“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” Proverbs 27:17

Last Sunday’s first reading from Maccabees was an

extraordinary testimony of faith. The reading recounts the

arrest, torture and execution of a mother and her seven sons

who were under the direction of a cruel conquering king to

renounce their Jewish faith. Refusing to comply with the

King’s orders, each of the seven sons was tortured and

executed one at a time until eventually the mother herself

suffered the same horrific fate. In listening to this reading at

Sunday Mass, I could not help but think of my own mother

and the non-negotiable faith demands she made of her six

boys and one girl. In having the freedom to attend Mass

whenever we choose and with so many opportunities to

express our own Catholic faith in ways that require little

sacrifice, I encourage all of us to consider the true meaning of

Christmas outside of the commercial self-gratifying

promotions that do little to help those in need.

Last Saturday was our Annual Year 5 Students and Parents

Orientation Day. It was so nice and reassuring to see so many

of our existing parents at this special event enrolling another

son at the College. Equally, it was lovely to meet so many

new parents who have entrusted their sons into the care of our

College. In my address to the parents, I was able to share

with them why St Patrick’s is an overwhelmingly happy

school. Amongst some of the reasons that I stated why I think

St Patrick’s is a happy school were the following:

Students becoming involved in all aspects of College

life, including our comprehensive Co-curricular

program.

Students being committed to their learning, irrespective

of their ability levels as learning demands are adjusted

when required.

Parents working in partnership with the College and

supporting the decisions that we make.

The support for the non-negotiable behavioural,

uniform and grooming expectations.

Thank you parents for your contributions which enable

St Patrick’s to enjoy the reputation for high standards,

personal excellence and inclusivity. By avoiding confusion

through mixed messages, students are able to have a sense of

belonging while contributing to a College community which

continues to build upon the past work of the Christian

Brothers.

In addition to the support provided on a daily basis, many

parents generously volunteer their precious time to support

the various activities that are part and parcel of our busy

College life. With obviously too many people and activities

to list, I would sincerely like to thank everyone for giving

what they can to the College. I have always said that the

St Patrick’s parents are the most supportive, generous and

friendly group of parents that one could possibly hope to work

with. As a small token of the College’s deep appreciation,

this Friday’s Volunteer Mass and Lunch is our way of saying

thank you. The parents in turn last week, through the Parents’

and Friends’ Association, treated the staff with a thank you

lunch which further reinforces the sense of belonging and

appreciation that underpins our wonderful community.

Live Jesus in our Hearts, Forever

John Murphy

Acting Headmaster

Vol 29, No 34 – 9 November 2016

All Homerooms in the College

have begun to compile the Christmas

Hampers for those less fortunate than

ourselves, because indeed we are a very

blessed community in so many ways. These

hampers will be sent to families through our

three designated charities – St Vincent de Paul,

Catholic Care and a home for survivors of

domestic abuse. We ask that you bring in

non-perishable food items, toiletries and Christmas

presents to fill these hampers in order to bring joy to

somebody else’s Christmas. All items must be new,

not used. We ask that you give what you would like to

receive rather than what you want to get rid of. All hampers

need to be completed by 23 November. Thank-you, in advance,

for your generosity and compassion for those who live on the

margins as we aim to bring Justice & Solidarity to all. As our

Founder Blessed Edmund Rice reminds us, we should give to

the poor in handfuls.

Waleed Younan Sherrie Rodricks

Acting Director of Identity Social Justice Facilitator

On Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 November, our Year 6 boys have their Transition and

Orientation Days at school. These two days will be spent giving the boys some preparation for 2017, including meeting some of their

teachers, exploring their new environment, learning about routines, classrooms and lockers and having some free time as well. The dress

for the two days is neat casual. The boys will be reminded of this while on camp in Week 6.

On Wednesday 23 November, our Year 6 parents are invited to a “Preparing Your Son for High School” presentation in the Robson

Auditorium. The night is aimed to assist in the transition from Primary to Secondary School for parents; what to expect from your sons,

how Year 7 is organised, what changes to anticipate and more. The night commences at 5.30pm and there will be parking available on

the Tennis Courts.

On Thursday 24 November, 5 White, 5 Red and 5 Gold will be presenting their instrumental concert in the Duffy Music Centre.

The boys have been working hard this Semester with their strings, brass and woodwind and are excited about showing their wares to an

appreciative audience. The concert commences at 11.00am in the performance space of the Duffy Music Centre. Parents are most

welcome to attend. There is no need to RSVP, just turn up on the day.

Year 6 Camp Next week from November 14 to 17, Year 6 will be taking part in their Annual Camp.

Can I please insist that in packing for your boys, you do not include any NUT BASED products for them to eat. There are some boys

travelling with us who have allergic responses to these products. These boys dietary requirements will be met at the camp itself, but we

need to aware of these boys when eating in transit.

Thank you for your co operation with this.

Jim Walters—Director of Junior School

Congratulations to all the Basketball teams last Saturday with a perfect 10 wins from 10.

That is the first time we have done that for some time, a tremendous effort. Well done to the J team who remain undefeated with

2 games remaining. Well done to Louis Manenti in the Prep A Cricket team who scored 54 against Barker last weekend and to both

Prep A and B Tennis teams for solid victories over St Ignatius and Knox. This Friday, St Patrick’s is hosting a friendly Invitational

Swimming Carnival at the College pool from 1.00 – 3.00pm. Well done to the boys who participated in the Senior School Invitational

last Friday night at Ryde.

Congratulations to Cooper Edwards of Year 5 who broke the all time Inner West Harbour Association batting record and the Creak

Shield district Cricket record with a score of 168 on Sunday. An amazing effort, we are all so proud of him well done.

With Year 6 on camp next week, training will be slightly different. Please make sure you check SOLE and the announcements for any

changes.

Grant Andrews—Junior School Sportsmaster

Science Olympiad AwardsScience Olympiad Awards

Recently a group of Year 11 students sat for the Australian Science Olympiad Exams. These exams are a great way for students to

test their knowledge of scientific concepts and their application in critical thinking, problem -solving abilities, and skills of

scientific inquiry.

The Science Olympiads are run in Biology, Physics and Chemistry and are a great opportunity for talented Science students to

be extended. They are challenging exams for students who have completed these Science courses let alone for Year 11

students.

It is wonderful that a number of our Year 11 students received recognition for good results in these exams. Congratulations t o:

Andrew Clark who received a Distinction in Physics, to Baxter Brown, Gabriel De Palo, Adrien Di Lonardo, Jackson Smith

and Andre Volpato who received a Credit in Physics, to Nestor Campos, Jackson Smith, Andre Volpato who received a Credit

in Chemistry and Jack McGrath who received a credit in Biology.

Janine Timillero—Diverse Learning Coordinator

The Book Lists for Years 7-11 Textbooks

are now available from Campion

Education.

Please log on to www.campion.com.au,

using the code Y6RE to place your order(s).

To take advantage of the discounted delivery fee of $10,

orders must be placed before Monday 19 December.

Any queries can be directed to Mrs. Peggy Kwong at

peggy.kwong@spc.nsw.edu.au or 8705 9235.

Parents & Friends’

General Meeting & AGM 2016 Tuesday, 15 November 2016

Dear Parents,

You are invited to attend our last P&F General Meeting &

AGM in 2016 on Tuesday, 15 November 2016

commencing at 7.30pm in the Robson Auditorium.

I look forward to see you at the meeting.

Kate Manenti—President, P&F

Senior and Junior School Winter Sport and Senior and Junior School Winter Sport and

NonNon--Sport Photos: Ordering OnSport Photos: Ordering On--lineline

Below parents will a find shoot-key and ordering instructions relating to the Senior School Summer Sport photos. Please note that the

photos will be sent to your home address and not the College.

Parents are advised that if they are experiencing any difficulty in ordering they can ring the Parent Hotline on 1800 750 586 for advice.

1. Visit www.leadingimage.com.au

2. Click Order Your School Photos

3. Enter shoot-key in box provided: CL44ZZT3

4. Scroll through and select an image. Image appearing in main box is the image chosen to purchase

5. Enter required copies

6. Add to Cart

7. If further prints required please continue steps 4-6 until all images chosen

8. Click Cart on top right hand side

9. Check order is correct and click checkout

10. Customers who have already created an account enter their username & password

11. New customers click I don’t have an account and wish to create one.

12. Customers proceed through checkout to enter their credit card details

13. Once approved an invoice will be auto-generated to the customers email

14. Photos will be sent to nominated addresses and not to the school.

St Joseph’s Alice Springs Art Enterprise with St Patrick’sSt Joseph’s Alice Springs Art Enterprise with St Patrick’s

The Greeting cards and 2017 Calendar designed by the students from St Joseph’s Alice Springs Flexible

Learning Centre have now arrived at SPC and are available to be purchased from reception in the front office of the

Hickey Building.

They both look amazing and would make wonderful Christmas gifts. Money raised from these sales will be going

back to the St Joseph’s community to enable them to continue to produce such amazing works in the near future.

A set of 5 Greeting cards are selling for $15.00

The 2017 Calendar is selling for $15.00

The purchase order form can be found on SOLE under the Parent Portal. Correct Cash

payment can only be accepted, as change will not be returned to the student.

Night of the NotablesNight of the Notables

On Monday 7 November we had a visit from Howard

Florey, Steve Jobs, Benjamin Franklin, Matthew Flinders,

Louis Braille, Albert Einstein and many more Notable

characters as 6 Black presented ‘Night of the Notables’.

The Night of the Notables is a programme in which

students engage in an in-depth study of one notable

person. The students have been involved in

comprehensive research which has facilitated skills of

independent learning as well as higher level thinking

skills. On Monday night the students showcased their

product of deep personal study. They presented

themselves in character as their Notable, displayed the

Learning Centre they had created and engaged with the

audience in a short skit.

The night highlighted the hard work that had been carried out by the students and they are to be commended on their excellent

participation in this project. A big thank you is extended to the many Junior School students who came along to the night and also to

the students (many of them ex notables) from the secondary who assisted.

Janine Timillero Daniel Fields

Diverse Learning Coordinator Junior School Curriculum Coordinator

Go St Pat’s

SPORTS DRAW - SATURDAY 12 NOVEMBER 2016

Baseball In addition to the Sport Captains listed in last week’s Especean, I’d like to extend a big congratulations to Fortunato Russo who has been named Captain of Baseball for the 2016-2017 season. I apologise for leaving this appointment out of last week’s article but am confident that Nat will lead the Baseball fraternity well throughout the summer.

Congratulations Oscar Schmidt-Uili of Year 11 was selected in the NSW U17 Rugby 7’s side who played in a lead up tournament to the National Championships last weekend. This is a huge honour for Oscar and reward for his continued hard work in this arena.

Pink Stumps Day SPC will be hosting a ‘Pink Stumps Day’ on Breen Oval on Saturday 12 November, 2016. This is in support of the McGrath Foundation, which raises money to place McGrath Breast Care Nurses in communities across Australia as well as to increase breast awareness in young people.

The day will consist of: - 1st XI fixture on Breen Oval with a ‘pink flavour’ - Raffle - BBQ and Drinks - High Catch Challenge on Breen Oval (lunch break)

I would encourage all members of the College community to endeavour to get down to Breen Oval this Saturday in support of this cause. To further support the event you can donate at https://pinkstumpsday2017.gofundraise.com.au/page/stpatscricket.

Mitchell Kearsley—Head of Secondary Sport

Cricket

1st XI v St Stanislaus' 10.00 Breen Oval 2nd XI v Oxley College 11.00 Oxley College 3rd XI v Blue Mountains 10.00 Blue Mountains Grammar 16A v Shore 1.30 SPC 2 16B v Holy Cross 8.00 Upjohn Park 15A v Bye

15B v Epping Bulls 8.30 Epping Boys High 14A v Epping Blue 8.30 Tuckwell Oval 14B v Oakhill 8.30 Strathfield Park 1 14C v Sydney Grammar D 1.30 Mason Park 2 13A v Dundas United 8.30 George Kendall Reserve 13B v North Ryde RSL 8.00 Mason Park 2 Baseball

19A v Maquarie 11.00 Major’s Bay Reserve 3 16 Blue v Riverview White 8.30 Riverview 1B 16 Black v Thornleigh 8.30 Major’s Bay Reserve 3 14 Blue v Kissing Point 8.30 Auluba Park 2 14 Black v North Ryde 11.00 Major’s Bay Reserve 1

Basketball 1st V v St Stanislaus' 11.00 St Stanislaus’ College Open B v Blue Mountains 12.00 Auburn 2 17A v St Stanislaus' 10.00 St Stanislaus’ College 17B v Blue Mountains 12.00 Auburn 1 17C v Oakhill Gold 10.00 Oakhill Gym (CSC) 1 17D v Oakhill Red 1.00 SPC Gym 15A v St Stanislaus' 11.00 St Stanislaus’ College 15B v Blue Mountains 11.00 Auburn 1 15C v Oakhill Gold 9.00 Oakhill Gym (CSC) 1 15D v Oakhill Red 12.00 SPC Gym 15Black v Knox J 8.00 SPC Gym 14A v St Stanislaus' 12.00 St Stanislaus’ College 14B v Blue Mountains 11.00 Auburn 2 14C v Oakhill Gold 8.00 Oakhill Gym (CSC) 1 14D v Oakhill Red 11.00 SPC Gym 14 Black v St Andrew's C 10.00 SPC Gym 13A v St Stanislaus' 10.00 St Stanislaus’ College 13B v Blue Mountains 10.00 Auburn 1 13C v Oakhill Gold 8.00 Benildus Hall 13D v Oakhill Red 9.00 SPC Gym 13 Black v St Spyridon B 8.00 St Spyridon Gym 13 Gold v Blue Mountains Blue 10.00 Auburn 2 Upcoming EventsUpcoming Events

Saturday 12 November – ISA Summer Round 4 NDJCA Cricket RHBL Baseball Saturday 12 November – Pink Stumps Day (Breen Oval) Saturday 19 November - ISA Summer Round 5 NDJCA Cricket RHBL Baseball Saturday 26 November – ISA Summer Round 6 (last round of term 4) NDJCA Cricket RHBL Baseball 16A Cricket will play until 3 December. NDJCA Cricket teams will play until 10 December. RHBL Baseball teams play until 17 December.

FIXTURES ARE PUBLISHED LIVE ONLINE (includes cancellations): Go to http://www.spc.nsw.edu.au/wp/co-curriculum/junior-school/junior-sport-fixtures/ or http://www.spc.nsw.edu.au/wp/co-curriculum/

senior-school/secondary-sport-fixtures/

GROUND LOCATIONS: http://www.spc.nsw.edu.au/wp/co-curriculum/ground-locations/

WET WEATHER UPDATES: call 02 9763 1000 and follow the prompts; Twitter at http://twitter.com/SPCSeniorSport; or on the Fixtures Pages above.

JUNIOR SCHOOL SPORT WEEKLY DRAW SUMMER ROUND ELEVEN 12/11/2016

VENUES:

Auburn Basketball Centre: Wyatt Park, Church St, Lidcombe Cooke Park: Madeline St, Belfield

SPC Courts, Breen Oval, No 3, No 4: Edgar St, Strathfield Phillips Park: Nicholas St, Lidcombe Queens Park: Darley Rd, Waverley

Rudd Park: Cnr Clarence & Varidel Strs, Belfield Bressington: Underwood Rd, Homebush Clarke Rd Tennis: Clarke Rd, Hornsby

Dunnett Hall: Allister St, Cremorne SIC 5 and 6: Tambourine Bay Rd, Inside Senior School

Anderson Park: Kuraba Rd, Neutral Bay

CRICKET OPPOSITION VENUE TIME YEAR 6A Scots Cooke Park 8.00am YEAR 6B Scots SPC NO 4 8.00am YEAR 6C St Aloysius Anderson Park 9.30am YEAR 6D Newington Wyvern Phillips Park 9.30am YEAR 6E St Aloysius Anderson Park 8.00am YEAR 6F Riverview Phillips Park 8.00am YEAR 5A Riverview SIC 5 8.00am YEAR 5B Riverview SIC 6 8.00am YEAR 5C Grammar Edgecliff Queens Park 6 9.30am YEAR 5D Trinity Rudd Park 9.30am YEAR 5E Grammar Edgecliff Queens Park 6 8.00am YEAR 5F Barker Rudd Park 8.00am BASKETBALL TEAM A Redlands Dunnett Hall 10.30am TEAM B Redlands Dunnett Hall 9.40am TEAM C Redlands Auburn 1 9.00am TEAM D Redlands Auburn 1 8.00am TEAM E Redlands Dunnett Hall 8.50am TEAM F Redlands Dunnett Hall 8.00am TEAM G Redlands Auburn 2 9.00am TEAM H Redlands Auburn 2 8.00am TEAM I Knox Auburn 3 9.00am TEAM J Knox Auburn 3 8.00am TENNIS TEAM A St Aloysius SPC Courts 9.30am TEAM B Barker Clarke Rd 8.00am SOFTBALL TEAM A Trinity Prep A Bressington West 9.30am