The vision of St Peter’s College is to be an exceptional community of learning, and this spirit of community was our focus throughout the Winter Intercol. In a century where community is one of the greatest challenges for our nation, it is vital to nurture connection and participation. This connection requires presence, and I commend the many students who attended all nine Open Intercol fixtures across the four days. Your presence was deeply felt and your participation, while almost intangible, was significant. I applaud your commitment to supporting your peers. Together, you celebrated excellent victories in vibrant atmospheres and shared in the poignant moments of loss, where the expression of sadness was profound because we knew we had lost something we could have won. Experiencing this range of emotions collectively was special and provided a powerful opportunity to be part of our community.
For those who did not attend fixtures, it was a missed opportunity to truly experience a sense of belonging. Regardless of your personal interests or focus at school, being part of these events allows you to be part of something far greater than yourself. In a world increasingly centered on the individual, it is crucial that we make the effort to show up for others and broaden our horizons. As we grow older, it becomes all too easy to disconnect from society. That’s why it’s important for our students to practice being present for their peers and to support their endeavours across a wide range of school activities. By cultivating these connections within our community, we hope our students will remain engaged and supportive of one another long after they graduate as young men.
Well done to our sporting teams; we won, or we learned. And what we learned is that we should never allow our competitors to gain a foothold, as it becomes difficult to remove them once they do. This lesson extends beyond the playing fields and applies to many aspects of life.
Thank you to our operations and academic teams who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to prepare the grounds and facilities for us all to enjoy and thank you to all members of our community who attended one of the 48 Intercol fixtures over the four days.
Last week, we had the pleasure of celebrating the magic of reading across both our Junior and Senior schools. The annual Book Week Parade was a highlight, with the creativity of costumes on full display around Girdlestone Oval. This joyful event was made possible by the collective efforts of parents, students, and staff. Thank you to our library staff for curating a magical week of activities that nurtures our School’s reading culture and inspires a love of reading in our boys.
It was wonderful to see so many dads, grandparents, and special guests standing shoulder to shoulder with our boys at this morning’s Father’s Day Breakfast. In our busy lives, moments like these are truly rare. I pay tribute to all fathers and father figures in our community for your ongoing partnership in guiding our boys through this important stage of their lives.
Wishing all families a wonderful weekend.
Tim Browning
Headmaster