Principal

Linking for Success: The Power of Education, Community and Service

Success is rarely achieved alone. Families, teachers, mentors, and communities nurture it by encouraging young people to recognise their gifts, persevere in developing them, and ultimately use them in the service of others.

This was brought powerfully to life at the Australian Lebanese Foundation 2026 Scholarship Dinner at the University of Sydney on 4 November, which I was delighted to attend at the invitation of College parent Professor Fadia Ghossayn, a patron of the Foundation. The evening’s celebration of scholarship, culture, achievement and service resonated strongly with our own mission at St Patrick’s College and with the Foundation’s fitting motto, “Linking for Success.”

I was pleased to have been joined by our Acting Deputy Principal, Alex Sinadinos, and his wife, Katherine, together with Mr Mohammed Tabbara, Head of Mathematics and himself a graduate of the American University of Beirut. Their presence added to the strong sense of connection between St Patrick’s, education and the wider Australian Lebanese community.

The Australian Lebanese Foundation seeks to strengthen connections between Australia and Lebanon through education, research and cultural exchange. Central to its mission is providing scholarships, encouraging academic and cultural exchange, and creating educational opportunities for young people. Its motto, “Linking for Success”, captures a simple but powerful idea: individuals and communities flourish when people build connections, open doors for others and invest in the potential of the next generation.

It was therefore particularly fitting that Nicolas O (Year 5) was honoured during the evening for his achievements in Taekwondo. Nicolas began his Taekwondo journey in November 2018, just before his fourth birthday, as a mini white belt. Since then, he has worked his way through the coloured belts, developing not only his technical ability but also the discipline, focus, resilience, and determination that underpin sustained achievement.

Most recently, Nicolas won gold at the NSW All Schools competition, defeating a Trinity Grammar student in the final. This outstanding accomplishment takes him another step closer to earning his black belt. His journey offers a wonderful lesson for all our young men: success is rarely instantaneous. It is built patiently through practice, perseverance and the willingness to keep striving towards a goal.

The College’s contribution to the evening also extended to the musical stage. Our St Patrick’s College Drumline provided an energetic musical interlude, bringing great enthusiasm and spirit to the occasion. Old Boy Antonio Barbanera (’24) led the Drumline, making its performance another wonderful example of the continuing connection between our current students, our Old Boys, and the wider community.

Our Old Boys were represented in other significant ways. Awtel Haddad (’25) was presented as a scholarship recipient, while former College Captain Michael Bejjani (’22), now a member of the Foundation’s Youth Committee, served as Floor Manager for the evening.

This message matters for our young men. Success takes many forms. We saw it in Nicolas’s discipline and perseverance, in Awtel’s commitment to education, in Antonio sharing his musical gifts, and in Michael’s continuing leadership and service. Each, in his own way, demonstrates that our gifts become even more meaningful when they connect us with others and contribute to something beyond ourselves.

This resonates strongly with our Edmund Rice tradition. Education is never simply about individual accomplishment. It calls us to recognise our gifts, embrace the opportunities before us and then use what we have received in the service of others. In this sense, the Australian Lebanese Foundation’s motto, “Linking for Success”, carries an important message for all our students: value your heritage and identity, pursue excellence with determination, treasure the opportunities that education provides, build relationships across communities and, as you succeed, help create opportunities for others to flourish.

I warmly congratulate Nicolas, Awtel, Antonio and Michael, and thank Professor Fadia Ghossayn for her generous invitation. It was a privilege to share an evening that so strongly affirmed the transformative power of education, culture, perseverance, community and service, and to see the young men of St Patrick’s, past and present, embodying those values with such distinction.

Farrell Weights and Fitness Centre

We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who generously supported the campaign to enhance the Farrell Weights and Fitness Room. Conducted during August and September 2025, the campaign raised $2,381.86 from members of the College community, with $2,231.75 received by the College after associated charges. 

The Farrell Weights and Fitness Room plays an important role in supporting the physical development, health and wellbeing of our boys. Used for sport, strength and conditioning, physical education, and individual fitness development, the facility gives students opportunities to build strength, confidence, and discipline while developing positive habits around lifelong physical activity. 

Since the campaign, the facility has seen several significant improvements. These include the introduction of an iPad and a dedicated stand to support the delivery of programs through TeamBuildr, representing an investment of approximately $2,800. TeamBuildr has strengthened program delivery by enabling staff to streamline programming, individualise programs when required (particularly for students managing injuries), and centralise performance-testing data. 

The Farrell Room has also benefited from the addition of a Smith machine, cable machine and glute ham developer, provided at no cost to the College. Sanitary wipe dispensers have been installed, while existing equipment has undergone maintenance and servicing to ensure the facility remains safe, functional and well presented. 

These improvements demonstrate how community generosity can be combined with broader College investment and additional resources to create meaningful benefits for our students. While the amount raised may appear modest alongside major capital projects, its impact has been genuine and lasting. 

Most importantly, the campaign reflects the generosity and community spirit that have long been hallmarks of St Patrick’s College. Every contribution, regardless of size, represented an investment in our boys and in providing them with facilities and opportunities that enrich their experience at the College. 

To every individual and family who contributed, thank you. Your generosity has helped us continue to develop the Farrell Weights and Fitness Room as a purposeful, contemporary and valuable resource for our students. Many boys will experience the benefits of your support in the years ahead. We are deeply grateful for your partnership and for your continued belief in the young people entrusted to our care. 

Once again, I sincerely thank all members of our College community whose generosity helped make these improvements possible. 

Language Cultural Tour of Italy 2027

Learning a language is about far more than vocabulary and grammar. It invites us to understand another culture, see the world through a different lens, and build the confidence to communicate beyond our familiar surroundings. The 2027 Italian Language and Cultural Tour will give forty-six of our students an invaluable opportunity to bring their classroom learning to life through immersion in the language, history, traditions, and everyday life of Italy. They leave on Saturday 10 April 2027 and return at the end of Week 1, Term 2, on Saturday 1 May 2027.

Experiences such as these are an important part of a rich and holistic education. They encourage independence, curiosity, resilience and a deeper appreciation of cultural diversity, while strengthening students’ motivation and confidence as language learners. Most importantly, the friendships, experiences and memories formed through a language tour often remain long after the journey itself has ended.

For our young men, the opportunity to experience Italy firsthand promises to be not simply a tour, but an important educational experience that will broaden horizons and deepen their understanding of their place in an increasingly interconnected world.

Our boys will be accompanied by a team of educators: Ms Stephanie D’Arcangeli (Tour Leader), Mr Paul Brooks (Leadership Team representative), Ms Annelise Macolino, Mr Justin Knight, and Mr Anthony Graziano. I thank these staff members for their generous offer to accompany our students and am also grateful to all the other staff members who expressed an interest in going with our students.

Staff News

• Ms Alexandra Tsemelis will be Acting Head of Science in Weeks 5 and 6 whilst Mrs Surekha Chander is on LSL.

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• We welcome back Mr Adrian Byrne this week following his Professional Renewal Leave. I have been following his travels via social media with interest and look forward to hearing about how his leadership has been enhanced.

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• For the past five weeks, I have been deeply grateful for the outstanding contribution of Alexandros Sinadinos in the role of Acting Deputy Principal, a position he held from 21 September to 6 November during Adrian Byrne’s absence. Mr Sinadinos has stepped into this significant leadership responsibility with confidence, generosity and an unwavering commitment to the life and mission of St Patrick’s. His calm and considered presence, sound judgement and willingness to attend to the many demands of senior leadership have provided important continuity and stability during a particularly busy period of the College year. His leadership has extended across the daily operational life of the College, staff briefings and communication, oversight during the concluding HSC examination period, and representation of the College within the wider community. Most importantly, Mr Sinadinos has approached the role with a genuine spirit of service, collegiality and care for students and staff, earning my sincere appreciation for the way he has supported me and the Leadership Team. His work over these weeks has demonstrated both his capacity for senior leadership and his deep commitment to St Patrick’s, and I thank him warmly for the professionalism, wisdom and generosity he has brought to the role. 

For the remainder of the year, Mr Sinadinos will continue Higher Duties as Principal’s Support, and Mrs Tatola will remain in her role as Director of the Middle School until the end of Week 5, Term 1 next year.

• We congratulate Mr John McCarthy and his wife, Bella on the arrival of their son, Lachlan, on Monday.  

Dr Vittoria Lavorato

Principal

SPC boys can do anything! 

**except divide by zero