From the Principal -

Mr Simon Cobiac

Dear Families and Community of Blackfriars Priory School,

Welcome to the Trinity Term at Blackfriars Priory School. I hope your son(s) have returned to school energised by a refreshing holiday and ready to engage in school life with renewed focus. The Trinity Term is a term where the Pillar of Study is the central focus for all students, in particular for Senior Students who will be very keen to consolidate their learning from Term 1 and build on a solid foundation for academic success and the completion of their South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE). Term 2 is always a challenging and fulfilling Term with NAPLAN testing (Years 3, 5, 7 and 9), Prefects Conference with St Dominic’s Priory College, Year 12 Formal, Catholic Education Week, Careers Exposition Night, Multicultural Day and the Primary Arts Night. A full calendar of events and an opportunity for everyone to be engaged in the Blackfriars community.

Winter Co-Curricular

The Winter Co-curricular program begins in earnest this week and I ask parents to ensure that all boys represent Blackfriars with pride and true competitive spirit founded on respect for all participants. Please check that your son(s) are wearing the correct Blackfriars sports uniform for the sports code; noting that we are in a transition year of moving to a new co-curricular uniform for each sport in 2019. The new co-curricular uniform is available from the Uniform Shop.

Generations In Jazz

Congratulations to the Band and Choir students (and staff) who represented Blackfriars with outstanding performances and behaviour in the Generations in Jazz festival held in Mt Gambier on the weekend. The excellent results are a testament to the dedication of the students who commit to many hours of individual and ensemble practice and the passion of our staff including Miss Jessica Reppucci (Co-ordinator of the Performing Arts), Mrs Libby Hunter, Mrs Amelia Eagle and Miss Marie Wohling. Thanks also to Mr Patrick Kelly (Director of Development) and Mr Jak Francis who provided support for the tour. A more detailed report is in the music section of the newsletter.

BPS Universals

Blackfriars Prefects, Sebastian Deluca and Dyson Hilder led the School Assembly on Wednesday 2 May. The Prefects introduced the BPS Universals to students from the Early Learning Centre to Year 12. The BPS Universals form the foundation of our values and expectations for all members of our school community and articulate high expectations for our behaviour and life as Blackfriars people. The BPS Universals are:

Be respectful of ourselves, others and the environment

Positive and safe relationships through mutual respect and encouragement

Self-Discipline through studiousness and organisation

During Term 1 and the holiday break the Prefects, with the assistance of other Year 12 students, produced a video of the Four Pillars (Prayer, Study, Community and Service) and the BPS Universals.  The School Assembly provided the opportunity for all students and staff at Blackfriars to see this outstanding and inspirational video for the first time.

Congratulations to Sebastian, Dyson, the Prefects and Year 12 students for their leadership, creativity and commitment to the BPS Universal project; a project aimed at improving the learning and community culture of Blackfriars.

Staffing Update: Term 2

Each Term we welcome new staff to Blackfriars Priory School and wish them well in their life and work in our school. Please also note that three teachers are on leave at various periods during this term.

Replacement Staff

Miss Sally Xu – Replacement Teacher Mathematics

Pre-service Teacher Placements at Blackfriars

Mrs Karina Carman – Swinburne University – Primary Years

Mr Paul Michael – UniSA – Health and Physical Education

Ms Mikaela Pearce – UniSA – Creative Arts and Technologies

Mr Thomas Starkey – Flinders University – Health and Physical Education/Business

Returning Staff

Mr Jeff Drewer and Mr Mitchell Brealey

Teachers on Leave

Mr Domenic Catalano – All of Term 2

Mr Brent Farquhar – Returning in  Week 3

Mrs Johanna West –  Returning in Week 4

A Young Man with Manners

I received this positive affirmation about student behaviour from a bus commuter on Tuesday morning. It is typical of the feedback I often receive from the public about students of Blackfriars.  Hopefully you can see with pride the face of such a student in each of your son(s):

“A commuter, Caroline (surname not publicised), called to inform us of the wonderful display of courteousness displayed by one of our students on the bus this morning. She was on a bus coming down from the Adelaide Hills, when a young man wearing the Blackfriars uniform, gave up his seat for an older gentleman. He was extremely polite and she felt that this did not go unnoticed by all those on the bus. Caroline wanted to express how wonderful it was to witness.”

Congratulations to the unnamed student for his outstanding etiquette, a positive reflection on his character, his family upbringing and his school.

Conclusion

Wishing all mothers, grandmothers and carers of our children a blessed and meaningful Mother's Day on Sunday. We remember, acknowledge and give thanks for the unconditional love, the shared joy, the gentle guidance and foundation of support that these significant women provide in the raising and caring of their children. Through the laughter and tears of a mother, the world of a child has hope. 

“Mary is the mother of Jesus, and in Him, the mother of all of us, the mother of unity.”  Pope Francis

I look forward to walking alongside students, families and staff during Trinity Term as we strive to live the ideals of the Dominican pillars of Prayer, Study, Community and Service.

Mr Simon Cobiac

PRINCIPAL