From the Head of Senior School

The theme for this year’s National Reconciliation Week – Now More Than Ever – is a reminder to all of us that no matter what, the fight for justice and rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will – and must – continue. Reconciliation Week is an opportunity for our community to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

During indigenous round, our sporting teams wore indigenous guernseys designed by Anton Fallo and Uncle Neville. Last Saturday, on the Bourke Oval, Kaurna Elder Ivan Copley conducted a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony before the First XVIII match against St Peter’s College. This week, Uncle Ivan visited the College and showed the students how to cook damper and fish with native plant seasonings and led a presentation about Aboriginal astronomy and relationship with the stars. The students also attended, during their Faith and Service time, a student-created chapel service highlighting this year’s theme Now More Than Ever, and the effort to close the gap.

Phil Donato
Head of Senior School

Please take note of some special events at the Senior School during Weeks 6 and 7:

Thursday 6 June
Feast of the Sacred Heart Mass
Cross-country championships

Thursday 6 June – Friday 7 June
Solidarity Sleep-out

Friday 7 June
Student-free day

Monday 10 June
King’s Birthday Public Holiday

Friday 14 June
Year 10 and 11 exams commence
College Aerobics Demonstration Night

Last week a group of Year 7 students attended a STEM Day Out at UNISA. This was one of our subject enrichment days that we hold for students who have significant ability in particular subjects. STEM Day Out consisted of three STEM workshops. The Science Workshop explored the science of air and flight, as students discovered the science behind planes and how they fly. In the Engineering Workshop, students worked in small groups to design and construct the tallest, free standing tower possible, while the Mathematical Sciences ‘Perplexing Puzzles’ workshop provided a series of fun, captivating brain-benders through which students discovered how mathematical thinking links to problem-solving. The STEM Day Out was a fun but challenging day for these students who worked collaboratively and creatively to solve the problems that were posed for them. The students were accompanied by Mrs Wills and Mrs Slattery (Middle School Science Co-ordinator)

Kathryn Wills
Gifted and Talented Co-ordinator

Year 7 students have kicked off their exploration of forces with hands-on experiments. These activities aimed to help them understand the fundamental principles governing motion and shape.

Through observation and recording, students documented the effects of various forces. They explored how objects change shape or motion under pressure, pushes, pulls, twists, or turns. Students also classified forces as contact or non-contact, and identified them based on their mode of interaction.

The classroom buzzed with excitement as students shared their findings and insights, reflecting their genuine passion for learning.

Lisa Cibich
Middle and Senior Years Teacher

In Term 1 students undertaking extension or accelerated Mathematics across Years 7 to 11 were invited to participate in the 63^rd South Australian Hamann Schools’ Mathematics Competition, run by the Mathematical Association of South Australia. The competition involves students answering a range of complex and challenging problems, demonstrating their ability to draw on a variety of problem-solving strategies to tackle difficult questions. This year, three students were recognised for their outstanding achievements in this competition and attended a presentation evening at Pembroke School on May 7th to receive their awards. Shudhit Mittal and Agamnoor Kamboj both achieved High Distinctions in the intermediate division and Jackson Chen achieved a Credit in the intermediate division. We congratulate these students for their outstanding efforts.

Dr Michell Coop
Leader of Learning – Mathematics

On Friday 24 May, the College acknowledged History Month by receiving two special guest presenters in the Flynn Theatre.

Early in the day, Dr Alan O’Connor, a veteran of the Vietnam War addressed both Stage 2 Modern History classes outlining some of the contextual and actual history of the conflict the Vietnamese call The American War. He then shared some of his own experiences, challenges and photographs relating to his service in Vietnam during the early 1970s.

Later in the day, during lunchtime, exactly 50 passionate Year 9 and 10 History students joined me to hear Mr Peter Ingman (pictured below, right), a locally based and nationally renowned military historian in a Q & A style presentation. Peter engaged the students on the bombing raids of Broome, and also Darwin, by the Japanese in World War Two. In fact, Peter’s first ever published book was about the lesser known aerial assault on Broome.

Nine Mitsubishi Zero fighters departed Indonesia on March 3, 1942, and arrived in Broome destroying the targets they found. As there were no Allied fighters in the area, the Japanese faced minimal opposition and attacked with ruthless efficiency. The human toll was significant. At least 40 people are known to have died, although the exact figure, thought to be higher, may never be known. Many of them were Dutch refugees who had fled Indonesia.

On 19 February 1942 Darwin itself was bombed. Japanese fighters and bombers attacked the harbour twice during the day, killing 252 Allied service personnel and civilians. Subsequent raids in April, June, July and November 1942, and March 1943 were also carried out.

Peter also revealed some insight into his own interesting journey as an author, self-taught historian and publisher. At the conclusion of proceedings, some students asked thought provoking questions. Steve Uren, our very own ‘resident’ military historian, also posed some curly questions around the truths and myths of these raids.

My sincere thanks to Steve, Dillon Mullins and Lucien Drivas who attended as staff.

Simon Butler
Leader of Learning - Humanities and Social Sciences

On the 6th of April 2024, 28 students from Years 10 & 11 departed Adelaide Airport for the European Tour, with destinations comprising of Rome, Berlin, Amiens, and Paris.

The first destination we visited was Rome, where we visited many famous landmarks such as the Colosseum, Pantheon as well as the beautiful Vatican City. During this section of the tour, it was extremely enriching to experience Roman history in real life, through ornate architectural structures with the help of local tour guides. Many of the destinations in Rome were historically enriching as well as emotionally. One such example was the visit to Ignatius’ Rooms, which was the living quarters of Saint Ignatius, our patron saint. This was an exceptionally valuable experience.

The next stop was Berlin, also a notable city with an extensive culture comprising of factors such as its history and food. During our time in Berlin, we visited many WWII Memorials, which were emotionally valuable due to many of the students’ studies of WWII during Year 10 History. However, it was only after visiting these historical museums and Memorials that we found a deeper understanding of the events of WWII. One such museum which deepened our understanding was the Topography of Terror Museum located in the city of Berlin. In this museum, we gained deeper knowledge of the events of WWII and its profound impact on Berlin, which can be seen through its historical spilt between East and West Berlin. Visiting Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp was a very moving moment on the tour.

The next destination was Amiens, a small city in the North of France which had also experienced much history throughout WWII. One of the destinations which stood out the most in this section of the tour were the Somme Battlefields, which are fields in which the Battle of the Somme actively occurred. Another highlight of Amiens was the Notre Dame Cathedral, an excellent example of Gothic architecture in Northern France.

The last stop of the tour was Paris, an eagerly anticipated destination. During this time, we visited landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum and Arc de Triomphe. This was a fitting conclusion to the tour as these places were an extraordinary display of beauty which everyone who visited will remember forever. Overall, the tour was an extremely enriching experience that I am very glad to have been a part of, and I am sure future tours will offer a similar experience. We were all extremely thankful for the opportunity, and especially for our tour leader, Mr D’Onofrio, as well as the supporting staff: Ms. Peters, Mr Massy-Gartly and Mr Donato.

Sharon Zhang
Year 10 Student

To celebrate the Olympics 2024 taking place in Paris this year, the Alliance Française of South Australia hosted a Francophonie day for students on Friday 17 May at Unley Oval.

We accompanied the Year 7 French students to the event, as they are studying the theme of Sports this term.

Students competed in activities against each other and three other schools. They played team sports such as a French version of dodgeball and one of baseball, and a tug of war, and competed in a quiz. Although we were not successful in securing a win, the students enjoyed the activities of the day, and were blessed with the last of the good weather.

Students also learnt the official Olympic dance, and students from the participating schools performed the dance together on Unley Oval. It was a wonderful moment of collaboration and a symbol of our combined passion for the language and culture.

Christine Capitaine
French Teacher