MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

“The simplest and most practical lesson I know … is to resolve to be good today – but better tomorrow.” – Catherine McAuley

As Semester One draws to a close, it is a wonderful opportunity for all of us to stop, review and reflect on our 2022 journey so far. We have so much to be grateful for and so much to look forward to. The heart of a thriving community is its people, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our students, families and staff for their ongoing love and support. With the easing restrictions, we have been blessed to be able to gather more often and celebrate at various events and activities.

The performing arts have certainly taken ‘centre stage’ with the outstanding production of the Combined Schools’ Musical, Beauty & the Beast. Expertly directed by Arminelle Fleming from TheatreiNQ, and ably supported by Jojo Butler, John Goulter, Jillian Turner – along with a large number of staff members from all areas – the strength of community was certainly on show and the results were extraordinary.

The Combined Schools’ Musical was followed closely by the 2022 Music by the Sea event. This was an evening of pure joy, and demonstrated the incredible depth of musical talent in our College. I personally love how music helps foster determination, perseverance, courage and confidence in young women. My sincere gratitude is extended to John Goulter who heads up our Music Department and Instrumental Program, supported by our Instrumental Music Teachers.

Earlier this week, we were able to share the remarkable achievements Mr Goulter with our community. Mr Goulter recently completed the first-of-its-kind research into Australian First Nations music and has since presented to an international audience (via Zoom) a framework to provide authentic and positive representation of Australian First Nations music in the music classroom. Mr Goulter’s article was published in an international peer-review music education bulletin, and he has received an Award for Excellence in Australia (Kodaly-inspired Music Education) for his ground-breaking work; he will receive this award in person in September. In July, Mr Goulter will present as a Kodaly specialist at the International Society of Music Education (ISME). In September, he will travel to Canberra and deliver a presentation on the similarities between Kodaly Philosophy and Indigenous Knowledge Systems. 

The level of interest in Mr Goulter’s research, and the respect it has garnered, cannot be overstated. His advocacy for our music students and his commitment to growing the extracurricular program for our girls highlights a core belief in the inestimable benefits of music. Mr Goulter facilitate so many music opportunities for our students, and I’m exceedingly grateful for everything he has done, in such a short period of time, to grow the Department. 

STAFF FAREWELLS

James Jellyman, Music & Mathematics teacher, sadly leaves us at the end of this semester to move to Brisbane with his wife Bron. Mr Jellyman has been inspiring our young musicians for the past 3 ½ years and has played an integral role in helping grow our College Arts program. We all wish James and Bron the very best for their new adventure in the South-East.

Ms Holly Whiting, Science Teacher, leaves us at the end of this term to start her 12 months of Maternity Leave as her and her husband await the arrival of their beautiful baby boy. I look forward to sharing the news of Baby Whiting’s arrival.

We also, sadly, farewell Natasha Williams, IT Support Officer, who has decided to leave the College to begin a new adventure. With Natasha, no task was ever too hard or question too foolish; she was unfailing helpful and approachable. We wish her all the best for what lies ahead.  

YEAR 11 LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

Recently, I presented to the Year 11 cohort on Leadership. I am really proud of this group of brave and kind young women, and look forward to supporting them as they navigate the final stages of secondary schooling. Throughout the workshop, I led them through a reflective process using the Mercy Values and how we can all live, learn and lead with greater hope, joy, compassion, respect, justice and integrity.

CAMPS/RETREATS

It has been a wonderful week with our annual camps/retreats program. Organised by our Pastoral Care Team, the 3-day adventure allows our student to be challenged, engaged and inspired. I hope your daughter came home with joy-filled stories of adventure and new – or stronger – connections with peers and with College staff. No doubt a little weary, the holiday break is perfect timing for all our girls. Thank you for supporting our camp/retreat program, which is invaluable for our young people, providing them with lifelong memories and new friendships. I am so grateful to the College staff who also leave their own families at home for a few nights, to support these experiences for our students.

CENTRAL QUEENSLAND SCHOOLS ROWING REGATTA 25 – 26 JUNE 2022

33 of our College Rowing Squad attended the CQ Regatta in Rockhampton over the first week of the holidays. I congratulate the entire team who demonstrated enormous SISU – especially as these students had just come off camps/retreats. In near perfect conditions, the team’s hard work was rewarded time and time again and, at the close of the competition, St Patrick’s College Townsville topped the tally board. Well done to Sarah Bourke and Katie Prien, 2022 Rowing Captains who, following the example set by our coaches, promoted positivity, collaboration and goodwill.

I thank all the rowers for their commitment and to the parents/guardians for their support. These types of opportunities simply would not be possible without the support of staff volunteers and I would like to acknowledge and thank Ms Wilkinson, Ms Tomerini and Mr Triffett for travelling and staying with our squad on this trip. Special thanks, as always, to our dedicated coaches, Mr Parks, Ms Neilson-Burke and Ms Sevasti Arends for their passion and encouragement of our girls. 

I wish you all a safe, restful and joy filled break. God bless and I look forward to welcoming the students back for the start of Term 3 on Tuesday, July 19.

Amber Hauff

COLLEGE PRINCIPAL

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL

CHANGED TRAFFIC CONDITIONS ON OXLEY STREET

The communication below has been sent to all families regarding changed conditions on Oxley Street.

With the commencement of construction on the new STEM Learning Hub, we would like to make families aware of changed traffic conditions on Oxley Street that will impact morning and afternoon pickups and bus runs.  You will find a Traffic Management plan on the following page which shows footpath closure, bus zones and speed restrictions.

Due to the footpath closure on Oxley Street, students on afternoon bus routes 2 and 4 will need to cross the street at the designated crossing and board their bus from the new bus zone. Students on these bus runs have been made aware of this change.

We would like to remind families that designated parking for persons with a disability must always be left for those who require it and not be used as a quick drop off spot.

We will continue to update the community and thank you for your patience during this exciting time of development.

Mr Cameran Triffett

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL – ACADEMIC

Half the schooling year has now been completed. It has moved at a fast pace, but our students are to be congratulated on their continued efforts, motivation and application. They have been involved in NAPLAN, presentations, workshops, excursions, Exam Blocks and many practical experiences with enthusiasm and a zest for learning. During a well-deserved holiday break, I encourage all students to relax, reenergise and to enjoy time with their family and friends. 

REPORT CARDS

During the holidays, all year levels will receive a report card via email to parents/guardians.

• Year 7 to 10 students will receive a Semester One Report.
• Year 11 students will receive a Unit One Report.
• Year 12 students will receive a Unit Three Provisional Report.
•  

These reports will include an overview of academic achievement, behaviour and work ethic in each subject. Parents/Guardians can find any subject specific feedback on individual assessment tasks via the Student Café and Parent Lounge. If you do not receive your report card in the holidays, please contact the College office. 

ACADEMIC CONFERENCES

Following the distribution of report cards, Academic Conferences will be held in Term Three on Tuesday, 26 July (3.30pm to 6.30pm). Further information about Academic Conferences will be released with the report cards, including when bookings will open. Bookings can be made via Parent Lounge.

To prepare students for Academic Conferences, they are encouraged to complete the Academic Conference Reflection Booklet.

ASSEMBLY

Based on the report cards, students who qualify for either an Academic Award or Diligence Award will be advised in the holidays via a separate email of their achievements. The Assembly will be held on Wednesday, 3 August. This year, the assembly will be held in two sessions with one assembly for Year 10 to 12 students and another for Year 7 to 9 students. Further details of the starting times for these assemblies will be emailed during the holidays to parents/guardians of those students receiving awards. Criterion for Academic and Diligence Awards can be found on the College website.  If your daughter believes that she is eligible for an Academic or Diligence Award, and does not receive a letter in the holidays, she is encouraged to see the Deputy Principal – Academic at the commencement of Term Three.

Amy Byrnes

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL – ACADEMIC

 

 

DIRECTOR OF STUDENTS

CYBER SAFETY WITH SUSAN MCLEAN

Susan McLean from Cyber Safety Solutions, an expert in the area of Cyber safety, presented information to our Years 7, 8 and 9 students. Susan was a member of the Victorian Police Force and trained with the FBI and has extensive experience with internet crime and keeping children safe online. She is also a published author.

During the presentation, Susan pointed out to students that the online world is an adult world; young people do not have the maturity to navigate the complexities of this world. She challenged students to stop and think about what they do online, understand the risks, and avoid potential harm. Susan praised parents who set clear boundaries and are comfortable to say, ‘no’.

Students were presented with personal qualities that should be adhered to when interacting online, which included:

• Be kind.
• Be part of a team and work together.
• Be brave, have courage to ask for help because silence gives people power over you.
• Be responsible with posting photos and information.
• Consider your digital footprint for future opportunities of employment (nothing can be deleted from social media and you are never anonymous).

Susan explained to our younger students that the minimum age for social media is 13 years and that lying about their age is not a responsible choice. She gave students helpful advice about online interactions and keeping themselves safe when encountering situations where they may feel pressured. 

Susan also spoke to the students about managing their social media accounts by choosing appropriate names for the account, having a general picture as their profile picture, have updated privacy settings, consider what they like, deleting old accounts and, most importantly, never sharing passwords with friends.

Susan left the students with a powerful final message, “You are worth more that a number. Don’t see your self-worth as the number of likes from a post on social media”.

The e-Safety Commissioner website www.esafety.gov.au/parents is a useful site for parents/guardians to access for further information regarding Cyber Safety.

CAMPS/RETREATS

I would like to thank the Pastoral Team who planned and lead the camps/retreats program in Week 10:

• Meg Henderson – Year 7 Camp
• Jordan Stewart – Year 8 Camp
• Lucy Towers – Year 9 Camp
• Jodie Roberts – Year 10 Camp
• Jaimee Seebohm – Year 11 Camp

The huge smiles and joyous energy from returning students was clear evidence of a very successful program. 

I am also very grateful to all staff who gave up their time to attend camps this week. Our teams worked around the clock to ensure that each student had a great experience. As a result, students were able to step outside their comfort zone to achieve things that are impossible in the classroom. The memories our students have made will be ones they will cherish for years to come.

I wish all students and families a very happy and safe mid-year break.

Maria Franettovich

DIRECTOR OF STUDENTS

 

DIRECTOR OF BOARDING

MABO DAY

On Thursday, 2 June the Garbutt Bombers were invited to attend the Mabo 30th Anniversary Corporate Dinner, sponsored by Townsville City Council, NIAA, Dept of Seniors, Disability Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships and the Townsville Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Corporation for Women.

We enjoyed cultural dancing from Mer Island, sharing cultural food together and also connecting with elders from a variety of Torres Strait Islands and Aboriginal communities. Dr Bryan Keon-Cohen, the lawyer who assisted Eddie Mabo 30 years ago gave an inspirational speech. All of the girls felt privileged to be a part of the evening and very much enjoyed being a part of this special event. 

Jusaray Maka-Nona – Year 10

 

 

Ms Katie de Carteret

DIRECTOR OF BOARDING

FAITH AND MISSION

GOSPEL REFLECTION

“To Know God’s will for us”

In last Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus returns to his hometown to begin his public ministry. He declares that he has been anointed to proclaim God’s favour and do God’s work. As a prophet, he announces the beginning of God’s kingdom. Jesus began to read the scripture and he chose a message from the prophet Isaiah where he described the Messiah.

In each of the Gospel readings from the last few weeks’, Jesus is slowly revealing who he is. This is another step in that revelation. The Gospel says that he had the “…power of the Spirit in Him”. The Holy Spirit was in Jesus. The Holy Spirit gives everyone the gift of courage and right judgement. These are the gifts that help us when we face difficult challenges. By Jesus’ example, we can also find the strength and courage to do God’s will.

Ms Elissa Andrews

DEAN OF MISSION 

 

MCAULEY MINISTRY

Lead by Elizabeth Shaju, the McAuley Ministry members have been involved in meeting weekly to discuss scripture. During the past couple of weeks, the girls have been becoming familiar with scripture readings, and they have been asked to lead during our school Parish Mass on Saturday, 18 June at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, North Ward. Thank you to all who attended and enjoyed the Mass with our College community.

We will also be holding our Eucharistic Minister Training Program in Week 3 of Term 3. If you are 16 years or older and you have made all of your sacraments then you are eligible to participate in this program.

Ms Harriett Veukiso

COLLEGE CHAPLAIN

 

MERCY GIRLS IN ACTION

“WARM UP” FOR UKRAINE

Lead by Georgia Dagge and Ruby Mitchell, the Mercy Girls in Action raised a total of more than $600 for the Ukraine Emergency Appeal through selling hot chocolates. We are proud of our community who supported us and bought a yummy drink to raise money for those in need. You can find more information about this drive in the following link https://aidtochurch.org/ukraine 

With a 24-hour news cycle, the ongoing struggles in war-torn countries can be forgotten, but after months of bloody combat, the devastation continues. Let us keep the people of Ukraine in our thoughts and prayers.

The Mercy Girls in Action will host another Warm up for Ukraine in Term 3.

 

FRIDAY FASHION

Mercy Girls in Action launched the 2022 Vinnies Fashion Friday Drive to raise money for the Winter Appeal and allow students to buy some camp clothes. The focus was to live out the message from Pope Francis to “Care for our Common home” and look after our Mother Earth. Sustainability has been a core focus, and this opportunity ensures students and members of the community can donate good quality used clothing to raise money for those in need.

Our local Vinnies Reps delivered boxes of clothing which were sorted and sold by our Mercy Girls in Action members. We want to thank all those whom supported this drive and continue to encourage those interested in sustainability to join Mercy Girls in Action meeting every Wednesday at A14.

MERCY ROSE SPIRIT AWARD

A big shout out to Zoe Hammond, Tahlia Richardson, Bonnie Hughes and Lilly McCarthy for consistent commitment to the MGIA team throughout this year. They have received the Golden Roses throughout the last couple of weeks for living out the Mercy Values and serving others. Well done!

COMMUNITY EDUCATION COUNSELLOR

It has been a fun filled space in Community Engagement. We celebrated National Reconciliation Week from May 27 until June 3. Our week began with a National Reconciliation week assembly where the students were involved in sharing stories, singing and sharing the importance of the week. Next, we all participated in lunchtime activities beginning with a traditional food cook up. On this day we cooked traditional dishes including sop sop and simur chicken. This food was then shared with the College community. We had so many students and staff attend this event, and enjoy the beautiful taste of traditional cooking. Throughout the week, we also participated in various activities including: Move It Mob Style; flag protocol information session with CPL Tianita McDonnell and SGT Eliza Oates; colouring in competition; Be Brave, Make Change, by our wonderful Flora Nona; face painting; dreamtime oracle; scavenger hunt. We finished with celebrating the 30 anniversary of Mabo Day.

In celebration of Mabo Day we began the day by officially holding our Flag Raising Ceremony. This official ceremony was a monumental moment in history and now St Patrick’s College Townsville has the Australian National, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Flag flying from Monday to Friday. This movement was instilled by the Reconciliation Action Plan Committee and will be recognised in our reconciliation Action Plan for the College. The flags will be raised at 8:15am and lowered at 3:20pm each day by the year 11 and 12 Boarding students and also the College Prefects.

(Our amazing student representatives – Reconciliation Action Plan Committee. Bethany Savage, Jermia Ahmat-Nona, Flora Nona and Ethel Babia)

A group of the QASTIF students also attended the Mabo Day opening march on Mabo Day and were able to connect to culture and community through food, family and dance. Our very own Olive-Rose Pearson danced and sung with her people to celebrate this day.

Overall, we have had a very exciting and fun filled month and we look forward to all of the NAIDOC celebrations coming up in Term 3.

As always, feel free to contact me at any time at pkulbicki@stpatscollege.qld.edu.au or 4753 0300, I am always here for a yarn.

Ms Paije Kulbicki

COMMUNITY EDUCATION COUNSELLOR

 

COLLEGE NEWS

COMBINED SCHOOLS’ MUSICAL RECAP

With Ms Jillian Turner |

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING, EVENTS & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Three schools, one cast, and a timeless story were the perfect ingredients for this year’s huge Combined Schools’ Musical production of Beauty and the Beast.

Involving students from St Patrick’s College Townsville, St Margaret Mary’s College and Ignatius Park College, performers worked for months finessing their singing, acting and dancing skills. Coordinating rehearsals across three Colleges is always challenging, but complications arising from COVID restrictions added yet another layer of difficulty.

Luckily, we had a secret weapon: well-known Townsville-based artist, Arminelle Fleming, was at the helm. With her wealth of knowledge, skill and industry contacts, it’s safe to say that Armielle sailed the ‘BATB’ ship through those stormy waters. If Arminelle was our Captain, Year 11 student, Emer Friel, was most certainly First Mate. Emer demonstrated maturity and insight beyond her years in this challenging role. Her input was invaluable, as was that of Dan Lobley who joined us in the final stages of rehearsal as the show’s Stage Manager. Dan’s technical expertise, coupled with a calm, generous demeanour, made him a popular and respected part of the BATB family. 

In a show like Beauty and the Beast, audiences expect to be visually wowed. While the villager costumes and props were easier to source, the same could not be said for anything in the enchanted castle. Fate smiled on us – Toowoomba Anglican School had performed the show in 2021 and were happy to sell on their costumes. Crisis averted, right? Not quite. While we now had a number of the key costumes (Cogsworth, Lumiere, Mrs Potts, Madame Wardrobe, Chip and Beast), the rest had to be made. Dancing whisks, dinner plates, cutlery, flowers and fruit bowls – all of these items were made from scratch. Considerable brain-storming went into the ‘what’ and ‘how’ for each object.

• What would form the ‘bones’ of the dinner plates? Answer: hula hoops and yoga mats!
• What could we find to make life-sized whisks? Answer: pool noodles and irrigation flexible tubing!
• How can they wear the colander (i.e. oversized laundry baskets with mop heads as the draining spaghetti)? Answer: Attach suspenders and add a jaunty beret!

By re-imagining everyday objects, we were able to create magical, yet quirky costumes for the castle ensemble.

One of the great things about this year’s show was how active cast members became in the behind-the-scenes preparations. Students styled wigs, wielded hot-glue guns and sewed buttons. So much of what audiences saw was produced by our cast.

Once in the theatre, things began to move swiftly. Musical Director, Dr Mark Smith, had assembled some of the city’s best musicians to play the show’s iconic tunes. Incredible backdrops and set pieces – some designed by our talented VA teachers – Mr Marano, Mrs Walsh and Mr Pope – transformed the stage. Arminelle, with the invaluable help of Mr Goulter and Ms Butler, continued to finesse and polish each moment, while Ms Hudson, Ms Doyle and Miss Jarrah helped shape key moments. Ms Tillack from IPC joined us in the theatre; her experience, good-humour and positivity was most appreciated.

The Production Team’s dedication to excellence set the standard; their drive to deliver a first-rate show to Townsville audiences was matched by the cast and crew. Ultimately, however, we remain indebted to Arminelle. Her undeniable passion for the Arts was the beating heart of this show. She crafted Beauty and the Beast into something more than a schmaltzy school performance. Her musical – OUR musical – was clever, vibrant and moving, and we will be forever grateful to her.

With so much talent to work with, and so much goodwill generated through college and community collaborations, Beauty and the Beast was an enormous success and one of which we are incredibly proud.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the show’s success.

PS: Hosting duties for the next Combined Schools’ Musical now fall to Ignatius Park College and Ms Tillack is extremely excited to deliver another quality production to Townsville audiences in 2023.

COMBINED SCHOOLS’ MUSICAL REFLECTIONS

Being a part of BATB this year was truly an incredible experience! I am so grateful for the opportunity and the family I have made throughout, and for the immense support provided. Being offered a lead role was definitely an honour and such an enjoyable experience thanks to the welcoming atmosphere created – not just by the cast and crew, but also by the Civic Theatre staff. If given the chance, I would do it again in a heartbeat.

– Madaya McMillan (BELLE)

 

 

 

Being part of the Beauty and the Beast production has been such a rewarding experience, and I am very grateful for the opportunity to not only play a lead role, but to have been involved in any way. I feel so fortunate to have meet such an incredible group of people, and I am very privileged to have worked with an incredibly experienced director. I also got to work with my favourite group of teachers. Shout out to Stage Manager Dan, and the Civic Theatre Crew, who worked very hard to make the show happen!

I am very proud of the show we got to put on, and I look back on the fun memories I have of an incredible group of people. The energy created by working with creative and talented like-minded people is something I will always remember.

– Lilly McCarthy (MAURICE)

As a student who has an avid passion for performing arts, particularly acting, Beauty and the Beast was a great opportunity to further explore my love of performance. The experience, whilst establishing new friendships, allowed us to work with experienced professionals, namely our incredible director, Arminelle Fleming. She harnessed our existing enthusiasm for theatre and encouraged us at each rehearsal to achieve more. It was a unique experience and one that I will forever cherish (and miss daily). I highly doubt the songs will ever leave my mind and I can confidently state there will ever be another cast who will love their stage manager as much as we did (thank you, Stage Manager Dan). I thank everyone who made Beauty and the Beast not only successful, but also unforgettable. I loved being your teapot.

– Bonnie Hughes (MRS POTTS)

 

SPORT & FITNESS NEWS

With Ms Angela Cooper | HEAD OF SPORT & FITNESS

CROSS COUNTRY RECAP

Cross Country is about pushing yourself and encouraging others. 3.4km is a long distance to run and this type of activity is not for everyone, but we get to run along a highlight of Townsville – along the beautiful Strand.

With perfect weather conditions for running, this year’s Cross Country fielded the largest group of competitors yet. It was great to see the participation from every age group. Ms Cooper’s organisation of the event was excellent and the teachers stationed along the course were incredibly encouraging.

The amount of encouragement from students was also tremendous. Every girl cheered others on as they ran or walked past; Sisterhood was well and truly on display. While this was evident across the board, a special mention goes to Year 12 student, Flora Nona, who sacrificed her place to help another student in need and stayed with this student until help arrived. Flora consistently leads by example in terms of her House Spirit and this is what the Melville Cup Award is all about.

RECORDS

Just one record was broken this year. Year 12 student, Brooke Davis-Goodall, broke the Open Division record in a time of 15mins 30secs. Brooke adds this achievement to a string of other successes over the past few years.

• In 2018, Brooke broke and still holds the 14yrs record in a time of 15min 15 sec.
• In 2021, she broke the 17yrs record in a time of 14min 43 secs; this record is also unbroken to date.

AGE CHAMPIONS

RACE	AGE CHAMPION	HOUSE
12 Years	Akara Gizu	DOMINATIONS
13 Years	Charli Russell	PRINCIPALITIES
14 Years	Sophie Hannay	POWERS
15 Years	Eryn Matters	THRONES
16 Years	Lilly Hannay	POWERS
17 Years	Charlize Barrett	POWERS
Open	Brooke Davis-Goodall	DOMINATIONS

 

HOUSE SPIRIT POINTS

HOUSE SPIRIT ELEMENTS	HOUSE	POINTS ALLOCATED
House Support	POWERS	20
War Cry	POWERS	20
Best Organisation	DOMINATIONS	30
Most/Best Participation	PRINCIPALITIES	50

 

Congratulations to Princes House who were the winners of the Cross Country House Spirit Award.

OVERALL RESULTS

POSITION	POINTS	HOUSE
1st	600	THRONES
2nd	568	POWERS
3rd	537	DOMINATIONS
4th	518	PRINCIPALITIES

 

Congratulations to Thrones House for their wonderful achievement!

– Clara Deer, Sports Prefect

 

NORTHERN CROSS COUNTRY

Despite a great effort from our Cross Country team, only two of our students were successful in making the Norther Cross Country team:

• Open: Brooke-Davis Goodall, who placed 2^nd
• 15 Years: Eryn Matters, who placed 6^th

Special mention to Sarah Bourke who despite finishing 7^th in the 16 Years event, narrowly missed out on making the team.

Brooke and Eryn will travel to the Gold Coast in July to compete in the State Championships. Congratulations, girls.

 

SCIENCE NEWS

Congratulations to Eleanor Baxter who will be attending UQ as part of the Junior Physics Odyssey program, in July. Eleanor’s application was wholeheartedly supported by Ms O’Shea and Ms Finlay and we know she will have a wonderful, educational experience. Congratulations, Eleanor!

In July 2022, I will be attending a three-day workshop run by The University of Queensland. The Junior Physics Odyssey is a program where current Year Ten students are invited to participate in various physics experiments, workshops and lectures, which will hopefully give us an insight into senior physics. Personally, I’m hoping to see the pitch drop experiment, which is the longest running lab experiment in history. The program also allows me to meet with other students from around Queensland, as well as experienced UQ students. I am very grateful for this opportunity and would like to thank the Science and Math teachers at St Pat’s for their help. I cannot wait for the workshop and have already started packing my bags for Brisbane.

– Eleanor Baxter – Year 10

 

JAPANESE NEWS

Enjoy these photos of our Japanese students playing the chopsticks game! Fun, fast and much harder than it looks, this was an exciting way to learn chopstick etiquette. 

 

HOSPITALITY NEWS

With Ms Camille Flores | DEPARTMENT OF HOSPITALITY & FUNCTIONS

The Year 11 Hospitality Practices students have completed their first unit, ‘Introduction to Hospitality’ and have begun studying, ‘Casual Dining’. The girls have been busy learning the basics of café culture and excited to run their own Breakfast Café next term. They have been trialling a range of breakfast choices to serve from their café including: Smashed Avocado and Maple Glazed Bacon, Omelettes, Pancakes and much more. The quality of the food the students have prepared has been excellent and their skills in plating is steadily improving. Well done to all the girls on their hard work throughout the term. 

 

 

DRAMA & DANCE NEWS

With Ms Jojo Butler | DRAMATIC ARTS, DANCE & PERFORMANCE

YEAR 8 DANCE

In Term 2, the Year 8 Dance classes conducted peer workshops about different dances performed all around the world. They delivered a multi-modal presentation that showcased their research of the country and dance style whilst analysing the dance genre and its relevance in today’s world. The students also taught a small routine for their classmates to experience the style of dance. It was a very informative week of workshops where we all learnt about and danced the:

• Tarantella (Italy)
• Tinikling (Philippines)
• Siva (Samoa)
• Sirtaki (Greece)
• Salsa (Cuba) and
• Hula (Hawai)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

YEAR 10 DRAMA

In Term 2, the Year 10 Drama classes have been exploring Arthur Miller’s playtext, The Crucible. They worked collaboratively in small groups to pick a scene from the play to perform it in the style of Gothic Realism.

As part of their study of the text, the students engaged with the critical themes prevalent within this rich and dynamic play. For example, the girls learnt how The Crucible was a political allegory comparing McCarthyism to the Salem Witch Trials. They came to understand what mass hysteria, rumours, fear, judgement and skewed social status can do to a society of isolated people.

Students worked diligently to enhance their performance skills of movement, gesture, verbal dynamics and focus on stage. They were asked to explore the motivation and objectives in their scenes, which was a challenging but rewarding task. Overall, the girls worked extremely hard to put together polished and prepared performances.

LIVE THEATRE EXCURSION

In May, the Year 10 – 12 Drama classes were invited to attend TheatreiNQ’s production of The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui by Bertolt Brecht. Translated from the original German, and directed by the company’s Artistic Director, Terri Brabon, this was an incredible experience. TheatreiNQ expertly introduced students to the Theatre of Social Comment, showing parallels between Hitler’s invasion of Poland in 1939 to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Brabon combatted any assumed lack of knowledge of history with stark between-scene reminders via projections of contemporary 1930s news headlines and news photographs; this constantly linked the play to the rise of Hitler.

To add an additional dimension to the production, Brabon set the play in 1930s Australian gangster land. The combination of the Australian setting, the German Weimar cabaret, exaggerated cartoon-style acting, and the constant reminders of the Hitler’s rise to power, served to reinforce that such historical moments are much closer to home than we might think. The students truly enjoyed the production, the takeaway messages and the way in which dramatic concepts were showcased in this clever adaptation. 

Thank you to Ms Doyle and Ms Maguire for accompanying the students to see the play. 

 

FROM THE LIBRARY

With Marie Jerome | COLLEGE LIBRARIAN

What a wonderful and blessed time it has been in the Library. This term, we celebrated Reconciliation Week by putting our favourite books on display from the Cultural Corner. Activities were held in the library and tasty treats were supplied by Miss Kulbicki for us to delight in.

Our Year 7/8 Reader’s Cup team were victorious in their competition and will be heading to the State Competition, held in Brisbane later this year. The team worked very hard for such a great outcome and were back to the books the next day after competition! Our year 9/10 Teams were very competitive also; we are super proud of all their efforts.

With holidays fast approaching, it is a great time to remind everyone of our Ebook provider, Wheelers. There has been a 333.33% increase in borrowing this month compared to last year, which is incredible! There is an array of not only Ebooks, but also Audiobooks for your reading pleasure. You can access Wheelers via the Library Website on the Learning Hub.

Next term will bring sensory delights throughout the week. On offer will be Lego experiences and also pop-up knitting sessions, so keep your eyes peeled on notices for the session times and dates. You may have noticed we have added more games to the selection this term. Othello, Guess Who and Connect 4 are available for those times you would like a brain break and to connect with your friends. Chess Club and Dungeons and Dragons Club are still proving popular during the week – don’t forget you can join in at any time.

Look out for the new books on display on your return as I’m sure there will be something there to tempt you!

 

 

SHARING SACRED STORIES – 11REE

Ms Andrews organised for the Year 11 REE students to read their Sacred Stories to the Year 3 students at St Joseph’s School last week. It was a wonderful opportunity for our girls to engage with and build relationships with the younger children. 

 

 

 

 

CAREERS

YEAR 12: POST-SCHOOL PATHWAYS

The QTAC Guide is expected to arrive during June, and I anticipate being able to distribute this to students before the July school holidays so that they can spend time considering their course preferences, prerequisite subjects and any other additional entry requirements such as portfolios and interviews.

For most universities in Australia, the tertiary application process will commence in August. During Term 3, I will continue to meet with all Year 12 students to discuss their Career Plan and post-school pathway plans.

QTAC INFORMATION EVENING

To support parents and students with the QTAC application process, we have arranged for QTAC to deliver a How to Apply online information session on Tuesday, 2 August from 5.30pm – 7.30pm Term 3, Week 3. The link to join this information session will be distributed to parents and students via email in due course.

JCU UniX DAY

Year 10/11/12 JCU UniX Day (11/12 or 13 July) is during the last week of the holidays. If you would like to put a group together to attend independently from the College please do so. You will need to individually register and have parental permission.  JCU Student Registration Link: https://future.jcu.edu.au/uni-x

EARLY ENTRY AND PRINCIPAL’S RECOMMENDATION SCHEMES

Early entry schemes allow Year 12 students to apply for a university course based on their academic results, leadership, Principal recommendation or other achievements. The schemes are designed to assist capable students to access entry to university. Some of the participating institutions include:

• CQUniversity (Principal’s Recommendation Scheme)
• James Cook University (JCU Early Offer Program)
• Griffith University (Year 12 Early Offer Guarantee)
• University of Southern Queensland (USQ Early Offer)
• Australian Catholic University (ACU Guarantee)
• Macquarie University (Leaders and Achievers Early Entry Scheme, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Pathway)
• University Technology of Sydney (UTS) (Engineering and IT Early Entry Program – Edge)
• Australian National University (Direct Application, closes Monday, 23 May)
• Bond University (Direct Application)
• The University of Western Australia (Predicted ATAR Entry)
• University of Tasmania (School’s Recommendation Program)

To find out more and check the eligibility details, visit the institution website.

ON-CAMPUS AND STUDENT ACCOMMODATION

For students who are considering living away from home to attend university,

it is timely to start investigating on-campus and student accommodation options. The JCU Accommodation Guide outlines the range of accommodation offerings in Townsville and Cairns. The University of Queensland has a various on-campus residences, colleges and approved off-campus accommodation options for students.

Many universities now offer what’s called guaranteed accommodation – this means if you apply by a certain date or meet certain criteria, they will guarantee that you will have a place to stay. To find out more and check the eligibility details and agreement, visit the relevant institution website.

There are also other off-campus specialist student accommodation options including: UniLodge, Iglu, Student One, Scape and Atira.

To assist students with the costs of living, it is worth investigating accommodation scholarships. Some of these scholarships include:

• USQ Residential College Scholarship
• UWA Accommodation Scholarships
• Melbourne Accommodation Bursary
• Newcastle Indigenous Accommodation Scholarship
• University of Canberra Accommodation Scholarships
• Iglu Regional Scholarships
• Services Australia Relocation Scholarship

Search the relevant university scholarship databases for more information, eligibility and application details.

Student accommodation is always in high demand, particularly on-campus residential colleges. It is therefore recommended that students apply early for on-campus accommodation, even if they are not completely sure where they want to study or have not yet received an offer. In most cases, you can withdraw your application – but always check the terms and conditions with regards to application fees or cancellations.

Ms Catherine Rentoule

HEAD OF CAREERS & VET. E: crentoule@stpatscollege.qld.edu.au

COMMUNITY NOTICES