“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,
It is with a great sense of excitement to know that we have officially launched a wonderful new partnership with the University of Canberra through the new St Edmund’s College Sports Academy.
This is a new era for the College, providing an opportunity for our senior students to consider a sports-focused pathway that offers direct, non-ATAR entry to a number of undergraduate courses at the University of Canberra. This means that a tertiary pathway is now open to students who may not have necessarily considered a tertiary education, or who were wanting a more tailored, individual approach to the tertiary pathway.
The Sports Academy is a package of subjects with certain majors and minors. Although it is a sports-focused package of subjects, students will also have the flexibility to include a number of subjects from other areas of interest to make up a truly individual, tailored learning experience. This will lead to direct, non-ATAR entry to a number of undergraduate courses at the University of Canberra.
Our students will also engage with students and staff from the University in a number of fields to expand areas of knowledge and practice and to develop and refine skills. This will take place through workshops, practical activities, school visits, coaching and mentoring.
The Sports Academy program commences this year, as we already have a number of students in Year 12 with the appropriate bundle of subjects to transition to the University of Canberra in 2023.
The Sports Academy adds to the diverse number of pathways and opportunities already offered to students here at St Edmund’s. It continues and reinforces our aim to tailor learning opportunities to individual students and their individual needs. Other tailored learning opportunities and pathways within the school include:
- Our Gifted program with various forms of acceleration (including radical acceleration)
- AsBAS – school-based apprenticeships which commence in Year 10
- Offering modified programs to students with specific learning needs
- The flexibility in the delivery of elective subjects in Years 9, 10, 11 & 12
- Our flexible timetable for students who are elite athletes
- And two new exciting partnerships with community organisations which will be announced shortly.
Schools can no longer continue to be enclosed, stand-alone educational institutions. In order to best serve the needs of their students, schools must have real-life links with specific areas of their local community. Links to the community improve student engagement, improve academic outcomes for students, enhance the social wellbeing of students and broaden their vocational options and skills.
We sincerely thank the University of Canberra for partnering with us in this very important way, and we look forward to many years of learning from each other, learning together and tailoring educational pathways for our students. We are planning for further expansion of the partnership program with the University to benefit a wider range of students at the College.
In particular I give much thanks to Mr Joel Richardson for his integral role in assisting to form the Sports Academy, Mr Tim Bibbens for his advice in forming the subject package, Mr Trent Masters for his input at the official launch and to Andrew McFarlane, our College Captain, for his wise words to the media at Friday’s launch.
Links to the media launch of the St Edmund’s Sports Academy can be found here:
Upcoming Community Events – Return to Eddies
We have two significant community 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 Round – Reunion 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 (evening event)
Heritage Round – Reunion Day Saturday 30 July (day events)
Uniform Shop
The Uniform Shop will be open for one day only in the holidays as this is normally a very quiet time seeing that there is no seasonal transition. It will be open on Friday 15 July 8am – 12pm
- The last day of trading for Term 2 is Friday 24 June 8:00am – 12:00pm
- First day back in Term 3 is Monday 18 July 8:00am – 12:00pm
- Home delivery will not be available during the holidays.
Term 2 Holidays
As usual, next week is the annual Professional Learning Week for our staff, with a range of presentations and workshops throughout the week. As this week is the final week for students until Term 3, I wish all of our students and families a very safe, relaxing and enjoyable break.
Prayer for the Body and Blood of Christ, Corpus Christi (celebrated on Sunday 19 June)
Let us pray
for the willingness to make present in our world the love of Christ shown to us in the Eucharist.
Lord Jesus Christ,
we worship you living among us
in the sacrament of your body and blood.May we offer to our Father in heavena solemn pledge of undivided love.May we offer to our brothers and sistersa life poured out in loving service of that kingdom where you live,with the Father and the Holy Spirit one God for ever and ever.
Amen
Blessed Edmund Rice, pray for us
Live Jesus in our hearts, forever
Joe Zavone
Principal
Christus Lux Mea