Senior School News
Bridging generations through digital mentorship
During Term 4, a group of our Year 9 and 10 students generously volunteered their time after school as part of the COTA (Council On The Ageing) Tasmania Generations Connect: Tech Together initiative.
This wonderful program pairs young mentors with older Tasmanians to build confidence in using technology and help bridge the digital divide.
What started as simple one-on-one technology support quickly blossomed into something much deeper. Over eight weeks, our students and residents at Barrington Lodge Aged Care Centre shared stories, laughter and formed connections that will continue to enrich the lives of everyone involved.
The College is proud of these kind and compassionate students for stepping up with a genuine desire to contribute, embodying the spirit of service and leadership, and making a tangible difference in the lives of others.
We look forward to the program's continued success next year, with a number of students from Years 9–12 having recently completed training and preparing to take part in the eight-week initiative in 2025.
Pictured: Amity, Mae, Lily (Year 9) and Imogen (Year 10), who received certificates upon successfully completing the program. Absent from photo: Charlotte (Year 10). Well done to all involved!
Year 8 Retreat
Our Year 8 students recently took time out from the usual busyness of school to participate in their annual retreat. This year’s theme, People of Character, invited students to investigate and reflect on the unique combination of character strengths that make them who they are.
They explored scripture, stories, and videos that reinforced the message that each person is special and valuable exactly as they are.
Students then used colours symbolising different character strengths to create a yarn doll representing the uniqueness of each individual.
The day concluded with a liturgy, during which students added to their banner a personal commitment to use their strengths to benefit others.
Congratulations to our Year 8 students for their enthusiastic participation throughout the day!
Mrs Sharon Lawler
Director of Identity and Mission
Connecting through Science: Year 8 and Year 5 explore tectonic plates
Mrs Emily Dilger's Year 8E core group recently visited the Year 5 Melaleuca and Waratah classes to share their learning from the Earth Science unit.
The senior students read and discussed books they had created about tectonic plates, sparking curiosity and conversation among the younger students.
The maker's space
Our talented Year 9 Materials and Design student, Stephanie Edward, has brought festive cheer to life with a miniature Christmas scene.
Year 9 Sustainability Day
As part of a day focused on sustainability, our Year 9 Pillars students spent the morning at the
Sustainability Learning Centre in Mt Nelson and the afternoon on Sandy Bay Beach, collecting rubbish and sorting it into the correct bins to prevent waste from entering the ocean.
Students began the morning learning about OzHarvest, an organisation dedicated to reducing food waste in Australia. They discovered, for example, that a lettuce wrapped in plastic can take up to 25 weeks to break down in landfill, but when properly composted, it can benefit the garden.
The group then took part in a fun and educational 'MasterChef Challenge', using food donated by Hill Street that would otherwise have gone unsold.
Working in teams, they had a set time to plan and prepare a sweet or savoury dish. Each team was judged on creativity, taste, clean-up and teamwork.
As you can see from the photos above, the results were amazing, ranging from apple pancakes and apple crumble to tacos!
Karen Walter
Sustainability Officer
ACYF | Enjoyable, memorable and inspiring
In the last fortnight’s edition of The Fountain, we reported that students Hal Cormack, Bella Carter (Year 11) and Ava Schutz (Year 12) had the opportunity to travel to Melbourne for the Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF) 2025.
They have since returned to the College, inspired and enthusiastic to share their experiences and insights with the wider student body.
"Our trip to the Australian Catholic Youth Festival was honestly one of the most exciting and memorable experiences we’ve ever had. The energy was incredible, with thousands of young Catholics gathered in the same place, all ready to learn, celebrate and grow in faith together.
Among the many highlights, what truly made it unforgettable was the people. We forged friendships from all over Australia, hung out between events, swapped stories and built connections we’d never make anywhere else. It felt like being part of something massive, yet still welcoming and personal."
Congratulations to these students on embracing this opportunity and making lasting memories.
Year 8 and 9 | Out and about in Pillars
Our Senior School Pillars program has been all about empowering students to discover more about themselves, build strong connections with their cohort, explore the community around them and take on exciting new skill‑building challenges. Here's just a snapshot of what they’ve been up to lately!
