Be the Best You Can Be The College Commencement Mass was once again a significant and meaningful occasion for St Edward’s. Throughout the ceremony, presided over by Father Vince Casey, Parish Priest of Terrigal, the students displayed reverence, respect, and prayerfulness. A special congratulations to our talented musicians, whose performances enriched the prayerful atmosphere of the Mass. Their dedication and preparation, guided by our music staff, Mrs Rankin and Mr Toole, were truly commendable. Father Vince delivered an inspiring message on this year’s theme, “Be the best you can be.” Our College Principal, Mr Bonnici, also spoke about the importance of our College values, reinforcing the expectation that St Edward’s College students always strive to do their best. The students were encouraged to embrace their talents and participate fully in the many opportunities available to them. Mr Beacroft Director of Mission and Identity   [smallgallery fooid="58185"]   [embed]https://youtu.be/VV9Rk1ujxbc[/embed]

After saying goodbye to their families at the school gates on their first day, our Year 7 students received their stationery packs and were guided into their Home Room, where they met their Home Room teachers. Following a school tour with senior students, Year 7 spent the rest of the day getting to know their teachers and classmates, playing games, making new friends, and familiarising themselves with school expectations. In the following days, they received their new laptops, had their photographs taken for their student ID cards, and began mastering the art of opening their lockers. Teachers have shared countless positive accounts of how smoothly Year 7 has transitioned into high school. The St Edward’s community is excited to get to know each new Eddie’s boy and wishes them all the best for the year ahead. Congratulations, boys—what a fantastic start! Mr Marks Year 7 Pastoral Leader [foogallery id="57848"]  

Current Year 6 students are invited to register for A Day in the Life at St Edward’s. A Day in the Life at St Edward’s College provides an opportunity for Year 6 students to explore and experience some of the opportunities that the College has to offer. Throughout the day each student will experience a program that could include: Music, Visual Arts, Science, PDHPE, and Industrial Technology. Students are accompanied by members of the St Edward’s staff, and our senior students. Register Now

Come and join us for Open Day on Saturday 8 March 2025. Take a student-led tour of the College anytime between 10 am and 2 pm and see our purpose-built facilities, chat to our knowledgeable teachers and staff, and watch demonstrations of the many subjects we offer at St Edward’s.  Finish off the tour with a sausage sandwich and drink. All welcome! Please register your intention of attending for catering purposes. Register Here   [embed]https://youtu.be/y8VgnnAU5sU[/embed]

St Edward’s College Tops Central Coast Catholic Schools in 2024 HSC Results St Edward’s College is proud to announce outstanding 2024 HSC results, once again surpassing the achievements of the previous year. These exceptional outcomes position St Edward’s as the highest-ranked Catholic school on the Central Coast. Additionally, our students secured the third-highest number of top-band results across all schools in the region, reinforcing our commitment to academic excellence. A special congratulations to our distinguished achievers, including Joshua Malek, who achieved an impressive ATAR of 98.9, and Christopher Dodd, who earned an ATAR of 98.55 and was recognised as an All-Rounder for attaining top-band results in every course he studied. Additionally, we are thrilled to share that our students outperformed the state average in several courses, with all subjects meeting or exceeding expected learning gains. We also celebrate the success of students who excelled in their VET and TVET courses, many of whom have secured apprenticeships, enrolled in TAFE, or begun full-time work. Their achievements highlight the diverse pathways available at St Edward’s and the dedication of our students to their future careers. These results are a testament to the dedication of our students, the expertise of our teaching staff, and the unwavering support of our College community. [caption id="attachment_58255" align="aligncenter" width="680"] Click the Image to View our Outstanding Results[/caption]

Over the course of 2024, one of the greatest successes we saw in our students was that of their reading development. As such, moving into the new year, we hope to continue to consolidate these skills and begin an explicit focus on writing skills, specifically grammar and punctuation. Much of the planning for 2025 and the implementation of our chosen literacy approaches have been based upon our NAPLAN and Pat-Reading data that we collated across 2024. The key take-aways were that reading was one of our strongest domains where collectively, the College achieved above average in the state. However, the domain which has indicated needs an explicit focus, is that of grammar and punctuation. Therefore, we have planned and already begun to implement three key literacy goals for 2025. These include consolidating and continuing to develop reading skills, explicitly teach vocabulary and metalanguage and begin explicit teaching of grammar and punctuation skills. Part of the implementation of these focuses has been to introduce whole school initiatives. Two of these include the explicit teaching of vocabulary and to include these terms in all Notification of Assessment Tasks, and to start each lesson with a 10-minute activity such as reading, a spelling test or another literacy-based task such as questioning or revising. It is important for our students to understand that reading and literacy, are not purely for the English classroom. Rather, it is in all subjects and therefore these skills need to be consistently practiced for greater success as learners. In line with our findings from the varied diagnostic testing last year, we have identified that our primary focus is Stage 4 (Year 7 and 8). To help shape successful and autonomous learners, the foundations in reading and writing skills need to be developed. As such, in Year 7 Core classes, and Year 8 English classes, students will have a weekly grammar focus. During this lesson, students will be explicitly taught about verbs, tense, capitalisation, sentence structure, etc and then complete an independent task in their grammar and punctuation book, to consolidate their understanding. Following, there is a fortnightly quiz that will assess their knowledge. Additionally, Year 7 will also have a spelling and vocabulary workbook that will assess ten key terms taken from English, HSIE and Religion. Students can take these workbooks home to practice their spelling and complete the vocabulary exercises within, as additional study or homework set by their teacher. Lastly, both year groups will engage in a fortnightly reading lesson, on-top of the 10-minutes of reading to start their lesson. Whilst Year 7 will participate in the Accelerated Reader Program that will monitor their progress and growth in reading comprehension, Year 8 will have an allocated reading lesson that takes place in an English, HSIE or Religion lesson. These reading lessons are designed to encourage reading as pleasure which further assists in broadening vocabulary and exposing varied text and sentence. Across the College, laptops are encouraged to be used more as a supplementary device. Exercise books and writing are encouraged to enable students with developing spelling and sentence structure. The continued focus of TEEL paragraph writing will be explicitly modelled across all subject areas. Following from last year, exemplar responses will be provided for each assessment task which will be explicitly taught, decoding not only why it is effective, but how. By providing students with a detailed model of success, we are aiming to provide the students with greater opportunity for both academic success and confidence in their writing ability. Lastly, during Week 6 (12–14 March), Year 7 and 9 will undergo NAPLAN testing. We encourage all students to try their best and if wanting further revision, to ask their English Teacher or come and see me. We have an exciting year ahead of us. One where we will be fostering confidence and personal growth within teaching and learning. I look forward to seeing the growth of our students and share in their success with you, later in the year. Welcome back and have a great year. Kaitlyn Abbott-Atchison Literacy Integrator

Friday saw a great start to the year with the College Swimming Carnival, being held at PLC Woy Woy. A sunny and warm day created the perfect setting for a fun and enjoyable time at the pool for all in attendance. Student numbers were somewhat low, and participation rates seem to be following a downward trend. However, our younger boys and seniors took advantage of the day, embracing the occasion with color, spirit, and enthusiasm. There were some tremendous individual efforts across all age groups, with the following boys placing: Place Student House Under 12 1st 2nd 3rd Jordan Ippolito Thomas Jukich-Cabral Clive Forrest Spillane Shanahan Shanahan Under 13 1st 2nd 3rd Callan Atherton Lachlan Maxwell Ace Garrett Knights Doolan Spillane Under 14 1st 2nd 3rd Preston Bush Lachlan Hillard Michah Pope Knights Knights Shanahan Under 15 1st 2nd 3rd Billy McCarthy Cooper Stark Logan Atherton Spillane Doolan Spillane Under 16 1st 2nd 3rd Shaylan Bennett Harrison Evans Julian Tagoai Spillane Spillane Doolan 17+ 1st 2nd 3rd Lachlan Bunney Tahj Regattieri Eden Pearson Shanahan Shanahan Doolan Overall, Spillane won the House competition with 941 points, followed by Knights with 715 points. Shanahan came in third with 536 points, and Doolan placed fourth with 442 points. All boys who have qualified for the school team will meet this week, and we look forward to reporting on their results from the Broken Bay (CSBB) carnival on Tuesday, 11 March, at SOPAC, Homebush. A big thank you to both staff and students for their contributions to a wonderful day, which certainly highlighted school spirit, exceptional behaviour, and the fantastic way we all come together for these College events.   [foogallery id="58049"]

Term 1 College Sporting Team Events Information regarding these teams is posted on the College Daily Notices. This will be read each morning in Homeroom. Students can also access these notices from their laptop Homepage. Students need to check this each day and make sure they attend meetings, selection events and training in preparation for the below events. Term 1 Sporting Events Week Date Event Venue 3 18 February 2025 CSBB Under 15 Touch Football Adcock Park, West Gosford 6 11 March 2025 CSBB Swimming Carnival SOPAC, Homebush 7 18 March 2025 CSBB Opens Touch Football Nolans Reserve, Manly 8 24 March 2025 CSBB Opens Basketball Terrigal Basketball Stadium 9 1 April 2025 CSBB Under 15 Rugby League Selections St Peter’s Catholic College, Tuggerah 9 2 & 3 April 2025 NSWCCC Swimming Carnival SOPAC, Homebush 9 4 April 2025 Annual Blacktown PBC Rugby League Games (Under 14 and Under 15) College Oval   Term 1 Representative Sport  Below is a table of details regarding representative sporting opportunities this Term. Please pay attention to the closing dates. Students and or parents must register for these events prior to the closing date. You will then be notified if your son has been successful in being selected to attend the selection event. The College is also notified of student selection and will be required to give approval to attend. Level Event Age Date Location Time EOI Closing Date NSW All Schools Individual Triathlon (Junior, Intermediate, Senior) Years 7-12 Boys 26/2/2025 Sydney Regatta Centre 7.00am-2.00pm 19/02/2025 NSW All Schools Teams Triathlon (Junior, Intermediate, Senior) Years 7-12 Boys 27/2/2025 Sydney Regatta Centre 7.00am-2.00pm 19/02/2025 NSWCCC Tennis Selections Years 7-12 Boys 3/03/2025 Parramatta City Tennis Barton St, Parramatta 8.30am - 3.00pm 21/02/2025 Players must have UTR and Tennis ID number NSWCCC Golf Selections Years 7-12 Boys 3/03/2025 Tuncurry Golf Club The Northern Parkway, Tuncurry TBC 21/02/2025 @ 5pm Handicap Limits - Boys <13 NSWCCC Baseball Selections Years 9-12 (Born 2006 - 2010) 5/03/2025 Castle Glen Reserve, Castle Hill 8.00am-3.30pm TBC NSWCCC Volleyball Under 15 Selections Years 7-10 (15 years born 2010-2012) 7/03/2025 Netball Central, Sydney Olympic Park Boys 12.00pm - 3.00pm 14/02/2025 @ 5pm Paper selection after close of EOIs Nth NSW AFL   Northern NSW Under 15 AFL Selections   Years 8-10 (Born 1/1/2010 - 31/12/2011)   26/03/2025   Feighan Oval, Warners Bay   9.00am-2.00pm   TBC   NSWCCC Volleyball Open Selections Years 10-12 (Born 1/1/2007 - 31/12/2010) 28/03/2025 Netball Central, Sydney Olympic Park Boys 12.00pm - 3.00pm 7/03/2025 @ 5pm Paper selection after close of EOIs CSBB Under 15 Rugby League Under 15 Rugby League Selections Years 9-10 (Born 1/1/2010 - 31/12/2010) 1/04/2025 St Peter’s Catholic College, Tuggerah Boys 11.00am –1.30pm 18/3/2025 NSWCCC Under 15 and Open Hockey Selections Years 7-12 (Born 1/1/2007-31/12/2013) 7/04/2025 Newcastle Hockey Centre, Broadmeadow 8.30am-3.00pm 21/3/2025 NSWCCC Under 16 Rugby Union Selections Years 8-11 (Born 1/1/2009 - 31/12/2010) 8/4/2025 Rowland Park, Daceyville 8.30am-3.00pm TBC NSWCCC Under 18 Rugby Union Selections Years 11 and 12 (Born 1/1/2007 - 31/12/2008 9/4/2025 Rowland Park, Daceyville 8.30am-3.00pm 28/3/2025   Below is a detailed explanation of the registration process for Representative Sport. CSNSW Sport portal: Parent HELP Setting Up an Account You will need to go to csnsw.sport, click on login, then "Forgot Password" - as your password will need to be reset. Portal details update – Parents need to go in and update details (ie. Child’s school year and new school – Year 7). Check this has been done if you cannot see registration options (you should be able to). If you have NOT previously had account, you will need to set one up so you can register your child. Go to www.csnsw.sport Click on Create A New Account which is located in the blue box on the top right hand side of the page Click on Setup Parent Account Complete all the fields and click on Create Account. You will receive a confirmation email. Adding a Child Click on Add Child Complete all fields. Click NEXT Complete all fields on the next page and click on Add Child Register for a Sport Scroll to your child’s profile Click on Register for a Sport Select the Sport Click Next Review your child’s details and if they are correct tick the “Acknowledgement” box and click Next Sport Specific Details - review all the event information and click Next Consent to Participate - Complete all the fields and click on NEXT Your registration is not complete until you have completed all steps - including payment if payment is required (Checkout) Progression to Next Level Once you have been selected to the next level you will receive an email to login in to your account Scroll to the child’s profile and there will be a box in red “Confirm Selection”. Click on the box. Review your child’s details and if they are correct tick the “Acknowledgement” box and click Next Sport Specific Details: Review all the event information and click Next Consent to Participate: Complete all the fields and click on Finish Add to Cart: Levy and uniform will be displayed. (If applicable) Follow the prompts and click on Checkout This will take you to the payment options. Complete payment. Checking the Progress of Your Child's Registration At any stage you can check your child's registration progress. The stages are colour coded GREEN -  the registration is complete ORANGE - the registration is awaiting Principal Approval or School Action RED - You have not completed the registration and must return to the process You can check details, what you have agreed to and your cart/orders by clicking on View Registrations and scrolling through the sections. (Purchases are at the end) Jason Carpenter Leader of Learning Sport  

See the following for information and opportunities relating to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics: STEM in Sport Take the Quiz Here     Reserve Your Spot     Browse the Collection     Choose your Science Mission Science is all about pushing boundaries, increasingly in areas like quantum or space. But it also offers plenty of opportunities for people who want to protect what we have here on Earth, be it endangered species or ecosystems under threat. That’s the focus of our latest issue of Careers with STEM: Science, out now! Science is part of so many important jobs of our present and future. That’s why, in this issue – sponsored by ANSTO – we’re shining a light on the crucial role science plays for everyone. Read the full Magazine  

Please see the links below for the latest traineeship and apprenticeship information.   Fast Track Applications Now Open We are excited to announce that applications for the 2025 Fast Track program are now open. If you know someone who is passionate about horses, this could be the start of an exciting new career for them. Successful candidates will commence a full-time traineeship with a reputable stud farm while studying for a Certificate III in Horse Breeding - a nationally recognised formal qualification. To complement the on-the-job learning, students will attend two intensive learning blocks in Scone, NSW (six weeks in total), where they will experience a mix of practical training and classroom theory, as well as take part in a variety of field trips and personal development workshops. These learning blocks are designed to prepare students for life working on a stud farm and provide the foundational skills and knowledge needed to build a successful career in the industry. Applications for the 2025 program are open for a period of six weeks, closing on 11 March. Apply Now   It might not sound as cool as working in a café or restaurant, but a Hospitality Assistant role in aged care offers some amazing opportunities to support your VET studies that you might not have considered. Learn real skills like preparing food for people with a variety of dietary needs. Kickstart your career with plenty of chances for long-term growth. Access ongoing training and support to boost your confidence and expertise. Thrive in a workplace with a positive, supportive team culture. Click for to see Expressions of Interest Information     Master Builders Can Help You Become the Best Apprentice or Trainee You Can Be Apprentices and trainees are fully supported every step of the way with entry level skills and safety training. With an Apprenticeship you can earn whilst you learn, gain a nationally recognised qualification, have great work-life balance and no student loans. Call Master Builders on 02 8586 3533 or email careers@mbansw.asn.au or go to https://www.mbaapprenticeship.com.au/.  

See the links below for the latest course information and post school opportunities.     Jumpstart Your Game Design Career with the AIE's Work Experience Program! Experience game design at the Academy of Interactive Entertainment with the Work Experience Program. Tailored for high school students in Years 10 to 12. Get hands-on with industry-standard game development software and learn more about digital industries. Available dates are now open for 2025! For more information and to secure a spot, visit the AIE website or call 1300709019.     Projects Abroad - Overseas Medical Experience Programs Projects Abroad - overseas medical experiences for students keen on pursuing studies and careers in healthcare disciplines. The programs for Years 10 to 12, run in the holidays in countries such as Cambodia and Nepal. Students can join alone or with friends. Projects Abroad has full time local staff for care and welfare. Details https://www.projects-abroad.com.au/trip-format/high-school-specials/. Notre Dame - Great Resources for Students Thinking About Medicine Have students wondering about medicine as a career? Two great resources for students that provide insights along the training pathway are Destination Medicine https://www.destinationmedicine.com.au/podcasts/student-series/3/17 and Maybe Medicine which provides information on all medical courses in Australia https://www.notredame.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0022/462406/maybe-medicine-guide.pdf.     Upcoming Webinars Why study business at Sydney? | Wednesday 19 February, 4 – 4:30 pm Discover how our Bachelor of Commerce prepares you for the future with diverse career opportunities. Learn about majors like Marketing, Finance, and Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Choose from over 100 study areas in our Shared Pool and combine your interests through various majors and minors. Explore internships, industry experiences, and global mobility options available to Bachelor of Commerce students. Register here. Study advanced computing at Sydney | Wednesday 26 February, 4 – 4:30 pm Want to work for tech giants like Microsoft, Oracle, or Google, or launch your own start-up? Though our Bachelor of Advanced Computing, you will have access to core units of study and electives in Data Science and Information Technology and can study a major and minor in Computer Science, Computational Data Science, Cybersecurity and Software Development. Through our Shared Pool, you could instead choose to study a minor or elective from 100+ areas across the University. Discover how the Bachelor of Advanced Computing can help you to learn to build systems behind emerging tech like drones, VR, cybersecurity, and the Internet of Things. Register here to find out more. Have a Question? If you have any questions about studying at the University of Sydney, please do not hesitate to contact the Sydney Future Students team on schools.outreach@sydney.edu.au. We are excited to invite students to our Virtual Information Session with The Hotel School! This is a fantastic opportunity for students to learn about pursuing a dynamic career in the tourism, hospitality, or events industry. Register Now Why should student attend? Global Career Opportunities: Discover courses that open doors to exciting careers in tourism, hospitality, and events. Industry Insights: Students will hear from industry experts and alumni about what it takes to succeed in these fields. Paid Internships & Job Opportunities: Learn about real-world opportunities from our Professional Learning team. Financial Support: Explore options like CSPs and FEE-HELP to make education more accessible. Student Life: Charlotte, our alumni, will share her experience as a student at The Hotel School and offer valuable tips for success in the industry. Click the Image Below to Read the Latest Explore Careers Bulletin  

Communication from the College to families is primarily conducted through email and via the Compass app. Therefore, it is crucial to keep your email address up to date to ensure timely receipt of all relevant information. If you have recently changed your email address or any other contact details, please contact the Enrolment Office on 4321 6420 To further improve communication, the College offers the Compass Mobile App for instant notifications, in addition to maintaining active accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. It’s important to note that Facebook Messenger is not monitored, so the most effective way to contact the College is through email or via telephone. For details about the Compass app and to download click here. To stay connected to us on Facebook click here. For updates on Instagram click here To follow our LinkedIn account click here

Online Wellbeing Resources Each week members of the St Edward’s College Pastoral Team will be offering guidance and resources to assist families as our boys navigate high school. We invite you to take the time each week to explore Yadhaba Online for articles that may be helpful. This issue: [caption id="attachment_58182" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Screen Time or Scream Time[/caption]   Click Here to View the Wellbeing Hub for Other Resources   Mr Keith Mills Director of Pastoral Care