COLLEGE NEWS

SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING CHALLENGE

The Townsville Science and Engineering Challenge 2022 was attended on the 28th of April where 17 of our students participated and came 5th overall on the day. 

The Science and engineering day was an amazing experience for me and my friends to enjoy a day of fun. The day presented us with many different activities and challenges, which helped build our teamwork skills. My group first worked on an activity called ‘String-ways’ where we had to thread string around bolts representing towns using different scenarios. Lunch time gave us, an all-girls high school, the chance to communicate and interact with a range of other high schools in the Townsville area. After lunch, my group moved to the skyscraper where we had 20 minutes to design a building out of straws, paper and cardboard. The skyscraper had to withstand weight for the first trial and an earthquake for the second trial. Overall, the day proved to be fun, and I had a great day. 

Ellen Thorley

The Science and Engineering Challenge was a fun experience for all the year 10 students involved. Everyone enjoyed the activities and the different variety of challenges. In particular, the bridge building, bionic hand challenge and the skyscraper building were a few of the favourite activities during the day. 

Lara Reguson  

 

INTERHOUSE SWIMMING CARNIVAL

This year, our Interhouse Swimming Carnival took place on Friday, 29 April at Long Tan Pool. The day was a huge success. It was wonderful to see every age group filling nearly every lane in every race. The organisation was immaculate, and it was great to see the stands filled with blue, yellow, purple and green. Participation is what makes a carnival great and is what made this carnival such a privilege to be a part of.

The all-in swim blew me away with the amount of participation. Every house received over 470 points just from this event! It was incredible and was also a major factor that made this carnival the best from a participation perspective that I have ever seen.

It was tremendous to see everyone jumping, bombing and diving into the pool throughout the carnival, regardless of ability level. Whether the girls have never swum a whole lap of a pool before or our fierce competitors that train every day; all participants swam their hearts out and it was astounding to watch.

Carnivals are about putting yourself out of your comfort zone and being supported by your House to be and do your best. Every single girl stepped up to the plate and swam brilliantly, which was amazing to see. On a less amazing note, unfortunately, the Teachers also came to play, as they hung on to their winning streak in the Seniors vs Teachers Relay race for another year. Either way, the race was a privilege to be a part of and their win was well-deserved.

2022 AGE CHAMPIONS:

12 Years: Isobelle Gilbride (Thrones House)

13 Years: Nala Iosefo (Principalities House)

14 Years: Mary Lansley (Principalities House)

15 Years: Maddison Andrejic (Dominations House)

16 Years: Hayley Andrejic (Ddominations House)

17 Years: Clara Deer (Thrones House)

Opens: Erica Mills (Thrones House)

 2022 RECORD BREAKERS:

12 Years:

Harper Ryan – 50m Breaststroke – 45.80 sec (Powers House)

Isobelle Gilbride– 50 Butterfly – 41.74 sec (Thrones House)

13 Years:

Nala Iosefo (Principalities House):

50m Backstroke —35.05 sec

50m Breaststroke — 38.90 sec

50m Butterfly — 31.34 sec

16 years:

Hayley Andrejic (Dominations House):

50m Freestyle — 30.58 sec

50m Backstroke – 35.21 sec

50m Butterfly — 33.05 sec

Open Division:

Brooke Davis-Goodall: 50m Breaststroke – 38.90 sec (Dominations House)

Erica Mills (Thrones House):

50m Freestyle – 28.92 sec

50m Backstroke – 36.37 sec

50m Butterfly – 33.08 sec

These girls left nothing in the tank at the end of the day, recording the fastest times for their age groups throughout the carnival. 

This carnival is always a great opportunity for the College community to come together and showcase our spirit and determination. This year the House’s utilised their chosen themes to their full extent and we saw both teachers and students decked out from head to toe in their House colour and theme. From Disney Doms, Prince’s Pyjama Party, Neon Powers to Thrones Tradies, each House created both wacky and wonderful costumes to present these themes, and our grade 12’s designed incredible banners to accompany these.

Each of the spirit category winners were awarded by our judges who made their way around throughout the day. The categories were based on all different aspects, from cleanliness, to dressing up, everything counted towards the overall spirit points given. However, the overall Spirit Award winners for this year’s Interhouse Swimming Carnival went to Powers. Great job, Powers!

The overall points and placings for this year’s carnival were as follows:

In 4th Place on 1102 points, was Powers.

In 3rd Place on 1758 points, was Principalities

In 2nd Place on 1958 points, was Dominations.

And our 2022 winners on 2374 Points, was Thrones.

Congratulations Thrones!

Thank you to everyone who showed up and gave it their all. Thanks to everyone who swam and encouraged others to do the same, and to the Heads of House in helping organise their House’s and participation. Thanks to the teachers that did the time keeping, point tallying and marshalling, it is greatly appreciated. And a massive thanks to Ms Cooper for organising a magnificent swimming carnival. It was a spectacular carnival and definitely one that’s going to leave a legacy.

Clara Deer

SPORTS PREFECT

 

SPORTING SUCCESS

Over the three weekends from Easter through to the May Day long weekend, Willow Bailey competed in a number of sailing events around North Queensland representing the Townsville Sailing.The Easter weekend saw sailors from Central and North Queensland converge on Airlie Beach, where Willow was able to secure a 3rd place in the Sabot class. On the ANZAC day weekend, the Townsville Sailing Club hosted the sailing event of the NQ Games, where Willow finished in second place of the Junior Division (12 and under) winning a silver medal. The May Day weekend saw sailors from as far away as Melbourne competing in the Tinaroo May Day Regatta, with Willow finishing 5th in the Sabot class. Unfortunately, Willow missed the Interhouse swimming carnival due to here sailing commitments, though a number of capsizes ensured she still got some swimming practice! Congratulations, Willow!

Acaciah Collinson recently competed in her first Archery Competition, securing a first place in the female Freestyle unlimited division with her compound bow. The bear bow was passed down from her brother, but Acaciah improved the overall design with some modifications and a paint-job. Well done, Acaciah. 

HISTORY WEEK 2022

History Week kicked off in Week 3 with various activities held across the week. These included:

  • Mini archaeological digs
  • Ancient Greek Escape Room
  • History activities and crafts
  • History career information
  • Whole school history Kahoot
  • History themed Just Dance
  • Dress up day on Friday

THE AUSTRALIAN BALLET VISITS ST PATRICK’S COLLEGE TOWNSVILLE.

Our Year 9 Dance students has had the wonderful opportunity to learn directly from the country’s leading national ballet Company, “The Australian Ballet” in Week 2 of this term. This was a curriculum-based workshop that allowed students to choreograph and learn basic repertoire from adapted version of Romeo and Juliet. Choreographed by Paul Knobloch, the 30-minute modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet explores themes such as fate, choice, love, prejudice, and family, with four of the company’s professional dancers and bright Pop Art inspired costumes and set. The ability to engage through dance enhances students learning of both Romeo and Juliet in a choreography perspective and as a ballet genre experience.

Ms Jojo Butler

HEAD OF ARTS – DRAMA & DANCE

 

VISUAL ARTS – DEPARTMENT NEWS

It has been a very busy year so far in the Visual Arts Department and students have been working in a broad range of mediums and techniques across all year levels.

Year 7s are presently constructing clay bugs, which you may have seen in our Bugged Out installation at our Twilight Open Evening and these will be displayed in the library in Term 4.

Last term Year 8 students were lucky enough to be visited by our local artist Cath Meharry, who was amazed by the standard of their sea life inspired Reefscape studies. Students have produced beautiful mixed media concertina books. A selection are on display in the library until the end of Term 2, where you can also view the Year 9s, Fauvist Paintings.

Our 10 Visual Art class have completed Crosscurrent reduction prints and 10 Visual Arts in Practice students displayed their reef inspired Stained Glass Windows in the Café by the Sea; which you may have seen lit up over the holidays. Year 12 Visual Arts in Practice have completed their Accessorise, wearable art creations which will be displayed at POSE Wearble Art Show next year.

Our Year 12s are currently constructing work for their IA3 assessments. Some images of their IA2 works are included in the following gallery show casing our talented students’ work. We look forward to bringing you the Senior Year 12 Art Students’ exhibition later in the year.

 

Ms Kirsten Walsh

HEAD OF VISUAL ARTS & EXHIBITIONS

 

MOTHER’S DAY BREAKFAST

On Friday, 6 May, the College was able to welcome mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters and houseparents to our Annual Mother’s Day Breakfast. Held in the auditorium, students sat with the important women in their lives to celebrate the bonds of sisterhood. It was a lovely morning, made particularly special by performances from the College Choir and Year 11 student, Nicola Barrett. Ms Lisa Mowbray, our College Nurse was the perfect compare, using warmth and humour to ensure the morning ran smoothly. A number of local businesses supported the event by providing gifts, including: Tide, Handmade Renegade, Botanical Style and The Seaview Hotel. 

We wanted to begin a charity partnership with “Chicks in Pink” and were fortunate to have Ms Raelene Eves from the Mater Hospital (and mother to Year 12 student, Rhiley Vines) provide insight into the important work “Chicks in Pink” do for women suffering from breast cancer. 

Our Guest Speaker was former student and current staff member, Ms Meredith Palmer. Equal parts talented yet humble, ambitious yet kind, Meredith is a loving mother of two boys and a role-model to the girls at the College. Meredith paid special tribute to Sr Marge Daly, an important woman in her life. 

(an excerpt from Meredith’s speech)

When reflecting on the important women in my life, I’ve decided to honour my dear friend Sister Marge Daly, a local Sister of Mercy who my husband and I call our ‘other mother’.

In the late 90’s, I was a student here at St Patrick’s College Townsville. My father at the time was the dean of St James Cathedral just up the road, so although I was a worshipping Anglican, logistically it made more sense to go to the local catholic schools down the road. I thank God for that twist of fate because my life would never have been the same if I hadn’t been a part of this particular parish community, or been reared by the staff here, who were largely Sisters of Mercy.

Sister Marge was one of my original Year 8 teachers. She was a very talented organist and music teacher, and knowing that I played flute, roped me into joining our amazing little music ministry at St Joseph’s Church next door every Saturday night or any special feast you could think of. We had Sr Marge on keys, Sr Ros on guitar, Sr Greta on fiddle, my Year 2 teacher, Miriam, and myself on flutes, plus a host of singers. Being surrounded by these talented, faithful women was truly inspiring. Our music ministry was unique and wonderful; it always felt like home to me.

Taking me under her wing, many hours were spent with Sr Marge rehearsing, learning and preparing, often at her home and getting to know her pets. Even after I moved away from Townsville, we would exchange emails. I could share anything with her or ask her to pray for me for whatever reason, and she would support me through everything. To me she was a dead set legend, and still is. These days I don’t get to see her as often as I once did, but she is still considered my family and I love her very much.

Thank you sincerely Sr Marge and all the Sisters of Mercy in my life who have made me who I am today.

Meredith Palmer

ALUMNAE- 2001