The Year 12 Class of 2024 celebrated their grand finale last week with a spectacular formal at the Crowne Plaza Terrigal. It was a night bursting with laughter, memories, a special rendition of “Hey Brother” and excellent dance moves from both students and staff. In true style, these young men celebrated not just the end of an era but the bonds of mateship that will last a lifetime. As they stride into their next chapter, we send them off with our best wishes—and a reminder to always carry the pride of Forever the Black and Red!   [foogallery id="56897"]

Click the YouTube link below for the latest Homeroom Edition of SECTV, hosted by Marcus Tredwell and Lawrence Ure.   [embed]https://youtu.be/D23w3ejraw0[/embed]

Today, enthusiastic Year 4 and 5 students, nominated by their Catholic primary schools, gathered at St Edward’s College for a special Visual Arts Enrichment Program. This inspiring event was organised by Ms Sarah Evans and Ms Jess Beagin, with support from talented Year 10 students from St Edward’s, Eden Pearson and Tom Perham and from St Joseph’s College, Eve Hitchcock and Alison O’Brien. The day was designed to spark a love for visual arts and creativity among the young participants. Throughout the day, students enjoyed a variety of engaging activities, including drawing with Copic markers, creating visual art diaries and lino printing. A heartfelt thank you to all the staff and students who helped make this event a success. Their dedication and hard work have made a lasting impact on these young, aspiring artists. [foogallery id="56686"]

Gameday Fun with St Edward’s Football Academy! In Week 6, St Edward’s College came alive with energy and excitement as we hosted an epic gala day for local Catholic primary schools, welcoming both girls and boys for a day full of football fun. This special event was organised in collaboration with our Football Academy and also saw the return of our Opens champion football team, who generously came back after their HSC to help out on the day. Their presence and support added to the excitement and provided inspiration for the young athletes participating.  The day brought together students, staff, and young athletes from the community for an unforgettable experience. From thrilling matches that showcased incredible skills and teamwork to fun challenges like the crowd-favourite crossbar challenge and the always-entertaining penalty shootouts, the day was packed with action and laughter. Primary school students had the chance to play alongside and learn from our academy players, fostering a love for the game and creating special memories with their peers. The event highlighted the values of sportsmanship, community spirit, and collaboration, and we’re already looking forward to hosting the next one. Who’s ready to join in the fun again?   [foogallery id="56992"]

Semester Two has been a very busy time in the Food Technology Department as the students have been working towards the finalisation of their respective units of study. Whilst all the assessment tasks have been completed, except for the 2025 HSC Food Technology cohort, we are continuing to finalise all our practical experiences. The Year 12 Hospitality Cookery students completed all their modules and have all gained the Certificate II (Cookery) qualification. Many of the students decided to complete the RSA qualification that was on offer in Term 3. This truly shows the commitment of the department to increase the opportunities to make the boys as employable as possible. The Year 12 Food Technology classes had the opportunity to visit East Coast Beverages and Grace Springs Farm as part of their HSC studies. This excursion allowed the boys to experience firsthand the concepts that they have studied this year, including the Operations of the Australian Food Industry, Food Manufacturing and Food Product Development. We were fortunate to observe the processing and packaging of various juices, as well as having a scoop into new varieties which are in their final stages of development. It was also a fantastic opportunity to view the paddock to plate and snout to tail eating concepts locally. Virginia, the owner/operator of Grace Springs Farm is passionate about her craft and committed to the ethical treatment of her livestock. Virginia also oversees the operations for everything from the farm to customer. This ensures her products are of the highest quality for her clients. Year 11 Food Technology have begun their HSC studies in the Contemporary Nutrition Issues Unit. They are actively researching a group within our community that have particular nutrition concerns which can be attributed to over and under nutrition issues. They prepared a Pan-fried Salmon with Asparagus and Miso recipe as part of the task, and then modified it to suit their chosen group. Some outstanding presentation skills were observed. Year 11 Hospitality have now completed both of their mandatory workplacements. The employers were impressed with their skills in the kitchen and ability to work in a team within a commercial establishment. Some students were again offered part-time jobs and even apprenticeships due to their confidence and competence in the kitchen. The boys are beginning to familiarise themselves with the French culinary terms and the precision cuts which are an integral part of the Hospitality - Cookery Course. They are presently enjoying creating their own Gingerbread Houses. Year 10 are continuing to develop their time management and presentation skills. They successfully planned, prepared and presented their Chicken Cordon Bleu for their final practical assessment task. In Weeks 7 and 9 many students will be participating in the Asian Masterclasses, as part of their transition program. Each participant will also receive a little memento of their involvement in the workshop. I was impressed with the enthusiasm and motivation that the Year 9 students have demonstrated during the year. Their time management skills, as well as their presentation skills have improved throughout the year, and we look forward to seeing these skills continue into Year 10. All of the students are enjoying the lead up to the holidays and Christmas with various recipes being prepared. These include Chocolate Christmas Balls, White Chocolate Rocky Road, Santa Cookie Jars and Shortbread Stars. The recipe for the Shortbread Stars is attached for any families that might want to add it to their festive cookery repertoire. Santa Cookie Recipe Ingredients Method 1 1/3 cup of plain flour 1 t baking soda 1 t baking powder ½ cup quick cooking oats ½ cup sugar ½ cup brown sugar ½ cup Christmas M&M’s ½ cup Mini Chocolate Chips 125 grams of unsalted butter 1 teaspoon vanilla essence 1 egg Pre-heat oven to 180° C. In a mixing bowl cream 125 grams butter. Add Vanilla essence and 1 egg and mix well. Add dry ingredients to the butter mixture. Line an oven tray with baking paper. Place teaspoonfuls of mixture on the tray and gently flatten with the back of a fork. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden. Cool and enjoy!   [foogallery id="56965"]

Outstanding Work from the Visual Art Class of 2024 Congratulations go to Christopher Rae and Abhishek Thomas who have both been nominated for ARTEXPRESS 2025. Students get nominated for ARTEXPRESS for Visual Arts work of exceptional quality and resolution - congratulations boys for your incredible perseverance to your work and conceptual strength. We look forward to seeing what you create in the future! [foogallery id="56803"]

Excellence from the Screen and Media Class of 2024 We’re thrilled to announce that a short film created by Charlie Fraser, one of our talented Year 12 Screen & Media students, has been selected for screening at the Central Coast Film Festival at Cinema Paradiso! This amazing project began as a personal interest task for his Screen & Media assessment, which allowed Charlie to showcase his Critical and Creative Thinking skills. From storyboarding to shooting and editing, this major work guided Charlie through the full film production process, giving him a hands-on experience in bringing his vision to life on screen. We’re incredibly proud of Charlie’s hard work, dedication, and creativity—and can’t wait to see his talents celebrated on the big screen!

During Week 5, Year 10 PASS students went to Doyalson to participate in the Mud Run. With rain falling in the two days leading up to the event, it truly lived up to its name—everyone got muddy! The challenges were both physically demanding and required teamwork to conquer each obstacle. It was a fantastic day filled with camaraderie and pushing personal limits. Some of the day's highlights included: The big slide: Kye McIntosh took home the award for the longest airtime, while Luka Coughlan-Berg was recognised for the most graceful landing. Cargo nets: Jaxon Macintosh raced across as the fastest, with Jesper Palmqvist and Mr Gentle close behind. Chin-up competition: Jaxon Burgess claimed victory, narrowly beating Andrew Hansen. Final challenge: The imposing 4-meter vertical wall, which only a select few students managed to conquer. The event was a memorable blend of mud, sweat, and laughter! A big thank you to Mr Carpenter and Mrs Henderson for cooking the BBQ and to all the PASS students who gave it their best!   [foogallery id="56849"]

On 6 November, the Under 13 Touch Football team showcased impressive talent and teamwork at the gala day held at Doyalson. The team’s combination of speed, agility, and cohesion in their attacking plays allowed them to dominate the field, while their defense remained rock-solid, conceding just one try across four games. Their communication on the field and strategic play were key factors in their success, as they worked together seamlessly to outmaneuver their opponents. The round games demonstrated their strength: Game 1 was an assertive 7-0 victory, followed by a confident 3-0 win in Game 2, and a controlled 4-1 win in Game 3. Their defensive prowess was on full display during the semi-final, where they secured a resounding 5-0 win, advancing them to the grand final. In the final match, the team faced off against St Mary's Catholic College, a formidable side featuring several NSW representative players. Despite a valiant effort, St Edward’s fell short with a 3-1 loss. Nonetheless, the team’s outstanding performance throughout the day made them proud ambassadors for the College, showcasing not only their skills but also exceptional sportsmanship and resilience. The entire team left the field with heads held high, knowing they had represented St Edward’s with honor and dedication. Team Lincoln Craig, George Duffy, Archer Jones, Saint Levae, Sean Mahoney, Beau McKeon, Sonny Pike, Max Portass, Tyler Preston, Tobi Ruhl, Mitchell Stretton, Koby Teasdale, Austin Willis, Kai Zahra

On 15 November, Niagara Park Stadium played host to the second Broken Bay Volleyball Tournament 2024. The lead-up to the tournament wasn’t easy. Due to the HSC exams, the team had little access to the court for training. However, the boys didn’t let this deter them. Instead, they made the best of the situation, turning up to as many lunchtimes as they could squeeze in. The boys were an absolute pleasure to coach. Their camaraderie, team spirit, and improvement throughout the day were remarkable. Despite the hurdles, they displayed outstanding versatility, adapting to every challenge with ease. Their sportsmanship was second to none—thankful, thoughtful, polite, and above all, enthusiastic. St Edward's finished in second place after a very close grand final against St Leo's Catholic College who were a more experienced team. The Broken Bay Volleyball Tournament was a fantastic day for the team. The boys now realise what a fantastic sport volleyball is. While the Grand Final result didn’t go in our favour, the experience, growth, and team spirit demonstrated by our players were truly something to be proud of.    

Representative Sport Sport Events 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). Registration for Events 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. 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). CSNSW Sport Aquathon – 19 December It’s on again!! Holiday fun time. The 2024 CSNSW Sport Aquathlon open to students in Catholic schools in NSW. NSWCCC affiliated students register through csnsw.sport portal as per usual sport registration. Thursday, 19 December 2024 Heats from 8:30amFinals from11:30am Amour Park & Max Parker Aquatic Centre, Revesby 8 – 11 yrs 100m swim, 1km run 12 – 19 yrs 200m swim, 1.8km run Entries close 6 December $40. Late entries $55 up to 13 December More information Click Here 2025 Sport Events 2025 NSW All Schools Triathlon and Para-Triathlon - individuals Entries are now open for the 2025 NSW All Schools Triathlon for 26 February at Penrith. Individual entries are through the Sports Unit DASH system (not the CSNSW Sport portal) Entry is $60 per participant. For more information>> To REGISTER>> 2025 NSW All Schools Triathlon - School Teams 27 February 2025 at Penrith – teams of 3 – 3 age groups – Junior, Intermediate and Senior. $75 per team. Entry by school sports coordinator – through log in on CSNSW.sport portal Team Registration>> For more information  - Click Here Please see Mr Carpenter with your team, if you are interested. Term 1 Sports Individual nominated sports for Term 1 – Expression of Interest registrations will open by the end of November – including softball, baseball, tennis, volleyball – Under 15's and Under 18's, cricket – Under 19's. Look out for further updates. Related Link:  Click Here for More Information Calendar Term 4 Week Event Venue 6 Central Coast School Open Waterpolo Championships Woy Woy 6 Central Coast School Chess Competition Green Point Christian College 7 CSBB Tennis Queenwood Tennis Centre 8 CSBB Surf Lifesaving Championships Terrigal Jason Carpenter Leader of Learning Sport

Please see the links below for the latest apprenticeship, traineeship and job information:      Certificate III Civil Construction Click Here Apprentice Crew Member Water and Sewer roles are available based at Woy Woy. The successful candidates will complete a Certificate III Civil Construction while learning on the job to complete operational maintenance, repair and construction activities. Suitable for anyone who has completed year 10 or above. Applications close Sunday 24 November   Certificate III in Parks and Gardens Certificate III in Sports Turf Management Click Here Apprentice Horticulturist positions available across the Central Coast. The successful candidates will complete either a Certificate III in Parks and Gardens or Certificate III in Sports Turf Management and will learn how to complete a number of horticultural tasks and activities, specialising in either Parks and Gardens or Greenkeeping. Suitable for anyone who has completed year 10 or above. Applications close Sunday 24 November   Certificate IV in Business Administration Click Here Trainee Administration Assistant role is based at Charmhaven The successful candidate will complete a Certificate IV in Business Administration and will gain valuable skills and experience to commence a career in a business environment. Please note, successful completion of the HSC is required for this role. Applications close Sunday 24 November  

Please click the links below to see the latest information from universities and post school courses. Register Now  

Busways is now supporting the internationally recognised Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program on its Central Coast school bus services. The Sunflower program gives students and other passengers with a non-visible disability like autism, chronic pain, anxiety or hearing impairments a distinctive green and yellow sunflower-themed lanyard or wristband. By wearing it, students can discreetly signal that they may need additional support on buses from Busways staff, without disclosing their conditions. Over 85 percent of Busways drivers are now trained to recognise the Sunflower lanyard and provide appropriate support, such as help boarding and disembarking or navigating stressful situations. More drivers will complete the training over the coming months. By joining the Sunflower program and training our drivers, we are making our buses more accessible and inclusive for all, so everyone can feel respected and understood, allowing those with hidden challenges to travel with ease and dignity. Families of students identifying as having a hidden disability can buy a Sunflower lanyard from the Hidden Disabilities website. The Sunflower is solely distributed in Australia by Bayley House, a not-for-profit organisation. Free Sunflower lanyards can be also obtained from Transport for NSW by emailing sunflower@transport.nsw.gov.au or by picking one up at any of 35 selected train stations. Visit their website for more information.  

Please see the link below for the latest positions vacant at St Edward's College, included are application processes and positions descriptions.   [embed]https://www.stedwards.nsw.edu.au/our-college/employment/positions-vacant-2/[/embed]

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: Supporting our Boys Through Distressing World Events   Click Here to View the Wellbeing Hub on the College Website.   Mr Keith Mills Director of Pastoral Care