From our Principal

Dear Parents, Students and Friends,

Welcome to this week’s edition of the Newsletter. 

Student Leadership

This week we see the commencement of our student leadership program, one which will culminates with the election of our School Leaders for 2020. The beginning point has been a student leadership training day for both the current Year 10's and Year 11's. The focus with our Year 10's has been around the concept of servant leadership with Peter as our inspiration. The significance of the washing of the disciple’s feet provides wonderful stimulus material to explore a style of leadership which is based on core gospel values such as humility, service, love and compassion. The focus of the Year 11 Leadership Day is to explore the ministry and essence of leadership within an environment of care and respect for everybody.

The Year 11's were exposed to the concept of leadership being about more than merely holding an office rather recognising the gifts and talents of many and harnessing those gifts for the good of the community. Year 11's learnt that true leaders require a vision, and a passion for what they believe as well as a desire to instill the confidence in others to make it their vision as well.  St. Peter’s College places considerable significance on our student leadership development and with good reason. Students, through leadership roles and responsibilities can play a significant role in the development of a culture which promotes community and promotes a positive environment for learning. We look forward to the process of student leadership speeches, elections and interviews ahead.

Winter Sleep out

This Friday night over 100 students and 12 staff will participate in the winter sleep out. Organised by the Social Justice committee together with VCAL, the event is to raise awareness to the plight of the homeless. Often we associate the homeless as being present in the city. This is where they are most visible, however we know for a fact that there are many homeless wandering the streets of Cranbourne and many other suburbs for that matter. We only have to reflect on the weather  currently experienced to appreciate the impact this would be having on the homeless wherever they are present. The night will include a guest speaker from the local St Vincent de Paul society who will paint a picture of the plight of the homeless and outcast from our local area. I commend the many students and staff who will be participating in this annual event.

Catholic Schools Parents Victoria Community Conversation

Catholic School Parents Victoria (CSPV) represents parents of children in Victorian Catholic schools, providing advocacy in the key areas of: Child Safety and Well-being, Curriculum, Parent Engagement, Catholic Identity, School Funding. CSVP are working to be inclusive of parents in all four dioceses across Victoria. In order to involve parents of students within Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Sale, CSVP will be holding a community conversation at St Francis Xavier College, Beaconsfield on Saturday, 7 September 2019. The invitation is limited to 30 people. I commend this opportunity for St. Peter’s College parents to engage in this space. Further information can be found by way of a flyer later in this edition of the newsletter

Road Safety

Last week the Year 10 students at the Cranbourne Campus experienced a Road Smart excursion to Sandown Park, this week it was the turn of the Clyde North Campus. Far too frequently of recent times the nightly news has items around road death or trauma. In many instances this involves youth, speed and often involves drugs or alcohol. The experiences given to our Year 10's in this program provides a beginning point for what constitutes responsible driving. The message, however, needs to be consistent and often to ensure at risk behaviour around driving is significantly reduced. It is a message which both parents and school have a role.

New Appointment – Deputy Principal – Head of Campus – Cranbourne

It gives me great pleasure to announce the appointment of Mr Jeremy Wright to the position of Deputy Principal – Head of the Cranbourne Campus, effective January 2020. Jeremy has close to 25 years of experience in Catholic Education. His leadership experiences have included House leader, Year Level Co-ordinator, Director of Mission and Liturgy at Mazenod College and Deputy Principal – Well-being at Our Lady of Sion College in Box Hill. For the past three years Jeremy has held the position of Education Officer – Catholic Identity and Religious Education (Secondary) at the Catholic Education Office in Warragul. His main areas of responsibility in this position have included supporting leadership teams better understand the Enhancing Catholic Identity data and helping RE leaders and teachers of RE in schools to implement the revised RE curriculum. Jeremy holds the following qualifications: Bachelor of Arts, Graduate Diploma of Secondary Education, Graduate Certificate in RE and a Master of Education – Student Well-being. Jeremy is married to Katrina and together they have two daughters, Agatha and Arabella. We look forward to meeting Jeremy in 2020.

This provides me with an opportunity to acknowledge the wonderful contribution Mr David Hansen has made to our school community and in particular the Cranbourne Campus in this role. His dedication in striving to provide a conducive and high quality learning environment for all students is to be commended. His support of both staff and students has been exemplary and has contributed greatly to the positive climate provided for learning and teaching. We look forward to witnessing and experiencing David’s leadership in his new role at St. Peter’s College beginning in 2020 as the new Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching.

Enjoy the week ahead.

Mr Chris Black

Principal