From our Principal

Dear Parents, Students and Friends,

Stations of the Cross – Lent

Next week we commence the beginning of Holy Week, the most significant week in the Judaeo-Christian Calendar. A time where we wait with patience to rejoice in the coming of the resurrected Christ. It is an opportunity for new beginnings, to reflect on the year past and to set new standards and new goals for the way we intend to live our life in communion with others in the year ahead.

At St. Peter’s College we are to be reminded of Christ’s sacrifice and the love he showed for us in a re-enactment of the Stations of the Cross. These depictions will present the opportunity to reflect on what we can do to ease the burden of those in our world who are suffering due to poverty, disease and malnutrition. The Stations of the Cross will provide stimulus to consider how we can ease the burden of the outcast and vulnerable in our local world. The narrative will also importantly provide the opportunity for our community to look outwardly into the world in which we live and ask the question, “what can I do to make the world a little better to live in?” 

Harmony Day

Held last week, Harmony day explored the theme of “Everyone Belongs”. It is was wonderful to be able to bring the community together in celebration of the many cultures that together constitute our college community. As part of the assembly three students shared of their experiences and in particular the journey which has led them to St. Peter’s College. Each was asked the same question: Everyone Belongs is the theme of Harmony Day – do you feel you belong in this country why or why not? The consistent message from each contributor was a definitive “Yes”. Not only was it expressed in positive terms but also each spoke to the opportunities they are now blessed to have access to through the sacrifices their parents have made in emigrating to Australia.

As a part of the Principal’s address in this assembly students were also asked to reflect on their efforts to date this year around their learning. Particular reference was made to the college’s focus in 2021 on our Whole School Approach to Positive Behaviours (WSAPB). The college uses the acronym ROCKS to remind each other of our commitment to the minimum standards of behaviour expected within our community. R stands for Respect, O – Organisation, C – Collaboration, K – Kindness and S – Safety. Students were asked the following:

1.            Are you respectful of all in your interactions with others within our community?

2.            Are you adopting organised practices in your learning?

3.            Are you collaborating with others whether in the classroom or beyond?

4.            Are you demonstrating kindness in all your interactions with others?

5.       Are you ensuring that you are adopting safe practices at all times whether in the classroom or out in the yard?

These would be excellent questions for parents to raise with your children as we draw close to the end of Term 1.

Re-Settlement Post COVID-19

Sharing in discussions with senior students and staff over the past weeks it is evident that we are experiencing a re-settling period of adjustment after the long period of remote schooling in 2020.   We are not alone, it is a common comment coming from many schools and it is not surprising.  Students are adjusting to getting up earlier (having less sleep), wearing a uniform, adhering to uniform rules and interacting with large numbers of people face-to-face. The school day is very structured, lessons are longer and assessment tasks are different now they can be conducted face-to-face. Over the coming editions of the newsletter I will be addressing some of the “fallout” issues emanating from this “culture shock".  Issues such as mental health, effective work practices and support measures which parents and the college can collectively adopt. 

In the meantime, one noticeable trend to date is as the week progresses, student attendance rates begin to fall. There is much research around the impacts of non-attendance at school and whilst having a day off here or there may not appear to have any significant impact on learning academic researchers argue otherwise. Impacts could include: stunting academically growth and social development. In the latter it can cause increased social isolation, including alienation and lack of engagement with the school community and peers. This can lead to emotional and behavioural difficulties. It is also associated with an increased likelihood of drop-out. 

In respect to the stunting of academic growth the correlation between absence and achievement is consistently negative and declines in achievement are evident with any level of absence. Although authorised absences and smaller amounts of absence lead to only small declines in achievement, all absences count, and the impact of absence increases with the number of absences.

Whilst we do not want students attending school when they are experiencing illness, we need to work together, families and St. Peter’s College, to maximise student’s opportunity to learn. This can only happen if students minimize the number of days of absence.

Enjoy the week ahead.

Mr Chris Black

Principal