Co-Curricular
The Journey Ahead
Strong and effective leadership often takes the form of coherence.
In the early weeks of 2026, various parts of our community have welcomed back from renewal leave our Principal, Dr Vittoria Lavorato. Alongside Deputy Principal, Mr Adrian Byrne, their leadership duo has, for some time, been marked by alignment - between words and actions, intention and decision, vision and daily practice.
This is often described as authentic leadership: leadership that is grounded in purpose, shaped by values, and expressed consistently over time. With some personality thrown in.
It has prompted me to reflect not only on leadership, but also on my own writing in this space over the past year.
For those who read, some of last year’s Especean articles may have felt, at times, a little off topic. They wandered into reflections on rhythm, endurance, debate, suffering, courage, and meaning. Not always neatly tied to fixtures, results, or calendars. That was intentional, though perhaps not always explicit.
Those reflections were an attempt to articulate the why behind our Co-Curricular Program.
At its heart, co-curricular life at St Patrick’s exists for development - personal, social, and physical. We want our students to feel connected and secure in who they are. To meet challenge with confidence and resilience, and to act with discipline and integrity. We want them to communicate well, collaborate effectively, lead with service, and show compassion while taking responsibility for their actions. We want them to move with growing skill and understanding, developing habits that support health, wellbeing, and lifelong participation.
In other words, the Co-Curricular Program is not about activity alone. It is about formation.
As we welcome the College’s new Strategic Plan, it feels important to bring this purpose into clearer focus and to invite the community more intentionally into the journey.
Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
Our developing vision for co-curricular life is grounded in a simple but demanding idea:
Development through mastery, in the pursuit of excellence.
“Excellence is never an accident. It is the result of intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction, and skillful execution.” Will Durant
Excellence is not simply understood as winning or recognition, but as the fulfilment of potential, shaped by culture, competition, and performance.
Mastery focuses on the fact that this is achieved through the process of learning, thinking, applying, and improving over time.
This perspective helps us hold some important tensions. It allows us to value competition without reducing experience to outcomes. It keeps enjoyment central, without losing standards or direction. It encourages effort, reflection, and growth even when success is not immediate or visible.
Over the coming year, this purpose and vision will be supported by clear priorities that align our Co-Curricular plan with the broader strategic direction of the College. We want to ensure that our programs remain sustainable, coherent, and student-centred.
Hopefully by sharing these reflections more openly, our community feels informed and included in where we are heading together.
Thank you for your involvement and commitment to the co-curricular life of the College.
Adam Watson
Director of Co-Curricular
Why Does Learning an Instrument Still Matter?
Below is a transcript of my brief address to the new Year 5 parents/carers last week.
Learning a musical instrument is one of the most powerful things a child can do, and the benefits go well beyond music.
Research consistently shows that instrumental music supports concentration, memory, coordination, and academic achievement. It also builds discipline, confidence, and resilience - skills that serve boys particularly well as they grow and learn.
But there’s more. Playing an instrument gives boys a positive identity, a sense of belonging, and a way to excel that isn’t sport-based (or that happily complements sport). It teaches teamwork through ensembles, persistence through practice, and pride through performance.
Most importantly, music is something students can carry with them for life. The earlier they start, the more natural - and enjoyable - it becomes.
If your son has ever tapped along to a beat, sung without realising it, or shown curiosity about how music works, instrumental lessons may be the spark that unlocks a lifelong skill.
Now is a great time to begin.
We have a large and thriving music community here at SPC. If you want more information on how to sign your son up to our Co-Curricular Music Program, please contact us at music.admin@spc.nsw.edu.au.
Dr David Taylor
Head of Co-Curricular Music