It is hard to believe that we are nearing the end of term one. It has once again been a busy term with lots to celebrate. The Year 10 and Year 12 Retreats were once again successful and I extend my sincere thanks to the Senior House Co-ordinators Nathan Bradbury, Alana Castelli, Terry Luppino, Sam Noonan, Sharon Marshall, Mona Esmaty, Anthony Barnhoorn and Mairéad Johnson for all their dedication and hard work in ensuring these events were a memorable occasion for all involved.

I wish Mairéad Johnson (Djeembana) all the very best as she heads off on maternity leave at the conclusion of term one.

And finally, as we head into Easter and celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead, let us be transformed with hope and become the Easter people of joy.

Senior School Swimming

The Senior Swimming Carnival was a great display of House Spirit with energetic rivalry both in the pool and on the sidelines. Merton and Mercy Houses emerged triumphant as joint victors, followed closely by Elizabeth and MacKillop in joint second place. Congratulations to our fastest boy and girl, Callum Rossetto and Candace Walker, and to all who participated and showed great sportsmanship on the day.

MACS Creative Arts Exhibition

We congratulate Max Barrett, Hugh McHenry, Jaymee Miller, Kale Langley, and Amelia Pincre, VCE students whose artistic creations were chosen for the 2024 MACS Creative Arts Exhibition held at Celtic Hall, Catholic Leadership Centre in the city. Inclusion in this exhibition is an incredible honour, and we congratulate Max, Hugh, Jaymee, Kale, and Amelia on this fine achievement.

Fashion Illustration

Last Friday, 22 March, our VCE Product Design and Technology Fashion students undertook a fashion illustration course held by the Whitehouse Institute of Design, a leader in higher education for the design and creative industries. Our thanks to the Whitehouse institute and their lecturer Alfia, for a wonderful workshop.

Padua's Got Talent

On Tuesday 19 March we hosted the ‘Padua’s Got Talent’ competition in the St Clare Performing Arts Centre, and the consensus was: Padua has plenty of talent! Organised in collaboration with the School Leadership Council led by Ms Hyland, Ms Modd and Mr Janes, we organised the lunchtime activity with the promise of canteen gift vouchers and a way to have a bit of fun!

From an intense drum solo, to Lenny and Eva's Radiohead-esque rendition of 'Subterranean Homesick Alien', a fantasy performance with wizards, a class of vocal group students and an original song performed by Sophie and Bonita - there was talent across the board! A crowd favourite was the incredible Issy Perondi’s cover of Adele’s 'Rolling in the Deep.' Issy absolutely blew us away… when she said she ‘liked Adele’ we didn’t realise we were about to hear her live! Congratulations Issy, and we are sure that you have some great years ahead in the music department.

Thank you to Ms Hyland and the whole music department for supporting us, including Charles Strawbridge for setting up microphones, drum kits and all the other magical stuff that happens in the performing arts centre.

Bernard House Leaders, Fin Fowler, Hannah Santoreneos & Jake SymesCatholic Education Week

Emily Dixon

We congratulate Emily Dixon, Year 12 Merton, one of 11 U19 junior cyclists selected to represent the Australian Cycling Team for the AusCycling endurance camp in Europe this year. Based in Belgium, the riders will compete in a month of road races during April and May, providing them with the opportunity to ride in an international peloton on unfamiliar roads, whilst encountering different cultures and experiencing life as a professional athlete. We congratulate Emily on this prestigious invitation in recognition of her commitment to training and hard work.

Top Designs - Justin Pollock

The innovative creations of Victoria's brightest students in design and technology, including Class of 2023 alumni Justin Pollock, will be showcased when Top Designs returns to Melbourne Museum for 2024.

Visitors will witness the inventive ways in which 87 VCE and VCE VET Design and Technology students employ design to contribute to a more progressive world, with many of this year’s creations proposing ethically focused solutions to ongoing social and environmental challenges.

Justin’s creation is titled ‘Automatic Transmission,’ and comprises a DC electric motor, Arduino Uno, photo interrupter, rotary encoder, LiPo battery, digital servo motor, DC battery, PLA plastic 3D printed components, 15 gauge wire, bearings, washers and bolts, metal axle and jumper cables. “I have created a system that can change the ratio of torque and speed from an input to an output. Running on an Arduino Uno, the transmission can change gears automatically using a servo motor depending on the measured Revolutions Per Minute (RPM) of the system. The motor speed can be manually controlled by the operator to simulate the different scenarios that the transmission can be used in.”

Presented as part of the VCAA’s VCE Season of Excellence, Top Designs 2024 opens Saturday 23 March and runs until Sunday 14 July 2024. Tickets can be purchased online at www.museumsvictoria.com.au

Catholic Education Week

This month a select number of students had the opportunity to attend the St Patrick Day’s Schools Mass as representatives of Padua College. Students met with members of other schools and church communities and were able to connect through our faith with such a humbling energy and enthusiasm.Students then experienced the Catholic Education Week Young Speakers Colloquium, which presented the opportunity to hear from prominent young people within the Melbourne Archdiocese speak about their faith journey. Students all across Melbourne spoke in relation to this year’s Catholic Education Week theme of ‘Living Lives of Faith, Hope and Love in the Light of Christ’, including our 2024 College Captain Yasmine McCoy. Yasmine represented Padua with a passionate eloquence, sharing how her connection to her faith has simultaneously shaped and been shaped by her life experiences. She spoke about how Catholicism creates a unifying sense of connection that builds lasting, genuine relationships between people across all walks of life, relating this message to her time in Lisbon, Portugal for 2023 World Youth Day especially. It was an honour to be represented by Yasmine, and hear her call to action to embrace faith as an exciting source of hope for the future.

Laura Kemp, Senior Mission and Identity Leader

Student Photo Permissions

At times, photographs or videos of our students will be published in newsletters, on the school intranet or website, or in our social media. Copies of our Standard Collection Notice and Privacy Policy are available on the College website in the Enrolments section of our Policies page. Please note that consent to use these images in this way, if provided at enrolment, may be withdrawn at any time by contacting our marketing team via email: marketing@padua.vic.edu.au .