This week is the dedicated week of national action against bullying. The theme for this year is Everyone Belongs, particularly apt for our community in a year where we are focussed on the touchstone of inclusive community. This will be formally marked at the College during Week 6 Pastoral Lessons.

As a College we do many things to prevent bullying from taking place within our community.
● Relationships at Edmund Rice are built on respect.
● Diversity is recognised and celebrated
● Student voice is encouraged particularly in standing up against an action that is unkind
● Opportunities for genuine connection are fostered through a wide reaching Pastoral program that includes Peer Support, Peer tutoring and our Outdoor Education Program.
● Participation in a diverse range of extracurricular activities to foster connections across year groups with students who share common interests.

On occasions when the young men in our community behave in a way that does not reflect the best versions of themselves we will need to pause and provide opportunity for reflection on the impact of their words and actions on others, encouraging a commitment to our College values and those expressed in the Gospels.

As a College we do not tolerate any form of bullying, pages 24- 28 of the student diary provide some helpful information for families in relation to how to respond and report bullying, whether you are the victim or the upstander against bullying. From time to time the boys will inform a trusted family member before they tell us. In these circumstances we encourage parents and carers to contact us and allow us the opportunity to address the matter as soon as possible. There is no doubt that we share a common goal of ensuring a safe and supportive learning environment for each boy. This is best achieved when we work in partnership with families. Please don’t hesitate to contact your son’s Pastoral Care Coordinator if you have any concerns.

Strengths Spotlight

This week we are spotlighting the Strengths of Positivity and Determination.

Positivity – Those who possess the positivity strength are optimistic, enthusiastic and energetic. They often use this strength to praise and encourage others, motivating them when they are discouraged.

Determination – Those who possess this strength display persistence and grit. They refuse to give up and always find a way to overcome obstacles. This strength plays a pivotal role in success, people with this strength recognise that although it might be hard it can still be done.

Within our school community we have witnessed these two strengths in the action on the sporting field, in our TAS workshops as major works were completed, on the Ski fields and in the classroom. Talking about strengths as a family and encouraging the identification of strengths in action aids in the development and recognition of strengths both in themselves, in their peers and in their families.

Mrs Hughes
Director of Pastoral Care & Wellbeing

Year 7 Social Day

On Thursday 22 August, all of Year 7 will be taking part in Year 7 Social Day. On this day we will welcome Year 7 students from St Mary’s Star of the Sea for a series of structured activities in sport, trivia and dance. I am certain that all boys in Year 7 are looking forward to this day, making new friends and connections whilst also re-establishing old friendships from Primary School.

All students are reminded to wear their full College Sports Uniform with their College Hat.

The day will conclude with a disco which will also be held on 22nd August in the Sister Gabriel Nicholls (SGN) Hall at St Mary Star of the Sea College from 5:00-7:30pm (attendance is optional). There is no formal entry fee, however a donation bucket will be present at the entrance to raise money for our year group’s chosen charity, Illawarra Cancer Carers. Students can purchase drinks, chips and lollies on the night for $2 – $5. Both cash and card are accepted.

To confirm attendance for the disco component of the Social Day, Parents / Carers are asked to give approval through TASS Parent Lounge.

Liam Bonetig Visit

Late in Term 2, Year 7 were very fortunate to have Liam Bonetig (Class of 2023) visit them. Liam was rewarded for his Football / Soccer prowess during his HSC year by being contracted to Scottish Football powerhouse, Glasgow Celtic. Liam gave the boys valuable insights on his progress through his junior soccer years, his work ethic and determination and his ability to overcome setbacks.

The boys in Year 7 and the entire College look forward to tracking Liam’s development over the coming season, with his goal being to make the First Team squad at Celtic this year.

We thank Liam, and the Bonetig family, who have been great supporters of the College. Liam was actually flying back to Scotland the day after visiting Year 7 to commence pre-season training, so we really appreciate his visit.

Mr Marsh and Mrs Field
Year 7 Pastoral Coordinator and Assistant Year 7 Coordinator

Year 12 Trial Higher School Certificate Examinations

Year 12 students have conducted themselves in a most commendable and studious manner during their Trial Higher School Certificate Examinations over the past two weeks. They will return to normal classes on Tuesday, 20 August and we wish them all the very best as they commence their final preparation for their HSC Exams next term.

Year 11 Preliminary Examinations

This week, Year 11 students have received the Preliminary Examinations Timetable for their examinations scheduled in Weeks 8 and 9 of this term. Assessment task notifications for these examinations will be issued in the next couple of weeks.

HSC Minimum Standards Testing Results

To be eligible for the award of the Higher School Certificate, Year 12 students must have met minimum standards in reading, writing and numeracy. Years 10 and 11 students who have sat their NESA HSC Minimum Standards Tests this year are required to activate their NESA Students Online Account in order to obtain their Results Report. The steps for this were shared with students on their cohort’s Google Classroom in Term 1 earlier this year. Students may seek assistance with this process from Mrs Bell.

Accessing Your Son’s ROSA and Higher School Certificate Credentials

A reminder that all Years 10, 11 and 12 students need to have activated their NESA Students Online Account to be able to access their Record of School Achievement (RoSA) and Higher School Certificate credentials. The College is not able to access these for students. Please check with your son that he has activated and can access this important online platform.

This is an important step during your son’s secondary schooling because it enables students and parents to avoid the fee payable to NESA to obtain these credentials if your son’s access to this platform has expired on 30 June during the year after he leaves school.

Study Skills Handbook

The following link offers advice on “Building Motivation” provided through the College’s subscription to the Study Skills Handbook for all Edmund Rice College families.

Mrs Bell
Director of Studies

The Lady Mayoress Afternoon Tea event held earlier this year, is a highlight of the city’s social calendar, that required meticulous planning and flawless execution to ensure a memorable experience for all attendees. Edmund Rice College Year 12 Hospitality students, under the guidance of their teacher Mr. Pierro, stepped up to the challenge with remarkable dedication and skill. The students were responsible for preparing and plating the food, as well as providing attentive service throughout the event.

The Lord Mayor’s Recognition Awards serve as a platform to acknowledge Wollongong’s residents’ dedication, innovation, and community spirit. This prestigious annual event, organised by the Wollongong City Council, honours individuals and groups whose contributions have significantly impacted the local community.

Mr Donovan Pierro, accompanied by two of his current Year 12 Hospitality students, Braydon Garrash and Riley Da Costa, were also held in this high esteem. This accolade was awarded to Edmund Rice College, recognising the exceptional contributions of Mr. Pierro’s Year 12 Hospitality class, along with key staff members, Mr. Sjostedt and Hospitality Assistant Mrs. Sharon McFarlane, for their stellar performance at the Lady Mayoress Afternoon Tea event.

This award stands as a testament to the College’s commitment to excellence and its role in shaping the future of hospitality in Wollongong.

Mr Pierro

Edmund Rice College Musicians were delighted to participate in the annual “Year 6 Mass with the Bishop” held on Wednesday, 7 August, hosted by St Pius X Catholic Parish Primary School. The beautiful outdoor setting, under clear blue skies, provided a perfect backdrop for a day of celebration and music.

This event was made incredible by the musical talents of our 30 students, who were transported by two buses. Our Stage Band, Year 9 Rock Trio, and Jazz Band delivered outstanding performances that captivated the Year 6 students.

With eight Wollongong Diocesan schools in attendance, the atmosphere was electric as students from across the region came together. The Year 6 students were especially enthusiastic, dancing and singing along with gusto. Their energy was contagious, creating a joyful and vibrant atmosphere.

Another highlight of the event was when all students were invited to participate in a karaoke-style performance of the Taylor Swift hit “Shake it Off”. It was a fantastic moment of unity and fun as everyone joined in supporting the numerous Year 6 students who stepped up to sing on the microphones.

We are immensely proud of our students for their musical talents and their enthusiastic participation in this event. Their professional and positive interactions with the Year 6 students were exemplary.

We would like to thank St Pius X for the opportunity to be involved in this celebration and additionally Mr Cajar and Mr Tyler for providing assistance with transportation.

Mr. Haybittle/ Mr. Bonaccorso

Schools all over the country are celebrating Book Week – Saturday, 17th August – Friday, 23 August. This year’s theme ‘Reading is Magic’ opens up all sorts of opportunities for students to explore new and notable books.
The Library will be running a Scavenger Hunt for all students during Book Week. The Scavenger Hunt is to be completed within Book Week, with prizes and house points for all who enter. Students can collect their entry forms from the Library staff on Monday 19th August.

The State Library of NSW [https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/learning] is offering a number of courses for students and teachers, as well as free Book Week activities.

History : https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/events/teacher-professional-learning-databases-history
Visual Arts : https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/events/teacher-professional-learning-databases-visual-arts

More information at : https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/events/teacher-professional-learning-bruce-whatley

We encourage students to join their local library as well as the State Library of NSW and access their many educational resources and databases.

Senior students in Year 11 and 12 can sign up as a guest member to the University of Wollongong for free to access HSC Support, Audiobooks, Ebooks and can also book a study room.

From the NLC Team

Mark your calendars for a night of incredible musical talent! On Tuesday 27th August, the College will host its annual Music Performance Night, showcasing a variety of musical performances. The evening will feature outstanding items from the College Stage Band, Jazz Band, Year 12 Class, and Year 9 Class, with students from Years 7 to 12 taking part.

This promises to be an entertaining event for all, celebrating the hard work and dedication of our young musicians. The performance will be held in the Br Pelin Hall, so be sure to join us for a night of fantastic music and community spirit!

Mr Bonaccorso and Mr Haybittle

Year 10 ERA for Change Day: Engaging with Community Leaders

During the Year 10 ERA for Change Day on Tuesday the 13th of August, the Rice Bowl Podcast Team held an insightful Q&A session with three special guests from our local community: Kelly Andrew from Healthy Cities Illawarra Food Fairness, Hineana Dando from the Vinnies Van, and Dominic Smith from Caritas.

The guests shared their experiences and challenges faced daily in their organisations as they work to support disadvantaged and vulnerable members of the community. Students gained valuable insights into the realities of social justice work and the ongoing efforts to create positive change in our society.

The session was a meaningful reminder of the importance of community involvement and the impact that dedicated individuals and organisations can have on those in need.
Click on the following LINK to take you to this new episode.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Mr Pullella for extending an invitation to The Rice Bowl Team to facilitate the session.

Finally, don’t forget to tune into the Rice Bowl’s episodes on Spotify and support the team by sharing and subscribing!

Mr Bonaccorso

This term, Year 8, 9 and 10 students have been cooking up a storm in their Food Technology classes, and the results have been nothing short of impressive. With a focus on both practical skills and nutritional education, these young chefs have shown remarkable progress in the kitchen, mastering a variety of recipes and techniques.

The success of the Stage 4 & 5 Food Tech classes has also been reflected in the students’ enthusiasm. Many have expressed how much they enjoy the hands-on nature of the lessons, and some have even taken their newfound skills home, cooking for their families and experimenting with new recipes on their own time.

In addition to cooking skills, the classes have placed a strong emphasis on teamwork and collaboration. This collaborative environment has also led to some friendly competition, with students eager to outdo each other in the kitchen.

As the term progresses, it’s clear that all Food Tech classes are not just about learning to cook—they’re about fostering a love for food, health, and creativity that will last a lifetime.

Mr Pierro

On Friday, 2nd August, Edmund Rice College came alive with the energy and enthusiasm of budding young entrepreneurs as the Commerce students took over the school grounds for the much-anticipated Commerce Market Day. The event, which featured various student-run stalls, was not only a highlight of the school calendar but also an invaluable real-world learning experience for the boys. Students were tasked with planning, setting up, and managing their stalls, giving them a hands-on opportunity providing our students with valuable lessons in financial literacy, customer service, marketing, and business operations. Our Commerce students rose to the challenges of small business where they were practicing effective selling techniques, setting up impressive stalls, making delicious food and managing their business cash flow. Despite the challenges, the students were able to generate a profit, which will be donated to a local Illawarra charity dedicated to supporting vulnerable members of the community as chosen by our students. This charitable aspect of the event added an extra layer of significance, as students were not only learning about business but also about the importance of giving back to the community. A big thank you goes out to parents and carers for supporting this initiative and helping the boys get ready for the day. Thank you to all ERC students and staff who supported our event and congratulations to our Commerce students for your fantastic effort, enthusiasm and organisation to make this day a success.

Ms Tomasi, Mrs Haines and Ms Armstrong

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

While all schools have as their core function the learning process, there are often debates about what an education is for: whether to prepare a person for a particular job or to prepare them for life. Certainly, all schools hope to support young people to take their place as citizens who will make a positive contribution to society. In a Catholic school it is often the intangible values, interactions and relationships that we know will make the biggest difference to the lives of our students and staff members.

Last Friday the College hosted the sixth annual Sustainability Conference for students and included groups from EREA as well as local Illawarra high schools. It is a sign of the power of collaboration to address issues facing our world such as climate change. It is important to highlight the work of staff members Mrs Schodde and Ms Leate who have given countless volunteer hours to support this initiative. As a Catholic school it must be a priority to care for God’s creation in the face of increasing stress created by the constant demand for resources. Making the beeswax food wraps and speaking to Costa Georgiadis from ABC’s Gardening Australia were certainly highlights.

This week I also want to commend the Religious Education faculty for the way they have brought the curriculum to life through the Year 10 Social Justice Day. While they have been learning about the UN Declaration on Human Rights and Catholic Social Teaching in class, to experience the reality of the work that organisations in our community do, gave them an insight into ways that your education can help you to make informed decisions and understand the structures in society that make or keep people poor. We all have a responsibility to understand the power we have individually and collectively to make a positive difference to the world. Thank you to Mr Pullella who organised the reflection day to bring the curriculum to life. This is the power of a Catholic education, and particularly how our touchstones inspire us to live out the gospel through all of our learning activities.

Our Junior Sleep Out fundraiser has now finished and we are happy to report that the students and staff raised $9854 for the work of SAHSSI to support their work in the Illawarra. The Senior Sleep out is coming up on 28 August. Students can sign up HERE. 

Year 10 are raising money for the Homeless Hub; Year 11 for Australian Bush Heritage project at Nameless Sylvan in the Illawarra and Year 12 for Talk 2 Me Bro, mental health programs in the local area. We look forward to another important learning opportunity.

Finally, thanks to Mrs Knowles who took a group of students to celebrate mass with the Diocese for St Mary of the Cross Mackillop Feast Day. It is important to remember that our prayer life supports our learning and our social action as they, in turn, support our prayer life. We are constantly reminded of the need to keep all three working together to have a whole-of-life approach to living out our faith. Prayer without action is self-centred and action without prayer is aimless. We know that together we are called to build the conditions of the kingdom of God ‘on earth as it is in heaven’ (Matt) and for that, we need to keep God at the centre of our lives. Live Jesus in our hearts. Forever.

Mrs Hurley
Director of Identity

On Tuesday,13th August, Year 10 participated in the ERA for Change and Human Rights Day. The day was designed to provide the Year 10 cohort with concrete experience of Social Justice through showcasing the work of agencies and individuals actively working towards addressing social issues in our local community. On the day, the students were provided with an opportunity to delve more deeply into the following social issues through presentations from various agencies; Homelessness and poverty (Wollongong Homeless Hub, Vinnies, Lighthouse Community Kitchen), global humanitarian crisis’ (Caritas Australia), health and food fairness (Healthy Cities Illawarra), refugee perspectives and challenges (MCCI), crisis housing for women and children (SAHSSI) and First Nations justice (Nadia Neal). The day is a foundational component of the Catholic Social Teaching unit, currently being studied in the Year 10 Religious Education Curriculum, and provided the students with the research component for their upcoming assessment.

The day began with a thoughtful and meaningful opening liturgy and introduction to the day, led by the College’s Liturgy Coordinator Mrs Knowles. This established a focus on the dignity of the human person and how the Catholic Social Teaching calls everyone to uphold the human rights of everyone, especially where these rights are being threatened.

Support Services Manager, Megan Arthur, from the Wollongong Homeless Hub and Housing Services (WHHHS) then provided a keynote about the work of WHHHS and the stats, facts and contributing factors around the homelessness crisis in Australia and the Illawarra. After this the students broke off into RE classes and attended two workshop sessions with the aforementioned agencies. In these workshops, students worked through practical information and activities such as tent building (Vinnies) and a refugee experience board game of chance (MCCI) to name a few. These highlight the challenges being experienced by the various organisations in providing support to the people they serve. The different organisation also provided concrete pathways for students to contribute to their various works as well as ways that the students can use their ‘voices’ to advocate for a more just and equitable future for the impacted groups.

The students then enjoyed a sausage sizzle lunch, lovingly prepared by Mr Preeo (Pastoral Care Coordinator), Mrs Hurley and Mrs Knowles.

In the final session the students were privileged to have Dominic Smith (Caritas), Hinena Dando (Vinnies) and Kelly Andrews (Healthy Cities Illawarra) stay back to be on a Question and Answer panel. The panel was tactfully and professionally facilitated by Year 11 students and The Rice Bowl podcasters, John-Paul Bridger and Sebastian Corolla. The boys also heard from Year 11 students Henry Jones and Tristan Dale about the wonderful work of ERA for Change and the ways they can get involved in Social Justice initiatives at the College through the power of using their voice as advocates. A particular highlight was a show of strength from Year 10 strong men Ethan Faddy and William Hiscox, who demonstrated the power of our unified voices advocating for change in a world in need. The demonstration of leadership and professionalism from these Year 11 student leaders (John-Paul, Sebastian, Henry and Tristan) was a particular standout for staff and external presenters alike and provided an exemplary example to the boys in Year 10. Well done boys on your commitment to leadership through service and for representing yourself, your family and the College so brilliantly.

In summary, the day presented a terrific opportunity for the Year 10 boys to learn more about the different social issues being experienced in our local community. Through witnessing first hand the work of the different agencies, the students developed an understanding of what it means to put the principles of Catholic Social Teaching and the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights into action.

Opportunities such as this, highlight the importance of working closely with community stakeholders in facilitating impactful teaching and learning, personal and faith development experiences. The capacity of the College to draw on the voluntary contribution of 7 different agencies across the Illawarra is testament to the College’s standing in the local community and Mrs Hurley’s commitment to establishing and maintaining important partnerships in her role as the Director of Faith and Identity. As a College community we are grateful to be able to have partnerships with agencies doing such important work in our community and express our gratitude to each of them for their contribution to the day.

Finally, the Year 10 Cohort is to be commended on the terrific and respectful way they conducted themselves across the range of different aspects of the day. Their engagement in the day was testament to their good standing and reputation as a year group at the College. Thank-you boys and we hope this experience has assisted you in your RE studies.

Please read Some reflections on the experience from Year 10 students:

• It was a great way to understand the range of social issues in the Illawarra and what people are doing to help fight it – Milo Hudson
• I enjoyed the Vinnie’s Van and I am thinking about volunteering with them when I finish Year 12 – Stirling Roper
• The day gave lots of insight about the issues around Australia or even around the world and what is being done to fix these problems – Alexander Zachristos
• The day helped open my eyes to how much these organisations and charities do in our community – Oscar Vegneris
• The day was very insightful and opened my perspective of how people can fall off track so quickly and all it takes is a bit of assistance to help them get back on their feet – Lachlan Panozzo
• Y10 reflection day was an interesting and eye opening experience about the different kinds of charities and networks which are available around the Illawarra. It encouraged students to help out in the different networks that were showcased – James Rouen

Mr Pullella

The ECO ERC Sustainability Conference is held annually and hosted by Edmund Rice College. This year we were joined by 50 students from schools across the region, with the focus of the conference on ways of reducing our environmental impact at a local and community level. The day opened with a Welcome To Country from Nadia Neal, who opened our minds to the indigenous connection to the seasons and collectively our ongoing commitment to caring for Mother Earth. The conference was MC’d by our unstoppable and inspiring Sustainability Prefect Marcus Henrique-Thakur. His opening remarks set the stage for a day that ultimately inspired and challenged us all.

He remarked “The greatest challenge we experience is convincing those unconverted individuals to participate in our sustainable vision, especially with waste minimisation. To dissolve the negative stigma that has unfortunately befallen this movement, it is imperative for us to find a way to meaningfully and effectively engage with the wider community, whilst not daring to compromise on our ultimate goal. It has never been an issue of not being important enough, but it has always been an issue of marketing. So, with all of that in mind- I ask you to keep in the back of your mind this question- How do we find a balance between service and fun, and what must we do to successfully revolutionise our current systems to meet this balance?”

We were lucky to host two special guest speakers this year. The first was Councillor Cath Blakey who spoke with incredible depth of knowledge about both the The Flametree Community Cooperative at Thirroul and, as a Councillor for Wollongong Council, the waste management systems in place in the region. Students engaged in a Q & A with Cath, asking her about the green waste collection and its impact on the environment locally. The discussion centred around ideas about how we can change and question our shopping habits to collectively support food grown locally, thereby increasing our individual impact by supporting growers acting locally. The issues around selecting and preparing meals, and the challenges with mass produced packaged foods, highlighted the many challenges families face balancing time, cost and access to sustainable food services.

We then engaged in an interactive workshop making beeswax wraps. Together the students selected cotton fabric, cut them to size and dipped them in local beeswax to create homemade wrap for lunch boxes. The smell of melting beeswax filled the foyer and the students were able to see, touch and smell the beeswax before it was melted.

After a delicious lunch prepared by our very own Year 11 hospitality students, it was time for our second guest, Costa Georgiadis – Environmental Educator and Silver Logie winner, Host of Gardening Australia. Coming to us via an online live link and projected onto the big screen the students spoke directly to Costa to ask for his advice on a range of questions. Always engaging, amusing and passionate, Costa gave sage advice to the students on how to encourage others around issues of sustainability plus ways to cope with challenges – sharing his own personal stories. Costa absolutely loved and supported the ECO ERC hand sewn and recycled shopping bags using old shirts and ties saved from landfill by the Pearson family. Special thanks to Margaret Leate for sewing our prototype bags! Always willing to give up his own time, Costa has a special connection with the students due to his unique way of creating a sense of energy and excitement about how to live sustainably and responsibly – with a true sense of community.

We thank the teachers and students from St John’s Nowra, Holy Spirit College Bellambi, Waverly College and St Joseph’s High Albion Park for their enthusiasm and engagement with the day. A massive thank you to Mrs Schodde who worked tirelessly with Miss Leate in preparing and organizing the Conference. Other thanks go to our IT department who organised the IT side of things in order to run a seamless interview with Costa, plus the hospitality students and teachers – especially Mrs McFarlane and Mr Pierro.

However…the stars of the day were our ECO ERC team. Lead ably by Marcus Henriques-Thakur and Jonah Kaiser, we thank the dedicated students – Leonardo Cavalieri Goncalves Peloche, Dante Hernandez, Noah Clark, William Campbell, Mitchell Wilson, Sam Stevin, Ruben Grundy, Luca Thomas and Ben Pearson. What an amazing crew, helping prepare for the day in the lead up to the event, running practice workshops, taking photos, and shepherding the guests from the car park to the event. They were even set to task cutting strips of fabric for the workshop!

We can’t wait for next year to do it all again next year.

Thank you,
Miss Felicity Leate

Edmund Rice College once again proved its athletic prowess at the Diocesan Athletics Carnival, held at Campbelltown Athletics Stadium on Friday 2 August. With a strong contingent of talented athletes, the College secured numerous podium finishes, showcasing their skills across a range of track and field events.

Track Events Domination

Chase Grant, one of the College’s standout athletes, dominated the sprint events in the 17+-category, securing gold in the 100m, 200m, and 400m races. His triple crown of victories was a highlight of the carnival, underscoring his speed and endurance. Not to mention a new record in the 400m!

Nixon Blake, competing in the 12-year-old division, earned the top spot in the 800m, in a highly competitive race. Similarly, Darcy Stepanovski (13) and Milton Stepanovski (15) both took first place in the 1500m and 800m events in their respective age groups, demonstrating their talents in middle-distance running.

Joe Hinds (18) and Alexander Torta (13) also brought home gold in the 800m events, while Alexander added a second-place finish in the 400m, further contributing to the school’s impressive tally of victories on the track. Joe also broke the 17+ 800m record!

Field Events Success

In the field events, Edmund Rice College athletes were equally impressive. Jack Jackson (16) showcased his strength and technique by winning the shot put, while Letham Manago (18) delivered a commanding performance in the shot put and discus, earning first place in both events, along with a second-place finish in the long jump.

Nicholas Aivaliotis (16) had a busy day, competing in four events. He secured second place in the long jump and 100m, and third place in both the high jump and 200m, highlighting his versatility and athleticism.

Podium Finishes Across the Board

The College’s medal haul continued with several other strong performances. Connor MacRae (15) and Max Oyston (17) both secured second place in the high jump, while Alexander
Bradshaw-Wett (14) and Charlie Kerr (13) each earned second in the long jump. William Mason (16) added to the school’s success with a second-place finish in the 800m and third in both the 400m and 1500m.

Zachariah Crook (12) and Stefen Anagnostopolous (14) also contributed to the school’s strong showing with second-place finishes in the 800m and 1500m, respectively, and Crook also added a second-place in the long jump.

Relay and Team Spirit

While individual performances were stellar, the team spirit and support among the athletes were evident throughout the day, especially with the Opens boys winning their 4x100m relay event. The collective efforts of the students propelled Edmund Rice College to a 1st place standing in the boys division!

Age Champions

Nicholas Aivaliotis – 1st place U16s
Letham Manago – 2nd place 17+
Chase Grant – 3rd place 17+

NSWCCC Reps

Congratulations to the following students who have qualified for the NSWCCC Athletics Championships in September: Nicholas Aivaliotis, Nixon Blake, Callum Cajar, Zachariah Crook, Chase Grant, Joe Hinds, Letham Manago, Jack Jackson, William Mason, Haider Raad, Patrick Smith, Darcy Stepanovski, Milton Stepanovski and Alexander Torta.

Mr Timpano
Sports Coordinator

In Week 3, Professor Gabriel and his team from Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Wollongong presented a beginner class in our Year 8 Sport classes. Students were given an insight into the key teachings of Jiu-Jitsu, focusing on respect, self defence and discipline. Students were also given the opportunity to practice some jiu-jitsu moves and techniques!

Mr Timpano
Sports Coordinator

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 Parent & Friends

The Edmund Rice College P&F warmly invites Fathers’, Grandfathers’ and Carers to breakfast on Friday 30th August 2024.

In celebration of Fathers’ Day, come and join us for an informal BBQ breakfast in the Senior Cola Area (adjacent to the senior classrooms).

RSVP via Humanitix by 22nd August 2024: https://events.humanitix.com/father-s-day-breakfast-2024-aruqcpsa

PARENT HELPERS NEEDED – (Many hands make light work!) – If you can help on Friday 30 August from 5:00am, please contact Francis Fenech (francis.fenech77@gmail.com)

Kindest regards,
Francis & P&F Organising Committee

The College is delighted to announce the inaugural Alumni Golf Day, set to take place on Friday 11th October 2024, at the distinguished Wollongong Golf Club. A warm invitation is extended to all past students, staff and families who have been or are currently affiliated with the College.

Further details and registration can be found via the following link: https://www.edmundricecollege.nsw.edu.au/alumni-cup/

2025 SENIOR STUDENT UNIFORM FITTINGS

The College Uniform Shop uniform supplier, Noone will be conducting Senior student uniform fittings on Thursday 17 October, Thursday 24 October and Thursday 31 October. Please see further details HERE 

Lisa Wellington
Store Manager

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