By Mr Tony Daley, Principal

Last Sunday was the last day of the Catholic calendar year. This Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent, the beginning of the Liturgical year of the Catholic Church. For many, it is time to bring out the Christmas decorations in preparation for the big man to come down the chimney. However, while this is a great time of celebration time, we must remember the true meaning of Christmas as celebrating the birth of our Christ Saviour. 

It is a time of gratitude, a time for family and a time when we think of others and how we can make their lives better. Ever since my children have been young, we have always visited the Giving Tree to ensure that they have an appreciation that not everyone has the ability to afford the Christmas that they experience. At the College, we replicate this sentiment by having our students contribute to the Vinnies Christmas Hamper appeal. The College and Vinnies are extremely grateful to families that generously contribute to the healthy Christmas Hampers provided to St Vincent de Paul. While referring to St Vincent de Paul, I am going to appeal for more people from our community over 18 years of age to volunteer to help on the Vinnies Van, which assists the less fortunate in our Launceston community. You would already know that our Year 9 students make and provide the soup for the Van, but Vinnies also provide sandwiches, blankets and warm clothing. Having been a volunteer on the Van, I can guarantee the experience certainly changes how you view the world. If you could spare some time, please get in touch with Mrs Kate Rockliffe, Director of Catholic Identity and Mission, by email to kate.rockliffe@stpatricks.tas.edu.au.

Yesterday, we welcomed the new Year 7s of 2023, who will be the graduating class of 2028. By all reports it was a great day and even though a few found the size of the College daunting, they engaged fully in the day in preparation for next year. They also had the opportunity to meet the new College Principal, Mrs Liz Illingworth.

Excitingly, I also inform you that the new STEM build has now begun. We have started to replace the heating through the Edmund Rice Centre and are preparing the building site for demolition in early December. I look forward to following the progress over the next two years.

On the co-curricular front, I was amazed to witness the progress students make from the early stages of the Instrumental Music Program to the magnificent performances of our Senior Bands last Thursday at the Annual Catholic Schools Concert. Congratulations to all staff and parents who contributed to the success of the evening.

Finally, this is my last newsletter as Principal of St Patrick’s College - a truly amazing community of students, staff, Board, priests, parents and caregivers. I have been blessed by the support of all involved, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I could write a whole other newsletter thanking everyone individually. St Patrick’s College is one of the best Colleges I have had the privilege of working at and have been lucky enough to lead. Thank you for the memories.

God bless.

Front Office will close at 4:30 on Thursday 15 December and reopen at 8:00 on Monday 16 January.

Please note that three dates have recently changed. In Term 3, students now return on Tuesday, 25 July. In Term 4, Years Year 11 & 12 Students commence on Monday 16 October and Years 7-10 on Tuesday 17 October. Please see the updated 2023 Term Dates below. 

Term 1 

January

Monday 16 January – College Front Office Opens

Friday 27 January – New Teaching Staff Commence 

Thursday 26 January – Australia Day Public Holiday

Monday 30 January – Teaching Staff Commence 

February

Friday 3 February – Students' Years 7 & 12 Commence

Monday 6 February – Students' Years 8-11 Commence

March

Monday 13 January – March Long Weekend 

Tuesday 14 March – Moderation Day (Student-free Day)

April

Thursday 6 April – Term 1 Concludes

Friday 7 April – Good Friday

Term 2

April

Monday 24 April – Teaching Staff Commence (Spirituality Day)

Tuesday 25 April – Anzac Day 

Wednesday 26 – Students Commence

June

Monday 12 June – Queen's Birthday Long Weekend (TBA)

July

Friday 7 July – Term 2 Concludes

Term 3 

July

Monday 25 July – Term 3 Commences

September

Friday 1 September – Moderation Day (Student-free Day)

Friday 29 September – Term 3 Concludes

Term 4

October

Monday 16 October – Term 4 Commences Year 11 & 12 Students

Tuesday 17 October – Years 7-10 Commence

Wednesday 25 October – Years 11 and 12 Students Finish

November

Monday 6 November – Recreation Day Public Holiday

December

Friday 8 December – Transition Day: Year 8 into 9, 2024; Year 9 into 10, 2024 

Monday 11 December - Term 4 Concludes

Tuesday 12 December – End of Year Mass and Presentations (Student-free Day)

Tuesday 19 December – College Front Office Closes

Published 24 November, 2022 <https://www.launceston.tas.gov...>

The 2022 City of Launceston Heritage Snap junior photography awards have been announced at a ceremony at Town Hall.     

The annual awards are organised by the Council's Heritage Advisory Committee, which was formed in 2008 to provide advice to the Council on heritage matters and to promote the values of heritage places within the municipality.  

Launceston Mayor Danny Gibson said this year marks the Committee and the award's 14th anniversary, which continue to grow and evolve each year.  

"As part of that evolution, the photography award category for students was added to the programme in 2014, acknowledging the importance of young people in the preservation and celebration of our built heritage," Mayor Gibson said.  

"Launceston's built heritage is extremely well regarded not just nationally but the world over, and it's important that we recognise and celebrate that."  

The Heritage Snap photography competition is open to school-aged students and is divided into three sections: primary, grades 7 to 10 and grades 11-12.  

"The competition provides the perfect opportunity to promote our heritage environments in a contemporary way to a much younger audience by focussing on specific themes and details that are often overlooked," Mayor Gibson said.  

"Through the Heritage Snap competition, the Council hopes to inspire our young people to take a real interest in our beautiful city's built heritage by focussing on specific details and attributes often overlooked."  

This year's theme for Heritage Snap was 'Young at heart'.  

"Launceston has always been a city of innovation - many of the buildings we see now as old were once the 'latest thing' and show the excitement and creativity of earlier times," Mayor Gibson said.  

"The Committee wanted to see images of places in and around Launceston that our young people think are still vibrant and hear how they imagine their youth.  

"This year's entries were of an incredibly high standard and it was extremely pleasing to see so many young people in our community embrace the theme of this year's Heritage Snap!"  

HERITAGE SNAP WINNERS  

Years 7-10 Commendations:  

Jasmine Axman-Friend (Year 10, St Patrick's College)  

Max Brown (Year 9, St Patrick's College)  

Isabella Perry (Year 8, St Patrick's College)  

Molly Tanton (Year 10, St Patrick's College)  

Years 7-10 Winner: 

Kate Rigby (Year 10, St Patrick's College)

YEARS 11-12 Commendations:  

Marshall Fyfe (Year 11, Launceston College)  

Mikayla-Jade Whyte (Year 11, Newstead College)  

YEARS 11-12 Winner: 

Henry Carls (Year 11, St Patrick's College)

The winning entries and supporting statements by Kate and Henry can be seen below.

Kate Rigby | The Gorge, 2022

While the city of Launceston is young at heart, its heart isn’t young. The Gorge, often labelled as the ‘jewel in the crown of northern Tasmania’, holds essential historical and cultural significance to all.  Belonging to the Panninher and Tyrernotepanner peoples of Lutruwita, the Gorge has long been important to indigenous peoples, especially those who continue to care for country.  Though the area is accessible and of value to individuals from all walks of life, it’s important to recognise that we share our love for the Gorge alongside First Nations peoples.

The image, taken from an Aboriginal ochre site, aims to represent the importance of the area to the traditional owners of the land. The Gorge is a link directly into indigenous history if we only take a moment to look. Though Launceston has changed, expanded and reinvented itself, its heart has stayed beating for over 40 million years and continues beating through the lives of First Nations peoples.

Henry Carls | Holyman House, 2022

In times of adversity, the optimism of youth wields immense power. For interwar Launceston, the magnificent Art Deco façade of Holyman House represented such power, inviting the city into an ambitious world of aviation and automobiles – two business endeavours of Tasmania’s Holyman family. Built in 1936, Holyman House mirrors the cutting-edge architecture that adorned New York City during this period. Holyman’s streamlined furnishings project upwards as if pointing to an exciting vision of the future to passing pedestrians. Although the building has seen many different uses since its commission, Holyman House remains a symbol of youthful hope in Launceston.

COLLEGE UNIFORM STORE (ON-CAMPUS)

The College Uniform Store’s last trading day for Term 4 2022 is Wednesday 7 December, from 8.00am – 2.00pm.

TERM 1 2023 – EXTENDED TRADING HOURS

Monday 23 January, 9.00am – 3.00pm

Tuesday 24 January, 9.00am – 3.00pm

Wednesday 25 January, 9.00am – 3.00pm

Thursday 26 January CLOSED

Friday 27 January 9.00am – 3.00pm

Monday 30 January 9.00am – 3.00pm

Tuesday 31 January 9.00am – 3.00pm

Regular trading hours resume Wednesday 1 February 2023

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 8.00am – 4.00pm

MIDFORD LAUNCESTON STORE (132 CHARLES ST, LAUNCESTON)

Wednesday 21 December CLOSED from 3.00pm

Wednesday 4 January REOPENS and resumes regular trading hours.

Monday – Friday 8.30am – 5.00pm
Saturday 9.00am – 2.00pm

ONLINE APPOINTMENT BOOKINGS

Bookings can be made through our online booking system by clicking the relevant link below.

St Patrick’s College Uniform Store

https://MidfordBooking.as.me/S...

Midford Launceston Store

https://MidfordBooking.as.me/L...

You are welcome to purchase from the online uniform shop at your convenience and your order will be filled when the store is next open. Log onto www.midford.com.au and use the passphrase: SPC1873

We look forward to meeting you and servicing your school uniform needs. For further information, please contact us:

College Uniform Store Manager 
Mrs Debbie Price 
Phone: 6341 9933 
Email: stpatricks@midford.com.au 

Midford Launceston Store Manager
Ms Melissa Heather
Phone: 6331 4622
Email: launceston@midford.com.au

View and download a printable welcome letter and flyer by clicking the following link: https://stpatricks.co/3B0a2JG

Congratulations to Ryan Springer, who has recently placed 6th in the BMX National Cup (these points are tallied over the year of racing). Well done, Ryan!

By Mr James McGoran, Head of Library and Information Services

The ArtRage exhibition program commenced in 1994 and showcases the work of young artists in Years 11 and 12 studying Art Production or Art Studio Practice courses as part of the Tasmanian Certificate of Education (TCE). 

The curator of ArtRage travels around the state to view works shortlisted by Art teachers and makes a selection from these short-listed works. The exhibition provides a unique opportunity to view a diverse, multi-disciplinary exhibition of work by young artists with a vast range of materials and media employed. 

Students from St Patrick’s College whose works were selected for ArtRage this year are Kalani Ciantar, Demi Petterwood, Alice Murphy, Grace Le Fevre, Charlotte Hutton, Mia Hefford and Sophie East. 

Each year there is an opportunity for one student’s work to be selected from each course for the Examiner’s Choice award. 

ArtRage will be on display in Queen Victoria Museum at Inveresk from Saturday, 17 December 2022 – Tuesday, 11 April 2023 and will then go on to tour the state.

Reminder to the Class of 2022:- If you have not yet provided us with your post Year 12 plans, could you please complete the Year 12 2022, Post School Options form.

It is a Government requirement for schools and colleges to collect destination data relating to their graduating Year 12 students.  This information is provided to the Annual School Community Report as an overall statistical figure with no individual personal information.

We ask that you please complete this form by 16 December 2022 to indicate your plans for 2023.

Families should now have received correspondence confirming the elective subjects their child will be studying in 2023.  If you have not received this correspondence, please contact us by emailing contact@stpatricks.tas.edu.au.

End-of-year academic reports will be available on Schoolbox after 3:00pm Wednesday 7 December.

The report is a summary of the achievements of your child in each Australian Curriculum learning area. This report is based on evidence of student work over the school year and matches the achievement standards for the appropriate year level.  In each learning area, assessment is directly aligned with what students have had an opportunity to learn based on the intended curriculum.

For students in Years 10-12 studying either a VET or TASC subject:

• VET (Vocational Education & Training) subjects will not have an end-of-year report or a result listed on the End of Year Academic Transcript as results come from the Registered Training Organisation and will be forwarded on receipt.
• TASC subjects will not have an end-of-year report or a result listed on the End of Year Certificate as results are forwarded directly to the student from the Office of Tasmanian Assessment, Standards and Certification (TASC).

For further information on understanding the reports, please visit https://stpatricks.co/UndRep

Parents/guardians who are unable to access Schoolbox to access their child’s reports should visit the Schoolbox Help Centre at https://www.stpatricks.tas.edu... or contact the College by calling 6341 9988.

By Mrs Jodie White, Future Pathways Coordinator

POSITIONS AVAILABLE

Hudson Civil Products
Apprenticeship – Boilermaker/Welder

Tasmania’s leading manufacturer and supplier of infrastructure products to the civil construction, irrigation, water/wastewater, mining, building, development and rural sectors.

Hudson Civil is looking for their next 2023 apprentice to work in a growing and innovative industry.

Your application is to include a cover letter and resume.

Email application to, Attention: Jason Lanham, General Manager at Jason.lanham@hudsoncivil.com.au

Hospitality - Casual Front of House Staff

Café Mondello

A busy local café located in Charles Street is seeking casual staff to work Front of House weekdays and weekends.

If interested, please take your resume in, and ask to see James.

Boland’s IGA Newnham
Customer Service – Casual Staff

IGA at Newnham is looking for casual staff to work weekdays and weekends. If you are keen and genuinely interested in working, honest and reliable, they are happy to train you!

Your application is to include a cover letter and resume.

Email your application to, Attention: Sandra Bowland, Manager at valueplusnewnham@bigpond.com or take your application in and ask for Sandra.

First National Real Estate Claridge

Junior Administration Position

We are Hiring!

First National Real Estate Claridge is looking for their next super staff member to join the administration team. We are looking for the right fit to join our already strong team.

The position is a junior administration role within the office, and a traineeship will be offered to the right candidate.

The role requires someone proactive, creative, with excellent IT, written and verbal communication skills, good knowledge of social media and a fast learner. Multitasking and time management skills are a must for this position. A bright, smiley personality and being well-presented is also a requirement.

This will be an office-based role with some opportunities to venture out as required by other staff members.

If You feel that you have these qualities and would like to see what real estate is all about, please visit the office at 3/76-78 Emu Bay Rd, Deloraine with your resume and cover letter or if You can't make it in between 9:00am and 5:00pm, please email applications to mail@delorainerealestate.com.au

By Ryan Fleming

Recently, I was fortunate enough to be involved with Taronga Zoo in Sydney’s school work placement program. Working in a zoo has always been a dream of mine and through the hard work of Ms Jodie White and the Future Pathways team I was invited to work in the Exotic Division of the zoo. 

During the week, I spent time working with a wide variety of species. On Monday, tigers; on Tuesday, sun bears, otters and the lions (the day before their 'escape mission'); and Wednesday, meerkats, langurs, gorillas and chimpanzees; and finally, Thursday and Friday were spent working with the giraffes, pygmy hippos and the bongos.

I was a part of feeding the animals, cleaning enclosures, creating enrichment, participating in training, and preparing food for the afternoon feeds.

Other students from around the country worked with reptiles, birds and marine animals, with the Wildlife Hospital and Australian Mammals not being selected for our week. 

Working alongside some of the most experienced and knowledgeable staff in Australia was truly a privilege and a dream come true. I have made many contacts and formed friendships with the staff. 

I strongly recommend for any student with an interest in working in the animal care industry apply for work experience in 2023, it is an unforgettable experience! 

By Ms Leigh Hart, Head of School – Croagh Patrick

Term 4 has been extremely busy for our Croagh Patrick students, we had our 24-hour Solo camps in Weeks 3 and 5. In Week 4, we had our Grandparents' House mornings with students performing and sharing their work with their grandparents. As you can see by the photos, the love and very special relationship between the generations makes this event a favourite for all. 

After the visit from their grandparents, students also got to experience learning in a very different way, again in House-based groups, students were given challenges to solve in teams, all the while running through the streets of Launceston. The Croagh Patrick Amazing Race is an activity which has been developed over several years to give our students an opportunity to apply Maths, History, logistics, visual literacy and group dynamics, all while navigating the roadblocks and physical challenges along the way. A special thanks must go to Mr Paul McIver for organising this event.

Naturally, with all these visitors to our campus, it was an ideal time to show our students’ work in some of our option subjects. The Food Studies students created the morning tea for the grandparents – again, thanks must go to our Food Studies teachers, Mr Jonathon Ray, Mrs Debbie Petrusa, and Ms Maria Bassett. Mrs Jill Crawford and her Art Committee had covered all walls with a year’s worth of Art, everything from our popular skateboard designs to our Bay of Fires entries to lino prints which were auctioned off as a fundraiser for Rotary to buy water purifiers for communities in need. Jill has driven the Croagh Patrick Art Show for the past 11 years, and we cannot thank her enough for the time, patience and passion she brings to her teaching. We also welcomed parents, friends and families to our annual Open Windows Performance, a celebration of Drama and Dance. This year the theme was School, with students performing work from musicals, films and plays that all depicted the theme.

Finally, last week we again invited parents and mentors back to our campus to complete The Rite Journey program’s Sending Out Ceremonies. Held over two nights, each Rite Journey class held its own ceremony. Our students were affirmed, and the transition between child and adult was acknowledged. The power of this program was evident when parents spoke from the heart about the growth and change they had witnessed in their child. 

This has been a full term, with each celebration and event designed to acknowledge and celebrate our Year 9’s year away from the main campus. Next week we sadly say goodbye to our current cohort as they return to the Senior School and welcome next year's Year 9s. The circle begins all over again, but hopefully, all who have been through our campus will cherish the memories and keep a little of the philosophies in their hearts as their journey continues.

Read the latest issue. (PDF – Frist Sunday Advent – 27 November 2022)

Registrations will be open soon for the 2023 Way to St James Cygnet Camino, which will occur from Saturday 14 to Sunday 15 January 2023.

We warmly invite any interested members of the community to join in this great pilgrimage walking through the beautiful Huon Valley over the two days, culminating with a procession into the Church of St James in Cygnet during the Cygnet Folk Festival. Registration is required. For more information, please visit the Way to St James website and/or like the Facebook page. 

The Catholic Standard is the official print publication of the Catholic Church in Tasmania. Produced monthly, the Catholic Standard reports on local, national, and international issues of importance to the Catholic Church and community. 

View the Latest Issue Online

By Mr Craig Boon, Sports Coordinator

Schools Triathlon Challenge

It was a sunny (but slightly windy) day at Devonport Bluff for our competitors. 

The day is about participation but it is still nice to see the SPC students going well and Jackson Carroll-Egge and Beau Furlonge started the day nicely with a 2-3 finish in the Year 7 boys. Linkoln Grainger joined them later for the teams event and the boys acquitted themselves well.

A highlight for me was seeing our Year 9 boys team of Liam Hoare, Hamish Cook and Leo Bailey combining with Piper Van Emmerik (Year 10) to give Piper a chance to compete in the teams event after her teammates had to withdraw from the event earlier in the week – great SPC team spirit was on display.

Basketball

The Basketball Tasmania State Secondary Schools Championships were held in Launceston last weekend. Our four teams put up a strong showing, but we were unable to come away with a title. The best result was our Year 7/8 boys finishing runners-up in their division. Our Years 9/10 boys won their playoff for 3rd after losing to eventual winners St Virgil's in the semi-final. Our Years 7/8 and 9/10 girls had some wins but fell short of a semi-final berth.

Cricket

Year 9 Coyle-Clingeleffer Cup

Our boys were locked in a fairly even battle in the early part of our run chase against St Virgil's in the Coyle-Clingeleffer Cup, but unfortunately, the wickets began to fall after that, and SVC proved too strong.

Year 7/8 cricket

Our Year 8 Gold team put in a solid effort against the favoured SOC team in the NSATIS Grand Final but ultimately fell short, with the scores being SPC Gold 10/131 (30) to SOC's 6/134 (23).

Batting performances: Kristian House 24, Hugh Rickerby 18 and Hudson Young 14 not out.

Bowling performances: Hamish Anderson 2/11 (2), Jak Peardon 1/1 (2), Dylan Philp 1/9 (2) & Ollie Lambert was the other wicket-taker.

SATIS T20 Cricket

I wasn't present to witness Day Two with our boys playing off for 1st to 3rd, so I asked Mr Andrew Nichols from NSATIS for a wrap-up of proceedings. In the morning game, SPC "...bowled GYC out for 50 and chased it in 11.1 overs. Hamish Bateman took 4/8 off 4 overs with Tom Chambers and Brock Whitchurch getting 2 wickets each, batting wise Max Symons made 21 not out", said Nichols.

"In the afternoon game, which ended up being the final, as Hutchins and St Pat’s had beaten Guilford Young College, St Pat’s made 2/121 with Max Symons batting well again for 62 not out off 54 balls and support from Tom Dwyer 19 and James Leake 26 not out."

He went on to say, “Hutchins’ opening batsman did very well "putting on 94 for the first wicket in 10 overs, eventually chasing the target in 16.2 overs (with) 2 (wickets) down."

Well done to our boys on a strong effort over the two days to finish runners-up.

Rowing

The Three Rivers Northern Junior Quad Regatta is on today, Friday 2 December, and is a twilight event on the Tamar River. Father Ben is conducting the Blessing of the Boats before this, which is an important tradition marking the start of the rowing season. If you are near the Seaport/Home Point area this evening, please feel free to come along.

Saturday 19 November 2022

SPC Gold 10/126 (30 overs) def by LCGS 4/157 (30)

Batting Performances: Darcy Kitchin 44*, Jett Patterson 12

Bowling Performances: Darcy Kitchin 1/2 (5 overs), Oliver Austen 1/9 (2 overs), Jett Patterson 1/12 (5 overs)

SPC Gold 9/99 (30) def by SOC 10/141 (30)

Batting Performances: Hugh Rickerby 21*, Hudson Caplin 7 & Noah Bateman 7.

Bowling Performances: Hudson Young 3/14 (4), Hugh Rickerby 2/7 (4), Noah Bateman 1/16 (4), Tobey Carew 1/12 (2)

SPC Green 9/98 (25) def by LCGS 6/108 (24)

Batting Performances: Suprim Shrestha 19, William Bevis 18, Brad Chenery 11 Bowling Performances: Levi Springer 1/18 (4), Josephine Chambers 1/13 (2), Jaxon Owens 1/14 (3), Ryan Belsak 1/3 (2.1), Brad Chenery 2/10 (4)

Saturday 24 November 2022

SPC Green 6/115 (25) def SPC Gold 5/111 (30)

Batting Performances – SPC Green: Cooper Styles 18*, Cooper Kedey 17, Ryan Belsak 16* and Josie Chambers 8*

Batting Performances – SPC Gold: Kristian House 33*, Hudson Young 21*, Hudson Caplin 11, Ollie Lambert 7* & Dylan Philp 5*

Bowling performances – SPC Green: Jak Peardon 1/7 (3), Josie Chambers 1/8 (3), Jaxon Owens 1/14 (4), Ryan Belsak 1/15 (4), Cooper Styles 1/13 (3)

Bowling performances – SPC Gold: Hamish Anderson 2/11 (2), Dylan Philp 1/6 (2), Jett Brewer 1/6 (2), Noah Bateman 1/20 (4) & Hudson Caplin 1/26 (4)