Edmund Rice Education Australia Touchstones

Inclusive Community

Our community is accepting and welcoming, fostering right relationships and committed to the common good.  A Catholic school in the Edmund Rice tradition by providing pastoral care that nurtures the dignity of each person as uniquely reflecting the image of God.

Congratulations to our Year 12’s

This week saw the conclusion of formal classes for our Year 12 students.  Whilst there is still much to complete, with exams and final assessments, there is no doubt this is a significant milestone in every young man’s life. During one of our year group pastoral meetings, I urged the boys to remember that they were not done yet – I used the analogy of their education being like a 100 m sprint, they are now at the 97-meter mark.  The best sprinters in the world don’t slow down at the end; they lunge forward and ‘Breast the Tape’ putting all their effort into finishing as quickly as they can – I hope our boys take the same approach, re-doubling their effort and commitment for the final exam period.

Despite what lies ahead for exams, this time is truly a rite of passage where these young men take another important step towards full independence.  Whilst a time of great excitement and celebration we also acknowledge that it is a time of anxiety for many boys, with the stress of exams, final results and in some cases an unknown future.   The following website from Kids Helpline provides some important reminders of how the boys can navigate this stressful time of their lives: Click Here  and of course any boy is encouraged to access the support of all College staff, especially their Pastoral Leader Mr Powell and the College Counsellors Ms Killin and Mr Missio-Spiteri.

Finally, as the boys enter this important transition period of their lives, I offer a favorite blessing:

An Irish Blessing…

“May the road rise to meet you,

and the wind always be at your back.

May the sun shine warm on your face

and the rains fall softly on your fields.

And until we meet again

May God hold you gently in the palm of his hand.

COVID Update

Following the announcement by the federal ­­government, please note the new isolation period for positive COVID-19 cases was reduced from 7 days to 5 days from Friday 9 September.​

Staff, students, and visitors who have tested positive to COVID-19 must:​

• complete 5 days of isolation from the date they tested positive​
• be symptom-free before returning to school, if symptoms remain after day 5, they must continue following NSW Health guidelines to self-isolate and undertake a rapid antigen test​
• complete a rapid antigen test (RAT) and return a negative result before attending school on days 6 and 7 after testing positive to COVID-19​
• wear a mask on days 6 and 7 when attending school (for all staff and those students 12 years and older).

A reminder for all families that positive cases and close/household contacts must be reported to the College, the appropriate forms can be accessed here.

Thank You

This week marks the end of my short but enriching stay at St Edward’s as Acting Principal.  Whilst I am very excited to be heading home to Adelaide to again be with my family, I am truly sad to be leaving the community.  I have felt truly welcomed and supported by all the staff, students, and families of the College.  It has been a privilege to take on this role, and I thank Mr Bonnici and the College leadership for the way I have been supported to take on this role and through the term.  I especially thank Ms Jodie Connor, she has been an amazing support as Deputy throughout the period, and I would not have been able to navigate many an issue without her wisdom and insight.

I will now look on from afar to watch the progress of the College and the boys, in particular, I will eagerly await the results of our Year 12’s.  Thank you for your kindness and support and I wish all communities the best for the remainder of this year and beyond.