It was great to be able to finish the year with some meaningful prayerful experiences. The annual Christmas Liturgy is always a joyous celebration that includes communal singing of Christmas carols, the farewell of some staff and the presentation of Christmas hampers by each homeroom for disadvantaged families. The Year group liturgies are a chance for each year group to gather together to pray in thanks for the year that has been completed. Thanks to all those who contributed to these wonderful occasions. Mr Beacroft Director of Mission [foogallery id="49345"]

Eleven of our students took part in the latest Clean4Shore on 30 November 2023. Leaving from the College wharf, they commenced their cleanup amongst the mangroves adjoining the College with bulk litter presenting on a small creek coming from the main East Gosford shops. Gutter rubbish, soft plastics, food wrappings, plastic bottles dominating the five bags collected.  See the link below for the full report and the total of items collected. Clean4Shore Report  

Term 4 has seen the students in the Food Technology department being very busy in the kitchen. Year 10 commenced the Term with an excursion to Rossini’s Family Restaurant in Lisarow. They were treated to a fabulous pizza lunch and a very informative talk by the owner, Heather. Year 9 successfully completed their final assessment task for the year. It was a Practical Examination where the boys utilised fresh pasta, salad and garlic bread. This was a culmination of all the skills that they had developed throughout the year. [smallgallery fooid="48945"]   Year 11 Food Technology completed a successful practical for their Contemporary Nutrition Issues. They produced a Pan fried Salmon and Asparagus with Miso. Both of the Year 11 Hospitality classes catered for the Alumni Event. This was also included as part of their 12 designated “Service Periods” The boys created hot and cold, sweet and savoury dishes. I believe the guests were tempted by the delicious dishes on offer. [smallgallery fooid="48957"]   All classes completed festive season cookery towards the end of the term. These included Gingerbread Houses, Mini Fruit Chocolate Puddings, White Chocolate Rocky Road and Santa Cookies. The Food Technology Staff have observed the development of the boy’s abilities throughout the year and they are all to be congratulated on their efforts throughout 2023. The faculty wishes everyone a safe and Merry Christmas and wishes Mrs Saxon all the best for her new adventures. [smallgallery fooid="48968"]  

On Monday 11 December, the College community celebrated our students’ academic success at the Annual Awards Assembly. To receive an award students need to have received nominations from their teachers across the entire year (Semester 1 and Semester 2). Each Semester all teachers nominate students in their classes who they believe have performed consistently or academically well. The students receiving an ‘A’ in their courses will automatically receive an Academic nomination. Students who receive a determined amount of ‘consistent effort’ nominations across the year will receive an award in that category. Students who receive a determined amount of ‘Academic’ nominations or A’s across the year will receive that award. Any student receiving A’s in the majority of their courses will receive an Outstanding Academic Award. During the event, College Special and Memorial Awards were also announced including Edmund Rice Awards.  We congratulate all students who received an award, your hard work and dedication to your studies is something to be proud of. Please see the links below for Award recipients. Award Recipients 2023   Images from the Assembly [smallgallery fooid="49186"]

See the YouTube link below to revisit the HSIE faculty events from 2023.   [embed]https://youtu.be/eYH5uBT1MAo[/embed]

See the YouTube link below to view the highlights of 2023 from the Computing Faculty.   [embed]https://youtu.be/p-1nvKmqs04[/embed]

2024 College Swimming Carnival As advertised in the annual calendar, we will be conducting our swimming carnival on Friday 9 February at the Peninsula Leisure Centre, Woy Woy. Information regarding the carnival will be communicated to the boys at the first assembly of the 2024 school year on Friday week 1.  Below are some important practical details regarding the carnival:  Transport Normal school buses will run in the morning / afternoon and students will catch a bus from the College to the pool and back again in the afternoon. Other students may make their own way to the carnival if appropriate. All boys making their own way to the carnival need to be at the pool by 8.45am, unless they are competing in the 200m events (see next point). Any student competing in 200m events need to be at the pool by 8.30 am at the very latest. Buses will not be at the pool by 8.30 am so these students will need to make their own transport arrangements. All students requiring afternoon bus transport will return by bus to the College and catch the afternoon school buses under supervision as normal. Uniform For identification purposes, it is imperative that all students in Years 7 – 10 attend the carnival in their College sports uniform as they would do on a normal Friday.  They can change into their colour house clothes at the pool.  Only Years 11 and 12 are allowed to wear mufti/casual clothing. General Directions As maximum participation is the aim of the day, points will be allocated for every student entering an event. Any boy who attends the carnival is required to participate by: Swimming in all events appropriate to his ability level; Assisting teaching staff in conducting the carnival in some capacity ie: official duties; For supervision purposes when boys are not in races, they are to remain in the stands grouped according to their age divisions. Only the Years 10,11 and 12 will be permitted to gather on the grassed area. Boys need to be equally prepared for cool or warmer weather and bring appropriate sun protection ie sunscreen, as the marshalling area is outdoors. Limited canteen facilities will be available – boys are encouraged to bring their own food & drink for the day. It is imperative that students do not bring large sums of money or valuable equipment such as airpods etc. In these situations, it is impossible for the College to take responsibility for items that may go missing. As the carnival is held indoors, it will be held even in the event of obvious inclement weather. Boys who live locally or who are being picked up by their parents can leave to go home directly from the pool at the conclusion of the carnival, which should be at 2.15 pm. No boy will be permitted to leave the pool precinct prior to the conclusion of the carnival, as rolls need to be marked and the usual important formalities carried out.  I particularly ask that we have parental co-operation in this matter. Parents, carers and relatives are more than welcome to attend on the day however it is recommended you bring your own chair as seating is at a premium. The College Prefects and Leaders will be required at the pool early in the day to assist with carnival set up and again at the end of the day to assist with packing up of the carnival. The co-operation of boys and their families with these guidelines will ensure that it is an enjoyable day for all in attendance. Mr Mark Bonnici College Principal

This is always such a rewarding day where new players get the opportunity to have a go at Water Polo against Independent, Catholic and Government schools, guided by more experienced water polo teammates. The support from the local club from Woy Woy allowed eight girls and eight boys teams to have a fun, social yet competitive day. A special thanks to Wombats Harry, Kai, Nate and Sebastian for helping to do table duty, set up and pack up throughout the day. St Edward’s went from a relatively experienced team last year to a team with the majority being either new to water polo or up and coming talent. Unfortunately we lost Cashar, one of our senior players, early in the day to a dislocated shoulder. His teammates were supportive  while we waited for the ambulance.  We hope that Cashar has recovered well. Play resumed after the long break, however, we missed a few shots in the semi-final but still played well as a team. The boys had fun in the games and finished in a commendable 3rd place. Results St Edward's def Central Coast Grammar:  6-2 St Edward's def Green Point Christian College:  11-0 St Edward's def Central Coast Sports College: 10-2 Semi Final  Wyong High School def St Edward's:  3-1 Bronze Medal St Edward's def defeated Central Coast Grammar:  4-2 Most Valuable Player for St Edward’s: Harry Rutherford Captain: Sandor Torok Team Kai Armstrong, Cashar Darwin, Ronnie Jordan, Kaelan Markey, Sebastian Monteleone, Eden Pearson, Kale Puata,  Tahj Regattieri, Harry Rutherford, Nate Saley, Sandor Torok  

This year St Edward’s was again invited to participate in the Broken Bay Diocese Tennis Gala Day. Following two trial sessions two teams were selected: Championship Boys    Justin Cuennett - Year 10 Max Young - Year 9 Harrison Evans - Year 8 Patrick Vince - Year 7 Division Two  Easan Zhang - Year 10 Jacob Barrington - Year 8 Benjamin Malek - Year 8 An exciting change in format this year saw our championship boys playing their opposite number in singles matches before joining their teammates in doubles. Justin faced a number of Australian ranked players and these were very close matches and extremely exciting to watch. Our Championship boys represented themselves well and were unlucky to just miss out on the final, coming in a very creditable third place. Our Division Two boys played exceptionally well throughout the tournament. Combining power and accuracy, playing in rotating doubles, they worked as a terrific team. Facing a strong team from Mater Maria College, Warriewood in the finals, they were ultimately victorious in a close match. It is always a pleasure to work with the Tennis team. Every year the convenors and parents from other schools, comment on the sportsmanship and courtesy of our students – this year was no exception. The day was postponed due to severe storms, and this meant a change in venue from the usual Oxford Falls location to courts in Marsfield. We are so grateful to the convenors and to our sports team here at school for accommodating this last-minute change.

Well, that is a wrap for representative sport in 2023. Again, we have seen our students and teams shine on the sporting stage across a wide range of sports and representative levels. I would like to acknowledge our very talented sporting students for their efforts this year. Well done and hopefully we continue from where we have left off in the new year. To our wonderful staff who give up their valuable time to assist with our teams across a range of capacities, thank you. Enjoy your Christmas and holiday break and see you back here next year.   2024 College Swimming Carnival Please see the full details for the 2024 College Swimming Carnival - Click Here   Early 2024 Sport Events As we prepare for 2024, please see below the NSWCCC representative pathway for sports selections for individual entry sport occurring early in Term 1. The closing dates for registrations are very soon after returning to school. Please note all closing dates are firm dates. No registrations will be permitted after the closing dates. All individual sports registrations are completed on the CSNSW.SPORT website. Parents must have an account and add their child to have access. (Sport Registration HELP is available on sport information page) More details are available on the csnsw.sport website NSWCCC Softball Selections - close date 7 February 2024 - Selection date - Tuesday, 13 February at Stanhope Gardens - More information https://csnsw.sport/sports/nswccc-secondary/softball NSW All Schools Triathlon - close date 7 February 2024 - Championship date - Wednesday, 21 February at Sydney International Regatta Centre, Penrith - More information https://csnsw.sport/sports/nswccc-secondary/triathlon NSWCCC Baseball Selections - close date 22 February 2024 - Selection date - Tuesday, 5 March at Castle Glen 1 & 2, Castle Hill  - More information https://csnsw.sport/sports/nswccc-secondary/baseball NSWCCC Tennis Selections - close date 22 February 2024 - Selection date - Monday, 4 March at North Parramatta Tennis Courts - More information https://csnsw.sport/sports/nswccc-secondary/tennis NSWCCC Golf Selections - close date 16 February 2024 - Selection date Monday, 11 March at  Belmont Golf Club - More information  https://csnsw.sport/sports/nswccc-secondary/golf In 2024, 3 new pathways will be introduced. NSWCCC will be opening an Expression of Interest registration for these next week to assist in conducting selections to finalise NSWCCC teams - 15 Years & Under Cricket - boys & girls 15 Years & Under Volleyball - boys & girls    https://csnsw.sport/sports/nswccc-secondary/volleyball 18 Years & Under Bowls - boys & girls  A reminder our CSNSW Sport pilot event - AQUATHLON - on 19 December 2023 at Amour Park Revesby. OPen to students aged 8 years to 19 years. This is not a pathway but a fun activity we are hoping to expand. Early bird registrations have been extended to 11 December 2023   For more information https://csnsw.sport/sports/csnsw-sport-programmes/aquathlon Calendar Week Event Venue Date 2 College Swimming Carnival PLC Woy Woy Friday 9 February 2024 3 NSWCCC Softball Selections Stanhope Gardens Tuesday 13 February 2024 4 CSBB Opens and Under 15's Touch Football Doyalson Tuesday 20 February 2024 4 NSW All Schools Opens Cricket Maitland Tuesday 20 and Thursday 22 February 2024 4 NSW All Schools Triathlon Individual Penrith Regatta Centre Wednesday 21 February 2024 4 NSW All Schools Triathlon Teams Penrith Regatta Centre Thursday 22 February 2024 6 NSWCCC Tennis Selection Parramatta Monday 4 March 2024 6 NSWCCC Baseball Selections Castle Glen Tuesday 5 March 2024 7 NSWCCC Golf Selections Belmont Monday 11 March 2024 7 CSBB Swimming Carnival SOPAC Tuesday 12 March 2024   * For all NSWCCC Selections and NSW All Schools Triathlon (Individual) events, students are required to register via the CSNSW website. Click Here   You will need to ‘create account,’ if you do not have one OR ‘login’ using your existing account (NSWCCC or Polding). Once logged in, click on ‘register my child’ and follow the directions to register your son. Please be aware that these initial sports have closing dates to register. ** For the above Broken Bay (CSBB) events, College teams will attend. Information regarding these teams will be in the Daily Notices in Weeks 1 & 2 next year.   Jason Carpenter Leader of Learning Sport

The Year 10 Up Skilling Program wrapped up this week with Sarah Evans and Michael Gentle sharing their pathway journey. This 12-day program was made possible because of the willing participation from teachers, employers, organisations, community members and tertiary providers. We are truly grateful that you supported and guided our students during this program. Work Experience During Weeks 8 to 10 over 90 students participated in work experience whilst the remaining students in Year 10 participated in the Up Skilling Program. Week 8 Illuminate Project The Illuminate Project, led by Illuminate Education Australia, saw students collaborating in teams to create an innovative tourism attraction that would entice visitors to our region, while emphasising the distinctiveness of our area. They were guided to produce a business case, marketing, and business plan. They also pitched their ideas to mentors and had a final pitch on the last day. [smallgallery fooid="49037"]   Week 9 Newcastle University Experience Day Students travelled to the Callaghan campus and participated in hands on workshops including: Radiation Therapy, Amazing Spaces, Mock Trial, Psychological Science, Rage Against the Machine, Fantastic Physics, and Indonesian Language. [smallgallery fooid="49082"]   Eddies Workshops Over two days students participated in workshops of their choosing including: Asian Cuisine; Wheels, and Wallets (A Guide to Buying and Owning a Used Car); Rugby League Summer Camp; Tradie Basics; Water safety/kayaking; Groove Lab (Designing music for impact); Fact or Fiction? History through Film; Entrepreneur workshop (The side hustles, building your professional digital presence, literacy world building); Programming introduction (code club); and Next Level Maths (extension mathematics). [smallgallery fooid="49101"]   Mock Interviews Thirteen community members volunteered to interview our Year 10 students, providing guidance and advice to improve their interview skills. [smallgallery fooid="49162"]   Connect and Care of Country Excursion A fantastic day in which students learned about country, walking the trail at Maitland Bay. As they walked, they picked up rubbish to ensure the land was cared for and remained pristine.   ADF Presentation and Bootcamp Students learnt about the ADF, its pathways and opportunities and then they were taken through  Bootcamp  exercises.    

ATAR release 2023 Key dates ATARs will be released at 9am on Thursday 14 December 2023. December Round 2, on Thursday 21 December, is the first offer round for Year 12 students based on ATARs. The change of preference deadline for December Round 2 is 11.59pm on Friday 15 December. ATAR access NSW students By 9am on Thursday 14 December, UAC will send students an email with a quick link to the ATAR login. If they’re a UAC applicant they’ll also receive the link via SMS. They'll need their NESA student number and UAC PIN to log in. When students view their ATAR, they can download their official ATAR Advice Notice. It's free until Wednesday 13 March 2024: after this date they’ll need to buy it from the UAC Shop. Students will also be able to access and store their ATAR in the free digital wallet, CredFolio. More information and registration details will be sent to students soon. ATAR Enquiry Centre The ATAR Enquiry Centre – (02) 9119 5012 – will be open on the following days for students who have queries about the calculation of their ATAR: Thursday 14 December      8.30am to 6.30pm Friday 15 December            8.30am to 4.30pm Saturday 16 December       Closed Sunday 17 December          Closed Monday 18 December         8.30am to 4.30pm Tuesday 19 December         8.30am to 4.30pm Student numbers and PINs If students have forgotten their Year 12 student number, they should contact NESA/ACTBSSS or their school. If they’ve forgotten their UAC PIN, they should call UAC Customer Service on (02) 9752 0200, 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday (they'll need their NESA/BSSS student number). Students who have applied through UAC can reset their UAC PIN using the link on the application login page. We don't reply to email requests for login details as we need to identify the sender before giving out this information. ATAR estimator UAC has a free ATAR estimator. ATAR Compass estimates a student’s ATAR using scaling statistics from the past five years. Students select their HSC courses and their estimated or actual exam marks to receive an estimated ATAR, which they can use as a guide to make decisions about their future study options. The tool will also indicate if a student’s subject choices make them eligible for an ATAR. Locking in preferences Once students receive their ATAR they should log in to their application and review their preferences. UAC advises students to put their dream course first. Even if their ATAR isn’t what they hoped, it’s good to leave their first preference in place because lowest selection ranks change from year to year. We also advise students to research the full range of courses in the field that they’re hoping to study. If they find courses that have previously had lower selection ranks than their dream course, they can add them to the bottom of their list of preferences. This way, if they miss out on their dream course, they'll have a good chance of getting an offer to something similar. Offers The most important offer rounds for Year 12 students are: December Round 2 – Thursday 21 December (first offer round for Year 12 students based on ATARs) January Round 1 – Thursday 11 January 2024 (offers based on ATARs and IB results) UAC Goes Live: ATAR edition Be sure to let your Year 12s know that UAC is running a live Facebook and Instagram session for students. Wednesday 13 December, 5.30pm Topic covered include what students should do when they receive their ATAR, how to order their preferences, possible adjustment factors, maximising their chance of receiving an offer and what to do when they receive – or don’t receive – an offer, and other pathways to course entry. Speak to someone Our friendly and helpful Customer Service team is available to take calls on (02) 9752 0200, 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday. You can also ask us questions via our website Livechat or online enquiry form.

Please see the links below for the latest apprenticeships, traineeships and opportunities available to students.     During the open day, you will: Take a tour of the NECA Electrical Centre of Excellence training facility Talk to qualified electricians, industry mentors and trainers Be given an opportunity to take part in practical tasks Gain insights into the electrical industry Commence the application process if you want to start an apprenticeship! What to bring? Nothing! (unless you are applying for an apprenticeship) Current resume and school reports On the day: Wear comfortable attire and footwear Arrive 15 minutes before your selected tour time How to register: Click on the event registration link below! Click Here Questions? Contact the NECA Electrical Apprenticeships Recruitment Team on (02) 9744 2754 or ecruitment@necatraining.com.au  

See the links below for the latest information from universities and colleges:     Carers and Community Webinar  Are you a parent or carer for a student commencing uni next year? Join us for our Carers and Community webinar this Friday 8th December; 5.30pm. This session is designed to help you support your child or loved-one through their transition to university. Hear from Student Central staff as they outline some key, practical information that carers and parents should know about University study. Learn tips on how to support your child in the early days of university study and understand the supports available to them. There’ll also be time for a Q&A to have your questions answered. Register for the webinar here. Info Day  The University of Newcastle is hosting Info Day. Join us on campus at our Info Day to get all your questions answered to kick start your uni journey! If you have questions about studying in 2024 or didn’t quite get the marks you need, our Info Day is a chance to chat with our admissions and pathways teams to help you understand your adjusted ATAR and entry options. Bring your mates and grab a free bite to eat, relax with some live music and talk to our team about degrees, changing preferences and alternative entry options. You’ll also have the chance to take a tour of our beautiful campuses and chat with current students to find out what uni is really like. Our info sessions are held on the day that ATARs are released and prior to the close of change of preferences for consideration in the December Round 2 (15 December), so it's perfect timing to get the advice you need to finalise your UAC application. There’s a place for you at the University of Newcastle. We can’t wait to see you in 2024! Event Details  Date: Thursday 14 December 2023 Times and Locations:  Callaghan – 10:00am-1:00pm – Park on the Hill  NUspace – 10:00am-1:00pm – Meet in foyer Central Coast Clinical School (Gosford Campus) – 10:00am-1:00pm – Meet in foyer Ourimbah – 10:00am-1:00pm – Library / Quad Our Info Day is a drop-in style event, no registration required.   Our next Open Day is on Saturday, 20th January 2024!  Come and experience the JMC Academy difference at our upcoming on-campus Open Day Explore your creative future at our free Open Day Tour our world-class facilities and tech Speak to our current students about their journey and experiences Meet our industry expert lecturers and learn more about our courses Experience live student performances See creativity come to life with course demonstrations Build your creative network Speak to student admissions about the enrolment process JMC Academy Sydney - January 2024 Open Day Date and time Saturday, 20th of January 2024 9:45am - 2:00pm AEDT Location JMC Academy Sydney 561 Harris St, Ultimo NSW 2007 Price Free

Please see below for holiday contact information, stationery and back to school dates.   Enrolment During the Christmas break all matters relating to enrolment vacancies and notice of withdrawal can be directed to Ms Jodie Connor, Deputy Principal on jconnor@stedwards.nsw.edu.au. For all new enquires please see the link below: [embed]https://www.stedwards.nsw.edu.au/enrolment/enrolment-enquiry/[/embed] Commencement Dates 2024 Group Return Dates 2024 Staff Monday 29 January 2024 Years 7, 11 and 12 Wednesday 31 January 2024 Years 8, 9 and 10 Thursday  1 February 2024 Student timetables for 2024 will be available on the Portal in January 2024. Stationery Year 7 will receive a book pack on their first day of school.  Years 8-12 are responsible for purchasing their own supplies. Please find the link below for stationery lists for Years 8-11 for 2024.  Year 12 should be advised by their teachers of ongoing requirements for their HSC year. [embed]https://www.stedwards.nsw.edu.au/curriculum-learning/stationery-requirements-2024/[/embed] Uniform Cowan and Lewis, our uniform supplier, will be open between 9 am and 5 pm Monday to Friday until close of business on 20 December 2023 and will reopen on 3 January 2024.  The West Gosford shop will also be closed on Australia Day, 26 January 2024.  For contact information please see the link to our website below: [embed]https://www.stedwards.nsw.edu.au/parent-community/parent-college-uniform/[/embed] Pastoral To contact the Director of Pastoral Care please email kmills@stedwards.nsw.edu.au Please be reminded that on the first day of Term 1, all students must strictly adhere to the Hair and Grooming Guidelines. See the link to website below for more information. [embed]https://www.stedwards.nsw.edu.au/parent-community/parent-college-uniform/[/embed]   Counsellors If you do not have regular access to counselling or support services, please consider the following as alternative pathways to seeking help and support in difficult or challenging times: Mental Health Telephone Access Line – 1800 011 511  This is the access point for mental health referrals. Life Line (24hr telephone counselling service) 13 11 14 or www.lifeline.org.au Kids Helpline (24hr telephone counselling service) 1800 55 1800 or www.kidshelpline.com.au Headspace Gosford – 4304 7878 Headspace Lake Haven - 4394 9100 headspace supports young people with mild to moderate mental health concerns.  Youth Health – 4356 9333 Youth Health has counselling support for young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health concerns  Youth Drug and Alcohol Service - 4394 4880  Youth Drug and Alcohol Support young people with moderate to severe drug and alcohol concerns.  

Finding Joy and Thriving Through Christmas and the School Holidays Christmas can be a time for family, connection and celebration. For many this time also brings stress and other emotions like loneliness, sadness, disappointment and grief. Such feelings can arise especially if this is the first Christmas since a beloved family member has died, a couple have separated, or if there are complex relationship dynamics within the family. Financial strain can impact families as they try to pay bills and have money for extras like presents and parties. For separated or blended families, deciding who the children spend Christmas Day with can be a very difficult issue to work through, especially when communication isn’t always respectful. For many families, mixing relationship difficulties and old wounds can create a pressure-cooker environment, especially when adding alcohol into the mix. While long summer school holidays are a welcome break from tiredness and the busyness of the school year, there can often seem like there is little respite for parents. We acknowledge all of the above and have created the following tips to support you to connect with your family and kids whilst taking care of your own needs, so you can survive and thrive through Christmas and the school holidays. Plan and keep some normal routines On Christmas Day, plan eating times. When is the best time for gift giving? Maybe have some backup activities planned in case kids become overwhelmed, need to release some energy or family tensions build. Game of cricket anyone? Board game, walk or a swim? Have a Christmas movie downloaded that all the kids can enjoy. Get your kids involved in making a list of activities that they would like to do, planning for different kinds of weather. Schedule down time as well as time for family group activities, without trying to do too much. Keep it simple this year Remember that keeping things simple reduces stress and creates a calmer atmosphere. Give yourself permission to take some short cuts with Christmas lunch, for example. Similarly, setting boundaries around the money spent on gifts can be helpful. Home-made gifts and cards or Kris Kringles can reduce spending and post-Christmas debt. The best things in life are free To balance the extra spending that can often accompany this time of year, plan some free activities to reduce costs and to teach kids that they can have fun without spending or getting more stuff. Make sure your holiday activities list includes plenty of free activities like picnics, bike rides, trips to the beach and action in the great outdoors. Libraries, museums, art galleries, local councils and even local shopping centres, often offer kid-friendly activities, which are usually free. Follow the strengths and interests of your child. Boredom is good Unstructured time and breaks from devices are good for young brains. This provides a brain break and the opportunity to explore, get creative and play. Kids may winge at first but remember that boredom can lead to resilience and inspiration, if we allow them to feel this very normal emotion. Support and connection It’s OK to ask for help to share the load. Where possible, ask the child’s other parent, family or friends to help care for children or to provide support in other ways. Having a support system is crucial for any parent. This could be talking to a professional or getting to know other parents in your community. This gives parents the opportunity to interact with other parents whilst giving the kids a bit of play time. As connections develop, you could arrange playdates where kids are dropped off for a few hours. This gives the non-hosting parent a break and then can be reciprocated over the holidays. Practice acceptance There is no such thing as a perfect family or holiday. Have realistic expectations and prepare for possible relationship issues. It can be helpful to have some communication and emotion regulation strategies ready. Remember, the big picture is that you only need to survive a short time with the family during the festive season. Even the best-made plans may need to be ditched last minute due to illness or accidents. Whilst stressful, unforeseen events often teach us and our kids valuable life lessons, even creating a great story down the track. Consider mental health and wellbeing Whilst it may be a tradition to go on an annual family holiday or attend a family Christmas dinner, maybe your teenager is too depressed or your child with ADHD will be labelled by judgemental relatives. Consider whether it’s essential when it may impact mental health and wellbeing for you or your child, especially if dynamics have been extra triggering and challenging this year. Don’t forget self-care Look after yourself and take time out to relax, even if it’s half an hour to have a cuppa, read a book or go for a walk. Five-minute mindfulness breaks using an app like Smiling Mind can be hugely beneficial for managing stress and mental health over time. Be mindful that happy and relaxed parents make for happy children. Having compassion when we or our kids make a mistake can really support coping, as can a gratitude practice. On Christmas Eve or Day, ask each family member to name something they are grateful for this year. Reflect and create space for joy Try to be present and to enjoy some moments (rather than every moment) this Christmas and school holidays. What brings you joy at Christmas? Create the space to find moments of joy in the lead up and on the day. Mindfulness strategies can help with this, such as noticing the sights, sounds, smells and other sensory delights of Christmas. Holiday connections help us the rest of the year School holidays provide opportunities to connect with and get to know our kids better. Use the school holidays to spend one-on-one time with each family member. Holidays away from home are a chance to decompress, do less, rest, enjoy nature and create memories with our kids. If you do not have regular access to counselling or support services, please consider the following as alternative pathways to seeking help and support in difficult or challenging times: Mental Health Telephone Access Line – 1800 011 511  This is the access point for mental health referrals. Life Line (24hr telephone counselling service) 13 11 14 or www.lifeline.org.au Kids Helpline (24hr telephone counselling service) 1800 55 1800 or www.kidshelpline.com.au Headspace Gosford – 4304 7878 Headspace Lake Haven - 4394 9100 headspace supports young people with mild to moderate mental health concerns.  Youth Health – 4356 9333 Youth Health has counselling support for young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health concerns  Youth Drug and Alcohol Service - 4394 4880  Youth Drug and Alcohol Support young people with moderate to severe drug and alcohol concerns. We would like to wish you all a very safe, healthy and connected Christmas. We look forward to working with you and your children again in 2024. Terase Killin and Marcus Missio-Spiteri College Counsellors

Please see below correspondence emailed home in Term 4, 2023.   Year 10 2024 Laptop Rollover - Sent 22 November 2023 2024 Fees Notification - Sent 22 November 2023 Year 10 Iluminate Challenge - Sent 20 November 2023 Year 12 - Permission to Arrive Later or Leave Early - Sent 10 November 2023 Year 12, 2024 Goal Setting - Sent 7 November 2023 Year 10 Camp - Sent 6 November 2023 Year 10 Minimum Standards - Sent 6 November 2023 Read With Me - Sent 2 November 2023 Year 12, 2024 Parent Information Evening Summary - Sent 24 October 2023 Year 8 Camp Medications - Sent 24 October 2023 Year 8 Camp - Sent 24 October 2023 Year 12, 2024 Information Evening Reminder - Sent 9 October 2023 2023 Year 10 Camp Information and Consent Form - Sent 22 September 2023