St Patrick's College, Mackay

Infobox Aust school
name = St Patrick's College

| motto = "Seek Christ"
established = 1929 (founded as "Christian Brothers College")
type = Catholic School
principal = Mr Eamon Hannan
principal = Mr Eamon Hannan
city = Mackay
state = Queensland
country = Australia
campus = Inner City (Mackay)
enrolment = ~500 (11-12)
colours = Blue, White, Red & Gold
homepage = [http://www.stpats.qld.edu.au/ www.stpats.qld.edu.au]

St Patrick's College is a co-educational Catholic school, in Mackay, Queensland, Australia. St Patrick's is the only school in Queensland that offers education only to Years 11 and 12. From 1929/30 two single-sex Catholic Colleges - Christian Brothers' College and what was latterly Our Lady of Mercy College - operated in the district, but since 1987, the schools have become co-educational, Mercy College for Years 8 to 10 and St Pat's for Years 11 and 12. The college's motto is "Seek Christ", which reflects one of the College's main aims, to develop the person spiritually. The current principal is Mr Eamon Hannan.

History

St Patrick's College was originally founded in 1929 as St Patrick's Christian Brothers College, an all-boys school. The school was situated on the Gregory Street site which is the main campus of the current school. From the 1870s, the river side of today's St Patrick's College was occupied by St Joseph's Convent School (later St Patrick's Convent School). On the closure of the convent primary school, the Christian Brothers' College obatined the use of the river side land. On the river side was CBC's primary school and on the Gregory Street side was CBC's secondary school. In 1987 St Patrick's became what it is today. Our Lady of Mercy College (an all-girls school) became Mercy College, a co-educational school for junior high school (Years 8-10) and St Patrick's became a co-educational school for Years 11 and 12 only

Mission statement and college prayer

St Patrick's College current mission statement, as quoted from the 2006 school diary, is:
"St Patrick's College is a partnership between student, staff and parents providing an environment of learning, personal growth and faith development while recognising students as young adults."

The College Prayer is a prayer written specifically for the members of the college community, and it is recited on various occasions throughout the school year. The prayer is as follows:

"God our Father, bles the community of St Patrick's. Help us all - students, staff, parents and friends to grow in strength as Christians and be a good example to all."

"Encircle us with your loving care."

"To the sick grant health, to the aged bring serenity, and to those in sorrow, joy."

"Through the intercession and example of St Patrick, our College Patron, and Mary, our Mother of Perpetual Help, may we grow in faith and may our love for you and one another become deeper in our daily lives."

Courses

There are two courses available at St Patrick's College. One is an Academic (O.P.) course, the other is a Vocational Education & Training (VET) course.

Academic course

An academic course is a course consisting of at least five (5) O.P. subjects. These are academic subjects where the course content is determined by the Queensland Studies Authority (QSA) and subject results contribute toward the calculation of the overall position (O.P.), which is the score used to gain entry to tertiary institutions at degree or diploma level. Subject matter and assessment are academic in nature and achievement is measured against strict criteria.

Students following an academic course gain a senior certificate from the Queensland Schools Authority and are eligible for an overall position (OP). The following O.P. subjects are available for study at St Patrick's College:
*Aerospace Studies
*English
*English Extension (Year 12 only)
*Japanese
*Ancient History
*Modern History
*Geography
*Economics
*Legal Studies
*Mathematics A
*Mathematics B
*Mathematics C
*Chemistry
*Physics
*Biological Science
*Multi Strand Science
*Accounting
*Business Communication & Technologies
*Information Processing & Technology
*Information Technology Systems
*Home Economics
*Graphics
*Technology Studies
*Art
*Film, Television and New Media
*Music
*Study of Religion
*Drama
*Physical Education.

Vocational education and training course

The VET course is available for students who do not wish to go university and want to go straight into work after the completion of their schooling. These vocationally oriented subjects aim to prepare students for apprenticeships, direct entry into the workforce or for subsequent TAFE vocational courses. These subjects incorporate assessment in workplace competencies and modules that may contribute toward later study.

Students following a Vocational Educational course select at least three (3) Voc Ed subjects and take part in structured work placement as part of their course. These subjects appear on the senior certificate but do not contribute toward an OP score. Nationally accredited competencies attained in individual subjects will be listed on the senior certificate. The following VET subjects are available for study at St Patrick's College:
*Religion & Ethics
*Hospitality Practices
*Recreation Pursuits
*English Communication
*Computer Studies
*Trade & Business Maths
*Industrial Skills Strand A (Construction)
*Industrial Skills Strand B (Engineering)
*Industrial Skills Strand C (Furnishing)
*Industrial Skills Strand F (Practical Applications)
*Early Childhood Education.

College excursions

St Patrick's College holds many excursions for various subjects, such as reef trips for Biology & a trip to the Mackay Aerodrome for Aerospace, but there are also specialised excursions that are somewhat "bigger." Since 2005, there has been a tradion of taking the new Grade 11 students on a three day trip to Hamilton Island (in 2007 this trip was postponed due to a cyclone in the region). The purpose of this induction excursion is for the students to get to know each other better, and get to know the teachers as real people, all in a relaxed atmosphere. In addition to the induction excursion, St Patrick's College organises a yearly overseas venture for a small group of students interested in travelling to other countries. The destinations so far have been India twice, China, South Africa, Peru and in 2009 there will be two trips to India and Egypt/Jordan. These overseas ventures purposely take the students to non-western nations, so the students can gain an insight into other cultures, can see different ways of thinking, and to gain a better understanding of what it is to be human.

Cultural life

There is a wide selection of cultural activities available within the college. Many students exhibit talent in public speaking, drama, music and the visual arts. St Patrick's College provides students with opportunities to further their creative skills, and encourages participation in cultural activities both in the college and the wider Mackay community.

The college participates in interschool debating and encourages students to enter competitions such as Lion's Youth of the Year, Youth Speaks for Australia, Rostrum Public Speaking and so on. The college has established an enviable record in the areas of dramatic performance, debating and public speaking, with St Patrick's being State Champions of Queensland in the Apex Debating Competition in 2005 and 2006, and National Champions in 2004. Debating is arguably the school's most successful extracurricular, non-sporting activity.

St Patrick's College provides opportunities for students to develop their musical talents and provides opportunities for performance. Musical tuition is available through the college in brass, woodwind and percussion, and Music is available as a subject to study. Students have the opportunity to play in the stage band and concert bands which are combined bands with Mercy College Mackay. The St Patrick’s choir has attained a high reputation in the community and the handbell ensemble (being one of the largest in the southern-hemisphere) is a unique and challenging musical experience for students. In 2006, the handbell ensemble attended the World Handbell Symposium in Brisbane and were delighted to receive the top mark in Youth strand for their performance.

Unlike previous years, 2007 displayed the new "Bars" Musical Production which was created by the college unlike its previous musicals adaptations such as "The Wizard of Oz" or "West Side Story". The production is a compilation of the college's Stage Band, Choir, Percussion Ensembles and Drama Groups.

The college also hosts a cultural dinner and cultural soiree to showcase and acknowledge students’ talents and achievements. The lunchtime comedy theatre is one of the year’s attractions. St Pats regularly produces musicals or theatre restaurants, and participates in the Mackay Festival of the Arts.

piritual life

At St Patrick's College, all students "must" study a religion subject, and the college views those subjects as having the same status and importance as all other subjects in the college. Students have a choice to study either:
*Religion & Ethics or
*Study of Religion.

Both subjects are approved by the Queensland Studies Authority (QSA) and results from both subjects will appear on students’ senior certificates. Results from Study of Religion can contribute towards students’ O.Ps. Results from Religion & Ethics, however, do not contribute towards a student's O.P score.

As St Patrick's College is a Catholic school, the College participates in various liturgies, masses and other Catholic events. While it is not a requirement to be Catholic to be enrolled at the College, all students are expected to be respectful and reverent during times of prayer within the College.

porting life

St Patrick's students are encouraged to participate in the many sports offered within the college. They can choose to study the subjects Physical Education or Recreation Pursuits in Years 11 and 12, which cover the theoretical and practical sides of sport. Physical Education contributes towards a students O.P score, but Recreation Pursuits does not.

An aquatics carnival, athletics carnival, triathlon, and a cross-country involve students in inter-house competition. The College sees these carnivals as an important part of school life and attendance is compulsory. In addition, there are inter-school carnivals and trials days in the following sports:
*Swimming
*Athletics
*Cross-Country
*Netball
*Touch Football
*Basketball
*Rugby league
*Rugby Union
*Football
*Tennis
*Hockey
*Waterpolo
*Volleyball
*Cricket/Indoor Cricket
*Futsal

St Patrick's is well represented each year in various sports at the highest level possible for school sport. St Patrick’s reputation for sporting excellence has been hard won and provides a source of pride not only for immediate members of the college community but the wider community as well.

Houses

The houses at St Patrick's College are all named after significant members of the Catholic Church. Rice is named after the founder of the Christian Brothers, McAuley is named after the founder of the Sisters of Mercy, Colin is named after the founder of the Marists (Society of Mary), and Chisolm is named after an Australian pioneer who helped numerous poor women on the wharves of Sydney. As of 2004, the house have been separated along gender and year level lines, for example, in 2004 Rice house was year 12 boys.

The houses are:
*Rice, Colour: White. Named after Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice, the founder of the Christian Brothers.
*McAuley, Colour: Blue. Named after Catherine McAuley, a Catholic nun who founded the Sisters of Mercy.
*Colin, Colour: Red. Named after Jean-Claude Colin, founder of the Society of Mary (Marists).
*Chisholm, Colour: Gold. Named after Caroline Chisholm, social reformer and pioneer in Sydney.

Gallery

ee also

*Our Lady of Mercy College, Mackay
*Bars (musical)."

External links

* [http://stpatspics.blogspot.com/ Principal's Daily Pics] - Photoblog updated regularly with photos of various events happening within the school
* [http://www.mackayhistory.org/research/war_memorials/mackay_st_pats.html Mackay District War Memorials] - Website naming the former CBC students who served in World War II