To the families and friends of the St Edmund’s community,
Transition of Year 10 to Year 11
On Wednesday of last week we held an information evening for parents and students in Year 10 about the transition into Year 11. I thank Mr Tim Bibbens and Mr Dale Argall for organising this evening. Parents and students heard from Mr Bibbens and Tyler Greenhalgh (Academic Vice-Captain) about senior school life and structures. This past Monday saw Year 10 students have their subject selection interview. This is a very important time for our Year 10 students in planning their last two years of secondary education and setting a pathway for themselves. I would like to share with you part of my address to Year 10 students and parents from last week:
“Many of you know that one of our priorities here at St Edmund’s and one of the things we do best is establishing positive relationships with our students – this is particularly important in a boy’s school and for adolescent boys. Having positive relationships and constructive partnerships with adolescent boys leads to a greater sense of trust and a greater sense of engagement – two things which are of vital importance in Years 11 and 12 as our boys work their way towards their Year 12 Certificate in either their Tertiary ATAR pathway or their vocational pathway.
We continue to offer active participation in College life in Years 11 and 12, giving our boys a sense of belonging and opportunities to engage with other students and staff, and of course we offer a very strong educational environment. The College has celebrated very strong ATAR results in the last few years, giving a great number of our students the opportunities to follow a number of pathways of their choice after they leave school. Of course this does not come magically – it comes with hard work and commitment to study; it comes with contributing to a positive learning environment; it comes with not accepting mediocrity and always striving for personal excellence; and it comes with accepting teachers as genuine, collaborative partners in the learning journey. Students perform well and excel at St Edmund’s College when they work hard and work with us.
We make absolutely no apologies for including Religious Studies as part of the senior program of study. We are a Catholic school and we need to continue to dedicate ourselves to the Religious Studies program as that is the core moral purpose of the College. In Years 11 & 12 RE becomes even more academic in its approach and we have had a large number of students who have achieved in RE, having used this to boost their final ATAR score. I know this from a personal perspective as our Dux two years ago was in my Year 12 Religious Studies class.
We are a College with students of a vibrant spirit – students with energy and direction, students who engage in a positive way in College life, with their teachers and with each other. Students who are inspired and can inspire others.
We are a College with students of a strong character – young men who know how to be good and what is good, young men who not only stand up for themselves but are able to stand for others and be a voice for others, young men who understand right relationships and are inclusive in what they say, what they do and how they live. A College where young men celebrate their own gifts and the gifts of others; a College where our young men understand the notion of brotherhood.
We are a College with students who have their learning tailored to their needs, their skills, their specific pathways and their interests. A College where we promote and celebrate achievement and a community where we provide access to a whole range of programs and opportunities to allow for the growth and development of the young men here”.
Gold Awards
Congratulations to the following high school students who received a Gold Award at the last school assembly in recognition of their outstanding academic efforts. Quite a large number of Silver and Bronze Awards have also been awarded to students for their strong academic achievements and efforts. These will be presented at House Assemblies. I thank all of these students for their efforts in ensuring that they optimise their learning and make the most of every learning opportunity.
Richard Alvarez Baumann (Year 12, Haydon), Leo Blaney-Brown (Year 11, Rice) Tristan Borghouts (Year 9, Treacy), Lawson Burn (Year 12, Rice), Benjamin Francis (Year 12, O’Brien), Toby Francis (Year 9, O’Brien), Leo Marris (Year 12, Treacy), Andrew McFarlane (Year 10, Clancy), Nicholas Odgers (Year 11, Treacy), Deveraux Tapelu (Year 9, Mulrooney).
Student Spotlight
We continue our Student Spotlight this week with the exciting adventures of Caleb Gersbach (Year 8, Clancy). Caleb is highly experienced in sled dog racing and we wish him continued success. Caleb shares his remarkable story with us: “I was born into the world of sled dog racing in 2006. My parents had been training and racing Alaskan Malamutes and then Siberian Huskies since 1996 and established Idigadog Kennels. I attended my first race when I was just four weeks of age. I don’t remember the first time that I went out on a rig with our dogs but I’ve been told that I was too little to walk! My first word was “pup” so it was always going to be that I would love the dogs and want to be with them.
I started competing in the PeeWees class in different races around Australia when I was two. My parents always let me choose which dogs I wanted to train and race but most times it would be the older, more experienced dogs that could be trusted to look after me. As I got older and understood more about sled dogs and their needs, my Dad would take me out on the quad bike with the whole team so that I could learn how to teach them the commands and watch the behaviours of each one. All of our dogs are related but they are different in the ways they make up the team. Some love to be in lead, some are happy to be in the team positions and some are really good at being the wheel dogs because they are strong and good at pulling and striving to pull the musher.
I think that watching the dogs perform together as a team really helps me to understand that there is no one position that is more important than the other. Each dog has to do their share and if they are slacking off, we just have to call their name and tell them to “pick it up” and they respond immediately. They trust us to look after them and I trust them to look after me. It’s a bond that can only happen with hours of training together and building a relationship with each and every one.
When I was old enough to compete in the Junior class (you have to be 8 in Australia), I trained and raced our veteran dogs. These are the older ones who are still competing but may have slowed down too much for the big teams. They are bombproof, trustworthy and listen to all of my commands when we are on the trail. I developed a special relationship with Ollie and he and I raced together for three seasons and were undefeated. Our little team were the Junior National Champions and I am proud to say that each run with him was very special and we had so much fun together every time we trained or raced. I love that dog!
To compete in the adult classes you are supposed to be 16 years of age but I was given permission by the governing body in Australia to step up to this class when I was just 12. In my first race in the touring class I competed with my trusted boy Ollie and his brother Oscar. Two awesome dogs who worked together really well and the three of us went on to win many races. We were competing against adults much older than me but I guess all those years of helping to train our dogs and really loving the sport gave me the knowledge to get the best out of my dogs.
Idigadog Kennels is sponsored by Eukanuba and my parents and I are ambassadors for their products. This means that I get to talk to new mushers about nutrition for their dogs and do displays at places like Petbarn or shows. Unfortunately all of our races have been cancelled this year due to COVID-19 but we are still training our dogs every weekend at Kowen Forest when it is nice and cool. There is something really special about being out in the forest when the sun is coming up and watching our best friends doing what they love. It makes me happy and it makes the dogs happy to do what they were bred to do”.
Principal’s Reading Challenge
A reminder that we have launched 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 book shops), 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.
Prayer
This prayer is inspired by Jesus’ question in last week’s Gospel reading Matthew 16:13-20.
Source acknowledgement: Christian Aid website. http://www.christianaid.org.uk/
‘Who do you say I am?’
Lord Jesus,
You are a Lord who walks beside your people.
So we pray for people who walk for justice.
You are a Lord who raises up those who are bent low.
So we pray for those held down by the grindings of life
and the indifference of the world.
You are a Lord who feeds the hungry
So we pray for all who long for bread
and the means to provide it.
You are a Lord who celebrates the small and the insignificant.
So we pray for the children
and for those who are never noticed.
You are a Lord who says ‘Follow me’.
So we pray for courage and faith in our hearts
that we may take up the cross and find it leads to life.
Blessed Edmund Rice, pray for us
Live Jesus in Our Hearts, forever
Mr Joe Zavone
Principal
Christus Lux Mea