On Wednesday, we celebrated Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten season. As a Catholic community, this day is one of the most important holy days in our liturgical calendar. Ash Wednesday occurs 46 days before Easter Sunday and opens the season of Lent which is a season of fasting and prayer. Ash Wednesday has its roots from the ancient Jewish tradition of penance and fasting which also included the wearing of ashes on the head. The ashes symbolise the dust from which God made us. As the ashes are applied to a person's forehead, the following phases are used: "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return" or "Repent and believe in the Gospel." Within the tradition, Ashes also symbolise grief, in this case, grief that we have sinned and caused division from God. Historically, writings have been found from the Second-century Church refer to the wearing of ashes as a sign of penance. As a part of the ritual, the ashes are made from blessed palm branches, taken from the previous year's Palm Sunday Mass at the various Parish Churches.

The three most significant pillars of our faith are the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus. The Lenten season leads us into the Easter period whereby Jesus was crucified, died and resurrected. Consequently, it is a time of reflection for us as individuals and as a broader Church to look at our own behaviors and consider ways to change to repent from certain behaviors that we feel we want to change. This year, Archbishop Coleridge has called upon the broader Church in our diocese to reflect upon the actions of the Church regarding the outcomes of the recent Royal Commission into child sexual abuse and to pray for the victims of such abuse. The coming years will be very confronting for our Church and the first steps in this journey must be to accept what has happened and to ensure that systems are in place so that it never happens again.

From a personal perspective, this time of reflection can also allow us to look upon our own lives to “repent and believe in the Gospel.” From a pragmatic perspective, this can entail looking at the habits or things that we do that we feel we could change or include to make us a better person. In our faith, being a better person comes from the messages and values that are espoused in the Gospels. At St Patrick’s, we talk a lot about being loving to one another. One of my challenges to our young men over this period will be for them to look at their own words and actions and remove things that pull down a person rather than build them up. If they can do this over the Lenten period, there is no reason why it can’t be continued.

Many of you are aware, through our recent Parent Information evenings that the reporting processes will change this year. Now that we have introduced REALM as our Learning Management System, we have the ability to use “live” marking and feedback to students. This will mean that students can submit their work on-line and parents will also be able to review their son’s work in draft and final form as well as see the teacher comments and marking. Consequently, there will not be a need for a formal Term 1 Report as in previous years. We are also working to ensure that our summative reports at the end of each semester are more student and family friendly in terms of information and comments. This was some very clear information that we received from parents during the first semester last year, when we published the discussion paper to parents regarding student reporting. I will forward a communication to parents later this term to give clear instructions for reviewing the marked work and new reporting procedures for the term.

During last Tuesday’s College Assembly, we celebrated two very special occasions for St Patrick’s. Firstly, we recognised the tenth anniversary of Australian government’s Apology to the Stolen Generation. During the Assembly, I mentioned to our young men that it is one of our priorities over this year to do what we can at our own school assemblies to understand more about the history and rituals of our first Australians. We often witness such rituals and speak of Welcome to Country or the different clans but have little understanding of their significance or history. Over the course of this year and into the future, we will look for ways to inform our young men more about these things.

We also launched our Men of Action week during the Assembly. This is traditionally done by the senior student and is very closely connected to the College anti-bullying campaign. You may have noticed that the screensaver on our electronic communications throughout this week has shown the slogan: Rise Up – “Take a stand, lend a hand.” This is the theme for this year’s anti-bullying program. I must congratulate our student leaders who led the entire Year 12 cohort through a very powerful presentation to the rest of the College during the assembly. As a community, we now need to work hard to make sure that we are true to this theme and stamp out any form of bullying.

At the end of last year, we forwarded a communication regarding Board membership for the College Board and the College Foundation Board. We will hold a meeting of interested people in Waterford on Thursday 1 March to give information about what being a board member entails within these boards. If you are interested in attending, please contact Mrs Jackie Upton.

Our Swimming Carnival was held at the Lawnton Aquatic Centre this year to allow us to have all our students in the one venue at the same time. The new venue also offers far more shaded spaces. The change of venue did necessitate some changes to our carnival program, but from my observations, the young men seemed to enjoy themselves. I would particularly like to recognise the work of Doug Locke and his team, as well as Darren Kearney and all the House Deans for their preparation and facilitation of the day. These events allow our young men the opportunity to be a part of a House Team and demonstrate their skills and efforts in a different environment than the norm at school.

This weekend, we complete against fellow EREA school, St Laurence’s College (SLC), in Volleyball and Vricket on Saturday. Our Year 5-8 teams will compete at the SLC grounds whilst our Year 9-12 teams will host SLC in our own home games. These games are always spirited and competitive and I hope that everyone has an enjoyable day.

We will hold our first College Dance for this year on Saturday night. The dance is for students in Years 9-12. I would particularly like to thank the number of staff and parents who volunteered to allow this social event to occur for our young men.

Live Jesus in our Hearts!

Mr Chris Mayes - College Principal

The readings for the Ash Wednesday Liturgy are calling us to be Men and Women of Action – people who have the humility to see who they really are and to take steps to be better people.

Pope Francis reminds us that we need the earth and that the generations of people who have gone before us have not always done a great job at caring for her. We need to think about the impact that we have on creation – are we doing all the we can to keep this place healthy and well-cared for?

The second reading, from the Gospel, shows Jesus challenging the people of his time not to be fake, not to be worried by how other people see them. Jesus challenges the people of his time to be real and honest in how they live their lives. He calls them, and he also calls us today, to be authentic people, people who are true in how they relate to others.

This Lent we are being called to hear the cry of the earth that needs our care and the call to be authentic. We are being challenged to go beyond the basic things that people in our society do, like recycling, that is a start but it is not enough. We need to really think about how we are impacting on the earth and what we can do to be better people.

Lent is the season that points towards Easter. Easter is the time of new life. We cannot experience the new life of Easter unless we start to make some real changes in how we live as people today. Lent is a season of change. In a few moments we will put ashes on our foreheads as a sign that we are willing to make some changes in our lives for the better.

There are three main practices during Lent – prayer, fasting (giving something up) and giving to the poor. Each of these practices is trying to challenge us to try thinking about life differently.

Things you might like to consider doing this Lent –

• Helping out with the Paddy's’ Van
• Planting and then caring for a tree as it grows
• Giving up gaming or social media to spend more time with family and friends or helping out at home
• Raising money through Shore to Gate for your House Charity
• Smiling at someone you walk past.

The season of Lent is asking us “what can we be doing better?”

“This sister, the earth, now cries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God has created her. We have come to see ourselves as her lords and masters, entitled to plunder her at will. The violence present in our hearts, wounded by sin, is also reflected in the symptoms of sickness evident in the soil, in the water, in the air and in all forms of life. This is why the earth herself, burdened and laid waste, is among the most abandoned and maltreated of our poor…We have forgotten that we ourselves are dust of the earth; our very bodies are made up of her elements, we breathe her air and we receive life and refreshment from her waters. Nothing in this world is indifferent to us.” Pope Francis, Laudato Si n.1

Mr Tim Kenny – Dean of Identity

Bullying among children within our schools is a serious matter. Here is a brief outline of some recent statistics in relation to bullying in Australia.

• One child in four between the ages of 8 and 15 is bullied weekly.
• The highest frequency of bullying occurred to students in Years 5, 7 and 8.
• More students reported being victims of face-to-face bullying than cyberbullying in the last year (30.5% compared to 14%).
• The majority (83%) of cyberbullying victims and those who bullied them knew each other in real life. Most victims and those who bullied also went to the same school, were the same gender and described themselves as a friend.

Australian Covert Bullying Prevalence Study

Bullying has always occurred in schools and unfortunately will continue to do so, especially with the advent of cyberbullying. With this in mind, I must make it clear that we at St Patrick’s College do not view bullying as a normal part of growing up and will never accept the view that it is part of the ‘toughening up process’ that a child is required to go through during their teenage years. Although bullying may never be fully eradicated in schools, the staff at St Patrick’s College would like to begin our anti-bullying campaign for 2018 with the promise that

What can we do about bullying?

Research indicates that when the school ethos is strong, with clear policies and consistent programs that reflect the school’s vision of what it hopes to achieve, then incidents of bullying are dramatically reduced. Furthermore, the research is compelling in asserting that effective anti-bullying programs must involve the entire school community, not only perpetrators and victims. We acknowledge that parents also play a significant role in this process by assisting the College in identifying and reporting bullying, and by providing support for your son and his peers throughout the process.

Following on from the very successful anti-bullying programs of previous years this week saw the launch our ‘Rise Up – Take a Stand, Lend a Hand’. Launched on Monday of Week 4, this program will form the foundation of the St Patrick’s College Anti-bullying Program and Men of Action Week which will run throughout 2018.As a College community we will do all that we can to ensure that these words are at the forefront of your son’s mind across the entire year.

The program entails all students stopping classes at the same time to undergo a lesson run by the Year 12 students. This lesson covers anti-bullying strategies, and an explanation of the action students should take if they see or are a target of bullying. Students also took part in a presentation by the Year 12 cohort and the College Leadership Team, demonstrating the College’s strong opposition to all forms of bullying during assembly. In Week 4 of every term the College will revisit our Anti-bullying stance reminding students of their role in the fight against bullying.

‘Rise Up – Take a Stand, Lend a Hand’ is a program which encourages those young men who are not bullies or targets to play a powerful role in reshaping the inappropriate behaviours of others. Please do all you can to encourage our young men to not be a bystander, but rather 'Take a Stand, Lend a Hand'. I have included a link to our St Patrick's College Facebook page that features two videos from the launch this week, congratulations to our Men of Year 12 for their heartfelt representation of this important issues.

https://www.facebook.com/StPatricksCollegeofficial

In next week’s Calling article I will discuss the importance of using the St Patrick’s Anti-bullying Portal and provide advice for parents when their son is being bullied or bullying.

I appreciate your support with this issue.

Thank you

Mr Darren Kearney - Dean of Students

The Inter-House Swimming Carnival has been swum and won today. Full results next week. Special thanks to the students for participating with great enthusiasm and positive attitudes. Plenty of water to rehydrate tonight ready for AIC sport tomorrow!

As reported last week, 12 of our junior students represented St Patrick’s at the Bramble Bay Swimming Championships held last Friday. There were some excellent swims on the day and we are proud to report the nine of our team qualified to attend the Regional Championships. The following students have accepted the invitation into the Bramble Bay team to compete next week at the Metropolitan North Championships. Our representatives next Tuesday are Max Armitage, William Burgess, Jesse Daly, Ryan McDonald and Samuel Megaw. Good luck to these swimmers and our older students who have nominated for the 13–19 Championships on Wednesday.

Our Cricket teams played very strongly last Saturday against St Peter’s Lutheran College and easily won the aggregate competition on the day. 1st XI recorded a good first innings score of 200 plus and were able to defend the target set for SPLC.

Our Volleyball teams in contrast had a very tough morning of competition. 2 ^nd VI, 3^rd VI, 8C, 7B and 7 Gold were our only successful teams. This week is our senior teams first home game of the season against St Laurence’s College. Students are encouraged to attend and join the Paddies Battalion to cheer on our teams. A reminder that students who are cheering need to be in formal uniform. A change of clothes is required for players who compete earlier in the morning.

Thank you to the many parents who support our sporting teams each week. Your son’s do really appreciate you taking the time to stop from busy lives to spectate. Many parents go one step further and assist the Sport Support Group by helping in the canteens or assisting coaches with scoring and umpiring duties. Our cricket coaches in some teams are struggling to find some help with either scoring or umpiring. Please if you could give some assistance it would be greatly appreciated.

The canteens at Curlew Park and Christian Brothers Centre are always in need of parent volunteer helpers. Please click on the below links to provide assistance. If everyone was able to assist while their son is warming up for their game throughout the season, it would be greatly appreciated.

Volleyball

Cricket

Parents are requested to monitor student’s co-curricular workloads. School is about achieving the best results possible. A healthy balance needs to be achieved between school work and sport and cultural activities. Students have been instructed to communicate with Mr Dan Nethery in the College’s Sports Department if the sporting training commitment becomes over bearing. The Sports Department will devise a training plan for the week to allow students to participate and not let their studies drop.

Over five years ago the Cross Country team instigated a run on Sunday’s. The group was named the ‘Shorncliffe Shufflers’. The run each week was aimed at allowing the senior students to participate in a longer run and for parents and community members to improve fitness levels. I am happy to report that the group is still going strong. Each Sunday at 6:00am the group meets in the plaza (near the student office) and enjoys either a six or ten kilometre run. The running group has faster runners but most runners hold a 5:20 – 5:50 per km pace. New runners always welcome.

Term 1 Sport Coordinators

Swimming Coordinator - Kelsey Duke kduke@stpatricks.qld.edu.au

Cricket Coordinator - Dan Nethery dnethery@stpatricks.qld.edu.au

Volleyball Coordinator - Tim Hoysted thoysted@stpatricks.qld.edu.au

Outstanding Student Achievements

Zac Leggett has been selected in Metropolitan North Baseball team to compete at the State Championships in Cairns. Well Done Zac!

Congratulations to Cooper Grinlaubs and Matthew Stride on their section into the Metropolitan North U19 Volleyball team.

Mr Doug Locke - Head of Sport

Interhouse Chess Final

The final round of the Interhouse Chess will be held during the lunch periods this Friday 23 February 2018. Please check the REALM Interhouse Chess page for details of the draw.

Chess Club

Senior Chess Club for students in Years 9 to 12 is held on Monday afternoons from 3pm to 4:30pm

Junior Chess Club for students in Years 5 to 8 is held on Tuesday afternoons from 3pm to 4:15pm

Expert coaching will be provided by Mr Mark Stokes of Redcliffe Chess Club. Mark is the President of the Chess Association of Queensland and a national champion.

Afternoon tea (cordial and biscuits) will be provided. You may bring an alternative snack if needed.

Chess Club is a fun environment where you can learn the skills to play for the College in the AIC competition in Term 2 as a Chessman.

If you require any more information, please feel free to contact me. rbutt@stpatricks.qld.edu.au

SPC Chessmen – Play Well, Be Awesome.

Mrs Rosemary Butt - Chess Coordinator

Co-Curricular Music News

There have been a number of additions and alterations made to the Timetables. Can all students please check their tuition day and time on REALM, listed on the Co-Curricular Page under Music Tuition,or click here, for any changes that may have been made to their lessons .

Theatresports

Theatresports is back for 2018! 2017 was a successful year for the SPC Improvisers with TWO teams making it into the Finals at La Boite Theatre. Over the course of this term come along and try out your improv skills. Term one training details starting Week 5:

Monday AM: 7.45 am – 8.25 am

Tuesday PM: 3.05 pm – 4.00 pm

Thursday AM: 7.15 am – 8.15 am

Mr Adam McPhee - Theatresports Coordinator

Other News

All inquiries please contact Mr Matthew Seers: mseers@stpatricks.qld.edu.au

Please find below Tuckshop Roster

Tuckshop Roster 2018 February