From The Principal

Dear Blackfriars Community,

Intercol

After many months of preparation, collaboration and organisation with leadership and students from both our school and that of Christian Brothers College, it is with great excitement and anticipation that we look forward to our annual Interol carnival that will commence next week.

This is a significant event on the school calendar, and one that we will ensure is of the highest standard of organisation, participation and behaviour.

Some unfortunate events in 2018 contributed to both schools taking a new and more dynamic approach to the programming and organisation of this year’s Intercol events. While some opinions might view the new format as an “over-correction”, what is essential is that we ensure this year’s events are defined by mutual respect, dignity, honour and a commitment by all, including students, staff and family spectators, to uphold the virtues and charism of both schools, therefore providing the best prospects of a successful 2019 Intercol Carnival and secure the event for the future.  

School leaders, student leaders and sports captains from both schools, have been working together on our ‘Intercol Code of Conduct’.  All participants and spectators will be expected to adhere to this code. I am enormously proud of the boys from both our school and CBC for this student-led initiative, as it reflects their determination to leave their positive legacy on the Intercol Carnival for 2019 and beyond. The Code of Conduct will be published in the Intercol program, which also features the ‘First Team’ for each major competition.

Intercol  Code of Conduct 2019

We recognise that Intercol provides a unique opportunity to bring our Colleges together through competition to build strong relationships and lifelong memories. Intercol provides the platform for a friendly rivalry based on respect for each other, our Colleges and ourselves. We understand that we not only have to honour the traditions of competition between our Colleges we are privileged to have the opportunity to leave a legacy for those who will follow us. Intercol allows us to show our school spirit in a positive manner whilst also respecting our opponents. 

To achieve this all players and spectators will:

• Wear our school uniform at all times with pride and in-line with College expectations
• Ensure our language, use of social media and actions are respectful - not derogatory, intimidatory, offensive or un-sportsman like.  This includes in the lead up to and after the week of events
• Commit to safe and respectful behaviour, recognising that the playing fields and arenas are for players and officials only
• Always respect the match officials and their decisions
• Respect the venues at which we meet for events
• Win and lose with dignity
• Understand our involvement as players and spectators is a privilege which brings with it responsibility to build a positive legacy for the years to come.

Intercol is something we look forward to and enjoy, our commitment to the above statements is to ensure it continues for years to come.

I am very grateful to the expert leadership of the Intercol Committee, from Blackfriars and CBC, who have worked hard behind the scenes, to ensure the success of this event:

The final fixture for Intercol is able to be accessed in the Secondary Co-curricular section of this newsletter.

Walk A Mile In My Boots

It was a chilly morning (Code Blue overnight!) but I was pleased to join the Blackfriars contingent last Friday morning at 7.00am in Victoria Park, where we walked with 4,000 people to raise awareness and funding for the Hutt Street Centre’s work with people who experience homelessness.  Well done to the following staff and students who braved the bleak conditions:

Staff: Angela Honner, Frances Markota, Jacquie McEvoy, Alison De Souza, Owen Stanborough, Matthew Crisanti, David Ruggiero and Lucy Pope.

Students: Alex Hunter, Fran Freda, Declan Fitch-Woolford, Gianni Caiazza, Christian Jones, Mathew Giji Manchappillil, Joseph Hoang, Gianni Macolino, Michael Nong, Peter Le, Harry Catley, Victor Li, Armon Houshmand

Year 11 Informal

Congratulations to the following Year 11 students who initiated and organised the Year 11 Informal last Friday evening, 9 August. The boys organised the publicity and invitations, lighting, sound, décor, food and drinks and the presentation of special awards on the evening.

Peter Le, Amir Nazari, Trung Nguyen, Julian Cornish, Ben Tran, Tom Mears, Gianni Macolino, Lucas Ryan, James Wiebrecht, Adriano Caiazza, Minh-Khoi Tran, Michael Nong and Harry Catley. 

120 students from Blackfriars, St Dominic’s, St Mary’s, OLSH and Wilderness attended the evening and enjoyed the opportunity to socialise with each other, dance and enjoy the relaxed and informal atmosphere. My special thanks to Ms Mandy Goodfellow who supported the students with behind the scenes arrangements and to the many staff who supported the students by attending on the evening.

Race to High School

On Wednesday morning we held a fun and interactive event for boys, currently in Year 6  at Catholic Education SA primary schools who will be joining our community next year in Year 7,  called the 'Race to High School’.

The format of the program provided a fun and interactive opportunity for the boys to discover, explore and orientate themselves with our school and some key staff. Boys were supplied with a map and a list of questions and targets that they needed to be checked-off or find answers. I had the privilege of meeting the boys as they checked-off the target of ‘Find the Principal’. It was a delight to meet such excited young lads and I am very much looking forward to welcoming these boys back as students in 2020.

My thanks to Mr Patrick Kelly, Director of Development and Community Relations and his team in the Development Office for the creation of this concept, its format and for the smooth organisation and success of this event.

St Dominic’s Day

The global feast day of St Dominic is 8 August, which is now also the feast day of our first Australian Saint, Mary of the Cross MacKillop. Given the significance of the feast of Mary MacKillop to the broader Catholic community and in recognition of the special relationship of the Assumption of Mary to the