The Harry Perkins Biology excursion was an incredibly insightful experience.

We got the opportunity to visit Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and learn about Polymerase Chain Reactions and Gel Electrophoresis and the application of PCR and gel electrophoresis to understand and figure out real-life situations about topics like cancer cells (specifically skin cancer) and COVID-19.

We did some experiments and got experience in working in a real scientific laboratory. We were able to use very expensive technology and learn about the opportunities for doing medical research after school at various universities. Science is largely unexplored and it was interesting to see various people completing their PhD and researching incredibly interesting real-life issues that affect every single person such as cancer and blindness.

On Tuesday, 16^th February, Yr 10 HASS students headed off-campus for an exciting excursion into West Australian politics.

“We first went to The West Australian Electoral Commission and learnt about preferential voting through doing our own vote on our favourite fast food. We then went to Parliament House and got a tour from Michael and learnt about the structure and history of parliament and met John McGrath. This excursion helped me understand more about parliament by helping me visualise it.”

• William Farrell

“On Tuesday 16th February, my class went to the West Australian Electoral Commission at Parliament House. We learnt about preferential voting and why it important for us to vote. At Parliament House, we learnt about the structure and history of Western Australian Parliament. Two important people we met were Michael, who was an old Aquinian, and John McGrath who is the Member for South Perth.”

• Luc Dewar

“On Tuesday 16^th of February my class went to State Parliament to assist our learning of politics. The first location we visited was the Western Australian Electoral Commission where I learnt how preferential worked throughout Australia. After that great experience my class went to Parliament house and explored the upper and lower house. From this experience, it improved my learning of politics because seeing the Parliament in person gives you more of an understanding of the topic.”

• Nicholas Naso

“The first place we went to was the Western Australian Electoral Commission and we looked at how preferential voting works. The second place we went to for the day was the Parliament house. At the parliament house, we learnt a lot of interesting stuff. We learnt about the structure and history of parliament. Our tour guide, Michael, was an old Aquinian and very knowledgeable. We also met John McGrath who is a member of South Perth.”

• Joel Ukich

“The day was very hot, the sky was very blue, and the birds were chirping. We started the day by meeting Mr Brown and Mrs Swingler at the front of the castle. We headed to the Western Australia electoral commission where we had morning tea and a kick of the football. We continued our excursion to go inside the Western Australia electoral commission, there we were greeted by Jenny to learn about the voting system in Australia. Our day then continued with us going to King's Park for a quick lunch. Then we headed to the Parliament house where we were greeted by Michael who is an old Aquinian, we learnt about the structure and history of the parliament house and why the lower house had blue carpet instead of green. We also met John McGrath who is a member of South Perth.”

• Taj Lockyer

“On Tuesday, my class went to the Western Australian Electoral Commission and Parliament House. We learnt about the history of Western Australia's government and past leaders. We also got to look at the upper house which was pretty cool. My favourite part of the day was getting lunch at King's Park, because I got a really good sandwich there, and getting to look at an old painting of my hometown from the 1960s in Parliament House.”

• Shea Dall

“We started off meeting Mr Brown and Mrs Swingler at the front of the castle. We then went on the bus to West Perth and met a lady who showed us a video about how voting works. We then went to the Parliament House and an Old Aquinian told us a bit about the parliament. We went to the front of the parliament house and got some minties and juice. then we went back to the bus and went back to school and spent the last two periods at school.”

• Lachy Jonsen

“We got up early and waited at the front of the school with Mr Brown And Mrs Swingler who came and picked us up with the school bus, then we all hopped in the bus and started heading to the Parliament House in West Perth. We met an instructor named Michael who was an Old Aquinian. My favourite part was seeing all the Indigenous art on the walls in the parliament house and buying lunch at a cafe.”

• Iziahia Patrick

“First, we went to the Western Australian Electoral Commission Parliament and watched a video about voting and then we did an activity where we completed a preferential vote. We then had some morning tea. After morning tea, we went to Parliament House and met Michael, who is an Old Aquinian, and talked to us about Parliament. My favourite part of the day was when we had a look at the Indigenous Room and talked to John McGrath.”

• Matthew Gilkison

During the recent school holidays, I did some volunteer cricket umpiring for the WACA (Western Australia Cricket Association), for their JCL competition (Junior Cricket League).

The JCL was a bunch of teams around Perth, with kids aged 9-12, who come to play games of cricket organised by the WACA. There were 2 JCL’s, one before and after Christmas, each of them was played over 2 days.

This volunteer work allowed me to umpire 11 games on the WACA Ground and a further 4 on Mann Oval at Trinity College. I volunteered to umpire because of the experience, and to help younger kids playing in the competition to enjoy their cricket, as well as to give back to the game I enjoy. I got a lot out of the experience, helping the young players enjoy their cricket was the biggest thing I took out of the experience. Because it makes you, as an umpire, step back to appreciate what you do has an effect on others in a positive way. I also got to improve my skills over the 4 days, this includes on-field skills as well as off-field (communicating with coaches and scorers), that I can take forward into my umpiring career as well as my everyday life as a young Aquinian.

Early in 2020, I had the opportunity to travel to Adelaide and meet with all the other Edmund Rice schools’ Captains from across Australia. It was a real privilege to spend time with this group of young leaders and we’ve stayed in contact throughout the year to bounce ideas off each other and talk about how we can effect change. During this year of lockdowns and restrictions, one thing everyone in the group wondered was how to make the year about more -to talk about more than just coronavirus and get the attention away from that great big elephant in the room.

This wasn’t as much of a challenge to our Prefects. The elephant was and is still there, however, we as a school and as a community weren’t stopped by this. The subject of the pandemic throughout the year has been inescapable; in the news, quiet centres or toiletry shortages. Aquinas, however, always had something better to show. From the master chef competition to NAIDOC week basketball matches, Greenbatch recycles to the staggering number of supporters lining the stands of our 1st sports teams, and, finally, the presentation and graduation evenings. Throughout the whole year, the Aquinas community as a whole came together and got busy. There were no mistakes to be made; 2020 to us was never about the pandemic. In fact, I’ve only officially mentioned it less than a handful of times. 2020 was about coming together; that unity between junior, middle, senior schools, and the communities we are a part of. 2020 was about all the big and small things we accomplished - something that not I nor any one person can take credit for.

Our very accomplished year is a success which we endeavoured toward, and enjoyed, together. Something I think really embodies this has been the supporting crowds at some of this year’s 1st team fixtures. Coming from over East, trying to understand the nuances of 1st footy wasn’t quite my forte, but what’s great about the red and black is that it doesn’t matter. Those clouds of red shirts dominated the sidelines and there’s this spark of energy - maybe it's another record one of our players just smashed or the entire Brother’s House which comes down to watch - but it invites you in. It’s ironic, even, that the biggest crowds and tightest community I’ve felt a part of here at Aquinas has been during the year of lockdowns and social distancing, but that’s us. That’s how we responded to Covid.

We’ve been so well supported by each other, the staff, and the numerous organizations within the college and community who’ve given us the footing to not only complete the year but do it well. Conversely, to speak of our successes is not to forget the real hardships many of us faced throughout the year. On top of the pressures the year already dolloped onto us, it’s been tragic to see anticipated events such as the Head of the River regatta or Senior School Production being delayed or put off. In all of this, the boys’ resilience really came to show, and with the backing of our amazing support network, we’ve been able to recoup much of the year that was: productions, school ball, and with the new rowing shed, it’s hard to miss the swathes of boats back on the water, ready for the next season.

In finishing my own journey as a student I’m met with a sense of bittersweet proudness. When my Instagram feed is splashed with the familiar colours of the Aquinas page, showing off all the many new and exciting things our councils are up to, I feel excited and proud to have been a part of this student community and I know it’s something I’ll definitely miss. At the same time, I feel the support of the broader Aquinas community embracing around our year 12 group and have come to realize that while we have left the school as students, we’re always welcomed back as part of that community.

I’d like to challenge the senior school of 2021 to keep at it; keep my Instagram feed interesting like you have been and hold onto that red and black spark and spirit. Our legacy is in keeping that fire alive. You’re what makes Aquinas special to me. From myself and the year 12’s especially, it’s been an honour to come here all these years. I’ve had a blast, but now it's your turn. For that, I’m thoroughly excited.

“Legacy is not what we do for ourselves; legacy is what we do for future generations.”

But what value is there in a school’s legacy, a legacy enriched in sport, music, culture, service and so much more, if the students don’t harness the many opportunities that are provided for us?

Good morning Mr McFadden, official party, staff, parents and my fellow peers. It is an honour to represent you today as the College Captain for the coming year.

For the 2021 leadership team behind me, in our brief moment in leadership, our legacy will be determined by what we do in the next twelve months to serve all of you, and how well we succeed, even if in some small way, in leaving a positive impact on the culture of Aquinas for future generations. With this in mind, we have established three goals that we hope will contribute to present and future students. These goals embody the realisation that the heart of a College like our own is a culture sustained by students who have a go at the opportunities our school provides.

So firstly, GOAL 1: Grounding the Senior School Council System.

As some of you may know, we’ve established a new Senior School leadership system in 2020, a system of 14 councils that each focus on promoting and developing different aspects of our College, whether it be academics, service, sport, sustainability or boarding, just to name a few. Unlike some other schools where a small leadership team is stretched thin to try and make changes within their College, we now have a full system of 51 prefects and 16 captains thinking, brainstorming and initiating new projects for our school community. The 2021 leadership team acknowledges the foundation of the new council system that the previous year has established for us, and for this coming year we aim to maintain and improve this. Ultimately, we strive to make the College Community more inclusive and expand the opportunities of the Aquinas College Life.

GOAL 2: Listening to the Aquinas community.

That’s listening to the students, the staff, the parents, the Old Boys, the entire community, for their valuable input, opinions and concerns and allowing those voices to shape how our school evolves. In Term 3 you might have noticed boxes around the school asking for the opinions of both students and teachers. We asked you ‘what do you want in our school’? From this initiative, many students were interested in a student garden, so the Sustainability Council have been looking to get one running. Other students called for an Interhouse Esports Competition, so a competition for Senior School students will be held in Week 6 this term! I feel like schools should listen to the many different wonderful ideas that both students and staff have, as so many exciting possibilities can be found.

And finally GOAL 3: Inclusivity and Buying In.

The culture of a school is dependent on the participation of its students. Aquinas College provides a lot of opportunity for each and every student that walks these College grounds; the student leadership team aims to expand these opportunities to involve as many students as we can into the Aquinas life. But while Aquinas provides us these opportunities, it’s up to each and every one of us to decide whether we want to make the most of them. Aquinas has a whole breadth of life-experience on offer, whether it be in service, debating, academic competitions, production, mock trials, or, of course, sport. Aquinas participates in arguably the strongest school sporting competition in Western Australia, so, as Aquinians, we should try to always serve the Red and Black at the best level we can.

The Aquinas culture is also defined by supporting your fellow Aquinians in the aspects of the College they involve themselves in; whether it be cheering from the sidelines at our PSA games on the weekend, by coming to watch the Senior School Production early next year, or by supporting the mighty sportsmen in the Interhouse esports competition in a couple of weeks... This all links to the value of mateship in our school community, especially in an all-boys community, and buying into the College life, the College life of serving others and participating in as much as the school offers.

I began this speech by underlining the legacy that the 2021 leadership team aims to achieve: bettering the Aquinas Life in whatever way we can, for all of us here, and for future generations to come. But while the staff and student leaders strive to provide as many opportunities for life-experience as we can for our community, it’s up to us students to buy-in to the Aquinas life, starting from now and this year to come. To conclude this speech, I’d like to part with a few words that I believe we should all keep in our hearts, as we face the year ahead of us, a strong ideology already present within the Aquinas Community. As our Captain of Boats Daniel Nolan says to his crew, “this is our year boys.”

Thank you for your time.

Good morning, Graduates, Mr Noonan Crowe, President of the Aquinas Old Boys’ Association, Board members, Staff, Our College Captain, Prefects, Students and our most honoured guests the parents of the year 12 students.

I would like to welcome all here today, and in particular parents, for taking the time to be present at your son’s graduation from college.

I have been asked to speak this morning on behalf of The College to farewell the graduating class of 2020. May I commence by paying tribute to each of the Year 12 students. The achievements of this class have been many. There are some excellent musicians, sportsmen and scholars among today’s graduates.

My pride in the class of 2020 is not however because of the outstanding achievements but because of the values, they demonstrated in their decisions to participate in the life of the College. / It’s the choices we make today that determine the character of tomorrow. This is true for both child and country. So congratulations.

Despite the disruptions and disappointments from COVID 19, the Class of 2020 has proven time again to be dedicated people, who have contributed enormously to the quality of life at the college. This is particularly true of our College Captain Kynan Ganza, the College and School Prefects. To each one of the graduates of the class of 2020, I thank you for your work and your support for the community over the years. It has been very much appreciated.

Much of education cannot happen without the keen interest of others – staff in particular. I know today’s young men have the perception in life to see the role that an enthusiastic teacher plays. May I thank on behalf of the students and parents all the teachers and staff at the college, especially those here today and recognise the wonderful role they have performed in your education.

I would also like to address the parents for a few moments. Can I congratulate you on the milestone of having achieved getting your son through secondary school. As a parent myself, I am aware it is no mean achievement and I am sure it has come with a few bumps on the road. Even Mary and Joseph had a small crisis.

Apart from their talent, your sons have always shown themselves to be young men with generous hearts who are at once friendly and warm in their dealings with others. Such qualities stem from the home and not the classroom. So thank you parents for doing such a fine job.

May I also thank parents for your generous support of the College. Schools like Aquinas depend not just on the fees you pay but also on the time and effort you put into supporting school activities. The hours are countless but without such help, school life would be the poorer. On behalf of the College may I take this moment to thank you.

I would like to conclude by speaking to the young men who are leaving us today. Gentlemen, when you walked across the stage today and received your Graduation Certificate- I want each of you to know the staff are proud of you, we are proud of your accomplishments and we wish you well. However, know that the results you receive at the end of the year do not define or limit you. Your true vocation in life is too sacred to be determined by exam results or qualification. The majority of people’s lives bear witness to the fact that how we fare at school is not necessarily how we fare in life. So what really matters, what really counts is not your success at school. But how you live your life now. It is the choices you make as a graduate from Aquinas College, as a young man of Christ that counts.

And it is not just about big decisions of life, it’s more to do with the seemingly small things in life. The way you greet people, the way you affirm and speak to them, the way you care for other people and encourage them. Understand that a truly meaningful life is made up of a series of daily small acts of decency and kindness, which, ironically, add up to something truly great over the course of a lifetime. So what principles or guidelines can we recommend to you to help in making your choices in life? There are many however I will limit to five:

• One: Reject versions of the world that define success solely in terms of money, accumulation of things and over-emphasis on status and security. Resist shallow definitions of what constitutes a worthwhile and valuable life. Remember the wise words of the comedienne Lily Tomlin who once said: The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win, you’re still a rat!
• Two: Be happy but know that lasting happiness is always closer to contentment and inner peace than it is to sensual pleasure, which can be fleeting and unsustainable; know that true happiness abides in an open and compassionate heart that continually gives simple acts of kindness.
• Three: In a world that can be toxic to self-directed thinking, follow your inner moral compass and never let go of your dreams. Resist being pushed around by peer pressure, from prejudices and false truths. Look at society through the prism of your values and be of good character; strong in your convictions, based on the very best wisdom of the ages. Know that you need not be perfect. Learn from your mistakes and grow through your failures. Not perfect but always authentic and with integrity.
• Four: Be resilient and never give up on the truly important things. In a world awash with constant chatter and endless noise, discover presence and stillness in your life. Take the time to know silence. Much of the world has a vested interest in keeping us restless, craving for more and unknowing of when enough is enough.
• Five: Accept our Gospel’s claims about the way in which human beings should engage in our world, about justice, and the dignity of every human life, whatever their colour, culture or creed.

Know that in the end, it is not what we have done in our lives that is of ultimate importance. Rather, has it made a positive difference in the lives of others? If you hear the cry of the otherwise unheard and choose to use your status and influence to raise your voice on behalf of those who have no voice; if you liberate the poor and choose to identify not only with the powerful, but with the powerless; if you retain the ability to imagine yourself into the lives of those who do not have your advantages, then it will not only be your proud families who celebrate your existence but the many people whose reality you have helped change. I wish you strength in your choices that lie ahead.

I have one last hope for you, which is something that I already had at eighteen. May life never crush your dreams and may you keep the little boy alive inside you and the friends you shared that boy with. The friends with whom I sat on graduation day have been my friends for life. They are my children’s godparents, the people to whom I’ve been able to turn in times of trouble. At my graduation we were bound by enormous affection for each other, by our shared experience of a time that could never come again, and, of course, by the knowledge that we held certain photos that would be exceptionally valuable if any of us became too successful.

It is time for the college to bid farewell to the class of 2020.

The statue of teenage Christ and Mary installed in the Chapel quadrangle celebrates the time of Christ’s and all young men departure from their mothers. Today marks a moment in that time of departure.

At the foot of the statue lies a plaque with the words from a poem by CD Lewis written to mark the memory of his son’s departure: It reads

I have had worse partings, but none that so gnaws at my mind still.

Perhaps it is roughly saying what God alone could perfectly show –

how selfhood begins with a walking away

and love is proved in the letting go.

Gentlemen as we let go, know you were loved. May God bless you on your journey. Goodbye.

2020 was a very different year. Here's a quick wrap of what went on in Junior School.

A look back on COVID-19 and what happened in Middle School during Western Australia's lockdown period.

Year 12 students reflect on 2020 and the impact COVID-19 had on their final year.

As part of their ATAR course, boys chose a final piece to create. They designed and built the piece for final marking. Take a look below.