Principal's Message - St Patrick's College Ballarat

October 20, 2022

by Principal, Mr Steven O’Connor

Positions of Leadership – 2023 – 2025

I am pleased to be able to announce the Positions of Leadership for St Patrick’s College for 2023-2025.

The POL Review is always an exciting time for a school, and I am looking forward to working with all those who have been appointed in this next cycle. The POL cycle allows us to reflect as a school and to renew positions which are integral to our strategic directions and ambitions as a school. It also offers individuals the chance to grow professionally and to be considered for new positions as part of the review and cycle.

I am grateful for those staff who contributed to the review along the way. I wish to thank all those who applied for a POL position and to Narelle Laing, Director of HR, and Richard Brodrick, Deputy Principal, for being part of every one of the 52 interviews; this was a massive undertaking but also a rewarding process.

It gives me great pleasure to introduce and congratulate the new POL holders for 2023 – 2025!

Director of Students Jarrett Giampaolo

Director of Boarding Brendon Gilbert

Head of Curriculum & Assessment Luke Corden

Head of Analytics, Systems & Data Simon Peake (Christian College, Geelong)

Head of Enhanced Learning Kerryn Parkinson

Head of Senior School / VCE & VCE-VM Coordinator Mark Robson (Ballarat Clarendon College)

Head of Middle School Karina Dunne (Catholic Regional College)

Head of Junior School Rodney Clarke

Head of Sport Jason Lappin (Geelong FC/Ballarat Grammar)

Head of English Faculty / EAL/D Curriculum Coordinator Sarah Slater

Head of Mathematics Faculty Steve Biggin

Head of HaPE Faculty Tom Nash

Head of Humanities Faculty Matt Miller

Head of Religious Education Faculty Mitch Leviston

Head of Drama Faculty Monique Allen

Head of Languages Faculty Paul Tucker

Head of Computing Faculty / VET Coordinator Katherine Swagerman (Notre Dame College)

Head of Technologies Faculty Roger Knight

Head of Science Faculty James Russell

Head of Arts Faculty Jeanene Pritchard (Highview College)

Head of Music Faculty Jerry Lau

YLC – Year 7 Jacinta Burge/Margie Dodd

YLC – Year 8 Sam Cue/Hannah Walter (Marist-Sion College)

YLC – Year 9 Glenda Morris/Ryan Williams (Kurunjang Sec. College)

YLC – Year 10 Rachael Leighton/Matt Taylor

YLC – Year 11 John Sullivan/Liam Young

YLC – Year 12 Shane Murphy/Kathryn Ward

Literacy Coordinator Abbey Panosh (Ballarat Grammar)

Indigenous Curriculum Coordinator Kate Millan

Daily Organiser Daniel Sutton

Domain Leaders – Faith in Action Michael Weadon

Sporting and Boarding Events

I have attended three sporting dinners this term – Rugby, Basketball and Soccer. It is a wonderful opportunity to see how the boys have played and progressed in their teams and for the community to acknowledge their achievements and sportsmanship. I would like to thank the coordinators (Leigh McKee – Rugby, Tamara Westwood – Basketball and Emmanuel Desfosses – Soccer), the many coaches and our Head of Sport, Tina Benoit, for their dedication to these programs and for providing our boys with these opportunities. I would also like to thank the parents and carers for their support, both during the season and by attending these special events.

On Saturday morning I had the pleasure in attending the christening of our new rowing boat “The Brian Vear”, named after one of our Old Boys and the College’s first Olympian. Sadly, Brian has passed away, however, his three brothers were in attendance to mark the special occasion. The christening coincided with the exciting start of our Rowing Season. I would like to wish the boys and our Coordinator of Rowing, Tom Nash, all the very best.

Also on Saturday, I was fortunate enough to meet with some of our Boarding families at the Boarding Mass and Dinner. It was the perfect opportunity to wish our Year 12 boarders all the best for their exams and for their years ahead. The boarding families put their faith and trust in us to provide a home for their son and so it is always a joyful time when we can welcome the families to the College and for them to see their home away from home. I would like to thank and acknowledge the Director of Boarding, Brendon Gilbert, and our Housemasters, Tamara Westwood and Liam Young, for their contribution to boarding. My gratitude is also extended to Geoff Brodie, Assistant Principal – Mission & Identity, and his team for their preparation and involvement with the Mass.

Farewell to the Year 12 class of 2022

On Wednesday we farewelled our Year 12s. It is a day filled with mixed emotions but mainly excitement as our young men step away from school life and prepare for their exams. This day is filled with many events, starting with a breakfast and including an assembly of the College specifically to farewell the cohort. The day finished with a beautiful Mass with students, parents and staff at St Patrick’s Cathedral. I hope the day has the same impact on the students as it does the staff; it really is a beautiful and significant day.

At their farewell assembly, I said to the Year 12s:

As you leave us, I encourage you:

To risk love – for is there any other way?
To reach out – for the poor need your hands and you need their wisdom
To forgive – for the hardened heart forgets how to dance
To play and dance and wonder
To bow in awe before the truly beautiful and the truly courageous
To savour each moment and live each day
May each day be walked in love
Each day lived with courage
Each day faced with hope
Each day never walked alone
May each day be a gift
We and your God of the journey will always – yes always – walk with you
Go with God Year 12
We are justly proud of you
Be the best you that you can be!

I finish by taking you back to something which is dear to my heart as an educator, as a Christian and as a person. I have always resonated with this short verse from the Book of Micah, when it says:

‘And what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God’.

Please God, let yours be a journey of justice, kindness and humility; give us all the grace, wisdom and courage to do what is right and to our very best in all that we do.

God bless gentlemen; go gently.

I wish the Year 12s all the best with their exams and look forward to sending them on their way, as Old Boys of the College, at the Valedictory Cocktail Party next month.

SPC App

St Patrick’s College is very pleased to unveil our new College app. This app has been custom-made for our requirements and will help simplify our communication with families. Built by Digistorm, the app integrates with our existing software systems.

The app will enable us to centralise family communication in one place – including being able to send out urgent messages when required. It also contains links to our website, the calendar, PAM and other important communication sources. It is important to note, that we will continue to use existing forms of communication including email, PAM, the website and social media.

The St Patrick’s College app is available on the Apple App Store or Google Play. Follow the simple steps, subscribe to notifications and easily set it up on your device.