St Patrick's College Mackay - Term 1 Week 4 - 15 February 2024

This week we celebrate the start of Lent with our Ash Wednesday Liturgy. Ash Wednesday is one of the most important holy days in the liturgical calendar. Ash Wednesday is the opening of Lent, the season of fasting and prayer. It is an ancient tradition and includes the wearing of ashes on the head. A powerful sign that has been used for hundreds of years. Ashes symbolise the dust from which God made us. “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return”.

Sometimes we think of Lent as a time to make sacrifices and certainly we are encouraged to give to others during this time. As a college, we are again this year supporting Caritas and I urge students and families to give. Lent offers us a time to reflect more deeply on our lives and to enact positive change. There is so much power in the action of giving, not just our money, but of ourselves to those who are in need of hope and encouragement. Jesus calls us to be present and live in the present. To open our eyes to what is around us, to be blessed and enjoy each moment of our day. May the lent season be a time of reflection, prayer, self-denial and helping others.

Bishop’s Inservice Day
A reminder that this Friday 16 February is a Student Free Day, as all St Pat’s staff will be attending the Bishop’s Inservice Day.

Opening and Investiture Mass
Last Thursday, we celebrated the start of the school year with our Opening Mass and investiture of our College Leaders. I would like to express our thanks to Bishop Michael McCarthy, Fr Matthias Ogwo, Fr Gaspar Peruvelil and Fr Anthony Nguyen who led us in celebration to start the year. Joining us in our celebrations was Diocesan Director Miss Leesa Jeffcoat, Assistant Director: Schools (Northern Region) Mr Michael McCusker, Mayor Greg Williamson and invited guests from the community.

I would like to congratulate our singers and musicians who led us in worship so beautifully. Special thanks also to Mr Brendan Gunning and Mrs Kelsey Wallace who prepared the celebration, along with Mrs Julie Rasmussen and Mr Andrew Lamont from our Facilities Department for their assistance with setting the Hall.

McGarry Bursaries

Following the Mass, we presented the McGarry Bursaries. A bequest by the late Miss Joan McGarry has established perpetual bursaries to be presented each year to St Patrick’s College students. The trust is established in honour of Miss McGarry’s parents, the late Fred and Rose McGarry and her brother, the late Jim McGarry. As per the guidelines of the bequest, bursaries were awarded in the areas of Academic Achievement. As well, in recognition of Joan McGarry’s lifelong dedication to her profession of nursing, the student with the highest ATAR entering Nursing also receives a bursary. The intention of the bequest is that students receive the bursary once properly enrolled in a tertiary course after Year 12, with study to commence in the year of the bequest.

These bursaries are not about money – although the money is substantial – the bursaries are about a gift to the future, a belief in young people, a hope to make things better for young people. An extraordinary gift to our whole community.

Every year when we celebrate these bursaries, it is important that we reflect on the fact that we have a debt of gratitude and a responsibility to all those who have gone before us at St Patrick’s. There is a proud tradition of spreading and sharing the good news at this college and we become part of that tradition and we continue to create that tradition this year.

Congratulations to all our McGarry Bursary recipients. I wish you all the best in your future studies and hope that you continue to keep in touch with us here at St Pat’s.

The Class of 1974 Bursary is sponsored by members of the Class of 1974, who have collectively made an outstanding contribution to the Mackay community and beyond – in the clergy, politics, business, law, trades and other fields. Through their generosity, a bursary which provides a rebate from the student’s college fees, has been made available to a current St Patrick’s College Year 12 student. This student will have demonstrated great dedication and commitment throughout Year 11 in overcoming adversity, disability or circumstances to achieve academic success. The recipient of the Class of 1974 Bursary was Patrick Arbuthnot. Mr Damian Carroll, who was a member of this class, presented the Bursary to Patrick on behalf of the class of 1974.

Aspire to Teach Awards

The Aspire to Teach Awards are a Catholic Education Award and the purpose of the award is to promote the career of teaching for students in the Senior Phase of Learning. This award is presented to a male and female student.

These students will have demonstrated the following:

• Witnesses to his/her Christian faith
• Displays qualities of a good teacher eg. care, compassion, positivity, collaborative, helpful, supportive and mentoring peers
• Good academic and behaviour record
• Broad involvement in college and cocurricular activities
• Evidence of student leadership

The recipients of the Aspire to Teach Awards are Anthony Sorbello and Evelyn O’Brien. The students are pictured with Assistant Director: Schools (Northern Region), Mr Michael McCusker.

St Patrick’s Medal – The Bishop Bernard Wallace Award for Dux of the College

This award acknowledges the College Patron, St Patrick, the great Irish Saint and The Most Reverend Bernard Wallace, past Bishop of Rockhampton. Bishop Wallace had a great interest in education. The criteria for this award is based on a student’s ATAR score. The student receiving this award is the Dux of the College.

The winner of the Bishop Bernard Wallace Award was Nicola Chimes.

College Board Pre-service and Induction
On Wednesday 31 January, our first Board Meeting of the year was held. It was a night of induction and discernment. We say farewell and thank you to: Board Secretary Mrs Juliene Benson and Student Representatives Nicola Chimes and Jinzhao (Anna) Zhang. We would like to welcome: Board Secretary Mrs Ruth van Lint and Student Representatives Anthony Sorbello and Gabrielle Ipson. All Board Members were commissioned at the Opening Mass by Bishop Michael.

Meet the Teachers BBQ and Parent Engagement Session
This Thursday 15 February, we are holding a Meet the Teachers BBQ followed by our first Parent Engagement Session on Parent Lounge in the St Patrick's College Hall, Senior Campus River Street. The afternoon begins with a free barbecue at 4:30pm, where parents have the opportunity to meet college staff and mingle with other parents. Following the BBQ at 6:00pm, our first Parent Engagement Session will commence. In this session, parents will receive guidance on navigating the Parent Lounge portal, familiarising themselves with key features such as accessing Student Report Cards, updating contact information, and locating details on forthcoming excursions and events.

Aquatics Carnival
Next week on Tuesday 20 February, we will hold our Aquatics Carnival and I invite all students to become involved and not to sit back and wait till it’s too late. I wish to thank Mr Chad Buckby for organising this carnival and to the St Patrick’s College staff for their support. May the best house win.

Sporting Trials
The sporting year is off and running. I would like to acknowledge all the students participating in these various sporting trials. Congratulations to all students chosen to represent their sport and good luck in your competitions.

St Patrick’s Community
I would like to welcome Melinda Dwyer, Charli Kenny, Kate Magoffin and Amelia Noon to our Mercy Campus Learning Support area of the St Patrick’s staff community. Welcome to St Pat’s.

Service to Catholic Education

Congratulations and thank you for your dedicated service to Catholic Education two of our staff members.  Jo Ciantar-Schatkowski (21 years) and Wendy Cunningham (23 years).

Last year, I conducted an exercise at a College Assembly to prove a particular point.

I told students that I wanted them to listen carefully to an event I was about to describe. I then informed them I was going to ask very specific questions relating to the description. I said:

Once upon a time, a child decided to visit a relative who lived in a cottage in the woods. (Pause) Along the way, she encountered a dangerous wild animal who surprisingly could speak English. (Pause) Unperturbed, the child continued her journey and arrived at the elderly relative’s home to find what appeared to be the relative, in bed. (Pause)The child then began to make comments about the relative’s facial features which appeared to be different. (Pause) A violent scene then ensues.

I then proceeded to ask these questions of my audience:

1. What do you believe is the child’s gender?
2. Who do you think is the relative?
3. What kind of wild animal could speak English?
4. What was the colour of the child’s cloak?
5. Was this story taught to you at school?
6. Where did you first hear this story?

The answers came, but not as thick and fast as one might expect. (Obviously, there would be hesitancy in speaking in such a large forum)

While I was reading, and pausing, I watched the expressions of students very carefully. After I had finished the first sentence, I saw roughly twenty percent of faces light up with instant recognition. The rest were bewildered and non-plussed – annoyed that something was afoot and that they were missing out. By the end of the second sentence, forty percent of students were turning to the twenty percent demanding clarification. Needless to say, the ‘enlightened’ twenty percent could not contain themselves and began - very animatedly - to whisper explanations to friends. However, when I reached the end, there were still enclaves of students who remained completely confused.

No doubt the reader has gathered that this was a simple exercise in activating prior knowledge, or what in educational terms is referred to as a student’s ‘Schema’.

I then asked students about the clues that had activated their prior knowledge or memory. One student volunteered that the phrase ‘once upon a time’ signalled that this was a fairy tale. Another claimed that the words ‘cottage in the woods’ was not ‘Australian-speak’. Another claimed that talking animals gave the game away. But recognition was not universal. It might have been the case with an earlier generation, but it would be foolhardy for any teacher to assume that knowledge of Little Red Riding Hood was ubiquitous. (Consider the extent to which comedy, and humour in general, is reliant on information/attitudes that were ‘accidentally’ accumulated.)

While it’s obvious that a student from a non-English speaking background has reason to be unfamiliar with this child’s fairytale (cultural deposit?) there were many students with Anglo-Celtic English-speaking backgrounds whose memories were not activated by this little exercise.

Thinking is very dependent on memory. Academic success at school has far more to do with prior knowledge than it has to do with raw intellectual ability. Those students who from birth onward, were immersed in rich learning environments, can make rapid connections with new information. Because not everything is new, they don’t go down the path of despair. They are far less likely to experience cognitive overload, simply because there is a familiarity with much that they encounter. Often, this then gives the mistaken impression that they are simply cleverer than others. Most importantly, all of us need to remember – teachers, parents and students - that we have memories like sieves. We get told things, yet we repeatedly forget what we are told, alternatively what we ‘heard’ is not what was delivered, so much ‘is lost in translation’. Academic accomplishment is achieved through persistent and purposeful repetition.

The Wellbeing Barometer survey has proven to be an invaluable tool for schools, providing insights into the state of youth mental health and wellbeing. Whilst last year’s results focussed the spotlight on areas of concern, there were also many highlights that demonstrated the resilience and adaptability of students and emphasised the necessity of prevention strategies.

Participating in this year's survey, will assist in identifying areas of strength and concern, as well as pinpointing opportunities for early intervention. Previously gathered information has helped support families as they navigate difficult conversations that enable understanding and foster connections to build relationships.

This survey is part of an ongoing, longitudinal study, with the results being instrumental in tailoring support for students and their families. Participation is strongly encouraged, as it provides a comprehensive view of students' experiences, challenges, and achievements over the past year. Its aim is to capture a comprehensive picture of young people's lives, allowing for a tailored approach to enhance mental and emotional wellbeing.

We encourage you to take a few moments to complete a survey for each of your children. This will help us determine the nature and extent of your concerns and how best to support families in the months ahead. Responses remain anonymous and will only be reported on an aggregated basis. You are asked to base your responses on observations made in the last 12 months.

Acquiring the skills for future independence, taking healthy risks, and giving young people the opportunity to emancipate from parents, are key developmental tasks that are essential if we are to stave off the impact of mental illness in the future. Please reflect on the information offered in this Special Report, and as always, we welcome your feedback. If this raises any concerns for you or your child, please reach out to the College or seek professional medical advice.

Here is the link to your special report https://stpats.qld.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-wellbeing-barometer-2024-au

This week, our Student Leaders led our Ash Wednesday celebrations at both campuses. The Lenten Season is a significant time for reflection and preparation in the Christian calendar, leading up to Easter. The themes of selflessness, generosity, and love for others are integral to the observance of Lent and students were reminded of this.

Lent encourages individuals to adopt an attitude of selflessness, reflecting on how they can better serve others and follow the example set by Jesus Christ. This often involves practices such as fasting, prayer, and almsgiving, all aimed at deepening one's relationship with God and fostering compassion for those in need. It's inspiring to see our Student Leaders taking the initiative to lead their peers in observing this meaningful season, fostering a sense of community and spiritual growth within our campuses.

The St Patrick’s College Interschool Aquatics Carnival is being held on Tuesday 20 February at the Mackay ARC from 9:00am until 2:15pm. This is a normal school day, so attendance on the day is compulsory. There is a mixture of competitive and non-competitive events, so I encourage everyone to bring their swimmers.

All students are required to catch the College busses to the ARC and will return to school at the conclusion of the carnival.

Dress code for the day is House shirt and PE shorts, full PE uniform OR free dress in the House’s theme. Students must have a hat and water bottle and are asked to leave their computing devices and valuables at home.

Nominations for the carnival have been happening this week and I encourage all students to get into the spirit of the carnival by dressing up according to their theme, participating and supporting their house mates.

If you have any questions, please contact the College on 4994 8700.

Themes –
Argos - Under the Sea
Badilla - Surf's up
Midas- Aussie Icons
Oraya- Movie characters
Pindar – Bondi Rescue
Triton – Things that are green

School Counsellors use their expertise to provide short term counselling to support students achieve academic success, social and emotional wellbeing and psychological health. College counselling occurs during school hours when a student is able to be absent from their lesson without it impacting on their learning, for example, during assessment time.

A college counsellor can assist you and/or your student by providing support and strategies to help at school and/or home. This might include support for: parent/child relationships, stress, grief and loss, or significant changes at home. At school, your child may require support with: goal setting, decision-making, learning difficulties, mental health issues, anger management, self-esteem, resilience and negotiating friendships.

At the Mercy Campus we have two counsellors to support our students. I will be supporting the Year 8 and 10 students in 2024, and new to our counselling team is Molly Bettridge, who will be working with the Year 7 and 9 students. At the Senior Campus, Danika Hurley will continue to work with and support our Year 11 and 12 students.

* Students above the age of 13 can self refer to the College Counsellor. In these situations, the Counsellor will make an assessment as to whether the student has a good understanding of the process and sufficient maturity to provide informed consent, or whether parental consent is required 

* Parents can also refer their student by contacting the Office or their students House Coordinator and asking for a counselling referral form, or use the link found on Parent Lounge. You can also contact me directly through email (donnetta_trannore@rok.catholic.edu.au).

* Leadership, House Coordinators and Teachers can also refer students

*  If your student has been referred and does not want to engage with one on one counselling, we will work towards an alternative method of supporting your child

Confidentiality is a very important part of counselling. This means that any information presented during a session will not be disclosed unless you or your child has provided consent, or deemed essential in accordance with the School’s Privacy Policy.

Parent/guardian/carer involvement is encouraged and can be important for ongoing change. However, parents/guardians/carers need to be aware of confidentiality and its limits within the counselling process. If your child gives consent to engage in counselling, then the Counsellor will discuss this with your student as to how they wish to involve the parent/guardian/carer.

If you have any further questions regarding the counselling program or would like to discuss referring your student, please contact me on the above mentioned email, or contact the front office.

Tuesday 6 February was Safer Internet Day. Safer Internet Day was created to raise awareness and educate people on how to stay safe and make the right choices online. Almost half of children aged 8 to 17 have been treated in a hurtful or nasty way online. Out of those, 55% felt sadness or anger by what happened, and 17% had their mental health impacted by this behaviour.

At our whole school assembly last week, I spoke to the students about being positive and respectful with their interactions online and how they can keep themselves and their friends safe. Using the A.W.A.R.E acronym, we went through a number of strategies to support our students' online usage.

I also discussed what they can do if something does happen when they are online. I provided the students with the support people they can turn to if anything does occur online that worries them. These included, their parents, the House Coordinators, their teachers and the school counsellors. I also discussed the E Safety Commission and what they can offer in terms of support and how to report any negative online behaviour.

If your student does disclose any concerns online, or if you have any concerns regarding your students mental health, contact the office for a counsellor referral form or email one of our campus counsellors directly.

Senior Campus - danika_hurley@rok.catholic.edu.au
Mercy Campus - Year 7 and Year 9 - molly_betridge@rok.catholic.edu.au
Mercy Campus - Year 8 and Year 10 - donneta_trannore@rok.catholic.edu.au

Senior English - Contact Mr Dean Andric and check Daily Notices for confirmation of dates and tutoring during lunch times.

Students wanting additional assistance or clarification of class work or assessment, are encouraged to speak with their teacher or Head of Department in relation to the relevant subject.

Congratulations to our current St Patrick's College student Zac Uhr (Year 12) who will this year be debuting in the men’s Australian basketball team. He is going to the AIS in Canberra for camp, followed by games against Japan , wearing the green and gold on his 17th birthday! 

Zac also has been selected in the under 23 Queensland team to play in the National titles in April.  Zac has been selected to play in the Queensland Spartans team.

The Brekky Van continues to be out each week, supporting those less fortunate in our community. Thank you to staff, students and sponsors for being a part of this wonderful College initiative. 

Annual fee statements for 2024 were issued on the 9 February 2024. If you have not received your fee statement, please contact the College Finance Office.

If you are experiencing difficulty with payment of your fees, please contact the College Finance Manager on 4994 8782, to discuss your options for the payment of the fees.

𝐉𝐎𝐈𝐍 𝐔𝐒! Applications are invited for the position of 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫 - Mathematics and English at St Patrick's College Year 7-12 Mackay.

𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐋𝐘 𝐓𝐎𝐃𝐀𝐘 - https://applynow.net.au/jobs/CER848
#bethedifference #opportunity #careers #cathedcareers #Mackay #secondaryteacher #english #mathematics

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐎𝐏𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐈𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐖! Applications are invited from 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 to join the staff of St Patrick's College Year 7-12 Mackay.

𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐫𝐭 - https://applynow.net.au/jobs/CER896
𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 - https://applynow.net.au/jobs/CER897

Applications close 1 March 2024.
#bethedifference #opportunity #careers #cathedcareers #mackay #secondaryteacher