Principal's report

Speech Day and Year 12 Graduation Mass

This week was a particularly significant and busy week in the life of the College, as we came together to celebrate student achievement, contribution and growth at Speech Day on Thursday, before formally farewelling our Year 12 students at their Graduation Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral on Friday evening.

Both occasions are important moments in our College calendar. They provide an opportunity not only to recognise individual achievements, but also to celebrate the many ways in which our young men have grown, contributed to our community and embraced the opportunities available to them during their time at SPC. 

I would like to thank Mr John Richards, Mrs Carol Roberts, Mr Geoff Brodie, Ms Kerrie Britt and the wider team for the many weeks of planning and organisation that went into Speech Day. Events such as this involve a considerable amount of work behind the scenes, much of which goes unseen, and I am very grateful for the care and attention that was given to the prepare such a significant occasion for our students and their families.

Our special guest speaker this year was Mr Jim Waight, an Old Collegian and father of Harry in Year 12. Jim is a wonderful example of someone who has continued to make a significant contribution to the wider Ballarat community well beyond his years at SPC. 

Earlier this year, the City of Ballarat recognised Jim’s contribution by naming him Ballarat Citizen of the Year, acknowledging in particular his outstanding work raising funds for cancer research through his riding group, Jimmy’s Licorice All Sorts.

Speech Day is, of course, about much more than the presentation of awards. It is a celebration of so many of the qualities and values that we seek to develop in our young men: academic endeavour, commitment, service, leadership, participation, perseverance and personal growth – it is a celebration of their character and formation. While the awards provide an opportunity to recognise particular achievements, the occasion also reminds us of the importance of acknowledging the many different ways in which students contribute to the life of the College.

Of course, this week also marked the culmination of the journey of our 2026 Year 12 students as they graduate from SPC. The program organised for the Year 12 students provided them with a purposeful, enjoyable and memorable final week of their schooling. There were opportunities for reflection, celebration and connection with their classmates and teachers, culminating in the Graduation Mass and Supper.

Every graduating class is the product of a collective effort. Parents, teachers, support staff, coaches, mentors, pastoral staff and many others have each played a part in shaping these young men and helping them to become the people they are today. We continue to support our senior students as they prepare for the VCE exams in the days and weeks ahead. 

This is also a particularly significant cohort for me personally, as this was the Year 7 group that I commenced with in 2021. It has therefore been both interesting and immensely rewarding to watch them grow and develop over the past six years. While there have inevitably been challenges along the way, it has been a privilege to see their confidence, independence, maturity and sense of purpose develop as they have progressed through the College.

At moments like this, I like to take a moment to reflect on just how far they’ve come since arriving as Year 7 students in 2021. They leave us with a range of different experiences, achievements and aspirations, but, importantly, they also leave as young men who have been shaped by their relationships, their experiences and their time as members of the SPC community.

Term 4 Exams and Headstart

The final term of the school year is always very busy and can get away on students, staff and parents before they realise it. It is only a matter of a few weeks before students in Years 10 and 11 will complete Semester 2 exams and students across all year levels will be finishing and submitting end of year assessment tasks. The last two weeks of the term is dedicated to Headstart during which all students commence step up and commence their work for next year’s subjects.

In this context, it is important that all students remain focused and ensure that they stay on top of their work and manage their time carefully this term. For many good reasons, we expect every student to complete every task to the best of his ability and to strive to learn, grow and improve along the way. 

The joys of Christmas and the long summer holiday are not far away, but in the next seven weeks, it is vital that all students engage fully and enthusiastically with their school work and maximise the learning opportunities that are available to them at SPC.

First Nations Student Leader for 2026-27

I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Jameson Reid-McLeod (Year 11) as our First Nations Student Leader for 2026-27.  Jameson will join the other members of the Student Council from next week.  Jameson is a full-time boarder from Darwin and commenced at the College at the beginning of this year.   Congratulations on your appointment, Jameson!