Acting Principal’s Message

By Acting Principal, Mr Stephen Hill

NAIDOC Week 2020 – Always Was, Always Will Be.

This year’s NAIDOC Week theme, Always Was, Always Will Be, recognises that First Nations people have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65,000 years. The very first footprints on this continent were those belonging to First Nations peoples.

NAIDOC Week 2020 acknowledges and celebrates that our nation’s story didn’t begin with documented European contact whether in 1770 or 1606 – with the arrival of the Dutch on the western coast of the Cape York Peninsula.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were Australia’s first explorers, first navigators, first engineers, first farmers, first botanists, first scientists, first diplomats, first astronomers and first artists.   Australia has the world’s oldest oral stories. The First Peoples engraved the world’s first maps, made the earliest paintings of ceremony and invented unique technologies, built and engineered structures – structures on Earth – predating well-known sites such as the Egyptian Pyramids and Stonehenge.

Always Was, Always Will Be acknowledges that hundreds of Nations and cultures cover this continent, Nations spiritually and culturally connected to this country, all managing the land to sustainably provide for the future.

St Patrick’s staff and students stand in solidarity with all our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander boys, their families and all First Nations people on the journey towards reconciliation and our shared commitment to furthering the learning outcomes for all our young people.

Further information can be found at https://www.naidoc.org.au/get-involved/2020-theme

 

Year 7 2022 enrolment interviews have commenced!

This week saw the commencement of interviews for parents seeking to enrol their son for Year 7 in 2022. This a direct response to the significant number of applications already received by the College and the desire for families to confirm their son’s enrolment at St Patrick’s as a matter of priority (even if this is some 14 months ahead of the first day for Year 7 in 2022!).

The interview process serves a valuable and important part of the enrolment process both as a means of introducing the staff of St Patrick’s to prospective students and parents and as a follow-up to any further questions or points of clarification for families.

One of the key questions we ask all incoming families is “Why St Patrick’s?”. During the interviews I conducted this week, almost every family referenced the overwhelmingly positive feedback they get from work colleagues, associates, friends and family about their boy’s experience of St Patrick’s College. As our families, you are our strongest and best advocates for the school and all that it endeavours to do for your sons. Thank you for your ongoing trust and support in the work of the staff of St Patrick’s and your recognition of their efforts and successes in meeting the learning needs of your boy.

 

My thanks

I am very grateful for the emails and calls of congratulations and best wishes following the announcement last week that I will be taking the role of Acting Principal at MacKillop Catholic College, Hobart in 2021. 2020 is my 14^th year at SPC and 24^th in Ballarat so, it’s time for a new challenge and the opportunity work with the staff, students and parents of MacKillop Catholic College as they prepare for the introduction of Years 11 and 12 in 2023 presents as a very exciting time to lead this school.