Dear families and friends of St Edmund’s College,
2024 Scriptural Theme: “I have come so they may have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10)
We held a beautiful Mother’s Day Mass at school on Friday 10 May. It was a heartfelt occasion where we came together as a community to honour and celebrate the invaluable role of mothers and mother figures in our lives. It is so lovely to see how our young men interact with their mothers on this event. The atmosphere was filled with love, gratitude, and reverence as students, mothers, grandmothers and special individuals gathered to pay tribute to the nurturing presence of mothers. Many thanks to Ms Bridget Cusack and Fr Chris Eaton for making the event so special, and of course my thanks to the great numbers of family members who attended.
Winter Sports Season
Now that we are well and truly into our winter sports season with basketball, football and rugby union, I would like to share with you a message about sportsmanship written by Waylon Murray Director of Sport at Kearsney College in Outer West Durban, South Africa. I recently came across this on social media and reached out to Waylon to seek his permission to reprint his article for our community. Waylon has summed up beautifully the significance of sportsmanship, which clearly reflects the values of sportsmanship we hold here at St Edmund’s. The article focuses on rugby, but the underlying message can be applied to any sport.
“People often lose sight of the bigger picture when it comes to high school rugby matches. Winning games becomes the ultimate goal for many, overshadowing the importance of developing true sportsmen and focusing on the journey of growth and learning. It is crucial to understand that great projects, like building a strong sports culture, take time and consistency. It is about instilling values, discipline, teamwork, and respect rather than just chasing victories. High performance setups in high schools are competitive by nature, no coaches or students strive to lose sporting fixtures , we lose perspective that we reside in an educational sphere not a professional sporting body, our mandate to our students will always be to develop a well-rounded students that have opportunities to grow holistically in their academic environment.
Placing excessive emphasis on winning can lead to a toxic environment where players, coaches, and even spectators become obsessed with the outcome rather than the process. This not only hampers the overall development of the individuals involved but also disregards the essence of sportsmanship and fair play.
Creating a positive sporting culture requires the right people who are committed to the vision of nurturing individuals both on and off the field. Coaches play a significant role in shaping athletes not only as players but as individuals with integrity and character. Their guidance and mentorship should focus on developing skills, fostering a sense of community, and promoting a healthy competitive spirit.
Criticism and competitiveness are expected in sports, but there is a fine line between constructive feedback and being hateful or malicious. No one has the right to engage in behaviour that undermines the values of sportsmanship and respect. Treating opponents, teammates, and officials with dignity and honour is fundamental in creating a positive sporting environment that nurtures growth and mutual respect.
It is essential to shift the focus from just winning high school rugby matches to developing well-rounded sportsmen through a strong sporting culture. Emphasising values, teamwork, and personal growth will not only benefit individuals in their sporting pursuits but also in their lives beyond the field. Let’s remember that true victory lies in the journey of self-improvement and building a community of athletes who strive for excellence with integrity and respect”.
Gospel Reflection, John 20:19-23
Last week’s Gospel reading centred on the theme of Pentecost:
In the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, ‘Peace be with you,’ and, after saying this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy at seeing the Lord, and he said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. ‘As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.’ After saying this he breathed on them and said: Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven; if you retain anyone’s sins, they are retained’.
When Pentecost comes to mind, our thoughts often turn to the famous account in the Acts of the Apostles (which was last week’s First Reading) with the rush of a violent wind, the tongues of fire descending on the apostles, and their miraculous ability to speak in other languages. Last week’s Gospel reading presents us with a different perspective on Pentecost – one that is quieter yet equally profound. It teaches us that the Holy Spirit manifests in diverse ways, often in ways less dramatic than the events of the renowned day of Pentecost.
In the reading, Jesus appears among the apostles, offering peace, and then breathes on them, saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” He commissions them, saying, “As the Father sent me, so I am sending you.” The bestowing of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples is a Pentecost moment, but it is a quieter, less theatrical Pentecost.
For many of us, this is closer to our experience of the Holy Spirit: God coming to us in times of need, when we are lost, scared, or confused. The Holy Spirit does not arrive with a roar but in a gentle whisper, offering peace in moments of anxiety. Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, often comes to us when we need him most, albeit not in a loud, conspicuous manner. It is typically through subtle gestures – a friend’s note or gesture, a meaningful song, a seemingly coincidental occurrence, or a timely scripture passage – that we sense the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives. These quiet Pentecost moments reaffirm Jesus’s promise to be with us always and remind us of God’s real, albeit often understated, presence in our lives.
However, these Pentecost moments can slip by unnoticed. We must be attentive to them, observing and listening with the eyes and ears of faith. We need to slow down, pray, and find ways in our lives to rediscover the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Congratulations to …
- the two Eddies teams for their success at the High School Oztag Gala Day last week. The Year 7/8 team defeated Daramalan College, and the Year 9/10 team defeated Melba Copland School. It was a wonderful day for both teams and the feedback regarding the teams’ behaviour and sportsmanship was very positive.
- the premiership-winning Stage 2 Gold Cricket team who received their medals and trophy last week at the Cricket ACT presentation night. The boys had a great season and receiving their awards was a great culmination to the season. Thanks to parent Eamon O’Donoghue for his time and efforts coaching the boys.
- Harley Reid (Year 9, Clancy) and Harry Cattle (Year 8, O’Brien) on their selection in the 15 & Under Canberra Dolphins Water Polo squad for the Water Polo Victoria East Coast Challenge. Best of luck to Harley and Harry as they travel to Melbourne for this event.
- all of our Eddies teams (from the Junior School) who played in the Matt Giteau Cup (rugby union) last week. All divisions had success on the day.
- Steve Nealon (Year 11, Haydon) on his selection in the Australian 16s Schoolboys Football team in the game against the touring New Zealand 16s Schoolboys side, which took place in Sydney during the school holidays. The Australian team side won 3-0, with Steve scoring one goal and one assist.
- All students who attended the First XV Rugby match against Marist College at GIO Stadium last Saturday. Their behaviour and appearance were exemplary and they proved to be fine representatives of the College.
Uniform
A reminder for all high school students that during Terms 2 and 3, it is mandatory to have a blazer as part of your daily attire. While the puffer jacket is offered as an optional choice for warmth, the blazer remains a compulsory component of our dress code. Please ensure that the blazer is worn to and from school each day. Please adhere to the following guideline in terms of layering for warmth: the jumper serves as the first layer, followed by the blazer as the second layer, with the optional puffer jacket as the third layer. It is important to note that the puffer jacket should not be worn independently of the blazer. The beanie is also an optional item of winter clothing that should be worn outside only.
Any additional items for warmth beyond these specified layers are not considered acceptable parts of the College uniform. As stated to the boys, if an item cannot be bought from the Uniform Shop, it cannot be worn. A simple message and easy to remember.
2025 Enrolments
If you are aware of families contemplating Eddies for their sons’ education next year, regardless of the year group, I encourage you to direct them to our Enrolments Officer, Ms. Rhiannon Muir, as our places tend to fill quicky (last year, we had waiting lists across several year groups).
Student Drop Off and Pick Up
Parents are not to use the staff carpark (off Canberra Avenue) to drop or collect students before and after school. This is a dangerous place for our students to be moving through and we would like to keep this area for staff only. There is plenty of room around the perimeters of the school for drop off and pick up, especially Barrallier Street, Frome Street, Blaxland Cresent, and Wills Street (not McMillan Crescent).
Afternoon pickups from the front driveway are also problematic with cars blocking McMillan Crescent from Canberra Avenue. Again, I would ask these parents to consider organising your son to wait for you at a suitable place around the perimeter of the school. Thank you for helping to keep our community safe.
Pentecost Prayer
Come Holy Spirit
Come Spirit like rain, refresh, renew, revitalise.
Come Spirit like fire, embolden, enlighten, enable.
Come Spirit like a mighty wind, move, challenge, enkindle.
Come Spirit like wave, move, tear down, lift up.
Come Spirit, come Breath, draw us close, make song, bring intimacy.
Come Spirit, come Love, make one, make justice, make peace.
Come Spirit, come Kingdom, come Love.
Blessed Edmund Rice, pray for us.
Live Jesus in our hearts, forever.
Joe Zavone
Principal
Christus Lux Mea