Junior School

2023 Student Leadership Voting

It is my great pleasure to announce the 2023 Junior School Student Leadership Team. Please view the list below to see who has been elected to represent the Junior School in a specific role next year:

I look forward to working with all members of the Student Leadership Team as they take on their elected position of responsibility throughout the 2023 school year.

A Year in Review

“A field is empty, but if you put in the effort to grow something then you will have a garden. And that’s life. Give something, something will come back. Give nothing, nothing will come back. To grow a flower is a miracle: it means you can grow more. Remember that a flower is not just a flower, it is the start of a whole garden.” 

Eddie Jaku, The Happiest Man on Earth.

The metaphor above beautifully captures our time together in the Junior School this year. It seems like only yesterday that many of our boys nervously walked through the College gates to begin the school year, their ‘fields’ not yet planted. Yet over the course of 2022, they’ve met the many opportunities and challenges with fortitude; they’ve worked together, wondered deeply, and developed some excellent habits of learning. We thank the boys for giving their all this year across so many areas and we are grateful for the opportunity to learn alongside such a diverse group of Junior School boys. 

A friendly reminder that your son’s Semester 2 school report is now accessible electronically via Parent Lounge. All parents/carers are encouraged to read the report with your child, congratulating them on not just their achievement, but also their effort throughout the semester, as well as the year in general. Our students have worked incredibly hard this year and can be most proud of everything they have accomplished, both within and outside of the classroom.

Tomorrow evening, we will celebrate our Annual Speech Night and we look forward to sharing this special occasion with all Junior School families. I do hope you enjoy attending this incredible event at the Quaycentre in Sydney Olympic Park, commencing at 7:15 PM.

To our Year 6 families, we wish you all the best as your son’s move into the Senior School, knowing that their contributions will be just as strong as they have been during their time in the Junior School. We look forward to hearing about their continued success over the coming years!

I would also like to acknowledge several Junior School staff members who will be departing the College at the end of the year. Ms Baroi, Mr Davis, Mr Marshall and Mr Shore will be pursuing other career opportunities in 2023 onwards, while Mrs Hertslet and Mr Leary will be retiring from teaching. On behalf of the Junior School community, I would like to thank these staff for their valuable contributions to the College. In particular special thanks must be given to Mr Davis, Mrs Hertslet and Mr Leary for their lengthy time of service to St Patrick’s College, Strathfield. It goes without saying that their hard work and dedication to the many boys they have taught is sincerely appreciated and the legacy they have each left will remain for many years to come. 

Finally, I would like to thank our parent community for their steadfast support throughout the year. The boys’ success comes through a strong and trusting partnership where communication between the College and home is open and respectful. I sincerely wish all our families a wonderful break over the upcoming holiday period as we prepare to say farewell to the 2022 school year this Friday, 2 December.

As always, if you have any queries or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me via email (glenn.stephenson@spc.nsw.edu.au) or phone (8705 9247) and I will endeavour to assist you in any way that I can.

May God bless you,

Glenn Stephenson 

Director of Junior School

Junior School Blue Cap Award and Academic Excellence Awards

Congratulations to the following Junior School students who were presented their Class Academic Excellence Awards at their last Pastoral Care Period for the year. We are all extremely proud of you.

Year 6

Year 5

Daniel Fields

Junior School Curriculum Coordinator

Mathematics Olympiad

This year, a group of students from Years 5 and 6 participated in the Australasian Problem-Solving Mathematics Olympiad (APSMO) competition. The Junior Division Olympiad that the students participated in is specifically designed to stimulate and challenge students at primary school level. It teaches major problem-solving strategies and strengthens students’ mathematical intuition prior to starting high school. Over the course of the year, students completed five Olympiad contests comprised of five challenging tasks. This year, our highest achieving student was Myles Chan from Year 6 who scored 23 out of 25 placing him in the top 10% of all Olympiad contestants. Nathan Touma from Year 6 and Lloyd Won from Year 5 also received outstanding results of 20 out of 25, which led to them also being placed in the top 10% of participants. Congratulations to all the students involved in this year’s Olympiad. 

Sarah Tatola

Learning Support and Enrichment Coordinator

Year 6 Thanksgiving Mass – Tuesday 29 November

What a beautiful celebration we had yesterday in recognition and thanksgiving for Year 6’s years of primary schooling. It was lovely to have a full chapel, full voice from the boys and full stomachs after the spread of morning tea. Another moment where students, parents, carers and staff could gather as community. We wish all of the students well as they continue their journey into the Senior School.

Stephen Cooper

Religious Education Coordinator - Junior School