See the link below for the latest edition of SECTV, hosted by Kai Wheelock, Samuel Beatson and Joshua Zaia.   [embed]https://youtu.be/01QFLP-imK4[/embed]

The Environment, Sport and Wellbeing Portfolio, along with all of our College prefects are getting the ball rolling and kicking off Movember this week! This year has significantly highlighted the importance of looking out for one another.  Our fathers, partners, brothers, carers and friends are also facing a health crisis, yet it is rarely talked about. Men are dying too young and we can’t afford to stay silent. For the month of November, all staff and students are encouraged to take part in Movember and try to do their bit to raise awareness for men’s health.  To participate you need to sign up and join the St Edward’s College Team, simply search for ‘St Edward’s College East Gosford” on the Movember website or follow link: https://movember.com/t/st-edwards-college-east-gosford?mc=1 If you wish to participate, here is the lowdown: All students can participate You must register on the Movember website – under St Edward’s College Team (as per link above) You can choose to Gro a Mo or Move for men’s health by using the Movember Move Tracker You must raise a minimum of $20 under your Mo profile and the St Edward’s College Team page  

Mr Gentle from our PDHPE faculty and the Environment, Sport and Wellbeing Portfolio, was recently interviewed by Coast Community News about the Thirsty? Choose Water! Program.  Clink the image below to read the interview.  

By this time next week, our current Year 12 students would have completed all of their HSC Science Exams. Having completed Investigating Science and Biology in previous weeks, they will be sitting Physics this Friday and Chemistry next Monday. We congratulate the boys for the effort they have made in completing their studies and wish them every success for all coming endeavours. [caption id="attachment_28620" align="alignleft" width="300"] The Extension Science Class[/caption] This term saw the College introduce the Extension Science course, for students who are passionate about science and have an interest in scientific research. The course lays a foundation for students planning to pursue further study in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) based courses offered at the tertiary level, and to engage in new and emerging industries. A small team comprising of Ms Aitken (who is teaching the inaugural class), Mrs Mantellato, Mrs Fink and Mr Foster have spent many months in preparing and planning for the delivery of this course. We look forward to witnessing the research carried out by this group of young men and reading their finished journal articles. [caption id="attachment_28605" align="alignright" width="240"] Lobster trap made in Mr Moloney's class[/caption]   Next week, Years 7, 8 and 9 will be undertaking their final assessment tasks for 2020. Notifications for the exams have been published to the College Portal. Students are encouraged to be undertaking revision at home, through reading over their notes, completing Chapter Reviews from their textbooks (found on Readcloud, located in Canvas) and seeking assistance from their class teacher. During Week 8, Year 9 and 10 Marine Studies students will be celebrating the skills the have developed this year through two important excursions. Year 9 will be snorkelling at Toowoon Bay, checking their ability to dive with a buddy, clear their masks in the water, identify local marine species and enjoying a fun day to finish the year. Year 10 will be having a day fishing at North Entrance Channel, testing the quality of their craftmanship in manufacturing their own fishing rods that were completed earlier this year.  

Congratulations to the 2020 English Writing Competition Winners The English Department would like to thank all the students who entered the 2020 Writing Competition. Congratulations on your fabulous narrative pieces: Geoffrey French - Stage Four winner Lachlan Sherratt - Stage Five winner We also held a Fortress Building Competition to accompany some creative writing about ‘Epic Quests’ and we extend our congratulations to the winner, Luke Harrison. Epic Quests Winning Entry by Lachlan Sherratt  

Year 9 In Year 9, we have been studying the region “Nouvelle Aquitaine” in France. Students chose a typical dish of the region and cooked it at home. Here are some excellent examples if you are looking for some inspiration to cook some French cuisine! [embed]https://youtu.be/Sp40AIvSXj4[/embed]   Year 8 In Year 8, students have been studying the weather in French and have created a weather report. Enjoy! [embed]https://youtu.be/rAi3GE24ulg[/embed]

Parents of students in Years 11 and 12, 2021 who would like to register for the Laptop Rental Program for 2021 and have not already done so, are asked to complete the expression of interest form available via the following link: Expression of Interest Laptop Rental Program Parents wishing to rent a laptop for their son will receive the College Laptop Rental Agreement which outlines the conditions associated with this scheme. If your son intends on bringing his own device to school in 2021, you are not required to complete this expression of interest.  

Last Thursday, both Years 7 and 8 and Year 9 and 10 Touch Football teams travelled to MacKillop Catholic College, Warnervale to play their Round 1 games. Years 7 and 8 On Thursday 22 October, the Under 13's and 14's touch football side travelled to MacKillop Catholic College Warnervale for their first game. The boys were in high spirits and worked exceptionally as a team. As a result, they ended up scoring 15 points and taking the win. The team is to be congratulated for their positive attitude and hard work. This week our focus in on clear communication and integrating all players into our plays. Congratulations to our incredible boys: Cooper Jones, Sam Logan, Fletcher Sommerville, Donovan Wright, Harper Turner, Ryder Kasun, Josh Brown, Sam Flakus, Byron Marks, Fletcher Stuart, Matt Humphries, Luke Cherub and Latrelle Wilson.   Years 9 and 10 The team had a resounding win (16-2) over MacKillop Catholic College, scoring some fantastic tries. Our team was very excited to be finally playing some level of competition. Right from the outset St Edward's gained control of the game and were able to move down field easily and score a number of tries from simply creating an overlap. Our pressure in defence saw a few of the boys take intercepts and either score or set up a try for a teammate. The team did a great job of controlling the tempo of the game and playing off the back of that momentum to easily account for MacKillop. The team consisted of:  Sebastian Plaister (c), Zane Smith, Jonah Wright, Leith van Aalderen, Tyrone Dorrell, Sean Bullen, Calan Tucker, Tommo Peters, Charlie Cartwright, Will Hodder, Aymn Hamilton and Elliot Sterland. Our next games in the competition are: Thursday 5 November v St Brigid’s Catholic College, Lake Munmorah - St Edward's College Oval Thursday 19 November v St Peter’s Catholic College, Tuggerah  - CCRSC Tuggerah Thursday 4 December TBC

Term 4 - BBSSSA Competition - Rationale The continuing challenge of COVID-19 and NSW Public Health Orders precluded BBSSSA sports in their traditional championship days from being viable at the start of Term 4 2020. There was strong support for some form of inter-school sporting competitions from member schools due to the positive physical and mental health benefits for our students particularly during this uncertain and challenging time for them. This competition aligns with the current CSO strategic themes and priorities of examining initiatives to support the diversity of learners and innovation in learning and teaching under the Student Achievement strand (Catholic Schools Broken Bay: Towards 2025 strategic direction). Given the circumstances of sport this year, it was decided to trial a competition format that would allow students to play representative sport in a ‘Zone’ based format. This was in line with restrictions set during Term 3. ‘Northern’ (Central Coast) and ‘Southern’ (Sydney) BBSSSA Zones were temporarily created and a round robin competition organised between these geographically closer schools. For the boys it was, Stage 4 and Stage 5 Touch Football and the girls, Netball. Please see the link to the Touch Football report below https://www.stedwards.nsw.edu.au/news/touch-football/?newsletter=28538 Term 4 - Friday Sport House Competition The new format for the House competition kicked-off earlier this Term, with the return to some normalcy on a Friday, with one year on campus and one off campus. Each House has four teams, each team plays a different team from each House, each week. The level of competition and enthusiasm has gone up a notch. In Week 1 we had Year 9 take on the new format, setting the standard and expectation for House pride in the afternoon Oztag competition. Year 9 House Totals: Doolan                         Knights                        Shanahan                    Spillane 55                                30                                70                                50 In Week 2, it was Year 7’s turn to have a go at the new format. Year 7 House Totals: Doolan                         Knights                        Shanahan                    Spillane 45                                55                                50                                50 In Week 3, Year 10 had their turn. It was great to see the enthusiasm and banter with-which all the teams took on the challenge. Year 10 House Totals: Doolan                         Knights                        Shanahan                    Spillane 40                                60                                45                                55        

Casual Team Members We’re gearing up for our biggest Christmas yet, so we’re on the lookout for casual Team Members who are available evenings, weekends and days during the school holidays. The good stuff … You’ll be joining a safe, inclusive and fun work environment, you’ll gain lots of practical skills, make new friends, earn your own money (cha-ching!) and build your self-confidence. You’ll have the chance to work across any time of the week including afternoons, evenings and weekends. You’ll get great discounts across all our supermarkets and brands, and even a chance to taste-test new products. What we’re looking for: We’re looking for positive people who’ll contribute to the inclusive culture we’ve built at Coles Group. You don’t need to have any experience, but if you’re enthusiastic and willing, have a great attitude and are a reliable human, you’ll make a great addition to our team. Keen as a bean? Just lettuce know If you've got more passion than a passionfruit and you like the sound of us (and our corny food puns), then jump in and submit your expression of interest. We’d love to hear from you! Register your interest now by clicking here and we’ll keep you in the loop when positions become available. You’ll need to keep an eye on your emails and when positions pop up at your local Coles, we’ll let you know so you can apply! Make sure your interview game is strong and your resume is looking great Once you’ve applied, prepare for your interview and put together a resume that’ll get you noticed. You may be invited to a video Interview, which is not too different to a face to face interview. Think about how you’d like to present yourself and examples you’d like to share with us of how awesome you are. Click here for interview and resume tips Factory Holiday Work Freedom and Kinsman Kitchens - Somersby About Us Freedom & Kinsman Kitchens and Wardrobes are a leading Australian kitchen, wardrobe & laundry manufacturer based in Somersby (1 Wella Way) on the Central Coast NSW. We are well known due to our association with the “The Block” TV Series. About the Role We are looking for energetic people to join our team to conduct general factory duties. The successful candidate will be responsible for: Be able to perform quality checks Clean machinery and factory Ensure all products are cleaned and ready for dispatch. Inspecting and assembly of products General duties as required to support business requirements To be successful in the role, you will have the following: Fantastic attitude and excellent work ethic A sense of urgency and be able to prioritise Be self-motivated Available to work varied hours Sound verbal and written communication skills Factory Hours (38 hours per week) Monday to Thursday:  7.00 am – 3:30 pm Friday:  7.00 am to 1.00 pm Factory staff are paid weekly, overnight Wednesday. Rates of pay (+ Superannuation) Under 18 Years - $15.00 18 Years - $17.55 19 Years - $21.31 20 Years - $25.08 To apply to this opportunity please send your resume directly to Careers@kitchengroup.com.au Workforce of the Future: Focus on Mining The Department of Education, Skills and Employment and the Mining Skills Organisation Pilot are hosting the third event in the Workforce of the Future series. The series brings together business leaders and experts working with the Skills Organisation Pilots to discuss the future of Australia's workforce. Our next livestreamed event will explore the skills, training and future employment opportunities ahead in the mining sector. Australia’s mining industry is at the forefront of industries undergoing rapid and large-scale skills shifts as a result of changing technologies and future global demands. As a result of these changes, the mining workforce of the future will be more diverse, geographically distributed and digitally connected. To meet the demand for traditional and non-traditional skilled workers grows, employers will be looking for people with skills and capabilities that are adaptable, transferable and relevant to the needs of the sector to build Australia’s economic future. The Mining Skills Organisation Pilot is working with employers, the mining industry and VET sector stakeholders to ensure the training system meets the needs of employers and provides learners with the skills they need for a successful career in the mining sector. This free livestreamed event is open to the public and will run from 1pm to 2pm, Friday 13 November, 2020. To join us, register here: https://www.employment.gov.au/workforce-future-focus-mining Harvest Trail Service Providers are looking for 2020 Year 12 School Leavers As you may have heard, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020/21 harvest seasons are going to be extremely challenging due to a shortage of labour usually provided by travelling workers. https://youtu.be/0Y1KqZxAZmA To assist our local producers to get their crops into markets and on shelves, the Commonwealth Government has engaged Harvest Trail Service Providers such as Cozwine, to attract school leavers to the harvest and provide them with accredited training and a COVID safe harvest experience. A fully inclusive meals and accommodation package is available. The Harvest Trail Experience will initially provide school leavers with an amazing opportunity to participate in the annual cherry harvest experience in the picturesque Young Region and Central West commencing immediately after the HSC and going through to Christmas. The cohort will receive a full industry orientation and accredited induction training with support to make this a memorable experience with their peers. Opportunities are then ongoing across the entire state. Utilising the attached NSW Harvest Guide, participants can build their own adventure, travelling NSW while being employed as a harvest worker, receiving accredited training along the way. This is a great opportunity for Year 12 students to grab their friends have an adventure and make up for some missed experiences. They will earn money, build life skills, gain experience and travel to parts of the country they may never have seen. Students can maximise their experience by continuing on the NSW Harvest Trail and working across a number of seasons, gaining further skills and qualifications for at least 6 months. To help inform potential participants, there is a FAQs document and letter from Cozwine attached. To get an idea of what harvest days look like, some links have been provided below: https://youtu.be/FLxNNuyFvak https://youtu.be/n9PDAEHgs00 https://youtu.be/7bNmTGDwEwA (in French, but shows the lifestyle) To register for harvest employment opportunities, head to https://www.cozwine.com.au/harvest-trail-jobs/ Harvest Trail FAQs   CozWine Program Letter   NSW-harvest-guide    

Life has a way of throwing curve balls that really test the strength and resilience of families. Personal tragedy, natural disasters and global pandemics are the types of events that challenge us all to the core, testing our emotional and social resources. When difficulties occur children look to the adults in their lives to maintain their security and safety. When change and uncertainty reigns, kids want strong, empathetic leadership from the significant adults in their world. As a parent it can be difficult responding to a child’s needs when you’re trying to adjust to changes that are forced on you. Following are some elements to consider when parenting through times of challenge, change and difficulty: Attention Like a television antenna your attention is tuned to pick up the strongest signal. In times of difficulty a child may not necessarily signal that they are struggling, so you may need to fine tune your attention to pick up their needs. Start to notice the small comments and subtle behavioural changes, as they may not be small at all, and can provide helpful clues to their state of mind. Priorities In challenging times your focus may need to shift away from schoolwork, household neatness and chores. If can move toward relationship building, maintaining wellbeing and helping each other out. Parental priorities need to shift to the immediate rather than the future, the emotional instead of the behavioural and from thriving mode to survival mode in tough times. Permission Children and young people often struggle to express their feelings and thoughts in the face of adversity. They look to the significant adults in their lives for guidance about how they should respond to change, loss, uncertainty and disappointment. Allow them to speak about how they are feeling. Prompt conversations through closeness and connection. Display your own vulnerability and in doing so give your kids the permission they need to express themselves in safe ways. Collaboration Difficult times will invariably suit a family that enjoys a collaborative, close parenting style. In collaborative families kids feel listened to and also have an ability to impact family decision making. Shared mealtimes and regular family gatherings are generally a prominent feature of collaborative families. In difficult times those families that prosper are those that value and promote close connection between siblings and parents. Wellbeing Child and parent wellbeing becomes paramount in times of hardship. That may mean reprioritising the importance of school and work, doing something joyful every day and practising regular wellbeing strategies such as exercise, mindfulness, deep breathing and spending time in nature. The wellbeing bucket needs to be regularly refilled during challenging times. These five elements form the basis of a planned parent response when major difficulties occur. Be patient, be kind to yourself and be willing to reach out to the wider community for help.  

This year’s unique challenges have brought a sharper focus on child-rearing styles. Parents who rely one style have often struggled to meet the emotional needs of their children. Kids who are worried, fearful or fretting about the future initially benefit from a nurturant, empathetic approach. “I get it” is what they want to hear so they feel safe and secure. They also benefit from a firmer approach where an adult communicates “You can cope with this” is something kids need to hear when they experience change, difficulty and disappointment. This combination of nurturance and firmness is known as an authoritative approach according to Diane Baumrind, a leading researcher on parenting styles. A purely nurturant style is known as a permissive style, while a singularly firm style is known as authoritarian. Warm Cat, Firm Dog It’s helpful to use a cat and dog metaphor when discussing the authoritative approach. As dog-owners know these pets are highly relational and respond favorably to attention. The dog style of parenting is empathetic and has an encouraging, relationship-building focus. Cats, on the other hand, are usually self-sufficient and can live happily without you. Continuing the metaphor, the cat style of parenting is more likely to challenge kids, better able to manage poor behaviour and provide solid family leadership. Body Language Counts The dog-cat styles are expressed through our non-verbal language – our tone of voice, posture and heads. A cat speaks in a flat, clipped voice using a minimum of words. Their head is still, its body upright and confident. A cat is calm, quiet and in control. A dog, on the other hand, speaks with lots of inflection in their voice. They’ll smile a great deal and lean in when they speak. It’s a warmer more approachable style suited to conversations and building relationships. Which Style Do You Identify With? Most people naturally have a preference for one style over the other. If you defer to one then you may have to work a little harder or more consciously to bring the other side to the fore. Many parents working in partnership with each other will share the dog-cat loads. One parent is firm in approach, while the other uses a warmer, more personal approach. Sometimes parents switch styles according to the gender or personality of their children. This is quite common as boys have a tendency to bring out the firm cat in their fathers and the warmer, protective dog-side in their mothers. Conversely, fathers often respond to their daughters in dog-like ways and anecdotally, it seems, many mothers are more naturally cat-like with their daughters. Single parents without the luxury of sharing the parenting will generally need to be flexible and move between the two styles. Avoid Mixed Messages Get your cat and dog wrong and you risk being ineffective and failing to meet either a child’s needs or the needs of a particular situation. If your first response to a child’s difficulty is to be distant and unapproachable, then you are probably not meeting their immediate emotional needs. Your child or young person needs you to be approachable or dog-like when they come to you with genuine concerns. Conversely, approach a child or teen whose behaviour isn't up to standard with a dog-like approach and you'll be ignored or not taken seriously, leaving you either angry or deflated. Flexibility is the Key It’s my experience that it’s possible to move seamlessly between the two modes but it takes awareness and practice. If you naturally default to cat mode, then you may have to put some conscious effort into responding with empathy and nurturance when your child or young person struggles. Alternatively, you may practise dog-like behaviours easily but have to work on your cat side to promote independence and manage your child’s behaviour. In time these switches become automatic as your awareness grows enabling you to adopt new ways of parenting. Your effectiveness and satisfaction levels will increase as you move seamlessly between the cat and dog parenting styles. Free Webinar Our school has a membership with Parenting Ideas. As part of this membership, you can attend the upcoming webinar ‘Parenting like a cat and dog’ at no cost. See the flyer below for more information. Parenting_Like_a_Cat_and_Dog_Flyer   This offer is valid until 31 December 2020. If you’re unable to make the broadcast time, just register anyway and you will get access to the recording. The recording will be available in your Parenting Ideas dashboard so you can refer to it at anytime.  

In a recent conversation, a 16 year old told me how he’s enjoyed some great conversations with his father since the COVID-19 pandemic. What I heard from this young man was that his father is not just an affable person but also a very 'askable' parent. The young man told me that he could talk to his dad about anything, which I suspect would be music to his father’s ears. I imagine that many parents would love to hear their kids say that about them. The notion of being a parent that young people can discuss personal problems with and seek answers to some of life’s bigger issues such as politics, religion and sexuality has been a source of personal reflection and study over many years. While young people can be notoriously secretive about what’s on their mind, parent attitude and behaviour certainly impacts on their willingness to communicate. The following strategies will maximise your chances of being seen as an askable parent in your young person’s eyes: Be There Proximity aids communication and relationship-building. The more time you spend in close proximity to a young person the more likely you are to have meaningful conversations. Be Attentive Pay close attention when a young person starts a conversation or asks a question, as they are easily put off by parental indifference. Many young people experience difficulty articulating their thoughts, so they are extremely appreciative when parents pay them full attention when they have something to say. Listen Without Judging or Advising Giving unsolicited advice is a sure-fire way to prevent young people confiding in you. Young people are more likely to discuss personal matters and difficult subjects if they know their thoughts and feelings won’t be judged adversely or that they’ll be deluged by advice. The use of Ahh statements (“Ahh, so that’s what’s bothering you?”) is great way to show young people that you are listening without judgement or advice. Be Prepared to Challenge There are times when you need to challenge the validity of a young person’s views, their behaviour or the values they express. Misinformation, disrespectful attitudes and revelations about unsafe behaviour need to be discussed rather than ignored or criticised. It’s wise to pick a time and a place that’s likely to promote rational discussion rather than responding when emotions are high. Engage in Banter Respected Australian educator Dr. Tim Hawkes writes in his book Ten Conversations you must have with your son that light-hearted banter is a prelude to more serious discussions. Not only does banter build relationships but it gives parents’ permission to discuss thorny or personal issues with kids. At a time when a parent’s voice is easily drowned out by increased media and digital noise, it’s more important than ever to connect with a child or teenager on a personal level. Being an askable parent will help you build deeper connections with the young person in your life.