At the recent Federal election there was a lot of interest around the “teal wave”- a term coined when referring to the number of women who ran as independent candidates. Five out of the eight successful candidates are graduates of ‘girls’ schools’.

In a recent article in The Age “Why girls’ schools succeed at producing women who lead”, written by Loren Bridge, executive officer of the Alliance of Girls’ Schools Australasia, she focuses on what it is that these schools are doing that is changing how women and leadership is being viewed.
In girls’ schools, like St Patrick’s, she states that the students ‘are equipped with the knowledge and skills required to overcome social and cultural gender biases’. To resist the pressure from society around stereotypes, girls need to be encouraged to take a “leap of faith” as this leap can be life-changing for a girl. Research shows that girls thrive in an all-girls environment – they do better academically, socially and emotionally.

And so, for our girls we need to continue to encourage them to “challenge” the ideas, the norms that society has held onto for too long – through education and social awareness our goal is to make sure that our girls have the skills and knowledge to speak out and to ‘break down the barriers’ towards creating a more balanced society.

As I write this article, the excitement level is building for this year’s combined College Musical “School of Rock”. Performances will take place from Thursday through to Saturday at St Gregory’s College. I know that a lot of time and energy has gone into this and so I wish the cast and crew all the best. To Mr Combes and Ms Randell, a big thank you for the time you have given over the year and for the care and support you have shown the girls in the production. I am sure like always, the girls will have a great time and the families will be proud of their efforts. I hope many of you take the opportunity to attend one of the performances.

On the last day of term, we will be celebrating Benedict Day- this day is always a great community day as we are able to come together to have fun and at the same time raise some much-needed funds for the Good Samaritan Foundation. The format of the day will be that we have Mass, followed by awards in the morning and from then it will be the talent quest, stalls and activities for the remainder of the day. More information will follow soon.

Finally, I would like to thank all members of the College community- staff, students and parents for their continued support over the last few weeks. We have had a number of staff unwell, and I know that many families are also struggling with illness and the impact of this on the household. We have a few weeks left until the break and so I am confident that working together we will get to the end of term and enjoy a well deserved break.

Blessings

Karen Wright - Acting Principal

The Optimist Creed
Promise Yourself
To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything
and make your optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best and
to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others
as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the
greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give
every living creature you meet a smile.
To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have
no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear,
and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

Christian D. Larson

Under the slogan of “listening, being, transforming—being co-creators in Christ”, each of the Good Samaritan Schools have been invited to be a prophetic voice to the broader community. Each school has been invited to discern, through dialogue, which of the conference’s topics to respond to. St Patrick’s College has focused on the topic of “Building Bridges—engaging with disenfranchised communities” with a particular concern for Aboriginal Spiritualities and Reconciliation.

Being a prophetic voice involves being able to read the signs of the times so as to respond to contemporary issues in the light of the Gospel and in the Spirit of Jesus. Four of our Year 11 students, Monique R, Millie E-D, Kaleena H and Charlotte T, have formed as a working group that will now represent the voice of their peers and the St Patrick’s community. Initial planning has given direction and shape to the dialogue this process will foster.

The working group’s starting point is:

-             Acknowledging the PAST

-             Taking up the Signs of Hope (the 1967 Referendum, Marbo, the 2008 Apology, the Uluru Statement from the Heart) in the PRESENT, and

-             Celebrating and embracing all that is Aboriginal into the FUTURE

The group is proposing to use the Archie Roach song “Beautiful Child” as a rallying cry as it captures many of the themes they wish to explore.

This Prophetic Voices Project seeks to encourage the already changing narrative which seems to be moving towards being a positive presentation of what is good and special about Aboriginality and Aboriginal Spiritualities. This is happening especially through song and dance.

As the St Patrick’s College community, we wish Monique, Millie, Kaleena, and Charlotte success in this valuable project in building bridges and bringing hope to our world.

Angelo Gattone - Mission Coordinator

The STEM-ing the Gaps Project is focused on identifying classroom experiences that can help girls remain interested and passionate about Maths and Science. An enthusiasm for Maths and Science supports girls ongoing academic and personal development and opens a variety of future study and career opportunities. To make sure no girl misses out on these, the STEM-ing the Gaps Project is looking to shed light on how girls’ positive relationships with their teachers supports their current motivation and future aspirations in Science and Maths. Such understanding will help teachers and educators best support girls to find a love for and continue with Science and Maths. The project, run by Dr Emma Burns (Macquarie University) and Professor Penny Van Bergen (University of Wollongong) involves students in Years 9 and 10 completing 2 surveys across an academic term.

Your daughter would complete two 30 minute surveys in both Science and Mathematics lessons in Week 2 Term 3 (25/7-29/7) for Survey 1 and Week 1 Term 4 (10/10-14/10) for Survey 2.

Data and privacy will be protected throughout the study.

If you do not wish for your daughter to participate in this study, please fill out the form on this link within the next two weeks: https://bit.ly/StPatricks_PGConsent

Jessica Thomas - Science Teacher

Take the time to determine reasons to put in effort into your schoolwork.

 Think about which of the following reasons might be motivating for you:

 To achieve the best marks you are capable of at school.

• To give you lots of options for what subjects you can choose in the senior years.
• To give you lots of options of what you can choose to do when you leave school.
• To have a personal sense of satisfaction about doing your best.

Understanding what motivates you and what affects your attitude can make it easier for you to make positive changes.

In the early morning, we all jumped onto the new school coach with Mr Muller and Mrs Musico Rullo. Unbridled by traffic, we arrived with plenty of time for Mrs Musico Rullo to show us around her old classrooms and reminisce about the ‘good ol’ days’. We dived into a guided tour with the lovely, knowledgeable Fran, who enlightened us on the history of the university and recently opened museum. We were fortunate enough to see, in person, all of the mummies we had previously done case studies on, including lady Mer-Neith-it-es and a seven-year-old boy named Horus. Detailed CAT scans of the remains showed us just how intact these mummies are, with full skulls and even a shrivelled heart!

Fran revealed that the founder of the collections, Sir Charles Nicholson, even kept a pair of mummified baby feet on his desk, as a sign of power and intellect. The tour was filled with surprises at every turn, and we all left with our brains practically exploding with new facts. We were then granted the opportunity to walk around the museum independently, exploring artefacts from all corners of history. We saw the collection of Roman statue heads, a huge Lego recreation of Pompeii built by none other than Ryan ‘Brickman’ McNaught and three of the original spears taken from Indigenous people by Captain Cook on his arrival. Then came the fun part, a hands-on activity. After putting on gloves, we were all given an ancient artefact that we had to investigate, document and draw. There were pots from Egypt, engraved clay pieces from the Middle East and small carved statues from Rome. The whole class thoroughly enjoyed getting to work with the pieces, and the opportunity to put our archaeological skills to the test.

After we bid far well to Fran (of course, not before a visit to the gift shop), Mrs Musico Rullo guided us towards the Sydney University Cafe for a good lunch among the uni students. Before long, our day had come to an end and all twenty-two of us piled onto the bus satisfied and tired. Our day would not have been possible without Mrs Musico Rullo, Mr Muller, tour guide Fran and all the Sydney University staff. For them, we are all very grateful.

Holly B - Year 9 Elective History Student

One of the key learning strategies has been to make the unit ‘hands on’. Class 8.2 had a great deal of fun mummifying one of their classmates - Janae B. They followed the key steps of mummification from extracting the brain through the nose, to putting key organs in canopic jars and placing the death mask on the body. Wrapping the ‘mummy’ always arouses the most excitement and we are fortunate the covid toilet paper shortages have eased up!

8.2 also enjoyed creating a cartouche of their own name in hieroglyphics. A cartouche is an oval shaped frame that encloses the name of an Egyptian royal. Students were able to translate their names into hieroglyphics using a web translator and then carve their names into air drying clay. Students were also able to make some Egyptian artefacts using ‘Eye of Horus’ and ‘Ankh’ cutters and molds of Egyptian gods and mummies using air drying clay. We thank the History Club, as these molds/cutters were purchased from prize money the club won in the Anzac Day Schools Award in 2020.

Now Year 8 is proceeding on to learning about Ancient China.

Fran Musico-Rullo - HSIE Teacher

Gabrielle had to submit a 1000 word essay explaining why she should be awarded the scholarship, a recent History assessment task and a letter of recommendation from Mrs Lennox and myself. The committee were particularly impressed by her essay and her involvement in various College Anzac commemorations, for eg, in 2021 Gabrielle took on the persona of a Vietnam era nurse and dressed in authentic uniform while outlining the history during our Anzac service. She has displayed a keen interest in the RAAF and has been mentored by ex student, Squadron Leader Brittany Lovett in the RAAF.

As an Anzac Scholar, Gabrielle will attend a  2-week NSW study tour in the September holidays to develop her knowledge and understanding of the history of Australians at war.  The tour includes visits to significant historical sites such as Darwin and Cowra  to learn about and commemorate the service of Australian men and women in the World Wars and other conflicts. 

Well done Gabrielle and we look forward to hearing all about your study tour.

Fran Musico-Rullo - HSIE Teacher

Year 7-9 Division 1 Basketball
Our Year 7-9 Division 1 Basketball team went through the season undefeated which saw them meet a very skilful Thomas Hassall team in the grand final. Unfortunately for Thomas Hassall, our girls were far too strong on the day and took out the Division 1 Grand final 43-30. The girls should be extremely proud of their performance throughout the season. Coach Mrs Nash.

Year 11/12 Division 1 Netball
Our Year 11/12 Netball team also went through the season undefeated and met Mt Carmel in the Division 1 grand final. The girls got off to a bit of a slow start but soon asserted their dominance to take the grand final win over Mt Carmel 36-10. A big congratulations to the team on their outstanding performances throughout the term.  Coach Mrs Pereira.

Year 7-9 Division 2 Basketball
Our Year 7-9 Division 2 Basketball team had a great year but were unfortunately knocked out of the grand final playoff game by a very strong John Therry team. The girls then faced off with William Carey in a play off for 3^rd place but unfortunately the girls went down 26-15. For many of the girls, this was their first time playing basketball so they should be extremely proud of their performance. Coaches Ms Wallin and Mr Nash.

Year 10-12 Division 1 Indoor Cricket
Our Year 10-12 Indoor Cricket team had an interesting season. There were a number of girls playing the sport for the first time and while they showed that they could compete with the best teams in competition, they struggled for consistency which hindered their overall progress. The girls learnt a great deal throughout the season and gained valuable experience which will place them in great stead for the 2023 season. The team ended up finishing the term in 5^th place overall. Coach Mrs Lawrence.

Year 10-12 Division 1 Soccer
Our Year 10-12 soccer team had a very similar season to our indoor cricket team and finished in 5^th place overall. Unfortunately injury and illness impacted the season significantly which meant the girls often struggled to field a full team. To the girls’ credit, they gave their best each week and proved that when they had their full squad available, they could match it with the top teams. Congratulations on the resilience you displayed throughout the season. Coach Mr Ashkar.

Scott Ashcroft - Sports and Activities Coordinator

Congratulations to Madison M (Year 12)
Congratulations to Madison M who has just been named in the ACT / NSW Schoolgirls Rugby League invitational side to take on Queensland Schoolgirls in Queensland at Suncorp Stadium on 13 July in a curtain raiser to State of Origin III. We wish Madison the best of luck in what will be an amazing experience.

Congratulations to Chloe C (Year 8) and Amelia B-W (Year 7)
Congratulations to Chloe C and Amelia B-W who recently represented the Diocese of Wollongong at the NSWCCC Cross Country Championships at Eastern Creek. Special congratulations to Chloe who finished in 10^th place overall and will now represent NSWCCC at the NSW All Schools Cross Country Championships.

Congratulations to Alexandra N (Year 7), Hannah W (Year 8), Olivia K (Year 8) and Sophie P (Year 8)
Congratulations to Alexandra N, Hannah W, Olivia K and Sophie P who recently competed at the NSW All Schools Swimming Championships as part of the NSWCCC team. Unfortunately, injury and illness prevented the girls from being at peak fitness but nonetheless, the girls did an amazing job and did themselves, their families and the College proud. Congratulations on an amazing achievement.

Congratulations to Vivianne M (Year 8)
Congratulations to Vivianne M who recently competed at the Australian Gymnastics Championships in Queensland. Vivianne made the final in the ribbon and had the opportunity to compete against some of Australia’s best gymnasts including Olympic and Commonwealth Games athletes. Based on her outstanding performances, Vivianne has now been short listed for the Australian Rhythmic Gymnastics Team. Congratulations Vivianne and we all have our fingers crossed that you gain final selection in the Australian team.

Scott Ashcroft - Sports and Activities Coordinator

The College Library has recently subscribed to this platform allowing free access to eBooks and audiobooks for all students and staff.

At this early stage we are building this collection and we are asking for your suggestions.

What would you like to read as an ebook or audiobook?

Please let Mrs Feely know at mfeely@saintpatricks.nsw.edu.au and she will consider your suggestion.

To access the collection on your laptop:

• Click this link:
• Click on Login in the top right corner 
• Then click on St Pats School login (the blue bar)
• Browse and tap a cover to borrow a title or place a hold

To access the collection on your phone:

• Download the Axis 360 app - it’s free from the App Store
• Open the Axis 360 app
• In the search for My Library bar type "St Patricks College”
• Click on St Patricks College Australia
• Then click on St Pats School login (the blue bar)
• Sign in using your school email address and password (you will only need to do this the first time as you will remain logged in, on that device)
• Browse and tap a cover to borrow a title or place a hold

The College Library

Every now and again, a book hits our library desk that is so unique and special it stops us in our tracks. All the Colors of Life by Lisa Aisato did just that. 192 pages in length, this magnificent picture book celebrates the stages of life – from birth to death - and all the joyous, humorous, heartbreaking and bittersweet moments in between. Through sparse text and gorgeous, colourful illustrations, Norwegian author/artist Aisato has created a book that is thought-provoking, creative and heartfelt. Every page is a feast for the eyes. 

All the Colors of Life, as well as all the other wonderful books in our Picture Book collection, is available for loan.

The College Library

The Library has been fielding many student requests of late for the loan of laptop chargers – students are forgetting to charge their laptops when they are home, or are not bringing their own chargers to school. The Library does not loan chargers to students, so it is imperative that students take responsibility for their learning and ensure their laptops are fully charged each day.

Of course, there are odd circumstances when a student has a charger that is faulty, misplaced or damaged overnight. In these cases, the Library is able to loan students a school laptop for the day (during school hours). Where a laptop is required for a week or longer, a parent/carer request can be lodged via an online form for consideration.

The College Library

Michelle is an active member of the ALIA Schools group and ALIA Schools Advisory Committee and a passionate advocate for school libraries. Michelle is also one of ALIA's highly valued mentors in the ALIA Mentoring Scheme.

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA), formerly the Australian Institute of Librarians and Library Association of Australia, is the peak professional agency for the Australian library and information services sector. 

The College Library

The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation is running a digital colouring competition for students. Entries must be digitally coloured and submitted between 1 July - 31 July. 

For more information visit: https://www.ansto.gov.au/education/secondary/competitions/incredible-insects  

Jessica Thomas - Science Teacher

Students from Years 7-10 may write an 800-word essay. This year's topic is "What is Science and why do we need it?" Entries close on 19 August 2022. For more details and tips for writing visit THIS WEBSITE

Jessica Thomas - Science Teacher