There are a variety of co-curricular activities on offer for students at St Patrick's. All students are encouraged to participate in some of the co-curricular programs available. These programs develop students’ confidence, talents and sense of responsibility.

Some of the opportunities available at St Patrick's include:

• Diocesan Sports Gala Days in soccer, cricket, netball, basketball, rugby, rugby league and more
• Opportunities to represent at Diocesan, MacKillop and State levels in a range of sports, including swimming, athletics, cross country, rugby league, rugby, soccer, cricket, netball, tennis, hockey
• Choral activities and school based talent expos
• Special assembly presentations
• Student leadership camps and conferences
• Sacramental retreat days
• University tests
• Art competitions – including the Christmas Story Art Competition
• Chess
• ACMA Cybersmart programs
• Restorative Personal Development and Wellbeing workshops
• School Talent Show
• SPLICED – Gifted and Talented program
• Environment Club – learn more here about our school's engagement with environmental education, action, stewardship and sustainability
• Mini Vinnies – including opportunities to organise and participate in social justice initiatives, raising funds and awareness for a range of causes

OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN A LANGUAGE

In 2019, St Patrick’s introduced a Japanese language program to students from Kindergarten to Year 2.

Once a week, the students engaged in learning the language through singing, games, conversational activities and role-playing, and responding to oral language such as greetings and classroom directions.

Units that were covered varied across classes, but included: Greetings, Self-Introductions, Numbers, The Writing Systems (Japan has three!), Colours, Animals, The Body, Food and Weather. Japanese celebrations and festivals were also incorporated into our program, as well as play with traditional Japanese children’s games and toys and the harmonious and mindful experience of Japanese tea ceremony.

Students learned to communicate and interact in inter-culturally appropriate and meaningful ways as they developed a deeper understanding of the Japanese culture and how this shapes Japanese language. For example, how language differs depending on hierarchical relations and formal/informal situations, and the need to maintain harmony and humility in social situations.

Japanese culture, history, art and food, and their influence on modern Australian society were also explored, as we hope to develop children’s appreciation and respect for cultural and linguistic diversity in our increasingly globalised world.

Moving forward, each classroom teacher will be able to choose to teach a language to their class that they are familiar with.