Principal

EREA Liberating Practice: Co-creating a better world

Last week, I attended the annual EREA Conference in Wollongong. The 55 Principals and Business Managers from across Australia were there; a marvellous opportunity to see how schools in the different states and territories are approaching learning. The sharp focus for the gathering was on the launch of the new Learning Statement.

We have been challenged to review our own learning framework considering the challenging aim to see:

Liberating Practice: Explicitly co-creating the learning conditions, dispositions and relationships to enable deep listening, confidence, agency and freedom.

This fits in well with our new Strategic Plan, A Beacon for Boys’ Education, where one of our stated objectives under LEARNING (Number 7), states:

Gather and respond to student perception data and evidence‑based feedback from students who experience, and observe, teaching to make positive changes in the classroom.

It was a delight to have two students from St Patrick’s College attend the conference, accompanied by Ms Santiago. These boys from Year 11, Angus Green and Vittorio Marando, along with students from each NSW/ACT school and Flexi, were able to give feedback on the statement. There was much excitement and hope generated. Angus and Vittorio spoke of classes they were in where they felt a shared sense of purpose and responsibility for the learning in classes.

In the next few months, I will be looking forward to the three of us developing strategies to capture the SPC Student Voice.

ADJUSTMENTS to KISS and RIDE                 MONDAY 30 MAY

As can be seen when visiting the College, work is progressing on the new Scientia Building. 

Significant works are scheduled to take place on Monday 30 May; this will include the concrete pour of the podium level slab.

These works will require the movement of dozens of concrete trucks to and from the building site that day. For the safety of our students, we recommend and are implementing the following:

• The College strongly recommends students travel to the College by alternate means that day (bus, train, walk, bike). 
   
• If there are no alternate means of travel to the College, Kiss and Ride will be operating at a reduced capacity on Shortland Avenue. Kiss and Ride along Fraser and Edgar Streets will be closed for the day due to the movement of heavy vehicles to/from and around the construction site. 
   
• To assist traffic flow, those travelling East on Shortland Avenue to get to the College need to loop around the roundabout intersecting Dickson Street to join the queue for Kiss and Ride (see image below).  
   
• Once dropped off, students need to walk east and enter the College via Francis Street (bus station side) to avoid the activity on the construction site that day.

Staggered Drop-Off/Pick-Up Times will be implemented on the day as follows:

STAGGERED DROP-OFF BY COHORT

STAGGERED PICK-UP BY COHORT

 * Families with more than one student to adhere to the times applicable to the oldest student

Blue, Black and Gold Dinner 

A wonderful time was had by all at our huge, social event of the year, the BBG! Those fortunate enough to secure tickets and brave the rain enjoyed a superbly organised event that was expertly chaired by one of our Year 5 fathers, Rob Shehadie. After a surprise, spirited entrance, we all enjoyed good food, good wine, great music, and one another’s company. I thank the Parents' and Friends’ (P&F) Committee (Jacqui Barton, Elena Ierardo, Catherine Doherty, Caroline Chahine, Janet Tannous, Belinda Barakat and Jason Arnold-Auland).

I reflected over the weekend about how fortunate I am to lead this amazing school and pondered the importance of community events in schools.

Schools, parents/carers, and the community should work together to promote the health, wellbeing, and learning of all students. Community events in schools actively involves parents/carers and engages community resources, so that schools can respond more effectively to the health-related needs of students.

Family and community involvement fosters partnerships among schools, family and community groups, as well as the individual themselves. These partnerships result in sharing and maximising resources, while also helping students develop healthy behaviours and promote healthy families.

Research shows that students whose parents/carers are involved in their education are more likely to:

• adapt well to school
• attend school more regularly
• complete homework more consistently
• earn higher grades
• graduate and go on to university
• have better social skills
• show improved behaviour
• have better relationships with their parents/carers
• have higher self-esteem.

Additionally, hosting community events in schools improves school-related behaviours and positively impacts academic achievement.

As a lighthouse school for boys in the Inner West, we benefit from a tight-knit community and celebrate the many opportunities that allow us to come together. Moving into the future, now that COVID-19 restrictions are a distant memory, I will seek to more regularly host social and community events so that current and future families can experience the excellent work of our students. We are in the throes of our Winter Sports season now when we play host to visiting schools for local sporting and cultural events and competitions. I would much appreciate parents/carers volunteering to spend some time at our P&F barbeques on Saturdays. All of these initiatives strengthen our bond as a community and reaffirms our vital contribution to the municipality of Strathfield itself.

St Patrick’s College, Strathfield is dedicated to developing young men of character with a strong sense of identity and a passion for learning who will become great contributors to the region and beyond.

Dr Vittoria Lavorato

Principal

SPC boys can do anything!

**except divide by zero