Changes to CLT 2025
I am sure that there may have been a few surprises with the announcement of three members of the current CLT leaving to new positions next year. Firstly, I would like to congratulate each of them in being successful in applications for the new roles. I was not surprised as I have worked with each of them for many years and, as I have often said, the members of this team are well respected in the leadership networks. The hard part about announcing three people at once in an announcement is that I did not get the opportunity to speak about each of them individually, so I like to do so now.

Tim Kenny
I first met Tim when I first arrived at St Patrick’s in 2001. Tim was a teacher of English and Religious Education. Unfortunately, I did not get to know him for a long time as he left the college at the end of that year. Tim was appointed, at the end of 2014, to be the Head of Faculty – Religious Education, and started in the role the same day I started here as Principal. Tim led the faculty with expert knowledge and a clear example of service leadership and was appointed to the College Leadership Team as Dean of Identity in April 2016. During his nine years at the role, Tim has emerged as a well-respected Dean of Identity within EREA nationally and the Brisbane Catholic schools as fellow AIC schools who have a network for this role. Tim is a person of great intelligence and has a wealth of knowledge about church, doctrine, religious education and EREA. His involvement and planning for opportunities within the religious life of a school is evident in his work with our service programs, immersions, retreats etc. He is very well-suited to the new role in the BCE Office where he will collaborate with leaders in their schools around religious identity and engagement. The change will allow for further professional and personal growth, and I expect to see Tim flourish in the new role and environment. Tim has been in our CLT for just under nine years and has been an integral part of the team with great insight and knowledge of our school and organisational mission as well as practical application to them. He has always been student-centred and authentic to our values.

Darren Kearney
I first met Darren in the mid-1990s when he was employed at Ignatius Park College as a Physics and Maths teacher. I got to know Darren more when I became the Assistant Principal Studies at IPC in the late 90’s. Darren was an excellent educator who has great rapport with his students and was well-liked by them. He participated in many aspects of the school providing opportunities for the students. Darren went on to be Assistant Principal - Students at Ignatius Park for many years before moving to Brisbane. Darren commenced at SPC as Dean of Students in 2016 and has been nine years in the role here. What I like most about Darren as a colleague is his honesty, authenticity, and expertise in student formation. Personally, I have known him for many years and have enjoyed his humour, willingness to support and help when needed and sense of care for the wellbeing of others. Darren is well-known and respected amongst the EREA Dean of Students network members. I have sat in many meetings with him with students and families (often for serious situations) and have marvelled at his ability to be able to navigate a conversation in a way that aims to reach agreement. He has a great balance with the students of disciplinarian and advocate. His work with the pastoral team has been exceptional. Once again, Darren has been in the role here for nine years and the change of environment to a bigger school will provide an opportunity for him to renew personally and professionally in what is a difficult role.

Adam McPhee
I first met Adam on my first day here in 2015. Adam had moved here from Southern Cross College. He had a strong reputation from BCE for his role in their pastoral team and in acting teaching and learning roles. Adam started as House Dean with much passion, energy, and different insights to the role. He quickly became well-liked and respected by the students for his clear communication, consistent application of expectations and genuine care for them. His reputation as classroom teacher also very quickly blossomed in one of innovation, care, and high expectations. Adam took on the acting role in daily organization here in from the start of 2019. He also had the opportunity to act in the role of Dean of Administration and BI Business Intelligence in Term 4, 2021. This role became permanent to Adam starting 2023. Adam has a strong work ethic and strives hard to know about the work that he does and having good knowledge. He has always looked to continually improve what is being done. Adam has a great ability to look at problems and issues from different lenses. I have enjoyed working with Adam because he is not only good at what he does but is passionate about ensuring that data and information can be available and used in a way that is easy for staff and in the best interests of the student learning outcomes. I enjoyed watching his growth in senior leadership in his short time in our team. Adam’s new role is the newly anointed position at Iona College. He will be their first true Deputy Principal. Whilst it is a great promotion to a large school, it is a chance for him to spread his knowledge and expertise.

Whilst all three will be missed at SPC next year, I am very confident that we will have strong fields of applicants in each of the roles from internal and external sources. The fresh eyes of new CLT members will build on what we have and grow the school into the future. I hope to be able to advise the community of the new CLT members in early November.

New phase for senior students
The past weeks of this term we face the prospect of farewelling the Year 12 students as they embark on their senior external exams, welcome the new school leaders in Year 11 and welcome new students for 2025 during our orientation evening. It is a little like “out with the old and in with the new.”

Last Friday, the students celebrated the end of their formal timetabled classes with a Mass and morning tea including with their parents. This was followed with the final session of their Rite of Passage and lunch on the shoreline foreshore with staff and final house assemblies. This is usually quite an emotional day for everyone involved. Many of this cohort have been with us since Year 5. My very best wishes to our Year 12 students as they commence their final exams and final weeks at the College.

The end of this week marks the completion of all internal classes for our Year 12 students. Starting next Monday 21 October, they will undertake their external exams until they graduate on 13 November. I have been impressed by the student’s’ commitment to study and preparation for exams over the three weeks of this term. Some of our students will also complete their assessments already or early next week and move into employment as soon as they are able. The Year 12 cohort have excelled in their leadership, and I am sure that everyone would join me in wishing them well for their exams and last weeks of schooling.

Alternatively, the Year 11 students were commissioned into leadership in a handover ritual on the first day of this term. They have started their leadership of the student body with energy and passion. I have been impressed by the new student leaders and their commitment to learning about leadership and to improving the school whilst they are leading. Henley Thomas, College Captain, will announce the cohort’s theme for leadership when he speaks at the Night Celebration of Excellence celebrations evening on 15 November.

Orientation Evening
We welcomed all the new students commencing next year at our recent Orientation Evening. The Year 11 students were just as excited as the Year 5 boys when they met their big/little brother for the first time. There is always a palpable energy in the air during orientation evenings. Unfortunately, this year, there was also a solid amount of rain. However, spirits were not dampened, and it was another memorable event. It was lovely to see so many excited faces on both the students and parents and the sense of pride from the Year 11 students. I would especially like to mention our House Deans who facilitate much of the activity on this evening. We received excellent feedback, and I am sure that it was a relevant and useful night for the families.

Collaboration with St John Fisher and Mary MacKillop Colleges
The Year 11 Student Leadership team also met with the captains and vice captains from St John Fisher College and Mary Mackillop College to collaborate for events during this term and next year. I was impressed by all the leaders and the passion they had for their schools and thoughts about how they could work together to offer opportunities for students across all three schools.

Cocurricular Awards and Performances
In one of my last Calling articles in Term three, I spoke of the great amount of talent that we have at the College. Over the last three weeks I have had the pleasure of attending two musical concerts and a sports award night. During the first week, the Culture department celebrated their annual concert to farewell and thank the senior students departing the program. It was a lovely occasion where each student was individually thanked, and all graduating students were featured in their ensembles where they performed for the last time. On Monday this week, we held the annual Music by the Sea concert. This concert affords all the bands that were not involved in the farewell concert a chance to perform. Most of these groups were beginner and intermediate. However, listening to their performance, it was a higher standard than those levels. Both concerts were testimony to the work that the Culture department has done over the years to lift our student performances and stretch our top students. We are blessed to have so many talented and gifted teachers and tutors in our programs. 

Last night, we held the Sports Awards Night. The sporting talent that we have at St Patrick's is exceptional. There were many students who received awards for their efforts and performances across the various season. Other highlights included the interview with Vic Williams, our outgoing First XI Cricket coach of several years and past member of the Queensland Bulls coaching team. Vic is a well-loved character in cricket circles and certainly amongst the young men that he has coached over the years here at SPC. Vic has decided to step back and “retire.” He will be missed by our community, and I wish him the very best in his future and would like to publicly thank him for his contributions to our College over the years. Other highlights included the presentation of framed playing gear from Manaaki Bateman (Australian Schoolboys Rugby) and Steven Hogan (Under 19 Australian Cricket team). These items will be hung in the Christian Brothers Building with the memorabilia from past champions. Congratulations to Jim Potts and the sports department for organising the evening.

AIC Track and Field
Our Track and Field team also competed in the AIC Championships on Friday of the first week back of this term. This was the last AIC competition for 2024. A most notable performance was from Angus McKenna, team captain, who easily won the 800m race but fell agonizingly short of the AIC record. Marist College Ashgrove were the standout school after winning for the tenth consecutive year. The competition was close, apart from Marist there was little points difference between third and eight.

Live Jesus in our Hearts!

Chris Mayes
College Principal