As we come to the end of another year, it is a time to look back and be thankful for all the year has held. As a College we are very grateful for all the members of the community who make this a special place – students, staff and parents. 2018 has, like all years, been a busy one and no doubt all of us will be looking forward to that first morning when we don’t have to wait for the alarm to wake us. But in saying that we must remember how lucky we are for all that we have. In an earlier newsletter I spoke about the Christmas hampers that the students were organising with St Vincent de Paul for the families in need within the community and it was wonderful to hear from Mr Combes today that we have exceeded the number required – what a great example of giving by the students who clearly recognise the need to think of others at this time of the year.

With the end of the school year comes changes to staff and so I would like to acknowledge those that are leaving, either to retire or are moving on to other schools. To Ms Madeleine Lytton from the CAPA department and Ms Sophie Lansley from the HSIE department, who have been here for the year, thank you for your work with the girls and your support of the College - we wish you well for 2019. Mrs Maureen McCann has been a member of the support staff for the past 28 years and in that time has held numerous roles from the canteen through to the book-room. At her farewell last week she spoke of these many roles with fondness and the important role St Pat’s and it’s community has played in her life. She is now retiring and looking forward to spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. We thank her for her tireless commitment and wish her well in this next chapter of her life.

Mrs Katherine Power from the English department has been at the College for 17 years and for a large part of this time she held the role of Year Coordinator. During this time, she looked after the different year groups and the common thread was always the genuine care she had for the girls. In her farewell speech to the College she spoke of how she went to school here and has been here for most of her teaching career – so St Pat’s has been a big part of her life. She will be missed and we wish her well in her move to become an English Coordinator.

Mrs Eileen Norris has been at the College for 38 years and is one of the most respected members of the College. Her passion for education has been a delight to see. She brings a genuine care to her classes and has always built strong relationships with the girls. For many years she was a Year Coordinator and in this role she was able to be a wonderful role model for the girls and a great support to them. Eileen has given so much to the College and as she addressed the girls at assembly this week it was clear that her focus was not about her but about St Patrick’s and the role it has played in her life. We wish her well in her retirement and she leaves the College with our best wishes.

Mrs Cecely McGeachie has been the Assistant Principal Learning and Teaching at the College for the past 10 years. During this time her passion and belief in education for girls has been second to none. She has been responsible for steering the College into the 21^st century and ensuring that the girls receive the best education, setting them on a path to achieve their best. Cecely has implemented many initiatives within teaching and learning and always challenged the staff and students not to settle for second best. She has always shown her love for her teaching area of Food Technology and the girls in her classes were always very grateful for all she did for them. Cecely is moving into retirement and whilst she is finishing up at the College, we are all sure this will not be the end of her career in education and so we wish her well and thank her for her tireless work for St Pat’s.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the staff for their work in 2018 and their support throughout the year.

As we move into the holiday time may I wish you and your family a happy and holy Christmas. May it be a time where we take the time to remember and celebrate with the special people in our lives and give ourselves permission to be good to ourselves. Christmas is a time of joy and a time of bringing Christ into our lives and so I leave you with this short reflection:

May the best gifts of Christmas be yours:
The gift of love. 
The gift of hope.
The gift of joy.
The gift of peace. 
The gift of happiness. 
The gift of Jesus! 

Blessings

Karen Wright - Acting Principal