Quick bites

SPC Stars of Hope

Have you ordered your SPC Stars of Hope? This is your last chance to get your orders in for our Christmas charity fundraiser. Our talented Art club students have been busy making beautiful ceramic stars to help spread some cheer this Christmas. Each hand-crafted star is a symbol of hope and giving.

• Single stars $3
• Pack of six stars $15

All proceeds will go to the St Vincent de Paul Society to support Ballarat families this Christmas. Orders can be placed until 25 November and stars will be delivered to student homerooms or the office between 2-4 December. Donations are also accepted. 

Beginners Shot makes a difference

Our Pathways in Hospitality class embraced the spirit of Christmas this week, kindly donating $1000 to the Ballarat Soup Bus.

Our students raised the money through the running of its Beginners Shot pop-up cafe during Semester 2. The cafe gave our boys hands-on experience at managing a small business and SPC staff a boost of barista-style coffees and baked sweet treats!

We were delighted to welcome Lynda McDonald from the Soup Bus to the College on Tuesday to accept the generous donation.

Ms McDonald said the funds would help those in need this Christmas and New Year period.

2026 Scholarship Program

To encourage and recognise the pursuit of excellence in all areas of school life, St Patrick’s College offers scholarships in the categories of academic excellence, general excellence/leadership, performing arts (music and drama) and sport.

Scholarships will be offered to students entering Years 7, 10 and 11 at St Patrick’s College for the 2026 school year. Scholarships allow for remission of part tuition fees throughout a student’s secondary education and are subject to satisfactory progress and review.

All students applying for a scholarship must sit an examination, conducted by Academic Assessment Services on 1 March, 2025, to be considered for the program. Registrations for our 2026 Scholarship program closes on 19 February, 2025. 

Year 7 2026 Enrolments

We are now accepting applications for students entering Year 7 in 2026. Click on the link below to apply. 

Two College tours will be held in Term 1, 2025, for prospective families on Monday, 10 February and Monday, 24 March at 9.30am. To register for a College tour, click on the link below.

Year 7 2026 Key Dates:

Enrolments close: 7 February, 2025

Scholarships close: 19 Feburary, 2025

Scholarship testing: 1 March, 2025

Year 7 Orientation Day: 2 December, 2025

Please note, Year 7 enrolment interviews will be held at scheduled dates throughout 2024/25 once a student's application is received.

Flanagan Art Prize - Entries now open!

Entries are now open for the St Patrick's College Flanagan Art Prize, which returns as a major competition and exhibition in 2025.

The national competition offers $18,000 in prizes across three categories - the Flanagan Art Prize, Young Flanagan Art Prize and Clontarf Art Prize.

Winners will be announced at a gala presentation at St Patrick's College on Friday, 21 March 2025, with the exhibition running from Saturday, 22 March to Sunday, 23 March.

Click on the link below for further information and to enter.

Dobson's Uniform Shop 

A reminder that College uniform is now available through Dobson's new store, which opened during the holidays at 29 Mair St East Ballarat, or online at https://dobsons.com.au/schools/st-patricks-college 

The store's opening hours are:

• Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday: 8:30am – 5:00pm
• Saturday: 9:00am – 12:00pm
• Wednesday: CLOSED

Click and Collect is also available, with all orders placed before 1pm on Thursdays delivered free to the College on Friday mornings.

2024 Term 4 Key Dates 

2025 Term Dates   

Term 1                        

Years 7 & 12 Commence:  Thursday, 30 January

All Students Commence:  Friday, 31 January

Public Holiday:  Monday, 10 March

Classes Conclude:  Friday, 4 April

Term 2 

Classes commence:  Tuesday, 22 April

Public Holidays:  Friday, 25 April (ANZAC Day) & Monday, 9 June (King’s Birthday)

Classes Conclude: Friday, 4 July

Term 3

All Students Commence:  Tuesday, 22 July

Boarders’ Exeat:  Monday, 18 August

Classes Conclude:  Friday, 12 September

VCE Practice Exams:  Monday, 15 September – Friday, 19 September

Term 4 

All Students Commence:  Monday, 6 October

Boarders' Exeat:  Monday, 3 November & Tuesday, 4 November (Melbourne Cup)

Year 10-11 Head Start:  Monday, 24 November – Tuesday, 9 December

Classes Conclude:  Tuesday, 9 December