Page | 1

Dates to remember:

Eamon Hannan – Principal

Parent teacher night is tomorrow (Thursday 7/5/15). To make appointments parents need to

finalise bookings tonight by 10 pm. Information about how to make bookings was sent home

with the mid-semester report two weeks ago. Some teachers have no appointment spaces left. If

you would like a time to see them please contact the office and an alternate time can be

arranged.

Enhancing Catholic School Identity Project

Thank you to all parents who have participated in the survey to date. We now just need a few

more to make valid results for the survey. I will send an email in the next couple of days

reminding people of the survey with instructions on how to login to the survey etc. We have had

an extension of time granted by KU Leuven who is conducting the research on behalf of the

diocese.

Assessment Planner

Students should be carefully planning out their assessment over the rest of this term. Parents can

access their students’ assessment schedule online on the college website. Go to Individual

Assessment Planner and then enter your student’s code – which is usually the first four letters of

their surname followed by the first four letters of their first name. If unsure check with the office.

Some students will have changed subjects or been enrolled since the database was set up. There is

an assessment plan booklet available in the office for each year level which has all the assessment

information for all subjects in this case.

St Patrick’s Family

We wish all of our mothers a Happy Mothers’ Day this Sunday.

Please pray for Michelle Hicks (a past student who graduated in 1988) and her family. Michelle

passed away recently.

Readings at Mass

Sunday 10 May 2015

First reading - Acts 10:25-26,34-35,44-48

… ‘The truth I have now come to realise’ he said ‘is that God does not have favourites, but that

anybody of any nationality who fears God and does what is right is acceptable to him.’

Psalm - Psalm 97:1-4

The Lord has shown his salvation to the nations.

Second reading - 1 John 4:7-10

…Anyone who fails to love can never have known God,

because God is love…

Gospel - John 15:9-17

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘As the Father has loved me,

so I have loved you…

May 2015

6 P & F Meeting, 6:00 pm

Board Meeting, 7:30 pm

7 Parent Teacher evening

7-8 Year 11 ACTS Camp

10 Mother’s Day

17 Music Ministry – St

Patrick’s Church

22 Catholic Debutante Ball

June 2015

1 Athletics Carnival

3 P & F Meeting, 6:00 pm

Board Meeting, 7:30 pm

8 Queen’s Birthday holiday

11 Introduction to Senior

Schooling evening

11 End semester exams

commence

15 Year 11 Industry

Placement commences

21 Music Ministry

22 Exams End

25 Show Holiday

26 End Term 2

July 2015

13 Term 3 commences

14 Reports mailed home

16 Year 11 Subject Selection

20 NAIDOC Mass

26 Catholic Education Week

commences

30 Parent/Teacher evening

6 May 2015

NUMBER FOR SMS

The number to send

SMS messages

regarding student

absence is:

0416 906 288

Page | 2

Weekend Masses

ENROLMENT PROCESS TIMELINE FOR ENROLMENT INTO YEAR 11, 2016

11 June Introduction to Senior Schooling beginning at 7.30 pm in St Patrick’s Hall. All

prospective Year 11 students, accompanied by at least one parent, are strongly

advised to attend. Enrolment forms and information and Choosing Subjects

books will be distributed at this meeting.

16 July Subject Selection Evening from 3:30 pm – 6:30 pm in St Patrick’s Hall. Attend

at a time to suit your family.

24 July Due date for Enrolment and Subject Selection forms to be returned to St

Patrick’s College

10 August Notification of enrolment interview date posted in week beginning 10 August

17 August Formal enrolment and subject advisory interviews with a member of the

college leadership team will begin during the week of 17 August.

End term 3 Notification of acceptance

26 November Orientation Day

Please contact the college for more information

Lesley Fraser – Assistant to the Principal: Religious Education

This Sunday the 10th of May will be Mother’s Day. It is the day designated to focus on the

sacrifices of our mothers and to say thank you. In every generation one of the most difficult

responsibilities in our world is the responsibility of a conscientious mother.

A Prayer for mothers

She was a new mother.

Her baby meant the world to her.

She would protect her new baby in every way possible

She was still a mother.

Her young child thrived and was precious to her.

She would protect her young child by making sure her child was safe.

She was a dedicated mother. ...

Her teenage child was very important to her.

She would protect her teenager by sharing her fears about the choices offered by the world.

Her advice was often questioned and debated by her child.

She was a proud mother. ... her adult child was very dear to her.

She would help her adult child to face the challenges with loving support.

Finally..., she was a loving, elderly mother.

She was ninety-three years old.

Her child was nearly seventy.

One day, the mother was told she was very, very ill.

She could not bring herself to tell her child.

She still wanted to protect her child from such pain.

Why?

Because she was still a mother... at any age.

We thank you, Creator of us all, for our mothers.

Northside Cluster

Saturday Vigil Mass

6:00 pm St Joseph’s

6:00 pm St Brigid’s

Sunday

7:30 am St Brendan’s

9:00 am St Joseph’s

Southside Cluster

Saturday Vigil Mass

6:00 pm St Francis Xavier

6:00 pm St Mary’s

Sunday

7:00 am St Patrick’s

7:00 am St Therese’s

9:00 am St Michael’s

9:00 am St Francis Xavier

9:30 am St Francis of Assisi

6:00 pm St Patrick’s

Walkerston

Saturday Vigil Mass

6:00 pm St John’s

Sunday

7:30 am Eton

Page | 3

I thank you that she gave me life and nurtured me all those years. She gave me my faith, helping

me to know you and to know Jesus and his ways. She taught me how to love and how to

sacrifice for others. She taught me that it was okay to cry and that I should always tell the truth.

Bless her with the graces she needs and which you want to give her today. Help her to feel

precious in your eyes today and to know that I love her. Give her strength and courage,

compassion and peace.

Bless her this day with your love.

Amen

In last week’s newsletter Lucy Hamilton and Georgia

Rogers wrote about their experience over the Easter

Holidays at Movers & Shakers in Toowoomba. They

attended a week-long Christian leadership training

program for young people which has been run over

the last 20 years. This program plays an important

role in youth ministry training as it addresses the

Christian leadership training needs of schools. The girls

were invited to work together in small groups in order

to problem solve. During the program other youth

ministry professionals modelled a collaborative approach to leadership. The College congratulates

both Lucy and Georgia for the effort they put in during the camp and we look forward to them

sharing some of their experiences with us. The College would also like to thank Ms Kea McNeill

who was the Rockhampton Diocese Youth Ministry representative at the camp.

Amendment of Due Date for Year 11 SOR:

The Year 11 SOR assignment will now be due on Monday the 18th May instead of the 11

th May.

Edna Galvin – Assistant to the Principal: Curriculum

I would like to congratulate the Year 12 group on their excellent application and attitude during

QCS/Prepare for Work last week. We have found that some students still have not purchased their

QCS equipment, please ensure you have all of the appropriate equipment. Below is a list of the

required equipment.

Session Essential equipment Optional equipment Forbidden

Writing Task Pens (black ink) Pencils

Pencil sharpener

Eraser

Correcting fluid / tape

Highlighter

Transparent container to carry

equipment

Other approved items as

permitted by the Chief

Supervisor

Own paper

Dictionary

Thesaurus

Electronic devices

Any other items

Multiple Choice I

Multiple Choice II

2B pencils

Pencil sharpener

Eraser

Ruler

Approved calculator

Highlighter

Transparent container to carry

equipment

Other approved items as

permitted by the Chief

Supervisor

Own paper

Dictionary

Thesaurus

Protractor

Drawing compass

Electronic devices

Any other items

Short Response Pens (black ink)

Pencils

Eraser

Ruler

Protractor

Drawing compass

Coloured pencils

Approved calculator

Pencil sharpener

Correcting fluid / tape

Highlighter

Transparent container to carry

equipment

Other approved items as

permitted by the Chief

Supervisor

Own paper

Dictionary

Thesaurus

Electronic devices

Any other items

Page | 4

Sean Geoghegan – Assistant to the Principal: Student Welfare

Phases of Thinking

It’s common knowledge that what counts as a ‘good night’s sleep’ depends almost entirely on

achieving continuous sleep. This is based on the very widespread understanding that sleep

progresses through phases or stages. Each stage is qualitatively different from that stage which

precedes it and each stage serves a different purpose. There is also widespread understanding that

sleep deprivation, or the interruption of sleep constitutes, a form of torture and is exceptionally

damaging, even fatal, to one’s health. We do not fully understand why the body needs to sleep,

but if it doesn’t occur, we simply cannot survive.

Usually sleepers pass through five stages: 1, 2, 3, 4 and REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. Stages 3

and 4 are referred to as deep sleep. Slow wave sleep comes mostly in the first half of the night,

REM in the second half. My point is this, stages 3 and 4, depend on stages 1 and 2 being reached.

In the same way, REM cannot occur unless the sleeper has progressed through stages 1 to 4.

When a person is awakened they cannot resume where they left off, instead the body, and the

mind, needs to progress through the various stages. In other words a person needs to start at the

beginning. Thinking shares these important characteristics with sleep. There are phases of thought

and deep thinking, like sleep, is completely dependent on progression through stages, and a

significant lapse in time. Here’s the rub. Many of the subjects at senior level present challenges to

students that require deep, sustained thought. The solutions are not immediately apparent –

simply because they are not meant to be. How many students are given, or give themselves, the

opportunity to engage in prolonged periods of thought that is free of interruption? I would

hazard a guess and say very, very few. The cause of this crisis is, for the most part, the addiction

to smartphones. It’s a very rare student who can bare to be separated from their phone and what

amounts to the uninterrupted stream of messaging and communication. The compulsive need to

available 24/7 is having a devastating effect on the academic performance of some students. For

some the uncontrollable desire to acknowledge receipt of what often amounts to the most trivial

communication means that texting, snapchat and Facebook are robbing students of the

opportunity to reach deep thought. The need to constantly communicate their hardship,

frustration and anxiety to others means that instead of facing challenges head on and seeking

resolution, the enterprise is abandoned.

Deep thought and reflection is difficult. It requires seclusion. It requires time. It requires patience.

It requires people, of all ages, to be left alone.

Michael Comerford – Sport Coordinator

Cross Country

Friday of Week 1 saw the College community participate in the St Patrick’s College Cross Country.

The course took competitors from Caneland Park, along the Bluewater Trail to the Ron Camm

Bridge, back to the Forgan-Smith Bridge before returning to the College.

Congratulations to Colin house who took out the Inter-House Shield. After now winning both the

Aquatics and Cross Country Carnivals, I’m sure the other three houses will be determined to

prevent a Colin clean sweep at the Athletics Carnival.

Final points standings were as follows:

Colin - 202 Chisholm - 132 McAuley - 110 Rice – 51

Congratulations to the following students who were successful in gaining selection in the St

Patrick’s College Cross Country Team to compete at the Mackay District Trials, which will be held

at Sarina Golf Course on Monday the 18th of May:

Boys – Rory Webb-Smith, Joshua Morton, Nick

Kempe, Nixon Brauer, Lachlan Murphy, John

Mulherin, Jayden Connor, Ty Stephenson, Gerry

MacDermott, Matthew Stewart, Jake Smith, Bailey

Caruana, Michael Pierpoint, Raistlin Seage and Liam

Mulherin.

Girls – Chelsey Thompson, Taylah Wyles, Clara

Friswell, Monica Adair, Portia Frost-Thomas, Lucy

Osbourne, Abby Anderson, Chelsea Cook, Bridget

Franettovich, Shakira Williams, Zoe Breitkreutz,

Nadja Bodlak and Chloe Bell

Page | 5

Age Champions will be determined through a combination of results from the College Cross

Country as well as the Mackay District Trials.

Capricornia Selections

Touch Football

Congratulations to Rory Webb-Smith who was recently selected in the

Capricornia Touch Football team.

Rugby League

Congratulations to John Mulherin and Jye

Anderson who have been selected in the

Capricornia Rugby League team.

Rugby League- First XIII

The St Patrick’s College First XIII travelled to Yeppoon yesterday to take on St Brendan’s College

in the Aaron Payne Cup. In what was a physical opening, St Pat’s were able to control field

position and created a number of scoring opportunities. A St Brendan’s try late in the half seen the

boys go into halftime down 6–0.

A poor start to the second half led to St Brendan’s running in three quick tries to put the game out

of reach from St Pat’s. Lachlan Murphy scored a late try to make the final score 30 – 6 to St

Brendan’s. The positive signs shown in the first half have given the team something to build on

leading into their next game against Ignatius Park College in Week 7. The squad to travel to

Ipswich in the June-July holidays to represent the College at the Confraternity Shield will be

announced later this week.

Girls

The Mackay Schoolgirls Rugby League competition starts this Friday at the Junior Rugby League

grounds. All girls who are intending to play need to collect a permission/medical form from Mr

Comerford and have it returned before the game on Friday. Game times are still to be advised,

please listen out to the morning notices tomorrow for more information.

If there are any parents who would be interested in assisting with the girls Rugby League team,

could you please get in touch with me via email at mcomerford@stpats.qld.edu.au or on 49 447

200.

Netball Draw for Tuesday 12 May 2015

Time Court / Teams Umpire Duty

4:00 pm 4 SPC Red V PSHS Gold

5 SPC Gold V MSHS Parrots

6 SPC Blue V MSHS Lorikeets

4:45 pm 4 HSC Fire V HSC Swifts SPC Red/PSHS Gold

5 Mercy QISSN V Mirani Magic SPC Gold/MSHS Parrots

6 North Stars V HSC Stars SPC Blue/ MSHS Lorikeets

5:30 pm 4 SPC Green V Mirani Majestics

5 SPC Black V Mirani Mayhem

6 SPC White V PSHS Green

6:15 pm 5 North Gold V Sarina Seniors SPC Black/Mirani Mayhem

6 HSC Blue V HSC Spirits SPC White/PSHS Green

8 Mercy Neato’s V MSHS Cassowaries SPC Green/Mirani Majestics

Page | 6

Kylie Bowman – Japanese Teacher

こどもの日 (Kodomo no hi - Children's Day)

Children's Day is celebrated every year on May 5th in

Japan. This holiday was created in 1948 to respect

children's personalities and celebrate their happiness.

On Children's Day, families raise carp-shaped 鯉のぼり

(koinobori) flags, traditionally with one carp for the father,

one carp for the mother, and one carp for each child.

Towns often have displays of giant 鯉のぼり (koinobori)

flags as well, sometimes over rivers.

Our St Pats Year 11 Japanese students

celebrated this day by hoisting the鯉

のぼり (koinobori) flags on the

school flagpoles this morning where

they will fly for the week.

Sarah Regan – Cultural Coordinator

Bugsy Malone

Congratulations to all the staff and students on their successful run of the Mercy College musical

production, Bugsy Malone. I was fortunate enough to watch the final performance and it was

very impressive! Especially considering how young some of the performers were!

Well done everyone.

Beauty & the Beast

Only two weeks left to book your tickets for the Mackay

Musical Comedy Players production of Beauty and the Beast!

Starring our very own year 12 student, Amelia Orr as ‘Belle’,

this is a show you don’t want to miss!

There will be a great opportunity for all our students to attend

the ‘preview night’ on Thursday the 21st of May at 7:30pm.

Tickets for the preview night are only $10 per student. If you

would like to sign up, please see Miss Regan or Ms Graham.

For all other ticket bookings, go to the MECC website.

Mackay Musical Comedy Players Inc presents Beauty & The Beast

Date: 22nd May 2015 8:00pm

23rd May 2.00pm & 23rd May 2015 8:00pm

Venue: MECC Auditorium

Categories: Theatre; Musicals; Family; Public Events; Performances

Prices: Adult $45 Friend of MECC $37

Concession $37 Pensioner $37

Students $37 Child U13 $20

Group 6+ $37 Family $110

'additional fees and charges may apply'

Page | 7

Eisteddfod

Don’t forget that all Eisteddfod entries are due on Wednesday the 13th of May!! For more

information, go to: http://www.mackayeisteddfod.com.au/

Kadence Group – Music Academy for Teens

Register now for an exciting 6 day workshop to improve musical skills. This program will run from

6-11th July at Studio 53. Applications have been extended to Friday 15

th May. Go online to apply!

www.kadencegroup.com.au

(See flyer below)

Cultural Membership Fees

Cultural membership fees are now overdue for any members involved in Percussion, Choir,

Handbells or Stage Band. If any student missed out on receiving a letter last term, please see me or

email me at: sregan@stpats.qld.edu.au as soon as possible.

Payments can be made at the finance office.

Page | 8

Page | 9

Page | 10

Page | 11

STUDENT TRAVEL REBATES

Semester 1, 2015

Visit our website to see if you qualify for financial assistance to

help with the cost of transport and

apply at www.schooltransport.com.au by 31 May 2015.

Late applications cannot be accepted.

Bus Fare

Assistance Does your child attend a school

outside the Brisbane City Council boundary?

Does your family spend more than $33/week* on fares to and from school (* $25/week if you hold a concession card)?

Does your child travel on a publicly available bus not owned or associated with the school?

Students with

Disabilities Does your child have a

verified disability that requires transport assistance to and from school?

Has your school’s learning support teacher assessed your child’s travel capability rating as ‘semi-independent’ or more dependent?

Page | 12

Page | 13

Page | 14