As a life progresses toward the end of a semester, in the daily goings on of a school, things seem to become more and more hectic, maybe even a touch frantic. In staffrooms and offices throughout the College, assessments must be marked, feedback must be given, reports must be prepared and all to a strict deadline. In this space then, one thing becomes glaringly evident. Coffee is the life blood of the teaching profession. I realise that there are some who drink tea and no offence is meant here. However, in examining the facts, the coffee machine runs virtually 24/7 — coffee is ascendant, and no argument will be entered into.
With many varieties of coffee available from the long black to the iced, the flat white to the cappuccino, the espresso, the macchiato, the americano — don’t a lot of them end in “o” ? — to the occasional extra hot, half strength, chai infused, decaf on skinny soy with a dash of hazelnut. The science of producing the best coffee has been a story of intense and ongoing study, experimentation and learning. This versatile bean (scientifically, Coffea arabica, Coffea robusta and many more), lovingly roasted at precisely the correct temperature, ground with extreme prejudice to a powder of varying coarseness, then flushed with appropriately hot steamy water, producing a slightly bitter, subtly aromatic, actively pursued drink whose stimulating effect has been known since Sufi mystics brewed it in the highlands of Yemen sometime in the mid -15th century.
The progression from the grind it up and drip filter it with water process, to the elaborate machines we today experience for producing our preferred takeaway cup, has been one of continual learning. Just looking at a modern coffee machine in any café or restaurant is impressive. With computer-controlled temperature and pressure sensors, a myriad of Christmas tree like LED buttons and an expert barista at the helm, they tell a story of continual innovation, refinement and improvement. A tale of continued learning.
Our mission for our young men, is to build the innate curiosity that lives in each of us into a culture of lifelong learning. As an Eddies team, it’s not only our Eddies Men who need to be dedicated lifelong learners. As an organisation, we reflect the requirements of many other professions in the drive for continued improvement. To this end our yearly schedule includes a professional development program of further study and upskilling. Ensuring staff skills and competencies are cutting edge will enhance the outcomes for our young men as they follow their own learning journey.
Next week for five days, our staff will participate in the College’s annual staff learning conference Changing Hearts Changing Minds. This is a chance for them to learn from experts, to refine practice, to innovate strategies and to improve pedagogy.
Experienced keynote speakers from a variety of organisations and institutions including Griffith University and the University of Melbourne will present on such topics as:
- Inclusive Practices
- Transferable Skills
- Rigorous Design and Dynamic Delivery
- Classroom Evidence to Support Student Needs
- Reading, Writing, Thinking Connection
- High Impact Writing Strategies
With a wealth of expertise from within our ranks there will also be the opportunity to engage in workshops and collegial learning presented by colleagues and friends. High level proficiency will be shared in workshops including: Science Experimentation, Formative Feedback, Work with Spreadsheets, Computer Aided Design and Flipped Classroom, along with many others.
Finally, our week will conclude with a Spirituality Day. We are fortunate to have Father Steven Bliss our Parish Priest, to lead some sessions, as well as staff from Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA) and other organisations, to support us in workshops covering Cultural Awareness and Reconciliation, Inner Reflection, LGBTQ+ Inclusion and Unconscious Bias.
Our young men work through cycles of learning and assessment on their path to being independent in a modern world, and our staff journey in parallel with them through each learning progression. Coffee — and tea — may drive the occasionally waning creative spirit. Dedication and commitment, continued improvement and learning however, drive our staff in classrooms, on sporting fields, on stages, in practice, in reflection and in learning, as part of our Eddies Team, creating strong, kind and gentle Eddies Men.
Queen’s Birthday Honours Congratulations
Sincere congratulations to Matthew Hickey on his inclusion in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list. Matthew, Class of 1992, has a Master of Music and is an accomplished tenor, developing the award-winning musical group The Ten Tenors, while studying at university as an undergraduate in 1998. He has also completed a Bachelor of Law (Hons) and has been in practice as a barrister since 2010.
On behalf of the St Edmund’s Community, I congratulate Matthew on his receipt of the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to music and to the law.
Celebrating Mary O'Toole's 40 Years of Service
Please see below for details of 'An Afternoon with Mary' a celebration for Mary O'Toole's 40 years of outstanding service to the College. All welcome!
