I hope that you have had a successful Term 3 and you are looking forward to the mid-semester break. Term 3 has been busy. In addition to the demands of the day to day timetable, the College’s co-curricular program peaks in Term 3 each year. We had a wonderful celebration of our performing arts talent in the Cabaret in August, as well as the finals and conclusion to our winter sports seasons. All of these activities take time and commitment from many people: staff, students and families. I would like to thank everyone involved with the co-curricular program.

It was pleasing to see many parents attend the parent-teacher interviews last night. Communication about each student’s engagement and progress between school and home is an important ingredient in helping our boys achieve their potential. I hope that the feedback was useful for parents and carers to support and engage with their son’s academic work for the remainder of the year.

Our Year 12s are approaching their finish line. They have their Formal this Friday night at the Arboretum and will only have five weeks of classes next term before they commence their exams. We wish them well for a positive and successful finish to their time at Edmund’s.

We will be holding a parent information night for our current Year 12 parents and carers on Wednesday 11 October in the Edmund Rice Centre from 6.00pm – 7.00pm. We ask that at least one parent or carer attends this evening. Mr Zavone will be outlining end of year processes and expectations.

We look forward to Mr Zavone’s return to the College at the beginning of Term 4. I would like to acknowledge two staff who have taken on leadership roles in Joe’s absence. Firstly, Margaret Maher, as acting Deputy Principal. Margaret has worked tirelessly in the role to ensure that the school has continued to run smoothly and progressed several initiatives. I would also like to thank Kylie Rose who has been busy with some of our day-to-day operations in the Operations Coordinator role since the middle of Term 1.

As we approach the end of 2023 we are already preparing for the beginning of 2024. In recent weeks, our Year 11 students have gone through the selection process for our senior leadership positions for the High School for 2024. This process involved a focussed leadership day exploring servant leadership, a series of interviews, and a speech presented in front of their Yr 11 or House peers.

Once again, we have been very impressed with the quality of our elected leaders and look forward to working with them in 2024. I am extremely confident they will do an outstanding job. Our Junior School leaders for 2024 are currently in the middle of their selection process. All leaders will be presented to the whole school at an assembly on Wednesday 11 October.

Our 2024 High School Leaders

• Ben Martens – College Captain Inclusive Community
• Clay Meddemmen – College Vice-Captain Justice and Solidarity
• Rory Forbes – College Vice-Captain Liberating Education
• Noah Hamels – College Vice-Captain Gospel Spirituality

• Clancy House Captain – Harvey McLean
• Clancy House Vice-Captain – Thomas Henningsen

• Mulrooney House Captain – Finn Gibson
• Mulrooney House Vice-Captain – Ethan Guthrie

• O’Brien House Captain – Bronson Brown
• O’Brien House Vice-Captain – Thomas Hatchman

• Haydon House Captain – Isaac Dokonal
• Haydon House Vice-Captain – Tipa Vaili

• Rice House Captain – Zeal Taiatini
• Rice House Vice-Captain – Lachlan Hardy

• Treacy House Captain – Henry Meggitt
• Treacy House Vice-Captain – William Gabriel

Dear Lord,
Grant that we may live each day to the full, inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Let us cast away all worries and concerns into your divine care.
Christus Lux Mea
Give us strength to confront all challenges that we face with hope and faith.
Let our community seek truth in all that we search for.
Christus Lux Mea
Let us stand for others always giving generously without counting the cost.
Blessed Edmund Rice
Pray for us
Live Jesus in our hearts
forever
Amen

Best wishes for a relaxing and safe mid-semester break.

Ian Garrity
Acting Principal
Christus Lux Mea

Although each term seems to be busy, Term 3 seems to be the busiest term at the College. The reason being, that nearly all of the co-curricular activities are in full swing, with a number of activities approaching their semi and grand finals.

One of the ‘finals’ in the Performing and Creative Arts co-curricular program is the upcoming cabaret – A Night at the Movies. This cabaret will occur on Wednesday 30 August in the College Hall, commencing at 7.00pm. It will be a night where our Music, Dance, Art, Media and Drama showcase their talents as they perform for our community. It is one of the best nights of the year, so please book your tickets if you have not purchased them already. https://events.humanitix.com/a-night-at-the-movies-udxi6hnp

The co-curricular program at the College has a long and proud history. The College provides a broad range of activities on afternoons during the week as well as competitions on the weekends. We are a school for all and there should be at least one activity in our program for everyone. Activities include a variety of sports and cultural activities, as well as a broad range of clubs such as STEAM, Debating, Duke of Edinburgh, Cardestry and Chess.

As our community is aware, all students commit to participating in a co-curricular activity each year as a condition of their enrolment. There are many reasons why participation in the co-curricular is compulsory. Firstly, the program builds relationships and a spirited community as it encourages students to mix with students from different year groups and those outside of their regular friendship groups. Secondly, the program plays a vital role in the College’s approach to a holistic education. It compliments the formal academic and spiritual development of our boys that typically occurs in the classroom. Thirdly, co-curricular activities often lead to the development of a range of personal attributes such as teamwork, resilience, problem-solving, cooperation, leadership and creativity – all valuable skills for the 21^st century. Finally, all of these benefits can contribute to an increase in confidence, self-esteem and engagement in the school community, which in turn leads to a well-rounded personality, strong character and more effective learning in the regular classroom.

Thank you to the staff, parents and carers who contribute to the program. Your generous contribution towards the program allows such a broad range of activities to take place. A special thank you to our older students who tutor, coach and manage our younger boys. This aspect of the College makes me incredibly proud of our students. It is impressive to see the relationships being built between the younger and older students, the appreciation of and looking up to the older boys, and the sense of satisfaction that the older students receive from their volunteering.

I hope to see you at the movies next Wednesday.

Touchstone Prayer

Gospel Spirituality

God of Love,

We pray that you will open our minds and hearts to the message of the Gospel and to the mystery of the cross. May our faith in you keep growing through every hour, day and year of our lives, in the lives of our students and the lives of our community.

In faith we pray.  Lord hear our prayer.

Inclusive Community

God of Life,

We pray that you will open our minds and hearts to the needs of all people, both near and far. May our faith help us to embrace every member of your family with wisdom and compassion.

In faith we pray. Lord hear our prayer.

Liberating Education

God of Freedom,

We pray that you will open our minds and hearts to the endless possibilities for good in your world. May our faith help us and those around us to enjoy the adventure of learning and discovery.

In faith we pray. Lord hear our prayer.

Justice and Solidarity

God of Truth,

We pray that you will open our minds and hearts to the reality of the world in both its beauty and its pain. May our faith help us to live lives for peace and justice, respecting creation, centred in you and not ourselves.

In faith we pray. Lord hear our prayer.

Blessed Edmund Rice. Pray for us.

Live Jesus in our hearts. Forever.

Ian Garrity
Acting Principal
Christus Lux Mea

Heritage Round / Reunion Day

What a day of sport, music and community it was! We hope everyone had a wonderful time at Heritage Round/Reunion Day.

Welcome to Semester 2

I hope that families were able to have a safe and restful break over the recent school holiday period. As is always the case, it was wonderful to welcome the boys back to the College last week and to feel the energy around the grounds. The semester has started well and we have now settled into our regular routines.

Heritage Round / Reunion Day

One of the significant events of the year is happening this weekend – Heritage Round. The annual rugby fixture at St Edmund’s versus Marist College has always been well supported and attended by both College communities. It is a healthy and positive rivalry between the two schools. The Heritage Round contains a full list of fixtures for Football and Rugby at the College. These fixtures conclude with the First XV playing Marist College on Owens Oval at 3.00pm and the First XI playing Woden on Standen Oval at 3.10pm.

The celebrations around Heritage Round have grown over recent years and the College uses the weekend to host a number of events and activities for our current and past families. These events are jointly organised and hosted by the Old Boys and Friends Association and the College. I would like to thank Matt de Jongh, President of the Association, and the many committee members, who have generously given their time in organising these events. Thank you also to the many staff involved in planning and running the various activities. It is a great team effort, and we are looking forward to the weekend. We have over 200 attendees for the Blue and White Ball on Friday night and several graduation classes have arranged to use the weekend to get together.

I encourage parents and carers to visit the College on Saturday for one or more of the following events.
10.00am             Mass in the College Chapel
11.00am              Morning Tea
12.00pm             Tour of the College
All day                Football and Rugby Fixtures across all College Ovals

The Heritage Round /Reunion Weekend supports a local charity. Funds will be raised through various activities on Saturday and a number of items will be auctioned at the Ball on Friday night. This year we will be supporting Rise Above Capital Region Cancer Relief. Rise Above provides financial assistance and support to cancer patients and family residing with them within the ACT, Queanbeyan and surrounds.

One of the items that will be auctioned on Friday night is a Heritage Round jumper. Each year, the First XV play in a unique jumper designed for the round. The jumper for this year was designed by College staff member, Mr Peter Fatupaito. St Edmund’s College embraces its rich cultural diversity. The 2023 Heritage Round jumper has been designed to celebrate our diversity. In Peter’s words, “The design on the jersey was influenced by a common Polynesian tattoo that covers majority of a man’s body, starting from the ribs, down to the knee caps. This significant tattoo is given to many men of importance who would receive it in a traditional manner. Each strip of pattern resembled the most common pattern/shape to each Polynesian country, hence each representing and being symbolic of the four Polynesian countries represented in the First XV team – Samoan, Tongan, Maori, and Fiji.” Supporter t-shirts with Peter’s design are available for students, parents and carers. I sincerely thank Mr Trent Masters and his colleagues for their vision and work with developing the partnership Rise Above and developing the items of clothing for this weekend. Thank you also to Mr Lee Boswell, our Co-curricular Manager, for all of his work involved with this weekend. It is a big day!

When I asked the boys at assembly this morning who was attending this weekend, about 80% of hands went up. This was really pleasing and was a great confirmation of the spirit that exists amongst our students. In addressing them this morning, they were encouraged to support in the right way, always showing support for our teams and displaying respect for the opposition and officials. They were also reminded of the expectation regarding their dress on Saturday. All students are to wear their full school uniform on Saturday which includes blazers for High School boys. Further information for Junior School boys is included in in Mr Kelly’s article for Junior School.

Edmund’s to the Fore!

Dear Lord,
Grant that we may live each day to the full, inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Let us cast away all worries and concerns into your divine care.
Christus Lux Mea
Give us strength to confront all challenges that we face with hope and faith.
Let our community seek truth in all that we search for.
Christus Lux Mea
Let us stand for others always giving generously without counting the cost.
Blessed Edmund Rice
Pray for us
Live Jesus in our hearts
Forever
Amen

Ian Garrity
Acting Principal
Christus Lux Mea

Sacramental Program

I was fortunate to experience a wonderful celebration last night, our Sacramental Mass for our 37 students who received the Sacraments of First Community, Reconciliation and/or Confirmation. These students completed their programs on Tuesday afternoons throughout Semester One and received their Sacrament/s at a Mass celebrated by College Chaplain, Fr Chris, at St Christopher’s Cathedral. Mass last night focused on the meaning of the three sacraments in our individual faith journeys, and how our motto, Christus Lux Mea, Christ be my Light, is central to the College’s mission and our day to day lives.

I would like to thank our Mission Team, Mr Michael Monagle, Ms Bridget Cusack and Mrs Carmela Wilson for leading this and other important programs and celebrations at the College. Thank you also to Miss Caroline Devlin and Mrs Rachel Rasmussen for their assistance with the Mass last night.

End of Semester

As we draw close to the end of a busy semester, I wish all students well in their semester final assessments and classroom activities. Our seniors have commenced exams and our Junior School and lower High School will be finishing off their final tasks over the next week or so.

Our first expectation from our Statement of Eddies Pride asks students to strive to achieve their personal best by showing resilience and engagement and our College Prayer asks ‘that we may live each day to the full’ and have ‘strength to confront all challenges that we face with hope and faith’. I ask parents and carers to have a conversation with their son about their learning in Semester One over the next couple of weeks and reflect on their effort and whether they are striving to be their best, making the most of each day, and are showing resilience and courage when faced with challenges. This conversation may be most effective when the Semester Report is distributed in Week 10. The report will indicate academic achievement for each subject, but just as importantly, it will provide information on student effort and application in each class.

Not all students can receive the highest academic results, but all students can achieve high effort and application grades for their classes. Please look at these two areas for your student and commend them if they are striving to achieve their personal best or challenge them if there is room for improvement with regard to application and effort.

The College offers a range of support options for students, and these may be worth considering for your son at the start of Semester Two. Parents can contact individual teachers for further information regarding application and effort in particular classes, parents can contact tutors to seek ideas about study skills for your son, students can attend the lunchtime study support sessions to catch-up on out of class assessment, and High School students can drop-in to the Library after school and seek assistance from teachers who are rostered each day.

Yr 11, 2024

A big thank you to Trent Masters, our Pathways Coordinator, who has worked in an effective partnership with St Clare’s College and their staff to organise a very successful Careers Expo last week. The event was very well attended by our Yrs 10-12 students.

Over the last few months, Yr 10 students have been engaged in a number of activities preparing them for Yr 11 aimed to increase their capacity to make informed decisions about their subject selections for Yr 11, 2024. Years 11 and 12 can be challenging years for students; we work very hard to prepare our students and support them through their last two years of secondary education.

We look forward to having individual conversations with our Yr 10 students and their parents next Monday 19 June about their study packages for the next two years. Please contact Mr Masters or Mr Bibbens if you would like any further information about senior studies and post school pathways.

Staff Professional Learning

Our staff engage in a professional learning program for Week 10 of Term Two. In the week after the last day of term for students, Friday 23 June, St Edmund’s Staff will participate in a range of professional learning activities that align with our strategic directions and targeted learning needs.

The professional learning program for this year includes:

• formation in the Edmund Rice and Catholic Traditions,
• school-wide focus on Literacy using the Writer’s Toolbox program,
• faculty-based professional learning targeting faculty needs,
• a range of compliance and professional responsibility modules, and
• a range of workshops where individuals select the most relevant topics for their needs.

Thank you for your support of the College and your sons throughout Semester One.

Dear Lord,
Grant that we may live each day to the full, inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Let us cast away all worries and concerns into your divine care.
Christus Lux Mea
Give us strength to confront all challenges that we face with hope and faith.
Let our community seek truth in all that we search for.
Christus Lux Mea
Let us stand for others always giving generously without counting the cost.
Blessed Edmund Rice
Pray for us
Live Jesus in our hearts
forever
Amen

Ian Garrity
Acting Principal
Christus Lux Mea

National Reconciliation Week

St Edmund’s College and Edmund Rice Education Australia are committed to a genuine spirit of reconciliation. One of the four Touchstones that guide our Edmund Rice education at the College is Liberating Education. A Liberating Education aims to “open hearts and minds… so that through critical reflection and engagement each person is hope-filled and free to build a better world for all”. We hope that our students leave the College with open minds and discernment.

At the heart of reconciliation is listening and seeking to understand. Unfortunately, active listening and a genuine desire to understand are not as prominent as they should be in our community. Often, we are hearing people voicing their view without the desire to listen to and learn from others. We encourage our students to look for deeper understanding in the world around them, ask important questions, and be confident in taking action to build a better world for all.

National Reconciliation Week aims to deepen Australians’ understanding of our shared histories, cultures and achievements and explore how we can contribute to reconciliation in Australia. It aims to provide focus and opportunity for us to work towards making a just, equitable and reconciled Australia.

National Reconciliation Week is celebrated each year in Australia from 27 May – 3 June. These two dates are significant dates in our history:

• 27 May marks the anniversary of the 1967 referendum when Australians voted to remove clauses in the Australian Constitution that discriminated against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• 3 June marks the historic 1992 Mabo decision in which the High Court of Australia recognised native title—the recognition that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights over their lands did survive British colonisation.

The week is preceded by National Sorry Day on 26 May. National Sorry Day was first held in 1998 and is commemorated nationally and honours and remembers the Stolen Generations.

A recent Edmund Rice Education Australia Council publication articulates very clearly the teachings of Blessed Edmund and how this hope-filled and liberating education works in our context. It provides a good example of how to approach and understand complex issues in our world.

Edmund was called to see the big picture beyond the pragmatic. He was asked to address the deeper questions, those that go beyond the immediate, to the heart and soul. He had to draw on his faith in the hope that his decisions were the right ones.

In the Christian tradition this is called ‘discernment’: the ability to look deeply into the implications of our decisions and seek ‘the good spirit’ and remove outside influences and distractions from the truth.

Edmund has passed on to us the process of discernment and we are called to be true to this challenge. Let’s consider the ‘Voice’ discussion in our community at present. We can focus on the immediate implications, the constitutional issues, the cost, even the right to have a voice.

But Edmund calls us to go deeper to a greater understanding of this decision. The deeper examination of this draws us back to understanding questions about dispossession, stolen generations, disintegrated families, and the personal cost of colonisation to our First Nations People.

If we can consider the deeper questions, examine the implications of past actions, and find the good spirit in our considerations we are more likely to make the right choice. The legacy of Blessed Edmund is an indication of his ability to discern. Our challenge is to do the same.

In the words of Pope Francis: “Discerning what is and what is not of God, we begin to see where and how to act. When we find where God’s mercy is waiting to overflow, we can open the gates and work with all people of goodwill to bring about the necessary changes.”

Edmund made decisions with a heart full of faith, hope, and love. We carry that motivation, that charism in our hearts today and pray that we may look deeper than the immediate, into the soul and spirit of our nation, our very own EREA, our families and ourselves.

Prayer for Reconciliation
God of all creation,
as we journey together in this Great Southern Land,
we pray for healing, forgiveness and unity,
creating a path of good will, with justice and compassion.
Jesus, through the power of your love, you have given us the courage, wisdom and strength to share our gifts and talents in humility.
In peace and understanding we reconcile with each other.
Creator Spirit, we come together in prayer and thanksgiving for the many blessings we have received. Allow your Spirit to wash over us and give us strength to walk together as one.
This Reconciliation Church prayer was written by a small group of Aboriginal Elder women and Reconciliation Church staff members in 2014

Ian Garrity
Acting Principal
Christus Lux Mea

Founder’s Day

St Edmund’s College celebrated our Founder’s Day on the feast of Blessed Edmund Rice, 5 May. On a beautiful sunny day, we commenced the day with a wonderful Mass attended by current staff and students and representatives from our brother and sister Catholic Colleges from across the ACT. The boys then participated in a range of games and activities for the remainder of the day. The day was a wonderful community celebration.
As we do every year, the College acknowledges the significant contribution that staff have made to the St Edmund’s Community through our Service Awards, as well as recognise outstanding service to our community by an old boy, a current student and a current member of staff through the Br Matt McKeon Faith and Service Awards. This year’s recipients are:

Br Matt McKeon Faith and Service Awards
Connor Moloney (student)
Fred Zarb (staff)
Tony LoPilato (old boy)

Staff Service Awards (10 years of service)
Samantha Brady
Julie Dachs
Margaret Maher

Staff Service Awards (15 years of service)
Anna Blore
Denzil Fox
Martin O’Rourke
Nathan Rutter
Colin Rogers

Our Charism

It is appropriate at this time of year that we reflect on the work of Blessed Edmund Rice and how his mission is lived out at the College in 2023. St Edmund’s College is one of over fifty schools across Australia, who are currently governed by Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA). Prior to 2007, these schools were previously owned and run by the Christian Brothers.

Edmund Rice was born in Callan, Ireland in 1762 and lived in Waterford as a young man. Edmund was a successful businessman and married in 1789. Following the tragic death of Edmund’s wife, Edmund deepened his relationship with God and was moved to compassion and to recognise the needs of those around him.

Many people lived in poverty in oppression in Ireland at the time. Edmund found that liberation was at the heart of Jesus’ preaching. Edmund set up a school in 1802 for boys living in poverty and provided other necessities like food, clothing and shelter for them. In addition to basic skills, Edmund educated the boys about God and the Catholic faith. His aim was to free them from their sense of hopelessness.
Other men joined Edmund in the coming years and they were professed as Brothers in 1808. By 1925 Edmund and his thirty Brothers were providing free education to over five thousand boys in twelve towns. The Christian Brothers also expanded beyond Ireland in 1825.

In 1868, Brother Ambrose Treacy and three companions arrived in Australia. Starting with very little, the Brothers eventually opened one hundred and twenty schools in Australia.
EREA continue the mission of the Catholic Church and the charism of Blessed Edmund Rice in their fifty-five schools today. Their EREA Charter guides our Colleges, it assists schools

to offer a liberating education, based on a Gospel spirituality, within an inclusive community committed to justice and solidarity.

All of our schools use the four Touchstones to guide our practices and set the direction of each College. They are the foundation of who we are and what we do, and help us to understand our mission and charism as an Edmund Rice school. The Touchstones are alive and visible in the St Edmund’s community.

Prayer for Blessed Edmund Rice
O God we thank you for the life of Blessed Edmund Rice.
He opened his heart to Christ present in those oppressed by poverty and injustice.
May we follow his example of faith and generosity.
Grant us the courage and compassion of Blessed Edmund
as we seek to live lives of love and service.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen

Ian Garrity
Acting Principal
Christus Lux Mea

The Power of Silence

Silence can be a powerful form of communication. It can convey many thoughts and emotions – calmness, tranquillity, reflection and a desire to listen to name a few. It often conveys respect, and this was on display in abundance on two occasions last week.

Each year I try and attend the ANZAC Day football match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. I was fortunate enough to experience this occasion again last Tuesday with my wife and son. The highlight of the day is never the football, even though it was a wonderful contest this year. The memorable part of the day was again the ANZAC Ceremony. There is a motorcade of veterans followed by the Observance Ceremony. This year, there were over 95,000 people in attendance.

The silence immediately following the Last Post is so powerful. It shouts respect, solidarity and gratitude for all of the men and women, and their families, who have sacrificed so much for our us and our country. It is a privilege to be able to participate in such a powerful ceremony.

ANZAC Day is a day of great significance to all Australians, and it is particularly important to members of the St Edmund’s College community because of our heritage as a war memorial school.  When the Christian Brothers made the decision to build a new school in Canberra, it was decided very early on in the process that St Edmund’s would be a memorial to all the old boys of Christian Brothers’ Schools in Australia who had given their lives in service of our country.

In 1951, parents and boys in every Christian brother’s school across the nation were asked to contribute to building the memorial. The boys were told that if each of them could contribute the cost of one brick, that would be 25,000 bricks for the new school. When we reflect on the fact that some of the very foundations of our school were paid for, through the donations of shillings from families all across Australia, it highlights why ANZAC Day is of such significance to the St Edmund’s College community and the enormous responsibility and honour that this brings.

It was so very pleasing that our boys communicated great respect, solidarity and gratitude through their silence for our service men and women during the ANZAC Ceremony that occurred on Wednesday 26 April at the College. We currently have over 100 students who are the sons of parents who are active service men and women. All of our students engaged in the ceremony appropriately and maturely, and listened keenly to the addresses that were made during the assembly.

The College was very fortunate to have Brigadier Meggitt (father of Henry) address the assembly. Brigadier Meggitt is an experienced military officer who has had extensive operational experience and been recognised with several commendations and awards. Brigadier Meggitt reflected on the ANZAC Spirit and how our boys can show courage, resilience and mateship in their everyday lives.

I would like to thank Ms Brenda Galvin, staff and students involved in preparations, and our guests from the defence forces in providing such a powerful ANZAC Ceremony. I would also like to acknowledge Will Collett for his drive and effort in getting donations to upgrade our memorial monuments and all the families that donated funds for this work.

Inclusive Community

I would like to acknowledge the work of the St Edmund’s College Old Boys and Friends Association and advertise a number of events that have been arranged for 2023. In addition to the regular opportunities for parents and carers to engage with the College including parent teacher interviews, information nights, co-curricular activities, musicals and exhibitions to name a few, the College in partnership with the Association have arranged the following social events for parents and carers this year.

Please consider attending one, two or even three of these events so that you can meet other parents and carers, staff and old boys and friends of the school community.
Further information can be found on the College website – https://sec.act.edu.au/old-boys-friends/.
Tickets for Edmums Soiree and the Blue and White Ball will be available in the next few days. You can access tickets through the link above.

Edmums Soiree – Friday 2 June at the Marion on Regatta Point
This event will be held from midday on Friday 2 June. All mothers, grandmothers and carers of current students and Old Boys are invited to attend this occasion.

Blue & White Ball  – 28 July 2023 at the Hellenic Club Woden
This is a fantastic night of entertainment for the Eddies community and gets bigger and better each year.

Heritage Round / Reunion Day – Saturday 29 July at St Edmund’s College
This event coincides with the Eddies v Marist rugby matches and is an opportunity to reflect on the heritage of the College, as well as a day that old boys are encouraged to attend and reunite. The day will commence with a Mass at 10am in the College Chapel. This will be followed by a morning tea at 11am and a tour of the College and an opportunity to watch the rugby.

Eddies Golf Day, Friday 10 November, Fairbairn Golf Club
This is a 9-hole four-person Ambrose event commencing with a complimentary lunch from 2pm and a 3pm shot-gun tee-off, followed by a presentation of prizes in the clubhouse from 5pm. No golfing experience is required, just a willingness to have fun. There will also be an informal afternoon tea and a presentation of prizes in the clubhouse commencing from about 5:00pm.

Dear Lord,
Grant that we may live each day to the full, inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Let us cast away all worries and concerns into your divine care.
Christus Lux Mea
Give us strength to confront all challenges that we face with hope and faith.
Let our community seek truth in all that we search for.
Christus Lux Mea
Let us stand for others always giving generously without counting the cost.
Blessed Edmund Rice
Pray for us
Live Jesus in our hearts
forever
Amen

Ian Garrity
Acting Principal
Christus Lux Mea

As we come to the end of Term 1, I hope that you take the opportunity to reflect on your son’s application and progress over the term. Progress reports will be released to parents in the next day or two, so parents will be able to use this additional information to engage in conversation with their son/s. I ask that all parents and carers have this conversation and congratulate their boys if they have applied themselves really well to their learning this year, and discuss strategies and goals with their sons if their application has not been as good as it should be.

There are many ways for parents and carers to be informed about their son’s progress and application. Junior School parents and carers will have direct contact with their son’s teacher, and parents and carers of Yrs 7-12 students are encouraged to look through results and feedback provided by each subject teacher in CANVAS. Parents and carers are also encouraged to attend the Parent/Teacher Interviews evenings that are happening at the start of Term 2. Further instructions about making bookings will be provided with the Progress Reports.

The dates and times of the Parent/Teacher Interviews are below:

• Junior School – Thursday 27 April (from 4.00pm)
• High School – Wednesday 26 April and Thursday 27 April (also from 4.00pm)

Experience Eddies Day and Open Day

We have begun our enrolment events for students and families enrolling in 2024. Two of these events occurred recently. They were Experience Eddies Day, which occurred on Monday 27 March, and the College Open Evening, which was held on Wednesday 29 March. Both events were well attended. The most pleasing aspect of these events was the generous contribution of our student volunteers, particularly at Open Evening. It was wonderful to see some many of our boys give up their time after school to assist us with promoting the College.   

Happy Easter

During Easter, we are reminded of the many blessings that God has bestowed upon us. We remember the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross to save us from our sins. It is a time of great joy and celebration, as we give thanks for the new life that Christ has given us, and we are reminded of the immense love and sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross.

Jesus teaches us about the power of prayer and how it can draw us closer to God during this sacred time. Our 2023 scriptural theme, “Everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks finds. Everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Luke 11:9-10), reminds us that if we ask God for anything in faith, he will always listen to us and help us in our times of need.
Our scriptural theme may be particularly meaningful to students who may feel overwhelmed by school or personal challenges, as it reminds us that we are not alone, and that God is always with us, providing us with strength and guidance.
Whilst Easter is a time of great joy and celebration, it is also a time for reflection. It is a time to give thanks for the love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and to renew our faith in God. As we celebrate Easter, let us remember the importance of prayer and the many blessings that God has given us.
I wish you a safe, happy and holy Easter.

Loving God,
the resurrection of Your Son
has given us new life and renewed hope.
Help us to live as new people
in pursuit of the Christian ideal.
Grant us wisdom to know what we must do,
the will to want to do it,
the courage to undertake it,
the perseverance to continue to do it,
and the strength to complete it.
Amen

Blessed Edmund Rice                      Pray for Us
Live Jesus in Our Hearts                 Forever

Ian Garrity
Acting Principal
Christus Lux Mea

Inclusive Community

Many communities and organisations, including St Edmund’s College, celebrated and acknowledged Harmony Day yesterday. This day commenced in 1999 in Australia and is now celebrated in many countries around the world. Two key values that are the focus of the day are Respect and Inclusion.

The identity and culture of schools in the Edmund Rice Tradition are articulated through four Touchstones which are described in the Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA) Charter. The four Touchstones are: Liberating Education, Gospel Spirituality, Inclusive Community and Justice and Solidarity

It seems fitting this week to reflect on our Touchstone – Inclusive Community. This Touchstone asks that ‘Our Community is accepting and welcoming, fostering right relationships and commitment to the common good’. Although we are not perfect, I believe that this is one of the strengths of our College community. We have a very rich and diverse community, and in general, we live in harmony with respect and inclusion.

The EREA Charter challenges us to be an inclusive community by welcoming and valuing all members of the community regardless of religion, race, disability, gender, sexual orientation or economic situation. More specifically, this also means that the College:

• provides pastoral care that nurtures the dignity of each person,
• demonstrates a preferential option for the poor by standing in solidarity with those who are powerless and marginalised,
• promotes social inclusion and views diversity as beneficial to a liberating education,
• acknowledges the traditional ownership and cultural heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia, and welcomes them into its community, and
• works in partnership with the local Catholic community and Church in serving the broader mission of the whole Church.

The College embraces its diverse cultures and has had many success stories with regard to inclusion. We should; however, always reflect on how we can do better, and in this circumstance, we should continue to ask ourselves these reflective questions from our Charter.

How can we continue to seek ways of inviting every person to the table?

Does our day-to-day operations meet the diverse needs of all of our community members?

How do we overcome the challenges that prevent us being ‘open to all’.

Sometimes our mission can seem broad and complicated; however, in this case our mission as members of the College community may be able to be simplified. As a proud Catholic school, we aspire to follow the example of Jesus, as stated in John (15:12) ‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you’.

I would ask parents and carers to do two things this week. Firstly, talk to your son/s about how they feel at school – do they feel welcome, respected and valued. Secondly, if they do not feel welcome, respected and valued, I invite you to make contact with me to make a time to have a conversation about this. We need to continue to work on this important aspect of our work. As mentioned above, I believe inclusion is a strength of the College, but there is always room for improvement.

Prayer for Inclusion
(Andrew M. Greeley Centre for Catholic Education)
Lord, give us new strength so that we can build places of belonging.
To create a community for all to share their gifts,
To know that each of us is loved,
To help us to see the light of Christ in all that we serve.
Let us remember that each of us is loved, each of us is willed, and each of us is necessary.
May we balance mercy and justice so that we can achieve equity and access for all of Your children.
We do this in Your name.
AMEN

Blessed Edmund Rice                      Pray for Us
Live Jesus in Our Hearts                 Forever

Ian Garrity
Acting Principal
Christus Lux Mea