St Patrick's College, Campbelltown

Saint Patricks College is a private, Good Samaritan catholic girls day school located in Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia. Established in 1840, it was the first school built by private enterprises in NSW. The school focus' on teaching students to live by the Benedictine Values of Listening, Compassion, Community, Word of God, Prayer, Balance, Stewardship, Healing, Hospitality, Humility, Partnership and Peace.

It currently enrols about 850 students, most of whom are from Campbelltown and the surrounding areas. Its current principal is Sue Lennox.

History

St Patrick's College was established in 1840. It was the first school built by private enterprise in the colony of New South Wales and was the result of the initiative of the Catholic people of the Campbelltown area in association with the priest responsible for the district, Fr Gould.

This original school was built on three acres of land donated by Mary Sheil, wife of Dennis Sheil and daughter of local pioneer, William Bradbury and named St Patrick's. The original building still stands today and is now known as ‘Quandong’, which houses the Campbelltown Historic Exhibition, Tourist Information Centre and the St Patrick's museum.

Teachers from the general community staffed this early St Patrick's until 1887 when the Sisters of the Good Samaritan assumed responsibility for the school. In 1888, after the completion of the new St John's church in Cordeaux Street, a convent and school was established at the 'old’ St John's ‘on the hill’ building and took its name from the original St Patrick's at ‘Quandong’.

The final change in location came in 1970 when St Patrick's moved from ‘old’ St John's to its present location. This site was originally a Preparatory School for Boys named St John's or "Westview" and was also conducted by the Sisters of the Good Samaritan. From 1970 until today the College has continued to grow and now has an enrolment of over 730 students from Years 7 - 12.

While recognising the origin of the school and the contribution of both the members of the laity and the religious orders in the mission of the Church, the strong presence of the Good Samaritan Sisters at St Patrick's for over one hundred and sixteen years has contributed significantly to the heritage, tradition and spirituality of the school.

Mission

The mission of St Patrick's College is to educate our students for lifelong learning so that, informed by Gospel values and the traditions and spirit of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan, they grow into contributing members of church and society.

St Patrick's is a Catholic College, which exists for the good of its students. Teaching and learning are organised to provide a breadth of educational experiences that challenge the creativity, initiative and ability of each student.

Through their participation in the community of St Patrick's College, students, parents and staff encounter the interconnectedness of life and, in a spirit of Benedictine stewardship, learn to reverence the whole of creation.

The preceding Mission Statement of St Patrick's College aims to capture the direction of the College and is used as a basis and a guide for all other policies drawn up within the College. As such it provides the school community with an easily remembered and identifiable statement of the ideals and mission of the College as an educational institution.

The College provides its students with a sound modern education in a caring environment. The education is concerned with each student's total development: spiritual, social, intellectual, emotional and physical. Included in the curriculum will be religious instruction in accordance with the teachings of the Catholic Church.

In all its aspects and ways of operating, St Patrick's College, as a Christian community, values the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the norm for its life and work.

"The Sisters shall be convinced that no work of charity can produce greater good for society, nor promote more the happiness of the poor than the careful instruction of women, since, in whatever state they are destined to live, their example and their admonitions will always have great influence....." From The Rules of Archbishop Polding.

Curriculum

Vocational Education - VET

Business Services, Hospitality - Kitchen Operations

Facilities

• Tennis/Netball/Running Courts
• Football Oval
• Top Oval
• Mary Sheil Function Centre
• Caroline Chisholm Art Complex
• Maths Complex
• Westview Building
• Therry Wing
• PE Lab
• Library
• Science Labs
• Computer Labs

Student life

Annual activities

The school's annual activities include:

• Combined Dances between Saint Patricks College and St Gregorys College
• Musical, Combined between Saint Patricks College and St Gregorys College
• Senior Trivia Night
• PACMAN- Performing Arts Challenge
• Saint Patricks Day Cross Country
• Mass
• Year 12 Formal

Co-curricular

The St Patrick's College Tuesday Afternoon Sport/Activities Program aims to enhance students' self-esteem and confidence, improve their capacity to manage challenging movement situations and encourage participation in a wide range of physically active recreational, sporting and leisure activities.

Choir

Activities that are offered throughout the year include: aerobics, circuit, pump, spin and body combat fitness classes, indoor rock climbing, yoga, dance, ten-pin bowling, tennis, competitive aerobics, martial arts and gymnastics. It is also a compulsory part of activities that all Year 10 students participate in a self-defence course.

• Beginner Band
• Choir
• Dance
• Debating/Public Speaking
• Mock Trial
• Tournament of the Minds
• Glee
• Musicals
• Instrumental
• Ensemble
• Pacman
• Polynite

Social Justice

• Environmental Council
• St Vincent de Paul
• Ministry Outreach
• Goodooga Immersion

Sport

• Activities
• Swimming Carnival
• Cross Country
• Macarthur Independent Schools Association Sport MISA
• Athletics Carnival
• Eat it Work it Move it

House system

There are four houses, each named after a significant female figures to Australia:

• Chisholm - Yellow House, Named after Caroline Chisholm, known for her involvement with female immigrant welfare in Australia.
• Lyons - Blue House, Named after Dame Enid Lyons, known for being the first women to be elected to the Australian House of Representatives and being the first women appointed to the federal Cabinet.
• Kenny - Green House, Named after Elizabeth Kenny, known for being an unaccredited nurse who promoted a controversial new approach to the treatment of poliomyelitis.
• Gilmore - Red House, Named after Dame Mary Gilmore, known for being an Australian socialist poet and journalist.

Associated schools

• St Gregory's College
• John Therry Catholic High
• Mt Carmel Catholic High
• Magdalene Catholic High

Other Good Samaritan Schools The College is a sister school to other Good Samaritan schools in Australia and overseas - St Marys Star of the Sea College (Wollongong NSW), Mater Dei School (Camden, NSW) Mt. St. Benedict College (Pennant Hills NSW), Stella Maris College (Manly NSW), Rosebank College (Five Dock NSW), St. Scholasticas College (Glebe NSW), Mater Christi College (Belgrave VIC), Santa Maria College (Northcote VIC), Lourdes Hill College (Hawthorne QLD), Seiwa Junior and Senior High School (Sasebo Japan), Kinder School (Bacolod, Philippines).

Alumni

The school alumni participate in funding and regular events at the school

Newsletter

The College publishes a fortnightly newsletter (INSIDE OUT) which contains information of importance to parents/caregivers and is distributed to parents/caregivers via the students in their Home Rooms. The College WEBSITE (http://www.saintpatricks.nsw.edu.au) is another media for accessing important information as well as The FLAME a twice yearly full colour publication.

References