Wellbeing - Senior School

Year 11 Leadership Day

Year 11 embraced a reflective Leadership Day on Tuesday 28 July, centred on St Patrick’s College’s long‑standing commitment to servant leadership. Across the day, students explored what it means to lead with humility, compassion and a genuine desire to uplift others, qualities that continue to shape the culture of our College.

The morning began in homerooms, where students examined SPC’s tradition of service‑centred leadership. Guided by their teachers, they considered how leadership grows through everyday choices that strengthen community and build trust. This quiet and intentional start set the tone for a day anchored in purpose.

A highlight of the program was the keynote session featuring two guest speakers. Yolanda Saiz, CEO of the St Vincent de Paul Society NSW, shared the values that guide her leadership, shaped by years of work across commercial, government and non‑profit sectors. She spoke about qualities such as hard work, compassion and humility, noting that her path into senior leadership unfolded through service rather than ambition. Her reflections offered students a thoughtful sense of leadership that develops through character and commitment.

Students also heard from proud Old Boy Christian Sleiman (’18) and former College Vice Captain. Christian reflected on his own leadership journey, including a challenging period in Year 11 that required resilience and a strong sense of connection to those around him. Now a Senior Business Banking Manager at NAB, he encouraged students to lead with steadiness and integrity, reminding them that authentic leadership often forms during moments that test us.

The Q&A panel offered Year 11 students the chance to hear from leaders who are walking the path they will soon step into. Members of the 2026 Student Leadership Team (Francesco M, Marco L, Chris M and Jack A) were joined by a Year 12 black tie leader, Andrew T, whose contribution highlighted the influence of students who lead through action rather than title. Their reflections were thoughtful and grounded in lived experience, touching on how they manage competing commitments, navigate moments of tension, step forward when help is needed and recognise opportunities that shape their final year.

The day concluded with the Recommendation Liturgy, where Acting Principal Mr Adrian Byrne offered a thoughtful reflection on servant leadership and the responsibility involved in nominating peers for future roles. It was a fitting end to a day that invited students to consider not only who they hope to become as leaders, but how they will serve their community.

Year 11 now moves forward with a strengthened understanding of leadership grounded in service, ready to contribute meaningfully to the College in 2027 and beyond.

Megan Santiago

Head of Student Leadership

Student Attribute Average Awards

This week I wish to congratulate the students in Years 9, 10 and 11 who received Certificates of Excellence for achieving an overall Student Attributes Average [SAA] of 4.50 or above in their Semester 1 classes.

I also recognise the various wellbeing activities that the Year Coordinators and their assistants are undertaking with their respective cohorts in the early weeks of Term 3.

Year 9

The Week 2 Year Meeting focused on a review of Term 2 strengths and areas to improve — punctuality, accountability and organisation. It introduced the Term 3 theme of ‘Looking After Yourself, Others and the World’, as well as reminding students of key dates and expectations.  The meeting reminded students of the opportunities Semester 2 provides in a fresh start for students. The meeting ended on a high note with the announcement of the fortnightly ‘Good Bloke’ and ‘MVP’ awards.

Students engaged in a valuable learning experience in their PCL on Friday 31 July, focusing on developing their understanding of ‘Looking Out for Your Mates’. Through a range of interactive activities and discussion, students strengthened their understanding of how to support friends while reflecting on their personal growth and learning. The session encouraged active participation, critical thinking and positive connections with peers, reinforcing key aspects of the Year 9 wellbeing program.

Year 10

The Week 3 Year Meeting began with a review of Term 2 and outlined the improvements in conduct and behaviour of the cohort. The meeting focused largely on leadership and encouraging students to begin to step up in their actions if they hope to apply and be successful in being part of the Student Leadership Team in 2027-2028. The meeting also saw a number of awards handed out to those who achieved above 4.5 for their Semester 1 Academic Report as well as our fortnightly Academic, Sports and Fortnight Champion awards nominated by the students and staff. 

Students began their PCL last Friday with a lesson on “Pushing Boundaries and Building Resilience”. Students reflected on recent challenges, including the push-up challenge and subject selection decisions, before exploring ideas from Limitless with Chris Hemsworth. The lesson encouraged students to consider how stepping outside their comfort zone can build resilience, confidence and self-belief, while also reflecting on challenges they have faced and opportunities they may pursue in the future.

Year 11 

During the Year 11 YCM on Wednesday 29 August, our new student awards were presented. Created by the Year 11 Year Ambassadors, the awards are based on both student and staff nominations. The "Respect Moment of the Fortnight" award acknowledges an outstanding achievement or exceptional progress in a class, activity, or event, while the "Favourite of the Fortnight" award recognises a person of good character who has demonstrated positive qualities. Congratulations to Cooper P and Alec F on being the first students to receive these awards. 

On Friday 31 August, Year 11 students engaged in a Pastoral Care Lesson focusing on the theme of study skills. With the Preliminary Examination Block fast approaching in Week 6, this was a timely opportunity for the boys to organise their time and learn about different approaches. Students revisited the concepts of "the forgetting curve", "space versus massed practice", and "active versus passive learning". They worked on developing a study plan for the coming weeks and practiced the "blurting method" to assist them in recalling and reviewing learnt content.  

Robert Simpson

Director of Senior School