It is hard to believe we are now entering the last term and soon it will be Christmas. There is a lot of activity in the College at this time as teachers and students are busy bringing the year to completion with courses and assessments and the planning for 2020 is well under way. It is not uncommon  at this time of the year to see staff movement as our current staff pursue positions in other schools and we have the opportunity to welcome new staff to our community.

Ms Dunn, who has been on parental leave for the year, has requested a further year’s leave so will not be returning until 2021. We also have some staff taking much deserved long service leave this term. Mr Williams, Mr Lord and Mrs Harradine will be absent from the College this term. We hope their time away will be restorative and refreshing. We will welcome them back again next year.

You may have noticed the building work which is happening in and around Westview. The first stage, which included the new kitchens, has been completed. The girls have started using the new spaces and they have all given it the "thumbs up". The builders are currently working on the Design and Technology areas now. The woodworking areas, stores and textiles areas are currently being refurbished. Whilst the work is happening we are also refurbishing the girls' toilets so that when this area is completed, the whole space will be new. Finally, we are hoping to attract some funding from the Government for the central area which will be the Design Centre. If we are successful, work will begin in the area early next year. By mid-2020 the whole building will have been refurbished. I am sure the girls and staff will find the areas exceptional to work in.  I am appreciative of the Board for supporting this project and the work that will transform the learning for the girls in the KLA area of TAS.

Girls in Years 7 to 10 will be sitting exams and completing assessments over the coming weeks. I encourage the girls to prepare as best they can for this period so that they are able to demonstrate the learning that has occurred over time. I hope that the feedback you would have received at the recent parent teacher night has provided you with some useful information in supporting your daughter and has given you an insight in to her current progress. Please contact the College at any time if you have any questions.

Earlier this week, we were delighted to hear that the Minister for Veterans Affairs, Darren Chester, announced that our History Club has won two awards in the Anzac Day Schools Awards. You will find more details of the awards in an article further in this edition. Congratulations to all the girls in the History Club and to Mrs Fran Musico Rullo on such a wonderful achievement. 

This Friday, World Teachers Day is celebrated in Australia. We will have a few treats for our staff on that day. At St Patrick's, I consider all staff work in the capacity of teacher to the girls and each other. They model respectful relationships, they model care and compassion, professionalism and encourage the girls to be their better selves. We are indebted to the service provided by the staff at our College as they devote themselves to the care of your daughter.

I will leave you with a short poem on the value of the teacher.

Blessings

Sue Lennox - Principal 

Teachers
Paint their minds
and guide their thoughts
Share their achievements
and advise their faults

Inspire a Love
of knowledge and truth
As you light the path
Which leads our youth

For our future brightens
with each lesson you teach
Each smile you lengthen
Each goal you help reach

For the dawn of each poet
each philosopher and king
Begins with a Teacher
And the wisdom they bring.

by Kevin William Huff