Last week, I attended a formation day with Good Samaritan Education, along with Principals and Board Chairs of all the other Good Sam schools and Members of the Governing Council. The focus of the day was on Inclusion. During one of the sessions, we listened to a panel of people who shared their experiences of being minoritised. On the panel were Benjamin who was from the GLBTIQ+ community, Daniel who has autism, Felicity who works with women who have suffered from domestic violence, Natalia who is an Anglo-Indian and Julie who is an Aboriginal woman. Each spoke very eloquently of how, within the first seconds of arriving in a space, they could sense if the space would accept and include them. It caused all of us to think about how we create schools that make a space for all in our community. Good Samaritan Education is founded on inclusion for all. The Sisters were and continue to be strong advocates for those in our communities who are marginalised and don’t feel like they fit.

This Thursday, we are celebrating Harmony Day. On this day, we celebrate the many different cultural dances represented at the College and encourage the girls to wear their cultural clothing with pride. Harmony Day is also for those who are from the GLBTIQ+ community, the people who are neurodivergent and the people who are our First Nations.

Pastoral classes have been working on the tenants of respectful relationships. With Mrs Wright guiding the project, girls have listed the actions in the playground and those that are expected in the classroom that show respect. When we all model these behaviours, the College becomes a safer place for all girls, a more inclusive community and a school of welcome. I have again included the document released by Good Samaritan Education earlier in the year called Schools of Welcome. I invite you to read this, as this is what we are called to do at St Patrick’s College. It is an excellent statement that challenges us to be more Christ-like in our interactions with others.

As part of our St Patrick’s Day celebrations, we acknowledged the staff who have served at the College for a number of years. I will share with you those who were acknowledged and, with you, I thank them for their dedicated and loyal service. They have each held the passion and drive to do the best for your daughter over time. I am very grateful.

10 years
Louise Barry
Debra Bourne
Charlie Camilleri
Stephanie Dunn
Kerrie Harrod
Jacqui Hilton
Stuart Lord
Wendy McDonald
Liz Samyia
Jessica Thomas
Ann Treanor
Kelly Wallin
Karen Wright

15 years
Julian Nash
Pola Nicolaou
Deanna O’Neill
Michelle Parker
Shobna Sharma
Tarna Tannous
Linda Woods
Sue Lennox

20 years
Scott Ashcroft
Kay Cornett
Sue Harradine
Nat Lawrence
Fran Musico Rullo
Marguerite Pulham
Kevin Quigley
Lilly Smylie
Kris Starr
Nina Tacca-Baudana
Carol Trewhella
Jennie Zanardo

25 years
Paul Ashkar
Jason Muller
Dale Reader
Damien Williams

30 years
Tony Smylie

40 years
Marianne Fetterplace

On Monday night we held the Parent and Friends AGM. There were quite a few in attendance and we were able to fill most of the positions. Only the Treasurer position remains unfilled and if you are interested in finding out more about this position, please contact me at the College. I would like to thank those who have generously accepted the roles for the year:

President: Erin de Rooy
Vice President: Kara Thornhill
Secretary: Kristy Palmer
Treasurer: To be filled
Communications: Elizabeth Menolotto
Committee members: Julie Henderson and Amber Linden

Finally, I wish to inform you that future editions of the Inside Out will be issued on a Thursday. The quality and interesting articles will continue to be very informative for you.

This is the last edition before the Easter break. I wish you a lovely Easter and encourage you to visit one of the many services available across the break and across Macarthur. I will leave you with a short thought as we make our way to Easter.

Blessings

Sue Lennox - Principal

May the glory and the promise of this joyous time of year bring peace and happiness to you and those you hold most dear.
And may Christ, Our Risen Saviour, always be there by your side to bless you most abundantly and be your loving guide.
— Author Unknown

Palm Sunday – 2 April

Palm Sunday is the final Sunday of Lent, the beginning of Holy Week, and commemorates the triumphant arrival of Christ in Jerusalem days before he was crucified. Palm Sunday is known as such because the faithful will often receive palm fronds which they use to participate in the reenactment of Christ's arrival in Jerusalem. In the Gospels, Jesus entered Jerusalem riding a young donkey, and to the lavish praise of the townspeople who threw clothes, or possibly palms or small branches, in front of him as a sign of homage. This was a customary practice for people of great respect.

During Palm Sunday Mass, palms are distributed to parishioners who carry them in a ritual procession into church. The palms are blessed and many people will fashion them into small crosses or other items of personal devotion. These may be returned to the church or kept for the year. As the palms are blessed, they may not be discarded as trash. Instead, they are appropriately gathered at the church and incinerated to create the ashes that will be used in the following year's Ash Wednesday observance.

Holy Thursday / The Last Supper – 6 April 2023

Holy Thursday is the commemoration of the Last Supper of Jesus Christ, when he established the sacrament of Holy Communion prior to his arrest and crucifixion. Jesus celebrated the dinner as a Passover feast. The Last Supper was the final meal Jesus shared with his disciples in Jerusalem. During the meal, Jesus predicts his betrayal.

The central observance of Holy Thursday is the ritual reenactment of the Last Supper at Mass. This event is celebrated at every Mass, as party of the Liturgy of the Eucharist, but it is specially commemorated on Holy Thursday. The establishment of the priesthood by Jesus is also reenacted at Mass with the priest washing the feet of several parishioners.

Good Friday – 7 April 2023

Good Friday is the day on which Catholics commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Catholics are joined by almost all other Christians in solemn commemoration on this day. It is also a legal holiday around much of the world.

The events of Good Friday are commemorated in the Stations of the Cross, a 14-step devotion often performed by Catholics during Lent and especially on Good Friday. The Stations of the Cross are commonly recited on Wednesdays and Fridays during Lent. Another form of devotion, the Acts of Reparation, may also be prayed.

Good Friday is a day of fasting within the Church. Traditionally, there is no Mass and no celebration of the Eucharist on Good Friday. A liturgy may still be performed and communion, if taken, comes from hosts consecrated on Holy Thursday. Baptism, penance, and anointing of the sick may be performed, but only in unusual circumstances. Church bells are silent. Altars are left bare.

Holy Saturday – 8 April 2023

On Holy Saturday, there is no Mass. Parishes may hold services, but there is no distribution of Communion. On Holy Saturday, we remember that Jesus descended into hell where he preached the Gospel to those who died before and opened the way to heaven for all those who were worthy. This concludes Holy Week. The following day is Easter Sunday, the day on which it was discovered the Tomb was empty, and our Lord was resurrected, triumphing over death once and for all time.

Louise Barry - Religious Studies Coordinator

These were the exact words the whole school community proclaimed on Ash Wednesday. On this day, we launched our annual fundraiser for Project Compassion. For those unaware of what Project Compassion is, it is a fundraiser operated by Caritas Australia, that calls out to all Australians to donate and raise much-needed funds to help alleviate poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity in the most vulnerable and marginalised communities around the globe. These communities are worldwide in places such as Nepal, Zimbabwe, regional Australia and Vietnam. The money raised provides education for schools or first aid, clean drinking water facilities, farm animals such as chickens to provide food, medical supplies or educational resources such as pencils just to name a few.

Our 2023 focus for the year is ‘Love of Neighbour’. The school community has openly embraced and taken this up through our season of Lent by donating to help our neighbours and providing them with basic and simple support, that we all take for granted in our day-to-day lives. As a school community, many initiatives have been implemented and planned to unite us all and bring some fun to the end of the term. Last Friday, we participated in crazy sock day. It was a beautiful day which we celebrated with a teacher vs students tunnel ball competition, along with a fun Friday at lunch to finish off. Upcoming this Friday (31 March), we will be running a five for Friday where students are encouraged to bring in 5 coins to donate. However small or insignificant our actions may seem to us, God our heavenly Father sees them all and will reward us.

Project Compassion will conclude at the end of our term, so I highly encourage all girls to donate and practise the act of almsgiving this holy season to help those in our communities who aren't as fortunate as us. So far we have raised over $2500 which is absolutely amazing and fantastic to see, however, please don’t stop and continue to donate even if it is just a couple of dollars more, because this small act for us has a big recurring impact for others who will forever treasure our acts of kindness. Our actions will remind those in our community how much they are loved and treasured, and that we all care for one another just as Jesus wanted us to
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

Cara M - Benedict Captain

This is an adult-only event where Collective Shout facilitators, Daniel Principe and Melinda Tankard Reist, will empower you in the difficult role of guiding young people to healthy adulthood as they navigate the online world and the hypers*xualised landscape they are constantly exposed to.

Tickets are $10 plus fees and all community members are welcomed.  Please purchase your tickets throught the link below:

The S*xual World Of The 21st Century Adolescent. Tickets, St Gregorys College, Gregorys Hills | TryBooking Australia

Presiding officer:

1. Manage the exam supervision and conduct of the Trial HSC examinations (Monday 31st July to Monday 14th August) and
2. Manage the exam supervision and conduct of HSC exams at the College on behalf of NESA (Wednesday 11 October to Friday 3 November – to be confirmed)

Duties include:

• managing a team of supervisors
• managing students’ exam conduct
• working closely with the College to manage set-up of exam areas
• checking receipt of exam materials before the exams
• managing conduct of approved disability provisions for students
• following NESA’s administrative and security procedures. 

Presiding officers must be available for the entire exam period.

Follow this link to the Presiding Officer Role Description

If you are interested the Presiding Officer position, contact Debra Bourne, Assistant Principal – Learning and Teaching, at St Patrick’s College (dbourne@saintpatricks.nsw.edu.au).  

In this competition, students can compete in different languages and gain points for completing vocabulary exercises. The students received awards for the points they gained and this year our students achieved 54 awards.

Out of 2,532 schools competing globally, St Patrick’s College was ranked 41^th in the world; 22^nd in Australia and 6^th in NSW. In relation to specific languages, our students were ranked as follows:

• 37th overall globally out of 2,532 schools
• 27th overall in Australia out of 1,783 schools
• 7th overall in NSW out of 506 schools
• 5th overall in Japanese out of 1,362 schools
• 2nd overall in Japanese in NSW
• 7th overall in Samoan out of 473 schools
• 1st overall in Samoan in Australia out of 278 schools
• 98th overall in Italian out of 1029 schools

From these languages, Renae L received individual recognition in world rankings:
Renae L – 5^th overall in the competition (Elite Award)
Renae L – 5^th in Japanese in the world

In our College, the top six students were:
Renae L – Elite Award (35,000 points)
Bianca J – Emerald Award (6,660 points)
Stā O – Emerald Award (6,313 points) 2^nd in Samoan in the world
Annalise E – Emerald Award (5,474 points)
Jasmine P – Emerald Award (5,226 points)
Caitlin Reynolds – Emerald Award (5,115 points)

At this week’s whole school assembly, all 54 award recipients were presented with their awards. We look forward to 2024 for more students to be involved.

Julian Nash - LOTE Coordinator

All St Patrick’s College students are invited to join CASE Junior Space School (students in Years 7, 8 or 9 in 2024) or CASE Senior Space School (students in Years 10, 11 or 12 in 2024) and visit NASA in the USA!

We are partnering with the California Association for STEAM Education (CASE) and Actura to offer students a unique opportunity to participate in this exceptional STEAM learning experience.

This is a wonderful opportunity for all students to learn beyond the classroom and be inspired by the opportunities that lie ahead!

Space School Information Evening

Thursday 27 April 2023 – via ZOOM

Years 7-9 (2024): 6:00pm | Years 10-12 (2024): 7:30pm

Visit www.actura.com.au/saintpatricksspace to RSVP or to find out more.

The introduction of the Higher School Certificate (HSC) minimum standard policy by the NSW Education Standards Authority means students in NSW need to demonstrate a minimum standard of literacy and numeracy to receive their Higher School Certificate (HSC) credential.

Students will sit the HSC minimum standard tests in the three domains of reading, writing and numeracy. Each online test is 45 minutes in length and is structured as follows:

• a multiple-choice test for reading;
• a multiple-choice test for numeracy; and ∙
• a test for writing (up to 500 words) based on a written or visual prompt.

Students need to achieve a Level 3 or 4 in all three testing domains to achieve the HSC minimum standard. This means that students who demonstrate the standard have the basic functional skills used in everyday life, for work and further study.

Students have multiple opportunities each year to sit these online tests, from Year 10 until the end of Year 12. There are waiting periods between re-attempting each test. Students will be supported by the school to meet the HSC minimum standard.

There are practice tests available at school and demonstration questions online on the NESA website: educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/11-12/hsc/hsc-minimum-standard/online-tests.

Follow this link to an informaiton sheet provided to students.

Please contact the College if you would like more information (dbourne@saintpatricks.nsw.edu.au).

Debra Bourne - Assistant Principal, Learning and Teaching

We have shared a 28 year exchange relationship with Shonan Shirayuri Gakuen, where Shonan Shirayuri students come to our College in August each year for two weeks.

Six years ago, we extended the opportunity for exchanges between our schools with the establishment of a Term 1, 10 week student exchange, and today we celebrate and farewell three students from Shonan Shirayuri.

In order for this exchange to happen, we need these students to be hosted by families in our school community. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Fitzpatrick family, Jenkinson family and de Rooy family for opening their homes to Yui, Ibuki and Koto.

Yui, Ibuki and Koto have been in Year 9 and have made a significant impression on those they have met. I would like to thank all students, teachers and staff who have made the girls feel welcome. I further want to express my gratitude and appreciation to Yui, Ibuki and Koto for everything they have done at the College. Their stay has been short but they have made a lasting impression on our College community.

Julian Nash - LOTE Coordinator

The CSDA (Catholic Schools' Debating Association) is the largest and oldest debating and public speaking competition in NSW. It was established over 50 years ago. Both the debating competition and the public speaking competition are open to all Metropolitan Sydney Catholic High Schools, and in recent years they have branched into the Wollongong diocese as well, meaning that the competition now boasts participation from over 90 schools.

To make it to the Grand Final, Abbygael needed to pass through a number of obstacles, including the Public Speaking trials held at the College, the first round of CSDA, and the Zone Final of CSDA. At each stage, she continued to refine her speech and presentation, building it into an awe-inspiring and powerful piece that left her audience completely wowed.

In the words of Sue Lennox, our Principal who came to support Abbygael at the Grand Final: "She was exceptional! What a wonderful outcome." The entire College is very proud of Abbygael and this wonderful achievement. Congratulations!

Laura Bryannie - Public Speaking and Debating Coordinator

Year 7/8/9 Volleyball – 1^st Pace – Division 1 MISA Champions
Patressa A, Olivia L, Mahlia L, Isabella K, Valentina S, Yui N, Fiona S, Jemma S, Sanjana V and Vivianne M. Coach Ms Cornett

Year 7/8/9 Indoor Cricket – 1^st Pace – Division 1 MISA Champions
Lily S, Isabella F, Jasmin S, Adele L, Ava S, Hannah W, Hannah M, Eliza T, Amelia C, Emma R, Matilda G and Abbie H. Coach Mrs Lawrence.

Year 10/11/12 Basketball – 2^nd Pace – Division 1 MISA Runners Up
Ilori P, Helen T, Amelia M, Jacqueline C, Hannah Y, Alana C, Zarah N and Jordana N. Coach Mr Nash. Assistant Siena B.

Year 10/11/12 Oz Tag – 2^nd Pace – Division 1 MISA Runners Up
Amelia P, Sophie A, Keesha D, Eden G, Olivia H, Mirae Q, Mia F, Scarlet N, Dakoda L, Eva L, Charlie C, Grace G, Abbie D and Mia L. Coach Mr Baca. Assistant Kiah G.

Scott Ashcroft - Sports and Activities Coordinator

The day was marred by some very heavy overnight rain, but the foresight to book an all-weather venue proved crucial in order for the event to go ahead as planned. Fortunately, the rain held off which ultimately led to some very pleasant running conditions. A big thank you to Mr Duval and Mrs Knox for their support in running the event as well as the parents that were there to cheer on the girls.

The 12 and 13 Years age groups battled it out over a 3km course while the 14s, 15s, 16s, 17s and 18s age groups slogged it out over a 4km course.

Due to the distances being different, the overall champions for the day were calculated at the 3km mark which made it equitable for all runners.

Congratulations to Chloe C (Year 9) who was named the Overall Age Champion, Hannah Y (Year 11) who finished in second place and Ava M (Year 7) who finished in 3^rd place.

In relation to the age champion results, congratulations to the following student who were named as age champions for their respective age groups:

12 Years – Ava M

13 Years – Ava M

14 Years – Chloe C

15 Years – Hannah M

16 Years – Isabelle S

17+ Years – Hannah Y

The top six students from each age group will now go on to represent the College at the Diocesan Championships being held in Nowra in Term 2.

Scott Ashcroft - Sports and Activities Coordinator

The College Swim Team consisted of:

Annalise D, Amy Y, Sophie P, Alexandra N, Gabriella V, Ava M, Chloe P, Holly H, Emma R, Olivia K, Vivianne M, Hannah W, Caitlin R, Isabelle S, Abigail B, Charlize F, Chloe G, Olivia C.

Congratulations to all the girls who competed on the day. It was also amazing to see so many girls willing to step up and fill gaps in the program which ultimately contributed to St Pat’s finishing in 3^rd place position. A real team effort. Well done girls.

While there were a number of excellent performances throughout the day including a number of top three finishes and some excellent Junior and Intermediate relay results, a special congratulations must go to the day’s most outstanding performer, Alexandra N of Year 8 who was not only named the Overall 14 Years Age Champion, she will now be going to Homebush to represent Wollongong at the NSWCCC Championships in nine individual events including the 50m Freestyle, 50 Breaststroke, 100m Breaststroke, 50m Butterfly, 100m Butterfly, 50m Backstroke, 200m Individual Medley, 100 Freestyle and 100 Backstroke. A truly outstanding performance. Also joining Alexandra at Homebush from St Pat's will be Hannah W who will be competing in the 50m breaststroke.

A massive thank you to Mr Lord and Mrs Knox for managing the team on the day.

Amy Y and Annalise D - Year 12 Students

Hannah competed in five races over the weekend for the under 14 girls age group and acheived some fantastic results.

NSW State Champion GOLD medallist in the 200m and achieved a personal best of 25.34
NSW State Silver medalist in the 100m
NSW State Bronze medalist in the 4x100m relay

Hannah is now looking forward to competing in the 100 and 200 events at the Australian Junior Track and Field Championships held in Brisbane during the April school holidays.

Excellent work, Hannah, and good luck in Brisbane.

Scott Ashcroft - Sport and Activites Coordinator

School photography day is coming up soon.

Groups and portrait photographs can be purchased by the following link below or by returning the order envelope with your payment to our photographers on College photo day.

Or visit: www.advancedlife.com.au

And enter online order code: LBZ 3LR 3ZX

3 easy ways to purchase:

1. LatitudePay – Click on the link below, set up an account during the online order process and split your payments across 10 weeks with no interest or fees, if you pay on time.

2. Visa, MasterCard or PayPal

3. Cash – complete the envelope supplied and return it to our photographer on photo day. School photography information:

Online orders - do not require an envelope returned to your school.

Sibling Photos - Don’t forget to pre-order your sibling photos online up to 24 hours before photo day. Sibling photographs only apply to children enrolled at your school.

Late fees - a late fee will be applied to each package purchased after photo day due to the additional cost of producing these packages separately.

Package delivery - School photographs will be returned approximately six weeks after the day ofphotography. Please note this delivery timeframe is dependent on proofing and additional photography days at your school.

Previous Years’ photos - Past years’ photographs including sports, co-curricular and representative groups are also available to order under the “previous years or group photo” tabs at your school’s advanced order site when you click on the “Order School Photos Here” button above. You can also order past packages, portrait images and gifts from your child’s unique, individual and secure advanced you image archive site using the unique nine digit image code found on packages you have ordered in the past.

For further information: please click here

We share with you highlights from the night in our photo gallery (link below). A special mention to our own shining stars: thank you to the students who gave up their time to join us.  The performances were wonderful and really helped to create a fabulous atmosphere. Thank you to our beautiful ushers. Our guests always love to see student involvement. 

2023 Emerald Gala Ball - Photo Gallery

Guests of the event: we welcome feedback on the 2023 event as we begin planning for 2024. Please complete the short survey linked below. 

Feedback Survey link

Leanne Knox - Gala Ball Committee

Our much loved Mother Daughter High Tea is back for 2023. Join us on Saturday 13 May 2023 at 2pm to celebrate.

Tickets are $50 per person and include a delicious high tea, soft drinks, tea and coffee.

Attendees will be able to select the table they wish to sit at, so you can coordinate your table with your friends.

To book your tickets, please click here

Our Alumni reunion and College Tour will be held on Saturday 14 October. Tickets will be released soon.

To keep up to date with Alumni events, follow our Alumni page on: https://www.facebook.com/SPCCAA