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The Art of Belonging @ Eddies

Hugh McKay a social researcher suggests that there is a growing trend of people being not connected in their lives to their neighbors, at work or online. He illustrates that to fight this trend people need to better engage with their neighbors and the people around them. At St Edmund’s the message from the school, in terms of realizing the art of belonging, is simply to engage. Each student and family will do this possible in differing ways and possible have differing entry points to the school and whether that is through academic pursuits, social events held by the school or the many co-curricular options the challenge is to try to embrace the school and engage with its people.

In a time where Hugh suggests that materialism and now individualism is growing in society and people are trying to work out what they’re receiving in every situation. We at Eddies are trying to instill in our students the complete opposite. The challenge for our school is to be involved in our community where each person is valued for who they are and the contribution to our College. For our students to shine in our College it is not simply a one way street where they learn to receive taking what’s best from the community. The students over their time especially when reaching the senior years begin to comprehend that by giving to others through coaching, tutoring and generally assisting their teachers and they are creating a school where they give back. This is a great example for our younger students to try to emulate as they see the maturity of our seniors grow.

According to the Statement of Eddies Pride we are…

Striving to achieve personal best, showing resilience and engagement

And to do this we need to be…

Investing in respectful positive relationships with everyone in my College and wider community.

Social connections are crucial at St Edmund’s and through positive engagement with each other this helps to give our lives meaning. It is natural to be social beings and to be cooperative with people and on the other hand it is unnatural to be rampantly individualistic and competitive. We pray that our students of all ages continue to assist the school community be the best that it can be, by simply engaging in all activities and connecting positively with all the characters that makes up our unique School.

Edmund’s to the Fore!

Dear Lord,

We pray that we may all have that strong sense of belonging at St Edmund’s by engaging positively with its people.
We pray that we may teach our students to shy away from being selfish and looking after themselves.
We pray that our students may find happiness in being selfless and building social connections with others.
We pray that we may use the example of Jesus to help shape our lives.

Blessed Edmund Rice…pray for us.
Live Jesus in our Lives…forever.

Amen.

Michael Monagle
Assistant Principal- Mission and Identity