters to reach the final for the fourth year<br />

running, against Melbourne High. Aloysi<strong>us</strong>’ went down 8-14 to this<br />

traditional powerho<strong>us</strong>e of the game. Congratulations m<strong>us</strong>t go to<br />

young Old Boy coaches, Michael De Gail and Mark Sindone, and<br />

Mrs Margaret Loomes, Mr Geoff Schneider and a group of boys who<br />

have performed so well at the highest level.<br />

In Tennis, Aloysi<strong>us</strong>’ ran out comfortable winners in the Jesuit<br />

Schools Tennis carnival, hosted by Riverview. The team consisted of<br />

Harry Kelleher, Matt Rowland, Ben Lalic, Jack Evans, Nick<br />

Mytkowski, Scott Murray, Patrick Furlong Alexanderson, Liam<br />

Roberts and Zachary Mytkowski. This was the fourth consecutive<br />

title for Aloys, a first in this competition. Harry Kelleher, Ben Lalic<br />

and Matt Rowland were named in the A<strong>us</strong>tralian Jesuit Schools’<br />

team, while Zachary Mytkowski was acknowledged with an Ignatian<br />

spirit award.<br />

<strong>St</strong> Aloysi<strong>us</strong>’ hosted the Jesuit Schools’ Cricket carnival. Our First XI,<br />

under Grant Jansson, took out the carnival for the first time,<br />

undefeated in the rounds against Riverview, Xavier and Saint<br />

Ignati<strong>us</strong>’ Adelaide, and convincingly defeating Xavier in the final.<br />

Opener, Luke Vevers, had a real purple patch (more an ermine<br />

patch really) with three centuries (114, 136 and 143 not out in the<br />

final) in an extremely dominant performance, and was named Player<br />

2


of the Tournament. Sam Mathias also stood out with some<br />

devastating bowling performances, especially with 6/10 against<br />

Xavier. Luke Vevers, Grant Jansson, Jordan Daly, Mitchell<br />

Baumgart and Sam Mathias were all selected in the A<strong>us</strong>tralian<br />

Jesuit Schools’ Cricket Team. My thanks too, to the staff and parents<br />

who helped with the organisation of the carnival, and providing<br />

traditional Aloysian hospitality.<br />

Luke Vevers – Player of the Tournament<br />

In Duke of Edinburgh, two expeditions of 30<br />

and 15 boys, for bronze and gold respectively<br />

braved the elements in December. Apart from<br />

a mortally wounded spider, the expeditions<br />

witnessed to the vitality of the programme<br />

under Mr Catchpoole. In January, it was the<br />

turn of the Cadets with a group of boys,<br />

fathers and staff going on a three-day b<strong>us</strong>h<br />

walk. At home, though with similar<br />

enth<strong>us</strong>iasm, rehearsals are already under way<br />

for the much-anticipated return of Gilbert and Sullivan. The Mikado<br />

will play in Week 8 of this term. A number of our Year 12 thespians<br />

are also preparing a production for Week 7.<br />

Some other individual achievements since our last news<strong>let</strong>ter deserve<br />

mention:<br />

Ciaran Wolohan represented A<strong>us</strong>tralian Schoolboys in the test series<br />

against New Zealand in Water Polo.<br />

Sean O’Shea was selected to compete in the A<strong>us</strong>tralian U14 Water<br />

polo Club Championships in Perth.<br />

Our Chair of the SRC, Declan McCarthy, was selected as one of<br />

three Mosman Young Citizens of the Year for 2012. Declan was<br />

presented with his award at Mosman Council’s A<strong>us</strong>tralia Day<br />

Ceremony.<br />

Liam and Sean Thomson, Joshua Hertz and Jackson Scott have<br />

qualified for National Open Water 5km championships in Perth later<br />

this month.<br />

At our first Assembly, the <strong>St</strong>udent Representative Council was<br />

presented to the school. In addition to the SRC President, Declan<br />

McCarthy and Ned Latham the Vice-President, its members<br />

include students from Year 8 – Matthew Dainton, Liam Gilroy,<br />

Jonathan Curulli, Gerard Hughes; from Year 9 – Matthew<br />

Fadhil, William Halliday, Lloyd Collins, Martin Menendez;<br />

from Year 10 – Jack McClatchey, Nicholas Slaven, James<br />

Holloway, Joshua Hertz; from Year 11 – Harrison Boudakin,<br />

Tom Kennedy, Anthony Spiteri, Tim R<strong>us</strong>sell, Liam Thomson,<br />

Ben Fong; together with the College Captain and Vice-Captains. The<br />

Year 7 representatives will be elected later this term.<br />

Another aspect of student leadership in the College is the attachment<br />

of Prefects to classes in Years 3-8. The Prefects may act as mentors<br />

and guides to the younger boys. In some cases, they assist in the<br />

classroom. They can play a role in our pastoral care, and in Years 7<br />

and 8, lead an anti-bullying programme with the boys. The Prefects<br />

attached to Year 6 assist in running the Year Leadership Day. They<br />

represent the commitment of our Seniors to the younger students<br />

and the importance we give to the community nature of the school.<br />

This year the following are attached to classes:<br />

Year 3.1 Brendan Suffield and 3.2 John Booth; Year 4.1 James<br />

McLennan and Year 4.2 Ben McCann; Year 5.1 Oliver Knox, Year<br />

5.2 Alexander Perkins, Year 5.3 Dan Ferrari and Year 5.4 Tom<br />

Goh; Year 6.1 David Quaglia, Year 6.2 Tim Wheatley, Year 6.3<br />

Antony Peronace and Year 6.4 Rohan Hora; Year 7 Blue 1 Paddy<br />

Morgan and Federico Anca; Year 7 Blue 2 Harrison Williams and<br />

Adrian Sims; Year Blue 3 Gabe Koumarelas and Chris Anderson;<br />

Year 7 Gold 1 Claudio Trovato and Chris Mullarkey; Year 7 Gold<br />

2 Ryan Mitchell and Billy Hade; and Year 7 Gold 3 Ollie Masters<br />

and Joe Mastrangelo; and in Year 8, Ben Crumpton, Fred<br />

Giannone, Tim Humphreys, John O’Toole and Michael Paton.<br />

May I wish all members of the Aloysian community a happy and<br />

fruitful year.<br />

Chris Midd<strong>let</strong>on SJ<br />

The summer break saw the commencement of a programme of<br />

maintenance work on the façade of parts of the main building;<br />

particularly the Jeffreys <strong>St</strong>reet elevation. The original plan was to correct<br />

some age‐related cracks and minor dilapidation but, in the course of<br />

doing this, some other issues emerged. It is not uncommon to find<br />

additional concealed problems when working with buildings of this age.<br />

The issues are structural in nature and have required <strong>us</strong> to take the<br />

north/western wall down and rebuild it. This will take approximately six<br />

weeks, weather permitting. It is a slow, labour‐intensive, sometimes<br />

noisy and dangero<strong>us</strong> job. Safety risks have been identified and, as a<br />

precaution, North Sydney Council have closed the road on Jeffreys <strong>St</strong>reet<br />

between Pitt <strong>St</strong>reet and Kirribilli Avenue until further notice.<br />

<strong>Orem<strong>us</strong></strong><br />

<strong>let</strong> <strong>us</strong> <strong>pray</strong><br />

For those who have died:<br />

Rev Fr Ron Joseph SM, uncle of Maryan Wills (College<br />

Archivist)<br />

Dr Michael Logan, grandfather of Tim Manion (Year 12)<br />

Julian Rice, uncle of Max Cornwell (Year 12) and Henry<br />

Cornwell (SAC 2008)<br />

Dereham Scott, grandfather of Declan Scott (Year 10) and Felix<br />

Scott (Year 5)<br />

Maurice Toohey, grandfather of Rhys Michelis (Year 6)<br />

Elizabeth McGee, mother-in-law of Alison McGee (SAC staff<br />

member)<br />

Ask and you shall receive … knock and the door will<br />

be opened unto you.” (Matt 7:7)<br />

If you would like someone to be <strong>pray</strong>ed for by the College community<br />

(even anonymo<strong>us</strong>ly), please pass the details to the Rector<br />

WHAT’S COMING UP<br />

9 February Junior School Commencement Mass<br />

New Parents’ Morning Tea<br />

Your Son in Year 7<br />

12 February Year 12 Mass & Supper<br />

THE HEAD OF JUNIOR SCHOOL<br />

The long wait and the butterflies in the tummy (for parents and boys<br />

respectively) are out of the way and hopefully settled, as we head<br />

towards the end of the first week of a brand new year. On behalf of<br />

the Junior School, it’s my great pleasure to welcome back “old”<br />

(experienced) boys and parents, but a special word of welcome is<br />

reserved for our new boys and their families. It’s a very special time<br />

for you – mostly exciting – but one that can be tinged with some<br />

anxiety and anticipation of what might lie ahead. I <strong>pray</strong> that your time<br />

at <strong>St</strong> Aloysi<strong>us</strong>’ College will be an exciting adventure of happy<br />

moments, fulfilment and pleasing growth for your boys. Right at the<br />

outset, I would like to assure you, on behalf of the Junior School<br />

<strong>St</strong>aff, of our commitment to the welfare of the boys in our care, their<br />

safety and happiness. New or old, I would like to encourage all that<br />

we keep all communication lines fully open between the school and<br />

the home. Please feel free to ring, write or email with concerns and<br />

issues, in particular those that would assist your boys to settle into<br />

their new environment and enjoy their new experiences. On that<br />

note, it would assist <strong>us</strong> greatly if you would keep <strong>us</strong> informed with<br />

any previo<strong>us</strong> reports that highlight your boys’ strengths, weaknesses<br />

and special needs, if any. It’s best that your son’s class teacher has<br />

access to such information in the first instance. At all times, please<br />

keep me informed and I will ensure that staff take appropriate action<br />

on such advice.<br />

3


It’s a hectic start of the year for the boys. As if meeting their new<br />

teachers, getting to know their classmates, learning about the merit<br />

system, getting <strong>us</strong>ed to the school diary, new routines, and be<br />

introduced to the concept of regular homework (... very slowly, I’d<br />

like to assure you) wasn’t enough, there have been two major<br />

sporting events that will have occupied your boys’ time, and your<br />

attention and patience, within the first five days of school this year<br />

prior to receiving this news<strong>let</strong>ter.<br />

The first of these was the Junior School inter-ho<strong>us</strong>e twilight<br />

swimming carnival at SOPAC (Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic<br />

Centre), Homeb<strong>us</strong>h. This is generally a most exciting day for the<br />

boys, and for families to be able to see their boys swim in the same<br />

pool where so many of their heroes and world champions have<br />

swum. I hope the boys, as well as those parents who were able to join<br />

in, enjoyed this carnival and the spirit in which everyone participated<br />

in this event. You can expect to hear more about this event in this<br />

column as well as in the Sportsmaster’s column in the next issue of<br />

The Gonzagan. Thank you in advance to the many parents who were<br />

able to assist <strong>us</strong> in so many ways.<br />

The second sporting event, namely Summer sports trials for Cricket<br />

and Basketball and gradings for the Tennis teams, are being held on<br />

Friday and continue this Saturday at vario<strong>us</strong> times and venues between<br />

8.00am and 1.00pm. Beca<strong>us</strong>e of the late finish due to the carnival on<br />

Thursday, you have the option of sending your boys to school at later<br />

commencement time of 9.35am on Friday. If you choose to send them<br />

in at the regular time, supervision will be available from 8.00am in the<br />

school grounds. Boys are asked to come to school on Friday in their<br />

sports uniform (Colour ho<strong>us</strong>e-shirt, shorts and hat) with plenty of<br />

sunscreen, water, morning tea and lunch. Sunscreen lotion is also<br />

available at school, but please encourage your boys to bring their own,<br />

and some spare, and remind them to apply it liberally whenever they<br />

are out and about in the hot sun. On Friday, boys will be transported to<br />

and from school to different venues and dismissed from school at the<br />

<strong>us</strong>ual time of 3.00pm. Since not everyone that trials on Friday will be<br />

guaranteed a place in the team and/or sport of their preferred choice,<br />

at the concl<strong>us</strong>ion of Friday trials, they will be notified if and where<br />

they should be turning up for the Saturday trials. Please impress upon<br />

them to bring home that information to you on Friday afternoon. At<br />

the start of Week 2, team lists will be displayed on the sport notice<br />

boards outside the glass doors j<strong>us</strong>t off reception, and after school<br />

training will also commence during the week. Information regarding<br />

training days and times and venues, as well specific sport uniform<br />

requirements, will be sent home on 6 February once the team lists are<br />

published.<br />

On 9 February we will celebrate the opening of the New Year with<br />

the Junior School Commencement Mass at 9.00am, followed by<br />

morning tea to welcome new parents into the Aloysian community.<br />

Please come along to <strong>pray</strong> for God’s blessings on the New Year and<br />

all our endeavours on behalf of our boys and your sons. The Mass<br />

will be held in the Boys’ Chapel (in the Senior School) and morning<br />

tea will be held in the foyer outside the Great Hall. Week 3 promises<br />

to be an exciting one, especially for boys in Years 3, 4 and 5, with the<br />

camp and get away programme. If any parents have not returned the<br />

permission and medical forms required for the Year 5 camp, we<br />

would like them to be returned urgently by Monday next week.<br />

We congratulate the following Junior School boys who have j<strong>us</strong>t<br />

celebrated their birthdays in this month of January:<br />

1 January James Dettre, Alec Elhindi<br />

4 January Edward Happ, Andrew McClintock<br />

7 January Flynn Sloan, Ang<strong>us</strong> Allen<br />

13 January Daniel Geokjian<br />

14 January Rafael Colinares<br />

15 January Joshua McGillicuddy<br />

16 January Kieran Dean, Daniel Tandany<br />

18 January Nicholas Sywak<br />

19 January Miles Branagan<br />

22 January Brendan Kell, G<strong>us</strong> Morton<br />

24 January Ewan Cooper-Frater, Tomas Esteban, Harry<br />

Lidbetter<br />

26 January Xavier Tafft<br />

27 January Ted Conlon<br />

28 January Joe Byrne, Joseph Mayer<br />

29 January Kieran Gorman, Jasper Hudson<br />

30 January Samuel Kember, William Senior<br />

Martin Lobo (martin.lobo@staloysi<strong>us</strong>.nsw.edu.au)<br />

THE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE<br />

On behalf of the College Development Office and the College<br />

Foundation I would like to extend a warm welcome to the Aloysian<br />

Family to all the new boys and families who commence their<br />

Aloysian education this year and a hearty welcome back to all our<br />

existing families. I tr<strong>us</strong>t that the Christmas Holidays were relaxing<br />

and that you have all started the year refreshed.<br />

January has certainly been a b<strong>us</strong>y start to the year.<br />

The New Year was warmly welcomed by over 1,300 members of the<br />

Aloysian Family at the annual SAC New Years’ Eve Family Picnic on the<br />

roofs of the school. The events raised $49,350 which has been<br />

directed to the College Bursary Fund. Tickets for the 2012 event will<br />

go on sale in Week 1 of Term 4.<br />

3 January marked the 60th anniversary of the ordination of<br />

Rev Fr Tom O’Donovan SJ. Father O’Donovan was the seventeenth<br />

Rector of the College serving from 1968-1973 and remains a great<br />

stalwart and supporter of the College. After leaving the College,<br />

Father O’Donovan served as Rector of our brother school,<br />

Saint Ignati<strong>us</strong>’ College Riverview, but it was his many years as<br />

Director of the Jesuit Mission that Father O’Donovan is perhaps best<br />

known. Father now lives in retirement at Canisi<strong>us</strong> College Pymble.<br />

3 January also marked the 50th anniversary of the ordination of<br />

Father Bob Walsh SJ. Father Walsh has been a member of the<br />

College Jesuit Community for a number of years and is a former<br />

Chaplain to the Mater Misericordiae Hospital and Parish Priest of<br />

<strong>St</strong> Joseph’s Neutral Bay and <strong>St</strong> Francis Xavier Lavender Bay. In<br />

February Father Emmet Costello SJ (SAC <strong>St</strong>aff 1956-1970 and 1980-<br />

1987) celebrates 70 years in the Jesuits and Father Joe O’Mara SJ<br />

(SAC <strong>St</strong>aff 1983-1989) celebrates 50 years as a Jesuit. The College<br />

warmly congratulates these men on their anniversaries and thanks<br />

them for their support of the College and their ongoing <strong>pray</strong>ers.<br />

On 28 January the College celebrated the 133 anniversary of its<br />

founding in 1879. On the day the College opened 45 boys were<br />

admitted, the number growing to 115 by the end of the first year.<br />

Now on our third site (Woolloomooloo 1879-1882, Darlinghurst<br />

1883 and Milsons Point 1903-present), the College now educates<br />

1,200 boys from Years 3-12 and is one of the leading boys’ schools in<br />

the country. The College is the oldest Jesuit School in NSW and the<br />

oldest Independent Catholic boys’ day school in the <strong>St</strong>ate. We as a<br />

family have much to be proud of and much to look forward to in the<br />

months and years ahead!<br />

Over the Christmas break a number of new signs have been erected<br />

throughout the College. New signs adorn the entrance to the Junior<br />

School and main building in the Senior School, whilst a new College<br />

crest has been placed on the front of Dalton Hall and the Ho<strong>us</strong>e<br />

Crests have been mounted on the verandah of Dalton Hall facing the<br />

grass area of Wyalla. All the new signage has been designed and handmade<br />

by Danthonia Designs and certainly adds colour and vibrancy<br />

to the exterior of the College. New signage will be progressively<br />

rolled out over the coming years across the entire College.<br />

Mr Terry Gabbedy, the Deputy Director of Development, retired on<br />

13 January and has returned to live in Brisbane with his wife Moira.<br />

Terry served the College for nearly four years and his valued support,<br />

sage advice and energy for all things Aloysian will be missed. The<br />

College wishes Terry and Moira a happy, healthy and long retirement<br />

in sunny Brissy!<br />

Terry’s retirement has enabled the College to re-structure the<br />

Development Office. I am delighted to announce that Melinda Meyer<br />

has been promoted to the newly created position of Fundraising<br />

Manager at the College. Melinda has been on staff for the past three<br />

years serving as Development Officer and has proved to be a great<br />

asset to the Aloysian Family. In her new role, Melinda will take on<br />

4


the strategic and day-to-day management of the New Parents Appeal,<br />

the Aloysi<strong>us</strong> Annual Fund and the College Bequest Programme.<br />

Mrs Sandra Favaloro will continue in her part-time role (two days per<br />

week in Term time) as Accountant to the College Foundation and the<br />

Co-curricular Committee.<br />

In coming weeks the College will be advertising for two new staff to<br />

join the ranks of our expanding Development Office. A full-time<br />

Development Officer (Old Boys and Special Events) and a part time<br />

Administration Officer (three days per week) will be appointed<br />

bringing the staff of the office to five (four full-time equivalent<br />

positions).<br />

Of course later this year the College celebrates the 100th birthday of<br />

the Chaplain to the Junior School, Father Geoff Schneider SJ. Father<br />

Schneider has been on the staff of the College since 1965 (apart from<br />

three years with the Catholic Education Office and one year at Xavier<br />

College Melbourne) and is a much loved character of the College. We<br />

look forward to celebrating this great milestone in due course. In an<br />

interesting side note, we believe that Father Schneider is certainly<br />

A<strong>us</strong>tralia’s oldest full-time teacher, if not the world’s!<br />

So it has been a b<strong>us</strong>y start to what promises to be a very b<strong>us</strong>y year.<br />

So please strap yourself in for what will be an exciting and fun filled<br />

journey!<br />

2012 The Year Ahead: The Development Office is working on a<br />

number of exciting major fundraising events for 2012. These<br />

activities include, but are not limited to:<br />

• A major launch of the College Foundation Bursary Endowment<br />

Fund – planned for the first half of the year, we have already<br />

secured one of our two major guest speakers (a former Prime<br />

Minister) and await confirmation of our second guest speaker –<br />

more details to come<br />

• A Gala Cocktail Party in the second half of the year – along the<br />

lines of the highly successful Gala Cocktail Parties held in 2009<br />

and 2010 – this popular event will be back, bigger than ever.<br />

• We are also looking at holding a Rugby Lunch mid-year as well as<br />

the <strong>us</strong>ual Class Reunions and Aloysian Reunions being held at the<br />

College, interstate and overseas.<br />

The final phase of the three-phase College Masterplan may<br />

commence at the end of 2012 depending on the availability of funds.<br />

This work will see the construction of a new Canteen and casual<br />

dining space in the Senior School, the renovation of the Level 4 & 5<br />

M<strong>us</strong>ic Department including the creation of a two story Recital Hall<br />

and the construction of a Design and Technology Centre.<br />

This final Phase of the Masterplan follows on from Phase I of the<br />

Masterplan which saw the extension and renovation of the Junior<br />

School in 2010 at a cost of $3.5 million and the construction of<br />

Dalton Hall in 2011 at a cost of $12 million and is expected to cost<br />

about $4 million.<br />

With the active ongoing genero<strong>us</strong> support of the Aloysian Family to<br />

the College fundraising programme we hope that construction will<br />

commence in December.<br />

With best wishes and every hope that the Chinese Year of the<br />

Dragon is a great year for the College and the entire Aloysian Family.<br />

Murray Happ (SAC 1985)<br />

Director of Development (9936 5561 / Murray.Happ@staloysi<strong>us</strong>.nsw.edu.au)<br />

CURRICULUM NEWS<br />

MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT<br />

Early morning Mathematics tutoring will recommence<br />

on 3 February, in a new location (Room 243) and will<br />

continue every Tuesday and Friday morning during<br />

term, until further notice. For further notice, please<br />

contact Ms <strong>St</strong>ella Robinson, on Ext 608.<br />

<strong>St</strong>ella Robinson<br />

Head of Maths<br />

PASTORAL NEWS<br />

THE DIRECTOR OF PASTORAL SERVICES<br />

I am certain that, as you gracefully grow older, time seems to gather<br />

speed and the holidays appear to go even faster. I am also sure that<br />

the time goes quicker if you participate in activities that keep you<br />

b<strong>us</strong>y. My family and I experienced a number of memorable events<br />

during the holidays. We were very fortunate to spend a week of the<br />

holidays with my wife’s parents, her siblings and their families at the<br />

Central Coast, and a week with my siblings and mum in Albury. This<br />

was the first Christmas without my dad. I also spent a considerable<br />

amount of time at home gardening and all the family were delighted<br />

with the comp<strong>let</strong>ion of our new swimming pool. I read three books<br />

which, coincidentally, were all biographies. My favourite being Ahn<br />

Doh’s book, The Happiest Refugee. However, perhaps the most<br />

fulfilling activity was spent at a gathering last Wednesday with Father<br />

Adolfo Nicolas SJ, Superior General of the Society of Jes<strong>us</strong>.<br />

Fr Nicolas addressed a packed Ramsay Hall at Riverview. This<br />

presentation involved Fr Adolph Nicolas speaking and then six<br />

people posing questions to which Fr Nicolas responded. Fr Nicolas is<br />

a very humble man. His speech and responses were inspiring and I<br />

was touched by a number of key points. I loved how he reinforced<br />

the importance of the role of Christians in educating our young about<br />

matters to do with the heart. It is only through our good modelling<br />

and educating the hearts of our young ones that a positive message<br />

can be sent to those who may be struggling with their own faith.<br />

My two oldest daughters, Claire and Rachel, participated in a threeweek<br />

Philippines Immersion, very similar to the ones that our<br />

students were part of in December and January. I was delighted when<br />

they returned safely and, especially on the first day back, were so<br />

animated in sharing with all the different stories. This year is a unique<br />

one for our family. My youngest child, Luke, started Kindergarten<br />

meaning that all my six children will now be at either primary or<br />

secondary school – the oldest, Claire, in Year 12.<br />

I hope that the 2012 journey will be a time for all members of the<br />

Aloysian community, especially those new to the school, to<br />

experience many happy and rewarding moments. Borrowing from<br />

Fr Nicolas’ address, even if some of the events of this year end up being a crisis<br />

we hope that we will end up being stronger for the experience. Most<br />

importantly, I hope that all may be drawn to be more like Jes<strong>us</strong>: full<br />

of endless love, kindness and patience.<br />

The following extract was taken from the Rite of Commitment that<br />

was read at the afternoon with Fr Nicolas:<br />

We believe in God<br />

Whose love is the source of all life<br />

and the desire of our lives,<br />

Whose love took flesh<br />

in Jes<strong>us</strong> of Nazareth,<br />

Whose love was crucified by the evil<br />

that wants to enslave <strong>us</strong> all,<br />

and whose love, defeating even death,<br />

is our glorio<strong>us</strong> promise of freedom.<br />

Therefore, though we are sometimes fearful<br />

and full of doubt,<br />

In God we place our tr<strong>us</strong>t<br />

and in the name of Jes<strong>us</strong> Christ, we recommit<br />

ourselves to Ignatian communities<br />

that form women and men for others,<br />

that seek j<strong>us</strong>tice and live in peace,<br />

that care for the earth and share the<br />

commonwealth of God’s goodness,<br />

that live in the freedom of forgiveness<br />

and the power of the Spirit of love,<br />

and in the company of the faithful<br />

for the greater glory of God.<br />

Amen<br />

5


Important Senior School Mass dates to remember for this term:<br />

7 February Senior School Commencement Mass<br />

12 February Year 12 Family Mass<br />

22 February Ash Wednesday<br />

13 March <strong>St</strong>udent Mass<br />

School Masses are j<strong>us</strong>t one way of encouraging the students’ faith<br />

development while at the College. We take great pride in preparing<br />

varied and engaging liturgies for the students. We encourage student<br />

participation in our liturgies and ask that if any boys would like to<br />

volunteer to assist as altar boys, readers or as part of the m<strong>us</strong>ic<br />

groups, please feel free to contact myself, one of the Chaplains or the<br />

M<strong>us</strong>ic Department.<br />

Day of Belonging: A <strong>let</strong>ter will be sent home shortly to Year 7<br />

parents, via your son, with details of the upcoming Belonging Day to<br />

be held on 10 February. This one-day, activities-based program aims<br />

to encourage the Year 7 boys to become more familiar with those in<br />

their year and the Senior Leadership Team. The program is designed<br />

to allow students to explore Chowder Bay, have fun safely in and on<br />

the water and to enjoy each other’s company.<br />

Chris Gould<br />

THE COLLEGE COMMUNITY<br />

THE PARENTS’ & FRIENDS’ ASSOCIATION<br />

Welcome to another school year. I tr<strong>us</strong>t you had an enjoyable and<br />

restful Christmas and New Year holiday with your family and friends.<br />

2012 promises to be another great year in and around our College,<br />

with a series of events and activities organised where “friend-raising”<br />

is our main aim and interest. I’d like to extend a particularly warm<br />

welcome to our new parents. We tr<strong>us</strong>t your experience as a parent at<br />

<strong>St</strong> Aloysi<strong>us</strong>’ will be both rewarding and fulfilling.<br />

By now, you all should have received (by email or post) detailed<br />

information highlighting ways in which you can get involved in<br />

activities at the College. If you did not receive the <strong>let</strong>ter, you can<br />

access it on the Parents & Friends’ area of the College’s website<br />

(http://www.staloysi<strong>us</strong>.nsw.edu.au/associations/pnf/default.asp). I<br />

would encourage you to save this area to your Favourites, and check<br />

in from time to time to receive information on upcoming events or<br />

to access those all-important forms that may not find their way into<br />

your hands after being “collected” by your sons.<br />

We are still on the lookout for those of you who are interested in<br />

become Year Co-ordinators or Class Parents. Please serio<strong>us</strong>ly<br />

consider getting involved. We know from past experience that those<br />

who actively participate in the life of the College get far more out of<br />

the experience than they put in. You’ll find the form at<br />

http://www.staloysi<strong>us</strong>.nsw.edu.au/associations/pnf/Letter2012/Clas<br />

sVolunteer.pdf, if you’d like to register your interest.<br />

I would also strongly encourage you to keep 25 February free (from<br />

7.00-9.30pm) for our annual Commencement Cocktail Party. Once<br />

again, it promises to be a great night. Entry this year will be by ticket<br />

only. For bookings, go to www.trybooking.com/18600.<br />

Something to ponder, from SAC Old Boy philosopher, Brian<br />

Churchill (SAC 1976): “It is not what we get, but who we become<br />

when we contribute.”<br />

Regards, Bryan Jenkins<br />

President<br />

UPCOMING EVENTS<br />

New Parents Morning Tea – 9 February at 10.15am: To be held<br />

in the Great Hall Foyer, following the Junior School Commencement<br />

Mass in The Boys’ Chapel. This is a perfect way to meet the parents<br />

of your son’s future friends and a great start to your year at<br />

<strong>St</strong> Aloysi<strong>us</strong>’.<br />

DIARY DATES<br />

The following functions are scheduled early in Term 1:<br />

New Parents Welcome Morning Tea: 10.15am, 9 February [Great<br />

Hall Foyer]<br />

Years 3&4 New Parents’ Ignatian Evening: 8.00pm, 13 February<br />

[Miguel Pro Playho<strong>us</strong>e]<br />

Year Co-ordinators’ Information Evening: 7.30pm, 15 February<br />

[Juana Mateo Room – 4th Floor]<br />

Year 12 Mass & Supper (Year 12 only): 6.00pm, 12 February [Boys’<br />

Chapel & Wyalla Grounds]<br />

Years 5&6 New Parents’ Ignatian Evening: 8.00pm, 20 February<br />

[Miguel Pro Playho<strong>us</strong>e]<br />

<strong>St</strong> Aloysi<strong>us</strong>’ Commencement Cocktail Party: 7.00pm, 25 February<br />

[Senior School Courtyard]<br />

Years 7-11 New Parents’ Ignatian Evening: 8.00pm, 27 February<br />

[Miguel Pro Playho<strong>us</strong>e]<br />

CONTACT DETAILS<br />

Chairman Phillip Cornwell 0414 223 765<br />

President Bryan Jenkins 0414 355 255<br />

Vice-President Merin Boyd 0419 969 111<br />

Vice-President/Pastoral Care Michael Morgan 0419 679 591<br />

Secretaries Ann & Alex Paton 0412 250 551<br />

Assistant Secretary Jacqui <strong>St</strong>ene 0408 969 766<br />

Treasurers Cate & Greg R<strong>us</strong>sell 0405 100 463<br />

Assistant Treasurers Marie and Chris D’Cruz 0413 255 400<br />

Logistics Co-ordinator (JS) Jo Marchione 0488 230 198<br />

Logistics Co-ordinator (SS) Catherine Verschuer 0404 050 673<br />

Oval Canteen Co-ordinator Bruno Moscaritolo 0414 365 511<br />

Prayer Group Co-ordinator Edwin Lapitan 0410 463 517<br />

THE SENIOR SCHOOL CANTEEN<br />

The following parents have kindly offered their services in the Senior<br />

School Canteen for the week commencing 6 February:<br />

Monday Leigh Carroll, Doreen David, Louise Kelly, Sue Neely<br />

Tuesday Marisa Anderson, Randa Sleiman, Cathy De Mestre<br />

Wednesday Marie D’Cruz, Kay Jamieson-Kell<br />

Thursday<br />

Friday<br />

Nadia Lorenzutta<br />

Canteen Manager<br />

Petra Mazaraki, Lynne Shearman<br />

Erin Buckley, Kylie Craig, Barbara France, Eleanor<br />

Noonan<br />

THE UNIFORM SHOP<br />

Normal trading hours: The Uniform Shop operates Tuesday and<br />

Friday (open through lunch on both days) from 8.00am to 3.00pm<br />

during school term.<br />

Trading hours in February: 3 February: 8.00am-3.00pm;<br />

7 February & 10 February: 8.00am-3.30pm. Normal trading hours<br />

recommence on 14 February.<br />

Embroidery of Colours: For those who handed in their blazers<br />

before school concluded last year, you may pick it up from the<br />

Uniform Shop.<br />

Delivery to Junior School Only: Orders can be made via email,<br />

phone (9.00-11.30am) or by leaving a message on our answering<br />

machine. Items will be delivered to Junior School Reception for<br />

collection before lunch. Please inform you son to collect your purchase<br />

from Reception.<br />

Bob <strong>St</strong>ewart Credit Accounts: I urge that, if you have not yet<br />

opened a Credit Account with Bob <strong>St</strong>ewart, kindly please do so; as it<br />

helps to process transactions much faster and gets the boys back to<br />

their classes. For more information, please go on to the College<br />

website, under Uniform Shop, to download the form. If you do not<br />

wish to open a Credit Account, please obtain a form of payment for<br />

your son to make a purchase.<br />

6


* If you would like to send your son to the shop for a uniform<br />

purchase, we are happy to fit him for your convenience. We accept<br />

cash, cheques (payable to “Bob <strong>St</strong>ewart Pty Ltd”), credit cards,<br />

EFTPOS or Bob <strong>St</strong>ewart Credit Account.*<br />

Irene Lau<br />

Supervisor (staloysi<strong>us</strong>@bobstewart.com.au /9955 4193)<br />

CO-CURRICULAR NEWS<br />

THE DIRECTOR OF CO-CURRICULA<br />

I hope that all Aloysian families had a wonderful Christmas and New<br />

Year. I would like to welcome back all students to school, especially<br />

our new Year 7s, and wish all students the very best this year with<br />

their studies and co-curricular pursuits. I would also like to take this<br />

opportunity to thank both Sportsmaster Sinclair Watson and Kathy<br />

Fitzgerald for running the Sports Office so efficiently during my<br />

absence in Term 4.<br />

Undoubtedly, 2011 was our most successful year with our<br />

involvement in A<strong>us</strong>tralian Jesuit Schools’ Carnivals. For the first<br />

time, we won both the cricket and basketball carnivals and won the<br />

tennis for a record fourth occasion. Earlier in the year, both our<br />

football and debating teams narrowly lost their respective finals.<br />

The College hosted the A<strong>us</strong>tralian Jesuit Schools’ Carnival in early<br />

December. The 1sts played outstanding cricket over the week,<br />

winning all games impressively, including the final against Xavier<br />

College. In the 35 over final, Aloysi<strong>us</strong>’ scored 1/232 and dismissed<br />

Xavier for only 106 runs. Luke Vevers stood out with his tremendo<strong>us</strong><br />

batting displays. Luke scored three centuries from four innings,<br />

including 114, 136 and 143 not out in the final. Other batsmen to<br />

stand out included Mitchell Baumgart with innings of 57 and 65,<br />

Jordan Daly 77 and Grant Jansson 46 runs. Sam Mathias and Grant<br />

Jansson were the pick of the bowlers. Sam took 6/10 in his game<br />

against Xavier College. Luke Vevers, Grant Jansson, Jordan Daly,<br />

Mitchell Baumgart and Sam Mathias were all selected in the<br />

A<strong>us</strong>tralian Jesuit Schools’ Cricket Team. It was a very fitting way for<br />

coach Andy Quinane to finish his time with the College after many<br />

year of dedicated service as 1sts coach. Andy leaves <strong>us</strong> to go the<br />

Shore School as Director of Activities. We wish him the very best.<br />

My thanks also extend to all those people behind the scenes who<br />

made the carnival such a success, including MIC Paul Luchi, scorer<br />

Caroline Linschoten, curator Paul Chalmers, parents Deb Jansson<br />

and Cathryn Thomson, and other parents and gap students who<br />

provided excellent catering and service each day.<br />

Whilst on cricket, three of our boys represented North Harbour in<br />

their close win over South Harbour last Saturday at Trinity. Both<br />

Luke Vevers and Tom Goh were amongst the runs, whilst Sam<br />

Mathias bowled well on the day.<br />

Saint Ignati<strong>us</strong>’ College Riverview hosted the A<strong>us</strong>tralian Jesuit<br />

Schools’ Tennis Carnival at Riverview in early December. As<br />

previo<strong>us</strong>ly mentioned, our 1sts tennis team won the carnival for the<br />

fourth year in succession. The team won five out of six matches,<br />

losing only its first match in four years. Harry Kelleher, Matt<br />

Rowland and Jack Evans won all their singles matches. Three of the<br />

team were selected in the A<strong>us</strong>tralian Jesuit Schools’ Tennis Team,<br />

including Harry Kelleher, Matt Rowland and Ben Lalic. Zac<br />

Mytkowski was awarded the Ignatian Spirit Award. My thanks extend<br />

to MIC Terry Watson who attended the carnival whilst still on Long<br />

Service Leave.<br />

Last December, our 1sts water polo team competed in the Trans<br />

Tasman Cup in Melbourne. This competition brings together the best<br />

schoolboy teams from A<strong>us</strong>tralia and New Zealand. Once again, our<br />

team did tremendo<strong>us</strong>ly well to make the finals for the fourth<br />

consecutive year. After a thrilling and drama packed 9-8 semi final<br />

win over Newington College, the team lost the final 8-14 to host<br />

school Melbourne High. Little separated the teams at half-time, but<br />

Melbourne High finished too strongly. My thanks go to coaches<br />

Michael De Gail and Mark Sindone, and staff members Margaret<br />

Loomes and Geoff Schneider, for accompanying the boys on tour.<br />

Our 1sts basketball team competed in the Trinity Cup last week with<br />

mixed success. Pitted against very strong competition, the team beat<br />

only <strong>St</strong> Joseph’s College, but competed very well against top schools.<br />

Tae Kwon Do and Fencing resumes next week.<br />

This weekend, the CAS sporting competition resumes with games<br />

against Waverley College. Details of Saturday’s games appear in this<br />

news<strong>let</strong>ter. A season’s draw can also be accessed through Manresa<br />

under co-curricula. Good luck to all coaches and players this<br />

weekend.<br />

Paul Rowland<br />

THE JUNIOR SCHOOL SPORTSMASTER<br />

Welcome back to all families and boys in what promises to be a very<br />

exciting year for sport in the Junior School. A special welcome to<br />

those families who are new to <strong>St</strong> Aloysi<strong>us</strong>’ in 2012, but you will be<br />

very settled in no time at all. While your involvement with sport may<br />

seem at first to be quite daunting, after careful digestion of notes and<br />

through questioning of your son of what he was told about sport at<br />

assemblies and in PE time, your worries will subside in no time at all.<br />

I have included in this notice a timeline table, which was also sent<br />

home with your son earlier in the week. This is up to date and can<br />

assist you in preparation for this term and the weeks ahead.<br />

I hope you have an enjoyable year, and look forward to meeting you<br />

at upcoming sporting events but, for the time being, we’ll concentrate<br />

on the first weeks of training and getting <strong>us</strong>ed to the process of<br />

travelling to and from sport.<br />

J<strong>us</strong>t so you can keep up to date with notes that have been given to<br />

your son this week (check the bottom of his bag), your son should<br />

have received and passed on the following notes to you this week:<br />

• Summer sport trail note (multiple pages)<br />

• Timeline note (single page)<br />

• Swimming Carnival note (blue colour multiple pages)<br />

• Wet weather update note (single page)<br />

Congratulations to the following boys who were elected 2012 Colour<br />

Ho<strong>us</strong>e leaders. We wish these boys the best of luck as they embark<br />

on this leadership role this year, with their first role being the<br />

Swimming Ho<strong>us</strong>e carnival next week.<br />

Ho<strong>us</strong>e Captain Vice-Captain<br />

Campion Darcy Hampton Louis Esteban<br />

Ogilvie Miles Branagan William Greenland<br />

Southwell Zach Ienco Matthew Fogarty<br />

Owen Paddy Dawson Fintan O Shea<br />

Dalton Hall Swimming Program – Waiting list now in effect:<br />

Applications are now closed and a waiting list is in place. Forms can<br />

still be submitted and when a place becomes available parents will be<br />

notified. Thank you to all families for your assistance in this initiative.<br />

The Term 1 program will commence on 15 February and will run<br />

each Wednesday and Friday from 7.15am to 8.15am at our new pool<br />

located in Dalton Hall in Kirribilli. This program is not a learn-toswim<br />

class but rather a Junior School swimming squad. Boys are<br />

asked to meet the coaches at 7.00am sharp outside Dalton Hall each<br />

Wednesday and Friday, and they will be walked back to school once<br />

training is over that morning.<br />

3 February<br />

• Summer sport trials 10.00am-2.30pm vario<strong>us</strong> venues trial #1<br />

• Team grading #1 vario<strong>us</strong> venues<br />

• Training timetable and 2011 summer sports draw sent home<br />

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4 February<br />

• Summer sport trials #2 vario<strong>us</strong> times and selections (see separate<br />

note)<br />

• Basketball sing<strong>let</strong> numbers allocated<br />

6 February<br />

• Squad lists displayed on sports notice board<br />

7 February<br />

• Team training commences vario<strong>us</strong> times and venues<br />

8 February<br />

• Team training commences vario<strong>us</strong> times and venues<br />

9 February<br />

• Team training commences vario<strong>us</strong> times and venues<br />

10 February<br />

• Whole school training commences vario<strong>us</strong> times and venues<br />

11 February<br />

• Round 1 commences vario<strong>us</strong> times and venues (refer to separate<br />

note)<br />

Healthy Lifestyle Year 6: In some exciting our Junior School<br />

students involved in the Healthy Lifestyle Program offered each<br />

Friday will be participating in a ten-week training program. The<br />

program will incorporate skills and drill sessions for a variety of<br />

sports and disciplines in Term 1, which will incorporate the<br />

following:<br />

Boxing basics: Non-contact, similar to school PE lessons (Weeks 1,<br />

3, 5, 7, 9)<br />

Wrestling: Sports specific (Weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10)<br />

<strong>St</strong>rength & conditioning circuit: Foc<strong>us</strong> on body weight (Weeks 1,<br />

3, 5, 7, 9)<br />

Cycle class (Weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10)<br />

Each Friday, students will enjoy two different 45-minute classes with<br />

a different instructor, each time totalling 90 minutes. Platinum<br />

Extreme is a new gym in McMahons Point and is looking to build<br />

relationships with local schools, with Aloysi<strong>us</strong>’ being their first.<br />

Parents are most welcome to tour the facilities outside school hours<br />

and see what programs they offer to adults and teenagers. For all<br />

information regarding the gym, please contact Richie Cranny,<br />

Operations Director.<br />

Wet Weather Twitter System: In 2012, notice for cancellation or<br />

amendments for both midweek sport training and Saturday matches<br />

will now be available on Twitter. This notification system will replace<br />

the previo<strong>us</strong> system of each team having a wet weather boy who would<br />

only have access to the phone line. Please note the Junior School wet<br />

weather phone line (9936 5590) will remain only as a backup system<br />

and a message will only be recorded there if Twitter fails.<br />

Midweek Sport Training: Notice for ground closure by local councils<br />

for the same day is <strong>us</strong>ually communicated to me by 1.00pm, where<br />

grounds may be closed. When this is the case, I will leave a ‘tweet’<br />

online and may include ground changes if applicable. If training venues<br />

are changed as a result of grounds being closed and others open, I will<br />

try to include all this info on the same ‘tweet’. Also this information<br />

will also be available through Debbie Edwards in reception.<br />

Saturday Sport Matches: Due to the nature of Junior School sport<br />

(where we play over 11 different schools in any one round) compared<br />

to Senior School sport (one school per round in major sports),<br />

sportsmasters communicate with each other at 6.00am on Saturday<br />

mornings. This is after we hear from local council rangers in regard<br />

to their grounds being open or closed. This timeframe tied in with<br />

some games starting at 7.30am, with travel time not included, does<br />

not allow for a large window for all parties. A tweet will be placed<br />

online between 6.30am and 6.45am regarding all games. Please note<br />

that Junior School policy is that, if games are cancelled at this time<br />

and the weather improves, games are not rescheduled. For example,<br />

if you read on twitter at 6.30am that all cricket games are cancelled<br />

and, even if your son’s cricket game is scheduled for 11.00am and the<br />

weather improves, his game will still remain cancelled. Tennis boys in<br />

the Junior School will follow their own procedure due to the nature<br />

of the sport. They will be notified by Mrs Rogan.<br />

The following is the link to our Junior School wet weather<br />

notification: http://twitter.com/SacJuniorSport.<br />

Trevor Dunne<br />

Thought for the week: “We m<strong>us</strong>t <strong>us</strong>e time as a tool, not as a<br />

crutch.” John F Kennedy (1917-1963)<br />

35 th President of the United <strong>St</strong>ates of America<br />

Well, another academic year has begun and with it, new classes and<br />

challenges. I urge all students to settle in quickly to work, sport and<br />

other co-curricular events and to resolve to take part in all the great<br />

and varied activities <strong>St</strong> Aloysi<strong>us</strong>’ College has to offer. Don’t waste<br />

your opportunities and then in the years ahead look back with<br />

disappointment and regret at your lack of involvement. Too often<br />

when senior students come to create their resume they find they<br />

have little to include that really sets them apart.<br />

Each fortnight after Recess there is a half-hour Clubs and Societies’<br />

Meeting time – this is a golden opportunity for service and to learn<br />

new skills. I am constantly amazed at how few students make good<br />

<strong>us</strong>e of this time. Such involvement is highly valued by scholarship<br />

selectors and employers and can make a student really stand out later.<br />

A message to Year 12 students: I would very much like to have an<br />

interview with each of you before the end of Term 1 so that I am aware<br />

of your special interests for the future. Quite a few of you saw me last<br />

term and I am more than happy to have follow-up meetings. As I am<br />

only at the College on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, I often am<br />

unable to remind you about future events and hence I urge you to<br />

make a habit of reading the Careers noticeboard outside my office, and<br />

this item in the weekly Gongazan, so that you know what is happening<br />

and can schedule it into your timetable. Organised people get ahead in<br />

life – start taking responsibility for your future now.<br />

Please, will all Year 12 students purchase a copy of the UAC 2012<br />

Guide @ $19.95 from a newsagent and bring it along to any<br />

appointment they have with me. It is very helpful with information<br />

on the range of university options in NSW and the ACT, and gives<br />

websites about scholarships.<br />

Tax File Number (TFN): It is a good idea to apply for a tax file<br />

number before leaving school so that you have it in readiness for<br />

university and deferring your tertiary contribution, if you so wish.<br />

Forms can be collected from the Careers Room and need to be<br />

returned to Mrs Louise Jones, our College Registrar, for checking and<br />

forwarding to the Tax Office.<br />

Any other students who are looking for a part-time job are also<br />

welcome to apply. Remember, the Tax Office will allocate you a<br />

number which is yours for life and unique to you, and is an essential<br />

part of interacting with the tax system. Without it, you will have tax<br />

taken out of your wages at a higher rate than you may otherwise have<br />

to pay.<br />

It is most beneficial for students to have had some Work<br />

Experience before leaving school and preferably before Year 12,<br />

when the pressure and work load is at its heaviest. Remember that<br />

the retail sector is always a good place to look for work. Try<br />

supermarkets, surf shops, sporting goods, clothing stores. Make sure<br />

8


that you contact many places – don’t j<strong>us</strong>t knock on one door and<br />

leave it at that. You may miss a good opportunity. Also consider<br />

hospitality jobs (McDonalds is very highly valued by scholarship<br />

selection boards and employers), food shops and sports centres.<br />

Horticultural centres and lawn-mowing b<strong>us</strong>inesses are also worth a<br />

try. Check the Yellow Pages. Build a list of prospective employers,<br />

write a <strong>let</strong>ter introducing yourself and stating when you are available.<br />

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY<br />

3 February – “Pacific 2012” Careers in Maritime & A<strong>us</strong>tralian<br />

Defence Ind<strong>us</strong>tries: Free Information Day for students Years 9-12<br />

at the Sydney Convention Centre, Darling Harbour. Phone Laura<br />

Lane (03 5282 0500).<br />

6-10 February – University of Wollongong Discovery Days:<br />

Year 12 students experience firsthand what university is like for a day.<br />

Register online: http://discoveryday.uow.edu.au.<br />

16-20 April – Valem<strong>us</strong> Autumn School of Engineering: Fifty<br />

places for students in Year 11 or 12 interested in Engineering.<br />

Applications now open at<br />

http://www.engineersa<strong>us</strong>tralia.org.au/divisions/sydneydivision/schools-prgrams/schoolsprograms_home.cfm#DiscoverEng.<br />

GAP OPTIONS<br />

HSC <strong>St</strong>udents considering taking 2013 off before starting university<br />

should spend time now exploring what is on offer. The best<br />

exchange programs <strong>us</strong>ually require applications to be submitted<br />

during Term 1.<br />

Deirdre Agnew<br />

Careers Counsellor (deirdre.agnew@staloysi<strong>us</strong>.nsw.edu.au)<br />

My <strong>us</strong>ual days at the College are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday<br />

SENIOR SCHOOL SPORTS DRAWS & TRAINING SCHEDULES<br />

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