From the Deputy Principal, Secondary

This week our Year 12 English Literary Studies students joined others across South Australia in undertaking the first online SACE examination

From the Deputy Principal, Secondary

Carly Ryan and Online Safety

As you would be aware, we are passionate about assisting boys in making wise choices. You only need to read the news to witness the gravitas of poor decisions made by ‘mates’ and young men.

As part of our strategy to educate young men on the responsible use of technology, we facilitate several student-based initiatives. Over the past 12 months we have engaged the Alannah and Madelaine Foundation, SAPOL, cyber security experts, weekly wellbeing sessions and even theatre performances to promote responsible online safety.

This term we engaged the Carly Ryan Foundation to speak with our parents. Parents play the most vital role in cyber safety. The way technology is distributed and monitored at home is essential to your child’s wellbeing. As adults, the way we use technology is a powerful example for our children. Unfortunately, the technological divide between students and parents appears to be growing as the ICT savvy student creates an overwhelming knowledge gap between child and parent. Sometimes parents bury their heads in a cloud, hoping that their child will be responsible. This is the equivalent of handing over a set of car keys to a 14-year-old boy and hoping he will drive safely! The partnership between school and home is critical in our efforts to prevent harm to young people. As a school, next year a new Mobile Phone Policy will be launched as we continue to adapt to ever changing technology.

Sonya Ryan (mother of the late Carly Ryan) spoke candidly about cybercrime and precarious online behaviour. So often the origins of cybercrime in seemingly wholesome interactions, such as online chats and online gaming. Sonya provided invaluable insights to parents and we thank her for sharing her story and continuing to allow her beautiful daughter’s light to shine through the amazing work of the Carly Ryan Foundation.

Next year we will add Sonya Ryan to our suite of cyber safety offerings presented to our students. In the interim, please take the time to read her fact sheets available from her website: www.carlyryanfoundation.com This week we have attached the factsheet on the online game Fortnite…I assume you have heard of Fortnite!

CRF Fortnite.pdf

Year 10 and 11 Examinations

The Year 10 and 11 Examinations will commence in Week 6. Please find below the exam schedule for these examinations.

2018 End Year Exam Timetable with Class Sizes.pdf

Awards Assemblies

This year we have enhanced the awards process and as such we are providing two assemblies for award recognition. All parents and friends are invited, and we would love to see you there. Please RSVP to mvarricchio@bps.sa.edu.au

Year 10 and 11 Awards Assembly

Thursday 29 November 2018 at 2:00pm (Orientation Week)

Presentation of:

St Albert the Great Awards
St Martin de Porres Awards
Bl Pier Frassati Sportsman of the Year
ADF Long Tan Award
Fra Angelico Arts Award
Subject awards
Sporting awards for co-curricular
Academic Endeavour for students who have displayed consistent commitment

Year 7 to 9 Awards Assembly

Thursday 6 December 2018 at 10:00am

Presentation of:

St Albert the Great Awards
St Martin de Porres Awards
Bl Pier Frassati Sportsman of the Year
Subject awards
Sporting awards for co-curricular
Academic Endeavour awards for students who have displayed consistent commitment to school life

Year 11 and 12 Orientation Week

The Year 11 and 12 Orientation Week will occur from Monday 26 November to Thursday 29 November.

A letter, SMS and direqt message has been distributed to all Year 10 and 11 families and has been attached below.

The final schedule for this Orientation Week will be finalised shortly.

Year 11 and 12 Orientation Week.pdf

Vale Class of 2018

We have come to the end of another Year 12 academic year. Remember yours? Sometimes I think mine was not that long ago and then I happen to stumble across television footage from 1992 and notice how different the world looked! Indeed, the world and everything in it (including us) is continually changing.

It was not so long ago that our Year 12s were just boys entering Blackfriars for the very first time. Now they leave us as young men charged with great responsibility. One of the Year 12s mentioned to me that his Smiggles pencil case was ‘vintage’ because he owned it since Year 9! I smiled as I envisaged the journey that lies ahead of him and the challenges the young man faces as he matures into adulthood. Families, teachers, and peers have witnessed the development and as a school we thank our families for their active role in being the first educators of their children. The fruits of your work have reached a new stage of maturation. As we with extra grey hairs know, the journey has only just begun!

As the class of 2018 depart the secure grounds of 17 Prospect Road, we pray that they may follow in the footsteps of the great men who have come before them and be motivated by their God-given potential to make a positive difference in the world. May they always seek solace in a God who loves them unconditionally and be driven by a selfless love for their neighbour. These are the young men we need in our society, irrespective of what result they achieve in Year 12 or the job they perform in society. First and foremost, they will always be Black’s Boys and with that comes great responsibility to be men grounded in God-given truth, dedicated to prayer, servants to the marginalised, galvanizers of community and broad in their study.

Below are some images from the various Year 12 Final Day celebrations held on Friday 28 October.

Year 12 Breakfast