Patrician Brothers College eNewsletter

Acting Principal Leader

Dear Parents, Carers and Students,

This week has been one of mixed emotions for our College community. We had the exhilaration of a magnificent victory in the NSW Grand Final of the NRL Schoolboy Cup, the privilege of a visit by the parents of Jack Beasley, who spoke of their personal anguish around knife crime and youth violence, the glittering presentation ceremony for the Bishop’s Excellence Awards for 2025 where our recipient was Zac Armitage of Year 12, and finally, the honour of our Student Leaders being invited to attend the funeral of our former Catholic Education Office Executive Director, Mr Greg Whitby, after which our students were part of the guard of honour. Such is the circle of life – but in different ways, each of these events brought a new perspective on the journey of faith and education that we all undertake together.

Vale Greg Whitby AM
For those who knew him, Greg Whitby was a larger-than-life character with a burning passion for creating new and better models of learning. His impact on our diocesan schools, and Catholic education in general, was immense. As noted by Fr Thomas Stevens, celebrant at the funeral service this week – Greg was a person who dared to think big and would never die wondering. His legacy will live long in our hearts and minds.

Beasley Foundation
The presentation by Brett and Belinda Beasley was gut-wrenching and courageous, and while it is hard to imagine, you could have heard a pin drop in our College Hall for almost an hour as they shared their painful journey with 1100 students and staff. They were assisted very professionally by Glenn Clark, Youth Engagement Officer from the North West Police Youth Command, who explained and demonstrated Jack’s Law and new “wanding” laws that will hopefully save many lives into the future. This was a unique opportunity for our students and staff, and they responded with great maturity and empathy.

Liturgical Celebrations
Also in the last fortnight, we were involved in two very meaningful liturgical celebrations. The first event was the CSPD Education Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta, where we were represented by a small group of students along with their parents and grandparents. The second liturgy was much closer to home, when we celebrated our annual Father’s Day Mass with Nagle College at St Patrick’s Church, Blacktown. We had good support from both schools, with a large number of dads and grand-dads sitting next to their sons and daughters, enjoying a poignant and touching reflection by Fr Stephen on the importance of fathers in all our lives and circumstances.

Upcoming Events
In the next fortnight we look forward to the second week of Year 11 Examinations, the national final of the NRL Schoolboy Cup competition where will face the Queensland powerhouse Keebra Park State High School, our Year 12 Graduation Mass and Ceremony, and the election process for the 2026 Student Leadership team.

Thanks for your ongoing trust and support.

Brian Edmonds
Acting Principal

Acting Assistant Principal - Pastoral Care

What is more important at a school - The school's culture or the family's culture?

As a school, we have values and rules that we hold in great esteem:

We expect all students to be respectful during school prayers.
We expect all students to wear the correct uniform (and wear it properly).
We expect students to be polite and courteous and use appropriate language.

In turn, you can expect that we will do our absolute best to ensure your son is safe and well-taught at school. We are incredibly blessed and grateful that you chose to send your son to Patrician Brothers’ College, Blacktown.

It goes without saying that if a family enters into a school community and seeks enrolment for their son, they are entering into an agreement to be respectful of the school's history, traditions, rules and culture.

When it comes to the question of ‘what is more important at a school (between the school's culture or the family's culture)?’ The answer depends on how we frame "importance." Both school culture and family culture are hugely influential, but they play different roles in shaping a young person:

School Culture

Provides a shared environment that sets expectations for behaviour, learning, and community values.
Offers students a sense of belonging, safety, and purpose.
Shapes peer relationships, which often become increasingly influential in adolescence.
A strong, positive school culture can sometimes counteract negative influences outside of school.

Family Culture

Forms the first and most enduring influence on a child’s identity, values, and worldview.
Provides the foundation for a child’s beliefs, language, attitudes, and habits.
Offers emotional security and shapes how children see themselves and their place in the world.
Even when school culture is strong, family culture continues to have a lasting effect on long-term values and choices.

Which is most important for a young person? In early childhood, family culture tends to be more important because it’s the child’s first model of identity and values. However, as children grow, school culture often becomes equally (and sometimes more) influential, especially during teenage years when peer groups and wider social norms take hold.

If I were to travel to another country, as a guest, I would need to be respectful of their culture and traditions. For example:

When visiting a Church, I would need to be respectfully dressed and be respectful of the space and people in the Church. Failure to do so might result in me being asked to leave.
If I visited a Buddhist temple in Thailand, I would have to have my shoulders covered or I would be arrested.
When in public in Dubai, I cannot go to a restaurant or public place and consume alcoholic beverages or pork products or I would be arrested.
When waiting in the customs line at an airport (anywhere in the world), I must ensure I don’t make light of the airline's rules by talking about bombs or terrorism, or I would be arrested.

I am unable to plead ignorance when it comes to adhering to the rules, customs and cultures of others when visiting particular places and countries. I need to err on the side of being conservative and ensure I am educated about what is both explicitly expected and implied when visiting other parts of the world.

Our students are excellent at understanding the concept of time and place, and are very respectful of our school culture. For example, they are generally very respectful during College Masses and Liturgies. But there are some times when our students could ‘lift their game’.

Some examples we would appreciate some support in regards to building or maintaining our school culture include:

When representing the school especially in public (such as attending the Schoolboy Cup games), our boys have a tendency to sometimes forget they are representing themselves and their school by wearing earrings or the incorrect uniform. We must ensure we cheer and support our team respectfully and also ensure the opposition and their fans receive our respect.
Year 12 Graduation or special assemblies: as a school we don’t ‘yahoo’ or yell to single out one student. We support all students equally and with respect, such as clapping when appropriate.
We ensure all students when travelling to and from school are dressed in their school uniform correctly. Our students should leave home in the morning appropriately attired - including school tie worn correctly, correct coloured socks, College Blazer worn and shirt tucked in).

Of course there is overlap, but generally speaking, family culture shapes who a child is, while school culture shapes how they engage with the world. Both are essential, but family culture is the foundation, and school culture is the environment that builds on it. As a school, we have our greatest chance of success when school and family cultures work together. When they align on respect, learning, and wellbeing, the child experiences consistency and thrives.

David Sullivan
Acting Assistant Principal - Pastoral Care

Assistant Principal - Learning, Teaching and Innovation

Writing For Purpose
Classroom visits last week once again highlighted the strength and diversity of teaching and learning across our College. Teachers are continuing to provide students with well-structured, sequenced, and scaffolded writing tasks, which are being effectively complemented by interactive and collaborative learning experiences.

It was particularly pleasing to observe students engaging meaningfully with one another; communicating ideas, problem-solving, and sharing their knowledge and understanding. This blend of explicit instruction and collaborative practice created dynamic learning environments where students were both challenged and supported.

In many classrooms, students were not only deeply engaged in their work but were also clearly enjoying the challenges being presented to them. These moments reflect the positive culture of learning that our staff are fostering and the willingness of our students to embrace opportunities for growth.

We thank our staff for their dedication to create such purposeful and engaging learning experiences and commend our students for the enthusiasm and commitment they bring to their learning.

Year 9 2026 Subject selection
The subject selection process for Year 9 in 2025 has begun. As students in Year 8 transition into Stage 5 curriculum, students are able to make choices in their pattern of study, which are called Elective courses.

These Elective courses allow students to begin specialising in subject areas and developing knowledge and skills needed for courses in Stage 6. In addition to our traditional elective courses, we are very pleased to offer Accelerated Stage 5 Mathematics and Early Commencement VET courses in Hospitality and Retail Services. Enrolment in these subjects is by invitation only as they are offered in recognition of a student's academic excellence, effort and attendance in Stage 4.

Heath Borg
Assistant Principal
Learning, Teaching and Innovation

Religious Education and Mission

Thursday Morning Mass
We continue to celebrate Mass at 8:15am each Thursday morning in the College Chapel of All Saints. We welcome all students, staff members, and parents that wish to attend the Mass.

Bishop of Parramatta Award for Student Excellence
This prestigious annual award is nominated by the school principal and recognises a Year 12 student’s witness to their Catholic faith and outstanding contribution to the school community in areas such as academic excellence, sporting achievement, creative and performing arts, social justice and community involvement.

The award was presented to one outstanding Year 12 student from each school in the diocese by Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv. at a ceremony held at St Patrick’s Cathedral on September 4, and was attended by more than 300 people, including parents, school representatives and local community leaders. Each award recipient was acknowledged with a medallion and certificate.

We are proud to have nominated Zackary Armitage as the recipient of the award for Patrician Brothers’ College. Here is the citation that was read on the night by Year 11 student, Jeziah Fauula-Vaa.

The Patrician Charism calls us to see Christ in all people. As College Captain, Zackary approaches all situations with humility, compassion and care. Zackary’s generous nature extends to volunteering his time to many social justice initiatives in the school. Some of these include the College Community Breakfast, Vinnies Van, and fundraising for Caritas and the Delany Foundation. Zackary has also excelled in numerous extra-curricular activities, including public speaking, swimming, athletics, football, and he was a Special Religious Education Teacher.

As a faith-filled young man, Zackary actively embodies our College Patrician Pillars and is a most deserving recipient of this award.

Year 9 Reflection Day
Our Year 9 students gathered in the Patrician Learning Centre, Chapel, and Top Field last Wednesday to participate in their Reflection Day. The day focused on our College theme for 2025: Let Your Light Shine, and encouraged students to explore how God is calling them to be more through overcoming self-doubt and by celebrating the gifts and talents of each other.

Students were led in music ministry by guest presenter, Chris Doyle. Their Student Formation Leader, Ms Mercieca, and FIAT Coordinator, Ms Ellen Lombo, led them in team building activities. They also reflected on where God is leading them through an Ignatian Examen in the College Chapel. The day concluded with a Homeroom competition to create the best College cheer.

We thank Chris Doyle for joining us on the day, and we thank Ms Lombo, Ms Mercieca, Mr Huynh, and the Year 9 Homeroom Teachers for facilitating the day’s activities. We also thank the office staff for providing snacks at recess and delicious sausage sandwiches for lunch.

Father’s Day Mass
On Friday 5 September, we joined with the community of Nagle College to celebrate Father’s Day Mass at St Patrick’s Church, Blacktown. 30 of our students, and their fathers and grandfathers came to the Mass, which was celebrated by Fr Stephen Onyekwere. Fr Stephen’s homily was a highlight of the morning, with its uplifting message about the struggles and triumphs of fatherhood.

Thank you to all of the parents, grandparents, and students who attended the Mass. Thank you also to Mr Clemens Del Rosario and Mr Brian Edmonds for leading the singing, and Mr Greg Beacroft for delivering the welcome address.

Dean of Knowledge Management and Analytics

At the start of Term 4, students in Years 7 to 10 will participate in the ACER's Progressive Achievement Tests in Reading assessments as a reading diagnostic tool. This will be conducted in their English and Mathematics Classes on their devices.

PAT Reading and PAT Mathematics are thoroughly researched and normed assessments, specially designed by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), for Australian schools.

The purpose of the tests is to monitor student progress in Reading and Mathematics and to provide teachers with diagnostic information for setting realistic learning goals and planning effective programs.

The key features of the assessment are to:

Track student reading comprehension progress from Year 2 to Year 10, if the student has been in a CSPD school since Year 2.
Provide a picture of how student results compare with the results of students in the norm reference sample in the same year level across Australia.
Identify students who require help to develop literacy skills and students who would benefit from literacy extension.

For further information, please contact me at the College.

Mark Robinson
Dean of Knowledge Management an Analytics

Pathways and Partnership Update

Youth Engagement Strategy (YES) Update
This term saw the addition of Air Conditioning and Refrigeration to the very successful Youth Engagement Strategy program run by TAFE NSW.

We were privileged to be able to send three students to this course, where they attended Nirimba TAFE one day a week for 7 weeks, utilising the state of the art facilities. The course was an introduction and overview of the practical tasks/skills that would be required in a refrigeration/airconditioning workplace, including hand tools skill-building, use of power tools, pipework, and some electrical work.

Congratulations to Bailey Hall, Mitchell Pettitt and Julian Zofrea of Year 10 for their successful completion of the YES Air Conditioning and Refrigeration program!

Year 8 into Year 9 Subject Selections

The last fortnight has been an exciting time for our Year 8 students as they explored their options for choosing Elective subjects for 2026. This is the first time these students have had such control over their education and it was encouraging to see the mature and inquisitive approach from the students.

As part of the subject selection process, Year 8 students accessed Career Tools for the first time. Career Tools is the online careers resource our College subscribes to, offering our students a plethora of resources, quizzes and activities.

The Year 8 students focused on completing the “My Interests” and “Multiple Intelligences” quizzes as part of the subject selection process. This was done to help them draw links between their interests and strengths and the elective subjects on offer.

Well done Year 8 on taking such a huge step forward in their education journey as well their career development.

Year 12 - Reminders

With only a few weeks left of formal education for our Year 12 students, it is important to pass on some reminders:

For those students wishing to apply for university via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC), the early bird fee deadline is Tuesday 30 September. After this date, the UAC application fee will significantly increase from $82 to $215.
Year 12 students and their families are reminded to utilise the important information in the Year 12 Post School Options document that was sent out earlier this term via email and the Compass Newsfeed.
For those students wishing to apply for apprenticeships, traineeships or full-time employment, make sure your resume is in order. Drop in sessions will be available in Term 4 for students who need some assistance.

Marie Lane
Pathways and Partnerships Leader

Resource Centre Update

Online Resources for CSPD staff and students
Did you know that staff and students have a free digital library at their finger tips, filled with books, audio books, magazines, manga, comics and more?

Sora and E-Platform (wheelers) are available through the College’s eLibrary - through these platforms you can access a range of free texts that you can borrow to read and enjoy whenever you feel like.

Students and staff have access to Sora through the ACEN library, while E-Platform can be accessed through CSPD. Both digital libraries have mobile apps!

On top of having access to a wide range of texts, Sora has dyslexic font and a range of languages, while E-Platform also has diversity friendly text, coloured pages and a ‘read aloud’ function to help students read along.

Give your digital resources a go today by accessing the E-Library through the school favourites tab on Compass.

HSC Study Sessions at Blacktown Library
A reminder to all Year 12 students that Blacktown Library is holding FREE HSC study sessions on the following dates and times. This will be a great opportunity to get together with other students and study for your final exams.

Tuesday September 23rd 4:30-7:00pm FREE Study Sessions NO BOOKINGS NEEDED
Tuesday September 30th 4:30-7:00pm FREE Study Sessions NO BOOKINGS NEEDED

More information at:
https://www.blacktown.nsw.gov.au/Services/Blacktown-City-Libraries/Whats-On/HSC-Study-Help

Beth Head
Senior School Assistant - Resource Centre

Year 9 Commerce Trade Show

Commerce Trade Show
Last week we tested the sales and promotional skills of our Year 9 Commerce students with our Commerce Trade Show. Our young entrepreneurs organised and planned a small business venture that focused on selling and promoting a product or service to our target school market. The students thoroughly enjoyed the event and reported afterwards that 'business is fun', 'I now feel more confident in selling and speaking' and 'I want to run my own business soon'. As a College community we are very proud of the initiative and enthusiasm of our boys and we wish them all the best in any business venture they choose in the future.

Amal Smith
English and HSIE Teacher

RUOK Day

This week, we recognised RUOK Day at the College with a number of simple activities that highlighted the importance of looking out for the mental health of our mates.

In our Student Wellbeing lesson activities we encouraged the students to recognise the people they can trust and talk to in their lives. Reflective videos at assembly and then each morning in Homeroom showed us the power of a simple conversation with a mate. Then on Thursday we had Bronut Day where we encouraged everyone to buy two donuts and share them with a mate (bro) - along with a conversation to see how they were going. The week culminated with teamwork and healthy competition in an epic Staff vs Student basketball game.

This was a powerful week dedicated to reminding everyone that we're a community that looks out for each other - and that brotherhood can be real and practical.

NAIDOC Week

Last week our school celebrated NAIDOC Week with a range of fun and engaging activities.

Highlights included:

A scavenger hunt in the Resource Centre, exploring culture and history.

Hotly-contested Knockout Tug of War competitions for all year groups.

And of course, the much-anticipated Staff vs Students Oztag game, where the students once again claimed victory.

A big thank you to everyone who got involved in the celebrations and showing respect for the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. A special shout-out to Ms Plumridge who went above and beyond to make sure the week was a great success. This event has become one of the highlights of our annual calendar.

On Tuesday 02 September we were honoured to welcome Brett and Belinda Beasley to speak to the whole College community. In December 2019, 17-year-old Jack Beasley was fatally stabbed at Surfers Paradise and his parents Belinda and Brett now work tirelessly in schools across Australia to share their experiences and educate youth on the dangers of carrying a knife and the long-term effects of youth violence on the offenders, victims, and indirect parties including friends and families.

Glenn Clark, Youth Engagement Officer from the North West Police Command, joined the Beasleys and provided important information on knife legislation, Jack's Law, "wanding" procedures, and situational awareness in social situations for young people.

This was a powerful and relevant presentation for our students and we would like to express our thanks to Brett, Belinda and Glenn for their generosity and advice.

Merit Awards

Sports Report

NRL Schoolboy Cup - NSW Grandfinal

Patrician Brothers' College Blacktown
vs
Hunter Sports High

36 - 24

On Thursday 4 September Patrician Brothers' Blacktown competed in their third consecutive NSW Grand Final, this year against Hunter Sports High.

The match started strongly for Blacktown, with Jasais Ah Kee making a brilliant individual break before linking up with Riley Davis to score under the posts after only four minutes. Jasais then crossed himself in the 9th minute, after strong lead up work from Charlie Xuereb, giving Blacktown a 12–0 lead.

Hunter fought back, dominating possession over the next ten minutes through a combination of ill-discipline and a few Blacktown errors, which allowed them to level the scores at 12–12. Blacktown regained their composure and went on to score two more tries before half-time through Chris Petrus and Tyler Peken, taking the score to 22–12 at the break.

The second half saw both sides play attacking football. Blacktown extended their lead with tries to Chris Petrus (his second) and Asa Visesio, before Hunter responded with two tries of their own, narrowing the margin to just eight points with two minutes left. Hunter attempted a short kick-off, but Riley Davis gathered and raced away to score his second try, sealing the NSW title for Blacktown.

The Man of the Match was Jasais Ah Kee for the second consecutive year. His performance drew comparisons to fellow Patrician Brothers’ student and current Dolphins star, Isaiya Katoa.

NRL Schoolboy Cup - National Final

Patrician Brothers' College Blacktown
vs
Keebra Park State High School

Date: Thursday 18 September
Time: 1.50pm
Location: Leichardt Oval

After securing the NSW title, Blacktown will now face Queensland champions Keebra Park for the right to be crowned National Champions in 2025. Since 2012, Blacktown has qualified for eight National Finals, while Keebra Park has reached four, making them the two most consistent Rugby League schools in Australia.

This clash promises to be an absorbing contest, and our team will need to deliver their best performance of the year to claim the title. The match will be broadcast live on Channel 9, but we encourage as many supporters as possible to attend in person to cheer the team on in their quest to bring the national title back to Blacktown for the first time since 2012.

On Wednesday 3 September our College participated in the PDSSSC Athletics Championships at Sydney Olympic Park. All athletes who attended this carnival displayed determination and talent in their respective events. The day started with a wonderful moment when our U15 4x100m relay team won the gold medal with genuine cheers from the small number of Patties Boys in the grandstand. The relay team consisted of Marley Takataka, Kori Torrisheba, Sonny-Vini and Thomas Clarke.

The middle distance events displayed Harayan Singh with a well-deserved Bronze medal and Xavier Zahra with two Silver medals in the 800m and 1500m. Xavier is just returning from injury and will be a major contender for the upcoming CCC Championships.

Our sprinters displayed great speed, with electrifying performances from Marley Takataka, Zackary Armitage and Lopeti Tuita. Derrick Acellam showcased his sprinting ability across all three sprint events, achieving a Gold medal in the 400m and Bronze medals in the 200m and 100m.

The day was completed with our two strength and power athletes, Jeremiah Tatupu and Kalisi Aualiitia, both winning Gold medals in the Shot Put and Discus events. These were outstanding achievements from two very talented and humble young men.

Our Track and Field Athletes posted numerous personal-best times, throws and jumps. Our College should be extremely proud of our squad's participation and efforts on the day. Some notable performances on the day were as follows.

Xavier Zahra - 800m Silver medal, 1500m Silver medal
Harayan Singh - 1500m Bronze medal
Derrick Acellam - 400m Gold medal, 200m Bronze medal, 100m Bronze medal
Zackary Armitage - 100m Silver medal, 200m Silver medal
Marley Takataka - 100m Gold medal
Mason Dux - Discus Bronze medal
Jeremiah Tatupu - Shot Put Gold medal, Discus Gold medal
Kalisi Aualiitia - Shot Put Gold medal, Discus Gold medal

A big thank you to Mr Adnan Saleh who worked extremely hard all day in the heat and was very helpful with the organisation of athlete numbers and uniforms.

Robert Bangel
Go Patties Coach

26 Sep	Term 3 Concludes All day

13 Oct	Staff Development Day All day

14 Oct	Term 4 Commences for Students All day

14 Oct	HSC Examinations 14 Oct 2025 - 07 Nov 2025

Focus Newsletter - Term 3 Issue 4 - 2025