Welcome
By Mrs Liz Illingworth, Principal
I would like to extend a warm welcome to St Patrick’s College to our returning students, staff, parents and guardians and a very special welcome to all new students, staff and parents and guardians.
Over the past weeks, 25 new staff, 280 new Year 7 students and 35 new students in Years 8-12 have commenced at the College. Every person returning, or new is very welcome. St Patrick’s College is certainly a thriving community, and as I begin my new role, I have been inspired by the care and kindness of both staff and students and by the way they have settled into College life for 2023.
Over the past two weeks, I have spent time with many groups within our College. Our new Year 7 cohort; our Student Executive; our Staff; the Year 8 cohort, and last Friday, the whole College community at our Academic Assembly. Every interaction I’ve had has been a positive one. Students are respectful of themselves, others and the College, and demonstrate this through their impeccable wearing of the uniform, their punctuality each morning and to lessons and in the way they interact with others.
COLLEGE COMMUNICATION
To our parents and guardians, I thank you for reinforcing our College expectations and encouraging each of you to stay informed. This a reminder to please ensure the College has your current email address as this is the way we communicate with you.
Copies of major College communications can be accessed through the Schoolbox parent portal homepage by simply clicking on the tile of the school your child belongs to (example below).
Parents are able to support students in being organised and responsible and help them on their pathway to independence by keeping up to date with College happenings; this contributes to developing resilient, organised, respectful and mature students.
MISSION AND VALUES
The start of the school year is a great time to reflect on our Mission and Values. The Mission of our College is to be a school community of faith, learning, respect and service in the Catholic tradition and our community has discerned the following values as central to who we are: Catholic Identity, Compassion, Endeavour and Excellence, Individuality, Social Justice, Stewardship, Leadership and Relationships. Striving towards these values each day is essential to who we are and what we are about.
2022 ACADEMIC SUCCESS
Celebrating success motivates us and helps us develop a mindset of success. The academic success of the graduating Year 12 class from 2022 was outstanding. The College Dux for 2022 was Olive Morris, and we congratulate her on this achievement. Bailey Reardon, Alexander Smith and Sophie Illingworth also scored in the top 100 students. In 2022, 29 students from St Patrick’s College scored above 90. The Office of Tasmanian Assessment, Standards and Certification (TASC) awarded Olive Morris and Bailey Reardon an Outstanding Academic Achievement Award for 2022 for scoring over 99.5 and awarded Alexander Geale and Emily Hepburn an Outstanding Achievement in Vocational Education and Training (VET) Award for 2022.
Last Friday in our Academic Excellence Assembly for 2023, we acknowledged these students as well as all students from Years 7-11 in 2022 who achieved Academic Excellence.
STEM ‘HEART’ PROJECT
You will no doubt be aware that much work has already occurred in commencing The STEM Heart Project. This project will take approximately two years to complete and will cause some disruptions which you may have already experienced in moving around the campus. Thank you all in anticipation of your adaptability. If you haven’t yet seen the video showing the project visit the school webpage at https://www.stpatricks.tas.edu.au to see what the development will look like when completed.
CONDOLENCES
Our community extends sincere condolences to family and friends on the passing of Mr Darryl Tuppen. Darryl worked at the College for 11 years before returning to the NSW Central Coast in 2020. Darryl was a compassionate and committed teacher in his MacKillop More Tutor position, Ascent and Vinnies Soup Van activities. He loved spending time with his Year 10 Business classes, encouraging the next generation of business leaders.
Vale, Darryl – thank you for your contribution to the St Patrick’s College community.
I hope the first two weeks back at the College have been positive for students, and I look forward to continuing to work with parents/guardians throughout the year to ensure that each of our students is able to achieve to the best of their ability in all aspects of their lives.