Remembrance Day: ‘Those who fought and those who fell become our sons as well’

One of the most impactful days on my recent pilgrimage was our visit to the Gallipoli Peninsula, including ANZAC Cove, the Lone Pine Memorial and more. As Remembrance Day approaches on 11 November next week, we commemorate ‘those who fought and those who fell’. Visiting Gallipoli with our Turkish guide highlighted both the futility of war and just how quickly foes repaired relationships after the war. The following quote from 1920s-30s Turkish President Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was a direct message to families in Australia upset at the discovery of many unburied Australian soldiers in 1931:

“Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives.

You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country.

Therefore, rest in peace.

There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours,

You, the mothers, who sent their sons from far away countries wipe away your tears;

Your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace

After having lost their lives on this land, they have become our sons as well”.

These unifying words from Atatürk (which Oils fans may recognise as ‘borrowed’ for their anti-war song Blossom & Blood) very much reflect our own Christian belief in forgiveness: the reality is that as Australians we were invading the Turkish lands in 1915, but less than 20 years later were being embraced as family, united in grief.

The pictures below show the Atatürk quote as a memorial at ANZAC Cove with the rosemary that grows all over the Peninsula that is traditionally worn on ANZAC & Remembrance Day, along with the wreath I had the privilege to lay at the Lone Pine cemetery with a fellow principal who is descended from an ANZAC soldier.

We remember all those who serve and those sacrificed in conflict to protect others.

Lest we forget.

2027 Year 12 Student Leadership Team

In our previous Lighthouse we introduced the 2027 College Captains. With great please, we now congratulate the full Year 12 Student Leadership team:

School Advisory Council- call for nominations

Under the auspices of our governing body - the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) board - the Aquinas College School Advisory Council (SAC) exists to support the principal, parish priest and leadership team of the school. One of the many measures the SAC took in 2026 was to successfully advocate to MACS regarding our 2027 budget in order to keep fees for families as low as possible. 

At the end of 2026, we will be farewelling two of our long-serving SAC members, opening a place for new voices to contribute.

While no particular expertise is required, the school seeks people with a range of diverse skill sets to best advise the principal, united by a desire to provide the best possible education for our students. A balanced membership with parent voice on the SAC is well-placed to advise the principal about important matters, particularly those related to the school’s mission and students’ success. The needs of the council will be given priority in terms of ensuring a balance of gender, cultural diversity and skill sets.

Therefore, we are calling on you to express your interest in being part of the School Advisory Council. If you are a member of the parish, have children in the school or are an Aquinas alumnus and wish to be part of this important support to our College, we would welcome your application to or enquiry about the SAC to principal@aquinas.vic.edu.au by Friday 13 November.

Splendour in November - save the date!

We look forward to welcoming families on Wednesday 25 November to the Splendour in November. The evening starts with our family Mass, followed by a BBQ, Music performances, art & technology displays, BBQ, food trucks, games and more, concluding with the VCE 2027 Information Evening and Year 7 2027 Talking Transition.

Please see the poster below for details.

David Broadbent

Principal

Finish Strong, Start Ready

The final month of the school year offers students in Years 7–11 a valuable opportunity to build habits that will help them begin next year with confidence. Small, consistent actions now can make a significant difference to learning, organisation and wellbeing.

One important focus is preparing for the upcoming ban on mobile phones and wearable technology in schools across Victoria. Students can begin adjusting now by ensuring their phone and headphones are locked securely in their locker before the school day begins and remain there until the end of the day. These devices should not be used at any time throughout the school day.

Learning to spend the day without checking notifications helps students strengthen their concentration, engage fully in lessons and connect with others during breaks. It also supports greater independence in managing distractions and making thoughtful choices about technology.

Parents and carers can support this transition by avoiding messaging their child during school hours. If an emergency arises, please contact College reception so that staff can pass on important information and provide support.

Beyond technology, students can use these final weeks to establish other practical routines: arriving punctually, wearing the correct uniform, bringing the correct equipment, recording homework, meeting deadlines and asking for help when needed. Students taking a few minutes each evening to pack their bags and check the following day’s timetable is an excellent starting point.

We encourage every student to choose one or two habits to practise consistently. Finishing the year with purpose will lay strong foundations for a successful year ahead.

Jess Alger

Deputy Principal

 Spiritually Speaking: Being prepared

This Sunday’s gospel reading is about a late groom and 10 bridesmaids. The bridesmaids are waiting for the grooms arrival, not knowing exactly when he will arrive. Some prepare for the long wait, ensuring they bring spare oil with them for their lamps, while others simply have their lamp. Once the groom finally arrives later in the night, it is those who waited prepared who can greet him properly.

The Gospel reading is a symbollic of our relationship with Jesus and our Father. Sometimes, we feel like our relationship with our Father is distant, like we are waiting. During these times, what can we do to prepare ourselves for Jesus’ presence? Do we have the extra oil ready? What can we do to rebuild and strengthen our relationship with God?

When we work with our students, we are always looking to helping them prepare. Prepare for learning, for making positive choices, for building sustainable relationships, for subject selections, for life choices, for future journeys. Building skills is a form of “gathering extra oil” so that students can sustain themselves as they grow into responsible citizens in our society. During these last 4 - 5 weeks of the year, we begin to see more reminiscing. For me, it is wonderful to see our young people becoming better prepared and ready for the future they are waiting for beyond Aquinas.

Tania Grace

Assistant Principal Mission

 The 2027 College Captains begin their formal duties this week, representing the College at the Ringwood RSL Remembrance Service. Ted Wardle, Dulcie White, Lyla Van Marle, Aidan Penhale will be joined by Faith Captain Isabella Zahra will lay a wreath on behalf of Aquinas College to honour all Australians who have served and sacrificed in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.

Remembrance Day is a reminder that peace is precious, that freedom comes with responsibility, and that the impact of conflict extends far beyond the battlefield to families, communities and generations.

The values highlighted by Remembrance Day closely reflect those we aim to instil in our young people through their everyday interactions :

Courage: doing what is right, even when it is difficult.

Service: contributing to something beyond ourselves.

Responsibility: recognising our obligations to one another.

Compassion: understanding and caring about the experiences of others.

Resilience: finding strength in challenging times.

As our new student leaders begin their journey, these values provide a strong foundation for the example they will set across our College community. As we pause to remember those who served, we also reflect on how we can honour their legacy through our own everyday actions and care for others.

Rachel Crawley

Director of Senior Years

As we approach the assessment and examination (Year 9 students) period, here are some practical strategies which might help build on existing organisation, time management and study skills:

• Record all assessment dates and deadlines in a planner or digital calendar
• Establish a suitable study space which includes your mobile phone being put away when working to avoid distractions
• Create a study timetable and break tasks into manageable chunks
• Review notes regularly rather than leaving everything until the last minute
• Practise with exam-style questions and seek feedback from teachers
• Continue to prioritise sleep, exercise and healthy habits.
• Take regular breaks to maintain focus and wellbeing.

Sam Storey
Director of Middle Years

This year our young geographers have had some exciting opportunities to get out into the field to collect data for their fieldwork reports. Year 9s are going to explore interconnections at puffing billy, the year 10s looked at coastal management between Black Rock and St Kilda, year 11s studied fire management in Montrose and tourism management on Phillip Island, and the year 12s looked at land use change in the eastern suburbs.

All year levels looked at the way natural and human geographies interact to create and shape landscapes. Digital mapping softwares such as ArcGIS were used to create sophisticated maps with the aim of showcasing their data in a range of ways.

Jess Miller

Geography Teacher

Student reflections:

It was really cool to go to Dr Ken Laversha reserve to learn about the extreme topography and plants there. It was interesting seeing how it has recovered from the bushfire, and to consider what management strategies could protect the reserve in future. It was lots of fun with friends and it was an awesome experience.

Xavier Micallef - Year 11 Geography student

The Phillip Island geography was a great experience. We went to different attractions at Phillip island including the Koala Conservation Reserve, the Noobies and Amaze N Things. We examined if ecotourism certification at each site has a significant influence in the way an attraction manages tourists and if it had an influence on the popularity of an attraction compared to attractions without eco certification.

Dominic Tolcher - Year 11 Geography student

Steve O'Brien

Humanities Learning Area Leader

On Tuesday 20th October, our Year 11 VM Literacy class visited the Old Melbourne Gaol and Magistrates Court to explore the history of crime and punishment in Australia as part of their Issues and Voices unit. This excursion provided students with critical historical context regarding the evolution of Australia's legal system and gave them a deeper understanding of how our understanding of justice has changed over time. Students were guided to recognise the shift that has occurred from a punitive system to our contemporary model which is based on human rights and rehabilitation.

We started the day with a magistrates court re-enactment based on a real-life culpable driving case in the Old Magistrates Court. The session gave them valuable real-world context and an appreciation of the tension between public opinion and the law. Students were given scripts and costumes and encouraged to debate mitigating and aggravating factors and the role of sentencing.

Following a short break for morning tea, students participated in a ghost tour of Old Melbourne Gaol, learning about the harsh prison conditions, the mechanics of the justice and penal system, as well as infamous inmates.

Several students wrote a reflection about their experience:

“The Gaol and Magistrates court was a fun experience, exploring and understanding the legal concepts of the past. It was interesting to find out how prisoners were treated and how some escaped.”

“My favourite part of the excursion was the court room drama, where we got to act out different parts of the court room seeing how a real court case functioned.”

We finished the day with a stroll around Queen Victoria Market where students explored the stalls and enjoyed some lunch in the park. VM Literacy students are now continuing to examine how different perspectives shape public opinion and how people use their voices within our legal system.

Alicia Wilson

Teacher

More than a Mark: Student Recognition and its Importance 

It took only one week to plan, finalise and execute. The AQ11 Triple Feature took place this past Wednesday, an exclusive invite only event premiering three of Year 11 media’s student projects. Invitees filled the first few rows and enjoyed 20 minutes of hard-working student effort. A celebration of creativity and hard work, but also those three students. That's what it felt like to me.

As a student I find that it can be so easy to value an assessment to a number or a score you receive on Simon - compare your effort to a numerical value and let that define the totality of your work. Its events like this triple feature that change this way of thinking.

After a brief chat with a few interested students, the idea for the triple feature was taken to Ms. Jackson, the Year 11 media’s teacher, was swiftly booked and confirmed for after school on a Wednesday.

The thinking has changed. For this group of students, their months of hard work and problem solving had gone from a percentage to a personal display of all their effort for the people closest to them. Now all that was left was for those people to show up.

This event is one of many that occur incredibly regularly at Aquinas. Music nights, dance nights and theatre performances occur often, but what stands out about brief gatherings like this is the intimacy of it all. Some, if not most, performances are marked - these celebrations depart from that norm, and focus on celebrating talented student success. They also create an immense sense of community and belonging whilst uplifting and boosting those whose hard work was being showcased.

In 2004, David Burton of The Journal of the National Art Education Association called student art “education’s best kept secret”, and exhibition "a process that promotes collaboration, widens understanding and creates partnerships ranging from individuals to the community”. His research backs it up too, as of his 150+ sample size, over 56% agreed that exhibition of student work (in this case, student art) remains a key motivator for students when in the creative process. Interestingly, when asking about perceived responsibilities of arts teachers, 83% of respondents agreed that art exhibition was a key factor in an art teacher’s responsibilities.

Burton goes on to pose an interesting question: Why aren’t students as actively involved in the process behind an exhibition, despite it being a key motivator in the majority of student’s creative processes?

Sitting in the theatre, letting the speakers rattle the room, with the laughter and excited murmurs speckled through the audience reframed my thinking towards such events. Sure, your assessment may be there to contribute to your educational development - but the fruits of your labour hold much more than that number. They provide entertainment, emotion and conversation.

As the seats emptied, snacks were raided and empty packets were scrunched and promptly binned, I was left to reflect on the brief 20 minutes this momentary community was able to hold together. For those 20 minutes, the Triple Feature managed to exhibit the two sides of student work: the work itself, and the love for those who created it.

The recent AQ11 Triple Feature functions as a clear demonstration of the immense benefits of student-teacher collaboration when approaching an exhibition of student excellence. Although over 20 years old, Burton’s facts still seem to hold up - maybe student/teacher collaboration is the key to creating an even more engaging environment for students to thrive at Aquinas, across all year levels.

Not all showcasing needs to be a grandiose, under booked theatre with speakers dialled to eleven. A noticeboard, an event poster, a class announcement can be enough. But with student voice, it can be so much more.

Ted Wardle

Year 11 Media Student

On Tuesday the 27th of October over 70 students from the Year 9 and 10 Dance Classes presented their Dance Assessments at the ‘Let’s Dance’ Performance evening. Eager audiences filled The Mahon Theatre to support the emerging and experienced artists.

Performances included whole class Group Learnt Work Dances, Small Group Choreography Performances and extension Dance Works from guest artists.

The Group Learnt Work Assessment focusses on performance within a whole class setting where the dance work is taught by a selected choreographer. The Year 9 Dance Work ‘5 Decades of Dance’ featured two Year 9 Dance Classes onstage in a 7-minute Evolution of Dance beginning in the 1950’s with a Tap Dance of ‘Singing in the Rain’ and finishing in the 1990’s with a Jazz themed dance to the Spice Girls ‘Wannabe’ and Backstreet Boys ‘Backstreets Back’. The Year 10 class Dance Works included ‘Love Lost’ a contemporary piece about finding hope after heartbreak and ‘Maria’ a Latin Jazz technique routine.

The remainder of the evening featured student choreographed Dance Works in the forms of solos, duos, trios and small groups. These pieces are students devised allowing dancers to select theme, music, costuming and choreography. A number of special extension pieces were also shared during the Performance Night which saw advanced dancers take to the stage to perform superb technical skills.

Closing the evening the 2026 Dance Captain Taiya Rentoulis and 2027 Dance Captain Leila Maartensz presented a new dance award to celebrate an ‘Elite Dance Performer’ who exhibits technical precision, superb choreographic skill and outstanding artistry. The award was received by Amelia Zhang as a Year 9 Dancer who on the evening performed a breath taking solo, ‘A Million Reason’ with advanced skills performed with precision .

Thank you to all who supported the event and congratulations dancers!

Sarah Owen 

Dance subject teacher

Aquinas Career News can be found HERE. Topics this week include:

• Dates to Diarise in Term 4
• Reminder: VTAC 2027 Upcoming Key Dates
• Kickstart Your Career with a Traineeship 
• Employment Projections 
• Pathway to Federation University 
• University of Melbourne - Narrm Scholarship Program 
• Gallipoli Scholarship 
• Youth Work and/or Social Work Degrees in Victoria in 2026 
• Snapshot of LCI Melbourne in 2026 
• Upcoming Events and Opportunities 

Vanessa Ramsay

Careers Counsellor

The date for our 2026 Student Film Festival has been confirmed!

Thursday, 19 November

Location - Len Francis Theatre in the I building

Start time - 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm 

Come along and enjoy the work of our talented student filmmakers from Years 7–12.

SAVE THE DATE

Wednesday 25 November

Join us for a wonderful evening of celebration, connection and community as we come together for a night of Aquinas fun!

There's something for everyone, with the PACE Christmas Fair, Student Film Festival, Music Soirée, sausage sizzle and so much more. All the event details are included on the poster, so take a look and plan your evening!

Please RSVP via THIS LINK  to help us get an idea of numbers for the BBQ and activities.
We look forward to seeing you there!

On October 29th, our AGiLE students proudly shared the highlights of their year with families and staff at the annual AGiLE Showcase Evening, which culminated in an impressive expo of their Passion Projects.

The evening began with students reflecting on the many enrichment opportunities they have taken part in this year, across Science, Mathematics, Language, Media and Social Studies, and there was plenty to celebrate. Lucy R and Maya D from Year 7 were named national Runners Up in the Edmund Rice Foundation’s Doco in a Day competition, while our Write a Book in a Day team doubled their fundraising goal, raising $480 for the Kids’ Cancer Project. Our students also performed well in competition, with our top Kids’ Lit Quiz team placing 5th of 20 schools, both Aquinas teams winning awards at the Year 8 Challenge Day, and seven students placing in the top 25% nationally in the Maths Olympiad, including Christopher T and Bennet J in the top 10%.

Beyond competitions, students spoke about the National Senior Stretch Conference, where they explored big questions in philosophy, science and free will, and about how their Personal Learning Plans and subject acceleration have allowed them to learn at a pace that challenges them.

The second half of the evening belonged to the Passion Projects, a key feature of the AGiLE program that gives students the opportunity to take ownership of their learning by exploring a topic that genuinely interests them. This year’s projects were wonderfully varied. Some students explored neuroscience, botany or Australian history, while others learnt German, coded their own game, created animations, built a digital replica of the ISS, or cooked from family recipes.

Bringing these projects to life required students to drive their own learning throughout the year, setting and refining goals, researching, experimenting, creating, managing their time and reflecting on their progress. Because they were guided by their own questions rather than set instructions, they developed independence, strengthened their creative problem-solving and critical thinking skills, and built resilience as they worked through the challenges and setbacks along the way.

At the expo, students confidently presented their projects, speaking with pride, clarity and deep knowledge of their chosen topics. Many were just as keen to talk about what went wrong during the process as what went right, which says a great deal about how much they have grown as learners.

The evening was a wonderful celebration of our students’ curiosity, effort and achievements across the year. I am both proud and excited by what they shared, and I look forward to seeing what they achieve and the paths they choose to follow in the coming years.
Kate Chamberlain
Learning Enhancement Coordinator (AGiLE)

2026 was a wonderful year for Aquinas volleyball. There were four teams who trained weekly and all four had entered the pinnacle of volleyball competition that being state level Vic Schools. These tournaments involve schools from government, catholic and independent sectors.

Year 9 boys played their first Div 1 Vic Schools and were one point away from medal play off. They used the back row setting method which is rather complex but they made it look easy. They improved so much in a short period of time and their team spirit was refined and passionate.

The year 7 boys had 3 injuries which meant they had no subs. They won four in a row to reach the Div 1 bronze medal playoff which was sensational. They won the first set and lost in the third 15.11, so so close and wonderful. This was their first major volleyball tournament and they matched the standard expected at state level. They were wonderfully coached by Ella White.

The year 7 girls’ team were sensational playing in Div 1. They won the silver medal and were 1 point from a gold. During their second set in the gold medal play off they were down 14.4 Eventually they came back and won 25.22. They won 5 matches in a row prior to the gold medal playoff and only lost one set for the day. Wow, so good. They were wonderful in so many ways including their spirit and attitude associated with Aquinas culture. Their on court passion at Vic Schools was inspiring especially the noise they created. It was exhilarating. And beautifully coached by Lexie Quinn and wonderfully supported by assistant coach year 9 student Amelia Chown.

Finally the year 10 girls played in their third Vic Schools in a row. The past two years they have won bronze medals which has been a wonderful achievement. This year they went better by winning the gold medal. They were sensational throughout a very long day by winning all their matches and losing one set. The team displayed a wonderful spirit amongst all girls both on and off the court. They displayed continuous improvement throughout the day. And they took their standard of play to another level in the gold medal play off and it was impressive to watch.  

Overall it has been a sensational year for Aquinas volleyball especially at the ultimate number 1 volleyball tournament for the year being Vic Schools. Prior to Vic Schools, each training session which started before at 7.20am were attended by over 20 players at any one time from various year levels. Vertical training sessions worked so well with everyone connected with one another and new friendships were created. Thank you to all players and coaches displaying wonderful spirit and passion for the sport and in particular all members of the volleyball program which involved over 50 players.

Team members - 

Year 10 - Emily Bruton, Mikayla Scott, Rei Gardner, Sharla Young, Charly Tahin, Sharelle Origenes, Mireille Ernacio, Amelia Chown, Stephanie Skaliotis  

Year 7 - Chelsea Rutherford, Amelia Bryant, Maya Sontag, Jiana Dungo, Tasha Landy, Mia Parris, Maisy Coghlan, Layla Hollingsworth, Jessica D’Souza, Gabriella Cameron, Nancy Hohmann.

Dennis Sartory

Volleyball Coach