Saint Patrick’s College

Newsletter

Edmund Rice, founder of the

Christian Brothers. Icons by

Desmond Kyne

Nano Nagle, founder of the

Presentation Sisters.

Prayer

International Week of

Tolerance

Dear Lord, we who are divided, unloving, prejudiced

at times and inclined to misunderstanding and

intolerance ask that you be with us as we strive to

change our ways to become united, loving, tolerant and

open to learning, understanding and

forgiveness.

May your Spirit be present in us as you are in all

peoples.

We pray for the repose of the soul of

Mother of our colleague Mrs Mercedes Fredericks

Etenral Retst grant unto her O Lord

Seek Wisdom In Christ Friday, January 29 2016

Introductory Edition Term 1

Dear Parents and Friends of the College

Ms Libby Denny—College Principal

Go gently,

Welcome Prayer for Year 7 2016

Today, we are beginning a new school year and a new chapter of our lives.

Sometime change can be difficult, but it can also be filled with hope, joy and

excitement.

Guide us Lord as we take a step into this new world. Help us to be calm

when anxieties overwhelm us. Help us to find confidence to meet new people and make new friends. Help us to be organised as we begin our lessons. Help us to be brave and to ask

questions when we are unsure of what is expected of us.

Venerable Nano Nagle, as the light

of your lantern offered hope to those in need, help us to shine Christ’s light within our school and community.

Blessed Edmond Rice, you showed us

how to live a life of courage and compassion. May we follow in your example and live a life of service to

others. We ask St Patrick to help us find

strength. May we always be strong to speak the Good News of Jesus and to

always bask in God’s love.

We ask you Saint Mary Mackillop,

to guide us to be the best people we can

be by offering love and generosity to

those around us. May we never see a

need without doing something about it.

As we commence our first day of high school, may we always be reminded to support and love one another. May we

laugh together in happiness and console each other in times of difficulty.

May we remember that we are one family under the love of God and may we always remember to seek wisdom

in Christ. Amen

IMPORTANT SPORTING NOTICE All students in Years 7 to 10 are to complete their initial

grade sport choice by 9.00 pm Tuesday 2 February Go to page 3 of this newsletter for further details

Welcome and greetings to all the members of the St Patrick’s College community. A special welcome to every new student and family to the College and we also welcome the following new staff members: Ms Anne Bashall English Mr Kevin Carragher Director of Teaching and Learning Mrs Kath Feliciano TAS Mr Peter Ilinkovski Mathematics Mr Oliver Mahony Science Ms Teagan Rodney HSIE We hope they will enjoy the satisfaction of contributing to the St Patrick’s College Community and I pray that 2016 will be full of blessings for all of us. The College received confirmation in late December of Mr Paul McSweeney’s secondment, in 2016, to Southern Cross Vocational College, Burwood as acting Assistant Principal. We extend to Mr McSweeney our best wishes and congratulate him on this appointment.

From the Principal

We welcomed our Year 7 2016 students today and it was certainly a highly charged morning with students gathering with their parents in the Rice Hall for their official welcome to the St Patrick’s College community. Currently Year 7 students are participating in an induction program for one and a half days to immerse them in the life of St Pat’s and to support the students as they continue their learning journey in High School. The positive feedback from the staff and students is a great indication of their willingness to embrace change.

A wonderful start for our youngest and newest students ...

The staff are very proud of our Year 12 2015 students for achieving excellent results in the Higher School Certificate Examinations. A special report has been prepared and will be forwarded with this Newsletter. The High Achievers’ Assembly will be held on Thursday 4 February and we are looking forward to presenting our Year 12 2015 High Achievers to the student body. It is an opportunity for them to pass on to the present students the successful strategies they employed to achieve their re-markable results.

2015 HSC Results

Introductory Edit ion Term 1 Page 2 Seeking Wisdom

Welcome to the 2016 school year, particularly students and families new to the College this year. Students returned to school today well groomed and wearing the summer uniform with pride. I acknowledge and thank parents for their efforts in ensuring students comply with our expectations regarding uniform and grooming. On Page 4 of this Newsletter please find an information sheet from Sutherland Shire Council explaining rules for dropping off or picking up students. Please take the time to read this information to ensure the safety of road users and pedestrians, and to avoid potential fines. Student Opal cards have now replaced the old student passes, and will be distributed to students during Week 1. For more information on Opal, visit transportnsw.info/school-students or call 131 500. Please note that latest bus timetables are available at www.transdevnsw.com.au for download. From the ‘Timetables’ menu, simply select the appropriate school or route to download the latest timetables. The school special bus services timetable for the College are shown on Page 5 and the 2016 Canteen Menu on Page 6. I spoke to students today about the need to set high, but achievable goals, getting back into the routine of school from the first day, and of improving on their achievements of last year. Over the coming days students should develop a home study/homework timetable that follows the suggested times outlined on page 25 of the Student Diary. I look forward to working with you throughout the year.

Mr James Clancy—Assistant Principal

From the Assistant Principal

YEAR 7

Year 7 2016 students comment on their first two days of High School: Today was a lot more fun than I thought it would be—Eliza It was very exciting to be starting a new journey—Paris It’s a big step and a new chapter in my life. I was very excited—Caitlin It was very nervous when I came this morning but I found the PC teachers really kind and understanding—Emma I’m pretty pleased—I know my way around the school now and I have already met new people— Sax After just a half day, I feel much less nervous now—William

From the Pastoral Care Department

Introductory Edit ion Term 1 Page 3 Seeking Wisdom

From the Sports Department

2016 COLLEGE SWIMMING CARNIVAL – SUTHERLAND POOL MONDAY 29 FEBRUARY Full details of the of the Swimming Carnival will be given to the students at the next full College Assembly. Please note that all students are expected to attend. As some students will be attending the NSW Surf Life Saving Championships will be held from Saturday 27 February to Sunday 13 March at Ocean Beach Umina they will be unable to attend the College Swimming Carnival. If your son/daughter is involved in this event but wishes to be considered as representatives of the College at the SSCCC (Southern Sydney Combined Catholic Colleges) Swimming Carnival on Wednesday 16 March at Caringbah Pool he/she will need to go to the College website to print, and complete, an Application for Special Consideration form. (Home page > Sporting Events > Swimming Carnival > Application for Special Consideration.pdf) and submit by placing it in the tray outside Mr Joyce’s office) no later than 3 pm Friday 22 February.

REPRESENTATIVE SPORTS The College is pleased to support your son/daughter’s nomination to trial in a representative sport (SSCCC, NSWCCC, NSW All Schools, School Sport Australia).

All students who nominate to trial in a sporting event are to be aware of the following school-based requirements:

Students are to manage their class work and studies when away and make every effort to catch up on any missed work.

Students who have the necessary ability to represent the College in a particular sport are expected to do so in an enthusiastic manner and in a spirit which contributes to the reputation of the whole school community.

Students must be prepared to attend all scheduled training sessions and training games; purchase and wear the correct school representative uniform and protective gear; and conduct themselves according to the sporting ethics of our Catholic College.

NSWCCC (NSW COMBINED CATHOLIC COLLEGES)

Deadlines for NSWCCC nominations to attend trials are very strict and need to be completed on line. Our College website has instructions on how to enter. Go to: www.stpatscoll.nsw.edu.au (Home page > Sporting Events > NSWCCC). All sports are listed, with nomination deadlines, along with information on how to do an online nomination. A photocopy of dates will also be displayed on the noticeboard outside Mr Joyce’s office. The majority of sports at this level require you to nominate to attend a trial, on line, at www.csss.nsw.edu.au. Once you are on this site check for age eligibility. You are not guaranteed to attend the trial until you have been endorsed by the College which requires the Sport Coordinator and

Principal’s permission electronically and of course the Convenor of that sport as well. You will not get permission to attend a trial if you have not registered online. If you have any problems then contact Mr Joyce ASAP.

SSCCC EASTERN ZONE TENNIS KNOCKOUT (BOYS AND GIRLS) FRIDAY 12 FEBRUARY

If you play competition tennis and can play to a high level, the College needs a team of four boys and four girls. It is an open age group that means anyone from Year 7 to 12 can nominate. If you are interested then put your details on the sheet provided on the noticeboard outside Mr Joyce’s Office by Friday February 5. The first game will be played against St John Bosco College on Friday February 12, at the Waratah Tennis Courts, from 11.30 am. Team will be announced Monday February 8.

NSWCCC AND NSW ALL SCHOOLS TRIATHLON (BOYS AND GIRLS) WEDNESDAY 2 MARCH AND THURSDAY 3 MARCH

If you wish to nominate for the individual event for triathlon then go to the College website for details. Individual events will be Wednesday March 2 and teams relays will be Thursday March 3. If you wish to enter a team then you must fill out your details on the sheet provided on the noticeboard outside Mr. Joyce’s Office by Friday February 12. The team’s event can only be entered through the school. A fee, will be required to be paid upfront, and transport needs to be organised by parents to Penrith.

SSCCC EASTERN ZONE BOYS RUGBY LEAGUE TRIALS (U15’S AND

OPEN BOYS) will be held at Aquinas College Menai on Tuesday 16 February from 1pm to 3pm. If you are playing at a high level and you are interested in nominating, place your details, according to set criteria, on the sheet provided on the noticeboard outside Mr Joyce’s Office by Monday 8 February. Based on the criteria only, students will be informed by Friday 12 February if they are to attend.

NSWCCC SCHOOLS SOCCER KNOCKOUT (OPEN BOYS AND GIRLS)

This competition will be held on Wednesday 23 March at Woronora Heights. There are Open Boys, Junior Boys (Years 7 to 10) and Open Girls divisions. This day also acts as a SSCCC selection trial for Open Boys and Open Girls only. If you are interested in participating on this day then students must put their details on the sign up sheet on the noticeboard outside Mr Joyce’s office by Monday 15 February.

ST PATRICK’S COLLEGE NEWSLETTER

The College Newsletter is a very important medium in recognising student’s achievements and participation in sport. With such a large student enrolment it is extremely difficult to monitor all students’ achievements and progress. Not all representative sport information is forwarded to Mr Joyce and therefore many events are unable to be published. If parents/family/students have information and you would like it to be published then either email the details to Mr Joyce or Mrs Sutton in the office. It is possible there may be delays with publications depending on when the information is received and it is also at the discretion of the Principal and

Assistant Principal. Mr Rick Joyce—Sports Co-ordinator

FRIDAY SPORT As the students only commenced the 2015 school year today, sporting activities were not conducted. We emphasise, once again this year, the importance of having adequate protection from the sun. We ask for your assistance with sun protection by providing your children with the necessary gear to protect them from the harmful effects of the sun on all sport days.

PLEASE NOTE: All students in Years 7 to 10 are to complete their initial grade sport choice by 9.00pm Tuesday 2 February.

Please go to the College web site: www.stpatscoll.nsw.edu.au –then Quick Links—Sporting Events. After reading the information, the students can then make their selection for a particular Friday Grade Sport by completing the form and submitting it. Grade sport trials will commence on Friday February 5 and continue on

Friday 12 February. Friday Grade Sport Teams will be filled first before Internal Sports begin. The Lifesaving course will begin on Friday 12 February.

Correct clothing and footwear must be worn at all Sports. Make sure you carry

a water bottle, and sunscreen and wear a hat or cap.

Click on the relevant Year group link and this will take

you to the Selection form for completion and

submission.

IMPORTANT DATES IN TERM 1 2016

Wed 3 Feb University of Wollongong Discovery Day

Wed 3 Feb TVET Evening for Year 11 students

accompanied by one parent—6.00pm Library

Thur 4 Feb High Achievers’ Assembly - Year 12 2015

Mon 8 Feb NSWCCC Blues Award—Rice Hall

Tues 9 Feb Shrove Tuesday

Wed 10 Feb Ash Wednesday—Morning Mass in Parishes

Thur 11 Feb PAC Meeting—7.15am

Thur 11 Feb ID Student Photo Day

Wed 17 Feb Newman Information Evening 6.00pm

Wed 17 Feb New Families Information Evening—7pm Rice

Hall

Mon 22 Feb Year 11 Study Skills Session P2 and 3

Thur 25 Feb Rocky Biasi Year 11 Pastoral Care Assembly

Thur 25 Feb Investiture Mass St Pat’s Church 7pm

Mon 29 Feb College Swimming Carnival—Sutherland

Tues 1 Mar Parent Information Evening with Rocky

Biasi—Rice Hall 7pm

Tues 8 Mar Year 8 Study Skills Session (P2 and 3)

Thurs 10 Mar PAC Meeting—7.15am

Mon 14 Mar 2017 Year 7 Enrolment Information Evening

7pm Rice Hall

Tues 15 Mar Open Morning of the College - Tours 9-11am

Thur 17 Mar St Patrick’s Day

Wed 23 Mar Year 7 Vaccinations Visit 1

Thurs 24 Mar Easter Liturgy (Holy Thursday

Easter Holiday—Good Friday 25 March—Easter Monday 28 March

Wed 30 Mar Year 7 Parent Teacher Twilight Meeting

Wed 6 Apr Year 9 3-Day Camp

Wed 6 Apr Year 7 Overnight Camp

Fri 8 Apr Last day of classes

YEAR 12 EXAMS FROM

TUESDAY 29 MARCH—THURSDAY 2 APRIL

TERM 1

FRIDAY 29 JANUARY—FRIDAY 8 APRIL

CLOTHING POOL

REQUEST FOR

JUNIOR UNIFORM ITEMS

The Clothing Pool would be extremely grateful to

receive suitable Junior Uniform items.

Items can be dropped off at Central Office during

College Office Hours or at the Clothing Pool on

Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8.00am—10.00am.

Thank you