On Monday the 29th of March, eight Year 9 and eight Year 10 students participated in the 2021 Da Vinci Decathlon at the University of Western Australia.

It was an early start for the students with everyone gathering at 7.30 for the day's event. The Da Vinci Decathlon is an academic competition held annually in different countries and is run in the spirit of an Olympic Decathlon. Students compete in teams of eight across ten disciplines including engineering, maths, code-breaking, art and poetry, science, English, ideation, creative producers and general knowledge.

Once we arrived at UWA it was time to strategise and allocate who would complete each paper. Together with teamwork, collaboration and a lot of writing, both Year 9 and 10 teams managed to achieve Aquinas’ highest results yet with the Year 9s coming 3rd in maths and 2nd in both creative producers and science. The Year 10’s were placed first in maths and came 2nd in science. This was a great improvement from what we were able to achieve at the last event 2 years ago. Overall, it was a great day for all who participated and I can strongly recommend it to those wanting to compete in future years.

If 2020 was the year of the pandemic, it was also the year of change at Aquinas College.

Term 4 saw the introduction of the new Senior School learning program – Aquinas myFUTURE

Why the change?

• To improve the quality of provision and learning for all
• Allow content delivery to be done in a flexible and self-paced learning model, which will facilitate more teacher/ student interaction throughout the
• Expose students to concepts through online learning to bring them to a common understanding allowing the in-class lessons to be at a higher order with more active
• To ensure students are equipped with the skills to cope in a world dependent on technology-based learning beyond school at university and the
• A move towards a learner first approach where each student can curate their own Senior School
• To provide ATAR students with a multitude of other possible education and training opportunities to develop skills that will benefit both their ATAR and transition to tertiary studies.

Aquinas myFUTURE is a complementary and flexible Senior School learning framework designed to empower students to gain further skills, qualifications, personal attributes and modern education in order to meet the growing needs of the workforce and tertiary educational institutions. We do this by offering a personalised, passion-driven and self-paced learning journey that encompasses micro-credentials, university courses, combined pathways, internships and workplace learning opportunities.

How it works

Students attend regular classes at the College Monday through Thursday, and, on Friday, students engage with a pathway of their choosing – ATAR or Industry & Enterprise.

ATAR Pathway

On Friday, ATAR classes are offered online – mirroring current university practices - with further opportunities to personalise the learning journey with one of three pathway options:

• ATAR+ – Adding short course opportunities to develop skills, dive into passions and help shape future university endeavours.
• uniPATH – The broader road to university allowing students to undertake Logos or Independent Research Topics at recognised universities and kickstart their goals.
• combinedPATH – Combining achievement of an ATAR with industry-specific qualifications at TAFE or in the workplace. This allows students to keep their university options open while also gaining workplace learning or a traineeship.

Industry & Enterprise Pathway

Students who do not wish to undertake any ATAR subjects can continue with the Industry & Enterprise pathway.

• uniREADY – Keeping the window to university options open through alternative entrance means while gaining certifications in an area of their choice.
• industryPATH – Learn the hands-on skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the industry area, job or occupation of your choice with a pre-apprenticeship, school-based traineeship or undergoing VET qualifications.
• workPATH – Experience hands-on learning in a range of jobs or occupations that interest students.

Want to help current students embarking on Aquinas myFUTURE?

We’re on the lookout for interning, workplace learning and apprentice opportunities for current and future Senior School students. If you would like to learn more or offer a place to a current student, please contact Graham Powell - Graham.Powell@aquinas.wa.edu.au

A culture where teachers and students work together and where student voice, agency and leadership are understood as interrelated factors contributes to the notion of empowerment and a sense of school pride.

During the past year, Aquinas saw the inauguration of the new Student Council System – designed to allow students more voice and opportunity to engage.

The new system sees the College Captain and Vice-Captain oversee a collective of sub-councils serving houses, learning areas and passion projects such as Sustainability and Student Wellbeing. It is the responsibility of these councils to host events, encourage student participation and promote a positive environment.

It has been wonderful to see a greater presence of student voice in making decisions around the College. When first ‘pitching’ the distributed leadership model to cross-College directors back in 2018, Dr Andrew Kania, Director of Spirituality, summed up that “Student leadership of the students, by the students and for the students to ensure the Mission of the College for the present and future.”

This has been very evident in 2020 and I have been impressed by how the Captains have returned from remote learning with a clear intention of forming a positive culture within their councils.

Some examples of initiatives that have run or are in progress are;

• Student Wellbeing council hosting a Christmas door decorating contest to boost morale and engage staff and students as well as painting a blue tree on the College grounds to encourage discussion about mental health
• Durack Council running Year 10 Course Information Sessions allowing their students to connect and ask questions to Senior School students about the life of an ATAR or General student.
• Academic Council organising a STEM challenge for Middle School and Amazing Race for Senior School.
• Justice, Peace & Advocacy Council connecting to study leaders across the Edmund Rice Education Network and acting locally by planning a “For She’s Someone” event where boys made a statement/pledge/promise to speak out against disrespect about/towards women when they hear or see it.
• A new Environmental/Sustainability Council has been developed due to student voice and the passionate backing of Mr Ben West.

I would once again like to extend my thank you to all of the staff who are co-leading councils with the Year 12 Captains and Prefects.

The Encounter Retreat for the Year 11 Chaney boys served as a pivotal experience in their growth from boys to men.

Beginning Monday the 15th of March we set off from the Tear Drop with little-to-no knowledge of anything we were going to face on the retreat. Upon arrival, we gathered in the auditorium where we were officially introduced to the Encounter Retreat with Dr Kania and Mr Mavros steering the wheel. Following this, we set off and officially began our three days of exploring the retreat motto “Male by Gender - Man by Choice”.

Across the three days at the retreat, each individual had the opportunity to grow spiritually and to search for key ‘lightbulb moments’ which would see a major increase in their development and their perceptions of “What it means to be a Man”. Before the retreat, I had perceived my manhood as a man of truth and loyalty to others (having the name Truman might have had a slight impact on this). However, this ideology I’d lived my life by was challenged through my time on retreat, and I decided to really look for what, or who, I wanted to be a man for.

We were given the honour to learn from a few exemplary men who gave us insights into what they consider to be important aspects of their lives as men for others. These topics and discussions allowed my peers and me to learn the importance of choosing your own pathway through life and developing your own manhood. I was lucky enough to have wonderful company through my friends, as we shared our own experiences and talked about our feelings towards the retreat. I was surprised to learn how everyone I spoke to had a similar feeling that I did, one of pleasant surprise and simple joy.

After being fed generously, being pushed outside of my comfort zone, and being called upon to be the best man that I could be, I came back from the retreat Wednesday the 17th as a different person. I don’t say this to establish that I’ve become an overly confident and incredibly wise person, but instead I believe that the retreat gave me new insights. Especially in the way I treasure other people. I can honestly tell you that since 3:15 pm Wednesday, I can enjoy the company of others more, enjoy the daily events and experiences in my life more, and I can feel even just a little bit more love towards those around me. The Encounter Retreat wasn’t the laborious religious-emphatic snooze-fest I expected, but instead, it was simply three days that taught me what kind of man I want to be.

Special thanks to Dr Kania, Mr Mavros, Mr Montgomery, Br. Clery, Mr White, Mr West, Mr Morrison, Mr Rich, the retreat workers, the guest speakers, and especially the Chaney crew for an amazing retreat. I’m looking forward to where we go from here, fully alive.

The Marine and Maritime excursion that I attended in Year 11 2020 was personally, an absolute highlight of the Marine course.

The excursion took us down to South Cottesloe beach, where we were allowed to go snorkelling off the beach. The early morning breeze crossed with a light ray of sunshine made for the perfect temperature - the water was still glistening from the rising sun.

While I waited for my groups turn to go out into the water, I took the opportunity to relax on the soft sand that cushioned the beach. Once it was time for my group to snorkel, I rushed to grab a pair of fitting fins and some clear goggles and rushed straight for the open water.

The first 20 metres were mostly a forest of seaweed. But once I was far enough offshore, I could see a beautiful sight of a vast ecosystem with a variety of fish, corals, sponges and crustaceans of all different species. It was a visual spectacle. On the surface, the swell was beginning to increase, and water was becoming choppy but beneath was a whole different world untouched by man, a peaceful, silent, glamorous ecosystem, teeming with life.

On Tuesday 2 March, the Year 11 cohort were visited by Chadwick Models for an afternoon of social etiquette.

Designed to make people comfortable and at ease, we learned that etiquette shows that we value and respect others and gives us the confidence to deal with different situations in life. We were instructed about the customs and rules governing behaviour that is regarded as correct or acceptable in social or official life.

That evening we were given the opportunity to put what we had learned into practice by accompanying our mothers to dinner at the South of Perth Yacht Club. The weather gave us an opportunity to not only open the car door but shelter our mothers with an umbrella as we entered the venue. There we gallantly took her arm and escorted her to the table. We demonstrated our newly acquired table etiquette with everyone duly tearing their bread roll and filling glasses for our companions. We enjoyed a three-course meal - using the correct cutlery of course - and had the opportunity to catch up with our friends outside of school.

It’s not often that we are in a formal social situation with our mums where we actually spend time directly with them. A wedding is probably the closest we come. Looking around the room you could see all the mums were delighted with our attempts at gentlemanly behaviour. Admittedly, it does not take much to make your own mum proud, but it is a good feeling. On the whole, we learned that courtesy, small acts of kindness and confidence can make all the difference in social situations.

From my mum: At a time where private schoolboys are often portrayed in the news for the wrong reasons it was a pleasure to see a room full of young men eager to display their manners and caring side. I think every mother in that room was proud.

From the extreme disappointment of last years cancellation of South Pacific, Senior students set out in October determined to have an awesome production for 2021. For most of the cast, this was their first-ever Senior School production and, for many of the Year 12s, their first proper production since Disco Inferno in 2019.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dream Coat has been a pleasure to be apart of. Being able to do a massive art project at school with a lot of my closest mates and many like-minded individuals from Years 10 to 12 has really made this production a memorable one.

At times, the rehearsal process was a bit rocky, especially during the first two weeks of term one with the second lockdown. But undeterred by this second attack from the pandemic, the cast was set on making sure we have a show this year - many hours of rehearsal and personal practice has gone into preparing for this great event.

The cast was led by a brilliant group of Year 12s: Naveen Nimilan College Captain, Tristan Nel Culture Captain, Daniel Nolan Captain of Boats, myself Captain of Percussion, Nick Burvil, Ethan Dal Molan and Zebiah Peaker, a humble member of the Culture Council. Mr Sivewright, Mr McMillan, Stella and Kate have all put many countless hours of their time into making this show a success and we all (the cast) can’t thank them enough for all the work and passion they put into the Senior School productions every year.

This year the production will be outside the Chapel, this was such a relief to many of us because we have a chance of good acoustics, unlike in the College Hall. For the audience, they will feel like they’re at an outdoor music festival with food trucks and live music before the show starts and the cast will be able to interact with the audience easily, enhancing the viewing experience of the show.

Joseph and the Technicolour Dream Coat is a high energy, funny and engaging musical which, for many of the parents, will be nostalgic of their days in Junior School!

Were your PE classes this cool? Because ours are. 😎

PE and Outdoor Ed classes are more than just playing a sport, they seek to improve performance and fitness while teaching students survival and life skills. Students learn about the skeletal, muscular, cardio-respiratory and energy systems, investigate the various methods of training, and are involved in fitness activities and skills for physical activity.

In Senior School, classes can add towards ATAR or be used to gain certifications.