Junior School

Opening Mass and High Achievers’ Assembly

I am very much looking forward to this Friday’s formalities at the Quay Centre. It is disappointing to not be able to invite parents and community members to celebrate Mass with us, however I hope you will be able to join via the live stream.

As in all aspects of life – whether it is a family, a Football club or a religious community – we create rituals around things we value, things that are important to us. An important and moving aspect of the Opening Mass is the symbolic welcoming or receiving of Year 5 boys into their House by their Year 12 brothers. This has become an important ritual over the last few years and I am pleased the tradition continues this year.

The High Achievers’ Assembly is another ritual that I am pleased Junior School students get to take part in. Year 12 and beyond may seem a long way away to a young boy and his family, but the idea that at the end of their St Patrick’s journey, that they too might be able to stand on stage and be recognised for their efforts and achievement is exciting and motivating for many boys.

As we recognise the High Achievers of the class of 2020, I would also like to acknowledge their teachers - not just the HSC teachers, who surely must have done a great job for these young men to have done so well, but all of their teachers over the years, all the way back to Kindergarten and pre-school. The foundations of literacy, numeracy and curiosity that are laid in the early years are the base on which high achievement in later years can be built. 

Parent Information Sessions

As you probably expect, the traditional face-to-face Meet the Teacher sessions will be replaced by online versions of the same event this year. Please make sure at least one parent or carer is available for the sessions on Tuesday 9 February: Year 5 will be at 5.00pm and Year 6 at 6.00pm. A link to the sessions will be emailed.

Ben Munday

Director of Junior School