Year 12 have now begun their HSC exams. Due to the presence of COVID 19, all schools have put into place a number of risk mitigation measures which will enable their students to participate in their exams to the best of everyone’s ability. At St Patrick’s we have divided the courses of large student numbers, kept the Year 12 girls in their bubble on site and have secured a booking at an alternative site should the College have to be closed due to a confirmed case. These are all strategies which we have never had to prepare for or manage before. Whilst these changes have been necessary for the security of all in our community I am very grateful, that in comparison to other countries and even states in Australia, New South Wales is in a very fortunate position. We all hope that with these measures in place the girls will be able to focus on ensuring they provide their best in their exams. We will keep them in our prayers.

Sadly, during the holiday break our Parents and Friends President Jeff Pollard passed away. Jeff had been battling cancer for several years however that never stopped him from being an active and vibrant parent in the parent communities of the schools his girls were enrolled in. As the previous President of the P&F at St Justin’s and then for the last three years at St Patrick's, Jeff has been a person who has greatly contributed to the life and experience of school for many school children. We certainly are very grateful for his generous and devoted support over the three years. Please keep Helen, Jeff’s wife, and their daughters in your prayers as they manage life now without their beloved husband and father.  

In the coming month the College will begin a third stage of building. This project will be to improve the streetscape, access and safety of the site for the community. The construction will include a kiss and drop on St John’s Road, security gates around the entire site and a purpose-built entrance for visitors from St John’s Road. It is anticipated that the project will be completed by March 2021. More detail of how the construction phase will impact on the operations of the College will be provided closer to the time, however, I am sure you will be pleased with the outcome.

Thank you for participating in the Parent Teacher interviews that were conducted over the last two weeks. Once again hosted via Zoom, due to government regulations, the opportunity to meet with subject teachers appeared to be well supported by parents. As I walked around the site to see staff engaging in meaningful conversations with parents was very rewarding. We will send out a survey again next week to gather your feedback and will make a determination about the shape of interviews for 2021. Needless to say the format of interviews will be determined largely by the status of the pandemic in the community. If possible, a blended model may be an option to consider for the future.

In the coming weeks we will host the Orientation Day for Year 7 2021. It is hard to believe we are at that point in the year again and even more unbelievable that we will be able to host the visit of the Year 6 girls onsite. A program has been developed that will be sent to parents in the coming weeks. As the regulations are clear that parents will not be able to come onsite we have prepared a good day for the girls that will give them an insight into the operations of the College.

Please keep free 4 December. We have scheduled the Advent Mass and Awards for the conclusion of the year. Once again, we will live stream this for parents and friends who are not allowed to be onsite due to COVID regulations. The Mass will begin at 9.30am and the awards from 11.00am. A link will be sent to families closer to the date.

Sadly I need to inform you that Mr Bettiol, Assistant Principal Learning and Teaching, will be finishing at the College at the end of the year. We thank him for the dedication and expertise he has brought to the role of Assistant Principal and leadership team member. His kind and thoughtful manner have been valued by staff and students. We wish him the best in his new position which will be closer to home.

I will leave you with a short reflection from Leunig which is titled Prayer to Self. We all could do with a little more self love as we progress through this year of 2020.

Blessings

Sue Lennox - Principal 

Prayer to Self
Gently swing from vine to vine,
Live from day to day,
Turning water into wine,
Loving what you may.

Learn to care and not to care,
Learn how not to know,
Feel your way from here to there,
Let it come and go.

(Leunig)