Principal

Founder's Day Awards

We celebrated a wonderful Founder’s Day last Friday and we were especially honoured by a visit from Br Berg.

Before the day of festivities, I asked students to nominate students who exemplified the Touchstones that are such an integral part of our Edmund Rice tradition. The winners for 2022, identified by their peers were:

            Christopher Rezzi - Year 11

• A couple of boys in Year 10
• Accepting of all students, never seen him have conflict or show negative attitudes towards a student. 
• Always able to make everyone feel welcome no matter who they are and can always put a simile on everyone’s faces.
• Good lad. Kind lad. Valued lad.
• The reason I am nominating this individual is consistency. For the seven or so years I have known him he has always tried his best to be as generous and kind as possible. He is always genuine and through those virtues he demonstrates inclusivity.
• A living embodiment of the Touchstones. Chris is an all-round good mate who strives to reflect the Touchstone of Inclusivity.
• Chris makes sure that everyone at lunchtime is included with conversations and he can make sure that everyone feels a sense of respect, belonging, and love.
• He is constantly trying to bring new people into our group and is making people feel welcome while also talking with everyone to make sure that they are alright often at times digging into this own free time.
• The laddiest of lads, the homiest of homies. Rezzi is a stand-up bloke that is always ready to chill and vibe.
  
  Xavier Kenniff - Year 9
   
• He is always willing to help me when I am struggling with schoolwork.
• He has been a great mate on the playground and in class all round.
• He is always helping out.
• A good bloke even being in the younger years and can be seen as an upstanding student. (from Year 11)
• Several nominations from Years 6, 9 and 11.
  
  Jade Trinh – Year 8
   
• He is a perfect example of inclusivity as he will go up to anyone and say hello. 
• He will make everyone laugh when they are feeling down.
• He is very kind and always cheers me up.
• Is very nice.
• 31 nominations overall.
  
  Jean-Paul Di Cristo - Year 6
   
• Because he is caring.
• He includes me in group activities and is always doing the right thing. 
• He also shows lots of kindness to every boy in our class.

Evidence of School Improvement

Like our parents/carers, teachers at St Patrick’s College have been working hard to fill the gaps of the students’ learning and we have been anxiously awaiting the testing of our Year 10 cohort who recently undertook their Allwell tests. We were keen to view the learning growth the students have made since they were in Year 5 (2015). In our strategic plan, A Beacon for Boys’ Education, on one of our focus areas is LEARNING: Every student will be helped to achieve his own level of academic excellence. 

One of the strategies is: Develop a systemic approach to differentiation, including use of data and tracking, so every student is known and understood.

This is how we are using Allwell testing data (as opposed to NAPLAN which really is a diagnostic test that tests basic skill and limits our ability to track the students’ cognitive development.

Mrs Lombardo recently shared this data with our staff:

There are 165 ‘matched students’, that is, 165 boys here in Year 10 that commenced here in Year 5. The results in learning growth, for boys at ALL levels, has been outstanding.

In all domains, students in Year 10 have progressed well and we are delighted that our teaching programs, interventions for those with diverse learning needs, aHSC.re paying dividends. I am particularly pleased with the improvement in General Reasoning because it is the boys’ critical thinking skills that will serve them well in the challenging HSC.

NSW Senior Team Champions in Theatresports!

We have been running Theatresports since 2017; it’s been an official Co-curricular since 2020.

The Theatresports Challenge is run by Impro Australia and is open to schools across NSW. We compete against GPS, CAS (Combined Associated Schools), ISA (Independent Schools Association) and public, co-educational, and single sex schools. 

This is the first time an SPC team has made it to the grand final and the first time we have won the grand final … making us the NSW Senior Champions!

Our amazing team:

• Oliver Clarke
• Jake Milligan
• Joseph O’Brien
• James Bellamy
• Matthew Gainsford

Our boys did so well, at interval we were coming first by two points. The third and fourth rounds were so close, and every team played so well…. At the end of Round 3 we were coming first still which meant we went last in the final round. We needed 4,4,5 to tie for first 4,5,5 to win and the boys did the most amazing, improved Shakespeare piece and got a 5,5,5 which is almost unheard of. They only gave one other during the comp.

• 1st Place: St Patrick’s College – 47 points
• Equal 2nd Place: St Vincent’s College and Smith’s Hill High School - 45 points
• 4th Place: St Augustine’s College – 44 points
• 5th Place: St Andrew’s Cathedral School - 42 points
• Equal 6th Place: St Aloysius’ College and Arden Anglican School – 40 points
• 8th Place: Sydney Grammar School – 39 points

In Memoriam

We pray for Domenic Navarra (Year 11) and Old Boys Phillip Navarra (’17) and Joseph Florio (’16) on the recent loss of their beloved grandmother Mrs Sarina Navarra. 

We also keep in our prayers Lucas Martin (Year 9) and his family on the recent passing of his beloved grandfather, Mr John Philpot last week. 

Eternal rest grant onto them O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them. 

May they rest in peace. 

Amen. 

Dr Vittoria Lavorato

Principal

SPC boys can do anything!

**except divide by zero