This week is Child Protection Week, EREA has used it as a platform to launch their EREA Child Safeguarding Standards Framework. I have included the following excerpt from a letter sent to all staff from the Executive Director EREA, Dr Wayne Tinsey. The letter demonstrates our strong commitment to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people.

Dear Friends and Colleagues

It gives me great pleasure today to launch the EREA Child Safeguarding Standards Framework. This is a significant document that demonstrates our strong commitment to doing all that we can to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people under our care.

The EREA Child Safeguarding Standards Framework is designed to further enhance a culture within each of our schools wherein protecting children and young people from abuse and other harm, and the promotion of child safety, participation, empowerment and wellbeing is embedded in the everyday thinking and practice of leaders, staff and volunteers.

The purpose and intent of the Standards contained in this Framework is to embed a culture of child safety and wellbeing by demonstrating values in practice; nurturing the wellbeing of all children and young people, respecting their dignity, ensuring their safety and protecting them from abuse and other harm. This we do by at all times acting in the best interests of children and young people under our care. All of us throughout EREA share this responsibility. (Dr Wayne Tinsey, Executive Director EREA August 2019)

St Patrick’s College is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all young people in our community. All staff and volunteers are trained in Child Protection Processes and act on information that is presented to them. If you need to report a Child safety matter, please do not hesitate to contact us. The College’s Child Safety statement can be found on our website or by following the link provided: https://www.stpatricks.qld.edu.au/discover-st-patricks/college-policies . All Staff and Volunteers are required to have appropriate Working with Children Checks and complete our online EREA Child Protection Training.

This week, our Year 12 students completed the final QCS exam. It was a gruelling two-day event for the young men, however the Teaching staff under the leadership of Mr Troy Schultz prepared the young men well. Students felt confident going into this week, knowing they had all the necessary skills and were well prepared for the tests. The young men will now return to classes and work towards their final Term 3 exams commencing next week. I would also like to thank the following year 12 parents; Chrissie Philpott, Natasha Quirk, Neil McLeod, Ranya Kamel, Richard Evans, Jenny Evans and Sally Irwin who assisted with providing breakfast for the Year 12 students on Tuesday morning.  

On Monday, we received the news that our 1st Theatresports team will also progress into the finals to be held at La Boite Theatre in October.  It was extremely satisfying to witness the excitement and elation of the young men at this announcement. It is pleasing that these opportunities are firstly available, and secondly students are acknowledged and respected for their involvement by all.  This is the first time in the history of the competition that we will have two senior teams in the finals. We will provide further information when tickets will go on sale for this event, be ready as they will sell out quickly due to the popularity of this event.

Last weekend our Tennis, Basketball and Rugby League teams played against Padua College. We had some very good results across the board highlighted by a last minute basket for our 2nd Basketball team, a 6 all draw for our Year 10 Rugby League Team and a convincing win for our 1st Basketball Team. This weekend we play Villanova College across all sports, our junior teams play away, whilst our senior teams host Villanova at home, the game of the round will be the 1st Basketball Team who need to win against Villanova to maintain their quest for a title. This is also the last round for our Rugby League Teams, all games are at Banyo this weekend. Good luck to all our teams and we wish them all well.

Live Jesus in our Hearts.

Mr Frank Torrisi – College Principal

This week in Queensland is Child Protection Week, coordinated by the Child Protection Week Committee under the direction of ACT for Kids, and is funded by the Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women.

The purpose of this week is to highlight and raise awareness of the fact that child protection is everyone’s business. The St Patrick’s College community, as part of the broader EREA network, take this responsibility very seriously. Each of our employees must undertake annual Child Protection Training. It has certainly been my experience here, that our staff and members of our broader community understand the fact it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure the safety (from abuse/harm/neglect) of our children. As stated on the Child Protection Week website, “child abuse and neglect only continues when those able to do something, do nothing”; a simple but powerful reminder of the fact it is up to us to act should we ever have concern.

Our school’s Child Protection officers are:

• Mr Chris Mayes (Principal)
• Mr Frank Torrisi (Acting Principal)
• Mr Darren Kearney (Dean of Students)
• Mrs Janet Garside (Ryan House Dean)
• Mr John Zappala (Counsellor)
• Mr Ken Loftus (Counsellor)

These staff members undergo further extensive training each year and are the points of contact should someone be concerned about the safety or welfare of one of our students.

Should you wish to read more about this important week, please go to https://childprotectionweek.org.au/about/ or read the key messages via https://childprotectionweek.org.au/app/uploads/2019/04/QCPW-Fact-Sheet-2019.pdf

This week saw the end of an era; the Queensland Core Skills Test, after just over 25 years, is finished.  Our boys positively immersed themselves in this program knowing how significant the impact is on their final OP. We were extremely fortunate to have an expert team of teachers work with these students over the past 12 months to prepare them and we thank Ms Liz Skinner, Ms Chelsea Parakas, Mr Dennis Clough and Mr David Crewe who were ably led by Mr Troy Schultz. In particular, I’d like to acknowledge the outstanding data analysis work of Mr David Crewe. We pride ourselves here at St Patrick’s in ensuring we respond to the data (data informed) rather than rolling out the same program week after week, year after year. After each practice test, David would do detailed analysis, report back to the student body then brief the teaching team on what the data was telling us.

I have been involved in preparing students for QCS across three RI schools, over the past 10+ years and the teaching team and program here is second to none.

We now wait for the marking and scaling to occur. Marking takes place during the September-October holidays and preliminary results released to schools mid-November.

Ms Elizabeth Gaber – Acting Deputy Principal

Please see below the upcoming events at the College..

QCS Done – Now What?!

The week, our Year 12 OP men completed their QCS testing and are historically now the last group to complete the test.

I want to take this opportunity to congratulate every student on the way they conducted themselves over the two days of testing. From my point of view, I could not fault the way they demonstrated an attitude of high effort, a belief that they could do well, and a mental toughness that ensured they were still going strong at the end of the fourth test. Both inside and outside of the testing hall they were excellent in their conduct.

The young men were well supported over their 12-month preparation by their QCS teachers; Mrs Parakas, Mr Clough, Mrs Skinner, Ms Gaber, and Mr Crewe (also our data extraordinaire). Thank you to this teaching team. Mrs Samantha Churchill also played a significant role in organising communications, administration and making sure the boys were well fed on the day, and requires a big thank you. Thank you also to our parent helpers on the day.

Students typically will receive their individual results sometime around their graduation. Whilst this gives us a picture of how they have gone, the College does not receive the finer grained data until just before OPs are released, after the boys have graduated.

I spoke with these men about the post QCS let down and flat spot. Many of them may be feeling this now that the stress and pressure of the test is done. Please support your son through this and assure them it is to be expected and normal. Support them to take a day or two of rest and recuperation (whilst still attending school), and aim to have them back in the game and preparing for exams by about midday Sunday. It is critical that they back up their QCS performance with strong subject results this term.

Well done again to these young men.

NAPLAN 2019

Last week, the College received the results of this year’s NAPLAN assessments, including the paper copies of each student’s individual reports.

These reports will be mailed home to parents and guardians this week.

As is the case in any assessment, results may be pleasing, as expected, or may prompt some concern. This year, the transition to the online platform did come with some technical issues that were reported nationwide and were experienced at the College, mostly during the Writing and Reading assessments.

Further information about the results of the NAPLAN assessments across each domain will be published in the College’s newsletter over the coming weeks. Many areas show very positive outcomes.

If you would like to discuss any aspects of your son’s NAPLAN report, please do not hesitate to contact me at the College.

End of Term exams

The assessment schedule which was released earlier in the term on Realm T&L page, shows the scheduling for end of term examinations.

Students need to have these assessments mapped out in their student planner and should be preparing already by identifying chunks of time each night to revise and relearn material. This should also be mapped out in their planner.

I ask that parents prioritise this process for their son at this time of term. Academic performance relies on effective and consistent preparation. No student or parent should expect strong results without ongoing preparation and practice at home. A reminder that absences on the day of an examination require our Assessment Policy to be followed.

Year 5 and 6 Teaching and Learning Happenings

Across the College, many teaching teams are working to implement evidence based strategies that will help to ensure the best possible student outcomes. At a recent teaching staff briefing, we celebrated a range of great examples of our Year 5 and 6 teaching team collaborating, sharing, and implementing best practice. Much of this work centres around a focus on the core literacy aspects of reading and writing.

Our fantastic teachers in this space are working together on setting clear learning intentions and success criteria, building understanding of assessment task sheets using decoding strategies, using data walls to improve writing through interventions, celebrating reading and setting reading goals, using exemplars and co-constructing responses, reading circles and co-operative learning. There is certainly much happening in this space and much to be celebrated!

Mr Troy Schultz - Dean of Teaching and Learning

Earlier this year our Year 5, 7 and 9 students participated in NAPLAN online and the data was released to schools last week. Over the coming weeks, I will share some snapshots and insights the Data Team have gleaned from their analysis of the report. 

What is NAPLAN? 

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy is an annual national assessment for all students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. 

Why do students do NAPLAN tests?

The purpose of NAPLAN is to provide parents and schools with an understanding of how individual students are performing at the time of the tests. NAPLAN has been developed to provide information to schools on how students are performing in order to support improvements in teaching and learning. A standardised test also gives schools the ability to measure student achievement and growth against national minimum standards.

Year 5, 7 and 9 students completed NAPLAN online in May this year. Last week the results were released to schools and I, along with my colleagues, have been analysing the results to identify our strengths and growth areas.
What percentage of our Year 7 students are gaining the top two scores?

There has been some significant growth and much to celebrate with our best performance in Year 7 Numeracy. It should be noted that this cohort have performed quite well in each paper. The Year 9 and Year 5 results continue to hold steady to trends in previous years.

How do we compare to the State and Nationally?

This table shows SPC is above the State and National Minimum Standard in every area with Year 5 and Year 9 showing 100% of the cohort above both State and National levels for Numeracy. 

Across the course of the term the Data Team will continue to meet to analyse this data and use this information to identify potential strategies for improving teaching and learning.

This is valuable information and feedback for our College and NAPLAN is one indicator that can be used to inform the conversations we have with your son around their progress and academic success. NAPLAN is certainly not the only test and we should always treat the data in the way it was intended; to provide information to schools on how students are performing at a particular point in time. The trends in the student results can then also be used to identify strengths and areas for improvement that will inform teaching and learning as we move forward. 

Adam McPhee – Acting Dean of Administration and Business Intelligence

Mother Teresa and the Paddy’s Van – Apostles of Connection

Yesterday in the Church’s calendar, was the feast day of Mother Teresa of Kolkata (September 5). Mother Teresa was a Nobel Laureate and one of the great humanitarians of the twentieth century. In recognition of her great contribution to supporting the poor and marginalised, in 2012 the United Nations designated the anniversary of her death as the International Day of Charity.

Mother Teresa was a woman deeply motivated by her sense of God calling to her in those who were broken and unloved. She was a person who knew her own weakness and yet still reached out the hand of care and concern to others. Mother Teresa, like all leaders, copped her fair share of criticism as her methods and those of her sisters did not always change with the times. In all of this, Mother Teresa, is a model and a sign to us of God’s call to reach out to those around us.

She famously called the deepest poverty of our times the great loneliness experienced by so many in western countries such as Australia. For us at St Pat’s, our outreach ministries through the Paddy’s Van take some of their inspiration from her. In all of our Paddy’s Van activities we seek to reach out and offer friendship and connection to people in our world who are disconnected for all sorts of reasons – people who are homeless, elderly people, newly arrived refugee children, and even the earth itself through our recycling ministry. We use the service we offer as a way of making connection possible. Through their service on the Paddy’s Van we try to help our young men to become men of hospitality and community, men who know the vital importance of connection and right relationship and seek to build that up in their lives.

Yesterday, we also commissioned our first groups of Immersion pilgrims for 2019 – Year 11 young men and staff going to Noonkanbah in the Kimberley region of WA and Railaco Craic in Timor Leste. We ask God’s blessing and the blessing of Mother Teresa on these pilgrims for their safety and their pilgrimage of solidarity with the people they encounter.

PADDY'S WASTE WARRIORS

Thank you to the young men in Year 5 who have been volunteering as Paddy's Waste Warriors on a Thursday afternoon on Paddy's Van. Each Thursday, a group of young men and some of our Year 11 students have been travelling down to the Sandgate Bottles and Cans Exchange to sort and distribute our recyclable waste. For our young men, this opportunity is the first experience they may have on Paddy's Van and contributing to caring for our St Patrick's College community and raising money for our local charity, SANDBAG - Sandgate. 

Mr Tim Kenny - Dean of Identity

The Basketball teams enjoyed another successful week winning the aggregate competition against Padua College. Our teams who are vying for an AIC premiership have two more games. We host Villanova College this weekend. Our senior teams are at home for the last two rounds of the competition. Our Tennis teams had improved success last weekend with several teams. Sport sometimes teaches tough life lessons. Our Tennis squads are battling each week. Students are reminded to thank their team coaches and officials at the conclusion of this week’s games for all the time and effort to allow you the opportunity to participate in sport. Team captains are requested to put plans in place to organise a thank you to coaches at the end of the season. The Year 10 Rugby League team is also in a premiership winning position. All Rugby League matches this week will be played at Banyo. For many of our Year 12 players this will be their last opportunity to represent the College as we have a bye in Round 7. 

TRACK AND FIELD 

The 2nd Track & Field AIC meet will be held tonight at SAF. Tennis and Basketball participants are not required as they have season commitments to fulfil.  Next Friday, 15 September is the first whole College meet where all athletes for Track and Field are expected to attend.  Years 5 & 6 Basketball players do not attend this meet. A bus will transport the students to and from the College. Students are required to sign on for the bus in the gym each week. Students attending these meets are required to wear the appropriate uniform. The SPC singlet with our green HPE shorts or T & F shorts. The green training shirt should be worn to and from the meet. The SPC hoodie is the only jumper permitted. Parents and spectators are welcome to attend the AIC Track & Field meets. A reminder Track & Field training and meets are open to all students, not just the athletes trying to gain school selection. All training sessions are listed on REALM. 

2020 Term 1 AIC Sport sign on is closing. Please ensure you have actioned the notice on Parent Lounge via REALM.
 
Half Season Cricket sign-on also closes this week. Information can be accessed via the Half Season Cricket page on REALM.

Contacts for Trimester 3 Sport 

• Basketball Coordinator Mr Steve Copping scopping@stpatricks.qld.edu.au 
• Tennis Coordinator Brother Chris Pritchard cpritchard@stpatricks.qld.edu.au 
• Track & Field Daniel Nethery dnethery@stpatricks.qld.edu.au  

Outstanding Student Achievements

• Jack Booker & Jackson Dows have made the Qld U16s Rugby Union Team
• Malakai Davis – Raeli has made the QLD U15 Junior Gold Rugby Team
• Mason O’Sullivan won the BJAFL Under 16 Division Best & Fairest

Met North Track and Field Results (podium finishes)

• Eli Avci Place U13s 1st in Discus and Shot, 2nd in Javelin
• Jakob Barnett Opens 2nd in Discuss 
• William Boland Opens 1st in High Jump 
• Lachlan Brophy Opens 3rd in 200m and 1st in 400m 
• Callum Crossan Opens 1st in Long Jump, 2nd in Triple Jump
• Thonjot Mabor U16s 1st in 800m, 2nd in 1500m
• Aaron Schomberg Opens 1st in 100m
• Sam Waugh U15 2nd in Shot
• Cooper Wellman U13s 1st in 90m Hurdles

Mr Dan Nethery - Head of Sport

THEATRESPORTS NEWS

In preparation for upcoming exams, we wish to advise that there will be no further Theatresports training for the remainder of this term. 

MR DUNCAN MOIR - THEATRESPORTS COORDINATOR

CULTURAL SUPPORT GROUP NEWS

2019 | 2020 Entertainment Book

CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOUR COPY

If you have ordered a print Book version they are now ready for collection from the Main Office (Morven Building).

MRS CARMEL MOIR ON BEHALF OF THE CULTURAL SUPPORT GROUP

2019 SENIOR JERSEYS – There are two spare jerseys available in sizes S and M. They are available for purchase @ $90 each. Student name on the back can be done and is included in the price.
 
2017 SENIOR JERSEY – One of these in size XL is also available. There is no exit year on this jersey so would suit any past student who would like a St Patrick’s College Senior Jersey. SENIORS is printed on this jersey. This jersey is available for the mark down price of $50.

FATHER’S DAY GIFT IDEAS  

Merchandise Store Opening Hours

• Tuesday - 12:00noon to 4:00pm
• Wednesday - 12noon to 4:00pm
• Thursday - 7:30am to 11:30am

The Edmund Rice Foundation Australia (ERFA) is an international aid organisation which supports sustainable community-based education programs in developing countries. As an EREA school we support the work of the ERFA through our fundraising throughout the year. On Sunday, 13 October The Foundation will be hosting an event to support programs that empower women through education in Australia and overseas.

DETAILS

The Montague Hotel, West End for Sequins and Sandshoes on 13 October 2019.
2 hour food and drinks package, live music and entertainment.
Tickets limited to 250 people so be quick! Purchase Tickets

Calling all kids with a love for music and singing! 

We’re excited to announce that Voices of Birralee are launching their first Holiday Music Program this September school holidays!

The five-day program, running from Monday 30 September to Friday 4 October, will provide children in Grades 3 – 6 with the opportunity to explore a diverse range of musical genres, build self-confidence and lifelong friendships, discover the magic of music in a fun and encouraging environment, and develop an appreciation for the arts.

The children will enjoy workshops in jazz/gospel music, classical music, folk/world music, musical theatre/pop music, as well as movement and improvisation, led by a faculty of reputable music professionals. Plus, all participants will be lucky enough to travel to Southbank on the fourth day of the camp to see the highly acclaimed production of Laser Beak Man at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC). 

Early bird registrations are now open – get in quick to save 20% on fees.

For more information and to register, visit Holiday Music Program

All enquiries to holidaymusic@birralee.org or 3367 1001.