ERC Newsletter - Week 10 Term 1 2022

Dear Parents and Carers,

At the height of last year’s lockdown period and amid the early struggle of remote learning, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) released the findings from The Australia Talks National Survey, which included the views of 60,000 Australians. Interestingly, one of the insights from this national survey found parents whose children attended Independent Schools had the highest rate of satisfaction with their child’s education at 92 per cent. This highest rating from all schools in Australia aligned with a larger dataset from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), showing how Independent Schools are the fastest-growing school sector in Australia. Parents choosing to send their children to Catholic and Independent Schools has doubled in the past 30 years.

While the reasons for these findings can vary according to the individual parent and carer you ask, what is clear from this nationwide survey is that a College community that consistently mirrors the same values of those in the family home is foundational to an effective and authentic learning community. Personalising a young person’s learning while instilling respect for others is something that you cannot put a price on. While school headline data, including HSC results and individual student learning and co-curricular achievements, are rightly celebrated by all schools, these are not the only indicators of an effective Catholic College community. School spirit is a term that is often used, but like the Holy Spirit, it is not something that can be measured; instead, it needs to be experienced and felt first-hand.

In this final newsletter for the term, I would like to acknowledge the many rich learning experiences that have been a feature of our school year to date – both inside and outside the classroom. Thank you to each of our hardworking teachers and support staff for a commitment to working in partnership with our parents and carers to benefit the young men of ERC.

***

The Year 7 2023 enrolment period is well underway. It is always a pleasure to meet with prospective families at the College as we discuss their reasons for wishing to enrol their sons at Edmund Rice College. A common theme amongst parents is the strong reputation of the College within the wider community. Parents speak very highly of our collective achievements and how they have observed the high standards of respect from both the existing and former students of the College. Prospective parents often explain how they wish their son to be “just like” the senior students in our College. Parents and carers who have a child in Year 6 are asked to ensure they finalise their enrolment application by the final day of this term (Friday 8th April) to ensure they are included in the Round 1 2023 enrolment offers, which will be finalised early in Term 2.

***

I would like to thank the many parents who took up the recent learning opportunities on offer at the College in further supporting their son’s schooling. While Ms Lourdes Ndaira’s Stage 4 Maths Workshops were very well received, I also thank those parents who attended last week’s Internet Cyber Safety parent presentation by Brett Lee; along with those parents who were able to engage with Dan Hardie’s ‘My Strengths’ resources and presentation at the recent Parents and Friends Association meeting. Thank you to Mrs Hughes, Director of Pastoral Care, for arranging these recent whole-family growth opportunities.

***

Term 2 will see the College begin its Administration and Reception building program. This latest improvement to the College facilities will see a vast improvement in the capacity and general amenity of the College Reception area. This building program will also considerably improve the physical learning environment and general facilities for all teachers and support staff.

In the interim, the College reception, administration and staff room will be temporarily based in the Br Pelin Hall. Thank you to Mr Darren Jeffery for his leadership of this large scale initiative.

***

A reminder to our mums and grandmothers to RSVP for the Term 2, Week 2 Mother’s Day High Tea, which will be hosted by the P&F on Thursday 5th May.

***

Sincere thanks and best wishes to Mrs Jennifer Dunstan who now retires from ERC after seven years of service in support of our office administration. Thank you Jenny.

Stephen Gough