College Prospectus

Acknowledgement of Country

St Edmund’s College Canberra acknowledges the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people as the Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work. St Edmund’s College is proud of the diversity of our student population and we aim to maximise the teaching and learning opportunities for each boy. Our student population is enriched by the presence of our students with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent.

Explore our Virtual Tour

St Edmund’s College is a proud and inclusive community, having educated boys from Year 4 to 12 for over 70 years. Our College Virutal Tour invites prospective parents and families to immerse themselves in the various facets of College life on offer. Explore @ https://sec.act.edu.au/tour

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Welcome to St Edmund’s College, where every day we have young men of vibrant spirit and strong character engaged in their tailored learning experiences. We are a school of growth, hope, belonging and service...

Welcome to St Edmund’s College

Welcome to St Edmund’s College, a Catholic school in the Edmund Rice Tradition. We are very proud of the inclusive community here at the College, educating boys. St Edmund’s College is the oldest continuing Catholic School in Canberra. We support, challenge and educate our students whilst providing a diverse program of cultural, pastoral and sporting experiences to enrich their growth and development.

Since being founded by the Christian Brothers in 1954 the college has established a strong community for our students and their families and proudly identifies with the traditions on which it was built. We seek to give active witness to the four touchstones of our charter as an Edmund Rice Education Australia school. These touchstones are Liberating Education, Inclusive Community, Gospel Spirituality and Justice & Solidarity – they form our core character and identity. It is our hope that each young man who moves through St Edmund’s College develops a heart and mind that have been shaped by the light of Christ, allowing them to move into a world where they are true to their character and make a tangible difference in their own unique way. We are a College of Vibrant Spirit, Strong Character and Tailored Learning.

We offer teaching and learning programs specifically tailored to boys’ learning styles, a vertical house system which provides structure and support during the school day, vibrant Youth Ministry and community service programs, a diverse range of team and individual sporting, artistic and performing arts opportunities, camps, excursions and immersion experiences which together form the many dimensions of an Eddies education – an education which challenges young men to be the best they can be and opens doors to their future.

Our College Strategic Vision calls us to provide every avenue for our young men to be motivated, resilient, spirited and willing to serve others. We offer a holistic education that is based on the message of Jesus and encourages each and every student to let his light shine (“Christus Lux Mea” – Christ Is My Light). Our young men are encouraged to discover and promote what has worth in this world, to place value upon it and to live this out in an authentic manner.

When considering St Edmund’s College as the right school for your son, I would ask you to take time to explore this prospectus as well as our website as they offer insights into the culture, values and ethos of our college as well as practical and detailed information about our educational, pastoral and cocurricular programs.

I would encourage and welcome you to make direct contact with us to arrange a visit and experience firsthand the many possibilities available to your son with a St Edmund’s College education.

Our College Vision

St Edmund’s College is a dynamic Catholic all boys school, an inclusive educational community committed to living the message of Jesus Christ. We educate and develop boys into young men according to the values and experiences of a Catholic Education in the Edmund Rice Tradition.

Catholic Schools in the Edmund Rice Tradition strive to offer a liberating education, based on a gospel spirituality, within an inclusive community committed to justice and solidarity.

OUR VISION

To develop boys into young men of vibrant spirit and strong character through tailored learning experiences. We do this in the context of an authentic, dynamic and relational Catholic educational community.

OUR MISSION

As a Catholic college in the tradition of Blessed Edmund Rice, we continually strive to nurture and inspire our students, challenging them to be the best they can be. We offer an innovative and liberating education, based on Gospel spirituality, within an inclusive community committed to justice and solidarity. We encourage young men to be aspirational regarding their future, to develop a social conscience, to think critically and contribute positively to a world beyond St Edmund’s.

Why Boys’ Education?

Boys need to develop quality relationships with their teachers

At St Edmund’s, we know our boys. Strong bonds are developed through our vertical Pastoral Care system which reinforces our concern for the continuity of care for each boy. Teachers, tutors, support and administration staff all work to ensure positive relationships are fostered in every situation and St Edmund’s students know that their staff care about them each as individuals.

Boys need a sense of empowerment and engagement with many opportunities for success

We offer our boys an extensive choice of subjects, a wide variety of co-curricular options, both sporting and cultural, and the opportunity to engage with the community through social justice programs. Student Leadership is also a key element to the College. Each boy is first and foremost a leader of himself and his actions. In mastering this, he can then look to be a leader of others.

Read more about Boys’ Education @ sec.act.edu.au/why-boys-education

Boys need to have a sense of place and community at school

St Edmund’s has been nurturing our community for over 70 years. Considerable time is spent developing and fostering a sense of pride in being a part of both the history and future of the school community. Students are frequently asked to reflect on the legacy that they are leaving behind them and look for ways to ensure this is supportive of the College’s vision and mission.

The relevance of what they are learning is particularly important to boys

Our curriculum continually evolves to reflect changing academic, career and trade opportunities. Our boys are offered a wide variety of subject options and throughout High School, are encouraged to try new subjects to broaden their social and academic outlook. Our focus is on the growth of each student and offering them opportunities to reach and celebrate their full potential.

Mission & Identity

At St Edmund’s our college motto is ‘Christus Lux Mea’ Christ is my Light, and as a Catholic school in the Edmund Rice Tradition we aim to provide an educational environment where the message of Christ is animated in many ways. As an Edmund Rice school, we seek to promote an inclusive and dynamic community with a faith tradition that is a paramount foundation of the college.

Prayer, Mass and Retreats

We pray when we gather as a community each day, we offer Mass each week in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel and offer opportunity to grow in our faith through various liturgies and retreats throughout the year. To sustain our vibrant spirit we need time to reflect and be nourished and renewed through prayer and participation in the Eucharist.

Religious Education

As a Catholic College, Religious Education is uniquely placed to support faith formation, spiritual development and experience as well as deliver an academically rigorous program. We seek to educate our students to be vibrant members of society through living with hope and having a comprehensive understanding of Gospel Spirituality.

Immersion and Mission Experiences

We believe that supporting others and being selfless is at the core of what we do at St Edmund’s. Each term we have a whole school Social Justice focus that allows the boys to become more aware of the needs of others locally and beyond our borders.

We open hearts and minds, through quality teaching and learning experiences, so that through critical reflection and engagement each person is hope-filled and free to build a better world for all.

We invite all people into the story of Jesus and strive to make his message of compassion, justice and peace a living reality within our community.

COLLEGE TOUCHSTONES

Our community is accepting and welcoming, foresting right relationships and committed to the common good.

We are committed to justice and peace for all, grounded in a spirituality of action and reflection that calls us to stand in solidarity with those who are marinalised and the Earth itself.

Teaching & Learning

Tailored Learning at St Edmund’s College exists both inside and outside of the classroom. Outside of the classroom, Tailored Learning means working with students and families to create programs of learning that meet students’ short, medium and long term goals. This might entail grade level or subject acceleration for gifted students, facilitating opportunities for school based apprenticeships, accommodating the academic needs students involved in high-level participation in sport or other areas of extra-curricular excellence, or by offering guidance and support for students in selecting courses of study that are based on their interests and that maximize their opportunities to learn and grow, and to succeed in the next stages of their lives.

During my time at St Edmunds, the teachers have assisted me greatly with my learning and have helped me achieve my personal best in every class...

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Inside the classroom, Tailored Learning means something different. We all have our strengths and areas for improvement and each St Edmund’s student is on a different learning journey in every classroom he enters. Tailored Learning means meeting students where they are in their journey and helping them to improve from there. It means setting high expectations for all students and celebrating not just the end of semester achievements, but also the growth, the evidence of student learning, that happens along the way.

Tailored Learning both inside and outside the classroom can only happen when the school staff knows their students and are able to form strong relationships not just in a given year but across the years. Our student body is large enough for us to be able to offer a wide range of opportunities and resources, but our cohorts small enough that students, staff and parents can all feel that they are an integral part of our school learning community. Tailored Learning not just a slogan but is a commitment to holistic, inclusive and contemporary educational practices in the full sense Edmund Rice Tradition.

Read more about our Academic Program @ sec.act.edu.au/academic

Student Wellbeing

Wellbeing at St Edmund’s is based on the Edmund Rice Tradition which “provides care that nurtures the dignity of each person as uniquely reflecting the image of God” (Charter for Catholic Schools in the Edmund Rice Tradition, EREA). At St Edmund’s we care for each student, by putting his interests and welfare in the centre of the decision making process and working in partnership with home. We focus on attending to the needs of all students and look to create and develop the natural links between academic care and pastoral care. Together, this contributes to a strong and unified holistic educational experience.

Upon enrolment all students are carefully assigned to a House Group for the duration of their time at the college. These House Groups foster a strong sense of belonging and community across the whole College. Wellbeing in Junior School is provided by class teachers in Years 4 to 6. Wellbeing and Pastoral Care in the High School is provided both in Tutor Groups which are arranged vertically with a mix of students from Years 7 to 12 and specific year level programs.

In order to create men of vibrant spirit and strong character the St Edmund’s College Statement of Eddies Pride provides a set of school wide expectations for our students. Based on Martin Seligman’s positive psychology framework and use of the PERMA+H domains, the Statement of Pride is an aspirational set of standards that our students meet within a school context and that also shape their hearts and minds for the future.

The College’s Personal Formation Program combines the positive psychology framework and the Brisbane Catholic Education curriculum and is delivered as a series of structured, timetabled sessions to holistically develop the social and emotional, spiritual and academic characteristics of each individual student at the college.

At St Edmund’s College high priority is given to identifying students’ individual character strengths to help them recognise their positive attributes and areas for growth. This is reinforced by a focus on developing and maintaining positive and respectful relationships with all members of our community through our use of Restorative Justice practices.

College Houses

Developing Junior Boys

Junior School staff look to educate the whole child by providing a holistic education, developing each student academically, physically, socially, creatively and spiritually.

In the Junior School, students are engaged in high quality learning experiences that promote academic rigour, balanced with ageappropriate formation and well-being programs. Each student is encouraged to achieve his personal best through both the curriculum and co-curricular programs offered. Junior School teachers work hard to provide students with a sense of belonging, through the teaching of right relationships and building strong connections with the school. During pre-adolescence, gaining skills to have right relationships is a particularly strong focus and forms the basis for positive contributions to the community for future years.

With diverse, vibrant and enriching experiences on offer in the Junior School, students are given vast opportunities to express themselves and showcase individual talents. Junior School students have access to specialist classes designed to motivate boys, including Woodwork , Physical Education , Music , Language, Library and Digital Technologies . With access to quality science laboratories, woodwork workshops, the gymnasium, computer labs and an industrial kitchen, our Junior School students are afforded wonderful resources to help enrich their learning experiences – many resources not normally available for students in this age group.

One of the major benefits of attending Junior School is in easing the transition to High School. From the moment students join the Junior School, teachers attempt to improve students’ organisation and develop learning passions in the lead up to High School. Our Year 6 students are involved in specific leadership, House and transition programs leading into Year 7.

Co-Curricular Program

Students participate in the Co-Curricular Program throughout the duration of their education at the College. Each year students pick one of the many options available to participate in from the available Sports, Music and Performing Arts, and extra-curricular activities. Outside of the classroom the Co-Curricular Program gives students a chance to develop a different set of skills and opportunities to excel. These skills focus around team work, problem solving, conflict resolution and perseverance. The culmination of the participation in the Co-Curricular Program helps to develop strong character and define what it is to be an ‘Eddies boy’.

The College participates in competitions organised by ACT state sporting organizations, the Associated Southern Colleges as well as interstate fixtures and undertaking sports tours overseas every two years. The Associated Southern Colleges is made up of schools within the ACT that provide a pathway to ACT and national competitions for the big three carnivals: Athletics, Cross Country and Swimming as well as holding annual interschool Cricket, Rugby and Basketball competitions.

The Performing Arts and Music Co-Curricular options offered are: Choirs, Bands and Musical/Cabaret. Students will continue to develop their musical and acting abilities which they perform for the wider community each year through either a Musical or Cabaret with the involvement of students from St Clare’s College and Canberra Girls Grammar School. The bands will perform at this event as well as at the Big Band Bash and Christmas Concert. The coeducational opportunity with St Clare’s is a valuable addition to each student’s education and is undertaken in the performing arts as well as the Saints Dragon Boating Program.

ICT and Innovation

Information Communication Technology (ICT) has the power to transform how students think and learn. St Edmund’s is committed to creating a culture of innovation that utilises ICT to enrich learning, promote collaboration, foster creativity and to streamline communication. The College has made significant investments into its Information Technology infrastructure to ensure students are provided with extensive opportunities to develop 21st century skills, knowledge and attitudes that will enable them to shape their futures in a rapidly changing world.

The College has a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program for students in Years 6-12 to help motivate and empower our students to become responsible digital citizens and selfdirected learners. The BYOD program provides teachers with additional scope to create innovative opportunities for students to use their personal devices to think critically and to work collaboratively to solve problems. The College also provides students with access to dedicated computer labs to ensure students have access to industry standard platforms and programs.

The College uses Canvas as its learning management system. Canvas is a web-based platform that is used from Years 4 through to Year 12 to deliver course content and provide feedback on work that has been submitted. Canvas enables teachers to effectively tailor the curriculum to meet the needs of all students.

St Edmund’s College has an extensive co-curricular program that provides students with opportunities to develop their skills in a range of areas. Students can elect to participate in STEAM as part of this program. STEAM is an educational approach to learning that uses Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics as access points to promote innovation and to help students develop their computational, design, digital editing, problem solving and team work skills.

Read more about our ICT Program @ sec.act.edu.au/ict

Embracing Culture

As a school, St Edmunds College is proud of the diversity of our student population and we aim to maximize the teaching and learning opportunities for every student. Our student population is enriched by the presence of our students of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent. At St Edmund’s College we encourage and inspire academic achievement, social and emotional development and cultural awareness of these students while validating the unique cultural identity of each boy. To quote the Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy:

EREA stands in solidarity with Indigenous peoples of Australia. Through collaborative partnerships that are mutually enriching, EREA will provide an inclusive and welcoming environment and offer a quality and culturally appropriate educational for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people.

At St Edmund’s College we have around 35 students enrolled who are of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, making up 4% of the student population. These students range from Years 4-12.

St Edmund’s College has a dedicated position of Indigenous Education Coordinator whose role is to encourage and inspire academic achievement, social and emotional development and cultural awareness of our students of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent. To achieve this our Indigenous Education Coordinator and the college targets the goals of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Policy (AEP). These goals include:

• Improving educational access and achievement for Indigenous children and young people,

• Developing links with Indigenous families and communities to increase their participation in decision making,

• Developing the knowledge and understanding of staff,

• Providing opportunities for all Indigenous students to explore their collective and individual cultural links

We wish to further the involvement of Indigenous parents and carers, and our Indigenous communities in the College, by presenting both traditional and contemporary cultural perspectives and encouraging participation. In the Spirit of Reconciliation our community seeks to build and strengthen our relationship with Indigenous Australians by identifying and addressing those practices which currently hinder the enrolment and retention of Indigenous students.

Defence Families

Defence families are a very important and dynamic part of St Edmund’s College, and we warmly welcome Defence students and their families to our community. As a War Memorial School, established in 1954 our College has a long proud affiliation with the Australian Defence Force.

Defence School Mentor

St Edmund’s is fortunate to be part of the Defence School Mentor Program which is an initiative of the Defence Community Organisation (DCO). The Defence School Mentor (DSM) role supports Defence students from Years 4 to 12 during their transition into and out of the College and throughout the duration of their time here. Our Defence School Mentor engages with and provides support as required to our Defence students and their families at times when a parent is absent from home due to deployment, training exercise, courses or postings including families who are unaccompanied (MWD(U)). Working closely with Heads of House, Pastoral Care, Junior School and High School Teachers, our Defence School Mentor monitors social, emotional and academic wellbeing of our Defence students.

At St Edmund’s we develop individual strategies for Defence students to help them adapt to the unique nature of family life in the Australian Defence Force. There are also a number of programs, excursions and services offered in partnership with DCO across the College designed to assist Defence students to build selfconfidence, self-reliance, resilience and leadership skills. We regularly hold lunch time activities, barbecues and morning teas here at the college for our Defence students, which encourages interaction and friendships with other Defence students.

As a College community we actively engage with our Defence students and their families in commemorative ceremonies such as Anzac Day and Remembrance Day. These ceremonies provide a wonderful opportunity for our Defence students and their families to be remembered and recognised as important parts of our community.

Our College understands the opportunities, benefits and challenges that exist for Defence students and their families. We pride ourselves on our streamlined processes that create a smooth transition in to a new school with ongoing care and support.

Enrolling at St Edmund’s

We encourage all parents seeking more information about the College to look through our website, as well as to attend a College Tour which gives you and your son a great opportunity to understand our facilities, our community and ask any questions that you may have.

The Enrolment Process

1. Complete the Application for Enrolment (avaliable on our College Website).

2. Your application will be acknowledged by email.

3. Further information may be sought if required or if the application is incomplete. The Principal will view your application and will advise the Enrolment Officer if the application is to proceed to the interview stage.

4. We will invite you, along with your son/s to attend an interview with the Principal or Head of Junior School. An interview does not mean that a place will be offered. Children from both new and existing St Edmund’s College families are required to attend an interview.

If a place is not available, your child’s name will be held on a wait list unless you notify the college that you do not want to proceed with your application.

If your application for enrolment is successful, a letter of offer will be sent by email shortly after the interview. Acceptance of the offer is required within 14 days and is confirmed by signing the Enrolment Agreement documents that sets out the conditions and expectations.

Book a Tour

College Tours are a great way to explore our facilities, understand our ethos and see how your son can fit into our ever-growing community.

For the latest times and information about College Tours, visit our tours page on our website at: https://sec.act.edu.au/enrolments/tour/

Contact our Enrolments Office

Phone: (02) 6239 0660

Email: enrolments@sec.act.edu.au