Archived Newsletters

18.02.21

Touchstones – 18 February 2021

We gathered as a community on Tuesday February 9 to celebrate the Commencement Mass to begin the school year. We thank Father Greg for joining us in this celebration. This important event provides the opportunity for us to unite in prayer for the year ahead, asking the Lord for guidance, courage and resilience in the pursuit of our own goals as individuals and as a community in striving to be the best we can be.

04.02.21

Touchstones – 4 February 2021

Welcome to all our new families to the St Edward's College community. We are very excited about the year that lies ahead, the challenges of last year when we all had to adapt and respond to the every changing social landscape due to COVID-19, provided us with an opportunity to grow, learn and try new approaches to the way in which we teach, communicate with families and organise our day to day operations. We are very thankful to families for the support they have given us during what has been a difficult period.

03.12.20

Touchstones – 3 December 2020

It is with great sadness that I inform members of our community of the passing of Wendy Weir, the College’s Property Maintenance Supervisor on Saturday November 28. Wendy was inspirational to all who knew her for the way in which she battled cancer over a fourteen-year period, never complaining or asking for special consideration.

19.11.20

Touchstones – 19 November 2020

NAIDOC Week celebrations have been held across Australia from November 8-15 to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. NAIDOC originally stood for ‘National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee’. This committee was once responsible for organising national activities during NAIDOC Week and its acronym has since become the name of the week itself.

05.11.20

Touchstones – 5 November 2020

St Edward’s College has established a close working relationship with St Patrick’s Parish over several years. One of the highlights of this relationship is the preparation of students each year to receive the sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation, Confirmation and the Eucharist. Mr Tony Beacroft, the College Director of Mission and Identity, works with boys, families, Father Greg and Father Paul in gaining an understanding of these important Catholic celebrations of faith.

22.10.20

Touchstones – 22 October 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has created many challenges for us this year as a school community but we have continued to learn and grow, constantly striving to provide the best quality care and education for the young men of St Edward’s, in alignment with the principles which underpin the College Aspiration Statement.

24.09.20

Touchstones – 24 September 2020

St Edward’s College takes great pride and appreciates the important responsibility we have as a community in supporting families in building good young men of the future.

10.09.20

Touchstones 10 September 2020

National Child Protection is being celebrated this year from September 6 to September 12. Under this year’s theme of Putting Children First we are invited to look at how we can prioritise the children in our lives and throughout our communities as individuals, as part of families, organisations, communities and society.

27.08.20

Touchstones – 27 August 2020

Thursday 27 August will be the first of two evenings set aside for students, parents and teachers to participate in online Learning Conferences. This initiative has emerged out of the learnings that we have gained from using online platforms to engage with students and parents in response to COVID-19.

13.08.20

Touchstones – 13 August 2020

It is with great pleasure that I announce the following students as Prefect Leaders for the 2020/2021 school year. These prefects were selected through a rigorous process involving a detailed written application and student and staff voting. On Wednesday August 12 Mr McCauley, Mrs Emmett, Mr Herringe and I will lead these boys through a Leadership Induction Day at Avoca Surf Club.

30.07.20

Touchstones – 30 July 2020

We are continuing to respond to the constantly changing landscape as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The adversity that we have faced within our community throughout this year have not been experienced in our lifetime. Although it has been very challenging, we are continually working hard to ensure we are learning from the experience from a teaching, learning and operational perspective.

02.07.20

Touchstones – 2 July 2020

This week we farewelled the Christian Brothers from the St Edward’s site to take up residence in Sydney. The Central Coast community will be forever indebted to the work of the Brothers in providing a wonderfully rich Catholic education, founded in the charism of Edmund Rice, for so many young men.

18.06.20

Touchstones – 18 June 2020

Our world is changing rapidly and being able to equip young people to not only deal with these changes, but be co-creators of a better world, is at the very heart of our vision as an Edmund Rice School. Providing a liberating education that engages students in teaching and learning experiences that are authentic

04.06.20

Touchstones – 4 June 2020

National Reconciliation Week (NRW) was celebrated across the nation from Wednesday May 27 to Wednesday June 3. These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the Reconciliation journey. May 27 marks the anniversary of the 1967 referendum when Australians voted to remove clauses in the Australian Constitution that discriminated against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

21.05.20

Touchstones – 21 May 2020

As we begin to prepare for the return of our boys to full time face-to-face learning, I would like to share with you some of my own reflections and learnings in response to the challenges that we have faced in response to COVID – 19. The staff of St Edward’s pride ourselves on the commitment we maintain to providing a liberating education which challenges our boys to be the best they can be.

07.05.20

Touchstones – 7 May 2020

Due to the difficult financial situation faced by many families and lack of lead in time to organise a winter uniform, the following uniform requirements apply for Terms 2 and 3. Uniform Terms 2 and 3: Due to the difficult financial situation faced by many families and lack of lead in time to organise a winter uniform, the following uniform requirements apply for Terms 2 and 3.

02.04.20

Touchstones – 2 April 2020

Who would have thought at the beginning of the year we would be facing such challenging times. A little uncertain, a little anxious and possibly even scared for our loved ones who are faced with this dreaded virus. My message today however, is one of hope and reassurance.

19.03.20

Touchstones – 19 March 2020

At a recent assembly the Prefects and Leaders of the Spirituality, Liturgy and Social Justice Portfolio presented a powerful presentation to launch their school wide health promotion campaign to raise awareness about adolescent and male mental health.

05.03.20

Touchstones – 5 March 2020

St Edward’s College is committed to ensuring that we establish a safe and welcoming environment for the young men in our care. We aim to develop respectful relationships within a culture wherein protecting children and young people from harm, and the promotion of child safety, participation, empowerment and wellbeing, is embedded in the everyday thinking and practice of all our staff.

20.02.20

Touchstones – 20 February 2020

We gathered as a community on Tuesday February 11 to celebrate the Commencement Mass to begin the school year. We thank Father Greg and Deacon Paul, for joining us in this celebration. This important event provides the opportunity for us to unite in prayer for the year ahead, asking the Lord for guidance, courage and resilience in the pursuit of our own goals as individuals and as a community.

06.02.20

Touchstones – 6 February 2020

Welcome to the first edition of Touchstones for the year. It is with great excitement that we commence the 2020 school year and welcome all staff and students back to school after what has hopefully been a relaxing and enjoyable holiday break. I would like to welcome the new Year 7 cohort and other new students and families who have joined the St Edward’s community this year.

05.12.19

Touchstones – 5 December 2019

As an Edmund Rice School with a proud tradition of providing a quality Catholic education, we are continually challenging, nurturing and inspiring young men to be the best they can be. We strive to offer an innovative and liberating education, based on gospel spirituality, within an inclusive community committed to justice and solidarity.

21.11.19

Touchstones – 21 November 2019

Throughout 2019, the Pastoral Team led by Deputy Principal, Mr Jay Sutton and Director of Pastoral Care, Mr Paul English conducted a review of the Pastoral Care system to ensure that the strategies that we employ in this domain are grounded in current research and reflect the values and philosophy inherent in the Touchstones, Inclusive Community.

07.11.19

Touchstones – 7 November 2019

The NSW Education Standards Authority have conducted a preliminary review of the current NSW Curriculum and have identified that there is a need for significant change if we are to truly serve the needs of preparing our young people for meaningful adult employment and effective citizenship in the years ahead. The consultation to date provided teachers with an opportunity to provide feedback about the current curriculum, with some common themes emerging.

24.10.19

Touchstones – 24 October 2019

Over the last school holidays Mrs Meagan Armstrong, Mr David Ritchie, Joshua Armstrong, Aidan Davis, Kai Darwin, Joseph Hussein, Aaron Judd, Daniel Pearce, Jackson Robb, (students from Year 11) and I attended the annual Immersion to Nairobi, Kenya.

26.09.19

Touchstones – 26 September 2019

Throughout 2019, the College has embarked on the process of developing the 2020-2025 Strategic Plan. An important aspect of this process is the collection of feedback to assist in developing this plan for ongoing school improvement. Parents, student and staff surveys, student focus groups and the College Board Strategic Planning Day are some of the avenues in which feedback has been obtained.

12.09.19

Touchstones – 12 September 2019

St Edward’s College is very fortunate to be a member of an international network of schools and ministries under the banner of Edmund Rice Education Beyond Borders (EREBB). This network is committed to the education of young people from many different faiths and cultures, in over twenty countries throughout the world.

29.08.19

Touchstones – 29 August 2019

It is with great pleasure that I launch the St Edward’s College Building Master Plan. This master plan is the culmination of an extensive consultation process, gathering ideas from many members of the College community including staff, students, Board members and parents.

15.08.19

Touchstones – 15 August 2019

A Prefect Investiture Mass will be held on Thursday September 5. At this Mass, we will acknowledge our outgoing prefects for their work over the last year and officially present the newly elected prefects to the college community. The College Captain and Vice Captains for the 2019 / 2020 school year will also be announced to the college community.

01.08.19

Touchstones – 1 August 2019

In the September/October school holiday’s, seven Year 11 students will be accompanying Mrs Meagan Armstrong, Mr David Ritchie and myself to the St Edward’s College annual immersion to Nairobi Kenya. The Year 11 students attending are: Josh Armstrong, Kai Darwin, Aiden Davis, Joseph Hussein, Aaron Judd, Daniel Pearce, and Jackson Robb. The theme of the tour is Kesheni, which means ‘Stay Awake’ in Swahili.

04.07.19

Touchstones – 4 July 2019

I take great pleasure in visiting classrooms on a regular basis to experience the wonderful opportunities provided to students to assist them in their learning. Recently I spent a morning visiting a range of classes to get a sense of a day in the life of students at St Edward’s. These visits provided me with a great sense of joy and pride that we are working hard to live up to the Touchstone, Liberating Education.

20.06.19

Touchstones – 20 June 2019

One of the key missions of the College is to foster the spiritual growth of all members of the community. Each year students who have not yet received the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation or The Eucharist are invited to participate in a preparation process to receive these sacraments. It is always pleasing to see young men at St Edward’s make the conscious decision themselves to join the Catholic family by taking steps to receive these sacraments.

06.06.19

Touchstones – 6 June 2019

National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. As an Edmund Rice School, we are committed to the achievement of authentic reconciliation, justice and equity through acknowledgement and practice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowing.

23.05.19

Touchstones – 23 May 2019

Year 12 students participated in their annual Retreat throughout week 3. This thought-provoking experience, in some ways, is the culmination of the formation opportunities offered to the young men of St Edward’s. Students spend three days at the Edmund Rice Retreat Centre at Mulgoa and are provided with time to reflect on their values in relation to themselves, their relationships with others and on their sense of spirituality and relationship with God.

09.05.19

Touchstones – 9 May 2019

It is with great sadness that I share with the St Edward’s community the passing of Br Anthony Denis Cusack aged 91, on Tuesday April 23. Br Denis joined St Edward’s in 1993 and has served the Gosford community tirelessly in an administration support role until December 2018. Br Denis joined the Christian Brothers as a Juniorate in 1942, at the age of fourteen and became a Novitiate in 1945 at just seventeen years of age.

04.04.19

Touchstones – 4 April 2019

As a catholic school conducted in the traditions of Edmund Rice, it is important that we take time as a community to reflect on the important sacred stories that underpin our faith and our values. Easter and the sacred story of Jesus’ death and resurrection is the most important Christian festival that is celebrated with great passion.

21.03.19

Touchstones – 21 March 2019

On Friday March 15, schools across the nation participated in events to promote the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence. Senior students from the College delivered a moving presentation at our Friday assembly, highlighting the impact that bullying can have on young people.

07.03.19

Touchstones – 7 March 2019

As a Catholic community, we are experiencing a time of great distress due to the recent events involving the conviction of Cardinal George Pell our country’s most senior Catholic cleric. The verdict of guilt by the courts would no doubt raise great questions within our community, the wider community and across the nation.

21.02.19

Touchstones – 21 February 2019

We gathered as a community on Tuesday February 12 to celebrate the Commencement Mass to begin the school year. This important event provides the opportunity for us to unite in prayer for the year ahead, asking the Lord for guidance, courage and resilience in the pursuit of our own goals as individuals and as a community. Our theme for this celebration was ‘Be the best that you can be’. We have all been blessed by God with certain talents and gifts, and students were challenged throughout this celebration to use their talents to be the best of their ability.

07.02.19

Touchstones – 7 February 2019

would like to wish a warm welcome to all members of the St Edward’s community to the start of what will be an exciting 2019 school year. In particular, I would like to welcome all new families to our community. One hundred and ninety-two Year 7 students began their journey at St Edward’s last Thursday, and they were warmly welcomed by the whole school at an assembly on Friday.