2021 Principal’s Welcome Letter

Dear Parents, Carers and Guardians of St Patrick’s College,

I am very excited and honoured to welcome you to the 2021 school year and write to you for the first time as the new Principal of St Patrick’s College. I look forward to working with you in the years ahead as we strive to provide our young men, your sons, with the best possible educational opportunities and experiences and as we journey with them towards a wisdom which will guide them throughout their lives.

Of course, I am really looking forward to welcoming the boys in the days ahead as they either commence their St Patrick’s journey or return to continue in 2021.

2020 was a challenging year for many reasons but the outlook for 2021 is far more positive and optimistic!

I acknowledge the resilience and determination displayed by the young men of St Patrick’s and the incredible professionalism and generosity of staff during the course of the 2020 school year; the College managed the challenges of 2020 extremely well. Please see below the updated details about the College’s commitment to providing a COVID Safe Environment.

On behalf of the College community, I take this opportunity to welcome several new staff to St Patrick’s in 2021. They include:

• Paul Tucker, Head of Languages Faculty
• Kathryn Ward, Psychology Teacher
• Josh Morris, Humanities Teacher
• Amanda Gray, Computing Teacher, Semester 1
• Luke Ryan, Enhanced Learning Trainee
• Will Gilbert, HaPE Trainee
• Harry Ward, Faith in Action Trainee
• Josh Wilson-Stanton, Boarding Trainee
• Eddie Sauvao, Boarding Trainee
• Fred Wallace, Study Centre Coordinator
• Michael Westlake, Instrumental Music Tutor
• Catherine Thomas, Library Technician, Semester 1
• Chris Marshall, Laboratory Technician, Term 1
• Trent Moodley, Learning Support Officer, Term 1 and
• Alex McCallum, Helpdesk Technician, Term 1

I wish all staff every success as we commence the 2021 school year.

The partnership between home and the school is vital and I look forward to getting to know you in the months and years ahead. Thank you for entrusting your son(s) to us. It is an awesome privilege to work towards raising our fine boys to the status of great men. I am looking forward to meeting with all boys early next week at assemblies to talk about the year ahead, the many opportunities which 2021 will offer them and my expectations of them as students of St Patrick’s.

I also draw your attention to the following key points regarding the return to school of Year 7 and 12 students on Friday, January 29 and Year 8 to 11 students on Monday, February 1.

COVID Safe Environment

The College continues to monitor and abide by all COVID safe regulations and recommendations issued by both the State Government and the Catholic Education Office.

Students are reminded that they must wear masks when travelling on public transport to and from school and must carry a mask with them at all times at school. Masks will need to be worn when students are using College buses.

At time of writing students, staff and visitors will not be required to wear a mask while on College grounds although those that wish to do so are certainly encouraged. The College may however request masks be worn at some events, such as large assemblies where visitors are on site, or potentially at external events involving members of the broader community.

The College’s cleaning contractors are providing a thorough cleaning of the site regularly throughout the day, including focussed sanitising processes for high-touch points.

Hand sanitisers remain positioned around the College with students and staff actively encouraged to use them, while social distancing indicators also remain on site. All on site are strongly encouraged to employ proper social distancing measures wherever possible.

Parents are reminded that if your son is displaying any cold or flu-like symptoms that he must stay home until fully recovered.

Uniform

In Term 1 students are expected to wear the St Patrick’s College summer uniform to and from school. Students are to take pride in their College by wearing the uniform correctly and acting in a way that reflects well on themselves, their families and St Patrick’s College.

Year 7 and 8 students only will be permitted to wear their College Sports uniform to and from school on days when they are scheduled to have Physical Education classes.

All students are expected to comply with College standards around appropriate hairstyles. Students with long hair must have it tied up above the collar when in uniform. Students with inappropriate styles or colouring may be sent home until reparations are made.

Reception

The College is excited to be able to unveil a bright, new, warm and welcoming College reception for the start of the 2021 school year.

The new reception consolidates student services, the sick bay and the College front reception in the one location and is designed to be a friendly, accessible and comfortable welcoming place for all who enter the College.

All visitors to the College must register at front reception. The reception will be open each school day from 8.15am until 4.45pm.

Canteen

The canteen remains cashless in 2021 and all transactions are done via tap and go cards only.

For boys without their own tap and go card who wish to access the canteen, we recommend parents buy them a pre-paid debit card.

We have recently uploaded the 2021 canteen price list to the College website and have also updated our processes for boys wishing to pre-order their lunches through our online booking portal.

Full details of canteen procedures and a link to the online portal are available on the College website at this link.

Conclusion

As I wish you and your family all the very best for the year ahead I leave you with the following prayer which we, as a College, recite as one at the conclusion of all our College assemblies.

“O My God

Give me your grace to live in your love always.

Keep my eyes, my ears, my heart

from clinging to the things that stop me loving.

Raise my heart in joyful praise for your gifts and

let my love of you grow more and more every day.

Amen. “

 

Mr Steven O’Connor

Principal

St Patrick’s College