Edmund Rice Education Australia Touchstone

Inclusive Community

As a Catholic school in the Edmund Rice tradition, we acknowledge the traditional ownership and cultural heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia and welcome them into our community.

Reconciliation Week 2025 Theme: Bridging Now to Next

This year’s National Reconciliation Week theme, Bridging Now to Next, invites all Australians to move forward together drawing on the lessons of the past to shape a more inclusive and united future.

At St Edward’s College, our vision for reconciliation is deeply rooted in the EREA Touchstones. We are committed to fostering a community that values and respects the rights, cultures, and histories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Our goal is to build an educational environment that is both authentic and inclusive—one that strengthens relationships across our entire community.

Reconciliation, for us, means walking alongside First Nations peoples with open hearts and minds. It means nurturing a culture of respect, kindness, and equality for all Australians.

Throughout Reconciliation Week (May 27–June 3), our students engaged in meaningful classroom discussions and activities that explored the concept of reconciliation in contemporary Australia. These learning experiences encouraged critical thinking and reflection across all key learning areas.

As educators, parents, and carers, we share a collective responsibility to foster open and honest conversations about reconciliation. We must challenge racism wherever it exists and work together to uphold the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Only through shared understanding and action can we create a future where every Australian has the opportunity to thrive.

Celebrating Talent and Unity: Central Coast Catholic High Schools Performing Arts Showcase 2025

Last week, the spirit of creativity and collaboration lit up the stage at St Edward’s College as students from Catholic high schools across the Central Coast came together for the inaugural Catholic Schools Performing Arts Showcase.

Held over two vibrant evenings, the showcase was a celebration of the diverse talents within our Catholic school communities. From powerful vocal performances to captivating drama pieces and instrumental ensembles, the event highlighted the incredible artistic gifts of our students and the dedication of their teachers and mentors.

The showcase not only provided a platform for students to express themselves through the performing arts but also fostered a sense of unity and shared purpose among the participating schools. It was a true testament to the strength of our Catholic education network and its commitment to nurturing the whole person—spiritually, academically, and creatively.

Audience members, including families, staff, and community supporters, were treated to an inspiring display of passion, teamwork, and excellence. The energy in the theatre was electric, and the pride in every performance was unmistakable.

Congratulations to all the students who took part, and heartfelt thanks to the staff and organisers who brought this memorable event to life. We look forward to seeing this showcase grow in the years to come, continuing to shine a spotlight on the incredible talent within our Catholic schools.

Year 10  Exams and Transition into Year 11 Program

Year 10 Exams

Year 10 students are currently participating in a week of examinations. These examinations provide valuable feedback regarding student learning, assist in the determination of the Semester One Report and contribute to the ROSA grade reported to NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) at the end of Year 10. These examinations also provide students with a formal examination experience, to assist them in preparation for the Preliminary and HSC years in which they will also sit formal examinations.

Transition into Year 11 Program

As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting students in their transition from Year 10 to Year 11, we are conducting a series of important activities and events throughout the term:

Weekly Transition Meetings

Every Wednesday, all Year 10 students participate in Transition Meetings where we discuss key information related to their post-Year 10 pathways. Summaries of these meetings are shared with parents and carers via the Compass News Feed.

Subject Information Handbook

A comprehensive Subject Information Handbook will be published on the College website in Week 7 to assist students and families in making informed decisions.

Subject Information Evening

This event will be held on Thursday, 19 June (Week 8) from 6:00–7:00pm in the ERC.

To support families in preparing for the evening, a Subject Selection Presentation video will be released beforehand. We encourage parents and students to view this in advance to gain a clear understanding of the subject selection process.

On the night, representatives from all KLAs, along with Lincoln Tubridy, Juliana Dignam, and myself, will be available to answer questions and discuss individual student pathways.

Year 10 Examinations

Students will undertake formal examinations in all six compulsory courses. These assessments will provide valuable feedback on their performance and help guide subject choices for Years 11 and 12.

Subject Recommendations

Recommendations for English, Mathematics, and Religion will be provided to guide students on the most suitable course levels.

Subject Preference Submission – Week 9

Students will enter their subject preferences during Week 9. They will have until the end of Week 1, Term 3 to make any changes. Students absent during this period will receive their login details via email to complete the process remotely.

Please note: this is not a ‘first in, best dressed’ process.

Pattern of Study Notification

Parents will receive their child’s proposed pattern of study via email around Week 8 of Term 3.

Subject Counselling Sessions

Families wishing to discuss their son’s proposed pattern of study in more detail are invited to attend a counselling session on Thursday, 18 September (Week 9) from 8:00am to 5:00pm.

We look forward to working closely with students and families throughout this important transition period.

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on Students with Disability

Every year, all schools in Australia participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). The NCCD process requires schools to identify information already available in the school about supports provided to students with disability. These relate to legislative requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005, in line with the NCCD guidelines (2019).

Information provided about students to the Australian Government for the NCCD includes:

• year of schooling
• category of disability: physical, cognitive, sensory or social/emotional
• level of adjustment provided: support provided within quality differentiated teaching practice, supplementary, substantial or extensive.

This information assists schools to:

• formally recognise the supports and adjustments provided to students with disability in schools
• consider how they can strengthen the support of students with disability in schools
• develop shared practices so that they can review their learning programs in order to improve educational outcomes for students with disability.

The NCCD provides state and federal governments with the information they need to plan more broadly for the support of students with disability.

The NCCD will have no direct impact on your child and your child will not be involved in any testing process. The school will provide data to the Australian Government in such a way that no individual student will be able to be identified – the privacy and confidentiality of all students is ensured. All information is protected by privacy laws that regulate the collection, storage and disclosure of personal information.

Further information about the NCCD can be found on the NCCD Portal

If you have any questions about the NCCD, please contact our Leader of Diverse Learning, Katie Neilly kneilly@stedwards.nsw.edu.au