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Principal’s Message: Term 2, Week 7, 2021

“If we walk in the light, as he is the light, we have fellowship with one another.” 1 John 1:7

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

We are well and truly in the midst of the winter co-curricular season, with all our winter team sports (Basketball, Football and Rugby Union) having seen their first few games.  It is a wonderful sight to see our ovals alive with the energy of coaching and training throughout the week and to see our young men developing and refining their skills and using these skills in partnership with each other to form a strong team.  Working within a team is a great skill in itself.  The overall aim of the co-curricular program is to develop these team skills, to develop the specific skills of the particularly sport and to develop a strong sense of positive sportsmanship and a healthy sense of competition.  Of course winning games is a great consequence of the many hours of training and playing and we all enjoy a victory, but it is not the ultimate goal of our program. The co-curricular program is designed to complement the spiritual and academic development of our students through a sense of identity, belonging and happiness. The activities provide another level of interaction between students and staff and between students and other members of the College community.

Involvement in the co-curricular program has been a long tradition here at St Edmund’s College.  A sense of pride and tradition is developed through the activities.  All members of our community who contribute to our co-curricular program must reflect the core values of St Edmund’s College – players, coaches, managers, co-ordinators.  This includes students, members of staff, parents, old boys and members of our wider community.

I cannot stress strongly enough that there is absolutely no place for poor behaviour and poor sportsmanship in our co-curricular program.  This is the case for both students and adults involved in the program.  There is no place for a coach who belittles the opposing team or belittles his or her own team when things are not going in the right direction.  There is no place for a parent who yells abuse at referees when decisions are not popular.  There is no place for inappropriate language, fiery tempers, threats, ridicule, sarcasm or any other type of behaviours which contribute to an unhealthy sports environment and demonstrate poor sportsmanship.

I would encourage all parents involved in our co-curricular program to carefully read the following material from https://www.playbytherules.net.au/

Parents play an invaluable role in club and community sports. Occasionally, however, some become over emotional, verbally abusive and sometimes even physically aggressive. It’s important that the inappropriate actions of a few parents don’t ruin the sporting experience for everyone else.

Information to help you understand the issue

Angry parents:

  • sometimes use foul language, make threatening gestures and remarks directed at the coach, umpire or other team
  • have a win at all costs mentality
  • are likely to ‘coach’ and ‘referee’ from the sidelines and concentrate on faults and failings rather than successes
  • diminish everyone’s enjoyment of the game.

Inappropriate behaviour by parents can result in:

  • children withdrawing from sport
  • reduced membership
  • fewer people willing to volunteer for coaching and official positions; and/or
  • an increased risk of legal action. Clubs have a legal responsibility to address behaviours that offend community standards or are against the law (e.g., racial vilification, sexual harassment, criminal or common assault).

Where would junior club sport be without mums and dads? Who would ferry children back and forth between sporting fixtures, hand out half-time oranges, wash uniforms and make sure players arrive on time wearing both boots?

We all know that, if not for mums and dads, we would struggle to find enough club administrators, referees, coaches, scorers and line markers, and the spectator stands would be bare. Without a doubt, they are an invaluable resource and an essential part of any sport.

But what about those parents who turn ugly? You know the type. They scream instructions from the sidelines, admonish the referee (who is often barely a teenager), challenge the coach, sometimes storm onto the playing field or even get into a punch-up with an equally passionate opposing team parent. It happens.

So what can we do about it? What role do coaches play? How about club administrators? How can parents successfully tread that line between supportive and aggressive?

Tips for parents:

  • Be a good role model. Children watch and learn from you, so make sure you set a good example.
  • Avoid a ‘win at all costs’ attitude. Although you may think winning is important, the focus for junior sport should be on fun.
  • Be aware that your abusive behaviour may be against the law. Ask yourself, ‘Would my mother be upset or offended by what I am saying or doing?’ If the answer is yes then it’s best to sit down and be quiet.
  • Try not to be critical of coaches, referees or umpires. Many are volunteers who give their time to make sport possible for all our children, and some are just learning. If you have some constructive advice for them, leave it until after the game or have a chat with the head coach or referee.

Parents can help create a positive sporting environment and reduce sport rage by being good role models.

  • Encourage fair play
  • Emphasise trying hard and having fun, not only winning
  • Never ridicule or yell at a child for making a mistake
  • Cheer and acknowledge good plays by both teams
  • Thank the official, coach and other team after the game.
  • Respect officials, coaches and opponents
  • Accept decisions by officials – they are human and can make mistakes.
  • Deal with issues in a controlled and professional manner after the game.
  • Keep your emotions in check
  • Be enthusiastic, but don’t scream instructions from the side line
  • Don’t get into shouting matches with anyone
  • Never use bad language or harass others.
  • Uphold your club’s code of conduct
  • Understand, uphold and support your club’s code of conduct for parents.
  • If you have put your hand up to be an official in junior sport it’s important to understand all your club’s rules and regulations, the spirit of the game and the relevant codes of conduct.

This link is a light hearted look (with a very serous message) at the issue of good sportsmanship by the community: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/rugby-cartoon-sideline-parents-are-ugly/FQBFQ2WJQCKZNEVL4W4SEY25WU/

Solemnity of the Holy Trinity

Last Sunday the Catholic Church celebrated the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity. There is perhaps no doctrine as essential to the Christian religion as the Holy Trinity.  The belief in one God in three Persons makes Christianity unique in all the world. The doctrine of the Trinity teaches us that God is a relationship of perfect love between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Trinity welcomes us as sons and daughters into this family communion of love.

The Holy Trinity is at the core of e importance in Christian life.  All prayers in the Church begin in the Name of the Holy Trinity and end glorifying the Trinity. All Sacraments are administered (we are baptised, confirmed, anointed, our sins are forgiven, and our marriage blessed, and our Bishops, priests and deacons ordained) in the name of the Holy Trinity. We bless ourselves, and the priest blesses us, in the name of the Holy Trinity. Whilst a belief in the Holy Trinity is at the very core of our lives as Catholics, it is one of those great mysteries that grows richer and deeper the more we engage with it as a mystery.

There is a very old and much-repeated story about St. Augustine, one of the intellectual giants of the Church.  He was walking by the seashore one day, attempting to conceive of an intelligible explanation for the mystery of the Trinity.  As he walked along, he saw a small boy on the beach, pouring seawater from a shell into a small hole in the sand.  “What are you doing, my child?” asked Augustine.  “I am trying to empty the sea into this hole,” the boy answered with an innocent smile.  “But that is impossible, my dear child,” said Augustine.  The boy stood up, looked straight into the eyes of Augustine and replied, “What you are trying to do – comprehend the immensity of God with your small head – is even more impossible.”  Then he vanished.  The child was an angel sent by God to teach Augustine a lesson.  Later, Augustine wrote: “You see the Trinity if you see love.”  According to him, the Father is the lover, the Son is the loved one and the Holy Spirit is the personification of the very act of loving. This means that we can understand something of the Mystery of the Holy Trinity more readily with the heart than with our feeble mind. Evagrius of Pontus, a Greek monk of the 4th century who came from what is now Turkey in Asia and later lived out his vocation in Egypt, said: “God cannot be grasped by the mind. If God could be grasped, God would not be God.”

Prayer for the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity
Glory be to the Father,
Who by His almighty power and love created me,
making me in the image and likeness of God.
Glory be to the Son,
Who by His Precious Blood delivered me from hell,
and opened for me the gates of heaven.
Glory be to the Holy Spirit,
Who has sanctified me in the sacrament of Baptism,
and continues to sanctify me
by the graces I receive daily from His bounty.
Glory be to the Three adorable Persons of the Holy Trinity,
now and forever.
Amen

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

Joe Zavone
Principal
Christus Lux Mea

Principal’s Message: Term 2, Week 6, 2021

“If we walk in the light, as he is the light, we have fellowship with one another.” 1 John 1:7

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

I must offer my congratulations to all involved in last week’s Cabaret.  From all accounts it was an amazing evening of entertainment and I am so sorry that I missed this year’s performance. All feedback has been overwhelmingly unanimous in its positivity, with much praise directed towards our very talented students – vocals, dance, band and orchestra, drama, video production, house performances and so on.  I thank Mr Nigel Palfreman and his team not only for co-ordinating such a fabulous evening of entertainment, but in taking the time and making the effort in motivating our boys to take centre stage and have the confidence and resilience to shine in the spotlight. In talking to other teachers about Cabaret, I kept on hearing one common theme – how great it was for all of our boys to be supporting their fellow students in their performances; creating a very strong sense of belonging and identity. Once again, congratulations to all involved and thank you for your significant and tangible contribution to the Eddies community.

The issue of vaping in schools has been emerging over the past few months.  Had I been asked a few months ago if vaping was an issue at St Edmund’s College I would have confidently said no.  But things have changed in the past few weeks and we now need to deal with this emerging issue, as do most other high schools across Australia.  Surprisingly, vaping does not seem to be an issue with our older students.  It is disappointing that some our younger high school students seem to be involved in vaping without realising the consequences of this harmful and horrid activity.  I need to state firmly that vaping at school or whilst in school uniform is strictly forbidden and we will not hesitate to take swift action on this issue – action involving definite consequences and educative reflection.  I urge parents to take the time to carefully read the following two articles about the harmful effects of vaping on young people and to please discuss this with your child:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-24/rising-popularity-in-puff-bar-nicotine-ecigarettes/100160650

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-19/teachers-urge-parents-to-talk-about-vaping/13172532

Pentecost
Along with Christmas and Easter, Pentecost ranks among the great feasts of Christianity. It commemorates not only the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and disciples, but also the fruits and effects of that event: the completion of the work of redemption, the fullness of grace for the Church and its children, and the gift of faith for all nations.

“And when the days of Pentecost were drawing to a close, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a violent wind coming, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them parted tongues as of fire, which settled upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in foreign tongues, even as the Holy Spirit prompted them to speak” (Acts 2, 1-4).

The Holy Spirit gave the apostles the gifts and fruits necessary to fulfil the great commission – to go out and preach the Gospel to all nations. It fulfils the New Testament promise from Christ (Luke 24:46-49) that the Apostles would be “clothed with power” before they would be sent out to spread the Gospel. Pentecost is considered the birthday of the Church – Peter, the first Pope, preaches for the first time and converts thousands of new believers. The apostles and believers, for the first time, were united by a common language, and a common zeal and purpose to go and preach the Gospel.

The Holy Spirit is normally depicted in the form of tongues of fire (as in the account above) or as a dove.  I recently came across a beautiful image of the Holy Spirit as a goose, a depiction that was new to me.  Here is the description accompanying this image, “It’s Pentecost.  We celebrate God sending the Holy Spirit onto his Church.  We pray that as this image is shared around the world that the Holy Spirit flows with it and empowers and influences.  In Celtic tradition the Holy Spirit is represented as a bird, but not the peaceful and serene dove landing on Jesus at his baptism.  The wild goose tells a different side of the Holy Spirit.  To begin with, wild geese are not controllable, you can’t restrain a wild goose and bend it to your will.  They are raucous and loud, unlike the sweet and calming cooing of a dove, a goose’s call is strong, challenging, strident and unnerving – and just a bit scary.  In much the same way the spirit of God can be demanding and unsettling and at times even a little scary.”

Image (C) Mary Fleeson 2019 Lindisfarne Scriptorium

Prayer for Pentecost
Spirit of our Loving God,
May Your fire revive us.
Spirit of our Loving God,
May Your blessing embrace us.
Spirit of our gentle God,
May Your mercy enfold us.
Spirit of our mighty God,
May Your wisdom inspire us.

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

Joe Zavone
Principal
Christus Lux Mea

Principal’s Message: Term 2, Week 5, 2021

“If we walk in the light, as he is the light, we have fellowship with one another.” 1 John 1:7

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

The story of the Ascension of Jesus, found in the first chapter of Acts, describes the ascent of Christ from the Earth to the Heavenly realm. This was the basis of last Sunday’s readings. According to Acts, the ascension of Jesus takes place 40 days after the resurrection in the presence of his disciples.  Christ is risen up after advising them to stay in Jerusalem until the arrival of the Holy Spirit. As he raises, a cloud obscures him from their view, and two men in white arrive to tell them that he will return “in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”  Through his ascension, Jesus took his seat at the right hand of God: “He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.”

For me, one of them most powerful lines in this account is when the two men in white (I am assuming they are angels) tell the disciples, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking up at the sky?”  It is as if the angels are saying to the disciples, “You need to stop staring and wondering what happened to Jesus and just do the work he wants you to do.  Just do it!”.  The St Edmund’s community is a community grounded in Catholic faith, and as such we are entrusted to go and do God’s work.  Yes there are certainly times for appropriate contemplation and reflection, but nothing tangible is achieved by long term contemplation and reflection unless it is accompanied by appropriate action.  We have been tasked by God to feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty and welcome the stranger (Matt 25:35).  This is done by work and effort, not by staring in the sky and pondering the mysteries.  Edmund Rice did had a strong sense of work and effort in working with the poor in Waterford; offering an education to the young people of the time and providing them with food and material goods. This is the tradition from which we have emerged as a College community.  The EREA Touchstone of Justice and Solidarity calls us to be “committed to justice and peace for all, grounded in a spirituality of action and reflection that calls us to stand in solidarity with those who are marginalised and the earth itself”.

The main principles of the Touchstone of Justice and Solidarity for a Catholic school in the Edmund Rice tradition are to:

  1. develop a curriculum that integrates themes of justice and peace, underpinned by Catholic Social Teaching;
  2. adopt prophetic stances in the light of Gospel practices and is involved in advocacy for just causes; 3. promote participation in service and solidarity learning programs in partnership with those on the margins;
  3. seek to provide opportunities for involvement in immersion programs in which students and staff form relationships, work with and learn from those on the margins, leading to mutual transformation;
  4. commit to working with and walking alongside the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia, advocating justice and promoting reconciliation;
  5. be actively involved in developing global partnerships through participation in Edmund Rice Education Beyond Borders;
  6. commit to promoting an integral ecology through demonstrating a deep reverence for the earth as both God’s work and our home, promoting ecojustice and working towards a sustainable and regenerative future for all creation;
  7. recognise that its members are part of a global community and actively supports the development of all humanity;
  8. nurture a culture of critical reflection and prayerful discernment in justice and peace issues.

A few weeks ago we acknowledged members of staff, students and an old boy in the wonderful work they do in standing alongside others.  We have staff and students involved in community outreach programs and providing tangible support to various charities around Canberra and Queanbeyan.  We offer practical support to the members of our own community (parents, students and staff) who are suffering and doing it tough.   But I feel that as a community grounded in Catholic tradition, we can do much more and should be doing much more. We can never really say that we have done enough with so many in need around us.  We will continue to explore the opportunities and avenues which allow us, in the words of Pope Francis, to restore hope to young people, help the old, be open to the future, spread love, be poor among the poor, include the excluded and preach peace.
(Pope Francis, 2013).

Student Spotlight
On a cold, wet, and windy April morning, 1458 people lined up to race the Canberra Times Running Festival 10-kilometre race. Nicholas Odgers (Year 12, Treacy) was one of those people.  Nick placed first in the male 15-17 age group, and 72nd overall, with a time of 41 minutes.  The tough conditions were offset by a picturesque course that weaved around Parliament House, went along the lake, and past Telopea Park, making the difficult task more enjoyable. The additional support of spectators’ cheers helped everyone push through the pain. Nick said it was a great experience and looks forward to racing again next year.  Congratulations to Nick on this fine effort and achievement.

If your son has made a significant achievement in an area in or out of the College, please feel free to notify me at principal@stedmunds.act.edu.au and I will feature the achievement in Vortex.  It is so important to celebrate the skills and achievements of our students across a number of fields.

Cabaret
My very best wishes to the many performers in this year’s Cabaret to be held on Thursday night.  This is an absolutely wonderful opportunity for our students to share their gifts, talents and skills in a showcase of entertainment and performances of their own making. It is so important especially in a boys school setting to have students be confident in the spotlight of performance.  It is these students who provide the balance in College life.  I am sure that our Cabaret performers will shine (as usual) and own the stage on Thursday night.

Prayer for the Ascension
Let us pray
that the risen Christ
will lead us to eternal life.

God our Father,
make us joyful
in the ascension of your Son Jesus Christ.
May we follow him into the new creation,
for his ascension is our glory and our hope.
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

Principal’s Message: Term 2, Week 4, 2021

“If we walk in the light, as he is the light, we have fellowship with one another.” 1 John 1:7

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

In last Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus puts to us perhaps what is the greatest challenge we are asked to face in our lives – to love one another as he has loved us.

John 15:9-17
“I have loved you just as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my own joy may be in you and your joy be complete. 

This is my commandment: love one another, as I have loved you.  No one can have greater love than to lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do what I command you.

 I shall no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know the master’s business; I call you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have learnt from my Father.  You did not choose me, no, I chose you; and I commissioned you to go out and to bear fruit, fruit that will last; so that the Father will give you anything you ask him in my name. My command to you is to love one another.”

Jesus’ commandment calls us to give ourselves to one another for the sake of building one another up and making concrete the love that God in Christ has for each of us.  Jesus’ statement here is quite controversial – he takes the ten commandments given to Moses in the Book of Exodus and the 613 practical commandments of the Jews, and reduces them all down to just one about love – to love one another as he has loved us.  The love of Christ is unconditional and sacrificial.  This is a huge ask of us and perhaps seems too big to grasp and too big to undertake.  But it is not too big – we can love one another with small steps and small gestures, for in time those small steps and small gestures will accumulate and start to make significant differences in our loves and the lives of others.  We often talk about “vibrant spirit” and strong character” here at the College.  These terms have a relational quality to them – they are about how we get along with others and what we do for others; how we love others.  The Statement of Eddies Pride gives us a pathway to love others – we strive to achieve our personal best; we invest in respectful relationships; we contribute to a constructive learning environment; we honour the College name and we reflect the College motto in what we say and do.  There is nothing here that is too big to undertake and achieve, and as we walk alongside our young men in living out the Statement of Eddies Pride, we also walk alongside them in their small steps and small gestures in loving one another in a practical and meaningful way.

Vinnies Night Patrol
On Monday evening of this week I had the privilege of accompanying another two members of staff to Civic to work on the Vinnies Night Patrol Van.  Night Patrol is one of Vinnies’ most recognised services, and visits the streets of Canberra and surrounds 364 nights of the year, providing engagement, material aid and light refreshments to people in need. Night Patrol volunteers engage with people by offering friendship, support and compassion.  The Night Patrol Van is staffed by staff members of St Edmund’s College on a monthly roster and is co-ordinated by Mr Mike Brennan from our Science faculty.

I have never been involved in this sort of work, and last Monday evening certainly opened my eyes and heart to the situation of some of our most vulnerable people in Canberra.  We offered them hot drinks, sandwiches, fruit, clothing items, sleeping bags, blankets, and hygiene packs, but more importantly we offered them an opportunity to talk and to know they are valued.  I thank Mr Brennan for commencing this initiative at the College and commend our staff for being involved in such important and heartfelt work – in reaching out to our neighbours in need and answering the call of Jesus question to love another as he has loved us.

Student Spotlight
Marianos Nikolis (Year 8, Clancy) recently travelled to Qatar, competing in the Asia Talent Cup, a prestigious superbike championship event.  I asked Marianos to provide an account of his trip and highlights of his experience.  We congratulate Marianos on his effort and ability.

“My trip to Qatar was an overall great experience and a great eye opener for my growing riding career. Having the opportunity to travel for the Asia Talent Cup in such hard conditions due to Covid meant I was very appreciative for the people who made this possible, as well as my school and teachers for their continuous support. Within my riding in Qatar I quickly learnt that the way the races and tests are run was so different to Australia.  I had to adapt to the riding level of the competition as the overall riding style was very high and fast. I had set myself a goal in my debut as a rookie to finish in the top 10 throughout the races. I was continuously gaining experience and getting used to the much larger tracks, the race distance was 73km with only 30mins of racing with temperatures of 47 degrees and wind gusts of up to 63km/h. The bike that I was assigned to keep with me throughout the whole year presented many challenges with these difficult conditions. During my trip I participated in all of the four races, in which I maintained some very consistent results.  I was very happy in my last race which I was fighting for the podium, being in third place for a total of five laps. I ended up finishing 7th in the championship after 2 rounds out of 24 riders. I can say that within my trip as a whole I hoped to gain as much racing knowledge as possible and will this take onboard with me for my future races. Achieving race results in the top 10 gave me great confidence that I will be able to stay competitive and challenge for the podium in the upcoming rounds. Next up is Japan against some of the fastest riders in the world!”.

Earlier this week I received an email forwarded to me by Mr Angus Balmaks, our Co-curricular Manager, praising the sportsmanship of some of our students.  Well done to the Rugby U14 Boys Gold division team for their thought and consideration of their opposing team.

I’d like to express my gratitude to the St Edmunds coach and the other members of the St Edmunds College Canberra U14 boys’ Gold division team.  Unfortunately, Trinity’s U14 boys’ team is currently struggling for numbers and although we have 16 players on our books, only 11 were available for their round 2 match last Saturday. We are in the process of recruiting more players and hope to have a full squad available to play you in the return fixture.

From all reports your College members were very accommodating which ensured all the boys got onto the paddock and played the game they love in a fun and safe environment.  Eddies offered Trinity some extra players and matched numbers on the day. These men and boys deserve all the praise on offer to them for their great sportsmanship and keeping the traditional values of rugby going!”

Prayer
Loving God,
I choose to love You with my whole heart, mind, soul and strength.
I also choose to love all people as You love them.
Give me the grace to live these two commandments of love
and to see them as the path to holiness of life.
Amen.

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

Joe Zavone
Principal
Christus Lux Mea