快播

Lent & Prayers for our Pope

As we enter the Lenten season, we keep Pope Francis in our prayers during his ongoing illness, hoping that his recovery will enable him to lead the Easter Triduum, the most sacred time for our Catholic faith.

Thanks to the Year 10 RE Edge and Year 11 RE Liturgical Music classes for their leadership of the Ash Wednesday ceremonies this week that marked the start of our 40-day Lenten season. The tradition of Lent as a time of fasting has origins in the Jewish roots of Christianity as well as replicating Christ鈥檚 40 days in the wilderness. In 2021, Pope Francis reframed a new way of viewing fasting and feasting, urging us to:

Fast from hurting words and say kind words.

Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.

Fast from anger and be filled with patience.

Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.

Fast from worries and have trust in God.

Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity.

Fast from pressures and be prayerful.

Fast from bitterness and fill your hearts with joy.

Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others.

Fast from grudges and be reconciled

Fast from words and be silent so you can listen.

Belonging - Year 7 Camps & Whole-school Athletics Carnival

Over the past fortnight, our Year 7 students have bonded in their Houses as they spent time together on their respective Dominic, Rice and MacKillop camps. Visiting the camps, it was wonderful to see students socialising, playing, collaborating and laughing together across their House, as well as the energy our former 快播 students brought as young camp leaders

House spirit will be further on display for the return of the Whole-school Athletics Carnival on Thursday 13 March. We look forward to students across the year levels supporting their Dominic, Rice and MacKillop House teammates.

Open Day

On Sunday 16 March we will hold our Open Day from 11.30am - 2.30pm. We look forward to showcasing the College and welcoming both prospective families and any current families wishing to tour the campus with our student guides and/or speak with staff. Please see www.aquinas.vic.edu.au/enrolment/#college-tours for more details.

Year 7, 2027 Enrolments now open

Applications for enrolment in Year 7 2027 opened on January 31. Applications need to be made via the College website at and will close on Friday 15 August 2025. Should you have any enquiries, please email the College Registrar at registrar@aquinas.vic.edu.au

David Broadbent 

Principal

I wrote about practice in a Lighthouse a few years ago and as we move into the heart of term 1 it has some valuable reminders.

It is important to consider a key goal of education at every level, primary, secondary and tertiary; the goal of moving from novice to expert and the essential tool for that progress, practice. In the next few editions of the Lighthouse I want to look at some of the work of some accessible cognitive scientists and what they have to say about everyday school matters like reading, memory and learning. This week and for the next couple of editions I want to introduce to you the work of Daniel Willingham, an American cognitive scientist who works at the University of Virginia. If you don鈥檛 read anything past the end of this paragraph you would still be well served reading his

I want to focus on what Willingham says about practice, and you can read . He uses a term in the article called automaticity. This is when a skill has been exercised so often that the individual no longer thinks about the process or the mechanics of that skill. This is critical in the progress from novice to expert. In your household it is likely there is someone who is an expert driver and someone who needs to practice for 120 hours to move beyond the absolute beginner level. I will pause for a moment while the gently humorous ribbing of who should assume these roles in your house is debated, before explaining what is the difference in thinking that goes on between the novice and the expert. When the novice gets in the car they think about the process, look in the rear view, foot on the brake, check your outside mirrors, (foot on the clutch?), engage the gear and move. In the early stages the novice sometimes says these things out loud to confirm the process and embed the memory. The novice is engaged in a lock step process and if one step fails, they don鈥檛 have the skill or confidence to continue. The expert does none of this. The expert does not even think of how to drive, they are thinking of where they are going, how they will get there and what they will do when they arrive. The process of driving has become automatic which enables the expert to focus on the reason for travelling rather than the process. Every complex task is only accomplished with a level of automaticity that clears some space for the higher order activities. And this automaticity came from practice. Reading, calculations, writing and sporting activities all benefit from a level of automaticity in the fundamentals.

In his article Willingham responds to the question, Just how much should students practice what they learn? His answer is a little less straightforward than you might think,

鈥淚t is difficult to overstate the value of practice. For a new skill to become automatic or for new knowledge to become long-lasting, sustained practice, beyond the point of mastery, is necessary. This column summarizes why practice is so important and reviews the different effects of intense short-term practice versus sustained, long-term practice.

That students would benefit from practice might be deemed unsurprising. After all, doesn't practice make perfect? The unexpected finding from cognitive science is that practice does not make perfect. Practice until you are perfect and you will be perfect only briefly. What's necessary is sustained practice. By sustained practice I mean regular, ongoing review or use of the target material (e.g., regularly using new calculating skills to solve increasingly more complex math problems, reflecting on recently-learned historical material as one studies a subsequent history unit, taking regular quizzes or tests that draw on material learned earlier in the year). This kind of practice past the point of mastery is necessary to meet any of these three important goals of instruction: acquiring facts and knowledge, learning skills, or becoming an expert.

Intuition tells us that more practice leads to better memory. Research tells us something more precise: Memory in either the short- or long-term requires ongoing practice.鈥�

Practice past the point of mastery seems difficult, maybe even extreme in our experience. So often our education system has encouraged us that 50% is a pass, or to put it in the terms above, practice halfway to the point of mastery and then move on. In those terms it doesn鈥檛 seem helpful. It might get us past being a novice but it will never move us to expert status. In his article Willingham demonstrates that the greatest musicians practice most often and with winter sports resuming, with players who might be the fittest most well practised exponents of the game, we watch players who are practising harder and longer than ever before. In the next lighthouse we will look at some possible techniques to find the time to practice, a key aspect of school that is central to success. As Willingham argues at the end of his article, there might be many instructional strategies and activities, 鈥淏ut, that students will only remember what they have extensively practiced鈥攁nd that they will only remember for the long term that which they have practiced in a sustained way over many years鈥攁re realities that can't be bypassed.鈥�

Michael Box
Deputy Principal Learning

Spiritually Speaking: Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent

This week we had Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent - a time of preparation and reflection leading towards Easter. Pope Francis on Wednesday said, 鈥淢ay the hope that does not disappoint, the central message of the jubilee, be the focus of our Lenten journey toward the victory of Easter," 

Our EDGE students prepared and led our Ash Wednesday liturgies where we were reminded that this is a time when we walk with God to reconcile. St Paul鈥檚 letter to the Romans stated, 鈥淚t is no different for the Jews than for the non-Jew. Everyone has sinned.鈥� It is a temptation we all face as humans. This Sunday鈥檚 reading is a very brief rendition by Mark of the 鈥淭emptation of Jesus鈥�. Where the Lord needed to resist temptation and through his faith in the Father, succeeded.

The practice of ashing derives from the ancient Hebrews who would cover themselves in ash and wear hessian as an irritation. Imagine having many mosquito bites and how itchy you would be. It is that irritation that was used as a reminder of the errors 鈥渟ins鈥� made by the person and remind them through faith and seeking forgiveness, they could rebuild their relationship with their God. Prior to receiving the Ashes in our Liturgy, we had a reflection which discussed the purpose of the ashes and whether they remove sin. The reflection said, 鈥淣o! The Ashes themselves are not magic. They, themselves, don't change anything about us. The Ashes are a sign that we are aware of our own sin, and that we desire to be forgiven and reconciled with God.鈥�

An examination of one's conscience is a good way to reflect during Ash Wednesday and throughout Lent. An example below is from Pope Francis鈥� statement released on Shrove Tuesday this year.

鈥淧ope Francis said the call to hope and trust in God and in eternal life is also an important aspect of Lenten conversion. Some questions to ponder include: 鈥淎m I convinced that the Lord forgives my sins? Or do I act as if I can save myself? Do I long for salvation and call upon God鈥檚 help to attain it? Do I concretely experience the hope that enables me to interpret the events of history and inspires in me a commitment to justice and fraternity, to care for our common home and in such a way that no one feels excluded?鈥�

So as we begin this Lenten journey together, let us pray that we grow in faith, seek forgiveness, give to others, and walk humbly with our God.

Tania Grace

Assistant Principal Mission

The highlight of this fortnight has been introducing the Year 7 students to the possibilities of learning an instrument at 快播.

We attended the three Year 7 camps for instrumental trials, and then welcomed more than 50 students and parents to our Instrument Discovery Evening on Thursday night.

Enjoy some photos of students discovering the happiness that music can bring!

Alison Bellew and Emily McKenzie
Music Program Coordinators

Email Sally Pace, Music Administration, on Sally Pace, if you would like more information about the instrumental music program at 快播.

Over the past two weeks, our school community has been involved in meaningful Social Justice and Outreach initiatives, all grounded in the principles of Catholic Social Teaching. These teachings remind us to care for our common home, acting as stewards of creation, and call us to act with dignity and respect for every person. They prioritise the common good, encourage solidarity, and promote participation and subsidiarity, ensuring all voices are heard. These principles guide us as we live out our faith through service to others.

Project Compassion Launch

Last week, we ran an 鈥渆arly fundraiser鈥� for Project Compassion, with a group of Year 9 students gathering to wash cars for staff. Their efforts raised $96鈥� a fantastic start to our Term 1 initiative.

On Shrove Tuesday, a group of student representatives from 快播 attended the official Project Compassion launch event at Emmaus College in Vermont South. The student representatives included: Matilda Lyall (Year 7), Madison Gimena (Year 8), Seah Jo, Amelia Frau, and Amelia Watson (Year 9), Grace Rider, and Ruth Tawng (Year 12).

The gathering brought together over 240 students from 22 Melbourne Catholic schools, all embracing this year鈥檚 theme: "Unite Against Poverty."

Archbishop Peter Comensoli led a moving liturgy centred on the words of Jesus in John 17:21 鈥� 鈥淚 pray that they may all be one.鈥� He emphasised that unity must inspire action, encouraging students to respond with love and compassion to those in need. This powerful call reflects the Catholic Social Teaching of The Common Good, reminding us that our actions should promote the well-being of all people, especially the most vulnerable.

Student Reflections

Here鈥檚 what two of our students had to say about the experience:

鈥淚t was amazing to be able to attend the Project Compassion launch on Tuesday! We were able to hear about the great things Caritas is able to do with the money that we raise for their causes. Learning about how our college鈥檚 contributions positively impact underprivileged people around the world should continue to influence us, people living in a first-world country, to raise more money and be more almsgiving. We are looking forward to all the Project Compassion fundraising events planned to raise money this year to continue to help these causes!鈥濃�� Ruth  

鈥淥n Tuesday, I was lucky enough to go to Emmaus College with six other people in the Social Justice Team. We went there for the launch of the Project Compassion project. We got to learn about other primary schools and secondary schools and what they do to support charities. We started the day with a liturgy and were lucky enough to meet the Archbishop of the Catholic Church. We looked at people鈥檚 stories and discussed them. We ended the day filming an elevator pitch video.鈥濃�� Seah  

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Fundraiser

On the same day as the Project Compassion Launch, we held our annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Fundraiser. A very big thank you to our VM students who took charge of organising and running the event, ensuring its success through dedication and teamwork. It was a fantastic occasion that brought our school community together, emphasising the importance of Community and Solidarity, as we unite to support those less fortunate.

Upcoming Fundraisers

Looking ahead, we encourage students to continue to engage in Project Compassion by supporting our fundraising during Athletics Day and Harmony Day. At both of these events, there will be opportunities to purchase items, with the proceeds being added to our growing tally. Keep an eye out on SIMON notices and the homeroom/mentor slides for information on what will be available at our social justice stands for each of these events.

There are also some class groups that are preparing to begin challenge-based fundraisers, such as

Families in our community are also invited to participate in Project Compassion, not just by supporting the events happening on campus, but also by contributing to the fundraising efforts from home. Every action鈥攚hether on the school grounds or within the home鈥攎akes a difference in supporting this important cause.

Here are some ideas for fundraising at home: 

• Car Wash Ventures: Organise your own car wash venture in your neighbourhood.
• Bake Sales: Hold a bake sale with friends and family, selling homemade treats.
• Lemonade Stand: Set up a stand selling lemonade or other refreshments.
• Cans and Bottles: Collect cans and bottles, take them to the distribution centres, and donate the 10c you receive back.
• Craft Sales: Create and sell crafts such as handmade cards or artwork.

Students and families may also consider hosting a Lent event or making a personal Lenten sacrifice.

To make it easier to donate, we have also set up an 快播 fundraising page with Project Compassion, as we know that not everyone carries cash with them these days. You can click on the link or scan the QR code to be directed to our school page where you can make a contribution. Feel free to share this link or QR code with others in your family and community so that as many people as possible can have the opportunity to give to this fantastic cause.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has already contributed to Project Compassion. Let鈥檚 continue to unite in faith and action as we strive to create positive change!

Martha Mugamu
Social Justice & Outreach Coordinator

Schools Clean Up Day
This year students in Year 7 鈥� 10 participated in Schools Clean Up Day. It was great to see our students acting of the value of stewardship. This year saw the introduction of the Eco Clean & Claim Prize. Bright yellow envelopes were hidden around the school for students to find during the clean up session. Students who found a yellow envelope with the correct of amount of rubbish collected, received a Caf茅 N9ne breakfast.

Some thoughts from the winning students at Caf茅 N9ne;

"For the activity, I found cleaning up very fun and tedious, being able to discover hidden features around the school and have a chat with friends while helping our planet was a great honour and pleasure. With the help of my very close friend, Henry, we were able to find the yellow envelope and secure a spot in the greatest place I have been to at 快播, Cafe N9ne. Overall I loved the experience and hope others can find joy in future experiences like this."  Alex 

"I found the experience amazing And this is a great thing and we're saving our planet Even by picking up only 10 pieces of rubbish That's 10 living things that could have aided and died So every piece of rubbish you pick up just think about you've just saved alive of the bird or a turtle or anything like that." Henry  

A thank you to all students, staff and our wonderful maintenance team who supported the clean up. A special mention to the Year 10 General Science class for their expert roles on the day.

Karyn Myers
Sustainability Coordinator

快播 Career News Edition #5 can be found . Topics this week include:

• Dates to Diarise in Term 1
• Victorian Careers & Employment Expo 2025
• ANU Applications for 2026 Entry
• News from La Trobe University

                 Bendigo Campus Talk & Tours

                 Diploma of Rural Health

• Monash Business Explorer Program 2025
• Newly Revised Courses for 2025 at RMIT University
• ADF Career Info Events
• Victoria Police Online Webinar
• Box Hill Institute - Nursing Bootcamp
• Computer Science Degrees in Victoria in 2025
• Information Technology Degrees in Victoria in 2025
• Snapshot of Deakin University in 2025
• Snapshot of Deakin 鈥� Waurn Ponds Campus in 2025

Vanessa Ramsay

Careers Counsellor

Coming up next week on Thursday the 13th of March, we are lucky to have our very first whole school athletics carnival! Unlike previous years where the athletics carnival was only done by the middle years, this year it has been extended to a full school event. The day will include a variety of track and field events like sprints, throwing, jumping and relays. Additionally, novelty events such as an egg and spoon race, tug of war, vortex throws and many more will also be on offer. The full school carnival will allow all year levels to combine and bond in their house colours of Mackilliop, Rice and Dominic. An accumulation of points will be gathered from the day's events across all year levels, so be sure to get involved as the more participants your house has, the more points you will receive to come out on top. There will also be other opportunities to gain points, including house chants and dances. 

The year 12s are very excited for our first dress-up day this year to be held at the athletics carnival with the theme for this term as 鈥渉ouse colours鈥�. Year 12s will be able to dress up in whatever characters, accessories and costumes they desire as long as it鈥檚 according to their house colour. Our year 7-11s will also be showing house spirit by adding a touch of their house colours to their sports uniform. We are looking forward to the opportunity to induct our new year 7s into the 快播 school spirit, as well as building up the culture in our school community. It is an awesome day in our school year so we can't wait to see everyone come down to participate in events, contribute to our 快播 spirit and build new friendships!
 

Evie Evans, Joey Campbell 

College Captains 

Ash Wednesday in the classroom

10 EDGE and 10 RE Music with 11 EDGE and 11 RE Music led our Ash Wednesday Prayer Services for all students and staff in the St Mary of the Cross Chapel. They were able to provide a prayerful and reflective beginning to Lent with the Ashing Service taking place with great reverence for the new Church season.

On Wednesday the 5th of March, the Ash Wednesday liturgy for year levels 7-12, was created by the 10 & 11 Edge classes to be engaging and enjoyable but also informative and relevant to the topic of Lent. Ash Wednesday is a time to reflect on your actions and ask for forgiveness as it is the beginning of the 40 day lent period. Students received the ashes in the shape of a cross on their foreheads and were sent away with the knowledge that the ashes didn鈥檛 magically remove all your sins, but that you are acknowledging your past and preparing for the year to come. Dulcie 

鈥楿nite Against Poverty this Lent鈥�

College members will participate in classroom events relating to the Season of Lent with a focus on prayer, almsgiving and penance. Classroom tasks will include working with Caritas鈥� Project Compassion. Its theme 鈥楿nite Against Poverty this Lent鈥� will allow students to investigate how other faith communities face the Gospel challenge of caring for the poor, the sick, the outcast, the orphan, the widow, the prisoner and the refugee. All these groups were named to receive God鈥檚 protection from evil doers. Let us make this Lent one of service for others and fulfill the mission of Jesus.

2025 Year of Jubilee in the classroom

In March, students in Year 7 to 9 will participate in a series of lessons during Catholic Education Week looking at Jubilee. The topics will include 鈥榩ilgrimage鈥�, 鈥榡ubilee鈥� and how the Gospel of Hope runs deeper than what we might call an optimistic outlook on life. The hope that God offers calls us to bring about a world that thrives on justice and love for our neighbour. You might like to quiz your young people on these topics during the month.

Open Day - Open Mind

You are invited to visit the St Mary of the Cross Chapel when you call in on Open Day. If you have a question about the Religion curriculum or Catholic Life at the College, we will be happy to 鈥榚luminate鈥� you on what goes on in this dimension of a student鈥檚 faith formation.

Australian Catholics + Subscription

Families are able to access the resources for this subscription by registering using the below login details. It is full of articles on everything 鈥楥atholic鈥�.

• Access for students: students@aquinas.vic.edu.au Password: acstudents
  Access for parents: parents@aquinas.vic.edu.au Password: acparents
• To help you explore fully:
  Check out which gives you a tour of the site, and helps you find what you need
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What鈥檚 happening in the Religion classroom:

Year 7

Year 7 students are exploring the concept of belonging by understanding what it means to be part of a community and appreciating the connections they make in the process. They will learn about the history of 快播 College, both past and present, and develop their knowledge of its motto, mission, and values. Through this, they will gain a deeper understanding of what it means to belong to the College.

Year 8

Year 8 Green investigated the origins of sin via an analysis of Genesis 3, 鈥楾he Fall鈥�. Students were asked to show their comprehension of the task by completing a 140 character synopsis. Here are a few wonderful examples:

• #OMG Adam and Eve ate my apples when I told them not to so I kicked them out. #whatdidieverdo2them #lifesbetterwithoutthem #tspmo #imbetter by Elsa
• #OMG The Tree of Temptation = broken! Adam & Eve = snapped! Food off Tree of Knowledge = Serpent victory = suffering for eternity! By Ashton
• #SUFFERING Still can鈥檛 believe that Adam and Eve took the way that the serpent wanted them to. God is not impressed, they should鈥檝e listened to God! By Milla

Year 9

Students doing Religion in Semester One are investigating 鈥榃ho is God?鈥� and 鈥楶rophets for the Voiceless鈥� where we look at how God speaks through individuals, such as the prophets, to bring about God鈥檚 reign of love and justice for all people and creation.

Year 10

10 Philosophy is currently powering through a huge number of philosophical terms that provide students with a vocabulary that will allow them to present logical arguments and avoid pitfalls such as fallacies, biases and other unpleasant academic thought traps. The two classes are progressing well in their efforts to become intellectual giants able to take on great thinkers like Socrates and Aristotle from the ancient world, 快播 and Anselm, from the Medieval world and modern philosophers like Noam Chomsky and Slavoj Zizek with their psychoanalytic philosophies.

Year 11

Year 11 students are deep into researching the ideas of a theocratic and pluralistic societies. This learning has been coupled by an investigation into ethics and morals, where students were required to investigate aspects of religion. Furthermore, students are inquiring about how religion relates to ethical decision-making and the role of various influences involved in the process of forming practical moral judgments. This sequential learning is essential for preparing Year 11 Religion and Society students for a forthcoming SAC (assessment task) in early Term 2.

11 Religion Art
This year we have introduced a new option for students to investigate the faith dimension expressed through the human fine arts. The course will develop over time in ways that allow students to reflect on their faith life and experiences as young people. We hope it provides students with opportunities to develop both their theological skills along with their artistic abilities.

Bernard Green
Religious Education Learning Area Leader 

The Year 12 VM students organised and planned a 2 night camp to Wilsons Prom. The students were responsible for planning and organising their camping equipment, meals, cooking and hiking navigation. The students challenged themselves physically and mentally to complete three hikes across the two days, including a sunrise hike on Tuesday that saw a 5am start, many opting to Hike to the Summit of Mt Oberon to watch the sun peak over the horizon to welcome the day.

Jacqui Street

VCE VM Coordinator

When we arrived at Wilsons Prom we set up the tents and went down to the beach. You could play on the beach, swim, or do activities like kayaking but we just explored. It was really nice and relaxing. We went back down to the beach after dinner and had a look at the sunset. It was so nice and beautiful.

Seeing wild life was so amazing. It was my first time seeing a wombat in real life and they are such gorgeous animals to look at. There were also birds that we could feed and we saw bunnies. I think seeing the wildlife was my favourite part about the camp.

We went on a hike for both of the days we were there. It was really nice and was a good challenge and I pushed myself to do the 8km hike rather than the 3km hike. I am so proud and happy that I did that. I didn't think I could do it but when I made it to the top it was so worth it when I was looking at the gorgeous view.

When it got to night time some of us gathered around in a circle and were talking and talking about our experiences so far. We also played a bit of trivia on the first night when we were all sitting together and a wombat came up next to me. That was the first wombat we saw on the camp so it was exciting.

As soon as we got to the campsite Mia and I set up our tent and got all ready for camp and we set up our tent really well. Last year at camp we didn't know how to set up the tent but we did it really well this year. We set up our clothes and toiletry bags. We made sure to really set up our tent properly because of the weather it was very windy but because we set up our tent properly it was really good so the wind didn't keep us up.

Chloe Marriot 

VCE VM Student

The Year 11 VCE VM students recently embarked on an action-packed excursion to Melbourne Cable Park, designed to complement their learning in Personal Development Skills (PDS) and Work-Related Skills (WRS). This excursion provided a dynamic environment for students to challenge themselves physically and mentally while also gaining real-world insights into occupational health and safety (OH&S).
In PDS, students have been focusing on mindset and overcoming challenges, and the cable park provided the perfect setting to put these lessons into practice. The option of either knee boarding or wakeboarding allowed students to test their limits, and it was inspiring to see so many choose the more difficult wakeboarding challenge. While there were many initial failed attempts, students showed remarkable perseverance, embodying the mindset of resilience as they continued to get back up and try again. The staff at the park set a fantastic example, demonstrating that failure is simply part of the learning process. Their encouragement and expertise helped students push through difficulties, and the satisfaction on students' faces when they finally succeeded was priceless.
In WRS, students have been exploring the importance of OH&S, and this excursion offered a valuable real-world perspective. The Cable Park owner conducted an engaging outdoor classroom session, providing insight into the OH&S considerations essential for operating such a facility. This session helped students connect theoretical knowledge to practical applications, reinforcing the importance of safety in workplace environments.
The day concluded with an hour on the inflatable water park, which was not only a fun and physically demanding experience but also a great opportunity for team bonding. It was wonderful to witness the camaraderie within the group, as students encouraged and supported one another through each challenge.
Overall, the excursion was a resounding success. Students left with a greater appreciation for resilience, teamwork, and workplace safety, making it a highly valuable experience that will no doubt contribute to their learning and personal growth

Jacqui Street

VCE VM Coordinator

Sometimes, when learning Physics it helps, not just to calculate the Physics, but to BE the Physics!

On Monday, March 3, our Year 12 Physics students attended the annual VicPhysics day out at Luna Park, where they got to experience the fascinating world of Physics in action.

This hands-on learning experience was designed to bring classroom concepts to life, helping students deepen their understanding of forces, energy, and motion.

As part of their first major assessment, students were tasked with identifying the forces they experienced on a variety of rides, such as circular motion, gravity, energy transfers, and collisions. 

Students were also treated to an exciting Air Force aerobatics display over St Kilda Beach. The high-speed stunts performed by the pilots offered a real-life demonstration of aerodynamics, velocity, and acceleration, giving students an up-close look at how physics governs the flight of aircraft.

The day was a huge success, providing a memorable and interactive way for students to connect their theoretical knowledge of physics with real-world experiences. 

John Gardiner

Physics Teacher

Over the past two weeks our Year 7 students have been away on school camp- an incredible opportunity for them to get to bond, make new friends and develop a strong sense of belonging with both their classmates and teachers. A huge congratulations to all the year 7 students for participating with such enthusiasm and joy, as reflected in all the photos! A big thanks to all the teachers and camp assistants for their dedication in making this a memorable experience for everyone involved.

Mackillop Year 7 Camp

Rice Year 7 Camp

Dominic Year 7 Camp

The Spirit of 快播 section focuses on one core value from our mission statement and ways this value has been demonstrated at school.

Justice: We promote opportunity and equity through awareness and support of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.

Justice has had a shining moment this week at 快播, with Project Compassion beginning this lenten season. On Tuesday our VCE VM students hosted a Shrove Tuesday Pancake breakfast, making and selling fresh pancakes with all their proceeds going towards Caritas and Project Compassion. This fundraising event, and how popular it was, only affirms how strongly our 快播 Students uphold and live the meaning of being a just person. Students donated not only their money but time in order to contribute towards an end to poverty shows this on a large scale. On a smaller scale though, our students act justly in acts every day - like going out of their way to help a younger, lost and confused student find their way around - as recounted by Year 10 Performing Arts Leader Ella.

Our year 9s are also displaying proudly how they live justly, by decorating care bags for the families of Palliative Care Patients. This program, started by Eastern Health, answers the question of how to return the items of deceased patients to their families with love and care. While previously families were given a garbage bag full of belongings, now they are given bags that are lovingly decorated by our year 9 Life Skills students. Showing justice towards not only the mourning families, but the soles of the departed.

Let me express my deepest gratitude to all the wonderful host families who have opened their homes and hearts to our visiting French students from our French culinary partner school . We say goodbye to the eighteen students and two teachers who make the long journey back to France.

Thank you again to the 快播 host families. Without you, this type of International student visit is not possible. For the students, this exchange is more than just a trip; it is an opportunity to learn, grow and build global friendships. Thanks to your warmth and hospitality, they have felt safe, supported, and truly part of your families. The memories they have made鈥攚hether through conversations at the dinner table, exploring new places, or simply sharing laughter鈥攚ill stay with them for a lifetime. Welcoming a student from another country is no small task. It takes kindness, patience, and generosity to provide a home away from home. You have not only shared your space but also your culture, your traditions, and your daily lives鈥攇iving these students an experience they will cherish forever.

This year celebrates 20 years of the international partnership between the two schools. Thank you to 快播 College for providing this great partnership with our French counterparts. Thank you to the staff and all the college for making the students feel welcome and going out of their way to help.

This visit will also build connections that will assist 快播 students who plan to take up the opportunity to visit France on the Hospitality and French language tour at the end of the 2026 academic year. If you are a VET Hospitality or VET Cookery student interested in travelling to France please contact Owen Stott, Director, Wurundjeri Trade Training Centre stottom@aquinas.vic.edu.au.

Owen Stott

Director, Wurundjeri Trade Training Centre

A message from the French group 

Hello 快播 College,

We are the Hospitality/Cookery students from the Notre Dame du Roc College in La Roche sur Yon. We were 9 waiters, 6 cooks and 3 pastry chefs and we went in Australia from the 17 februry to 7 march.

Our trip begin by the visit of Sydney. During these 2 days we discovered the city, and the surronding beaches which are Manly beach and Bondi beach.

On the Wednesday 19 of March, we arrived in Melbourne and we meet are hosting families for the first time. And that was the start of two wonderful weeks with a lot of discovery.

During this period, we discovered Melbourne City (MCG, China Town, Melbourne Museum, Victoria Market鈥�etc.) and the Yarra Valley where we discovered the Yarra Valley Dairy, the chocolate factory and a little bit of wineries. Then we went to Healesville Sanctuary to discover Australian animals such as Koalas, Kangaroos and Tasmanian devils. We did an amazing dinner for our host families in 快播 Restaurant. At school we did hospitality and catering classes, French classes, geography class and P.E classes. During the weekends, our families take us to do activities to discover the culture and the country.

This trip permitted us to improve in English and to discover your wonderful country.

Finally, we want to thank 快播 College, the director, all the teachers and above all Owen Stott for welcoming us and organising all these activities. And of course, thanks to all the hosting families for your warm welcome.

Thank you for all !!

The French students.

The are open!

The theme for the awards 鈥榁oices of hope鈥� echoing that of the 2025 Jubilee Year 鈥楶ilgrims of hope鈥�.

The competition is open to secondary school and senior primary school students 鈥� junior (years 5 and 6); intermediate (years 7 to 9); or senior (years 10 to 12).

Each section has three entry categories: articles, photographs and digital (video or podcast) and prizes will be awarded for each category.

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Deadline: Entries are due by 5pm (AEST), Friday 9 May 2025