FROM THE COLLEGE PRINCIPAL
Last week, I had the pleasure of travelling to Papua New Guinea and Brisbane as part of our College’s enrolment and alumni tour program. What a wonderful opportunity it was to connect not only with past students, but with the parents of some of our current PNG Boarding students. One of the things that struck me most in talking to parents was the value they placed on an education at St Patrick’s College Townsville. This was also a common theme at the Brisbane Alumni Luncheon, where past students, as far back as the graduates of 1954, recalled their time at the College as transformative. Soon, the College will publish its inaugural Alumni Magazine which we will call The Ex Pat’s. Initiatives such as this are intended to keep alive the spirit of connection and sisterhood, long after graduation. We understand that these ties are not only what makes St Pat’s special, but also that they can be of benefit to our students. I was particularly grateful that some of our Alumni have volunteered to be part of future Leadership and Futures Symposium events, helping our young people understand how to navigate the world after school.
As we conclude the end of Week 7, much of the work of the term is in the final stages of culmination. Tonight, I look forward to our Combined Schools’ Musical students performing All Shook Up at the Civic Theatre. I particularly acknowledge their collective efforts and thank them for their dedication and willingness to share their talents. I also wish to extend my thanks to the staff at Ignatius Park College, who have had primary responsibility in the organisation of this year’s musical.
As we come to the end of Term 2, the College is about to initiate planning for 2027. This includes building a College timetable, which relies on the timely submission of subject selections from students across Year 7 moving into Year 8, Year 8 moving into Year 9, Year 9 moving into Year 10, and Year 10 moving into Year 11. I would ask that parents and students take this process seriously and make every attempt to ensure that these selections are final. Last year, far too many students sought to make changes at the final hour in Term 4, long after the timetable had been built, staff allocated and budgets planned. Changes based only on change of mind after the change period will not be possible in 2027.
I would strongly encourage students and parents to attend upcoming Information Sessions which will provide a good level of advice and detail to guide the subject selection process. In a nutshell, our advice as a College is that students should select subjects that they enjoy and have a demonstrated capacity. Further to that, students wishing to study a subject into Year 11 and 12 would also choose that subject in Years 8, 9 and 10, building their proficiency in the Middle Years.
May I take this opportunity to sincerely than Ms Camille Flores, our Dean of Pathways, and our Deputy Principal – Academic, Ms Jacinta Collings, for their steadfast support of our students. Research shows that students who engage constructively in post school planning, generally work with greater purpose and higher outcomes whilst at school. We are certainly keen to ensure that each of our young women are set up for success, not only while they are inside our gates, but long after they leave. We sincerely hope that our upcoming Futures and Leadership Symposium for our Year 10 and 12 students will help them navigate their next steps in this regard.
I look forward to seeing as many students and parents as possible at our upcoming information evenings and SET planning meetings.
Kath Little
COLLEGE PRINCIPAL
