Reflection
The school community of St Patrick’s is truly blessed. And, this is the theme that I would like to use in my reflection about this wonderful school, the amazing students, the magnificent staff, and the entire St Patrick's Community.
We are blessed to have such a dedicated staff. Staff that are invested in finding and nurturing the true potential of every single one of our students at St Patrick's. During my four years as a staff member, I have been involved in countless discussions with my colleagues that centre on what we, as a school, can do to improve the outcomes of our students. The willingness of all of our staff members to go above and beyond in the pursuit of the best possible outcomes for all of our students is deeply appreciated and it is a testament to the call and vocation that comes with working in a Catholic School.
We are blessed to have such supportive and involved parents, grandparents, guardians, siblings, aunts, uncles, friends, parishioners and anyone else that has added to the positive vibe that projects from our school community. The importance of community in a school cannot be underestimated, and the strength and capacity of the school community of St Patrick’s is highly valued. The proof, as they say, is in the (Christmas) pudding, and I am pleased to say that based on 2022 events, our community is strong, as evidenced by: Shrove Tuesday, Sporting Carnivals, Parent Teacher meetings, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, P&F Activities, St Patrick’s Day, Masses, Fundraisers and many other wonderful community events. All of these events as well as the day-to-day encounters we have with each other shines a light on our sincere and genuine desire to ensure our community is a community of sharing, trust and support.
We are blessed each and every day to walk into such a beautiful school, with amazing resources and accessibility to a huge range of wonderful learning opportunities. We aim to provide our students with educational experiences and the resources they need to be able to learn efficiently and effectively in the 21st century, as we want our students to be 21st century learners. We are certainly blessed as we have amazing access to technology, yet we understand the importance that real-world experience brings to learning. A particular example of our students flourishing academically this year has been the significant reading level improvement in all grades due to our reading focus and reading data analysis. Student learning across its entirety weaves together the fabric of school life. Learning across all areas for the student: academic, spiritual, emotional, social, physical and cultural has been clearly evident this year.
We are blessed to have such strong connections to our faith community. Of course, we are a Catholic School, and it is a given that we pray every morning and go to Mass. Yet it is so much more than that at St Patrick's. Our first celebration is the witness to Jesus, the deepening of our faith and the reinforcing of our Catholic traditions practised through liturgies and Mass. It is the active participation of all that come together in the place of worship that we celebrate. We come to Mass as participants embracing the grace that Christ pours out for us. The students are indeed joyful participants in this with their singing elevating, for many, the spiritual dimension of the service. Our wonderful priests, Fr. Jaison, Fr. Steven, and Fr. Damien, take turns to visit our school, and Fr Damien has spent much time in helping students prepare to participate in Mass. The students relish these times, as they gain insight by engaging with people who live out daily their relationship with God, not to mention the fact that Fr. Steven loves to talk tech and gaming with the students.
And, most importantly, We are blessed to have such wonderful and amazingly talented students at St Patrick's, and I would now like to address our students, in particular, our Year 6 students. For you, I wish to focus on the profound learning that can be gleaned from the magnificent Star Wars films. Be like Yoda – wise, thoughtful, and dedicated to helping others realise their potential. Don’t be like a stormtrooper: faceless and dispensable, in some cases, a clone. Be an advocate for justice like Luke Skywalker, or be Princess Leia, standing up to a regime that does not have people at its heart. Take advantage of the learning you have attained at St Patrick's Catholic School. Value and nurture the friendships you have invested in during your years here. Go out and be luminous. Be a beacon for others. Shine your light, share your force, and love what you do. But above all… Live Jesus in Your Hearts… Forever.
I would like to wish our entire St Patrick’s Community a wonderfully relaxing holiday break, a joyous and faith-filled Christmas, and a happy and prosperous new year. I very much look forward to seeing you all again in 2023.
Kind regards
Kurt Atkins
Acting Principal