From the Principal -

Mr Simon Cobiac

Dear Families and Community of Blackfriars Priory School,

Vale - School Chaplain Fr Matthew Boland

It is with sadness that I announce that Fr Matthew is leaving Blackfriars in the second semester to take up full-time study in Switzerland. However, I am equally delighted for him to have the opportunity to fulfil a burning ambition to study a cherished topic under the mentorship of an internationally recognised expert in the subject of Saint Thomas Aquinas. The details of Fr Matthew’s course is set out below:

Place:                         Fribourg, Switzerland

University:                University of Fribourg

Award:                       Doctorate

Faculty:                      Theology

Topic summary:     The use of Aristotelian philosophical notions in

                                      the Trinitarian theology of Aquinas

Supervisor:               Fr Gilles Emery OP

Length:                      2 – 3 years

I am sure you join with me in congratulating Fr Matthew and wishing him well in this endeavour.

I have been in discussion with the Provincial Council hoping to engage a suitable Chaplain from the Dominicans, perhaps a recently ordained priest or a deacon in training for the priesthood.   

Use of School Car Park (Highbury Street and Prospect Road)

The use of the School Car Parks at the corner of Prospect Road and Te Anau  Avenue and Highbury Streets is reserved for the following purposes:

1. Staff and Visitor car parking
2. Parking for vehicles displaying a Disabled Parking Permit in the designated spaces
3. Drop-Off and Pick Up in the morning and afternoon

I ask all parents to follow the regulations and do not park in the park reserved for vehicles displaying a Disabled Parking Permit. This is critical as we have parents who require the use of the ‘Permit Only’ parking space to drop off and collect their child who is wheelchair bound.

I request parents to abide by the 10 kms per hour speed restriction and to be vigilant of students alighting from vehicles in the morning or being collected in the afternoon.

Please do not loiter in the carpark, leave your car unattended and without hesitation, follow the directions and requests of school staff. 

Safety is the number 1 priority.

Annual Prefect Conference

The St Dominic’s Priory College and Blackfriars Annual Prefects Conference is being held on Friday, 8 June. This year Blackfriars is the host school. The purpose of the conference is to continue the process of leadership formation in the common Dominican tradition of Prayer/Study/Community and Service. The conference includes a tour of both school campuses, activities, prayer, a community meal and time for leadership formation with guest speaker and facilitator, Mr Patrick Kelly, Director of Development at Blackfriars.

Combined  Independent School Events

So many events happen at Blackfriars to complement and enhance our pre-eminent role of education. Last week we hosted two significant interschool events, bringing together our Dominican sister school and other Independent Schools.  The following events show‑cased the diversity and quality of an education at Blackfriars.

The Combined Schools Careers Expo held on Wednesday, 30 May and hosted by Blackfriars was co-attended by Wilderness School and St Dominic’s Priory College students and staff.  The Expo was an evening that exhibited more than 60 industries, professions and businesses as well as several guest speakers, presenting students with many potential career options and pathways.  Congratulations to Mrs Daniela Piteo for the overall coordination of the Careers Expo with wonderful support from many school staff. The evening was a great success for the many young people from Blackfriars, Wilderness and St Dominic’s benefitting from the opportunity to engage with and explore such a diverse collection of career presentations.

Friday, 1 June the AHOMINGS Meeting for Music Coordinators and teachers in Independent Schools was hosted by Blackfriars.  This annual meeting brought together more than 100 music educators from across the State.  Again, providing Blackfriars an opportunity to proudly welcome external educators into our School. Thanks to Miss Jessica Reppucci, Performing Arts Coordinator, and other staff for their support in hosting and coordinating this significant event.

Finally, a Principal’s Tour took place on Thursday morning, 31 May and with the support of key staff I welcomed 16 families to explore and witness the opportunities that a Blackfriars education can offer to their children from small beginnings in the Early Learning Centre through to the pinnacle of education, Year 12 as founded on the Dominican Tradition and values of the Four Pillars. My thanks to our Registrar, Mrs Joanna Rossi and the Director of Development and Community Relations, Mr Patrick Kelly as well as teachers and support staff for their important contributions to the success of this tour.

Co-curricular Program

This week is a long weekend and a break in the co-curricular program for winter sport. Congratulations to all students who have represented Blackfriars in interschool competitions in Table Tennis, Basketball, Football (AFL and Soccer), Squash, Music, and Debating. I have been able to observe most teams in the Primary and Secondary School on my weekday and Saturday rounds and can happily say that our students have displayed high levels of sporting etiquette, respect for students from opposition schools and positive appreciation for umpires and referees.

However, at the moment we are having some difficulty fielding teams in AFL football in the Primary and Middle School with there being a surge of interest and preference to play Soccer, Basketball and Table Tennis. The increased interest in other winter sports, combined with the slightly reduced number of students means that our Year 8/9 Football team is currently mis-matched with opposing schools in the competition. Mr Michael Parrella, Sports Coordinator is working through these matters with the Sports Association in an attempt to find a suitable solution for the team after the long weekend. Please be assured that the School is attempting to address this matter and will keep the players informed of progress.  I sincerely appreciate those boys who are representing our School in the combined 8/9 team and trust that the difficulties and challenges they currently face will aid in their development of resilience and desire to succeed to the best of their ability.  I ask that the community please support these young lads and provide them with understanding and encouragement as they earnestly and proudly represent Blackfriars.

Mr Simon Cobiac

PRINCIPAL