Message From the Principal

Message From the Principal

In the words of Maya Angelou, “We need joy as we need air. We need love as we need water. We need each other as we need the earth we share.”  As we come to the end of another term, it is good to reflect on these words that remind us what is important in life:  joy, love and connecting with one another. At St Patrick’s College we aim to create a community where there is joy and love and where we learn to care for one another.  Of all human conditions loneliness can be one of the most debilitating.  Encouraging our girls to look out for one another, include each other and notice and connect with the girls who sit on the fringes is important if we are to cure this terrible disease that is loneliness.  We are fortunate to be a smaller community where we are able to easily notice when girls are not thriving, but sometimes they are able to mask their loneliness and before we know it, we can be dealing with anxiety, depression and a myriad of other illnesses. Ensuring our girls are involved in community service activities, team sports and other pursuits such as debating and performance keeps them connected to one another and opens up new communication channels that can lead to new friendships and a healthier outlook.

This month, the month of Mercy we celebrate Mercy Day (which falls on the 24 September, during our holiday).  This is the anniversary of the opening of the first ‘House of Mercy’ in Dublin, Ireland. Catherine McAuley used her considerable fortune to build the first House of Mercy that took in homeless women and children, providing them with care and education. She devoted her life to the poor, sick and uneducated. We pay tribute to the hard work, commitment and devotion of the Sisters of Mercy and we renew our own sense of mission to respond to all those we meet with loving kindness. Focussing on mission, we celebrated Mercy Day with Mass and then as Mercy Girls in Action our girls participated in a wide range of activities serving the community.

During the holiday break, some of our Year 11 girls will be busy hosting the Sony Children’s Holiday Camp here at the College.  Alongside the boys from Ignatius Park College they will participate in this unique respite program that sees them taking responsibility for the care of children with special needs, allowing their families to have a valuable weekend off.  My thanks go to Mrs Joanna Pacey for coordinating the Camp this year and to all students and teachers who will volunteer to make this a wonderful experience for the Campers.

We also farewell a group of girls, who will travel to Japan on a school and cultural immersion trip.  I am fortunate enough to be accompanying the girls on this amazing opportunity with our Japanese teacher, Mrs Anna Kendall.  We will keep you posted on Facebook as we explore this exciting cultural destination.

Finally, my congratulations to Mrs Hauff on her appointment as the College Principal from 2020.  The College will be led by an intelligent, experienced and compassionate woman who, in her current role as Deputy Principal, has always considered the needs of our girls above all else.  It will be a smooth transition for our girls and our families as Mrs Hauff is committed to ensuring that St Patrick’s College continues to deliver an excellent education designed especially for girls.

Happy holidays.

Blessings

Paulina Skerman

College Principal