During the week 11 Formation program, each House listened to speeches from their potential leaders for 2021. Year 11 students from each House spoke about their strengths, their potential and their aspirations for their House for 2021. It was encouraging to see so many boys willing to put themselves forward for formal leadership roles and to serve the Eddies community and the students in their House. We look forward to welcoming our House Leaders in the coming weeks following the election process.
We also took the opportunity during Formation to launch the St Vincent de Paul Christmas appeal. St Edmund’s is a school built on service and this Christmas season that we can focus on giving to the most vulnerable members of our local community. Our students are being encouraged to donate non-perishable, festive food to create hampers to support Canberrans in need.
As we come to the end of a challenging year, giving and serving provides us with an opportunity to engage and connect. Research shows that being part of a community can have a positive effect on mental health and emotional wellbeing because community involvement provides a sense of belonging and social connectedness. It can also offer extra meaning and purpose to everyday life (headtohealth.gov.au). Whether it be through contributing to the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal, applying for leadership positions, coaching sports teams, mentoring younger students in co-curricular programs or volunteering, there are many service opportunities available for our students at St Edmund’s College.
Claire Devlin
Head of Clancy House