Thank you to all students who were able to assist on Open Day on Saturday. Our tour guides and faculty assistants did a wonderful job in their respective areas. That now completes the major events associated with enrolment period, although we will have another Experience Eddies Day later on in the year (July 20). Today we celebrate Founder’s Day at St Edmund’s. This is a major event on the school calendar each year. Students will participate in Mass together, a shared lunch within House groups and activities after lunch. Edmund Rice’s charism permeates throughout our school and his legacy is important for us as an Edmund Rice Education Australia school. Please see below information on Edmund Rice from the Edmund Rice Centre website.
Who was Edmund Rice?
Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice, was a Roman Catholic missionary and educationalist. Edmund was the founder of two religious institutes of religious brothers: the Congregation of Christian Brothers and the Presentation Brothers.
Born in Callan, Ireland, in 1762, Edmund came to the bustling city port of Waterford as a young man. He was talented and energetic and soon became very wealthy. Married to Mary Elliot, in 1789 he experienced her tragic death soon after she gave birth to their daughter Mary. Deeply saddened by her loss, Edmund entered a time of mourning. As his daughter continued to open the depths of his love, his relationship with God deepened. In his own brokenness, he was moved with compassion to recognise the brokenness of those around him. He entered more deeply into their struggle and found in the story of Jesus the call to liberation that is at the heart of what Jesus preached and in which his church is engaged.
The Ireland of Edmund’s day was an unjust place where many lived in poverty and social structures deeply oppressed the majority of the population. In 1802 he set up a free school for boys living in poverty. His aim was to promote an education that recognised the dignity of each individual and thus he sought to liberate them from their ignorance of God and of their Catholic faith, while at the same time empowering them with an education which would enable them to rise from the demeaning poverty and sense of hopelessness in which they were trapped. Thus Edmund sought to liberate individuals and indeed to free his society from oppression.
Athletics and Cross Country Age Champions – congratulations to the following students:
Athletics
9yrs – Tyler Cotton
10 Yrs – Chance Tapelu and Benji McNamara
11 Yrs – Brayden Kent
12 Yrs – Cooper Stevenson
Cross Country
9 Yrs – Riley Fakhouri
10 Yrs – Mitchell McCracken
11 Yrs – Darcy Borghouts
12 Yrs – Thomas Morphett
Mother’s Day Mass – Thursday 6 May at 9.30am. Thank you to those who have been able to register for this event. It is always a great event and we look forward to seeing as many mothers and grandmothers as possible. Wishing all mothers a wonderful weekend ahead – we hope you get spoiled!
Matt Giteau Cup (Rugby Union) – Friday 7 May. Good luck to all students involved.
Year 5 NAPLAN Testing 2021 – Week 4. Mr Dale Argall has placed information regarding these tests in previous editions of the Vortex in Term 1. If you have any questions regarding your son’s participation in this testing, special provisions, or exemptions, please contact Dale: dargall@stedmunds.act.edu.au or your son’s teacher.
Tuesday 11 May: Writing
Wednesday 12 May: Reading
Thursday 13 May: Language Conventions
Friday 14 May: Numeracy
David Kelly
Assistant Principal – Junior School