By Mrs Liz Illingworth, Principal

The history of St Patrick’s College, a co-educational college established in 1984 goes deep in the past. Our College formed through the amalgamation of Marian College (Sacred Heart College and St Thomas More's School) an all girls school and St Patrick’s College, an all boys school.

The original schools were all opened by religious orders, St Patrick’s College - The Christian Brothers; Sacred Heart College - The Presentation Sisters and St Thomas Mores - The Sisters of St Joseph. It was the work of these orders that ensured Catholic Education was available to Launceston families.

The founders of the three Religious orders Edmund Rice, Julian Tenison Woods, Mary MacKillop and Nano Nagle grew orders of Religion with important Charisms that we need to still recognise and grow within our community and the greater community today. These charisms include Justice, Compassion, Hospitality, Simplicity, Spirituality and Reconciliation. Each of the Founders worked hard, as they knew the importance and significance of an education and, in particular, a Catholic Education.

Term 3 commenced for our staff on Monday 27 July 2026. On this day all our staff participated in a Spirituality/Formation for Mission Day.

During this day, our staff had the opportunity to focus on Nano Nagle and the Presentation Sisters.

Our staff spent the day learning, sharing and collaborating on how to carry forward the lantern of Nano Nagle. By grounding our work legacy, we continue to empower our students to become the best versions of themselves within our College and the broader community.

Have a great weekend!

Applications are now open for the 2027 Martin-Lyall Scholarship and all students in Year 10 and 11 are strongly encouraged to apply.

Two students from both year groups will be awarded the scholarship, which is a contribution valued at 50% of the net annual tuition fee applied to their account at St Patrick’s College for one school year.

In order to submit an application, students are to address the following two questions:

1. In 250-500 words, demonstrate your involvement in past activities, both at St Patrick’s College and in the community – include any religious, family, academic, cultural, charity, leadership or sporting activities. Indicate your intended activities for the remainder of your time at school.

2. Christ’s commandment - love thy neighbour. Rosemary’s passion - love for Tasmania. In 250-500 words, describe how, in adulthood, you hope to improve the welfare of Tasmania via your professional/business/voluntary activities.

After consideration of the applications received, a shortlist of applicants will be selected for a panel interview to determine the scholarship recipients from both year groups. Applicants will be notified of next steps/progress via their school email account.

To apply, students must use their St Patrick’s College Google Account and access the following link: Martin-Lyall Scholarship Form

Applications must be submitted by 5:30pm on Friday 21 August 2026.

Enquiries regarding the Martin-Lyall Scholarship can be directed via email to Ms Sally Cunliffe scunliffe@stpatricks.tas.edu.au (Senior Executive Assistant).

2027 Martin-Lyall Scholarship

The Martin-Lyall Scholarship arose from the generosity of the late Mrs Rosemary Gleeson-West in memory of her parents, Mr Athol Winton Martin and Mrs Maida Kathleen Lyall, who both lived and worked in Tasmania.

Sadly, Mrs Gleeson-West passed away in 2016, however it was her wish to continue the scholarship via her Estate. Mrs Gleeson-West had a great affinity for both the Tasmania and St Patrick's College communities and her generosity will always be fondly remembered.

Two students from both Year 10 and 11 will be awarded the scholarship, which is a once off contribution of 50% of the net annual tuition fees at St Patrick’s College and will be credited in January 2027.

Year 10 and 11 students and parents/guardians have previously been emailed information on how to apply for the scholarship. This information is also available on the Schoolbox Student and Parent/Guardian Portals.

All applications are to strictly be received by 5:30pm on Friday 21 August 2026.

I look forward to receiving many applications.

Click here to read the latest Parish Bulletin:

By Mrs Lindsey Hills, Deputy Principal - Learning and Achievement

Principal Study Awards

At our final assembly for Term 2 we celebrated the academic excellence and achievements of the Principal Study Award recipients from Years 7–12. These awards recognise the dedication, diligence and outstanding academic accomplishments of students in all learning areas in Semester 1, 2026.

Congratulations to all the recipients of the Principal Study Awards.

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

Year 10

Year 11

Year 12

Naplan

NAPLAN individual student reports are now available on Schoolbox on your child’s profile under Academic Reports. This report contains details about how to read the report, but if you would like further information or translated versions of the information please refer to: https://www.nap.edu.au/naplan/results-and-reports.

If you would prefer to receive a paper copy please contact Mrs Nicole Cullen, Personal Assistant to Deputy Principal Learning & Achievement, on 6341 9988 or ncullen@stpatricks.tas.edu.au.

If you need some assistance in accessing Schoolbox please contact Simon Dray, Digital Learning Integration Coordinator, for assistance on 6341 9988 or sdray@stpatricks.tas.edu.au.

We also recommend that you download a copy of this report for future reference.

Senior School: Planning Your Future Pathway & Subject Selections for 2026

Year 10 Students

Year 10 Futures Days: Year 10 students participated in a Futures Day in the final week of Term 3. The day provided students with an opportunity to gather information and make informed decisions regarding school subjects and future careers in preparation for Year 11 subject selections. Information on the Tasmanian Certificate of Education (TCE) was detailed, and students were provided with an opportunity to hear from all faculty areas. Students were also fortunate enough to be offered an opportunity to engage with an interactive mini expo which included industry representatives and practical demonstrations from our VET faculty. We hope students found the day valuable and informative as they make their subject selections in the coming weeks.

Year 10 Pathway Planning Interviews: Year 10 students together with their parents/guardians have been invited to make an appointment to attend a Year 10 Pathway Planning interview in Weeks 1-3 of this Term. These interviews provide an opportunity to discuss career options and possible pathways, give a more detailed and personalised explanation of the Tasmanian Certificate of Education (TCE) and Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) and advise on how each student can optimise their subject choices, including Year 11/12 TASC subjects/Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses/Australian School based Apprenticeships (ASbAs) opportunities. Students will be able to attend Subject Information Evenings in Week 3, with subject selections for 2027 occurring in Week 4. These interviews are highly advantageous and recommended for all students/parents/guardians, as they provide families with guidance based on your child’s teacher recommendations, interests and future aspirations.

Year 11 Students

Subject Selections for Year 12 & Pathway Planning:

Year 11 students and parents/guardians have also been invited to make an appointment to attend a Pathway Planning interview, either with their child after school or for Year 11 students on their own during the school day. These interviews are designed for Year 11 students who need some support and guidance to assist them with their subject selections for Year 12 The interviews are held between 2pm-5:30pm on Wednesday afternoons in Weeks 2-3 of Term 3. Year 11 students may also book in to see any of our Careers Advisors outside of these times as usual. They can do so in person (Future Pathways are located in the Library) or by emailing careers@stpatricks.tas.edu.au.

Subject Information Evenings:

In Week 4 of Term 3, the College will be holding Subject Information Evenings to assist students in making informed subject selections for 2026. It is highly recommended that all students and parents/guardians attend to ensure students select the most appropriate subjects to study next year. This is a wonderful opportunity to speak to subject teachers and Heads of Learning about subject offerings and future pathways.

• Senior School Subject Information Evening - Tuesday, 18 August in the Edmund Rice Centre (ERC) from 3.45pm-6pm

• Croagh Patrick - Thursday, 20 August at Croagh Patrick from 3:45pm-6pm

• Middle School Subject Information Evenings - Thursday, 20 August in the Tenison Woods Centre (Middle School area) from 3:45pm-6pm

Updated Subject Selection Guides are now available on Schoolbox.

Click here to read:

By Mr Nick Foster- Head of School - Croagh Patrick

Over the past few weeks, I have been pondering the concept of winning. Watching the Commonwealth Games will do that to you! What does it actually mean to win?

If I were to ask most students, they would say coming first—overcoming a competitor, crossing the finish line ahead of the pack, or standing atop the dais. Yet, we receive many conflicting messages when we try to define true victory. Winning can mean many things; for instance, it can be defined simply as “to succeed by striving.”

These two definitions represent very different mindsets. Sometimes we win by doing the best with what we have, while at other times we only feel we’ve won if we place first. I have yet to hear of someone rejoicing at placing second in a job interview or narrowly missing out on the lead role in a musical. However, I have seen athletes celebrate third place—or simply finishing a race—as if they had just won an AFL Grand Final.

Author Alfie Kohn offers a compelling perspective on this in The Myth of a Spoiled Child:

“We encourage them to measure their own value in terms of how many people they’ve beaten, which is not exactly a path to mental health. We invite them to see their peers not as potential friends or collaborators, but as obstacles to their own success. Finally, we lead children to regard whatever they’re doing as a means to an end: The point isn’t to paint or read or design a science experiment, but to win. The act of painting, reading, or designing is thereby devalued in the child’s mind.”

It really challenges the traditional paradigm around winning. The early English origins of the word win date back to words meaning "to struggle for, strive, fight." Under that definition, honest effort leads to winning regardless of which place we cross the finish line. Ultimately, our sense of self comes from within—not from external platitudes, but from intrinsic fulfillment.

The Spanish philosopher José Ortega y Gasset famously wrote that “the process is more important than the product,” urging us to create a meaningful "project of life." Like Kohn, he encourages us to embrace the joy of the present moment. I was reminded of this when listening to a gold medal-winning swimmer reflect on her 11-year journey across three Olympic Games. Her breakthrough came when she stopped viewing swimming as merely a means to an end and began enjoying each stroke for what it was: pure, unadulterated joy in being the best version of herself.

A football coach once advised his players that if they wanted to know how they truly played, they should ask their mothers. It’s great advice. Mothers tell it like it is—fiercely loyal to their children, yet honest about whether they truly gave their best or could have done better.

But how do we build that best version of ourselves? Often, we must start with small morsels of success. Golf legend Nancy Lopez wrote: “Do your best, one shot at a time, and then move on. Remember that golf is just a game.” As the old proverb reminds us, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Winning can be small moments of excellence pieced together. It is that one great drive on the golf course that, despite 20 lost balls, brings us back to the tee again. As General Colin Powell noted: “If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception; it is a prevailing attitude.”

Knowing when we have given our genuine best requires deep self-honesty. It means owning our preparation rather than offering excuses—replacing "I didn't have time to train" or "I was sick" with "I didn't work hard enough." When we gauge our performance with that level of clarity, excellence follows.

In a school setting, this means focusing on one training session at a time, one test at a time, one lesson at a time, or one rehearsal at a time. When we pursue excellence in the small things, we win. We win by being present, by giving our best, and—as Ortega y Gasset reminds us—when we ask more of ourselves than others do.

By Mrs Minami Ivory - Teacher

On the final day of Term 2, 20 senior students and four teachers departed Launceston Airport to begin an unforgettable 12-day journey across Japan.

Our itinerary took us through Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Omihachiman, where we were warmly welcomed by our sister school, Omi Brotherhood High School. Throughout the tour, students immersed themselves in Japanese culture and daily life - exploring iconic landmarks, discovering rich traditions, and engaging meaningfully with local communities.

The students were exceptional ambassadors for our school, and I am deeply grateful for their enthusiasm, respect, and positive energy throughout the trip. A heartfelt thank you goes to Mr Hayward, Mr Masters, and Mrs Watson for their fantastic support and dedication in making this tour such a success.

The Japan Tour is primarily open to senior students enrolled in Japanese, with remaining places offered to Australia in Asia and the Pacific (AAP) students.

Our next tour is scheduled for 2028, with expressions of interest opening in Term 3 in 2027. If you are interested in taking part in this incredible opportunity, start saving now and keep an eye out for upcoming announcements. If you have any questions, please contact Minami Ivory (minami.ivory@stpatricks.tas.edu.au) via email.

Congratulations to Levi Springer, who has been selected to represent Australia in the Under 18 Indoor Cricket Team at the 2026 Junior World Series in South Africa this September! He was also awarded runner up best player in the National Tournament while representing Tasmania.

Congratulations to Albie McCallum, Cooper Bardenhagen, Hannah Targett, Indi Dodd and Ruby Leedham for representing Tasmania last week at the School Sport Australia National Championships in Melbourne in the Under 14 competition.

By Mrs Mallory Schipper - House Head - Nagle Young

We are thrilled to officially announce that our 2027 Senior College Musical will be Godspell!

Godspell was last staged in our Guilford Theatre back in 1999, nearly three decades ago. We are excited to reimagine this beloved classic with a fresh, contemporary energy. Featuring the vibrant 2012 Broadway revision and its dynamic pop rock score, this production promises to be an unforgettable experience for both our performers and our audience.

With the upcoming renovation and temporary closure of the Princess Theatre, local venues are in high demand. To ensure our students get their moment in the spotlight, the College has decided to present two separate musical productions.

• Senior College Musical (Godspell): Open to students currently in Years 9-11.
• Junior College Musical: Open to students in Years 7–8 (Musical TBC)

Detailed Audition Information Packs will be made available on Schoolbox. We encourage all interested students to review the materials carefully and keep an eye out for upcoming information sessions.