“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,
As we are near the end of National Reconciliation Week, it is important to recall the significance of such an event. National Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. The dates for Reconciliation Week are highly symbolic, as they commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey – the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision respectively. Reconciliation Week is a time of year where the process of reconciliation is highlighted, but of course reconciliation is an ongoing matter. It must be at the core of what we do as individuals and as a society, creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships between the wider Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This year’s Reconciliation Week theme is Be Brave. Make Change. This is a challenge to us all to Be Brave and tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation so we can Make Change for all.
As a school, St Edmund’s College plays its part in building relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories, cultures, and futures. Our main strategy through which we do this is our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). Narragunnawali is the framework in which schools develop their RAPs. The Narragunnawali RAP framework outlines a sustainable, whole-scale approach to driving reconciliation in education by building relationships, respect and opportunities in the classroom, around the school and with the community alike. I thank Ms Ashleigh Kerin for leading the co-ordination of our Reconciliation Action Plan.
On Wednesday of this week we will mark National Reconciliation Week in a very special and important manner. We will have a description of this event in next week’s Vortex.
Congratulations
Darcy Borghouts (Year 7, Treacy) has been selected to represent the ACT in the U12s AFL side in Adelaide in August. Darcy will play against teams from all other states in the competition. Congratulations to Darcy for this outstanding achievement.
We are very pleased to announce that the following students have been selected in the U18 Brumbies Academy Squad. We congratulate these students and wish them well. Liuaki ae Lotu Percival (Year 11, Treacy), Henry Alsworth (Year 12, Treacy), Matthew Davis (Year 12, Mulrooney), Faimoto (Anthony) Lemisio (Year 12, Haydon), Fiti Fiti (Year 12, Haydon), Taua Fagataele (Year 11, Haydon), Wheru (Logan) Pou (Year 12, Treacy), Andrew McFarlane (Year 12, Clancy), Deveraux Tapelu (Year 11, Mulrooney), Shane Wilcox (Year 12, Haydon).
EREA Learning Statement
Last week I introduced you to the new EREA Learning Statement. The Learning Statement is designed to provide a context and guide to what we value in teaching and learning for all EREA schools around Australia. It provides six liberating practices which schools consider when co-creating the conditions, dispositions and relationships in learning. The first two liberating practices are:
Liberating Pedagogies
Within safe and flexible learning places, supported by positive relationships, the learner is free to participate in and lead experiences grounded in collaborative processes, critical thinking and creative problem solving.
Liberating Achievement
When excellence and improvement are viewed in a variety of ways and evidence of success is gathered interpreted and celebrated holistically, the learner is free to pursue a strategies-based learning pathway informed by high expectations and personal ambitions.
Next week we will look Liberating Voice and Agency and Liberating Potential.
Upcoming Community Events
Please click on the link below for important upcoming community events. I encourage all of our parents to attend these events and continue the strong community spirit we have here at Eddies.
Edmums Soiree Friday 10 June
Blue and White Ball Friday 29 July
Heritage Day Saturday 30 July
Latest Pelican Magazine
The Pelican is our alumni magazine where we share stories and profiles of our old boys and former members of staff. The current edition of The Pelican includes profiles of the following people and can be found here.
The Pelican, Semester 1 2022:
- Troy Gray, Class of 1990
- Joshua Pako, Class of 2011
- Jamie Haynes, Class of 1992
- Lisa Gersbach, current parent
- Michael Moloney, former long-term member of staff
- Josh Vaughan, Class of 1993
If you know of an old boy or are an old boy who would like to share his story, please let me know at principal@stedmunds.act.edu.au
Student Free Day
You would have received an email message from Mr Ian Garrity, Deputy Principal, advising you that next Monday 6 June is a student-free day. The last term has been a particularly difficult term in terms of covid-related absences, with our staff being asked to do much more than is normally expected of them in terms of student supervision. We have worked hard to maintain and continue a normal environment in our teaching and learning program and have not had to resort to online learning or combining very large groups of students, as other schools have done. This has had the consequence of taking away much valuable time from our teaching staff normally devoted to preparation, administration and marking. A student free day will allow our teaching staff to catch up with work to ensure the continued delivery of a high-quality teaching and learning program for the remainder of the term. We have not made this decision lightly.
Students are to stay at home on this day. There will not be any lessons prepared for this day. Students should take to opportunity to continue with current assignments and assessment tasks. Parents whose work circumstances prevent them from having their children at home can send their children to school. These students will be supervised by College staff in the Library. Please note that there will be limited activities prepared for students so they should bring their own materials (e.g. assignments, reading materials etc.). Students attending schools are to wear their uniform.
Prayer for the Ascension
Last Sunday we celebrated the Ascension of Jesus. The first chapter of Acts of the Apostles describes the ascent of Christ from the Earth to the Heavenly realm. According to Acts, the ascension of Jesus takes place 40 days after the resurrection in the presence of his disciples. Christ is risen up after advising them to stay in Jerusalem until the arrival of the Holy Spirit. In Christian doctrine, the ascension is correlated with the deification of Jesus, meaning that through his ascension, Jesus took his seat at the right hand of God, “He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.”
Lord Jesus Christ,
Right before your Ascension into Heaven you told your apostles to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth upon receiving the Holy Spirit.
May we be similarly inspired to spread your Gospel message in word and deed, according to your will for us.
And may we do so prudently and joyfully, with your help, your guidance, and your grace!
And remembering this glorious event, help us to seek what is above, Heaven, where you are seated at the right hand of God the Father.
Amen.
Blessed Edmund Rice, pray for us
Live Jesus in our hearts, forever
Joe Zavone
Principal
Christus Lux Mea