St Patrick's College, Shorncliffe

Infobox Aust school
name = Saint Patrick's College, Shorncliffe


motto = "Certa Bonum Certamen"
(Latin:"Fight the Good Fight")
established = 1952
type = Catholic
principal = Dr. Michael Carroll
city = Brisbane
state = Queensland
country = Australia| campus = Shorncliffe
enrolment = 1024
colours = Green & Gold
homepage = [http://www.stpatricks.qld.edu.au/ www.stpatricks.qld.edu.au]

St. Patrick's College (S.P.C) is a private, Roman Catholic, day school for boys', situated on the waterfront in Shorncliffe, north of Brisbane, in Queensland, Australia.

Established by the Christian Brothers in 1952, the college currently enrols approximately 1024 students across eight grades (Years 5 to 12). S.P.C. is one of eight member schools of the Associated Independent Colleges (A.I.C) and also competes in the Combined Independent Colleges (C.I.C) in the junior school. In recent years, St. Patrick's has grown both on the sporting and academic fronts and continues to improve on a yearly basis. Especially over the last three years where they have enjoyed enormous academic success, and outstanding QCS results, surpassing and outperforming rival colleges with higher-paying fees. The senior class of 2008 are set to improve upon this and become the most successful academic grade in the school's history. Definitely the Northside's 'best kept secret', St. Patrick's continues to grow in enrolment and enjoys a long waiting list of students, as news of the school's excellent cultural system and academia builds and grows from strength to strength. The College won their first "1sts" premiership ever in in 2006, when their Tennis team defeated Ashgrove.

The college's motto is "Certa Bonum Certamen" which may be translated from Latin as "Fight the Good Fight".

Facilities

*MorvenThe original school building, now the heart of the College, is in use as the main administration. The office building also has space for staff rooms, offices, a chapel and small teaching spaces.Originally the summer residence for the Governor of Queensland when Sandgate and Shorncliffe were popular tourist destinations. Fell into disuse and was referred to as a haunted house before Fr. Patrick O'Rourke purchased it for the establishment of a new school. Father Patrick bought Morven for $10000.
*Morrisey BuildingRecently renovated and extended to house the classrooms for grades 5-7 and senior Film and Television classes. With large classrooms adjoined by mini computer laboratories and two of the year seven classrooms opening on to a verandah with breathtaking views across Moreton Bay.
*Callan CentreThe most recent addition to the school, the Callan Centre houses classrooms for the drama, music and physical education departments, as well as the multi-purpose hall being in use for assemblies, concerts, examinations, presentations, sporting activities. The centre also features a rock climbing wall.
*Edmund Rice BuildingOne half of the main school building, Edmund Rice is home to the Resource Centre - the library, teaching space, seminar rooms and computer labs - as well as science laboratories and classrooms.
*O'Connor BuildingO'Connor is the second half to Edmund Rice and is where science and computer labs, classrooms, student support services, the Rita Prackert Tuckshop and the Parents and Friends Art Centre can be found.
*Dowd HallThe heart and soul of Ryan house and forms the quadrangle with Morven and the O'Connor building.
*Brother Saward Technology CentreHome to the Manual arts workshops, graphics rooms and computer laboratories
*Brother Rogers Learning Support CentreFormerly the Health and Physical Education Centre, but was reassigned to Learning Support on the completion of the Callan Centre.
*Duhig CourtA large landscaped area and amphitheatre commonly used at break and for year level meetings. Named for Archbishop Duhig, former Archbishop of Brisbane who was instrumental in the founding of the college. As of 2008, Duhig Court has been excavated for further renovation plans of the College.
*Pool & Max Graham GymNamed for Max Graham, an all-round exceptional early student who was a renowned sportsman and leader. Frequented by students training with Acceleration Australia for a variety of sports.
*Recording Studio Formerly a hair salon was to be demolished to allow for a larger Callan Centre, but the hairdresser held out for too much money and ended up not selling. After the Callan Centre was built it became the Troy Horse recording studio, hosting schools and bands from all over south-east Queensland. The garden out the back was an ideal recreation are for recording artists on their break. These artists became know as "Halfies", owing to the popular rumour that the recording studio was, in fact, a half way house. Acquired by the College in 2006.

Houses

There are six houses at St. Patrick's and all, bar one, are named after former Headmasters of the school. The houses are:
* Coffey
House Colour: Blue
House Motto: "Dedication and Participation"
Named after the first Principal of St Patrick's, Br. Coffey (1952-1957).
* Kennedy
House Colour: Purple
House Motto: "En Vintas Contende" (Latin:"?")
Named after the tenth Principal of St. Patrick's, Mr. John J. Kennedy (1995-1999).
* Mooney House Colour: Green
House Motto: -
Named after Brother Mooney, the fourth Principal of St. Patrick's (1966-1971).
* O'Rourke
House Colour: Gold
House Motto: "Together in Strength and Spirit"
Named after the Founder of St. Patrick's College, Father Patrick O'Rourke.
* Quane
House Colour: Red
House Motto: "Burning with Ambition"
Named after Brother Quane (1964-1965), the third Principal of St. Patrick's.
* Ryan
House Colour: White
House Motto: "With Unity Comes Success"
Named after Brother Ryan, the fifth headmaster of St.Patrick's (1972-1977).

Kennedy House is the newest addition to the vertical House system, with its inception in 2007.

Cultural Activities

* Musicals-2001 When the West was Warped
-2003 Back to the 80's
-2005 Guys and Dolls
-2007 The Hound of Music

chool Achievements

"TheatreSports"- The Saint Patrick's Theatre Sports team won second place in Queensland state final for 2007.fact|date=February 2008

Triple M "Cool School", July 1996.

Notable alumni

*Cheynee Stiller - Brisbane Lions AFL Player
*Darren Bowley - Australian Big Brother 2006 contestant
*Drew Mitchell - Western Force / Australian Rugby Union player
*Leroy Ah Ben - SBS World News reporter
*Michael Crocker - Melbourne Storm Rugby League Player/ Kangaroos 2007
*Tony Fitzgerald - The Honourable Justice Tony Fizgerald AC chaired Queensland's anti-corruption Inquiry in the late 1980s Fitzgerald Inquiry and several other Inquiries.
*Geoff Huegill - Former world champion and world record holding swimmer.
*Brendan Whitecross - Hawthorn Hawks AFL Player

International Connections

St. Patrick's has a student exchange program with two schools in North America; Vancouver College in Canada and Archbishop Moeller High School in the United States. Each year the college sponsors two year 11 students to attend each institution. The exchanges are set to coincide with the beginning of each school year, with the outgoing students studying in the tail end of the North American summer (end of term 3 in Brisbane). Incoming students attend St.Patrick's in late January and February. Past exchanges have been to the benefit of each school. On one occasion St. Patrick's students helped the implementation of a house system at Moeller. St. Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace students also travel to Moeller.

St. Patrick's students and staff also travel each year to South Africa as part of an Edmund Rice group. Each year the college hosts a fundraising dinner for the Mimiki Foundation,a charity helping both domestic charities and youth programs in South Africa. Guests at the Mimiki fundraisers have included Pete Murray, among others.

ee also

*List of schools in Queensland
*Associated Independent Colleges

External links

* [http://www.stpatricks.qld.edu.au St. Patrick's College website]