Deputy Principal's Message
Last Friday Dr Gough was awarded an Individual Leadership Award by the Australian Council of Educational Leaders.
This award celebrates leadership excellence in driving innovation, conducting impactful research, or influencing educational policy. Recipients of this award are acknowledged for their role in achieving measurable improvements for students and/or colleagues. It is determined by an awards committee made up of ACEL members with significant leadership experience. A rigorous process is undertaken to firstly shortlist and select award winners who have…
Demonstrated exemplary performance in leading an educational organisation or initiative which has made a significant impact on or contribution to:
- Outcomes for children and students; or
- Teacher professional learning; or
- The practice or culture within that organisation or the profession at large
- Contributed to building the capacity of colleagues through engagement with their initiative.
Dr Stephen Gough is recognised for exemplary leadership in driving profound cultural and organisational change across 15 years of principalship, he has led school amalgamations and used academic research to strengthen education leadership and practice. At Edmund Rice College his data driven leadership contributed to significant improvements in HSC results over 5 years while students’ sense of belonging increased to 90%. Dr Gough champions teaching, professional learning and capacity building through strategic staff development and the mentoring of beginning and aspiring principals. His high trust leadership fosters collective efficacy and enables staff and students to achieve exceptional outcomes. He is a highly deserving ACEL Individual Leadership Award.
Mrs Hughes
Deputy Principal
Student Learning
Spelling Stars Bound for the State Finals!
Our school community is buzzing with pride as eight of our incredible students have officially qualified for the Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee State Finals!
The journey, however, is just getting started. If our state finalists manage to spell their way to the top, they will move on to the prestigious National Finals. The stakes for the final round are higher than ever, offering some truly life-changing rewards for our young wordsmiths.
Three ultimate national champions will win an unforgettable trip to Canberra to meet the Prime Minister in person! Alongside this extraordinary honour, each national winner will take home a brand-new iPad and a $250 HarperCollins book pack to keep their literary passions firing.
The rewards extend to our entire school community, too—each champion’s school will receive a generous $1000 voucher to spend on new books, cutting-edge technology, or vital educational equipment and supplies. Runners-up will also be rewarded with fantastic book packs, and every single student who stepped up to participate in the competition will receive a certificate recognising their effort and courage.
Whether our eight state finalists end up marching into Parliament House or simply expanding their horizons, they have already achieved something extraordinary.
Please join us in congratulating our eight spellers and wishing them the absolute best of luck as they prepare for the State Finals. Keep practicing, spellers—we are all cheering you on every step of the way!
Mrs Sinclair
NSW Brass Band Championships
NSW State Band Championships
The Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre in Penrith on Saturday, 22 August 2026 was the venue for our talented Edmund Rice College musicians who took to the stage for the NSW State Band Championships.
Months of rehearsals, relentless practice, and fine-tuning complex arrangements paid off as our ensembles secured remarkable success across Open Grade C and D.
Special thanks go to Des Canning and supportive families who travelled to Penrith to cheer the boys on.
Congratulations to all the student musicians involved on a magnificent state-level achievement—you have made the entire Edmund Rice College community immensely proud!
Mrs Sinclair
Visual Arts Artshow
Identity
Legacy Luncheon
On Friday the 21st of August, 10 students from our Year 10 cohort attended the Illawarra Legacy Luncheon. This was a great day for all students to become educated about what the people that have been through combat go through, but what the people that have lost a partner in combat continue to go through. Guest speaker Mark Wales spoke about his journey through the SAS and what he went through. This was a valuable experience for all that attended. Some of the tasks students at ERC undertook were, greeting the people attending the event, and selling raffle tickets for Legacy. Everyone that attended the event really enjoyed themselves.
Thanks for the opportunity to write this.
Charlie McQuire
Pastoral Care
Empowering Student Voice, Safety, and Wellbeing
As we navigate Term 3—our designated Wellbeing Term at Edmund Rice College—our pastoral program remains firmly anchored in positive psychology and our My Strengths framework. We know that young men flourish when they feel safe, connected, and empowered to use their personal strengths to make positive, proactive choices.
This week, our students across all year groups engaged in key pastoral initiatives focused on advocacy, anti-bullying, mental health awareness, and school-wide strategic planning.
Student Advocacy: Standing Up to Bullying & Supporting Peer Wellbeing.
During this week’s Pastoral Care lessons, students across Years 7 to 12 participated in targeted Student Leaders Advocacy sessions. These student-led workshops focused on national wellbeing campaigns, including Bullying. No Way! and the upcoming R U OK? Day. Rather than focusing purely on rules, these sessions leveraged positive peer leadership to build an inclusive school culture. Our boys explored practical strategies for: Active Bystander Behaviour: Empowering students to safely step in, offer support, or report unkind behaviour using our College procedures. Meaningful Connection: Equipping students with the language and confidence to ask their peers “R U OK?” and offer a listening ear. By encouraging our young men to step into the identity of supportive, empathetic brothers, we reinforce that a safe school environment is something we actively build together every day.
Annual Student Wellbeing Survey: Shaping Our Future.
On Thursday, our entire student body participated in our Annual Student Wellbeing Survey during Pastoral Care time. In positive psychology, giving students a genuine voice is essential for fostering a sense of agency, belonging, and purpose. This comprehensive survey provides our Wellbeing Team with invaluable data on how our boys experience school life, their social connections, and their emotional wellbeing. We do not view this data as a static snapshot, but as a vital planning tool for 2027.
Looking Ahead in Stage 5 and Stage 6
As we look toward the remainder of the term, our senior year groups continue to demonstrate grit and leadership: Stage 5 (Years 9 & 10): Our Stage 5 students are preparing for their upcoming Stage 5 Pastoral Care Assembly in the ERC Centre, where we will gather to celebrate positive academic growth, peer support, and co-curricular achievements. Stage 6 (Years 11 & 12): Year 11 students are putting their final study systems into place as they enter their Preliminary HSC Examination period in Br Pelin Hall, while Year 12 prepares for their final Graduation and Mass celebrations. We thank all our families for your ongoing partnership as we support our young men to grow into resilient, compassionate, and grounded leaders.
💡 Strength Focus of the Fortnight:
“Social Intelligence & Kindness
- “The Habit: Over the next two weeks, make a conscious effort to reach out to a classmate or friend you haven’t spoken to in a while and ask how they are going.
- The Why: In positive psychology, exercising Social Intelligence—being aware of the motives and feelings of others—builds strong relational trust and fosters a culture where everyone feels seen and valued.
Mr Ferguson
Director of Pastoral Care & Wellbeing
Sport
Rugby League Opens NSWCCC Cup
On Tuesday, 25 August, our Opens Rugby League squad braved an early morning start, travelling to Holy Cross College, Ryde, to compete in the NSWCCC Cup. Beyond the silverware on offer, the tournament carried deep significance as our Year 12 players stepped onto the field to wear the Edmund Rice College jersey for the very last time.
The team hit the ground running in their opening match against Newman Technical College. Displaying sharp execution in attack and disciplined line speed in defense, the boys shut out their opponents in a convincing 15–0 victory with a nail in the coffin field goal from Fletcher Couchman. Game two brought a heavy physical challenge against Marcellin College Randwick. In an intense battle of attrition, our squad showed incredible strength, fighting out a tense 4–4 draw.
The final pool game against St John’s College Woodlawn was another razor-thin contest. ERC pushed until the final whistle in a demanding physical exchange, narrowly falling short by a missed conversion 6–4.
Tournament Results
- Game 1: ERC 15 def. Newman Technical College 0
- Game 2: ERC 4 draw Marcellin Randwick 4
- Game 3: St John’s College Woodlawn 6 def. ERC 4
- Plate Final: Parramatta Marist High 8 def. ERC 0
Qualifying for the Plate Final against Parramatta Marist High, the boys had one more thing to play for. A string of injuries during the pool stages meant we entered the final with zero bench players. With no interchange options to refresh tired legs, the 13 boys on the field relied entirely on heart and determination. Though Parramatta Marist eventually claimed an 8–0 win.
Standout individual performances across the day came from Oskar Vegneris, Max Van Loo, Gus Tunbridge, Fletcher Couchman, and Jeremy Packer, all of whom led from the front with their relentless work ethic and toughness.
Congratulations to all the players for their outstanding sportsmanship and effort. Thank you to Mr Toohey and Mr Sullivan for coaching the boys all year. Lastly, a special tribute goes to our graduating Year 12 boys, thank you for your years of dedication to ERC sport and for leaving everything on the field in your final run out.
Mr Woods
