Especean

Wellbeing

2023 Year 7 Year Ambassadors 

This term students in Year 7 engaged in the Year Ambassador Selection Process. A number of keen and suitable nominees were shortlisted and presented a speech at their Pastoral Care Period in Week 3 highlighting how they intend on demonstrating service leadership to their peers. All nominees did a wonderful job in conveying their personal qualities and aspirations, which assisted in the decision-making process of their peers when it came to putting forward their student recommendations.

 

The newly selected Year Ambassadors have been entrusted with a distinct responsibility and commitment to their peers, Year Coordinator, College Leadership Team and the entire College community. 

 

It is with great pleasure that I formally present the newly selected 2023 Year 7 Year Ambassadors to the St Patrick’s College Community:

  • Archibald Behan
  • Kaylan Qutami
  • Joseph Showah
  • Max Simon

I am confident that these dedicated young men will represent their year group and College with pride and integrity. 

 

We wish the newly selected student leaders every success throughout their leadership roles in the next twelve months and look forward to seeing their positive contributions to the College community.

 

Katherine Sinadinos 

Acting Student Wellbeing Coordinator

Attendance

COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE: INFORMATION FOR PARENTS/CARERS 

Did you know that if your son attended St Patrick’s College between Years 5-12 and missed as little as eight days in a school term, by the end of their time at the College they will have missed over a year of education? 

 

In New South Wales, all children from six years of age are legally required to attend school or be registered for home schooling. After they complete Year 10 and until they turn 17 years of age, students then have the following options. They may also be in: 

  • full-time further education and training (e.g., TAFE, traineeship, apprenticeship)
  • full-time, paid employment of an average of 25 hours per week
  • or a combination of both of the above. 

Children are expected to attend all College activities, on time. If your son has to be absent from the College, you must inform the College and provide a reason for your son’s absence. A small number of absences may be accepted; for example, if your son has to attend a special religious ceremony, is required to attend to a serious and/or urgent family situation, is too sick to go to school or has an infectious illness. 

 

When absences are unexplained by parents/carers, or the explanations are deemed ‘unjustified’, the College will work with parents/carers to help address the issue. The main aim is to sort out what is preventing the child from getting to school and putting strategies in place to help. 

 

Sometimes, the College will ask support staff and other agencies to assist. It is important to understand that further action will be taken where students of compulsory school age have recurring numbers of unexplained or unacceptable absences from the College.

 

Some of the following actions may be undertaken:

 

Attendance meetings and compulsory attendance conferences

The aim of the meeting/conference is to help identify strategies to support the student and family. Other agencies may also be invited along to help, if parents/carers agree. The outcome of an Attendance meeting/compulsory attendance conference is for the parties to agree to undertake certain actions to improve the boy’s attendance. These actions are written in the form of undertakings. 

 

Applications to the Children’s Court

A Compulsory Schooling Order Legal compliance can be sought through an application to the Children’s Court for a Compulsory Schooling Order. The aim is to assist a family and/or child to address the issues which are preventing satisfactory school attendance but has the added enforcement of a Court’s powers. 

 

Prosecution in the Local Court If all attempts by the College and regional support staff fail to improve a student’s attendance, action can be taken in the Local Court and the result can be fines up to a maximum of $11,000.

 

Adapted from Student Attendance at http://www.cecnsw.catholic.edu.au.

 

Robert Simpson

Director of Wellbeing