STRONG MINDS,
GENTLE HEARTS

News from Frazer Rigby
Deputy Principal

At Saints we are part of an educational vision that has at its heart a desire to strive for excellence and offer opportunities to students that will assist them to become good Christians and good citizens. Openness, gratitude, acceptance and readiness to listen are important qualities in our day-to-day existence here at the College. At this point in the term, I encourage students to actively embrace these qualities.

It is important to take the opportunity to pause and examine our energy levels and re-focus our attention on study, classroom activities and behaviour. It is pleasing, from my perspective, that the tone of the College remains positive, and it's a credit to the students that they remain focused. As we approach the end of term, as assessments become due and exams loom, it is essential that students at every year level reinvigorate their efforts.

Parents have a key role to play in this by remaining interested in their sons' work and activities, through positive reinforcement and encouragement. Staff, too, have an obligation to support parents by providing meaningful opportunities for students to learn, by making learning accessible and by teaching the students creatively as well. Thank you, parents, carers and teachers for all your efforts and support of college guidelines and expectations as we continue together in partnership, for the benefit of your sons.

Interhouse carnivals and significant college events are an integral part of the life of St Augustine's and an opportunity for all students to be involved in sport and/or community building. The walkathon, held yesterday, was a wonderful college community event. The boys are to be congratulated on their positive attitude and respectful behaviour as they navigated 14 kilometres around Cairns, including the Esplanade.

Father's Day

We often speak highly of our boys with respect to the way they conduct themselves. While we as a school play an important role in developing the character of our boys, it is most prominently reflective of those they are closest to – their families. The influence a father can have in his son’s life cannot be overstated. It’s not just what we do as fathers, but how we go about it. Most importantly as fathers, we need to realise our sons will watch our every move and in time may not remember our advice but will follow our example. Everything we do as fathers matters. It is timely, given we are celebrating Father’s Day on Sunday, to thank and acknowledge the fathers and father figures within our community, who I am sure are seen as heroes in the eyes of many of our boys. “You don’t raise heroes, you raise sons. And if you treat them like sons, they’ll turn out to be heroes, even if it’s just in your own eyes” (Walter M. Schirra, Sr).

Please go to the Parent Portal to view more photos from the Father's Day Assembly.