Curriculum and Learning

Reminder: Years 7 to 11 Parent / Teacher Interviews - Semester 1 Report

As per last week’s issue of Especean, on Monday 25 May, the Year 11 Semester 1 Reports will be available online to parents/carers via the TASS Parent Lounge. On Tuesday 23 June, Years 5 -10 Semester 1 Reports will be available online to parents/carers via the same platform.

The Year 11 Parent/Teacher interviews will be scheduled for the evening of Monday 1 June from 3:40 PM to 9:00 PM. These interviews will be conducted in the College Gymnasium.

The Years 7 to 10 Parent/Teacher interviews will be scheduled for the afternoon and evening of Thursday 25 June from 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM and on Friday 26 June from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The Thursday evening interviews will be conducted in the College Gymnasium whereas the Friday interviews will be conducted on-line via Microsoft Teams.

Booking Year 11 Parent Teacher Interviews

• Parents/carers may book interview time slots themselves via the TASS Parent Lounge using the interview tab from Monday 18 May at 9:00 AM and until Friday 29 May at 9:00 AM. The College will not be allocating interview times. 

Booking Years 7 – 10 Parent Teacher Interviews 

• Parents/carers may book interview time slots themselves via the TASS Parent/Lounge using the interview tab from Thursday 11 June at 9:00 AM until Wednesday 24 June at 9:00 AM. The College will not be allocating interview times.

The Year 11 interviews are for six minutes, and the interviews for Years 7 to 10 are for five minutes. There is a two-minute break between each interview to allow the interviews to run smoothly. Please note that parents/carers cannot double book a teacher for a longer interview. Should more interview time be required, parents/carers may arrange with the teacher another mutually suitable time.

Parents/carers are encouraged to book interviews with all their sons’ teachers. For interviews in the College Gymnasium, there is an expectation that students are present for the interviews, in uniform and well-groomed in accordance with the College’s rules.

Mathematics – Acceleration in Stage 5

Acceleration in Stage 5 Mathematics allows selected students to complete Stage 5 content earlier and begin Stage 6 Mathematics in Year 10. It is designed for students who demonstrate consistently high achievement, strong conceptual understanding, and the ability to engage with complex ideas at a faster pace. Selected students are typically offered a position in the Acceleration course at the end of the Year 8 academic year.

This course requires students to process and apply concepts quickly, think critically, and work independently while managing a demanding and fast-paced curriculum. Due to the reduced time for consolidation and the increased cognitive demands, it is not suitable for all learners. Students who benefit from more time to develop and consolidate their skills are often better supported in the advanced pathway, where deeper understanding is built over time.

Placement in acceleration is therefore carefully considered to ensure students are both challenged and supported, enabling long-term success in mathematics rather than short-term advancement. We also need to ensure the students can manage all of their other subjects too.

Students offered a place in the Stage 5 Acceleration program are selected based on a review of academic evidence, readiness, and capacity to thrive in a fast‑paced and demanding learning environment. While the College recognises that not all nominations will result in acceleration and that some outcomes may be disappointing for students or families, we ask that parents/carers trust the professional judgement of staff and respect the final decision. This decision is made with careful consideration of each student’s academic wellbeing, long‑term success, and ability to be appropriately challenged in an accelerated setting.

For more information, please review the information provided below.

James Martin

Director of Curriculum

Da Vinci Decathlon 2026

Students from St Patrick's College, Strathfield recently represented the College at the Da Vinci Decathlon, an academic competition that brings together students from schools across the state to compete in a series of challenging and collaborative events. The competition encourages students to apply their critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork skills across a broad range of disciplines including Engineering, Science, Mathematics, Ideation, Cartography and Legacy.

Our Year 7 team achieved outstanding success, placing 3rd in Ideation and 11th in Legacy. The students demonstrated exceptional creativity and collaboration while tackling complex challenges throughout the day.

The Year 8 team also performed exceptionally well, achieving 1st place in Engineering, 6th in Mathematics, 9th in Cartography and finishing 16th overall. Their strong results reflected their innovation, resilience, and ability to work effectively under pressure.

Our Year 10 team earned an impressive 3rd place in Science, showcasing excellent analytical thinking and scientific reasoning against a highly competitive field.

The Year 11 team achieved strong results across several disciplines, placing 8th in Creative Producers, 10th in Legacy and 11th in Science. Their performances highlighted both their academic strengths and collaborative approach to problem-solving.

Congratulations to all students involved for the outstanding way they represented the College with enthusiasm, determination, and academic excellence throughout the competition. I would also like to thank Ms Viney and Ms Osorio Narvaez for their support of the teams’ preparation and on the day.

Katherine Sinadinos

Head of Diverse Learning