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Principal’s Message: Term 1, 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,

We had an absolutely beautiful day for our swimming carnivals last Friday.  Congratulations to all of our students for the way in which they conducted themselves and entered into the spirit of the carnivals. The swimming carnivals are one of the year’s highlights in terms of community spirit and they work well to reflect the Vision Statement of “vibrant spirit”.  I would like to express my special thanks to Mr Joel Richardson and Mr Denzil Fox for the organisation of the high school and junior school swimming carnivals, and to all staff who participated, supervised and ensured that the day ran smoothly and that our boys were well engaged.

I would like to share with the wider Eddies community a letter I sent to all parents and carers last week about the emerging important issue of consent in the sex education program of schools and the response and actions of the College in this field:

 “Many of you would be well aware of the significant issues that have emerged in the last few weeks following the online petition advocating for holistic sex education to be covered earlier in the school curriculum, and in particular the issue of consent.  Whilst the website includes heart breaking and shocking testimonies of young women, it is encouraging that young women are now able to express their concerns and their experiences, as unfortunately they have felt silenced for too long. 

What has been brought to light is that much more needs to be done in educating young people, and especially young men, in not only recognising correct conduct, respect and responsibility, but living this out every day in all situations, and calling this out when this is not followed.  It is incumbent upon all members of our community to create a safe environment for themselves and for others.  One of the statements in our Statement of Eddies Pride is for our boys to invest in positive and respectful relationships with everyone in the College and the wider community.  We take this and our other statements with a deep sense of gravitas.  The statements form the very core of what it is to be a student of St Edmund’s College; of what it is to be a young man of vibrant spirit and strong character. 

Of course this cannot be the sole work of schools.  A culture of respect and positive relationships must be instilled in boys very early on in the home environment and it must be reinforced and developed at home as boys grow and mature.  Parents and schools must work alongside each other as important partners in educating boys in being aware of inappropriate behaviours and attitudes such as sexism, abuse, harassment, prejudice, misuse of power in relationships and toxic masculinity. This is not “man bashing”, but rather a very timely and significant reminder to all of us that we must be more explicit, clear and direct with our young men, both at home and at school, in forming them to grow in a positive culture where they recognise and demonstrate appropriate behaviours and interactions with young women and do not tolerate anything other than this.   This work must be strongly supported by the values and attitudes of the general community.  We will begin to see real change only when all three parties are working in unison in the support of our young people and in the promotion of the dignity of each human person. 

As a result of the emerging issues, we have taken the time to examine our current programs and practices at the College in terms of sex education, personal development and formation.  We have identified where our strengths are in these areas and where our challenges are and what must be done to address these challenges.  We have looked at the ages targeted by our programs, ensuring that these targeted ages are timely.  We are committed to developing programs and practices which are specific, explicit and clear in their intention and their message.  We will regularly review our programs from Years 4 to 12 within this context – our programs in Health and Physical Education, formation, camps and retreats and pastoral care.  The nature and timing around the specific issue of consent will be an integral part of our review.  We are committed to working with our parents and carers in a closer manner, providing parents and carers with programs addressing these issues, allowing us to forge our partnership even further.  We will notify you very soon of the first of these programs.

Whilst we acknowledge the fact that the vast majority of students and ex-students of St Edmund’s College are trustworthy boys and men who consistently demonstrate appropriate behaviour, respect and integrity, we must also acknowledge that there are many issues to be addressed when it comes to the nature of interactions between men and women and we must never be complacent and think that we have done enough. 

The last point in the Statement of Eddies Pride states that we want our young men to reflect the College motto, Christus Lux Mea (Christ is My Light) in all that they say and do.  The values of the College are firmly founded in the words and actions of Jesus Christ.  We are determined that the concepts of respectful relationships and the dignity of the human person are not only covered in our programs, but are lived out, everywhere and every day.  In an age where young people have very easy access to pornography and are provided with warped images of status and power in a relationship, we must continue to partner with our parents, carers and community in being countercultural in actively educating our young men at St Edmund’s, forming a healthy and positive culture of appropriate and acceptable mindsets and behaviours.  We will continue to use the Statement of Eddies Pride and the Touchstones of Edmund Rice Education Australia (Liberating Education, Gospel Spirituality, Inclusive Community, Justice and Solidarity) as our foundational documents in this work.  

Parents and carers will be kept informed on these matters as we continue to develop our current approach in this area”. 

 

I have received information from the Director of the ACT School Safety Program that a consultant has been engaged 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. The Director of the School Safety Program is scheduled to catch up with the consultant in the next few weeks to discuss the findings and recommendations for each school.  Whilst this is good news, I will not be entirely satisfied until we have procedures in place that make it safe for our students to cross Canberra Avenue – a 40kph school zone, a bridge or traffic lights would be the safest options here. Included in this consideration is the safety of our parents and staff who drive out onto a very busy Canberra Avenue.  In the meantime, I have met with a journalist from The Canberra Times to discuss this issue – this article should be published soon. I thank many of you for your ongoing support in this matter and will keep our community updated on progress in this area; so far progress has been extremely slow and frustrating.

Enrolments 2021
Enrolments are open for our 2021 intake.  Over the past couple of years we have been fortunate to have had a boost in enrolment numbers in particular year groups.  If you are thinking of enrolling your son next year, I would strongly suggest you contact our Enrolments Officer as soon as possible to conform your place in the enrolment process.  Similarly, if you know of someone who is interested in St Edmund’s for next year, please inform them that they need to contact the College as soon as possible.  Contact details for enrolment enquiries are: (02) 6239 0660 or enrolments@stedmunds.act.edu.au

We have an Information Evening for all prospective families on Tuesday 30 March.  We expect all prospective families to attend this evening to obtain information about the College, its curriculum structure and co-curricular opportunities, its pastoral care and wellbeing program, student expectations and requirements and the nature of the College. Our Open Day this year is on Saturday 1 May from 11.00 – 2.00, and we have two opportunities for prospective students to experience life at St Edmund’s with our Experience Eddies Days on Tuesday 27 April and Tuesday 20 July. More information will be available shortly about these events.  If you are aware of any prospective families, please ask them to keep a careful eye on our Facebook page for further specific information.

Summary of Important Dates:

  • Information Evening for Prospective Enrolments: Tuesday 30 March
  • Experience Eddies Day 1: Tuesday 27 April
    Please see https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/experience-eddies-day-tickets-143600570171
  • Open Day: Saturday 1 May 11.00 – 2.00
  • Experience Eddies Day 2: Tuesday 20 July

Lent and Project Compassion
“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40)

Our school-wide Mission focus for Term 1 is Project Compassion which is the work of Caritas Australia.  Caritas Australia is the international aid and development organisation of the Catholic Church in Australia and is part of one of the largest aid and development networks in the world – Caritas Internationalis – working in over 200 countries and territories.

Each year, thousands of schools across Australia participate in Project Compassion which runs during the six weeks of the Church season of Lent.  People across Australia are invited to help raise awareness and stand in solidarity with the millions of people across the world with whom Caritas Australia works. Project Compassion goes a long way working towards building a more just and fairer world: a world in balance, at peace and free of poverty.

I would encourage all families at St Edmund’s to give generously to Project Compassion.  Students can donate through their Junior School class or tutor group class.  I would hope that by the end of Len, students here at Eddies have donated enough to have made a significant difference in the work of Caritas Australia and in the lives of those less fortunate than ourselves. Some of the work of Caritas Australia can be found at this link: https://lent.caritas.org.au/schools

Second-hand Uniform
Many parents would be aware that we have a second-hand uniform collection which is used for families in need. There is absolutely no financial transaction for these items; we provide these items to our families as the need arises. I would ask you to please consider donating pre-loved items of uniform to our second-hand uniform collection so we always have items on hand to use with our families.  Items should be washed and ironed and can be left with our Reception staff. Families who might be in need of our second-hand uniform collection can contact my office or their Head of House to facilitate this process.

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