St Patrick's College, Mackay
Encyclopedia
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 Eamon Hannan.
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:
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:
trips for Biology & a trip to the Mackay Aerodrome for Aerospace, but there are also specialised excursions that are somewhat "bigger." There has also been a three day excursion to Brisbane for the Year 12 Aerospace class. Since 2005, there has been a tradition 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
and Peru
. 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.
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. In 2008, the college presented Godspell
and in 2009 travelled to New Zealand for the Rhapsody Rotorua music festival and the 25th Australasian Handbell Symposium. In 2010 the college presented the musical inspired by Elvis "All Shook Up".
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.
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:
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.
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:
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.
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:
Named after Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice, the founder of the Christian Brothers
.
Named after Catherine McAuley, a Catholic nun who founded the Sisters of Mercy
.
Named after Jean-Claude Colin, founder of the Society of Mary (Marists).
Named after Caroline Chisholm, social reformer and pioneer in Sydney.
Catholic school
Catholic schools are maintained parochial schools or education ministries of the Catholic Church. the Church operates the world's largest non-governmental school system...
in Mackay, Queensland
Mackay, Queensland
Mackay is a city on the eastern coast of Queensland, Australia, about north of Brisbane, on the Pioneer River. Mackay is nicknamed the sugar capital of Australia because its region produces more than a third of Australia's cane sugar....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. St Patrick's is the only school in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
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 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 onlyCourses
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:
- Accounting
- Aerospace Studies
- Ancient History
- Biology
- Business Communication & Technologies
- Chemistry
- Drama
- Economics
- English
- English Extension ‐ Literature (Year 12 Only)
- Film, Television & New Media
- Geography
- Graphics
- Home Economics
- Information Processing & Technology
- Information Technology Systems
- Japanese
- Legal Studies
- Marine Studies
- Mathematics A
- Mathematics B
- Mathematics C
- Modern History
- Multi Strand Science
- Music
- Physical Education
- Physics
- Study of Religion
- Technology Studies
- Visual Art
Vocational education and training course
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:
- Business Procedures
- Early Childhood Studies
- English Communication
- Hospitality Practices
- Information and Communication Technology
- Manufacturing — Certificate I in Construction
- Manufacturing — Certificate I in Engineering
- Manufacturing — Furnishing Studies
- Pre Vocational Maths
- Recreation Pursuits
- Religion & Ethics
College excursions
St Patrick's College holds many excursions for various subjects, such as reefGreat Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is the world'slargest reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,600 kilometres over an area of approximately...
trips for Biology & a trip to the Mackay Aerodrome for Aerospace, but there are also specialised excursions that are somewhat "bigger." There has also been a three day excursion to Brisbane for the Year 12 Aerospace class. Since 2005, there has been a tradition of taking the new Grade 11 students on a three day trip to Hamilton Island
Hamilton Island
Hamilton Island may refer to:* Hamilton Island , Australia** Hamilton Island Race Week, keelboat regatta** Great Barrier Reef Airport, formerly Hamilton Island Airport* Hamilton Island , Canada...
(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
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
twice, China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
. 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
The Wizard of Oz (adaptations)
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a 1900 novel by L. Frank Baum, which has been adapted into several different works, the most famous being the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, starring Judy Garland...
or West Side Story.The production is a compilation of the college's Stage Band, Choir, Percussion Ensembles and Drama Groups. In 2008, the college presented Godspell
Godspell
Godspell is a musical by Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak. It opened off Broadway on May 17, 1971, and has played in various touring companies and revivals many times since, including a 2011 revival now playing on Broadway...
and in 2009 travelled to New Zealand for the Rhapsody Rotorua music festival and the 25th Australasian Handbell Symposium. In 2010 the college presented the musical inspired by Elvis "All Shook Up".
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.
Spiritual life
- 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
Catholic school
Catholic schools are maintained parochial schools or education ministries of the Catholic Church. the Church operates the world's largest non-governmental school system...
, 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.
Sporting 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:
- SwimmingSwimming (sport)Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
- AthleticsAthletics (track and field)Athletics is an exclusive collection of sporting events that involve competitive running, jumping, throwing, and walking. The most common types of athletics competitions are track and field, road running, cross country running, and race walking...
- Cross-CountryCross country runningCross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
- NetballNetballNetball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball ...
- Touch FootballTouch football (rugby league)Touch is a field sport also known as Touch Football, or in some countries as Touch Rugby. Touch is overseen worldwide by the Federation of International Touch . Touch has traditionally been played in Australia and New Zealand but the sport has expanded internationally and features many regional and...
- BasketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
- Rugby leagueRugby leagueRugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
- Rugby UnionRugby unionRugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
- Football
- TennisTennisTennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
- HockeyHockeyHockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
- Waterpolo
- VolleyballVolleyballVolleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
- CricketCricketCricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
/Indoor CricketIndoor cricketIndoor cricket is a variant of and shares many basic concepts with cricket. The game is most often played between two teams each consisting of eight players, in matches featuring two innings of sixteen 7-ball overs each... - FutsalFutsalFutsal is a variant of association football that is played on a smaller pitch and mainly played indoors. Its name is a portmanteau of the Portuguese futebol de salão and the Spanish fútbol de salón , which can be translated as "hall football" or "indoor football"...
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 are:
- RiceEdmund Ignatius RiceBlessed Edmund Ignatius Rice , was a Roman Catholic missionary and educationalist. Edmund was the founder of two orders of religious brothers: the Congregation of Christian Brothers and the Presentation Brothers....
, Colour: White.
Named after Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice, the founder of the Christian Brothers
Congregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
.
- McAuleyCatherine McAuleyThe Venerable Mother Catherine Elizabeth McAuley was an Irish nun, who founded the Sisters of Mercy in 1831...
, Colour: Blue.
Named after Catherine McAuley, a Catholic nun who founded the Sisters of Mercy
Sisters of Mercy
The Religious Order of the Sisters of Mercy is an order of Catholic women founded by Catherine McAuley in Dublin, Ireland, in 1831. , the order has about 10,000 members worldwide, organized into a number of independent congregations....
.
- ColinJean-Claude ColinThe Venerable Jean-Claude Colin, S.M. was a French priest who became the founder of the Society of Mary ....
, Colour: Red.
Named after Jean-Claude Colin, founder of the Society of Mary (Marists).
- ChisholmCaroline ChisholmCaroline Chisholm was a progressive 19th-century English humanitarian known mostly for her involvement with female immigrant welfare in Australia. She is commemorated on 16 May in the Calendar of saints of the Church of England...
, Colour: Gold.
Named after Caroline Chisholm, social reformer and pioneer in Sydney.
External links
- Principal's Daily Pics - Photoblog updated regularly with photos of various events happening within the school
- Mackay District War Memorials - Website naming the former CBC students who served in World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...