From the Deputy Principal ELC-12

Term 3 has been a very busy term for our Dominican Community. All the events this term celebrated our unique culture, tradition and history while enlivening the Four Pillars of Dominican Life; Prayer, Study, Community and Service. I would like to thank all the families, staff and students who through their involvement this term, have purposefully contributed to the strengthening of our Dominican community; those who have deliberately spent the time and energy to support others, who have gone out of their way to bring about harmony and have helped ignite the Dominican Spirit.

The many spiritual celebrations, academic, sporting, artistic and music events showcase the varied talents and gifts of our students. All students should be proud of their achievements and commended for their commitment and hard work. The success of these events and celebrations is also the result of the support students have received from their families and the staff who have enabled them to develop their capabilities, utilise their innate ability to serve and showcase their God-given talents.

Our students have once again proudly represented the outstanding music program we have at Blackfriars Priory School at the Catholic Schools Music Festival held in the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. The feedback from the festival has been outstanding and all of the boys have worked extremely hard during rehearsals. Congratulations to the music team, Miss Jessica Reppucci, Mr Charlie Holoubek, Mrs Libby Hunter and Miss Marie Wohling for their wonderful support and commitment.

Dominican Student Gathering

On Thursday 21 September, Year 12 Student Leaders from each of the four Dominican Schools in Adelaide came together at St Mary’s College to discuss and seek opportunities to strengthen partnerships and build community. Students took this opportunity to reflect on what they have gained from this year as leaders and what advice they would pass on to the Student Leaders for 2018. Students also spent some time discussing how they would utilise the skills and capabilities they have developed this year as a student leader in life.

The morning was a celebration of our Dominican spirituality expressed through the Four Pillars of Dominican Life and our shared values in the pursuit of excellence. Together the students committed to shaping our partnership for future students and generations.

Congratulations to the following eight Prefects who confidently represented Blackfriars Priory School at this Dominican gathering:

Joshua Santillana
Zachary Dalton
James Renney
Lachlan Blow
Connor Watson
Minh Anh Tran
Gianluca Ferraro
Lachlan Valente

Grandfriends Day

Grandfriends Day was a special way to bring younger and older people together. Approximately 250 very special visitors spent the morning with their grandchildren and young “grand” friends.

Last Friday, it gave me great pleasure to watch our Primary School students embrace the opportunity to play host to their Grandparents and special Grandfriends for the morning. The grandfriends, some for the first time, were taken around the school to explore Blackfriars Priory School through the eyes of their grandchildren.

Yes, our remarkable teachers are vitally important as is our Curriculum and Pastoral Care Programs, but students also need the love, attention, encouragement and belief of their families to perform at their best. Thank you to all the Grandparents and friends who took the time to support our Primary students last week and brought the Pillar of Community to life.

This annual occasion allows us to celebrate a very special bond that exists between generations – a bond that has even been shown to have the capacity to improve a child’s social and emotional wellbeing.

The Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) considers that a school’s strong partnership with its community is one of the necessary pillars to enable positive learning outcomes. A consistent finding from the research in Australia and overseas is that strong school and community engagement can bring a range of benefits, not only to students but also to teachers, schools as a whole, partners and the wider community.

Business and Enterprise Awards

The Small Business Enterprise Program involves students completing a course requiring their participation in the running of a small business by selling a product(s) to both the school and local community, and so instilling the essential qualities of entrepreneurism and solid business acumen.

All the student participants must be commended for their achievements in working collaboratively and presenting and promoting their small business to the school community. Their presentation to staff and students included brainstorming of the initial product, the manufacturing processes, sourcing of raw materials, packaging, branding, marketing, loan applications and the generation of cashflow statements. Application of the latter skills means students develop employability skills which are transferrable to all aspects of their life.

Skills students demonstrated when operating their small business are:

Resolving conflict
Financial management
Customer service
Teamwork
Risk assessments
Work ethic

Congratulations must go to all members of each team who committed to the success of the business. The four criteria used to assess the business and its operations were:

business acumen
profitability
ethical behaviour
community

The Prize went to Just Fru-it a partnership that produced a variety of fruit smoothies and milkshakes. Congratulations to the following students for their commitment to success:

Carlo Armiento and Stavros Kapoulitsas

Special thanks to Mr Michael O’Brien for his leadership throughout this process.

Uniform

We are all ambassadors of this Dominican School and should take pride in representing Blackfriars Priory School in academic, sporting, musical, artistic and cultural pursuits within our school and local community. Our Uniform Policy reflects our values and reinforces our school’s culture of high expectations and academic achievement. All students must dress according to the Uniform Policy.

Our School Uniform is important to us. It is one way in which we identify ourselves as a Dominican school community and it promotes a strong, cohesive school identity which supports high standards and expectations in all areas of school life. It promotes harmony between different cultural and religious groups represented in the school.

Therefore, I would like to remind all students that in Term 4, regardless of the weather, they are required to wear the Summer Uniform which includes the school hat.

Term 4 commences on Monday, 16 October 2017 and we expect students to present themselves appropriately attired and wearing the Blackfriars Priory School uniform with pride.

I ask all parents to support the school with the implementation of our Uniform Policy and SunSmart Policy so that together uniform, hairstyles and general appearance, punctuality and behaviour is respectful to the school’s rich history and tradition.

Study

Whilst the school holidays are an important time for relaxation and renewal of spirit, mind and body it is also important that senior students take advantage of some of this break to focus on their study schedule, exam revision and finalising assessment tasks.

The last day of formal lessons for Year 12 Students is Friday 27 October 2017 and to recognise their academic achievements, we will come together as a Dominican community on Friday 27 October 2017 to celebrate the year with a breakfast, school assembly, Mass and Academic Assembly at Bonython Hall.

As the Year 12s approach the end of their journey as students at Blackfriars Priory School, we wish them all the best in their future pathway. We thank the teachers for their continued commitment to the academic and spiritual development of the students. The staff have nurtured the students to reach their God-given potential, maintaining their own dignity and sense of human justice.

We ask the school community to keep the Year 12 students in their prayers throughout the coming weeks as they enter the examination period in Week 4. We thank the families for the opportunity and the privilege to care for the boys and guide them through this significant part of their journey in life.

Academic Assembly

On Friday 27 October 2017, the graduating Year 12 students and their families will celebrate the Academic Assembly at Bonython Hall. This is always a memorable night for the students and their families as we recognise the achievements of the graduating class of 2017, for the completion of their schooling, and for their particular leadership and academic achievements. This is the final school day for Year 12 students and we invite the Year 12 students to a breakfast at 7.30am with the staff to reflect on their years at Blackfriars Priory School. A whole school assembly and Year 12 Mass will be held in the morning and students will be dismissed at approximately 11.30am. Please refer to the information in your son’s report envelope for further information.

Free Parenting Seminar: Toddlers and Big Feelings

Free Parenting Seminar: Toddlers and Big Feelings