Focus Newsletter - Term 3 Issue 2 - 2025
Acting Principal Leader
Dear Parents, Carers and Students,
Last Friday 8 August, Catholic communities across Australia celebrated the Feast Day of Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop, our nation’s first canonised saint. This day holds special meaning for Catholic schools, and we are all invited to pause and reflect on Mary’s profound legacy and the ways it continues to shape our mission as Catholic educators in Australia. Mary MacKillop’s life was one of deep faith, courageous action, and unwavering compassion for the poor. Her pioneering work in establishing schools for underprivileged children resonates closely with our Patrician charism – inspiring us to act with compassion, work for justice, and create communities where every student feels seen, valued, and empowered to grow. As we celebrate Saint Mary of the Cross, may her legacy challenge us to live out our Patrician call to faith, compassion, and service, ensuring that our schools remain places of welcome, learning, and hope for all.
Athletics Carnival
Term 3 is now well underway and the last fortnight has included several major events. Arguably one of the most important community days we hold each year is our Athletics Carnival. After a washout at our first attempt, and a forced change of venue to our College fields, the weather closed in on us again. But we rolled the dice and it turned out to be a good decision, with strong attendance and great enthusiasm from everyone ensuring that the level of competition was strong and the students were able to enjoy the many and varied events and activities. Many thanks to Mr Joey Tramontana and the PDHPE staff for their organisation of the day, the office team and support staff who cooked a BBQ lunch for the whole school, and finally, special mention to Mr Chase Chapman, who ensured that the day finished on a high note - literally - leading the students in song in the PLC grandstand. All in all – a memorable community day.
HSC Trial Examinations
Last week we also commenced the HSC Trial Examinations. These examinations are an important element of the overall HSC assessment program, but they are also an invaluable opportunity for our students to gauge their personal progress in terms of knowledge, understanding and written skills with a view to the final HSC Examinations less than 10 weeks away. All reports from examination supervisors have indicated great effort and diligence displayed by our Year 12 students, so hopefully this translates into strong results and honest feedback and evaluation.
Year 7 Camp
This week Year 7 Camps were held at Narrabeen. Year 7 Camp is one of the most enjoyable and memorable community-building events that the students experience at our school, and it is foundational in building trust and friendships among the students. On behalf of the College, and our Year 7 students and parents, I offer our sincere thanks to the Mr Craig Beacroft, Ms Irene Melkei and the staff who attended these overnight camps to support your sons. This involved a significant commitment of personal energy and time on their part - which I should note - is typical of the dedication of the staff at our College.
Upcoming Events and Highlights
In the next fortnight we look forward to Year 11 Reflection Day, the CAPA Major Works Showcase, our Staff Spirituality Day, the CSPD Education Mass, the Term 3 Mufti Day for Delany Reachout, the PATHE Pasifika Performance Night at WSU Kingswood, and sporting tournaments for several Touch and Oztag teams.
Sacrament of Reconciliation
We are especially excited for the students in our school-based Sacramental Program, who will be participating in the Sacrament of Reconciliation following our normal Thursday morning Mass this week in the College Chapel, and then receiving their First Eucharist and Confirmation at St Patrick's Church, Blacktown in two weeks’ time. We thank Mr Greg Beacroft and Mr Anthony Pope for their work with these students, and the ongoing guidance and support of Fr Wim Hoekstra and Fr Andrew Rooney from Mary Queen of the Family Parish.
Brian Edmonds
Acting Principal
Acting Assistant Principal - Pastoral Care
How do we help young people make sense of what is happening around the world at the moment?
In simple terms, we need to help our young people to use empathy as their anchor. Empathy requires us to step into someone else’s shoes, even if their life or situation is very different from yours and try to feel with them, not just feel for them. It’s easier said than done.
We need to understand that empathy is not the same as sympathy. It’s more than just feeling sorry for someone. It’s the ability to understand and share someone else’s feelings - to put yourself in their place and imagine what they might be thinking or experiencing.
We could talk about the situation in Israel and Palestine, Russia and Ukraine or the political turmoil in the US. Or more importantly, we could talk about our own areas (i.e. Western Sydney). Either way and whatever context, we need to encourage our young people to imagine what life is like for ordinary people living in difficult situations — going to school, working, caring for families under stress.
I always think back to a conversation I had during a challenging situation in a school I encountered a few years ago where everyone involved struggled to display empathy. A teacher was very blunt and firm with a student, a student was unkind towards another student, and in turn other students involved themselves and continued to make the situation worse.
When addressing each person involved, I gave them some context about the victim (without disclosing all of the personal details). Without hesitating, each of them said “If I knew that, I would have treated them differently”. And in this response lies the greatest challenge.
We will never know all of the details of everyone's story, background, home-life, etc. And we don’t need to. Why do I need to know someone's background to determine if I should treat them nicely? Why can’t we all just err on the side of being nice no matter what someone’s ‘story’ might be? Why can’t we show empathy without a reason?
With young people, we often need to teach, or role model for them, how to show empathy. We can do this by sharing real stories from both sides to humanise the situation. This is very tough in our current society, with our understanding tainted by biased click bait articles, sound bites, Tik Toks, Reels and other snippets of social media only showing a biased point of view.
In thinking about the current situation in Israel, I can’t help but think back to my travels to the Holy Land in 2019 (just before the Covid pandemic), and what I saw in and around Jerusalem. The Palestinian plight was in full view, and it was heartbreaking to watch. I saw discrimination in the form of violence on a daily basis. But as is usually the case, what I saw with my own eyes, was poor choices being made by both sides which resulted in victims everywhere you looked. There was very little empathy being shown by the leaders of both sides.
What is my point? We don’t need to know everyone's story to guide how we treat one another. Making jokes at one another's expense for an easy laugh might in some cases be funny, but others not. We work hard with the boys at Patrician Brothers' Blacktown by role modelling positive adult relationships. We expect our boys to be kind to one another, which on the whole, they are.
I think this part of the Breastplate of St Patrick guides us perfectly and provides direction of how to live lives that display empathy:
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, |
As a parent, how can I support my son in his learning journey?
As if being a parent isn’t hard enough? I work all day, cook dinner and prepare lunches, wash and iron the clothes, take the kids to sports training. And now you want me to help them with their school work?
I think it is important to simplify what is required from parents when it comes to supporting their son at school.
As a parent with a son and daughter in high school, I see my role or task as the following:
- Making sure they are out of bed in the morning, having breakfast and leaving to be at school on-time. Lots of little ‘check-ins’ help with this process. The more I ‘check-in’ when they’re starting high school, the less I need to check in when they get older (because their habits are formed). I like to ensure the following is organised the night before:
- When they get home, have they placed any dirty clothes in the laundry? Do they have a uniform ready? If not, I need to teach them to ensure their clothes are washed and ready to go. It is my child's responsibility to ensure this is ready, albeit I can help. Have they got their PE uniform packed if they have a practical lesson? This is a 5 minute job for your son (and 10 seconds for you to check it).
- Have they got their lunch packed? I like to avoid the morning rush and make sure it is packed (in the fridge) the night before. This is a 5 minute job for your son (and 10 seconds for you to check it).
- Show me your homework! Please don’t accept the line “I don’t have any homework”. They always have something to do (homework, study, assignments, preparing for exams). As a parent, I may not always know the answers (some of the Science and Maths homework is tough to get my head around), but if I look at their homework and they can’t explain it to me, then they don’t know it or haven’t done it properly. If a young person can teach the content to a parent, that means they can understand it. This is a 5 minute job for you to check it.
Any time you can give in our children's formative/younger years is less time you need to give in their later years. Tough choices and action from parents now will result in kinder and more self-sufficient adults later in life.
David Sullivan
Assistant Principal - Pastoral Care
Assistant Principal - Learning, Teaching and Innovation
Reflections on the 2025 HSC Trial Exams/HSC Countdown
I would like to acknowledge our Year 12 students for their commendable attendance, punctuality, organisation and engagement throughout the Trial HSC Examinations, which concludes this Monday, 18 August. Their positive and mature approach to this assessment period is encouraging and bodes well for the upcoming HSC Examinations, commencing Thursday 16 October.
It is common for students to feel a sense of relief at the conclusion of the Trial Examinations, often wanting to reward themselves for the significant time and effort invested in preparing for this milestone. However, it is important to recognise that this can be a critical turning point. With less than two months until the commencement of the HSC, this is not a time to ease off, but rather an opportunity to intensify focus and effort.
As normal classes resume on Tuesday 19 August, it is timely to remind our Year 12 students and their families that our experience consistently shows the greatest learning growth occurs between the end of the Trial Examinations and the start of the HSC. This growth is only possible if students remain committed to their classwork, continue to follow a disciplined study routine at home, and act on the feedback and guidance provided by their teachers.
In the coming weeks, lesson time and other learning opportunities will be used strategically to target areas requiring consolidation and to further refine key skills. This includes practising past HSC papers, which may be submitted for teacher feedback, one of the most effective methods of final preparation.
We look forward to supporting all students through the final stages of their secondary education and encouraging them to take pride in the effort they invest, knowing they have done their very best.
Heath Borg
Assistant Principal
Learning, Teaching and Innovation
Religious Education and Mission
Vinnies Van
Each fourth Wednesday of the month, staff and students from our College volunteer for Vinnies Van. This is an opportunity for our students and staff to give back to the community. I would like to thank the staff and students that volunteer their time for this important service to the community. Our next Vinnies Van night will be August 27.
Thursday Morning Mass
Last week we welcomed Father Wim back for Thursday Mass after he returned from a period of leave. Mass is celebrated every Thursday at 8:15am in the College Chapel. All staff, students, parents and carers are welcome to attend. Parents and carers are asked to sign in at Reception before coming to the Chapel.
Breakfast Club
Breakfast Club runs every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in the Senior Cafeteria are (next to the Hall) from 8:00 - 8:35am. College staff and members of our Faith in Action Team serve cereal, toasties, fruit, and juice. There is no cost, and all students are welcome. Come and join us for breakfast and a chat!
Year 11 Reflection Day
Our Year 11 students will have their Reflection Day on Wednesday 20 August. The day will be held at school in the PLC and Chapel. Students should wear appropriate mufti clothes on the day. The day will focus on the Christian call to leadership and service, and will be an opportunity for the students to reflect on their experience of Year 11, as they prepare for their final year of high school and their role as the senior students of the College. They will focus on how their faith is guiding them to make the most of their gifts and talents as they strive for their personal goals and their contribution to the service of others.
School-Based Sacramental Program
Eleven students from our College have been preparing to receive their Sacraments of Initiation during Term 2. We have been meeting during Student Wellbeing lesson time, and the students have been learning about the Sacraments of Baptism, First Holy Communion, Reconciliation and Confirmation.
First Reconciliation will be held on Thursday 21 August, after the College Mass at 8.15am in the School Chapel. All students who have participated in the program will attend this mass. Parents and carers are also welcome to attend the Mass, and should sign in at the Front Office before coming down to the Chapel.
Holy Mass in celebration of First Eucharist and Confirmation will be held on Monday 25 August at 7.00pm at St. Patrick’s Church, Blacktown (51-59 Allawah St, Blacktown). Some of our students will also be receiving the Sacrament of Baptism at the Mass. All families and friends of the students receiving their Sacraments are most welcome to attend the Mass, and are encouraged to arrive and be seated in the Church by 6:45pm.
We have already had expressions of interest from families who are interested in the School-Based Sacramental Program for next year. If you would like your son to prepare to receive the Catholic Sacraments of Initiation at school in 2026, please contact Mr Greg Beacroft [ gbeacroft@parra.catholic.edu.au ].
Anthony Pope
Acting Leader of Learning Religious Education
Pathways and Partnership Update
The Important Role of Parents and Carers in their Child’s Career Development
Whilst we tend to focus on career development in the senior years of a teen’s formal education, some may not realise that career development actually begins in early childhood.
As soon as a child is old enough to understand the idea of ‘work’ and ‘jobs’, that is the moment where their career development starts. It is usually through the child’s parents and careers that children first make a connection to work, and the reason why as young children, many aspire to follow in their parents’ footsteps.
As children grow and spend more time outside their home, external factors such as media, school and peers also begin to influence their career development. Despite beginning to ‘spread their wings’, young people will always value the opinions of their parents and carers when making decisions about their post school pathways - even though they may not always show it!
Parents and carers often reach out asking for some guidance as to how to approach engaging with their son about discussing their future. Here are some great suggestions:
- Parents should take a flexible approach when discussing careers with their teens. The best and most effective time will be dependent on their temperament, age and situation.
- Choose a time to speak to your teen about careers when you are both in an open frame of mind.
- Listen to their thoughts and ideas, and help them to explore the world of careers.
- Be aware of your reactions to your teenager’s ideas, and their extracurricular interests and activities. Dismissing ideas will prevent your teen from exploring all their options.
- Make sure your teenager feels that any decisions are theirs, with your support.
- Encourage your teenager to research opportunities and take advantage of help available from school and other community services.
- Let your teenager know you are interested in their goals and dreams. Your support will encourage them to value their individual goals, and realise that they are worth working towards.
- Encourage them to ask important questions about themselves and the world of work.
Information adapted from 10 Ideas To Help Parents Talk Careers With Their Teens Career Coaching Information for Parents.
As a College, we always strive to support our students in making well informed decisions about their post-school pathways. However, it is important we realise that is a team effort and that parents and carers also play a vital and valuable role in supporting their child’s career development.
Marie Lane
Pathways and Partnerships Leader
Resource Centre Update
Book Week at Patrician Brothers’ College
Next week, from Monday 18th to Friday 22nd August, Patrician Brothers’ College Resource Centre is excited to be celebrating Book Week!
This year’s theme is Book and Adventure and the CBCA is commemorating 80 fabulous years of celebrating stories.
To celebrate, the Resource Centre will be hosting a Book Week themed Kahoot on Thursday the 21st at Lunchtime, as well as announcing the winner of the Patrician Brothers’ short story competition.
We hope that all students and staff will join us during the week to celebrate Book Week in any way they see fit.
No celebration is too small when it comes to storytelling.
“A room without books is like a body without a soul.” - Marcus Tullius Cicero
Beth Head
Senior School Assistant - Resource Centre
Food Techonology
What's Cooking in Food Technology?
This week in Food Technology, Year 7, 9 and 10 students have jumped into exciting hands-on challenges in the kitchen!
Year 7 kicked off their very first practical activity by making chocolate chip cake in a mug. The room was filled with excitement as students were introduced to working in new teams, each guided by a Head Chef. They quickly learned the importance of cooperation, time management, and following basic safety routines in the kitchen. Their efforts paid off with delicious, warm cakes and a real sense of pride in what they had achieved—a fantastic way to begin their Food Tech journey!
Year 9 Food Technology – Buddha Bowls with a Twist
This week, Year 9 Food Technology B embraced the challenge of creating their very own Buddha Bowls. At first, there was some hesitation—after all, the recipe was on the “healthy” side - but once the boys began preparing, arranging, and tasting their creations, everything changed.
Not only did they discover that healthy food can be full of flavour, they also started brainstorming exciting variations, adding their own creative flair to the bowls. The lesson demonstrated that nutritious dishes can be just as delicious and satisfying as their indulgent counterparts.
Well done to all students for keeping an open mind, experimenting with new ingredients, and discovering that “healthy” and “tasty” can go hand in hand!
Year 10 explored recipe interpretation using Marley Spoon-style meal kits. While the recipe cards provided a helpful guide, students soon realised they needed to think critically, identify missing steps, and rely on their instincts to complete each dish. They approached the task with enthusiasm, working collaboratively in teams led by Head Chefs. Along the way, they evaluated their methods, suggested improvements, and experimented with different herbs and spices to enhance flavour. It was a joy to see them thinking deeply about taste, texture, and how flavours complement one another, all while producing some very impressive meals.
Well done to all our budding chefs for their creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving in the kitchen this week!
Daniela Fedele
Food/Agriculture and Digital Technologies Teacher
Merit Awards
Sports Report
NRL Schoolboy Cup Match Report
Quarter Final
Patrician Brothers' Blacktown
vs
St Gregory’s Campbelltown
62 -16
With both schools undefeated in this year’s competition, this match determined which team would proceed straight to the semifinal. The clash was billed by several journalists as a meeting between St Gregory’s College, the school with the most titles, and Patrician Brothers' Blacktown, the most successful NSW school of the last decade.
Blacktown made an unbelievable start, scoring the first try within 20 seconds. Blacktown followed up with two more well-worked tries, leading 16-0 before St Gregory's even touched the ball.
From there, play between the two sides became more evenly contested. St Gregory’s hit back with two quick tries before Blacktown regained control and crossed for several more, taking a 28–10 lead into halftime.
In the second half, Blacktown continued to dominate in several areas, and the sustained pressure eventually told. In the final five minutes, they added three more tries to seal a comprehensive victory.
In total, Blacktown scored 11 tries to 3, with Riley Davis converting nine of them, for a final score of 62–16. The team now awaits the result of the match between Endeavour Sports High and St Dominic’s College, with Blacktown to face the winner for the right to contest the NSW Schoolboy Grand Final for the third consecutive year.
The next match will be held at Campbelltown Stadium on Wednesday 27 August.
Athletics Carnival
We were thrilled to host our Athletics Carnival on the College ovals for the first time in many years! Despite facing some tough weather conditions throughout the day, the energy and enthusiasm of our students never wavered.
From sprint races to long-distance runs, novelty events and relays, every student gave their absolute best and showed true resilience and sportsmanship. It was inspiring to see our boys competing with such pride and passion, representing their houses with determination and respect.
A big thank you to all the staff, who helped make this day a success. Congratulations to all participants for making it a memorable event, your hard work and positive spirit truly shone through.
We can’t wait to build on this fantastic day and continue fostering a strong sense of community and healthy competition here at Patrician Brothers' College, Blacktown.
NSW All Schools Cross Country Carnival
Bernie Irvine proudly represented NSWCCC at the NSW All Schools Cross Country Carnival at the beginning of the term. After qualifying through both the PDSSSC and NSWCCC carnivals, Bernie took on the challenging 3km course at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre and finished an impressive 24th out of 100 runners. Bernie’s dedication and athleticism truly shone through, and his outstanding sportsmanship was evident as he congratulated all the medallists at the finish line. We are incredibly proud of Bernie’s achievements and the spirit he brings to Patrician Brothers’ College Blacktown. Keep up the great work.
Rugby League Grand Finals
A memorable day for Patrician Brothers' College Blacktown at the PDSSSC / SCS Rugby League Grand Finals. We are incredibly proud of all our teams for their heart, resilience, and sportsmanship throughout the day.
13A – In a tense battle that went to extra time, our boys showed incredible determination and maturity beyond their years. A well-earned and hard-fought win.
15 Blue – Trailing 10-0, the team showed great character and belief to turn the game around and come away with a 16-10 victory. The result was a real testament to their spirit and unity.
Senior Blue team – A composed and professional display, with a number of students stepping up late to help secure a strong team performance. Their leadership and teamwork were a credit to the College.
Thank you to all players, coaches, staff and supporters who contributed to such a special day. Wins aside - it was the pride, humility and camaraderie shown that truly made it unforgettable.
HSC Showcase
