Term 1 | Week 8
By Mrs Liz Illingworth, Principal
Last week, we celebrated our Founders Day—St Patrick’s Day—as a whole College community. We gathered for Mass, inducted our 2026 College Student Leaders, shared lunch with guests and our Student Executive, and finished the day with the St Patrick’s Day Cup. It was a wonderful celebration of prayer, connection and community. These shared experiences are central to who we are as a Catholic College.
In recent weeks, we have also welcomed many families to our Year 7 Enrolment Evenings. These occasions allow us to share not only our many successes—academic, cultural and sporting—but also our Mission, Vision and College Values. These are the foundations that enable our students to flourish and become the best versions of themselves.
When families enrol at St Patrick’s College, they commit to supporting our shared expectations. Over time, however, we sometimes notice small shifts away from these commitments. Matters such as uniform expectations, mobile phone use, participation in co‑curricular activities, punctuality, extended time out of class, concerns about academic challenge, family holidays during term time, or absences on days with alternative programs may seem minor in isolation. Collectively, though, they shape how our community functions and thrives.
Our Positive Behaviour Statements remind us that every member of our community is expected to Participate in Our Community, Show Respect, and Be a Learner. Our Behaviour Curriculum further outlines these expectations in a positive and supportive way. Parents and carers can now view this curriculum on Schoolbox, and I encourage you to discuss it at home.
For our College to continue to succeed academically, culturally and in sport, we all need to be aligned. We rely on your ongoing support to ensure students wear their uniform correctly, engage positively with their learning, and participate fully in College life. A strong partnership between home and school is essential for every student’s success.
This week, parents of Year 8 and Year 10 students will have received—or will shortly receive—information about the School Effectiveness Survey through the post. Staff and students will complete the survey at school, and we strongly encourage parents and carers to add their voice. In 2025, only 11% of families responded. Your participation is vital to ensuring that the parent voice is truly representative of our community.
As you read this Newsletter, our Year 8 students will be returning from Camp, our Year 12s from Retreat, and our Year 11s returned on Wednesday from their retreat. These experiences are just as important as classroom learning in shaping well‑rounded young adults. They build deep resilience, deepen faith, strengthen relationships and support our young people to flourish. I am deeply grateful to the staff who make these opportunities possible.
Thank you for choosing St Patrick’s College. I hope you enjoy the weekend.
