Principal's Message

Mr Stephen Mahoney

Dear Parents, Students, and Friends of St Aloysius,

 

As we approach the final weeks of the term, I continue to be incredibly proud of the vibrant spirit and dedication our students display daily. It's inspiring to see their high level of engagement in learning, their successes on the sporting fields, and their active participation in our faith life. Our College Facebook and Instagram pages offer just a glimpse into their passion for striving for excellence, competing to the best of their abilities, and making a real difference in our community.

 

I've recently had the pleasure of reviewing the Year 11 and 12 student reports and am about to dive into those for Years 7 and 8. I want to extend a sincere congratulations to both Year 11 and 12 for their strong work ethic and impressive achievements. It's particularly encouraging to see so many students with near-perfect attendance for the semester and consistently high effort ratings across their subjects. This commitment truly reflects their dedication. While some students need to improve their punctuality and attendance (aiming for above 95%), the overall dedication is commendable. Remember, fostering positive student-teacher relationships is absolutely crucial for success, not just for the HSC but for life in general.

 

With the semester drawing to a close, I encourage all students to take this opportunity to thoughtfully reflect on their Semester One reports. This is a valuable chance to identify areas of strength and celebrate achievements, as well as pinpoint areas for growth in Semester Two. For our Year 12 students, this reflection is particularly vital as you prepare for your HSC Trials.

 

Finally, it was wonderful to see so many Year 11 and 12 parents attend our recent Parent-Teacher-student Interviews. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of these evenings. They provide an invaluable opportunity to connect, discuss progress, and work together to support our students' academic journey.

Learning Centre (College Library)

I encourage all students (particularly Yr 12 students as you approach your HSC trials) to use our Learning Centre actively till the end of term 2 and throughout term 3. To assist we have opened the Library during the winter holidays and extended the hours at the beginning of term 3. Full details below:

 

Winter Holidays

 

During the winter holiday period the Learning Centre will be open at the following times to give our students the opportunity to study and engage in practice HSC questions. Subject based workshops will also be conducted over the winter holidays.

Week 1 
Tuesday, 8 July9.00am - 3.00pm
Wednesday, 9 July9.00am - 3.00pm
Thursday, 10 July9.00am - 3.00pm
  
Week 2 
Tuesday, 15 July9.00am - 3.00pm
Wednesday, 16 July9.00am - 3.00pm
Thursday, 17 July9.00am - 3.00pm

Term 3 Extended Hours

Term 3 Week 2
Monday, 28 July - Thursday, 31 July8.00am - 5.00pm
 
Term 3 Week 3
Monday, 4 August - Friday, 8 August7.30am - 5.00pm (close at 4pm on Friday)
  
Term 3 Week 4 
Monday, 11 August - Friday, 15 August         7.30am - 5.00pm (close at 4pm on Friday)

I encourage all Year 12 students to take advantage of these extended hours before they begin their HSC trials on Friday, 1 August.

Attendance

I share the following information to parents/carers to assist in the understanding of how important attending and arriving on time to all of your classes should be a priority.

 

Benefits Of Attendance:

  • You will be involved in your own learning and gain knowledge to assist you to achieve your subject/HSC goals.
  • You will interact with other students and learn from each other.
  • You will get assistance directly from our staff who have HSC expertise in their subject areas to help you achieve your goals.
  • You will be part of challenging and motivating learning environments where you are the priority.

Losses Due To Non-Attendance:

  • Missing vital HSC/Assessment/class information, skills and knowledge delivered in a dynamic classroom environment.
  • Having to gain information ‘second-hand’.
  • Missing the vital discussion and interaction that occurs in all classrooms.
  • Missing the opportunity to receive assistance from your teachers and their HSC expertise.
  • Having to do work missed in class in your own time – adding to your workload.

Tell Them From Survey

I just wanted to take the opportunity to thank the 56 parents/carers who completed the ‘Tell Them From Survey’. Your feedback is very important to us. Throughout term 3, we will carefully review these responses, alongside feedback from students and teachers, to identify areas for improvement across the College. These insights will be incorporated into our ongoing strategic planning processes.

Burraneer Tunnels Upgrade - Sydney Water notice to community

Sydney Water has provided the following information regarding the upgrade of Burraneer Waste  Water Tunnels. (see specific details in the Community Notice section of this newsletter).

 

Please be mindful of the restricted parking, it is advised that students avoid parking in Grosvenor Rd until the end of 2025.

 

Message from Sydney Water

Sydney Water has been given permission by Sutherland Council to set up our worker facilities (three small sheds) on the grass verge along Cross Road. These are essential for crew safety and operations. The sheds will be delivered towards the end of this month and will be in place for up to 10 months.  

  • The sheds will be set back far enough to make sure drivers can still see clearly when turning from Gunnamatta Road into Cross Road.
  • The footpath will stay open for pedestrians, and the work area will be fully fenced and secure.
  • The sheds will face away from the school. Workers will only move between the sheds and the work site at the start and end of their shift, and during lunch (all construction is happening on Grosvenor Cres, not on Cross Rd)
  • We’ll relocate the existing school zone sign closer to the Gunnamatta Road corner so it remains clearly visible.

If you have any further questions, please contact the following:

Sydney Water - 0448 526 084

Delivering4customers@sydneywater.com.au

End of term 2/beginning of term 3 details

Please click on the link to see the letter regarding all details for the end/beginning of term in a letter sent to parents/carers.

Final message

I hope all our families have a wonderful and relaxing winter break, and that students return re-energized and ready for an exciting term 3!

 

I'll also be taking some leave during the winter break and into term 3. I'm pleased to announce that Mr. Michael Kelleher will be stepping in as Acting Principal from Thursday, July 3, until Friday, August 1. Mr. Kelleher is a highly experienced and recently retired Catholic Principal, and I have every confidence the College will be in excellent hands during my absence.

 

God bless & as always ‘Up Up Cronulla’

 

Stephen Mahoney

Principal