Vibrant Spirit. Strong Character. Tailored Learning
To the families and friends of the St Edmund’s community,
Swimming Carnival
Last Friday saw the College hold its annual swimming carnivals. The weather was perfect for these events and our boys were in fine spirit. The Junior School had a great day out at Queanbeyan whilst the older boys had just as great a day at the Canberra Olympic Pool in the city. All students demonstrated a spirited level of participation, a positive attitude and exemplary behaviour. My thanks to Mr Denzil Fox and Mr Trent Masters and their teams for organising the carnivals and to our students for making the carnivals quite a highlight for Term One. Please note that the Athletics Carnivals that were scheduled for this week (Junior School on Thursday and High School on Friday) will not go ahead given the tighter protocols around schools and gatherings.
Congratulations
Our best wishes to Jaiden McArthur (Year 8, Treacy) in his participation in the 2020 BMXA National Championships in Tasmania. This competition brings riders from around the country together to compete for a national title. Good luck to Jaiden.
Congratulations to Tommy Murphy (Class of 1997) for being awarded the $25,000 Australia Council Award for Theatre. Tommy is one of Australia’s most active playwrights and this award acknowledges the achievements of an artist who has made an outstanding and sustained contribution to Australian theatre. Congratulations Tommy!
Congratulations to Lewis Holland (Class of 2010) on becoming the most capped Australian Rugby 7’s player of all time. Lewis is a mainstay of the Australian Sevens program and is one of the leaders of Australian Rugby on and off the field. Congratulations Lewis!
Congratulations and many thanks to the senior boys who helped two of our junior students with their bus travels last week. Our two junior students were waiting for their bus but it drove past them because it was full. When the next bus arrived, it too was quite full. The older boys approached the bus and directed the junior students to get on, ensuring that the junior boys had a safe and secure journey to school. The parent of the junior boys emailed the College advising us of this fine action. It is so encouraging to know that we have students who put others ahead of themselves and really live out the College vision statement of vibrant spirit and strong character. Thank you boys.
Literacy Project
At St Edmund’s College we firmly subscribe to the research telling us that literacy forms the foundation of any effective and successful education. Sound literacy is necessary for effective participation in society, for conceptual development and critical thinking and for achieving academic success. Students become literate as they develop the knowledge, skills and dispositions to interpret and use language confidently for learning and communicating in and out of school and for participating effectively in society (ACARA).
We are very excited to continue the St Edmund’s College Literacy Project. This is an annual program where each faculty will devise literacy goals based on the needs of their students. The goals will become a focus of teaching and learning in each faculty, so no matter what class the student is in, from Years 4 to 12, he will be exposed to the explicit teaching of a focused literacy goal in that subject. These goals will be assessed informally throughout the year, with a review taking place later in Term 4 to form the foundation of the following year’s Literacy Project. Whole-school planning in literacy is essential to meet diverse literacy learning needs and ensure a sustainable approach to literacy.
Literacy is best learned through an explicit, balanced and integrated approach across all faculties in a secure, stimulating language environment, where experimentation and creativity are valued and when students’ interests and learning styles are respected. All teachers at St Edmund’s College are teachers of language and literacy and have high expectations of all students.
Third Sunday of Lent
I would like to share with you a beautiful reflection from last Sunday’s Gospel reading, John 4:5-42. This particular reflection is found at https://catholicreadings.org/third-sunday-of-lent-year-a/.
“This Gospel is the story of a woman who encountered Jesus at the well. She comes to the well in the middle of the noonday heat so as to avoid the other women of her town for fear of encountering their judgment upon her, for she was a sinful woman. At the well she encounters Jesus. Jesus speaks with her for a while and she is deeply touched by this casual but transforming conversation.
The first thing to note is that the very fact of Jesus speaking to her touched her. She was a Samaritan woman and Jesus was a Jewish man. Jewish men did not speak to Samaritan women. But there was something more that Jesus said that deeply affected her. As the woman herself tells us, He “told me everything I have done.”
She wasn’t only impressed that Jesus knew all about her past as if He were a mind reader or magician. There is more to this encounter than the simple fact that Jesus told her all about her past sins. What truly seemed to touch her was that within the context of Jesus knowing all about her, all the sins of her past life and her broken relationships, He still treated her with the greatest respect and dignity. This was a new experience for her!
We can be certain that she would have daily experienced a sort of community shame. The way she lived in the past and the way she was living at the present was not an acceptable lifestyle. And she felt the shame of it which, as mentioned above, was the reason she came to the well in the middle of the day. She was avoiding others.
But here was Jesus. He knew all about her but wanted to give her Living Water nonetheless. He wanted to satiate the thirst that she was feeling in her soul. As He spoke to her, and as she experienced His gentleness and acceptance, that thirst began to be quenched. It began to be quenched because what she really needed, what we all need, is this perfect love and acceptance that Jesus offers. He offered it to her, and He offers it to us.
Interestingly, the woman went away and “left her water jar” by the well. She never actually got the water she came for. Or did she? Symbolically, this act of leaving the water jar at the well is a sign that her thirst was quenched by this encounter with Jesus. She was no longer thirsty, at least spiritually speaking. Jesus, the Living Water, satiated.
Reflect, today, upon the undeniable thirst that is within you. Once you are aware of it, make the conscious choice to let Jesus satiate it with Living Water. If you do this, you too will leave the many “jars” behind that never satisfy for very long”.
Prayer for the Third Week of Lent
Loving Lord,
You are the Living Water that our souls needs.
May we meet You in the heat of our day,
in the trials our lives, and in our shame and guilt.
May we encounter Your love, gentleness and acceptance in these moments,
and may that Love become the source of my our life in You.
Jesus, we trust in You.
Blessed Edmund Rice, pray for us.
Live Jesus in our Hearts, forever.
COVID-19
On Monday morning of this week we outlined some significant information regarding the coronavirus environment in which we find ourselves. We clarified to our students the importance of hygiene and “social distancing” as well as highlighting the plans we have in place in case of a member of the College community is identified with COVID-19. This was also emailed to all parents on Monday afternoon. The email to parents is printed below. I thank all parents for their co-operation with this process. It is extremely disappointing to have to cancel a series of College events, but we have no choice given this new environment in which we find ourselves. It is essential for the College to follow the protocols as established by educational authorities and jurisdictions in the ACT.
ST EDMUND’S COLLEGE
COVID-19 Response Plan Update (Monday 16 March 2020)
Dear Parents and Carers,
As the COVID-19 situation evolves, the College Leadership Team of St Edmund’s College will continue to actively review and respond to any potential impact upon student and staff wellbeing and College operations. Please note that the College will issue regular updates to parents.
We have been focussed on reviewing and refining our plans to ensure we respond appropriately to this unprecedented situation. Parents play a vital role in an effective response and I wish to share the key elements of the College’s COVID-19 Response Plan with you. This outlines the precautionary measures we are taking, along with the steps to be taken if a student or staff member is diagnosed with COVID-19. Please inform the College immediately if your son or any of his close contacts are diagnosed with COVID-19.
PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES
In order to reduce the chances of undetected cases of COVID-19 spreading throughout the College community, we are taking the following actions:
- Promoting hand hygiene and social distancing and appropriate hygiene relating to coughing and sneezing. Reminding staff and students to be washing and sanitising hands regularly.
- Advising staff and students who are unwell not to attend the College, this includes mild flu like symptoms and in particular, fevers or coughs.
- Staff or students who become unwell with flu like symptoms while at the College will be sent home immediately with medical advice requested and followed up.
- Advising staff and parents of the latest advice from the Australian Government Department of Health and ACT Health for self-quarantining and testing based on travel and contact with those who have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
- All overseas trips are suspended until further notice.
- Cancelling or postponing interschool/large College gatherings – the decision to go ahead, postpone or cancel these events is being made on a case by case basis and as new information comes to light.
- Making alternative arrangements available to students and staff with compromised immune systems or health conditions that may make them more vulnerable to the virus.
- Preparing staff to work from home and for remote student learning, if required.
- Briefing staff, students and parents on this plan.
CO-CURRICULAR SPORT AND ACTIVITIES (updated on Tuesday 17 March)
We continue to work closely with our sporting clubs and the many local sporting associations in and around the ACT. As of last weekend, the majority have already been postponed and/or cancelled.
All co-curricular activities have been cancelled pending further notice. This includes training and games. Homework Club and Tutoring will still continue in the Library after school.
IF THERE IS A CONFIRMED CASE OF COVID-19 AT THE COLLEGE, THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURES WILL BE TAKEN …
- Notification to relevant authorities including ACT Health.
- Parents will be contacted via e-mail and/or SMS that there has been a confirmed case of COVID-19 and that the College will be cleaned and closed until further notice.
- The College will follow all advice from relevant authorities regarding establishing close contacts and casual contacts of the diagnosed person/s and take all appropriate action.
IF THE CONFIRMED CASE IS NOTIFIED TO THE COLLEGE DURING SCHOOL HOURS, THE FOLLOWING WILL ALSO APPLY …
- An announcement will be made over the internal public address system by the Deputy Principal or a member of the College Leadership Team. Teachers and students will be advised to move to their tutor group (Junior School students will remain in their respective classes).
- Students will collect their bags and if they have a phone, they will be permitted to contact their parents. Those students who can travel home independently may do so once confirmed with their teacher that they have approval from a parent, carer or close family contact. Students will be advised they must go straight home and not attend shopping centres or the like.
- Students who should not travel home independently must be picked up by a parent, carer or close family contact as soon as is practicable from the College. Students who do not have mobile phones will be permitted to use the College phone to contact parents to agree on arrangements.
- Several staff members will be assigned to monitor various pickup points around the College (these may include the front driveway, McMillan Crescent and Barrallier Street near the grandstand).
- Staff will remain in tutor groups until all boys leave their tutor group.
CONTINUATION OF LEARNING
- In the case of closure, the College will move to online learning with students being able to continue their learning at home. Parents and students will be notified of the specific details of this once we finalise our processes and procedures.
PREPAREDNESS FOR CLOSURE
- On Sunday 15 March the Prime Minister announced that schools are to remain open. However, there remains a reasonable potential for closure in the coming weeks. Families, especially, with younger children, are strongly advised to consider contingencies for care of children should they be required at short notice.
- While the College has considerable learning material online, we make no pretence that online learning at this scale will be a significant challenge to us all. We ask all families to ensure that students have access to technology and a good internet connection at home in the event of a closure or in case of extended personal isolation. We also encourage students and staff to take their devices home every day from this point onwards.
CURRENT EXCLUSIONS ADVICE, INCLUDING TRAVEL
As of Sunday 15th March, any families or family members returning to the country after spending time outside Australia, must self-isolate for 14 days.
The DFAT (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) website should also be consulted for information on the latest travel advice levels for specific countries. https://www.dfat.gov.au/
If any family’s circumstances align with the above in regards to travel and subsequent self-isolation, I ask you to please contact your son’s Head of House immediately, so that you are able to discuss arrangements and confirm care details for your son and your family.
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I apologise in advance for any potential inconvenience and disappointment caused through the postponement or cancellation of important College events, or for any disruption to learning. We are committed to the health and safety of our College community and are regularly re-evaluating our approach to ensure that our response is measured, appropriate and aligned with the advice of authorities.
Please take care of yourselves at this time and be familiar with the steps to take in the event of casual or direct contact with someone with COVID-19 and also for suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Thank you for your cooperation so that we may effectively manage this situation in order to prioritise the health and well-being of our entire community at this important time.
GENERAL INFORMATION
https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov
Latest information about novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the ACT
https://www.health.act.gov.au/public-health-alert/updated-information-about-covid-19
Novel Coronavirus 2019 – home isolation information when unwell (suspected and confirmed cases)
https://health.act.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-02/FAQ%20Isolation%20at%20Home%20-%20Isolated%20symptomatic%20cases_030220.pdf
COVID-19: Countries and regions considered to pose a risk of transmission
https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/ohp-covid-19-countries.htm
Smartraveller website
https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/
COVID-19 – Information for parents of children in school or childcare
https://www.health.act.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-03/COVID-19%20Information%20for%20Parents%20of%20School%20Children%20or%20Children%20in%20Childcare_06032020.pdf
Joe Zavone
College Principal