Faith, Justice and Formation

SPC Winter Sleep Out

The SPC Annual Winter Sleep Out will take place on Friday 20 June (Term 2, Week 8). Students and staff will sleep outdoors overnight at the College and experience some of what it might be like to sleep rough. All details for the event can be found in the hard copy documentation that can be collected by students from outside the Hickey Building at Recess this Friday or found on their year group CANVAS pages.

All students from Years 5 to 12 are welcome, as an act of solidarity and justice. This is an experience to highlight the plight of a growing number of people in our city, nation and world. It is not something to just do for SOL Service points, thus the parameters around this has changed this year. As per the SOL Service documents:

Thus, five points will only be given to students enabling them to receive an Extra Service Award – these will be allocated at the end of the year when points are submitted. 

Not everybody attending the Winter Sleep Out will earn points.

There will be a limit of 150 boys from Year 5 to Year 12, plus all boys from JSJ, FIAT and SJAG.  Notes can only be handed in from Monday 2 June – it will be a first in, first served basis. They will be handed to me on the Hickey Building balcony from the start of Recess. The deadline will be Monday 16 June. To secure a place forms must be complete and signed and the $20 fee attached.

We invite participants to raise funds for homelessness through sponsorship, but this is not compulsory. 

If you need any more information after reading the documentation you are welcome to contact me on gillian.daley@spc.nsw.edu.au.

Gillian Daley

Director of Identity 

Act for Peace Ration Challenge

This year St Patrick’s College will be participating in the Act for Peace Ration Challenge between 18 – 20 June 2025, as part of Refugee Week.

With escalating conflict and climate disasters fueling an unprecedented humanitarian displacement crisis, never before has cultivating empathy in students been so important - for they are the peace makers and change agents for the future.

Students will have the opportunity to register for this activity via the Microsoft registration form in the Daily Notices on TASS. The deadline for registration is Monday 26 May and the deadline for consent from parents/carers via TASS Parent Lounge is Thursday 29 May. 

During this immersive learning experience, students will eat the same rations as a refugee in Jordan for three days. Through the Ration Challenge, our College is seeking to provide students with a safe and empowering way to respond to the complex issues surrounding conflict and displacement occurring around Jordan and other parts of our world.

Students undertaking the challenge in Years 7 to 10 will receive seven SOL points for their participation. Students in Years 11 and 12 are also welcome and encouraged to participate in the challenge as an exercise in empathy and compassion. 

The Ration Packs for students who are participating in the challenge will be distributed by Mrs Fogliani and Mr Herro at the Bangawarra Room on Monday 16 June at the beginning of Lunch.

We will not be fundraising specifically as part of this initiative, but you may wish to put aside the money you save on food over these three days and put it towards your cohort justice partnership or another charity, particularly those focused on assisting refugees. 

We urge you to discuss this with your sons so they may consider taking on this challenge.

The Benefits

By sharing in this experience, students will develop greater awareness of current global issues and the challenges faced by people who are displaced. It may also bring an awareness to and gratitude for the plentiful food we enjoy as a community; hopefully leading to less waste and more respect for what is available.

1. Student Learning: By putting themselves in the shoes of a refugee, students will develop greater awareness of current global issues and empathy for refugees while making a difference.

2. Community Contribution: The Ration Challenge is a hands-on initiative that allows teachers and students to come together, enhancing the sense of school community and the connection with our local and global community.

3. Resilience and Adaptability: The ration challenge can be tough, requiring students to adapt to new circumstances and persevere through difficulties. Overcoming these challenges can build resilience and a sense of pride in their ability to handle adversity.

4. Personal Sense of Achievement: Successfully completing the challenge and raising awareness (or funds) for a cause can give students a sense of accomplishment. Knowing that their efforts have made a tangible difference can be incredibly rewarding.

The Ration Challenge is also an excellent opportunity to discuss global issues with your child. We will be learning about global issues in class and carefully engaging in this conversation with students. We encourage you to look at the resources online available for parents/carers and engage with the subject matter as you see fit in your family.

“We are committed to local and global justice and peace, grounded in a spirituality of action and reflection, inspiring us to listen to, walk with and learn from all creation, especially those who experience powerlessness.”                                                                                                                        (Justice and Solidarity Touchstone – EREA Charter, 2024)

Brittney Fogliani                                                                        Matthew Herro

Head of Identity - Middle School                                           Head of Identity – Senior School