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• PSA Chess success
• Year 6 Father/Friend and Son event
• Mental Health Week
• Preparatory School Springtime Celebration

Chess is a valuable tool for developing logical reasoning, strategic thinking, patience, problem-solving and perseverance – essential qualities for making thoughtful decisions in everyday life. Additionally, chess promotes social interaction, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Whether played individually or as part of a team, chess helps students learn to respect their opponents, handle defeat gracefully, and celebrate victories with humility. Our PSA Chess team’s recent achievement in winning the competition for the 15th consecutive year underscores the importance we as a school place on this timeless game. I would like to congratulate the team and their coach Jack Damon on their outstanding effort.

Following Father’s Day on Sunday, we invited our Year 6 students and their dads/friends to join us for the Year 6 Father/Friend and Son event yesterday morning. The event provided a wonderful opportunity for them to spend quality time together while enjoying breakfast. Brad Gardner, Director of the Wynne Centre for Health and Wellbeing, spoke to the students about the transition into Senior School and offered some valuable tips on how to navigate the unique challenges that may arise. You can view photos from the morning here.

Mr Gardner has been leading a range of activities for students and staff throughout the School as part of Christ Church Mental Health Week. These initiatives are designed to promote wellbeing and provide opportunities for self-care and reflection. Highlights included a community yoga session, which offered everyone a chance to unwind through gentle movement and breathing exercises. Tomorrow, Year 12 students will have the opportunity to pause during their usual tutorial time, engaging in a thoughtful ‘Relax and Recharge’ check-in with each other over a hot drink. This time will allow them to reflect on their mental, emotional, and academic wellbeing, ensuring they feel supported as they navigate their final weeks of school.

This evening, we are delighted to welcome families to the Preparatory School “Open Night” to experience the work students have been engaged in throughout the term. Guests are invited to enjoy open classrooms including the Library, Innovation Lab and the opening night of the Art Exhibition. This year’s theme is ‘Teddy Bear’s Picnic,’ and the Preparatory School campus is brimming with an array of artworks inspired by this iconic song. I hope our families can join us to celebrate our students’ artistic achievements and the hard work and imagination that has gone into each piece.

Tomorrow we are looking forward to a very special day in the School calendar – Preparatory School Grandparents Day. When a student starts at the School, his entire family joins the Christ Church community, including parents, brothers, sisters and grandparents. We are a school that prides itself on its close partnership with families when educating our students and grandparents are an invaluable part of this partnership. Grandparents play an important role in the lives of their grandchildren, though it can sometimes be indirect. Grandparents are often seen as ‘stress buffers,’ family ‘watchdogs,’ ‘roots,’ ‘arbitrators,’ and ‘supporters.’ Research suggests that children find unique acceptance in their relationships with grandparents, which benefits them emotionally and mentally. They are also historians—teaching values, instilling ethnic heritage, and passing on family traditions. Grandparents Day honours these special people in our students’ lives, providing an opportunity to show their love and support for their children’s children and to remind our students of the strength, information, and guidance older people can offer, whether within their family or as members of their wider community.

Alan Jones
Principal

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• PSA Athletics Carnival
• Chess and Soli ’24
• Safe use of technology
• Prefect announcement 

Our school athletes are to be congratulated for the way they have tackled their training and worked with coaches to perform at their best for tomorrow’s PSA Athletics Carnival. Last Friday at the lead up Tri Carnival, our athletes battled the cloudy conditions to compete and strive to achieve their personal best. The commitment of athletes and coaches in a very short season has been exceptional.

A huge congratulations to our PSA Chess team who won the competition for a 15th straight time at Trinity on Friday. An unbelievable achievement, and our fifth PSA trophy for the year. This amazing outcome was followed the Year 12 Soli ’24 soloists and Music Department, who put on a show to remember last Saturday night. The evening was filled with outstanding performances from all 17 students in front of a packed and lively Hadley Hall. Congratulations also to the accompanying musicians and all the wonderful music staff who supported the soloists on the night.

On Tuesday morning, it was great to welcome some of the Year 7 parents on to the campus for a parent forum on Social and Emotional Development in the Digital World, presented by Kate Atkinson and Brad Gardner. The safe use of digital technologies is a challenging landscape for both parents and the School to stay abreast of and stay educated on. We are committed to addressing the concerns we are experiencing and encourage parents to do the same. As a School, we ask for your assistance in reminding your son of the mobile phone policy located within our Student Code of Conduct. We also ask for parents help by establishing, or reiterating existing, ground rules at home around using their school device and social media on their mobile phone, particularly for Year 7 to 9 students. Please have regular conversations and be aware of the social media platforms they are on, what images and videos are in their library and the groups they are communicating with online. Some invaluable information can be found via Online safety | eSafety Commissioner and Paul Litherland’s Surf Online Safe.

On the academic front, the Year 12s have now completed their final in-class assessments and are now preparing for Trial Exams. This period of the year builds levels of stress and anxiety in many boys as they approach the last phase of their schooling. This link, provided through The Wynne Centre for Health and Wellbeing looks at working with our children through this period of their lives.

The Parents’ Association is hosting a parent-only event, Soirée on the Bay, on Saturday 9 November. This event will be a fun night out and a great chance to meet other parents. You can see all details and purchase tickets here.

With the departure of the Year 12s for their exams it was an exciting time this morning as we announced the 2025 School and House Prefects. Congratulations to the 2025 Captain of School, William Lewis and Vice-Captain of School, Oscar Males. Click here to see all School Prefects for 2025.

Upcoming Senior School Events

• PSA Inters Athletics Carnival – Friday 6 September at 9.00pm to 3.00pm (State Athletics Centre)
• Year 12 Study Days – Monday 9 and Tuesday 10 September
• Year 12 Trial Exams commence – Wednesday 11 September
• Parents Association AGM – Wednesday 11 September at 7.00pm to 9.00pm

Mark Morrissy
Deputy Principal/Head of Senior School

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• Digital literacy skills
• Springtime Celebration
• IPSHA Speakers’ Challenge
• BGM Awards

In a rapidly evolving world, digital technologies are shaping the way we live, work, and connect with one another. From smartphones to smart homes, technology is all around us, and it’s becoming increasingly clear that the ability to understand and interact with it is essential. That is why we believe it is crucial for our boys to begin learning code and digital literacy skills from an early age. Students from Years 1 to Year 6 are connected with a digital technologies experience linked to our broader Innovation program.   

Learning to code (computational thinking) is not just about preparing for a future career in technology – it’s also about developing critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and creativity. When students learn to code, they learn how to break down complex problems into manageable parts, find solutions through trial and error, and persist through challenges. These are skills that will serve them well in any field they choose to pursue. 

Moreover, digital literacy goes beyond coding. It includes understanding how to use digital tools safely and responsibly, knowing how to research and evaluate information online, and being able to collaborate and communicate effectively using technology. In a world where digital interactions are increasingly common, these skills are essential for success in school and beyond. 

We are committed to providing our boys with the tools and knowledge they need to navigate the digital world confidently. Our curriculum includes hands-on activities that make learning about technology through the context of both design and digital technologies fun and engaging. By starting early, we can help our students develop a strong foundation in digital literacy that will support their learning across all subjects. Together, we can ensure our boys are not just consumers of technology, but creators and innovators who are ready for the future. We encourage you to find out firsthand tonight in the Innovation Lab for our annual Prep Open Night. 

Week 8 is a busy week in the Preparatory School. Yesterday, the Year 6 boys were treated to breakfast with their Fathers/Friends in Sandover Dining Hall. Attendees braved the rain to have a hearty breakfast and listen to Director of The Wynne Centre for Health and Wellbeing, Brad Gardner, discuss tips for transitioning to the Senior School. Tonight, we celebrate one of the biggest nights of the year with Preparatory Open Night occurring in all classrooms across our campus. On Friday morning, the boys get to share their work with their grandparents at Grandparents Day. Families will be treated to musical performances, the Art Exhibition, and all specialist areas will be open for boys to show off their achievements. We hope everyone enjoys their time at the Preparatory School during our Springtime Celebration.

Public speaking continues to be an integral component of students’ development as it fosters confidence, strengthens critical thinking and directly improves oral communication skills. This week sees the final of the IPSHA Speakers’ Challenge held at St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School. Christ Church will be represented by 4 speakers, delivering a range of speeches, showcasing their skills as public speakers. We wish Baxter Zilko (Year 5) – ‘Dumb Ways to Die’, Roshan Fayers (Year 5) – ‘Weird Foods’, Will Burton (Year 6) – ‘My Invisible Friend’ and Franklin Manford (Year 6) – ‘Divorced Parents and My Experience’ all the best as they compete against speakers from other IPSHA schools. 

The Parents’ Association is hosting a parent-only event, Soirée on the Bay, on Saturday 9 November. The event is a fantastic opportunity to catch up, meet other parents, and have an enjoyable evening. You can see all details and purchase tickets here.

Lastly, I would like to congratulate our BGM Award winners.

Dr. Steven Males
Head of Preparatory School