St Patrick's College Campbelltown Newsletters

The publication "Inside Out" is a fortnightly St Patrick's newsletter distributed to current students, their families and staff. Complete with information from sporting outings and planting trees to debate team and visual arts displays, "Inside Out" keeps the St Patrick's community up to date on current events within the community. Please ensure that your family email address is current with the Administration at St. Pat's to ensure fortnightly delivery of this important education community communication tool.

  • Volume 36 Issue 3 - 7 March 2024
  • From the Principal

    Jesus said,”... I have come so that you may have life, and have it abundantly…”  Jn10:10  

    Last Friday, the College celebrated its first Multicultural Evening in some time. What had originally been an evening to enjoy the culture of our Pacific Island Nations students and families has grown into this celebration of the rich cultural diversity of our school. 

    This is what I saw and heard on my first Multicultural Evening at St Patrick’s:

    I saw dads cradling young babies before the performance.
    I saw aunties, uncles, elders and grandparents with beaming smiles, hearts bursting. 
    I saw new families’ ...

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  • Volume 36 Issue 2 - 22 February 2024
  • From the Principal

    Last Wednesday was Ash Wednesday and this marked the beginning of the season of Lent for all in the Christian community. The reading of the day, from the gospel of Matthew, reminded us of the need to give alms, to pray and to fast.

    These three actions, however, were given a caveat – they are to be done in private so as to not “show off” one’s generosity, or prayer life or fasting or to make a big fuss.

    In a social setting, the notion of fasting is more often associated with dieting to lose that extra kilo, or three. ...

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  • Volume 36 Issue 1 - 8 February 2024
  • From the Principal

    Welcome to the new school year at St Patrick's and a very special welcome to the new families joining us in 2024.

    Our New Year has begun with great gusto and energy.

    Bustling with anticipation and huge smiles, our Year 7 girls have begun their journey with us. Managing timetables, room changes, the first week of sport and activities, as well as their lockers, they seem to be finding their St Pat’s “legs” very well. As I walk around the school, I am met with cheerful smiles and “good mornings” from the girls. I am also appreciating the natural beauty ...

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  • Volume 35 Issue 16 - 16 November 2023
  • From the Principal

    We recently hosted a visit from the new Principal, Mrs Mary Leask. It was lovely to have her join staff for morning tea on Friday and to then present her to the girls at the Tuesday assembly. She spent some time meeting the students and chatting with staff across the two days. I am sure she would have been very pleased with these early experiences at the College and I am grateful for the hospitality extended to her by all in our community. She will be a wonderful addition to the community from 2024.

    The girls have achieved some exceptional ...

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  • Volume 35 Issue 15 - 2 November 2023
  • From the Principal

    As I was driving into school this week, I listened to an interview of the new Women’s Safety Commissioner. This is a new position created in the NSW Government and comes out of the significant harm and risk women face through violence perpetrated by family and intimate partners. Dr Hannah Tonkin is the inaugural Women’s Safety Commissioner in the State. Her focus will be to provide leadership and oversight of policy and programs on domestic, family and sexual violence which affect women.

    On average, one women is murdered each week by her current or former partner. It is the greatest ...

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  • Volume 35 Issue 14 - 19 October 2023
  • From the Principal

    Have you grown up hearing the saying ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me’? I recall my parents telling me this, as well as teachers and older people when I may have felt hurt or injured from a callous comment. I imagine it was meant to help build resilience and develop a tough outer skin that would set us up for life beyond the supportive environment we were growing up in.

    Over time though, like you, I have learnt and observed that words can be very hurtful. In fact, the physical ‘sticks and stones’ ...

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  • Volume 35 Issue 13 - 14 September 2023
  • From the Principal

    If you read the Sydney Morning Herald, you would have seen the photo of three of our girls on the front cover last Friday. Abigale, Rebecca, Sophia and Diadem were all interviewed about the benefits they gain from being in an all-girls school. Recent NAPLAN reports have shown that girls in single sex schools perform marginally better than girls in co-educational environments. The girls were very articulate and clear about what they have experienced at the College and how this has assisted them to grow in confidence and ability over the years. A more detailed report was included on page ...

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  • Volume 35 Issue 12 - 31 August 2023
  • From the Principal

    Last week, the College experienced a critical incident. I would like to reassure you that the staff member is now back at work and life has returned to normal. I would like to share with you just how extraordinary your daughters/our girls were whilst we were trying to manage this incident. Whenever a school has a critical incident there is a strong focus on keeping the girls safe, keeping the staff safe and minimising the risks that could impact the students and staff. We had to lengthen the morning pastoral period so that emergency workers could enter the site, we ...

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  • Volume 35 Issue 11 - 17 August 2023
  • From the Principal

    You will have received a letter from Mr Paul Colyer, Chair of the Board, informing you of the new Principal for St Patricks College, Mrs Mary Leask. Mary will be a wonderful leader for this beautiful community for all the reasons outlined in Mr Colyer’s letter. It is very reassuring that a woman of such experience and wisdom will be taking over this role in 2024. I wish her the very best and know you will warmly welcome her with true Benedictine hospitality when she joins the community in January next year.

    I am excited to inform you that the ...

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  • Volume 35 Issue 10 - 3 August 2023
  • From the Principal

    Welcome back to term 3. I hope the last break was enjoyable for you and your family, and that you have returned to the term with vigour and energy. The staff and I are very grateful for the week of professional learning that we had in the final week of the girls’ break. In many independent schools, staff and students have three weeks’ holidays. At St Patrick’s College, the staff are at the College in the third week and participating in vital professional learning that will have an impact on your daughter’s learning. Bringing all the days together in one ...

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  • Volume 35 Issue 09 - 29 June 2023
  • From the Principal

    Dear Parents and Friends of St Patrick’s College community

    We are almost at the end of the term and the anticipation of the break ahead can be seen in the girls and the staff around the College. By now, you will be receiving your daughter’s report and will be having conversations around her successes and the areas for future work. Those conversations are very important, as a parent’s engagement in their child’s education strongly correlates with that child’s success in their learning. Please feel free to contact the College if you have any questions or queries as we are very ...

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  • Volume 35 Issue 08 - 15 June 2023
  • From the Principal

    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 ...

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  • Volume 35 Issue 07 - 1 June 2023
  • From the Principal

    Last Sunday was Pentecost Sunday. This is the event that begins with all the apostles huddled in a room, frightened and bewildered about where they will go and what will they do. Their leader and friend, Jesus, has gone and despite saying he will return, they are still alone. They have begun preaching and spreading the good news but they are facing increasing aggression and push back, which has eroded their confidence and courage in driving their mission forward. At this point, the room is filled with a wind and flames of fire settle on each of their heads. The ...

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  • Volume 35 Issue 06 - 18 May 2023
  • From the Principal

    Happy Mother’s Day to all of our mothers and those in mothering roles in their family or community. Last Saturday, we hosted the Mother Daughter High Tea and again it was a wonderful event. Over 300 girls and their mums, grandmothers, aunties and special women in their lives attended and enjoyed the beautiful food and the opportunity to talk and enjoy each other’s company. I would like to express my appreciation to the new P&F committee, under the leadership of Mrs Erin de Rooy as President, who worked to ensure we all had a lovely afternoon. Thank you also to ...

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  • Volume 35 Issue 05 - 4 May 2023
  • From the Principal

    Welcome to Term 2 2023. This week we hosted our AGM. As an independent college which operates as a company, we are required to have an AGM to report to the Company Members on the operations of the previous year. My thanks go to our Directors and our Company Members who continue to show great loyalty and support for the College and the difference it makes to the lives of all in our community. We were able to showcase some of the abundant student talent we have at the College in an assembly on the day and had a very ...

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  • Volume 35 Issue 04 - 31 March 2023
  • Message from the Principal

    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 ...

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  • Volume 35 Issue 03 - 17 March 2023
  • Message from the Principal

    Happy St Patrick’s Day. This morning, we had a beautiful mass at Our Lady Help of Christians, Rosemeadow. Afterwards, we offered a sausage sizzle for lunch, we then enjoyed the dancing of our Irish dancers and a few entertaining activities in the Mary Sheil Centre. Whilst the day was quite hot, the girls were exemplary in their behaviour and participation in the day.

    The College was established by the Irish settlers in Campbelltown in 1840. They brought with them a love of St Patrick and education. St Patrick was an extraordinary man. After returning to Ireland as a priest, ...

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  • Volume 35 Issue 02 - 3 March 2023
  • Message from the Principal

    We have had a busy few weeks since our last edition. Ash Wednesday, Swimming Carnival, Open Day, Year 7 Camp, Year 10 Retreat, Parent Workshops and SRC Induction. Next week, we have Year 5 Workshops, International Women’s Day Breakfast, then the first Middle School Dance and the Emerald Gala Ball. I know all the staff involved in these activities are very active in ensuring all are informative, interesting and very worthwhile for the girls, parents and guests.

    Open Day had one of our strongest registrations, with many families coming through to experience the culture and atmosphere at the College. The ...

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  • Volume 35 issue 01 - 10 February 2023
  • Message from the Principal

    Welcome to the new year. I hope your break was refreshing and the year has started well.

    Last week, we hosted the HSC High Achievers Assembly. It was inspiring to have the girls who achieved Band 6 or an ATAR of 90 or above on the stage. They were interviewed about their work and the lead up to the HSC. Without exception, they spoke about their dedication to achieve their best, their desire to achieve the target they had decided on and the support they received from their teachers and friends in achieving their goals. Many girls achieved personal best ...

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  • Volume 34 issue 19 - 2 December 2022
  • Message from the Principal

    We are now in the last week of the school year and there is much activity to finish off all the jobs and see that things are in place for the new year 2023.

    At our assembly this week, girls spoke so eloquently and fondly of the staff who are leaving and how they made an impact on their lives in the time they were here at the College. Likewise, those staff responded by expressing the pleasure it has been for them to be part of the St Patrick’s community and that as they leave to retire or teach closer ...

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  • Volume 34 issue 18 - 18 November 2022
  • Message from the Principal

    Last week, we hosted a very informative workshop for Year 8 parents at the College. Mr Baca, Mrs Wright, Dr Bourne and myself presented information specific to Year 8 students across the state and then, more specifically, information we have gathered about our own Year 8 girls. Many of the parents present commented on how informative and helpful it was in understanding the processes at the College, the growing needs of their daughter and how they can better support their daughter for the future. Next year, we will host similar nights for families in Years 7, 8, 9 and 10. ...

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  • Volume 34 issue 17 - 4 November 2022
  • Message from the Principal

    Have you ever considered how difficult it is to be a young person in today’s world? Their access to social media means they are constantly reminded that they are inadequate, they are uninformed and that they are missing out on the fun, the good times and the popularity that comes with having a perfect life. Their platform of choice will use algorithms to recognise the content that interests them, based on their screen habits, and will then fill their screens with images and stories that confirm and reinforce their insecurities, their vulnerabilities and inadequacies. As a young person still developing ...

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  • Volume 34 issue 16 - 21 October 2022
  • Message from the Principal

    Last week I attended the presentation by former Prime Minister Julia Gillard titled ‘Not Now, Not Ever’. It coincided with the anniversary of the address she made in Parliament about her experience of misogyny from the Leader of the Opposition. It was inspiring to hear from world leaders that night who referenced her address as one that will go down through history as a strong argument for the respectful treatment of women no matter the role or position they hold in society.

    I have found it can be risky to advocate for women. Some believe that if a person advocates ...

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  • Volume 34 issue 15 - 23 September 2022
  • Message from the Principal

    This week we hosted the graduation ceremonies for Year 12. It was such a delight to be able to follow our previously normal routine of significant ceremonies without the added burden and stress of government regulations or the pandemic. It was a wonderful send off to an exceptional year group. We wish them the best in their exams and a bright future as they leave the College. Below are the award recipients for the cohort. 

    Waratah Award for Rugby League -MADISON M

    Ampol Best All Rounder Award – TARA G

    Lions Club Community Service Award - CHARLOTTE F

    Reuben F ...

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  • Volume 34 issue 14 - 9 September 2022
  • Message from the Principal

    This morning, the world was informed of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. Throughout her monumental reign, she was a woman who lead with compassion and commitment. It is never easy to live a life in the public eye, yet she did this without scandal or reproach. She will long be remembered as a much loved and respected leader across the world. A wonderful woman that many girls can look up to.  May she rest in peace.PISA Facts

    Over the last week there have been a number of occasions where I have reflected on the wonderful community we have at St ...

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  • Volume 34 issue 13 - 26 August 2022
  • Perspectives: Your School in Focus Survey

    These surveys have been specifically designed to assist schools in gaining an understanding of stakeholders’ perceptions of five important areas: School Environment, Teaching and Learning, Student Wellbeing, Leadership and Community. All staff, students, parents/guardians, leaders and board members will be invited to participate.

    The surveys will be available from 5 September 2022 to 18 September 2022 and are conducted online, taking approximately 20 minutes to complete.

    Your input and contribution are important to the success of our continuous school improvement process as we aspire to improve the learning experience for everyone at our school.

    For any enquiries about the ...

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  • Volume 34 issue 12 - 12 August 2022
  • Message from the Principal

    This week, we ran the student leadership camp with our new Year 11 leaders. It was a privilege to spend a few hours with the girls, to hear of their dreams and share with them what leadership looks like in a Benedictine community. I am confident they will be an exceptional team and will take up the baton that Tavara and her team have held so well through this last year. We wish them the very best.

    Last week a few of the College leadership and management teams and our Directors, in addition to our College Board Chair Mr Paul ...

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  • Volume 34 issue 11 - 29 July 2022
  • Message from the Principal

    Over the last few weeks of term 2, I was granted enrichment leave by the College Board. In that time, I participated in trekking four sections of the Larapinta Trail, which is near Alice Springs. We travelled approximately 18-20 km per day over quite rocky and, at times, steep inclines. The weather was warm in the middle of the day, however, the nights dropped to minus 1 and the canvas swag provided limited protection from the heavy dew that formed over the night. One morning, we woke to find ice had formed on the canvas and the campsite was white ...

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  • Volume 34 issue 10 - 1 July 2022
  • Message from the Acting Principal

    The Feast of St Benedict is an important day in the life of the College as it is twofold in its purpose. Firstly, it is an opportunity for the College community to gather as one in celebrating the Eucharist and in doing this we are honouring the significant role he plays in the spiritual life of the College. And secondly, it is a day of fundraising for the work of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan both, in Australia and overseas. Each year group has a particular ministry that they support and the students have learned about these ministries through ...

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  • Volume 34 issue 09 - 17 June 2022
  • Message from the Acting Principal

    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 ...

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  • Volume 34 issue 08 - 3 June 2022
  • Message from the Acting Principal

    This week I read an article called “Seven Things our high school daughters want us to know, and what you can do to help” written by Madonna King (taken from her latest book L Platers-how to support your teen daughter on the road to adulthood) – an author who has built expertise on the issues confronting teenage girls. In this article she lists seven important points about what the issues are that are of most concern for teenage girls.

    As I read this article, I could not help but nod my head at what I was reading as it ...

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  • Volume 34 issue 07 - 20 May 2022
  • Message from the Principal

    Over the last two weeks the College and girls in Years 7 and 9 have been busy with NAPLAN. This has been an extraordinary event to hold as all the girls have done the exam online and with that comes some anxiety and apprehension in this new form. They have been very well supported and encouraged by Mrs Claire McGillicuddy, Mr Ben Robson and Mrs Philomena Camilleri. I am very grateful for the care and exceptional preparation they have each devoted to this event so that the girls would be ready. I hope your daughter found it to be a ...

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  • Volume 34 issue 06 - 6 May 2022
  • Message from the Principal

    This week we hosted interviews of girls seeking enrolment to the College. What an absolute delight it is to see them chatting with staff about their hopes and dreams and imagining themselves at St Patrick’s for high school. We will continue the interviews on Saturday and I thank the girls and their parents for their preparation and conversation. I also appreciate our staff who have stayed back for interviews or will be attending on Saturday to support this very important activity.

    The College hosted its Annual General Meeting last Tuesday. Our very dedicated Company Members and a number of our ...

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  • Volume 34 issue 05 - 8 April 2022
  • Message from the Principal

    Last Monday we celebrated Harmony Day at the College. Throughout the day we celebrated the cultural diversity in our community. Girls wore their cultural dress and performed their cultural dance routines on the top oval and the Mary Sheil Centre. The Mary Sheil Centre was full of students and staff who were present to encourage and affirm the many girls on stage. It was lovely to see the pride and the honour each girl held for their culture and the pride and appreciation other girls held in acknowledging this diversity in their community.

    We regularly celebrate Harmony Day at the ...

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  • Volume 34 issue 04 - 25 March 2022
  • Message from the Principal copy

    One of the strengths of St Patrick's College is its diversity. In this community, we have diversity in religious traditions, diversity in culture and diversity in ethnicity. We have a number of different cultures that make up our community. These include girls from Pacific Nations, New Zealand, Philippines, and Britain.  

    Throughout my time at the College, we have worked tirelessly to make the community a safe place for all girls so that they can grow and develop to become the best person they can.

    All organisations need to be vigilant to ensure they continue to remain focused on this ...

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  • Volume 34 issue 03 - 11 March 2022
  • Message from the Principal

    Welcome the sun!! After the most extraordinary weather over the last two weeks, we are so pleased to see the sun shinning through. I do hope that you and the family were able to keep safe and that you didn’t experience any damage to your property. We are aware that a number of our families have been impacted by flooding which is problematic. Please let the College know if you need any support or assistance during this time.

    Last Tuesday was International Women’s Day. We had planned to mark this day last week but the rain and the anticipated east ...

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  • Volume 34 issue 02 - 25 February 2022
  • Message from the Principal

    You will have received correspondence that outlines the new regulations as communicated by the Premier on Wednesday and which come into effect next Monday. It will be wonderful to have assemblies once again and to have the girls interact with each other as they did in 2019. We need to continue to be mindful though that we are living in a pandemic and whilst the restrictions have started to ease, the pandemic continues to be very prevalent in our community. I urge you to continue with your vaccinations and to use some caution in the choices you make. If you ...

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  • Volume 34 issue 01 - 11 February 2022
  • Message from the Principal

    I hope you had a wonderful break and that the start of the year has been relatively smooth. Congratulations to the HSC class of 2021 as they achieved outstanding results in their HSC exams. Through their results, the College was again in the top 200 schools across the state and the best performing Catholic school in the Macarthur area. All girls achieved exceptional results across the bands with many achieving personal bests that exceeded their expectations. All girls who were seeking entry into university were given early offers before they sat their exams. We are very thrilled for them and ...

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  • Volume 33 Issue 19 - 10 December 2021
  • Message from the Principal

    This is the last newsletter for the year. As Fr Michael would often say at our College masses, “Where did the time go?” Today we held the final mass and award ceremony for the girls in Years 7 to 11. My thanks to Fr Felecki for celebrating the eucharist for us. Once again, it is a delight to join with the girls as their hard work and effort across the year is acknowledged and celebrated. It is unfortunate you couldn’t join us, but I hope you were able to access the streaming service that was available to you.

    Two documents ...

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  • Volume 33 Issue 18 - 26 November 2021
  • Message from the Principal

    Over the next two weeks we will see the Year 12 girls complete the HSC and join with them and their families in the celebrations that mark the end of 13 years of school education. We are very grateful that we can gather to participate in these events, given the restrictions and risks of the last few years. Please keep the Year 12 girls and their families in your prayers during this time. It might be hard to believe but in a short time, you and your daughter will also be celebrating her graduation from the College.

    Earlier this year ...

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  • Volume 33 Issue 17 - 12 November 2021
  • Message from the Principal

    It is hard to believe that there are only four weeks left of term. Staff are busy preparing reports and finalising marks, girls are completing assessments and getting back into the rhythm of school and slowly but surely the wider community is once again able to get out and about to be with family and friends from across the state. For the first time, we can dare to dream of life getting back to normal.

    I have recently finished reading a book titled ‘Black Box Thinking’ by Matthew Syed. Throughout the book, the author is driving the message ...

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  • Volume 33 Issue 15 - 15 October 2021
  • Message from the Principal

    Welcome back to term 4 and in a few weeks, a return to face-to-face learning. I do hope you had a restful break and that the return to term has been smooth and uneventful.

    Last Tuesday, during Pastoral, all girls listened to a presentation by Mr Luke S Kennedy. In his presentation, he spoke at length about the need to be true to yourself and that all people need to take the masks off that they sometimes wear which protect and disguise them from who they really are to the people around them. His powerful message was that girls need ...

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  • Volume 33 Issue 14 - 17 September 2021
  • Message from the Principal

    As you receive this edition of the Inside Out you, your daughter and the family will be thinking how lovely it is to now have some time away from the screen and the books, to rejuvenate and rest for the coming weeks. You will have received your email from the College yesterday, which outlines the journey back to face to face learning for next term and some of the adjustments we have had to make to accommodate the risks that still lay before us.

    Whilst we are all very excited to return to the College next term, it is normal ...

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  • Volume 33 Issue 13 - 03 September 2021
  • Message from the Principal

    Welcome to spring! What beautiful weather we are having as we herald in the warming of the earth and the preparation of the summer season. I have a family of magpies living around my backyard. Each day a pair of juvenile birds come down and poke around looking for scrapes and invertebrates to feast on. The songs and the tunes they happily broadcast to each other are iconic of the Australian summer. Often they will perch themselves on the washing line and appear to have no fear of me walking back and forth as I go about my business. They ...

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  • Volume 33 Issue 12 - 20 August 2021
  • Message from the Principal

    As this edition of the Inside Out comes your way we find more and more of the States across Australia are having to impose lockdowns and stay at home orders to protect their citizens from contracting this deadly variant of COVID-19. In addition to this, we have all schools in New South Wales now classified at level 4, which means all students are to be learning remotely unless their parents are essential workers.

    One of the continuing difficulties for each school, in this situation, is keeping their students connected and engaged whilst they are working from their home and relating ...

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  • Volume 33 Issue 11 - 06 August 2021
  • Message from the Principal

    I hope you are all well and keeping safe. Unless you are an essential worker, you will be working at home with children and family members all trying to conduct their business around the household. I imagine your workday will be peppered with some time reading work on your daughter’s Canvas page, helping smaller ones with their craft, maths or literacy and then your own work, which doesn’t get done until you return to it. We have shared with staff, over the weeks, several amusing prayers and images of parents at home in lockdown and students managing remote learning. It ...

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  • Volume 33 Issue 10 - 23 July 2021
  • Message from the Principal

    As I begin this editorial, we find ourselves once again in lockdown. Finishing our third week and looking at the fourth next week, we are all hoping and wishing that cases reduce so that we can begin the transition back to normal life. This Delta variant of COVID-19 is far more transmissible than previous variants and with the numbers of vaccinated people very low, the entire country is reeling from its impact. Let’s hope all stay safe and our community doesn’t suffer any more than it has to over the coming months.

    The girls have jumped into their remote learning ...

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  • Volume 33 Issue 09 - 25 June 2021
  • Message from the Principal

    What is Leadership? I consider this to be a timely question as today we informed the community of the new student Leadership Team at the College. Sadly, there are multiple examples of leadership in the business and political spheres which present it as a project that focusses on serving the interests of individual or small pockets of people who have influence and presence in the community. We see changes in our political leaders based on securing votes and holding power rather than providing the ethical and moral leadership that will serve the common good and the long-term productivity of the ...

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  • Volume 33 Issue 08 - 11 June 2021
  • Message from the Principal

    Sending your daughter to an all-girls' school: should you need to explain?

    Do your friends and relatives question you about the fact that your daughter attends an all-girls' school?  In the casual conversations I have had with a number of our parents, the answer is ‘Yes’. It would seem that for some in the community, a single sex education for girls is an anomaly.  A few years ago, I had some parents who were considering St Patricks College for their daughter, ask me if the girls will be able to speak to boys after six years of education at an ...

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  • Volume 33 Issue 07 - 28 May 2021
  • Message from the Principal

    When I was expecting my first child, I had diligently read all the birthing books and felt prepared for the experience. As she was born, the obstetrician said to me “Well, you think that was hard! You will now have to worry about her for the next 25 years minimum. What you just experienced was the easy part!”.  It occurred to me that over the nine months, I had been naively preparing for her coming into the world and hadn’t given much consideration to the years that would follow. In many ways, he was right.

    Parenting is a life-giving and ...

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  • Volume 33 Issue 06 - 14 May 2021
  • Message from the Principal

    All the Year 7 and 9 girls participated in their NAPLAN exams throughout the week. In addition to this the Year 10 girls recently participated in the Minimum Standards Test.

    Why test? All schools around the country have invested enormous hours and resources into the NAPLAN exams and the Minimum Standards Tests these last few weeks.  Students and teachers have been impacted as they have prepared and sat though the hours of questions and problems in these assessments. They have taken time away from classes and learning and for some students have raised anxiety levels and apprehensions about succeeding and ...

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  • Volume 33 Issue 05 - 30 April 2021
  • Message from the Principal

    Welcome back to the second term. I hope you had a restful Easter.

    Through the week, I went for a walk at lunchtime to catch up with the girls and see what activities they were engaged in. I was astounded by the number of varied activities and the large number of girls who were in classrooms or specialist rooms busily participating and having fun. We had senior girls tutoring maths to a number of Year 7 girls in one room, in another past staff, grandparents and friends were helping at least 20 girls knit their squares for St Vincent de ...

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  • Volume 33 Issue 04 - 26 March 2021
  • Message from the Principal

    This will be the last newsletter for the term and before we go into Easter. It is hard to believe we are now at the end of this busy term. The Year 7 girls have settled in well to high school. No one has managed to get lost on the site and they have met new friends, lots of new teachers and many exciting courses. The Year 8 girls have had their first experience of a normal term 1 and have embraced the experience of their new classes in TAS and Languages. The Year 9 girls are excited in believing ...

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  • Volume 33 Issue 03 - 12 March 2021
  • Message from the Principal

    Last week we celebrated International Women’s Day with a breakfast at the College. Our College leaders held a few activities to mark this special event on the actual International Women’s day, which was Monday 8 March.

    National Women’s Day was first celebrated on that day in the United States of America in 1909.

    Over the last century much has been achieved for women thanks to the work and advocacy of many.  Most importantly, the greater levels of education and access to health and employment prospects have improved significantly in that time. Despite this, much still needs to be done. Our ...

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  • Volume 33 Issue 02 - 26 February 2021
  • Message from the Principal

    This Saturday we will be hosting our College Open Day. Can you recall the Open day you attended and decided St Patrick’s would be the school for your daughter? We will have over 400 people at the College on Saturday, which is very exciting. We have had to adjust some of the activities in the rooms to be COVID safe but there is still plenty to see and do for parents and their daughter.  Let your friends and family know and perhaps they can come along as well. It will be lovely to see you on the day.

    Next week, ...

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  • Volume 33 Issue 01 - 12 February 2021
  • Congratulations to our Class of 2020

    Special congratulations to our 2020 HSC Dux: Imogen Mabin who received an ATAR of 93.95 and achieved above a Band 5 in two courses; and to Claudine Villamaria who received an ATAR of 91.20 and achieved a Band 6 in three of her courses.

    Distinguished Achievers lists the students who achieved a result in the highest band (Band 6 or Band E4) for one or more courses. Our 2020 Distinguished Achievers are:

    Caroline Adina

    Music 1

    Paris Houghton

    Music 1

    Imogen Mabin

    Biology and English Extension 2

    Emily Muscat

    Food Technology

    Stephanie Nott

    Dance

    Isabella Paddison

    Music 1

    Jessica-Leigh Ryan ...

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  • Volume 32 Issue 22 - 4 December 2020
  • Message from the Principal

    This will be the last edition of the Inside Out for 2020. It has been an interesting year which has seen us as a College community adjust and review much of what we do to accommodate the ever-changing landscape of the pandemic year. I would like to extend my thanks to you for your support and assistance over the year as you have worked with us to ensure the best is always available for the girls.

    This week we met with the Members of the Company and the Board Directors to review the year and discuss the budget for 2021. ...

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  • Volume 32 Issue 21 - 20 November 2020
  • Message from the Principal

    We hosted the Orientation Day for Year 7 2021 this week. How buoyant and exuberant the girls were! It was a great day to have the girls with us and walk them through the site. It was unfortunate that regulations precluded us from hosting the parents as well, but it was pleasing to note that the girls were not perturbed. In time, we will be able to have the parents onsite again and life will hopefully return to some sort of normal.

    We sadly will be farewelling Mrs Arena at the end of this term. Mrs Arena has worked at ...

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  • Volume 32 Issue 20 - 6 November 2020
  • From the Chair of the Board - Principal's Appraisal

    The appraisal report confirms that clear trends in the data collected indicate that Ms Lennox is a very effective leader and is highly regarded in the College and the wider community.  It is recognised that she has been responsible for turning around the perception of the College in the community over recent years.  The report confirms that Ms Lennox is known for her outstanding management and leadership of the educational community and that she has the ability to communicate and implement the College’s strategic directions to the relevant stakeholders.  She has demonstrated strong professional leadership of the teaching community at ...

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  • Volume 32 Issue 19 - 23 October 2020
  • Message from the Principal

    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 ...

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  • Volume 32 Issue 18 - 25 September 2020
  • Message from the Principal

    We had the Graduation Mass for Year 12 this week and celebrated their subject awards and major prizes. The girls put a delightful video together reflecting their six years at the College. It was witty, funny and a source of entertainment for all at the College. This group of Year 12 have had much to manage through this year, and they have been exceptional. We wish them all the very best as they now finalise their preparations for their HSC. They will celebrate some further graduation time with their parents after the HSC, at The Cube and the finale will ...

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  • Volume 32 Issue 17 - 11 September 2020
  • Message from the Principal

    How do you distribute the chores around the household between your children? Do you have set tasks that engage your sons and a different set for your daughters? In 2018 the University of Queensland’s report ‘Hands up for Gender Equality' found that most boys perform ‘outdoor’ chores such as mowing and putting out the rubbish whilst the girls are expected to do ‘indoor’ jobs like cleaning, cooking and child minding. There is a suggestion that the allocation of such chores in a family has implications on the perception the young person will develop of their future work areas. The suggested ...

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  • Volume 32 Issue 16 - 28 August 2020
  • Message from the Principal

    As you would be aware St Patrick’s College is a Good Samaritan College. We are part of a network of Good Samaritan Colleges that are in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. In total there are ten Colleges. Wollongong diocese has three Good Sam schools which are Mater Dei, St Mary Star of the Sea, Wollongong and ourselves.  Under Good Samaritan Education we are provided support and guidance in living out and demonstrating the Benedictine values in our communities. More recently, Good Samaritan Education has developed a statement on ‘the Voice and Experience of Women in Leadership’. They are currently ...

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  • Volume 32 Issue 15 - 14 August 2020
  • Message from the Principal

    Over the past few weeks we have been working with the Year 11 cohort to finalise the new College student leadership team. The girls have put themselves forward and either offered themselves or voted after careful consideration for the person they felt best fits the role.

    As a final stage of this process, Mr Bettiol, Mrs Wright, Mr Combes, Mr Gattone, Mr Ashcroft and I have met with three or four girls and interviewed them about leadership and what they can bring to the different roles. It has been an absolute delight to hear these girls speak about servant leadership ...

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  • Volume 32 Issue 14 - 31 July 2020
  • Message from the Principal

    As we finished term 2 the mood was one of excitement and optimism. Benedict Day, whilst constrained by the regulations at the time, were a great celebration of the talents in the community. We began with a lovely liturgy, which I hoped you have been able to view, then the MP3 project on the top oval and the piece de resistance, the talent quest of students and staff. There was much laughter and appreciation coming from the classrooms as they enjoyed watching pure talent represented on their screen. We managed to raise $4,621.75 for the Good Samaritan Foundation on the ...

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  • Volume 32 Issue 13 - 26 June 2020
  • Message from the Principal

    This week we held the parent/teacher/student interviews. It was a bold step to hold them all via Zoom with pastoral advisors speaking with parents for the day. I appreciate the preparation all pastoral advisors did so that they could provide some helpful and relevant feedback to you about your daughter’s progress. I know some spent over four hours online speaking with parents and girls on Tuesday. I also extend my thanks to parents. Once again, you have had to be agile in your adjustments and accommodate the changes. Thank you for your flexibility. We had just over four hundred Zoom ...

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  • Volume 32 Issue 12 - 12 June 2020
  • Message from the Principal

    With the refurbishments in Westview completed the girls were timetabled back into the building this Tuesday. The new spaces are beautiful. They include new art spaces, a Design Centre, areas for collaboration and areas to create and print. The new display spaces are able to showcase the work of the girls and the interiors provide both light and an open airy ambience. These areas will be very well served by the girls and we are very grateful to the Board for their support in this refurbishment project. We are also appreciative of the State and Commonwealth funding we received through ...

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  • Volume 32 Issue 11 - 29 May 2020
  • Message from the Principal

    From next Monday all students will be back at the College. We look forward to this and hope the girls enjoy their return to onsite learning. As we return to a normal program at the College, the Inside Out will resume to fortnightly editions.

    You will have heard in the media that a few schools have closed recently as a result of a positive diagnosis of someone in their community. All the safety measures in place in a school will not be able to negate all risk of this happening. At St Patrick's we have a number of safety measures ...

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  • Volume 32 Issue 10 - 22 May 2020
  • Message from the Principal

    This week we have seen a number of changes with the welcome back of Years 7 to 10 across the week and all staff now on site. On each of their first days the student leadership team were at the front gate to welcome the girls, handing them lolly pops and a warm smile. Later at lunchtime on the top oval, the music was on and banners of welcome were around the buildings. For all those girls who were a little apprehensive about a return to the site, their fears were dispelled as the hospitality was clearly genuine and inclusive. ...

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  • Volume 32 Issue 09 - 15 May 2020
  • Message from the Principal

    Happy Mother's Day to all in our community who hold a mothering role. I hope you were able to spend some time with some of the family over the weekend. We cannot underestimate the impact our mothers have on our development over the years. The selflessness and devotion to their children is unmatched and I hope all were able to express their gratitude to the mother figures in their lives last week.

    The transition back for girls in Years 11 and 12 has been smooth. Whilst the lessons have been shorter than in the past, the girls have used their ...

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  • Volume 32 Issue 08 - 8 May 2020
  • Message from the Principal

    This week we had our first virtual full College assembly. It was a great logistical exercise for the three IT staff and they were exceptional in delivering the event. There were a few agenda items and the feedback from staff and students was very positive. Here is the link to the assembly for you to enjoy. Click Here 

    Later in the day we had our first Remote Activities lesson. Again a number of people worked behind the scenes so that this could be offered for the girls. Thanks again to the IT team and Mr Ashcroft in organising this. ...

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  • Volume 32 Issue 07 - 1 May 2020
  • Message from the Principal

    We have now been back into Remote Learning for a week.  The girls have settled well in the familiar routine which they established earlier. The leadership and management team members have been popping into the Zoom pastoral periods at the start of each day and it is lovely to see the girls once again. Some of the girls are optimising the convenience of not having to allocate time to travel to school as they look very comfortable in their spaces with drinks and breakfast at the ready. Their attendance has been exceptional. Our total absences have been the lowest in ...

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  • Volume 32 Issue 06 - 3 April 2020
  • Message from the Principal

    What a term we have had. Who would have thought at the start of the year we would be experiencing the change and disruption to every part of our lives we now have. As we returned to school this year, I distinctly recall thinking of the grief and hardship our families faced through the bushfires and floods over Christmas, never realising more was around the corner. As we watched the devastation unfold in China, I don’t believe we had a full appreciation of the impact this would have on our island nation a few weeks later.

    The girls have adjusted ...

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  • Volume 32 Issue 05 - 27 March 2020
  • Message from the Principal

    This edition will be slightly smaller as the Inside Out will operate weekly whilst we have this extraordinary situation of girls learning off site for the remainder of the term. In listening to the Prime Minister's address the other evening there was a suggestion that these arrangements may continue into the start of next term as well. These are new and interesting times.

    Staff started the pupil free day placed in rows in the MSC ready for our instruction on all the applications available to use with the girls. The social distancing requirements meant we were spread out not unlike ...

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  • Volume 32 Issue 04 - 20 March 2020
  • Message from the Principal

    What unprecedented times we currently find ourselves in! Coronavirus fills every part of the day at the College. We are listening to what the Government is directing and ensuring we are appropriately responding, we are working with staff in preparation for offsite learning and supporting and skilling them so that they are confident and ready should we move in that direction, we are assessing the access girls will have to technology to enable them to work offsite and exploring ways we can be sure they are all supported. Likewise, I would imagine you are equally disrupted. You may have very ...

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  • Volume 32 Issue 03 - 6 March 2020
  • Message from the Principal

    International Women’s Day is tomorrow.  This is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women whilst also marking a call to action for accelerating gender equality. The global theme for 2020 is Generation Equality. This theme will run for the year.

    The message is that we challenge stereotypes, fight bias, broaden perspectives, improve situations and celebrate women’s achievements. Collectively, each one of us can help to create a gender equal world. When we have a gender equal world our communities and economies thrive.

    Last Saturday we hosted our Open Day. Close to two hundred families ...

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  • Volume 32 Issue 02 - 21 February 2020
  • Message from the Principal

    As we make our way through the term I would like to draw your attention to some key events that are coming up over the next few weeks. Each of these are significant and I believe you will find them very informative and worthwhile.

    29 February - College Open Day will be held. It is a great day that showcases what we do at the College and why we provide such an advantage to the girls in the Macarthur area. Please encourage your friends and family members who still have not decided where their daughter will go for high school ...

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  • Volume 32 Issue 01 - 7 February 2020
  • Message from the Principal

    Welcome to the new year. It is hard to believe we have returned to begin a new year and that we have now transitioned into the 20’s. I am aware that a number of our families would have had little rest over Christmas. The bushfires were a constant threat and if you were not trying to protect your own property, you may have been out saving the property of others. If you have been directly or indirectly affected by these fires and are feeling the strain as a result, please come and have a conversation with us at the College ...

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  • Volume 31 Issue 18 - 6 December 2019
  • Message from the Principal

    It is hard to believe that this will be the last edition of the Inside Out for 2019. There has been a lot of activity over the last weeks as staff have completed marking, reporting and programs for the year. You will receive your daughter's report in the coming days. I encourage you to sit with your daughter and go through the document. Affirm where there has been improvement and growth and discuss a plan where the growth has been disappointing. In a few weeks, the Year 12 girls will receive their HSC results and it is the attentive students, ...

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  • Volume 31 Issue 17 - 22 November 2019
  • Message from the Principal

    As I write this editorial, we are experiencing hazardous weather conditions with very poor air quality and soaring temperatures never before recorded this early in the summer season. We have had three critical weather warnings in the last week alone. To be honest, I am fearful of what the coming months will bring. Added to this, we have many in our country who are experiencing the worst drought conditions ever. Even our families living in the Wollondilly area are feeling the effects of the conditions, as are those in the more regional areas of New South Wales. We have heard ...

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  • Volume 31 Issue 16 - 8 November 2019
  • Message from the Principal

    Last week I finished reading the book “No Friend but the Mountain” by Behrouz Boochani. It is the true story of life incarcerated in Manus Island detention centre for refugees and asylum seekers who arrived by boat. It was awarded the Victorian Premiers Literary Award this year. I didn’t find it an easy read. In fact, I have found that it continues to confront and challenge me. The life of the detainees in the detention centre was horrendous.  Behrouz described the social system in the centre as Kyriarchal. This term was first coined in 1992 and describes a theory of ...

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  • Volume 31 Issue 15 - 25 October 2019
  • Message from the Principal

    It is hard to believe we are now entering the last term and soon it will be Christmas. There is a lot of activity in the College at this time as teachers and students are busy bringing the year to completion with courses and assessments and the planning for 2020 is well under way. It is not uncommon  at this time of the year to see staff movement as our current staff pursue positions in other schools and we have the opportunity to welcome new staff to our community.

    Ms Dunn, who has been on parental leave for the year, ...

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  • Volume 31 Issue 14 - 20 September 2019
  • Message from the Principal

    This Friday 20 September, students across the world are encouraged to take action to entice their politicians to be more proactive in combating climate change. You will have read or heard about the school strike that has been planned for Sydney on this day. In fact, there are 4,638 actions across 139 countries. This is not a strike about a local or whimsical issue. It is about an issue of significant impact and a concern for the entire world.

    The whole notion of striking to draw attention to climate change was originally created by an exceptional teenager, Greta Thurnberg. Greta ...

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  • Volume 31 Issue 13 - 6 September 2019
  • Message from the Principal

    On Wednesday evening, we hosted Showcase. Here the Year 12 girls displayed the major projects they had worked on over the year for the HSC. The quality of the pieces was outstanding. On display were works from Visual Arts, Design and Tech, Music, Dance, Society and Culture, Aboriginal Studies and History Extension.

    Each piece reflected considerable planning, devoted attention and a commitment to excellence. It was thrilling to hear the girls explain their written pieces to the audience, sharing the complexities of their research and formulation of their responses. It was highly entertaining to see and hear the maturity of ...

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  • Volume 31 Issue 12 - 23 August 2019
  • Message from the Principal

    As I write this editorial the Year 12 girls will be resuming classes after their Trial examinations. This can be a difficult time for some of the girls. They have been working hard and preparing for the HSC and invariably, as they receive their results for the exams, some will be pleasantly surprised, and some will be disappointed. The mark of their drive to do well and achieve their best will be demonstrated in their responses to these feelings. Some will decide it is too hard and resign themselves to the fact that they have reached their best and some ...

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  • Volume 31 Issue 11 - 9 August 2019
  • Message from the Principal

    Last week I attended the Good Samaritan Principals Meeting as well as the meeting with Good Samaritan Education in Melbourne.

    One of the presentations over the two days was made by the Chair of Good Samaritan Education as she shared with us the experience the Congregational Leader Sr Patty Fawkner had when she met the Pope with leaders of other religious institutes. As she recollected in The Good Oil (July 2019) the highlight was when the Pope opened the discourse with those gathered by saying “let’s have a conversation”. Through this invitation he encouraged the 850 leaders present not to ...

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  • Volume 31 Issue 10 - 5 July 2019
  • Message from the Principal

    I read an article recently about ‘Concierge parents'. (Baker, J (2019, 24 Mar), " 'Profoundly dangerous': A generation at risk from 'concierge parents' ". The Sydney Morning Herald). Retrieved from https://www.smh.com.au

    This is a term used to describe parents who rush to rescue their children from the everyday challenges and minor failures such as a grievance with a friend, an approach from a teacher or a consequence for an inappropriate action. This is a growing phenomenon in schools where parents will  sort out any problem so that their child will not be confronted with set back, disappointment or challenge. ...

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  • Volume 31 Issue 9- 21 June 2019
  • Message from the Principal

    We are coming into the last two weeks of term. It is hard to believe that we will be half way through the year!

    Have you been following the progress of the Matildas as they compete in the football World Cup? How refreshing it is to see young women stir the hopes and dreams of a nation as they achieve success with each game. How equally refreshing is it to see a strident Sam Kerr respond to media reports to a less than favourable result in their first game. As Australians, we love it when we win. When we are ...

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  • Volume 31 Issue 8 - 7 June 2019
  • Student Drop off and Pick Up

    The College has provided a safe drive through loop with entry at gate 1.

    Any student being dropped off in the morning, via the front reception and compromising the safety of others, may be issued a lunchtime detention. 

    If parents are visiting the College and entering reception, visitor parking spaces are available for your use.

    I thank you for your partnership in keeping our students safe.

    Sue Lennox - Principal

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  • Volume 31 Issue 7 - 24 May 2019
  • Message from the Principal

    As we move into the middle of the term I would think that many students will be working hard to complete assessments and are preparing for examinations. Our assessments are primarily of learning and so unfortunately it is necessary that a body of knowledge and learning has happened before it can be assessed. The reality is that these assessments can then arrive in close proximity to each other, which can result in a very busy calendar. I was recently speaking with some girls in Years 8,9 and 10 and the one thing they have learnt over the years in high ...

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  • Volume 31 Issue 6 - 10 May 2019
  • Message from the Principal

    Happy Easter! I do hope you had a beautiful Easter and had opportunity to share in the joy of the risen Christ. I hope that you also had some time to relax with family and friends over the holiday period.

    You may have noticed articles and images posted in the local papers of the girls who represented the College in the ANZAC Day March in Campbelltown. Under the direction of Mrs Musico Rullo, a number of girls marched, dressed in the uniforms of women who served in WW1. Some of these uniforms were on loan from the 
    RSL and some ...

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  • Volume 31 Issue 5 - 5 April 2019
  • Message from the Principal

    I recently read an article written by a parent who chose an all-girls' school for her daughter. It was pleasing to read the thoughts and sentiments expressed in the article echoed those expressed here at the College. I am regularly surprised at the number of times our families are quizzed by others about why they would send their daughter to an all-girls' school.

    We see evidence of the benefits of an all-girls' education on a daily basis. The number of girls who feel free to participate in the swimming carnival is higher as the stands are full of only girls, ...

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  • Volume 31 Issue 4 - 22 March 2019
  • Message from the Principal

    We have been shocked with the devastating news that came out of Christchurch last Friday. It will be one of those events in our lives where we will remember where we were when we first heard the news. A city that has had its fair share of grief and tragedy in the past has now been subjected to another tragedy. Our prayers and thoughts are with the people of New Zealand and particularly those in Christchurch. The victims, their families and all in their community are in our prayerful offerings. I am struck with the leadership and response given by ...

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  • Volume 31 Issue 3 - 8 March 2019
  • Message from the Principal

    International Women's Day 
    Yesterday morning we hosted our annual International Women’s Day breakfast. Two of our ex-students spoke at the event. Dr Joanna Winchester and Baylie Trostian shared their experiences since leaving the College and gave some insightful words of wisdom to the gathered audience. We don’t often allow ourselves the opportunity to listen to other women and reflect on the messages they deliver. This morning was one of those nurturing opportunities where we walked away feeling empowered and hopeful of the future of women and our society. The unifying thread throughout their presentations was the impact and influence the ...

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  • Volume 31 Issue 2 - 22 February 2019
  • Message from the Principal

    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 ...

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  • Volume 31 Issue 1 - 8 February 2019
  • Message from the Principal

    Welcome
    Welcome back to the new year. I would like to welcome all our new staff to the College. They will be a great addition to learning and teaching and I am confident your daughters will find them to be excellent educators. We have included a photo of each in this edition for your information. They include Mr Bettiol, Assistant Principal Learning and Teaching, Ms Claudine Bella, English/RE, Ms Laura Bryant, and Ms Sarah Hilder, who are all English, Ms Cassandra Iler, HSIE/RE and Ms Soliette Roa who is Music. Finally we have Ms Courtney Russell who is our School ...

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  • Volume 30 Issue 19 - 7 December 2018
  • Message from the Acting Principal

    As we come to the end of another year, it is a time to look back and be thankful for all the year has held. As a College we are very grateful for all the members of the community who make this a special place – students, staff and parents. 2018 has, like all years, been a busy one and no doubt all of us will be looking forward to that first morning when we don’t have to wait for the alarm to wake us. But in saying that we must remember how lucky we are for all that we ...

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  • Volume 30 Issue 18 - 23 November 2018
  • Message from the Acting Principal

    As we move to the end of another school year, our thoughts always turn back to the year that has passed. As teachers we always ask ourselves about what we have done during the year and most importantly have we made a difference in the lives of our students? The College is a very busy place as we look to offer as many opportunities as we can to the girls. This also means it is a busy place for the staff and over recent weeks we have had a number of significant events where we have asked staff to give ...

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  • Volume 30 Issue 17 - 9 November 2018
  • Message from the Acting Principal

    Over the last two weeks in Chapel we have been launching the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Hamper Appeal. This is something the College has been involved in for a number of years and it is always a wonderful sight to see the hampers all completed and presented at our end of year Mass.

    By doing this launch in Chapel time we have been able to spend some time talking to the girls about why we do this each year and what it means for the people we help. Abby Malone, the College Social Justice Captain, spoke to the girls ...

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  • Volume 30 Issue 16 - 26 October 2018
  • Message from the Acting Principal

    As we begin a new term it is hard to believe that in eight weeks we will be coming to the end of another school year. When we finished last term, we farewelled the Year 12 group who left with the prospect of the HSC ahead of them – yet here we are now with them already well and truly in the middle of this final stage of their life at St Patrick’s. In that last week there were many special moments for the girls where they were able to reflect on their time at the College and whilst there ...

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  • Volume 30 Issue 15 - 21 September 2018
  • Message from the Principal

    It is hard to believe that in a few days we will be farewelling our class of 2018. They have been at the College for the past six years and are ready to now sit their exams and then begin a new transition into life after school. We will have opportunity to wish them well next week, but I would like to acknowledge the positive contributions they have made to the College over those years and wish them every success in their future.

    We have a world champion in our midst! Mr Scott Ashcroft recently competed in the International Triathlon ...

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  • Volume 30 Issue 14 - 7 September 2018
  • Message from the Principal

    Last Friday night the College hosted the 10th annual Father Daughter Dinner Dance. Once again it was a very festive event with dads, grandfathers, uncles and older brothers escorting the girls. With over 200 participants on the night, all had a wonderful time dancing and enjoying each other’s company. It can be difficult for these men to sometimes find time with their growing daughter and this evening offers an opportunity for all to reconnect. We cannot underestimate the significance a father or father figure can have on the development of a young girl. He offers her an insight into ...

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  • Volume 30 Issue 13 - 24 August 2018
  • Message from the Principal

    Several years ago I attended a conference in Auckland about the changing face of learning environments. One of the key note addresses was by two young principals who had lead their schools throughout the earthquake in Christchurch a few years prior. Their story was compelling as they shared their attempts to keep their school students safe, inform concerned parents that their children were safe and support staff who were desperate to ensure their own children were safe in neighbouring schools during this natural disaster. School staff train, prepare and routinely participate in drills which aim to ensure all are ready ...

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  • Volume 30 Issue 12 - 10 August 2018
  • Message from the Principal

    Welcome back to term 3 . I hope you had a good break and that you and your family are feeling refreshed. It was great to welcome the girls back and hear of their experiences over their break.

    We also welcome back Mrs Caffrey from her parental leave and Mrs Nicolaou who had some leave for family reasons. We have a number of new families joining our community this term. I extend a very warm welcome to you and encourage you to connect in ways that you feel comfortable.

    Thank you for your support of our staff PD week this ...

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  • Volume 30 Issue 11 - 6 July 2018
  • Message from the Principal

    Every five years all non-government schools are inspected by NESA. The inspection is of the school’s compliance on Registration and Accreditation for the delivery of the NSW educational credentials of the HSC and the RoSA. For the past year, the College has been preparing for this audit. In March, the College sent to NESA all the relevant policies and made available all the curriculum documentation for each of the Key Learning Areas. Wednesday this week, two inspectors visited the College to view some work samples and further evidence of the College's implementation of its policies. Whilst we have full confidence ...

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  • Volume 30 Issue 10 - 22 June 2018
  • Message from the Principal

    Winter has come with a vengeance! The cold winds and the rain have certainly made all of us realise that we are well into winter. This is also a time that people start to develop sniffles and colds. I hope you are all able to keep warm and dry indoors if you are feeling too unwell for work or school.

    Over the past few weeks Year 10 have been participating in the subject preferences process. They have heard information from several staff on various subjects. They have had to complete a checklist that identifies what the specific requirements are for ...

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  • Volume 30 Issue 9 - 8 June 2018
  • Message from the Principal

    Yesterday we had the athletics carnival at Campbelltown Stadium. With the weather being particularly awful on Wednesday afternoon, it was wonderful to see the sun shine and the pleasant temperatures from the start of the following day. Throughout the day, girls were busy participating in numerous events. They were cheering and active either running, jumping or just encouraging each other. These are the days that students will remember when they reminisce their school days decades later. These days are very important in the life of a developing adolescent. They offer activity that is different to the normal school day. Students ...

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  • Volume 30 Issue 8 - 25 May 2018
  • Message from the Principal

    Last Mother’s Day my father passed away. He was 91 and had been ill, particularly so, in the last seven weeks. Whilst I believe him going is a blessing given the suffering he was experiencing, it is still a significant loss to say farewell to a parent. I am not the first one to lose a parent nor will I be the last, so many will identify with this experience. Nevertheless, irrespective of how old, mature or established we are, our parents remain our parents for the entirety of our lives and the relationship we have with them is unique ...

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  • Volume 30 Issue 7 - 11 May 2018
  • Message from the Principal

    Welcome to term 2. I hope you had a good break and feel refreshed having had time with family and friends. I warmly welcome Mrs McGeachie and Mrs Ibbett back to work. Both had some time away, which had been unplanned but essential. It is fabulous to have them back. A few other staff also had some time away during last term and it is good to have all staff back on deck for the start of the new term.

    We have jumped into the term with Year 9 camp, diocesan sports competitions, debating and excursions. Soon Years 11 and ...

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  • Volume 30 Issue 6 - 13 April 2018
  • Message from the Principal

    Easter blessings to you as we return after the miracle of Easter Sunday. I hope you had a wonderful break and that you took the opportunity to join some of the many services across the region during the Easter season.

    Whilst the girls have returned after Easter feeling a little refreshed, it is evident they are ready for a more substantial break as we come to the end of term 1. The same can be said of the staff as they busily mark assessments and exams and provide feedback to students on the ways they could have improved. You will ...

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  • Volume 30 Issue 5 - 28 March 2018
  • Message from the Principal

    It is hard to believe that we are coming up to Easter. The girls have been working hard and I imagine that many will be looking forward to the break ahead. Assessments are coming to a close and activities are winding up. Give a thought for the teaching staff, who after a long term, will be bringing home assessments to mark, books to mark and programs to write. Hopefully they also will have some time with family and friends over the Easter season.

    Each fortnight I meet with the girls in year groups for chapel. The process is that the ...

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  • Volume 30 Issue 4 - 16 March 2018
  • Message from the Principal

    Happy St Patrick’s Day to you. Today we celebrated our feast day at the College with the Blessing and Opening of the new building,  a mass to open the school year and the Challenge. It was a massive day and I am grateful for all the parents and guests that could come to join us for the day.  Thank you to Fr John who celebrated our mass, to Sr Patty Fawkner, Congregational Leader, who conducted the Blessing and Opening, Sr Helen Foley’s family who could join us  and the many friends of St Patrick’s College who came along. Thank you ...

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  • Volume 30 Issue 3 - 2 March 2018
  • Message from the Principal

    Last Saturday we hosted Open Day. Once again we had many, many visitors who used the time to see the site and gain a sense of what we have to offer. We had a large number of girls acting as tour guides and assisting in the demonstrations and displays around the College. The positive feedback was overwhelming. The visiting parents recognised the very helpful staff and the confidence of the students. I am very grateful to the staff and students for being present on their Saturday. I am also grateful to the Parents and Friends who worked the barbeque and ...

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  • Volume 30 Issue 2 - 16 February 2018
  • Message from the Principal

    Tuesday 13 February marks the 10th Anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations, by then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. I recall all the girls at the College gathering in the MSC to watch this momentous event for our country. It provided hope in a belief that we would be moving further towards reconciliation and that the disproportionate statistics weighing against Aboriginal people in health, mortality, incarceration and education would be corrected.

    Unfortunately it is well documented that in 2018 there are more Aboriginal children in state care, and the Closing the Gap initiatives have largely fallen short. Inter ...

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  • Volume 30 Issue 1 - 2 February 2018
  • Message from the Principal

    It was lovely to see all the girls arrive back at school this week refreshed and ready for another school year. In addition to the Year 7 students, we also have quite a few girls joining us in other year groups this year. To all those girls and their families we extend a very warm welcome. I am confident you will find this community a warm and friendly place, where you will feel very much at home.

    We welcomed some new staff also this week. Ms Elizabeth Fenton (Science), Ms Sophie Lansley (HSIE), Mrs Madeleine Lytton (Music) and Mr Jared ...

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  • Volume 29 Issue 18 - 1 December 2017
  • Message from the Principal

    As I put this editorial together, the news is breaking about the behaviour of Don Burke towards women whilst he was anchoring the ‘Burke’s Backyard’ series of lifestyle television shows in the 80s and 90s. This  comes after the revelation of Harvey Weinstein and his predatory behaviour towards women over decades in the entertainment industry. As parents of girls who will one day graduate into the world to make their mark based on their talents and abilities, you must be feeling very troubled and concerned. As a College that shares your hopes and dreams,  and invests many resources, at all ...

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  • Volume 29 Issue 17 - 17 November 2017
  • Message from the Principal

    This week we hosted the Orientation Day for the 2018 Year 7 class. Once again fresh faced, very excited girls met in the Mary Sheil Centre to begin their St Patrick's journey. The world they will enter after six years at St Patrick's College and several years in after-school training will be a very different world to the one their parents entered after they finished their school education.

    According to the Foundation for Young Australians (FYA), and their New Work Order Research, the automation, globalisation and flexibility of the future of work will ensure that a 12 year old today ...

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  • Volume 29 Issue 16 - 3 November 2017
  • Message from the Principal

    Imagine you live in a country that is ravaged by war. Against the odds you escape with the intention of finding a location that is safe and secure. Imagine you come across to Australia and find yourself placed on Manus Island Detention Centre. Imagine trying to reconcile the fact that you are fleeing persecution but find yourself in detention. 

    As you wait to be processed, you find the country that brought you to this detention centre has now left the island and you are in the custody of the police of the host island. Is this ethical? UNHCR has repeatedly ...

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  • Volume 29 Issue 15 - 20 October 2017
  • Message from the Principal

    Over the last two weeks we have seen you at the College either attending your daughter's Parent Teacher Interview or attending the Year 11 Information Evening. Thank you to those parents who were able to attend. There is a plethora of information which proves that children, whose parents are engaged in their child’s education, achieve at much higher levels than those who do not have engaged parents. It is not always easy to come to the school after a day at work or when you have to balance numerous commitments to have the flexibility to be able to attend. Your ...

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  • Volume 29 Issue 14 - 15 September 2017
  • Message from the Principal

    Next week we celebrate the graduation of our Year 12 students. These girls have come to the end of their 13 years of school and are ready to move out into various paths that will create the rest of their lives. It is always a time of excitement, tinged with sadness and relief. They still have the HSC to finish, of course, but it marks the end of their time as a full time student at St Patrick's College. It also marks the end of a partnership with many families as well. The week ahead will have a number of ...

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  • Volume 29 Issue 13 - 1 September 2017
  • Message from the Principal

     

    Last night we were indulged with the display of the HSC projects. The various works represented many, many hours of attention, consideration, research, processing and fine tuning. Once again, the quality of the work was outstanding. All the girls can be justifiably proud of their final products. My thanks go to their teachers and their families as they supported the girls through the journey. We enjoyed the service of the Year 11 Hospitality class throughout the night. Thank you to all who contributed to such an enjoyable evening.

    This Friday we will again kick our heels up at the ...

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  • Volume 29 Issue 12 - 18 August 2017
  • Message from the Principal

    This week the College received the NAPLAN results for our current Year 7 and Year 9 students. We will have the letter out to families later in the week, so you should get your letters next week. As the exam is held in May, the Year 7 results are a better reflection of the achievements of the girls in primary school. The Year 9 results reflect the growth or learning gain of the girls whilst they have been at St Patrick’s College. We are delighted with the results of the girls. We are particularly delighted with the growth shown in ...

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  • Volume 29 Issue 11 - 4 August 2017
  • Message from the Principal

    Welcome back to Term 3. We are very mindful of the Year 12 girls as they sit for their Trials at the moment. They have studied and prepared and we all hope that they are able to reap the rewards of their hard earned efforts during this exam block.

    I warmly welcome back Mrs Thomas from maternity leave. It is wonderful to have her back with us. Sadly we had to farewell Mrs Breeze at the end of the term. We wish her the very best in her new role. Sadly, we will also farewell Mrs Stalker-Booth at the end ...

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  • Volume 29 Issue 10 - 30 June 2017
  • Message from the Principal

    When you next visit the College you will see the fencing up again as we prepare for the second stage of the building project. We will be refurbishing the old classrooms above the chapel and new integration rooms. Many parents who are ex-students in our community would recall these as rooms 1, 2, 3 and 3A. We will update these rooms and include operable doors so that they can be opened up to hold the HSC examinations in the future. Having this exam space will free up the Mary Sheil Centre for the rest of the College during the HSC ...

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  • Volume 29 Issue 9 - 16 June 2017
  • Message from the Principal

    We recently held our parent teacher student meetings and it was good to see so many parents use the opportunity to meet teachers and receive feedback on their daughter's progress. It is equally valuable that the girls receive the affirmation they deserve or hear the suggested changes that will bring about a better outcome for them. We have adjusted the configuration several times over the years in an effort to find a model that is most conducive to the busy lifestyle our parents are now managing. The parent attendance percentages were higher on this model, so we are assuming it ...

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  • Volume 29 Issue 8 - 2 June 2017
  • Message from the Principal

    I am watching the NRL State of Origin 1 game as I work on this editorial tonight and I have to say, it is wonderful to see the Blues finally looking so strong at Suncorp Stadium! My sincere condolences to our Queensland families who will be feeling just a bit gutted at the moment. The competition is the best of three games, so the final outcome could be anyone’s.

    At the beginning of the year, the College moved to a different information platform. It has proven to be a bumpy transition and we continue to have problems with the integrity ...

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  • Volume 29 Issue 7 -19 May 2017
  • Message from the Principal

    Happy Mother's Day to all of our mothers and mother figures, aunties and grandmothers. We hope you had a lovely Sunday last weekend and that the family suitably acknowledged your support and contributions over time. We hosted our Mother Daughter High Tea and once again it was a very enjoyable afternoon. The food was delicious and the stalls were very enticing. Michelle Fox, ex-student, entertained us with music and the photo booth kept guests very busy. I would like to extend our thanks to the P&F for their organisation of the event. Particularly President Denise Egan, who did a great ...

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  • Volume 29 Issue 6 - 5 May 2017
  • Message from the Principal

    Welcome back to school and to Term 2. You will have noticed that the media at the moment is filled with the announcement made by the Prime Minister of the new funding model know as 'Gonski 2.0.' Part of the report is that a number of Catholic independent schools will lose  a significant amount of funding over the next 10 years. I would like to reassure you that St Patrick's College has at no time been overfunded by any of the governments, so is not one of the 24 schools that will be most impacted by this change. If the ...

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  • Volume 29 Issue 5 - 7 April 2017
  • Message from the Principal

    Where has this term gone? It is hard to believe that as you read this, you will be preparing for Easter and the girls will be welcoming their first break in the year.

    We have had a number of events more recently which has seen the College hosting groups of people for various reasons. Last Thursday, we hosted 310 Year 5 girls from the local area for the Year 5 workshops. Despite pouring rain and windy conditions, the girls had a wonderful time experiencing life at St Patrick’s. They made sherbet in the Science labs, paper mache animals in Art ...

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  • Volume 29 Issue 4 - 24 March 2017
  • Message from the Principal

    Last week we celebrated St Patrick’s Day and you could be forgiven for thinking we were in Ireland with the rain and the overcast conditions. Despite the weather, it was a good day as we celebrated mass at St Paul's, Camden, then travelled back to school for a barbeque which was kindly cooked by our P&F and followed by the cross country and activities. The rain held off so we could still run most of the activities but the conditions were boggy. Thank you to those girls who had a role to play and entered into the spirit of the day with such ...

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  • Volume 29 Issue 3 - 10 March 2017
  • Message from the Principal

    Last Wednesday was International Women's Day. It was pleasing to note the attention this received in the media and the discussion generated about equity across the genders. Unfortunately, women continue to experience discrimination because of gender, which impacts on their opportunities and access to resources. In addition to this, women experience greater levels of sexual harassment and violence across the community. Whilst there have been great strides in access to education and attainment of education qualifications so that women now surpass men, that isn't translating into securing employment in the higher pay brackets.

    Last Friday we celebrated International Women's Day ...

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  • Volume 29 Issue 2 - 24 February 2017
  • Message from the Principal

    This Saturday we are hosting our annual open day. There will be many activities and displays at the College which will showcase the wonderful opportunities available to the girls enrolled. We have many students who will take parents and girls on tours of the site and as well we have our new facilities open for all to see. Please come along if you would like to view the College. Perhaps there are friends or family who are considering St Patrick's for their high school years? Bring them along or let them know we are open on Saturday 25 February from ...

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  • Volume 29 Issue 1 - 10 February 2017
  • From the Principal

    Welcome back to the school year.  We warmly welcome all of our new families and girls. It certainly has been a very hot and humid start and we can only hope that the weather will settle over February so that the girls are feeling more comfortable. Fortunately all of the classrooms have air conditioning so the girls and staff are able to continue working and the learning isn't compromised. We have opened the Mary Sheil Centre during the breaks so the girls can sit in there, however conditions are less than pleasant. The irony is not lost on many of ...

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  • Volume 28 Issue 19 - 2 December 2016
  • Merry Christmas

    You would have recently received a link to a survey we are conducting with our parents. Every year, independent schools are required to complete an annual report for the Board of Studies. As part of the report, I am required to comment on parent satisfaction. This data is gathered in a variety of ways and every few years we use surveys to inform the comment. I encourage you to complete the survey as it will assist us in our future planning and reporting.

    In 2009 the College established the Middle School and Senior School Coordinator roles. We decided to cluster ...

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  • Volume 28 Issue 18 - 18 November 2016
  • Dear Parents and Friends of St Patrick’s College

    There is once again material in the media about the benefits of both single sex and co-educational schools. There is available a plethora of research material that supports the benefits of an all-girls' education, but this is regularly dismissed by the advocates of the co-educational context. Over the last year a number of high profile boys' schools in NSW have announced their transition from all boys to co-educational. Why is this?  Why would you change if you are providing a product which has demonstrated strong benefits? Why would an advocate of an all-boys' educational institution, having promoted all-boys' education for ...

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  • Volume 28 Issue 17 - 4 November 2016
  • Dear Parents and Friends of St Patrick’s Community

    As you read this edition of the Inside Out, another group of students across New South Wales will have completed their HSC. In just over a month they will receive their results and begin to put in place the plans for future study, work or a gap year. The girls have been excellent in their attention to their exams and conducted themselves admirably throughout. They have been pleased with the various examinations and hold a modest sense of confidence in their performance. I would like to congratulate them on their efforts and thank our presiding officer, Mrs Thomson, for her ...

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  • Volume 28 Issue 16 - 21 October 2016
  • Dear Parents and Friends of St Patrick’s College

     

    Welcome back to term 4. It has started very quickly and before we know it we will be singing Christmas carols and setting up the Christmas tree!

    As we finished off at the end of last term we learnt that a few Year 12 students had achieved nomination at the highest level of their area in their Year 12 performance courses with BOSTES. For Dance, I would like to acknowledge Rhiannon B for being nominated in both core performance and major study performance and Alexandra W for core performance for Callback. As well in Drama, Megan K was nominated ...

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  • Volume 28 Issue 15 - 23 September 2016
  •  

     

    This week we farewelled our Year 12 class of 2016. What a week of mixed emotions. Joy and jubilation that 13 years of school education have come to a close, hope that the years of guidance and support will equip them with skills for future endeavours and sadness that it is time to leave the security and familiarity of St Patrick’s. This year group have been a hard working dedicated group of young women who are ready to make their mark on the world. We bid them well and ask that they don’t become a stranger to the College. ...

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  • Volume 28 Issue 14 - 9 September 2016
  • Dear Parents and Friends of St Patrick’s College

     

     

    Last Sunday was Father's Day. I hope all of our Father and father figures had a fabulous day and were truly spoiled and appreciated throughout the day by family.  

    Fathers hold a specific role in every family. Apart from being the person who delivers those sad and often forgettable 'dad jokes', fathers can offer stability, security and set appropriate boundaries for all members in the family group. For girls, dads are the first men to provide some feedback and encouragement on how she will be perceived as a young woman in a social setting. Girls long to ...

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  • Volume 28 Issue 13 - 26 August 2016
  • From the Principal

     

     

    Recently the Campbelltown Catholic Club held their communion mass and luncheon. Once again all the local Catholic schools received a donation from the club for individual projects. We are very fortunate to have this wonderful support from the Catholic Club and I extend my sincere appreciation. The glass doors in Westview were funded by the Catholic Club and P&F money donated last year.

    Last week we held the P&F AGM. I would like to thank Jodie Stuart for her role as President over the years. Jodie has stepped down after almost 13 years on the P&F. The following ...

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  • Volume 28 Issue 12 - 12 August 2016
  • Dear Parents and Friends of St Patrick’s College

    At the end of last year the Australian Education Council released the National STEM School Education Strategy for 2016. Research has found that the students most likely to experience disadvantage in future access to jobs and career progression due to their limited engagement with STEM subjects are girls, students from low socio-economic backgrounds, students of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent and students from non-metropolitan areas. There is ample evidence available now to support the notion that STEM skills and knowledge are necessary for success in the future. To this end, St Patrick’s College is hosting a STEM challenge on ...

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  • Volume 28 Issue 11 - 29 July 2016
  • Dear Parents and Friends of St Patrick’s College

    I hope you had an enjoyable break and that the time with your daughter was pleasant. We have returned to the College with the building work in full swing. There are jack hammers working above the reception block and there is sun streaming through the rear of the building, which before was a maze of corridors and offices. We had our first tour of the site at the last building meeting, this week. With hard hat on and enclosed shoes on our feet, we walked through the open spaces that will become beautiful learning spaces and revitalised traffic areas in ...

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  • Volume 28 Issue 10 - 24 June 2016
  • Dear Parents and Friends of St Patrick’s College

    "Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love you tomorrow, You're only a day away "Since last weekend's musical performance of "Annie" I have had the tune of "Tomorrow" in my mind. It creeps in most days and stays for a few hours. Such was the impact of this wonderful event. It was delightful to see the girls perform so professionally and competently. The whole production was exceptional and it was clear that all involved enjoyed themselves immensely. I would like to acknowledge the Creative and Performing Arts department in bringing such a big event to fruition. Lead by Mr Combes and ably supported by Mrs Glynn, Mrs Samyia, Mrs ...

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  • Volume 28 Issue 4 - 18 March 2016
  • Dear Parents and Friends of St Patrick’s College

    This week we celebrated St Patrick's Day. We had a beautiful mass at St Paul's Church in Camden followed by a sausage sandwich, cooked by our loyal parents and friends and then were entertained by Irish dancing and later Chris Glynn. It was a great day, prepared and orchestrated by many generous people and enjoyed by all. Thank you for sharing parts of it with us if you were able to join us.

    Last Saturday we hosted our Gala Ball. I would like to thank the committee Julie O’Keefe (chair), Peta Borg, Marion Windle, Katherine Power, ably assisted by Deborah ...

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  • Volume 27 Issue 9 - 12 June 2015
  • Dear Parents and Friends of St Patrick’s College

    At the conclusion of this first profession ceremony they became Sisters of the Good Samaritan. It was moving to see the joy on their faces at this significant point in their lives and the joy on the faces of all the other sisters present as they include them into their congregation. For myself and the other principals of Good Samaritan Schools present it epitomized what it means to be part of a broader community. We all felt joy and pride for Sr. Tuata and Sr. Juniko as they had travelled a long journey to get to this point.

    On a ...

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  • Volume 27 Issue 6
  • Dear Parents and Friends of St Patrick’s College

    During the past term, the girls had worked on preparing for the ANZAC assembly which was held on Monday 27th April. Year 7 and 8 made poppies. Year 9 completed slouch hats which had the name of an Australian killed in the Vietnam war on it. Year 10 created paper rose wreaths with the names of Australians killed in WW1. Year 11 and 12 made crosses, each colour representing a different conflict from the Boxer rebellion right to Afghanistan naming service persons who were killed in the conflict. RE students looked at the symbols of ANZACS , indigenous perspectives and ...

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  • Volume 27 Issue 8 - 29 May 2015
  • Dear Parents and Friends of St Patrick’s College

    Valerie Hannon spoke about the new culture of engagement needed in schools. It was pleasing to realise that many of the strategies we have implemented at St Patrick’s College Campbelltown reflect what she was advocating. The implementation of an integrated curriculum, high levels of professional learning for staff and a focus on the needs of the whole student, which is our Academic Care model, are all in line with the current educational research. Yang Zhao spoke about the need for us to encourage the development of the entrepreneur in our classes. The current educational regime satisfies an old paradigm, ...

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  • Volume 27 Issue 5
  • I would like to thank all the people involved in these celebrations as they truly mark a very special year. 
    The Ball raised over $10,000 which will make a significant difference to the lives of some of the girls and their families. Thank you to the organising committee Mary Ellen Bland, Marion Windle, Sarah Hardie , and Julie O’Keefe. All these women have busy working and family lives and their work on this committee is very much appreciated. I would also like to acknowledge the work of staff member Ms Deborah Renshaw who has had a very busy time negotiating ...

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  • Volume 27 Issue 7
  • Dear Parents and Friends of St Patrick’s College

    Last Friday we hosted the debating for the CSDA competition. It was delightful to see so many of our ex-students return to assist with adjudicating and coaching the younger teams. They stood out as articulate, responsive women who have the world ahead of them. These young women are a credit to their families and the College. 

    Six years at St Patrick’s College produces women who are confident, self assured and competent. I see this regularly in the various arenas around the community. Whilst at St Patrick’s they can develop without pressure or bias into the person they truly can become. ...

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