Newsletter 14 February 2023 - Welcome Back

Principal's Welcome

GREETINGS & NEW YEAR’S BLESSINGS TO YOU ALL!!

Routine, Routine, Routine!

The first term is critically important in setting up sound school routines for the year and it’s never too late to start. Ensuring your child has balanced their commitments across the week to allow for study, commitments (work, community groups, sport etc) and relaxation is paramount – teens require adult support to make good decisions in this space. Putting a weekly calendar somewhere public is always useful and keeps everyone accountable. Also, please ensure that you are in control of your child’s computer. Like their phone, they don’t need access to it 24/7 – and they definitely shouldn’t have it (or their phones) in their room at night! I recently shared a podcast with families via our social media from a neurosurgeon who emphasised the importance of making a positive start to the day – usually with a little exercise if possible. As your child’s brain grows and builds connections, building habits such as a little morning exercise (outside, hopefully!) is one of the best gifts you can give them.

130 Celebrations

The College’s 130th Birthday is now upon us, and we hope to see you throughout the year at the various celebratory events. The preeminent celebration is, of course, our 5-yearly Gala, to be held on Saturday, February 25th, at The Palladium at Crown. This is our third Gala of the modern era, and each has been a significant and joy-filled celebration of memories, friendships, stories and acknowledging the efforts and significant contribution of a diverse range of past students. In fact, this year’s Hall of Excellence and Rising Star inductees include the Chief of the Australian Air Force, an internationally acclaimed film and television director, several distinguished medical champions, inspirational national philanthropists, a Logie winner, a federal politician and a number of titans of Australian industry! So come along and join in the fun with your peers, teachers, families and many friends of the College throughout the ages (including our MC, Anthony Daniher) and celebrate and rub shoulders with notable alumni and other good folk of whom we can all be proud. Tickets for the Gala are available at www.trybooking.com/CEXOO.

Another significant part of the birthday celebrations for the College will be the 130th Mass, held at St Patrick’s Cathedral. It’s no small feat to bus 1470 students and 200 staff into the city for an event like this, so if you happen to be in the area on Friday, February 24th, keep an eye out for a flood of blue blazers swarming the top end of town. We’ll have lunch together in the Treasury Gardens before returning to Kilmore, so please feel welcome to pack your lunch and join us for a picnic on the lawns.

Growth means opportunity!

The growth through our northern corridor has had a significant impact on all local schools, and Kilmore itself seems to be growing week after week. The College continues to be a school of choice in the region, and this is in no small part due to our unique, personalised MyMAP curriculum, which sees every student from Year 7 -12 undertaking a program of courses completely individualised to them. One significant area of growth that has evolved through the MyMAP program is Science. Students have flocked into subjects such as forensics, marine biology, consumer chemistry, psychology of mental health, allied health, Australian agriculture, STEM mechatronics, drone technology, energy and the cosmos, environmental science and a new extended investigation subject which encourages students to delve into areas of passion. As a result of the growth in our student numbers and this renaissance of scientific study, we have recently begun preparations for a new STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) centre to replace the Daly wing facilities, which many of you will be familiar with. The STEM centre will also house a three-bed training ward for Allied Health as we partner with local medical organisations to help grow rural students to support rural communities in their health and wellbeing.

Another of the major successes of this program is the opportunity for students to participate in High- Performance Sport across AFL (10 classes), Cricket (2 classes), Basketball (3 classes) and Netball (6 classes). In 2023, acknowledging that more and more of our students are playing the ‘world game’, we will add Soccer (2 classes) to our HP Program. Interestingly, Assumption College will also be the first school in Victoria to offer Punjabi as a standardised language subject – something many of us could never have imagined in our own school days!

Liverpool FC International Academy

On November 25th last year, Assumption College was announced as the first Liverpool FC International Academy in Victoria and the first of its kind in Australia. At the Gala in February, we will showcase how this significant partnership developed and what it will offer students and staff at Assumption and throughout our northern region. You will also experience a remarkable performance by our musicians and dance students of the classic Liverpool FC anthem, ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’. Excitingly, the Gala will also see us announce four companion partnerships with Australian sporting organisations, rounding out the world-class sporting opportunities for our students.

Quae Supra Quaere. Always.

Kate Fogarty

Created and Called

To Seek the Things that are Above

The theme takes up the foundational Judeo-Christian belief found in the Book of Genesis that we are made “in the image and likeness of God” (Gen 1.26). Everyone of us has an inherent dignity and are worthy of unconditional respect. It is an immensely powerful, life altering, counter cultural ideal.

But it does not end there. Receiving such a great gift, we are then called to, like Mary, respond with courage and generosity to go out into the world and care for those living in the difficult terrain of the “hill county” of life. (Luke 1.39).

This is not an abstract, theoretical concept. St Paul in his letter to the Colossian community gave form to what we are called to do and be, and listed nine powerful qualities that will transform our world and the lives of those we meet: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, love, peace and gratitude. Living these in thought, word and action, we not only seek, but actually achieve, the things that above.

130 Year Anniversary Gala

We warmly invite all parents to celebrate 130 years of Assumption College at our Anniversary Gala on February 25th! This unforgettable night will be held at the Palladium at Crown Casino in Melbourne and will bring together alumni, staff, parents, and friends of the College.

Join us as we honour exceptional inductees into our Hall of Excellence and Rising Star programs, and make memories with old friends and new. Take advantage of the "Bring a Friend" deal, with two tickets available for $340. Book your tickets before they close on Wednesday the 15th.

Don't miss this special opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our College community. Book your tickets using the link below. If you have any enquiries, please contact us at (03) 57835 000.
We look forward to seeing you there!

130th Anniversary Mass

Assumption College is proud to announce its 130th Anniversary Mass, to be held on Friday, February 24th, at the iconic St Patrick's Cathedral in Melbourne. 

The day will commence with a convoy of 28 buses transporting students, staff and guests to St Patrick's Cathedral for Mass, followed by a picnic lunch in the beautiful Fitzroy Gardens. 

We are also excited to announce that preparations are underway to ensure that the Sub Tuum is one of our best yet, with plenty of singing practice with our students. 
The last time we went to the St. Patricks Cathedral was an amazing day and has been a highlight for many of our current Year 12 students.

Our 2023 Student Leaders

We are proud to announce the student leaders for the 2023 school year at Assumption College. Our School Captains, Lachlan Shinn-Mahony and Alexandra Geddes, will play a vital role in representing the student body and leading by example.

Along with our School Captains, other student leaders were selected to represent various areas of the College, including House Captains, Mission, Boarding, Cultural, Sports, Academic, and Wellbeing. These leaders were chosen for their strong leadership skills, academic excellence, and passion for making a positive impact in the school community.

We look forward to their contributions throughout the year and know they will do an outstanding job representing their peers. Keep an eye out for their contributions in future newsletters.

New Parent and Carers Welcome BBQ 2023

Attention all Parents and Carers! Get ready for a fantastic evening filled with good food, great company, and enjoyable activities! Assumption College is hosting a Welcome Evening BBQ, and we would love for you to be a part of it.

On Friday, February 17th, from 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM, come and join us at the Neale Daniher Community and Sports Pavilion. Meet our principal, Ms Kate Fogarty, and other parents and carers as you mingle and make new connections. Not only will you get the chance to meet our teachers, but you will also get to enjoy musical entertainment from our talented musicians. And in addition, you will also get to meet our 2023 college leaders!

Don't miss out on the chance to indulge in a delicious barbeque and refreshing soft drinks while making memories. Students and siblings are welcome to attend this family event, so bring everyone along!

Bookings are essential for catering purposes, so please click the link below to book your place. We can't wait to see you all there!

Student Achievements

Aaron Craker

Assumption College proudly announces the outstanding achievement of one of its own, Year 12 student Aaron Craker. Aaron was honoured with the VETDSS Plumbing Student of the Year award at the Kangan Institute Industry Excellence Awards, held Wednesday, the 8th, at the Melbourne Pavilion.

This award is a testament to Aaron's hard work, dedication to his trade, and commitment to pursuing a career in plumbing. Receiving recognition from the Kangan Institute, one of the leading training providers in the industry, is a significant accomplishment for Aaron and a source of pride for the entire Assumption College community. The award was presented by Bruce Hughes, a former Assumption College student who attended until Year 10 in 1982 before moving out of the area with his family. 

Aaron was supported at the ceremony by his proud parents, as well as Tony Fraser and Helen Perez. Congratulations to Aaron on this fantastic achievement, and we wish him all the best in his future endeavours.

Welcome Year 7 Students!

A warm welcome to our newest members of the Assumption College community, the Year 7 students! As we kick off another exciting school year, it's great to see the enthusiasm and energy that the Year 7s bring to campus. We hope that your time at Assumption College will be filled with opportunities for growth, learning, and friendship.

It's been a few weeks now since the start of the school year, and we're so glad to have you all on board. We know that starting high school can be a big transition, but we're here to support you every step of the way. With a focus on student well-being and a commitment to providing a positive and inclusive learning environment, we're confident that you'll thrive at Assumption College.

We can't wait to see all the amazing things you'll accomplish in the coming months and years. Welcome to the Assumption College family!

Summer Sport is back in action at Assumption College!

After the mid-season break, we are excited to welcome everyone back to Summer Sport at Assumption College. This weekend, on the 11th of February, our Year 7 students will make their debut for the college, and we can't wait to see their skills in action.

We would like to give a special shoutout to our sports captains, Bel Luscott and Isaiah Mcllroy, who will provide us with updates and reports on the progress of our teams in future newsletters.

Summer Sport is an excellent opportunity for our students to develop teamwork and sportsmanship. We encourage everyone to get involved and show their support.

Stay tuned for more updates and highlights from our Summer Sport program.

Liverpool FC International Academy Australia

We are proud to announce our partnership with Liverpool FC as the home of the first Liverpool FC Academy in Victoria.
Starting this year, our students have been participating in High-Performance soccer programs delivered by Liverpool FC International Academy Australia. 
Not only are our students benefit from this program, but aspiring players from the Kilmore and surrounding communities will also have access to after-school community-based training and holiday programs. 

These programs provide a unique opportunity for players to learn the same skills and values taught at the world-famous Liverpool Academy in the UK. 
We are thrilled to bring this exciting partnership to our students and community. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting venture!

Academy Uniforms Delivery Update

Assumption College and St. Patrick's Primary School families are being informed of a change in the delivery method for their school uniforms. You will no longer be able to pick up Academy Uniforms deliveries from schools, and families will now have two options for obtaining their uniforms.

The first option is to pick up their uniforms at the Academy Uniforms store in Thomastown. The second option is to have the uniforms delivered to their home for a fee of $12, which can be arranged through the Academy Uniforms delivery system.

It is important to note that this change does not apply to boarding students. Boarders will continue to receive their uniforms at Assumption College.

Crossing safety message from Mitchell Shire Council

Communication from the Federal Department of Education

Please use the link to access communication from the Federal Department of Education regarding the annual census of schools. The information collected by the Government assists with the allocation of the College’s Government funding.

Destination Boarding Podcast

Here is a valuable resource for our boarding families. The podcast, Destination Boarding, has released a Summer Series focusing on "Nailing Homesickness." These short chats with students provide valuable insights and support for both students and their families who may be struggling with homesickness during the boarding experience.

The podcast can be found on the Destination Boarding website, as well as on Spotify, Anchor, and Apple Podcasts by searching "Destination Boarding." The website also offers a range of resources for families and students, presenting material from the perspective of both a boarding student and parent.

If you or someone you know is a boarding family, we highly recommend checking out Destination Boarding for support and guidance during this transition.

Young Artists Entry and Awards - Kilmore Art Expo

The Kilmore Art Expo committee has announced they are dedicating valued space within their art show to exhibit artworks of the young artists (6-18 YRS) within our community.

Prizes in excess of $500 Sponsored by Nestle; along with the opportunity to win our “people’s choice” award, valued at $400.

Youth/ young artists (6-18 YRS) are NOT required to register/enrol with Gallery 247, but should complete the enclosed downloaded entry and return forms via published methods. (See forms for details)

By lodging an entry and delivering your work, you are acknowledging and agreeing to the published terms and conditions of entry.

Shandon Calls!

Attention all alumni of Assumption College! We would love to hear from you and feature your story in the next edition of Shandon Calls. If you have any updates or interesting experiences to share with the college community, please reach out to Jack Buckingham, our Enrolments & Community Relations Officer, at jack.buckingham@assumption.vic.edu.au.

As a past student, you are an important part of the Assumption College community, and we value your contributions to our newsletter. Whether you have a success story to share, updates on your life after college, or just want to say hello, we want to hear from you.

Don't miss the opportunity to be featured in the next edition of Shandon Calls. Get in touch today! And if you want to catch up on the latest news and updates from Assumption College, check out the latest edition of the Shandon Calls by clicking the link below.