I hope that all our fathers enjoyed a wonderful Father’s Day yesterday and were spoilt by their children. I believe that parenting is the most difficult, and rewarding, thing that we do in life. It has moments of great joy and those other moments of challenge and possibly “tough love”. I hope that yesterday was a day of joy for all. 

Over the past two weeks, I have received feedback from the key stakeholders within our College community. I received the summary report of our Parent Satisfaction Survey and the draft commendations and recommendations from the College Renewal report. The full Renewal Report will be made available to us within the next two weeks. The information from the renewal report comes from all staff and student (Years 7-12) surveys, staff and parent interviews, past student interviews and interviews with other key community groups that we work with outside of the College. The review was facilitated by an EREA Renewal Team consisting of: 

• Mr Ray Paxton –National Director – Educational Strategy, EREA 
• Mr Daniel Lawler –Regional Manager South Australia and Western Australia (EREA Colleges) 
• Mr Paul Easton – Senior Leader School Progress and Performance, BCE. 
• Ms Heidi Senior – Director of Learning, EREA. 
• Mrs Elizabeth Watson – Deputy Principal, Waverley College Sydney. 

Firstly, I would like to thank all participants who assisted with this review. Especially the volunteer parents who gave their time to be interviewed. The information gathered from these surveys and reviews allow us to look forward to planning our strategic directions to be developed in our new Strategic Plan (2024-2026). I will give feedback on some of the parts of the surveys and report to you in my articles throughout the remainder of this year. 

Our 2023 Parent satisfaction survey for this year had 643 responses (over 50% of families) which is a strong number of respondents and so the data can be clearly validated. Previously, in 2021, we had 427 respondents with approximately the same number of families at the College. The score results are interpreted by the following table. 

• A score below 3.00 (< 43%) would indicate a critical deficiency. 
• A score between 3.00 and 4.00 (43% & % 57%) should alert administrators to an area of key concern.  
• A score between 4.00 and 5 (57% & 71%) is a more pleasing result but still indicates some work is needed. 
• A score between 5.00 and 6.00 (71% & 85%) is a positive result and  
• A score above 6.00 (85% to 100%) should be regarded as a strong affirmation of that feature of school life by participants. 

We did not score below 5 in any of the categories that were surveyed. In terms of overall satisfaction, the following results were recorded: 

I believe that these results are testimony to the hard work and efforts of the entire staff at this College and it is very pleasing to us that there is good overall satisfaction about what we do from our partners, the parents and caregivers within our community.

I would also like to remind any interested parents that there is still time to place an expression of interest to join our School Advisory Council and College Foundation Board. There will be an information event this Wednesday night (6 September) at the College library starting at 7:00pm. After a short presentation we will have an informal drinks and nibbles gathering on the Café Deck.

The Voice to Parliament - Referendum

The Prime Minister of Australia has announced that the The Voice to Parliament - Referendum will occur on Saturday, 14 October. The time leading up to this referendum will be important to our nation. With the date now being announced there will be greater dialogue and interest in the upcoming referendum on the Voice to Parliament within our communities. As in any referendum, each citizen has the right to make their own choice. Our organisation, EREA, has endorsed the Uluru Statement from the Heart document. This is evident in the EREA Acknowledgment of Country, where it states we accept: “the invitation contained in the Uluru Statement From The Heart to listen to the First Peoples of Australia and work together for reconciliation, justice, equity, and healing.” Our organisation believes that The Voice to Parliament is an authentic outcome of this invitation which will have deep and lasting impact on the future of First Nations peoples within Australia and the reconciliation of this nation. Here at St Patrick’s, we encourage our students and community to be deep thinkers and to listen objectively which allows us to make informed decisions on the future of Australia. Whilst we, as an organisation, have decided based on our beliefs and commitment to First Nation’s people, we accept that others may have a differing view. With such a big decision ahead for the nation, I encourage all members of our community to review the proposal with an open and informed mind. The link below provides information about the process which you may find useful in your discernment and decision-making: https://www.aec.gov.au/referendums/files/pamphlet/your-official-yes-no-referendum-pamphlet.pdf.

Child Protection Week

Yesterday, Sunday, 3 September marked the beginning of National Child Protection Week. The unpleasant reality of child protection is that six out of ten young people experience some form of child abuse and 50% of these go on to experience mental health issues in later life. Our focus will always be on Child Protection and this week is celebrated annually to remind all members of our communities that ‘every child in every community needs a fair go’. I was very encouraged by the feedback from our students and parents/caregivers in the recent surveys that there is a strong belief that St Patrick’s takes this issue very seriously and that students and parents feel that they can report matters and know that they will be followed up by the College staff. Our College has nine Student Protection Contacts, they are:

Our Student Protections Officers: 

Mr Chris Mayes - Principal
Ph 36319000 or [email protected]  

Mr Frank Torrisi - Deputy Principal   
Ph 36319084 or [email protected]  

Mr Darren Kearney - Dean of Students
Ph 36319075 or [email protected]  

Mrs Janet Garside - Ryan House Dean
Ph 36319056 or [email protected]  

Ms Paige McDonald - Rice House Dean
Ph 36319069 or [email protected]

Mrs Tracey Mortimer - Director of Junior School
Ph 36319000 or [email protected]  

Mr John Zappala - College Counsellor
Ph 36319000 or [email protected]  

Mr Ken Loftus - College Counsellor
Ph 36319000 or [email protected]  

Their role is to ensure that our community is keep abreast of Child safeguarding and protection issues and policies and procedures and to be the ‘point of contact’ for staff and students when such matters are raised.  Matters raised by them come directly to me as College Principal before any decisions on further action is taken. Every matter is taken seriously and treated with confidentiality.

Queensland Catholic Music Festival

Our students performed admirably at the recent Queensland Catholic Music Festival (QCMF). The QCMF 2023 was attended by over 14,000 students from Qld and NSW. It was the first time in a number of years that all ensemble sections were included. We entered all 25 ensembles with nearly 600 of our young men performing over the 4 days. Two highlights were the Year 5 Concert Band of 110 young men and the Year 5 String Orchestra of 40 who represented the College well. The first Gold awarded at the Festival went to our brand-new Junior Guitar Ensemble. With 4 Choirs, 5 Concert Bands, 3 Big Bands, 2 Jazz Ensembles, 3 Rock Bands, Percussion Ensembles and 4 String Orchestras performing we received a good spread of Gold, Silver and Bronze awards with many ensemble directors reporting their ensemble performed at their best. Such opportunities to perform would not be possible without the efforts of the music staff and parents supporting their children. I had the opportunity to attend some of the events and the standard was exceptional. Well done to all involved.

End of Term in Sight

We are now approaching a busy time for staff and students with many assessments and exams scheduled. I would expect that all students are well prepared for this time and have lifted their efforts to ensure that get their best results. As in all things that we do, improvement can be achieved through constant persistence, effort and (positive) attitude. Our senior students are completing their practice exams for the forthcoming external exams and the Year 11 students will finish their exams and participate in their Leadership Retreat over the last days of the term. It is also the last round of AIC Sport, and I would like to remind all families that students who have committed to sporting teams are expected to participate right through until the last game so that our teams and our opponents who may have to travel can enjoy a fixture in the right spirit.

Live Jesus in our Hearts!

Mr Chris Mayes
College Principal
 

 

Artificial Intelligence at St Patrick's College

At St Patrick's College, we recognise the dynamic advancements in technology and their profound impact on education. We are committed to integrating artificial intelligence (AI) responsibly and ethically into our educational framework. It is imperative, however, to emphasise the ethical considerations that accompany the use of AI. While we encourage the utilisation of AI tools to enhance the learning outcomes, students must not employ AI to engage in plagiarism or misrepresent the origin of their work. Academic integrity remains at the core of our educational philosophy, and the inappropriate use of AI tools to circumvent this principle is contrary to the values we uphold.

What is AI?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) enables computers to perform human-like tasks such as understanding language, decision-making, and learning from data. AI imitates human intelligence using algorithms - sets of instructions - that analyse data to identify patterns. Like humans learn from experiences, AI learns from data, e.g., recognising cats through repeated image exposure - known as "machine learning." AI improves over time with more data, mirroring human adaptability, thus achieving tasks previously exclusive to humans.

AI tools are readily available, and it is likely that your soon is interacting with them in some way already. 

Things to be aware of:

• � Terms and conditions - understand the terms and conditions of any online platform your children are using.
• 📱 Age limits and privacy - most AI platforms and services have age restrictions for users or require a mobile phone number to register.
• 🔐 Data privacy and security - know how the AI service handles user data - whether it's shared with third parties and how it's protected.
• 😱 Content appropriateness - AI tools can provide a wide range of content, and not all of it may be suitable for children.
• 🔍 Supervision and monitoring - like all online platforms, responsible supervision is still necessary, especially for younger students. Many students are still developing their understanding of how Academic Integrity and AI are connected.

Preparing students for an AI-driven world

In an era where Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly prevalent, fostering AI literacy among students is vital. Developing an understanding of AI concepts equips students with valuable skills for their future careers and empowers them to navigate a world shaped by technology.

Currently, the College is working to finalise a position paper on how we will integrate AI into our teaching and learning practices. This position will frame our response to the ongoing and rapid evolution of these technologies, over a period of years. Part of process, this involves assessing how our students are currently interacting with the technology. Early next term, our Assessment Policy will be formally updated to address AI, and we will continue our education of students at College assemblies and in our classrooms. 

Mr Troy Schultz - Dean of Teaching and Learning
Mr Nicolas Consiglio - Program Leader – Digital Innovation

A GROWING WAVE OF INVOLVEMENT IN MORRISSEY

The Men of Morrissey continue to challenge themselves to be involved in the wider SPC community through participation in a range of service activities.  From cooking up a storm in the toast room to getting their hands dirty in the garden, they are making a real difference to the lives of others.

As Spring approaches Mrs Hunt’s Gardening Crew have already been busy planting and harvesting from the Paddy’s Garden. Just last week they picked snow peas, tomatoes, zucchini and much more that was destined for dinner plates in the Paddy’s Van. With the assistance of Year 12 student, Sam Meffin, they assembled a new compost bin, and have been regularly checking ‘worms at work’ in their worm farm.  To help educate non-gardeners about the activities in the Paddy’s Garden, they have also created a range of signage.

It is not only the gardeners who are helping to feed the hungry though, a regular group of Morrissey Men of Action Leaders have again run a successful toast room this term. Thanks to Blake, Owen, Flynn, Tom, Lachie and Josh who are regulars on the Thursday morning Toast Room.

Finally, a new initiative led by Year 11 students has seen a flood of Junior School involvement. The ‘Waves of Change’ recycling program has 15 volunteers from the Morrissey building who are committed to sorting bottle and can waste at the College. As Year 6 student Bailey noted, “We are making new friends while also making a difference to the environment.  Everyone wins!”

I would encourage all Junior School students to consider how they are getting involved in the Service programs at St Patrick’s College.  It is a great way to broaden skills and friendship circles, and really connect with the community.  

Tracey Mortimer
Director – Junior School