College Open Day
This week we are experiencing the thrill of the swimming carnival and then Open Day on the Saturday. It is wonderful to see all the girls engage with these events and enjoy the opportunity to learn new skills or hone others. I encourage you to visit the College on Saturday and let those who may be interested in all girls' education for their girls to come and experience the St Pat’s atmosphere.

International Women's Day
In the coming weeks we will be celebrating International Women’s Day. We host a breakfast (7 March) at the College and invite past students to speak about their journey after St Patrick’s College. I always find this inspiring as we hear about the challenges the women had to face and the creativity and resilience they had to adopt to overcome those challenges. It is also very engaging for all the parents and students who are present to hear that they can reach their goals with will-power and persistence.

I recently listened to a podcast about Miss Matters. She was born in Adelaide and went across to England to work with the suffragettes. At that time, women in Australia had been given the vote and were also able to sit for parliament. We were viewed across the world as very progressive having given women both rights. Her campaign was extraordinary and whilst it was still many years before the women received that right in England, she was acclaimed as an Australian hero. I suspect you may not have heard of her?  There are in fact many women in our history who are not generally well known. Sadly, the contributions they made in forging this new nation have been overlooked or only mildly regarded which is largely because of their gender.

Today we are far more mindful of trying to expose gender bias in our communities, policies, infrastructure and interactions. The women of today are feeling more empowered to stand up against it and name bias where they experience it. Far more men are also now more attuned to any gender bias and discrimination and will challenge it for their daughters, their sisters, their mothers or partners.  There is a way to go but there is change afoot. If you would like to attend our International Women’s Day Breakfast, please call the office.

Farewell Mrs Foran 
This week we farewelled Mrs Petah Foran. Mrs Foran has been a great asset to the College as our RE Coordinator for the last seven years. We wish her well in her new school and thank her for the wisdom and the diligence she brought to the RE programs and experiences at the College. (photo below)

Gala Ball
Finally, if you haven’t purchased your tickets for the Ball on 16 March at the Cube I ask that you do so. It will be a fabulous night and all the funds go exclusively to the Scholarship Fund. More information is included in this edition.

I will leave you with a psalm on hospitality, our Benedictine value for this year:

                   “Guardian of the orphan, defender of the widowed, such is God, who gives the lonely a home”  - psalm 68

Blessings

Sue Lennox - Principal 

While the Pope has full and direct power over the whole Church, this is a power that is exercised in a spirit of service, as the good shepherd who guides, nourishes and protects his sheep.  The Pope is the defender of the Church, not its master.  [Adapted from: Who is the Pope? Inform faith and life matters, vol 114]

The Pope has many responsibilities including presiding over religious celebrations, meeting with all of the Bishops, blessing pilgrims, visiting the poor and marginalised, clarifying issues of faith and belief, and travelling to foreign countries to meet with both religious and civil leaders.

On 22 February the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of the Chair of St Peter.  This feast commemorates Christ’s choosing Peter to sit in his place as the servant-authority of the whole Church.

Petah Foran - Religious Studies Coordinator

Submission of Assessment Tasks

Students are expected to hand in assessment tasks by the specified due time to their respective teachers. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that the assessment tasks are handed into the correct teacher. In exceptional circumstances, assessment tasks may be submitted to the KLA Coordinator, Curriculum Administrator or the Assistant Principal Learning and Teaching. Under no circumstances are assessment tasks to be left at the front reception office.

Where an extension of time is required, students are expected to apply in writing to the KLA Coordinator in advance and provide valid reasons for the extension (eg illness, misadventure). Tasks must be handed in by the time specified on the task. Late tasks must be handed in immediately upon return to school.

Where students have arranged for someone else to submit their assessment task (eg friend, parent, etc.) they are to ensure that the assessment task is submitted by the specified time. When this does not occur and the task has been submitted later in the day, a medical certificate or a written note in the case of misadventure must be produced immediately upon the student’s return to school.

Christopher Bettiol - Assistant Principal Learning and Teaching

If your daughter is keen to practise her literacy or numeracy skills with some quick online activities, we have Reading, Writing and Numeracy Canvas pages for her to access a whole range of tips, tricks and online tools. A great place to start is with a quick Free Rice quiz http://freerice.com/category or a Numeracy Quizlet https://quizlet.com/class/6902516/ to practise her number skills. She can also log into the SmarterMaths program using the link at the top of the Canvas Numeracy home page, using her school account. 

Whether she has five minutes or fifty to spare, there will be plenty for her to do if she explores the Literacy and Numeracy Canvas Courses.

Year 10 students might also like to visit our Minimum Standards sections, which contain quick links to the sample tests for Reading, Writing and Numeracy.

All feedback is welcome and if you have any suggestions for different tools or websites you would like to see included in our Literacy or Numeracy Courses, please email cmcgillicuddy@saintpatricks.nsw.edu.au (Literacy) or mparker@saintpatricks.nsw.edu.au (Numeracy).

Claire McGillicuddy - English Teacher and Michelle Parker - Mathematics Teacher

Each year, we usually host Shonan students for two weeks in August. However, as part of a new initiative, we are hosting the students for a school term. During the ten weeks, both Satsuki and Mikoto participated in mainstream Year 9 classes, completing homework and assignments all in an effort to improve their English and knowledge of the Australian way of life. The student’s stay is not possible without the hospitality of two of our College families, the Latin and Garner family. The College sincerely thanks the Latin and Garner family for their generosity and time in hosting these girls to ensure they have a wonderful and memorable experience.

Mr Julian Nash - LOTE Coordinator 

https://www.esafety.gov.au/education-resources/iparent/staying-safe/balancing-time-online/how-much-is-too-much 

https://www.verywellfamily.com/strategies-limit-your-teens-screen-time-2608915

Jorja received a 'Bar' award as a result of this being her second Blue award in the sport of Softball and Amy received her Blue award for the sport of Netball. Added to this outstanding achievement is the fact that only six students from the Wollongong Diocese were nominated and two of them were from St Patrick's. An outstanding achievement. The citations that accompanied the award are outlined below.

Jorja started representing New South Wales Combined Catholic Colleges at a
very young age. She has played in the New South Wales Combined Catholic
Colleges Softball Championships since she was in Year 7. She earned selection in
the NSWCCC team when she was in Year 9 and has been a member ever since.
Her obvious skill and determination have gained her selection in the NSW All
Schools team for the past two years.
Jorja has received continuous praise from all her coaches. In 2018, Jorja was the
number one pitcher at the School Sport Australia Tournament. Even though she
was nervous with this pivotal role, she responded admirably and often managed to
keep sides scoreless for lengthy periods of time.
She was always supportive of her teammates and was never afraid to ask for
feedback for improvement. So solid have her efforts been over the last two years,
that she earned selection into the Australian Schools team.
Congratulations Jorja.

Amy was a member of the NSWCCC Open Netball team in 2018. Following her
performance at the Tri Series in September, she was named in the NSW All
Schools Open Merit Team.
She was also a member of the NSWCCC, NSW All Schools and School Sport
Australia 15s netball teams in 2017.
At the Tri Series in September, Amy demonstrated immaculate precision and
maturity beyond her years. In defense, she was strong on the opposition and
played a hard one-on-one style. Amy has great elevation, and this combined with
strong interpretation of the game enabled her to take many spectacular and game
changing intercepts. At all times, she was engaged in positive communication with
team members and continually encouraged them to play their best netball.
In 2017 Amy choose the pathway for Australian Football and was selected in
Australian Schools Merit Team.
At St Patrick’s College, she has been elected as the 2019 College Sports Captain
and as a member of the College Sports Council.
Congratulations Amy on your achievements.

Scott Ashcroft - Sports and Activities Coordinator

Year 10, 11, 12 Basketball
Areden D, Rahni W, Amy S, Natalie S, Stephanie E, Evana S, Cecilia P, Alysha B, Khianna S and Elizabeth C. Coach Mrs Nash.

Year 10, 11, 12 Oz Tag
Sarah P, Julia P, Tara B, Loretta T, Emily A, Olivia F, Andrea M, Lily M, Piper A, Sophie M, Ellie F and Paris H. Coach Mr Ashcroft.

Year 7, 8, 9 Volleyball
Katarina S, Amy Y, Helen T, Zoe W, Bella N, Meghan W, Faleofa A, Charlie C and Faith R. Coach Mrs Arena.

Year 7, 8, 9 Indoor Cricket
Monique V, Lucy G, Olivia P, Amelia M, Emma G, Larissa M, Jessica J, Dayna V and Candice H. Coach Ms Wallin.

Year 7, 8, 9 Hockey
Elizabeth D, Katie B, Ahrieal D, Amy W, Carrera K, Lily M, Keesha D, Olivia S, Isabelle W, Crishelle J, Mia F, Abigail B, Lillian M, Sinead F and Darcy E. Coach Mrs Lawrence.

Scott Ashcroft - Sports and Activities Coordinator

We now have the ‘Tech Bar’ in the library each morning, recess and lunch. This is manned by a member of IT and offers the students a convenient, central point of contact when they have IT issues or questions. It has proven very popular and beneficial so far.

Although we are yet to encounter the masses of printing that accompany assessment deadlines, the new student photocopier/printer has been getting quite a work out. 

The seniors have settled into study mode in a mature fashion and the silent study room has been a successful initiative, with many seniors thanking the library staff for relinquishing their office space to provide this valuable resource. The students are also enjoying having the library staff sitting amongst them in the wider library space; making the staff more accessible to student inquiries.

Before and after school, recesses and lunchtimes are a very busy time for the library as the students visit to study, catch up on homework, read, chat, or even play a game. Many students are taking advantage of participating in one of our many clubs - such as crocheting a tote bag during Makerspace Club, having fun with gadgets during Tech Club, particpating in Anime or K-Pop Clubs, or enjoying lively discussions during Book Club (we're reading Anne of Geen Gables with our junior students, and Dear Evan Hansen with our senior students).

Please remember that the library is open early every morning and students are invited to join us as they arrive at school. We remain open until 4pm each afternoon and are here to support our students with research inquiries, referencing, IT or just for a chat. And as an added bonus, we just so happen to have an amazing collection of books; fiction and non-fiction, Audio Books, e-Books and journals.

Don’t be a stranger.

The College Library

To register for our Open Day please CLICK HERE

Once again, this popular annual event is set to be memorable and inspiring.

A delicious hot and cold buffet breakfast.

Since November 1991, the Foundation has distributed $111,320 to 275 families in need. If you would like to make a donation to the Foundation, please contact Dorothy Fogarty on 8624 9314. We are very grateful for the support provided by the Brother Clarence Foundation.

for all events at the College, CLICK HERE