A sincere welcome back to all our St Edmund’s students and families both returning and new to the College community. I hope you had a peaceful and relaxing Christmas and holiday season.
A new year brings with it new challenges, some anxiety about changes, and excitement with the possibilities that lie ahead. Our Year 11 students have begun their Senior Years of schooling, Year 7 students are starting at a new school or transitioning from the Junior School, and every student is moving one year closer to adulthood. The success of the year ahead is up to each individual and the choices they decide to make for themselves. With the support of families and the St Edmund’s staff, hopefully, all of our young men have begun with a fresh determination and a strong motivation to succeed and have begun to set goals to form good habits to help with their education.
“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going” – Jim Ryun.
This year we have two new staff members who have joined the Wellbeing team. Mr Jeff Vayo is permanently taking on the role of Head of Clancy House and Mr Robert Dix is relieving Mrs Gair for 2023 for Treacy House. Mr Vayo has already begun well in his role with Clancy House, for the second half of last year, and I am sure Mr Dix will be welcomed by the boys to Treacy House.
Please note below some reminders to begin the new school year:
Student drivers and passengers driven in vehicles by students.
Students who drive to school must complete forms provided by their Head of House. The form includes:
- car details including registration number
- passenger details
- parking arrangements
Students are not permitted to park motor vehicles on the College grounds or in the pick-up or drop-off zones. Students are requested not to park a motor vehicle during school hours in front of the College or on Canberra Avenue. No responsibility will be taken by the College for damage to student vehicles; including theft from vehicles or parking infringement fines.
If your son is not a driver, but travels to school with another student as the driver, written permission must be given to your son’s Head of House indicating who your son will be travelling with. Please send this as a written letter or as an email.
CCTV
All members of the College community are reminded that CCTV is in operation across the majority of the College buildings including outdoor areas. Classrooms do not have CCTV videos set up.
Senior students leaving College premises during break times.
Years 11 and 12 students are permitted to leave the College grounds at lunch time (only) to purchase lunch from shops in the local area. It is not a time to be out socialising with students from other schools. Please be advised that students must adhere to the following guidelines for this privilege to remain in place:
- Students are only permitted to leave College grounds at lunch time (not recess).
- Students must sign out at the front office upon leaving the College grounds. (The College needs to know which students are on site in the case of a fire or emergency).
- Students must return to school by 1:40pm in order to be on time for their Period 5 class.
- Whilst out in public, students must represent the College in manner that is a positive reflection of the ethos and values of St Edmund’s.
- Students are not to be lingering in parks, alleyways or other recreational areas. Boys should only be going to Kingston shops, Manuka shops, Griffith shops or Fyshwick as far as Nerang Street.
- Students must now complete and return a parent permission note to their Head of House to be able to leave the College grounds for lunch.
Buses
Bus transport of an afternoon is structured and there is an order in which students get on the bus of an afternoon. If your son travels to Karabar or Carwoola and does not change buses or alight at the Queanbeyan interchange, he will need to get a priority boarding pass from the front office to allow him to get one of the first buses.
Mobile phones and devices procedures
Communication has been sent out to families regarding student use of mobile phones and other electronic devices (Laptops being the exception) during class time. This year, boys who take their device out in class will have it confiscated for the day and will have to collect it at the end of the day. Some boys are struggling to grasp these new protocols, therefore if individual students repeatedly don’t meet the expectations of the College, then they may have to hand their phone in at the beginning of each day.
Names on clothing
In order to assist staff at the College with lost property, could you please ensure that your son’s uniforms are labelled with their names. This helps staff be able to return items that may be misplaced and also assists when clothing gets mixed up.
The new year has begun well with the majority of our boys demonstrating the Statement of Eddie’s Pride in a positive manner. We continue in our aim to help develop and raise young men of integrity, who demonstrate respect and who develop a strong character and vibrant spirit in the proud traditions and ethos of Blessed Edmund Rice and the St Edmund’s College tradition.
Monica Day
Assistant Principal – Student Wellbeing