From The Principal
Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome to you all as we begin the academic year of 2021. I offer a particularly warm welcome to every new student and family to the College, who like me, join the Edmund Rice community for the very first time. As someone who strongly believes in life-long learning, please be assured of my commitment to supporting students on their spiritual, cultural and academic journeys; and in the same way, I know that I will learn a great deal from this community – about what we hold close to our hearts and what we aspire to become. This is the first edition of our revised fortnightly newsletter format, which is linked within our recently upgraded ERC website.
I would like to congratulate each student for how they have settled so quickly into College life and acknowledge the partnership between parents and teachers in ensuring that students have commenced in such a positive way. I especially acknowledge our Year 7 students on how they have fully embraced their initial period of transition and commend them on their energy and involvement in the orientation program.
As well as our new students and families, we also welcome the following staff members who have joined our learning community: Barry Walsh (Deputy Principal), Jessica Haines (HSIE), Rebecca McLean (TAS), David Pullella (RE/Science/CSL), Glen Stutchbury (Science), Margaret Mangan (English), Karina Tomasi (HSIE), Nadia Neal (Indigenous Education Officer), and Hayden Michlmayr (Sports Administration Trainee).
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Prayer for the start of the school year Loving God, Our creator, bless this journey of a new school year |
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We return with the wonderful news that the students and teachers of Edmund Rice College have once again achieved impressive HSC success. The Dux of the College is awarded to David Chicharo who received an ATAR of 98.90. The list of 37 Distinguished Achievers, 16 student nominations for InTech (Industrial Technology), along with Fletcher Middlebrook-Mitchell being nominated for ARTEXPRESS (Visual Arts), highlights the truly comprehensive nature of what Edmund Rice College has to offer. Congratulations to students, staff and parents on such a collective effort. 2020 HSC Highlights can be found HERE.
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During the past three days our Year 12 students have been participating in a retreat at the various venues. This has been a very meaningful and valuable experience for students as they take the opportunity to reflect and nurture their own spirituality in preparation for the year ahead and beyond. I have appreciated the opportunity to witness how open the young men of ERC are to their own personal growth and I sincerely thank the staff members who facilitated these experiences.
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Our thoughts and prayers are with those members of our staff who have recently suffered the sad loss of dear loved ones. We offer our condolences and prayers to Paul Dempsey who lost his mother in early January and Emma Shumack who recently lost her sister. We also pray for Russell Bates whose mother’s funeral was yesterday. May they each rest in peace.
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I offer all families my best wishes and blessings for the year ahead.
Stephen Gough
Principal
From The Deputy
Throughout the past two weeks, I have been humbled by my welcome to the Edmund Rice College community from many staff and students, as we begin another academic year.
It has definitely been a busy beginning to 2021, for many of us. We welcomed the new Year 7 cohort and wish them every success as they too begin their journey at the College. Having recently witnessed the activities at their Orientation day at Corrimal Surf Club across two days, along with the Year 11 peer support leaders. It appeared that all involved had a great time interacting with one another, making new friends and generating bonds to indicate they are already coming together as a fine group of young men. At the other end of the scale, I had the pleasure of spending time with some of the Year 12 cohort at one of the Senior Retreat venues, which was an absolute privilege. I was impressed with the way they embraced the retreat theme of “Dream the Future”, where students demonstrated personal growth through reflection activities as well as individual time to stop, pause and recognise the need for self-care. This was coupled with being with their mates, new and old as they prepare for the year ahead. For many, it was a perfect time to identify the different ways to embrace what it means to be a ‘man for others’ and to be open to Jesus’ presence in their everyday, busy lives. Thank you to all of the staff involved in not only the preparation of both events, but their willingness to be involved in these important College formation activities.
As a College; Staff are continuing from 2020, maintaining best efforts to provide a safe and healthy environment for students to continue with their learning, through hand sanitising at the beginning of each lesson as they enter the classroom. This is also accompanied with the students being required to maintain a practice of hand sanitising upon entry to the College at each entrance to begin their day.
The College Leadership Team constantly reviews the briefing notes updated to the COVID-19 Response Portal, containing documentation to support our College planning and management of events and issues related to COVID-19. Such events have already taken place successfully with COVID-19 Safety Risk Assessments and documented safety plans implemented to ensure the health and safety of all stakeholders.
In these times of uncertainty, with everchanging restrictions and guidelines which we have to adhere to, we look forward to be permitted to invite more parents and friends, on-site to celebrate the achievements of their sons as an entire community.
Barry Walsh
Deputy Principal