As we approach the end of Term 1, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the strong and positive start to 2025, despite the unexpected weather event of ex Tropical Cyclone Alfred. The energy in this community has been high and there have been so many wonderful activities and events, enabling various groups to gather and connect. Our students have embraced their learning helping to foster a culture of excellence and we remain steadfast in our approach to ensuring we grow both hearts and minds in this place.

Student engagement in the vast array of extra-curricular activities on offer here at the College has been extraordinary. I feel so proud of the progress our young men are making across their chosen pursuits. This really is a joy-filled place that really came alive on Showcase evening reflecting the real meaning and power of connections, community and a sense of belonging to something greater than ourselves alone.

The Music, Dance and Dramatic Arts also on show at that evening, along with various other ensemble and extension concerts, individual and team performances across the AIC (Australian Independent Colleges) season in Swimming, Cricket, Volleyball and AFL has also been very impressive and I commend the students in their sportsmanship, dedication and persistence.

The highly contested Debating season has also begun with enthusiasm and drive, setting a wonderful tone for the term ahead. When young people are actively involved in school extra-curricular activities it naturally strengthens their sense of belonging and connection to the community which has direct and positive impacts on their learning and well-being. I also thank all of our families and from my own experience, understand that the logistical planning it takes to support your son’s extra-curricular involvement can be very challenging at times, however, I can assure you the investment is invaluable as part of his development and growth.

I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and sincerely thank our College staff who continue to keep our College’s Mission and Vision at the heart of their work each day. They are student focused, and purpose driven in their work and I am very grateful to all of them for the role they play in shaping the hearts and minds of our young people. This week we gathered for an Easter Liturgy, taking the opportunity to wish a number of staff well as they head off on various forms of leave prior to the commencement of Term 2 and I look forward to their return to the College.

As you are aware, we are embracing the theme of the Year of Gratitude in 2025, encouraging everyone in our community to develop a spirit of thankfulness in all aspects of their lives. As we enter the upcoming holiday break, I invite you to support your children in fostering an attitude of gratitude—whether through daily reflections, acts of kindness, or simply appreciating the simple blessings in their lives. Research shows that gratitude strengthens character, nurtures resilience, and helps deepen our Faith.

We are also in the final days of Lent, a sacred time in the Catholic tradition that calls us to reflection, prayer, and renewal. As we prepare for Holy Week, let us all be reminded of Christ’s journey—His sacrifice, His love, and ultimately, the hope and new life found in His resurrection. May this season inspire us all to live with greater faith, compassion, and gratitude.

Live Jesus in our hearts.

In Week 8, our students in Years 5, 7, and 9 successfully completed the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN).

NAPLAN encompasses a series of tests designed to evaluate students' proficiency in writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar, and punctuation), and numeracy.

These tests were administered online, utilising a 'tailored test' design that adapts to student responses, thereby providing a more precise understanding of student achievement.

The results from these assessments will be instrumental for the College in evaluating our educational programs and identifying areas for improvement, enabling us to tailor our teaching strategies to better meet the needs of our students.

We are steadfast in our commitment to continually enhancing literacy and numeracy at the College, recognising these foundational skills as crucial for a student's overall education and future success. Proficiency in these areas supports learning across all subjects, leading to improved academic outcomes. Additionally, these skills contribute significantly to personal growth, self-confidence, and independence.

It is also important to note that literate and numerate students are better equipped to contribute positively to society, engaging in informed decision-making, participating in civic activities, and supporting community development.

Our students in Years 5, 7, and 9 have shown exceptional dedication and perseverance throughout this testing period, and we are immensely proud of their efforts and achievements.

As we eagerly await the results in Term 2, we will continue to focus on enhancing our students' literacy and numeracy skills, delivering the highest quality education, and empowering every student to achieve their fullest potential.

Year 5 Retreat Day
Our Year 5 Retreat Day was held in late February. As part of the retreat, we used the Year 5 Gospel story of the Parable of the Good Samaritan to help launch our day. Students engaged with how the story challenges us to treat all those around us with dignity and honour. After this, we explored the story of Edmund Rice and how, like the Good Samaritan, he saw a need in his society through the poor and marginalised, and sought to liberate their lives through education (pictured).

For the next part of the day, the students participated in a variety of activities that explored various aspects of the community, including the Paddy's Van, Yarning Circles, the Year of Gratitude, the Year 11 India Immersion, and our Touchstones.

At the end of the day, we were privileged to be led in Mass by Fr. Joe Duffey, with musical accompaniment arranged by the Co-Curricular Music Department. It was a great Mass and a wonderful way to celebrate our newest students learning the fabric of who we are as a Catholic community (pictured).

A big thanks to all those who supported this fantastic day: Director of Junior School Mrs Tracey Mortimer, Co-Curricular Music Coordinator Mr Laurent Dubois, Music Teacher Mrs Fiona Engwirda, Director of Identity & Formation Ms Kate Mulvihill, Head of Ministries Mrs Tara Dunn, and Personal Assistant to the Dean of Identity, Mrs Helen Righetti.

St Patrick’s College Ministries
Cyclone Alfred has heavily affected many in our St Patrick’s College community, as well as the wider community, particularly some of the organisations we serve. Over the last month, we have offered support to our community, and I encourage those who may be struggling to reach out to the College or to organisations offering assistance, such as SANDBAG and The Redcliffe Breakfast Club.

St Patrick’s College has also been providing support to both SANDBAG and The Redcliffe Breakfast Club by delivering meals and other food staples to support them in their work. We particularly want to thank Head of Ministries, Mrs Tara Dunn, for her efforts in coordinating the College’s support for these blessed organisations as a symbol of unity and solidarity within our community.

St Patrick’s Day Mass
Our annual St Patrick’s Day Mass was held on Monday, 17 March, giving us an opportunity to celebrate our Patron Saint and our identity as a community. We were fortunate to be joined by Fr William Aupito Luliano (pictured), who brought our Mass alive and engaged our students wholly in the celebration.

St Patrick was known for bringing Christianity to Ireland and for his ability to simplify some of the more complex aspects of Christianity, like the Trinity, into something the people could engage with. The introduction of our Mass, brought together by Ms Kate Mulvihill and the Year 6 Waterford Waiters, reminded us of St Patrick’s legacy here at the College.

We witnessed how, by naming us St Patrick’s—like the shamrock that has three leaves formed on one vine—we have been called to come together as one community. Our College Masses and celebrations are always a wonderful reminder that even though we come from different backgrounds, we are brought together by the vine that is the St Patrick’s Community.

A strong focus of our Masses this year has been on building our participation as a community in all aspects of the celebration. Our Music team, led by Ms Fiona Engwirda and Mr Laurent Dubois, have established a strong sense of worship and joy by making music a central part of our celebrations.

At our St Patrick’s Day Mass, our College leaders joined with our choir to help invite our whole community into the Mass. This is something we will continue to build upon, and we can already see the impact this is having on our students. Their active participation in music continues to bring new life to each Mass. Whenever we hear our students band together to sing The Call (pictured), we feel that sense of unity and know that no matter where we come from, this community, as the centrepiece, will always unite us.

Year 7 Camp
In late February, approximately 200 Year 7 students, along with 11 dedicated staff members, embarked on a memorable three-day adventure at the Maroochy Waterfront and Conference Centre on the Sunshine Coast. The Year 7 Camp ran from Wednesday 26 February to Friday, 28 February, and was supported by qualified outdoor education staff from Character Builders, along with our own team of teaching staff.

The Year 7 Camp is a vital part of the curriculum, offering a unique environment outside of school and home for students to grow. Through a variety of activities, the camp aims to foster mental, physical, and social development. It also provides an excellent opportunity to build stronger connections between students, which was particularly significant this year, given that 60 new students joined the College in 2025.

The activities undertaken on the camp are designed to help promote teamwork, resilience, and personal growth. Over the three days, students participated in a diverse range of activities, including:

• Conversation Circles
• High Ropes and Zipline Course (pictured)
• Beach Flags
• Team Water Mats
• Dragon Boating
• Swimming

While the camp was undoubtedly fun, it also presented challenges that required both physical stamina and mental strength. Many students pushed themselves outside of their comfort zones and navigated the intensive nature of the activities and peer interactions with remarkable resilience. I was particularly impressed with how each student embraced the experience, tackling challenges with determination and positivity, often without complaint.

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the staff members who generously gave their time to accompany the students and support them throughout the camp. A special mention goes to teaching staff Mrs Sonia O’Brien, Mr Ryan Malpass and Miss Eliana Bryant and House Deans Mr John Tucker (Kennedy), Mr Steve Copping, Mr Matthew Messer (Acting Rice), Mr Dom Crowley (Quane), Mr Steven Wallace (O’Rourke), Mr Alec Gold (Acting Xavier), and Mr Matthew Darben (Acting Treacy), all of whom volunteered their time away from their families to make this experience possible for the students. Thank you also to our College Principal Mrs Amber Hauff and our Dean of Students Mr Sean Toovey who visited on Wednesday and wasted no time throwing themselves into the activities.

Additionally, I would like to express my gratitude to Acting Personal Assistant – Dean of Students Miss Melissa Rudd, whose planning ensured the smooth organisation of the camp, and to School Nurse Mrs Chelsia Tongia, for her coordination and management of the students' medical needs prior to the camp.

We are proud of the growth and camaraderie our Year 7 students have shown (pictured with Acting Xavier House Dean Mr Alec Gold - left and Director of Student Engagement & Well-Being Mr Matthew Robertson - right), and we look forward to seeing how their experiences at camp continue to shape their journey throughout the year.

The Calling and Departure: A Rite of Passage for Our Year 9 Students
Monday last week, at sunrise, our Year 9 students and their families gathered at Shorncliffe Pier for a time-honoured tradition known as The Calling and Departure - a ceremony marking the commencement of our Rite Journey program (pictured).

This significant event symbolises the transition from childhood to young adulthood. This ceremony, rich in reflection and gratitude, sets the foundation for the year-long Rite Journey program.

The purpose of the Rite Journey is to challenge our students to become Men of Action - young men who take responsibility, act with integrity, and lead with courage. A true gentleman does not avoid challenges but embraces them, taking ownership of his actions and choices. The year-long program encourages our students to:

• Show gratitude and respect for their parents and mentors.
• Develop resilience in the face of adversity.
• Stand strong in faith and uphold the values of our College.
• Embody the Touchstones of Gospel Spirituality, Inclusive Community, Justice and Solidarity, and Liberating Education.

The ceremony itself is steeped in culture, tradition, and symbolism. It features a smoking ceremony led by Uncle Marlon (pictured), the exchange of letters between parents, guardians, and the boys (pictured), the presentation of a St Christopher Medal keyring, and the passing of the House Banners by Year 10 students who have previously undertaken the program.

The implementation of the program by the Identity Team at St Patrick’s College has been widely recognised. The College received the Rite Journey Lead School Award from Mr Andrew Lines, Creator and Director of The Rite Journey organisation, at our 2024 Celebration of Excellence Awards evening.

This year’s Rite Journey program team (pictured left to right: Mr Dom Crowley, Mr Chris Herrod, Mr Darcy Price, Mrs Claire Devine, Ms Kate Mulvihill, Mr Zane Kent, Mr Alec Gold, and Mr Cheyne Moodley) will continue to guide our young men throughout the year.

Further symbolic ceremonies and experiences are yet to come, including the Significant Male/Female Walks, a camp, and a Mentor/Mentee Project Expo.

We look forward to providing further updates on this transformative journey for our Year 9 students in future editions of The Calling. If you would like to know more about the program, you can visit The Rite Journey Program.

The Great Morven Race
On Monday, 17 March, the boys lined up for the annual Great Morven Race. The runners were greeted with beautiful weather, and the conditions made for some very fast races. For our Year 5 students, this was their first experience of the race - an exciting event to be a part of in our College’s history.

Across the board, the standard of running was high, and there were some impressive performances. Cross Country Coordinator Mr Steve McCulloch had a wry smile on his face as he watched the students push their limits around the short course.

In the Junior race, Year 5 student Isaac Cronin (pictured) absolutely blitzed the field, coming in first place with a massive lead. This was followed by the Intermediate race, where Ollie Potts (pictured) proved too strong over the short distance, also finishing with a comfortable lead. However, the Senior race went down to the wire, with Lucas Mancini (pictured) just managing to hold off the fast-finishing Trent Kearney (pictured behind Lucas) and Hamish Page, making for a nail-biting finish.

This year’s Year 12 race was well contested, but in the end, Alex Holm showed his class as he eased home to victory and claimed the King of Morven Trophy for the fastest time of the day. Congratulations to all our participating runners, particularly the following students:

Junior Race (Years 5 and 6)

• Isaac Cronin - First Place
• Finley Kuys – Second Place
• William Hewitt – Third Place

Intermediate Race (Years 7-9)

• Oliver Potts – First Place
• Parker James – Second Place
• Lewis Pascoe – Third Place

Senior Race (Years 10 and 11)

• Lucas Mancini – First Place
• Trent Kearney – Second Place
• Hamish Page – Third Place

Year 12 Race

• Alex Holm - First Place/King of Morven (middle)
  
• Nick Watson – Second Place (left)
• Ryan Smallhorne - Third Place (right)

AIC Swimming Championships
Despite the delay caused by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, the AIC (Australian Independent Colleges) was able to reschedule the annual Swimming Championships at the Chandler Aquatic Centre on the evening of Friday, 21 March.

Throughout the night, there were a total of 123 races. Our boys battled hard and gave it their all. At the AIC level, swimming is a brutal sport - when that start buzzer goes, there is nowhere to hide.

There were a number of gutsy efforts across the evening, and our boys gave everything they had, pushing themselves to the limit. In many races, we were up against national or state champion swimmers, making the competition formidable.

Each year, the standard of performance rises, and this year was no exception, with 11 AIC records broken across the night. Heading into the relays, our team was sitting in 6th place, but unfortunately, we were narrowly pushed into 7th place overall.

While we know the swimmers and coaches will be disappointed with this result, their dedication and effort cannot be questioned. Well done, boys, for always Fighting the Good Fight!

St Patrick's Day March
Our 50-strong Marching Band and College Leaders proudly represented the College at the iconic Queensland Irish Festival St Patrick’s Day Parade in the city on Saturday, 15 March.

Despite the gloomy weather and a brief rain shower while marshalling in the Botanic Gardens, the clouds parted just in time for the start of the Parade, allowing our young men to march with high energy and deliver brilliant performances.

Well done to all the boys involved, and our heartfelt thanks to the St Patrick's Day Parade Association for including us in this special and celebratory event of our Patron Saint.

Special thanks must also go to the St Patrick’s College Music staff team - Mrs Kristin Cadoo-Dagley, Mr Kevin Camrass, Mr Matthew McDonald, Mrs Mel Bell, and Mr Laurent Dubois. We also extend our gratitude to our wonderful Marketing Team: Mrs Stacey Bishop and Ms Alison Stokes, as well as Business Manager Mr Liam Casey and Dean of Identity Mr Paul Corfield, for their support with driving the Paddy's Van with such enthusiasm.

Term 1 Music Evening
St Patrick’s College Music Department was proud to host the Term 1 Music Evening on Thursday 20 March. These two back-to-back concerts featured all 24 ensembles at the College, an enormous undertaking so early in the year.

The young men rose brilliantly to the challenge, impressing parents and staff with their high-level performances, which reflected the commitment and dedication of our staff, students, and parents within the Music Program.

Special congratulations to Music Captains Zen Sutton and Kian Hooper-Nguyen for hosting the two concerts, and to our 2025 Music Ensemble Leaders, who received their leadership badges on the night.

A huge vote of thanks goes to our Marketing , Facilities and IT/AV teams, Music and Culture Administration Mrs Mel Bell and Mrs Julie Sutton, the Cultural Support Group, and our College Principal Mrs Amber Hauff, for their continued support in providing an opportunity for our young men to provide our community with a wonderful night’s entertainment and for celebrating every family's contribution to the success of the Music program.

Senior Musical – Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
We are thrilled to announce that tickets for our spectacular production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang are now on sale—but selling fast!

Students from St Patrick’s College, along with those from St John Fisher College, Mary MacKillop College, Southern Cross Catholic College, Mueller College, and Kedron State High School, have been working tirelessly to bring this beloved musical to life.

A special thank you goes out to our incredible College Music staff, who have been inspiring and guiding our exceptional cast, band, and crew. Their dedication and passion truly shine through in every rehearsal.

We warmly invite you, your family, and your friends to join us for an unforgettable evening of entertainment presented by our very talented Senior cast.

Here’s the details about how to experience the magic of the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car and lose yourself in the music and adventure of this fun-filled, action-packed show:

When: Thursday, 1 May – Saturday, 3 May, from 7:00pm to 9:30pm
Where: Christian Brothers Building (Entry via Pier Avenue, Shorncliffe).
Ticket Prices: $25 for adults and $15 for children/students. $5 for a show souvenir program (to be collected on the night).