Welcome to Term 3!

On Wednesday evening of this week I had the pleasure of attending an event celebrating a significant milestone reached by the My Strengths team. The program was launched in 2016 and has now reached 100,000 young people, across 150 schools. Zoe Robinson, the NSW Advocate for Children & Young People, spoke at the event alongside representatives from the various education sectors and each highly endorsed the value of the program for all students in NSW.

As you are aware, celebrating the unique attributes of each young person helps them to reframe negative thoughts and figure out what is right about them which is highly valuable because knowing what they can do is more important than knowing what they can’t do.

Recognising, celebrating and finding avenues for the expression of your son’s strengths here at school is a genuine privilege, hence, the reason it is important to keep the strengths on the agenda. Over the next few weeks we will be highlighting 2 strengths in each Newsletter. I encourage you to revisit your son’s strengths with him and look for opportunities to help him use these to reach his potential.

1. Confidence – People with confidence are capable and sure of themselves. They prefer to make decisions than have them made for them. Those with the confidence and strength are not afraid of failure and have courage to try new things, take risks and face challenges. They thrive on responsibility and like to prove themselves.
2. Hard Working People who are hardworking are busy and productive. This may be in the area of learning, study, work or physical activity. Those who are hardworking frequently set goals and have high levels of energy which they leverage to achieve their goals.

These two strengths were highlighted in our Semester 2 awards recipients this week and are currently being drawn up on by our Year 12 students who are preparing for their Trial HSC which will commence on Monday. We wish them all the very best.

Parents and carers are reminded that as a partner school parents have access, free of charge to the My Strengths Parenting courses, each course is approximately 5 mins long and well worth this small investment in time. Sign up to access the course free of charge here, if you have previously registered you can use this link.

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A reminder that any student representing the College at any event must be wearing full College uniform as per the College diary, be that our formal uniform or correct College Sports Uniform.

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A reminder to parents and students who drive to school and park in surrounding streets, please be mindful of bus zones, parking too close to the end of the street and resident’s driveways. Unfortunately, failure to comply will result in fines.

Mrs Hughes
Acting College Deputy Principal

Year 8 into Year 9 2025 Elective Courses

Year 8 Parents, Carers and Students received the Course Information for Years 9 & 10 2025/2026 Handbook on Monday, 29 July. Year 8 students study two electives in each of Years 9 and 10 and will be selecting the equivalent of 400 hours of electives for the next two years. Further instructions for submitting course preferences will be emailed to students with course preferences due to be submitted by Week 4, Monday, 12 August. Any questions regarding particular courses can be emailed to the relevant Head of Department or contact person listed in the Handbook at the College. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions regarding the Course selection process.

Stages 4 and 5 Academic Award Ceremonies

This week the College acknowledged the outstanding achievements of many Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 students in Semester 1, 2024. Congratulations to all our award recipients and a sincere thank you to the many parents and carers who were able to join us for the Stage 4 and/or Stage 5 Academic Awards Ceremonies held at the College on Wednesday 31 July.

Year 7 Awards               Year 8 Awards               Year 9 Award               Year 10 Awards

Trial Higher School Certificate Examinations

Year 12 students commence their Trial Higher School Certificate Examinations on Monday 5 August and as a College community, we wish them well in this important assessment period. Year 12 Students will have flexible attendance and will attend school for their examinations between 5 -19 August. The Nerandah Learning Centre and Year 12 study area will be opened during and after school hours for students wishing to complete quiet study during this assessment period. Normal Year 12 lessons will resume on Tuesday 20 August.

A reminder if your son is unwell or experiences illness or misadventure, he is required to complete an Illness/Misadventure Application Form. These forms are available on the Year 12 Google Classroom under Assessment or from the College Office. This form must be accompanied by a Doctor’s Certificate for illness covering the date of the examination missed. In the case of misadventure, a traffic/incident report from Police or other independent expert evidence must be submitted with the Illness/Misadventure Form. A separate form is required for each examination.

Please find the following link to some advice on Starting the Day Well, provided through the College’s subscription to the Study Skills Handbook for all Edmund Rice College families.

Mrs Bell
Director of Studies

“On the Rice Fields: The Year 12 Charity Soccer Match “

On the last day of Term 2, the College Podcast Team produced a captivating video covering the Year 12 Charity Soccer Match, an event dedicated to promoting and supporting Men’s Mental Health.

The Rice Bowl team captured the excitement and spirit of the match through engaging interviews with students, staff members, and Jack Brown, the current director of Talk2mebro.

Click on this LINK to watch the video.

Also, don’t forget to jump onto Spotify to catch up with the team’s current episodes.

Mr Bonaccorso

It is with great pleasure that the College would like to announce Ryan Tang in Year 9, has been selected to receive a Minister’s Award for his outstanding achievement in the study of Chinese. This is a remarkable achievement for Ryan, as this award is highly prestigious and reflects Ryan’s commitment to the study of Languages.

Ryan will be officially presented with this award from the Hon Prue Carr MP, Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning on Monday 2nd September at the University of New South Wales.

The College would like to congratulate Ryan for his dedication and commitment and in wishing him every success with his future studies.

Mrs Lothian
Head of Humanities and Languages

As you start to prepare for the 2025 school year the following information may assist you with electronic device purchases.

Should you require any information about Apple Macbooks and/or assistance in using the online portal to purchase a device, please do not hesitate to contact me (fsirianni@erc.nsw.edu.au) at the College.

Mr Sirianni
Director of Information Technologies & Innovation

As a Catholic school in the tradition of Edmund Rice, we are continually seeking ways to live out our values that are the foundation of faith. Believing in the dignity of every human person and the integrity of the earth and the bedrock of this community and our ideal of a Liberating education is to open hearts and minds, through quality teaching and learning experiences, so that through critical reflection and engagement each person is hope-filled and free to build a better world for all. In the past two weeks students and staff have had the opportunity to engage in many learning experiences outside the classroom that are vital aspects of an Edmund Rice education.

The celebration of NAIDOC week to ‘Keep the fire burning’ reminded us that in our Catholic culture, the fire of the Holy Spirit inspires us to always work for justice and equity. We re-published our RAP on the Naragunnawali website. You can find the whole RAP here:  Our priorities for 2024-2025 can be found in our brochure here:

Year 8 experienced the Youth Mission Team Reflection day about building good relationships based on their RE curriculum, and you will hear more about that in the next newsletter. Finally, the CSL program Junior Winter Sleep out was held on Wednesday to raise awareness and funds for SAHSSI. All of these ‘co-curricular’ activities help us to live out our mission to be ‘good news for the poor.’ (Luke 4:18)

Next week we join with the Diocese in celebrating the Mass for St Mary of the Cross Mackillop at the Cathedral on Thursday August 8 at 12.10pm. All are welcome.

Mrs Hurley
Director of Identity

In Week 1 of Term 3, The College celebrated NAIDOC week with the wider school community. Every lunch, students were invited to participate in yidaki sessions, yarning circles, art making as we lit a fire at the beginning of the week and kept it burning through the week to symbolize this year’s NAIDOC theme: Keep the Fire Burning – Black, Loud and Proud.

Kerrod Griffiths – a Wiradjuri and Gamilaroi man came to speak at one of the yarning sessions, sharing his story moving from Condobolin on Wiradjuri country down to Dharawal Country when he was 18 years old to gain a degree and pursue future careers at UOW.

Mr Nolan led the Yidaki circle, where both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students shared in this learning experience. It was an opportunity to make our campus sing by practicing playing one of the oldest instruments in our Country – the Yidaki (didgeridoo).

During the NAIDOC Assembly the College was privileged to have guest speaker Jake Trindorfer, a Torres Strait Islander man share his journey encouraging all students to take on every opportunity that is presented to them and to not limit themselves to predefined parameters society occasionally places on young men. Jake shared his experiences of learning to believe in himself because other people believed in him and how we can all do that for each other. The message was very clear that to be successful and happy in life, we have to be resilient and courageous to try new things.

We are exceptionally proud of all the First Nations students who stood up at assembly, sharing culture and performing yidaki, welcoming Year 10 student Will Hiscox who has been practicing with them this year, taking advantage of the opportunity for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students to learn and grow. We are especially proud of our First Nations prefect Tom Kirk who delivered a moving speech about the realities of the Stolen Generation in today’s society and its continuing impact that is not diminished but amplified. We thank him for sharing his story and are inspired to continue to work for Reconciliation so that everyone can live in dignity, peace and happiness.

Ms Neal
First Nations Education Officer

On Wednesday night 40 students from Years 7 – 9 slept out to be in solidarity with the homeless and to raise money for programs here in the Illawarra coordinated by SAHSSI (Supported Accommodation Homelessness Services Shoalhaven Illawarra). They have raised over $9200 and to put that in perspective, in 2023/24 financial year, SAHSSI was able to support women and children with just over $68,000 in practical support which means they have contributed about 14% of last year’s budget. Thank you to all family and friends who have supported this important initiative. Many boys have raised in excess of $500 personally and our top fundraiser so far is Adam Pyke in Year 8 with over $1200. The fundraising link will be open until next Friday if you would like to make a donation to the team.

Of course, this would not be possible without the support of our staff members including Mr Bates, Mr Nolan, Mrs Russell and Mr Morley who came along on the evening or cooked breakfast and Mr Griffiths, Mr Panozzo, Mr Sjostedt and Mr Thomas who slept out with us. Here are a few comments from the students who slept out:

• It was very fun and I met some new people. (Liam S)
• The sleep out was a great experience that helped us understand the hardships of homeless people. (Malachy H)
• It was a great experience that certainly helped raise awareness for homelessness. (Gwil B)

Mrs Schodde
CSL Coordinator

This term we have been blasted by the Winter winds and cold snap that has covered the Southern Alps with heavy falls of snow which will make for a strong base when our Year 9 students hit the slopes in Week 4. Our Senior Students will commence their HSC Trials next week and we wish them the best of luck and heads down over the next couple of weeks as they attend their penultimate examination period before the HSC later this year.

The Year 11 Student Leadership nomination process commenced this week and will conclude next week after nominations have been calculated and final interviews conducted. We wish every candidate every success and for considering the importance of Student Leadership. It is a great opportunity for our young men to finish their schooling knowing the responsibilities of being good role models and setting the bar high for the students who look up to our senior students.

During Term 3 we have a busy schedule with Advocacy Week in August and RUOK Week in September. Our focus for this year is “Everyone Belongs” and knowing that we recognise our Touchstone of Inclusivity it is fitting that in preparing for the events later in the term our focus is identifying everyone in our College Community feeling safe.

We are looking at several new activities this year that will engage the students led by the Student Representative Council Prefects in Community & Culture and Well-being with the support of the Pastoral Care Coordinators and College Counsellors.

Reminders of upcoming events in Week 6 are Year 7 Social Day with St Marys and Father’s Day Breakfast on Friday 30 August.

Finally, before I finished in my acting role of Director of Pastoral Care & Wellbeing I was privileged to attend the Junior Winter Sleepout on Wednesday Night with over 50 young men who raised an incredible amount of money but also spent the night living it a little rough indoors unlike what it would be normally out under the stars. However, the experience and the opportunity to reflect on what many young people their age are doing every night living on the street. A mighty effort and thank you to Mrs Hurley and all the teaching staff who joined with the boys on a night they could have watched the Olympics in the comfort of their warm homes with central heating and of course the comfort of their beds. Thank you.

Mr Bates
Acting Director of Pastoral Care & Wellbeing

This week it is my pleasure to award the following Year 11 students with certificates for achieving Commendation Level:

Mohamd Al Ahmad, Xavier Ayers, Edward Guest, Christian Sammut, Tristan Dale, Kiran Dhami, Cameron Banner, Hamish Lepp, James Nair, Jack Teteris, Marc Todoroski, Angelo Zachristos, Angus Allen, Dylan Belokoski, Henry Jones, Liam Perry, John-Paul Bridger, Michael Da Silva, Oscar Gazzola, Ali Hadi, Alexander Levy, Nicholas Toparis-Penning

This group of fine young men have shown dedication to their studies and to the College across a wide variety of KLA’s and co-curricular activities. Their actions embody what it means to be a man of ERC and I encourage them to continue to strive for greatness in everything that they do.

Mr Forshaw
Year 11 Pastoral Care Coordinator

As Year 8 students return to school for Term 3, they are encouraged to reflect on their Semester 1 successes. This term presents a fresh opportunity to set new goals and implement strategies that can lead to personal and academic growth. Students have been challenged to step out of their comfort zones and do something at school that makes them proud, whether it’s developing better study habits, participating more actively in class, or engaging in extracurricular activities. It is our hope that by the end of this term and by the time the boys receive their Semester 2 reports, that in taking these proactive steps, the boys are able to be instilled with pride in their accomplishments.

These steps commenced not only in Week 1 by the way in which the boys decided to commence their Semester 2 studies, however were also supported and facilitated by Youth Mission Team, Australia, earlier this week. Designed to complement the boy’s work in Catholic Studies, the day was divided up into three different sessions, with a central focus on building positive and respectful relationships with their peers.

• The first session challenged the boys’ own uniqueness. Sometimes when relating with others, they can feel pressured to ‘be’ like everyone else, even if that means going with the flow, despite compromising their own true values and beliefs. The boys explored the idea that their individuality is a priceless gift and rather than suppressing their individual qualities, that they should appreciate the gift of their own uniqueness and be free to be their true self with others.
• The second session challenged the boys to think about and explore the way that they are influenced and can influence their peers. With a central principle aiming to highlight that they can influence others in either a positive or negative way and more importantly how they, individually can be influenced. Through knowing Jesus and accepting Him into their own lives they are able to grow in their ability to love others and are able to understand what it means to bring value into the lives of others by treating them in a Christ-like way.
• The third and final session explored God’s action in their lives and how this increases their capacity to love those around them. Through dramatisations and small group discussion, the boys explored how God’s presence is not forced into their lives; but rather, how God waits patiently for them to open the door. Through this relationship, we reinforce the dignity and goodness of every person.

A huge thank you to the Youth Mission Team, Mrs Anderson, Mr Pullella, and the Year 8 Catholic Studies teachers for supporting the boys and giving them the opportunity to better themselves, and strengthen the relationships within the Year 8 cohort.

Mr Panozzo // Mr Crapis
Acting Year 8 Pastoral Care Coordinator // Assistant Pastoral Care Coordinator

U13s

The U13s rugby league team secured a decisive victory against Holy Spirit last Friday, 26 July, showcasing their dominance on the field. However, it did not come easy as Holy Spirit scored first within the first 10 minutes of the game. The boys were resilient despite the early concession of points and bounced back winning the game 28-14. Strong defensive efforts combined with dynamic attacking moves ensured their triumph. The win reflects their hard work and dedication throughout the year, setting a high standard for matches.

Goodluck to the boys on the trip away to Wagga Wagga for the Southern Country Championship.

Mr Marsh ( Coach )

ERC U15 Rugby League: Tom Anderton Shield v Holy Spirit College

Team: Finn Ardita, Zane Ashcroft, Matthew Austin, Riley Bennett, Ayden Celebi, Fletcher Couchman, Bear Holland, James Keranos, Jett Micevski, Hami Miller, Jeremy Packer (C), Cale Parr, Aston Schott, Tom Wiech-Dragojevic, Austin Skarpona, Magnus Kersten, Finn Henricson, (Unavailable: Nathan Washbourne, Callum Cooney, Brodee Green).

Result: ERC 34 (Tries: Couchman, Bennett, Mitrevski, Schott, Ardita, Packer, Parr : Packer 3 goals) defeated Holy Spirit 4

Playing at the Collegians Stadium at Figtree, the team was asked to play an open and expansive style of schoolboy Rugby League not seen in the modern era. The half and five eight combined on both sides of the ruck to send our forwards crashing into the Holy Spirit wide defenders. This spread their defensive line, leaving gaps galore for our ball playing forwards to offload to our speedy backs.

Whilst it was difficult for the boys to break old habits, gradually they got on board with the game plan, paying dividends with 5 tries in the first half. Running the ball on the fifth rather than kicking also caused some consternation, but the tactic was well executed with tries or good field position the result.

Holy Spirit had no answer for our relentless passing game, and when they had the ball, we had plenty of energy in our defensive line, conceding only one try from a lucky intercept. To their credit, Holy Spirit did not throw in the towel, battling on to the final whistle.

Whilst the game was won through superior team play, Captain Jeremy Packer was named Player of the Match by the opposing team.

Congratulations to the U15 team, for not only displaying an entertaining brand of Rugby League but also for the high level of sportsmanship and camaraderie shown. It has been a real pleasure to coach this team for the last 3 years.

Mr Preeo ( Coach )

Opens

The Opens Rugby League team were fired up to compete with or fierce rivals Holy Spirit last Friday, 26 July. For the Year 12 students this was their last Tom Anderton Shield match and the second last opportunity to don the ERC Rugby League jersey. Unfortunately due to a number of injuries and other commitments for the Holy Spirit team, they were unable to field a full team for a normal Rugby League match. Thanks to the Sport Coordinators from both Colleges (Joshua Timpano and Adam Lawson) as well as the coach for Holy Spirit Matthew Kent, we managed to play a modified 7v7 match with 20 minutes each half.

The Rugby League 7’s match created an open, free flowing game with plenty of tries scored at both ends. The first half was fairly even with our ERC team holding on to a slim 22-14 lead. The second half showed some fatigue in the Holy Spirit team enabling our fresh legs to run rings around the defence. Cooper Morrison, Flynn O’Mara and Ruben Mayers scored long distance tries from the edge. Letham Manago and Leo Valentinetti’s brutal tackling as well as barnstorming runs helped lead the team through the middle. Leo bagged a few tries himself putting in a true captain’s performance and earning the man of the match honours.

Well done to the few Holy Spirit players that were available on the day as they put in a really stellar effort with minimal reserves on the bench. In the end the fresh legs and gritty determination of our ERC Opens team proved too much for Holy Spirit to handle – Edmund Rice victorious 48-14. Congratulations to the team and hopefully they can take that momentum into the CCC Cup held at Holy Cross College in Ryde later this term.

TEAMLIST: Cooper Morrison, Alexei Valentinetti, Archie Wheeler, Khye Forrester, Flynn O’Mara, Chad O’Brien, Joel Stewart, Letham Manago, Clayton Smith, Jack Wilson, Leo Valentinetti, Ruben Mayers, Digby Woods, Hamish Lepp, Nicholas Toparis-Penning, Taj Tegart, Jake Cunningham, Creighton Meafou, Cooper Brown, Kai Miller, Fletcher Potter, Cooper Jones, Tex Anderson.

Mr Fowler ( Coach )

Mr Timpano
Sports Coordinator

On Thursday, 1 August, Edmund Rice College U/13s Rugby League team travelled to Wagga Wagga for the finals of the Southern Country Rugby League Competition. Played at Parramore Park, Wagga Wagga, an impressive Rugby League Complex with outstanding playing surfaces and amenities.

As part of this day, Edmund Rice College faced Central West winner, James Sheehan Catholic High School, Orange and South West winner Yanco Agricultural, Griffith.

In a highly impressive display of skilful and combative Rugby League, Edmund Rice defeated both rivals and will now progress to the Country State Final to be played at Bathurst on 28 August.

The following is a short report on each game:

• Game 1 v Yanco Agricultural: 42 – 0 win. Try scorers: Sonny Wheeler, Jackson Fraser, Hunter Pantsos 2, Lewis McLeod, Nate Ryan, Texas Pike, Jacob Austin. Mason Spedding 4 Conversions.
• Game 2 v James Sheehan Catholic College: 34 – 0 win. Try scorers: Lewis McLeod, Sonny Wheeler 3, Hunter Pantsos, Mason Spedding, Texas Pike. Mason Spedding 4 Conversions.

Thanks to Mr Otley and Mr Meafou who assisted with this trip.

Mr Marsh
Coach

In a thrilling encounter, Edmund Rice 7-10 CCC football team triumphed over St Dominic’s College in a nail-biting penalty shootout on the 30 July at Jamison Park Penrith. This intense matchup between two Brother EREA schools, with St Dominic’s also being a partner of Manchester City’s youth development program, showcased remarkable talent and determination from both teams.

The game was tightly contested from the start, with both sides displaying excellent skill and teamwork. Despite several close attempts on goal, regulation time ended in a stalemate. The match was ultimately decided by a dramatic penalty shootout. Edmund Rice’s goalkeeper, Andre Dzeparoski, emerged as the hero of the day, making three crucial saves to secure the victory. His performance under pressure was instrumental in leading Edmund Rice to a memorable win. This victory not only highlights the strength and skill of the Edmund Rice 7-10 CCC team but also marks a significant achievement against a strong opponent in St Dominic’s College. The win will undoubtedly boost the team’s confidence as they continue their unbeaten run into the Finals of the CCC Knockout.

Team list: Gabriele Senise, Andre Dzeparoski, Mohammed Raad, James Benedetti, Haider Raad, Lachlan Taylor, Luca Spaseski, Conor Mathie, AJ Duffin, Gabriel Corvalan, Joshua Hailstone, Sebastian Sekuloski, Lucas Tancevski, Leo Halios-Lewis, Jarrah Longbottom, Christian Ugonotti, Dylan Rodriguez

Mr Belsito
Coach

Year 7/8

The ERC Year 7/8 Oztag team has brought home the gold from the 2024 South Coast Oztag Championships, showcasing outstanding talent and teamwork throughout the competition.

The team started the tournament with a bang, winning their first game convincingly. Their momentum carried them through to victories in both their second and fourth games. Despite a tough match against Bulli High in their third game, which ended in a loss, the ERC team secured the second place in their pool with their overall performance.

Entering the knockout stages, the ERC team showed remarkable improvement and determination. In the quarterfinals, they played with precision and focus, advancing to the semi finals where they delivered an even stronger performance. By the time they reached the finals, the team was in top form.

In a thrilling grand final, ERC faced off against their earlier rivals, Bulli High. This time, with a strategy refined by their previous encounters, ERC emerged victorious with a score of 4-2, clinching the championship title.

Congratulations to the ERC Year 7/8 Oztag team for their hard-earned victory and for representing our school with such excellence and sportsmanship. Their success has gained them a place in the Champions of Champion NSW competition held in Sydney in late August. Well done, team!

Coach: Mrs Timmins

Year 9/10

The ERC 9/10 OzTag Team had a successful day of competition at the 2024 South Coast Oztag Championships. The boys finished the pool stage undefeated. They beat Moss Vale 7- 4, they overcame an early 0-3 deficit to finish over the top of St Joseph’s 5-4 and had a dominating win over Bulli High.

The team were successful in their quarterfinal but came up against a tough Warrawong High School and lost in the semi final.

Despite the disappointing end, the boys displayed sportsmanship and resilience throughout the day. Mr Sjostedt expressed his pride in their efforts and was notably impressed by the embodiment of College Spirit.

Coach: Mr Sjostedt

Year 11/12

After a solid campaign last year however finishing runners up, the expectations were high for the Opens Oztag team this year. Convincing wins against Keira High (7-1) and Holy Spirit (5-1) the boys were feeling very confident leading into the clash with Woonona High. Probably a little too confident as Woonona stayed within arm’s reach of stealing an upset, however the team stepped up holding on for a 6-4 victory.

The remaining group match was against our fiercest rival, Kiama High. The winner would avoid a much anticipated battle with Illawarra Sports High in the semi final. After a cagey first 10 minutes the game was locked at 0-0. The boys dug deep to come out on top 3-1 thanks to Chase Grant’s speed and some very smart plays from Sebastian Edwards and Flynn O’Mara.

The semi final was an easier affair as we trounced Figtree High 6-2. With Kiama beating Illawarra Sports in the other semi, a rematch was on the cards. The final was even more of a balanced arm wrestle than the group match. The sole try was another clever play from Flynn O’Mara to enable us to be victorious, taking the gold medal match 1-0.

Congratulations to the ERC Opens Oztag team for their well-deserved victory and for showcasing our College with such quality and sportsmanship. Their triumph has secured them a spot in the Champions of Champion NSW competition in Sydney later in the term. Fantastic effort team!

Coach: Mr Fowler

Mr Timpano
Sports Coordinator

On a sunny day at Ian McLennan Oval, the ERC footballing teams gathered for the highly anticipated Festival of Football event against Holy Spirit College, an event that has been a tradition since it started in 2003. ERC went into the FOF high with confidence after having triumphed in the previous four encounters. The excitement was palpable as the Under 13s, Under 14s, Under 15s, and Opens took to the field. Parents and spectators enjoyed a fantastic day of football, enhanced by the presence of special guest and ex-ERC student Liam Bonetig from Celtic FC. The Under 13s and Under 14s secured victories for ERC, while the Under 15s and Opens faced tough losses, with the Opens narrowly losing 4-3 in a nail-biter. This intense competition brought an end to ERC’s winning streak, but the day was a memorable celebration of skill and sportsmanship between the two College. Please see recaps of the games below:

U13s:

The Under 13’s boys were extremely keen to get on the pitch after a series of washouts in Term 1 and early Term 2.

Up against a well organised Holy Spirit side, the boys stuck to the game plan early, moving the ball around well and playing at a high tempo. Even though we had the bulk of possession, Holy Spirit were defending well and were making it very difficult for our boys to create clear-cut chances.

The boys stayed patient and continued to put Holy Spirit under pressure. Half-way through the first half we got our first goal after a amazing run and quality finish from eventual Man of the Match Callum Cajar. Not long after, a dangerous ball whipped into the box was turned in by a Holy Spirit defender and the cracks were starting to appear. Travis Potter picked up the ball in the midfield and unleashed a terrific strike from 25m out that nestled into the top corner. Callum Cajar picked up his second goal just before the half time whistle, which saw us head into the sheds 4-0 up.

The second half was much like the first, our boys maintaining a high tempo whilst keeping possession. Holy Spirit’s only option to score was to try and catch us on the counter attack, however our boys at the back, led by captain Ethan Mathie held firm.

After some crafty footwork, Jacob Saunders created a nice goal for Nixon Blake to finish with aplomb and Cooper Everingham rounded out the scoring with a well taken goal late in the game.

Overall, a clinical performance from the boys who thoroughly deserved the win 6-0.

Coach: Mr Jardine

U14s

The Under 14 Edmund Rice College team secured a fantastic victory against Holy Spirit College in the second game of the Festival of Football. Both teams started well, playing attacking football and creating numerous chances. Just before halftime, super subs Alexander Bradshaw-Wett broke the deadlock with a great goal, giving Edmund Rice College the lead. At the start of the second half, the team capitalised on their momentum, with Alexander scoring a brace with a fantastic header from a brilliant delivery from William Edwards. Despite Holy Spirit College’s efforts to mount a comeback, the solid defence pairing of Cash Sanders and Stefan Anagnostopoulos kept the clean sheet intact. This well-rounded performance ensured a great win for Edmund Rice College. Aidan Rayner’s exceptional play throughout the match earned him the Player of the Match award, highlighting his influence in both defence and attack.

Team: Eamon Hinds, Preston Apps, Stefan Anagnostopoulos, Cash Sanders, Alexander Popovski, Fabian Gaudiosi, Max Smith, William Edwards, Orlando Beer, Aidan Rayner, Julian Giorgio, Alexander Bradshaw-Wett, Mohamed Abul Latif, Ike Minns, Lewis Andrews, Ethan Dzeparovski, Darius Hamod

Coach: Mr Crapis

U15s

The Edmund Rice U15s faced a tough challenge this year in the annual Festival of Football, coming up just short against Holy Spirit. Despite dominating possession and creating numerous scoring opportunities throughout the match, the team was ultimately defeated by a narrow 1-0 margin.

An early goal by Holy Spirit in the first half proved to be the decider, as Edmund Rice battled hard but couldn’t find the back of the net. The boys played with tremendous skill and effort, showcasing their determination and willingness to represent the College. While the outcome wasn’t in their favour, their performance was commendable and they can be proud of their efforts on the field.

Team :Leo Halios-Lewis, Samuel Ugonotti, Christian Ugonotti, Xavier Godbee, Jarrah Longbottom, Samuel Jovanovski, Beshr Alchami, AJ Duffin, Lucas Tancevski, Andre Dzeparoski, Cohen Martins, Christiano Haddad, Jay Jayaswal, Isaac Papakosmas, Mitchel Lynam

Coach: Mr Belsito

Opens:

The Edmund Rice College Opens football team were looking forward to meeting their rivals from Holy Spirit College in the annual football challenge. There was extra anticipation with both teams being knocked out of the CCC competition the previous day without having had an opportunity to play each other. After a tense first twenty minutes, the deadlock was broken with ERC scoring the first goal. Great work from Ryan Plumridge released Yoan Ciugureanu down the right, with Noah Crapis finishing the cross from close range. Straight after half time Holy Spirit equalised, but ERC immediately went down the other end twice scoring quick goals – both excellent finishes from Willem Robaard after some good work by Noah Hewett and Yoan Ciugureanu. Chad Thomas in goal was impressive making a string of outstanding saves to preserve the 3-1 lead, however some sloppy defending and poor decision making led to Holy Spirit pulling a goal back. Entering the final five minutes a goal down, Holy Spirit threw everything at the ERC goal, scoring an equaliser after a soft free kick and then finally a heartbreaking winner just before full-time.

Score ERC 3 v Holy Spirit 4

Team: Chad Thomas, Ryan Plumridge, Alessandro Calmasini, Mitchell Manevski, Harry Taylor, Kiran Dhami, Jack Maunsell, Oliver Morgan, Noah Hewett, Noah Santalab, Noah Crapis, Alexander Heron, Willem Robaard, Tzar Harb, Yoan Ciugureanu, Lennox Roodenrys, Miles Thompson

Coach: Mr Tyler

Mr Timpano
Sports Coordinator

On Friday, June 21st, the Edmund Rice College Hockey team showcased exceptional skill and teamwork at the Diocesan Hockey Championships at Narellan. Under the capable leadership of captains Timothy Arthur and Henry Jones, the team played three preliminary games, securing their spot in the semi-finals with an impressive 22 goals scored and only 1 goal conceded.

In the semi-final match, Edmund Rice College faced off against John Terry High School. Demonstrating their defensive prowess and offensive flair, the team emerged victorious with a commanding 3-0 win.

The final was a display of remarkable talent and sportsmanship as the boys executed their game plan flawlessly. They outperformed their opponents, securing a convincing 4-0 victory. Throughout the day, the team not only showed great skill but also exemplified the true spirit of sportsmanship, making their school proud.

Congratulations to the Edmund Rice College Hockey team for their outstanding performance and well-deserved success!

Team List: Henry Jones, Timothy Arthur, Bailey Everatt, Febin Binoy, Harrison Clarke, Riley Edgar, Grady Farrugia, Malachy Hurley, Rafael Johns Murphy, Ike Minns, Finn Molloy, Chase Ramsey and Zeke Thompson.

Mrs Timmins
Coach

Location: Unanderra Indoor Facility
The Diocesan Senior Volleyball competition witnessed intense matches and remarkable performances on Thursday, 27 June 2024, at the Unanderra Indoor Facility. Representing their schools with pride and determination, the players displayed exceptional skill and sportsmanship throughout the day.

Team members: Ahmed Ben Saeed, Chase Grant, Matthew Marning, Jonah O’Dea, Grigoriy Pan, Max Stewart and Harry Taylor

Game 1:
The team faced a strong opponent in Mt Carmel and was defeated with a score of 36-26. Despite the loss, the players maintained their composure and continued to support each other.

Game 2:
In a closely contested match, the team narrowly defeated St Benedict’s, 37-32.

Game 3:
The team’s efforts paid off as they secured a convincing victory over Magdalene, with a final score of 41-27. Their coordination and teamwork were evident, showcasing their potential and skill.

Game 4:
In another challenging match, the team defeated Holy Spirit, 34-30.

Edmund Rice College was defeated by John Terry in the semi-final. Consequently, they finished 3rd in the playoff, demonstrating their strength and determination throughout the event.

The team members are commended for their conduct and sportsmanship during the event. Their dedication and team spirit were exemplary, reflecting the true essence of the Diocesan Senior Volleyball competition. Congratulations to all team members.

Coach: Mr Mitchell

On 29 July, at Ian McLennan Park in Kembla Grange, the Edmund Rice Bill Turner squad faced a tough challenge in the regional final against Illawarra Sports High. Despite their best efforts, the team was defeated 4-1 in a hard-fought match.

The squad showcased commendable resilience and sportsmanship throughout the game, but Illawarra Sports High proved too strong on the day. Although the result was disappointing, the team’s dedication and performance throughout the tournament have been commendable.

Congratulations to Illawarra Sports High on their victory, and a huge thank you to the Edmund Rice squad for their hard work and commitment. We look forward to seeing the team bounce back stronger in future competitions.

Squad List: Aidan Rayner, Leo Halios-Lewis, Stefen Anagnostopoulos, Samuel Ugonotti, Christian Ugonotti, Cash Sanders, Xavier Godbee, Jarrah Longbottom, Fabian Gaudiosi, Samuel Jovanovski, Beshr Alchami, AJ Duffin, Lucas Tancevski, Andre Dzeparoski, Nicola Capasso, Cohen Martins, Dylan Rodriguez

Mr Belsito
Coach

The NSW All Schools Cross Country event took place on Wednesday, 24 July at Eastern Creek, featuring some exceptional performances from our students.

• U12 Boys: Nixon Blake – Nixon Blake finished 29th out of 101 participants,.
• U13 Boys: Darcy Stepanovski – Darcy Stepanovski finished 18th out of 91 competitors.
• U15 Boys: Pat Smith and Milton Stepanovski – Pat Smith finished 22nd out of 97 runners, and Milton Stepanovski achieved an impressive 12th place, highlighting his speed and endurance.
• U16 Boys: Will Mason – Will Mason secured the 20th position out of 95 runners.
• U18 Boys: Joe Hinds and Patrick Carolan – Joe Hinds achieved 15th place out of 87 competitors, while Patrick Carolan finished 32nd, both showing impressive stamina.

Congratulations to all our runners for their hard work and achievements. Their performances have made the College proud and set a high standard for future competitions.

Mr Timpano
Sports Coordinator

On Wednesday of Week 1, the Under 13’s Boys Futsal Team consisting of Max Smith, Callum Cajar, Travis Potter, Jonny Antoniou, Ethan Mathie, Jacob Saunders, Rocco Scaglia and Ethan Dzeparoski travelled to Menai to participate in the Under 14’s Futsal Schools Championships.

The first game saw the boys run out convincing 10-0 winners against Blakehurst High School, with the goals being shared among all the players. In the second game, the boys came up against Jannali High School, in a more challenging contest, ERC secured a 4-0 win. The third game saw ERC come up against the perennial powerhouse that is Endeavour High School. Despite the constant pressure and physicality shown by the older Endeavour High team, the boys showed their class, winning a hotly contested game 3-1, with Jacob Saunders pulling off some important saves in goals. The pool rounds ended with ERC recording a comfortable 4-1 win over Belmore high School.

The quarter finals saw ERC come against Port Hacking High School, who were also previously unbeaten throughout the group stage. Once again, in a physical game, the ERC boys showed their Futsal smarts, winning 2-0. Travis Potter slamming home the decisive penalty. This took ERC through to the semi-final where they were up against Good Samaritan High School from Hoxton Park. In a very entertaining game, the boys went up 1-0 and looked to be scrambling well in defence. A heartbreaking equaliser from Good Samaritan in the last 30 seconds, saw the game go into extra time. With scores locked at the end of added time, the game went to penalties. Good Samaritan held their nerve to beat the ERC boys in the shootout.

The boys from ERC can be extremely proud of their efforts. They played a great brand of Futsal and were never daunted by the challenge of coming against opponents that were a year older. We go again next year!

Mr Jardine
Coach

From Wednesday 24th-Friday 26th August, 20 students competed in the ACT/Regional NSW Interschools Snowsports Championship at Perisher Ski Resort. Our talented group of students braved varying weather conditions and showcased incredible skill, determination and sportsmanship throughout the competition.

Wednesday was a fantastic start to the event, with clear skies and mild temperatures providing good conditions for the competitors. Thursday brought a dramatic shift as weather conditions took a turn. Perisher was hit by a combination of snow and rain, making for a challenging day on the mountain. Friday’s conditions were icy and fast, with some very competitive times being posted in the final events of the week.

The College secured the following results in the team events, allowing these students to progress to the 2024 SUBARU NSW / ACT / QLD STATE Interschools Snowsport Championship:

Division 2 Snowboard GS Team: 3rd Place – William Evans and Nate Warren
Division 2 Alpine Ski Team: 7th Place – Oscar Millar-Jenkins, Nate Warren and Caden Lester

The following students also qualified for State individually based on times in their respective events:

Koen Minett – Division 2 Alpine
Nate Warren – Division 2 Ski Cross

Congratulations to all our competitors and thank you to all the parents that volunteered to officiate the events. Good luck to those students competing in the State Titles in August.

Mr Clarke

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

Dear Parents and Carers,

Great Ready for an unforgettable evening of frosty fun and chilly challenges at the ERC P&F first ever Trivia Night – ‘Things That Make You Go Brrrr’

Join us for an exciting night of brain – teasing games and cool cash and prizes with a whole lot of laughter.
‘Team Up or Go Solo’ – Form a team with your friends or contact the P & F and we can allocate you to a team.

📅   Date: Saturday 24th August 2024
🕕   Time: Doors open 6pm
📍     Location: ERC Centre
💲     $20 Per Person or $200 a table of 10
🎟️   On Sale Thursday 6th June 9am – https://events.humanitix.com/erc-trivia-night-2024
🔞   Strictly Adults Only Event

What’s in store:

❄️  Fun Trivia & Games
❄️  Cash & Prizes
❄️  Dress Code and Table Theme – Embrace the theme in your best winter attire or anything that makes you go “Brrr”!
❄️  Let’s not forget Dancing

Tickets are limited so don’t miss out on a night of icy excitement and frosty fun!
We can’t wait to see you there and find out who will be crowned the ultimate trivia champion.

Stay Cool
ERC P & F Committee

PROCEDURES FOR PARENTS / CARERS

Parent Appointments

As a College we respectfully request that any parent wishing to discuss a matter of concern with a member of staff contacts the relevant staff member via email or via telephone through the College Office and requests an appointment. Staff members will get back to you at their earliest convenience. Parents presenting at the College Office may be asked to make an appointment and return at a mutually convenient time. For specific information about who to contact please refer to your son’s diary on pages 20 and 21.

Collecting your son from school

A reminder to all families that should a circumstance arise where you need to collect your son from school before the end of the school day we require you to come to the College Office. Students will not be permitted to walk to the carpark or the street to be collected. If they leave to attend a pre-arranged appointment we request that this is communicated to the College Office in writing via note or email. If you wish to have someone collect your son that is not currently listed on TASS then you will be required to communicate this clearly in writing, you will also receive a call to verify that you did in fact authorise this arrangement. All students arriving late or departing early are required to sign in and out through the Student Office.

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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