From Year 9
A New Term, A New Chapter for Year 9
As we welcome back our Year 9 students for a new term, we hope the holiday break provided time to rest, recharge and reconnect. Returning to a fast-paced 9-week term, the Year 9 students have already embraced new learning opportunities inside and outside of the classroom. The first week back was filled with a buzz of energy, as students returned with excitement, focus, and a renewed determination to succeed.
Our Year 9 students have embraced the exciting changes of Semester 2, with their new electives already inspiring fresh creativity and critical thinking. It is also a valuable time for our students to set achievable goals, reflect on past progress and make the most of every learning moment. With engaging curriculum and Co-Curricular opportunities throughout the term, it’s an ideal time to challenge ourselves, grow in resilience, and strive for our best.
As the College continues to celebrate the Jubilee Year of Hope, our Year 9 students are encouraged to live out the 2025 College theme, inspired by the words of Catherine McAuley: “Never be afraid of the unknown.” It is important to remember that at St Aloysius College we embrace every opportunity to be curious learners and become brilliant in our own unique ways. Another exciting change is a leadership changeover for Class Co-Captains. This will be a great opportunity for new candidates to showcase their leadership skills working collaboratively with their Pastoral Leaders, their peers and Leadership staff.
A special congratulations to the following Year 9 students, Xavier Busuttil, Lupita Pullen and Ruby Chiu, who were finalists in the 2025 Italian Poetry Competition. Selected from over 2,000 participants statewide, they placed among the top 200, an impressive achievement that reflects their dedication, talent, and passion for the Italian language. We proudly acknowledge the effort and commitment behind these outstanding results.
Celebrating Excellence in the Wider Community
On Saturday the 26th I competed in the State Solo and Ensemble Championships where I had the chance to compete across 6 sections, taking home 2 State Titles in the Open Duet/Trios with a score of 95 and the Junior Tuned Percussion with a score of 90. I also came 3rd in the Junior Quintets with a score of 80 and the Junior Duets with a score of 87, 4th place in Junior Timpani with a score of 75 and got a score of 70 in the Juvenile Cornet.
Harrison Brink, 8B
Congratulations Harrison!
On Monday 21st July, our Year 8 and Year 9 students had the invaluable opportunity to hear from guest speaker Alan Latu from the Pat Cronin Foundation. Alan delivered an outstanding and thought-provoking presentation on Violence is Never OK, sharing the powerful story of Pat Cronin with honesty and compassion. The session aligned closely with our Wellbeing Programs, reinforcing key messages around respectful relationships, personal responsibility, and looking out for others. Students were deeply engaged throughout, reflecting on the devastating impact of senseless violence and the importance of ending the coward punch. We are incredibly grateful for the inspiring work of the Pat Cronin Foundation and their commitment to educating and empowering young people.
I’m looking forward to the opportunities this new term holds and to witnessing the ongoing growth and positive development of our Year 9 students as lifelong learners.
Emma Turner
Year 9 Leader
Student Reflections – Year 9 Vice Prefects
The first week of Year Nine was an exciting time for the whole year level. Students returned to school with a sense of renewal and energy, ready to take on new challenges. This year marked an important step as everyone began their new electives, giving them the opportunity to explore different subjects and develop new skills. The week was spent adjusting to new teachers, meeting new classmates, and settling into a fresh routine. There was a strong sense of anticipation as students looked forward to the learning, events, and opportunities that Year Nine would bring. Overall, the week set a positive tone for an exciting, promising end of year.
Starting a new semester after a two week break has been a fresh start for everyone, with new teachers, subjects and classes creating opportunities that we have not yet experienced. For me personally, I have found the new electives to be a fun challenge, with getting to know new people and developing new skills. As we are getting closer towards the final term with exams however, school work is becoming more serious with homework dates becoming smaller, and work loads increasing. This practice though I feel like is what is going to prepare us for the upcoming years, knowing that the routine when in those senior years is crucial. Overall year nine has been an amazing experience, and I am looking forward to the rest of the year!
Annamai Wells 9E, Vice Arts Prefect
This semester brings the exciting opportunity of trying out new electives. Everyone has started a range of new electives for the next semester. It's very exciting to be trying out new electives that can help shape how our school journey is. We recently have selected our preferences for our year ten subjects for 2026. We have been given the chance to choose from a range of subjects like Politics, Literature, Outdoor Education, Theatre Studies, VCD Environments, Real World Maths and Health and Human Development are some of the many electives we have chosen to do next year. It's very exciting to see where our subject choices lead us as what we have chosen can have an impact on our VCE pathways and career choices. If you would like to see what each elective is, please read our newsletter from a previous term as it outlines exactly what has been happening in each subject.
I'm very excited to see where the next term takes us. There are so many new opportunities and it's so exciting to see what this term brings. I’m so exciting to learn more and try new things
Matilda O’Mahoney, 9B, Student Voice Vice-Prefect
On Monday the 21st, a speaker with the Pat Cronin foundation, Alan Lato, spoke to the year 8 and 9 cohorts of the impacts of violence. Pat Cronin was a 19-year-old who passed away after being the victim of a “Coward punch” at a pub in Melbourne. We were told of how violence impacts everyone, and how society normalises violence, and even plays it off as a comedic subject. Alan spoke of his experiences with violence and gave us all some insight into the different ways violence can take a toll on an individual's physical, mental, and emotional health, as well as why it is so important to manage our anger. Alan will return to the college at a point in term three to continue speaking about violence, and teach us how to prevent violence through managing our anger healthily.
Aside from the new electives that the year nine cohort has begun, I personally am looking forward to beginning my house co-curricular activity (Go Fallon!) and continuing with our ACS season’
Noah Richardson Buchanan, 9C, Fallon House Vice Prefect
Key Dates:
There are several important events this term. On the 4th of August, there will be an assembly to welcome the Japanese Sister School. Prefect speeches will be held during assemblies on the 11th and possibly the 18th of August as well (TBC). We will need to wear blazers for all assemblies. Mercy Day will be celebrated on Tuesday, the 9th of September. The term will end on the 19th of September.
This semester is a fresh start for many, with new electives, creating new energy, and new sparks for learning. I feel as if this change is needed to keep the year fresh! I look forward to the rest of the school year.
Seb Hall, 9B Social Justice Vice Prefect
The first week back to school has been fun and eventful! The Year nine cohort has started their semester 2 electives and personally I have been enjoying them very much and am looking forward to all the new learning!
Saskia Wong, 9F Vice Co-Captain Prefect