St. Patrick's College, Wellington

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St. Patrick's College
Image:Spclogosmall2.jpg
Motto Sectare Fidem
'Hold Firm to the Faith'
Type State integrated boys Secondary (Year 9-13)
Year established 1885
Address 581 Evans Bay Parade, Kilbirnie, Wellington
Principal Gerard Tully (Rector)
School roll 680
Socio-economic decile (10 is high) 7
Ministry of Education Institution no. 276
Website http://www.stpats.school.nz

Contents

[edit] History

St Patrick's College is the oldest Catholic boys' college in New Zealand. Founded by Archbishop Francis Redwood SM, it opened on June 1, 1885 with nine day boys and twelve boarders.

The College was one of the earliest establishments of the Society of Mary (Marists) the religious congregation whose members accompanied Bishop Jean Baptiste Pompallier to New Zealand and played a prominent role in the establishment of the Catholic faith in New Zealand. The first staff members were Irish Marists who came principally from the Marist College at Dundalk and their educational zeal and enthusiasm led to the establishment of a number of Catholic Colleges in New Zealand. In 1931 the College was intended to be moved to a more suitable site at Silverstream in the Hutt Valley but demand was high and eventually both the original establishment and the boarding section now transferred to Silverstream continued, thus allowing room for the expansion of day student numbers on the Cambridge Terrace site.

From that time the city college has been known by the nickname, St Pat's Town. The two Colleges bearing the same name have developed a shared history, camaraderie, fierce spirit of competition and healthy rivalry. That the two colleges were in fact meant to be one is shown most clearly in there being only one Old Boys’ Association. In 1979 St Patrick's College shifted from its Cambridge Terrace site to and entirely new facility near Kilbirnie Green in Evans Bay.

In 2005 the college celebrated its 120th year jubilee.

[edit] Educational Philosophy

At Saint Patrick's education is based on Catholic and gospel values embodied in the Marist tradition and philosophy in which each student is considered a unique individual. Growth in a nurturing and sustaining environment is sought in six facets: spiritual, academic, cultural, emotional, physical and social.

Day by day this means all students are involved in religious education classes, retreats, liturgies and masses designed to be participative opportunities for a lively faith suited to the young and involving them at all stages from preparation to celebration.

The resources of the College are established to assist parents as the "first educators" of their children. This partnership between the College and parents is a fundamental to the Marist approach to education.

Foundational to this philosophy is the Catholic belief that each person is created by God as a unique individual with a range of talents. Developing these gifts in the College community means that each boy is encouraged to do his best in every endeavour. The synthesis of this idea with the New Zealand and ANZAC spirit of attempting to achieve the best that can be in all circumstances is a unique feature of the College. It is also underpinned by the College’s wide range of courses and activities: In the curriculum this is manifest in different courses within the same subject are and by an expanding range of subjects. In sport it is achieved by entering teams at different levels, and by the diverse range of sports available to students In cultural activities there is tuition at different levels in art, music, drama, public speaking, and by educating students to be informed and appreciative listeners and viewers if their talents do not lie in performing.

Students at St Patrick’s share so much of their time and lives together that this develops a camaraderie and sense of belonging leading to life-long friendships. Pride in current achievements and in those who have gone before them is an integral part of pride in themselves and in their College. Belonging, community and family are powerful cohesive forces and provide the motivation to do one's best in all things.

Each student is encouraged to develop personal confidence and self-discipline. Standards of behaviour and appearance are clear, and all know exactly what is expected. The foundations of the College's approach to discipline are: Respect for oneself, Respect for others, Respect for society and Respect for the environment

These are placed within the context of loving God, loving one's neighbour, and an appreciation of creation.

[edit] Sporting

New Zealand in general has a huge sporting culture and this leaks into fierce competition at school-boy level. Over and above the winter and summer tournament weeks, the major events on the calendar are the following:

  • McEvedy Shield - Annual Athletics competition – involving the top 4 boys' schools in Wellington: Rongotai College, St Patrick's Wellington and Silverstream & Wellington College.
  • Old Boys Cup - Annual Athletics competition against brother college and arch-rivals St Patrick's Silverstream.
  • 1st XV Rugby Union season - Involving Rongotai College, Wellington College, Hato Paora College, St John’s College and St Patrick’s College Silverstream, St Patrick's College Wellington
  • St. John's College Sports Exchange - Annual winter sports exchange between the two schools in rugby, basketball, soccer, hockey and badminton. The venue of this event alternates each year, i.e. In 2005 it was held at St. Pat's and in 2006 it was held at St. John's.
  • St. Pat's Silverstream Sports Exchange - Annual winter sports exchange between the two schools in rugby, basketball, soccer, badminton, hockey and cross country running. The venue of this event alternates each year, i.e. In 2005 it was held at St. Pat's Silverstream and in 2006 it was held at St. Pat's Kilbirnie.
  • Wellington College Sports Exchange - Annual winter sports exchange involving the 1st XV rugby team and the 1st XI soccer team. The venue of this event alternates each year, i.e. In 2005 it was held at St. Pat's Kilbirnie and in 2006 it was held at Wellington College.

[edit] Notable Alumni

In 1910 while not actually a pupil of the College but its third Rector Fr David Kennedy SM together with two Marist seminarians, Joseph Cullen and Ignatius von Gottfried, whom Kennedy had trained, photographed Halley's Comet. Their photographs are considered among the best in the world for that passaage of the comet and were republished in the United States by NASA in 1986. Kennedy continued as Rector until 1917 and was a fellow of the Royal Astronomical and Royal Meteorological societies.

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