Principal's Message
Father’s Day
With Father’s Day upon us this Sunday, our attention will turn to the important role that Fathers, Grandfathers and other significant male figures play within families and our wider community. This important role has certainly been highlighted and celebrated as part of the Year 9 Becoming Men program, and as part of a range of focus activities found within our various College Formation programs. I trust that we will all make some time to make a fuss of the Fathers in our lives. Personally, I know that I will be looking forward to spending some time with my own children and my two young Granddaughters.
In our fast-paced world, where being time-poor increasingly seems to be the norm, the traditional role of the Father is increasingly contextualised amidst the busy ways of modern life. However, the important relationships that Fathers form with their children has not changed and remains most valuable. Father’s Day is a timely reminder for us all to focus on the special and unique relationship that Fathers have with their children, both sons and daughters.
Child Development Specialists suggest that the ‘language of Fatherhood’ is about activity and creating special memories. When children are younger,Dads are often viewed as the ‘all-action figure’ that relates to their children through activity and free play. Put simply, Dads teach many important lessons through being actively involved with their children, particularly their sons. Learning to be a good sport, to share, to play fair, to plan and to value teamwork are lessons that Fathers tend to teach their children in very hands-on ways. Researchers suggest that it is through things such as playing sport, wrestling, tinkering and ‘fixing things’ that children learn from and form relationships with their Fathers. While certainly not seeking to overly generalise, the same researchers suggest that Mothers tend to interact with their children a little differently. They communicate more verbally, develop interpersonal skills and relate more emotionally with their children. Put simply, Mothers are good at being Mums and we should all be grateful for that! Fathers are good at being Dads and we should be equally grateful for that!
This does not change in adolescence. Teenage children, both sons and daughters still value time and activities with their Fathers. Michael Grose, a leading Child Educator and author of the highly respected Parenting Ideas series, says that the effectiveness of a Father’s relationship with their adolescent children is dependent on the quality, not necessarily the quantity, of their first-hand interactions with their children. He suggests that it is through shared activity and direct involvement in their children’s lives, that fathers create important relationships and build up ‘Frequent Father Points’. Of Fathers he states, “… it is more about their presence (being around) and less about their presents (gifts)”. The challenge that we all have as Fathers in our busy world is creating such opportunities to bank some of these Points.
Other celebrated authors such as Steve Biddulph and Tim Hawkes have emphasised the important role of Fathers in being an example and ‘voice of reason’ in a world that is increasingly driven by social media and advancements in technology. They suggest that the current generation of young people are in dire need of some old-fashioned, very grounded fatherly advice such as, ‘Don’t get ahead of yourself’, ‘Treat others with respect at all times’ and ‘Think before you speak/tweet/post/snapchat anything …about anyone’. Fathers have a very important role in both showing the way and in correcting the way. It is an important reminder that children, particularly boys, need good men around them to model how to relate, how to behave and how to live a good life.
Of course, the unique nature of a Father’s relationship with their daughter is equally important. The notion of a Father who is present, available and attentive affords a sense of security and assists in the healthy development of self-esteem and confidence of a young girl during their adolescent years. Encouraging words, praise and affirming commentary from a Father have great currency in a girl’s world. For girls, their Father is also the first introduction and primary role model of men in their world, so it is important that Fathers treat their daughters with gentleness and respect, but also encourage them to be assertive and aspirational. In a sense, Fathers teach their daughters how they should expect to be respected as they develop. Similarly, fathers teach their sons how to be respectful, loyal and the importance of integrity. What a wonderful privilege and an important responsibility.
As Father’s Day is celebrated on Sunday, and Fathers and Grandfathers are ‘spoiled’ for the day, it may be a timely reminder for all the Dads to look for ways to spoil ourselves (and our children more often) by spending regular and quality time with them - by just being Dad.
I trust that we will all make some time to make a fuss of the fathers and father-figures in our lives, particularly this Sunday. Happy Father’s Day.
Live Jesus in our hearts.
Mr Darren O’Neill
Principal
College-Provided Laptop Program
Launch in 2026
As we seek to actively support excellence in student learning, digital wellbeing and equity, the College will commence transitioning to a College-Provided Laptop Program from the start of the 2026 academic year. Initially, this will be aimed at those students commencing secondary school in Year 7, and for those students progressing into Year 10. This initiative will then be extended to incoming cohorts in 2027 and 2028, with students receiving a new device in Year 7 and, as part of a three-year rolling cycle, a new replacement device in Year 10. This progressive roll-out will mean that by 2028 all secondary students will have a College-Provided Laptop. A three-year cycle of replacing Laptops is considered optimal for device performance and mirrors education and industry practice.
The laptop cost will be included as a separate fee and be spread, generally, over three years.
Other year groups will be able to be included in the initial roll out if parents have concerns about the performance of their son’s laptop.
An email has been sent to parents of students in each year group explaining the background to this change and what it means for that year group. Please ensure that you read this closely. The links to these Year Cohort letters are also below.