The Magazine of St Aloysius' College • 'Men for Others' • Issue XLVII ...

from the junior school
This year is off to a flying
start! To the over one
hundred new families who
have joined the Junior School
this year, I extend a very warm
welcome. May your years
ahead be happy, productive
and full of excitement! On the
staffing front, a special welcome
to the young and enthusiastic
Mr Mark Coventry, an Old Boy
of St Ignatius’ College, Adelaide who is commencing his
teaching career as one of our Year 6 teachers. We are
delighted to have on board Mrs Jilly Van de Venter, mother
of Max (Year 8), in a part-time capacity and Mrs Suzanne
Leahy who while not new to the College, has assumed the
role of Director of Curriculum for Years 3 – 8.
In terms of development of facilities within the campus,
all but two classrooms in the Junior School have been
equipped with Smartboard technology for the enhancement
of teaching and learning. For young people, technology is
second nature and never such a big deal. It’s heartening
to note that all teachers, young and old, have indeed
embraced technology with open arms, realising first hand
how it can help children learn. The staff and students of the
Junior School would like to thank the College Foundation,
and the many members of the Aloysius Family who
have donated to the various appeals conducted by the
Foundation, for making the acquisition of the Smartboards
a reality. It is hoped that by the end of July every classroom
will have been equipped with this exciting technology.
(Anyone wishing to make a tax deductible gift in support
of the appeal is urged to contact the College Foundation
Office on 9936 5561.) We are looking forward to
building improvements that have been planned as part
of the Masterplan due to commence in December this
year. These improvements will deliver additional facilities,
including a multipurpose hall, two additional classrooms,
music practice studios, group work and learning extension
spaces, sports storage and undercover play areas. Plans for
these improvements will be on display at reception areas in
both campuses prior to commencement of work.
Highlight events of the year so far include the Year
5 Orientation Camp at Kangaroo Valley, the Year 6
Leadership and Reflection Day, Years 3 and 4 Getaway
and the Year 6 excursion to Canberra. The Year 5 Day
Camp at Kangaroo Valley, organised by Mr David
Hegarty and the Year 5 teachers, was a tremendous
opportunity for our the boys to interact with Old Boys,
as well as their teachers. For the majority of the boys it
was a novel experience to be away from their families.
Moreover, the challenging outdoor activities coupled
with activities promoting group dynamics and interaction
resulted in a rewarding experience for the boys and their
teachers. The Year 6 Leadership Reflection Day was also
an outstanding success, thanks to the contribution of the
Senior Prefects, Mr El- Khoury, Mr Van der Meer and the
Year 5 happy campers posing for a photo at the Great Aussie Bush
Camp.
Year 6 teachers. In addition to reflecting on interpersonal
relationships through role plays, testimonies from the
Senior School role models, the boys had a great afternoon
of team-building activities. Our Years 3 and 4 boys spent
two days at Clifton Gardens Reserve with the staff and
nearly forty parents, getting to know each other and
building relationships that will no doubt last for years to
come. Parent- Teacher collaboration was at its peak in this
programme organised by Mrs Marianne Rogan and the
Years 3 and 4 teachers.
In 2008, we are trialling a new approach to our student
leadership structure. I would like to emphasise that the
concept is based on the fact all of us are called to lead
and to serve, and in the broad definition of the term, each
one of us possesses qualities of leadership that need an
occasional springboard and some nurturing along the way.
For positions other than the SRC and House Captains which
are based on peer votes, boys in Years 5 and 6 were
invited to apply in writing to be selected for Leadership
Committees under the umbrella of Social Justice, Liturgy
and Public Transport. Here are the three Committees and
the Prefect leading each of them. The cause of caring for
our environment has been taken up by the SRC this year; a
Mrs Jennifer Walker discussing environmental issues with the SRC.
St Aloysius’ College
A Jesuit School for Boys _ Founded 1879
aloysiad / page 8