Middle School Report – November 3, 2016

As part of St Patrick’s ongoing commitment to develop and deliver classroom programs which integrate contemporary teaching and learning pedagogy to meet the diverse learning needs of our students, the College has initiated a detailed review of the Middle School Program in preparation for 2018. One of the key contributors to this review will be the voice of the boys themselves. A number of boys have been invited to participate in one of several student focus groups of Years 8, 9 and 10 boys, and under the guidance of external facilitator Wendy Graham, asked to reflect on their understanding and/or experiences of Year 9 to consider the ways in which we can further the Middle School Program. Watch this space for more information.

Just a final reminder that next week the Year 9 students will attend their final expedition as part of the Year 9 Experiential Program. Your son will be based at the Norval Camp facility in Halls Gap where he will participate in a number of challenging experiences including hiking, rock climbing, abseiling and conservation work. These experiences will encourage all of our boys to develop an appreciation and respect for the natural environment, promote team work and resilience and continue to develop their leadership skills.

All boys, for the very first time, have been able to select the difficulty of hiking experience they wish to undertake. Can I ask all parents to please check with their son which hike he has in fact chosen to undertake and affirm his choice with him, prior to our departure. The Middle School Team will also be double checking the boys choices, as a way of circumventing any possible problems developing mid-way through the hiking experience. I am positive that this last expedition will be the true test of how well our boys have embraced their Middle School journey and are now fully prepared to begin their Senior School experience.

Please note that students will be transported to and from the camp by bus. Buses will leave the College at 9:00am, Wednesday, November 9 and return to Ballarat by 3:15pm on Friday, November 11.

If you have any final questions or concerns regarding this final expedition please contact our Year 9 Coordinators, Mrs Ashleigh Giampaolo or Mr Stuart Harridge.

Mr Crowley has begun to explore the concept of Great Man which is part of our College vision of -Raising fine boys to the status of great men.- After speaking with a group of our current Year 9 boys Mr Crowley received the following responses:

-¢- – – – – – – – – – – Respect -“ with/from peers, teachers and yourself as it’s how you present yourself.- It sets a good image of the school -“ clean, tidy uniform, nice language -“ welcoming school, good school.-

-¢- – – – – – – – – – – Pride -“ looking presentable.

-¢- – – – – – – – – – – Setting up a culture and standing by that -“ personally and as a group so that it becomes a way of life at the college. Most understand what is acceptable and what isn’t.- Sometimes it doesn’t happen but then hopefully we learn from our mistakes.

-¢- – – – – – – – – – – Sense of brotherhood at school and afterwards (as old boys) -“ help each other through support and respect.- Help everyone.- We are all here together and supporting each other.- Everyone shares that connection to the school and therefore there is a connection with everyone.- We could improve on the culture/support/community.- The connection is there through classes/corridors/issues -“ students try to help out and make everyone feel comfortable.-

-¢- – – – – – – – – – – Responsible -“ students don’t have that before secondary school but now they have choices and have to be responsible for them, e.g. what will they do after school?- The college helps make the students responsible.- Plus, there is the responsibility to society.- The older you are the more responsible you are.

-¢- – – – – – – – – – – Role model -“ be someone that students looks up to.- Be the best for yourself and for your year level.- Build on the culture in the school and in the community.-

-¢- – – – – – – – – – – Kindness.- Generous.- Helpful.-

-¢- – – – – – – – – – – Taking the initiative to help out anyone who needs it within the school and community.

-¢- – – – – – – – – – – Dedication and commitment.- Being inclusive.- Everyone has a special place at the school.-

-¢- – – – – – – – – – – There is room for improvement.- Everyone could help more by, for example, making the quiet students feel more included in class by giving them the confidence to speak out.- Perhaps bring in external people to help those in Year 7 to be less shy.- Help find out more who we all are and develop that.

I would like to add that in the Middle School, our aim is to help prepare students for a world which is:

• global in its outlook and influences

• consistently changing at ever increasing pace

• complex in its political and economic structures and processes and

• underpinned by high speed and interactive ICT.

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Finally, we want our students to be:

Community members who contribute socially, economically and culturally to society,

Responsible individuals capable of relating to family, friends and colleagues,

Informed citizens who understand and contribute to civil and community relations at a local, national and global level.

If we achieve all of this by the time your son finishes his education at St Patrick’s College, then from my perspective, we have fulfilled our commitment to -Raising Fine boys to the Status of Great Men.-

As always I hope that all of our boys achieve the success they are busily working towards throughout this last term in the Middle School.