Middle School Report

by Mr Michael Busscher, Director of the Middle School 

In the final Crest report for this term, I would like to acknowledge our Staff, Parent and Student significant efforts throughout this Remote and Flexible Learning period. Our Remote and Flexible Learning will continue for the first week of Term 4 but we are all looking forward to once again reconnecting at the College starting on Monday, October 12.

Looking ahead, unfortunately we have been required to cancel the planned Grampians Camp set for Wednesday November 4 to Friday November 6, in its place we will conduct three Middle School Activities Days involving a hike in the Buninyong region, a great race day around Ballarat itself and a Victoria Park experience. More details of these three planned days will be distributed to parents via PAM in Term 4. We will also be conducting three sports afternoons in Weeks’ 2,3 and 4 that will correspond to the Community Service/Rite Journey afternoons.

Term 4 will also see the End of Year Middle School Examinations running from Monday, November 30 until Friday, December 4 

“No act of kindness is ever wasted.” Aesop

In 2021 The Middle School Community Service Program will be continuing as part of the Middle School timetable.

Community service is when you work for free to the benefit of your community rather than yourself. In our modern world, we need to consider community service not only as a local opportunity but, one that has the potential to recognise and meet global needs.

The St Patrick’s College Middle School Community Service Program will have many positive effects on our students including helping them to develop their listening and communication skills, making contacts with members of the wider Ballarat community, and allowing students to support and further others in need. By engaging in community service, the Middle School Community Service Program will provide our students with the opportunity to become active members of their community and it will have a lasting, positive impact on society at large. Most notably, the Middle School Community Service Program will enable our students to acquire life skills and knowledge, as well as provide a service to those most in need.

My scenario in 2021 looks like this: I will have approximately 125 Year 9 boys, on a Wednesday afternoon once a fortnight and on a Tuesday afternoon the alternative week between 1.45/2.00pm until 3.30; available as boy power to undertake Community Service placements throughout the Ballarat region. Clearly, I am not short of boy power but I do need places for the boys to do their good work. This is where I need your help. If we can be of any assistance to your organisation or contacts that you have, perhaps we could even expand or start new projects now that some “boy power” has become available I would love to hear about them and see what partnerships we can form.

Please contact Mr Michael Busscher on mbusscher@stpats.vic.edu.au

As always, I hope that everyone has a safe and relaxing holiday period and return looking forward to a successful Term Four and the completion of their time in the Middle School.

Mr Michael Busscher

Director of Middle School