Orientation Day

We welcome all new Year 7 students to the College for Orientation Day on Tuesday, 3 December 2024. Students are asked to arrive at the College from 8:45am, with Homeroom commencing at 8:58am.

Parents are asked to drop their sons at the College front gates, where staff and senior students will welcome your son and guide him to his Homeroom. The day will be structured to ensure the Year 7 students are able to spend time with their Homeroom teacher and classmates.

Students will need to bring a pen and a plain exercise book. They are also to bring a packed lunch and drink bottle. The Canteen will not be available on Orientation Day. Students are asked to wear comfortable casual clothes and runners.

On Orientation Day, your son will have the opportunity to attend a music performance and instrument demonstration. This will be presented by music students and staff.  In 2025, the College is introducing a new structure to the Music Program. Families who enrol their sons in this program will have the option of group or individual lessons. Group lessons are a new initiative next year and approximately half the cost of individual lessons.

Parent Welcome Session

At the conclusion of Orientation Day, all parents and caregivers are invited to a Parent Welcome Session at 1:40pm in the Performing Arts Centre.  We ask that parents arrive at 1:30pm, entering via the gates on Wanliss Road. The Parent Welcome Session will conclude at 2:30pm, which will be the conclusion of the Orientation Day. Please register your attendance below. For any further information or enquiries, please contact our College Registrar Caitlin Bennett at enrolments@stpats.vic.edu.au.

First Day of School

We will welcome Years 7 and 12 students back to school on Thursday, 30 January 2025. Year 7 students should bring a packed lunch and water bottle to school on this day as they will not have access to the Canteen. Students in Years 8-11 will have their first day of school on Friday, 31 January 2025.  Students are required to wear full summer uniform for their first day of school.

 

Uniform

In Term 1 and Term 4, students should wear the full summer uniform. In Term 2 and Term 3, they need to wear the full winter uniform. School uniforms are available for purchase at Dobsons Retail Store, located at 29 Mair Street East, Ballarat. The store is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:30am to 5:00pm, and Saturday from 9:00am to 12:00 Noon. Dobsons is closed on Wednesdays.

St Patrick’s families are invited to take advantage of the “Buy Early and Save” promotion, which offers a 10 per cent discount across the store, until 3 November 2024. Appointments are not required but can be made online if preferred. Dobsons will also have a pop-up store at the Performing Arts Centre during the Orientation Day on Tuesday, 3 December 2024.

 

Booklist

You will be notified when the Year 7 booklist is available in the coming weeks. All required books and stationery are included on this list. The College will supply some resources for certain subjects, as needed.

 

Laptop Devices

Your son will be provided with a laptop computer on Thursday, 30 January 2025 as part of the St Patrick’s College 1:1 Device Program. The College laptop will be your son’s to keep after three years. It is a high spec device and if respected, will have years of life left after school use. We encourage your son to take pride in the device and please fully read the information to be issued about the College 1:1 Device program in the coming weeks.

 

Bus and Conveyance Allowance

For students who will be travelling to school by bus, it will be necessary to advise the appropriate bus company of your son’s intention to travel for the 2025 school year. Families who live in the Daylesford and Bacchus Marsh areas are asked to contact the appropriate bus company:

Christians Bus (Bacchus Marsh Coaches): 1800 775 295.

Littles Coaches (Daylesford Area): (03) 5339 6600.

If you live in other country areas, you will need to contact the Ballarat Bus Co-ordinator to advise of your intentions.

Ballarat Bus Co-ordinator: (03) 5334 3579.

For all other areas, please contact CDC Bus Lines for information regarding bus and train routes.

CDC Bus Line: (03) 5331 7777.

School Student ID and Student Pass application forms are available at this link. The College also encourages parents to refer to the Education Department’s website to learn more about the School Bus Program, including eligibility. Further information regarding claiming conveyance allowance will be provided by the Finance office at a later date. Any further queries regarding bus travel should be directed to Mrs Maureen Ralton at the College at accountsreceivable@stpats.vic.edu.au.

 

School Fees

The College will finalise tuition fees and other charges soon. Fee notices are issued towards the end of December, and you are asked to have your payment plan in place before the start of Term 1. If you would like to make contact with the Finance Department, please email accountsreceivable@stpats.vic.edu.au.

 

SIMON Everywhere App

The College has partnered with the SIMON Everywhere mobile device app, available on the Apple and Google app stores.

SIMON Everywhere provides access to the parent portal of our Learning Management System called SIMON. This will become your one stop for ongoing communication with the College. It is the place where you can upload and update important student information, including medical and dietary requirements (these are required prior to your son starting the school year). It will also be the place where you will provide permission for your son to attend excursions/camps etc, and should your son be absent from school, you can also use SIMON Everywhere to notify the College.

Through SIMON Everywhere, you will also be able to monitor your son’s academic progress and contact his teachers. In addition, SIMON Everywhere provides easy access to our fortnightly newsletter (The Crest) and other publications and resources. Login details and instructions will be issued before your son commences in the new year.

 

Year 7 Camp

Year 7 Camp will be held between Monday, 3 February and Friday, 7 February 2025. On allocated days, each class will spend one night at Log Cabin Camp (Creswick). Further information will be communicated to families prior to the camp and specific dates for Homerooms will be communicated early next year.

 

Canteen

Parents and caregivers are invited to volunteer in the College Canteen for 2025.  To register, please complete the Canteen Volunteer form. The Canteen is open every school day.

 

Parent Information Evening

All parents of Year 7 and 8 students will be invited to attend a Parent Information Evening on Thursday, 30 January 2025 in the Performing Arts Centre.

At this event, you will have the opportunity to hear from College Principal Mr Steven O’Connor and Head of Junior School Mr Tom Nash, before being able to spend some time with your son’s Homeroom teacher. Further details will be sent in the coming weeks.

Should you have any questions about the transition process, or about your son’s requirements before his first day at school, please contact the College Registrar Caitlin Bennett by phoning 5331 1688, or via email at enrolments@stpats.vic.edu.au.