Middle School Report – September 19, 2019

In the final Crest report for this term, I would like to acknowledge our Japanese exchange students from Linden Hall. Rinto Morinaga and Masataka Saruwatari have been exemplary students who have been embraced by the Year 9 cohort thereby enriching both our school life and their experience of being truly international students; who can respect each other’s culture and school life.

Looking ahead to next Term, I am happy to announce that Mr Matthew Taylor will be replacing me in the role of Director of Middle School, whist I take fourth term for Long Service Leave.

Also looking ahead all Year 9 students will attend their Term 4 Rite Journey experience at the Norval Camp facility in Halls Gap from Wednesday, November 6 to Friday, November 8. During the camp the boys will participate in a number of challenging physical experiences including hiking, rock climbing, abseiling, high ropes and conservation work, which will be conducted by Norval staff and assisted by St Patrick’s College staff. Boys will have the opportunity of selecting their own level of challenge ranging from a three day hike including two nights out in the Grampians camping; down to two smaller hikes and sleeping in cabins for two nights. This element of individual choice will never have been experienced on a school camp ever before and it is one that helps solidify an individual students Rite Journey experience. To assist with the selection process all boys have completed the Beep Test which provides some indication of a boys level of aerobic fitness.

Objectives of the camp:

• To conclude the boy’s Rite Journey experience.
• To promote healthy natural environments to our boys.
• To encourage an appreciation of the natural environment, and to educate our boys about caring for our national parks.
• To encourage the benefits of team work and being a member of a community.
• To continue to develop leadership in our boys.
• To provide opportunities to build relationships between staff and students and students and students.
• To develop concepts of personal challenge and adventure in each boy’s life.

Term 4 will also see the final Middle School Examinations running from Monday December 2 until Friday December 6 which will also include the Year 9 Graduation Ceremony running from 2.10 until 3.25pm in the Pavilion.

“No act of kindness is ever wasted.” Aesop

In 2020 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 2020 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 Matthew Taylor on 5322 4429 or mtaylor@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.