I would like to welcome all our families to the start of the 2025 school year and hope the year ahead brings a sense of joy and achievement for all our young men. As we begin this new school year, we are reminded of our strong Catholic ethos as well as the charism of Blessed Edmund Rice, that guides our actions, attitudes, and relationships here at St Edmund’s College. At the heart of what we try to achieve, is the belief that every student is a unique creation of God, deserving of respect, dignity, support and love in their educational journey. The work ahead of us is a joint effort of both students, staff and families, and our aim is always to nurture an environment that fosters academic growth, personal and social development, spiritual formation and a desire to be the best version of ourselves.
One of the most important aspects of our community is building a commitment to welcoming others and making all those who join our community feel they belong. Whether new to Eddies or returning after the summer holidays, we are all part of the larger Eddies family where kindness, inclusion, and respect are valued above all. It is our hope that every student, staff member, and family feels supported and embraced as we embark on this new year together.
An emphasis for the College this year is on the importance of hard work and dedication in all aspects of life. The College scriptural theme for the year promotes this concept – ‘Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord”. Col 3:23. The pursuit of excellence—academically, socially, and spiritually—is something we value, and our student leaders for 2025 want to promote and build a sense of working hard in order to achieve our goals amongst the student body. Each student is encouraged to apply themselves fully, to face challenges with resilience, and to embrace opportunities for growth. We recognise that the road to success is not always easy, but it is through perseverance and a strong work ethic that we can achieve our goals.
Finally, we understand the vital role that communication plays in the success of our community and in the wellbeing and development of all students. We value open, honest, and transparent communication between the school and our families. Together, we can strive to ensure that every student’s needs are met and that their unique potential is realised. We invite parents and guardians to stay engaged, ask questions, share insights and support College expectations and decisions so that we can partner effectively in the education and formation of each young person entrusted to our care.
In terms of more procedural elements, 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, nor are they permitted to park on the nature strip behind the grandstand (fines are often issued for parking in this area). 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 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.
Mobile phones and devices procedures
Students are not permitted mobile phones during class time and if they use their device during class time, it will be confiscated. Confiscated devices are taken to the front office, where they are safely stored and can be collected at the end of the school day. Parents will receive a notification if their son’s phone has been confiscated. Repeat offenders may have to hand in their phone each day for a period of time.
Uniform
In order to assist staff in keeping students aligned with uniform expectations, we kindly ask all parents and guardians to check that their children are wearing the correct summer uniform attire and that haircuts, grooming and the wearing of accessories are aligned with College expectations.
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.
As we move forward, let us remember that we are all part of this wonderful community, and it is hoped that this year be one of building connections, meaningful achievements for all, and a commitment to one another as we strive to live out the Gospel values in everything we do. Our young men are being encouraged this term to focus on the following:
“Work Hard, Look out for one another and look after our school”.
Welcome back, and let’s make this year a memorable one!
Ms Monica Day
Assistant Principal – Student Wellbeing