Enrolments for 2019

We may have said our farewells to the class of 2018, but I am busier than ever holding enrolment interviews for prospective new students for 2019. This week I have interviewed a range of prospective students from Years 7 – 11. During these interviews, a critical question is asked of the families, why St. Peter's College? The answers invariably come down to two simple things, an excellent education and a caring protective environment.

Many of the prospective families have done their research and have talked to other families and they come with a real admiration and desire to become part of the St. Peter's College community. Many have been on the school tours and have witnessed and experienced first-hand the welcoming, friendly and confident student tour leaders. Enrolment interviews always provide me with the opportunity to reflect of the value the community places on our College and how we should never underestimate the critical role our teachers play in the daily lives of students in cultivating passionate, creative and caring learning and positive wellbeing environments. To this end I would like to say:

Happy International Teachers Day on 22nd October and – everyday.

Student Leadership 2019 begins.

At St. Peter’s College all students from year 7 to 12 are encouraged to actively live by our College Student Motto ‘Be Not Afraid’ and seek out opportunities to become authentic servant leaders.

Developing confidence in their own leadership style and their ability to work for the good of others is critical for young people. The structure of student leadership at St Peters has been carefully crafted to ensure each student has the opportunity to build their capacity to become servant leaders, with or without a title. We celebrated the election of our new College and House Captains for 2019 only a few of weeks ago and it is with tremendous pride that I witnessed their first leadership event, the 2020 year 7 information evening this week.

They along with a number of other student volunteers lead with confidence, ease and great consideration of the task, the audience and above all their responsibility to support and run this event. Our College Captains spoke eloquently, articulating their love for their school, and their community. The Houses captains and representatives of the SRC were more than tour guides for the many families that attended the event, they were true ambassadors of St Peter.

Next week House Forum Leaders from Years 8-12 will be announced, thus completing the Student Leadership Group for 2019 (apart from the year 7 Forum Leaders who will be decided in term 1 next year).

Each layer of student leadership is critical to ensuring student voice is confidently articulated and heard. Our student leadership structure creates a unique pathway and is a vehicle for students and staff to build a resilient, respectful and caring community which finds its strength to carry out our duty as servant leaders.

With the departure of Year 12 students last week the new student leadership group will become more visible as they are required to perform leadership responsibilities such as Year 7 (2020) and Year 7 (2019) information evenings.

I congratulate the new College leaders, and welcome the new Forum Leaders to the student leadership body. I would also like to acknowledge and congratulate all of the many students who put themselves forward as nominees for student leadership positions. Whilst not all students were successfully elected, they are still very much leaders as true servant leadership needs no official title. Every time you volunteer to support your school, your teachers and each other, you are acting in the most authentic leadership role there is.

For more information about the structure of student leadership at the College please visit the website or click here.

Legacy Gift from the class of 2018

The dictionary would define Legacy as a gift or a bequest that is handed down, endowed or conveyed from one person to another. It is something descendible one comes into possession of that is transmitted, inherited or received from a predecessor.

Each year the graduating class raise funds to pay for a gift that becomes a legacy for the generations of families, students and teachers that will eventually become part of the St Peter’s Community. The gift is not just a legacy of memories but an active addition to the College to be used and enjoyed by all. The focus of the legacy gifts over the past three years has been to provide items required for our Campus mass and liturgies. These legacy gifts include a Missal (2016), Pascal candle stand (2017 and this year a beautiful lectern. These pieces are indeed true legacies, beautifully designed and will forever ensure the spirit of our Lord and St Peter remains central to all who witness the light of the candle and the words of the missal and homilies from the lectern.

Our most sincere thanks go to Mr Damien Cardona, and Mr Sydney Lotriet, who with the help and inspiration of students past and present including this year Yevgeniya Medvid, crafted the Legacy gifts of 2017 & 2018.

Julie Banda

Deputy Principal - East Campus

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