Dear Parents and Carers,

Like our patron Edmund Rice, who himself at times faced unexpected difficulties, it is pleasing that our College community continues to try and adapt as best we can. Our thoughts this week are with our Year 12 students as we continue to encourage and support them in their educational journey. This week Year 12 commenced their formal HSC Trials in a remote mode. As I commented to them during this week’s virtual Year 12 assembly, they may be completing these assessments in their homes but be very assured that the entire Edmund Rice community is with them. With this in mind, I offer you the following  prayer:

Lord, pour out your Spirit of Wisdom on our Year 12 students, 

Help them to remain calm and confident,

to attend carefully to the questions asked,

to think clearly, to remember accurately, 

and to express themselves well.

Grant that they may reflect on their ‘personal best’ of learning

and the best of the teaching they have received from their teachers.

May your love be upon them, O Lord,

as they place their trust in you.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

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Congratulations to the ERC chess team on winning the Southern Region division of the 2021 NSW Junior Chess League Country Secondary Schools Teams Competition. This is an outstanding achievement and is the very first time that ERC has won this title. Congratulations to Lance Koschny (Y12), Elijah Hurley (Y11), Mehmed Ceylan (Y10), Cooper Newell-Glaser (Y10), and Ben Kelso (Y7) and our College Chess Coordinator, Ms Kierse.

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I am pleased also to announce that two of our teachers, Mrs Carmen Russell and Ms Emma Shumack, have recently been nominated for the National Excellence in Teaching Awards. The NEiTA Foundation provides a community-centred awards program to recognise teachers who represent excellence within the teaching profession and encourage an enjoyment of learning for both students and their teaching peers. On behalf of the College, I offer my congratulations to both Mrs Russell and Ms Shumack.

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The College would like to actively promote all ERC family businesses during this current time. Families are invited to go to the following ERC Family Business link to register and we will do our very best to promote these businesses to both the school and wider community.

ERC FAMILY BUSINESS NETWORK – REGISTRATION

My continued best wishes to all families.

Mr Gough

Principal