I would like to extend a warm welcome to all families within our community. If you are new to the St Patrick’s community, I hope that your son(s) enjoyed their first days at his new school. The young men seem to have returned with great energy. I always enjoy the beginning of the school year as there is a real buzz within everyone at the school.

On Wednesday morning, we welcomed our many new students. Our Year 12 students need to be recognised for their assistance and support that they offer to their Little Brothers. I am sure they will provide excellent leadership and service to our community throughout this year.

We also welcomed our new staff members during our normal College Assembly yesterday. This year, we have more new staff than usual as our student numbers have grown. The whole teaching staff have been back for a week completing several professional development programs and planning for their classes. The professional development was focussed on continual improvement in teaching methodologies and using technologies in the classroom. Over the course of this year, we will also continue to prioritise improving the literacy skills of our students across the whole school. 

The students have also enjoyed the new facilities that have been completed over the holiday period. These include the completion of the new College Café, two new classrooms underneath the O’Connor building, more covered seating areas and refurbished classrooms and common spaces. We will continue to upgrade our facilities in the coming years so that our students can learn in contemporary learning spaces.

Ms Jackie Upton is our College Marketing and Communications Manager. Her work ensures that everyone within our community is kept as informed as they can be by creating an environment where families do not need to rely on each other to find out about events and other school matters. Jackie’s work in this area has been outstanding. However, I note that there are some other social media sites that are also available to families associated with our College. In some instances, our school name and crest has also been used on these sites. Firstly, I would ask that any member of the community that administers such sites to please remove any mention of our College or any use of our crests or emblems. We have published social media guidelines so that any person who may start a class page or other such site, understands our expectations of the information and comments that might be made on the site. It is our preference that these sites are not started as the most reliable information regarding events and College activities is on our own school sites. In past years, information posted on parent sites are often conflicting to our information and causes confusion to some of our families. The College Social Media Guidelines can be found in the Policies tile on your REALM Dashboard under College Policies. If you are having problems locating the document or would like further clarification, please contact Ms Jackie Upton jupton@stpatricks.qld.edu.au. We also ask that if you do decide to create a site, that you ensure our Marketing and Communications Manager is a member of your page.

During our first whole school Assembly, I spoke to our young men about what we mean by making a difference in the world. We can start by making a difference in our own College community. I reminded them that good schools are good because of the people within them. Learning best takes place in an environment where everybody feels safe, valued and included. It is important for each of us to also recognise that rather than look at the actions of others towards us, we must first look at our own actions and ensure that they are founded on love for one another and bringing out the best in those around us.

All of us will have good days and some bad days. Our aim is to have as many good days as possible. This can be done by being grateful for what we have and hopeful about what we can achieve. Most bad days are caused by our reactions to things that do not go to our plan or when we worry too much about things that we think might happen. We should always look for the good in situations and remember that pessimism thrives by making each of us look for difficulty in every opportunity, whereas gratitude and hope thrive when we see opportunity in every difficulty.

I put forward the following considerations to help us be more grateful and hopeful and someone who will make a difference in our College community. 

• Always look for the good in other people. Try to understand (or wonder) why they think or act in that way and always give them respect. Our time at St Patrick’s should be acknowledged by how well we treated other people.
• Admire the skills and attributes of others, but do not waste time and energy comparing ourselves to them. Beauty and strength of a community is founded on difference and diversity. We should bring our own gifts to the community and value ourselves as the person we are.
• Set high standards, realistic goals and targets. Always be open to change and new ways of thinking and doing things. Apply persistence, attitude and effort into everything that we do.
• Accept that we will not always be perfect, but we can always be authentic in our values and acceptance of others in all situations.
• Accept responsibility for your actions. When they are wrong, acknowledge the mistakes and learn from them to be better next time. Laying blame and playing victim gives permission to continue poor and wrongful actions.
• Say something or do something positive for others every day. “Make their day” by smiling and acknowledging them, using kind words and doing kind deeds.

I would be grateful if parents were able to find the time to sit down with their son and talk about these ideas. It is our aim to create a safe and enjoyable place for everyone to learn and make a difference every day. If each student considered these ideas and really tried to put at least one into practice across the entire year, we could not help but achieve our aim. 

Our AIC Sport starts this Friday night with AFL trial fixtures and a swimming meet. On Saturday we will also compete against Villanova College in trial fixtures in Volleyball and Cricket. Our first-round fixtures begin on Saturday, 8 February against St Laurence’s College.

I would also advise senior students (and their parents) that the Formal is on Saturday, 22 February. This is earlier than we have held it in previous years. I would also remind them to make sure that their formal partners have sufficient warning to also prepare for this great occasion.

Unfortunately, there have been a small number of students who have arrived on their first day with an inappropriate haircut. In such instances, they will have been advised to rectify this in a timely manner. I ask all parents to please support us if your son has been asked to do so.

I look forward to catching up with many families at our information nights spread across the next two weeks.

Live Jesus in our Hearts!

Mr Chris Mayes – College Principal

 

The Term 1 school fee accounts have not yet been emailed out to parents. We hope to send the accounts out early next week.

There is still time to set up direct debit payment schemes. You can do this by completing the payment authority form on realm and forwarding to finance@stpatricks.qld.edu.au.

Parents that had a direct debit set up in 2019 do not need to complete new forms. The amount of payment will be adjusted to cover the 2020 fees.

If you have any queries please contact Judy Kelly via email: finance@stpatricks.qld.edu.au

Thank you

 

On the weekend of 18 and 19 January, five Year 11 St Patrick’s College students competed in the 2020 Australian Space Design Competition on an invitational basis. Hosted by the University of Queensland, the Finals Competition is a high calibre industry linked simulation where ‘companies’ prepare a tender submission for a fictional space scenario. St Patrick’s College students, Sean Affleck, Lachlan Rouse, Brendan Law, Liam Jackson and Joseph Dwane joined forces with 12 students from Catherine McAuley College (Westmead) and seven independent students from Caringbah NSW, to form the Borealis Company. After 27 hours of collaborative work, Borealis were announced the winners of the competition for their creative and innovative ideas, attention to detail and excellent co-operation. Sean, Lachlan, Brendan, Liam and Joseph were amazing representatives of St Patrick’s with their willingness to collaborate, their consistent focus and persistence under situations that were at times quite stressful.  

A Blessing for 2020

What is your great hope for yourself this year?

May the beauty of your life become more visible to you as you come to understand the Divine, present in your life. \
May the wonders of the earth call you forth and keep you growing. 
May the giving nature of creation inspire you to be a person of generosity and hope. 
May the light of the changing sun – dawn, morning, noon, afternoon and twilight fill you with the courage to look for the deeper answers in life. 
May the gentleness of the night give you comfort and help you rest in the warm embrace of knowing that you are loved. 
May you come to see your life as a gift of service to all those who cross your path. May doubts give way to wonder and awe. 
May you be filled with courage to reach out to others rather than building walls of protection. 
May you know that despite times of confusion, anxiety and fear, your name is written in the heart of God. 
May you be blessed and may you be a blessing to the world.

Amen.

St Patrick pray for us.

Live Jesus in our hearts for ever.

Wednesday Morning Masses

Wednesday mornings before school (8-8:30am) Fr Bryan, our College Chaplain, leads us in a short Mass. This is a great opportunity for anyone in our community to come together for some quiet prayer and reflection.

Everyone in our community is welcome to attend.

If there are special intentions that you would like the community to pray for during this liturgy please let one of the CLT know.

Our Wednesday Masses will begin for this year on Wednesday, 12 February.

Identity News

• The College Inaugural Mass will occur in the Christian Brothers Building at 8:45am on Friday 7 February. This is an important College event when the Student Leaders are commissioned for their ministry in our community.
• Paddy’s Van ministries will be beginning from Week 2 of Term 1
• Emergency Food packs – items for emergency food packs are always needed by Sandbag to support families in need in our local communities. Items can be donated through your son’s House Deans or left at the Student Office.
• Head to Heart Camp – 14-15 February some of our Year 11 students will be working with Edmund Rice Camps and St John Fisher College students to support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Mr Tim Kenny - Dean of Identity

Welcome to the St Patrick’s College 2020 Academic Year

Well the first day could not have been hotter for our new students. A big thank you must go out to our wonderful men of Year 12 for all their hard work over the course of the first week. Walking in on day one in blazers and tie out of respect for their Little Brothers and the new families joining our community was going above and beyond as they say. 
 
On behalf of the St Patrick’s College community, I would like to welcome everyone to the new year and I hope all members of our community have returned refreshed and keen to face the challenges that may lie ahead.

Once again the first week saw the Big Brother / Little Brother relationships develop and strengthen considerably. The excitement in the eyes of the new students and the Year 12 Big Brothers as they participated in the College Treasure Hunt was clearly evident. I hope all our young men enjoyed their first week and developed many new friendships.

If your son is in Years 5 or 7, I hope he has come home talking passionately about the wonderful activities afternoons that have taken place for these them.  Can I encourage all our new families to please ensure they have made contact with their son’s House Dean and Group Tutor. A strong relationship between your family and these members of staff will certainly ensure a smoother journey as your son progresses through St Patrick’s College.

School transition is a very exciting time for children and parents. It means that the children are growing up!  However, for many it may also be a very anxious and stressful time for both parents and children. Parents need to be aware of their child’s feelings during any school transition and minimise anxiety so the process is an enjoyable experience for all. Familiarisation is often key to reducing stress levels. It is also important for parents to talk to their children about their expectations and being more responsible for their own needs.

St Patrick’s College staff will work tirelessly to ensure your son feels a sense of belonging and respect within our college community. However, we can only achieve our goals through the formation of strong partnerships with our families. Please assist us by ensuring that your son is an active member of our community. That he utilises all the support networks available within the College. Is he attending tutorials? Does he have a practical space designed for study? Is he managing his time effectively? Is he connecting with the community of St Patrick’s via the wonderful co-curricular program?

I would like to take this opportunity to share the latest edition of SchoolTV - SCHOOL TRANSITIONS. In this edition of SchoolTV, parents will learn practical strategies to assist your child during the transition process and reduce stress and anxiety levels.

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this edition of SchoolTV and we always welcome your feedback. If you have any concerns about your child, please contact your son's House Dean or the College Counsellor for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to the School Transitions edition of SchoolTV
https://stpatricks.qld.schooltv.me/newsletter/school-transitions

Fight the Good Fight!

Mr Darren Kearney - Dean of Students

Welcome to 2020 Sport at St Patrick’s College. Having recently relocated from Auckland in New Zealand to take up the position of Director of Sport at St Patrick’s College, I am really looking forward to getting immersed in the sporting life of the College and seeing our young men do the College proud each week as they take part in the multitude of different AIC Sporting competitions. 

Whilst most of us have been enjoying the Christmas break, many of our students and staff have been taking part in various sporting endeavours over the holiday period.

St Patrick’s had three teams involved in the Christian Brothers Cricket week. A development team comprising of boys from Years 7 to 10, the 2nd XI and the 1st XI all took part in the competition. Last week, the 1st XI took part in the AIC T20 competition. The performances were a little up and down, but the shortened format allowed the players to get plenty of cricket in and blow the holiday cobwebs out. The team followed the T20s by playing against Launceston Grammar School last Friday. The boys bowled well to dismiss the visitors for a modest 125 all out. The run chase stuttered a little in the late overs but in the end the team reached the total with an over to spare. This was a pleasing performance as St Patrick’s were the only AIC side (out of three) to beat Launceston on their Queensland tour. 

It wasn’t only the Cricketers who have been busy. The swimming squad have been putting in the hard yards in preparation for the AIC season. A squad of 33 students took part in a pre-season camp at Tallebudgera and Swimming Co-Ordinator, Miss Kelsey Duke says that the form of the team is looking promising as they head in to the first of the pre-season AIC meets next Friday, 7 February.

In the first week of the holidays, St Patrick’s entered two teams into the Australian Volleyball School Cup, which this year was held on the Gold Coast. The Schools Cup is the largest school-based sporting event in Australia involving over 5,000 students from 500 different schools. Whilst the results and performances from the St Patrick’s teams were a little inconsistent, the students involved had a great time and certainly took a lot from the experience. 

With the 2020 school year underway, a very busy Term 1 of sport starts in earnest this weekend with a full round of trials being played against Villanova in AFL, Cricket and Volleyball.

In order to keep up to date with the relevant information for each sport and for your son’s individual team it is important that you check REALM regularly for news and updated messages and information. 

I look forward to meeting you on the sidelines and around the grounds over the course of the year.

In relation to where to find the latest Sporting information for Term 1, please refer to the instructions below:
 
General Sporting information relating to the St Patrick’s Sports program can be accessed via the Sport tile on your REALM Dashboard. This information includes: 

• Commitment involved in playing the sport 
• Sport Coordinator contact information 
• Uniform Requirements 
• Sport Handbook 
• Other general information about the different sports

Any information specific to your sons team or year level is held on the Team page. This appears under the “My groups” section of REALM. If you wish to be part of these communication groups, please log into the REALM portal and opt in via the groups tab. This includes:

• Year Level Coordinator contact information 
• Training schedule – including one-off news items and weekly calendar events
• Fixture schedule – will appear as a weekly news item when the Draw is released 
• Team or Year Level News in relation to your son.  

Sports Contacts for Trimester 1 Sport 

• Cricket Coordinator Mr Daniel Nethery dnethery@stpatricks.qld.edu.au 
• Volleyball Coordinator Mr Steve Copping  scopping@stpatricks.qld.edu.au 
• AFL Coordinator Mr Adrian Brown abrown@stpatricks.qld.edu.au
• Swimming Coordinator Miss Kelsey Duke KDuke@stpatricks.qld.edu.au

Mr Jim Potts – Head of Sport

Thank you to all of our parent volunteers for your enormous efforts over the start of Term 1 through the various sports, especially with the Volleyball Canteen and Curlew Park Cricket Canteen.

Our next meeting of this Support Group is on Tuesday, 4 February 2020 for approximately an hour at 6:30pm, in the College Boardroom, Morven Building. All are welcome, especially new parents and parents with sons involved in the current trimester sport, AFL, Cricket, Swimming and Volleyball.

Nicole Harman - Chair SSG

 

Thank you to the volunteer team and the support staff for their help which enabled the back to school trading to be completed so successfully. Thank you also to the College families for their co-operation during this period in making appointments for new students and adhering to allocated days where possible.

Workshop aprons are back in stock.

Year 10 blazer fittings - Monday 3 February. Deposit of $65 required for the order to be placed.