With a yawn, a stretch and maybe a bit of a belly scratch, the College reawakened over the last few weeks. Like a wave spreading through the various offices, dormant computers were brought out of their slumber. Professional Development week last week saw keynote speakers, workshops and meetings for all our staff as we set the foundation for the commencement of the 2023 school year. Empty desks and workstations were gradually reinhabited to the sound of happy conversations about the Christmas break and the new year ahead. Mind you, cricketers, swimmers and volleyballers have all been busy training for their impending competition seasons.
I often use the term “The Eddies Team”. Parents and caregivers, staff, and indeed our young men all contribute to creating an environment for success. As a team, we play a long game, a game where a successful outcome is a young man who graduates as an Eddies Man. A man ready to be strong, kind and gentle, independent, and imperatively prepared to be a positive difference in their world.
On Tuesday, our 2022 Rookies class commenced their first day as full time Eddies Men. For these young men, our new Year 7’s, the next few weeks will be a time to acclimatise to their new ‘home’ and new ways here on the hill. As well, our Year 12 students commenced their final months and final experiences of high school. It was truly heart-warming to see little groups of students exploring the grounds. Blue shirts topped by wide-eyed, excited faces following their Year 12 buddies, listening intently and demonstrating a remarkable understanding of the College. Building locations — especially the Tuckshop — classroom names and lesson times seemed well established and securely embedded.
The rest of our student team, Years 8, 9, 10 and 11, commenced on Wednesday, hopefully refreshed, prepared and ready for the year ahead. Just like that, the relaxing slumber of the Christmas break disappears like an early morning mist on a summer’s day, and we look with a bright clear focus to the year ahead.
New Staff and Appointments 2023
Welcome to the following staff who join the Eddies Team this year:
- Rebecca Coulter Guidance Counsellor
- Leanora Donnelly Teacher – Inclusive Education
- Simon McAndrew Director of Students
- Yugeindran Nair Teacher – Physics/Maths/Science
- Amy Judge Teacher – English/Social Science/Religious Education
- Ruth Raymond Teacher – Maths/Science
- Justin Smith Teacher – Maths/Science
- Phillip Trezise Head of Department – Mathematics
I’d also like to acknowledge our newly appointed Middle Leaders and wish them well in their efforts to fulfil their leadership goals:
- Tim Fergus House Dean – Morgan House
- Eliza Harris Program Leader – Strategic Projects
- Andrew Kirk Director of Pathways
No plan ever seems to survive its implementation. While Tim Fergus was no doubt keen to commence his new role, he is on leave for Term 1, and Paula Turner will be the Morgan House Dean for the duration of the term.
New Timetable Format
This year we will be instituting an eight-day rolling timetable. This format allows us to ensure the events and activities, including Inter-House days, Edmund Rice Day and College Masses, that nurture and advance our Eddies culture continue to thrive while maximising classroom time for teaching and learning. There will undoubtedly be some teething problems as we get used to thinking of the timetable in terms of Day 1, Day 2, Day 3 etc., instead of Monday, Tuesday Wednesday. I feel, however, that we will benefit from this change with better outcomes for our young men.
Class of 2022
Congratulations to the Class of 2022 on their achievements. For those who made their data available, there were a significant number of our Eddies Men who achieved ATARs above 90. Our Graduating Class of 2022 worked extremely hard, and we can all be proud of their results.
I would like to particularly acknowledge and affirm the following young men:
- Chris Baker, who received 97.15
- Noah Bertram on receiving 97.0
- Adam Hammant on receiving 95.7
Their hard work and dedication have led to these outstanding outcomes We will fittingly celebrate their success later in the year at our Academic Awards Assembly.
While we are still collating data with respect to those who pursued Skills and Training pathways, we are aware that a significant number of our young men have been successful in gaining full time employment or full-time apprenticeship positions.
These results don’t occur in a vacuum; they are a consequence of the efforts of many. Congratulations to all of those in the Eddies Team who supported our young men over the course of 2022.
Year 7 Information Evening
Thank you to all our Year 7 parents and their sons who attended the Parent Information Evening on Wednesday. These evenings are an excellent opportunity to share information, to meet and build relationships with College staff, as well as strengthening the partnerships that will lead to successful outcomes for our young men.