To the families and friends of the St Edmund’s community,
This week marks the launch of the Principal’s Reading Challenge. In an effort to increase literacy and an interest in literature at the College, students from Year 4 to Year 12 are being challenged to read and review books that are new to them, for which they will be awarded House Points, go in the running for prizes, and be recognised at an College Assembly at the end of Semester 2. There is also scope for their reviews to be published in the Library catalogue, on the shelves (think ‘Staff Reviews’ at Dymocks), and in Vortex. I would ask our parents to watch the launch video, put together by Mr Oliver Burke from our Library and English staff, and encourage your sons to participate in the Reading Challenge. The video can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/seccanberra/videos/1339923869731654
Reading Logs for the Challenge are available at the Library and on the Library Canvas page.
Last Saturday saw a very different Rugby Heritage Day against Marist with restricted numbers. It feel quite strange asking the our boys not to attend the matches as spectators after we successfully increased the number of spectators for this day over the past few years, with the grandstand being absolutely full last year. Hopefully next year we will be in a position to once again fill the grandstand with both schools and cheer on our teams. Congratulations to Marist College for winning 10 of the 16 Rugby games on the day, and congratulations to our victorious teams, U10 White, U12 White, U14 White, U15 White and of course the First XV. My thanks to our other teams for the sportsmanship and spirit on the day. My great thanks to Samuel Sergi, our Community Development Officer in Digital Marketing, for organising the live stream for the Second and First XV.
I would like to thank the many parents who took time out last Tuesday and Wednesday to visit the College and meet with their son’s teachers. It is extremely important to maintain a positive and on-going dialogue with our parents about the progress of their son’s education, and to maintain that genuine sense of us all being partners in the education of our boys. These meetings establish the groundwork to meet and get to know each other; build a positive relationships; to share information about your son’s interests and learning; to talk more in-depth about your son’s academic report. Parent-teacher meetings are valuable in that they can help the teacher understand more about your son and you can also learn where you can help your child in their learning.
As we are all aware, Semester One was a very fragmented experience for all of us. It has been such a positive experience having all of our students back with us and being able to start this semester in solid, unified manner, albeit with some restrictions still in place. I have written previously about the energy and life that our students give to the College, and I am never ceased to be amazed at what our students achieve both in and out of the College. So as a means of continuing to build our sense of spirit and community after a fragmented first semester, I would like to take the time in this semester to shine a spotlight on the achievements of some of our students. This will be an irregular feature of my weekly Vortex message. We commence this feature with Marianos Nikolis from Year 7 (Clancy). Marianos has already had a breadth of experience in his chosen sport despite his young age. We wish him well in his future endeavours in road racing.
“Hi, I would like to introduce myself. I am Marianos Nikolis I am currently in Year 7. I am just about to turn 13 years old. My main sport is road racing. I have been doing this since I was 9 years old and I have been very successful. I have been trained by some of Australia’s leading and international racers, for example, Damian Cudlin, World Champion and former MotoGP rider. Since the age of 9 years old I’ve been competing and winning across Australia. I’ve won three Australian championships and I’m currently the 11 to Under 16 Australian champion.
I’m currently competing in the Oceania Junior Cup with the Australian superbikes. My goal is to win this current championship this year. At the end of the year I wanted to go overseas and try out for the Asia Talent Cup and the Redbull Rookies Cup. These are both high level talent cups which have roughly 500 riders apply but only 10 are accepted worldwide. Unfortunately the COVID-19 outbreak has put my plans back a year. So, my plans next year are to contest the Australian Supersport 300 category where I will be competing with people from the age of 13 years old to adults.
The bikes I am currently riding are a Yamaha R15, Honda 85 and the Honda NSF 250r Moto3 bike. The Moto3 is my favourite bike and it has a top speed of 220 kilometres per hour and this will be what I will ride overseas.
I would really appreciate if St Edmund’s College could really get behind me by following my Facebook page @Marianas Nikolis Racing #46 and my lnstagram @marianos_46. I have been in magazines, radio interviews and ASBK TV which is televised live from every round on Fox Sports. I have also been named Australia’s Most Promising Junior Road Racer.
I would also really love some local business to support me in making my dream a reality of becoming a MotoGP world champion as it is a very expensive sport. My current sponsors are Alibaba, Le Wrap, Nitto performance, Snap On Canberra, Croydon Racing Developments and Diverse Concreting”.
Prayer
Draw near to your servants, O Lord,
and answer their prayers with unceasing kindness,
that, for those who glory in you as their Creator and guide,
you may restore what you have created and keep safe what you have restored.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Blessed Edmund Rice, pray for us
Live Jesus in Our Hearts, forever
Mr Joe Zavone
Principal
Christus Lux Mea