Dear families and friends of St Edmund’s College,
2024 Scriptural Theme: “I have come so that they may have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10)
Right to Disconnect Policy
Like most workplaces across Australia, the College has implemented a Right to Disconnect Policy to comply with the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loophole No. 2) Act 2024. This legislation gives all employees an enforceable workplace right to refuse to monitor, read or respond to contact, or attempted contact, from an employer or third party (parents, carers, students or any other member of the school community) outside of their ordinary working hours, unless refusing to do so is unreasonable.
While much of the Policy addresses employee-employer interactions, the key information for our school community relates to communications with third parties – students, parents, carers and other stakeholders. Under this Policy, College employees will endeavour to respond to communication from these parties within 48 hours. This timeframe applies from the employee’s next designated working day, when reasonably practicable, taking into account individual leave arrangements, weekends, public holidays and any flexible working arrangements that may apply.
There are circumstances where College employees may need to connect and/or respond outside their designated hours. These include public emergencies or critical incidents requiring immediate attention, when staff are working outside regular hours (for example during co-curricular activities, camps or retreats), pre-arranged and agreed upon communication, or where necessary to comply with legal obligations.
In an environment where immediate responses are often demanded, we ask for your support in implementing this Policy by being mindful of staff working hours when sending communications and understanding that responses may not be immediate outside of working hours. This Policy helps ensure our staff maintain a healthy work-life balance while continuing to provide excellent service to our College community.
Congratulations …
To our Years 11 & 12 Drama students who recently participated in the Come Alive Festival of Museum Theatre held in the Mill Theatre at Dairy Road. Their self-devised comedy was inspired by the Playbill of the First Australian Theatre Company and delighted audiences over two performances.
To our Years 9 & 10 Drama students who have been working hard for the upcoming performance. Students have been studying adaptation in Drama this semester, culminating with a one-act performance of the BCC classic comedy Black Adder Goes Forth. This will be performed in the Performing Arts Centre on 21 November commencing at 6.00pm. Tickets can be booked here.
To our Year 10 Student Voice Counsel representatives Mose Taitini and Brayden Fowler for recently representing the College so well at the National Prayer Breakfast in the Great Hall of Parliament House.
To our Year 11 and Year 12 students who finished their last week of lessons in fine form, prior to moving into their examination week. A highlight of this last week was the House Farewells held last Friday, where each individual Year 12 student was fare welled by his tutor in front of all members of his House. This is a very personal and touching event, clearly demonstrating the strong relational quality that we have established here at Eddies between students and their tutors. Best wishes to Year 12 students as they move through their examinations this week and prepare for their Graduation events on Friday 29 November.
Community event
I am delighted to announce an upcoming charity event in Sydney this December featuring Dave Barrie, one of Australia’s most distinguished community educators, peace activists and philanthropist. While many know Dave as one of our dedicated relief teachers, his impact extends far beyond the classroom through his ground breaking “Everybody Wins” program, which has transformed lives across Australian schools and correctional facilities. Working alongside a team of experts, Dave will share his innovative approach to personal growth and community development with the general public. If you’re interested in attending this transformative event, please click on this link to learn more.
Prayer / Reflection
Some of you are aware that I have been ill since the beginning of the term, and have not really been as available as I would like to be. I have been diagnosed with pneumonia and am finding it difficult to shake off. In this context, I would like to share with you one of my favourite Michael Leuning poems. Not only is the poem appropriate to the way in which I’m feeling at the moment, but it is most appropriate at this time as we start to approach the end of the year, and we are growing just a little more tired and our patience and tolerance may be just dropping a little.
Care is the cure.
It is slow,
It is raw,
It is pure.
It is simple,
It is real,
It is bold,
It is there.
Nothing is newer
Or older
Or wiser
Or truer.
Care is the cure.
Blessed Edmund Rice, pray for us.
Live Jesus in our hearts, forever.
Joe Zavone
Principal
Christus Lux Mea