Principal’s Message

“Let us consider how to stir one another to love and good works.” Hebrews 10:24-25

Dear families and friends of St Edmund’s College,

We have held a few special events this week as we move towards the end of Term 1.  Students in Years 11 and 12 had a great House Day at the Canberra Olympic Pool in Civic on Wednesday, participating in a day of games and fun events.  The weather was on our side and the boys engaged themselves in a positive manner, building their house spirit and College spirit. Year 7 students had a similar day a few weeks ago.

Thursday saw students come together for Cultural Clothes Day.  Our students were asked to dress in a way that best represents their culture of origin.  We witnessed a vast array of different types of cultural clothing and celebrated the great diversity of backgrounds we have here at St Edmund’s College.  Cultural Clothes Day was part of our fundraising program during Lent for Caritas Australia. You will be able to see how our boys celebrated Cultural Clothes Day on our social media pages.

Congratulations to Ethan Guthrie (Year 10, Mulrooney) who will be attending the 2022 Australian Para and Age Swimming Championships in Adelaide next week.  Ethan has qualified for 50m Free and 100m Freestyle races. On behalf of the College community, I wish Ethan luck at this event and congratulate him for his achievement of being selected for these championships.

Term 2 Uniform
A reminder that all students in Years 7 to 12 must be wearing their blazer throughout our winter season of Terms 2 and 3. The blazer is a compulsory uniform item, not an optional item.  Students in Years 7 – 12 are expected to wear their blazer to and from school.

2023 Enrolment Events
The 2023 Information Evening is being held on Tuesday 3 May 2022, 6pm for prospective enrolments.  This will be hosted by myself and the Assistant Principal of Junior School, Mr. David Kelly. The Information Evening accompanies our Experience Eddies Program and our Open Day by providing important background about the College as well as explaining the structures available to support new parents and students. The evening will include presentations from myself and Mr. David Kelly, other members of the College Leadership Team as well as current parents and students.

We expect that parents and carers who are considering enrolling their son at St Edmund’s will attend this Information Evening.

Prospective parents can register here or by accessing our Facebook or Instagram pages.

Our annual Open Day will be held on Saturday 7 May 2022.   There will be regular tours of the College, allowing guests an opportunity to tour the College accompanied by our students and staff.  If you aware of members of the wider Canberra community who may be thinking about Eddies as an option for their son, I would ask that you direct them to the College website, Facebook page or Instagram page for further information.

Experience Eddies Day will be held on Tuesday 9 May 2022, from 8.45 to 2pm. This is an opportunity for boys in Year 3 and Year 6 to experience Eddies, especially if they are considering enrolling at the College. Students can select from activities designed to provide a taste of courses and experiences at the College.  RSVP closes Friday 29 April 2022.  Registrations for this event can be made here.

Easter Season
This Thursday we came together as a community for our special Easter liturgy.  In these days of the Easter season, it is important to focus on the very core of Easter – the significance of sacrifice.  In his 2021 Easter address, Pope Francis focused on the great sense of joy and positivity that came with the resurrection, following the ultimate sacrifice on Christ dying on the cross.  Pope Francis said that it is the cross that gives us hope and urged the faithful to enter into the mystery of Christ’s death by contemplating the joy that comes from sacrifice.  The Pope explains that the resurrection does not eliminate or wipe out the suffering of Jesus.  After the resurrection Christ still bears the scars of his wounds; the signs of His suffering are still present, “These wounds are the everlasting seal of his love for us. All those who experience a painful trial in body or spirit can find refuge in these wounds and, through them, receive the grace of the hope that does not disappoint… Amid the many hardships we are enduring, let us never forget that we have been healed by the wounds of Christ.  In the light of the Risen Lord, our sufferings are now transfigured. Where there was death, now there is life. Where there was mourning, now there is consolation. In embracing the cross, Jesus bestowed meaning on our sufferings and now we pray that the benefits of that healing will spread throughout the world.”  Pope Francis believes that love and hope come together on the cross of Christ and that that this is a cross everyone must carry at different points in their lives. At this time, we particularly pray for those in Ukraine; those feeling from war and extreme poverty; and those still suffering from the effects of the pandemic.

We have many symbols of sacrifice here at St Edmund’s College.  This of course is of no surprise given the origins of our school in the heritage of the Christian Brothers and their mission.  Our College crest provides us with a rich symbol of sacrifice. Rev. William Saunders, an American priest, author and academic, reminds us that the symbolism of the mother pelican feeding her baby pelicans is rooted in an ancient legend which preceded Christianity. The legend was that in time of famine, the mother pelican would wound herself, striking her breast with the beak to feed her young with her blood to prevent starvation. Another version of the legend was that the mother fed her dying young with her blood to revive them from death, but in turn lost her own life.  William Saunders writes that given this tradition, one can easily see why the early Christians adapted it to symbolise our Lord, Jesus Christ. “The pelican symbolises Jesus who gave His life for our redemption and the atonement He made through His passion and death. We were dead to sin and have found new life through the sacrifice of Jesus. Moreover, Jesus continues to feed us with His body and blood in the Holy Eucharist.”

The image of the pelican as a symbol of sacrifice can be found in several literary texts.  Dante (1321) in his Divine Comedy refers to Christ as “our Pelican.” John Lyly in his Euphues (1606) wrote, “Pelican who strikes blood out of its own body to do others good.” Shakespeare (1616) in Hamlet wrote, “To his good friend thus wide, I’ll open my arms / And, like the kind, life-rendering pelican / Repast them with my blood.” John Skelton (1529) in his Armorie of Birds, wrote, “Then said the Pelican: When my Birds be slain / With my blood I them revive. Scripture doth record / The same did our Lord / And rose from death to life.” The hymn “Adoro te devote,” written by St. Thomas Aquinas, reads

Bring the tender tale true of the Pelican;
Bathe me, Jesu Lord, in what thy bosom ran —
Blood whereof a single drop has power to win
All the world forgiveness of its world of sin

Saunders writes that the image of the pelican is a strong reminder of our Lord, who suffered and died for us to give us eternal life and who nourishes us on our pilgrim way with the Holy Eucharist. May that image move us to show the same charity and self-giving love toward all.

Our College motto, Christus Lux Mea (Christ is My Light) also acknowledges a sense of sacrifice.  It connects to the inspiration that the Christian Brothers originally founded through their devotion to Christ. It is this devotion that originally set Edmund Rice to consider the plight of the young people and to start a school in Ireland to help them face the economic challenges of the day. This original action can now be traced to St Edmund’s College Canberra where our young men and broader community are using Jesus as their example to attempt to live life to the full.

We are a College immersed in and surrounded by Christian symbols of sacrifice. Almost every classroom and office space has a crucifix on the wall, the most essential symbol of sacrifice in Christianity.   It is Jesus’ example that we constantly reflect on and share with our young men as we create an environment for all members our community to celebrate the rich Catholic tradition and to look forward with faith, optimism, compassion and hope for the future.

As this is the last Vortex prior to the holidays, I thank all members of the St Edmund’s community for a wonderful start to the year and wish all our students and their families a safe and happy holiday period.  A blessed and holy Easter to all of you.

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

Joe Zavone
Principal
Christus Lux Mea

“Let us consider how to stir one another to love and good works.” Hebrews 10:24-25

Dear families and friends of St Edmund’s College,

It is with great joy and relief that we are now able to remove some of our Covid restrictions and reinstate some very important routines and events at the College. We are now able to have our cohorts (year groups) together for College assemblies, the first of which we held today.  It was absolutely wonderful to have all of our students back together again as one group, and feel a greater sense of brotherhood and community spirit. We have not had a whole College assembly since mid-last year, and we celebrated this first one with a formal procession of our student leaders and an acknowledgement of our Junior School academic award winners.

We are also able to welcome visitors back to the College.  We are now able to organise a function to welcome our new families to the College, as well as a Mother’s Day event,  Parent / Teacher Meetings (details of all of these will be announced soon), as well as organise a formal ceremony for Founder’s Day early in Term 2 at St Christopher’s Cathedral.  Whilst the rest of our Canberra community has been able to return to relative normality in the last few months, schools have been quite tightly restricted, so we are quite excited by these changes and look forward to more changes to come, bringing life, energy and spirit back to the College. I know we all have our own firm opinions about masks, but on a personal level, I very much look forward to the day where we can remove masks at school and interact with each other in a personal, warm and relational manner.

It was with a great sense of unease that I watched the news reports of the on-stage altercation between two actors at this year’s Academy Awards.  I was hoping that none of our boys had seen these reports, but with the way news is reported nowadays through a myriad of sources, this was very unlikely.  I watched with unease because one of our priorities here at St Edmund’s is to instil in our young men that aggression and violence should never be a reaction to what happens to them.  They have many other choices to ease themselves out of a situation without resorting to anger and aggression.  Yet we have one of the world’s most popular actors and a significant role model to young men deal with his emotions in a violent and aggressive manner, on stage in front of the whole world.  There can never be a justification for this.  I am fully aware that there was a joke made about the appearance of the actor’s wife and that his wife’s appearance is actually due to a medical condition.  This would have been very difficult to hear as a husband.  It is still no excuse for the verbal and physical aggression demonstrated at the awards ceremony.  I would encourage parents to have a serious discussion with their son should they have seen the clip.  It is absolutely vital for us not to condone any form of aggression and explain to our young men the important reasons behind this.

Student Congratulations
We congratulate Henry Martin (Year 8, Haydon) on his major achievement of being selected for the Australian Little Athletics Championships (ALAC) Team.  Henry will be representing the ACT in Melbourne in the second week of the school holidays. Henry will be competing in 100m, 200m, 200m hurdles, shot put and discus. Henry has been competing in Little Athletics every weekend this year. He recently achieved three gold medals and a silver medal, achieving three personal bests at the ACT Championships.  Henry now holds the Corroboree Little Athletics Club record for U13 Discus.

We also congratulate Alex Green (Year 12, Treacy) and Monty Green (Year 9 Treacy) who have been selected for the National Hockey Championships for ACT. Alex will travel to Cairns for U18s, and Monty will travel to Newcastle for U15s. Both boys have been selected as Captains of their respective teams, demonstrating not only their physical skills, but their leadership and maturity as well.  The hockey championships run from April 5 to April 14.

On behalf of the College, we wish Henry, Alex and Monty the very best for their respective endeavours, and we are very proud of their achievements.  They have demonstrated not just physical prowess, but a sense of maturity in developing their skills and talents.

Enrolments
Our enrolment period has now commenced for 2023 enrolments. If you aware of any families who are considering St Edmund’s College for their son, please let them know that our enrolment process has opened.  Enrolment enquiries can be directed to enrolments@stedmunds.act.edu.au  Hopefully we can consolidate and continue the exciting growth that we have experienced over the last three years.

Uniform
Uniform Shop details about winter uniform purchases and fittings have been attached to this edition of Vortex. If you have not done so already, please make sure you have ordered the new optional puffer jacket for the winter season.  I have heard these have been very popular and would not want students to miss out.  The new redesigned beanie is also available to order online.

A reminder that students in Years 7 – 12 must have a blazer during Terms 2 & 3.  This is not optional.  The first level of warmth in winter is the College jumper, then the blazer.  As I stated above, students may have the new puffer jacket as another level of warmth (this is worn over the blazer).  No other jumpers, hoodies, jackets, etc. may be worn to school or at school.

As we move into the winter season for uniforms, I would encourage parents to consider donating any summer uniform items to our second-hand uniform collection.  This second-hand uniform collection is invaluable for our families in need. We do not make any profit from these second-hand uniforms – they are given to our families in need, not sold. Any donations of summer uniform items can be left at Reception.  Thank you so much in anticipation of your kind consideration of helping us out with pre-loved uniforms.

Gospel Reflection
In the Gospel passage last Sunday, we heard the famous parable of the prodigal son.  In the parable, the son wants to live life his way and demands that his father pay him his inheritance.  He soon comes back to his father after squandering his money and living a life in stark opposition to his Jewish religious beliefs.  The father welcomes his son back with open arms.  On the surface, this story is about forgiveness and unconditional love.  There is no argument about that.  But we need to carefully consider the words of the son to his father upon his return, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son”.  The son is repentant – he expresses genuine regret and remorse for his actions.  This is more than just admitting he made a mistake; being repentant brings with it an understanding of one’s wrongdoings and a willingness to change one’s behaviour for the better, to turn away from sin and to turn to God. So whilst we can certainly celebrate the father’s unconditional love, we cannot ignore the focus Jesus puts on repentance.  There is a reciprocal understanding here – the son repents and the father accepts. “Human life is in some way a constant returning to our Father’s house. We return through contrition, through the conversion of heart that means a desire to change, a firm decision to improve our life and which, therefore, is expressed in sacrifice and self‑giving. We return to our Father’s house by means of that sacrament of pardon in which, by confessing our sins, we put on Jesus Christ again and become his brothers and sisters, members of God’s family.” (St Josemaria Escriva)

Prayer for the Fourth Sunday of Lent
Loving God,
in Your unfailing love and goodness,
hear us as we pray to You for the world and for all people.
In this period of Lent,
we come to you aware of our unreadiness for the enormity of the Easter message,
that Christ suffered and died for us and was yet raised in glorious victory.
Grant us healing in our souls Lord,
and in the souls of all who search for meaning in their lives.
In Your blessed name we pray.
Amen.

Blessed Edmund Rice, pray for us
Live Jesus in our hearts, forever

Joe Zavone
Principal
Christus Lux Mea

“Let us consider how to stir one another to love and good works.” Hebrews 10:24-25

Dear families and friends of St Edmund’s College,

Whilst many people celebrated St Patrick’s Day last Thursday (especially of course in Ireland, Australia and USA), another important feast day around this time went relatively unnoticed.  March 19 marks the Feast Day of St Joseph, hence its significance in my life.  Being of Italian background, this day was very important to me as a child, with my family celebrating the feast day with special meals and gifts.  Even to this day, my elderly mother still has a little gift for me on St Joseph’s Day.

I would like to share with you a beautiful reflection on St Joseph from Archbishop Peter Comensoli, the Archbishop of Melbourne.  I came me to know Archbishop Comensoli quite well when he was a Bishop in Sydney, with my wife and I sharing a pilgrimage to the Holy Land with him in 2014, and then remaining friends. Here is his reflection on St Joseph:

“Friends, today we mark the Solemnity of St Joseph – guardian, friend, spouse and father. There are so many words we might place before Joseph, who said nothing – at least nothing recorded in the Scriptures – but we know him to be a steward of God’s gifts, a guardian to God’s family, a husband and father, and in a particularly lovely way, a dreamer, who listened to the dreams that the Lord planted within him and followed them in faith and hope. His trust and acceptance in the face of unlooked-for turns and troubles in life; his deep respect, care and honour for his beloved wife; his love and guardianship of his mysterious son; his faithfulness to the paths of grace and his unpretentious dignity – all these characteristics of St Joseph present to us a man among men and women.

In a most striking way, St Joseph lived a very unassuming life, away from the limelight, and our admiration for him comes to us via the light that his life and actions shone on the lives of those he had taken on. He accepted a wife who had been chosen by Another; he accepted a son not of his own flesh. He chose to live the way of faith, hope and love, all the while remaining in the background to allow the light of others to shine.

As Pope St Paul VI once said of Joseph: ‘St Joseph is the model of those humble ones that Christianity raises up to great destinies … he is the proof that in order to be a good and genuine follower of Christ, there is no need of great things – it is enough to have the common, simple and human virtues, but they need to be true and authentic.’

St Joseph, the Great Protector, pray for us and our families!”

2021 Yearbook
Our 2021 Yearbook has been printed and distributed to students and staff.  I must congratulate our Yearbook team of Jodee Marques, Rhiannon Gardiner and Rachel Mynott-Smith on their tremendous work, effort, insight and creativity in chronicling the events of 2021 in such a lively and entertaining manner.  The 2021 Yearbook really works to encapsulate everything we value here at St Edmund’s, especially the great sense of vibrant spirit, strong character and tailored learning. If you aware of any Year 12 students from the class of 2021, please let them know that the Yearbook is now available for collection from Reception.

Enrolments
Our enrolment period has now commenced for 2023 enrolments. If you aware of any families who are considering St Edmund’s College for their son, please let them know that our enrolment process has opened. Enrolment enquiries can be directed to enrolments@stedmunds.act.edu.au.  Hopefully we can consolidate and continue the exciting growth that we have experienced over the last three years.

Uniform
Uniform Shop details about winter uniform purchases and fittings have been attached to this edition of Vortex. If you have not done so already, please make sure you have ordered the new optional puffer jacket for the winter season.  I have heard these have been very popular and would not want students to miss out.  The new redesigned beanie is also available to order online.

A reminder that students in Years 7 – 12 must have a blazer during Terms 2 & 3.  The first level of warmth in winter is the College jumper, then the blazer.  As I stated above, students may have the new puffer jacket as another level of warmth (this is worn over the blazer).  No other jumpers, hoodies, jackets, etc. may be worn to school or at school.

As we move into the winter season for uniforms, I would encourage parents to consider donating any summer uniform items to our second-hand uniform collection.  This second-hand uniform collection is invaluable for our families in need. We do not make any profit from these second-hand uniforms – they are given to our families in need, not sold. Any donations of summer uniform items can be left at Reception.  Thank you so much in anticipation of your kind consideration of helping us out with pre-loved uniforms.

Term 1 Fundraising
Our Term 1 fundraising focus is Caritas Australia, the international aid and development agency of the Australian Catholic Church. Caritas Australia is driven by social justice and the dignity of every person. It works with local communities in Australia and overseas, listening to concerns, assessing needs and working with partners on locally-led development programs. With hope, support and compassion at the core of what Caritas does, it works towards a world where all people may thrive.

Please see Mr. Monagle’s article in this edition of Vortex regarding the creative nature of our fundraising efforts for Caritas this year.  Of course, donations from parents are always gratefully accepted at Reception to add to the pool of funds raised by students. Our work for Caritas Australia during Term 1 ties in beautifully with our scriptural theme for 2022, “Let us consider how to stir one another to love and good works.” (Hebrews 10:24-25). It is incumbent on all of us to support each other and motivate each other in continuing to do “good works”, as it is through good works that we actively and tangibly demonstrate our love for others.  As a Catholic community, this is the very core of who we are and how we should be.

Prayer for the Third Week of Lent
Lord, in your thirst for relationship with us,
You reveal a love and longing greater than anything we can ask for or imagine.
Teach us to thirst in the depths of our souls for you, O Lord, and through You,
to thirst for more loving and just relationships with others.
Above all, help us to be advocates for justice and peace in our workplaces
and in the families and communities in which You have planted us.
In Your blessed name we pray.
Amen.

Blessed Edmund Rice, pray for us
Live Jesus in our hearts, forever

Joe Zavone
Principal
Christus Lux Mea

“Let us consider how to stir one another to love and good works.” Hebrews 10:24-25

Dear families and friends of St Edmund’s College,

Last week I underwent my summative review with Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA) as my first five-year contract as Principal of St Edmund’s College expires at the end of this year. The review was conducted by the EREA Director of Schools (Eastern Region), a colleague principal from an interstate EREA school and a colleague principal from another local Catholic school.  The panel conducted interviews with a selection of students, parents, staff, old boys and key members of the College community. A survey was also conducted leading up to the interviews with all College staff members. I am pleased to say that the review was very successful and that my contract has been renewed for another five years (up to 2027).  This has been a significant time of personal and professional reflection and perception, focusing on what has been achieved for the good of the College and its members, and what needs to be reinforced and strengthened.  I look forward to continuing to serve the St Edmund’s community and working with all members of our community in the positive growth and development of the College.

Student Expectations
I wrote to you last week about our expectations of students in terms of behaviour and attitude.  As all parents have agreed to these expectations in signing the enrolment form, then these expectations are viewed as shared expectations. We cannot be in a position where College rules, procedures and expectations are treated like a buffet or smorgasbord, with parents and students picking and choosing which rules and expectations they wish to follow and which ones they wish to ignore.  All of our expectations and procedures are relevant to all of our students all of the time.

St Edmund’s College aims to provide effective learning and teaching in partnership with parents and the wider community.  We require all students and parents to support the College with high expectations including:

Demonstrating excellence by attending all classes and being in class at all times. Students are expected to arrive before 8:50am, attend each day, and be on time to each lesson. Irregular attendance, whether it be whole day absence, partial absences, truancy or late arrival to class can all have a significant impact on a student’s learning and achievement.

Demonstrating responsibility by wearing the correct school uniform. Students are expected to wear the correct school uniform including black, leather school shoes.  Students are expected to wear the College PE uniform and supportive sports shoes for PE practical lessons. When out of uniform, at the very least students are expected to bring a signed note from their parent/carer and show this to their Head of House or Junior School teacher at the commencement of the day. Visit our website for details of correct school uniform and visit the uniform shop onsite on Mondays 8.00 am – 12.00 pm; Wednesdays 2.00 pm – 6.00 pm and Fridays 8.00 am – 12.00 pm.

Demonstrating responsibility by keeping mobile phones off / silent and away. Students are expected to turn their phone off or keep it on silent and keep it away all day when in class, in meetings, in informal and formal gatherings and assemblies and when in the building. Students failing to cooperate with this expectation will be asked to hand over their phone and parents notified of the consequences.

Demonstrating responsibility by being organised and prepared for lessons. Students are expected to have their homework diary (Junior School and Years 7 & 8), workbooks, devices and other essential equipment for each and every lesson of learning. Completing homework and assessment tasks is also the responsibility of every student.

Demonstrating respect by maintaining personal space. Students are expected to be mindful of personal space when in class, moving between classes and in the yard. Students must keep their ‘hands-off’ at all times, and games or play fighting that breaks this expectation is not accepted. This unsafe behaviour can cause accidents or lead to more aggressive interactions, which will not be tolerated.

Demonstrating respect by treating each other with dignity and courtesy. Students are expected to be mindful of respecting the dignity of other members of the College community (students, staff and visitors) as well as members of the broader community in how they speak and what they say, whether this is in person or online.

Demonstrating respect by cooperating with staff, school expectations and procedures. Students are expected to know and always demonstrate our core values, speak courteously and with appropriate manners, and be an up-stander by telling peers to stop or walking away when they may not be cooperating.

Demonstrating respect by treating looking after the College facilities. Students are expected to be mindful of respecting the facilities – classrooms, ovals, toilets and change rooms, specialist areas, gardens, etc.  Students also have a responsibility to let College staff know when there is a problem with College facilities.

Added to this is the Statement of Eddies Pride, a series of aspirational statements and goals developed by a group of students two years ago.  This Statement sets the standard of spirit and expectations at the College for which all students should aim and maintain.

Eddies Pride is …

• Striving to achieve my personal best, showing resilience and engagement.
• Investing in respectful, positive relationships with everyone in the College and the wider community.
• Contributing to a constructive learning environment and meeting College expectations.
• Honouring the College name, reputation and facilities.
• Reflecting the College motto in all that I do and say.

Students in Years 7 to 10 were clearly reminded of these expectations at assemblies last week.

We value our partnership with you in your son’s education and are supportive of regular communication. For this to be successful, please ensure that Student Services has your current mobile phone number and email address. As we move towards the end of Term One, we are looking forward to a year full of exciting programs and opportunities for our students.

Canberra Avenue School Zone
As you are aware I have been lobbying for the safety of our students in having Canberra Avenue made a 40 km school zone.  This lobbying started in February 2020 (two years ago!) with an email to Chris Steel MLA, Minister for Roads and Active Travel.  At that time the Minister replied that the school has limited frontage on Canberra Avenue and tat Canberra Avenue is an arterial road already zoned at 60 kph.  Unfortunately this reply was made without the Minister seeing the number of students we have crossing the road of a morning and afternoon and the number of cars we have trying to leave our driveway and car park of a morning and afternoon.  The Minister asked me to contact the Director of the School Safety Program, ironically a program advocating that students should consider walking to school.  The last correspondence I received from the Director, School Safety Program was in March 2021 (a year ago), advising me that “We have engaged a consultant to look at Canberra Avenue and consider what improvements can be made to improve safety for pedestrians. The consultant has commenced this piece of work, including an initial site assessment. We are scheduled to catch up with the consultant in the next few weeks to discuss their findings and recommendations for each school”.

I note that the ACT Government did not hesitate to transform Civic into a 40 km zone – an area that already has traffic lights, pedestrian crossings and safety measures in place.  We do not have any traffic control facility along Canberra Avenue.  The closest traffic controls are the traffic lights near Manuka Oval and the traffic lights at Nyrang Street near the 7-Eleven service station. Our students (and the students of St Clare’s) who have decided to do the right thing and walk to school have absolutely nowhere safe to cross Canberra Avenue. I will continue to lobby the ACT Government for some safety measure along Canberra Avenue to ensure safe passage for our students.  In all honesty I cannot believe that this is something I need to fight for, when in NSW any road that is adjacent to a school is zoned a 40 km school zone, whether it be a six-lane highway or small back lane.

Staff Car Park
Parent and carers are asked not to use the staff car park off Canberra Avenue for dropping off or picking up as it poses a risk to students. Parents and carers are asked to use the drive-through at the front of the school or one of the roads surrounding the school (not Canberra Avenue). Thank you for your support with this.

Prayer for the Second Week of Lent
God of Love, God of Peace,
This fractured word cries out in pain
and burns deep into my soul.
It challenges me to make a difference
God of Love, God of Peace,
God of this world,
scarred by grief and tears,
ignorance and fear,
soften hearts of stone and begin with mine
God of Love, God of Peace,
Create within me
a heart for people,
a desire for change and for new beginnings
to start this day.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

Blessed Edmund Rice, pray for us
Live Jesus in our hearts, forever

Joe Zavone
Principal
Christus Lux Mea

“Let us consider how to stir one another to love and good works.” Hebrews 10:24-25

Dear families and friends of St Edmund’s College,

I have had a number of challenging and difficult conversations with a small number of parents and students over the past few weeks. These conversations are a result of the repeated and continued poor choices made by some students. As a Catholic boys school in the Edmund Rice tradition, our first choice is to focus on the individual student, providing him with an opportunity to redeem his behaviour, perceive the nature of his decisions and for him to demonstrate that he can be a positive member of the St Edmund’s student community. More often than not we provide students with a number of these opportunities. It is when these opportunities are not taken up, and when students repeatedly demonstrate behaviour and attitudes that are not in keeping with the expectations of the College and not displaying the understanding of right and respectful relationships, that we have the difficult conversations which may lead a student to be asked to continue their education at another school where they have the chance to form new relationships in a new environment.

Whilst we work with individual students to assist them in a better understanding of right and respectful relationships with their peers and their teachers, we also need to closely consider the needs of our wider student body. All students at St Edmund’s should feel safe at all times; all of our students and teachers should be in learning environments where their learning is not interrupted or impeded by other students. At times myself and our pastoral team need to make decisions about individual students that take into account the good of our wider student body.

All parents have signed our Enrolment Form with the following terms:
• I/We accept that the College reserves the right to suspend or expel a student for serious or continued breaches of College rules, regulations and / or policies, including conduct which brings into disrepute the good name and reputation of the College.
• I/ We accept the standard the College sets regarding grooming, uniform and personal presentation, whilst at school, travelling to and from school; and whilst wearing the College uniform.
I must stress clearly that just as parents agreed to these terms prior to accepting the offer of enrolment at the College, we will continue to explicitly and actively act on these terms to make sure that we maintain a positive and safe environment for all members of our College community.

Year 7 Social Day
Last Friday our Year 7 students enjoyed a day at Canberra Olympic Pool. We have not been able to hold our annual Year 7 Camp, so a day out at the pool was a great way for Year 7 students to get to know each other in a social and fun context. Mr Joel Richardson organised the activities for the day and he was overwhelmed by the positive attitude and cooperation of our Year 7 students. He was also impressed with our senior school leaders who assisted on the day. I would like to sincerely thank Joel Richardson and his team for their great work on the day, and for providing Year 7 students an opportunity to enjoy each other’s company in the all-important context of forming relationships and friendships. The boys had a wonderful time swimming and playing games and it was such a great opportunity to get to know other boys in their Year Group. It seems that the boys are settling in well to their classes and to the demands of high school learning.

Open Day and 2023 Enrolments
Our enrolments for Year 7 have been growing steadily for the past few years and we look forward to continuing this growth in coming years.

Due to the current covid restrictions placed on schools, we have had to reorganise our 2023 enrolment program. If you know of any families who have an interest in having their son at St Edmund’s next year, please pass on the following dates:
• Information Night for prospective enrolments: Tuesday 3 May
• Open Day: Saturday 7 May
Further enquiries regarding enrolments for can be made via enrolments@stedmunds.act.edu.au

Strategic Direction and Annual Improvement Plan
The Strategic Direction and Annual Improvement Plan can be found on the College website, https://sec.act.edu.au/about/vision-mission/. The Strategic Direction was originally planned for three years, from 2019 – 2021. As we have not been able to meet physically to work on the next phase of the Strategic Direction, we have decided to extend the current plan for another year. Members of the College Leadership Team, College Advisory Council and representatives from other key groups in the school will meet as soon as possible once restrictions have been lifted to work on the next stage of the Strategic Direction. The Annual Improvement Plan is reviewed regularly, and demonstrates how the Strategic Direction is enabled and developed in a practical manner.

Optional Winter Uniform
A reminder that the new optional winter uniform items (puffer jacket and new style beanie) are now able to be ordered online through our uniform suppliers, Ranier Schoolwear. Images of these were included in last week’s Vortex. Our students had an overwhelmingly positive reaction to the items when they were shown some samples last year, so I anticipate that the items will be very popular. I encourage you to go online early and order these items ready for our winter uniform season (beginning Term 2). https://www.ranier.com.au/

Flood Crisis & Prayer
Our hearts go out to the many people affected by the recent flood crisis in NSW and Queensland, and are still being affected by the continuing rain and the clean-up in many areas. Many people have no homes to go back to and children have no schools to attend for a long while. The images and stories from these areas are absolutely heartbreaking, but the way in which people have come together to assist and support each other is a marvel lows example of human resilience and compassion.

Compassionate God, source of all comfort,
We pray for the people whose lives have been devastated by rain and flood.
Bring them comfort, we pray.
Protect the vulnerable.
Strengthen the weak.
Keep at bay the spread of disease.
Have mercy on all those working to rescue the stranded and to feed the hungry.
And may our response to their suffering be generous and bring you praise.
For we ask it in Jesus name,
Amen.

Blessed Edmund Rice, pray for us
Live Jesus in our hearts, forever

Joe Zavone
Principal
Christus Lux Mea

“Let us consider how to stir one another to love and good works.” Hebrews 10:24-25

Dear families and friends of St Edmund’s College,

It is so sad to watch the tragic events unfolding in Ukraine, with so many unsuspecting and innocent people being caught in the middle of another power’s assertion of authority and status. We pray for all Ukrainians that they remain safe during this time and that a sense of logic, understanding and compassion finally overcomes the violent and power hungry “bullies” who would rather have a world of aggression and destruction over peace and understanding.

Late last week I attended the first of the EREA Eastern Region Principals’ gatherings for the year, held at St Pius X College Chatswood in Sydney. It was with a pang of jealousy that I heard my colleagues from schools in NSW celebrate the fact that from last Monday, face masks are no longer to be worn in school and visitors are allowed back on school sites. As you are aware, the ACT Government has lifted many of the mask restrictions but masks remain in place in ACT schools for the time being along with restrictions on visitors.

I must be very honest and admit that I absolutely detest the wearing of masks in the classroom.  The engagement with students is stifled and limited.  As a teacher, I have trouble gauging the level of interest and engagement in the lesson, and I have trouble hearing questions and answers when offered by students.  I find that my own energy levels are quite quickly sapped in having to talk through a mask and I cannot really express my passion and interest for what I am teaching (there is only so much eye wrinkling one can do to express emotion when wearing a mask).  So as I said above, it was with much jealousy that I heard my colleagues express their delight in NSW schools going back to “normal” as of this week. Hopefully, it will be our turn very soon.

I would like to sincerely thank our parents in supporting the College through the latest covid restrictions and expectations. Your focus on testing using the RATs supplied by the ACT Government and adhering closely to the expectations for the follow up procedures when a student has tested positive has been of great assistance in allowing us to communicate clearly with our community and to monitor our numbers.

There is a phrase we sometimes use to indicate how quickly a situation can change.  The phrase is “and just like that”.  I have used that phrase often in the last few weeks.  Unfortunately my sister was given a very concerning health diagnosis a few weeks ago, resulting in many hospital visits in the coming months as well as a regime of medication and treatments. My sister is also my mother’s main carer.  As soon as I heard of my sister’s condition, I made sure that she only had herself to worry about and drove to Sydney to collect mother and bring her back to Canberra.  And just like that, things change.  I now have my 91 year old mother living with me and my wife.  The transition of being the cared for to doing the caring is an odd one indeed, but I know it is one that many of you have also experienced. Caring for an elderly parent comes with much joy, but it is also accompanied by much concern.  Whilst I am not sure what the long term situation looks like, it is lovely having my mother with us. One of my funniest experiences though is buying her first mobile phone (as we do not have a landline at home) and trying to teach her how to use her first mobile phone at 91.  That was a great test of my teaching skills and patience, and I’m still not sure whether it was a successful experience!

Open Day and 2023 Enrolments
Our enrolments for Year 7 have been growing steadily for the past few years and we look forward to continuing this growth in coming years.

Due to the covid restrictions placed on schools, we have had to reorganise our 2023 enrolment program. If you know of any families who have an interest in having their son at St Edmund’s next year, please pass on the following dates:

• Information Night for prospective enrolments: Tuesday 3 May
• Open Day: Saturday 7 May
• Further enquiries regarding enrolments for next year can be made via enrolments@stedmunds.act.edu.au

College Advisory Council News
On behalf of all of our community, I congratulate our Advisory Council Chair, Nichole Overall, on her successful candidacy in the recent Monaro by-election.  Nichole now joins the NSW Parliament and we wish her well in her new and significant position. Council member John Owens has accepted the position of Acting Advisory Council Chair with Lara Kirk as Acting Deputy Chair.  We will formalise the appointment of a substantive Advisory Council Chair once all member positions on the Council have been filled.

Next week we will advertise for two new members of the College Advisory Council.  One of these new members must have a strong financial background or understanding of budgets and must be willing to sit on the College Finance Committee (a subcommittee of the Advisory Council).  The other new member must have either a financial or legal or project management (building) background. These positions will be advertised very shortly by email amongst our College community, but the positions do not need to come from the College community.  If you are aware of anyone who meets the criteria and would like to be serve the College by being on the Advisory Council, please feel free to forward the email to them. A formal selection process will then take place.

Ash Wednesday and Lent
Today is Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of Lent. Ashes were distributed today during various student gatherings.   Ashes are a symbol of penance made sacramental by the blessing of the Church, and they help us develop a spirit of humility and sacrifice, a spirit that allows us to enter the Lenten season with an appropriate state of mind and state of heart. Often we talk about giving something up for Lent, but this can be quite a superficial thing to do, as it often does not accompany a change in our behaviour and thinking.  Many of us use Lent as a kick-starter for a diet or new exercise regimen – almost like a new year’s resolution.  Using Lent in this way is not appropriate and quite empty.  Lent is much more than this.  Lent is a preparation for Easter leading to the Passion of Christ, so a simple focus on giving up coffee or chocolate or whatever it may be does not prepare us appropriately for this.

Lent is a time to make real sacrifices. We need perhaps to look at giving up our biases and prejudices, or giving up our obsessions and addictions.  Or perhaps we should look at giving up our quick roads to anger or resentment, or giving up our quick judgements.  Whatever we are giving up for Lent, we do it with the aim of becoming more neighbourly, more inclusive and more embracing of those around us, and in doing this, we strengthen our relationship with God and attempt to walk the path of Jesus, in stirring one another to love and good works, as highlighted in our 2022 scriptural theme.

 Gospel Reflection – Luke 6:39-45
“Jesus told his disciples a parable, “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye. “A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thorn bushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles. A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.”

It occurred to me how last Sunday’s Gospel passage relates to the many problems we have today with social media.  It is as if Luke had a window to our contemporary life and saw how we are struggling with the many pitfalls and hurtful consequences of social media.  Many people today are so quick to jump on their social media sites and judge others, very often without knowing or understanding the full picture of the situation, very rarely thinking about what they would do if they were in a similar situation and how they would feel to have hurtful and damaging things said about them. Social media seems to attract adults who place themselves on the high moral ground, and try to suggest that they know best, but as Luke asks, have they removed the wooden beam in their own eye before they attempt to remove the splinter from their neighbour’s eye? The hurtful judgement given on social media is often disguised as advice or guidance, but we cannot advise or guide, and we can certainly not judge, until we have looked clearly in the mirror and judged ourselves.  If that judgement comes back perfect, then there is definitely something wrong with the mirror! I would ask our parents to continue to have serious and considered conversations with your sons about the harm that can be done with social media and to work with your sons in dealing with social media in a responsible and mature manner.

Prayer for Peace and Justice in Ukraine
God of peace and justice,
who change the hardened heart
and break the power of violence,
we entrust the people of Ukraine to You.
Protect them in this time of peril;
let them know not death but life,
not slavery but freedom.
You are Father of all,
We are sisters and brothers.
Give us the strength
to live that truth in love,
Choosing peace not war.
Through Christ, our Lord.
Amen.

Blessed Edmund Rice, pray for us
Live Jesus in our hearts, forever

Joe Zavone
Principal
Christus Lux Mea

“Let us consider how to stir one another to love and good works.” Hebrews 10:24-25

Dear families and friends of St Edmund’s College,

Normally at this time we would be holding our annual Opening College Mass, usually held at St Christopher’s Cathedral.  This is always a highlight of the year, having the whole school community together at the Cathedral to formally acknowledge the new year as well as celebrating the induction of our new student leaders. Unfortunately, Covid restrictions on schools has meant that we could not have an Opening College Mass this year. It saddens me deeply to know that we cannot gather as a whole school group until the restrictions on schools are lifted. In lieu of the Opening Mass, we held a very special assembly on Tuesday with students in Year 11 and Year 12, inducting our senior school leaders, acknowledging our Year 11 2021 academic award winners, acknowledging our 2021 Dux Nick Odgers and, for the first time in the 68-year history of St Edmund’s College, we commissioned every student in Year 12 to their unique and special position of leadership as the oldest students in the school.

A special congratulations to Andrew McFarlane for his well-earned Year 11 202 Dux Award as well as achieving the Caltex Best All Rounder award, and congratulations also to Daniel Isherwood for his remarkable achievement is achieving the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

Rather than write an article for this week’s Vortex, I would like to share with you two of the addresses given at the Assembly.  The first address is from our College Captain, Andrew McFarlane, and the second address is from our 2021 Dux, Nick Odgers. Both speeches capture the essence of the character, spirit and nature of learning here at St Edmund’s College.

College Captain’s Address, Andrew McFarlane
Good morning Mr. Zavone, staff, students and most importantly all our Year 12 leaders of this school. Today is a celebration that recognises the capacity that we possess to lead our College as well as the responsibility that accompanies such stature. Responsibility is encapsulated in leadership in which I have the utmost confidence that our Year 12 cohort will uphold and thrive.

Firstly, I would like to congratulate all those boys who received an academic award today and for those who received them at the end of last year. This is a grand achievement and is, no doubt, attributed to the aggregate of hard work every student has put into improving their learning experience. We, as a College, pride ourselves on our ability to learn and improve ourselves. Today, we celebrate the example of this commitment that has been upheld in the classroom.

The challenge to leading is finding your own way to lead. There is no correct or incorrect way to lead. You must find your own version of leadership which best represents your own personal qualities so that each of us may lead your house or school with great pride. Leadership is accompanied by various supporting attributes that build a firm foundation for us to thrive in the community.

Resilience. Our greatest successes are often a product of great leadership. However, success is not something that happens overnight. Success is the consequence of persistent resilience, in learning from our failures and progressing to betterment. Failure can be good thing. Failure is a part of learning. Failure brings resilience to the forefront and allows us to adapt and learn. Good leaders stay resilient. When they fail, they become empowered in the learning experience they gain through the tough times.

The final attribute that I would like to touch upon is teamwork. A leader benefits from the networks that they have around them. They cannot work alone. A good leader understands, and invests in, the value of teamwork. A leader operates by using all the resources available to them. This means using their team. This also means knowing how to get the best out of their team. They need to be able to communicate well with their team. The key to success is holding the progression of the team equally to your own. At this College, the key is to work cohesively and selflessly in devoting yourself to the growth that each of us experience along our individual journeys. We as a leadership team and a year 12 cohort will practice upholding resilience, excellent teamwork and selflessness to make sure we work in the greatest interest of the College’s legacy.

To all the boys who are being celebrated for their leadership today, wear your badge proudly. Being a leader at this fine College is a rare and prestigious accolade that not many get to experience. Similarly, the pride of being a Year 12 student shows great loyalty and dedication to this College and should not be discounted. I encourage you, today, to not to take the badge for granted. Yes, leadership is more than a badge, but the badge represents a great opportunity and voice in the College community. We all must accept this opportunity to ensure we leave a positive legacy for the College upon our graduation. That we leave a lasting foundation for the future years of this College. We as leaders and men are the voice of the school and must fuse the qualities of resilience, a positive mindset and teamwork to attain greatness. The roles we have been given are not ours to keep, we are custodian leaders of the school and it is our job is to leave St Edmunds College at the end of the year in the best possible place.

I would like to extend a final congratulations to all the boys who won academic awards today and to all the leaders who were inducted today. This is a great honour that requires substantial dedication, which I am certain we will uphold as a cohort in 2022.

2021 Dux Address, Nicholas Odgers
Good afternoon staff and senior Eddies Boys.  It is a real privilege to be standing here today to be able to share some advice I wish I had known when I sat in your position.

I’d like to begin my address today with a question. Does a mark of 60 constitute adequacy, and a mark of 100, perfection?

Throughout most of my schooling career, my answer to this question has been ‘yes’. Nothing can beat a 100, but a lot can beat a 60. Our education system had slowly ingrained this notion into my mind, to the point that I became so fixated on the result; on reaching the destination and not the journey. Before long, my achievement was dictated by a letter or a number on a test or assignment, and I did everything I could to maximise it. I reduced my learning to the constraints of the textbook; focusing solely on the topics that were to be examined. I would memorise formulas, quotes, and even full essays – anything I thought would help me do better. Anything to get closer to that 100 – the perfect number; the definition of success. But in chasing perfection, I learnt so much about the power that trying your best has on our learning.

Now, I want all of you to think forward to when you graduate, whether that be this year or next, and the many emotions that come with it. Graduation will be about the mountains each of you climbed along the way. It is about the feeling when you thought you had nothing more to give, but found another gear. It is about the times you fell, and the tenacity and perseverance you showed to pick yourself up and keep going. Whether you thrived or merely survived. You kept moving forward and you did it. You finished school.

But once you graduate, you no longer have the luxury of coasting through. The day you leave the walls of St Edmund’s College, you are no longer bound by a school curriculum or a daily routine, and no one is telling you what to do nor when to do it. You are governed purely by your own choices and judgement. You have entered the real world, where there are no report cards and assessments to keep track of your achievement. Without frequent tests and assignments, how then, can we measure if we are successful? Today, I offer a solution, one which saved me from the demands of perfectionism.

I shifted my mentality. I became determined to get the best out of myself, not for the validation that came with a high score, but for the intrinsic value of doing things well. I deemed ‘trying my best’ a success, to ensure I did not let myself settle for ‘good enough’. But what I learnt, is that you cannot do your best if you are worried you could do better. You must invest all your time into the present, and so I turned to the ‘how’.

How can I make sure I do the best I possibly can?

The answer I found to this troubling question was to use the resources available to me, and I want you all to do the same. Go to your teachers and show them your progress, ask questions (lots of questions), submit a draft. Your teachers are your helping hand, use them. Spend less time setting expectations for yourself and more time doing the things that will maximise your potential. Become process oriented, not outcome oriented and in time, you will find your way.

By redefining success as a process of improvement and focusing on the journey and not the destination, I could pursue excellence without the demands of perfectionism or the compromises that come with settling for good enough.

With this in mind, I challenge all of you to define your own process for success and live up to your own measures with commitment and passion. If you do so, you have succeeded. Success cannot exist without a thought behind it labelling it as one. Success is a choice. Are you holding yourself back?

Although my senior years at the College were extremely gratifying, they were hampered by a great deal of stress. I spent far too much time worrying about the future result, that I nearly missed the present. My advice for you all today is to try your absolute best and take comfort in knowing that. If you continue to try in all that you do, you will continue to learn beyond the classroom. If doing so, you are succeeding. Then, make sure you take some time to relax, unwind, and restore your energy before you try again.

So, each day I ask that you: get up, dress up, show up, but never give up. You only fail when you don’t try.

Edmund’s to the fore.

St Edmund’s College Prayer
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

Joe Zavone
Principal
Christus Lux Mea

“Let us consider how to stir one another to love and good works.” Hebrews 10:24-25

Dear families and friends of St Edmund’s College,

Whilst I was in our Reception area last week, I was quite surprised and disappointed at the number of students who were making a beeline to the front office to collect a face mask.  Boys were coming straight off the bus and into the office to collect the mask for the day – this was their first option for a face mask and it has been happening every day.  I remind our community that it is not the responsibility of the College to supply face masks to our students and it is unsustainable for us to supply masks every day to large numbers of our student population. This is a family responsibility.  We will supply masks in the case of loss or damage during the day at the cost of $1 each, with these funds going towards our annual fundraising for Caritas.  I would ask our families to please ensure that all students (from Years 7 – 12) are leaving home with a face mask and at least have a spare face mask with them.

A reminder that the new optional winter uniform items (puffer jacket and new style beanie) are now able to be ordered online through our uniform suppliers, Ranier Schoolwear. Images of these were included in last week’s Vortex.  Our students had an overwhelmingly positive reaction to the items when they were shown some samples last year, so I anticipate that the items will be very popular.  I encourage you to go online early and order these items ready for our winter uniform season (beginning Term 2).

College Advisory Council News

I would like to congratulate the Chair of the College Advisory Council, Nichole Overall, for her successful campaign in the recent Monaro by-election (NSW).  It looks like Nichole is the winning candidate and will represent Monaro on behalf of the Nationals.   There will be a formal announcement regarding this as the results are formalised.

The end of last year saw the completion of tenure for two of our long serving Advisory Council members, Christa Gordon and Steve Buckman. I sincerely thank Christa and Steve for their time as Council members and their dedication in always wanting the best for St Edmund’s and its community.

We welcome three new Advisory Council members this year and look forward to the wide array of experience, expertise, contributions and perceptions they bring to the College:

Julie Fitzgerald
Julie has more than twenty-five years’ experience in senior finance and administration leadership roles, including the last thirteen years as a business manager of a large non-government school.  She holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting), is an invited member of the Golden Key Honor Society and a member of the Association of School Business Administrators.

Sarah Kelly
Sarah has been on the Committee of Karinya House since 2004, serving as Vice President and now President for the past 8 years. Sarah has vast experience, knowledge and connections of various charities and the philanthropic sector. She is also Director of My Fashion Empire (Australia) Pty Ltd as has held a number of government related positions. Sarah currently has two sons attending the College.

Craig Wagstaff
Craig is an old boy (Class of 1993) and is currently the General Manager of Canberra FM Radio. Craig has held a number of significant positions including director level, general management, leadership, financial stewardship, regulatory compliance, strategy and marketing/communications which have seen him work in Australia, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates with further project work in Indonesia, China and India.

We will be advertising within our College community very soon for a further two members to join the College Advisory Council.

Gospel Reflection

Luke 6:17, 20-26

Most of us would be very familiar with the Matthew’s account of Jesus’ sermon where he presents the beatitudes or blessings. Last Sunday’s Gospel reading gives us Luke’s version of the same sermon.  Luke’s account is much shorter and his perception is that Jesus was directing his sermon at the apostles, rather than the assembled crowd:

“How blessed are you who are poor: the kingdom of God is yours.  Blessed are you who are hungry now: you shall have your fill. Blessed are you who are weeping now: you shall laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, drive you out, abuse you, denounce your name as criminal, on account of the Son of man”.

Of course, Jesus here is not celebrating or advocating poverty, hunger, misery and persecution. Rather he is highlighting the focus we should have in life – if we are “poor”, then we are not focusing on the material side of life; if we are “hungry” then we are not focusing on instant gratification; if we are “weeping”, then we are not focusing on ourselves but on the plight of others; if we have people “hating” us, then we would hope that we are fighting the good cause and being countercultural in what we do and what we stand for. On another level, and a little closer to home within the context of our 2022 scriptural theme, we see Jesus almost providing a list of those for whom we should demonstrate “love and good works”.  It is clear that he is instructing us to look to those who are lacking the essentials to get through their daily lives, whether this be in a material sense (food, shelter, money, support) or a spiritual sense, and to those who are persecuted for what they do and who they are.  This was the path taken by Blessed Edmund Rice in his work for the poor and uneducated youth of Waterford, and this is the path we need to look to in fulfilling our role as good citizens and as members of a Catholic school community.

St Edmund’s College Prayer

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

Joe Zavone
Principal
Christus Lux Mea

“Let us consider how to stir one another to love and good works.” Hebrews 10:24-25

Dear families and friends of St Edmund’s College,

Normally at this time we would be in the midst of excited preparations for our annual New Families Function, where families new to the College spend a lovely evening with food and drink, getting to know our staff, our senior school leaders and other new families.  Unfortunately the ACT Covid school restrictions do not permit us to have such an event at the moment, but we will invite our new families to the College as soon as we are able.

In a few weeks we will have two very special assemblies for our student leaders.  The Junior School leaders will be inducted at a special function, and the senior leaders will be inducted at a special assembly.  This of course is in place of our Opening Mass which we cannot hold this year.  Also at the senior school induction assembly, we will acknowledge our Year 11 academic award recipients from last year, as well acknowledging the Dux of the College from last year, Nick Odgers.  We will also induct all Year 12 students into their unique leadership role in the College with a badge ritual.  This will be the first time we will hold such a ritual, signifying the important leadership role that all Year 12 students have within the College through their role modelling and care of others.

I am excited to announce that the new winter uniform items are now able to be ordered online through our uniform suppliers, Ranier Schoolwear. Attached to this week’s Vortex is a brochure with an image of the new puffer jacket and the new beanie.  Our students had an overwhelmingly positive reaction to the items when they were shown some samples last year, so I anticipate that the items will be very popular.  I encourage you to go online early and order these items ready for our winter uniform season (beginning Term 2).

In place of our regular whole school assembly, last week we held separate cohort assemblies for the Junior School, students in Years 7 and 8, 9 & 10 and 11 & 12. I stressed to all students at the high school meetings that, above and beyond anything else we do, we are a learning community. What happens in the classroom is of the utmost importance, with students needing to actively participate in providing an appropriate and productive learning environment. This includes avoiding distractions and unnecessary noise, having all materials for every lesson, listening closely to explanations and instructions and engaging in all work in a meaningful manner.  All students must be active contributors to allowing all other students to learn well and all teachers to teach well.  This is a very simple but important principle.  I must stress that any deviation from this will not be tolerated, and we will be engaging closely with those students who do not adhere to these expectations.

I also stressed to all students last week that at no time are they to take or record an image of another student or staff member, whether this be on the College site during the day, or travelling to and from school.  This includes photo images, video images and sound recordings. Another student providing consent for their image to be taken makes absolutely no difference to this condition.  In a world where images are the cause of misrepresentation and hurt and are very easily spread, we need to create an environment here at the College where students and staff feel safe and secure.

I have been quite saddened for the past couple of weeks to read of two schools who have provided their parents with a contract or declaration of faith which highly discriminates against students who are questioning their sexuality or gender. The hurt that this has caused to members of the communities of these schools, and especially to those members who are in fact questioning their sexuality or gender, is profound and almost irreparable.  I hope that all members of the St Edmund’s community are very clear on our position on these issues. Edmund Rice developed a system of education aimed at liberating all young people, particularly the marginalised, where the dignity of each student was paramount. As inclusive communities, EREA schools seek to address the specific needs and wellbeing of marginalised young people, including those who are same sex attracted and gender diverse.  Schools are obliged to take all reasonable steps to prevent unlawful discrimination and harassment and have the responsibility to provide a safe learning environment for everyone.

“Live Life to the Full “is Edmund Rice Education Australia’s response to providing safe and inclusive learning environments for all students, in particular for same-sex attracted and gender diverse young people. All relevant documents can be found here: https://www.erea.edu.au/safeandinclusive/

Gospel Reflection, Luke 5:1-11
Last week’s Gospel reading has Luke retelling the story of Jesus encouraging his disciples to continue fishing after a long night of catching very little. Simon had been fishing all night with no success.  Most likely he was exhausted and looking forward to going home and getting some sleep. So it must have seemed a bit of an imposition when Jesus got into Simon’s boat and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Nevertheless, Simon did what Jesus asked.  Jesus tells Simon to put out into the deep water and let down his nets for a catch. Simon obviously believes this will be a futile exercise. We can almost hear the exasperation in his voice when he responds, “Master, we have worked all night but have caught nothing.” But then he continues; “Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets”.  What happens next is miraculous.  Simon has nets so full of fish that they begin to break, boats so full of fish that they begin to sink. (adapted from https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/narrative-lectionary/great-catch-of-fish/commentary-on-luke-51-11-2)

There are many interpretations of this story.  At its most simple level, the story provides us with a very strong idea of what can be achieved when we have Christ as our light.  When we follow the life of Christ, his actions and teachings, and use these as a model for our own lives, then our lives become richer, we draw in others around us and we end up with full baskets rather than empty baskets.  Our 2022 scriptural theme, “Let us consider how to stir one another to love and good works” is a clear example of the intentions of this Gospel reading. We can achieve so much more in life, and increase the value of the lives of others around us, if together we actively encourage one another to the love of others and to the provision of good works.

Loving Father,
It is during times of discouragement, bewilderment, or delay
that we find ourselves more attentive to Your presence.
It seems our hearts are more yielded
and our minds more absorbing of the truths You want to convey
when we’re no longer trying to take charge.
Like the disciples who were fishing in the usual way
expecting the usual results,
we also relate to such efforts.
But You are extraordinary and You do extraordinary work in our lives
as we yield our will to Yours and heed Your word.
Shape us into the most useful and enduring vessel
that brings glory to You and value to others.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

Blessed Edmund Rice, pray for us.
Live Jesus in our Hearts, forever.

Joe Zavone
Principal
Christus Lux Mea

“Let us consider how to stir one another to love and good works.” Hebrews 10:24-25

To the families and friends of St Edmund’s College,

I would like to express my warmest welcome to all of you for the new school year.  I hope that all of our students and families had a safe and happy break and we look forward to working closely with you all for another year.

On Monday we welcomed our new students to the College.  We were blessed with good weather for most of the day so the boys could really enjoy their first day with us and get to know the place and its people well.

We are all excited to engage with the boys once again, although there will be many changes in Term 1 to align ourselves with the continuing Covid environment.  Our Deputy Principal Mr Ian Garrity has already informed you by email of the procedures to follow should your son be diagnosed with Covid.  You have also all been notified of the distribution of the rapid antigen tests. I would ask you to please follow these procedures closely to ensure that we continue to create a safe school environment for all of us. We will also continue our safe practices here at school to ensure that all students and staff are working in a safe environment.  I would like to specifically thank Mr Garrity and our Director of Business Services, Mrs Samantha Brady, for all of the work they have done around the Covid protocols this year.

A consequence of the current Covid environment is the changes to some of our planned events for this term.  These events include the Opening College Mass, New Family Function, camps and retreats, swimming and athletics carnivals and College assemblies. We will keep you informed of these changes and hopefully we will be able to schedule some of these events later in the year.

SCRIPTURAL THEME 2022
Our scriptural theme for 2022 is “Let us consider how to stir one another to love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24-25).  We are encouraged to stir each other first of all to love – not a romantic love of course, but a love for each other; a love where we raise each other up, support each other and add value to the other rather than a selfish love where we look to increase ourselves.   I spoke to the staff last week about what this love might look like in the classroom, in the yard and in a pastoral context.  How do we as a staff stir one another to the love of our students, and how do we stir our students to the love of each other? Inherent in this love is the concept or right and respectful relationships, and a strong sense of justice and peace.  We are also encouraged to stir each other to good works – what are the actions and deeds that we can undertake that demonstrate how we love others? These can be actions on both a micro and macro level, within our own specific community or in our broader community. It is important to note that in being called to love and good works, we have two actions which force us to look outwards and increase the lives of others, and in doing so we of course increase our own lives. We are reminded here of the qualities of love as outlined by Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 – “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres”.  Our aim this year is to work together, all members of the Eddies community, to stir one another to love and good works, following the path that Christ has set for us through his model of love and good works.

The scriptural theme, plus the Statement of Eddies Pride, tells us who we are, why we are here and how we act as members of the St Edmund’s community.

STATEMENT OF EDDIES PRIDE

• Striving to achieve my personal best, showing resilience and engagement.
• Investing in respectful, positive relationships with everyone in the College and the wider community.
• Contributing to a constructive learning environment and meeting College expectations.
• Honouring the College name, reputation and facilities.
• Reflecting the College motto (Christus Lux Mea, Christ is my Light) in all that I do and say.

CLASS OF 2021
In celebrating the achievements of our graduating class of 2021, we offer special congratulations to College Dux, Nick Odgers and our high ATAR achievers Baden Godfrey, Leo Blaney-Brown, Jack Hodges, Noah Ellis, Lachlan O’Neill, Riley Diwell, Shenal Rajapakse, Jack Thomson, Patrick Rees and Adam Viali. It is so heartening to see so many of our students follow the pathway of their choice, whether this be in tertiary education or an employment / vocational pathway.

 STAFF NEWS
Just as we have welcomed new students to our community, we also welcome our new staff.  The following new staff members have commenced with us this year:

• Monica Day, Assistant Principal, Student Wellbeing
• Olinto Fabbri, Languages teacher (Italian)
• Linda Goth, Head of Mathematics
• Timothy O’Brien, Leave replacements for Semester 1
• Phoebe Sewell, HASS/English teacher
• Lee Boswell, Co-Curricular Manager
• Melissa Gardiner, Support Staff
• Lachlan O’Neill, IT Support/Performing Arts Administration – Semester 1

We also offer our congratulations to the following staff members:

• Michael Monagle and his wife on the birth of their baby daughter
• Holly Ellem and her husband on the birth of their baby daughter
• Ashleigh Kerin on her marriage during the holidays
• Justin Giteau on being selected as Head Coach for the Raiders U21 squad

PRAYER
As we find ourselves at the beginning of a school new year, we also find ourselves on a new page, allowing for fresh starts and new opportunities.   I would like to end this week’s Vortex with a beautiful quotation from American poet and philosopher, Ralph Waldo Emerson, on the importance of viewing each new day as a fresh beginning.  It is very natural for us as humans to carry over our concerns, our failures, our mistakes and our worries from one day to the next, allowing these to become heavier and more burdensome.  This does us no good at all.  We need to strengthen the ability to just “let go” and allow ourselves the freedom to start again, and this is a particularly important skill to develop and refine with the boys with whom we work.  I certainly hope that we instil in our students a sense that every day is a new day, every day is an opportunity to start again, to leave the past behind and start a new path.

“Write it in your heart that everyday is the best day in the year. They are rich who own the day, and no one owns the day who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety. Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities, no doubt, crept in. Forget them as soon as you can, tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely, with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense. This new day is too dear, with its hopes and invitations, to waste a moment on the yesterdays.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Lord,
You are full of grace and forgiveness.
Help us to walk forward from this day.
Thank You that right now we can enter into a new dawn,
a fresh start and a new freedom.
You turn the pages of our lives and wash each day clean.
Help us to feel that we can learn from the past in Your safe arms and move on.
Thank You that we can write a new story on a fresh page.
With You we find vision and hope again.
Thank You for the price that you paid
that we always have a chance to begin again with You.

Blessed Edmund Rice, pray for us.
Live Jesus in our Hearts, forever.

Joe Zavone
Principal
Christus Lux Mea