As you read this edition of the Inside Out there are many students from St Patrick’s and St Gregory’s Colleges who will be preparing for their final rehearsals for the Musical this year ‘The Wizard of Oz’. I am very grateful to the staff from St Pat’s and St Greg’s who have invested many hours of their own time to provide our young people with this opportunity. I do hope you manage to see the show and be amazed and enthralled with the talent and the ability of our delightful students.
We are currently preparing for our celebration of Benedict Day which will be the last day of this term. We have a mass planned which precedes a student talent quest and then many stalls that will be raising funds for the ministries of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan. Each year group will be supporting one of the ministries which includes the Kinder School in the Philippines, Kiribati, The Inn in Melbourne, human trafficking, Timor Leste and Santa Teresa. I encourage you to ask your daughter about the ministry and what her year group have planned for the day.
It is hard to believe it is now June and we are fast approaching the time for the referendum where we have a chance to vote on the Voice to Parliament. There has never been a more significant opportunity for Australians to decide if First Nations people should have a say to parliament in the concerns and issues that face them. We are all aware that First Nations people have a shorter life expectancy, higher infant mortality rates, experience greater levels of poverty, higher health risks, lower levels of educational attainment and are disproportionately represented in detention and incarceration. These statistics have been well known and despite the efforts to close the gap in all these areas between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people, the gap remains cavernous.
Our government is hoping that the Voice to Parliament is a strategy that will address in some way these issues. Many First Nations people have worked with the government in developing this approach in the belief it is a step in the right direction. Certainly nothing prior to this has managed to change the appalling statistics of our First Nations people. I encourage you to read as much as you can leading up to the referendum from reputable sources that do not politicise the issue. Be informed and invest in this life changing opportunity.
Sadly, the apology to the Stolen Generation led by Kevin Rudd in 2008 was politicised and the demonising which was threatened at the time of what the apology would cause never eventuated. Let’s hope and pray that all Australians enter this referendum well informed and with a generous heart to see progress for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people so they can have the same quality of life as non-Aboriginal people in this developed and affluent country.
I will leave you with this prayer written by Brooke Prentis and shared by Good Samaritan Education.

Blessings
Sue Lennox

An Aboriginal Prayer for Truth and Hope
by Brooke Prentis
May the God of all wonder who set the stars in the sky,
bless you with relentless unsettledness –
that drives you to seek truth.
May the God of all justice who gave motion to the rivers,
bless you with righteous anger –
that drives you to seek freedom for all.
May the God of all love who placed laughter in the kookaburra,
bless you with the friendship –
that looks like the love where one lays down their life for another.
May the God of all comfort who determined the height of the mountains,
bless you with tears from shared pain and mourning –
that shows you hope.
Now with wonder, righteous anger, sacrifice, and lament –
Go in truth, justice, love, and hope –
to Change The Heart of Australia.
Amen

The theme of this retreat was ‘I am wonderfully made’, extracted from Psalms 139. It served as a reminder of the care and attention God has given each of us and highlights our uniqueness and special purpose. In a world like today, it is quite easy to forget that no one is the same, with social media and other factors influencing the way we see ourselves. We take for granted the gifts and talents we have all been blessed with and are forced into a race of comparison and competition. This central theme opened our eyes to see that we as humans are not just 1 in 8 billion people - we are all one from one, our individuality crafted at the hand of God. Our theme song Who you Say I Am encompassed this message, allowing us as an entire group to affirm that we truly are children of God. Singing these words together can only be described as empowering and was definitely a core memory for many.

Over the course of three days, year 11 as a cohort bonded together in ways that we thought would never happen. Whether it be in our small groups or our large groups, the fun and excitement of being together whilst learning about each other could only be described as an invaluable experience. From singing and dancing to newspaper fashion shows and blindfolded trust walks, new friendships were formed and it is fair to say we all took something greater out of this opportunity. 

On behalf of year 11, I’d like to thank the staff of Kiah Ridge for welcoming us and allowing us to connect and grow as a group. I also would like to thank Mr Duval for organising this memorable occasion and to our teachers Mr Bacca, Mrs Wagstaff, Mrs Singles, Mr Muller, Mr Lord, Ms Barry, Miss Young and Mrs Cornett for taking the time out of their lives to share this experience with us. 

By Gabrielle V

UPCOMING MISSION EVENTS

Thursday 22 June - Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion Training at the Diocese of Wollongong [some Year 10 and 11 stduents being trained]

Friday 23 June - ALIGHT [after school retreat for Years 10-12]

Friday 30 June - St Benedict Day [Mass at 9am in the MSC all parents and friends are warmly welcome]

Joel Duval - Mission Coordinator

This year there has been a call for Socks….Yes Socks.

Mantamaru is a remote community in Western Australia. The children of Mantamaru wear socks more than shoes, especially when it gets chilly outside or to keep the prickles out and the bandaids on. Socks are one of the many items that we all take for granted.

They are hoping to collect 500 pairs of socks that will be available for free for the children at their school.

We are asking you to help support these children by purchasing a pair of black ankle socks, sizes 5-14 are preferred, bringing them into school. We will collect the socks and package them to send to the Mantamaru community. They need only be a $2 pair of socks, the Mantamaru Community are not asking for brands.

It is such a small sacrifice on our part but would make such a huge difference to the health and warmth of these children during winter.

If socks could be sent in this term, that would be appreciated. Thank you so much for your support.

Michelle Lemeki - Aboriginal Education Support

This was an important opportunity for the girls to be exposed to with Trial and HSC Japanese Speaking exams not far away. The Year 12 students were a credit to St Patrick's College in their approach to the day.　

'The Japanese Speaking excursion was a valuable tool that allowed us to practice our conversational speaking with several different teachers. We were given lots of different questions and lots of feedback that will be very beneficial in the lead up to our speaking Trial and HSC exams. Thank you so much to Mr Nash, Mrs Cousins and JTAN for organising this event, even if it was on a Saturday!' Charley L

Kirrily Cousins - Languages Teacher

The Year 7 Food and Agriculture classes have thoroughly enjoyed the practical lessons shared over the last semester of our studies. The girls have enjoyed preparing many delicious dishes with their friends including their Thank a Farmer Burger for their Assessment Task. We look forward to some of these students in elective classes in Year 9, they are certainly skilled for the years ahead.

The Year 8 Textiles Technology girls have been busily designing and constructing their own pyjama outfits. The girls have very quickly developed their sewing skills and techniques over the weeks to successfully present their completed designs, portfolios and swing tags. As you can see from the photos, their projects are fantastic and deserve to be recognised for their efforts. Many of the projects will feature in the display windows of our wonderful design centre!

The Year 10 Food Technology students this term have been studying the Food Service and Catering unit as part of their course. In teams, the girls have set up their own Food Truck Business concept where they have planned their menu, truck setup, costing and feasibility studies and marketing plans. The girls have conducted two trial runs of their menu items already, experimenting with different flavour combinations and concepts. Some of their Food Truck concepts include, loaded cookies, dessert trucks with crepes and doughnuts, waffles, Asian inspired foods and more. This week they present their concepts and plans and we look forward to the final prac outcomes. Keep an eye out for more photos!

Our Year 12 Food Technology students are in the midst of their major projects this term, developing their own innovative healthy breakfast bar to meet their specified dietary study. The girls are following the steps of the Food Product Development process to extensively document their planning, idea generation and screening, trials, marketing and evaluating throughout the process. Their dedication to their studies is wonderful to see and the girls will reap the benefits of their hard work as they work diligently towards finalising their school based assessment marks for their HSC. We can’t wait to celebrate your final achievements with you over the coming weeks and months. 

Year 12 Textiles and Design + Year 12 Design and Technology are also on the journey of completing their HSC Major projects. Both classes are nearly finished their Portfolios and all will be ready to show their Practical works in Term 3. The TAS Faculty wish all the Year 12 the best for their preparation for the upcoming Trials.

TAS Team: Mrs Dale Reader, Mrs Maree Durrington, Mrs Tanya Robertson, Mrs Alicia Pollicina, Mrs Jacqueline Flint

Our 9A squad consisted of Zali B as first speaker, Rebecca M as second speaker, Lyla F as third speaker and Sta O as team advisor. In the Semi Finals, our Year 9’s debated as the affirmative side against Magdalene Catholic College on the topic ‘That we should allow emergency workers to strike.’ Our girls proposed a model of a staggered strike, in which no more than 20% of the emergency workforce be allowed to strike at once in order to minimise any adverse impacts upon these essential systems. They then argued that it is necessary to maintain equal rights for all workers across all industries, and that the current state of emergency worker’s salaries, hours, and conditions provoke a need for them to strike. Magdalene’s case centred around the essential nature of these worker’s roles, arguing that lives should not be compromised for the sake of worker’s short term needs, especially through something as controversial or potentially violent as a strike. They also provided a counter-model of a 10% increase to all emergency worker salaries, funded through a charity concert, arguing that this would remove the need for strike. After a tense and hard fought debate, our girls remained graceful in an unfortunate defeat, based on a need to improve their rebuttal. Making the Semi Finals is a tremendous achievement. We are incredibly proud of them for their efforts.

Our Year 10 squad, consisting of Ava M as first speaker, Ruby K as second speaker , Holly B as third speaker, and Grace Q as team advisor, took on the challenge of debating the negative against Magdalene Catholic College on the topic ‘That we should increase immigration’. Our opponent proudly argued that increasing immigration was not only necessary to secure the Australian job market, but it would also assist our country in healing its racist past by strengthening our nation’s multicultural identity. Our girls fired back that, due to the current state of affairs in Australia (including the cost of living crisis and the lack of appropriate government and social support for current residents) it is not the right time to increase immigration, lest it further exacerbate the cycle of inequity already present within Australia. At the end of the debate, our speaker's arguments proved to be slightly better supported and presented, and so they proudly walked away with a hard-earned victory! 

Congratulations to both squads on their wonderful achievements. The Year 10 squad will now take on Broughton Anglican College in the Grand Final, to be held towards the end of the Term. We wish this team the very best of luck in preparing for their Grand Final as they attempt to bring the Year 10 MISA Debating trophy back to St Pat’s!

Laura Bryannie - Debating Coordinator 

Alexandra had an amazing day at the pool which saw her win Gold in the 14 years butterfly and take the Bronze in the 100m Freestyle. This is a truly phenomenal achievement by a highly talented and dedicated athlete. Alexandra will now represent NSW at the School Sport Australia Swimming Championships in August. Congratulations Alexandra and we wish you the best of luck at the Australian Championships.

Scott Ashcroft - Sports and Activities Coordinator

The Makerspace ran over both Wednesdays and the theme was "Make your own felt animal'.

Week 7 saw the girls assemble the front of their felt animal. There were 3 to choose from. There was a bear, a fox, and a deer. Each animal had its own set of construction challenges and the girls were challenged in a number of ways.

They had to follow written and oral instructions and take direction from visual prompts to assemble the front panel of their animal. The girls worked well and supported each other with encouragement and helpful advice. For some of the girls, this was their first experience at sewing.

Week 8 saw the girls continue with the front panels, with a few girls making it to the next task: assembling the animal by sewing the back and front of their animal together, inserting the stuffing as they went along.

This was a fun workshop where new skills were learned and patience was discovered. The girls discovered that mistakes can be undone although some mistakes are the opportunity to apply perspective.

For those girls needing extra time, they had the opportunity to continue working on their projects during recess and lunch under the guidance of the library staff, or take their kit home to complete at their leisure.

Sue Harradine - Senior Library Technician

The College Library will be open to Years 11 and 12 students only between 8am - 3pm during the school holidays on the 3rd to 7th July (inclusive). Senior students will be able to study, research, access the HSC collection and use the usual photocopier/printer facilities. 

The College Library subscribes to a huge range of ebooks and audiobooks, available day or night and outside school hours, through two platforms:  ePlatform and axis 360.

Some of the latest ePlatform titles include:
The Next New Syrian Girl
Catherine,Called Birdy
My Dream Time by Ash Barty
Unnecessary Drama, and 
The Inheritance Games series.

The latest axis 360 titles include:
Social Queue
Only a Monster
The Jasmine Project
The Agathas, and 
When Our Worlds Collided. 

Instructions on how to login and borrow eBooks and Audiobooks can be found here on the Library website. As always, the Library Team is here to help or recommend a student's next great read. 

More than 35 students collected their individually-selected Bound Together books and treat packs in the last couple of weeks, and are reading and discussing the same book with their family members. We have been delighted to learn that many families took the opportunity to enjoy the shared reading experience not only with their daughter(s), but also with extended family members - such as an aunt, uncle, grandparent or cousin. Initial feedback thus far has been great, with parents/carers delighted with the program and the book selection.

If you would like to participate, please complete the Bound Together Request Form.

Happy Reading :) 

Lisa Robertson - Senior Library Technician

1. MAKE THE MOST OF CLASS TIME: You are going to be sitting in class anyway, so you may as well make the most of it! Time wasted in class is lost learning opportunities or time you need to make up at home. To make the most of class time, stay on task and be as involved as you can.
2. ASK QUESTIONS OFTEN: Students who are effective will ask questions when they don’t understand something, they don’t wait until 3 weeks later. So if you aren’t sure about something, ask your teacher.
3. COMPLETE ALL HOMEWORK: Your teachers are giving you the homework for a reason, even if you are unsure what the reason might be! It is all part of building your learning in the subject. Focus on putting 100% effort into completing all homework to the best of your ability.
4. DO INDEPENDENT LEARNING: Students who do well academically do more than just the set homework. Rather than cramming just before an exam, they learn as they go. This means that when they don’t have much homework, they step up and take responsibility for their learning and ask themselves ‘what else could I be doing to help me understand and learn my subjects?’. Often this entails reviewing previous work that was difficult or preparing study notes in advance.
5. ARE FOCUSED WHEN WORKING: Students who are effective usually work in blocks of time at home, anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour, and during that time they focus on the task at hand. This means they remove all distractions and commit to working on schoolwork.
6. WORK SMART FOR ASSESSMENTS: Effective students spend time when they are given an assessment ensuring they understand the requirements and the marking criteria. They work to the guidelines of the assessment and approach the task systematically, making a plan and setting targets for when they want to complete each step.
7. NEVER CONFUSE ‘READING’ WITH ‘STUDYING’: Effective learners know how to study properly for a test. They know that just reading your notes over and over is not an effective way to learn. Instead, they read a section then test themselves on it, seeing what they can say out loud or write down. They also do lots of revision questions or past exam papers so they can practise their skills and identify areas of weakness.

Sue Harradine - Senior Library Technician 

We are seeking sponsors, raffle prizes and donors to help make the night a success. If you know of any business who may like to support the event, please reach out to community@saintpatricks.nsw.edu.au

You can also get your early bird tickets now, so get a table together and have a fun night out! Tickets are available from www.trybooking.com/CISZT

We have limited places for Year 7, 2024. Please reach out to Virginia Diomos, Registrar for more information on securing a place for your daughter - enrolments@saintpatricks.nsw.au.