Dear St Edmund’s College Family and Friends

On Wednesday evening our Year 10 students crossed the bridge from boyhood to manhood. They were greeted on the other side by their parents and family who presented them with a Senior tie or the Senior white shirt. The time-honoured ritual symbolises their rite of passage as an Eddies young man. In commemorating the occasion, I share with you a reflection I came across and read to the young men and their families which describes seven traits that define a man from a boy. These are:

1. They plan their future

Men think long term—about important things such as relationships, family, their career goals and who they want to be. They may not have it all figured out, but they have a good idea of where they want their life to go and they are laying the foundation to get there. On the other hand, boys who are yet to become men do not have these plans and live moment to moment.

2. They take responsibility

Men have a lot of pressure on them these days and let’s face it, they do not always get it right. Being a man means owning up to your mistakes and taking responsibility for your actions, even if you are in the wrong. Boys, however, tend to make excuses rather than take responsibility.

3. They think about the kind of man they want to be

Men reflect on their values and morals, and what kind of person they want to be. This includes what kind of partner, father, employee and friend they are and how that matches what they want. Men have put thought into their values and lead lives that reflect them. Boys aren’t sure about their moral compass just yet and do not steer their life with such intention.

4. They know what they want

Men who are truly men have a clear vision of what they want for their future. They know what they want in a partner, career, and in life in general. Boys tend to be unsure and unwilling to commit to a path.

5. They are decisive

Because men have a better idea of what they want, they tend to make decisions easier. They go after career opportunities that interest them and are willing to do the hard work to get there. They are not afraid to make a decision because they have a clear idea of who they are and what they want. Boys are hesitant and look for others to take the lead.

6. They practice integrity

Men have integrity. They say what they mean, they show up when they say they will, and they follow through on their promises. While boys can be unreliable.

7. They understand what it means to love and be loved

Men may be fearful of rejection, but they will still engage with others and initiate conversation, knowing that the reward can be greater than the risk. They understand that they are loved and have a capacity to love. They are in touch with their inner self where they encounter goodness. They cherish relationships and express gratitude. Boys can lack courage and belief in themselves.

Past Eddies Student: Archie Graham - Flag-Bearer and Australian Captain, INAS Global Games

Congratulations to Eddies Old Boy Archie Graham who graduated in 2011. Archie was recently named Team Captain and flag-bearer for the 2019 INAS (International Federation for Athletes with Intellectual Impairments) Global Games which are currently happening in Brisbane.
Archie is looking to defend his title at the Games, as well as his Number 1 world ranking in Tennis.

Waiting List for Year 7, 2020

Please be advised that our 2020 enrolments for Year 7 are now full. We are still accepting late applications; however, these will be placed on a waiting list and if a place becomes available families will be notified. There are limited places available in Years 8 upwards for families who may be considering a change of school for their son. The College will be hosting a Twilight Tour next Wednesday 23 October from 5.00pm to 7.00pm for anyone who is keen to be taken on a tour of our grounds and facilities by one of our students. It is also an opportunity to meet staff and find out how the Eddies Journey could be the right path for your son.

Opening and Blessing of the Edmund Rice Building Refurbishment and Extension – October 25

Next Friday October 25 the College will be holding an Opening and Blessing ceremony for the refurbished and extended Edmund Rice Building. The $3.5m building project was completed earlier this year after eight months of construction and the realisation of a twelve-year dream that started with the creation of the College Foundation. Since, there have been successive fund-raising initiatives resulting in a $500,000.00 donation from the College Foundation, a $300,000.00 donation from the St Edmund’s College Parents and Friends Association contributing to the project cost.

To commemorate the occasion Bishop Ken Howell will officially bless the building and the Celtic Cross that was gifted to the College by the St Edmund’s College Mothers, past and present. We are pleased to welcome back former Principal Brother Ted Magee who will officially open the building. All staff and students will receive a commemorative gift on the day to highlight the importance of the occasion.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK - Year 10 Rite of Passage

Prayers

Please keep in your prayers Year 11 student Noah Atley who is making remarkable recovery after sustaining a serious spinal injury over the holidays. His ‘challenge accepted’ attitude is truly inspiring.

Live Jesus in Our Hearts - Forever

Diarmuid O’Riordan, Principal

This week was filled with significant milestones for many of our students.

QATSIF Graduation Ceremony

Today was a special occasion for the Senior Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students as they were acknowledged at the QATSIF Graduation Ceremony. Jack Field, Harrison Haddad, McKinlay Martyn, Wyatt Martin and Ethan Whiteside stood alongside other Senior students from across Brisbane to celebrate their educational success. I would like to acknowledge especially, Jack Field who took on the shared role of leading the QATSIF Graduation ceremony.

Nationally, census data indicates the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students who achieved Year 12 was 65.3% in 2016. By comparison, in the same period the Year 12 attainment rate for non-Indigenous Australians was 89.1%, highlighting the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Australia is on track to meet the Year 12 attainment target to halve the education gap by 2020. We congratulate our students for sharing in this success.

Year 10 Rite of Passage

Wednesday marked the start of a different journey for the Year 10 students as they participated in the Rite of Passage Liturgy. In the company of their parents, and supported by the presence of Uncle Joe Kirk and the College Captains, the Year 10 students took the steps across their bridge. This marked the start of their time in white shirts and in the senior school. It was also an opportunity for them to acknowledge the support they receive from their parents.

2020 Induction Liturgy

Monday’s Induction Liturgy for the 2020 Student Leaders and in fact the whole Year 11 cohort was a sign that their Senior year had begun. The Induction was a wonderful occasion that brought together the leaders who are, and those who will be next year. It was the opportunity to not only symbolise a handover from the old to the new but also to acknowledge the 2019 Leaders and their role as mentors for the new student leaders.

As we move further into Term 4, there will be many milestones and we look forward to celebrating all forms of achievement with our students.

The Journey Ahead

From the Brisbane Catholic Education Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Student Graduation
(Author: Vicki Clark, Mutthi Mutthi Aboriginal Catholic Ministry)

May the knowledge learned, give you the strength to be a strong carrier of wisdom for you and the many generations to come.

It’s time to take the next step and carry close to your heart the sacredness of that wisdom that has been shared.

Hold the Spirit of this Sacred Land always in your heart and may the Spirits of my Ancestors always watch over you and keep you safe.

2019 Plenary Council

Over the holidays, a Plenary Council meeting was held to discuss with people from across Brisbane, the future of the Catholic Church. Our Head of Department: Religious Education, Ms Anne Artesi attended this gathering. Below there is a reflection from Anne around what was discussed at this event and I would encourage you to read her message.

Term 4 Highlights

Combined Colleges’ Parish Mass, 6.00pm, Sunday 20 October - St Mary’s Church
Come along to celebrate Sunday Mass with the College community. Students are invited to sit in the choir section and sing even if they are not regular members of the College Choir. There will be a pizza supper after Mass. Dress is smart casual.

Twilight Tours: Wednesday 23 October - 5.00 to 7.00pm
We are inviting students to volunteer as tour guides. This service to the College is an opportunity for our young men to demonstrate their pride in their College to prospective future students and their families. Please direct your son to contact Ms Adrianna Rimland: arimland@sec.qld.edu.au if he would like to be involved.

Blessing and Opening of the Edmund Rice Building Refurbishment and Annex by Bishop Ken Howell: Friday 25 October

Awards Nights - 7.00pm
Sporting and Cultural Awards Night: Tuesday 29 October
Academic and Service Awards Night: Thursday 31 October

Combined Colleges’ Parish Mass, 6.00pm, Sunday 3 November
This is a special Mass as students from St Edmund’s and St Mary’s Colleges will be receiving the Sacraments of Confirmation and Communion. We would appreciate your support for these young people.
Students are invited to sit in the choir section and sing with the choir. There will be a pizza supper following Mass. Dress is smart casual.

Walk to Remember: Monday 11 November - 7.15am
On Remembrance Day 11 November, St Edmund’s and St Mary’s Colleges will participate in the Walk to Remember before school. A flyer accompanies this newsletter. All students are encouraged to participate.

Year 12 Valedictory Mass and Dinner: Tuesday 12 November - Senior Photo 5.30pm - Mass 6.00pm

The Valedictory Mass, which is part of our College farewell ritual, will be held at St Mary’s Church on Tuesday 12 November, commencing at 5.30pm with the Senior cohort photo outside the church. This is a special event for the community and all Year 12 families are invited to the Eucharistic Celebration. Please place this date in your diary if you have a son in Year 12.

Places for the Valedictory Dinner are restricted to Year 12 families only. Please ask your son to see his House Dean for further clarification.

Live Jesus in Our Hearts - Forever

Marysia Rice, Assistant Principal Identity

On 4 and 5 October 2019, I attended the Brisbane Plenary Assembly held at ERPAC, St Laurence’s College South Brisbane. Three hundred and eighty delegates were present from across the Archdiocese of Brisbane to join in this open dialogue event on the future of the church in Australia.

The Key Opening and Address was led by Archbishop Mark Coleridge who invited the delegates to ‘listen to the voice of God (God’s work)’. He explained that the term ‘Plenary’ is ‘a journey of the whole Church’ which will be completed in phases: 1. Preparation; 2. Celebration; 3. Implementation. The Catholic Church in Australia, can no longer be ‘business as usual’. Archbishop Mark explained that we are now encouraged to ‘be dislocated’, and leave the bad stuff behind us. In becoming a synodal Church as Pope Francis has asked us to be, we need to become a ‘listening church’. God does and will communicate with us, when we are willing to listen.

Archbishop Mark explained that ‘Discernment’ can be a slow, messy and painful process. However, we should not lose our nerve or our patience during the discernment process. We need to ask ourselves ‘What is possible?’… ‘How can we use our imagination and boldness?’… ‘What do we need to let go of?’. He concluded with: ‘…we gather today on the Feast of St Francis, which is fitting as he also ‘birthed a new faith and a new way of thinking’. We can and should learn from St Francis, and through silence and prayer, be bold, be imaginative and see where that will lead us’.

Later in the program, the community listened to the address of the Facilitation Team. Their message was that the Monarchical Church Pre-Vatican II, no longer has a place in our world. The greatest honour that can be conferred on anyone is the Sacrament of Baptism and receiving the Holy Spirit. In fact, Pope Francis has said that the greatest gift he ever received was his mother ensuring his baptism in South America as an infant. This has gifted him a wonderful existence and a life of love.

As Catholics we revere the ‘Trinity’: three persons who love one another. We need to be ‘People of God’ and a ‘Pilgrim Church’ and as such, we need to invert the old monarchical church pyramid and turn it upside down with the laity on top, clergy in the middle and the Pope at the bottom. This ‘inverted pyramid’ reminds us that we are all God’s servants. We need to bring forth new skills, structures and a new culture. The team challenged the delegates to ask ‘How are we being called to a ‘Christ-centred’ Church?’

Into the future, we need to recapture the spirituality of silence. We need to embrace communal discernment, learn to pray daily, and to listen to those around us. We need to build ministry: thinking locally to begin with; nationally, and the worldwide will follow. We need to collaborate with all to be empowered to move forward.

Year 7 Subject Selection Evening is being held on Tuesday 22 October from 6.00pm. This is a wonderful opportunity for our Year 7 students to begin shaping their learning journey. New opportunities in the curriculum will be available for students and Heads of Department will be present to answer questions. This evening helps to build that most important relationship between the College and parents, to ensure positive outcomes for your sons. I look forward to seeing you all on Tuesday evening.

Library Learning Hub

The Learning Hub re-opened this week. The Hub is a fantastic opportunity to have two hours of work completed before leaving the College. Bring some of your friends and study together!

Tuesdays, Wednesday, Thursdays from 3.00pm to 5.00pm with afternoon tea provided for Years 10, 11 and 12 students

A reminder to all students that you should be making a strong start to the term so that you finish the year well.

Best wishes

Carmel James, Assistant Principal Learning and Teaching

ALL WELCOME

Open every First and Second Lunch Break - Tuesday 22 October to Friday 25 October 2019 - St Edmund's College Performing Arts Centre
Parents are welcome after school from 3.00 to 4.00pm - Please sign in at College Reception on arrival.

As part of the Year 11 Christian Ministry and Theology course of study, the Year 11 students are required to create an Art Installation piece, which they have completed either solo or in groups of two or three. This piece has been based on a character from the Christian Bible, whilst also making connections with the Vision and Mission of St Edmund’s College and Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA). Installation Art is an artistic genre of three-dimensional works that are often site-specific and designed to transform the perception of a space.

Ms Anne Artesi, HOD Religious Education

St Edmund’s College hosted the regional World Skills Automotive (schools’ section) competition on Tuesday this week. Three St Edmund’s Year 11 students competed against seven TAFE students. There were two judges from TAFE and three judges from St Edmund’s. TAFE and World Skills personnel visited the College during the day to oversee the competition. The winner on the day received a Gold medal and had his score compared to other Queensland regional scores. The overall winner represents Queensland in 2020 for the Australian title.

St Edmund’s students who competed were Christopher Brown (VP), Benjamin Tully (EP) and Ronin Brooks (EP).

At the end of a long and arduous day, seven TAFE students and the three Eddies students had successfully completed five automotive projects. There were ten points separating all competitors, with the top three competitors being 1.25 points apart, following six hours of assessment with a total of 100 available points.

Congratulations on top three placings:

First Place – Gold Medal - Ronin Brooks (St Edmund’s - EP)
Second Place – Silver Medal - Christopher Brown (St Edmund’s - VP)
Third Place - Bronze Medal - Benjamin Tully (St Edmund’s - EP)

Gold medallist, Ronin Brooks, has the chance of being selected in 2020 to represent Queensland in the National Final, competing against students from all States.

Mr Nigel Raddie, Head of Department

On Wednesday the Year 12 students were introduced to the Safe Drive Training program to be held on Thursday 14 November (Week 6 Term 4).

The course covers a wide range of practical situations to maintain safety related to motor vehicle control and awareness of fellow road users.

The program is a practical day of driver training which is invaluable for all who attend. Numbers are limited to a maximum of 60 participants. All who attend must have the ability to drive a car and possess, at least, a Learner’s Permit. It is not a learn-to-drive course but a course designed to instruct participants in how to control a motor vehicle more effectively.

The College Parents and Friends’ Association has kindly offered to subsidise the cost of the Safe Drive student course. An information brochure and Enrolment Form are available from the Deans’ Room. If students wish to participate they should complete the Enrolment Form and make a payment of $90 to the College Reception as per the information on the Enrolment Form. Enrolments will close Friday 18 October (Week 2 Term 4).

The following links provide a good insight into the Safe Drive Training program, the company providing the training and the course brochure:

http://www.sdt.com.au/docs/SDT...

Further details are available from Mr Mills on 3810 4400 during College office hours.

Mr David Mills, Morgan House Dean

After a busy first week a number of Performing Arts Ensembles are now rehearsing for our upcoming Cultural Showcase. This will be a night of entertainment not to be missed. The main concert will commence at 7.00pm in the McAuley Centre at St Mary’s College.

College Assembly

Johnathan Donnelly performed ‘Saved’ by Khalid at last Friday’s assembly. This was another performance of a very high standard from Johnathan. He is a wonderful role model for younger students as he always gives 100% when performing. Thank you to Mr Jesse Gold for accompanying Johnathan.

College Choir

The College Choir is busy preparing for a performance at the Silkstone Eisteddfod on October 25. I enjoyed hearing the students singing at the recent Induction for our 2020 College Leaders. Thank you to Ms Frances O’Sullivan for the work she puts into making this choir sound magical.

Cultural Photos - 23 October

Cultural Photos will be taken next Wednesday for a number of Performing Arts ensembles. Students must be well groomed and dressed in full school uniform.

Instrumental Lessons

All instrumental lessons have now recommenced. Students must continue to check the notice board outside Room K205 for their lesson times. Any students who feel they have been omitted from the lesson timetable must see Mr Kirkwood in Room K205 to discuss why.

Mr Tim Kirkwood, Director of Music

The Annual AIC Athletics Carnival will be held at QSAC, Mt Gravatt on Friday 25 October starting at 9.00am.

All Years 7 and 9 students and some senior leaders will be attending to support our athletes. Spectator buses will leave the College at 8.40am and return at approximately 2.45pm. Students must wear full school uniform including the College cap in a neat and tidy manner.

Unfortunately, there cannot be any drop off points on the way home for these spectator buses.

Students are requested to bring their own lunch and drinking water where possible. Canteen facilities at QSAC are available for a short period of time but students are reminded that our first priority is to support our athletes.

The AIC has developed a Code of Conduct for all carnivals and sport events. As such I remind all students about the high standard of behaviour and dress that is expected.

Code of Conduct

1. Good sportsmanship and fellowship must prevail at all sporting venues and situations at all times.
2. At Swimming and Athletics carnivals in particular, but at all sports, no student may use musical instruments or noise-making devices in their cheering. The only exception is a non-electric megaphone for leading students.
3. No students may enter other schools’ areas in grandstands or provoke students from other schools at any time.
4. At Swimming and Athletics carnivals, staff members from the various Colleges will be designated OFFICIALS by some specific marking or mode of dress. Students from all schools will follow the directions given by any such Officials.
5. Keep our cheering positive and focused on OUR school’s achievement and NEVER against others. Booing or harassing other schools is never acceptable. Avoid arrogance in cheering at all times.

Mr Wayne Warren
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES

Mon 21 Oct: P Smith, M Rose, R Bakkiet

Tue 22 Oct: G Weier, L McLean, M Towne

Wed 23 Oct: S Walker, K Jackson, L Bennett

Thu 24 Oct: D Morris, K Elliott

Fri 25 Oct: J Powell, T Williams

Term 4 Fee Statements were emailed to all families on Wednesday 16 October.

Due date for payment is Thursday 31 October.

If you have not received your statement or have a fee inquiry, please contact the Finance Office on 3810 4458 or email: finance@sec.qld.edu.au

ORIENTATION DAY - Monday 21 October 2019 - 8.00am to 3.00pm

No uniform fittings will be taken on this day; however, you are welcome to purchase other items, for example bags or caps. You may also book an appointment for a uniform fitting.
More information will be available in your Orientation pack which you will receive on Monday 21 October.

UNIFORM SHOP HOLIDAY OPENING TIMES

The Uniform Shop will trade as normal until Thursday 28 November 2019 and will be open Saturday 30 November 2019 - 8.00am to 12 noon

2020 Uniform Shop Times

The Uniform Shop will trade as normal commencing Monday 13 January 2020 and will be open Saturday 18 January 2020 from 8.00am to 1.00pm

UNIFORM SHOP PRICE LIST

There has been a small increase in prices on some Uniform Shop items. Please see the new Price List and updates on the College Website and App for information regarding Uniform Shop updates.

NORMAL OPENING HOURS

MONDAY – 8:00am to 12:30pm
TUESDAY – 8:00am to 3:30pm (Closed 12:30 to 1:30pm)
WEDNESDAY – 8:00am to 3:30pm (Closed 12:30 to 1:30pm)
THURSDAY – 8:00am to 12:30pm

P: 3810 4489
E: uniformshop@sec.qld.edu.au
Visit the SEC Website- www.sec.qld.edu.au

Registration from 8.00am. Please contact Kath Creedy in Enrolments for any further information 3810 4400.