St Edward’s College responds to the challenge of developing student leadership through the community service program the Waterford Project. As all students and families are aware, this program encourages students to look beyond themselves through acting selflessly in the service of others in need within the local community.

The 21st century continues to present educators with new horizons and schools are challenged to prepare students for our rapidly changing world. The recent Gonski 2.0 report called for our education system to develop a creative, connected and engaged learner in a rapidly changing world. These ideas were very much the context behind the English task that Year 7 students are currently working on.

Prefects were selected through a rigorous process involving a detailed written application and student and staff voting. Last Tuesday, Mr Gill, Mrs Pearson and I led these boys through a Leadership Induction Day at Avoca Surf Club. I was instilled with great confidence of the potential of these fine young men to lead the student community at St Edward’s over the next year.

On Thursday July 26, the College community gathered with parents to celebrate the wonderful academic achievements of students in Years 7-12 at our annual Semester One Academic Assemblies. At the start of the year, all students were encouraged to be the best they can be in their academic, cultural, religious, social justice and sporting endeavours.

The Year 11 Street Retreat provides a wonderfully rich learning opportunity in which students are challenged with current issues such as homelessness, drug addiction, poverty and social exclusion that exist within our own community in a very real way.

In the September/October school holidays, six Year 11 students will be accompanying Mr Jon-Paul Grant and myself on the St Edward’s annual immersion to Nairobi, Kenya. The Year 11 students attending are: Rory Mackintosh, Luke Keiler, Grant Offner, Tyrone Mafohla, Miller Ellwin and James Rigas.