Principal

Assumption of Mary 15 August 2025

In London’s National Gallery hangs Botticini’s *The Assumption of the Virgin*, painted around 1475 for a Florentine church. The work dramatically contrasts earth and heaven: on earth, the disciples gather around a flower-filled, bodyless sarcophagus; above them, heaven opens in golden tiers of angels and saints, with Mary kneeling before Christ. This visual movement from the mystery on earth to the clarity of heaven invites us from speculation into contemplation.

Centuries before the Church formally defined the doctrine of the Assumption in 1950, Botticini’s painting captured its essence: Mary’s earthly life fulfilled in the eternal presence of God. Her Assumption speaks both about Christ—affirming his incarnation through her—and about us, offering a vision of our own destiny in Christ. In her perfect “yes” to God, Mary shows complete freedom and faith, standing in solidarity with the poor, the suffering, and all who trust without seeing the outcome.

For Christians, Mary’s Assumption is not just her story but a sign of our hope: body and soul fully alive in God’s presence. Botticini’s disciples, distracted and earthbound, remind us not to miss the glory before us. The Assumption calls us to lift our eyes to heaven and live now in the light of what is promised.

At St Patrick’s College, Strathfield, our founding Christian Brothers made a point of incorporating the colour of azure into the school crest. They do so to represent Mary, Our Mother. In religious symbolism, particularly within Christianity, azure (a vibrant blue) is strongly associated with the Virgin Mary, representing her purity, royalty, and her role as the "Queen of Heaven". This symbolism is deeply rooted in historical and cultural contexts, including the use of blue in Byzantine royalty and the high cost of the blue pigment lapis lazuli, which was used to depict her in art. 

I hope to see as many students as possible and their parents at Friday morning mass this week. Despite Father Jack being in the hospital, we will have Fr John Hayes from Strathfield Parish this week to mark this Holy Day of Obligation.

CCSP’S Term 3 Sleep Webinar

Do you know how vital sleep is to your children's health, learning and emotional wellbeing? Do you know what effects screens are having on the quantity and quality of our sleep? Don't miss this opportunity to find out strategies you can use to help your children develop healthy sleeping habits for optimal function!

Join Sleep Educator Lisa Maltman from The Sleep Connection for an insight into how important sleep is for your children - and you - and tips for making sure the whole family gets enough zzzzzzzz’s.

Presented by The Sleep Connection on tonight, 13 August from 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM.

Register using this link. 

Community Prayers

• We keep the family of Christian Rocca (6 Blue) in our prayers as he lost his beloved great-grandfather late last week.

   

• We also pray for Thomas Doherty (Year 12), Mason Coscarella (Year 8), and Ryan Doherty (Old Boy, ‘21), who recently lost their grandfather, Michael Doherty.

Bullying: A Calm and Practical Guide for Parents (Justin Coulson) 

 This week, our assemblies focus on the national week of action against bullying with the theme this year being: BE BOLD BE KIND SPEAK UP. I wanted to take the opportunity to share advice from one of Australia’s leading experts in this area. 

The reality is sobering: Australian children face some of the highest bullying rates in the developed world, with 7 out of 10 kids aged 12-13 experiencing harassment within a year—worse than nearly every other English-speaking country we’re compared to.  

International studies rank us among the worst performers alongside only a handful of nations. And evidence shows bullying starts in Early Learning Centres and continues right through school. It’s not isolated to one age group, or one identity. Bullying is a huge challenge in every learning context throughout this country. 

(Note. Many behaviours are unkind, but not all are bullying. Teasing, conflict, being left out, or one-off nasty or unthoughtful incidents—while hurtful—don’t meet the definition of bullying.) 

Bullying is: 

• Repeated 

• Intentional 

• Aimed at causing distress or harm 

• Involves a power imbalance 

There are four types: 

• Physical – pushing, hitting, intimidating 

• Verbal – name-calling, mocking, insults 

• Social – exclusion, rumours, reputation damage 

• Cyber – online harassment via messages, posts, or apps 

Is Your Child Being Bullied? 

Children often don’t speak up about bullying. They might feel embarrassed or fear making things worse. They often feel that when parents and teachers get involved, things blow up. 

You can ask your child if they’re being bullied. Sometimes they’ll say yes. But it can be easier to start broadly with questions like this: 

“Bullying happens at every school—do you see much of it at yours?” 

“Has anyone in your year been picked on or left out?” 

This non-confrontational approach helps your child feel safe to talk. If they do open up, stay calm and listen. Bring it closer to home as the conversation progresses. “Have you or your friends been bullied?”  

The Best Response 

1.Stay Calm: As hard as it is, take a breath. Your child needs your emotional steadiness. 

2.Explore Gently: If your child discloses bullying, recognise their courage. Ask gentle questions to obtain more information. Don’t offer solutions. Just listen, understand, and explore. 

3.Obtain Evidence: If bullying is leading to damage to your child or their property, document it with photos, explanations, and time/date information. If bullying is occurring online, take screenshots as evidence.   

4.Speak With the Responsible Adults: Bullying will usually be happening at school (or a sport club, church, or other structured context). Approach the teacher, year coordinator, wellbeing staff, or responsible adult. Share what your child has told you and ask: 

• “Were you aware that this was occurring?” 

• “What support can we put in place?” 

• “How can we help all the children involved learn from this?” 

Aim to work with the school or organisation, not against it. 

5. Support and Coach Your Child: Help them problem-solve. Role-play responses or safe ways to seek help. Older kids might value more autonomy; younger ones may need more scaffolding. Use questions like: 

• “What do you think would help?” 

• “Is there someone at school you trust?” 

• “What would you like me to do?” 

6. Don’t Rush to Confront the Other Parent: Even if you know them, approaching another parent rarely goes well. It can become defensive or combative, and it rarely solves the problem. 

When to Escalate 

Agitate for a response. Protect your child. 

If the environment remains unsafe and you have the resources and options, consider other schooling alternatives. Your child’s mental and emotional safety comes first. 

If Your Child Is the One Bullying 

It can be confronting, but it’s also a valuable learning moment. Stay calm. Focus on teaching, not punishing. Guide them towards empathy and responsibility. 

Ask: 

• “What happened?” 

• “How do you think the other person felt?” 

• “What can we do to make this right?” 

Handled well, bullying doesn’t have to define a child’s school experience. With calm, supportive adults guiding the way, kids can learn resilience, boundaries, and compassion. Step in when needed. Step back when it’s safe. Most importantly, stay connected.  

For more resources, go to Bullying No Way – a national week of action uniting schools across Australia. 

Staff News

• Mrs Sanaa Hawkins (Science Department) has advised me of her resignation from the college as she is moving into a corporate job. We wish her well and have commenced advertising for a Chemistry/Science teacher. Her last day will be Monday, 8 September 2025.

   

• We recently congratulated Ms Artima Thongthip on her engagement. We wish her and her fiancée all the best as they plan for their wedding in 2027.

Dr Vittoria Lavorato

Principal

SPC boys can do anything! 

**except divide by zero