2026 Student Leaders

In his first Papal mass, Pope Leo XIV spoke of how servant leaders builds community through celebrating diversity and being among their peers: “[St Peter] is called to serve the faith of his brothers and sisters and to walk alongside them, for all of us are ‘living stones’ (1 Peter 2:5), called through our baptism to build God’s house in fraternal communion, in the harmony of the Spirit, in the coexistence of diversity.” This focus is most fitting in the wake of our 2026 Year 12 College Captains and Vice Captains receiving their handover from our wonderful 2025 leaders at the Year 12 Farewell College Assembly. I had the pleasure of conducting one-on-one interviews with each of the 2026 captains and was very impressed by their maturity and love for the College. In response to what they love most about Aquinas College, and each focussed on the word ‘community’ and the sense of acceptance and belonging they would both maintain and further build, expressing particular excitement at being our first leaders under the vertical house system.

It is with great pleasure that I congratulate the following students on their appointment as our 2026 Aquinas College Captains & Vice Captains:

College Captains: Ria Jijose & Oliver Mees

College Vice Captains: Will Elliot & Rose Ennis

I look forward to working with these fine young leaders to serve our Aquinas students, staff and community.
The applications and appointment of the remaining 2026 Year 12 student leadership positions will be conducted during their Commencement weeks in mid-November.

Year 10 Gala Ball

It was a delight to attend the first of the two Year 10 Gala Balls and witness our students in their black and white finery. The dance lessons certainly paid off for the vast majority and it was a great pleasure to witness the many proud parents, grandparents and family members in attendance to support our Year 10 students (including some energetic dancing from much younger siblings). Many thanks to the PACE (Parents & Community Engagement) Network for coordinating this unique opportunity and to the staff who assisted in the organisation and supervision.

Excellence on show

It’s been another busy week at the College. While our Year 12 students began their VCE exams, younger year levels showcased performing arts and academic excellence at the Junior Music Showcase, Year 9-10 Let’s Dance evening and the AGiLE showcase. It was a great pleasure to attend each evening and witness so many students pushing beyond their expectations to the delight and appreciation of family and friends. I congratulate the students involved and thank the many staff who have supported the students to develop and extend their skills and knowledge.

David Broadbent

School Principal

Message from Spartan School World

Spartan School World is working on a process for families who are moving to a new house and who are able to purchase a subsidised sports polo per student. They will notify the College when it is ready and stock will be due in January 2026. More information will be available shortly so please hold off making any purchases online or instore.

Social Media Age Restrictions - Webinars

From 10 December 2025, major social-media services will be required to take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under the age of 16 from creating or keeping an account — even if parental consent has been given.

The aim is to shield young people from the increased risks of excessive screen-time, harmful content, cyber-bullying and other online pressures during a critical stage of their development.

Research and commentary suggest that design features of many social-media platforms (e.g., features that encourage heavy screen-time, algorithmic feeds, exposure to age-inappropriate material) can increase risk to younger adolescents’ health, wellbeing and development.

The delay until age 16 is intended to give young people more time to develop social-emotional, digital-literacy, and resilience skills before engaging in the kinds of peer/online interaction typical of social media.

The 30-minute webinar from the eSafety Commissioner will help parents and carers understand the upcoming changes to social media access for children under 16.

Join the information session to:

• understand the purpose of the new age restrictions and how they aim to protect young Australians
• understand which platforms will require users to be 16+ and what platforms they can still access
• get tips and resources to support your child’s online safety and wellbeing through the transition.

Parents and carers will gain:

• a clear understanding of the new rules and their implications
• confidence in guiding their child through these changes
• access to trusted resources to support safe and positive online engagement.
  

Please follow the link to register - https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/industry-regulation/social-media-age-restrictions/webinars

Jess Alger
Deputy Principal

We remember

November begins this weekend. A month associated with remembrance. All Souls Day, All Saints Day, Remembrance Day are key days in November when we pause to remember. In writing this, as I am sure many of you now reading this article, already have a loved one in mind who has passed you are thinking of. In thinking of “remembering”, I look to a beautiful song written by Shelley Murley called We Remember - Remembrance Day Song. I have included the chorus below.

We remember, when we love when we give,

We remember when we stop and forgive,

We remember so many lives they never lived.

We remember.

Written by Shelley Murley

I find this song particularly moving personally, as a daughter of a veteran who did come home. From a faith perspective the second line of the second verse sings about honouring those who freely sacrificed themselves. This is what I believe Jesus did for us. He struggled, prayed for the cup to be taken away and yet ultimately chose to sacrifice his life to save ours. Ultimate, unconditional love.

During the month of November, I hope you all have the opportunity to take time to pause and remember your loved ones. For some the grief is still raw and for others it is a gentle sadness with fond memories that now make you smile. In whatever point you are in your journey, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your loved ones.

 Tania Grace
Assistant Principal Mission

Celebrating Aquinas Teachers

Today is World Teachers Day and we are grateful for the dedication, support and encouragement that our teachers provide for our students. We also celebrate all of our Aquinas staff in the important roles they undertake everyday, to ensure our students have a valuable experience in their time at Aquinas.

All staff are working on their projects today, as a part of our accreditation to the Council of International Schools (CIS). Combined Teaching and Non-teaching staff groups have aligned themselves in areas of interest working on how they can implement improvements and change at Aquinas.

On behalf of you all, I say THANK YOU!

 

Gina Goss
Assistant Principal - Staff

Welcome to our 2026 College Captains

Following the announcement of the College Captains at the Term 4 whole school assembly we welcome and congratulate Ria Jijose, Oliver Mees, Rose Ennis and Will Elliot.

Student leadership plays a vital role in shaping the spirit of our college. It gives students the chance to develop confidence, teamwork, and initiative while making a genuine difference in the lives of others and for positive change.

Today, applications open for all other College Student Leadership positions inviting our current Year 11 students to take the next step in their leadership journey. With the introduction of our new Houses in 2026, leadership opportunities have expanded further than other years.

Positions now available include College Ambassadors, College School Advisory Council Representative, Faith Captain, House Captains, Performing Arts Captain, Sports Captain, VCE VM Captains, Sustainability Leader, Social Justice Leaders, Sport Leader, Music Leader, Drama Leader and Dance Leader.

Written applications and position descriptors are to be shared with students today, with responses due by 9am Monday November 10. In addition, Student Representative roles for Music across all year levels have also been released.

Best wishes to all students displaying the courage to apply and lead our college into an exciting new year.

Rachel Crawley

Head Senior Years

Middle Years Swimming Carnival

The Middle Years Swimming Carnival will take place on Wednesday 5 November at Aquanation. This all-day event is a fantastic opportunity for students to come together and enjoy a day of fun and activity.

The focus of the carnival is on participation and enjoyment. While there will still be some competitive races for those keen to test their skills in the pool, the program will feature more novelty events designed to encourage everyone to get involved. The diving pool will be open, students can enjoy a volleyball area in the pool as well as spikeball and bocce on the lawns outside.

All students are expected to attend, and we encourage everyone to approach the day with a ‘have a go’ attitude. Whether you are swimming, cheering or trying something new, it promises to be a fun-filled day celebrating community, participation, and Middle Years spirit.

Sam Storey
Head Middle Years

 Wishing Tree Christmas Appeal

It’s that time of year again when we start thinking about Christmas and how we can share the joy of the season with others.One of our most loved end-of-year traditions at Aquinas, is the Wishing Tree Appeal, where our school community supports the local St Vincent de Paul Conferences by collecting gifts and donations for families in need. So I’d like to invite everyone to take part once again and help us finish the year with kindness and compassion.

How Can You Help?

If you’re out shopping over the next few weeks, perhaps you could pick up a small gift to leave under the Wishing Tree in the ARC. Gifts will be for young children and families, and only need to be between $15-$20. No need to wrap the gifts, as Vinnies will collect it all and wrap up small parcels to give to families.

If you’d prefer to give a cash donation, envelopes can be found hanging on the Christmas Tree in the ARC. Simply place your donation into the envelope and hand it in to the Catholic Life Office (located in the Year 9 Quad, next door to IT Support).

Gift Vouchers are also a great option, especially for teenagers and adults. Please keep these to a maximum of $20 for easier distribution by Vinnies. These can also be handed in to the Catholic Life Office.

Please ensure all gifts and donations are delivered to the school by Friday 28th November, or your last day onsite.

Thank you in advance for your generosity and support of our 2025 Wishing Tree Appeal. Your contributions make a real difference to local families and help us keep the spirit of giving alive in our community.

Martha Mugamu

Justice & Outreach Coordinator

As usual, the last few weeks have been busy for our Music students!

On Tuesday 28 October, our Junior Ensembles were celebrated with our Junior Music Showcase, held in a packed Mahon Theatre. Starting with the legendary massed ensemble piece, the Blues Brothers Medley, the evening saw our junior and intermediate rock bands, stage bands, guitar ensembles, choirs and jazz combos entertain family members and members of the leadership team. Congratulations to all the students for their hard work, dedication, and indeed courage, in bringing this performance to life.

Great Ryrie Primary School Performance

The music department enjoys supporting and engaging with outside schools, and two weeks ago our Junior Concert Band and Junior Stage Bands performed a lunchtime concert at Great Ryrie Primary School. Both our students and the primary students enjoyed the concert, and we hope to build a closer working relationship going ahead between the two schools, which will benefit the musical growth of both student bodies.

 

Local School Fêtes

On Saturday 11 October, one of our Year 12 students, Jack Georges, performed a set at the Holy Spirit fête. Jack studies singing and guitar at Aquinas, and plays a lot of his own material, which is available on Spotify.

On Sunday 19 October, a number of our choir students performed at the St Luke’s fête. The week after, the Year 10 / 11 Music students and the Inter Stage Band performed at the Our Lady’s Ringwood fête. Our final fête will be at St John’s, on Saturday 15 November, for our Year 9 Music Class and “The Dames”, a group of Year 9 students who have formed their own band.

Thank you to the students, parents and staff, who give their time on the weekends to support our local schools.

VCE Music Exams

Congratulations to all our VCE Repertoire and Performance Music students, who have all performed their practical VCE performance exams. We’re proud of all you’ve accomplished through the years here, and are pleased with the number of students considering further musical studies.

AMEB Music Exams

Congratulations to Rose Ennis, Year 11, for achieving her AMusA performance level on violin. Those of you who saw the school musical will know that violin is far from Rose’s only accomplishment!

Chookas to Brian Villalon and Isabella Zahra, who are sitting their AMEB piano exams soon.

Sally Pace

Music Co-ordinator

Aussie Bird Count 2025

 A huge thank you to everyone in the AAA College community who became citizen scientists by taking part in this year’s Aussie Bird Count. Students across all year levels joined their classes to record the amazing birdlife around our campus. Despite the challenging weather conditions, participation was outstanding — with students from subjects including Science and Religion contributing valuable data to this nationwide project. Sadly, 1 in 6 Aussie birds faces the treat of extinction.

Keep an eye out for the official results, numbers are currently at 5,269,573. Well done to all involved!

Karyn Myers

Sustainability Coordinator

So much more

In class, the crazy Louvre jewellery heist has been the subject of many discussions, from the fact that it could have happened when the Aquinas group was there some time ago, through to recognising one of France’s queens Hortense, whose precious tiara and necklace disappeared in 7 minutes and is the name of Beauty’s sister in Beauty and the Beast.

With the recent completion of Year 12 classes, I have had the opportunity to reflect upon my students' language journey. Some students have been working with me for 3 years and others 4. In our last class they spoke about certain memories, which as a teacher, you often forget. Things including the tradition of the tower of French dictionaries that became part of our French classroom landscape, the sense of community and safety to make mistakes and giggle with each other in solidarity, the silliness of writing French words in English essays and preparing to sing a French song to French examiners. These souvenirs are precious. But there has been so much more. These students whose language learning was completely thrown into chaos due to Covid and who did not acquire many basics, have emerged as such well rounded individuals who have been able to pick up cultural nuances and social norms. Last week they had to speak for 15 minutes to French adults, and they did so completely fluently. Not only did they speak about the importance of studying a language, demonstrate cultural etiquette, idiomatic expressions and express the ways in which cultural diversity is found within Melbourne, but they also discussed the ever present problem of poverty, the importance of showing kindness and selflessness as well as taking action to help those less fortunate than ourselves in a fast paced world where often such deep issues seem beyond the power of a young adult.

It has been a privilege being part of such a roller coaster ride of learning and sharing. These students have grown in proficiency in another language, making them valuable in a global workforce. But there is so much more. These language students have a greater acceptance, understanding and appreciation of those they encounter. They are ready to foster cross-cultural rapports in an ever changing world and do so with compassion.

Quelle merveille!
Nathalie Walshe

Languages LAL

On the 20th of October our Year 11 Geography class had the pleasure of heading to Phillip Island to observe how the tourism industry has impacted the development of the area. Driving down the highway into a rainstorm sure did put a feeling of worry into the minds of all attendees. Luckily, the ever present microclimate of Phillip Island allowed us to have two days of pleasant weather and a calm breeze.

The Students first got to visit San Remo and observe the Pelican feeding as well as noting the traffic patterns caused by the attendees of the MotoGP heading home. After a short tour of the island they visited the famous surf beaches of Phillip Island to analyse how these have been developed to suit high tourist numbers before heading to the Penguin Parade for an education session and to watch the Penguins arrive for the night.

After a lovely breakfast (despite being interrupted by greedy Seagulls) day two saw us start by visiting the most famous/infamous surf beach, Woolamai. A final stop in Cowes to do observations of the main town capped our fieldwork tasks, and a cheeky stop at the Chocolate Factory on the way out ended us on a high note.

A great time was had by all, and now we turn to the task of processing our data into a fieldwork report.

John Watson

Year 11 Geography teacher

Last Thursday, we had the pleasure of accompanying our Robotics Club and AGILE students to the Inspire: It Takes a Spark conference, at The Knox School. Students participated in a full day of hands-on workshops, keynote presentations and interactive STEM experiences designed to ignite curiosity and innovation. 

The event offered opportunities to connect with like-minded learners from across Victoria and engage with emerging technologies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. One of our Year 9 students, Yulia, even took home a prize from one of the competitions - a wonderful recognition of her creativity and problem-solving skills. It was a valuable day of learning that encouraged critical thinking and strengthened students’ enthusiasm for STEM education.

Mel Bayliss, Kate Chamberlain and Sally Gridley

Teachers

 This week interviews were conducted with Year 9 families wishing to change their allocation for their Year 10 Maths subject for 2026. 

If you were unable to book due to the Simon/PAM outage you can Respond to this Google Form to request follow up contact.
 
Thank you

James Meade
Mathematics Learning Area Leader 

The Gala Ball wouldn't have been possible without the incredible support of our staff and families. Thank you to all the parents, guardians and staff who assisted along the way - your time, enthusiasm and encouragement made the two evenings truly special. 

 It was a wonderfully successful event, and we're sure our students will treasure the memories (and photos!) for years to come. 

A special thank you to our talented dance instructors, Erin and Ben from MarShere Dance Studios, for your patience and expertise, to Liz Grierson and Jill Beddoes and the PACE Network, led by Meaghan Sadler, for your outstanding organisation and dedication.  

Congratulations to all our students and staff - we look forward to many more memorable events ahead!

Catherine Kearney & Scott Watkins

Dulcie: Year 10 gala was truly a unique experience. We were lucky enough to have the best instructors in our rehearsals and the overall practice time leading up to the night was so fun and ensured we all had the best experience even for those with limited dance experience. I was on night 2 of Gala and it was genuinely the best night. We were able to complete all our routines that we had been rehearsing for weeks prior, even though there were mistakes here and there it didn’t turn anyone away from enjoying the night as the excitement and constant adrenaline allowed us to all have fun and continue on. After all the traditional gala ball dancing and the great meals, we were lucky to spend the rest of the night on the dance floor where we truly were able to witness a different kind of dance style to the ones we had been learning for the night. In the end it was such an enjoyable experience with memories that will for sure last a lifetime and will be spoken about around the school for weeks to come.

Ted: I, along with many other students in the year 10 cohort, was lucky enough to participate in Night One of the Year 10 Gala Ball a few weeks ago. Although my personal experience was slightly different from most during the build-up for the night, it was great to see so many students' hard work and effort pay off, whether it was committing to their dances or putting a lot of effort on the stunning suits and dresses for the night. I found it quite pleasing to see so many different students from many different groups, all coming together to dance and enjoy the night as a year level group, as well as everyone getting on the dance floor for their special person's dance. Overall, Year 10 Gala was an incredibly fun, classy and entertaining night for everyone involved.

Aidan: Year 10 gala is one of those nights that you hear older students and graduates reminisce about when it's over, or even when they’re leaving the college years later. Whether it be the many Wednesday afternoons spent in the O Driscoll room laughing at how bad each other were at dancing, to arriving on the night in limousines dolled up to the nines, no part of the gala process was without laughter and a good time. Even though on the night there was still some nerves of performing in front of our families, and probably some questionable footwork, the night was not something to forget, and memories were made I will keep for quite some time.

Sam: I do not regret doing the year 10 Gala, as I was blessed with a great time. The rehearsals throughout the term were a great way to work on our dancing skills and it all came together on the night. I had a great time completing the dance routines and I’m sure others did as well, and it didn’t matter if you made a mistake because we all had so much fun.

Ella: I participated on night 1 of the Year 10 Gala along with some of my best friends. It was an incredible experience, from doing the dance practices, reading the thank you speech, all the way to performing for my family and friends on the night. We were able to take lots of photos all night long, which I'm thankful I will be able to look back on in the coming years. The Year 10 gala for me was something special that I will never forget and I hope everyone else who participated had an amazing time too.

2025 is the first year in which we have two exceptional nominees for the Sportsperson of the Year award. After a lot of deliberation, we could not split them and both were awarded the award.

It is with great pleasure that we announce the first dual 2025 Aquinas Sportsperson of the Year award.  

Gabby Linton

As the 2025 Sports Captain, Gabby has exemplified outstanding leadership, dedication and passion for sport throughout her time at Aquinas. Gabby has been involved in EISM consistently representing the College in Swimming, Cross Country and Athletics. As a valued member of the leadership team, she played a key role in helping train the Cross Country and Athletics teams leading to Gabby proudly accepting the Division 1 Athletics and Cross Country trophies on behalf of the College. This year, Gabby played EISM Softball in Season 1 and was awarded Best Player for Touch Football in Season 2. She was also a prominent player in the Senior Vic Schools Netball Team.

Gabby has balanced her EISM participation with her outside school Netball commitments, playing for the Peninsula Waves in the VNL. We wish Gabby every success as she continues to pursue her netball career beyond school.

Congratulations Gabby.

The second recipient of the 2025 Aquinas Sportsperson of the Year award:

Lachie Buyck

Lachie has been another dedicated EISM participant, consistently representing the College in Swimming, Cross Country and Athletics. As an active and supportive member of the leadership team, he played a significant role in motivating and assisting the Cross Country and Athletics squads, proudly helping the College secure the Division 1 Athletics and Cross Country trophies.

Lachie has demonstrated exceptional commitment to a wide range of weekly EISM sports from year 7 through to his senior years, showcasing his talent and versatility across multiple disciplines. This year Lachie was an integral part of both the Touch Football and AFL Football teams. Lachie’s run down touch to secure the Touch Football grand final this year, will forever go down in history but also in the heart of Mr Brummell.

Congratulations Lachie.

Erin Richards and Renee Johns

Sports Co-ordinators

Congratulations to Year 12 Student Grace Rider who was recently selected to represent Australia at the Virtus World Swimming Championships in Thailand from 20th - 30th August 2025.

Grace achieved outstanding performances throughout the competition, winning Bronze in the Open 200m Breaststroke, Gold in the Youth 200m Breaststroke, Silver in the Youth 100m Breaststroke, and was a member of the 4 x 50m World Record Medley team.

While Grace was in Thailand representing her country, the Swimming Victoria Awards were held. Grace had the honour of being named the 2025 Swimming Victoria Young Leader of the Year.

More recently, Grace continued her success by winning Bronze in the 50m Breaststroke at the Australian Short Course Championships.

Over the past year, Grace has worked incredibly hard both in and out of the pool. She is honoured to have reached such a major milestone in her swimming career.

We wish her well in her Year 12 exams and every success in her swimming in the future!

To celebrate the completion of they VCE VM program, Year 12 Students enjoyed a session at Flip Out, Knox City.

It was a wonderful way to recognise  the hard work, dedication, and achievements of our Year 12 VCE VM students and their teachers throughout the year.

Splendour in November  - Festival of Life, Light and Sound

Splendour in November on Wednesday 26 November is celebrating all things Aquinas. Firstly, we are having our final Family Mass for 2025 at 5.30pm in the Mary MacKillop Chapel. Everyone is welcome. Please stay after Mass for a BBQ and other Splendour events in the MY Quad. Including: Music Soirees, PACE Free Coffee and Cake, Visual and Performing Art Displays, Fundraising Stalls and much more....Those wishing to attend the VCE Information Session or the Year 7 2026 Parent Information Session - Talking Transition, can move across after eating to the relevant locations. For catering and organisational purposes, please complete the form.

A Celebration of Creativity: The Year 12 Grad Display

In the lead-up to Tuesday night’s Graduation Ceremony, our annual Grad Display shone a well-deserved spotlight on the achievements of our talented Year 12 Art, VCD, Media and DAT students. The exhibition was nothing short of exceptional -an inspiring showcase of imagination, skill and dedication.

The VCD folios and presentation boards were alive with colour and innovation. From detailed technical drawings to surface graphics, all four fields of design were well represented.

The Media room drew visitors in with captivating films that demonstrated strong storytelling, sharp editing and impressive performance. Alongside these, photography and print pieces explored diverse themes and ideas, offering powerful insights into how young people view and shape their world.

Design and Technology filled the foyer, with student works that were both functional and aesthetically engaging, demonstrating a strong balance between purpose and visual appeal. Each design responded thoughtfully to user needs, with many students exploring inclusive and adaptive features to support a diverse range of users.

In the senior Art room, creativity flourished in every corner. Visitors were treated to an extraordinary range of styles and mediums—ceramics, portraits, interdisciplinary works, mixing paint and digital mediums—all revealing students’ confidence in communicating their personal vision and cultural uniqueness. Their folios offered a fascinating glimpse into the thinking, experimentation and influences behind their Unit 4 works.

Congratulations to our graduating Visual Arts students for a remarkable year of creativity and growth, and to our dedicated Visual Arts staff who nurture and empower our young artists from Years 7 to 12. Together, they continue to make the Arts a vibrant and vital part of our school community.

Paola Unger
Acting Arts Learning Area Leader

Aquinas Career News Edition #30 can be found here. Topics this week include a special edition for Year 12's career news.

• Dates to Diarise in Term 4
• Reminder: Key VTAC Dates
•  Summer School with Access Education
• Foundation Studies at ACU
• Federation University: Changes to courses from 2026
• Psychiatrists and Psychologists: What's the Difference?
• Guaranteed Pathways for Bachelor of Design Students at the University of Melbourne
• The Hotel School - Info Evening
• Torrens University - Virtual Open Day Recordings
• Part Time Work Opportunity
• Employment Projections
• Games Design Courses in Victoria in 2025
• Snapshot of Melbourne Polytechnic in 2025

 Vanessa Ramsay

Careers Counsellor

Updated Spartan Uniform Price List

It is a clear expectation that all students at Aquinas wear the College uniform correctly and proudly.

Spartan supplies all facets of the uniform to our families. All items can be conveniently purchased on line or in store. The online facility includes the options of free home delivery for Aquinas families, or pick up from the shop can be arranged. 

Link to Current Uniform Price List

Spartan School World

1/210–214 Canterbury Road
Bayswater North
(03) 9070 8284
spartanss.com.au

Monday to Friday 9.00am - 5.00pm
First Saturday of the month 9.00am - 12.00pm

If you need assistance with the College uniform and student personal appearance requirements please read here Aquinas College uniform requirements.