News & Events
The Rite Journey Ceremony
Last week, our Year 9 students and families came together for a moving ceremony as part of The Rite Journey program.
An emotional part of the evening was the heartfelt exchange between students and their families. Letters of gratitude, pride, love and hope were shared — a powerful and memorable moment of connection. 💌
We are so proud of our young people as they embrace the program with courage, purpose, and a deep sense of who they are becoming.
From Josh Foulis, Deputy Principal
Our Lenten Season and Easter
Since Ash Wednesday, our Catholic church and our college community has journeyed through Lent, as a time for deep reflection and sacrifice, in preparation for the ultimate sacrifice on Good Friday when Jesus dies on the cross.
As we continue through Lent, we reflect on ourselves, our loved ones and our St Paul’s community. We pray for one another and that we may sacrifice parts of our world for the betterment of others.
The Sunday following Good Friday is Easter and for our Catholic community, Easter is most important. It celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, offering hope and eternal life. New life is often celebrated with the symbol of easter eggs, and we remember the great meaning of this symbol and gesture.
With new life comes rejuvenation and joy, and St Paul’s College wishes all members of our community a truly Happy Easter during the upcoming School Holidays.
As we end our prayers at St Paul’s…
Live Jesus in Our Hearts: Forever
World Autism Understanding Day 2025
The 2nd of April was World Autism Understanding Day, a welcome opportunity to learn more about Autism and with that greater understanding, to then celebrate people who live with Autism, ultimately leading to action. “If you learn I am Autistic”, is the theme for 2025”.
Quoting from Autism SA, “Autism is a neurological developmental difference that affects the way an individual relates to the environment and people in it. The effects differ from individual to individual, which is why the term ‘spectrum’ is used. It reflects the fact that everyone’s lived experience of autism is different. Individuals on the spectrum may have skills in particular areas, while finding other aspects of life particularly challenging.”
St Paul’s College proudly supports many students living with Autism, understanding the many strengths that these students bring to our community and assisting these students to overcome their unique challenges. This further motivates our support for WAUD.
The infographic below from AutismSA, provides some great facts as a starting point, and I encourage you to CLICK HERE for more information about World Autism Awareness Day and Autism more generally.
From the Principal
Celebrating Diversity and Belonging at St Paul’s
Archbishop Leonard Faulkner once said that, “There is unity in diversity,” and here at St Paul’s, we are incredibly proud of our diversity. We truly believe that each young person is unique in their own special way!
Throughout this week, we have been recognising and celebrating both Harmony Week and Neurodiversity Celebration Week. As a community, we are proud to have 40% of students who speak English as an additional or second language or dialect, and to have 45 different languages spoken in the homes of our students. Furthermore, we are a community that values neurodiversity and strives for inclusion in every aspect of our College life.
You might see your child attending school with some very ‘odd’ socks tomorrow to celebrate this as we recognise World Down Syndrome Day. This is just one small but significant way we show our support for the individuals who make up our vibrant, diverse community. We encourage everyone to embrace these moments of celebration, to learn from each other, and to continue building an environment where all students feel accepted, valued, and understood.
Together, we make St Paul’s a place where differences are not just accepted, but celebrated, and where the strength of our diversity truly shines. By embracing these values, we are fostering a stronger sense of belonging within our school community.
It is our hope that this in turn will develop graduates who are part of a more inclusive and compassionate society, and can do their bit to make the world a better place!
From the Principal
At last week’s academic assembly, we had the privilege of celebrating the outstanding achievements of the class of 2024. I posed two key questions to the students: Why do you learn what you learn? and What is the purpose of a school?
I explained that it begins with the Alice Springs (Mparntwe) Declaration for Education, which focuses on developing active, informed citizens and confident, creative individuals. This framework underpins the Australian Curriculum and the South Australian Certificate of Education, outlining the key capabilities that students should develop.
Our skilled teachers then take these curriculum outlines and shape learning experiences through expert pedagogies, tailored to their individual teaching styles and the needs of their students.
I also unpacked what it means to be an active and informed citizen, emphasising that critical thinking involves understanding right from wrong and being able to assess information thoughtfully. I reminded students that, given the recent media attention our school has received, it’s crucial to think critically and understand that the media often presents only one side of the story.
What matters most, I emphasised, is our internal knowledge of who we are. We are a strong, supportive, and inclusive community that not only delivers excellent academic outcomes but also teaches morals and values and supports personal growth. The class of 2024 exemplifies this, and they are ready to make a positive impact in their local community and beyond.
In closing, I encouraged students to take pride in their history, in who we are, and in wearing the St Paul’s crest. Be proud of our legacy and excited for the one you will create.
Certa Bonum Certamen – Let’s continue to fight the good fight, together.
Patrick Harmer - Principal
Welcome to the 2025 school year
Watch the video message from College Principal, Patrick Harmer
Meet Mr Harmer, Principal
What aspects of St Paul’s drew you to the role of Principal?
The St Paul’s community is rich in history and has achieved so much over its first 65 years. I am drawn to this opportunity because I see great potential in St Paul’s current context and what lies ahead. I look forward to working in partnership with students, staff, and families to shape an exciting future for the College.
Year 12 Results 2024
The conclusion of the 2024 school year comes with great celebration for our Year 12 students. We acknowledge the collective work that has been undertaken by students, families, and our entire staff throughout their academic, spiritual and personal journey during their time at St Paul’s College. It is with great pride that I detail the excellent SACE, ATAR, and apprenticeship achievements of the Year 12 graduates for 2024. For the sixth consecutive year, 100% of eligible students achieved their SACE. Our students have demonstrated the skills and capabilities to flourish and contribute productively to the world beyond school and will continue to hold a special place in our community as Old Scholars of our College. In doing this (for the last time!), I sincerely thank all staff for your dedication and commitment to the students and families of the College. It is truly appreciated. This gratitude includes Year 12 teachers in 2024, and especially extends to all staff across every year level, teaching and non-teaching.
The Year 12 students of 2024 have performed at an excellent level.
From the Principal
Dear Friends and Families of St Paul’s,
With the completion of Week 6 we finished another summer season of co-curricular activities. As with all aspects of St Paul’s over the last few years this area has grown significantly. Not only do we have more activities and more sports teams competing against other schools, but we have more and more students involved in multiple activities. This is a wonderful scenario, clearly demonstrating the significant pride our students have in the College. It is also a very accurate reflection of the commitment of our staff and the co-ordination and energy brought to this by our two coordinators, Mr Nick Gillard and Mr Marcus Deluca. I am sure our students and families are appreciative of their efforts.
Art and Tech Show
On Tuesday evening we also hosted the Art and Tech Show in Callan Hall. The standard of all work presented by the students was exceptional and a very accurate and rewarding reflection for all the wonderful work done by the dedicated staff. The parents and families were amazed at the quality.
On behalf of our whole community, I sincerely congratulate Ms Sarah Fedele, Mr Jonathon Prenzler and Mr Michael White for their leadership of these departments, and to Mr Grant Howarth, Ms Sophie Chapman, Mr Patrick Leadbeater, Ms Marie La Dru and Mr Wes Jones for their tremendous efforts in supporting the students.
As always at St Paul’s there was so much to be proud of and even more to be grateful for.
Graduation Dinner and Year 10 and 11 Awards Assembly
In what is another extremely busy week we also held our Year 10 and 11 Awards Assembly and our Year 12 Graduation Dinner. The Graduation Dinner represents the very final time our Class of 2024 gather together in the one room. Together with parents and families we reminisce and celebrate what has been a seven-year journey for many of the boys since starting in Year 5. The pride shown by the students and parents allows the staff to feel a great sense of satisfaction and gratitude for the opportunity of helping these students reach their full potential and help prepare them for the next stage of their lives.
The Awards Assembly not only acknowledges academic achievements but also social justice, Christian Service Learning and co-curricular achievements. This was extremely well attended by parents, grandparents and families, and yet again was a tremendous celebration of the very vibrant life of the College. St Paul’s certainly provides a myriad of opportunities for students to excel, and it is especially rewarding to see so many accept that invitation and strive to achieve their personal best.
Transition Day
While during this week we say farewell to many students and families, we also say a very heartfelt welcome to many more. On Friday we conduct our Transition Day for all new incoming students for 2025. This is a very important day when the students not only learn more about St Paul’s, but have a great opportunity to navigate around the College grounds and meet many new faces, both staff and fellow students from different schools.
St Paul’s does this very well, highlighted by the fact that several additional days are offered to families if students have any particular needs. It signifies the start of our partnership and the significant levels of support that are offered from the very beginning of a family’s introduction to the College.
We wish the incoming students and their families every happiness and success as this journey begins.
God Bless
Paul Belton
Adelaide 36ers Partnership T4 Update
This term we have been busy engaging with our Adelaide 36ers partnership through a range of opportunities for our students.
Last week, our Years 4-6 students had the chance to meet Adelaide 36ers players and participate in a coaching clinic. A lucky group even played a game against the players in front of their peers!
Next week, it will be our Reception to Year 3 students' turn to enjoy a clinic experience.
20 of our year 7s had an exclusive coaching session with facilitator Corey, as well as, attending a game day experience where they cheered on the 36ers as they defeated the Illawarra Hawks.
Our high-performance students in years 8-11 were lucky enough to attend a closed Adelaide 36ers training session, gaining insights into the intensity and structure of elite-level practice. They then took part in their own session coached by Adelaide 36ers coaching staff.
Later this term another group of students will enjoy their gameday experience to round out what has been a great first year with our Adelaide 36ers partnership.
From the Principal
Dear Friends and Families of St Paul’s,
Our Year 12s are currently undertaking their end of year SACE exams or finalising their last major externally assessed assignments. We take immense pride in our Year 12 students, their dedication and hard work not only reflects their preparation, but also the strong foundation they have built over their years at St Paul’s College. We are confident that their results will showcase their efforts and the high standard of education they have received.
While this is in many ways the culmination of thirteen years of education, it is in no way the be all and end all of education. Personally, it is my belief that far too much pressure is placed on students to attain an exceptionally high ATAR. While some students certainly wish to gain direct entry into the University course of their choice (or their number one preference as it is called), it should never be considered a failure if not attained now.
In today’s educational world and society in general there are multiple pathways into whatever career a young person may dream of undertaking. To finish secondary schooling with a solid values base and strong set of beliefs is far more important. Psychologists and other experts suggest that today’s students will have multiple different careers during their lifetime. If this is true, why does society, families and individuals put themselves under so much pressure? Surely every student and every individual working hard to become the best they can be is enough.
EREA Touchstones
Everyone in our community would have heard, read or seen information regarding the four Edmund Rice Education Australia Touchstones. These are Gospel Spirituality, Inclusive Community, Justice and Solidarity and Liberating Education.
Liberation means to be set free. We could suggest that a Liberating Education is one that allows every person the “freedom” to become whatever it is they wish to become. EREA’s definition of a Liberating Education, however, is somewhat different.
As a Catholic College in the Edmund Rice Tradition, we believe that: “We open hearts and minds, through quality teaching and learning experiences, so that through critical reflection and engagement each person is hope-filled and free to build a better world for all.”
That definition does not speak of ATAR’s or SACE completion but rather our school’s hope that we, in partnership with families, produce graduates who have strong enough values to know that life is not all about them as an individual, but rather each one of us has an obligation to contribute to making the world a better place. I am sure you would all agree our world needs young people like this.
I believe this is what St Paul’s is excellent at embedding in all we do. Our pastoral care and wellbeing initiatives must encourage all students to become the absolute best version of themselves. The academics obviously support this but do not define who we are. Sometimes this is a hard pitch to convince young girls and boys or parents of this, but it is what we believe.
EREA will soon be finalising and distributing the latest iteration of our Charter. The content and emphases may be altered a little but the essence of what it means to us as a community will not alter. We are a community built around mutual respect and unconditional love for each other. This respect is the basis of our Common Ground document and binds us all to the Touchstones and the College values of Faith, Relationships, Excellence, and Diversity.
As the year draws very quickly to a close and we welcome many new families and students, we also say farewell and thank you to the families who are leaving us for the last time. We hope that the students and families will remain connected to our community and hold fond memories of their time at the College. We hope that they all take with them Certa Bonum Certamen or “Fight the Good Fight” of faith which will help us all make a positive contribution to the world around us.
Take care.
God Bless
Paul Belton.
