This morning the House Shout competition filled the Chapel with song and House pride. It is always an event where friendly rivalry shines through, as students channel passion and teamwork into performances. Beyond the songs, House Shout provides a wonderful reminder of the importance of belonging, camaraderie and shared achievement.
Equally inspiring has been the continued growth of our Theatre Sports competition, which was held on Tuesday. Students demonstrated extraordinary quick thinking, creativity and humour in their performances. Theatre Sports develops confidence and communication, and also the courage required to step onto a stage and embrace the unexpected.
On the sporting front, Christ Church students will represent the School at the upcoming PSA Golf and Surfing fixtures this weekend. Both disciplines require focus, skill and composure, and we wish all competitors luck against strong opposition.
This morning we held the Year 10 Mother/Son Breakfast, supported by the Parents’ Association. This gathering provided a meaningful opportunity for reflection and connection, allowing students and their mothers to pause amidst busy schedules and strengthen their relationships. Occasions such as these are invaluable in nurturing the bonds between home and school, and I know many families appreciate sharing these experiences together. Thank you to Dr Vash Singh, our guest speaker, who delivered a fabulous interpretation of the mother/significant female and son relationship, and provided some excellent take aways for the students.
I encourage all families to take advantage of the upcoming mid-term break. After such a productive start to the term, this will be an important opportunity to rest, reset, and return energised for the challenges and opportunities that are ahead in Term 3.
The long weekend provides a well-earned break from the rigours of Term 3. For students in Years 7 to 12, this is a valuable time to reflect on their current progress and plan the steps needed to achieve their goals. I strongly recommend all senior students to create a five-week plan to focus on their future academic tasks and assessments, to ensure they do their best in the final stages of the term.
This morning, there was a wonderful display of colour and song at the House Shout competition. All houses were fantastic with Queenslea House taking out the win. The Athletics carnival is final chance to earn points towards the Beatty cup and the top of the table is very tight. The Ray House run will kick off the Athletics events next Wednesday at lunchtime.
The winter sports season officially wraps up this afternoon, and although we narrowly missed out on the PSA trophies for Badminton, Cross Country, and Soccer, we are incredibly proud of the efforts and achievements of all our students. Throughout the season, our teams demonstrated outstanding commitment, teamwork, and sportsmanship – qualities that matter just as much as any trophy. Congratulations to every student who trained, competed, and represented our school with pride. A heartfelt thank you also goes to our dedicated coaches, team managers, and the many parents who cheered from the sidelines and supported the students every step of the way. Your involvement makes a big difference and is deeply appreciated. To round out the season the PSA Golf and the PSA Surfing will be held tomorrow. Conditions are looking good, and the students will be hoping they can retain the PSA Surfing Trophy for a sixth consecutive year.
The recent change to the School’s Phone Policy continues to have a noticeable and positive impact on student behaviour across the campus. In particular, the quality of interactions during break periods and before school has improved, with boys engaging in more meaningful face-to-face conversations. Please remind your son to place his phone in his locker upon arrival and only retrieve it when leaving campus.
Enjoy a restful long weekend – I look forward to welcoming our students back on Tuesday looking sharp and ready for a strong finish to the term.
Upcoming Senior School Events
Mid-term break – Friday 22 to Monday 25 August (Commences Thursday 21 August at 3.05pm)
PSA Surfing – Friday 22 August
PSA Golf – Friday 22 August
House Athletics Carnival – Friday 29 August, WA Athletics Centre, 8.15am to 2.30pm
Tri Athletics Carnival (selected students) – Friday 5 September, WA Athletics Centre, 2.30pm
SOLI ’25 Performance – Saturday 6 September, Hadley Hall at MLC, 6.30pm to 9.00pm – Tickets here
Mark Morrissy
Deputy Principal/Head of Senior School
Feedback plays a vital role in the learning process as it helps boys understand their strengths and areas for growth. When feedback is timely, specific, and focused on the learning process, it encourages learners to see mistakes as opportunities for improvement. In the Preparatory School, feedback can be verbal, annotated, provided by the teacher or by peers and through information gathered in both summative and formative assessments. By highlighting effort and progress, feedback supports the development of a growth mindset, where challenges are viewed as part of learning rather than as setbacks.
We promote and encourage resilience in learning as it is the ability to keep going when tasks are difficult or when mistakes occur. Resilient learners adapt their strategies, persist through challenges, and remain motivated even when progress feels slow. Constructive feedback builds resilience by guiding boys forward and reinforcing the idea that effort leads to improvement. Together, feedback and resilience enable our boys to grow in confidence, independence, and work towards achievement.
Week 6 is Book Week and this upcoming event promises to ignite the love for reading among our young learners with the highly anticipated Book Week Parade and assembly. The Book Week Parade will take place following a book themed assembly on Friday 29th August commencing at 8.35am in the Chapel where parents are welcome to attend. During this event, our boys will have the opportunity to embrace their favourite book characters, bringing them to life through costume. We encourage all boys to participate, whether they choose to dress up as their most beloved characters or as something inspired by the book week theme, which this year is “Book an Adventure”. We kindly request that you assist your son in selecting a character and, if possible, help them create their costume. In addition to the parade, we have planned several engaging activities throughout Book Week which will be shared in the daily student bulletin. Thank you for your continuous support in fostering a culture of literacy within our school and we look forward to seeing you at the Book Week Parade.
