Principal

Performing Arts Showcase

In a busy week for all things SPC, I was privileged to attend this year’s showcase at Marie Bashir Public School. The evening was a celebration of music, shining a spotlight on our students' talent, dedication, and collaborative spirit.

The audience was treated to various performances from the opening ensemble to the final curtain call. The concert band, ensembles, drum line and choir filled the auditorium with energy and harmony, while soloists within the ensembles impressed with their confidence and artistry. 

Parents/carers, friends, and staff were united in their admiration as students demonstrated not only technical skill but also creativity, teamwork, and courage. Many of the pieces performed were the result of weeks of rehearsal, guided by the passion and commitment of our Performing Arts staff.

The Showcase highlighted the importance of the arts in shaping well-rounded, confident young people. We congratulate all performers, backstage crew, and teachers who contributed to such a memorable evening.  Special thanks to Dr Taylor (Head of Co-Curricular (Music) and Adam Watson (Director of Co-Curricular) for skilfully staffing and organising this side of school life. Their work in engaging with tutors, students and parents, is much appreciated.

The pride in the room was palpable, and we look forward to seeing how our young artists continue to grow and inspire.

End Of the Winter Sports Season

Over the last two weeks, many boys were engaged in playing at finals tournaments with Rugby Union in Bathurst on 16 August, with two teams (14A and 15A) who were going on to the finals last Saturday at St Gregory’s College, Campbelltown. Due to ground conditions, the Rugby Union finals will now be on this Saturday. All our Football finalists played their finals primarily at Macquarie University. 

Our First XI started proceedings with a well-deserved 6–1 victory over St Pius X, setting the tone for the day. 

The 15A’s unfortunately went down in a nail-biting penalty shootout, 7–8. The 16A’s continued their strong second-half form this season with a tight 1–0 win over St Pius X.

This left it to the 14A’s, where victory would secure the Football School Championship Shield for the College. In a high-quality match, the boys produced an excellent performance, winning 2–0 against Oakhill College, and with that result, the shield was ours. The 16B’s capped off an incredible year with a dominant 5–0 win over St Andrew’s, finishing the season undefeated.

Other results saw the Fourth XI narrowly defeated 2–1 by Blue Mountains First XI, the Fifth XI go down 4–1 to Scots All Saints First XI, the 14C’s beaten 2–0 by Oakhill 14B’s, and in the last game of the day, the 13B’s fell 2–0 to St Augustine’s.

Overall, it was a fantastic day for St Patrick’s College Football, and we are proud to have been awarded the ISA Football School Championship Shield. Congratulations to Mr Falzon and all thecoaches who oversee our Football Program and all the boys and parents who see the benefit in young men taking to the field in fierce competition.

It has been an absolute pleasure seeing the boys in action and win, lose or draw, those moments go into the formation of each boy as he moves into his manhood and embraces his athleticism.

Our late Pope Francis frequently highlighted the positive impact of sports, emphasising its role in fostering unity, discipline, and personal growth. He saw sports as a powerful metaphor for life, capable of breaking down barriers and promoting inclusion. The Pope believed that sports can teach valuable lessons about perseverance, teamwork, and healthy competition. 

Unity and Inclusion:

Pope Francis emphasised that sports transcend differences in background, language, and culture, uniting people under a common goal. He saw it as a powerful tool for breaking down barriers and fostering a sense of community, especially for young people. 

Discipline and Perseverance:

The Pope highlighted that sports teach valuable lessons about discipline, perseverance, and overcoming challenges, mirroring the commitment needed in other areas of life, including the spiritual life. 

Like me, the Pope often used sports as a metaphor for life, noting that the commitment, teamwork, and challenges faced in sports can be applied to various aspects of personal growth and societal development. 

Sports can be a valuable ally in building a more cohesive and peaceful society. Sports encourage the promotion of virtues like patience, solidarity, and respect. 

Sports are also a place for encounter and fraternity, where people can come together, form friendships, and experience joy. 

Giving one's very best is a fundamental theme in sports, as athletes both individually and collectively strive to achieve their goals in the game. When a person gives his very best, he experiences satisfaction and the joy of accomplishment. The same is true in human life in general and in living out the Christian faith. We all want to be able to say one day, with St. Paul, “I have fought to the end the good fight, finished my course, I have kept the faith.” (2 Tim 4:7). 

Congratulations to all the boys and coaches who participate in the Winter Sports Program, and we keep the importance of such activities in our mind’s eye as we move in the Athletics and Summer Sports Programs.

Sports Fund-Raising 

I thank all the families who donated to our sports fund-raising – the Scoreboard and the Farrell Room. As of 25 August 2025, many thanks to:

The links to these tax-deductible campaigns are here:

Br Berg Electronic Score Board      

Farrell Weights and Fitness Room  

Staff News

• This week, Ms Ella Heffron, replaced Ms Daoud-Aytee as a Religious Education teacher.

   

• The College is also delighted to announce that Mr Tom Hogan will commence with us at the start of Term 4 as the Assistant Head of Science. He will replace Ms Hawkins as a classroom teacher with a wealth of experience teaching HSC Chemistry, Biology and Investigating Science, most recently at Cerdon College, Merrylands.

   

• From Monday, 1 September until the end of this term, Mr Ricky Istifan will be Acting Head of TAS while Mr Gibson is on Long Service Leave. We wish him rest and renewal and know the TAS Department will be in good hands.

   

• Head of Visual Arts: I am pleased to announce that Mr Anthony Porra has been appointed to the substantive position of Head of Department. We congratulate him and look forward to seeing him implement his many ideas in this creative side of school life.

Arrangements made by EREA NSW Colleges to cover my period of Professional Renewal Leave (Week 10, Term 3 until the end of Term 4):

• Mr Adrian Byrne will step into the Acting Principal role at St Patrick’s College. Mr Byrne has been the substantive Deputy Principal at St Patrick’s College since 2022. Prior to this role, he was the Head of Boarding of St Ignatius College Riverview.

   

• Ms Jodie Connor will be seconded to the role of Acting Deputy Principal at St Patrick’s College for this period. Ms Connor is the substantive Deputy Principal of St Edward’s College in East Gosford and is currently serving as the Acting Principal at St Edward’s while Mr Mark Bonnici is on scheduled leave.

   

• Mr Damian Chase will serve in the Acting Deputy Principal Role at St Edward’s College in Term 4. Damian is currently acting in this role and provides a point of continuity for the St Edward’s community as Mark returns from leave and Jodie takes up the acting role at St Patrick’s.

   

• Mr Peter Maxwell will continue in the position of Acting Head of PDHPE until the end of this year.

I am grateful to Mrs Maura Manning, CEO of EREA NSW Colleges Limited, for making these arrangements, and I look forward to a period of rest, renewal and discernment. 

Interesting Podcast

I recently started listening to an inspiring podcast hosted by Fr Rob Galea, a priest whose musical ministry has made an incredible contribution to World Youth Day events. He blends energetic pastoral observations with genuine personal stories and Gospel reflection, offering encouragement for modern Australian Catholics. The link to his series of reflections can be found here: Fr Rob Galea Homilies – CathEvents.

In Memoriam

We keep in our prayers Christian Tassopoulos (Year 12) and Old Boys George Tassopoulos ('21) and James Tassopoulos ('23), wholost their aunt yesterday following a long battle with cancer.

Dr Vittoria Lavorato

Principal

SPC boys can do anything! 

**except divide by zero