From Year 9
As we reach the final stretch of Term 2, I would like to commend all our Year 9 students for their unwavering perseverance and commitment to their personal success. It is especially fitting, as we enter the final two weeks of the term, that the students in our Year 9 Wellbeing Program have recently explored the concepts of resilience and adaptability. The students will continue to build their understanding of how to manage emotions, develop constructive coping strategies, and recognise the importance of seeking support when needed. Our Year 9 students have been encouraged to normalise setbacks, approach challenges with optimism, and strengthen their emotional skills to thrive not only throughout adolescence but also as resilient, lifelong learners well into the future.
On Friday, 21st June, we celebrated St Aloysius Day, a vibrant occasion filled with community spirit and joy. The day commenced with House sessions, during which the students gathered in their College Houses to engage in a range of meaningful activities. The opening activity offered students and staff a valuable chance to reflect on St Aloysius Gonzaga, celebrating his profound faith, dedicated service, and compassionate care for others. The inspiring work of the School of St Jude sparked thoughtful and engaging conversations among our Year 9 students, which they carried forward into the concluding activity. Students were introduced to the College’s new House Social Justice Themes and, in small groups, created prayers and a “call to action” to guide and uplift our College community. Following this, everyone embraced the festive spirit by dressing up in creative costumes and enjoying a variety of fun-filled activities around the College.
Year 9 Excursions: Enriching Experiences for Everyone Involved
Italian Excursion: Dante Alighieri Poetry Competition & Lygon Street
On Wednesday, June 18, selected Year 9–12 Italian students participated in the prestigious Dante Alighieri Poetry Competition at The University of Melbourne. Students proudly recited Italian poems—some even choosing verses from Dante’s Inferno in Old Italian. After the competition, students visited the CO.AS.IT. Museum to explore the history of Italian migration to Australia. They then enjoyed a behind-the-scenes tour of Brunetti Classico, learning about its heritage and enjoying delicious gelato. The day ended with a relaxed lunch along Lygon Street. It was a fantastic cultural experience that celebrated the Italian language, history, and community spirit.
Prof. Stangherlin & Prof. Schiliro
Year 9 Italian Teachers
Last week, the Year 9 Italian students were assessed on their speaking task, which involved memorising and reciting a poem for the Dante Alighieri Poetry Competition. A few of us were then selected to compete in this statewide competition, hosted by Melbourne University.
On Wednesday 18th June, the day began with us presenting our poems at Melbourne Uni. After that, we headed to Brunetti Classico on Lygon Street, where we learnt about the café’s history, got a behind-the-scenes look at how it runs, and enjoyed some delicious gelato—courtesy of the school! Knowing we had something fun to look forward to made the competition feel a lot less intimidating,
We also had some time to explore the area and soak in the amazing Italian culture surrounding us.
Overall, it was a culturally rich and memorable experience. Thank you to Ms. Stangherlin, Ms. Schiliro, and Giorgia for making it all possible!
Lupita Pullen 9E
Our day at the Dante Alighieri Poetry Competition and Lygon Street was a great experience, and we had so much fun together!
After reciting our poems at Melbourne University, we headed to Lygon Street, where we visited Brunetti’s to learn about its history — and we were even treated to free gelato!
One of our favourite parts of the day was exploring Lygon Street and sharing a meal together. We also really enjoyed learning about Italian post-war immigration during our visit to the CO.AS.IT. Museum.
Overall, it was a fantastic experience, and we all had a great time.
Julius Cantoni, Phoenix Bowman, Johan Vescio, Seb McDowell, Archer Cusack, and John Kemeridis
Photography Excursion
On Wednesday, students of the year 9 Photography class made their way to Federation Square, viewing it through their Abstract art ‘lens’ to create some photographic Triptych works. Students have learned about what makes a triptych- the uniting of different artworks into one, complete, larger work. Cameras aimed high and low to capture the striking tessellating fractals of the buildings of Federation Square, which were a perfect subject for students’ final submissions for the unit. Look forward to seeing those works in the college art show later in the year!
Elijah Armato
Year 9 Photography Teacher
On the 18th of June, we had an excursion to Federation Square to take photos of architecture and designs. I found the patterns and shapes of the buildings very interesting because of how the triangles and squares seemed to fit together perfectly. The main highlights of the trip were taking photos in an area outside of school and using a really good camera to capture the detail. I learned to carefully proportion the subject/s to fit the frame and to extend my knowledge on how to use the cameras.
Ivy Nelson, 9B
This Wednesday, I went to Federation Square for a photography session. We took public transport there, which was an easy way to travel. Once we arrived, we were free to explore in groups or pairs in our allocated areas and take photos of the architecture around the area. It was interesting to capture the different buildings and their designs, even though it was a cloudy midday, which made the light a bit flat. I learned a lot about working with natural light and finding good angles, even when the conditions weren't perfect. One highlight was getting up close to some of the unique architectural details that you don’t usually notice from a distance. Overall, it was a great opportunity to practice and I’m looking forward to trying out more architectural photography.
Noah Young, 9E
Emma Turner
Year 9 Leader