“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