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. We are always delighted to keep in touch with the girls through the Alumni Association. Each Year 12 is given a lifetime membership at graduation so it will be wonderful to keep them connected. I must also thank all the parents who have been with the College for the past years and their daughter’s graduation marks the end of our partnership. Thank you for your support with the P&F, through the canteen or at various forums or panels. It has been a privilege to have taught your daughter.

Following on are some extracts from some of the speeches shared during the graduation ceremonies. Thank you for those who wrote such heartfelt and genuine recollections.

Elizabeth Thompson (Mother of Rosie, Class of 2016): 
"My first daughter started at the College in 2006 and here I am 11 years later, finally done. I actually was a St Pat's girl myself and finished in 1983".

"For us as parents, St Patrick's became an extension of our parenting with a solid structure of discipline and guidance. We have been in partnership with the school, and we have been fortunate that the staff were dedicated to the best interests of our girls".

"Our daughters have been fortunate to have been a part of a school rich in tradition and rich in opportunities, and as parents we should be proud that we have been able to give them that gift".

"The Benedictine values that have been an integral part of our daughters' St Patrick's education, will serve them well as they embark on their life. They have been given the tools to be well equipped to overcome the challenges they will face".

"With the help of the girls' teachers, the help of the girls' friends, the experiences shared, good and bad along the way, we have before us, those independent young women that we wanted from the start".

Monique Keogh - Ex Alumni President (Mother of Hayleigh, Class of 2016, and Georgia, Year 10):

"Farewell Assembly brought back lots of wonderful memories from when I had my Farewell Assembly in the very new Mary Sheil Centre as the Graduating Class of 1990. My life has now turned full circle, as I find myself back here at St Patrick's, not only as a President of the Alumni Association, but also as a parent of my daughters, one who is graduating tonight and another in Year 10".

"St Patrick's Alumni was established in 2010 in conjunction with St Patrick's celebrating their 170th Anniversary. Our main passion is to keep the connection between past students and the College".

"We currently have over 600 Alumni Members and this is continually growing. As a gift from your parents and caregivers, you have all been given a lifetime membership to the Alumni tonight. So welcome to the Alumni, ladies!".

"I'd like to quote something that your College Captain Myra said at the assembly today, "Goodbye until our lives cross again"".

"I would like to wish you every success and happiness as you embark on your next exciting chapter in your life".

The building program is progressing well. Reception is taking shape however we have had to keep Reception in room 11 for the rest of the year. It was first thought we could resume in the main building next term, however the noise in the main part of the building project will continue through term 4 and impact on the efficiencies of those working there. Hence we have decided to leave Reception in room 11 and will move across over the Christmas break.

During these holidays we have two members of our community travelling with Good Samaritan Education on immersions.

Madeline (Year 11) will travel to the Philippines to work at the Good Samaritan Kinder School. The Kinder school is in Bacolod, a very poor and disadvantaged community on the Island of Negros. She will travel with students from other Good Samaritan schools and witness the great ministry of the sisters in the Philippines. Ms Boulatsakos will travel with staff from Good Samaritan Colleges to Japan for an immersion. Here she will witness the ministry of the sisters after WWII and in particular the assistance given to the community at Nagasaki after the atomic bomb was dropped. We wish them both a wonderful immersion as I am sure it will be filled with both challenging and rewarding experiences. We look forward to hearing of their reflections on their return next term.

Next term we have a few staff on leave and a few further changes in leadership:
Mrs Irwin will be Acting TAS Coordinator whilst Mrs Reader is on long service leave.
Mrs Ibbett and Mr Ashkar will resume their previous roles of Senior and Middle School Coordinators for the term.
Mrs Wright will take on the Acting Year 8 Coordinator as well as her role of AP Students. Miss Glase will be Acting Year 10 Coordinator.
Mrs Matti will be Acting Year 9 Coordinator for four weeks as Mr Quigley has leave at the end of the term.

I am grateful to these staff for stepping up to these roles for the last term.

Wishing you a good break. Thank you for the ongoing support you give the College. Please keep our Year 12 girls in your prayers as they complete their final preparations for their HSC. We also have a few in our community who are suffering from loss and illness and we ask for God’s blessings on these families.

I will leave you with St Patrick’s Breastplate which was sung by the girls in our Graduation Mass on Wednesday.

Blessings 
Sue Lennox 

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me, 
Christ to comfort and restore me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
St Patrick's Breastplate