Edmund Rice Education Australia Touchstone

GOSPEL SPIRITUALITY

As a Catholic School in the Edmund Rice tradition, we nurture and encourage the spiritual growth of each person through reflection, prayer, symbols, sacred stories, rituals and sacraments

Easter Liturgy

On Friday April 11, the communities of St Edward’s and St Joseph’s will come together to celebrate a liturgy that emphasises the profound Easter messages of love, hope, and sacrifice. Students from both Colleges will lead the event, showcasing their talents through outstanding music and drama performances. This special occasion highlights the wonderful relationship between St Edward’s and St Joseph’s in providing a Catholic education for young people on the Central Coast. Our values-based approach to education encourages students to reflect deeply on the kind of individuals they aspire to become. We look forward to continuing to expand our range of co-educational experiences with St Joseph’s in the future.

I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations and thanks to the many staff and students who collaborated to bring the Easter Liturgy to life. We are truly blessed to have such remarkable talent within our two schools.

As a Catholic School in the Edmund Rice tradition, we are committed to promoting an integral ecology through promoting ecojustice and working towards a sustainable and regenerative future for all creation

At St Edward’s College, we are dedicated to fostering a deeper understanding among our students about the crucial responsibility we all share in promoting ecological sustainability. Through the College Portfolio process, students are encouraged to engage in meaningful dialogue about contemporary societal issues and take proactive steps towards making a difference. One of our College Portfolios specifically focuses on environmental concerns. I am pleased to share a report from members of this portfolio, showcasing how we collaborate with our students to drive positive change.

Solar Panel Report – Written by: Benjamin Weisbaum and Harry Evans in Year 10

At the start of 2024, we introduced the idea of installing new, modern solar panels at the College. Throughout 2023, we were deeply involved in the Environment Portfolios Flip the Switch project, which opened our eyes to just how much energy our school consumes — and we were shocked. From that point on, we set a clear goal: to find a way to reduce our school’s carbon footprint by adding solar panels to the roof. With the support of Mr Gentle and the rest of the Environment Portfolio, we eventually brought the concept all the way to the schools’ executives, who swiftly approved it! This was extremely exciting, and we were thrilled to see the panels when we returned to school in 2025.

Placement and General Information  

On February 7, 2025, the 140-Kilowatt Solar System was installed on the roof of the Edmund Rice Centre. A total of 314,440 Watt, panels were installed, a significant upgrade from the 52, previously installed at the College (now removed due to a faulty inverter, not contributing anything to the College’s electricity use).

Environment Impact  

During March alone, these solar panels produced an impressive 15.2MWh of electricity, which is equivalent to 15,200kWh. In the short time we have had them, these solar panels have proven to be a key part of our school’s efforts to be more sustainable. A direct result of our new renewable energy source was saving a total of 7.8 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions from being released into the atmosphere.

Energy Saving  

In March 2025, the College achieved a 17% electricity saving, a total of 12,175.96 kWh, compared to March 2024. This reduction was the result of the solar panels working in conjunction with Flip the Switch, a student-driven initiative that encourages turning off classroom lights when exiting to reduce electricity consumption.

We would like to thank Mr Michael Gentle, Mr Mark Reynolds, Mrs Kylie Beynon and the Environment Portfolio team for their continuous support and contributions to this success. These panels are a testament to the school’s commitment to environmental sustainability and its dedication to student voice and advocacy. We would not have achieved this level of success without them.

Students in the Environment Portfolio: Harrison Evans, Benjamin Weisbaum, Jonathan Lin, Joseph Sykes, Chikomborero Katsande, Reagan Gomez, Eli Smith, Lachlan Renton, Jude Mathey, Max Oteiwi, Michael Sikuka, Nicholas Husk, Riyan KC and Thomas Jukich-Cabral.

Bungaree Program

Click Here to Read the Bulletin

The College’s High Potential Learner initiative, known as the Bungaree Program, has commenced once again this year for students in Years 7 and 8. Facilitated by Mr Chris Louie, this program is designed to cater to the cognitive and socio-emotional needs of our high potential learners. It offers rich and engaging learning opportunities that extend their knowledge, skills, and understanding in a collaborative working environment alongside other like-minded students.

Mr Louie and the students have also launched a news bulletin titled Bungaree’s Bright, which reports on the students and their work within the program. The first edition is now available by clicking the image:

Winter Uniform

Families are reminded that at the commencement of Term 2, all students are required to wear their full winter school uniform Monday to Thursday, consisting of the College blazer, College shirt, long pants and tie. The College tracksuit is to be worn on Friday by students in Years 7-10 while our senior students continue to wear their winter uniform. Parents and students are reminded that skate shoes are not considered appropriate sporting shoes and are not to be worn in PE lessons or on Friday. Students are not permitted to wear their College tracksuit top or any other non-school jumper with their winter uniform, only the College jumper, College Blazer or Senior Jacket are to be worn.

2026 Enrolments

The College is now accepting enrolment applications for Year 7 2026. The enrolment process is completed online via the College website at: https://www.stedwards.nsw.edu.au/enrolment/

The enrolment information clearly outlines the enrolment criteria. Applications received after Monday May 12, 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.

End of Term Message

I would like to extend my sincere congratulations and thanks to all students who have dedicated themselves to the academic, spiritual, social justice, and extra-curricular activities throughout the term. The Term 1 Interim Reports will be available on the College Portal on Friday April 11. These reports offer valuable feedback to students and families, aligned with our newly developed College Learner Profile. I encourage students to take the time to reflect on the information provided in these reports to help set learning goals for the remainder of the year.

The holiday break is an excellent opportunity to relax, reflect on the start of the year, and re-energise for the term ahead. I wish all students and their families a safe and happy holiday. Please note that Monday 28 April, is a Staff Development Day, and no classes will be held. Term 2 classes will commence on Tuesday April 29.