Especean

Junior School

Supporters' Day

Guilty as charged – I am by nature and by choice relentlessly positive about the gifts, benefits, and opportunities of life in the Junior School for young boys. But believe me, I am not exaggerating when I say that last weekend’s Supporters’ Day was the best I have experienced in my time in the Junior School so far.

 

True, the results were not what we would have hoped for our 1st XI and 1st XV – we always love them to win – but the spirit, camaraderie and sportsmanship shown by the supporting boys was truly outstanding. I spoke to the boys on Monday morning about this and praised them for rising to the high standards we set, and doing so conspicuously, at the right time, on the right occasion. Well done boys!

Every one of our students in the Junior School belongs to the St Patrick’s community, as we have emphasised through assemblies, liturgies, PCPs, Belonging Day, and the Peer Support program. Saturday was another visible (and audible!) example of this. It is a powerful experience to feel part of a ‘tribe’, to proclaim your communal identity loudly and proudly, and to do so in a positive way. Young boys had the chance to admire their older school mates as they strove towards a worthy goal; they had the chance to spend time with friends in a shared pursuit; and they had the chance to say in front of strong opposition ‘this is us, and we are proud of who we are’. 

 

To be sure, a strong sense of belonging to the College community is not an end in itself. Remember our mission: 

 

Inspired by the Gospel and Edmund Rice, our purpose is to educate resilient and spirited men who are challenged to serve.  We are preparing faithful and inclusive men for a dynamic world.

 

Clearly, Supporters’ Day helps form ‘resilient and spirited’ young men. This is only worthwhile when we consider the rest of that sentence – ‘who are challenged to serve’. We are not forming self-centred, self-indulgent young men! The memory of the excitement of occasions like Supporters’ Day helps us to muck in and do the unglamorous hard yards when we need to get our SOL Service hours up, or get out to fundraise during Lent, or pick up rubbish in the yard, or stand up when we see someone being bullied.

 

I am very grateful to all the parents who came and supported on Saturday, to the Parents and Friends’ volunteers who made such a great contribution on the day, to the boys who led campus tours, and to all the Junior School staff members who gave their time to both organise and attend, notably Mr Locke, Mrs Tatola, Ms Nabkey, Mr Marshall, and Mr Cooper. We are also grateful to the members of the 1st XI Football and 1st XV Rugby teams who spent time with the Junior School students on Friday morning in preparation for the big day, as well as Dr Lavorato, Mr Fochesato, Mr Fox, Mr Texeira and Mr Calavassy.

 

For the few students and families who were unable to attend, I wish you an equally great experience when you attend on either 29 May or 7 August.

 

God Bless.

 

Ben Munday

Director of Junior School

 

Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee 2021 

Throughout Terms 1 and 2, many Junior School classes participated in the Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee. The school round took place from 15–26 March with many students competing. From this round, five SPC students progressed to the State and Territory finals, held on Thursday 29 April. 

 

We congratulate the following students who progressed: 

 

Hudson Cook, Jonah Kalifa, Justin Lee, Samuel Naccarella and Raphael Susanto

The five State and Territory finalists have each provided a quote about their experience: 

  • Hudson: “The spelling bee was an amazing experience - it is you against all of NSW. It was so exciting!”
  • Jonah: “Butterflies flood your stomach as you commence the bee…competitiveness takes over your body and winning is your new goal…”
  • Justin: “In the bee, you are on your own. It is you against all of NSW. It is either you win, or you lose”
  • Samuel: “Funnily enough, I found it easier to spell an Aboriginal word than the word tartar. It’s important to make sure you go slowly on the test (or any test) - just not too slow!”
  • Raphael: “As soon as you start the spelling bee, the adrenaline comes in and you feel ready to do anything”.

Congratulations to all the boys who competed in this event and gave it their all!

 

Jacinta Young

6 Blue Class Teacher and Junior School Religious Education Coordinator