Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Life is full of transitions. Consider the many stages of life we pass through from birth to death, the many experiences we have during our lives and the opportunities for growth and maturity that each stage brings to us. Some of the most significant transitions through our lives are connected to learning and education. Just uttering the first tentative “Mum” or “Dad” begins a world of new possibilities as the baby begins to name people and objects and starts to understand the world around them. Beginning playgroup, kinder or prep is another major transition as the young child leaves the security of mum or dad and starts to learn to socialise with others of their own age. This is the time when children begin to understand that other children also have rights and feelings; that sharing and cooperating with other children and trusted adults opens up a world of incredible wonder and enjoyment. Starting secondary school and entering the teenage years brings many challenges and joys of identity, friendship, study, self-knowledge, independence, career choices and the growth of maturity as an emerging adult.

This week, our Year 12 students are on the cusp of another significant transition in their lives as they prepare to leave the certainty of school life and move into further study, work and life beyond the gates of Blackfriars Priory School. In many ways, this transition is the culmination of seventeen or eighteen years of learning and guidance by parents and teachers and education of the whole person, both formal and informal along the way. One of the most challenging aspects of this transition is the loss of the daily ritual of meeting and greeting close friends, the structure of the class timetable and the sharing of so many school experiences each day. These friends have provided incredible support and meaning to each person throughout the journey of school and yet, in a few short weeks of study and exams each will be going in many different directions and following their own dreams and aspirations. For many of our students the end of school also means leaving home for the first time; perhaps to study or work in another state. This dual transition requires all the emotional resources of the emerging adult and much support, financial and practical from parents. It is as much exciting and full of possibilities as it is daunting and sometimes emotionally overwhelming.

For parents too, life changes when Year 12 students leave school and it is equally important to recognise how our emotions can fluctuate from pride, joy and satisfaction that our daughter or son has completed secondary education to uncertainty; often mixed with a touch of anxiety about the inevitable changing future. I remember being genuinely excited and relieved when my daughter decided to take up study at uTas and stay at home in Launceston. It gave my wife and I the opportunity to develop an adult relationship with her and witness her achievements as an adult; working through the many challenges of independence at University to eventually graduate and now thriving as a nurse. I was also excited when my son decided to study in Adelaide, but at the same time I was challenged to “let him go” and pursue his own dreams. He is now in Canberra completing his third degree and working part-time. I reflect on his achievements with similar immense pride, but we miss him terribly and take every available opportunity to catch up by phone, text or in person.

In conclusion, this is a week of reflection and transition for our Year 12s, for parents and for us as a school community as each graduating group leaves their own special footprint on the life of the School; leaving their legacy. We ask our God to bless our Year 12 students and to bless their parents and guardians. We ask God to bless them with the courage to make the transition to new life, to face new challenges, seek new horizons and enjoy new achievements. We pray for the gift of appreciation of those who have nurtured and guided us through life to this stage.

2017 Award Winners

Book Prize Winners for Subject Excellence

Accounting - Joshua Santillana

Automotive Technology - Eoin Neubauer

Business and Enterprise - James Neate

Certificate III in Fitness - Alex Rossi

Chinese - Ruilong Li

Drama - Daniel Jarmyn

English - Thanh-Phi Nguyen

Essential English - Stavros Kapoulitsis

Essential Mathematics - Callum Flanagan

General Mathematics - James Renney

Integrated Learning: Religion - Christopher Hoang

Japanese - Phong Tran

Mathematical Methods - Duy Minh Tran

Media Studies - Thien Quoc Nguyen

Music - Toby Hellewell

Physics - Alessandro Papandrea

Psychology - Hoang Trung Kevin Dinh

Psychology - Vincent Nguyen

Research Project - Sajad Alizadah

Society & Culture - Omid Jafari

VET - Nicholas Parrish

Visual Arts: Design - Alexander Uhde

English Literary Studies - Huy Gia Do Vu

Philosophy - Huy Gia Do Vu

Biology - Tharun Kathiravan

Integrated Learning: Religion - Tharun Kathiravan

Essential English - Chi Hieu Nguyen

Information Technology - Chi Hieu Nguyen

Digital Photography - Connor Riley

Physical Education - Connor Riley

English - Luka Tokic-Bensley

Visual Arts - Art - Luka Tokic-Bensley

Chemistry - Minh Tam Tran

Specialist Mathematics - Minh Tam Tran

English as an Additional Language - Faiz Muhammadi

Health - Faiz Muhammadi

Religion Studies - Faiz Muhammadi

Daniel Cox Memorial Award for Resilience in Life and in Study – Kurt Sostarko

Keith Healey VET Award – Nicholas Parrish

ADF Long Tan Leadership and Teamwork Award

Year 10 – Youngmo Koo

Year 12 - Hoang Trung Kevin Dinh

Frassati Sportsman Award

Carlo Armiento

Boyd Woodcock

Fra Angelico Arts Award – Minh Anh Tran

St Martin De Porres Service to the Community Award – Harrison Mears

Jordan of Saxony School Spirit Award - Dan Manalo

House Spirit Award Winners

Aquinas Mark Macapagal
Burke Joshua Santillana
Denifle Gianluca Ferraro
De Vittoria Dan Manalo
Horten Carlo Armiento
Jarrett Callum Flanagan
Lacordaire Leon Day
Lagrange Anyoun Kuol

2018 Student Leadership

Prefects

Brayden Addison
Massimo Caiazza
Sebastian Deluca
Jarod Eddy
Carlos Garcia
Yonatan Halawa
Dyson Hilder
Antony Macolino
Alexander Muscat
Alessandro Papandrea
Sebastian Tonkin
Phi An Trinh

YCS Captains

Phi Ai Trinh
Zenith Zaccara

Captains

Thomas Hack (Aquinas)
Christian Apolloni (Burke)
Alexander Koutroulis-Duke (Denifle)
Adam Nguyen (Devittoria)
Tan-Huy Phan (Horten)
Xavier Preece (Jarrett)
Ahmad Ali Dosti (Lacordaire)
Brydon Luu (Lagrange)

Vice Captains

Gianni Romano (Aquinas)
Alexander Giannopoulos (Burke)
Youngmo (Silas) Koo (Denifle)
Julian McPeake (Devittoria)
Gianni Caiazza (Horten)
Alexander Hunter (Jarrett)
Jack Cavanagh (Lacordaire)
Declan Fitch-Woolford (Lagrange)

Deputy Vice Captains

Francis Snelling (Aquinas)
Harrison Catley (Burke)
Daniel Bui (Denifle)
Peter Le (Devittoria)
Daniel Harker (Horten)
Adriano Caiazza (Jarrett)
Kazim Sarwari (Lacor

Anti-bullying

Anti-bullying