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 with a breakfast at the College. Two ex-students, Chris Hutch (Class of 1967) and Kylie Seymour (Class of 2004) returned to speak of their life after St Pat's and the impact the College had on their development. Once again, it was a great morning. It was inspiring to hear what these women had achieved over their lives so far and how St Pat's has continued to nurture strong independent women ready to make an impact on their world.

Adolescence is a turbulent and difficult time for many young people. They are transitioning from a very ego-centric view of their world to one that is far more respectful and mindful of the existence of others. That awareness brings with it a greater sense of compassion, empathy and respect for the other. Maturity is a key element that will underpin the success of this transition. For parents and teachers, we work carefully with the developing adolescent to support and guide them through the maze. Invariably there will be some pain. Friendships will blossom and others will fracture. Girls will feel abandoned and left out and others will feel included and embraced. This is a natural transition. These experiences give the girls opportunities to develop skills, build resilience and learn how to live with others in community. When ex-students gather together many years later and they reflect on their younger selves, there can sometimes be a sense of reflection on how well or not so well they managed this transition. This happens in all schools across the country.

As parents, it can be difficult to see your daughter distressed or maligned by friends. Our immediate response can be to protect her and fix it. When this happens, we occasionally have parents making claims that their daughter is being bullied. The College's first response is to check it meets the criteria of bullying. That is: is it targeted, is it regular and have there been several occurrences, is there an imbalance of power and is it ongoing? If the answer to these questions is yes, we immediately implement the Personal Protection and Respect Policy and conduct a full investigation. The College holds a very strong position on dealing with bullying behaviour. More often though it is inappropriate behaviour displayed by students who are managing the transition of adolescence. This behaviour is not condoned and there are consequences for poor behaviour of any sort, however, it is not necessarily bullying. We keep a record of these misbehaviours and if a student has a number of such infringements, then her intimidating behaviour will attract further consequences. The Personal Protection and Respect Policy is in the student diary and I encourage you to read this as it is very comprehensive and clear about our approach.

Assisting adolescents to grow into mature responsible young adults can be a labour of love but a very worthwhile investment. Eventually they get it and the result is very rewarding. If your daughter has any of these experiences, please inform the College so that we can firstly identify what is really happening and then deal with the issues and the individuals in a way that is productive and supportive. In partnership we stand a better chance of achieving a happy resolution.

We have moved into the season of Lent and I will leave you with a short reflection.

Blessings

Sue Lennox - Principal

Lent is a call to weep for what we could have been and are not.
Lent is the grace to grieve for what we should have done and did not.
Lent is the opportunity to change what we ought to change but have not.
Lent is not about penance.
Lent is about becoming, doing and changing whatever it is that is blocking the fullness of life in us right now.
Lent is a summons to live anew.
Sister Joan Chittister, OSB

The liturgy was a celebration of the Christian call to be of service to one another. Using a story from the Gospel of Matthew, we were reminded that “whenever we clothe the naked, feed the hungry and visit the sick, we are doing it to Jesus himself.” Each Term 1 of the school year calls us as a Christian community to contribute to Project Compassion. This appeal coincides with Lent. The theme Caritas has chosen for this year’s Project Compassion Appeal is “Love your neighbour”. This reminds us that it is love that motivates us. Lent is a time of intense prayer and reflection. Our duty during the season of Lent is to recognise that, in helping the poor, we are in fact serving Jesus himself.

During our Ash Wednesday Prayer Service, we invited representatives from each Homeroom to come forward to collect a Project Compassion donation box. These donation boxes will be a physical reminder each day to give generously to help the poor and disadvantaged. Each year group has been given the challenge to raise $1000 so that, as a whole school community, we may reach the target of a total of $6000. Let’s make this goal a reality.

Angelo Gattone - Mission Coordinator

A total of $214 was raised and will go towards our College Community target of $6000. Well done to all the students involved. A great start to our fundraising campaign.

Maria Boulatsakos - Teacher

A number of Year 11 and 12 Hospitality girls started early in the morning for our College Open Day. Our students worked hard throughout the day continually preparing, cooking and serving mini quiches and chicken sausage rolls, which proved to be very popular. They enjoyed showing prospective parents and families their well-equipped commercial kitchen and discussing the skills they are learning in Hospitatlity. 

A week later, we celebrated International Women's Day with a breakfast, hosted in the MSC. A number of Year 11 and 12 Hospitality students volunteered to help cater for this big event. With students arriving as early at 5.30am, the girls worked extremely hard to ensure the wonderful breakfast was prepared to be served by 6.45am. It was a terrific achievement and one that was enjoyed by all. 

Maree Durrington - VET Coordinator

Election by the College staff and the students' peers into the SRC is a great honour and provides these students with an opportunity to lead and serve not only their respective Pastoral Classes, but also the College community. These students, through their involvement in all aspects of College life, have displayed the many qualities that are necessary criteria in the effective management of the role.

We wish the girls well for the year ahead and look forward to supporting them to live out the pledge they made on the day “to promise to represent our peers, our College, our families and our community at all times with the Lord as our light”.

Karen Wright - Assistant Principal Students

The first round of the CSDA Public Speaking Competition took place at Mary Mackillop College, Wakeley. Congratulations to

Year 7: Lucy B, Stella B

Year 8: Amadee T,  Angelina D

Year 9: Minduli T, Imogen M

Year 10: Olivia F

Seniors: Monique P, Kate W, Gemma C, Rachel N

Each of these girls offered thoughtful, engaging and challenging ideas in their well constructed speeches.

Special mention to Stella B, Angelina D and Kate W, who will be progressing to the Zone Final at All Saints Liverpool this Friday. Best of luck girls – we are all very proud of you.

Marguerite Pulham - Debating/Public Speaking

As it turned out, we were extremely lucky to get through our full swim program as around lunch time there was a serious thunderstorm making its presence felt on the radar. Fortunately we timed the carnival to perfection getting the last race completed, the venue cleaned up, rolls marked and students dismissed just before the storm hit.

There were once again a variety of highlights throughout the day, including the Year 12 fashion parade, the big sister/little sister noodle races, the point scrambles and the annual aquathon. The aquathon consisted of a 200m swim and 600m run and was once again hotly contested, it was Year 12 student, Joanne S, taking out the race with Year 10 students, Amy S in second and Amelia A in third.

In the pool, the best performing students in each age group for 2017 were;

12 Years Swimming Age Champion - Bianca R - Gilmore

13 Years Swimming Age Champion - Layla E - Lyons

14 Years Swimming Age Champion - Hannah P - Kenny

15 Years Swimming Age Champion - Jarian H - Chisholm

16 Years Swimming Age Champion - Niamh G - Lyons

17+ Years Swimming Age Champion - Jasmin W – Gilmore

Overall Swimming Age Champion - Biance R

In regards to House points, it was a one horse race all day with Gilmore going through the day unchallenged by their rivals and taking out the overall championship. In second place was Kenny while the surprise packet of the day was Lyons finishing third and Chisholm in fourth place.

I would like to take this opportunity to once again congratulate the students on the way they conducted themselves throughout the day. I would also like to thank the staff for their involvement in the running of the carnival and also to the numerous parents who turned up to support not only their daughter, but the College community as a whole.

Scott Ashcroft - Sports and Activities Coordinator

Congratulations to the following girls who have been selected to represent the College in MISA teams this term.

Year 7/8/9 Volleyball

Angelique-Laura H, Miriama K, Mackenzie M, Jessica N, Olivia A, Natalie T, Alysha B and Jessica R. Coach Ms Cornett.

Year 7/8/9 Softball

Chantelle D, Jarian H, Minduli T, Rachel T, Mackenzie B, Paris H, Amadee T, Ellie F, Janaya B and Rachel W. Coach Mrs Lawrence.

Open Tennis

Samantha S, Rahn W, Natasha T and Natasha F. Coach Mrs Caffrey.

Year 10/11/12 Basketball

Kimberly S, Amy S, Natalie S, Monique P, Megan B, Michaela C, Samantha J and Joanne S. Coach Mrs Nash.

Year 10/11/12 Oz Tag

Brooke D, Paris B, Emma O, Adriana H, Ana C, Eden G, Kayla G, Kiarra B, Lily M, Olivia F, Andrea M and Julia P. Coach Mr David.

Scott Ashcroft - Sports and Activities Coordinator

In the final, NSW faced off against South Australia and for a third time defeated them 5-1 to win the Australian Championships.

As a result of Jorja’s pitching statistics, she won the best pitcher of the tournament award.  Her statistics also gained her selection as pitcher in the Australian All-Tournament Team, In essence she was the best u/17 pitcher in Australia. A fantastic and well deserved achievement for a very talented athlete.

Scott Ashcroft - Sports and Activities Coordinator

All are welcome to attend the AGM.  The Parents and Friends Association is seeking Executive Committee members consisting of four office bearers: President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary. Members may be nominated for more than one position, the determination of the election for each of the positions will start with the highest office and work down. 

Please see the attached documents for the Position Nomination Form. 

We look forward to seeing you at the AGM on Monday 27 March. 

St Patrick's College for Girls, Parents and Friends Assocation.

Opal data gathered by tapping on and off is used to determine demand for bus services. If students do not tap on and tap off, services may be cancelled due the lack of recorded patronage.

With this in mind, we ask for your assistance in reminding students that tapping on and off at the beginning and end of each trip is one of the conditions of using a School Opal card. Your support helps us ensure we are able to provide the appropriate level of service to students.

The following procedures will apply for use of the Opal card.

• Students will be given an Opal card on arrival at Campbelltown Station
• Students must tap on and tap off on at every station

PLEASE NOTE: For parents/caregivers who have given their daughter permission to alight at an alternate station on their return journey, the following procedures will apply.

Your daughter will be responsible for the return of the Opal card the following day (please return to Teacher in charge of excursion).

If the Opal card is not returned, a replacement card fee of $20 will be applied.

Chat about the basics of smart saving, using a budget, deciphering your payslip and understanding good and bad credit.

Thursday 30 March at 5:45pm at Camden Library.

For bookings and more info visit www.library.camden.nsw.gov.au

13 March - Year 10 PASS Excursion
14 March - Middle School Parent Forum (9am and 7pm), Student Leadership Afternoon
15 March - Year 9 PASS Excursion
16 March - Dio Swimming and Tennis, Year 11 D&T Excursion
17 March - St Patrick's Day, Cross Country
18 March - EMERALD DINNER DANCE
20 March - CCC Hockey Selections
22 March - Year 10 PASS Surf Day
23 March - Year 10 History Excursion, Year 12 PDHPE Excursion
24 March - Year 10 Visual Arts Excursion, Year 10 PASS Excursion
27 March - Year 7 Vaccinations, P&F AGM, Year 10 PASS Excursion
28 March - Year 9 Parent/Student Information Forum
30 March - Year 5 Workshops
31 March - NSW CCC Swimming, VIP Preview Cocktail Party, Year 11 SLR Excursion
4 April - Senior School Parent Forum (9am and 7pm)
7 April - Easter Liturgy, Staff and Students finish for Term 1
24 April - Staff and Students return for Term 2
25 April - ANZAC DAY PUBLIC HOLIDAY
26 -28 April - Year 9 Camp
28 April - Year 7 STEM Day Incursion
1 May - Dio Cross Country, CCC AFL Girls Selection
3 May - CCC Open Netball Selections, DIO Girls Soccer
3 May to 5 May - Year 12 Retreat
5 May - Year 9 STEM Day Incursion, Year 8 Geography Excursion, Year 10 Food Tech/Commerce Incursion
8 May - College Photo Day
9 May to 11 May - Year 7 and Year 9 NAPLAN testing
12 May - AIME Excursion
13 May - Mother and Daughter High Tea
16 May - Year 7 - 12 Parent/Teacher/Student Evening
17 May - Year 7 Reflection Day and Mass
18 May - Year 12 Advanced English Excursion
20 May - Year 7 Enrolment Interviews