COLLEGE NEWS
TAIKO DRUMMING
Four talented Taiko drummers entertained the arriving crowds at a recent Townsville Fire home game. You could hear the distinctive, stirring sounds from across the water. Taiko Drumming is a fluid, dynamic medium. A blend of music and various martial arts that either originated in Japan or have been imported from China, it is highly physical in nature. The movements incorporated into the style pay homage to the occupations of rural Japan, from throwing fishing nets, to wood cutting and the low squatting posture of rice planters.
After playing for an hour and a half, the girls’ hands were red-raw! That’s dedication for you. The Taiko Drummers will perform on the grassed area outside the Auditorium as a finale for our Twilight Open Evening. Backlit with some incredible lighting, it will be an incredible way to end the night.
Ms James Jellyman
MUSIC & MATHEMATICS TEACHER.
E: jjellyman@stpatscollege.qld.edu.au
FROM YEAR 7 HUMANITIES – WORKING WITH SOURCES
As a part of their “Investigating the Ancient World” unit, Year 7s have been busy classifying and analysing primary and secondary sources.
Tahliah Webster (7A) works with her sample by counting the tree rings. Tree-ring dating or dendrochronology is the technique of dating events or artefacts by using the patterns of annual growth of tree rings in timber and tree trunks.
Sarah Bauer (7A) identifies her artefact as a secondary source of information.
Mikayla Gilboy works on her artefact – a 1950s Kodak camera and determines it’s a primary source of historical information.
Tahliah Webster and Abigail Ponti (7A) investigate a mini statue of Tutankhamun and determine it is a secondary source of information.
Ms Karen Hyne
HUMANITIES TEACHER.
E: khyne@stpatscollege.qld.edu.au
FROM JUNIOR MATHEMATICS – TWOSDAY CELEBRATIONS
Last Tuesday was the 22nd day of the 2nd month of the 22nd year of this century. Ms Walkom from the Mathematics Faculty celebrated TWOsday by running a competition for Years 7 and 8. Students were asked to find some interesting facts about the number TWO.
Of course, TWO is an even number and divides into every other even number without remainder, and it is the first and only even prime.
Some facts submitted by students included:
- Human sex is determined by TWO bits of genetic code – a combination of the X and Y chromosomes
- TWO written in Roman numerals is two ‘I’s – II
- Binary numbers are numbers that use a base of TWO.
Every competition needs winners and these students trumped their competitors.
GRADE 7
Emily Gamble
- The number TWO represents harmony, kindness and co-operation in Chinese numerology, and
- The square root of TWO is called the “Pythagoras Constant”.
Holli Mythen
- The highlight of the day took place just after 10:10 pm as the time became 22:22:22 on the 22/2/22, and
- There have been 2 World Wars (and we pray there are no more!).
GRADE 8 – many provided many cross-curricular facts, particularly with History
Grace Kenneally
- The next time we will have as many TWO’s in the date will be on 22/12 /22. Unfortunately, it will not be a TWOsday.
- In 2020, the 2nd wave of Covid hit.
Bridget Baxter
- The 2nd Prime Minister of Australia was Alfred Deakin, who helped to create the bills for the new Australian currency of that time.
- The 2nd Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt was Rameses II – one of the most powerful and successful Pharaohs ever to reign.
Congratulations to all entrants! We hope they enjoyed our annual TWOsday competition.
Mr Grant McGregor
HEAD OF FACULTY – MATHEMATICS & DIGITIAL TECHNOLOGIES.
E:gmcgregor@stpatscollege.qld.edu.au
QATSIF
Wadda Mooli all and welcome to 2022. New and exciting things are happening in our Cultural Engagement space.
Each year, some of our Year 11 and 12 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students are invited to apply for a Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Foundation (known as QATSIF) Scholarship. This scholarship entitles the recipient to $2000 over Years 11 and 12 to assist them with the ongoing costs of their education.
It is a great honour to receive this scholarship, especially because the money itself comes from the interest earned on the Stolen Wages money, held in trust by The Public Trustee. This means that the toil of previous generations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples will have a direct benefit to the generations that follow. These scholarships will always stand as a permanent and positive legacy for the future.
For Round 13, we proudly celebrated 8 St Patrick’s College Townsville students with this achievement:
- Flora Nona
- Tooya Gorringe
- Katie Prien
- Ethel Babia
- Mackenzie Chong
- Jorja Triffett
- Patience Hampton- Tungutalum
- Sanije Krasniqi
- Maggie- Olive Larry
We were also lucky enough to have a QATSIF Leadership awardee this year which received a leadership badge, certificate and her name on the board of leaders for QATSIF. This recipient was our Cultural Engagement Prefect, Flora Nona. Congratulations, Flora!
Ms Paije Kulbicki
COMMUNITY EDUCATION COUNSELLOR.
E: pkulbicki@stpatscollege.qld.edu.au
VISUAL ARTS – THE PROCESS OF DESIGN
The Year 10 Visual Arts in Practice class have been planning their stained glass panels which will be displayed on the Cafe by the Sea glass doors. Measuring approximately 1800mm x 500mm, each panels is a large-scale artwork, and each piece helps to tell the story of our amazing coral reef. Below are some of the incredible design which show a collage made from stimulus images and, next to it, the artist’s design concept.
Working under the ready eye of Mr Pope, the stained glass will be ready for unveiling on Twilight Open Evening and will stay up until the end of Term 1.
Mr Michael Pope
VISUAL ARTS TEACHER.
E: mpope@stpatscollege.qld.edu.au
YEAR 11 AQUATICS PRACTICES
Introduced this year, Aquatics Practices offers students the opportunity to develop their understanding of environmental conditions, ecosystems, conservation and sustainability. On Monday 7 March, students had their first field trip with Ms Torrisi and Mr Pacey, entering the aquatic environment to further develop their snorkeling skills.
Thank you to Mr Pacey for assisting with this valuable learning experience.
Ms Kate Tomerini
SCIENCE & PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHER:
E: ktomerini@stpatscollege.qld.edu.au
ROWING PROGRAM NEWS
Welcome to the 2022 Combined Schools Rowing Program the information night was well attended, lots of excitement building around the 2022 season of rowing.
Signup and registration details include:
Step 1: Complete the 2022 Rowing Registration Form which includes the uniform order by 25 March. This allows the College to order zoot suits, etc.
Step 2: College based fees are due 1 April; a payment plan is possible. Please see the registration form for details.
Step 3: Club fees need to be paid directly to the Townsville JCU Rowing Club.
The Learning Hub Club Rowing tile is on the Extracurricular Sign up page. The Registration Form and the Handbook can also be found here:
https://learninghub.stpatscollege.qld.edu.au/homepage/5446
If you would like to join the Friends of SPC Rowing Committee please email crentoule@stpatscollege.qld.edu.au
CAREERS NEWS
QCAA MYQCE STUDENT PORTAL
Year 12 students should now have registered for access to their MyQCE Student Portal. The Student Portal provides students with access to their personal details, subject and course enrolments, unit and assessment results, and is where they will be able to get their final results at the end of Year 12. This link will take you to the MyQCE webpage where students can access the Student Portal: https://myqce.qcaa.qld.edu.au/
TERTIARY AND SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS
Over the next six months, Year 12 students are encouraged to start researching options in preparation for scholarship applications and University applications. Most University applications open in early August and close by the end of September. Students should be using Semester One to research scholarships, and course options to determine their top six preferences for courses in Queensland.
2021 witnessed an increase in early offers made directly from some universities. ANU in the ACT for example have a unique application process where one application covers the applicant for their course, their accommodation and any scholarships that they may be eligible for.
ANU Early Offers OPENED 2 March 2022 and offers are made in August based on Year 11 results.
ANU TUCKWELL SCHOLARSHIP
The prestigious Tuckwell Scholarship Program is the most transformational undergraduate scholarship program in Australia. Every year, 25 talented school-leavers are offered the opportunity to fulfil their potential by actively participating in the very best that ANU has to offer. Scholars are selected on the basis of intellect, character, leadership and their commitment to Australia. Students who are interested in applying are encouraged to start investigating the application process at the ANU scholarship website. Scholarship applications, for study at ANU in 2023, will open in March 2022.
BOND UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS
Bond University offers one of Australia’s most generous scholarship programs, featuring a range of full-fee and part-fee scholarships awarded to reward and recognise students who have excelled in the areas of academia, leadership, community and sport.
STUDENTS INTERESTED IN DENTISTRY OR MEDICINE?
- Year 10 – Begin finding out about medical careers and the medical industry, commence gaining work experience or volunteer work, begin researching courses and information about the UCAT exam, begin researching medical courses, entry requirements and pathways into medicine.
- Year 11 – Begin undertaking UCAT preparations, continuing building upon work experience or volunteer opportunities, begin researching topical issues in the medical profession, considering medical courses, entry requirements and pathways into medicine.
- Year 12 – Register for UCAT exam, review material and study in preparation for UCAT, prepare for medical interviews and complete tertiary applications.
UCAT
Most universities (except JCU and Bond) offering undergraduate medicine or dentistry courses will require students to sit the UCAT. The UCAT is an aptitude test undertaken in July. Year 12 students considering a course in medicine or dentistry should consider taking the UCAT. Bookings to register for the UCAT will open on 1 March 2022.
Students are encouraged to register early for the UCAT test, so that they can nominate their preferred test appointment times. Regular UCAT preparation should now be underway for any student seriously considering a career in medicine or dentistry.
For students in Year 11, they should be finding out about the UCAT process and begin implementing a study routine to practice mock exams and questions.
Helpful resources to prepare for the UCAT can be found on websites with the following organisations: UCAT, MedEntry, Medify and the National Institute of Education.
Each state is slightly different when it comes to applications, so please make sure to access this information on the St Patrick’s College Careers Website or the University websites.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Mater Hospital – JCU Heroes in Health program: The Heroes in Health program is a joint collaboration between James Cook University and the Mater Hospital. The program offers students a unique opportunity to explore Medical, Nursing and Allied Health Careers.
Townsville University Hospital – High School Health Careers Program: The High School Health Careers Program is a one-day program offered to Year 10, 11 and 12 students within Townsville and the surrounding areas. It provides an opportunity for students to gain practical experience and knowledge, and to develop an understanding of the broad range of health industry positions offered at the Townsville Hospital and Health Service.
These programs are very popular, but have limited places available. Students wishing to gain experience in the health sector are encouraged to also consider alternative placements, including: medical centres, private clinics, allied health practices, indigenous health services and community health services.
Ms Catherine Rentoule
HEAD OF CAREERS & VET.
E: crentoule@stpatscollege.qld.edu.au
PERFORMING ARTS: DANCE AND DRAMA: BUZZING WITH ACTIVITY
It is only the middle of Term 1 and already the Level 2 of the East Precinct is a hive of curricular and extracurricular student involvement in both Dance and Drama. In particular, there has been an impressive 40% increase in students undertaking Drama as a curriculum subject across years 8-12. We are proud and excited to be offering a learning programs that encourage student success within the ATAR and ACARA systems. These programs intrinsically focus on developing empathy, visual literacy, creativity, collaboration and communication. We look forward to sharing some images of the students’ work soon.
We are excited to report that Drama Club has increased in popularity this year and we will be working on multiple events, so that the students have a plethora of opportunities to enhance their performance skills. Additionally, information will be included in future newsletters about our entries into Townsville’s Annual Festival of One Act Plays and the Townsville Junior Eisteddfod. Ms Doyle, Mr Marano and Ms Butler will be coordinating these groups.
Dance Troupe has also registered a huge interest again this year. We have decided to run two troupes. “X Troupe” (Senior and by audition) and “Step Up Troupe” for any students interested. We foresee both troupes participating in the Townsville Junior Eisteddfod. Ms Jarrah, Ms Hudson, Ms Kilbucki and Ms Butler will be coordinating these rehearsals. It will certainly be an exciting year.
In the last two weeks our annual musical “Beauty and the Beast” started rehearsals with our Director, Arminelle Fleming, and the support team of our specialist teachers. To accommodate the unpredictability of COVID, we have made the decision to double cast the show and split the main Ensemble into two casts. This will allow for rehearsals and performances to go ahead even if a cast member is ill. Also, we were able to invite our waitlisted performers to join the cast as the number restriction was lifted. From the looks of the rehearsals it is an amazing show already.
“Twilight Open Evening” is an opportunity for both curricular subjects and extracurricular activities to showcase some of the drama and dance works students have been working on during class and in lunch times. Some of these include:
- Year 7 Performing Arts Classes are performing their Flash mob Performances.
- Year 9 Dance Class are performing a dance work to Vivaldi.
- Dance Troupes have combined to create a routine “Send Me On My Way” to welcome the new students to our College.
- Drama Club is performing a poem inspired by Greek Chorus.
- Senior Drama Club students are performing a student written and directed comedy performance about the Seven Dwarfs.
Thank you to the teachers assisting with this night: Ms Stevens, Ms Hudson and Ms Doyle.
Capture @ St Pats the Photography extracurricular has started again this year and we hope to cross-connect some of the photography challenges with our Art performances. Ms Doyle and Ms Krause are this group’s coordinators.
THAT’S OUR BUZZ!
Ms Jo Butler
HEAD OF DRAMATIC ARTS, DANCE AND PERFORMANCE
E: jbutler@stpatscollege.qld.edu.au
LIONS YOUTH OF THE YEAR
Year 12 student, Ruby Mitchell, beat out fierce competition from Jamie Mohr, Georgia Dagge and Elizabeth Shaju to win the College round of Lions Youth of the Year. She went on to the Townsville Finals to compete against Townsville’s best. While Ruby was not selected to represent Townsville in the State Finals, her abilities were roundly praised. She was able to Demonstrate an excellent understanding of local, national and international events, and showcase impressive public speaking skills. Congratulations, Ruby!
Mrs Conni Mosch
ENGLISH TEACHER. E: cmosch@stpatscollege.qld.edu.au
AND IN THE NEWS
Our thanks go to Townsville Bulletin reporter and photographer, Evan Morgan, who visited the College recently to catch up with Community Service Prefects, Georgia Dagge and Ruby Mitchell. He wanted to know more about their plans this year with Mercy Girls in Action, and more broadly, what servant leadership can look like. The story was published on March 8 to coincide with the IWD celebrations.
GENERAL NOTICES AND COMMUNITY NOTICES
