Edition 9/2016 The OPtimist Blackfriars News & Highlights PRAYER STUDY COMMUNITY SERVICE From the Chair - Appointment of Principal Blackfriars Priory School 17 Prospect Rd, Prospect SA 5082 PO Box 86, Prospect SA 5082 T: +61 8 8169 3900 E: [email protected] bps.sa.edu.au facebook.com/BlackfriarsSchool CRICOS: 02485B Mr Simon Cobiac, Br Brendan O’Hearn and Mrs Anna Mirasgentis. On behalf of the Blackfriars Priory 1981 where he taught Religious Education, School Board and the Dominican Order of English and Drama. It was his first position Preachers I am very pleased to announce as a teacher and one he remembers fondly. the appointment of Mr Simon Cobiac as Mr Cobiac has been very impressed by the Principal of Blackfriars Priory School, all he has observed and learnt about commencing in January 2017. Blackfriars Priory School during the Mr Cobiac is currently Principal of St recruitment process and placed particular Patrick's College Launceston, Tasmania, emphasis on the Dominican spirit at the a position he has held for 14 years. St School, the teaching philosophy emerging Patrick's is a highly regarded Catholic through the strategic plan, the extent College of some 1,500 students and 200 of general and specialist co-curricular staff in the tradition of its founding schools, programs and our wonderful Early Learning established by the Christian Brothers, the Centre. Sisters of St Joseph and the Presentation In this light, the Board and the Order would Sisters. like to take this opportunity to thank Mrs CELEBRATING 800 YEARS OF Prior to leading St Patrick's, he was Deputy Anna Mirasgentis for her professionalism DOMINICAN TRADITION Principal at St Joseph's College Mildura for and dedication in fulfilling the role as Acting six years, a teacher at Rostrevor College for Principal this year. Anna's enthusiasm, 14 years and also taught for four years at tireless work ethic and inclusive leadership Published by: Blackfriars Priory School Blackfriars Priory School. has served the School Community It was particularly reassuring to the incredibly well and we thank all of the Submissions: To make a submission to selection panel and the Board that Mr School Community for embracing and the next edition of the OPtimist, please Cobiac is highly regarded by the Vicar supporting her in the role this year. forward details to Rachel Elgar in the General of the Hobart Diocese, and by his As always, I am happy to be contacted Development Office via email: current Board Chair, his previous Board about the above or any matter about the [email protected] Chair and his Deputy Principal among leadership and direction of our great school others. He was commended for his strong and its community, in this most significant Old scholar contact: Old scholars and progressive leadership at the school year - the 800 Year Anniversary of the please direct enquiries to Jon Harmer and for the depth of his service more founding of the Order of Preachers. via email: [email protected] generally across the Catholic Education Mr David O'Loughlin sector in Tasmania, including his role on Chair, Blackfriars Priory School Board Cover: Junior Robocup competition the Tasmanian Catholic Justice and Peace participants Joseph Haskey, William Commission and as a National Director Barrett and Lachlan Fyfe. of the Catholic Secondary Principals Association of Australia. Some may recall his teaching years at Blackfriars Priory School from 1978 to From the Chair - Appointment of Principal From the Principal This is our gift to God. As graduates they will grace the corridors of universities, registered training organisations and workplaces and will contribute to the local and global community in a myriad of ways. With them on their educational journey they will have the Dominican values, the knowledge, skills, authority and stature to change the world for the better. Most importantly they have a sense of service that will continue to inspire people in the future. As St Dominic sent the friars out to study and to preach, the school encourages them to go out into the world with compassion to engage in the quest for truth that leads to justice, peace and freedom. Eleanor Roosevelt believed ‘The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.’ It was a great honour and privilege to be their Principal in 2016. They leave the Zachary Dalton (2017 Deputy Head Prefect), Mrs Anna Miragentis and Joshua Santillana (2017 Head Prefect). School with my sincerest blessings and I encourage them to achieve great things, let 2016 has been a year of great celebration learning and wellbeing, and in delivering an go of their fears, take risks, challenge their for the Order of Preachers and for our educational experience that helps students thinking and find inspiration in God and the Dominican Community. How wonderful flourish and reach their God given potential. world around them. With faith, they will find, it is to be an integral part of such a faith- The School Board remains committed to that God’s vision for their life is far greater filled, Christ inspired richness that is as upgrading and improving our facilities to than anything they could have imagined. significant today as it was 800 years past. meet the demands of a 21 Century learning The path that they tread, like the path of Each page you turn, you are invited to environment. The new Performing Arts St Dominic, is not going to be an easy one, participate in our journey in 2016 and Centre, Primary Precinct development there will be many thorns and ruts on the enjoy the many facets of daily life which is a strong commitment to providing an roadway. But they should be heartened in highlight what it means to be educated in a innovative pedagogical experience. In a the knowledge that God is not just at the Dominican School. rapidly changing world our students will beginning and end of their journey but in need to be flexible, communicate effectively, every step along the road. May God bless Blackfriars offers a rich, vibrant and collaborate, be creative, motivate, build them on the road that carries them through multifaceted education with immense teams, problem solve, have high emotional the journey of their life. opportunities created by the excellence intelligence and be independent if they are and diversity of our School’s educational His Grace, Archbishop Philip Wilson’s Visit to excel as leaders of tomorrow. offerings. Our international dimension It was also an honour and a privilege to of education at Blackfriars Priory School Farewell to the Graduating Class of 2016 have, His Grace, Archbishop Philip Wilson is enriched by our culturally diverse In Term 4 we recognised the achievements join us on Wednesday 2 November, during student population, through both local of the graduating class of 2016, for the the 800 Year Jubilee of the Dominican Order. and international students, and is also completion of their schooling, and for their There are close ties between Archbishop linked to the global awareness and critical leadership and academic achievements. Wilson and the Dominicans. Fr Robert thinking that underpins many aspects of Yet embedded in all the celebration there Spence OP, the first Superior for the Friars the curriculum. Study tours and student were emotions of sadness as the Year 12 in Australia, was the Third Archbishop of exchanges are excellent opportunities students concluded a significant chapter in Adelaide, and it was another predecessor for our students to develop international their life. of Archbishop Wilson who first officially understandings and live out their As they travel the path from one year blessed Blackfriars Priory School in 1953, commitment to an inclusive and welcoming to the next I asked them to pause and Archbishop Matthew Beovich. community that celebrates differences. Our appreciate the road they have travelled, In that year, 63 years ago, our school strong relationships with Schools in China, reflect on their experiences and the insights opened its doors and was entrusted with the Japan and USA continue to provide us with they have gained of themselves from this education of young men, and in recent years diverse experiences. Our short and long year’s journey. I hope they take all the they have been joined by girls in the Early stay international students from around the events, experiences, opportunities and the Learning Centre. Together they join in the world have provided us with a richness of friendships they have gained at Blackfriars discoveries of human wisdom with the truth culture and further inspires our students to and allow them to be the driving force and of the Gospel, to keep the faith alive in how learn languages and travel to embrace new source of immense support and inspiration they live their lives. experiences. to make a difference in the world. In this Jubilee year, we need to look to the Our new Strategic Plan and Master Plan will Life itself is a gift, which offers us the future and to the world, to understand by focus on continuing to develop Blackfriars privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to this experience how we can serve in the capacity as a centre of excellence in give something back by becoming more. 3 From the Principal The Most Reverend Philip Wilson, Archbishop of Adelaide, being welcomed by 2017 Prefects Toby Hellewell, Dan Manalo, Mark Macapagal, Mrs Anna Mirasgentis and Chaplain, Fr Karl Emerick OP. world and the Church today. As a Dominican As Head Prefect and Deputy Head Prefect School community this year. I look forward Community in Adelaide we follow our they will lead, motivate, influence and to an exciting 2017 with Mr Simon Cobiac Archbishop’s vision of and efforts towards encourage an exceptional cohort of boys.