Principal's report

GAT, Semester Exams and Assessments 

End of semester exams commence for Year 11 students today (Friday) and next week, students in Years 7-10 will complete exams and/or assessment tasks to finish the semester. These exams and assessment tasks form an important part of the academic journey of our students, and I wish them all the very best as they undertake and complete these in the days ahead. 

Students undertaking a 3-4 subject as part of the VCE are required to complete the GAT on Tuesday, 18 June at the College. This is an important part of the moderation of the VCE and I wish all students the very best for the tests next Tuesday. Please note that no classes in Years 10-12 will run on that day and students in those year levels not completing the GAT are not required to attend school. That is, there are no classes or exams scheduled for Tuesday, 18 June for Years 10 and 11, apart from the GAT. 

Music Soiree

On Tuesday, 11 June a wonderful performance event occurred involving a number of talented student musicians in the College’s Performing Arts Centre. I was really impressed by the standard of the performances and can see that on each occasion, the quality and finish of the musicians is increasing! 

The Music Soiree provides our senior musicians with important performance opportunities as they prepare for their performance exams as part of the VCE. Congratulations to Oskar Folkes, Joseph Elliott and Ben Nixon on their efforts and performances at the Soiree. The talent amongst these boys is immense and I thoroughly enjoyed their performances. Well done! 

Thanks to Mr Matthew Pankhurst, Mr Tim Snibson, and all our Music staff for their efforts in preparing and presenting the Music Soiree. 

Appointment of Assistant Principal – Community Engagement

In recent weeks, I advertised a new leadership role internally to staff at the College. The role, Assistant Principal – Community Engagement, is one which I anticipate will play an important role in building, promoting and supporting community at the College. Following interviews conducted at the College last week, I am pleased to announce that Mr John Richards has been appointed to the role and will commence at the beginning of Term 3. 

Mr Richards knows the College and Ballarat communities very well, and is an established and respected teacher at SPC. Mr Richards will bring a wealth of leadership experience to the role, having been a Principal in Diocesan Primary Schools, Head of the Junior School for many years at SPC and Acting Head of the Senior School and Deputy Principal at the College as well. 

I congratulate John on his appointment and look forward to working closely from him as a member of the Leadership Team at the College. 

Ballarat Student Forum

This week a number of Year 11 students participated in a student forum for young people from all of the secondary schools in Ballarat in response to the important issue of domestic and gendered violence. I was pleased to be able to get along to the forum and to sit in on one of the workshop sessions. The contribution of students across all schools was impressive and insightful, and certainly provided a sense of hope for a way forward.

The workshops were facilitated by Mr Michael Poulton (Committee for Ballarat) and Ms Karen Snibson (Principal from Phoenix College) and were well supported by staff from all schools and local agencies and businesses. Student voice is very important and often provides powerful and meaningful insights into a range of issues and experience. I was impressed with what I saw and heard from the young people of Ballarat and the young men from SPC who contributed to the forum. 

In Term 3, the College is planning to hold a ‘Break the Cycle’ 24-hour cycling event, an idea conceived by our Boarding House Captain and Student Council member Ollie Hannaford. The event will involve teams of students and staff cycling non-stop for 24 hours, symbolising the continuous effort required to break the cycle of gender violence and promote respectful relationships. This marathon event aims not only to engage participants physically but also to educate and inspire action against the deeply rooted issue of gender violence.

The event, which will include a raffle and silent auction, promises to be a vibrant, community-building occasion, with students, staff, and local supporters coming together for a cause that resonates beyond the school gates. The entire community is invited to support the event by sponsoring our cyclists, making a financial contribution, or donating to the raffle and silent auction.

Proceeds from the event will be donated to Ballarat’s Raven Collective, which provides a safe and supportive environment for women who have experienced domestic abuse. Through a 10-week program, Raven Collective offers paid practical employment opportunities that combine training and education.

I am really proud of this student led initiative and for Ollie’s leadership in this context. The event represents the College’s commitment to fostering and promoting an environment where respect, dignity, and equality are vitally important and core, non-negotiable features of our community. 

ACC Finals – Soccer and Football

It was tremendous to host two semi-finals for ACC Soccer and Football at the College on Wednesday, 5 June. The support provided to both the 1st XI and 1st XVIII teams was fantastic and added to a very joyous and successful afternoon. Congratulations to the 1st XI Soccer team on their strong win against De La Salle College and to the 1st XVIII football team on its convincing win over St Bernard’s College. Both teams will contest the Finals on Wednesday, 19 June in Melbourne and of course, I wish them all the very best for these important games! 

Reconciliation Week & Inclusive Community Assembly

Last week, the College conducted its assembly to recognise the importance of Reconciliation Week and our commitment to the Touchstone of Inclusive Community. This assembly is one of our important assemblies and I was really impressed with the key messages presented by our guest speakers throughout the assembly. 

Thanks to all involved in organising this assembly and a special note of thanks to those who spoke to the assembly. These included: 

• First Nations students Tashaun Wright and Joseph Wesley, along with Mr Dave Friebel, Director of the Clontarf Academy - the importance of an education at SPC; 
• Ms Carol Roberts, Acting Deputy Principal – our commitment to being an inclusive and welcoming community;
• Eric Yang, Vice-Captain of Boarders – being and international student;
• Noah Quick, College Captain – how SPC is a welcoming and inclusive community;
• Ollie Hannaford, Captain of Boarders – respect for women and gendered violence;
• Mr Howard Clark, Coordinator of Football and teacher – living with a disability and the importance of being inclusive as a school;
• Mr Mark Robson, Head of Senior School – respectful relationships and the role and opportunity for young men in this; and
• Tyler Cowan, House Captain – promoting Men’s Health Week.

The messages delivered by these young men and colleagues were really positive and inspirational. They were indicative of the many strengths of the College community. Congratulations to all involved.