Lenten Season…of kindness and respect

In last week’s Community Video, I referenced William Ward’s ‘Lenten Litany on Fasting and Feasting’. Ward’s focus on not just ‘fasting’ on less desirable behaviours and instead ‘feasting’ on life-giving behaviours is reflected in Pope Leo’s 2026 Lenten message that addresses patterns of communication too often prevalent in social media and creeping into other parts of daily life.

“Let us begin by disarming our language, avoiding harsh words and rash judgement, refraining from slander and speaking ill of those who are not present and cannot defend themselves.

Instead, let us strive to measure our words and cultivate kindness and respect in our families, among our friends, at work, on social media, in political debates, in the media and in Christian communities.” (Pope Leo XIV).

Community events - Thank you!
Last week’s major community events - Term 1 College Assembly, Celebrate Excellence Evening & opening College Mass - provided the chance to celebrate together the many positive impacts, programs, contributions and achievements of our students, particularly those who look to ‘be my best self’ in all endeavours, whether academic, sporting, musical, faith & social justice based or our wide-ranging co-curricular opportunities.

At the Celebrate Excellence evening, our 2025 College Dux, Caitlin Hartley, reiterated the importance of the hard work required to achieve your personal best and the importance of collaborating with peers and teachers to do so, very much echoing our 2026 liturgical theme ‘One Body in Christ:

‘Everyone receiving an award tonight, while having applied themselves rigorously to their individual studies, was uplifted by the peers around them. Although our achievements are individual and something to be immensely proud of, we should be comforted by the fact that our learning is a team effort and will continue to be in any further studies we choose to partake in. Our results reflect our personal strive for success but also demonstrates the success of our collaboration as a year level. I wish us all the best for the next chapters of our lives and encourage current students to embrace the challenge of working with your peers to achieve more than you may think possible.’

Opening College Mass & Induction of Student Leaders

During the mass we also inducted our Year 8-12 student leaders, while Year 7 House representatives will be chosen during this fortnight’s camps.

Congratulations and blessings to all our 2026 student leaders:

Year 7 Camp visits

I had the pleasure of joining both the Chisholm-Dominic and MacKillop-Mannix Year 7 camps for an evening each this week. The smiling faces and abundant energy were a joy to see, as was their positive spirit in engaging in the many activities. I look forward to visiting the McCormack-Rice camp next week.

Open Day

On Sunday 15 March we will hold our Open Day from 11.30am - 2.30pm. We look forward to showcasing the College and welcoming both prospective families and any current families wishing to tour the campus with our student guides and/or speak with staff.

Year 7, 2028 Enrolments now open

Applications for enrolment in Year 7 2028 are now open. Applications need to be made via the College website at www.aquinas.vic.edu.au/enrolment and will close on Friday 14 August 2026. Should you have any enquiries, please email the College Registrar at registrar@aquinas.vic.edu.au .

David Broadbent
School Principal

I hope the first month of school at Aquinas has given your family members a chance to settle into a new year and continue to develop and learn.
For new families I would like to introduce the School Wide Digest. For established Aquinas families it should be a timely reminder.

What is the digest?

The digest takes all the information that has been posted on SIMON in the past four weeks and aggregates it for each student. Families will receive a digest for each family member who attends Aquinas and the first digest will be emailed this afternoon at 4:30pm.

What will the digest contain?

The digest will be quite detailed. It will extract information about:

1. Student Attendance

• Overall Attendance for semester
• Parent Notified Absences during digest period
• Late to School Absences during digest period

2. Learning Areas (this will track tasks students have been assigned over the four weeks). It will list and report on tasks which are:

• Active now and the due date
• Submitted during digest period and the result (If this is a class task it will include our grade scales that indicate whether the work was submitted on time and whether it is satisfactory)
• Formal non-submissions during digest period (Formal non-submissions are not an automatic process. If there are non-submissions this means a teacher has individually entered that a student has not submitted the work)

3. Social Behaviour

• Commendations between digest period

4. Activities

• Upcoming Activities for the next digest period
• Activities between digest period

6. Student Letters

All of this information is accessible on PAM at any time. The digest simply aggregates it every four weeks and sends it directly to families as a convenient alternative information source.

I hope that this digest provides helpful information about the learning habits and progress of your child.

Michael Box
Deputy Principal Learning

Partnering Together

At Aquinas College, we greatly value the partnership we share with parents and carers. When families and the College work together with clear and consistent expectations, students are best placed to thrive: academically, socially and personally.

One important area of partnership is our College uniform policy. Our standards promote equity, pride and a strong sense of belonging. We ask for your support in ensuring students attend school in full and correct uniform each day, including:

• Minimal makeup only
• Dress or skirt at knee length
• Correct Aquinas College track pants (not alternatives)
• No more than two small studs or sleepers in each ear
• A clear stud only if a student has a nose piercing
• Students being clean shaven

Consistency in these areas helps maintain a respectful learning environment and ensures the focus remains on learning.

Regular attendance is equally vital. Every day at school matters. Missing just one day per week equates to approximately two weeks of missed learning across a term, and many weeks across a year. These absences compound quickly, affecting academic progress, relationships, routines and wellbeing.

We sincerely appreciate your ongoing support in reinforcing both attendance and uniform expectations at home. When students arrive at school prepared, present and in correct uniform, they are ready to make the most of every learning opportunity.

Thank you for your continued partnership and commitment to your child’s education.

Morning Supervision and Student Movement

To support the safety and wellbeing of all students, families are reminded that once students enter College grounds in the morning, they are not permitted to leave, as the College holds a duty of care for students while they are on site.

Students who arrive prior to 8.30am are required to report directly to the ARC, where supervision is provided. Students should not be on College grounds before 8.00am unless they are attending a supervised College activity, such as music tuition or sporting training.

We thank families and students for their cooperation in helping the College maintain a safe and orderly start to the day.

Jess Alger
Deputy Principal

Staff Professional Learning "Crucial Conversations" 

Our first Staff Professional Learning afternoon was held on Thursday 19th February covering the topic “Crucial Conversations”. Tania Grace and I led the staff in workshops to practice skills in active listening, preparation of facts, delivery of clear messages and feedback on scenarios. The premise of the workshops was to upskill staff in important conversations, giving them the “tools for talking when the stakes are high”. Staff were also given templates and resources to assist in preparation for their own future crucial conversations and supporting their colleagues.

We also welcome the following new staff to the Aquinas Community:

Chris Drake - Director of Technology

Nicole Windsor - Nurse

Gina Goss

Assistant Principal - Staff

With the first month of school now complete, our senior students are beginning to find their rhythm. They have navigated the changes across the school, and are establishing new routines that strengthen their focus and commitment towards learning.

Students in Years 10 and 11 are approaching the completion of their first round of assessments and Year 12 students will soon have submitted at least one school based assessment. Students undertaking Unit 3/4 subjects have been issued with their full assessment schedules. From this point forward, SAC’s will be scheduled every week until the end of classes, highlighting the importance of consistent class attendance.

Families of Unit 3/4 students are also reminded that scheduled trial exams will take place in week 2 of the September holidays (Sept 28 - Oct1). We encourage families to prioritise these dates, as the trial exams provide valuable preparation for the final VCE examinations.

Year 11 assemblies have focused on effective study habits specifically on how to study, what to study when to study. Evidence informed strategies that promote deeper learning. Active study techniques such as flashcards and self-quizzing, strengthen memory and understanding far more effectively than passive strategies like rereading or highlighting, which can create a false sense of confidence

Students have also been exposed to the concept of interleaving: alternating between different topics rather than studying one topic in isolation; which helps the brain form stronger connections between ideas. In addition, spaced repetition, which incorporates breaks and adequate sleep between study sessions, supports long-term retention and consolidation of learning.

We look forward to continuing to support our senior students as they build the habits and resilience needed for a successful year.

The Careers Team has been working closely with the Year 10’s in assembly and THRIVE to prepare them for their Careers Experience this year, please look out for the Careers Team article further in the Lighthouse.

Rachel Crawley

Head Senior Years

This week, 4 out of our 6 houses of Year 7 students headed to Camp ADANAC (Canada spelt backwards for future pub quiz questions!). The theme of the camp was to develop a sense of belonging and an opportunity for students to further get to know peers in their house. The level of participation was fantastic from all students. Rice and McCormack students will get their opportunity next week.

Our Year 7s embraced new challenges and stepped outside their comfort zones. From outdoor activities to team-building exercises, every student pushed themselves to grow in new ways, making lasting memories and connections with their peers.

Each group had a leader who were mostly ex-students of the school. Their presence and encouragement not only provided valuable guidance but also gave students a sense of connection to the school’s past and its community spirit.

We are incredibly grateful to the dedicated staff members who accompanied the students. Their compassion, care and support were key to the success of the camps, ensuring that every student felt safe and encouraged throughout their adventures.

Sam Storey
Director Middle Years

 What Our School Is Doing

In support of Project Compassion, Aquinas college is hosting fundraisers to put our values into action

16th March  - Student leaders and volunteers will be hosting a Pancake BBQ Fundraiser.

20th March - Our Harmony Day Fundraiser will celebrate unity, diversity and inclusion within our community. Students will be promoting a variety of cultural desserts and icons, highlighting the many cultures that make up the school.

24 March - Our Athletics Day Fundraiser will combine house spirit with our commitment to compassion. Students will be running stalls with a range of items to support healthy competition, the Aquinas community, and keep their energy levels high throughout the day.

We encourage families to support these events where possible. Every small contribution helps create meaningful change for individuals and communities both in Australia and around the world.

Nam Nguyen
Social Justice & Outreach Coordinator

Clean Up Schools Day

Today, 27 February, students in Years 7–10  participated in Clean Up Schools Day. This initiative provides a practical opportunity to live out our College’s core value of Stewardship.

Stewardship calls us to care for God’s creation and act responsibly towards the environment. Inspired by Catholic Social Teaching and Pope Francis’ message in Laudato Si’, we are reminded that caring for our common home is both a moral responsibility and a shared commitment.

Throughtout the day, students dedicated time to improving our school grounds and surrounding areas. While each action may seem small, collective efforts make a meaningful difference. By taking responsibility for our environment, students demonstrate respect for creation and for one another.

Clean Up Australia Day will be held this Sunday,1 March. There are loads of registered locations you can join to support your local environment. Visit the Clean Up Australia website or  Click here to enter your postcode. You can support your local environment by simply doing your own clean-up of a neighbouring area like your favourite walking path or nearby park area. 

Through these actions, we continue to grow as a community that values service, responsibility and care for our common home.

Karyn Myers

Sustainability Coordinator

Careers @ Aquinas - Year 10 Work Experience in 2026

A key purpose at Aquinas College is to provide opportunities for students to 'experience belonging and be both challenged and supported to reach beyond their boundaries'. With this in mind, many of our student programs actively look for ways to connect with our wider community. Following on from our very successful program in 2025, this year our Year 10 students will be supported to undertake a week of Careers (work) Experience. This Program is also an area where we would like to further establish links with our current and past parent community and alumni.

The future world of work is a rapidly changing environment. As such, the Careers Experience Program endeavours to equip students to develop key transferable skills in an authentic environment and to see the connections between different study areas. Students are encouraged to undertake a work placement in an area of their future career interest which will support and inform their post-school career planning.

In 2026, the dates for Careers Experience are Monday June 22 - Friday June 26, which is the last week of Term Two. For students to obtain a meaningful placement, they have been encouraged to investigate possible locations well in advance of the program and have completed introductory tasks in class. Feedback from parents and students this year was that it was necessary to start planning early but overwhelmingly, a very valuable and informative experience.

Researching and making contact with potential employers to arrange their own placement forms a key part of the learning process for students. Increasingly however, it is becoming more difficult for students to source suitable placements as opportunities are being competitively sought by tertiary students and other secondary school students. This is where we would like to utilise the network connections we have existing within the broader College community.

As we look at ways to assist students to source meaningful Work Experience placements,

• would you or your workplace be in a position to facilitate a Careers Experience placement for an Aquinas student?
• within your network, are there contacts you could recommend?

We would appreciate if you could take a moment to complete this Community Response Form via the link or QR code in order to provide feedback and support us to develop a referral directory.

General information regarding the requirements of hosting a student can be found in this Work Experience Guide for Employers, or please contact the College Careers Team if you have questions.

Any feedback is greatly appreciated and we look forward to partnering with you as an extension of the Aquinas College Community.

Vanessa Ramsay

Careers Coordinator

Last week, we were able to gather for the first time as an entire school, for the whole school assembly. It was wonderful to see the school assembled in the new houses and a very nostalgic experience, clapping the year 7s into the gym. The assembly was centred around the theme of Belonging, a core value of Aquinas, as we focused on welcoming our new students and staff to the school community. As school captains, we were honoured to give our first address, outlining our hopes and vision for the year.

Monday evening was the Celebrate Excellence Night, where we congratulated and celebrated high achieving students in 2025, across all areas: academic, sporting and community. It was great to see parents, students, staff and alumni, gathered together to honour such achievements. For the year 12s of last year coming back was a nostalgic event, where they celebrated their last wins of high school and came together one last time. For the rest of us, it was a very inspirational night, as we watched extremely talented musicians, athletes and academics take to the stage.

The following day, we gathered again as a whole school to celebrate Mass. At the beginning of the mass, we lit our new house candles, displaying us standing together in one spirit as a school community. Fr Dispin reminded us about making the most of our opportunities and learning to first love ourselves, so that we can go out and make a positive difference - a meaningful message to begin the year.

Within the upcoming weeks, our school community will experience our second ever annual whole-school athletics carnival, bringing together all of our houses. Due to the introduction of three new houses, this will be the first time in our college’s history that all six houses will be competing against one another. We wish each house the best of luck. Our Year 7s have been attending Camp ADANAC, allowing each of our Year 7s the opportunity to connect with their peers over a three day course. Music trials were also conducted throughout the camps, providing students with the opportunity to try instruments and sign up for trials.

As our sixth week of schooling commences, we are now officially halfway through our first term back at school. Keep up the outstanding work that you are all doing, your hard work does not go unnoticed in our school.
 
Ria Jijose and Oliver Mees

2026 School Captains

Exceeding Expectations

This year, our Technology Learning Area proudly embraces our whole-school theme, “Exceeding Expectations.” We do so while building on the achievements of last year’s VCE cohort, whose results across our senior Technology subjects set a high benchmark for excellence. Their success reflects the dedication of our students and staff, and it provides momentum as we continue striving for growth and improvement across all year levels.

Across Food Studies, Systems Engineering, Product Design and Development, and Digital Technologies, we are challenging students to think creatively, solve authentic problems, and extend beyond what they believe they are capable of achieving. The strong performance of our VCE students has reinforced the effectiveness of our approach and strengthened our commitment to maintaining high standards to the junior cohort.

A key focus of our professional discussions is how to continue refining our practice to sustain and build upon this success. In Digital Technologies, we are excited to introduce new learning areas in game design and game development, while making digital literacy a clear priority across all year levels. Data analysis skills are also being explicitly taught and developed from junior through to senior classes to ensure students build confidence and capability over time. In Systems Engineering, students are utilising the new study design for 2026 and we welcome Mr. David Ingless to the Learning Area who brings with him teaching and industry experience. Within Product Design and Development, learners are extending their understanding of innovation, sustainability, and the double diamond design process. In Food Studies, students continue to build expertise in key elements of digestion, food sustainability, and safe food-handling practice. Food Studies will also have the exciting move to the new kitchen facilities in term two.

Staff have begun the year focusing on the evidence-based strategy “Establish Your Expectations.” As educator Bill Rogers says, “You establish what you establish.” In practical Technology subjects the standards we set shape student behaviour, effort, and outcomes. Low standards quickly become the norm if tolerated, while clear, consistent expectations encourage students to rise to the challenge.

By teaching routines, reinforcing quality work, and addressing off-task behaviour, we create workshops, kitchens and classrooms where focus, persistence, and precision are expected. High standards ensure students develop the practical skills, confidence, and motivation needed to exceed expectations in real-world applications.

Caitlin Stewart
Technology Learning Area Leader

Students Step into the Future with VR Career Experience

Recently, students had the opportunity to take part in a trial of an exciting new Virtual Reality (VR) career experience, funded by the Government and Defence Force Industries - and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Students were investigating two defence force industry jobs during the  interactive experience.

Students described the sessions as fun, immersive and highly engaging. Many commented that they learnt a surprising amount in a short period of time and gained valuable insight into what different workplaces actually look and feel like. For some, it helped clarify whether certain careers might suit them, while others simply enjoyed exploring industries they hadn’t previously considered.

One of the standout features was the interactive nature of the experience. Students appreciated being able to actively participate rather than just watch or listen, and several mentioned that the hands-on elements made the learning more meaningful. The guided format was also praised for being clear, supportive and easy to follow.

There were some helpful suggestions for improvement. A number of students felt the simulations could include even more interactive components and present slightly greater challenges to better reflect real workplace demands. Expanding the range of available career pathways was also a common recommendation, with many expressing interest in trying additional industries in the future.

Overall, the experience has proven that this VR program could be an innovative and valuable addition to our career education program. It provided students with a practical and engaging way to explore possible pathways - and there is strong interest in seeing more of it in the future.

Brett Donohue

Careers Advisor

Our Year 10 General Science class recently visited the Melbourne Museum to participate in the “Road to Zero” program. This program is generously funded by the Victorian Government and the TAC, and is presented as a practical extension of our classroom curriculum regarding Newton’s laws of motion. While textbooks provide the theory, this experience offered a profound perspective on how these fundamental physical principles dictate a vehicle's behaviour and, ultimately, a driver’s survival. The program proved essential for our class of soon-to-be L plate drivers. By utilising interactive technology and crash simulations, we saw how inertia, acceleration, and reaction forces function during a collision. We explored the critical role of friction, investigating how external factors like rain or gravel significantly affect a car's stopping distance. One of the most impactful segments involved analysing the kinetic energy produced in various types of crashes at different speeds. Seeing the exponential increase in impact force as velocity rises was a sobering lesson in road safety. We walked away not just with a better grasp of physics but with the vital skills and awareness necessary to navigate the roads responsibly. This excursion closed the gap between scientific formulas and real-world consequences, ensuring we are better prepared for the responsibilities of the road.

James G

Year 10 Student

Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival (Chūnjié, 春节), is one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture. Families will host reunion dinners, decorate their homes with red and gold for good fortune, and give children red envelopes (hóngbāo, 红包) that symbolize blessings for the year ahead. 

In 2026, the Chinese New Year began on February 17 and welcomes the Year of the Horse. During the Chinese lessons at Aquinas last week, our Year 7 students made traditional red envelopes, Year 8 students made Chinese lanterns, and Year 9 students made paper cuttings and some red envelopes. Students enjoyed the cultural lessons and celebrated the Chinese New Year.

Allan Cui

Teacher

Student reflections:

The Chinese new year lantern making was an easy task were we made Chinese lanterns out of paper using scissors and glue, I used a red paper and the instructions were easy and slow to understand. I enjoyed this task.

Emilie L Rice 1


I had so much fun learning about the culture and making the lanterns with my friends was so much fun! I can't wait to learn more about the culture this year.
Matilda L 8 McCormack

Chinese new year lantern making is a traditional thing to do at Chinese New Year. The lanterns were easy to make and looked amazing.
Marilyn McCormack 5

It was very fun and easy to make. Me and my friends had a really good time creating it.
James D Rice 3

I think it was personally fun and very easy to make. I think everyone should make them even if they don't celebrate Chinese new year. I made 6-7 lanterns because they were very fun to make.
Macayla S McCormack 6

Year 10 General Science students are currently studying physics. Students placed themselves on trolleys on the basketball courts, and carried out various exercises, in order to feel Newton's laws of motion in action.
When a student on a trolley is being pushed into a crash mat, the trolley stops, but the student continues to travel into the mat. This is Newton's first law of motion in action.

When the smaller student accelerates at a faster rate than the larger student when both students are pushed with an equal amount of force, Newton's second law of motion is demonstrated. 

Newton's third law of motion occurs when a student on a trolley pushes against a wall, creating motion in the opposite direction. Both Newton's second and third laws are demonstrated when a smaller student and a larger student push each other with equal force, while sitting on the trolleys.

Andrea Burke

Science Teacher

Aquinas Library Lovers’ Day!   

In honour of Library Lovers day - just before Valentine’s Day, the ARC (Aquinas Resource Centre - our school library) was filled with creativity as students designed and made their own “Library Lovers” badges.

Students enjoyed creating personalised badge decorations inspired by their love of reading. From hearts and favourite book quotes to colourful designs celebrating their love of reading and libraries! 
The activity provided a fun and relaxed opportunity for students to gather in the ARC, share their passion for books, and express their creativity. It was wonderful to see so many students engaging with the library space in such a positive and imaginative way.

Thank you to all who participated and helped make the ARC a vibrant hub of reading and community.

Jackie Branson

Library Technician

Last Monday night the Aquinas College community came together to Celebrate Excellence! We acknowledged the academic, community, performance and sporting achievements across all years levels. We proudly welcomed back our Year 12 Class of 2025 and, together with our current students, celebrated a year of outstanding academic and community achievement.

The evening featured inspiring student speeches and beautiful musical performances from a combined group of students from last year and this year.

It was a warm and wonderful night to come together as a community and recognise the incredible young people who make our College so proud.

Thank you to our special guests who presented awards, the families who joined us, and our dedicated staff for helping make the evening so meaningful.

2025 College Dux, Caitlin Hartley, shared some words of wisdom to the students, parents and peers: "It is an honour to be recognised for this achievement. My result, and the results of my peers has been a culmination of study and stress but also celebration and anticipation... Everyone receiving an award tonight, while having applied themselves rigorously to their individual studies, was uplifted by the peers around them. Although our achievements are individual and something to be immensely proud of, we should be comforted by the fact that our learning is a team effort and will continue to be in any further studies we choose to partake in... 

Thank you to parents and teachers who had a guiding hand in our learning, ensuring that our tasks were manageable and burnout avoided at all costs. You should never hesitate to lean on these supports when stress builds up, no matter if you are starting your first years at Aquinas or beginning your final one. For me, all of my high school years would’ve been too overwhelming without my parents and friends providing an outlet to relax and recuperate... 

Our results reflect our personal strive for success but also demonstrates the success of our collaboration as a year level. I wish us all the best for the next chapters of our lives and encourage current students to embrace the challenge of working with your peers to achieve more than you may think possible."

Congratulations to all students who received awards last night. We are very proud of you all. 

Last Tuesday we gathered together as a whole school community for the first time this year. Hosted by our College Captains, Ria and Oliver we welcomed our new Year 7 students and began the year grounded in our 2026 faith theme, One Body in Christ. Mr David Broadbent reminded us to be our best selves in all parts of our lives,

It has been a meaningful start to the year at Aquinas as we gathered for our first whole‑school assembly and Mass, hosted by our College Captains, Ria and Oliver. We welcomed our new Year 7 students into the Aquinas community, marking the beginning of their journey with us. Our Principal, Mr David Broadbent, encouraged us to be our best selves in every part of our lives and introduced our 2026 faith theme, One Body in Christ.

Our whole school mass expanded on the message of our 2026 Faith theme, One Body in Christ, with Fr Dispin inviting us to strengthen our relationships with ourselves, with others and with God.

We also blessed our 2026 House Representative Leaders - the first time for all six Houses to have student leaders in this role.

By caring for ourselves, showing genuine concern for others, and staying connected to God, we strengthen each part of our community - living out our theme, One Body in Christ. Every small act of reflection, kindness, and responsibility helps the whole body thrive.

Thank you to the students for the beautiful music that made the occasion even more special.

To RSVP and to show interest please fill out the Google form HERE