Principal

Annual Survey of the Community

As part of our continuous improvement process, I wish to provide opportunities for all parents, students, and staff to share their feedback with us regarding their views of the College across a wide range of areas.

The research is being conducted by MMG Education, a specialist education consultancy that works with schools in the areas of school strategic reviews and stakeholder satisfaction. MMG's client schools include many schools across Australia.

Parents/carers will be invited to complete questionnaires over a two-week period commencing on Tuesday, 29 April 2025. Staff and students will also complete their questionnaires during this period.

On Wednesday, 30 April 2025 MMG Education will email you an invitation to participate in the review and provide you with your confidential, secure access to your questionnaire.

To ensure confidentiality and to encourage frank and full expression of views:

• All responses will be de-identified.

• The data will be reported back in aggregated form only.

• All data collected by MMG Education will remain under its control and be archived according to research protocols. The College will not be able to access it.

At the conclusion of the research period, MMG Education will provide me with a report. I will then provide opportunities for members of the College community to receive feedback from the research.

If you have any questions regarding the project, please contact my Executive Assistant, Cristina Polito at cristina.polito@spc.nsw.edu.au.

I look forward to the valuable contribution you will make to this important project by completing your questionnaire.

ADOLESCENCE – A SERIES ON NETFLIX

Last weekend, after being recommended by other educators, I was glued to my television, watching this four-part series. If you have not seen this yet, read no further (SPOILER ALERT). It is rated TV-MA for mature audiences only and may be unsuitable for children under 17.

It opens with a dramatic scene where 13-year-old Jamie Miller is arrested for the murder of his schoolmate, Katie Leonard. The show isn't a typical murder mystery; instead, it explores the deeper question of why Jamie committed the crime. It highlights the devastating impact on Katie's family and shifts focus to Jamie and the broader crisis of modern boyhood.

Jamie, despite having loving parents and a good education, struggles with societal pressures and toxic masculinity propagated through social media. At just 13, he faces ridicule for being an "incel" and feels immense pressure to conform to harmful standards of masculinity. This leads to a cascade of shame, self-loathing, and ultimately, violence.

The series portrays Jamie's emotional turmoil and the toxic online ecosystem that preys on vulnerable boys. It shows how his fragile identity collapses after being publicly humiliated by Katie, leading to his violent outburst. The show emphasises the collective failure of society, including tech companies, the justice system, educational institutions, and parents, in protecting children from these harmful influences.

Adolescence serves as a wake-up call, urging parents/carers to be more aware of their children's digital lives and to foster open communication, real-world socialisation, and emotional support. It underscores the need for a cultural shift in how masculinity is constructed and taught to boys, to prevent further tragedies like Jamie's.

The ideological constructs like the Man Box, Boy Code, and precarious masculinity that influenced Jamie's mind pose a danger to women and girls, but their harmful effects extend to everyone, including boys themselves.

Boys are harming girls, women, each other, and themselves. This distorted view of masculinity fuels male-on-male violence and high suicide rates, leaving behind broken lives and grieving families. Watching Jamie's family, especially his father, struggle to cope with the tragedy was profoundly heartbreaking.

The series ends without comfort or resolution, showing that Jamie's family will bear the scars of his actions permanently, and the victim's family will suffer indefinitely. The show offers no false hope, leaving viewers in discomfort, which is necessary to confront the reality that many boys are being radicalised by toxic online narratives.

Boys are being deprived of the chance to grow into men free from destructive masculinity concepts. Their childhoods are being corrupted by digital influences while adults remain largely unaware. Technology companies, educational systems, and the justice system are failing to intervene, allowing boys to fall through the cracks, either breaking under pressure or harming others.

At St Patrick’s College, we will continue to construct masculinity as a cultural task that requires explicit teaching, learning, and demonstrating positive examples. When done well, men feel needed and understood. If we dislike certain versions of masculinity, it's our responsibility to address and improve them rather than dismiss masculinity itself.

Adolescence doesn't provide easy answers but reflects our collective failure to protect children from digital corruption, leading to tragic outcomes like Katie's death and Jamie's downfall. The system that created this tragedy continues to operate, indifferent to the human cost.

Dr Justin Coulson (2025) suggests parents/carers take these practical steps.

• Monitor your kids’ online activities – Know what they’re watching and who they’re interacting with.

• Talk to them regularly (and listen twice as much) – Open communication is essential.

• Minimise screen time and foster face-to-face relationships – Encourage real-world socialisation.

• Spend more time together as a family – Connection builds resilience.

• Make sure he gets enough sleep – Poor sleep impacts emotional regulation.

• Know where your kids are – Awareness prevents risky situations.

• Ensure they have access to great adults who care about them – Role models matter.

• Tell them the three most important words they can hear – Not I love you, but no matter what. They need to know they’re worthy of your love—always.

Our boys are navigating a world that frequently lets them down. It's crucial for us to intervene. Engage in conversations with your son. Help him navigate the complexities of the digital landscape. Affirm his worth, not based on outdated masculine stereotypes, but for his true self. The future of our boys’ hinges on the steps we take now.

Palm Sunday Reflection

As we commence our Easter vacation break, we will be in the unique position of being able to better prepare for Palm Sunday, and it is even more special with Orthodox and Catholic Easter being celebrated on the same day.

The Story of Jesus' Death and Its Meaning

During the Jewish festival of Passover, Jesus of Nazareth was executed in Jerusalem, a city bustling with pilgrims. A year later, his friends and family gathered again for Passover and found new meaning in the celebration. From that time on, Passover would not only commemorate the ancient story of God's deliverance but also the life and death of Jesus.

Each year, they shared memories of Jesus, reflecting on his life and death through their wisdom traditions. The Passover story, which recounts God's deliverance from slavery, now resonated with the experiences of Jesus' life and death, making Him present to them in a new way.

It's no surprise that the final events of Jesus' life were among the first parts of his story to be written down. Each of the four Gospels includes an account of Jesus' suffering and death, each from its own perspective. Luke's Gospel, in particular, highlights Jesus' remarkable readiness to forgive those who executed him, even as they mocked him. It also shows his compassion, as he turned towards the women of Jerusalem, accepting their mourning and expressing concern for them.

Luke's account emphasises that Jesus was innocent and posed no threat to the Roman Empire. Jesus is portrayed as a rejected prophet who trusted completely in God, entrusting his spirit into God's hands. He died with the same dignity that characterised his life.

In our own lives, it's easy to respond to hurt with criticism or mistreatment of others. It's also easy to retaliate when faced with unjust accusations. However, it takes great courage to name unjust treatment, truly forgive, maintain peace of mind, and trust in God's power to overcome ignorance and violence.

As we approach Holy Week, let's pray for the grace to act with the dignity of Jesus, breaking the cycles of violence in our own lives. 

Our Lady of Fatima Procession – 10 May 2025

The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney invites all schools and families to participate in the Our Lady of Fatima Procession. This event provides a meaningful opportunity for staff, students, and families to come together in prayer and honour Our Lady.

Community News

We pray for Mr David Dunne and his family this week as his father passed away on Monday after a long illness. May Mr Dunne Senior rest in perpetual peace.

A Message from Head of VET - Work Placement Host Request

VET Courses in schools provide workplace skills, technical knowledge and TAFE qualifications to students while they are still at school, consequently creating pathways for rewarding jobs and careers. VET is a practical education option with courses designed by industry experts that combine work-ready skills for the rapidly changing work environment. We encourage parents/carers in the SPC community to consider taking work placement students, hosting a student from Year 11 or Year 12 for a 35-hour, 1 week placement. Please see below for further information if you are interested in volunteering.

Dr Vittoria Lavorato

Principal

SPC boys can do anything! 

**except divide by zero