Dear Parents and Guardians,

Being part of a strong, connected community means showing up – for ourselves, for each other, and for our shared learning journey. In this way, I want to extend my sincere thanks to the parents and carers of Year 7 and Year 10 for the outstanding attendance at last week’s Information Nights. Your participation sets a strong foundation for the year ahead and models the importance of school engagement for our young people.

Every moment of student participation matters, whether in the classroom, at school camps, celebrating our Year 12 graduates, or cheering each other on at sporting carnivals. Our College thrives when students are present – not just for their academic growth but also for the friendships, experiences, and faith-filled learning that make our community so special.

Research highlights that consistent attendance is one of the most significant factors in student growth and success. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, students who frequently miss school are more likely to face learning gaps, struggle academically, and risk disengagement. Missing just two days per month can lead to lower achievement and reduced connection to school life.

Beyond academics, daily attendance fosters a strong sense of belonging. We want our students to be there for their classmates, teammates, and house groups – to support one another on the sporting field, at school Mass, and during camps and senior retreats. These shared experiences shape lifelong friendships and memories.

We understand that absences due to illness or unforeseen circumstances are sometimes unavoidable. For senior students, our Illness/Misadventure policy provides guidance on valid absences and requires documentation within five days of a missed assessment. However, we encourage families where possible to plan holidays during official school breaks to maintain student continuity in learning. Regular attendance is particularly crucial during assessments, as these contribute significantly to student progress and achievement.

Thank you for your continued partnership in making every school day count. Together, we can ensure that every student has the best opportunity to flourish, achieve, and belong and set them up for a successful future.

***

On behalf of the College community, I sincerely thank our First Nations Education Officer, Ms Nadia Neal, for her commitment to sharing her cultural expertise in support of ERC students, parents and staff over these past four years. In farewelling Nadia earlier this morning, we also congratulate her on her newly extended employment with the University of Wollongong.

Dr Stephen Gough

Dear Parents and Carers

This is a reminder that Tuesday February 25 is Try Year 7 for a Day and is a Pupil Free Day for all students except those that have volunteered to help. All helpers must have permission via TASS to attend. If your son has volunteered to assist please ensure you have given him permission. Students on this day, as they are every day, are expected to be wearing their school uniform perfectly, please ensure that if your son has volunteered to assist that he is clean shaven and that his haircut is aligned to our expectations.

We thank them for their extraordinary generosity and for the pride they have in the College, they are indeed fine ambassadors for our College and are our greatest advertisement. We are very grateful for their help and support on this day.

Transport reminders

A reminder to all families that all students travelling to and from school are expected to behave in a manner that reflects the values of our College. This includes treating one another with respect and kindness at all times, ensuring that the bus is left in the condition it was in at the time of boarding. Furthermore, students are reminded of the importance of behaving in a manner that allows the driver to concentrate on driving, ensuring that all students remain safe during their travel to and from school. Finally, I take this opportunity to remind families that the College has introduced new procedures for students waiting to board buses. The primary reason for this is safety. Students are reminded that they must not run to board buses and must not be on their mobile phones whilst crossing the College driveway.

Mrs Hughes
Acting Deputy Principal

In his Papal Bull to declare the Year of Hope, Pope Francis writes:

“By his perennial presence in the life of the pilgrim Church, the Holy Spirit illumines all believers with the light of hope. He keeps that light burning, like an ever-burning lamp, to sustain and invigorate our lives. Christian hope does not deceive or disappoint because it is grounded in the certainty that nothing and no one may ever separate us from God’s love.”

Each of us is invited to be a pilgrim of hope, not someone who has arrived but someone who is on the way. We will have struggles and things may not always go according to plan, but we maintain hope in the risen Christ and that we can be people who follow his example to make the world a better place.

We will celebrate our opening school year mass with Bishop Brian on Friday, February 28 at 8.30am. We do have some seating available for parents and if you are planning to attend, please let us know by filling in this google form. As always, parents are welcome to join in this important aspect of our lives as a Catholic school community.

Mrs Hurley
Director of Identity

This week we farewell Nadia as she commences a new role at UOW.

When Nadia came to us, it’s fair to say she wasn’t entirely convinced that she belonged in this Catholic school community. We have had many conversations about how First Nations community perceive institutions and understand where they belong.

To her credit, the reputation of the school as a safe space for First Nations young men and families to thrive, has grown, as evidenced by our 25 current enrolments, just over 3%, reflecting the Australian population. Of course, our goal is that more and more young men and families will choose Edmund Rice and Nadia has worked to build up our school community as a place of Liberating Education.

I could make a long list of things she has done but I want to highlight three:

• First is our Anti Racism policy. Not many schools have an explicit anti-racism policy because it is a really hard thing to do and nobody thinks that they have a problem that warrants a policy. However, due to diligent research and advocacy, writing and re-writing, our students and staff are benefitting from very clear guidelines about what is appropriate and how we should respect each other, especially giving due respect to a person’s background and culture, helping us to more fully be a truly inclusive community.
• Secondly is her work directly with the First nations students from their Personalised Learning plans where they set big goals for their lives and are supported to keep their eye on the ball, to challenging them to improve when they make mistakes to mentoring and guiding them along with the community mentors in culture. When we talk about a Gospel Spirituality, it is the recognition that each person should have the opportunity to develop their own spirituality and see it reflected here. We have come a long way.
• And that brings me to the third thing. We are so grateful that Nadia has undertaken the role of guiding our Reconciliation Action Plan process. So many improvements have been made to our teaching and learning programs, our engagement with community, our own professional development and, of course to our place. By including others in the process, you have been a true leader in helping us to grow in cultural competence. We are all further along the road of Justice and Solidarity because of your work in our community and we are so very grateful.

Mrs Hurley
Director of Identity

We are thrilled to announce that we have partnered with Timor Unearthed to offer students in Year 11 the opportunity to undertake an immersion in Timor Leste (East Timor) later this year.

In a year when we are focusing on being pilgrims of hope, this is a unique opportunity to walk with our brothers and sisters in another country to learn more about justice and solidarity. While there we will be working in partnership with other Catholic schools. In fact, the Christian Brothers and the Sisters of St Joseph have well-established schools there. Students have been given the information and a parent information evening is organised for Wednesday February 26 at 6pm in the ERC foyer.

All Year 11 parents who want to find out more about the opportunity are welcome to attend. You can sign up to attend the information session HERE https://forms.gle/g8tJhJMCdcBSnJM86

Mrs Hurley
Director of Identity

The Ethics Olympiad encourages critical thinking, civil discourse, teamwork and a competition of ideas about ethical problems. This week, students in Year 10 were invited to the International Final of the Ethics Olympiad, competing against teams from India, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Iran and Australia, having won last year in our Region. It was a logistical feat to get schools from this side of the world on the same schedule with students in India having to get up for a 6.30am start and the New Zealand school finished after 6.30pm. The final was conducted over Zoom using breakout rooms for the rounds with the teams and an international Judge. With 52 schools in the final, there were many brackets and we opposed three different schools in New Zealand. Each round was scored and then the teams with the highest scores at the end of the day were declared the winners. The students competed admirably, building ethical arguments and teasing out ideas about issues such as AI in schools, whether it is a duty to give charity and the ethics of fast fashion. The students placed 11th overall and were given honourable mention by the judges for their teamwork and ethical arguments. Congratulations to Jonathan Bendeich, Lachlan Choice, Isaac Mitrevski, Daniel Morozov and Sam Stevin. They showed great leadership, intelligence and capacity to grow throughout the time that we have been competing. We are looking forward to the Senior Olympiad in May.

Mrs Hurley
Director of Identity

Kicking off the year with weekly didgeridoo lessons. All students are invited to come along and learn beginners techniques with breathing, sounds and rhythm. Guided by the Colleges First Nations Prefects in each year level, the students are fostering a community of inclusivity and liberating education. Continuing the cultural practices of the longest surviving culture on this planet our Didgeridoo classes will run every Tuesday at Lunch 2.

Ms Neal
First Nations Education Officer

There are two more opportunities to volunteer in the community and earn extra CSL hours, these are:

The Lifeline South Coast Big Book Fair is back this March, and we’d love to invite Edmund Rice College students and families to be part of this incredible event! This is a fantastic opportunity for students and families to volunteer and make a real difference in the community. Event Details attached.

Disabled Surfers Association has another ‘Smiles on dials’ surf day at Port Kembla Beach. Please read the attached information.

Mrs Schodde
CSL Coordinator

Congratulations on the excellent start to the school year regarding Teaching & Learning.

The Library (Homework Club) has been incredibly busy with many students using their time in the afternoon to check in with teachers or work on assigned classwork. There has been large numbers of ERC staff already demonstrating their commitment to supporting students with their learning. Students, if you encounter some challenges in any of your subjects it is important that you seek support in the form of clarification of content or have elements of your completed work checked (in addition to the checks completed by your teachers) to ensure you’re heading in the right direction.

At the recent Year 10 Information evening I unpacked the importance of sustained application in each academic year. The 3 categories on College reports – cooperation in class, completion of classwork and completion of homework revision are the best indicators of you demonstrating the application needed for your success.

Year 10 were challenged to focus on consistently valuing their learning and the learning of others, take pride in the completion of coursework to the best of their ability and to deliberately reconnect (homework/revision) with their work in their home setting.
This message is important to students in every year group and there is never a better time to start than now!

Where you would like support with this, I encourage students to speak with their classroom teachers regarding their application in classrooms and for study habits/routines, speak with their Homeroom teacher or Pastoral leaders for additional suggestions on effective practices. I too would like to extend my support to students and families in this area where it is needed.

Finally, NAPLAN for our Year 7 & 9 students and families is fast approaching. We will communicate with you about the schedule and the requirements for that testing period.

Mr Hughes
Director of Learning & Teaching

Years 7 and 9 NAPLAN Testing

Parents and carers are reminded that Years 7 & 9 Students are scheduled to sit NAPLAN Tests in Weeks 7 & 8 between Wednesday 12 March and Tuesday 18 March. A separate letter outlining the online testing requirements will be sent home to parents.

HSC Minimum Standards Tests

The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) requires that students meet a minimum standard to be eligible to be awarded of a Higher School Certificate. HSC Minimum Standards Testing is scheduled for all Year 10 students as follows:

• Monday 24 March – Reading Test
• Tuesday 25 March – Numeracy Test
• Monday 31 March – Writing Test

Year 7-12 Assessment Calendars

Term 1 Assessment dates for students can now be viewed on the respective Year Group Assessment Calendars. It is intended that this will be a guide to assist parents and carers to support your sons in planning their home study time. This will also enable students to be well prepared for their upcoming assessment tasks.

Study Samurai Library

A reminder that our school is a subscriber to the study skills website including the Study Samurai video library.

This is a website that can help students develop essential skills for academic success. There are units of work on improving time management skills, how to study, research skills, summarising, technology use, brain and memory as well as many wellbeing topics in the Study Samurai Library. Everything students need to know about becoming a more powerful learner and improve their marks at school can be found on this site.

To access the handbook, go to www.studyskillshandbook.com.au and login with these details:

• username: edmundrice
• password: 13achieve

This can assist students to set themselves up for academic success in the year ahead.

Please follow the link to some valuable insights into the Role of Routine in Mental Health.

Mrs Bell
Director of Studies

During our History class on Friday 14th February, we learnt about daily life in the Ottoman Empire, which stretched from North Africa to the Middle East and Eastern Europe. We engaged in activities about the daily lives of the people living under the Ottoman Empire and the Sultan who ruled over them. The content that was covered involved learning about the style, architecture, and the aroma of the coffee houses in Istanbul. In class, we took part in a role-play that consisted of being the men who would visit the coffee houses, drink Turkish coffee and talk about current affairs and sports. We even got to try some Turkish Delight, thanks to Mrs Kennedy. We wrote a diary entry from the perspective of a young man from Istanbul who was spending time at either The Grand Bazaar or a coffee house. It was a fun History lesson.

By Lewis Green
8D

Episode 10 – 2024 HSC High Achievers: Secrets to Success

The Rice Bowl Podcast returns in 2025 with an exciting milestone as Episode 10 features an inspiring discussion with the College’s 2024 HSC High Achievers.

Hosts Sebastian, George, and Tim sit down with some of the school’s brightest minds, including Matthew Carolan, who not only earned an extraordinary ATAR of 99.05 and the title of Dux of the College but also received the prestigious John Joseph Pollock Science Award Scholarship while securing first place in Chemistry, Physics, and Biology. Joining him in this insightful conversation is Julian Eckermann, who achieved an impressive ATAR of 92.50, alongside Michael Da Silva, a current Year 12 student who has already completed the Advanced Studies of Religion course, allowing him to share a unique perspective on balancing Year 12 commitments while undertaking accelerated studies.

In this episode, the guests delve into the challenges and triumphs of their HSC journey, offering invaluable study strategies, time-management techniques, and reflections on what it takes to excel under the pressures of Year 12. They discuss the habits and routines that contributed to their success, shedding light on how they managed stress, maintained motivation, and stayed disciplined in their studies.

Whether you’re a current student looking for inspiration or a teacher eager to hear about the fruits of the College’s rigorous academic culture, this episode is a must-listen, packed with wisdom and firsthand accounts of what it means to strive for academic excellence at Edmund Rice College.

You can listen to this episode on Spotify by clicking this LINK:

Mr Bonaccorso

Following the successful launch of our 2025 Peripatetic Music Program, we’re pleased to report that instrumental lessons have now commenced for both Guitar and Brass students on Wednesday, Thursday & Fridays. We’re also happy to announce that Piano and Drum lessons will be starting in the near future, so stay tuned for further updates.

As a reminder, our Peripatetic Program offers private instrumental instruction during the school day, making music education convenient and accessible for all interested students.

For further information about the Peripatetic Music Program please complete the following FORM:

Mr Haybittle

Think your band has what it takes to rock the stage? Get ready for the College Battle of the Bands, happening on Founder’s Day – March 28th!

This is your chance to showcase your talent, compete for glory, and bring the crowd to life. Keep an eye on the daily announcements for the registration form and details on how to enter. Don’t miss out—gather your bandmates, tune your instruments, and get ready to battle! You can access the form via this link

Mr Bonaccorso

HAPPY FAMILIES

The first webinar in the 2025 ‘Answers with Dr Justin’ series is now less than 4 weeks away!

Answers with Dr Justin Coulson live webinar

• Wednesday 12 March 2025
• 7 PM AEST | 8 PM AEDT

Emotional Regulation: A heart-centered approach to supporting your child.

This week’s newsletter highlights several key events and initiatives:

• Student Wellbeing: As part of our ongoing Pastoral & Wellbeing program, Year 9 students recently heard from Senior Constable Summers, who spoke about harassment and bullying. Next Monday Year 9 and the Pastoral Team will enjoy their Social Day and early evening Disco with St Mary’s.
• Parent Information Evenings: Thank you to the Year 7 and 10 Pastoral Coordinators and their teams for hosting informative parent and carer evenings. The sessions covered important topics such as school policies and procedures, subject selection, and pathways for the coming years. We appreciate the strong attendance and engagement from our families.
• Year 7 Camp at Cataract: I visited the Year 7 Camp at Cataract on Wednesday and was pleased to see everyone enjoying the experience. A huge thank you to Mr Bourke and Mrs Field for their outstanding work in preparing and coordinating the camp. We also extend our gratitude to all the staff who gave their time to attend. We understand the challenges these camps can present, particularly for staff with young families, and appreciate their dedication. While these camps may cause some disruption to the regular school week, we believe the benefits are significant. They provide invaluable opportunities for students and staff to build relationships, engage in challenging outdoor activities, develop resilience and teamwork, and step away from distractions like social media.
• Positive Start to the Year: It’s been a smooth start to the school year, and we’re delighted to see so many students already demonstrating our school values. Teachers have been awarding a large number of merits across a wide range of areas, recognizing student effort, improvement, encouragement, leadership, teamwork, respect, honesty, and justice. We believe a strong community relies on everyone working together, taking pride in themselves, their uniform, their work, and their learning environment. We encourage all students, staff, and community members to continue this partnership. We are committed to addressing any areas that need improvement to ensure we are all working together effectively.

Mr Bates
Acting Director of Pastoral Care & Wellbeing

This week, our Year 9 students had the valuable opportunity to engage with Senior Constable Jai, the Police Youth Engagement Officer. During his presentation, he addressed important topics such as harassment, bullying, and assault—issues particularly relevant to this stage of adolescence. The session provided an honest and impactful look at the potential consequences of these behaviors, leaving students with a deeper understanding of their responsibilities and the impact of their choices. It was undoubtedly an eye-opening and educational experience that empowered our young men to make positive decisions.

Looking ahead, we are excited for the Year 9 Social Day on February 24th, celebrated in collaboration with St Mary’s College. This day offers students a chance to build friendships and create lasting memories through a variety of activities. A reminder, this is a regular school day for Year 9 students . We kindly ask students to bring a gold coin donation for the day’s events and an additional gold coin donation for the evening disco, which will take place from 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm at St Mary’s College.

Finally, Mr. Crapis and I would like to commend our Year 9 students for the fantastic start they have made to the 2025 school year. Their maturity, effort, and growth have been truly commendable, and we are excited to see this positive momentum continue throughout the term and beyond.

Kind Regards,
Mr Panozzo // Mr Crapis
Acting Year 9 Pastoral Care Coordinator // Assistant Pastoral Care Coordinator

Last Friday, the ERC Swimming Carnival made a splash at Western Suburbs Pool, Unanderra, with 132 enthusiastic participants diving into the competition. This year’s carnival marked a milestone with the introduction of 100m events for breaststroke, butterfly, and backstroke, giving swimmers an opportunity to test their endurance and skill in these challenging strokes.

The most impressive turnout came from Year 7, where we welcomed a wave of talented newcomers who showcased incredible potential in the pool. Their performances hint at a promising future for ERC swimming!

The age champions will be officially announced at an upcoming school assembly, where we will celebrate their outstanding achievements.

Congratulations to the following students who have been selected to represent ERC at the Diocesan Swimming Carnival: Callum Ardita, Jayden Beaumont, Cameron Browne, Taj Caldwell, Nash Hawkins, Oliver Johnson, Max Miller, Darcy Norris, Tom Pogson, Drew Potter, Jye Prem, Sebastian Rodwell, Harley Schulze, Jake Schulze, Darcy Stepanovski, Milton Stepanovski, Beau Thompson, Tane Tupuhi

A huge thank you goes out to the ERC staff and our Year 10 and 11 timekeepers, whose efforts ensured the smooth running of the event. We also extend our gratitude to the parents and caregivers who attended and supported our swimmers on the day.

Congratulations to all participants for their hard work and sportsmanship. We look forward to another fantastic year of swimming success

Mr Timpano
Sports Coordinator

On February 12th, some of our Year 9 students teed off their sporting year with a fantastic display of enthusiasm and sportsmanship in their first sport activity: Golf! The group represented the College admirably, embracing the challenges of the driving range and putt-putt course. The afternoon was a great start to the year for these students, and we’re excited to see their skills develop throughout the season. See the attached photos for a glimpse of the successful afternoon.

Mr Haybittle

2025 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. Trials for ERC College teams will commence early in Term 1, students will be notified via email with further information.

Nominations for the upcoming swimming carnival will be sent out at the start of Week 1 – students must complete their nomination before Friday 9th February. Note – the swimming carnival is a competitors only carnival.

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

Mr Timpano
Sports Coordinator

The return to school is an exciting time for families and a chance to refresh and refine your parenting approach both online and offline. This year, we’ve partnered with Safe on Social to design practical and easy-to-implement tips that support your family’s digital safety. As part of this partnership, our whole school now has access to the Safe on Social Live Parent Library, a comprehensive toolkit filled with resources like cheat sheets and real-world videos. Learn more and access your 12-month subscription for free using the code KPERCPARENT100 here: Safe on Social Live Parent Library.

Here are a few tips top kick off the new year:

1. Always Ask Your Child’s Consent Before Taking or Sharing Their Photo
   Teach your child that they have control over their physical and digital presence. Before taking or sharing their photo, ask: “Can I take your picture? Do you like it? Can I share it on my Facebook etc?” This not only models respect for their boundaries but also teaches them to ask others before sharing photos or tagging people online.
2. Double-Check Privacy Settings Before Posting Online
   Before sharing back-to-school photos, review your social media privacy settings. Make sure only trusted friends and family can view your posts, and avoid sharing publicly. Avoid hashtags like #FirstDayOfSchool, which can attract unwanted attention. Please remind your parents of this if the grandparents are attending the school or sharing photos.
3. Avoid Posting School Uniform Photos
   School uniforms can reveal your child’s location. Instead, crop out identifying logos and backgrounds or opt for close-up shots to protect their privacy.
4. Other Kids in the Background
   Respect the privacy of other children. If your photo includes classmates, ask their parents for permission (even if they are good friends) before sharing or use editing tools to blur or crop them out. Avoid taking group photos at events like assemblies, as some children may be on no-publish lists.
5. Ask Before Sharing Photos of Teachers
   Teachers deserve privacy too. Always ask for their explicit permission before sharing a photo of them, and please respect their decision if they prefer not to be included.
6. Model Healthy After-School Habits
   Be present during pick-up and after-school time. Ask open-ended questions like, “What was the best part of your day?” or “What did you learn?” Make car rides device-free to create space for meaningful conversations.
7. Set a Back-to-School Tech Audit
   Review all devices your child uses at home. Update passwords, enable parental controls, and turn off location-sharing unless absolutely necessary.
8. Start a Family Tech-Free Zone Policy
   Create screen-free zones during key family moments like meals, car rides, and bedtime. Use this time to connect with your children without distractions no scrolling while they’re talking about their day!
9. Prioritise Sleep Over Screens
   Late-night scrolling, gaming, or group chat messages can disrupt sleep. Establish a “device curfew” at least an hour before bed and consider setting rules like no devices in bedrooms or bathrooms.
10. Talk About Social Media Comparison
    Discuss how social media often shows highlight reels, not reality. Say things like, “Isn’t it fun to see everyone’s first day? Just remember, these are the moments people choose to share there’s so much we don’t see.” This helps kids develop a healthy perspective and avoid comparisons.
11. Respect Teacher and Staff Boundaries
    Avoid contacting teachers outside of school hours unless it’s urgent. Use official school communication channels to respect their personal time.
12. Share Achievements Thoughtfully
    While celebrating your child’s accomplishments is exciting, be mindful of how it might affect others. Sometimes private celebrations are the most meaningful.
13. Teach Online Stranger Danger
    Remind your child never to share personal information with strangers on apps, games, or social platforms. Warn them about joining large, location-based groups like Gold Coast-wide accounts on Snapchat or TikTok, as these can be toxic and unsafe. Ensure they understand how to disable features like SnapMap to keep their location private. Detailed instructions are available in the Safe on Social Parent Resource.
14. Schedule Check-Ins
    Make time to talk with your kids about their experiences online and offline. Create a safe, judgment-free space where they can share anything that makes them feel uncomfortable or confused. Reassure them they can always come to you for help without fear of punishment.
15. Encourage Offline Friendships
    With so much time spent online, encourage face-to-face catch ups, family outings, and community activities. Teach your kids the value of real-world relationships and even how to make a phone call instead of relying solely on texts.
    By taking these small but impactful steps, you’ll help your child start the school year safely, confidently, and with a strong foundation for success both online and offline.
    We encourage students and parents to discuss pages 21 to 23 of the Student Diary regarding the Acceptable Use of ICT at the College. Parents are then asked to sign their student’s diary (Years 7-10) to acknowledge this discussion on Page 23.

Mr Sirianni
Director of Information Technologies and Innovation

The Parent Orbit app is now ready for you to download and use!

To download the app:

1. Go to: https://parentorbit.page.link/erc You’ll be directed to the Apple or Google store. (NOTING: This will only work on phones only.)
2. Click the Install button. After the app is installed, our school will be loaded as an account.
3. Click on the school name then tap the login button.
4. Enter your Parent Lounge credentials onto the login screen that appears.
5. If you are asked to enter a school code, please enter erc.
6. You are now ready to check out our new app.

How do I get assistance with any issues I have using the app?

If you have any issues with installing, logging into, or using Parent Orbit, please contact us here: helpdesk@erc.nsw.edu.au

Feature of the Parent Orbit App

Below is a list of features that you will find when browsing the app.

Homepage

The homepage will contain key information to keep you up to date on your student’s school day.

Push Notifications / Notification History

Schools will be able to send targeted notifications via the app, so that parents are only alerted to information that’s relevant to their child e.g., Extra-Curricular practice. You’ll also be able to acknowledge notifications and view and search notification history.

Attendance & Absences

Parents will be able to acknowledge and submit absences, as well as view the attendance history for their child on the go, making it easier for schools to ensure they have accurate and up-to-date information on student whereabouts.

Student Details

Parents will be able to view their student’s information including General information, MCEECDYA information, View and Update Medical Details, Illness Log records, Extra-Curricular History, Email Class Teachers, View and download Academic Reports, and any other additional customised data the school has made available.

Calendars

Parents will get access to their child’s electronic diary, as a day or month view, to keep up to date with their children’s activities. This includes a multi-student view for parents and the ability to include/exclude different calendar feeds.

Accounts

Parents will have the ability to access and make payments for School Fees and Events & Payments via links to Parent Lounge.

Parent Profile

Parents will be able to view their personal details, address information and login history, as well as submit updates to the address blocks. This will allow you to make sure that the school always has the most up to date and accurate information for contacting you, as well as provide you the ability to review what your account has been accessed.

Mr Sirianni
Director of Information Technologies & Innovation

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

• Year 7 Immunisations are on Wednesday, 26th February.
• Year 10 Immunisations are on Wednesday, 30th July

Online consent is required if you would like your son to have his Immunisations at school.

Emails detailing the vaccinations and how to provide online consent have been sent frequently over the last couple of weeks.

Mr Fields

Parents and Friends Annual General Meeting

Dear Parents and Carers

You are warmly invited to attend our upcoming Annual General Meeting for the Edmund Rice College Parents & Friends Association.

• Date: Tuesday, 11 March 2025
• Time: 6pm
• Location: Edmund Rice Centre

All positions will be open for nominations, and we’d love to see some new faces and hear fresh ideas! The P&F plays an important role in supporting our school and local community, all while having fun and building friendships. Whether you are interested in taking on a role or just wanting to learn more, we would love for you to join us.

We hope to see you there!

******

HELPERS NEEDED!!!

Year 7 Welcome BBQ and Mother’s Day High Tea

Many hands make light work, if you are able to assist at either or both the Year 7 Welcome BBQ – Saturday 15 March and/or Mothers Day High Tea – Thursday 8 May, could you please make contact with the below P&F Members via the following email address pandf@erc.nsw.edu.au

• Year 7 Welcome BBQ – Katrina Sinclair
• Mother’s Day High Tea – Rebecca Armstrong

Kind regards
P & F Committee

EDMUND RICE COLLEGE CALENDAR 2025

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TERM DATES 2025

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2025 Student Residential Address and Other Information

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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 6, 7, 30 and 31.

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.