Principal

End of Term 3 Message

As we conclude Term 3, I am filled with a deep sense of gratitude for all that has been accomplished across our College community. This term has been marked by learning, growth, service, friendship and achievement, and it is only through the shared efforts of our students, staff and families that such a flourishing community is possible.

Before the term concludes, I wish to acknowledge and thank our parents and staff. The formation of young people is a partnership, and I am continually grateful for the trust, generosity and commitment that our families place in the College. Parents are the first educators of their sons, and the encouragement, guidance and support provided at home are invaluable. I also extend my sincere thanks to our teachers and support staff, whose dedication, expertise and care shape the daily experience of every student. The many achievements we celebrate are built upon countless acts of service, often unseen, that help our boys grow into young men of faith, character and purpose.

For our Year 12 students, the coming weeks mark a significant and emotional milestone. As the Class of 2026 concludes its formal schooling and prepares for the Higher School Certificate examinations in October, we hold them especially in our thoughts and prayers. Over many years they have contributed richly to the life of the College, growing into fine young men who have led with integrity, compassion and courage. As they embark on this final stage of their school journey, I encourage them to approach their examinations with confidence and perspective. The HSC is an important step, but it does not define them. Their character, relationships, values and aspirations matter far more than any result. May they enter this period knowing they are supported by their families, teachers and the wider College community, all of whom are immensely proud of what they have already achieved. And when they falter, they are reminded to fall forward. 

For our Year 11 students, the end of Term 3 represents an important transition. After a well-earned opportunity to rest and recharge during the holidays, they will return as the Class of 2027 and begin their HSC assessment program. The year ahead will bring new responsibilities, challenges and opportunities, but it will also be a time of significant personal growth. I encourage them to embrace this next chapter with enthusiasm, confidence and a commitment to making the most of every opportunity that lies before them.

Students in Years 5 to 10 are also preparing for an important period of learning as they approach their final round of assessments for the year. I encourage them to finish the year strongly, maintaining good study habits and seeking support whenever needed. Assessments are not simply about results; they are opportunities to reflect on progress, celebrate growth and identify areas for further development. The most important measure of success is not perfection, but the willingness to persevere, learn and continue striving to become the best version of oneself.

I have been especially heartened by the recent Year 6 Open Classroom visits. It was a joy to see our boys welcoming their families into their learning, speaking with confidence about their work and proudly sharing the progress they have made throughout the year. Moments like these remind us just how much growth occurs during the primary years, not only academically but also in confidence, maturity and independence. As I spent time with the boys, I was struck by how ready they are for the next stage of their journey. They are beginning to develop the curiosity, self-belief and sense of responsibility that will serve them so well in secondary school. We look forward to accompanying them as they take this exciting next step, embracing greater autonomy, exploring new areas of interest through specialist subjects and discovering more deeply the unique gifts and talents that God has entrusted to them. There is much to look forward to, and we are excited about all that lies ahead for them.

As a College community, we can be proud of all that has been achieved this term. Whether in classrooms, on sporting fields, on stages, in service programs, or through the countless everyday interactions that enrich community life, our students have continued to demonstrate the values that define us. Their achievements reflect not only individual effort but also the love, support and encouragement of the people who walk alongside them each day.

As we enter the holiday break, I hope every family finds time for rest, renewal and connection. In the busyness of modern life, these moments together are precious. May the coming weeks provide opportunities to recharge, reflect with gratitude on the term that has been, and prepare with hope for the opportunities that await in Term 4.

To our Year 12 students, we wish you every blessing as you prepare for your HSC examinations. To our Year 11 students, enjoy a well-deserved break before beginning your final year journey. To our younger students, continue to take pride in your learning and growth as you prepare for the final stages of the academic year. To all our students and families, thank you for being such an important part of our College story.

May God continue to bless you and your families during the holiday period, and may He guide us all as we look forward to the opportunities and blessings of the final term of the year.

More Than Marks: The Story Behind our Boys' Strong NAPLAN Results 

Here is a snapshot of how our students performed in NAPLAN this year.

✓  STRONG ACHIEVEMENT  

Boys in Years 5, 7 and 9 are performing at or above NSW benchmarks across most NAPLAN domains. 

✓  NUMERACY STANDS OUT  

Year 7 Numeracy was 6.4 percentage points above the NSW comparison. 

✓  MIDDLE SCHOOL GROWTH  

More than 70% of students recorded growth in at least one domain between Years 5 and 7. 

✓  WRITING EXCELS  

Year 9 results were above the state comparison across every reported writing criterion. 

✓  OUR STRATEGIC AMBITION  

The results support our commitment to diversify our response to the distinct learning needs of boys. 

✓  THE NEXT CHALLENGE  

Help more boys move from strong performance to sophisticated analysis, reasoning and communication. 

 At St Patrick's College, we believe that success is measured not only by achievement, but by growth. The 2026 NAPLAN results provide encouraging evidence that our boys are performing strongly against state benchmarks and continuing to make significant academic progress throughout their years at the College. Beyond the numbers, these results tell a story of boys developing confidence, resilience, curiosity and the capacity to think deeply, qualities that will serve them well long after they leave our classrooms. 

One of the central ambitions of our Strategic Plan, Ad Proximum Saeculum, is to “Diversify our response to the distinct learning needs of boys”. This commitment recognises that boys grow academically at different rates and flourish through different pathways. For this reason, our NAPLAN analysis extends beyond simple comparisons of achievement. It focuses on the progress of our boys against the progress of boys across New South Wales, asking not only “How well are our students performing?” but also “How much are they growing?” 

One of the most important questions parents ask is, “How are our boys performing compared with boys across New South Wales?” The answer is reassuring. Across Years 5, 7 and 9, St Patrick's College students are performing at or above the relevant NSW comparisons in most areas, with particularly strong results in writing and numeracy. More importantly, the data show many boys making substantial gains as they move through their schooling journey. 

Strong Foundations and Positive Growth 

The data reveal solid foundations in literacy and numeracy. In Year 7, students performed above the NSW comparison in Reading, Numeracy and Writing. Numeracy was a particular strength, with the College achieving 66.0% compared with 59.6% across NSW, a difference of 6.4 percentage points. Reading was 2.0 percentage points above the state comparison, while writing showed a strong concentration in the middle and upper bands. 

Year 9 students continued this positive pattern. Writing results were above the state comparison across every reported criterion, including audience, text structure, ideas, vocabulary and spelling. Numeracy was also above the state overall, led by strong performance in Number. Reading was broadly comparable with NSW, identifying a clear opportunity for further strategic improvement. 

The Strength of Our Writing Program 

One of the standout features of this year's results is the quality of student writing. Across Years 7 and 9, boys demonstrated an ability to engage readers, organise ideas effectively and communicate with purpose. In Year 9, particularly strong comparative results were recorded in spelling, text structure, audience, character and setting, and ideas. The next step is to help more proficient writers become sophisticated writers who exercise deliberate control over voice, syntax, imagery and reader response. 

Numeracy Continues to Improve 

The boys also achieved encouraging results in Numeracy. Year 7 students performed strongly across statistics, measurement, number and probability. The Year 9 result was above the state comparison overall, with Number the strongest subdomain. These outcomes reflect strong mathematical foundations, while also directing attention to fractions, spatial reasoning and the representation of unfamiliar problems. 

Growth Matters Most 

While achievement is important, growth is even more significant. Consistent with the aspirations of Ad Proximum Saeculum, we pay particular attention to the progress our boys make over time. If we are to respond genuinely to their distinct learning needs, success cannot be measured solely by where a student finishes, but also by how far he has travelled. 

The College's growth data show many boys making measurable progress through their schooling journey. Particularly encouraging was the Years 5 to 7 period, when 70.2% of students recorded growth in at least one of the five assessed domains. This was the strongest growth phase across the three periods analysed. In addition, 44.5% recorded growth across at least two domains, and 17.9% grew across four or all five domains. 

These results affirm the value of our distinctive Middle School model and the work of staff during these critical years of development. They also invite us to examine what supported this broad reach of growth and how these approaches can be sustained and strengthened into Years 7 to 9. Our focus is not simply on high-achieving students maintaining strong results, but on increasing the number of boys who experience meaningful progress. 

Looking Ahead 

The results are positive, but they also show where our next opportunities lie. Across literacy and numeracy, our boys commonly perform well when identifying, recognising and applying familiar knowledge. The next stage is to help more students analyse, evaluate, justify, generalise and communicate with greater sophistication. 

This will require a continued whole-school emphasis on higher-order thinking, precise academic vocabulary and evidence-based explanation. In writing, the task is to move more boys into the highest levels of audience control and sentence sophistication. In reading, the focus is inference, perspective, evidence evaluation and main ideas. In numeracy, priorities include mathematical representation, fractions and spatial reasoning. 

“Success cannot be measured solely by where a student finishes, but also by how far he has travelled.” 

Our Commitment to the distinct learning needs of boys

Overall, the 2026 NAPLAN results paint a positive picture of student achievement at St Patrick's College. Our boys are performing strongly, growing steadily and, most importantly, developing the academic habits and thinking skills that will serve them well at school and beyond. 

Staff Changes

Please be advised of the following staff changes: 

• Mr Adrian Byrne commenced his Professional Renewal Leave last Friday.
• Mr Robert Simpson will be on Long Service Leave until the end of the year
• Last Friday was Mr John Locke's last day before commencing Long Service Leave until 23 October 2026.
• Last Friday was Mr Stephen Cooper's last day before commencing Long Service Leave until the end of Term 3.

From Monday of this week, the following staff have taken on special duties:

• Mr Alex Sinadinos is replacing Adrian Byrne as Deputy Principal
• Mrs Sarah Tatola is replacing Alex Sinadinos as Acting Director of Middle School 
• Mr James Biviano is replacing Robert Simpson as Acting Director of Senior School 
• Mr Antonio Morris is replacing Sarah Tatola as Acting Head of Teaching and Learning - Stage 3
• Mr Patrick O'Connor is replacing Antonio Morris as Acting Year 6 Coordinator.

Community News

We keep Ms Erin Barlow (Learning Support Officer) in our prayers on the loss of her beloved grandfather last Friday. 

Dr Vittoria Lavorato

Principal

SPC boys can do anything! 

**except divide by zero