Dear Parents and Carers,
As we move into Week 8, the boys have been actively involved in a range of programs, events, activities, and sports training. Here’s a brief update on the highlights from the past few weeks.
INTRODUCING OUR NEW LEADERS
During our recent celebration of St Gregory’s Feast Day, we proudly introduced the new school leaders for 2025. We are thrilled to announce that Jackson O’Hehir (Lord Howe Island, NSW) has been appointed as Boarding Captain for next year, one of eight key leadership roles at the College. Additionally, Deklin Jarrett (Goonellabah, QLD) has been named as the College’s First Nations Leader. Both Jackson and Deklin exemplify the values we strive for, and we congratulate them on this well-deserved achievement. We wish them all the best in their roles.
We are also excited to announce the 2025 Boarding Leadership Group. After a close vote within the boarding community, the following students have been selected as Boarding Leaders. Their specific roles will be decided in the coming weeks:
• Archie Gay (Boorowa, NSW)
• Deklin Jarrett (Goonellabah, QLD)
• Sebastian Sia (Lord Howe Island, NSW)
• Preston Smallwood (Bilambil Heights, NSW)
• Hugh White (Bowral, NSW)
These leaders will officially take on their roles during the upcoming boarders’ graduation mass. Congratulations to these outstanding young men, and we look forward to seeing them thrive in these important roles.
BEYOND BOARDING PROGRAM
As part of our ‘Beyond Boarding’ initiative, a series of expert-led sessions have provided valuable learning opportunities for our students:
• Moneyvest: Our finance partner delivered a finance course on budgeting, payslips, investing, and taxation. Year 11 and 12 students recently completed their sessions, and Years 7 to 10 will participate in Term 4.
• Elephant Ed: This sex and lifestyle education organisation engaged our Year 11 and 12 students in candid discussions on relevant and challenging topics. The boys showed great respect and engagement throughout.
• Youth Solutions: This organisation led a session for Year 12 on drugs, alcohol, and resilience, focusing on developing skills to promote positive health behaviours and reduce harm.
• Healthy Eating: CaterCare dietitians presented a session for Year 12 on fostering positive food habits and maintaining a healthy diet.
• Twilight Retreat: A retreat aimed at strengthening bonds within the boarding community will also take place soon.
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES
There are several exciting activities planned for the boarders over the coming weekends, so please encourage your sons to participate.
VERTICAL TEAMS COMPETITION
The Vertical Teams competition concludes this week, with the winning team to be announced on Thursday morning. The winners will enjoy an outing this coming weekend as a reward for their hard work and teamwork.
YEAR 11 EXAMS
We wish our Year 11 students the best of luck as they begin their Preliminary exams next week. These exams are a crucial step in preparing for their HSC next year. If you have any concerns regarding your son during this time, please do not hesitate to contact me for assistance.
GRADUATION EVENTS
Graduation is fast approaching, and I’d like to remind families of the key dates:
• Thursday 26 September: Final Boarders’ Mass and Parent Graduation Cocktail Party at 6:15 pm.
• Friday 27 September: Graduation Assembly, Mass, and Dinner, starting at 9:00 am.
We expect all families to attend both events to celebrate this important milestone.
TERM 3 HOLIDAYS
Term 3 concludes on Saturday 28 September. Please note that all students are required to attend the Graduation event on Friday 27 September. Parents are welcome to sign their sons out after the Mass, which will conclude at around 1:00 pm. Travel will be arranged for Saturday 28 September to ensure a proper farewell to our Year 12 graduates.
Boarders are expected to return on Monday 14 October, with SSTS organising transport. Boarding houses will open at 4:30 pm, and classes will resume on Tuesday 15 October at 8:25 am.
Thank you for your continued support.
Take care,
Prateek Kripal
Acting Director of Boarding