黄色十大软件

Welcome(s)

Over the past fortnight, our College has fully come to life for 2026, with the return of all staff and students. I extend a warm welcome to all of our community for 2026, particularly the students, staff and families who are joining the Aquinas community for the first time. Our partnership with families is critical to the care we have in common for the wellbeing and learning growth of our students, and it was wonderful to see and chat with many parents and guardians attending the recent House Welcome BBQs and the Year 7 Information Evening.

Key communications were emailed to families on both Friday 23 January and on Tuesday 27 January. We urge families to access this information if you have not already done so. As a College we are pleased to welcome the following new (& returning*) staff for 2026:

Welcome to the House system!

It鈥檚 been a great delight to see the ways in which students have embraced their Houses and the Vertical Pastoral system, with elements of House pride and competition evident from the very first day when Year 7 & 12 students combined in the 鈥榮ing-off鈥� of the College song. The increased mixing of year labels at recess and lunch has also been an obvious benefit, with students commenting on the benefits of getting to know students from higher and lower year levels. The new polo tops have provided additional splashes of colour, and the enthusiasm of the Year 7 Swim carnival and the six houses competing with their new house coloured caps. Congratulations to McCormack on winning their first carnival!

Being the best version of ourselves

I had the pleasure of addressing a number of the student Year Level welcome assemblies across the last fortnight. Each year level was exhorted to start the year positively and engage in all aspects of school life: classroom learning, their Mentor Group and House, and the many co-curricular activities. In all areas of life, students were encouraged to ask 鈥淚s this my best work?鈥� and challenged to be a better version of themselves than they were yesterday.

We wish all students well for a positive and successful 2026, as we work together as staff, students and families to help students to 鈥榚xceed what they think is their potential鈥�.

David Broadbent
School Principal

Welcome back to the new school year. I hope the transition to a new year of academic work has been interesting for your family members, with the right level of challenge and success.
Here are some updates to how we communicate about learning to students and their families.

SIMON/PAM and Learning

For families new to Aquinas, the Learning Management System that students use at school, and viewable online, is called SIMON. It is a product owned by the Diocese of Ballarat and used in many Catholic schools. Parents access information relevant to them through the Parent Access Module (PAM). Parents can update medical data, inform the College of absences and give consent to excursions, as well as view learning progress through PAM.

School Digest

Every four weeks, SIMON will aggregate all the relevant data about a student and send it in a single email, called a school digest. This will include all information for the previous four weeks about attendance, class tasks and assessment, school activities and letters. This is an automated process that takes all the information that has been posted on SIMON for the previous four weeks. Digests will come out every four weeks commencing on Friday February 27 at 4:30pm.

Overdue tasks

When a task is set on SIMON, the teacher sets a submission date. When the work is submitted the teacher marks the work as submitted and as a separate step adds a grade and potentially a comment. If the date passes and the work has not been submitted the teacher will take the following steps

1. Notify parents and students that the work is overdue by an email that is generated from SIMON.
2. Either leave the task as overdue to signify the teacher will accept the work or mark the work as Not Submitted. Any task that is showing Not Submitted on PAM means the teacher has deliberately marked the work to tell parents and the student that work has not been submitted.
3. If the teacher accepts the work then the grade scale will reflect that the work was late.

Grade Scales

Historically Class Work, usually a homework task, has been marked as satisfactory or not satisfactory.  

This will give parents and students information about quality and submission at a glance. These grades will remain on SIMON and be reported in the School Digest every four weeks.

Assessment Task Dates

On SIMON/PAM there are many assessment tasks showing as due on June 19. Many year 7 students have noticed this! These are tasks that are needed to show that the students can meet the VCAA requirements in the subjects they are studying. These tasks need the dates to be adjusted for the first semester of 2026. The updating will be complete by Monday February 23. Assessment tasks are usually reported with a letter grade and a % and are included in the semester report.

I hope this information assists families in monitoring the academic progress of their children. I hope 2026 is the best school year yet for your family.

Michael Box

Deputy Principal Learning

PBL at Aquinas

Aquinas is six months into a twelve month preparation period, and PBL will launch officially mid-way through 2026.

PBL is an evidence-based framework aimed at promoting positive behaviour and creating a safe and supportive learning environment. PBL involves the implementation of proactive strategies to teach and reinforce co-constructed behaviours while reducing challenging behaviours among students.

Key components of PBL include:

Preventative strategies: Implementation of evidence informed classroom management and instructional practices. Research has demonstrated that establishing effective classroom systems is integral to the fidelity and sustainability of School-Wide Positive Behaviour Interventions and Supports implementation (Barker, Poed & Whitefield 2022).

Clear expectations: Establishing clear and consistent behaviour expectations for students across various settings within the school.

Teaching and reinforcement: Actively teaching the school鈥檚 agreed behaviour expectations to students, in a similar manner to academic subjects, and reinforcing them through a system of acknowledgement.

Data collection: Collecting data to monitor and assess student behaviour, which helps identify trends and areas, or students that may need additional support.

Tiered support: Providing a tiered system of support, ranging from universal interventions for all students to targeted interventions for those who need additional help.

Family and community involvement: Engaging families and the broader community in promoting positive behaviour.

The aim of PBL is to create a positive and inclusive school culture where students feel safe, respected, and supported in their learning journey. It encourages a proactive approach to behaviour management and focuses on prevention rather than solely reacting to disciplinary issues.

At Aquinas, with student, parent and staff feedback, we have created behaviour expectations under the PBL values of Safe, Fair, Kind and Responsible. We have created a matrix of behaviours that all members of our community are expected to demonstrate, and will begin the explicit teaching of routines and expected behaviours in Term 1. We have also created a system of acknowledgements for students, with staff being given cards to give to students when they demonstrate expected behaviour, which then students can put into a draw to win a prize and be acknowledged at an assembly.

Uniform Reminders

Please support the College in ensuring that your child attends school in correct uniform. In particular:

• Students must wear Aquinas branded black tracksuit pants
• Students must wear only minimal makeup with the College uniform
• Only clear nail polish and natural nails are permitted - nails must be short and functional
• Students may wear one plain chain, one simple ring, one plain bracelet, two studs/sleepers in each ear
• Nose piercings must be a single clear stud
• Hair must be natural in colour and not extreme in style
• Beards and moustaches are not permitted with the College uniform - students must be clean shaven
• Students must wear white or black visible socks with no logos which sit above the ankle with PE uniform
  

Acceptable Use of Mobile Devices - Change

Please be aware that the College鈥檚 response to ongoing breaches of our Acceptable Use of Mobile Device Policy has changed. Students who have their mobile device confiscated three or more times will now require a parent or guardian to collect their device from the College.

Supporting Anxious Children

Maroondah City Council is proud to present Supporting Anxious Children, online parent information sessions to support our Maroondah families.

Supporting Anxious Children Series, in partnership with Boroondara, Knox and Yarra Ranges Council.

Presented online by , these sessions will cover:

• Understanding anxiety and normal childhood development
• The signs and symptoms in your children
• Types of anxiety disorders
• What鈥檚 helpful and not helpful
• Methods and strategies to support your children
• Where to go for more information/support

Wednesday 19 February - for parents and carers of primary aged children.
Wednesday 25 February - for parents and carers of secondary aged children.

Bookings Now Open:

Free Public Transport for Children

From 1 January 2026, public transport in Victoria is free for children aged between 5
and 17 years.

To access free travel, students need to:

- Purchase a Youth myki card for $5, and carry it 鈥� please register the card

- Tap on and off each time they travel

- Carry the approved school student ID with the Transport Victoria logo

Purchase card from:

Jess Alger
Deputy Principal

Spiritually Speaking - 2026 Theme: 鈥淥ne Body in Christ.鈥�

Our theme this year is based off two letters written by St Paul; one to the Corinthians and the other to the Romans. In these letters, he uses the human body as a metaphor for Church unity. The human body consists of many parts and each part has a role to play. Those roles work together to achieve larger tasks and together they can accomplish great things. Similarly, the church has many different members, each with unique gifts and roles, and can work together to achieve the wonders of God鈥檚 love. When some members are struggling, there are others who provide support and help to lift them up. When there is great joy, that joy is shared and celebrated. The same can be said for 黄色十大软件.

At Aquinas, we are 鈥淥ne body in Christ鈥�; a community built with many members, with unique talents and gifts. While we may be divided into different houses and be responsible for different roles, we are united under the same purpose: to ignite the fire of learning and shine as a beacon of excellence, hope and love in the world.
Throughout this year we will see this theme at our whole school and family masses, in our RE and pastoral classes and in various community discussions. I look forward to working with staff, students and families as we walk our 2026 faith journey together.

Tania Grace
Assistant Principal Mission

Welcome back to a great start at Aquinas for term 1. We have welcomed new staff to our teaching and non- teaching teams, as well as our Transition assistants and GAP Year Trainees who are Year 12 students from 2025.

All staff have been allocated to a House and will participate in activities alongside students throughout the year. There has been a strong sense of House charism with the sense of colour in Mentor rooms and House areas around the College. Staff are definitely helping to spread the House Spirit!

Parents are encouraged to contact teachers with any queries regarding their student and that start of the year. We want to establish strong relationships and work in partnership with you to allow students to be the best they can be!

Gina Goss

Assistant Principal - Staff

During assemblies in Year 10 and 11, students were shown what it means to achieve a Satisfactory result for a Unit and the importance of classwork in gaining a Satisfactory result. Most Year 10 students are studying a Unit 1 subject, whether that be a VET, Unit 1 Religion and Society or enrolled as a VCEReady student in a Year 11 subject. Understanding the criteria for a Satisfactory Unit is important for their success.

A Satisfactory result is about consistently demonstrating the key knowledge and key skills outlined in each VCE and VCE VM study design. It includes the coursework completed in class, submitted homework and the completion of school assessed coursework (SAC鈥檚) The most effective way to demonstrate an 鈥楽鈥� is through active engagement in everyday learning.

Contributing to class discussions, asking questions, participating in activities, and completing classwork all provide valuable opportunities to practise and show understanding. Learning is not passive; it requires effort, focus and a willingness to be involved. Being present in the classroom are necessary to ensure gaps do not occur.

Homework also plays a vital role. Completing and submitting homework on time reinforces classroom learning, strengthens understanding, and allows teachers to provide feedback that helps students improve. Similarly, SAC鈥檚 are important checkpoints. They give students the chance to demonstrate what they know and can do in a structured way, ensuring they meet the required outcomes for the unit.

Importantly, putting genuine effort into class engagement builds both understanding and confidence. When students participate regularly, they develop stronger skills, feel more prepared for assessments, and are more willing to challenge themselves. Confidence grows through practice and persistence. Learning is a very social process, however, that is often confused with hanging out with friends or having fun that is off-task.

Success through engagement also has a powerful impact on student wellbeing. When students keep up with their learning, meet deadlines, and see their progress, they experience a greater sense of control and achievement. This reduces stress, builds resilience, and fosters a positive mindset towards school. Feeling capable and prepared supports not only academic growth, but also overall wellbeing.

Achieving a Satisfactory result is the outcome of steady commitment, positive habits, and active involvement. By engaging fully in every lesson and meeting all coursework requirements, students set themselves up not only for success in their subject, but for continued growth throughout the year.

Rachel Crawley

Head Senior Years

It has been a privilege to welcome students back to a new academic year, particularly our incoming Year 7 students as they commence their journey at 黄色十大软件. The resilience and positive attitude displayed by all students has been noticeable despite the structural and logistical changes which have occurred.

The Year 7 swimming carnival is always a highlight on the calendar. The day is a chance for students to develop a sense of belonging to their House and also get to know students outside of their core class. The theme for the day was participation. Regardless of where each swimmer placed, they received a point for their House by participating in the race. Well done to McCormack on winning the inaugural Year 7 swimming carnival!

Another opportunity to develop a sense of belonging and meet new people at the start of a new academic year is to try out the various clubs that are on offer. Volleyball and cricket club commenced this Tuesday and we saw over 100 students in attendance. Keep your eyes peeled for the announcement of other clubs to attend; a fantastic opportunity to meet like-minded people.

Each year, we welcome transition assistants into Year 7 classes for the first two weeks to help with all things including organisation. The transition assistants have recently graduated from the College in 2025. Their knowledge, tips and experience prove to be invaluable for our students. They have acted as great mentors and we wish them all the best for what their futures hold.

Sam Storey
Director Middle Years

We hope that your summer holidays were restful and fun, filled with enough time to be ready for the upcoming year. These past weeks, we have not only reconnected as a school, but as a community.

The start of this school year has brought around some changes, particularly with the new vertical pastoral system. This system brings students from different year levels together, giving us the chance to learn from one another, form new connections and build relationships that go beyond just our own year group. We hope that this new set-up creates stronger ties both within homerooms and within houses, leading to more connections, more friendships and stronger belonging across the entire Aquinas community.

Across our school, many events have occurred over many year levels. The introduction to VCE for our Year 11s has been a monumental change to the past eleven years of their education, marking the beginning of their journey towards completing and obtaining their Victorian Certificate of Education. Our Year 7s have completed their annual swimming carnival, with McCormack claiming their first ever win as a new house. We wish a monumental congratulations to all that participated in the swimming carnival on Monday. Within the upcoming weeks, our Year 7s will be attending their first camp at Aquinas as well, marking the start of an exhilarating journey through high school.

Remember, a school is more than just a place of learning, it's also a community. The way that each and every one of us support each other and build that school spirit, contributes to the amazing culture we create here at Aquinas. So this year, let鈥檚 not only grow and develop as individuals but lift each other up as a team. Let鈥檚 enjoy the moments and all the laughs, and give it our all when work needs to be done.

Thank you and we wish everyone all the best for this year.

Ria Jijose and Oliver Mees

2026 School Captains

My name is Nam Nguyen, and I am the new Social Justice and Outreach Coordinator at 黄色十大软件.

As Social Justice and Outreach Coordinator, my goal is to create opportunities for students to connect learning with action. Through supporting charitable and justice-focused programs, my role is to encourage students to take initiatives that directly support the community, through advocacy and social awareness. Central in this role is my belief that education and learning exist beyond the classroom walls, and that co-curricular programs empower students to use their knowledge and skills to respond thoughtfully and ethically to the challenges that exist in our communities.

黄色十大软件 has long been committed to encouraging students to develop a deep respect for human dignity and a willingness to contribute positively to society. Through our partnerships with organisations such as Caritas and St. Vincent de Paul, we prepare our graduates to make a difference in the world.

Through my role, I hope to support the 黄色十大软件 Community to continue to ensure its actions are guided by a genuine concern for the common good. By working together, we can all work towards becoming more compassionate individuals that are willing to make a difference.

Project Compassion

Project Compassion is Caritas Australia鈥檚 annual Lenten appeal, partnering with Aquinas and the school community to act with compassion and justice towards those in need. Through our support, we help those experiencing poverty both in Australia and around the world by funding access to education, healthcare, clean water and sustainable livelihoods.

This Lent, we are encouraged to unite against poverty and put our faith into action through generosity, solidarity and care for others.

Nam Nguyen
Social Justice & Outreach Coordinator

Welcome back to the school year! 

Congratulations to Maria Skaliotis, who has been appointed our Environmental and Sustainability Captain for 2026. We are excited to have Maria leading our Environmental and Sustainability Club this year. 

The club will meet on Monday (Day 6) at lunchtime in Room J105, located near the Forum and close to the IT Department. All students are welcome- no experience needed, just an interest in making a positive difference. This year, the club will focus on practical and student-led initiatives such as improving recycling and waste reduction at school, caring for our gardens and compost systems, promoting sustainability awareness days, and exploring ways our school can reduce energy and water use. There will also be opportunities for student voice, leadership, and hands-on activities.

We encourage any students interested in the environment, sustainability, or leadership to come along and get involved. 


Karyn Myers

Sustainability Coordinator

CHISHOLM

Daniel Catoggio joined 黄色十大软件 in 2026 as Chisholm House Leader, bringing over six years of experience across pastoral leadership and VCE Vocational Major education. Prior to Aquinas, Daniel worked extensively in VCE VM, including serving as Head of VCE VM at Penola Catholic College, where he led curriculum development, student wellbeing initiatives, and pathways planning across all four VM strands.

Daniel is passionate about student wellbeing, engagement, and real world learning, and is particularly committed to supporting young people to build confidence, resilience, and strong post school pathways. Alongside his House Leader role, he teaches across English, Humanities and Business related subjects, and enjoys collaborating with colleagues to create supportive, inclusive learning environments.

Daniel is excited to be part of the Aquinas community and looks forward to working closely with students, families and staff to help every learner thrive.

Catherine Kearney has worked at 黄色十大软件 since 2019. She began her time at the College as a Year 7 Homeroom teacher and stepped into the role of Year 10 Year Level Leader in 2023. As an English teacher, Catherine has a genuine love for teaching and sharing her passion for reading with her students.

As Chisholm House Leader, Catherine is passionate about building a strong sense of community and rapport, where students feel safe, valued and empowered to be themselves. She believes that when relationships are grounded in trust, laughter and a shared enjoyment of learning, students are better able to recognise their strengths and grow into their full potential.

Catherine is inspired by the values of Caroline Chisholm, particularly her commitment to compassion, service and advocacy for those in need. Catherine is very much looking forward to working closely with the students and families of Chisholm House.

DOMINIC

Adelle Connor joined 黄色十大软件 in 2024 and has served as a Year 9 Homeroom Teacher and Classroom Biology, Environmental Science and General Science Teacher. In 2026, she assumed the role of Dominic House Leader. Prior to her appointment at Aquinas, Adelle completed eight years of service in the Australian Army.

Adelle is enthusiastic about her role as a House Leader and is passionate about fostering house spirit, community, and a strong sense of belonging for every student in Dominic House. She is committed to educating the whole student, believing that the development of wellbeing, integrity, resilience, and academic achievement together forms the foundation of a well-rounded individual.

Guided by the spirit of St Dominic, Adelle strives to embed the values of education, community, and humility as core principles, supporting students to grow and thrive within Dominic House.

Andy Harrison joined the 黄色十大软件 teaching team in 2016 as a member of the Physical Education, Humanities and Year 7 Pastoral teams after having previously held a similar role at Luther College. With a passion for student wellbeing and pastoral care, after several years as a Year 7 Homeroom teacher Andy took on the role of Dominic Leader in 2019. After working closely with the Year 7/8 cohort in this role for several years, in an effort to gain a wider range of College leadership experience Andy then shifted to the role of Year 11 Coordinator in 2023 before more recently becoming Dominic House Leader.

Throughout this range of leadership roles at different year levels Andy has developed a wide range of skills and knowledge that can be directly applied to the role of House Leader. After already previously spending many years within Dominic in a leadership capacity, Andy has a strong connection to the house and the teachings of St Dominic De Guzman. With a continual focus on the four pillars of Dominican Life (contemplation, study, community and service), Andy aims to assist all Dominic students in achieving their potential and beyond.

MACKILLOP

Emily Mok joined Aquinas in 2024, bringing with her a strong understanding of the Aquinas vision and mission developed during her time at 黄色十大软件, Sydney. Since commencing at Aquinas Ringwood, Emily has wholeheartedly embraced her roles as a Year 9 Homeroom Teacher and Classroom Teacher of Humanities and Religion.

In 2026, Emily feels privileged to be entrusted with the role of MacKillop House Leader alongside Scott Buchanan. Her personal teaching philosophy and pedagogical framework will underpin her approach to this leadership role. Her leadership will be grounded in consistency of presence and approach, remaining calm and supportive in all interactions, leading with care to safeguard student wellbeing, and utilising effective communication to foster strong, collaborative relationships with students and their families.

Inspired by Mary MacKillop鈥檚 motto, 鈥淣ever see a need without doing something about it,鈥� Emily is committed to ensuring that every student under her guidance and care is supported to flourish and reach their full potential.

Scott Buchanan completed teaching rounds at 黄色十大软件 in 2007, resulting in employment being offered for the following year. He is a dedicated member of the 黄色十大软件 community, where he has served as a teacher, homeroom teacher, mentor, sport coach and Year 12 Level Leader prior to becoming a MacKillop House Leader. With a deep commitment to the college鈥檚 mission of holistic education, Scott focuses on fostering an environment where students feel both challenged and supported.

At the heart of Scott鈥檚 work is the belief that education extends far beyond the classroom and building positive relationships is at the core of his commitment to his students. Scott believes that every student deserves to be championed and this motivates him to aim for every student to be seen, heard, encouraged, appreciated and cared for. Throughout his 8 years as Year 12 Level Leader, Scott successfully fostered an environment that allowed for students to feel supported and like they belong, while also being pushed to achieve and be their best.

MANNIX

Steph Lim-Duke is an experienced educator with seventeen years of teaching, including eight years in pastoral leadership roles. She joined 黄色十大软件 in 2023 as an English teacher and Homeroom teacher, bringing a strong commitment to academic excellence and student-centred learning. In 2024, Steph stepped into the role of Acting Mackillop 7/8 Year Level Leader for a term and continued in the position throughout 2025, supporting students through key stages of their secondary schooling..

This year, she has taken on the role of Mannix House Leader, where she is passionate about supporting student wellbeing and fostering strong connections across the school community. Steph focuses on building genuine relationships and working collaboratively with students, families, and colleagues to create a positive and supportive environment. Steph is excited to be part of establishing the new Mannix House, helping to build its culture and bring to life the values of Archbishop Daniel Mannix - community, integrity, resilience, excellence, and respect.

Patrick Brodrick commenced teaching at 黄色十大软件 in 2023, after teaching upper primary for the best part of 26 years. During this time, Patrick has held multiple leadership positions, ranging from curriculum, technology implementation and school leadership and management.

Since starting at Aquinas, Patrick has been a Year 7 Homeroom teacher before taking on the role of Dominic House Leader Yr7-8 in 2025. During this time, he has taught in multiple departments, including Maths, Science, humanities and Sport.

This year, in partnership with Steph Lim-Duke, Patrick has been given the opportunity to begin building one of the college鈥檚 new houses, Mannix. Here, he brings a strong sense of community, belonging and connection. Patrick is looking forward to building strong foundations for Mannix House in collaboration with students, staff and families.

MCCORMACK

Jess Weltner and Michael O鈥橦alloran proudly lead McCormack House, one of 黄色十大软件鈥檚 three new Houses launching in 2026. Inspired by the courage and commitment of their patron, Sister Irene McCormack, they are excited to begin building strong traditions grounded in Respect, Courage and Justice.

Jess has been teaching at Aquinas for nine years and has served as a Year Level Coordinator for the past four. She teaches Health, Physical Education and VCE-VM, and previously worked as a Year 9 Coordinator alongside Mr O鈥橦alloran. Passionate about sport, she enjoys netball and tennis and is a loyal Geelong supporter in the AFL. Ms Weltner values building strong relationships with students and families, believing that when students feel known, supported and encouraged, they are best positioned to achieve success. She is particularly committed to helping families feel connected and confident in their child鈥檚 learning journey.

Michael has been part of the Aquinas community since 1991 as a fresh faced year 7 student before returning as a mathematics teacher in 2004. Over his time at the College, he has served as Learning Area Leader for Mathematics and VCE-VM, where he focused on curriculum development and supporting staff. In the past two years, he has embraced a role centred on student wellbeing, working closely with students to help them grow in confidence and strive to be their best. Outside of school Michael has been involved in the Aquinas Old Collegians Football Club for many years as a player and coach in the men's programme and currently doing some coaching with the senior women's team. He is passionate about the outdoors and adventure and enjoys snowboarding, hiking, mountain biking and camping, and proudly barracks for Melbourne in the AFL.

Together, Ms Weltner and Mr O鈥橦alloran bring a balance of experience, energy and care to McCormack House. They are committed to fostering a strong sense of belonging, pride and opportunity as the House begins its journey in 2026.

RICE

Scott Watkins came to 黄色十大软件 about 18 years ago, having worked previously at both Donvale Christian College in a maths/science role, and then St Joseph's College FTG on their year 9 campus. Originally hired at Aquinas as a maths teacher, he started as a Year 9 Level Leader in 2016, involved in developing and running the various activities such as City Program etc. Then he started as a Year 10 Level Leader in 2022, where the focus shifts to senior school choices and beyond.

Scott is passionate about helping young people find their way successfully into the world. This encompasses everything from student wellbeing, positive behaviour management, academic endeavour as well as making the most of the many opportunities Aquinas has to offer.

Blessed Edmund Rice understood that an education was the pathway to a rich life. That鈥檚 our guiding principle in Rice.

Elisa Bettiol is a passionate educator with over twenty two years of experience in the classroom. Prior to joining Aquinas in 2010, she taught at Santa Maria College as a Learning Support Officer, before becoming a Year 7 Homeroom Teacher with extensive experience in teaching across the Middle Years in the areas of English, RE and Humanities in both schools.

Throughout her time at Aquinas, Elisa has held many roles across the College including SRC Coordinator, Preservice Teacher Mentor and Year 11/12 VET Hospitality Trainer, all of which became stepping stones in fostering her enthusiasm and dedication to student development and leadership.

In 2018, Elisa took up the position of Year 7/8 Team Leader for Rice and it is here she has remained committed to student management and pastoral care through wellbeing, positive behaviour support and assisting students to strive for academic excellence.

Through the vision of Blessed Edmund Rice, Elisa has continued to uphold the tradition of equality and justice for everyone. Her passion for teaching and pastoral care is strengthened by the spirit with the call to serve the Aquinas community, and inspire students to achieve their best and take pride in the steps it takes to get there.

Update to Mathematics Resources for 2026

 After an extensive review process, we are making an update to the resources used across Middle Years Mathematics.

For 2026, our Year 7 and 8 Mathematics students will be assisted by an online platform called Instructive, this is a new variation of the Math Pathways platform used in previous years. The change will provide more exposure to whole-class explicit teaching, as per the Victorian Curriculum 2.0, while still offering access to differentiated modules that have proven effective in closing gaps in understanding and extending students who require additional challenge.

The benefits we have seen over the past few years, particularly in identifying the needs of our students to allow for more timely intervention, will remain, and there is no change to the login process for students. The transition has been trialled over several classes through semester 2 last year to help prepare our staff for this year.

As a result of a review of longitudinal data earlier this year, our Year 9 program has undergone a restructure. Students who have demonstrated a strong work ethic and achieved a mastery level significantly above their cohort year have been invited into Year 9 Advanced Mathematics. Students who master this subject will have the opportunity to accelerate into a VCE Mathematics subject in the following year. All other students in Semester One will complete the same Year 9 curriculum, with an Examination at the end of the semester. In Semester Two, we will continue to offer our Year 9 Fast Track course, which is aimed at preparing those students who are pursuing Mathematical Methods in Year 10 and VCE.

All Year 9 students, regardless of their designated subject in 2026, will be utilising the platform Mathspace. This combines the traditional textbook layout that prepares students for the structured approach to VCE classes, along with extensive support, including video worked examples for all questions, diagnostic testing, adaptive revision questions, and an AI-powered assistant/tutor. This platform has been used by all of our current Year 10 students and VCE Methods classes for 2026. 

The account set up and management of all these resources is all done internally, and no action is required on your behalf. We look forward to continuing to work alongside you through your child鈥檚 mathematics journey at Aquinas.

Sincerely,

James Meade
Mathematics Learning Area Leader

Aquinas Students Shine at the 2026 VEX Robotics Australian Nationals

After an exceptional performance at the State Championships in November- hosted here at 黄色十大软件- all five Aquinas Robotics teams qualified for the 2026 VEX Robotics Australian National Championships held in December, 2025.

Three teams elected to travel to Adelaide, where nine students proudly represented the College across two days of competition against the best robotics teams in the country. The VEX Nationals is the largest robotics event in Australia, featuring more than 160 teams and over 1,200 students and mentors.

Middle School 鈥� Team Bazinga! (52540F)

Year 8 students, Owen E, Luke G and Phoenix M delivered an impressive performance in their debut year of competition. Across 11 qualification matches, the team won more than half of their games and advanced into the finals, finishing 20th overall in a division of 40 teams. A remarkable achievement for such a new team.

Middle School 鈥� Team Astro Chaos (52050D)

Year 9 and 10 students, Max L, Isaiah O and William H faced strong opposition throughout the tournament and worked tirelessly to keep their robot performing under pressure. Their teamwork, persistence and problem-solving skills were recognised by event judges, who presented them with the Middle School Judges Award. This award celebrates teams that demonstrate outstanding professionalism, communication and resilience- an honour well deserved by the trio.

High School 鈥� Team Delilah (50520A)

Fresh from their State Championship win Year 12 students, Brayden W, Robbie P, Cooper M and Pip W were eager to test their robot against the nation鈥檚 top teams. With five consecutive Nationals qualifications, the group brought experience and high-level engineering to the competition. Their robot quickly became a crowd favourite for its speed, reliability and scoring ability. Competing as part of the number 3-ranked alliance in the finals, the team delivered an exciting first-round final performance, narrowly missing a place in the semi-final by just three points.

Congratulations to All Qualified Teams

黄色十大软件 would also like to extend warm congratulations to Team 52050C (Sean M) and Team 52050E (Giacomo F, George B, Harrison L, Austin P and Aiden W), who successfully qualified for the Australian Nationals but were unable to attend. Their achievement reflects the strength and depth of our robotics program, and we look forward to seeing their continued success in future competitions.

The event showcased the creativity, skill and dedication of our Aquinas Robotics students. A sincere thank you to the parents and supporters who assisted in getting the students safely to Adelaide and supporting them throughout the competition.

Andrew Russell
Aquinas Robotics Team Mentor

On Monday 9th February Year 7 Students attended Nunawading Aqualink for Swim Testing and a Carnival.

Swim Testing

All students were assessed on their competency in the following tests:

1. Safety Jump Entry
2. 1 Minute Back Float
3. 5 Minutes Treading Water
4. 200m Continuous Swim
5. 5 Minutes Survival Stroke

Results and data are being compiled across the next few days and will be valid for 3 years.
If a student is deemed not competent in any of the 5 tests (or did not attend the day) they will still be permitted to participate in the water slide on their upcoming Camp.
In future activities or camps they may be required to demonstrate their swimming competency. Communications will be made to families if this is applicable at the time.

Swim Carnival

After midday the fun really kicked off and our first 6 house sporting event was underway.
Students competed in a range of events including 50m Freestyle, Breaststroke and Backstroke.
Congratulations to McCormack House who won the Swim Carnival and every student for cheering their mates on in the pool. History was made as the top three places were all taken by new Houses!

Results:

1st: McCormack 629

2nd: Chisholm 592

3rd: Mannix 543

4th: Mackillop 487

5th: Dominic 390

6th: Rice 368

We look forward to seeing some of the winners from the individual events at EISM Swim Squad Training on Wednesdays and Fridays 7:30-8:15am starting Friday 13th at Aquanation.
Thank you to the Teaching Staff, Support Staff, Transition Assistants and Swim Assessors for their hard work and dedication to support our students safety and enjoyment throughout the day.
A big congratulations goes to each and every student who popped in the water and tried their best or supported their housemates from the pool deck.

Jeff Harrington, Erin Richards and Renee Johns

The Parents and Community Engagement Network provides an opportunity for all parents to become involved in the community, social and fundraising activities of the College and to support the various programs and events organised by the College.

After a busy year in 2025, our PACE Network is looking forward to working with families to participate in various events and fundraisers in 2026. We have already had representatives attending our House welcome evenings, handing out chocolate, and chatting to our families.

Preparations are underway for our AGM which will take place on Monday 2 March at 7.30pm in the college boardroom. Everyone is welcome to join us whether in an observational role, volunteer helper, or taking on a leadership role. There are plenty of ways to become involved, from gala ball to stands and we look forward to you joining us throughout the year the year. Please refer to the advertisement located in the Community section to see how you can become involved.

is the link to RSVP and to show interest in joining. 

Thank you to all families who attended our House Welcome BBQ's

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

Updated Spartan Uniform Price List

It is a clear expectation that all students at Aquinas wear the College uniform correctly and proudly.

Spartan supplies all facets of the uniform to our families. All items can be conveniently purchased on line or in store. The online facility includes the options of free home delivery for Aquinas families, or pick up from the shop can be arranged. 

1/210鈥�214 Canterbury Road
Bayswater North
(03) 9070 8284

Monday to Friday 9.00am - 5.00pm
First Saturday of the month 9.00am - 12.00pm

If you need assistance with the College uniform and student personal appearance requirements please read here .