Principal's Message

Welcome back to term 3.

Year 12 HSC Trials

Our Year 12 students have begun their Trial HSC examinations. It is very important that as a College community we do all we can to support students during this assessment period; ensuring students get sufficient sleep, healthy food, exercise and our praise and encouragement for their effort. 

The trial examinations are a practice for the HSC and must be seen as such. I am very impressed by our Year 12 students, their commitment and dedication to supporting each other to achieve collective success. 

I will speak to Year 12 students on their return from their Trial exams and stress the importance of the last few weeks of their schooling, including finding the growth in their learning, using feedback effectively, collaboration with classmates and working closely with their teachers. 

It will be stressed to all students that there will be no lowering of standards or lessening of expectations in the final weeks of school, especially in terms of attendance, uniform, and maintaining our high standards. I ask for the support of all parents at this time in order to finish the year safely and in a positive fashion.

Any student who fails to maintain the College standards to the end of the term may jeopardise their participation in Graduation events, the issue of a reference, or even his/her HSC.

Year 11 Final Assessments 

With a lot of attention being directed towards the Year 12 Trials/HSC during this term, I would like to take the opportunity to remind Year 11 students that your final Year 11 assessments will take place in the last 2 weeks of this term (Tuesday, 17 September - Thursday, 26 September) and how important it is to take the opportunity of having a study timetable during the term so you are fully prepared for this assessment period.

Year 11 students will be provided with their Assessment timetable in the next fortnight so they can start to plan ahead for these assessments. 

The end of Year 11 assessments are very important, the HSC requires a sustained effort from students over a 2-year period, not a ‘run to the line’ in the HSC exam. It is important to keep the momentum from Year 11 term 3 and take this into Term 1 of Year 12. 

Further, my advice to students on the transition to Year 12 would be to: 

• start early with study notes, revision and assessment preparations. 
• Keep to a study schedule (hopefully used during Yr 11, if not start one in Yr 12) and an organised timetable.
• If you have a subject with a major work, start your work early on rather than leaving it just before the due date.
• Take advantage of the College’s Learning Centre, engage in collaborative study before/after school and during any study periods.
• Make yourself available for any ‘HSC masterclasses/workshops’ offered by subjects on the early finish day/after school as they occur progressively during the year.

St Aloysius College - Sydney Catholic Schools - Inquiry and Review Process

Tuesday 22 October & Wednesday 23 October

What is Inquiry & Review?

The Inquiry & Review process is an opportunity for our College as a self-reviewing, self-improving effective Catholic school to review its learning improvement journey and to be supported and challenged in this activity with an external Review Team from Sydney Catholic Schools. This Review, occurring once in a five-year cycle, will focus on two main parts:

Looking back: (particularly at evidence during our transition to a Year 7-12 College in 2024)

Where are we now in our learning improvement journey, how did we arrive here and what is our evidence?

Looking forward:

What are some future directions for our improvement journey during 2025-2029, how might we get there and how will we know?

I will provide further information to parents closer to the date of the review as we will be seeking out parent representatives across Years 7, 11 & 12 in this review.

Wellbeing Support at St Aloysius College

I take this opportunity at the beginning of semester two to remind our community of the wellbeing support available here at the College. Staff are specifically trained to support your daughters/sons during the journey of completing their Higher School Certificate and also to offer assistance to Year 7 students in their first year of high school.

Student wellbeing support - HSC students

We understand this is a challenging time for HSC students. Our messages to students are to take it one day at a time and that they will have the opportunity to receive their HSC this year. 

We encourage students to visit the Student wellbeing guide for study tips, mental health and wellbeing support and information about free, anonymous and professional services that are available 24/7.

St Aloysius Staff - Wellbeing supports/contacts:

Head of Year 11 Wellbeing: Mr Peter Robertson peter.robertson@syd.catholic.edu.au

Head of Year 12 Wellbeing: Mrs Rachel O’Connor rachel.oconnor@syd.catholic.edu.au

Dean of College: Mr Jon Cullerton - jon.culllerton@syd.catholic.edu.au

Pathways/Careers Support:

Mrs Yvette Kennedy - yvette.kennedy@syd.catholic.edu.au 

Vocational Education Support:

Mr Andrew Christoforidis - a.christoforidis@syd.catholic.edu.au

Counselling Services:

Ms Olivia Dawson - olivia.dawson001@syd.catholic.edu.au

After school hours: 

Students are encouraged to call Kids Help Line on 1880 551 800 or make contact with e-headspace who can provide ongoing online counselling in non-urgent cases.

As always if you find your son/daughter to be experiencing a mental health crisis, the Sutherland Hospital Emergency is your best port of call.

Final Thoughts

It is so important that all students that come to St Aloysius College seek to be a better person when they enter in Year 7 or 11 to when they exit in Year 12. I share with you a few tips I feel are important in showing how you can be a better person through students' own maturity and self - development.

• Be willing to change
• Stop making excuses
• Be a role model
• Stop being angry
• Listen to people
• Be honest
• Surprise someone special
• Take good care of yourself
• Practise the principles of ‘GEM’ - Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfullness

Improving yourself can help you achieve your goals and make you feel happy about yourself.

Our journey here at school can be brief in some ways when looking at a student's entire life but they are crucial years that can also set students up for a successful/happy life in so many ways.

Remember always:

“Life is not a competition with others. Life is a competition with yourself—to do your personal best each day and be the best person you can be.”

God Bless and up the Sharks…

Stephen Mahoney

Principal