From the Deputy Principal, Secondary

From the Deputy Principal, Secondary

Student, Parent, Teacher Learning Conversations

• Wednesday 4 September 2019, 2:00pm – 8:00pm
• Please note students will be dismissed at 1:00pm

Today you will receive information regarding the login procedures for booking your time slots for the Student, Parent, Teacher Learning Conversations.  These have been distributed to your son to bring home. When you receive your login, please take the opportunity to book as the partnership we develop with families is a critical ingredient to your son’s success.

The conversations are not built on a deficit model but begin from a strengths-based approach. The aim of the evening is to keep your son central to the discussion, to ensure that his needs, developmental stage, strengths and perspective are considered and listened to.

A strengths-based approach is one founded on the following beliefs:

• All people have strengths and capacities.
• People change and grow through their strengths and capacities.
• People are the experts on their own situation.
• The problem is the problem: the person is not the problem.
• Problems can blind people from noticing and appreciating their strengths and the capacity to find their own solutions.
• People have good intentions.
• People are doing the best they can.

A strengths-based approach does not mean issues or concerns are not raised – rather it includes strengths in the conversation and ensures that the negative aspects are not the sole focus of the conversation.  Often solutions to problems can be found when strengths are identified.  It can also be a way to enable the conversation to keep moving forward and not become stuck in negativity and helplessness.

The Assumption and St Dominic’s Day

Our celebration of the Solemnity of the Assumption and the life of St Dominic was a spectacular occasion as we celebrated the Four Pillars of Dominican Life at Blackfriars. Special thanks to Mr Matthew Crisanti for his coordination of the day.  Further information can be read in Mr Crisanti’s section of the newsletter.

Honour Roll

In this edition of the newsletter we celebrate the students who have achieved exceptional results. Please see the details in this newsletter for the boys who have achieved Award for Effort, Honours, High Honours and Highest Honours.

As part of our Honour Roll I would like to formally add two Year 11 students, Kazim Sarwari and Edwin Watson, whose story was shared as part of our staff prayer by Mr Michael O’Brien this week. On Saturday morning both boys were waiting for the public bus to take them to senior soccer. The boys were dressed in their Blackfriars sports uniform. Across the road a homeless man was attempting to rest and take shelter from the bitter cold. Kazim and Edwin proceeded to go to a nearby shop and buy the homeless man food and drink and left it for him for when he woke. As a result, they almost missed the bus to soccer, but made in just in time! The incident was witnessed by a member of the public who conveyed the story to the school and congratulated the boys.

It was an emotional scene in the Staff Room when the story was recounted by Mr O’Brien, who is the coach of the soccer team that Edwin and Kazim play in. Whilst our society emphasises achieving high ATARs, the story of Edwin and Kazim is a perfect score in the ATAR of life and captures what it means to be a man of the Four Pillars of Dominican Life.

Bravo boys, you brought a tear to my eye and many others. I’m sure that ‘stranger’ thanks you for recognising him as a human being, made in the image of God.

Blessings and peace.

Mr David Ruggiero (BPS'92)

Deputy Principal, Secondary (7-12)