From the Principal

In last week’s newsletter, Father Hosking spoke of our Dreaming nights and the central focus points of the College’s work. These Dreaming nights, attended by parents from across all three campuses, have been a great way for the College to listen to parents’ views on what we need to ‘keep’ doing and ‘stop’ doing, and what we need to ‘create’ for the current and future students and community. Last night at the P&F Committee meeting ‘Dreaming’ session, the parents spoke passionately about community and building community again in a post-COVID world. They spoke of the need for people to continue to reach out to each other to find friendship and shared interests through their children. This we know is not always easy, but just as we ask our children to take a risk on friendship, so too, as adults, must we. The P&F Committee work tirelessly to help build the Saint Ignatius community, whether it be at the recent College Fair, the Gala Ball in August, Colour Run later in the year, or at pick-up at the end of the school day. I encourage families more generally to get involved in the events coming up for the rest of the year in whatever way they can. Not only will the events be even better with greater involvement, but the by-product is that our lives are further enhanced when we share the journey with others.

Moving around each of the campuses, it is very exciting to see the light of curiosity in our students’ eyes and the determination in their demeanour when it comes to their learning and relationships. In recent discussions with students about performance at a sporting game, or of a finished rehearsal, it is quite evident that the education at Saint Ignatius is the ‘lighting of a fire’. Recently I was interviewed about the outstanding SACE results from the Class of 2022, and the topic of human excellence and doing your best was discussed. Saint Ignatius students are natural learners. They apply themselves with confidence and work hard to find solutions to questions and problems they cannot answer. They are consistent in their hard work, and work in this way for themselves, their wider loving family, and school. It is a pleasure to be in such a learning community.

This week at the senior campus we celebrated the Blue Week Breakfast hosted by Year 12, for Year 12. The breakfast provided an opportunity for Year 12s to spend time together while learning more about mental health. The three excellent speakers raised awareness of the array of mental health challenges they have faced during their lives. It is never easy to address your peers on such matters, and our speakers showed great courage as they told their story. Congratulations to Year 12 for organising such an important event.

With prayers of peace and hope,

Barbara Watkins
Principal

OREMUS (Let us pray)

We remember all in our College community. May our prayers comfort those suffering at this time. May God’s blessing be a source of support in their sorrow and loss, and bring courage, patience, and hope.

“Ask and you shall receive … knock and the door will be opened unto you.” (Matt 7:7)

If you would like someone to be remembered by the College community in prayer (even anonymously), please provide details to the Rector, class or Mentor Teacher, or House Leader.