From our Principal 

Dear Parents, Students and Friends,

The month of November is many things to many people. Within the Catholic tradition, it is a time in which the community remembers those who have died. It relates to the fact that the end of November is the end of the Liturgical Year with a new year starting on the First Sunday of Advent – the four-week period of preparation before Christmas. It is a time which I personally hold very dear as it happens to be the month both my parents died. It is a time to reflect on the sanctity and preciousness of life and to give thanks for those that offered so much of themselves to shape who we are today.

Exams

November also means exams. It is the time where formal learning for the year comes to an end. This is followed by final assessments ahead of the all-important Headstart program, signalling the beginning of the new academic year. This year Headstart commences on November 16. Our Year 12s have been diligently working through their final exams and it has been particularly encouraging to hear and observe firsthand the number of students who are accessing staff and utilising study spaces provided for them at school as part of the revision routine. The healthy commitment to a rigorous study program has been impressive. 

Camps 2023

There has been significant coverage of late on the new agreement that has recently been struck between the union and the state government for Teachers. In particular, news reports have focussed on the possibility that camps will not proceed in government schools in 2023 due to the additional costs associated with paying teachers “time in lieu”. The Sale Diocese has also recently reached an agreement with the union on a similar agreement. Several changes will need to be made and we are currently working with staff on how this will occur. Fundamental to this will be to ensure any change does not impact on student learning or student programs. This includes camps. Camps are fundamental to the growth and development of our young people. Each camp experience at St. Peter’s College has a central core purpose. At Year 7 it is based around transition, Year 9 the focus shifts to challenge students to move outside their comfort zone, providing opportunities to build resilience and teamwork. The Year 12 Retreat provides an important engagement of students with a faith enriching experience and reflecting on how faith forms and informs who we are. Each camp is valuable in its own right and thus I can confirm all camp experiences at St. Peter’s College will continue in 2023.

School Improvement Plan – 2019-2022

The cyclical nature of school review is a constant. This year we have had the opportunity to reflect on the achievements of our current School Improvement Plan in its penultimate year. This week I reflect on the achievements under the banner of Catholic Identity. Our successes have included: providing formation and professional learning opportunities for staff to foster an authentic and contemporary Catholic place of learning. Staff have been provided with increased opportunities to live out Catholic Social Teachings; staff have also experienced recontextualised and dialogical prayer and liturgy experiences. Greater participation in house prayer, liturgy and masses by both staff and students has been witnessed. There has also been an increase in the number of staff achieving their Accreditation to Teach in a Catholic school. Finally the ongoing development of a recontextualising and dialogical Religious Education curriculum in alignment with and supportive of ‘To Live in Christ Jesus’ has occurred.

We have much to celebrate by way of the achievements articulated here. My thanks to the Mission and Identity team under the leadership and stewardship of Miss Fiona McKenna – DP Catholic Identity and Mission.

Enjoy the week ahead.

Mr Chris Black

Principal