Edmund Rice Education Australia Touchstones

Inclusive Community

Our community is accepting and welcoming, fostering right relationships and committed to the common good.

Building Community

It was wonderful to receive the updated advice from NSW Health and CSNSW recently regarding the relaxation of many of the protocols associated with COVID-19. The removal of mandatory mask wearing and cohorting in particular allows us to return to implementing many of the important community activities that are so important in building school spirit, a sense of belonging and the reinforcement of the important values that we promote at the College.

Mr Hannelly’s Homeroom

Ms Moulton’s Homeroom

Mr Streeting’s Homeroom

A return to vertical homeroom each morning where boys from each year group come together with their homeroom teacher is an extremely valuable way to start each day. It is in homeroom where students build relationships with members from other year groups and their homeroom teacher. Important information is shared each day regarding school operations with time set aside to answer questions. Student attendance is recorded, and homeroom teachers follow up with families if concerns arise. The homeroom teacher becomes another member of staff that parents can liaise with if concerns arise. Homeroom teachers discuss learning goals with members of their homeroom, get to learn about individual student interests, participate in well-being activities and at times discuss a range of themes and contemporary societal issues. Most importantly homeroom is an important mechanism in creating a safe and inclusive environment that promotes a sense of belonging to the College.

Whole School Assembly

The return to whole school assemblies, provides an important opportunity for us to celebrate a range of student successes in the wide variety of learning opportunities provided to boys both in and outside the classroom. Our assemblies provide students, in particular College Leaders, with a platform to share their own voices on social justice issues advocating for those that are marginalised and protecting our environment. Our assemblies are student-led and provide great opportunities for students to develop public speaking skills.

Most importantly the easing of restrictions will allow us to come together to celebrate and promote the values that underpin our Catholic faith through liturgies, prayer services and social justice presentations.  These experiences are always presented in a relevant and engaging way and challenge students to reflect on and explore their own faith and spirituality.

We look forward to planning and working with students in these endeavours throughout the year.

Teaching Excellence

Mrs Michelle McDonald

The College is extremely fortunate to have a professional body of teaching and support staff who maintain an absolute commitment to ensuring that we provide the best possible learning experiences for the boys and girls in our care. We challenge ourselves each day to be contemporary in our practice, providing relevant and engaging experiences that challenge, nurture and inspire students to be the best they can be.  Our school improvement agenda supports our teaching staff in collaborating and sharing best practice both within our own school community and wider teaching networks with the aim of improving the quality of teaching and learning.

It was so pleasing last week, to have one of our wonderful teachers formally acknowledged for her commitment to the teaching profession. Mrs Michelle McDonald is our College Leader of Learning in English. Michelle was the recipient of the Outstanding Professional Service Award by the Institute for Educational Leadership in Australia. The citation accompanying her award which is included below clearly describes Michelle’s exceptional contribution to leading and teaching.

We congratulate Michelle and are very proud of her achievement.

Year 7 Information Night

We are pleased to be able to announce that the Year 7 Parent Information Night that was scheduled for earlier in the year will now take place on Wednesday March 30. This is an important evening in welcoming Year 7 families to the College and provides an opportunity for parents and carers to meet the Year 7 Core Teachers. The evening will begin promptly at 5.30 pm with a smoking ceremony to be led by Tim Selwyn, a local Aboriginal man, on the College ovals to welcome families to the school. This ceremony will be followed by a BBQ and meeting with your son’s Core Teacher. More information will be provided to Year 7 families in the days leading up to the event.

Concerns Regarding Frederick Street Entrance

The College strives to maintain a positive relationship with all members of the local community. We are very conscious of the increased traffic that occurs on Frederick Street at the front entrance to the school during drop off and pick up times. I urge parents to be considerate of our neighbours and each other when driving in this street during this time. Visibility is difficult due to the number of cars parked in the street and becomes more difficult if parents use the residents’ driveways in the street to complete a three-point turn. Parents are urged to do two things. Firstly, avoid coming into Frederick Street if at all possible and ask your son to meet you on one of the neighbouring streets. Secondly, if you do enter Frederick Street, please proceed to the cul-de-sac at the bottom of the street to turn around.

 2023 Enrolments

The College is now accepting enrolment applications for Year 7 2023. The enrolment process is completed online via the College website Click Here

The enrolment information clearly outlines the enrolment criteria. Applications received after Tuesday April 26, will be processed as late applications. Current families who are aware of family or friends who wish to apply for their son to attend St Edward’s, are asked to encourage them to visit the College website for information about the College and the process of enrolment.