St Francis of Assisi College - Term 4 Week 9 - 2024
Contents
- Acknowledgment of Country
- From the Principal
- Catholic Mission and Religious Identity Year Reflection
- Leader of Learning - Highlights and Reflections 2024
- Leader of Learning - Semester Two Reports
- 2024 Student Leadership Council Reflections
- 2025 Student Leadership Council
- College Community Wellbeing - 2024 Reflections
- Circle of Support
- 2024 Student Awards
- 2024 Premier’s Anzac Spirit School Competition - Congrats to Kaelen
- Thank You to Mr Ivan Smith
- Year 9 – Canberra Trip
- Year 10 – My Food Truck Rules!!!
- Year 8 – Kitchen Garden – Pizza
- Year 8 – Kitchen Garden – Honey Biscuits
- Year 7 – Food Technology
- Year 7 – Science
- Riverland Rowing Regatta - Sat 7 & Sun 8 Dec
- 2024 College Magazine
- Exciting Enrolments News
- Riverland Cricket Cup
- End of Year Celebration - Family BBQ
- EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: Apprentice Cabinet Maker
- RYT
- Rumble Roadshow
- Catholic School Parents SA - Advert Calendar
- River Families First's subsidised Baby and Child First Aid
- Riverland Triathlon Club
- Royal Life Saving Swim & Survive Program
- Uniform buy/swap/sell/giveaway Facebook Page
- College Office - Open Hours
- Family Business Directory
- The Ways We Communicate
- Saver Plus-Funded by Department of Social Services, partnered by Brotherhood St Laurence and ANZ, delivered by The Smith Family.
REMEMBER If you are reading this newsletter from your email don't forget to click 'read more' to expand your view and access all of our feature photos!
The Season of Advent
Advent marks the beginning of the Church’s new year and is a season of waiting and preparation. The season of Advent focuses on Christ’s threefold coming; past, present, and future.
- We await and prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ at Christmas.
- We hope and give thanks for Christ’s presence within us and in the Word and sacraments.
- We look to the future, waiting for Christ to come again.
The word ‘Advent’ means ‘coming’. Lighting the candles on the wreath symbolises the coming of light (Jesus) into the world. The first candle (violet) represents hope, the second (violet) peace, the third (rose) joy, and the fourth (violet) love. The central white candle is list on Christmas Day and represents Christ. This Advent we will learn, act, and pray for a more just and fairer world, a world full of hope, peace, joy, and love.
I invite you to see Advent as a time to pause and reflect upon our lives and decide what’s important and where our energy and attention should be focused. The more we consciously pause and reflect and exercise our gift of freedom to do what’s right and good, the more human we become. As Christians, the more consciously we pause and reflect, the more open we become to the presence of God in our lives and the power of his grace and to shape our lives. Advent then is the time for conscious reflection upon our lives in the light of the presence of Christ amongst us. As we prepare for Christmas, there’s always a real challenge for us. Instinctively, we speed up and busy ourselves attempting to do so many things. The invitation to us today is the opposite. Pause, slow down, reflect, listen, and pray – make the experience intensely personal. Advent is a time for more prayer as individuals, families and as parish community.
In such a way Advent will be an opportunity for real change and renewal in our lives, unleashing the power to reflect upon our lives, humbly name our challenges, be freed and forgiven for past poor choices and experiencing the loving forgiveness of God as we move forward with hope and confidence.
Advent Prayer
Hopeful god,
As we wait this Advent, we wait in wonder at what the world might be: a place of fairness and welcome, where everyone has what they need to live fully.
As we wait this Advent, we also pray for all in our human family who hope for a better life, rich with possibility.
Hopeful God, help us share your hope.
Amen
2025 Student Timetables
It is planned that current 2025 year 8-10 students will be able to access their 2025 timetables through SEQTA by the end of Week 10 (the week after term finishes). Please note, it is possible changes could be made prior to the new school year.
Students beginning year 7 in 2025, won’t have access to SEQTA, families will receive notification of their child’s core class and home group before Christmas.
Staff Leaving
We thank the following staff members for their contributions to St Francis of Assisi College, and wish them well for the endeavours in 2025:
Mae Camporeale
Ruby Orchard
Ramanjeet Arkan
New Teaching Staff
We look forward to welcoming the following teachers to our community in 2025:
Mikayla Curtis Food and Hospitality / Humanities
Tahlia Woodgate Maths and Science
Neven Daoud Maths and Science, Religious Education, Languages
Sarah Baugh Maths and Science
Jake Anspach Tech Studies, Humanities
Julia Chukwuani Languages, Humanities, Religious Education
Adelle Matthews English and Humanities
Haylee Poulish Health and Physical Education, Outdoor Education
Key Commencement Dates for 2025
To support with planning for the beginning of the 2025 school year, here are key dates:
Tuesday January 21 Leadership Team and POR Team commence
Wednesday January 22 All Teaching Staff commence. Teacher Planning Day
Thursday January 23 Teacher Planning Day
Monday 27 January Australia Day Public Holiday
Tuesday 28 January All students commence
Mr Nathan Hayes, Principal
This year, the diocesan theme, “Your Light,” guided our Catholic Mission events, curriculum, and fundraisers. A key moment was celebrating Laudato Si' week with a special Liturgy and the traveling lantern, symbolizing shared light across the Port Pirie Diocese. Our student leaders signed a scroll accompanying the lantern, reflecting our commitment to care for creation, inspired by our school motto, Laudato Si'.
Catholic Education Week united Riverland Catholic schools at Assisi College for a joyful day, starting with a “Your Light” themed Liturgy and an Aboriginal smoking ceremony led by Sam Mitchell. Students participated in engaging activities, some led by Year 9 students, centered around connection and celebration.
Holy Week reflections included The Last Supper and Year 10’s Stations of the Cross reenactment, followed by Lilly Pilly plantings symbolizing growth and hope. Assisi Day, celebrating the Feast of St. Francis, featured a liturgy, a cross-shaped aerial photo, and activities like recycled art, nature walks, and mandala-making, highlighting our spirit and values.
Faith in Action projects brought Religious Education to life this year.
- Year 7: Designed a cultural and faith garden for the school with guidance from guest speakers on sustainable and culturally significant plants, embodying stewardship and care for creation.
- Year 8: Delivered workshops on the Beatitudes for Year 6 students, teaching compassion, humility, and peace. They also contributed ideas to the Riverland Youth Initiative, organizing a community outdoor cinema event.
- Year 9: Hosted the first Twilight Open Garden during the Riverland Rose Festival, creating ethical art from recyclables to reflect sustainability and the common good.
- Year 10: Connected with residents at Calvary St. Catherine’s Nursing Home, planning activities that fostered respect, empathy, and community connections.
Each house led term charity fundraisers, supporting causes like Project Compassion and the Christmas Appeal. We thank our families and community for their generosity, helping us share light and hope locally and beyond.
End of Year Prayer
Loving God,
Thank You for guiding us this year as we shared Your Light through faith, service, and care for creation. Inspired by Laudato Si’, we have grown in compassion, humility, and stewardship.
Bless our families, friends, and community for their support and generosity. May the light we’ve shared continue to bring hope and love to others.
As we end this school year, help us rest and renew, ready to return as bearers of Your light.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
Mrs Sheridan Bonney, Assistant Principal, Religious Identity and Mission
As 2024 comes to an end, we take this opportunity to reflect on and celebrate the incredible journey of teaching and learning at St. Francis of Assisi College. This year has been one of growth, discovery, and accomplishment for our students. At St Francis of Assisi College, our vision is to nurture Thriving People, develop Capable Learners, and shape Leaders for the World God Desires. This commitment drives our learning programs, community events, and professional development, ensuring our students grow academically, socially, and spiritually.
On 23 September, we proudly hosted our annual vibrant Community Open Night, a celebration of learning, creativity, and community spirit. The evening showcased the exceptional talents of our students across all year levels, with families and visitors exploring classrooms and engaging with the diverse curriculum and teaching practices on display. A highlight of the night was the Year 8 $20 Boss Twilight Market, where students demonstrated entrepreneurial skills by designing, producing, and marketing their own products. From handcrafted items to innovative creations, the market was a hub of creativity and teamwork, accompanied by live music performances from our talented students. The evening also strengthened community bonds, thanks to the support of the Industry and Community Engagement sub-committee, who provided a BBQ and refreshments.
This year, we placed a strong emphasis on career education, ensuring students at every stage across all year levels are prepared for future pathways. Each year level engaged in tailored programs: Year 7 focussed on Career Discovery which provided an understanding of strengths and exploring interests. In Year 8, students focussed on Career Exploring which introduced students to a range of industries and professions. In Year 9, students focussed on Career Connections which encouraged students to link their learning to real-world opportunities. And finally, Year 10, students focussed on Career Planning. This involved immersive experiences, including a week of work experience, a career camp in Adelaide, and participation in the Flinders University Enrichment Program. These opportunities inspired students to reflect on their aspirations and set meaningful goals for their future studies and careers.
Supporting our educators is fundamental to delivering high-quality learning experiences. This year, we collaborated with a CESA Literacy Coach, Clare Collier, through a structured and intentional program to enhance teaching practices. Key areas of focus included: Data-informed planning for literacy improvement, early and ongoing intervention strategies, professional learning to upskill teachers in literacy, curriculum and assessment mapping aligned to the Australian Curriculum and designing effective assessment tasks and learning programs. Through this initiative, we strengthened our capacity to plan for high-quality teaching and learning while building a shared understanding of excellence in literacy instruction.
As we reflect on this year, we celebrate the achievements of our students, staff, and community. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated staff, who consistently strive for excellence through innovative teaching, the delivery of a comprehensive curriculum, and the creation of a nurturing environment. I also wish to thank the exceptional families who have placed their trust in our College to guide their child’s education. Above all, I express my deepest appreciation to the students of St. Francis of Assisi College for their enthusiasm and commitment to learning. Together, we are shaping a school community where every individual thrives, learns with purpose, and is prepared to lead with compassion and courage. I look forward to the continued growth and success of our St Francis of Assisi College community in the year ahead.
Lastly, I would like to wish all our families a very Merry Christmas.
Mrs Natalie Meuret, Leader of Learning
Student reports will be available to parents and caregivers through SEQTA Engage and Learn on Friday, December 13. The College will not print and issue reports at the end of a semester unless a request is made to the school. Instead, student reports are uploaded to SEQTA. By accessing the Reports page, you will see your child’s report. Clicking on a Report icon will display a pdf record that you can download, view, save and print. Your PC or mobile device will need to be equipped with a pdf reader for you to be able to access your child’s reports. New reports will be added to the archive at the conclusion of each reporting cycle.
Mrs Natalie Meuret, Leader of Learning
The 2024 Student Leadership Council have thoroughly enjoyed our time representing the College this Year. As we have worked, we have continued to be led by the guiding principles we developed after our leadership conference in Term 1:
- Make it Fun!
We seek to have small wins and celebrate our successes to ensure we enjoy the role we are in.
- Have a Shared Intent
We will listen to the broader student body to identify a common goal we can work on together.
- Role Modelling
We will be role models that leave a legacy and act appropriately to set an example of expectations and culture.
We have had the privilege to develop and display our leadership skills through a variety of events including: College fundraisers and sporting events, attending Riverland Field Days and the ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day Ceremonies, welcoming prospective students to our College during Immersion Days, and leading the student feedback forums held within our House teams.
From the student feedback forums, we found some common themes across all houses and year levels. Many students reported their highlights of the year were Community Wellbeing Week, Knockout Sport, Assisi Day, the Year 8 $20 Boss program, and the Year 9 Social Enterprise program. We received feedback that looking ahead they would like to have more lunch time sport tournaments, more student clubs, reading spaces, a canteen, and an Academic Shield. We will be handing this information on to the 2025 Student leadership team for implementation next year.
As a team, we relished the opportunity to collaboratively plan Community Wellbeing Week. There were a range of activities to choose from each day centred on the five key domains of wellbeing and health: mental, physical, emotional, social, and spiritual wellbeing. We look forward to seeing the event continue to grow in years to come.
We thank the 2024 student body for their support during the year and allowing us to represent their views and opinions. As a group, some of us look forward to continuing in a leadership role next year and send our best wishes to all new leaders for 2025.
Prepared by Ael Atienza, Riley Broad, Cleo Lambert and Hugh Riedel
On behalf of the 2024 Student Leadership Council Members
2025 Year 8, 9 and 10 Student Leaders & House Captains
The process for selecting our student leaders involved an application, student vote and subsequent interview with school leadership members.
This year we had a highly competitive field with applications of a very high quality. I congratulate all students for their courage and self-belief to apply and to those who were unsuccessful this time round, it is important to note that although Michael Jordan’s successes are what we remember, it was his shortcomings, mistakes, misses and failures that led him to his success.
I am pleased to announce the student leaders for 2025 as above.
I am proud to reflect on a year filled with growth, resilience, and the strengthening of our community. Guided by our shared purpose of ensuring our students are Thriving People, Capable Learners, and Leaders for the World God Desires, 2024 has seen the implementation of transformative programs, the success of student-led initiatives, and the continued evolution of our wellbeing framework.
A highlight of this year has been the ongoing partnership with the Life Buoyancy Institute’s IMPACT Program, which has enabled Molly Gibbons and Isabella Trudgian to be trained as dedicated IMPACT coaches. Their work with students has and will continue to be focused on creating Growth Action Plans tailored to individual needs, fostering positive mindsets, and equipping students with practical skills to support their personal development.
Another milestone this year was the launch of our inaugural Community Wellbeing Week, an inspiring event initiated and organised by our student leaders. This week-long program provided students with a variety of activities and challenges designed to promote healthy lifestyles and encourage meaningful connections. The success of this event demonstrated the enthusiasm and leadership potential of our students, as well as the importance of prioritising wellbeing within our school community.
Student clubs continued to play a vital role in building a vibrant and inclusive community. Under the dedicated guidance of Mr Lyons, the Chess Club continued, providing a space for students to develop strategic thinking and camaraderie. This year also saw the successful introduction of the Breakfast Club, hosted weekly by Mrs Warner, which created a warm and welcoming environment for students to start their day positively. The Podcast Club took a major step forward, recording and releasing its first interviews, showcasing student voices and creativity. The Garden Club also gained popularity at times, as students enthusiastically planted the first crops, ensuring the Kitchen Garden subject could utilise freshly picked produce.
As part of our St Francis of Assisi Feast Day celebrations, the College held a Hair for Heart fundraiser, led by Riley B and the Student Leadership Council. Riley donated 23 centimetres of hair to the Kids with Cancer Foundation, supporting children battling cancer. Proceeds from a gold coin casual day contributed to the foundation’s vital work, including providing real-hair wigs through Ella Wigmakers. This event showcased our community’s generosity and commitment to making a difference in the lives of others.
Our ongoing partnership with LifeChanger continued to play a pivotal role in fostering resilience and self-development across Years 7, 9, and 10. Through workshops and mentorship, LifeChanger has helped students build self-awareness, strengthen relationships, and develop the tools needed to thrive in the face of adversity. The program’s focus on individual and collective growth has significantly enriched our school environment. We look forward to an expanded partnership with LifeChanger in 2025 as we introduce further programs into the Senior Years.
This year also saw remarkable growth in the Student Leadership Council, whose members have become powerful advocates for student wellbeing. Their leadership was instrumental in developing and delivering Community Wellbeing Week and in facilitating forums that raised student voices on key topics impacting our community. Their dedication and vision have enhanced our collective efforts to build a more inclusive, supportive, and vibrant school environment.
As we conclude 2024, we celebrate the progress made in strengthening the fabric of our community and empowering our students. These achievements reaffirm our commitment to building a supportive, resilient, and thriving environment at St Francis of Assisi College. With a strong foundation now in place, I look forward to the opportunities and challenges that 2025 will bring as we continue to build upon our shared purpose.
Have a great Christmas, New Year, and summer. Let us remember that Jesus is the reason for the season. Go forth with kindness, compassion and love.
Mr Luke Cotter, Leader of Wellbeing
A reminder that if you have any concerns or questions or information to share regarding your child’s wellbeing or academics, please contact their home group teacher in the first instance via email or through the College phone number - (08) 8595 4500.
Home Group |
Teachers |
|
AQUA2 |
Miss Ramanjeet Arkan |
|
IGNIS1 |
Miss Niamh Graney |
|
IGNIS2 |
Mr John Lyons |
|
TERRA1 |
Miss Mae Camporeale |
|
TERRA2 |
Mr Fraser Sampson |
|
VENTUS1 |
Mrs Isabella Trudgian |
|
VENTUS2 |
Miss Ruby Orchard |
Student Awards Ceremony
The Student Awards Ceremony was held on Wednesday 4th December with parents and families joining to celebrate with staff and students.
This was a wonderful way to conclude the school year, where we were able to celebrate the efforts and achievements of individual students in the areas of academic achievement and effort, wellbeing and community, and Catholic Identity and Mission.
While it is important to acknowledge individual efforts and to provide something for other students to aspire to, we are a team at St Francis of Assisi College and we were able to take a moment to look back on the terrific achievements of the College this year.
Academic Effort Awards
Year 7: Lara Stoneham, Sophie Gordon, Eliza Wilson, Ruby Jarvis, Imogen Neilly, Ishmeet Kaur, Louisa Del Zoppo and Tahlia Slagter
Year 8: Ruby Malinovski, Jana Mohamed, Carys Vanderwoude, Jack O’Bryan, Justin Parker, Louis Brown and Tom Colligan
Year 9: Charlize Wilson, Samuel DePalma, Greg Empedocles, Tate Stoneham and Georgio Loulas
Year 10: (Back) Henry Dring, Jadyn Searle, Blake Francis, Hugh Riedel, Alissandra Finlayson, Riley Broad, Billie Augey and Yvette Kroon; (Front) Sienna Reichstein, Marissa Finlayson, Ael Atienza, Noorkomal Dhillon and Imogen Lyons
Academic Excellence Awards
Year 7: Ishmeet Kaur and Imogen Neilly
Year 8: Jack O’Bryan and Charlotte Lyons
Year 9: Samuel DePalma and Charlize Wilson
Year 10: Riley Broad and Noorkomal Dhillon
College Values Awards
Year 7: Louisa Del Zoppo, Tahlia Slagter, Imogen Neilly and Ishmeet Kaur
Year 8: Tom Colligan, Jack O’Bryan and Jana Mohamed
Year 9: Samuel DePalma and Charlize Wilson (absent – Ella Jordan)
Year 10: Noorkomal Dhillon and Billie Augey
Premier’s Reading Challenge Awards
Silver Medal: Jana Mohamed
Legend Medal: Eliza Wilson
Hall of Fame: Ishmeet Kaur and Lara Stoneham
Reader for Life Level 8: Nate Perry, Tahlia Slagter and Louisa Del Zoppo
Reader for Life Level 9: Madeline Warren, Cloe Doecke, Gurshaan Lidder, Charlotte Lyons and Ruby Malinovski
Renmark RSL ANZAC Youth Leadership Awards presented by Mr Peter Higgs, President RSL
Matthew DiCerbo and Charlize Wilson
Tim Whetstone Award - presented by Tim Whetstone, MP, Member for Chaffey
Noorkomal Dhillon
Barker Shield Awards - presented by Tony Pasin MP, Federal Member for Barker
Academic Achievement - Imogen Neilly
Community Service and Spirit - Riley Broad
Student Leadership - Hugh Riedel
Earlier this year Year 9 HASS had an assignment to research and write a report on a soldier from WW1. Students were asked to write about a soldier’s life outside of the war, their military service, and how they demonstrated the characteristics of the Anzac Spirit. Students also had the option to submit their report to the 2024 Premier’s Anzac Spirit School Prize. Winners of this prize are invited on a State Government fully funded 12-day study tour to Vietnam in April 2025.
Kaelen G chose to write about her Great-Great Grandfather, Stanley William Coombs, who served in both WW1 and WW2 and was awarded a Military Medal for his bravery at Noreuil in 1917. Kaelen submitted her report for the competition, and in September, was excited to find out her entry had been shortlisted. In October she participated in an interview with a selection panel. Although she wasn’t one of the final winners, the experience gave Kaelen a chance to develop new skills, as well as learning a lot about her family history, gaining confidence in presenting to a panel, and improving her confidence by stepping out of her comfort zone.
Kaelen received a Merit for participating in the competition. We are very proud of her achievement, and she expressed her gratitude for the chance to honour her Great-Great Grandfather’s incredible service and to share his story with others.
A big thank you to Ivan Smith for another year of amazing volunteering at the College. Ivan is well known about the school where he can be seen using his many talents and skills. He's also a key person in organising our College barbeques and family night events. Thanks so much Ivan.
Thanks also to Mrs Cheryl Smith for sharing her talented husband's time and skills with the College.
In our last newsletter we had a great spread of photos and summary of the fantastic Year 9 Canberra Trip. Please see below information about Australian Government funding that helped support our students to attend this amazing opportunity.
PACER
In Week 6, Year 9 students undertook an education tour of the national capital, Canberra. Students were given the opportunity to participate in a variety of educational programs that focused on Australia’s history, culture, heritage, and democracy.
The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the national capital as part of their Civics and Citizenship education. To assist families in meeting the cost of the excursion the Australian Government is contributing funding to our school in the amount of $112.50 per student under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate program towards those costs. The rebate is paid directly to the school upon completion of the excursion, which makes a significant impact on continuing this amazing opportunity in future years.
Our Year 10 students have just wrapped up their Food Truck Rules Cook-Off with amazing success! Over the past weeks, they’ve been hard at work bringing their creative food truck concepts to life—designing everything from logos to menus, and refining every detail in between.
The cook-off featured an exciting menu of mouthwatering creations, including:
- Yiros Bowls
- Mocktails
- Pizza
- Loaded Cookies
- Cream Horns
- Chicken Wraps
The students showcased incredible culinary skills and teamwork, making the event a complete sellout!
A heartfelt thank you goes to Mrs. Warner, whose support played a vital role in the students' success. Congratulations to all involved—you’ve truly served up a feast to remember! 🍴👏
Mrs Amber Burgess, Food Technology Teacher
Mrs Burgess’ and Miss Mod’s Year 8 Kitchen Garden students celebrated their hard work with a delicious Pizza Party! Throughout the term, they focused on growing and using herbs, culminating in the creation of pizzas featuring ingredients from our very own garden.
The challenge? Each pizza had to showcase 1–2 ingredients harvested from the garden. The students amazed us with their creativity and flavor pairings, including:
- Dessert Pizza: Mint and strawberry from the garden
- Butter Chicken Pizza: Coriander from the garden
- Lamb and Pesto Pizza: Basil from the garden
In addition to developing unique flavour combinations, students perfected their dough-making skills and presented their pizzas to the class.
What a fantastic way to combine gardening, cooking, and creativity! Well done, Year 8! 🍕🌿
Mrs Amber Burgess & Ms Anita Modlinski, Kitchen Garden Teachers
Year 8 students baked delicious honey biscuits as part of a fun end-of-year Kitchen Garden activity. After baking, they shared the biscuits with all students, who enjoyed decorating them with icing and toppings, creating a sweet and memorable celebration.
This term, our Year 7 Food Technology students took on the challenge of creating healthier versions of muffins by modifying recipes and incorporating nutrient-rich ingredients. Inspired by the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating, students worked to design muffins that were both delicious and nutritious.
Each creation needed to include a spice or herb to enhance the flavor, with students experimenting with both sweet and savory options. Some standout combinations included:
- Zucchini and Dark Chocolate
- Bacon and Corn and Zucchini
- Raspberry, Blueberry & Cinnamon
- Banana, Oat and Sultana
Students demonstrated impressive creativity and skill, producing muffins that not only met the health guidelines but also delivered fantastic flavours. Well done, Year 7—your tasty innovations were a recipe for success! 🧁🌱
Mrs Amber Burgess, Food Technology Teacher
Year 7 students participated in a series of thrilling end-of-year science games that combined probability, statistics, and physical principles. They competed in challenges where they tested concepts like friction, force, and motion, using real-world experiments to measure how these forces affect movement.
Students also engaged in games of chance, predicting outcomes and analysing results with statistical methods. Each game encouraged teamwork and critical thinking, as students made predictions, and explored how different variables impacted their experiments. The event was not only a fun way to review key scientific concepts but also an opportunity to apply them in interactive, competitive settings.
Ms Modlinski, Science Teacher
Over the weekend, our Senior & Junior Squad competed in the Riverland Regatta, their first one at home! This is one of the largest regattas on Rowing SA’s event calendar, seeing 741 athletes entered in 188 races (82 events) across the 2 days.
Our young rowers demonstrated great determination, grit, resilience and teamwork across the entire weekend. They faced some challenging conditions, heat and strong gusty winds, as well as steering issues from other crews resulting in near clashes during the final sprint. But all these were overcome, and our rowers were able to recompose themselves and push through. A huge testament and display of their personal growth, as individuals and crews.
We were entered in 15 races, proudly displaying competitiveness in all. Our boys’ and girls’ crews raced in their first 2000m race, competing in the 2nd Grade 4x+ as novice crews. And we also saw our girls squad race in 1x’s for the first time!
Highlights from the weekend were the girls 4x+ securing two wins and making it into the 2nd Grade 4x+ final. While the boys continued to improve their racing skills, securing multiple 3rd places. Full results below;
Saturday 7th December
3W2x (3rd Grade Women’s Double Scull), 1000m
2nd Place, Race 3 - Riley, Imogen (10th out of 36 entries on time)
2nd Place, Race 4 - Billie, Jadyn (21st out of 36 entries on time)
3M1x (3rd Grade Men’s Single Scull), 1000m
4th Place, Race 5 – Ryan (17th out of 52 entries on time)
3W4x+ (3rd Grade Women’s Coxed Quad Scull), 1000m
1st Place, Race 6 - Imogen, Jadyn, Riley, Billie, cox: Max (2nd out of 38 entries on time)
3M4x+ (3rd Grade Men’s Coxed Quad Scull), 1000m
3rd Place, Race 1 - Harry, Ryan, Reece, Tate, cox: Ruby (7th out of 33 entries on time)
2W4x+ (2nd Grade Women’s Coxed Quad Scull), 2000m
3rd Place, Heat 2 (1-3 >F) - Imogen, Jadyn, Riley, Billie, cox: Max
4th Place FINAL; knocking 29secs off their heat time in 40km/h gusty winds!
Sunday 8th December
3W1x (3rd Grade Women’s Single Scull), 1000m
4th Place, Race 2 – Imogen (28th out of 48 entries on time)
6th Place, Race 4 – Riley (31st out of 48 entries on time)
2nd Place, Race 5 – Billie (7th out of 48 entries on time)
3M2x (3rd Grade Men’s Double Scull), 1000m
5th Place, Race 2 - Ryan, Reece (12th out of 29 entries on time)
3rd Place, Race 4 - Harry, Tate (15th out of 29 entries on time)
2M4x+ (2nd Grade Men’s Coxed Quad Scull), 2000m
4th Place, Heat 1 (1-2>F) Harry, Ryan, Reece, Tate, cox: Sophie
3M4x+ (3rd Grade Men’s Coxed Quad Scull), 1000m
3rd Place, Race 3 - Harry, Ryan, Reece, Tate, cox: Lilly (10th out of 29 entries on time)
3W4x+ (3rd Grade Women’s Coxed Quad Scull), 1000m
1st Place, Race 2 - Imogen, Jadyn, Riley, Billie, cox: Max (1st out of 28 entries on time)
The squad will reconnect mid-January for a mini camp during the school holidays, before resuming training at the commencement of Term 1. Our next competition will be at the Rowing SA State Championships Regatta at West Lakes in February.
Mrs Stephanie Turnbull, Rowing Program Coordinator and Rowing Coach
Ms Molly Gibbons, Strength and Conditioning Coach
Ms Mae Camporeale, Teacher in Charge
Remember to check out our fabulous 2024 College Magazine that's hot off the press and will be given out to families today (one copy per family).
Thank you to the amazing Emma Warner for undertaking the mammoth task of collating all the College and student activities over the year. Emma has pulled together a great historic record of almost everything that has happened at the school over the past year.
Thank you also to Ian and Mary-Ann Andrews, and Tanya Shugg, from Print DNA for producing such a beautiful magazine.
On Monday of Week 8, 47 of our students travelled to Waikerie to compete in the Riverland Cricket Cup. It was a great day of learning, fun and socialising with students from the other secondary schools. A big thank you to Mr Goodman for his organisation of the day, and Mr Sampson, Miss Fenwick and Miss Prokopec for assisting with our teams. A special mention to Morgan Goodman who volunteered to assist with umpiring/scoring for most of the day, and to Lilly McC for receiving out Good Sport Award, for her positive mindset and inclusive actions.
Prestige Kitchen and Cabinets are seeking to appoint a Apprentice Cabinet Maker.
The Company will consider a school-based apprenticeship for the right person. They have a mentor program and task rotation system that provides for an extremely supportive environment for learning for young adults.
See link below for more detail:
|
The District Council of Loxton Waikerie is excited to announce the Rumble Roadshow skateboarding event coming to the Riverland during the school holidays!
The Rumble Roadshow team will be bringing pro skaters to the Loxton Skate Park and encourage kids of all ages to come down and enjoy the fun.
Local kids will have the opportunity to take part in ‘Learn to Skate’ sessions and can register for FREE here: https://liveheats.com/events/30779
There will also be other fun activities set up on the day, including disc golf and silent disco. And local artist Darcy Savage will be running deck painting workshops! Bring the whole family!!
What: Rumble Roadshow
When: Saturday, January 11
Where: Loxton Skate Park
Time: 4-8pm
River Families First's subsidised Baby and Child First Aid training coming up in December. Such a vital training and we're hoping to reach as many parents as possible!
Travel and financial assistance may be available if required. To register:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/838426391703291
Register: https://www.trybooking.com/CWLLD
The Riverland Triathlon Club have been wonderful in again hosting and organising the school Riverland Triathlon competition held on Friday 8 November.
Our College is therefore keen to help promote the Club’s Summer Challenge Series! Sounds like fun!
Get ready to dive back into fun and fitness! The renowned Royal Life Saving Swim & Survive program is making a splash in December 2024 and January 2025.
PROGRAM FEES A small investment of $41.50 per child (plus pool entry fees if applicable) secures their place in our fantastic program! For aspiring champions looking to reach the pinnacle, we offer more advanced lessons starting from just $50.
Kiddos aged 5 years and up will enjoy 45 minutes of action-packed lessons.
Specially designed lessons for little swimmers under 5 will ensure they have a fun-filled 30-minute session.
It's never been easier to get started!
Simply visit www.holidayswim.com.au and register your child for a lifetime of aquatic confidence and skills. Let's make a bigger splash this Holiday Swim season!
Don't forget we have a Facebook page for parents/caregivers to exchange College uniforms.
You'll need to be a member of the group to access and can then directly communicate with others wanting to exchange uniforms.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/sfoacrsecondhanduniform
The College also keeps a small supply of emergency uniforms that are needed from time to time. If you would like to donate pre-loved uniforms please drop them into the College office. Thank you.
The College office will be open our usual business hours next week (Week 10) and Week 0 of 2025 (the week before school starts).
We are championing our Family Business Directory and inviting families to be part of the Directory.
The Family Business Directory is an opportunity for families who run businesses to promote their business via our College webpage and Facebook page.
The Family Business Directory gives members of the College community a chance to support businesses from the Directory when making their purchasing decisions.
The Family Business Directory is free of charge for current families of the College.
To be included, send the following information to info@assisi.catholic.edu.au
Family Surname (not for publishing):
Business Name: Sample Family Business
Business Phone Number: 1800 SAMPLE
Business Email Address: sample@familybusiness.com.au
Business Website: www.sample.com.au
And your business logo or photo (small file size is fine).
We look forward to seeing many College families' businesses get involved!
Don't hestiate to contact the College office on 8595 4500 if you have any difficulty with the various mediums used by the College to commuicate with families. Or alternatively complete the form below.
Saver Plus has been successfully running for over 21 years, fully funded by the Department of Social Services. The program has consistently delivered real, measurable outcomes that have positively impacted participants’ financial well-being.
In addition to the matched savings component, Saver Plus also offer our MoneyMinded financial literacy workshops. These workshops support participants not only manage their money but also gain critical skills in areas like scams and cybersecurity—ensuring they stay informed and protected in today’s digital age.
Saver Plus will chat with families about their eligibility:
- Health Care or Pensioner Concession Card
- Payment from Centrelink and
- Earning an income (employment, carer’s payment, or child support).
Families can check their eligibility and receive a call back using the enquiry link - Saver Plus - Enquire Now or call our national number 1300 610 355 and a local coordinator will contact them directly.
Social