About

From the Principal

Home Page > About > From the Principal

I have the privilege of being the Principal of St Patrick’s College for Girls and I am delighted to welcome you to our school.

The College has a rich and proud history being one of the oldest Catholic Independent schools in Australia. Wanting a Catholic education for their children, the Irish settlers of Campbelltown founded the College and raised money to build a schoolhouse. Bishop Bede Polding OSB blessed the foundation of this new school named St Patrick’s on 17 March in 1840 and lay teachers were employed for over forty years. In 1857, Bishop Polding established the Sisters of the Good Samaritan of the Order of St Benedict, an Australian order of religious and they assumed responsibility for the College in 1887.

Thus our heritage is underpinned by our rich Benedictine history, and we are an inclusive Catholic community in the tradition of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan

We are a school of excellence that provides opportunities for student leadership and we take pride in maximising every girl’s future pathway.

Our Values

  • love of neighbour
  • prayer
  • stability
  • conversation
  • obedience
  • discipline
  • humility
  • hospitality
  • community
  • justice and peace
  • stewardship

We are a community where the:

"Strong have something to strive for and the weak have nothing to run from"

Prologue of St Benedict (RB)

These values and our sense of community enliven our relationships and underpin our approach to Academic Care.

Our College Motto

Our College Motto “The Lord is my light” is a reminder to all within our community that we too, share in Christ's mission to be a light for others. Our girls are encouraged, through a range of co-curricular activities, to shine their light and to use their many and unique gifts and talents to enrich our College community.

Where Girls Can Thrive

We are not just a school with girls in it. We take seriously our commitment to the specific education of young women and believe that as an all girls’ school our girls are able to maximise their potential by offering an extensive curriculum in a highly supportive and inclusive environment of Academic Care. We are dedicated to supporting young women to achieve their personal best and to strive for excellence.

Underpinned by contemporary and relevant pedagogy, staff use strategies which are differentiated and promote curiosity, collaboration, accessibility, creativity, as well as academic rigour.

Our hope for the young women at St Patrick's is that they will graduate knowing who they are, what possibilities lay before them, and how they can make a difference in our world.

Our deep spiritual tradition combined with an emphasis on contemporary pedagogy ensures a vibrant learning community where students are valued and can pursue their extensive gifts and interests in a caring environment.

Our dream for your daughters is that they:

  • Are spiritually aware within the Good Samaritan Benedictine tradition
  • Pursue their personal best and are committed to excellence
  • Have respect for self, others and their environment
  • Demonstrate leadership
  • Exercise social and ethical responsibility
  • Value and contribute to their community
  • Are discerning and innovative thinkers

Our quality education program is developed by highly experienced teaching and support staff. We are proud of the authentic and dynamic experiences we are creating for today’s young women, ensuring they are equipped to step into the world as young women of faith, integrity, resilience, compassion and purpose.

I look forward to welcoming you and your family into our community as we work together in supporting our girls to mature into confident young women.

Mary Leask
College Principal

Would you like to see our Prospectus and learn about the 'St Pat's Advantage?' Click here

Our mission at the College is to educate students for life long learning.