Principal's Report
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Welcome Back
I鈥檝e had the great pleasure this week to join with the Year 9 Dominic Team on their Challenge Walk as they have tested their endurance as an example of our 鈥減erseverance鈥 core value. It was also an opportunity to take time in a beautiful setting on the Yarra River to build on relationships and to reflect on the goals that each hopes to achieve this year. Acknowledging that COVID-19 is still prevalent in our community and that we must follow our COVIDSafe Plan if we want to protect each other and our wider community, it is, nonetheless, pleasing to see our students excited about being back at school and keen to make the most of the opportunities that have sometimes needed to be denied during the pandemic. There is a spirit of great optimism at the College as students settle back into their routines and we once again feel the rhythm of school life that makes Aquinas such a vibrant community.
COVID-19 Update
My sincere thanks to you for your efforts to ensure that COVID-19 positive students are not attending school and are isolating. Your vigilance has played a significant role in maintaining quite a low incidence of positive cases coming on site each day given the large size of our community. An update is being sent to all affected families at 11.30am daily to indicate classes in which there has been a positive COVID-19 case reported. You will receive notification if your son/daughter has shared a class with a COVID-19 positive person in the past 48 hrs. Surveillance testing, using the supplied RATs, is recommended twice per week on Monday and Thursday and positive results should be reported to both the Department of Health and the College. Instructions are available on our website: /latest-covid-19-update
Celebrate Excellence Evening
Our Celebrate Excellence Evening is on Monday Feb 28. Invitations will be distributed over the coming days and it will be a ticketed event to help us comply with our COVIDSafe plan. Should you have any questions please contact Ms Liz Grierson in the Senior Years Office (9259 3042). On the topic of excellence, it was pleasing to learn recently that Alice Hong (Graduating Class of 2021) has been selected to showcase her Product Design at the VCAA Season of Excellence Top Designs. Congratulations to Alice and her teacher Ms Kathy Thompson. The work will be on display at the Melbourne Museum.
Opening Mass and Assembly
Our Opening Mass and Assembly is on Tuesday March 1 during the school day. As was the case last year, these are student only events so that we can comply with COVID-19 restrictions regarding area density maximums. We will be live streaming the event and details will be provided to help you watch remotely.
Open Day
Advance notice that on Sunday March 20 we will have our Open Day from 12pm to 3pm. Tours will be conducted on 20 minute intervals with the last tour departing at 2.20pm. Bookings are not required. Parents with a child in Grade 5 are reminded that the enrolment period for the 2024 Year 7 class closes on Friday, August 19th, 2022. Please note that we do not presume that you are enrolling your child at the College and that an application is required. As the tours will enter College buildings we will require proof of vaccination from all adult attendees. Should you have any questions please contact College Registrar, Ms Madeleine Kalla on 9259 3008.
Aquinas Leading Lights
For those new to Aquinas, Leading Lights is an initiative that recognises past students who are making a difference in the world. Our 2022 candidates are Marty Alix (Arts and Entertainment), Angela Wood (Community Service), David Powell (Sport), Luke Brouwer (Service), Rebecca Glen (Science) and Ruby Tribe (Service and Health). We鈥檝e missed a cycle due to COVID-19 restrictions, but look forward to inviting our new group of inductees back to the College on March 18 to help inspire our current students. We will also recognise their achievement at a cocktail reception with their family and friends. We are always looking for nominations for suitable candidates and the nomination form is available on our website.
Aquinas School Advisory Council
The Aquinas School Advisory Council met for the first time in 2022 this week, albeit remotely. We have a vacancy for a parent representative to join our council, and invite anyone interested in being considered to please contact me on principal@aquinas.vic.edu.au. Should you want more information the is available on the College website.
Fr Dispin John - Canonical Administrator
Mr Chris Leahy - Chair
Mr Darren Atkinson - Principal
Darren Atkinson
Principal