Edmund Rice Education Australia Touchstone

Liberating Education

As a Catholic School in the Edmund Rice tradition, we are committed to serving the individual needs of each person, providing teaching and learning experiences that are authentic, relevant, rigorous and creative.

 Performing Arts Night

The performing arts are an essential part of our students’ overall educational experience. Many of our boys possess exceptional talents in these areas, and they are nurtured and supported by our dedicated and passionate Performing Arts faculty. On Monday, November 25, these talents were showcased at the Annual Performing Arts Night, where students from Years 7 to 11 presented a diverse range of musical and dramatic performances.

Throughout the year, students have numerous opportunities to display their abilities, whether at College masses, liturgical celebrations, or awards ceremonies. This night serves as the grand finale, celebrating their hard work and dedication and offers families a chance to see the remarkable talent our students exhibit.

I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to our exceptional Performing Arts faculty, led by Mrs Annette Rankin, and supported by Mr Paul Toole, Ms Elena Atayde and Mr Justin Kane, for their unwavering commitment to nurturing the artistic development of our boys throughout the year.

Annual Awards Day

We are delighted to invite families to attend our Annual Awards Day, which will be held in the Edmund Rice Centre on Tuesday, December 10, from 9:00am. This event will celebrate the outstanding achievements of students across various aspects of College life.

Awards will be presented in the following categories:

• Learner Profile Award: For students in the top 10% of their cohort based on Learner Profile scores.
• School Spirit Award: For students who demonstrate a commitment to the ethos of St Edward’s, including attendance at both the Swimming and Athletic Carnivals, Founder’s Day, and the final day of at least two terms (Terms 1, 2, or 3). This award also considers service contributions to the College, completion of mandatory Waterford hours, and a positive record of uniform and behaviour.
• Academic Award: For students in the top 3% of the cohort in a specific subject.

Throughout the event, students will showcase their musical talents, and a morning tea will be provided for families who attend.

Parents and carers of award recipients have been notified, and we strongly encourage all families of award recipients to attend the ceremony in support of their son’s achievements.

Community Christmas Carols

The College is excited to host the inaugural Community Christmas Carols event on Friday, December 6, starting at 6:00pm on the College ovals. This special event is a collaboration between St Edward’s College, St Joseph’s College, St Patrick’s Primary School, and St Patrick’s Parish. It promises to be a wonderful evening, featuring performances by students from each school and members of the Parish choir, who will be singing our favourite Christmas carols to help kick off the festive season.

Even if you have not yet indicated that you would like to attend you are most welcome. Bring a picnic chair and rug, your own food and drinks or you can purchase food from a selection of food vendors which will be available on the night.

End of Year Reports

The Year 7-10 Semester Two reports will be available on the College Portal at the end of the term. These reports will include an end-of-year grade, a teacher’s comment, and an assessment of application and effort based on the Learner Profile. I encourage both parents and students to carefully review these reports, paying close attention to the teacher’s comments and the indicators related to the Learner Profile.

This year, students have been encouraged to set learning goals based on the Learner Profile, and the feedback provided in these reports is a valuable resource for each student in relation to those goals. In 2025, students will be asked to establish new learning goals for the year, and the feedback from this report will be instrumental in shaping those goals.

I strongly encourage all families to take time to read through the report with their son and engage in meaningful discussions about it. The role of parents and carers in supporting their son’s educational journey cannot be overstated. Research consistently shows that students, particularly boys, who achieve success in their learning benefit greatly from the positive support, encouragement, and active engagement of their parents and carers.