On Thursday May 5, Year 7 gathered with many of their family members to celebrate Mother’s Day. Each Core class presented an item that captured the importance of motherhood. It was a wonderful occasion that was followed by a beautiful morning tea. Many thanks to all who assisted in preparing for this gathering and for the boys who performed so admirably on the day. We wish all mothers a happy mother's day. Mr Beacroft Director of Mission     [smallgallery fooid="36959"]   [embed]https://youtu.be/ZNB-QOnyTkQ[/embed]   [embed]https://youtu.be/wy1vdgIbnoY[/embed]

The College Founder's Day Mass was once again a special day for St Edward's. The students were reverent, respectful and prayerful throughout the ceremony. Mass was presided over by Father Moloney the Parish Priest of The Entrance. Congratulations must go to all our brilliant musicians who performed at Mass.  Students in the band were thoroughly prepared by Mrs Rankin, Mrs Emmett and Mr Toole. Their performances added so much to the prayerful atmosphere of the mass. The tradition of recognising long serving staff continue at the conclusion of Mass. Fifteen staff received awards form Mr Bonnici for their long years of service to the College. A big thank you to all who contributed to this wonderful community celebration. Mr Beacroft Director of Mission and Identity     [foogallery id="37074"] "]   [embed]https://youtu.be/ltQ-yGxcmGA[/embed]        

To commemorate ANZAC Day, the Academic Portfolio encouraged students of St Edward's to participate in a special military-style boot camp. The boot camp was a commemoration to those who served and died in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations. During Friday Sport in Week 2, students who registered for this event, were placed in the shoes of soldiers and their training for war. The purpose of this activity was to empathise with soldiers and their self-sacrifice. Mr Mantellato designed the training drills and activities and led students from Years 7, 9 and 10, as well as Mr Rozario, in a variety of different exercises. These drills were team based and encouraged the students to work together to achieve a shared goal. Some of the activities included a giant battle rope where boys worked as one to carry the rope above their heads or on their shoulders, completing bear crawls, push-ups, planks, squats and even using sandbags. By the end of the session, students used the rope for some giant tug-of-war battles, firstly amongst each other, and then with both Mr Mantellato and Mr Rozario. Overall, the boys demonstrated great strength and resilience in their efforts. They are to be commended on their support of one another, efforts and positivity on the day. Mrs Abbott-Atchison and Mr A Rozario [foogallery id="37136"]  

The retreats of 2022 will be remembered for the great enthusiasm and involvement of all students who attended. Year 12 were given the opportunity to participate in important spiritual experiences on their three day Retreat amid the peaceful and serene environment of the Mulgoa Retreat Centre. They didn’t waste this opportunity. Thanks to the staff from our College for their dedication to the Retreat program. Many staff from the College were instrumental in leading the boys through reflection, prayer, bushwalks and discussions about ‘Relationships and Consent, ‘What it is to be a Man in the 21st Century’, ‘Goal Setting’, ‘The Importance of Communication’, and their future directions. The celebration liturgy organised by the students was very special as it is the last Retreat for this cohort. Parents and staff should be very proud of the input and maturity shown by Year 12. Our guest speakers for the retreat were Mrs Connor and Miss Beagin. They both spoke brilliantly and the boys left with lots to think about. Their talk was informative and inspiring and was well received by the boys. I am confident that these quality experiences will have a lasting effect upon our boys in preparing them for the future. I have no doubt that in years to come, many boys will remember these few days as being very significant in their lives. I thank and congratulate all Year 12 for the quality of their involvement. The staff at Mulgoa were lavish in their praise of these fine young men from St Edwards. They could not speak highly enough of their positive attitude, friendliness, cooperation, courtesy, and willingness to enter completely into the spirit of the Retreat. A typical comment about the boys was, “I can’t get over how well rounded they are, probably because they have been exposed to a variety of social justice experiences.” This particular group is a great credit to their families and the College. A special thank you to Mr Powell, Year 12 Pastoral Leader and Mrs Palmer-Brown, Leader of Learning Religious Education, for all the great work they did during these important days of review and reflection. Mr A Beacroft Director of Mission and Identity   [foogallery id="37206"]

There is a new website for volunteering opportunities on the Central Coast that is worth visiting:  Volunteering Central Coast Click Here to Visit Website This website includes the purpose and benefits of volunteering, as well as a list of local community groups, who need support. Please spend time with your son, going through the various choices/options he has, to complete the compulsory service-learning Waterford program at St Edward's College. Please contact me on 4321 6439 if you have any questions about Waterford. It is due at the end of Term 3. Founder's Day A reminder that each boy is required to donate $20 to the front office by the end of August, in aid of our Christian Brothers Mission in Kenya. Founder’s Day fun activities and community-building event is a tradition at St Edward’s. It will be held on Friday 9 September this year. Casual clothing can be worn on the day and students can participate in fun activities and raffles. Mr Pat Dell Leader of Learning Social Justice

It has been a busy and exciting start to 2022 for the Performing Arts Faculty and wonderful to see our students being able to develop their skills and confidence through more and more practical and performance opportunities as COVID restrictions have gradually eased. Our musicians and technicians from VET Entertainment and Screen and Media have enjoyed playing an integral part in the life of the school  through their valuable contributions to liturgies and events. Year 7 Music Year 7 students have been busy learning how to create their own music using the Musescore program. Through learning about note values and pitch they created a rhythm and melody Rondo. Students then moved on to developing their practical skills on the guitar and keyboard which they are thoroughly enjoying. Year 8 Music Year 8 students have spent time further developing their practical skills and working as part of a small ensemble. Through this fun and engaging activity they not only develop their technical skills but also learn to work as part of a team and learn about the importance of timing, balance and individual contribution. Year 9 Music Year 9 worked on the topic Music for Small Ensembles in Term 1 culminating in an in-class performance to their appreciative peers. There was some amazing talent on display and all the boys are to be congratulated on their efforts developing skills as ensemble performers.  They also tried their hand at arranging a piece of music by developing the harmonic and rhythmic accompaniment. Presently, these boys are busy rehearsing a popular piece of music to perform in Week 8.     Year 10 Music The boys started the year with a focus on Classical music, learning not only about the music but the society and culture from which it emerged. This historical perspective allowed for some very engaging and creative Viva Voce tasks where the boys focussed on a composer. This term the pendulum has swung to present day where the boys are learning about Rock music. They are enjoying rehearsing for an upcoming performance task in their small ensembles. Many of these students were also excellent ambassadors for the school and Music faculty by performing for and being mentors to the Year 6 students who attended “A day in the Life” Year 11 Music This talented class are engaged performers who are enjoying developing their technical skills and creating an environment where they perform with each other and for each other regularly. Currently they are working on their skills as composers and being challenged by this creative process. Many of these students took the opportunity to perform at the College Open Day and a wonderful ensemble group performed at the Easter Liturgy, Founders Day Liturgy and Year 7 special assemblies. On Tuesday they took part in a zoom seminar delivered by Newcastle TAFE about the many different opportunities and careers in the Music Industry.   [foogallery id="37365"]   Year 12 Music Year 12 comprises of two music classes who are busy preparing for their performance assessment and a performance evening later this term. These students are talented and passionate about their music, and it has been wonderful for them to be able to rehearse and perform in ensembles once again after a disruptive two years.  In Week 2 Term 2 , these students attended a Music HSC Study Day along with Year 12 musicians from across the Central Coast attending valuable seminars lead by HSC markers. Many of these students also performed at the College Open Day and the Easter Liturgy and music played an integral part in the recent Year 12 retreat with Mr Beacroft paying a special visit to the music area this week to sing the praises of the Year 12 boys who led their peers in a memorable sing along. Year 12 Drama This term the students are embarking on their Group Performance! It’s a wonderful element of the Drama course and allows the students an opportunity to create an original work with a group. Many of these students also performed in the Easter Liturgy and their skills were much admired. Entertainment The Entertainment students form the backbone of all productions big and small and have had a growing number of opportunities to develop and hone their skills already this Semester. Year 11 students are beginning work placement next term, while Year 12 are busily completing their Certificate III qualifications Congratulations to the students who are assisting as crew for the upcoming Youth in Performing Arts concerts at Laycock St Theatre. Screen and Media Our Screen and Media students have been busy further developing their skills and creativity. They have been filming for a range of school events, as well as creating documentaries, short films and feature news stories for SECTV.  See Andrew Sirio in Year 11's Screen and Media Project below.   [embed]https://youtu.be/fHMtb9yLamE[/embed]     Concert Band The Eddie’s/Joey’s Concert Band have started the year with some contrasting repertoire – a medley of ‘Three Irish Songs’ and ‘Seven Nation Army”,  showcasing our drummers/percussionists and bass players, as well as the melodic instruments - flutes, clarinets, saxophones, horns, and keyboard. We have welcomed new musicians this year from Year 7 up to Year 11, and the band is sounding great under the skilful musical direction of conductor Dr Phillip Rutherford from Central Coast Conservatorium, who is currently arranging ‘Believer’ by Imagine Dragons for the band to start learning next. Concert Band is a wonderful opportunity for our musicians to join with Joey’s once a week to make music – and the band are looking forward to an opportunity to perform for an audience! Events and Performances On Friday as part of Careers week, we look forward to welcoming Michael Dolce one of Australia’s leading session guitarists with his “Behind the Scenes” presentation in the Theatre. We are also pleased to announce the return of the face-to-face Individual Music Tuition program with Coast Academy of Music who resumed their tuition at the College today. As mentioned earlier, our students have enjoyed the opportunity to play for a wider audience this Semester and the school community has enjoyed their contribution to events and liturgies. We thank the boys for their performances including: Open Day: Where the Music area came alive on a Saturday replicating the experience of a rehearsal, with music emanating from all 6 practise rooms and classrooms. Families visiting were delighted to see and hear the varied genres being performed. The Entertainment students also put on an engaging light show in the theatre to showcase our incredible facilities. Easter Liturgy: Where it was wonderful to see our musicians and performers contribute to the celebration of the Easter Liturgy to finish off Term 1. Edmund Rice Liturgy: We started this term with this important liturgy and some of our very talented Year 11 musicians performed Hey Brother, The College Song, Edmund Rice Hymn and some beautiful solo instrumentals during communion.     Mother’s Day and Day in the Life Performances We continue to look forward to many more opportunities for the boys to perform for each other and the wider community throughout the year. developing their skills and confidence through hands on experience and feeling encouraged to play more and more music. Finally, a big congratulations to the following students on their performances at this week’s YIPA series of concerts held at Laycock St Theatre: James Nilsson, Sasha Byrne, Charlie Jacobson,  Daniel Herd, Lachlan Herd  and Cooper Herd.

On Wednesday 27 April, the Year 12 Geography students went on a site study of dune ecosystems on the Central Coast. They were tasked with assessing the health of sand dunes at Shelly Beach, North Entrance and a great example of dune protection at Cabbage Tree Bay, Norah Head. The field work involved creating a beach profile (seen in the photos below), investigating vegetation of the dunes and gaining an appreciation of and understanding for traditional First Nations use of native plants. The day was a huge success given the uncertain weather. The dune systems have been under immense pressure due to recent wave energy and storm water run-off. This was evident in the students observations, which examined the various strategies the Council and private dwellings have put in place to prevent the destruction of the dunes.   [foogallery id="37128"]   The class were very lucky to have Mrs Mantelatto with them to explain how certain species of vegetation plays a role and maintaining the health and balance of dune ecosystems. She also led the walk through Cabbage Tree Bay, highlighting various native plants traditional uses as well as species being currently studied in the medical field. Overall, it was a great day for Geography and important component of the students HSC.  

We are now half way through the journey for HSC Visual Arts as they complete their Bodies of Work. It is exciting to see works develop from basic concept through to fruition – with some amazing conceptual understanding happening along the way. Please scroll through the Gallery to view some wonderful sneak peeks of work from our senior visual arts students – we have everything on show from drawing, painting, photomedia and photography, sculpture, ceramics, and much more. Enjoy!   [foogallery id="37173"]

The first game was against St Paul's Catholic College, who were eventual winners of the day, saw a lethargic match where neither team carved out any real opportunities. The team were adjusting to the pace of the synthetic pitch and playing together for the first time. The result finished 0-0. The second game of the pool was against St Bridgit's Catholic College and the team changed shape with three at the back to be more aggressive going forward and were instantly rewarded. The game finished 7-0 with a range of goal scorers, including, James Stiffle, Jude Rankin, Jesi Wanjohi, two for Kit Gillings and Taj Werner. The opposition was not strong, but our boys did not drop the pace or level of skill. The third game was the showpiece of the day and it was disappointing that it was not the final. It was against MacKillop Catholic College and the players were familiar with each and knew of the threats each posed. After a slow start to the tournament, Will Rankin came alive with a clinical finish in front of goal to put St Edward's one ahead. MacKillop rallied and put immense pressure on our backline with Owen Bradstreet doing very well to marshal one of the strongest players of the day. The pressure continued until a controversial penalty was awarded to MacKillop, which was converted. In the second half, both teams pressed with greater intensity and the game became more physical and emotionally charged. The turning point came from a flowing move started by Jude Rankin that released Josef Louis to bury the ball in the back of the net. Our young keeper, Finn Pamlqvist was outstanding and helped keep us in the game. The quality of this match attracted a crowd and when the final whistle sounded, it did feel like the victory of a final. Because of this crucial win, St Edward's won the pool and had eight players selected to play in the possible and probable's round. Those players will wait to hear if they were successful in making the Broken Bay team to play in a further tournament. The semi-final saw St Edward's (rather tired by now) take on Mater Maria Catholic College. From the whistle it was a one-sided affair. We dominated possession and created multiple chances that should have been converted. Our defensive backline where hardly troubled as a tenacious opposition flooded the box, defended deep and threw bodies behind and in front of the ball. The game finished 0-0, much to the players disbelief and we went to penalties. The penalties were dispatched well by both players until the Mater Maria keeper made a strong save that won the match. All the boys in the squad conducted themselves with professionalism and showed great sportsmanship.  It was a pleasure coaching them and a huge thank you to Richard Ellis who provided coaching support throughout the day. [foogallery id="37321"]

It was wonderful to finally be able to return to a sporting field and engage in some schoolboy football. Following months of inclement weather, we warmly accepted the perfect weather conditions. Assigned to the same pool as all the other 2021 semi finalists, the Senior AFL team wasted no time in establishing who the team to beat would be. Free flowing football that incorporated a complete running game, short hand pass and kick meant secure possession and a plethora of points. The team certainly kept the scoreboard attendants busy. Match Results: Round 1 vs MacKillop Catholic College Warnervale: Win - 73 to 14 Round 2 vs Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College The Entrance: Win - 53 to 24 Round 3 vs Wadalba High School: Win -  80 to 2 (with the game called off just after half time) Semi Final Number 1 vs Kincumber High School: Win 73 to 12 St Edward's now moves on to the Hunter regional finals in Term 3 to determine the regional champions.    

On Monday 9 May, the College Cross Country team travelled down to St Ives Showground to contest the Broken Bay (BBSSSA) Championships. Wet weather of the past few weeks meant that a new course had been set, using the fire trails in and around the precinct. The result was a true cross-country course with steep declines and inclines, rocky and rutted trails, and the added variable of rain on the day. Never-the-less, our team excelled on the game with some fantastic individual and team results as follows: Age Group Competitor Place Under 12 3rd Place Broken Bay Teams Tam Johnston Nick Snelson Tom Gregory 8th 10th 17th Under 13 1st Place Broken Bay Teams Liam Smith Joel Washington Cruiz Parke Aden Tillot Vin Romario Tom Collins Tom Barry Xavier Turner Finlay Jones 1st 4th 5th 8th 9th 11th 17th 22nd 25th Under 14 1st Place Broken Bay Teams Eden Pearson Asher Armstrong Cooper Hall Riley Carmody-Smith Lachlan Donafee Eamon Thompson Callum Cassar George Barry Euan Gregory 1st 2nd 4th 7th 9th 10th 16th 17th 19th Under 15 1st Place Broken Bay Teams Fletcher Sommerville Cruz McMahon Riley Turner Darcy de Vries Blade Marquart Luke Shereb Tom Flynn Hamish Watson 1st 3rd 6th 7th 16th 17th 18th 19th Under 16 3rd Place Broken Bay Teams Daniel McCarthy Ari Sullivan Seth Short Jay Bonython Keenan White 6th 10th 13th 16th Under 17 1st Place Broken Bay Teams Will Browning Calan Tucker Jayden Redfern 1st 3rd 4th   Overall, we were successful in regaining the Champion BBSSSA Boys' trophy for 2022. Each of the boys who placed in the top 6 in their age group will now progress to the NSWCCC Cross Country Championships at Sydney Motorsport Park, Eastern Creek on Tuesday 7 June. Well done to all the boys in the team and especially Ms Moulton and Mr Butt who maned the check-point duty in the wet conditions. [foogallery id="37159"]

Congratulations to the following students: Under 15 AFL Congratulations to Rueben Borg in Year 8, on his selection in the Sydney Metro Under 15 AFL team to contest the NSWCCC selection trials in Wagga Wagga. Rueben travelled down in Week 2 and gained valuable experience (as a year young player) that he will be able to call on next year when he is top age. President’s Rugby League Teams We had a number of students selected in the President’s Rugby League Teams to go with the boys already selected in the Sydney Metro teams. The following boys will also attend the NSWCCC Selection trials in Week 4 (May 19-21) in St Mary’s: Under 15:  Blade Marquart, Kieran White Under 18:  Will Hodder, Joel Shereb

The following Sports have selection events coming up in Term 2 that students can register for on the Catholic Schools NSW website:   Sport Closing Date Event Date Hockey Under 16 and Opens Thursday 19 May Monday 30 May   Registration Process  If you have never registered a child for a NSWCCC sport previously SETTING UP A NEW ACCOUNT Go to the Catholic Schools NSW Sport website https://csnsw.sport/ Click on Create Account which is located in the blue box on the top right-hand side of the page Click on ‘Parent’ Complete all the fields and click on ‘Create Account’ ADDING A CHILD Once you have logged in as a parent, click on ‘Add Child’ Complete all fields. Please note: If your child has changed schools, please ensure that you update school details in child’s profile  If you have registered a child for a NSWCCC sport previously REGISTER FOR A SPORT Scroll to your child’s profile Click on ‘Register for a Sport’ Select the Sport from “available sport registration” e.g. (BROKEN BAY SWMMING TEAM- CCC SELECTIONS) Click ‘Next’ and complete all the following information and consent pages The final section will require payment for the event levy and compulsory uniform items (You can remove items if you already have them from a previous year) Once you have completed all sections and payment has been made an email to your child’s principal will be sent to them for approval. If you have any queries, please contact – Karen Grant Catholic Schools Broken Bay (CSBB) Head of Secondary Sport Mobile: 0400 527 360 Email: karen.grant@dbb.catholic.edu.au  

Coming Up in Sport   Week Event Venue Date Week 4 Under 13 Central Coast All Schools Rugby League Gala Day Erina Oval Thursday 19 May Week 5 Under 16 Central Coast All Schools Rugby League Gala Day Erina Oval Thursday 26 May Week 6 NSWCCC Hockey Championships Bathurst Tuesday 31 May to Wednesday 1 June Week 6 Under 14 and Opens Catholic Schools Rugby League Gala Day Central Coast Sports College Thursday 2 June Week 6 BBSSSA Opens Basketball Gala Day Terrigal Stadium Thursday 2 June  

See the links below for the latest opportunities for students:     AIE Open Day on Sat 14 May - Click to Register Discover the courses designed to get you started in game development, 3D animation, film and visual effects at the AIE Open Day on Sat 14 May 2022. AIE's  campuses in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Adelaide will be open for you to meet our teachers, staff and students. Online Campus Day on Sat 28 May - Click for More Information Find out everything there is to know about studying online at AIE's Online Campus Day. See what it's like to study game development, animation and VFX online by joining us for this livestream on Saturday 28 May!       Landscaping Apprenticeship Click Here Cement Rendering Apprenticeship x 2 Click Here We may also have metal fabrication and Carpentry available shortly and would be keen to accept any resumes on students interested in this to pre-screen for when I get confirmation from employer. LaurenC@novaskill.com.au www.novaskill.com.au      

Interested in becoming a Doctor?Watch University of Newcastle Joint Medical Program Information Session Webinar WEBINAR RECORDING Please view here. WANTING MORE JMP INFORMATION? Check out the JMP info online at https://www.newcastle.edu.au/joint-medical-program. 2022 OPEN DAYS We look forward to seeing you at our 2022 Open Days. If you haven’t signed up yet, please register online. It’s a great chance to check out the University of Newcastle, speak with current students and academics, experience our campuses, and find out all you need to know about uni life.  ASK A STUDENT Want to know more about studying Medicine with us? Our students can give you their perspective on student life, courses and the exciting opportunities you could experience with us. You can even search and chat to the students who were live on the webinar! https://www.newcastle.edu.au/study/ask-a-student

The Fathering Project We are very excited to be able to present for the second time, our new initiative at the College – The Fathering Project. The purpose of this group is to invite fathers, father figures and significant male role models to join together with their son/significant young person to make a stronger connection. The research indicates that by specifically targeting fathers and male role models, "schools will see significant additional benefits for the children and for the school as a whole" and the connection between fathers and their children inevitably becomes stronger. We were fortunate enough to run a BBQ and Basketball event last year for Year 7 fathers and their sons. This trial event was an amazing success with 120 fathers and sons turning up on the night. This year we are including Year 8 (last Year’s Year 7 group) to continue the journey and support the new Year 7 students and their fathers/carers/significant male role models. The aim is to have the whole school involved, but one step at a time. This year’s first event will be a father son trivia night. As an added bonus on the night, Ben Duggan will be shaving off his 3 year old beard to raise money for Bounty For the Beard. You can visit the link to read his story. But the fun doesn’t stop there! We also have dinner provided (from 6.00 pm - 6:30 pm) a small presentation by John Kirkland (the Fathering Project) and some prizes on the night as well. Event:     Trivia Night Venue:    St Edward’s College – ERC Date:      Thursday 9th June Time:      6.00 pm – 8.00 pm RSVP:    Friday 3 June - Please use the following link to rsvp https://forms.office.com/r/Dugusev50Q If you are intending on coming, please register before the night to become a member of the St Edward’s ‘The Fathering Project’ portal by using this QR Code. Contact: If you have any questions, please contact Marcus Missio-Spiteri mmissio@stedwards.nsw.edu.au For more information on the project, please visit https://thefatheringproject.org/about-us/our-mission/ We look forward to welcoming you and helping our boys to build stronger relationships and communities.

Connecting With Your Kids Most of us get a bit “judgey” when we see a parent staring at their screen rather than engaging with their kids at the park or the shops – or worse, in a restaurant. And if a parent publicly berates their child, it often sends shivers down our spine. Even though we are almost all guilty of it from time to time, it’s like there’s some intrinsic mechanism inside us that loads up on guilt each time we see a parent do something that impacts or severs the connection that they share with their child. We know it’s a concern and we draw back from it – and then we remember we do it sometimes too, and the parent guilt sets in. I think it’s because connection is not a luxury item. It’s an essential: for your relationship, for your child’s wellbeing, and for their future. What does a positive connection between parent and child look like? Life Education Learning Manager, Lisa Woodward, says that positive connections are all about love, caring, nurturing, and safety. “In a positive parent-child relationship, family members feel safe and connected to one another.” “It’s also about being in the moment with your child”, adds Derek McCormack, Director of the Raising Children Network.“ It’s in a day-to-day setting, having quality time with your child whenever you can. Spotting the opportunities and making the time is really important.” And from my perspective? We run our economy on dollars, and we run our relationships on connection. If there’s no dollars in the bank, we’re financially kaput. If there’s no connection in the relationship, we’re relationally broke. There are great benefits The benefits of positive connections between parent and child are significant and wide ranging says Woodward. “Children learn and thrive when they have strong, loving and positive relationships with their parents and carers, and it’s the foundation for a child’s development physically, emotionally, and socially.” Connection also helps develop important skills needed for a child’s future. “Strong relationships set the child up for success in their lives, they are more confident and resilient, better able to regulate their emotions, make friends and connections with others, and do better at school.” Connections will change over time As your child develops, your relationship with them will too. This is normal. “For example, your pre-teen might no longer want you around at the park with their friends, even though your child used to love playing there with you. This doesn’t mean that the connection is not still healthy and positive,” explains Woodward. McCormack says one of the key principles of a positive connection is communication. When your child is younger the opportunities for communication are really there any time you want but as a child grows you will need to look out for them more actively and make time for them. “As your child becomes a teen, communication can be more of a one-way street and involve tuning into feelings and being a support for them,” he explains. How to achieve positive connections “Positive connections are based on time together, being present, and building trust and respect”, says Woodward. For example: Make moments together matter Booking in "quality time" doesn’t guarantee positive, bonding time. We may have the best intentions but sometimes these special times will not work out the way we had intended. Often the best conversations happen in the car, at bedtime, or when doing things side by side, like washing up or walking the dog. These moments give you the chance to communicate positive messages with smiles, laughter, eye contact, hugs and gentle touches. Tune in to your child Tuning in to your child and thinking about what’s going on for them shows them that you care about the things that matter to them, which is the basis for a strong relationship. This could be noticing what your child is doing and commenting or encouraging them. For example, with younger children it might be talking about the Lego creation they are building, or the picture they are drawing. Nurture trust and respect in your relationships Be available when your child needs support, care, or help. For example: giving them a hug when they fall over. Stick to your promises. If you’ve agreed to help them with a school assignment, make sure you follow through. Value your child and their opinions. This could be showing interest in the things that interest them. Or listening without judgement when they express an opinion different to yours. Label emotions and listen Let’s say you notice your child seems upset, instead of saying – “Are you ok?”, try something like “I notice you seem a bit down – do you want to talk? Or maybe we could just hang out for a while and watch a show together.” In closing To a child, love is spelled t-i-m-e. That connection helps on a personal level but also by teaching key skills such as communication and resilience. It’s important to remember that the connection will change and evolve as children do. But at the heart of it all is communication and that your child feels safe, secure and respected.  

Please see below all correspondence emailed home in Term 2 2022, including COVID information and STUDENT POSITIVE RESULT reporting link. Please notify the College of a positive student test result via the following link: CLICK HERE     End of Term 2 Letter - Sent 28 June 2022 Year 12 Wellbeing Day - Sent 23 June 2022 Deputy Principal Announcement EREA - Sent 15 June 2022 Student Led Learning Conferences Years 7 to 11 - 10 June 2022 Semester 1 Learning Conferences - 31 May 2022 Year 11 - Minimum Standards - 27 May 2022 St Edward's Not Involved in Industrial Strike Action - Sent 26 May 2022 COVID Update -  Sent May 13 2022 Founder's Day - Sent 5 May 2022 Change of Student Withdrawal Policy - Sent 3 May 2022 Parent COVID Update Term 2 - Sent 26 April 2022