This week we hosted the Orientation Day for the 2018 Year 7 class. Once again fresh faced, very excited girls met in the Mary Sheil Centre to begin their St Patrick's journey. The world they will enter after six years at St Patrick's College and several years in after-school training will be a very different world to the one their parents entered after they finished their school education.

According to the Foundation for Young Australians (FYA), and their New Work Order Research, the automation, globalisation and flexibility of the future of work will ensure that a 12 year old today will experience a ‘portfolio career’, potentially having 17 different jobs over five careers in their lifetime. This is not the future, but the present. It becomes incumbent on the College then to ensure the students are able to adapt to these changes and the ongoing changes that will define their work experience. No longer are students required to recall copious amounts of information when they have access to small devices that can provide the facts in the time it takes to enter the question. Students are called on to work in teams, collaborate with team members, manage their time, develop goals and identify their markers of success. They must scope and manage projects, as well as their colleagues, so the deadline is met. These are the 21st century skills we often read and hear about. These are the transferable skills that enable workers to experience diverse careers and jobs in their working life. Added to this, the ongoing need for further education and development sees a career pathway that is dynamic, evolving and constantly energised. It is an exciting time to be in education and to work with the leaders of the future. We look forward to their start in 2018.

Last week, we hosted Madonna King at the College. The feedback from the many parents who attended was overwhelmingly positive. Madonna has an engaging style in her presentation and was able to provide some very real examples that all could relate to. It isn’t always easy raising girls as they grow through adolescence, however Madonna was able to offer some sage advice. If you would like to suggest any other presenters that you would like to hear speak at the College, please inform us and we will see if we can engage them for 2018.

Recently you would have received a sponsorship package from the College for the Emerald Gala Dinner Dance. This is our only fundraising event at the College. It raises funds for scholarships that families and girls can apply for, which will enable them to attend the College. We would appreciate it if you could consider sponsorship, or if you are able to, pass this on to someone else, who could potentially sponsor the event at some level. Alternately, you or someone you know, may be able to offer a service or product that we could use for raffle or auction prizes. Every little thing helps, so anything you are able to offer will be very much appreciated. Needless to say, keep the date free as it is always a very enjoyable evening.

I will leave you with a reflection on kindness.

Blessings

Sue Lennox - Principal 

Kindness

Kindness is caring that springs from compassion.
We have genuine concern for the welfare of others.
We are warm, friendly and ready to help.
We listen for the needs beneath the words.
We give tender attention in simple ways that bring others happiness.
Kindness is the daily bread of love.
When we feel angry, we resist the temptation to be cruel.
We balance honesty with tact.
We are good stewards of the earth and all living things.
We remember to be kind to ourselves.
When we fill our own cup, our kindness naturally overflows to others.

SAVE THE DATE - EMERALD DINNER DANCE - 17 MARCH 2018