Junior School

It was a busy conclusion to Term 1 in the Junior School – well done to our Year 7 & 8 students on what has been an exciting fortnight and for a great start to the year.

Year 8 Camp

The Year 8 Camp, held at the Lady Northcote Camp just outside Bacchus Marsh was a huge operation. The three-day camp, consisting of more than 200 students, provided a great opportunity to build collegiality among students and staff, and allowed the boys to thrive in an environment outside the classroom. There were lots of highlights – the activities were central to this. Personally speaking, the yabbying attracted great enthusiasm and it was common for the boys to be catching up to 20 yabbies during the session. 

The camp experience also had its challenges and, without a doubt, many of the boys were required to step outside their comfort zones whether that be participating in a certain experience or simply by being at the camp. Doing so supports the students in developing resilience and perseverance – both factors that highlight grit. I truly hope that the Year 8 Camp was a good experience for our boys and that they were able to walk away with some new skills to equip them for upcoming experiences to look forward to in their future journeys at St Patrick’s College and beyond. 

Congratulations to all the students for their involvement in the camp and thank you for your willingness to contribute and participate. I would also like to acknowledge the staff at Lady Northcote Camp for their hospitality as well as the St Patrick’s College staff who were an incredible support over the three days: Sam Cue, John Hearn, Mark Stahl, Jordan Verbeek, Dirk Stickland, Andrew Wilson, Colleen Pope, Ian Fernee, Jordyn McCarthy, Monique Allen, Rylee Booth, Abbey Panosh, Shane Hayes, Brendan Dix, Kathleen Gerdtz, Karla Strambini, Sarah Sharp and Daniela Harring. Well done to Mr Sam Cue, one of the Year 8 Coordinators for his leadership and organisation of the camp.

Elevate Education

On Monday, 25 March, the Year 7 students participated in a workshop in their Homeroom Groups with a member of staff from Elevate Education. The session focussed on key skills such as effective note taking, critical thinking (breaking information down to relevant parts and self-directed learning. The program appeared to be a great success and I hope that our Year 7 students were able to take away some important habits and skills to complement their current studies and routines.

Athletics Carnival

The Junior School were well represented on Tuesday, 26 March at the House Athletics Carnival. It was a great day for our boys as they enjoyed competing in the many great events on offer and having fun with their peers outdoors. We eagerly await the results to see who the champion House was. Well done to all students who got involved to earn points for their House. It was another great community event at St Patrick’s College. I take a quick moment to encourage participation in the Term 2 co-curricular program. There are lots of great opportunities to get involved in – keep an eye out for some correspondence from the Sports Department. 

Homework Group

Homework Group is open to all students and will run throughout Term 2 on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night from 3:35pm-4:35pm. This is a great opportunity for your child to access some support to complete their homework. The group is supervised by a Teacher and Learning Support Officers are also present to assist. 

Attendance at the Homework group is optional, and students may opt in or out on the daily basis. Students will need to sign in upon arrival and out upon departure. It is expected that if a student attends, they attend for the full duration of the session.

Homework group will not run on evenings when Parent Teacher Interviews run, School Closure Days, on whole school community days such as Swimming/Athletic Carnival days or House Competition days. It will also not run on the final day of Term.

GRIT Awards – Round 3

Congratulations to the Round 3 winners of the Junior School GRIT Award. We look forward to recognising more great examples of Grit among out student cohort throughout Term 2.

Thank you to the Junior School community – students, families and staff – for a great first term. There have been many positives to celebrate so far; however, like anything, there are always improvements to be made and so I look forward to seeing you all again in Term 2. Have a safe and enjoyable break, and Happy Easter!

Recognising our Junior Schoolers

Parents and caregivers, it's time to shine a spotlight on your son's achievements.

Whether it's success in the arts, sports triumphs or community contributions, we want to celebrate his accomplishments.

Please share his milestones with us and let's inspire the College community together.

Please email me tnash@stpats.vic.edu.au with your news so we can ensure our students receive the recognition they deserve!

Tom Nash                                 Margie Dodd & Jacinta Burge          Sam Cue & John Hearn

Head of Junior School        Year 7 Coordinators                           Year 8 Coordinators