Junior School

2022 Junior School Student Leadership Team 

As I wrote last week, we were blessed to be able to hear the leadership speeches from the 12 pre-selected students (two per Homeroom) who were chosen by their peers to be candidates for these important roles. Each of the 12 students rose to the occasion and did very well. An announcement about the successful candidates, including the House Leaders, will be shared with the community before the end of term.

Year 6 Thanksgiving Mass

Monday’s Year 6 Thanksgiving Mass was a beautiful occasion. Of course, we all know it would be better for us to gather in the chapel and celebrate together, but in some ways the unusual nature of this Mass – children and teachers in the chapel, families tuning in from home or their workplaces – could make it even more memorable. We give thanks that we were able to celebrate together in this new way. Even as recently as five or ten years ago, it is likely our celebration would have been cancelled.

It is obvious such celebrations take a lot of effort from a lot of people for them to be successful. Special thanks to: Mrs Tatola, Mr Davis, Fr Jack, Ms Grape, Dr Taylor, Mr Heffernan, the Student Choir, Dr Lavorato, Mr Tandiono, Mr Kwong, and all the staff from College Reception. You have ALL helped the Year 6 students and families mark an important milestone on the road of life – THANK YOU!

Optional Parent/Teacher Interviews

A reminder that Junior School parents and carers may request an optional Parent/Teacher Interview on Monday 6 December from:

• 8:00 AM to11:00 AM or 
• 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM. 

Please email the class teacher directly to request either a Teams meeting or a phone call.

Year 5 Students of the Fortnight

The most recent Year 5 Student of the Fortnight Award recipients are:

• Jerry Di Girolamo
• Nathan Sleiman
• Dash Nguyen
• Miguel De Nobrega
• Jean Paul Di Cristo
• Joseph Alam.

Congratulations to all these boys!

The last word...

In thinking about how to sign off in my final Especean article, my thoughts turned to how I began this year. I wrote:

“Our hope and goal while boys are in the Junior School is to help them grow into young men who contribute to the community, care for others and flourish in their own right. We will often talk this year about ‘having a go’, ‘putting up your hand’ and ‘giving back’. We will also often talk this year about being responsible for yourself, helping your mates behave well, having a go and being responsible – positive peer pressure can be such a powerful influence and can bind a community together. We will often talk this year about the kind of person you want to be, and how you are acting in the world to become that person. 

In this 93rd year of St Patrick’s College, we remember that we are a part of a long and important story - not just the story of the College itself, but the longer story of the Brothers here in Australia and Edmund Rice in Ireland, and the even longer story of our Catholic community of believers around the world and our Jewish ancestors in faith. Let us acknowledge that the College stands on land that is part of a much longer story – the Wangal clan of the Dharug people who have lived here for countless generations before Jesus walked the earth, and before God made a covenant with Abraham. Now we find ourselves part of the latest chapter of this story. We praise God for the opportunity to be part of this story. May our contribution to the narrative bring us all just a little bit closer to our Creator.”

Looking back, I hope that despite a strange year, we have been able to help boys grow and move closer towards some of these goals. I know I have certainly grown in my own way; my time at St Patrick’s has helped me grow in understanding and appreciation of what this special community has to offer the world, and I dearly hope and pray that you will help Mr Stephenson as he begins his work next year in this same ministry. A very important job of the Junior School is to welcome and induct boys and families into being ‘Edmund Rice people’; I hope that every boy and family who has passed through the Junior School over the last four years would know that and would be able to explain to someone else what this means. Thank you for your support in this, and may your love, effort and good will live long, travel far, and touch many people.

Although I will soon take my leave of the College, I know that the spirit of this special place will live in my heart, and I hope that at some point I will have the chance to return and see the wonderful fruit that has grown here in the intervening years.

Many thanks and God bless you all,

Ben Munday

Director of Junior School

2021 Blue Cap and Academic Excellence Awards 

Congratulations to Archibald Behan (5 Blue) who put his heart into his service throughout the year to receive a Br Chanel Powell Award (Blue). 

Congratulations also to the following Junior School students for their outstanding achievements throughout the 2021 academic year. Your hard work, dedication, and commitment to demonstrating your knowledge, understanding, and skills in various subjects has led to your continued success.Luceat Lux Vestra!

Daniel Fields

Junior School Curriculum Coordinator

Year 5

Year 6

Year Camp Day - Somerset

Year 6 Camp enjoyed a fun day out at Camp Somerset this week, with fun and adventure had by all!

It was a great opportunity for the boys to display their impressive teamwork, encouraging one another throughout the day as they participated in group tasks.

Their enjoyment evident by their faces in the photos below. No doubt they will be keen to return, counting down the days until they get there again in Year 8!