Junior School

Year 7 Camp: A Positive and Productive Experience

The Year 7 Camp was a truly positive and productive experience for our students. It provided an excellent opportunity for the boys to form and strengthen relationships with their peers and Homeroom Teachers. Year 7 students from St Patrick's College have been attending the Log Cabin Camp for at least the last 50 years, and it continues to be a highlight for many of those who attend. We are confident that our current Year 7s will share the same sentiments as those who have gone before them.

A special thanks and acknowledgment go to all the Homeroom Teachers and support staff for their efforts and dedication in making this camp a success. Additionally, we extend our heartfelt thanks to the Year 7 Coordinators, Mrs Dodd and Mrs Dunne, for their leadership in organising and delivering an exceptional experience. Their hard work has been invaluable in supporting the students' orientation as St Patrick's College students.

Our Year 7s have also been supported in their transition to life at the College through a range of activities, including a lesson on how to write an email, covering the necessary etiquette expected in communication. The boys also had the opportunity to visit the Clontarf Academy, which offers a remarkable program and facilities for our Indigenous students.

Co-Curricular Program

It has been fantastic to see so many of our Year 7 and Year 8 students engage in co-curricular activities this term. This is evidenced by the cricket bags that have been left in the space behind my office – a sign of the boys’ commitment to participating in the diverse opportunities available. One of the key messages we have shared with the community is the importance of encouraging our boys to take full advantage of these opportunities, and it is wonderful to see this coming to fruition.

Looking ahead, we also have the Athletics Carnival on Monday, 17 February. This is an important event on the College calendar, and all students are expected to attend. The Junior School is traditionally well represented in terms of student attendance, and we look forward to seeing our students participate and show their school spirit.

Year 8 Camp

The Year 8 Camp is fast approaching, and we are excited to deliver a program that will be both enjoyable and promote further collegiality among our Year 8 cohort. It promises to be a great experience, and we look forward to seeing how it will further strengthen the bonds between the students. A reminder to families that information and consent to attend the camp has already been communicated via PAM, so please ensure all necessary details are submitted.

GRIT Awards

We are also excited to announce that the first round of GRIT Award winners for 2025 will be recognised soon. In the Junior School, we focus on encouraging our students to demonstrate GRIT in their daily lives. GRIT represents passion and perseverance for long-term goals, combining talent and effort to develop important personality traits such as resilience and hardiness. These qualities are invaluable in life, and we are proud to support our students in embodying them.

Students at St Patrick’s College can demonstrate GRIT by:

• Showing a Growth Mindset
• Being Respectful
• Being Inclusive
• Being Tuned In to what we do at the College

We look forward to recognising those who have exemplified these qualities.

Academic Excellence

Last, but certainly not least, we congratulate all Junior School students who were recognised at yesterday's Academic Excellence assembly.

Fifty Year 7 and 8 students were presented with a Chris Nolan Award, Principal's Excellence Award, Subject Dux Award, or a combination of all three for their efforts in the classroom in 2024.

Well done, boys. Your commitment to your learning is admirable. And thank you to those families who joined us in honouring our high achievers yesterday. It was wonderful to share this moment with you.

Thank you for your continued support and for helping to make this term so successful for our students. It’s been a pleasure to see the boys engaging in their studies and extracurricular activities with such enthusiasm.