Focus Newsletter - Term 4 Issue 5 - 2024
Acting Principal Leader
Dear Parents, Carers, Staff and Students,
2024 has drawn to a close and it was certainly fitting that we started our Annual Prizegiving Ceremony earlier this week with a prayer of thanksgiving for the many blessings and learnings that we have experienced as a school community this year.
There is no doubt that 2024 featured many successes. Patrician Brothers’ Blacktown was again confirmed as a powerhouse in many areas – and while the minds of some people will go immediately to the sporting fields - sport is only one of our many great strengths. Whether it be rock band, writing workshops, debating, creative arts exhibitions, SRE classes, Vinnies Van, media appearances, youth ministry, guests speakers, badminton, chess, breakfast club, NAIDOC Week, Man Cave, charity projects, our ever-expanding student wellbeing program - and the list goes on - we have offered our students a huge range of opportunities this year - and they have taken up the challenge and excelled.
Many people outside our school community marvel at our school spirit and long list of achievements. But we need to protect that spirit and grow it - and certainly never take it for granted. The reality is that it can evaporate in a heartbeat, so we all need to contribute, at every opportunity.
As we approach the end of the year it is also appropriate that we pause and reflect on our personal achievements this year. Did we really do the hard yards and dig deep - especially on days, or during lessons or activities, that didn’t seem all that important to us at the time. Sometimes it just feels easier to look for a shortcut or to avoid work - or not even show up. We invite all students to make a promise to themselves that next year there will be no shortcuts and that 2025 will be their best year ever – whether it be in the classroom, on the sporting field, in leadership, or just having a go.
In closing the year, there are many people to thank.
Thank you to our parents and carers for your ongoing trust and support.
Thanks to the team at Mary Queen of the Family Parish at Blacktown.
Thanks to the Patrician Brothers and their network of schools.
Thanks to our system leaders and mentors at Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese.
And finally - thanks to our staff. Our many successes are built on a foundation of generosity, compassion and expertise displayed by our staff on a daily basis.
Please accept our best wishes as Advent leads us towards the blessings and joy of Christmas and have a great holiday with your families and loved ones.
St Patrick – Pray for us.
Brian Edmonds
Acting Principal Leader
Acting Assistant Principal - Pastoral Care
This year has been filled with many achievements, and we are so proud of our students for their hard work, dedication, and growth. From academic accomplishments and creative projects to success in sports, music, and community service, our students continue to shine and inspire us all. We are blessed to have such a supportive and faith-filled school community that encourages each child to develop their gifts and talents to the fullest.
As we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, we are reminded of the words from the Gospel of Luke:
"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." – Luke 2:11
Christmas is a time to reflect on the incredible gift of God’s love and the hope that Christ brings to the world. We see this love reflected in our students, staff, and families through their kindness, generosity, and faith. Together, we strive to honor God’s call to love one another and share His peace.
As you gather with family and friends this Christmas season, may you find comfort in the promise of God’s Word:
"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." – John 1:14
We are deeply grateful for the blessings God has poured upon our school community this year and for the continued support and faith of our families.
As we draw to the end of the year, an early reminder for next year that student hair must be neat and tidy. Hair must be of natural colour. Extremes of length or fashion are not acceptable. Student hairstyles that are not acceptable include – mullets, shaved sides, long or swept fringes, shaved lines, rat tails and all large tufts. Student hair should be no longer than collar length and the fringe must be above the eyes. The school reserves the right to make rulings on the acceptability of any student hairstyles. It is also expected that boys will be clean-shaven at all times. Students that do not comply with these guidelines may be sent home.
Wishing you and your loved ones a blessed and joyous Christmas!
Wishing you a blessed Advent season!
Victor Hunt
Acting Assistant Principal - Pastoral Care
Assistant Principal - Learning, Teaching and Innovation
This week, we took some important time to welcome back our Year 12, 2024 students for a breakast BBQ to celebrate the release of the HSC results and ATARs. It was great to see and hear from our students about where life has led them already, with many accepting university offers for 2024 and others entering into further education in trades and/or working in their chosen careers. It was equally wonderful to hear from them today about their university success, which includes offers for scholarships. We are delighted to announce our HSC Dux was Timothy Su with an ATAR of 98.05. We had many students attaining ATARs in the 90s and 80s again in 2024, which is testament to their hard work and the support of families, teachers and staff of the College.
This week we also had our Annual Prize Giving Assembly for Years 7 - 11. It was fantastic to have over 150 parents, carers and guests in attendance to share in the joy and special moments of acknowledgement of the hard work and dedication to academic excellence for our students. Congratulations to all of the worthy recipients of the awards. It is always great to note that the key to success is in the consistent application of students to coursework and assessment over time. All students should take some time to reflect on their effort and achievements in 2024 and decide whether or not they reflect their personal best. Remember that academic effort, high expectations and high support, combine to create a sense of academic optimism and ultimately, academic success.
In my final article for 2024 I would like to once again acknowledge Mrs Krista Erenavula for her VET Rotary Staff Award that recognised her 24 years of service in Hospitality. Mr Luke Eisenhuth for his Service to PDSSSC staff award. I also would like to acknowledge Mrs Melissa Scalone and Mr Greg Kitchner, who were our inaugural recipients of Patrician Appreciation awards, in recognition of over 40 years of service each to Patrician Brothers’ College, Blacktown. They are excellent examples of the dedicated staff at the College. I thank them for their ongoing service to our community and to all staff who have gone above and beyond what is expected of them throughout 2024. The students are truly blessed to be taught and supported by all the staff at our College.
I wish everyone a blessed, safe and peaceful Christmas and a very happy New Year.
God bless.
Heath Borg
Assistant Principal
Learning, Teaching and Innovation
Dean of Knowledge Management and Analytics
On Monday, the Academic Effort Awards were presented to students nominated by the Leaders of Learning for demonstrating enthusiasm, consistent effort, and achievement in their classwork and assessment tasks. The College also recognized the recipients of the Honour Roll Awards, which are presented to the top 5% of the cohort based on their Semester One and Two report grades and Personal Profile evaluations.
It was a privilege to celebrate these accomplishments with the students and acknowledge their exceptional dedication to their studies.
I wish you all a joyful and blessed Christmas and a safe holiday.
Mark Robinson
Dean of Knowledge Management and Analytics
Semester Two Awards
Religious Education and Mission
Vinnies Christmas Appeal
Our Vinnies Christmas Hamper Appeal concluded last week. Thank you to all of the students, families, and staff who supported this important initiative as we raised twelve tubs of donations for Christmas hampers, two tubs of toys, games and books, and several bags of clothing and sanitary supplies for the Blacktown Chapter. These items were delivered last Friday and the Vinnies Blacktown Coordinator was very thankful for our contribution. Thank you to Miss Ellen Lombo for organising the collections, Miss Melanie Gearing and the Year 12 Student Leaders for visiting Homerooms and facilitating the creation of the hampers, to all of the volunteers (pictured below) who sorted the donations into hampers, and to Mr Danny Mamo for transporting the hampers for us. Thank you to all of the College community for your ongoing support.
Donations for the Vinnies Christmas Appeal as at December 12. Three more staff hampers were also donated.
Merry Christmas
Thank you very much to all of the Religious Education Teachers who have guided our students in their pursuit of knowledge, faith, and action during 2024. We have an amazing and extraordinarily committed team of teachers who are passionate about sharing the Good News through their lessons. I wish all of our RE teachers a restful holiday: may they be filled with hope, peace, joy, and love as they celebrate Christmas with their loved ones. Special thanks to Mr Victor Hunt, who led Religious Education and Formation throughout most of this year, and to Miss Ellen Lombo, whose contribution has been invaluable in assisting our RE team this term.
The Christmas Gospel for this year will be Saint Luke’s account of the birth of Jesus. Luke’s Gospel gives great emphasis to the significance of the birth taking place in a stable built for animals, and on the presence of the shepherds as the first witnesses to the birth. For Luke, the core message behind this humble birth narrative is that God reveals Himself to us through the ordinary. Jesus was not not born in a palace, or even in an expensive home: he was born in a manger. The first people to witness the birth, aside from Mary and Joseph, were shepherds; one of the lowest paid and least powerful groups living in the Holy Land during the time of Christ. The message for us is simple: God calls all of us into a personal relationship with Him, regardless of who we are, or of what we have done in our lives. Our greatness is not measured by the size of our homes or bank accounts, but by the openness of our hearts.
Concluding Prayer
Dear God, St. Patrick came to Ireland to help people discover your loving presence.
May I take comfort from the fact that whatever challenges I may face in life,
you will always be there to help and guide me through.
Help me to be your witness in the world,
showing others your loving presence through my words and actions.
Amen
Anthony Pope
Acting Religious Education Coordinator
Pathways and Partnership Update
YES - Carpentry Program
Each year TAFE NSW offers a number of Youth Engagement Strategy (YES) programs across a variety of vocational education areas. Designed to help students who may be disengaged in their learning at school, YES programs are a fantastic opportunity for students to learn in an adult environment, explore a passion area, as well as learn new skills.
Albert Cabanalan of Year 11 successfully completed the YES - Carpentry program at Nirimba TAFE this term across seven Thursdays. The College is very proud of his efforts and hopes the program has helped Albert with making decisions about his post-school pathway options.
ACU Uni Step-Up and Step Up into Teaching (SUIT)
Recently, the students who are undertaking Uni Step-Up programs through the Australian Catholic University (ACU) received their results for their first unit completed early this year. Students are currently studying units in course areas such as exercise and sport science, nursing, business as well as teaching. We are very excited that all students received a credit or distinction! What a fantastic achievement!
We wish the students in both the Uni Step-Up and SUIT programs all the best as they complete their second unit in the upcoming holidays.
Marie Lane
Pathways and Partnerships Leader
Captivate Ceramics Workshop
Last week, two students from Year 9 had the opportunity to partake in a two-day workshop facilitated by Ceramicist Timm O’Reagan at St Agnes Catholic School.
August Cyreszko and Joshua Degiorgio represented Patrician Brothers' College, Blacktown in an exemplary manner. Their artworks are a reflection of their talent, focus and creativity.
We thank Captivate for hosting such rewarding events for our students.
Carly Eluna
CAPA Teacher
