Edmund Rice Education Australia Touchstone
Liberating Education
As a Catholic School in the Edmund Rice tradition, we are committed to enabling students to experience personal achievement within a safe, supportive and healthy environment.
Welcome to the Start of the Year
I’m excited to introduce the first edition of Touchstones for 2025. A heartfelt welcome to all our students and their families, particularly those who are joining us for the first time. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all families for their ongoing support of their boys and the College. Your involvement and encouragement play a vital role in the success of our students and the overall strength of our community. This year, we are thrilled to welcome a new cohort of Year 7 students to the College, and it has been wonderful to see how well they have already begun their transition to high school.
Throughout the year, I look forward to sharing the many wonderful achievements of our students and staff, showcasing the dedication and passion that define our community.
A Collective Commitment to Continuous Improvement
Our staff are deeply committed to continuously improving our practice. Together, we focus on working collaboratively to meet the individual learning needs of each student. By sharing expertise, strategies, and insights, we aim to ensure that every student receives the support they need to succeed. Our collective belief in the potential of all students drives our efforts to create an environment where each child can thrive.
Our Focus on Learning and Well-being
The learning agenda for the year focuses on four key areas of priority:
- Improving student literacy and numeracy
- Creating consistency in our learning environment through effective teaching and learning strategies
- Ensuring that all students are appropriately challenged to foster growth
- Prioritising staff and students’ wellbeing and spiritual development within a safe learning environment
Research consistently shows that when students feel safe, valued and cared for, a culture for greater engagement in learning can be established whereby students feel safe to take risks, challenge themselves to improve and grow as learners.
During our opening Mass this week, I encouraged our boys to approach the year with the mindset that each day offers valuable opportunities for growth—whether in the classroom, through religious celebrations, on the sports field, or during excursions and camps. I emphasised that they have a responsibility to seize these moments to nurture their unique talents, gifts, and abilities.
We are excited to work alongside our young people, continually challenging, nurturing, and inspiring them to be the best they can be.
Outstanding HSC Results for 2024
I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the 2024 graduating class on their exceptional HSC results. It is a great pleasure to share with our parents that our results last year reflect the continued improvement in both high-band outcomes and overall learning gains. These results are a testament to the hard work and dedication of both our students and teachers.
The 2024 results have once again surpassed those of the previous year, positioning St Edward’s as the highest-ranked Catholic school on the Central Coast. Additionally, we achieved the third-highest number of top-band results across all schools in the region.
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 receiving top-band results in every course he studied. We are also proud to share that our students outperformed the state average in several courses, with all subjects achieving their expected learning gain.
I would like to thank our students, teachers, and support staff for their hard work and dedication to this achievement. Our high achievers are celebrated in a special publication available on our College website and below. Click Here
New Members of Staff
We have welcomed a number of new staff members in 2025. It is with great pleasure that I introduce the following teachers to our community, and we wish them well for the exciting years that lie ahead.
Left to Right: Robyn Muir, Casey Lemon, Sinead McCauley, Michelle Gough, Kyle James, Sharon Blanchard, Jane Hayden, Clare Jones
