“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,
Last Wednesday we marked National Reconciliation Week in a very special way, with students participating in the Sea of Hands activity. The Sea of Hands is an iconic symbol of reconciliation and a way for communities all around Australia to engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues and events. The first Sea of Hands was held on the 12 October 1997, in front of Parliament House, Canberra. It was created as a powerful, physical representation of the Citizen’s Statement on Native Title – a petition circulated by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Reference Group (ANTaR) to mobilise non-Indigenous support for native title and reconciliation.
Our Sea of Hands activity added to the nearly half a million hands planted across Australia in support of reconciliation. The hands now symbolise community support for reconciliation, rights and respect. Planting a Sea of Hands is an act of recognition – of identities, cultures and history. Many teachers commented on how well our students participated in this event and on the meaning and poignancy of the messages. We look forward in continuing our marking of reconciliation with our annual NAIDOC Assembly at the beginning of Term 3. Again, thanks to Ms Ashleigh Kerin for leading the co-ordination of our Sea of Hands event.
Last Wednesday evening saw us meet with the families new to the school at our annual New Families Welcome event. This was an informal, social gathering of families new to the school for them to meet other families and to meet with members of the College staff. It also allows us to receive feedback about our transition processes. Many thanks to those parents who attended. We enjoyed good company and good conversation over beautiful food prepared by our Hospitality department, led by Mrs Rebecca Jarman and ably assisted by Justin Smith (Year 12), Mason Thorpe (Year 11), Mr Alex Hausen, Mrs Audra Martin and Ms Rachel Lemon. Many thanks also to the members of staff who attended and made our new families feel welcome: Alana Beard, Samantha Brady, Monica Day, Linda Goth, David Kelly, Klara Manenica, Michael Monagle, Joel Richardson, Fred Zarb, Tessa Zarb. I am most grateful to our staff members who, during a very busy week, braved a very cold night to continue our spirit of hospitality and welcome.
Winter Uniform
Earlier in the week I wrote to all parents of students in Years 7 – 12 to clarify some of our uniform expectations. Whilst most of our students wear the correct uniform well, some of our students are seeking other options of clothing. The only items of warmth that students in Years 7 – 12 are to wear are the endorsed College jumper, blazer, puffer jacket and beanie. Students may wear their own dark coloured gloves if they wish to do so.
Items of clothing which are related to College co-curricular activities are not College uniform. For example, students may have hoodies or jackets that are related to a previous sports tour, or a sports team. Even though these are related to College activities, they are not part of the official College uniform. Only endorsed items of College uniform are to be worn.
No other beanie is to be worn except the endorsed College beanie. Again, students are wearing beanies that either have nothing to do with the school or are related to co-curricular College activities.
The College puffer jackets have been very popular, with the Uniform Shop running out of stock, but I have been informed that these will be available again at the commencement of Term 3.
Thank you for your co-operation in assisting us in having our students wear the correct items of uniform.
Congratulations
Congratulations to the following students have been selected in the ACT Schoolboys Rugby squad. This is an opportunity for rugby players, who attend school and are aged from 16 to 18, to compete at the Australian Schoolboys Championships: Henry Alsworth (Year 12, Treacy), Archie Blaney-Brown (Year 12, Rice), Matthew Davis (Year 12, Mulrooney), Taua Fagatele (Year 11, Haydon), Faimoto (Anthony) Lemisio (Year 12, Haydon), Andrew McFarlane (Year 12, Clancy), Liuaki ae Lotu Percival (Year 11, Treacy), Wheru (Logan) Pou (Year 12, Treacy), Deveraux Tapelu (Year 11, Mulrooney), Abraham Tuli Year 12, Treacy), Shane Wilcox (Year 12, Haydon).
EREA Learning Statement
Two weeks ago 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 next two liberating practices are:
Liberating Voice and Agency
When individual voice is deeply listened to, respected, and included in decision-making processes, the learner is free to develop the confidence, resilience, optimism and agency to fully determine their learning aspirations.
Liberating Potential
When learning experiences are informed by each person’s story, strengths and passions, the learner is free to contribute to and participate in challenging, individualised learning plans that orient their goals towards personal growth.
Next week we will look Liberating Learning Design and Liberating Spiritualities.
Upcoming Community Events
We have some very important community events coming up. This Friday (10 June) we have our annual Edmums Soiree, an opportunity for our mothers, grandmothers, carers of current and ex-students to get together for a great social evening with great food, drink and wonderful company. Please click on this link for further details and booking arrangements for Edmums Soiree.
We have two significant events at the end of July. The Blue and White Ball is being held on Friday 29 July at the Hellenic Club. This is a great opportunity for current parents, former parents and old boys to get together for a dinner, dancing and a chance to catch up. On the following day (Saturday 30 July) we have Heritage Day, our annual Rugby match against Marist College but also a day of reunions and catch-up for old boys. Heritage Day commences with an Old Boys Mass, morning tea and a tour of the College, followed by opportunities for old boys to reunite with their peers and watch the First XV game against Marist followed by privately organised reunion activities. The links are below for further details.
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
Prayer for Pentecost
The Church celebrated Pentecost last Sunday, one of the most important feast days of the year that concludes the Easter season and celebrates the beginning of the Church. In the Christian tradition, Pentecost is the celebration of the person of the Holy Spirit coming upon the Apostles, Mary, and the first followers of Jesus, who were gathered together in the Upper Room. A “strong, driving” wind filled the room where they were gathered, and tongues of fire came to rest on their heads, allowing them to speak in different languages so that they could understand each other. The Holy Spirit also gave the apostles the other gifts and fruits necessary to fulfill the great commission – to go out and preach the Gospel to all nations. It fulfills the New Testament promise from Christ (Luke 24:46-49) that the Apostles would be “clothed with power” before they would be sent out to spread the Gospel.
Come, O Holy Spirit by John Henry Newman
Come, O Holy Spirit.
Come as Holy Fire and burn in us,
come as Holy Wind and cleanse us within,
come as Holy Light and lead us in the darkness,
come as Holy Truth and dispel our ignorance,
come as Holy Power and enable our weakness,
come as Holy Life and dwell in us.
Convict us, convert us, consecrate us,
until we are set free from the service of ourselves,
to be your servants to the world. Amen.
Blessed Edmund Rice, pray for us
Live Jesus in our hearts, forever
Joe Zavone
Principal
Christus Lux Mea