Deputy Principal

Last Friday, we held our College assembly online. Even though it was online, it was great to be back together as a full College community. There were several presenters who spoke on different topics, and it was amazing to see how there were common themes running throughout the assembly.

Campbell Meilak (Year 5) talked about values. He went on to question a society that values our sports stars more than we do our police officers from a financial point of view. It was refreshing to hear a young man question what we truly value as a society. Julian Minadeo (Year 6) then talked about conquering our fears and the need for us to talk to others and that it is okay to express our fears. I reminded the students that they need to ensure they have a bank of people who they can turn to, to overcome their fears and talk through their concerns. Whether that is their parents/carers, siblings or other family members, friends, staff, or our wonderful College counsellors. 

Michael Bejjani, our College Captain, was reflective as he talked about his remaining time here at the College, the celebration of community through events such as Supporters’ Days and he encouraged all the students to support our sporting teams over the final few weeks of Winter sport. We were then blessed to celebrate our community with a musical performance by Elijah Tan playing La Campanella, meaning ‘the little bell’, composed by Franz Liszt. La Campanella is widely regarded as one of the most difficult pieces ever written for the piano.

One of the highlights of the assembly was the launch of the St Patrick’s College, Ideal Graduate by Ms Daley and Mr Simpson. You will hear a lot more about this over the coming years. It is a culmination of input from staff, students, and families about the attributes we want every young man to have when they leave our College gates for the final time. One of those attributes is being a global citizen. Joshua Chander spoke about this as he launched his Sustainability Initiative. I did mention that after seeing the news the night before, it resonated with me that our students’ generation have grown up knowing that climate change is real, and that it is older generations that still debate it. It is up to all of us to accept the science and realise we need to do something to ensure that future generations have a thriving environment for them to live their lives, just as Pope Francis has called on us as Catholics to “Care for our Common Home” in Laudato Si.

Dr Lavorato finished the assembly by highlighting themes of time and community. She impressed upon the students to use their time wisely. Time is something we cannot get back and she challenged us all to do our best as we approach everything we do on a day-to-day basis. She also challenged the students to speak to everyone they encounter appropriately and that to build community we need to accept everyone, which is paramount as we strive to be an inclusive community. I always say to the students that ‘we do not tolerate difference, we celebrate it.’ The richness of community is that we come together through our catholic faith, and we are thankful to the Christian Brothers for starting Edmund Rice schools that ensure we have a common bond.

Adrian Byrne

Deputy Principal