STRONG MINDS, 

GENTLE HEARTS

At Saints we are part of an educational vision that has at its heart a desire to strive for excellence and offer students opportunities that will assist them to become good Christians and good citizens - words that are prominently displayed above the College's main entrance in Scott St. Openness, gratitude, acceptance and readiness to listen are important qualities in our day-to-day existence here at the College. At this point in the term, I encourage students to actively embrace these qualities.  

It is important to take the opportunity to pause and examine our energy levels and re-focus our attention on study, classroom activities and behaviour. I am pleased to see that the tone of the College remains positive. It is a credit to students that they continue to remain focused. As we move towards the end of term, as assessments become due and exams loom, it is essential that students from Years 7 to 12 make a conscious decision to not only maintain but to reinvigorate their efforts.  

Parents have a key role to play in this by continuing to take an interest in their sons' work and activities, through positive reinforcement and encouragement. Our staff and teachers have an obligation to support parents by providing meaningful opportunities for students to learn, by making learning accessible, and by teaching the students creatively as well. 

Thank you parents, carers and teachers, for all your efforts and support of college guidelines and expectations as we continue to act together in partnership, for the benefit of your sons. 

Interhouse carnivals and significant college events are an integral part of life at Saints, and an opportunity for all students to be involved in sport and/or community building. Yesterday's walkathon was a wonderful college community event. The boys are to be congratulated on their positive attitude and respectful behaviour as they navigated 12 kilometres around Cairns, including the Esplanade. 

Father's Day 

We often speak highly of our boys with respect to the way they conduct themselves. While we as a school play an important role in developing the character of our boys, it is most prominently reflective of those they are closest to – their families  The influence a father can have in a son’s life cannot be overstated. It’s not just what we do as fathers, but how we go about it. Most importantly as fathers, we need to realise our sons will watch our every move and in time may not remember our advice but will follow our example. Everything we do as fathers matters. It is certainly timely, given we are celebrating Father’s Day on Sunday, to thank and acknowledge all the fathers and father figures within our community who, I am sure, are seen as heroes in the eyes of so many of our boys. “You don’t raise heroes, you raise sons. And if you treat them like sons, they’ll turn out to be heroes, even if it’s just in your own eyes.” (Walter M. Schirra, Sr.)