Place to belong, chance to excel
OPPORTUNITIES, pathways, brotherhood and belonging are the value statements St Brendan’s College embraces for its students, and according to Year 11 boarder, Steele Howard, from Tambo in Central Queensland, they are true on paper and in practice.
Steele is excelling at school, is a valued member of the college and boarding community, and has chosen vocational education and training subjects to study rather than traditional academic pathways, working towards his intended career in construction.
Taking advantage of Central Queensland’s largest manual arts and vocational education and training facility at the college, Steele is undertaking a Certificate II in Furniture Making Pathways, Certificate II in Engineering Pathways, Certificate II in Automotive Vocational Preparation and Certificate III in Fitness, on top of his core English and mathematics subjects.
“There is a fair bit of theory and a lot of practical work, and I really enjoy the hands-on element of these courses,” Steele said.
“My favourite subject is timber and furnishing and we’ve made a lazy susan, a wall mirror and an outdoor chair so far this year.
“I’d like to do a trade when I finish; hopefully a building
apprenticeship somewhere back home on the Central Highlands,” he said.
Starting as Year 10 boarder, following in the footsteps of his older brothers Jack, Will and Lok, and his father Jeff, a proud SBC Old Boy, and with his younger brother Ty in Year 9, the Howard family is one that can attest to the sense of brotherhood and belonging of St Brendan’s more than most.
“Especially in boarding, there are strong connections. I have mates from everywhere, and it’s good to learn about boys from all different backgrounds and where they’re from,” he said.
“I’m in McKennariey Dorm this year and although it’s the oldest it’s got a really good feel about it, and the boarding house parents really get to know you and talk to you individually,” he said.
St Brendan’s College is a Catholic day and boarding school in the Edmund Rice tradition, catering for young men from Years 7 to 12.
It is located on a beautiful 300-acre campus at Yeppoon on the Capricorn Coast.
For all boarding and enrolment inquiries for 2018 and 2019, contact the College on (07) 4939 9300 or email enrolments@sbc.qld.edu.au.