From our Principal
Dear Parents, Students, Friends and Colleagues,
It was lovely to meet up with many parents this week as you engaged in receiving feedback on your son or daughter’s progress thus far in this academic year. Dialogue is essential and in respect to a discussion around progress in learning the dialogue must be three-way, student, parent and teacher.
The most effective parent-teacher interviews are those built on open communication, mutual respect, and a shared goal: supporting each student’s growth. These meetings are most impactful when they go beyond grades, focusing instead on learning habits, social development, and strategies for improvement. When students are included in the process, even better—they gain a sense of ownership over their learning. Ultimately, the best interviews foster a strong partnership, leaving everyone with a clearer path forward and a deeper commitment to the child’s success. I sincerely hope that this was your experience this week.
ANZAC Day Commemoration
This week we witnessed student learning in action as we commemorated ANZAC day and reflected on the significance of stopping, pausing and reflecting on the lives of so many lost so that we are able to enjoy the freedoms we experience today. Our VCE-VM program offers the opportunity to learn about the ANZAC story and then put that learning into practice by way of organising an ANZAC ceremony for the school community. It was wonderful to also share this moment with members of the local community. A number of locals from our neighboring retirement villages enjoyed the ceremony itself and then the refreshments served by our VCE-VM students afterwards.
The ANZAC day ceremony has been embedded as one of the significant rituals presented each year. In presenting this annual event we enable the ANZAC story to live on in the hearts and minds of our young people.
Expert Teacher Practice
One of the goals our Strategic Improvement Plan (SIP) 2023-2026 is to: “Build a shared understanding of expert teacher and evidenced informed practice to support increased team-based practice in teachers leading to improved learning outcomes”, and one of the actions emanating from this is to develop professional collaboration and collective efficacy in teacher and leader practice. It is in this context that this week we played host to the inaugural Expert Teacher Practice Conference. Educators from around the South-East joined with our own staff to explore a range of themes including: Empowering teachers to use simple tools to increase student engagement and amplify learning outcomes; exploring inclusive strategies to support neurodivergent learners; the development of practical routines to create and maintain productive, supportive learning environments and exploring actionable feedback strategies to enhance student learning outcomes. It is anticipated that the learnings gained from this dynamic day will contribute significantly to improved practice in the classroom leading ultimately to our SIP goal being achieved.
Vale Pope Francis
This is my first opportunity to address the loss of our Catholic leader, the Bishop of Rome, His Holiness Pope Francis. His life, through his words and actions and unwavering fidelity to the teachings of Jesus, have inspired and guided us for over a decade. God has welcomed Pope Francis, a faith-filled servant, home - in honouring his life, may we follow his example of service as peacemaker, defender of all creation and as someone who taught that following the Gospel should make us people of joy, mercy, and love. In this Year of Jubilee and in the spirit of our beloved Pope Francis, may we continue to journey together as Pilgrims of Hope and in turn, be the reason for hope for our families, our college, our wider communities, and our world.
In 2017, at the official opening of our year nine building, we recognized his Holiness by naming the building the Francis building. Housed within this building today is a special image (see below). It is an image that typifies Pope Francis want to work at the margins and with the imprisoned, the outcast, the poor and those suffering the outcomes of wars. May his legacy and example live on in the hearts, minds and actions of us all.
There is no better prayer to honour the legacy of His Holiness than this prayer attributed to St Francis of Assisi, the Saint His Holiness chose to honour in his title:
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.
St Francis of Assisi
Congratulations Kevin De Silva – Sprinting to Success!
The St Peter’s College community is thrilled to congratulate Kevin De Silva on his outstanding achievements in Athletics over the past month.
At the Australian Junior (Under Age) Athletics Championships, held in Perth from 4th–7th April, Kevin delivered a series of incredible performances. He was crowned the Under 16 100m Track Champion with a lightning-fast personal best of 10.86 seconds. Kevin also finished second in the 200m final, missing gold by just 0.01 seconds, and played a key role in helping Victoria win both the 4x100m and 4x200m relay events.
Kevin then capped off his season by dominating at the Little Athletics National Championships, where he was crowned Under 15 Champion in both the 100m and 200m events. He also contributed to the Victorian team’s victories in the Swedish Medley Relay and the Australian record-breaking 4x100m relay.
Adding to his list of achievements, Kevin has earned a world ranking of 80th for Under 18 boys – an extraordinary feat for a 15-year-old and a testament to his talent, dedication, and hard work.
We now wish Kevin the very best of luck as he competes over the Melbourne Cup weekend, representing St Peter’s College at the Victorian All Schools Athletics Championships. Kevin will be aiming to qualify for the Australian All Schools Athletics Championships, to be held in Canberra later this year.
Good luck, Kevin – the entire St Peter’s community is proud of you and cheering you on.
Enjoy the week ahead
Mr Chris Black
Principal