From The Principal -

Mr Simon Cobiac

Dear Families and Community of Blackfriars Priory School,

Welcome to the 2018 school year, a year that the Australian Bishops have identified as the Year of Youth. I look forward to the opportunity of our students engaging in programs and events that will enlighten the spirit and life of the living and loving Christ in their lives. Further information can be located at http://youth.catholic.org.au/projects/year-of-youth

I hope the holidays have given the opportunity for all students and staff to renew their energy and refresh mind, body and spirit for the year ahead. We especially welcome our new students and International students and extend our hospitality and friendship to you as you make this important transition in your lives. In welcoming new students, I am conscious of welcoming new families to our School and I encourage you to become fully participating members of our community. I know that you will find our staff going the extra step for every student and family to provide a safe, secure and challenging learning environment conducive to bring out the best in each person.

The Mission of Blackfriars is to be a ‘Catholic School community in the Dominican tradition with the Four Pillars of Prayer, Study, Community and Service central to our education and way of life’. I invite families, staff and students to wholeheartedly embrace the Mission of Blackfriars throughout the year. Our essential purpose as a Catholic School is to educate the whole person and to invite young people into a relationship with Jesus and to encourage that relationship to be a foundation for life’s journey. At the same time, we respect the religious faith and cultural traditions of each member within our Dominican community as we work together to make a positive difference in our world.

This year I would like to introduce to you the School Executive Team and the following staff members who we welcome to Blackfriars:

School Executive Team:

Mr Simon Cobiac                 Principal

Fr Matthew Boland (OP)    Chaplain

Mr David Ruggiero              Acting Deputy Principal, Secondary (7-12)

Mr Matthew Crisanti          Acting Assistant Principal Religious Identity and Mission

Mr Gerard Leahy                 Business Manager

Mr Frank Ali                         Head of Primary

Mr Patrick Kelly                  Director of Development and Community Relations

Mrs Mary Surman               Executive Assistant to the Principal

New Support Staff:

Mr Mitchell Brealey – Learning Enrichment Assistant

Mr Samuel Budden – Learning Enrichment Assistant

Mrs Rosemary Dubiel -  Finance Officer

Mr Patrick Kelly – Director of Development and Community Relations

Mr Ben Waechter – Learning Enrichment Assistant

New Teaching Staff:

Mr Frank Ali – Head of Primary

Ms Lacey Hutter – Secondary English, Humanities, RE

Miss Laura Whalan – Secondary Psychology, Science, RE

Mrs Elizabeth Rowley –  Primary School (Year 1)

Returning from Leave:

Mrs Melanie Golding – Secondary Teacher:  Chemistry and Science

Mrs Amelia Eagle – Acting Curriculum Leader: Religious Education and

Secondary Teacher

Ensuring our School is a Safe Place for All

As the school year commences I want to assure all parents and guardians of our absolute commitment to ensuring that Blackfriars is a safe place for all. 

• Our staff are committed and trained to protect the children and young people in our care.
• All staff and regular volunteers have current police checks.
• We teach our children age-appropriate strategies to keep themselves safe through South Australia’s Keeping Safe Child Protection Curriculum.
• Staff complete certification and undertake regular updated training in Responding to Abuse and Neglect in Education and Care Settings.
• We also promote strategies to minimise bullying and help students stay safe online.

Additional information about the broader child protection policies of Catholic Education SA can be found on their website. http://www.cesa.catholic.edu.au/our-schools/safe-environments-for-all

The website also includes links to online resources for parents and students on a range of topics including anxiety, depression, bullying and how to support your child.

I encourage all parents/caregivers to visit the Catholic Education website as a valuable source of information.  If you have any questions or concerns about child safety please contact any member of the School Executive Team in the first instance. 

School Opening Hours

Parents should be aware that supervision is provided in the mornings from 8:20am onwards and in the afternoons up until 3.35pm. Parents who send their children to school outside these hours should recognise that they are unsupervised and should take steps to insure them against accidental injury.

The only occasions when students should be on the premises beyond these times would be for attendance at sport or for scheduled school events, if they are attending the Out of School Hours Care Facility or other special purposes, during which time they will be provided with appropriate/reasonable care.

Uniform Standards and Expectations

Summer School Uniform

I ask all parents to ensure that your son is in the correct school uniform according to the Uniform regulations in the Student Diary. To date I have been very impressed with the cooperation of students in presenting themselves with pride as students of Blackfriars. Our Uniform expectations extend to grooming (length of hair, facial hair) and personal presentation which must be of a high standard in compliance with our uniform code.

As I communicated in the newsletter at the end of 2017 (10 November 2017), we are in a period of transition during 2018 with the introduction of the new Physical Education Uniform and Co-Curricular Sporting Uniforms in Term 2-4.

New PE Uniform

The ‘rollout’ of the new PE Uniform is almost complete. If you have pre-ordered the new PE Uniform, it is now available to collect from the Uniform Shop.

If you wish to purchase the new PE Uniform – please visit the Uniform Shop.

Old PE Uniform

The old PE Uniform is being sold at a special 50% discount – hurry into the Uniform Shop to purchase while stocks last! However, note that the old PE Uniform is only able to be worn for 2018.

New PE Uniform Feedback

Students, families and Staff have provided positive feedback regarding the look and design of the New PE Uniform - it is smart, dynamic and modern.

PE Uniform 2019

Term 1, 2019 the New PE Uniform will be compulsory.

Matching PE Uniform

New and old PE uniform items are NOT to be mixed and matched:

• New PE Uniform to be worn as a set
• Old PE Uniform to be worn as a set

1. Primary Years through to Year 9 wear their PE Uniform to and from School, therefore it is imperative that the old and new PE Uniforms are worn as sets.

• Please do not wear parts of new with parts of old.
• It is important that students looks their best when wearing any Blackfriars Priory School Uniform, especially when worn beyond the gates.

Non-Compliant School Uniform Items

Please DO NOT purchase outdated, second-hand Blackfriars Priory School Uniform items – the wearing of non-compliant (outdated) uniform items will NOT be permitted beyond 2018.

The School has been mindful of expense to parents/caregivers in the purchasing of School Uniform and so has, until now, reluctantly accepted the wearing of outdated School Uniform items.  However, it is time for the School to enforce a branded and unified School Uniform image that will promote the School as a preferred school for the education of boys from Reception – Year 12.  Therefore, 2018 will be a transition year to the current ‘branded’ look of Blackfriars and in 2019 when all boys will be required to wear the correct School Uniform.

Parents are asked to check with the Uniform Shop prior to purchasing second-hand items to ensure that the item is branded with the current and correct crest, colour and design.  There are many second-hand uniform items available from a variety of sellers, but many are outdated and are no l