Dear Parents/Guardians

We are delighted with the year that the College has had, which culminated in a very successful Sundowner last Friday night, with former staff and students attending. It was lovely to see them all renewing friendships.

I would like to thank our staff for the wonderful work they have done over the past year, and in particular, I would like to thank the following staff who are departing the College:

Dr Rod Tilbury
Ruby-Jean Hindley
David Murphy
Emma Longcake
Selina Murphy
Jacqui Matheson
Mary Pat Charlton
Liann Carter

As this is our last newsletter for 2023, I would like to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and New Year, and we look forward to seeing you again in 2024.

Mr Declan Tanham
Principal

Congratulations to Mrs Farnan on her remarkable achievement and recognition for 20 years of dedicated service to ACC sport! Her commitment to coaching and volunteering in NWAS sport, as well as her involvement with ACC Athletics, Swimming, and Cross Country Teams, showcases her passion for nurturing sportsmanship and athletic excellence.

Furthermore, spearheading the Aranmore Netball Program is a testament to Mrs Farnan's leadership and the positive impact she has had on the sports community at Aranmore. It's individuals like her who play a crucial role in fostering a love for sports, teamwork, and discipline among participants.

Mrs Farnan's two decades of service, completed entirely at Aranmore, reflects not only her enduring dedication but also the positive influence she has had on the lives of those involved in ACC sports. Once again, congratulations to Mrs Farnan for this well-deserved recognition, and may her legacy continue to inspire and uplift others in the world of sports at Aranmore. - Mr Adam Miotti, Sports Coordinator

Change to Policy for 2024

It is College policy that students are not permitted to use mobile phones, air pods (earphones/buds), electronic music players and hand-held computer games during the school day, in after-school learning situations, on school excursions or at camps unless authorised by the teacher. When a student brings a mobile phone to school it must be turned off and put away. Earphones should be stored in a student’s locker until the end of the school day. If a student is seen with or using their phone or headphones, they will be confiscated. They will be returned the next day after the confiscation letter is signed and given to the student's Dean. Phones cannot be used for canteen purchases, and we encourage students to order online using QuickCliq. Students may pay on watches, direct debit cards or on QuickCliq. Mr Craig Rodgers, Dean of Students 

Uniform Shop – will be open during the school holidays on the following days:

• Monday 22 January - 8am – 1.00pm ­- By appointment only
• Tuesday 23 January - 8am – 1.00pm ­- By appointment only
• Wednesday 24 January - 8am – 1.00pm - By appointment only
• Thursday 25 January - 8am – 1.00pm - By appointment only

Please follow this link form more information or to make an appointment:  Uniform Shop (aranmore.wa.edu.au)

It will also be open:

• Monday 29 January - 8am to 1.00pm – No booking required
• Tuesday 30 January - 8am to 1.00pm – No booking required
• Wednesday 31 January - 8am to 1.00pm – No booking required
• Thursday 1 February - 8am to 1.00pm – No booking required
• Friday 2 February - 8am to 11.30am – No booking required (normal opening time)

Do you have a spare bedroom in your home? Have you ever thought about opening up your home to a student from overseas? Receive $7,500 for 23 weeks of hosting. 

Aranmore is delighted to be hosting 4 Brazilian exchange students for Term 1 and 2 in 2024. This is apart of a larger program, in which, the Brazilian Government is sponsoring 100 exceptional students from Brazil to experience a semester in a Western Australian high schools.  

These academically high-achieving Brazilian students, aged between 15-17 years, will join us for the first and second terms of 2024, totalling 23 weeks. They will enrol in Year 11, immersing themselves in our school and Australian culture. We are hoping to find 4 Aranmore families to host these students, by opening their homes and lives. You will be supported by the school and Australia Homestay Network (AHN) which out school currently uses to place international students. 

Dates: Term 1-Term 2 of 2024 (23 weeks) – 4 male Year 11 students  

Benefits:  

• $340 per week or $7,500 for the 2 terms  
• Play a crucial role in their exchange and time in Western Australia 
• Chance to create unique relationships and learn about Brazil  
• Life long friendships and unforgettable memories  

You will need to provide  

• A suitable bedroom for a teenager  
• Meals  

We hope this experience will foster global connections as the student will learn more about life in WA. Please feel free to share this opportunity with friends. Ideally the students can stay with a family associated with the school or in close proximity to the College.

If you are interested please apply through Aranmore Hosts  

Aranmore Catholic College - Hosts - Australian Homestay Network 

Or contact International Student Coordinator Ms Casey Deng casey.deng@cewa.edu.au  

Last Wednesday evening, at the College Awards Night, our Student Leaders for 2024 were commissioned. Congratulations to these students. - Ms Lauren Ierace-Bowers (Director of Ministry)

At first glance, many students think rocks are boring, but as they learn more, they realise the many advantages a knowledge of rocks brings to a society. Sally from Australian Earth Science Education led Year 8 students through activities to increase their knowledge of rocks and their ability to identify different types. Congratulations to the group of students in Mrs Geoghegan’s class who identified all but one of the rocks correctly, receiving a bag of chocolate rocks as a prize.

Facebook: Australian Earth Science Education
Instagram: ausearthed

Year 9 Earthquake Resistant Buildings

Year 9 science students completed a case study on the 2011 Christchurch earthquake and researched the best ways to make a building last. The students had two lessons to apply their knowledge and construct a building in groups, before putting it through a simulation to see if they would stay standing! - Ruby Alpers (Pre-Service Teacher)

Year 9 Revision

Year 9s sat their first set of exams this week.  Exam study is a skill that needs to be learned and practised and teachers use a variety of methods to teach revision techniques. Here Mrs Geoghegan’s class is using pictures of the concepts covered this term to create a mind map. Alternatively, some students used these pictures to create a set of study notes.

Curtin University Girls+Engineering Forum 2023

A group of selected Year 9 girls attended Curtin University last Friday as Aranmore was invited to the 2023 Girls + Engineering Forum.

Throughout the day, students had the opportunity to learn about the field of Engineering and how it is relevant to their lives.

Students listened to a panel of female Engineers who worked in an array of different fields, highlighting their experiences and dreams of becoming Engineers. The day also included the opportunity for students to complete tasks that many Engineers may complete in their daily lives. These included building structures to withstand a certain weight within certain parameters and remodelling robotic space exploration vehicles to collect data and information. Thank you to Mr Eglington for helping out the day.

Congratulations to the following students on being selected to attend the Forum.

Fatima Abou Abdallah
Maria (Victoria) Astudillo Larez
Milly Bagley
Willow Bos
Eden Buttigieg
Princess Estipona
Katrina Frost
Bianca Gwynne
Lynn Lahoud
Ngan Thuy (Kim) Luu
Neive Molloy
Olivia Pappas
Zoe Pham
Kiriwai Tetuhi Nathan
Juliana Uzcategui Lizarazo

Ms Casey Donaldson
Science Teacher

Year 8 Gold Industry Group

Maddy is a Geologist at a gold mine who visits schools on behalf of the Gold Industry group when she isn’t on site.  Our year 8 students benefitted from her expertise today being shown how to examine the geology of a parcel of land to determine where would be the best place to begin sampling for Gold. 

Facebook: Heart of Gold Australia
Instagram: heartofgoldaus

Mrs Naomi Geoghegan
Head of Learning Area - Science

Please follow this link to update your contact details: https://www.aranmore.wa.edu.au/change-details-form

For the College Calendar, please see here.

www.aranmore.wa.edu.au