From the Deputy Principal, Secondary 

Swimming Carnival winners! House Captains, Xavier Preece (Jarrett) and Alex Koutroulis-Duke (Burke) accept the cup from Old Scholar, Mark Birchmore ('78).

From the Deputy Principal, Secondary

Laureate Assembly

The Laureate Assembly, held on Monday 19 February, was an auspicious celebration of the Four Pillars at Blackfriars Priory School.  Students from Years 7 to 11 were acknowledged for their academic, pastoral, religious and sporting achievements.  The assembly recognised the 2017 graduates who achieved an ATAR of 90 or above and culminated in the awarding of the Magnus Medal and Nicholas Altman Book Prize to Minh Tam Vu Tran, who achieved an outstanding ATAR of 99.25. Tam will be studying a double degree in Civil Engineering and Mathematics and Computer Science at Adelaide University.

 

Secondary Swimming Carnival

On Friday 16 February, the 49th Annual Secondary Swimming Carnival was held at the Adelaide Aquatic Centre. All Houses were dressed up and ready for a day of action! The novelty thong race was a big hit as always. 

 

In one of the closest contests on record, Denifle/Jarrett Houses were crowned champions.

 

Congratulations to all our swimmers but especially to our record breaker, Noah Caton (Burke) who broke the 2013 50m freestyle U14 record in 28.28 seconds (previously 29.06 seconds).

 

Well done to all students for their exemplary behaviour. The day was yet another great example of school spirit with much fun had by all!

 

Below are the final placings:

1. Denifle/Jarrett 795

2. Burke/Lacordaire 784

3. De Vittoria/Lagrange 735

4. Aquinas/Horten 506

 

SEQTA

Please remember to access SEQTA for all school-based communication. As you are aware, this term we have implemented continuous online reporting.  Please login to SEQTA (refer to Parent Portal article later in this Newsletter) to track your son’s process and communicate directly with his teachers. For any pastoral concerns you have regarding your son, please contact his Home Group Teacher, who is in the best position to guide you.  Should you have trouble with your login, an email can be sent to seqta@bps.sa.edu.au 

 

Happiness

You may recall a Ted talk from 2017 which summarised the longest study ever conducted into human happiness: https://ideas.ted.com/4-lessons-from-the-longest-running-study-on-happiness/

As parents, we so desperately want our children to be happy.  During this time of Lent we are reminded that the allure of power, prestige and possessions do not make us happy.  Prayer, fasting and alms giving are the tools of Lent that were lived out by Jesus during his time in the desert.  I encourage you to make some special time with family; stop and pray; go without that luxury and give to those in need. Happiness is an inside job that begins with decluttering your life.

 

If you are concerned about your son’s wellbeing, please contact his Home Group Teacher who can assist you with organising at school counselling and support.

 

STEM

STEM education is a national priority as it is closely linked to Australia’s productivity and economic wellbeing.  STEM is central to a well-rounded education and it contributes to a diverse and capable STEM workforce pipeline.

 

The significant number of Blackfriars graduates who have entered a STEM related field is remarkable. Approximately 65% of our boys have been accepted into a STEM related course which is testimony to the high-quality STEM programs available at Blackfriars Priory School.

 

Year 8 Camps and Year 9 Camp

It’s that outdoor camping time of the year as our Middle School boys embark on adventure and discovery.  The first half of the Year 8 boys are currently on Kangaroo Island and in Week 6, all the Year 9s will be at Port Elliot.  Camps are an opportunity to enable the boys to experience something greater than themselves.  They enable students to build on their friendships and challenge their personal resilience. Most importantly, they are simply good fun!  Camps would not be possible without the dedication of our staff and we thank them for this.

 

Drop Off and Pick Up Areas

When accessing school drop off and pick up zones, please ensure you adhere to the signposted rules and regulations to ensure effective flow for all parents. Please do not park in disabled spaces unless you are a valid permit holder.

 

Double parking, excessive speed, illegal parking and turning, stopping for prolonged periods of time and inattentive driving, place all members of our community at risk. The Prospect Council patrols these zones using photography and will issue fines accordingly.

 

Blessings and Peace.

 

Mr David Ruggiero

Acting Deputy Principal, Secondary (7 - 12)