Especean

Co-curricular

Congratulations

I would like to take this opportunity to commend the cast, coaches and crew involved in last week’s The Addams Family production. Put quite simply, it was outstanding. I have been fortunate enough to see almost all the SPC Performing Arts productions over the past 25 years and this was most likely the most professional production thus far. Those outside the Performing Arts fraternity would not be aware of the countless hours spent in preparation. Many, many thanks to all involved. You have showcased the talent that exists at St Patrick’s College in a most positive light.

 

Congratulations are also extended to our Debating teams who came away with 10 wins out of 12 following last week’s debate out at Hinchinbrook. Our boys continue to shine in this arena, and it is quite likely that a number of our teams will progress to the elimination rounds should they continue their winning streak.

 

I would also like to commend the Year 7 cohort for their enthusiastic support of both the First and Second XV Rugby teams. Both matches were close fought affairs, and I am certain that the Year 7 boys really helped our teams get over the line. The manner in which our Year 7 boys presented themselves on Saturday was exemplary. Special thanks are extended to the staff who came in specially to help supervise our young men.

Co-curricular Program - Support for Elite Students Updated

The College has become increasingly aware of the growing external demands placed on our students who are engaged in elite programs in the fields of sport and the performing arts. Managing these demands along with the pre-agreed terms of the College’s Co-curricular expectations can be difficult at times. Given that, parents/carers and boys are advised that the College will put measures in place for those students that have been identified as elite participants in their chosen areas.

 

Whilst there is no doubting the benefits the College community can derive from our students participating in an external elite program, processing individual requests with, at times, subjective criteria can be challenging. To that end, I offer the following guidelines:

 

First Tier - if a request for leave is presented to me in advance, students who are selected to represent at State or National levels in sport or in the Sydney Youth Orchestra, wherever possible, will continue to be granted leave from representing the College should a clash occur with training and or fixtures/performances. Parents/carers are kindly asked to forward supporting documentation with their written/emailed requests. Those families requesting exemption from the regular school week are asked to send their request to Mr Simpson, our Director of Wellbeing, with sufficient notice.

 

Second Tier – valid to boys participating in two (2) or more full College Co-curricular activities per year, e.g., Athletics and Cross Country count as one full Co-curricular activity.

 

Allowances may also be made for students engaged at recognised club representative levels, examples of which include, but are not limited to: 

  • Rugby League - Harold Matthews Cup
  • AFL - Swans and Giants Academies 
  • Football - NPL 1 and NPL 2
  • Basketball - Metro Junior League Divisions 1 and 2. 

These allowances apply to students seeking early release time from their first scheduled College training/practice session of the week. Ordinarily, these students will be permitted to leave halfway through the session if they have an external club representative training session that afternoon. These students may also seek to swap their winter Supporters’ Day duty for another date should it clash with their external representative fixture. Parents/carers seeking this type of leave are to forward their request to Mr Calavassy (Head of Secondary Sport), Mr Locke (Junior School Co-ordinator of Co-curricular) or me and await approval. Parents/carers are kindly asked to forward supporting documentation with their written/emailed requests. It is important to note that leave will not be granted from attending the College’s fixture/performance, nor does this allowance apply to those students selected in the ‘Firsts or Seconds’.

Playing up an Age-group

The current College policy stipulates that: All boys are to play in their correct age group unless they play in the Firsts. Boys who trial for the Firsts are aware that should they not make the team, they will go back to their correct age group.

 

To challenge elite athletes and assist them with their development, the College will now consider requests from parents/carers for their son/s to play up an age group in sport/s they excel in. 

 

Consideration will be given with the following criteria in mind:

  • Boys are not permitted to play more than two age groups above their correct age group, unless they are chosen in the Firsts. 
  • A boy must be registered and a regular player for an outside representative club and in a higher age group, e.g., an U14 year old registered to play for the U15s. His outside representative club team must also be playing in the top tier division, e.g., Football – NPL 1 clubs only
  • A boy may only play up in age groups if his skill set, athleticism, and game sense is clearly better than the player in the higher age group that he may be replacing. 
  • A boy may only play up if they are good enough to be selected in the A Grade team.
  • A formal assessment by our experienced staff will take place to ascertain the boy’s quality, temperament and attitude and their commitment to St Patrick’s College.

The College may on occasion, seek approval from parents/carers to allow their son/s to play up an age group to ensure that teams do not fold due to a lack of numbers.

 

Notwithstanding the above-mentioned, Junior School boys will not be granted approval to play up in Senior School teams.

 

Steven Fochesato 

Director of Co-curricular