Dear Parents and Caregivers,

End of Year Mass and Carols

It is hard to believe that another school year is drawing to a close. The end of the year provides us with the opportunity to stop and reflect on life and readjust our ‘life compass’ to ensure we are moving in a positive, Christ-centric direction. We are approaching the commercial chaos of Christmas, and as a Catholic school, we are charged to remind our community of the true message of Christmas. The joyful birth of Jesus awakens in us the importance of God, family, celebration, forgiveness and hope in our lives.

Blackfriars Priory School will be celebrating the Christmas season and giving thanks for 2017 through a Community Mass and Carols, on Monday 27 of November at 6:30 pm. Mass will be followed by carols performed by our talented music students. Both the Mass and carols will be held on the front lawns of Blackfriars Priory School.

The event is for the whole school community. We understand that it is an exceptionally busy time for everyone; however, we hope that this celebration will be a priority for our community and that many students, families and staff will join in this festive event.

You are welcome to bring food and refreshments otherwise a sausage sizzle and drinks will be available for purchase during the carols with money raised going to the Vinnies Christmas Appeal.

NB: We ask that during Mass, all food and drink is stored away until the carols begin.

I look forward to your company on the front lawn of the school where in true Dominican Tradition we will heartily sing out our praises and celebrate the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and King.

Leadership Changes And Appointments 2018

Deputy Principal (ELC-12)

Head of Primary (ELC-6)

Director of Development and Community Relations

Deputy Principal - ELC-12

Mrs Anna Mirasgentis (Deputy Principal ELC-12) has been successful in her application for a senior role with Catholic Education South Australia (CESA). Anna has been appointed to the role of Senior Education Advisor—Leading Learning (Early Years-Year 12) from the beginning of 2018. Congratulations to Anna on taking up this wonderful opportunity to serve the broader Catholic Education community of schools in South Australia.

Anna was appointed to the role of Deputy Principal – Learning and Teaching in 2013 and since that time she has made a very significant contribution to the life of students, staff, parents and the Board of Blackfriars Priory School. She has served as Acting Principal in Term 4, 2014 and from October 2015 - December 2016, a position she fulfilled with passion and deep commitment. In her role as Deputy Principal ELC-12, Anna has overseen the implementation of the Australian Curriculum at Blackfriars Priory School and most recently, the introduction of SEQTA as a tool to improve student learning and develop more timely and effective communication with students and parents. Anna has been totally dedicated to Blackfriars Priory School and I am sure that in her new role at CESA she will be looking for ways that Blackfriars Priory School can benefit from engagement in initiatives and developments in education.

We thank Anna for her dedication and the sharing of her professional knowledge and enthusiasm during her time at Blackfriars Priory School and wish her every blessing for the future.

Acting Deputy Principal (Secondary)

Following consultation with the Prior Provincial, Fr Anthony Walsh (OP) and the Board of Blackfriars Priory School I am pleased to announce that Mr David Ruggiero has been appointed to the position of Acting Deputy Principal (Secondary) for Terms 1 - 3, 2018.

David is currently the Assistant Principal: Religious Identity and Mission (APRIM), completing his first five-year term in this role at the end of 2017. David is an Old Scholar of Blackfriars Priory School and in recent times has been appointed to Acting Deputy Head positions at Marymount Catholic Secondary College on two occasions. I am delighted that David has accepted the invitation to take up this important role in our community and I wish him well on behalf of our School community.

Head of Primary School (ELC-6)

It is my pleasure to announce the appointment of Mr Frank Ali to the position of Head of Primary (ELC-6) of Blackfriars Priory School.

Frank is currently the Head of Primary (ELC-Year 6) at St John’s Grammar School, Belair, completing his 10th year in the role at the end of 2017. Prior to St John’s, Frank has previously held the position of Head of the Junior School at Mercedes Catholic College and Head of Primary School at Blackfriars Priory School, a position he was appointed to after an initial period of teaching at the School.

Frank comes to this role with a wealth of teaching and leadership experience and a real sense of excitement and anticipation to be returning to Blackfriars Priory School in 2018. In 2016 he was awarded the prestigious John Laing Award for his work in nurturing leadership and mentoring leaders and staff in inclusive education, an area of education where he has a great passion, knowledge and expertise. Frank will take up this important role on 16 January 2018.

Acting Deputy Principal - Head of Primary

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mrs Alison Ronoastro for her generosity and significant support in leading the Primary School as Acting Deputy Principal - Head of Primary for Terms 2 - 4 in 2017. Alison has continued the work of the previous Deputy Principal - Head of Primary, Mr Todd LaForgia, in building a collaborative community of professional educators in the ELC - Year 6, working tirelessly for the holistic outcomes of our students.

Alison has forged positive relationships with our parent community and was instrumental in leading the Quiz Night and initiating the successful community event, “A Boutique Life” held last Sunday, 19 November at Blackfriars Priory School.

We are blessed that Alison will continue as a teacher of Year 1 at Blackfriars Priory School in 2018.

Director of Development and Community Relations

It is my pleasure to announce the appointment of Mr Patrick Kelly to the new role of Director of Development and Community Relations at Blackfriars Priory School. This role will encompass leadership responsibility for fundraising, marketing and communications, alumni and community relations and enrolments.

Patrick is a proud Old Scholar of Blackfriars Priory School (1983-1990) and he is looking forward to returning to his alma mater in this capacity. He is currently the Business Development Manager at St Patrick’s Technical College, Edinburgh North; a role he has held for seven years. Patrick has extensive experience in all dimensions of the role having held similar positions at Loreto College, the Australian Technical College and St Columba College.

Patrick will take up this important role on 15 January 2018.

I look forward to welcoming back to the School both Mr Frank Ali and Mr Patrick Kelly.

St Martin de Porres Place

No doubt, most parents have seen media reports this week of the recent placement of a statue of St Martin de Porres in the newly established St Martin de Porres environmental precinct. The statue was sculptured in Vietnam by the same sculptor who created the St Dominic statue on the front lawn of our School. The sculpture is a famous depiction of the tireless work of St Martin de Porres, a Dominican brother, for the poor and downtrodden of the 16th Century. The two-dimensional concept plans for the statue were viewed and approved by the Executive Team in May however, upon arrival the three-dimensional statue was regrettably deemed by the Executive to be potentially suggestive. As a consequence, the statue was immediately covered and a local sculptor has been commissioned to re-design it.

The School apologises for any concerns and publicity generated by this matter and is taking the responsible action to substantially alter the statue.

For any parent or community member who would like to know more about the incredibly humble and compassionate life of St Martin de Porres, I encourage you to visit the following website:

http://www.op.org/en/content/saint-martin-de-porres-op-community-his-first-preaching

A Boutique Life

Congratulations to Mrs Alison Ronoastro and members of the Parents and Friends for hosting 'A Boutique Life' market on Sunday. The event was an enormous success and we look forward to the opportunity to host this event in the future. The work of Alison and the Parents and Friends Committee is very much appreciated by our School community, well done!

Mr Simon Cobiac

Principal

Carols in the Park

Carols in the Park