MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

RECONCILIATION WEEK 27 MAY – 3 JUNE 2022

“We all have a role to play when it comes to reconciliation, and in playing our part we collectively build relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories, cultures, and futures.” Reconciliation Australia Website.

Paije Kulbicki, our College Community Engagement Counsellor has been working closely with our students and staff to find ways for our community to acknowledge National Sorry Day 26 May, followed by various activities, story sharing and a deepening of understanding as a part of National Reconciliation Week which begins on May 27. Our College recognises that we must provide the time and space for real dialogue to happen, learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements, and to explore how one each of us can join the national reconciliation effort.

The theme of National Reconciliation Week 2022 is “Be Brave, Make Change”. This year we are all asked to find ways to make change beginning with brave actions in our daily lives, at home, when we are socialising and when we are at school or work. The Reconciliation Australia website provides excellent information and resources to help all of us take action to help make change. This can be  found at:  https://nrw.reconciliation.org.au/2022-actions-to-make-change/

I would like to thank Paije, our amazing Community Engagement Counsellor who works closely with our students and staff to provide any required support and guidance to ensure there is greater awareness and organisation of events and activities in our College. As a formal commitment to our action as a College, we are on the journey of developing an official Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) through the Reconciliation Australia Narragunnawali program. If you have any questions about this process or would like to be involved, please contact Paije on (07) 4753 0300 or via email to office@stpatscollege.qld.edu.au attention to Paije.

AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION AWARDS ANNOUNCEMENT – BEST STEM PROGRAM

We were finally able to share the news with our College community that we have, once again, been selected as a Best STEM Program Excellence Awardee. This prestigious award recognises the most outstanding STEM-based project or education program implemented by a school in Australia and is testament to the incredible work of our expert teaching team. These wonderful educators inspire our students to explore and experiment, to be visionary, to be curious, and to be passionate about the possibilities of STEM. 

COMBINED SCHOOLS’ MUSICAL – BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

With over 100 student participants from the three schools of Ignatius Park, St Margaret Mary’s and St Patrick’s College Townsville, the task of coordinating the Combined Schools’ Musical is never easy. I am indebted to the Production Team of Ms Butler, Mr Goulter, Ms Doyle, Ms Hudson, Mr Marano, Mrs Walsh, Mr Pope and Mr Jellyman for their hard work, dedication and determination to provide an opportunity for our Arts students to shine. I’m thrilled we were able to have Arminelle Fleming from TheatreiNQ as our director for this project, and know that the students’ experience will have been enriched by her expertise and passion. I wish the cast, band and production team all the very best for a successful run of Beauty and the Beast. I can’t wait to see the show.

Amber Hauff

COLLEGE PRINCIPAL