FROM THE COLLEGE PRINCIPAL

The more time I spend at St Patrick’s College Townsville, the more impressed I am by the spirit of joy and engagement that characterises our community. It has indeed been a busy period of time over the last couple of weeks, with multiple community events from #STEMLikeAPatsGirl, to Book Week, to Music by the Sea, to Debating, to Head of the River, to NAIDOC events.

#STEMLikeAPatsGirl

More than 220 students joined us for #STEMLikeAPatsGirl, supported by guest presenters, staff and student mentors. The growth of this initiative is an example of the College’s determination to give back to the community, ensuring strong role modelling for girls in scientific inquiry, as well as the promotion of scientific curiosity. I was particularly impressed with the persistence of the girls who worked to refine the trajectory of their rockets, as well as those who managed to gather forensic evidence. My sincere thanks to our Head of Faculty – Science, Ms Jordan Stewart, and our Head of Faculty – Mathematics & Digital Technologies, Mr Grant McGregor, for organising such a wonderful event. Many thanks also to our Director of Marketing & Communications and Marketing & PR Assistant, Ms Isabel Bowrey and Ms Julia Nosworthy, for their assistance with our wonderful sponsors and event planning.

Book Week

The College’s Book Week showcased a myriad of events to promote reading, including a costume parade dressed as your favourite character from a novel, along with a wonderful staff performance of Alice In Wonderland. It is rare indeed, to see such wide investment across a student and staff community, and judging costume winners proved to be a highly challenging undertaking. Many thanks to the staff who showcased not only their commitment to promoting reading, but their talents as budding actors. While there is no doubt schools should be about academic outcomes, they should also be about joy, building positive relationship and wonder. When young people see staff willing to take risks, dress up in funny costumes, and adopt funny voices, they understand that they are working with adults who are approachable, who can find the joy and who want to journey along side them. My thanks to all of our student and staff participants, in particular Ms Jillian Turner, Head of Faculty – English & Languages, whose masterful organisation not only of Book Week, but of the staff performance, added such richness to the festivities.

Music by the Sea

Last Friday evening, I was thrilled to attend my first ever Music by the Sea event. While I have heard our musicians on Assembly and in our Combined Schools’ Musical, Friday night’s showcase offered a unique opportunity to be entertained by diverse ensembles, from strings, to percussion, to vocal choirs. The atmosphere was once again welcoming and joyous, as our students danced in the background while performers entertained from the stage. My thanks to our Head of Faculty – Music & Performance, Mr John Goulter, and all of our instrumental music staff and music students, for their dedication and participation in the event. Nights such as these showcase the impressive instrument-ship of our remarkably talented students, but they also provide an experience in performance that is authentic and community enriching.

NAIDOC Week

This week we also celebrated NAIDOC (National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee) week and I was thrilled to meet so many of our First Nations families, listen to story, and share in customs. Events such as NAIDOC week remind us of the importance of the rich cultural history of First Nations peoples in Australia. As a historian myself, I never cease to be amazed that I come from a country which is home to the oldest known living culture of peoples, anywhere in the world. There is much ancient wisdom that we can learn from our First Nations’ communities, whether it be in relation to our environment, or in the importance of honouring our traditions.

At St Patrick’s College Townsville, we have been on a journey that takes us beyond mere inclusion, and looks to build understanding, connectedness, and meaningful action. 2025, for example, marks the approval of our College’s Reconciliation Action Plan, which we are intending to launch in 2026. Amongst other things, this plan advocates action in key areas, including:

Engaging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in learning activities
Celebration of cultural identity and cultural responsiveness
Forming meaningful and ongoing relationships with local Elders and Traditional Owners
Teaching about Reconciliation, days of national significance to First Nations peoples, and First Nations perspectives on current affairs and issues
Visibly demonstrating respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures including Acknowledgment of Country and ensuring place and space for culturally appropriate art, artefacts, symbols and flags
Taking action against racism, raising consciousness in relation to its manifestations and impacts

As part of our commitment to working in relationship with First Nations peoples, our staff have undertaken professional development in areas relating to cultural competency and literacy benchmarking. Across subject areas, we are also working to ensure meaningful links to First Nations experiences, from the Frontier Wars, to the Stolen Generations, to Indigenous spirituality, to appreciation of native ingredients in our Hospitality programs. We are also in the process of strengthening our academic tracking, mentoring and support programs, with the aim of ensuring attainment of academic outcomes for all, such that closing the gap is not just a slogan, but a reality.

Head of the River

May I also acknowledge the wonderful performances of our rowing girls, who once again, proved their worth at the Townsville Head of the River, taking out the Girls Aggregate Championship for the third time running, and defending the Girls 8. These young women and their coaches get up early, train hard, and then repeat that process over and again. This is an outstanding accomplishment and I thank them for their commitment, whilst also acknowledging the tremendous support of their parents, coaches and Head Coach, Mr Harrison Parks.

Debating

As I write this article, I’m conscious that our senior debaters will be competing the quarter finals on Thursday evening, with the Year 7 and 8s in the semi-finals. I wish all the competitors best of luck and particularly thank Ms Conni Mosch for her coordination of debating, facilitating such wonderful opportunities for our young people.

Staffing

Anna Grace, Head of Faculty – Inclusive Education, has resigned from her position to take up a new opportunity. During her time with us, Anna has been an outstanding advocate for inclusive practices and aptly supported so many members of our student community. Anna will depart on September 5. Ms Nicole Putscher will take over from Term 4, as Head of Faculty – Inclusive Education. Nicole will bring with her almost 20 years’ experience working in the Learning Support space, most recently as Program Leader Inclusive Education at Ignatius Park College, a position she has held for the last 5 years. She has a deep commitment to inclusive education, student wellbeing, and the delivery of high-quality, equitable learning. While we await Ms Putscher’s arrival, Ms Tracy Nioa, former Head of Faculty – Inclusive Education at St Patrick’s College Townsville, will join the department for the remainder of Term 3, to assist in the transition process.

Assessment Preparation

Given the host of extra activities that have characterised the last couple of weeks, it seems hard to believe that the normal business of the College has continued as usual. As we approach the assessment period, I would ask all parents to work in partnership with the College to ensure that students have a good study routine at home, and that they are completing homework and assignments with diligence.

Uniform

Relationships with students are very important to members of the St Patrick’s College Townsville staffing community. How we work with one another matters. Staff are asked to challenge students when there are breaches of uniform, and this includes asking students to remove items that are not permitted by the uniform policy, such as jewellery, make up and jumpers other than the College jumper. Our uniform policy is included with our enrolment application material and a condition of enrolment acceptance.

Where a student persistently fails to follow the requirements of the uniform policy, they are not just not adhering to uniform standards, they are undermining requests from staff and often, relationships with them. Where a student’s response to staff is discourteous or rude, they are not just failing to adhere to uniform standards, they are failing to follow an agreed code of conduct.

How we work together truly matters. Our uniform policy is in place because we believe it genuinely supports the quality of focus within our College community. Our Mercy Sisters strived for an education for women that was truly empowering and focussed on intrinsic qualities. We do not wish for our young people to feel any external pressure to meet unrealistic beauty standards or to be distracted by the next cosmetic accoutrement. We do not wish young people to feel the pressure to conform to what their friends are wearing – these adolescent years, can be so formational. Instead, our aim is to provide clear boundaries and encourage a neat, tidy appearance in line with our uniform requirements, which we feel helps uphold the College’s reputation. Having a uniform policy is not inconsistent with a ‘Mercy education’ – after all, the Sisters of Mercy themselves wore a uniform in the form of a habit.

I would urge all parents to help us in this area by engaging with us in partnership. Arriving to school on time, and in the right uniform, is a responsibility that should be owned by parents and students. Staff will continue to politely challenge students who are not in uniform.

I would ask all parents to ensure that they reinforce these expectations with their daughters.

Kath Little

COLLEGE PRINCIPAL