From the Principal

Dear Parents, Students and Friends of St Virgil’s College,

Personal care

I hope you had a chance for a break from the usual routine over the long weekend. With the middle of the year approaching, winter settling in, it is important that everyone takes care of themselves and those around them. We notice it in some of the boys when they lose a bit of motivation in the face of pending end of semester deadlines and exams, on top of the usual winter coughs and colds. And the boys are not alone. Still, it is part of the cycle each year, so there are no surprises, and each season brings its own benefits. A long weekend helps!  

Participation is the key

Give and you will receive – is a truism that covers many circumstances. In a good school it is particularly true in terms of boys joining in all the activities the school offers. Obviously, this applies in learning – do the work and you’ll get the results – but it also applies to sport, music, camps, retreats, student leadership and the myriad of other extra opportunities beyond the classroom we provide. 

They exist for a purpose – to help the boys learn, grow, develop and broaden their experience. When boys are fully involved, they benefit greatly. Having worked in secondary schools for all of my career, my own internal research shows that the boys who perform the best in their studies were almost invariably far more involved in co-curricular (sport, music, etc.) activities. 

One particular point that needs to be made, is that it is not a choice to not be uninvolved – we require all students to be involved in at least some things (they have choices), and there are some specific activities they must be involved in, as part of the conditions of enrolment. Attendance at athletics carnival, camps, retreats, Edmund Rice and Mary Rice Day is an example of this. St Virgil’s does not provide these opportunities as an optional extra – involvement and attendance are requirements, and there are excellent reasons for this. 

One particular one that matters a lot to me is that St Virgil’s is one community, and it is not acceptable for a boy to isolate himself or stick only to one narrow group. We welcome all boys, and in return they all need to join in fully with each other. Accepting that from time to time an exceptional circumstance will prevent a boy being involved in some activity (e.g., sickness), I would ask that parents reinforce to their sons the need to be people who join in – to give of themselves fully. 

Senior School Examinations 

The exam cycle is upon us with Year 10 students commencing exams this week. This is the most important point of reference for students, parents and teachers so far this year and it has been very pleasing to see how well students have embraced this very important period in terms of preparation and application. I know it has been an anxious time for some boys leading up to exams, and no doubt for a few parents, so it is good to see some of the weight progressively lifting off the boys’ shoulders as exams are completed. 

Next week, Year 11 and 12 students will be commencing examinations, and we wish them well as they prepare for this significant milestone in their academic journey.

Best wishes for the week ahead. 

Jon Franzin

PRINCIPAL