It was a quite an honour for us to have our high achievers from the class of 2019 back at the College last week for our first College assembly. We acknowledged and celebrated their achievements and heard from our Dux of 2019, John Larkin, who spoke to the student body about the importance of learning. As a College we are very proud that we perceive both the ATAR and non-ATAR pathway to be as valid as each other, offering tailored learning opportunities to a wide range of students. This was the case at the High Achievers Assembly where we acknowledge students who had achieved in either pathway. Congratulations to our high achievers: Andrew Barr, Luka Berquist, Patrick Burns, Thomas Charles, John Larkin, Lachlan McLeod, Matthew Redpath, Symon Refuerzo, Samuel Sergi, Gus Shepherd (absent), Jed Stuart, LeYao Zhao (absent).
I was also pleased to present a number of Gold Awards at last Wednesday’s assembly, recognising the exceptional academic achievements and outstanding application to studies that students displayed in Semester 2 2019. These students achieved an A grade for both Effort and Academic achievement in the majority of their subjects. Congratulations to the following Gold Award recipients: Lawson Burn (Year 12, Rice House), Daniel Fisher (Year 12, Rice House), Rory Forbes (Year 8, Rice House), Benjamin Francis (Year 12, O’Brien House), Baden Godfrey (Year 11, O’Brien House), Jay Horan (Year 12, O’Brien House) and Roy Kuchel (Year 9, Haydon House).
One of the key reasons for the academic success of our students at St Edmund’s College is the high standards we expect and the high expectations we have of all students. Underpinning all of our expectations is our scriptural theme for the year “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from Christ – put into practice” (Philippians 4:9). At the core of the model of life that Jesus provides us is the concept of respect; respect for other students in the classroom and respect for the teacher, respect for self in terms of being organised and in the right frame of mind for learning and respect for the learning process. It is so important that all partners in the learning process continue to emphasise and focus on this expectation – students, parents and teachers.
This week sees our students in Years 7, 10 and 12 embark on their camp / retreat program for the next three days. Camps and retreats are an invaluable opportunity for our students to have time away from their ordinary atmosphere and day to day environment. In return, our boys gain concentrated time with each other and with their teachers. Each of these experiences (the camps in Years 7 & 10 and the retreat in Year 12) actively support and align to the pastoral care program, the formation program and the spiritual foundation of the College. Best wishes to all of our students and staff attending the camps / retreat for the rest of the week. I thank our staff for giving of their time and leaving behind their families and loved ones for two evenings to ensure that our boys have the utmost of positive and constructive experiences.
It is always encouraging and heart-warming to receive feedback about the positive behaviour demonstrated by our students outside of school. We received this lovely email this week from a member of the public regarding three of our students travelling on the light rail. Congratulations to Mose’ Taiatini (Year 6, Rice House), Zeal Taitini (Year 8, Rice House), Sione Taula (Year 7, Clancy House) and Lo’i Taula (Year 8, Clancy House) for being such fine ambassadors for the College. This is the email we received: “I spoke to your colleague earlier with some feedback I had about my morning commute on the light rail from Gungahlin to Civic this morning.
I noticed 3 young boys wait on the platform for the tram. They were ahead of me, however as the tram rolled up and one brother tried to open the door the other brother put his hand across his brothers chest, they both stepped back and looked at me to board first. The manner in which it was done was so respectful, I think they were both conscious to allow me to board first. I thanked them as they I opened the door and they boarded closely behind me. One boy sat in the priority seating and the other sat in front of me, he pulled out his book and he read the entire journey ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’. The tram was full and all priority seating was taken, a pregnant lady boarded the tram, no one even looked up to vacate their seats, which I find a common issue with the elderly and pregnant. The boy stood and offered the lady his seat. I thought to myself these boys were so well mannered and observant I just had to say something.
I think in this day and age where is sadly seems a majority of people are out for themselves, and from what I have noticed, are less respectful and willing to help out others day to day it was just really nice to see this from these young boys. I am only 35 but things have even changed a lot since I grew up, I went to St Peter and Paul Primary in Hughes and there was still a level of old school values and respect that I grew up with that I think is sadly missing in this generation. Either St Edmunds or their parents are doing a great job or most likely a combination of both. I hope you can find out who these boys are and commend them on their beautiful behaviour, it doesn’t go unnoticed. I hope you don’t mind the feedback I was just so taken aback by their quiet and well-mannered characters”.
Fees
There is a continued and sincere attempt from St Edmund’s College to ensure that our fees are manageable and provide access to our College for as many families as possible. This is difficult as we attempt to balance fees with the purchase of resources and maintenance of facilities that are desperately needed to consolidate student learning.
My deepest thanks to those parents who go to great efforts to pay their fees on time. My thanks also to those parents who may struggle with the payment of fees and have contacted the College to discuss a number of options and pathways for the payment of fees. We regularly meet with families who are struggling to pay for fees and options are provided, which is a blessing. This open communication is invaluable and serves to benefit all parties.
Unfortunately we have families that continue to delay payment of school fees without any form of communication with the College. A delay or refusal to pay for school fees places us in a very fragile position. I ask all in our community to support our wonderful College and its mission through the regular payment of fees. If this is not possible, an honest, committed and sincere conversation with either myself or a member of our Finance Team is expected.
Traffic around St Edmund’s College
Please note that today I have written to Ministers Shane Rattenbury and Chris Steel requesting that Canberra Avenue be included in the school zone, therefore bringing it to 40kmh. I have very grave concerns that Canberra Avenue is directly outside St Edmund’s College (and St Clare’s College) and is still zoned 60kmh. As you might be aware, in NSW (as is the case in almost every other jurisdiction), all roads surrounding a school are deemed to be a 40 kmh school zone, whether it is a very quiet one way street or a major highway (the Hume Highway and the Pacific Highways being cases in point). Canberra Avenue directly borders the school yet it is not included in the school zone, although the surrounding streets are zoned as such.
We have a number of parents dropping their sons off and collecting them in the afternoon, driving out to Canberra Avenue from our driveway. This can be quite dangerous at times given the amount of traffic on Canberra Avenue, so having a 40kmh zone would make this situation much safer. Added to this is the number of students who live in the local area (on the other side of Canberra Avenue in Kingston). These students would often walk to school because of the close proximity, but they have absolutely nowhere to cross Canberra Avenue in a safe manner. The closest crossings are at Manuka near Manuka Oval or at Nyrang Street as you travel towards Fyshwick – both a fair distance away from the school. Whilst it is not ideal that these local students are crossing Canberra Avenue, a 40 kmh zoning would allow them to make this crossing in a safer manner.
I am at a real loss to understand why Canberra Avenue is not included in the 40kmh school zone when, if we were in another jurisdiction, it surely would have been. I will keep you informed of the Ministers’ response.
Parking around St Edmund’s College
There is limited parking available directly around the College. Whilst it is very easy to be tempted to park on a verge or nature strip, it is illegal to do so and you run the risk of being fined by parking inspectors. Please also be mindful of no parking zones, bus zones and no stopping zones which surround the College.
We have applied for parking exemptions for parents to be able to park on the nature strip on Canberra Avenue for significant College events however these have been denied by the ACT Government. We fully expect that parking inspectors will be present on the day of any major event or randomly throughout a normal school day.
If you are wanting to pick up your son directly after school, you are to advised to use the front driveway of the College or to have your son meet you at an agreed spot, e.g. directly behind the grandstand on Barrallier Street.
The following information is from the Access Canberra website Parking around Schools:
PARKING AROUND SCHOOLS
Don’t take shortcuts when it comes to parking safety around ours schools.
Access Canberra will be actively monitoring all school areas using Licence Plate Recognition vans, targeting illegal and unsafe parking:
- at signposted ‘no stopping’ or ‘no parking’ zones
- in bus zones
- on zebra crossings
- in disabled bays
- on nature strips and across footpaths
- in bus or bike lanes
- where the driver has blocked off nearby residents driveways
Penalties for doing the wrong thing range from $114 upwards to $600. If you’re doing the wrong thing – you will get caught – and fined.
Remember!
It’s okay to park a little further away and walk the rest of the way. While at the time it might feel inconvenient, every time you do the wrong thing, you put a life at risk.
(Source: https://www.accesscanberra.act.gov.au/app/answers/detail/a_id/1272/~/parking#!tabs-9b)
Prayer for Our Students
Father of Light and Wisdom,
thank you for giving our students
a mind that can know
and a heart that can love.
Help our students to keep learning every day of their lives,
no matter what the subject may be.
Let them be convinced that all knowledge leads to you
and let them know how to find you and love you
in all the things you have made.
Encourage our students when their studies are difficult
and when they are tempted to give up.
Enlighten them when their clarity is blocked
and help them to grasp the truth held out to them.
Grant our students the grace to put their knowledge to use
in building the kingdom of God on earth
so that they may enter the kingdom of God in heaven.
Amen.
Blessed Edmund Rice, pray for us.
Live Jesus in our Hearts, forever.
Joe Zavone
College Principal