Dear Parents and Carers,

In extending a warm welcome to returning and new families at the College, I congratulate all students for settling so quickly into College life. I especially acknowledge our Year 7 students for stepping out of their comfort zones as they each transition into our learning community. Thank you to Mr Marsh, Mr Panozzo, and members of the Year 7 Pastoral Team for facilitating this orientation program – and to the Year 11 Peer Support Leaders for their generosity and the positive example they continue to provide our newest members.

As well as new students and parents, we also welcome new staff members who join us this year: Brad Jardine (PDHPE), Lauren Armstrong (HSIE), Melissa Berry (Science), Paul Teece (Maintenance), Matt Popovski (Casual Maintenance), Sharon McFarlane (Hospitality Assistant), and Nahni Meafou (Sports Administration), along with Trent Mitchell and Sarah Copas, who return to us after their leave period.

The upcoming academic year holds great promise, and I am excited about the opportunities and achievements that lie ahead for our school community. Our Touchstone focus for this year is ‘Inclusive Community’, a central theme of this morning’s Opening College mass, which Bishop Brian Mascord celebrated.

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I am delighted to announce that the College has received approval for an Australian Government Capital Grant (CGP) of $5,684,004 for non-government schools to contribute to constructing a new Technology Centre and the refurbishment of Blocks B & C. In collaboration with Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA) and Catholic Schools NSW (CSNSW), this initiative addresses the need for a more contemporary Technology / Vocational Education Training facility for ERC students. The College community is immensely grateful for the government’s support. The detailed planning for this project will continue throughout the year, bringing us one step closer to a purpose-built Technology facility that will benefit our students and the entire College community.

This exciting news is the next stage of the College’s master planning process. It will provide ERC students with state-of-the-art technology facilities to maximise their learning potential further and better prepare them for their future goals and career aspirations.

As you view the slide deck below showing the ongoing development of the College campus, it is worth noting the black and white photo from 1970, which shows our current D Block as the only school building during that time. As we thank those generations of staff and families who came before us, let us remember the words of Pope John Paull II, who explained, “Let us remember the past with gratitude, live the present with enthusiasm, and look forward to the future with confidence.”

I thank the College Leadership Team for their dedicated efforts throughout last year in diligently reviewing and, where necessary, updating the College’s policies and procedures to ensure the highest governance and academic standards. Some policies, including Uniform Requirements and Anti-Bullying Policies, are available on the College website. At the same time, the Parent Code of Conduct and The Student Management System can be found within the TASS Parent Portal.

I offer all families my best wishes and blessings for the year ahead.

Best wishes,
Stephen Gough

EREA Student Leadership Conference

During the last week of the summer holidays, Edmund Rice Education Australia held a Student Leadership Conference at St Patrick’s College, Ballarat. The conference was hosted by Victorian EREA schools, where student leaders from every EREA across Australia were invited and represented. Jack Wilson, College Captain represented ERC with distinction across the four days. The theme of Conference was Voice and Agency. The Young Leaders explored an understanding of leadership from a Gospel and Edmund Rice perspective, and the importance of justice, Reconciliation, advocacy, service and global engagement. They networked together as they reflected on their own personal journey of leadership and how to look after their own and their peers’ wellbeing. The delegates also had the opportunity to be the first group consulted as part of the mission direction and strategy for EREA going forward. Throughout the gathering they engaged communally in prayer, liturgy and reflection. Jack will lead the ERC Student Leadership Team at the upcoming Student Leaders Symposium hosted by St Pius X College, Chatswood at Oxford Falls with a focus on “Seek to Serve” this term with other student leadership teams from NSW Colleges to generate further partnerships and share stories.

Student Transport

• At present we are aware of the congestion on buses. This is normal at the commencement of the academic year
• Students are to continue to tap on using their Opal cards so that correct numbers for each route can be collected
• Students without an opal card, MUST provide confirmation of order upon request of the driver, these are to be ordered online
• General rules when travelling on public transport apply, these are clearly stated in the Code of Conduct on Buses and Trains (refer to Page 29 of the Student Diary).

Student Drop Off / Pick Up – REMINDERS

• Parents should not be driving down the College driveway at the commencement or conclusion of the school day or parking at the end of the turning circle
• Parents, please adhere to the local road rules when dropping off or picking up in the surrounding streets. If you are picking your son up and are stopping, waiting in marked ‘No Stopping or No Parking Areas’ or across personal driveways the council parking rangers have indicated that they will be fining offenders
• Year 12 student drivers, must have completed the permission to drive to/from school form with the appropriate signatures. Students who already have permission to drive are reminded of our local arrangement with residents about where they can park, being courteous and following safe driving practises – especially with regard to their speed around the surrounding streets. Students are to ensure they park correctly and allow suitable travel time so they are not late, leading them to make poor parking decisions which evidently can be a financial burden
• Rangers have been called previously by local residents as a response to parents and student drivers parking illegally across driveways or too close to kerbs by residents. The College has not previously nor will it intervene or become involved with parking infringements and/or demerits actioned by authorities.

Collecting Students Early for an Appointment

• We ask that your son be given a note explaining why he is needing to leave early and have it signed in the morning by his Pastoral Care Coordinator
• He will be required to keep the signed note until the required time to leave class and present it to the office to be collected
• This process helps us help you, ensuring you arrive at your appointment on time. If an unplanned situation arises, please contact the College as soon as possible and we will locate your son. Please understand that this will take several minutes for your son to be brought to Reception.

College Detentions

• Thursday afternoon detentions commenced again this week.
• The process has not changed:
  1. Students will be notified by the teacher issuing the afternoon detention
  2. Parents are to acknowledge their son’s attendance via the TASS parent portal
  3. Failure to attend without communication or suitable arrangements, may result in a Friday afternoon which is extended to 1 ½ hours.

Communicating with the College – Who should I call when….?

Communication is a crucial part of your son’s education. Often with so many facets occurring at any one time it is difficult to know who to contact in the first instance. To assist in this process, we have provided a table of “Who should I call when….” as an initial point of reference and I would also encourage you to utilise your son’s student diary (for Stage 4 – 5).

Contacting the College via email

ERC recognises that email is a fast and convenient way to communicate with your child’s teacher. We wish to remind you that teachers read their emails at various times throughout the school day. Further, teachers are generally not expected to respond to emails from parents or students outside of normal working hours. In the case of an emergency please contact the Front Office during business hours on office@erc.nsw.edu.au or phone 02 – 4228 4344. We appreciate your assistance and understanding. If you have any questions about the above, please do not hesitate to contact the College.

Mr Walsh
College Deputy Principal

A warm welcome to new and returning families for 2024. Many thanks to the vast majority of families who have ensured that the boys have returned wearing their summer uniform with pride. The way in which the boys wear their uniform speaks volumes about the pride they have in our community, the pride they have in their families and in themselves. It sets a solid foundation for the year ahead, for if we take care of the little things the bigger things often have a way of taking care of themselves. A detailed explanation of our uniform policy can be found on page 14 & 15 of the 2024 Student Diary. A number of families have already been contacted in relation to particular uniform matters that need to be addressed. I wish to thank those families for their cooperation and support.

My Strengths

As part of Transition Week Year 7 students undertook a Character Strengths assessment with the MyStrengths team, recognising and celebrating their strengths and highlighting the way in which these strengths can be used to assist them in the transition process and throughout their secondary education. This year we are pleased to continue our partnership with MyStrengths and celebrate the many varied and diverse strengths in our community.

This week students in Years 8, 9, 11 and 12 have had their strengths re-sent to them to remind them of the importance of using them to overcome challenges and reach their potential both in and outside the classroom. Year 10 students will have the opportunity to undertake the assessment later this term. I encourage parents to take this opportunity to talk to their son about their strengths and celebrate them when you see them in action.

Finally, I would like to remind all parents of the online parenting subscription to parenting courses. These can be accessed here.

Parent contact during the school day

Should parents need to pick up their son or make contact during the school day we ask that you make contact with the school beforehand so that the College can attempt to ensure that your son is ready. A note on the morning of the day he is being picked up is always best and is school policy. Should an unexpected circumstance arise during the school day, we ask you to make contact through the College Office and we will ensure that your son receives any important communication. Please do not message your son on his phone or laptop at any time during the school day as this may cause him to breach our Mobile Phone and Acceptable Use of Technology agreements.

Students have been informed that they are not to use their mobile phones to contact parents at any time. If students are sick or feel unwell they are to report to the Student Office where the College will follow normal procedures and make the necessary calls home at that point. It would be greatly appreciated if parents and carers could please remind their sons of this process and assist us in this endeavour.

Public Transport

Parents are asked to ensure that their sons have their Opal card with them at all times and remember to tap on and tap off at the commencement and conclusion of each journey. As a community we expect that the boys will behave in a manner that is aligned with the College values.

Mrs Hughes
Director of Pastoral Care & Wellbeing

Transition Week

Congratulations to all students in the Year 7 Class of 2024, who have made such a positive, confident and mature entry into the Edmund Rice College community. All students have most certainly exceeded our expectations and we hope this continues in the coming weeks. Throughout Transition Week, all Year 7 students attended a series of workshops to improve their knowledge of the College and to also give them the tools to navigate through trials and tribulations of commencing high school. The workshops that students attended, and the presenters are listed below:

• Big Fish / Little Fish – Mrs Natalie Vella
• My Strengths – My Strengths Team
• Chapel Talk – Mr Russell Bates
• Wellbeing / Psychologist – Mrs Natalie Potter / Mr Tim Rowe
• Library – Mrs Maria Ham / Ms Lourdes Ndaira
• Outdoor Education & Sport – Mr Joshua Timpano
• Hands Off Policy / Mobile Phone Policy – Mr Andrew Marsh
• Train Safety – Mr Craig Paull

Many thanks to all the staff members and external providers who facilitated these sessions.

My Strengths

Parents / Carers of Year 7 students may have noticed correspondence that came home surrounding your son’s completion of the My Strengths program. Edmund Rice College is committed to a strengths based approach whereby all students are able to identify certain attributes and aptitudes which they are strong at and to then be able to be given opportunities to utilise these strengths. I would encourage all Year 7 families to have conversations with their sons surrounding the personal strengths that were identified in working through the My Strengths program. All boys should have been given a card which identifies their strengths. As human beings there is a natural inclination to focus on what we are not good at, and this is why this program is of so much importance at the College because it emphasises personal strengths which will propel our students towards successful outcomes during their time at high school.

Lockers

By now all students in Year 7 should have been allocated a Locker. To use assigned lockers, Year 7 students are just asked to bring a simple padlock to school.

Year 7 Camp

An Information Letter regarding Year 7 Camp has just been sent to Year 7 families. The Year 7 Camp will take place in Week 6, Monday 4th – Wednesday 6th March (Camp 1) and Wednesday 6th March – Friday 8th March (Camp 2). Parents / Carers are requested to complete permission through the TASS Parent Lounge and through the Optimum Experiences portal. Links to give approval are on the Information Letter.

Communication Contact

Please note that if you have urgent information which you would like to discuss, the best time of the day to make phone contact is in the morning between 7.30am and 7.55am or after school, 2.05pm to 3.15pm. Alternatively email is an effective tool to use.

Mr Marsh
Pastoral Care Coordinator

Welcome back to school, I wish every student and their family a most enjoyable and productive year. We are off running into a big year full of opportunities, continuing to build new relationships, discover new friends and make learning a positive experience.

I congratulate the following students who nominated for the Student Representation Council and have accepted their positions for 2024.

• First Nations – Jermaine McGuinness 8C
• ERA for Change – Malachy Hurley 8F
• Community and Culture – Phillip Tran 8G
• Sustainability – Luca Thomas 8B
• Liturgy – Federico Senise 8D
• Social Justice – Orlando Hunt 8G
• Sport Stefen – Anagnostopoulos 8E
• Wellbeing – Jack Thompson 8F
• Rice House – Deegan Miles-Boardman 8D
• Keira House – Nash Ferguson 8G
• Ignatius House – Ash Anderson 8B
• Crown House – Jedd Thompson 8F
• McMahon House – Lincoln Woods 8E
• Waterford House – Cale Riegler 8F

Mission Collector / Administrator

• 8A – Eamon Hinds
• 8B – Jett Cervoni
• 8C – Eamon McCann
• 8D – Samuel Arriaza
• 8E – Lucas Mendivill Coelho
• 8F – Bede O’Donnell
• 8G – Farbod Ghafarnezhad
• 8H – Ryan Davison

I encourage you to continue watching this space for daily announcements for further registrations in other sports, academic and extracurricular activities.

Finally, all Year 8 students are reminded to continue working on your CSL hours of service. For many students you are well on your way in completing your next 10 hours of Service. For those students who are yet to make inroads with their project, you will need to begin now and make contact with Mrs Schodde who can direct you with achieving this goal.

Speaking of GOALS, in Week 3 the students will be asked to look at their My Strengths they identified last year and choose one they believe would be their first goal for 2024. Their second goal can be relevant to their personal, academic or social development. This may be to make improvements or continue developing on these.

As the dust settles and we are back into the day to day routines may we continue to be an Inclusive Community accepting, welcoming, fostering right relationships and committed to the common good.

Mr Bates
Pastoral Care Coordinator

NSW SCHOOL VACCINATION PROGRAM:

The following vaccines will be offered free to students at school:

• Monday, 11th March: Year 10 – meningococcal ACWY vaccine
• Friday, 21st June: Year 7 – diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (dTpa) and human papillomavirus (HPV)

Please read the information from the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District. This document takes you through how to provide consent online.

Mr Fields
Director of Operations

Inclusive Community – Belonging

A touchstone was an actual physical stone that was used before the advent of the cash economy, and even today, to test if precious metals that were to be traded were, in fact, what they looked like. So, if you wanted to trade gold or silver, they would rub what you were trading on a touchstone so that it showed its true value.
As a College community, we have touchstones that are not literal but based on the values that we think are important in developing into a good person, in fact, we have always promoted the ideal of becoming ‘a man for others.’

In 2024, we are focussing on what it means to be an inclusive community: Our community is accepting and welcoming, fostering right relationships & committed to the common good.

Essentially, it means that we welcome every person to be a part of this community and value each person for who they are, not just for what they can do. We know that when young people feel like they belong and are valued, they are able to learn better and develop to their potential. We call that becoming all that God intends you to be. Edmund Rice, the founder of the organisation that our school belongs to, had a famous saying that ‘The good seed will grow.’ This is our Year 7 theme and one of the things he meant by saying that was that our lives are kind of like a garden; whatever seeds you plant in a garden, that is what will grow there. We join with parents and carers who have been planting ideas about what it means to be a good human person since their children were born to continue the work of supporting our students to become all that God intends them to be. Two of the seeds of life that we hope our students will grow in this community are kindness and compassion, for yourself and for others.

Our opening school mass was a real celebration of our charism and we thank Bishop Brian for his generosity in leading us to understand how to be people of faith and compassion.

Mrs Hurley
Director of Identity

Starting in Week 3, we will be collecting money for Caritas Project Compassion whose focus this year is ‘For all future generations.’ We are encouraging all students to bring some loose change with them to donate throughout the Term. However, we understand that many people no longer use cash, so the student leaders will be collecting through the Tap Machine. Students can donate directly in their class or parents can also donate through the website here: https://www.bpoint.com.au/pay/edmundschoolfees
You can choose your son’s Name and Pastoral Care Class so that the money goes towards his class total. Thank you for your generosity as we enter the season of Lent.

Mrs Hurley
Director of Identity

During Lent Friday prayer in the Chapel will be based on the Stations of the Cross and will feature connections to our touchstones to help us all to see how we can follow the example of Jesus. You do not have to be Catholic to participate in Friday prayer; all students and staff are welcome to join us and can also submit prayer intentions in the prayer book in the chapel.

Mrs Hurley
Director of Identity

Dear parent, caregivers and students,

Please be advised that Ms Schodde – dschodde@erc.nsw.edu.au has replaced Mr Pullela as the CSL coordinator as of the start of 2024.

In future, can all correspondence relating to your CSL placement or opportunities that might arise be sent to me.

To reiterate the CSL program at the College:

Junior Program

The expectation is that 10 hours of service is to be completed during year 7, again in year 8 and of course in year 9. This will equate to 30 hours of service. A letter was sent home via TASS this week explaining how to log hours onto LERA and explaining the CSL program in more depth. I will from time to time add extra CSL opportunities on your cohort google classroom that might interest you.

Senior Program

The expectations are that our students undertake a minimum of 30 hours or 15 visits of community service over the course of Years 10 and 11. I will from time to time add extra CSL opportunities on your cohort google classroom that might interest you. Those extra opportunities will not replace your project but will be counted as extra hours.

Week 2: CSL Opportunities

• Disabled Surfers South Coast Presents: Gerroa ‘Smiles on Dials Day’ Sunday 18th February 2024. More information below.
• Please continue to collect your plastic bread tags: 20 plastic (not cardboard) will give you 1 hour of service. Please put the tags in a clip lock bag with your name and Pastoral class number and don’t forget to record your hour once I have checked your tags.
• Return and Earn: if you are collecting your bottles and juice boxes and would like to donate the funds to the EcoERC group please take them to the Vinnies collection point at Unanderra and let them know it is for Edmund Rice College as we have an account with them.
• I need 2 junior boys to sort through plastic tags during lunch or after school for 1 hour of service each. Come and see me at the Identity Office or sent me an email.

Mrs Schodde
CSL Coordinator

It has been great to see that students have returned to school very keen and eager to learn.

Narandha Learning Centre – Homework Club

The College Homework Club provides an excellent opportunity for students to establish a good daily study routine, and to revise and receive help with their learning. This is held in the College library after school. The Narandha Learning Centre is open from 7:30am -3:30pm each day. Teachers are available for support from 2:05 – 3:00pm.

Study Samurai Library

A reminder that all families have access to the Study Samurai Library. The Study Samurai Library includes the Study Skills Module website which provides advice and resources on developing essential skills for academic success. To access the Study Samurai Library website, go to www.studysamurailibrary.com and login with these details: Username: edmundrice ; Password: 13achieve

Study Skills Handbook – Guidelines for Goal Setting

NAPLAN Testing

A reminder to Parents, Carers and Students that NAPLAN Testing for Years 7 & 9 students is scheduled to take place during Weeks 7 & 8 this term. Further information in relation to the NAPLAN Testing period will be emailed to parents, carers and students next week.

Years 7-12 Assessments

There are a number of upcoming HSC Assessment Tasks for Year 12 students. Please remind your sons to ensure that they are familiar with and follow the Illness /Misadventure Procedures outlined on pp. 14-17 of the 2024 HSC Assessment Handbook shared with Year 12 parents, carers and students early in Term 4 last year.

Parents/Carers and Students are reminded to feel free to consult with the applicable Head of Department, the Year 12 Pastoral Coordinator, Mr Ben Bourke or myself if you have any questions pertaining to situations of illness or misadventure that may arise before or on the day of an assessment task.

Year 7-11 Assessment Handbooks will be emailed to Parents, Carers & Students by the end of next week. The calendar of events attached to this week’s newsletter contains an outline of when examinations are scheduled for your son(s) in 2024.

I look forward to supporting and guiding your students to optimise their learning growth throughout the year ahead.

Mrs Bell
Director of Studies

On Tuesday 6th February it was Safer Internet Day. This is an opportunity to emphasise the importance of online safety for our students. The internet holds tremendous potential for learning, connecting, and exploring. However, it also presents risks such as cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and online predators. As parents and teachers, it’s crucial to work together to equip our children with the knowledge and skills they need to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly.
The following information reflects our shared responsibility in creating a positive and secure online environment.

At Edmund Rice College this year we will be delivering:

• Clear guidelines for all students: All students, parents and/or carers are expected to sign the Acceptable Use of ICT by Students. This is found on Pages 31 to 33 of the Student Diary.
• Open discussions: During Pastoral Care lessons we will be hosting classroom discussions and using resources such as Grok Learning Academy (https://groklearning.com). Focusing on topics such as digital citizenship, critical thinking and responsible sharing online.
• Guest speakers: We will be inviting an expert in cyber safety to speak to students and parents about current trends, risks and resources available. Be prepared later in the term, for a forthcoming parent presentation at the College on internet safety. The specific date will be announced shortly.
• Family workshops: We will be advertising optional workshops for parents to learn about parental controls, monitoring tools and strategies for open communication with their children about online activities.
• Resource sharing: We will be providing a compilation of helpful resources and websites dedicated to online safety for both students and parents.

What you can do:

• Talk to your children: Create a safe space for open conversations about their online experiences. Ask them about the websites they visit, the apps they use and the people they interact with online.
• Establish clear guidelines: Set consistent rules and expectations about screen time, appropriate websites and responsible online behaviour.
• Stay informed: Educate yourself about online trends, risks and safety tools by subscribing to https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/subscribe. The eSafety site also provides free webinars for parents and carers to support their children to have safe, positive online experiences (https://www.esafety.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-12/2024-parent-carer-webinar-schedule.pdf)
• Lead by example: Practise responsible online behaviour yourself, be mindful of your privacy settings and avoid sharing personal information publicly.

Remember, creating a safe online environment is a collaborative effort. By working together, we can empower our children to become responsible digital citizens and navigate the online world with confidence and awareness.

Mr Sirianni
Director of Information Technologies & Innovation

Students in Year 7 and 8 currently use the online program ‘MathSpace’ in their Mathematics classes to support their learning. MathSpace is hosting a webinar for parents and carers to show how you and your child can use the platform to track their progressive mathematical learning, please see below to register your interest for the zoom meeting or use the following LINK

Mr Richardson
Assistant Mathematics Coordinator

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are thrilled to announce the continuation of our Peripatetic Music Program throughout 2024! This program remains instrumental in nurturing our students’ musical talents and fostering their growth, and we are excited to witness its ongoing success this year.

For those unfamiliar, peripatetic lessons entail private instrumental instruction conducted during the school day. This unique setup means that students can conveniently receive music education right here on campus, eliminating the need for separate arrangements outside of school hours. By integrating these lessons seamlessly into our schedule, we save valuable time for both students and parents, sparing them the inconvenience of traveling to and from external music lessons.

We are delighted to announce that our instructors from the esteemed Wollongong Conservatorium of Music will once again be part of this program. Their wealth of expertise and experience ensures that students receive instruction in music theory, performance techniques, and artistic expression. This collaboration enriches our music program and provides students with opportunities for musical growth and development.

In the upcoming term, we are offering lessons for guitar, piano, and introducing brass instruments for the first time. Brass lessons are set to commence in Week 2, followed by guitar and piano lessons planned to commence during Week 3.

These lessons not only teach students how to play an instrument but also cultivate creativity, discipline, and confidence.

For further information about the Peripatetic Music Program or to enrol your child in lessons, please contact Mr Greg Haybittle, who is coordinating the program for 2024. You can reach him preferably via email at ghaybittle@erc.nsw.edu.au.

We encourage all interested students to seize this wonderful opportunity to explore the world of music and nurture their musical abilities. Let’s make 2024 a harmonious and melodious year at the college.

Mr Greg Haybittle
Music Teacher
ghaybittle@erc.nsw.edu.au

We’re thrilled to unveil our latest initiative – The Edmund Rice College Podcast and we are extending an exclusive invitation to our talented students in Years 10 and 11.

This is a final call for interested individuals who are capable of supporting an interview-style podcast program.

Who Are We Seeking?

• Students in Years 10 and 11
• Exceptional conversationalists who can bring discussions to life
• Individuals with a passion for researching intriguing topics and engaging guests

Calling Tech Enthusiasts

For those with an interest in the technical side of Communications and Media, there’s an opportunity to shine as part of the production crew. It’s your chance to be behind the scenes, making the magic happen.

How to Express Your Interest

Simply fill out the Expression of Interest Google Form which is on TAS and which was emailed directly to Years 10 and 11. Or, use the following link: https://rb.gy/qh4tj5

Expressions of Interest will close by 2pm on Monday 12th February.

A committee will carefully review all applications and the successful candidates will be notified over the coming week.

Get ready to embark on an exciting new journey that the field of Podcasting has to offer!

Mr Bonaccorso

The Visual Arts Department would like to invite all students to join our Art Clubs.

• Film Club runs on Monday afternoon’s in J3 from 2.05pm until 2.55pm with Mrs Rampe.
• Visual Arts / Ceramics Club runs on Thursday afternoons in J4 from 2.05pm until 2.55pm with Mr Tognetti.

All are welcome, especially Year 7!

Ms Costello
Head of Creative Arts

The College’s sporting calendar and events for Term 1 are fast approaching. Students interested in trialling for the various College teams are to complete the registration forms that have been emailed to them and/or placed on the TASS Daily Notices. Coaches will then notify students who sign up via email regarding training and trial dates.

The ERC Swimming Carnival is being held next Thursday 15th February at Western Suburbs Pool, Unanderra. Students wishing to participate in the carnival must have their nomination forms in by Friday 9 February 5:00pm. No late entries will be accepted.

Congratulations to the U15 ERC Cricket Team who have advanced into the semi-finals of the NSWCCC 20/20 Berg Shield Competition after defeating Kildare Catholic College Wagga Wagga. In what was a wet and modified affair on Tuesday, the team easily accounted for the opposition, led by an unbeaten 50 by captain Archie O’Hara!

Students interested in competing in the 2024 NSW All Schools Triathlon, please see the following information HERE.

https://csnsw.sport/sports/nswccc-secondary/triathlon

Mr Timpano
Sports Coordinator

2024 NSWCCC Sport registrations are now open. Students wishing to trial for the various NSWCCC individual pathways, please see the information attached.

Please note that before registering for Rugby League, Open’s Football, Cross Country, Swimming, Touch Football and Athletic pathways, students will need to be selected in the Wollongong Diocesan Team first.

Key ERC sport dates, events and information are also on the attached flyer.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at the College.

Mr Timpano
Sports Coordinator

The College Open day consisting of both Try Year 7 for a Day and the College Expo will be help on Tuesday 27th February 2024.

Year 5 & 6 boys from all primary schools are invited to join us for a real experience of high school at Edmund Rice College for a day. Students will participate in a range of activities from subjects they will actually do in Year 7 such as Technology and Applied Studies, PDHPE, Science, Visual Arts, Music and Food Technology. It’s fun and it’s free.

After Try Year 7 for a Day, families are welcome to enjoy the College Expo and find out what makes ERC unique. Check out the learning spaces, performances and demonstrations on show and take a guided tour with one of our senior students.

The College Expo gives you insight into the variety of experiences available at ERC, designed to support boy-centred learning, while providing you with the opportunity to ask questions from our dedicated staff and students.

Guided tours can be booked below and operate at 3.30pm, 3.45pm, 4.00pm, 4.15pm, 4.30pm, 4.45pm and 5.00pm.

REGISTER NOW

Please access the Careers Website: which provides the latest information to help students make decisions about their future careers and life beyond school.

• Go to erccareers.com
• Then to important information
• Click on to School Careers newsletter

Mr Cajar
Careers Advisor

Change in Student/Family Circumstances/Contact Information/Medical Conditions

If any change has occurred/occurs in your family – separation, divorce, serious illness, the College should be notified as soon as possible. The College seeks to be supportive of families in such circumstances and such events always have a bearing on a child’s education. Likewise, a change of address, email or phone number (work, home or mobile) or emergency contact should be advised immediately.

If your son suffers from a medical condition it is vital that you inform the office of his condition and what treatment is required in an emergency. An emergency management plan must be developed for any students with serious conditions.

Please verify all information via the TASS Parent Lounge.

2024 TERM DATES

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EDMUND RICE COLLEGE CALENDAR 2024

GreenFest Sustainability Expo

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Collegians Junior Rugby League Player Registration

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Vikings Rugby Club Player Registration