The Chronicle Issue 5

Principal Report

Dear Parents, Guardians, Friends and Students,

I would like to share with you all what I spoke to the students about last week in our Formal Assembly. I wanted to address an important issue that not only impacts our learning environment but also plays a significant role in each young person’s personal growth and development. We are starting to hear more often the phrase “You cannot make me”. This may seem simple, but it carries profound implications. With the students and staff I explored why we should discard this phrase from our vocabulary and embrace the power of making good choices, which will undoubtedly assist us in our journey here at the College.

When students say the words “You cannot make me,” they close ourselves off to the endless possibilities that lie before us. They deny themselves the chance to embrace new ideas, expand their knowledge, and become the best versions of ourselves. By uttering this phrase, they limit their potential for growth and hinder their ability to navigate the complexities of life. It’s crucial to remember that true growth and learning flourish when we approach challenges with an open mind and a willingness to explore new perspectives.

So, instead of saying “You cannot make me,” I have asked the students to shift their mindset to “I am willing to learn and grow.” By embracing this perspective, they unlock doors to countless opportunities. They become open to receiving guidance, constructive feedback, and valuable insights from teachers, mentors, and peers. Embracing this approach enables them to overcome obstacles, acquire new skills, and develop resilience in the face of difficulty.

I also discussed with them the concept of making good choices and how they significantly impact their learning experience.  Each decision we make shapes our future and influences the outcomes we achieve.  It’s vital to recognize that we have the power to forge our own paths by making choices that align with our goals and desires.

I asked them to consider the following when making choices that will positively impact their learning:

1. Commit to Effective Time Management:
   Time is a precious resource that, once spent, cannot be regained. Make good choices by managing your time effectively. This means being punctual for classes and actively engaging in all aspects of every lesson. Create a schedule that allows time for homework or study while also ensuring free time for yourself. By prioritizing your commitments, you’ll strike a balance that enhances your learning potential.

2. Choose Positive Influences:
   Surround yourself with individuals who inspire and uplift you. Seek out friends and mentors who share your drive for success. Their positive influence and support will motivate you to strive for excellence and reach your full potential.

3. Seek Help and Collaboration:
   Never hesitate to seek assistance when needed. Making good choices means recognizing your limitations and reaching out for support. Your teachers, pastoral care team, and peers are here to guide and support us on your educational journey. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

4. Embrace Self-Discipline:
   Develop the self-discipline needed to consistently make good choices. Set achievable goals and hold yourself accountable. Self-discipline allows you to stay focused, remain dedicated, and persevere through challenges. It is through these choices that you cultivate habits that will serve you well beyond your high school years.

Our students need to remember that their choices today shape the adults they will become tomorrow.  By making conscious decisions that align with their educational goals, they will empower themselves to create a bright future filled with opportunities and success.

I encouraged the students to abandon the phrase “You cannot make me” and instead embrace an attitude of growth and open-mindedness.  By making good choices and committing to their personal and academic development, they will embark on a journey of self-discovery, learning, and change.

Together we can create a vibrant learning community that thrives on the power of choice and a commitment to excellence.

Remember our College motto “Stronger Together.”

God Bless,

Marie Barton
Principal

End of Term Prayer

We thank you for the many blessings
we have received this term.
We voice our gratitude for the good things you have
done in us, and we praise you for all who have
shared in the work of our school.
We ask you to please bless all our learners, their
families and our staff
and give them refreshment and peace during these
holidays.

Amen.

Deputy Principal Report

Nurturing Excellence at Edmund Rice College: Upholding the values of Honesty, Respect, Tolerance and Trying Our Best

I hope this newsletter finds you well and that you are enjoying a relaxing and rejuvenating holiday break. As we approach the new term, I would like to share some important updates and upcoming events with you.

Year 9 Try-A-Trade Taster

Our Year 9 students recently had an incredible opportunity to participate in a three-day taster program focused on Civil Construction, in collaboration with Motivation West. During this program, students had the chance to engage in various activities, including bricklaying, concreting, and the use of small civil construction machinery. They also learned about occupational health and safety guidelines and processes. This hands-on experience provided our students with invaluable exposure to different trade opportunities, helping them make informed decisions when selecting their VET courses in Year 10 and considering their future employment prospects.

MyLife Careers Expo

Recently, our Year 10-12 students were invited to attend the MyLife Careers Expo at Holy Cross College. This expo provided them with an excellent opportunity to interact with representatives from universities and apprenticeship centres. Our students had the chance to seek advice and gain insights into various career paths, including aviation, journalism, the Australian Defence Force, and careers in agriculture and automotive industries. The expo aimed to support our students in exploring post-schooling employment and learning opportunities.

Religious Education Assessment

In alignment with Catholic schools across Western Australia, students enrolled in Years 3, 5, and 9 will participate in a system-wide online assessment in Religious Education. The administration of this assessment will commence on Monday, 24th July. The primary purpose of this assessment is to measure student learning of the content outlined in the Religious Education Curriculum. Parents would have already received information regarding this upcoming assessment, and we encourage your continued support and engagement in your child’s education.

Term 4 OLNA Testing Windows

Please note that the OLNA (Online Literacy and Numeracy Assessment) testing windows for our Year 10-12 students will commence early next term. Mr Cameron Eglington, our College Assistant Principal, will provide additional information regarding the OLNA schedule, including preparation and cohort testing schedules. Below is an outline of the testing schedule for your reference:

WINDOW A Testing Schedule:

• Writing: 24th – 25th July
• Numeracy and Reading: 24th July – 4th August

WINDOW B Testing Schedule:

• Writing: 4th – 5th September
• Numeracy and Reading: 24th July – 15th September

Year 9 Retreat Program

Early next term, we will be conducting the Year 9 Retreat Program on the 27th of July. This program aims to encourage our students to appreciate the gift of their own uniqueness and to embrace their true selves without seeking validation from others. It also focuses on recognizing the impact they can have on how others perceive their own value and dignity. We want our students to understand that their worth lies in being created in God’s image and being unconditionally loved by Him. Additional information regarding the Year 9 Retreat Program will be sent home to the families of our Year 9 cohort in the coming weeks.

Lastly, on behalf of the entire Edmund Rice College community, I would like to wish all our students, families, and teaching and residential staff a happy and restful two-week holiday break. May this time be filled with joy, relaxation, and quality moments with loved ones. We look forward to welcoming everyone back for an exciting and productive term ahead.

Tracey Crisp
Deputy Principal

Matthew 13:31-32 “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of all garden plants and becomes a tree, so that birds come and perch in its branches.”

Year 9 students visit Parliament House

On Tuesday 20 June Year 9 students visited Parliament House as part of their HASS unit Civics and Citizenship.  We enjoyed a comprehensive tour of the building, including the two Houses where Parliamentarians gather to discuss legislation and the day to day running of the State.

While we were there we were privileged to meet with the Premier, Mr Cook; The MLA for Kimberley, Ms Divina Grace D’Anna; The member for Geraldton, Ms Lara Dalton MLA; the Member for Kalgoorlie, Ms Alison Kent; and the Shadow minister and Opposition Leader Ms Mia Davis.

At the end of the tour our students bumped into some Elders a few of our students knew from the Kalgoorlie area, who were attending Parliament regarding Land Title matters.

Gillian Usher
Teacher

Above:  Year 9 students visit Parliament House as part of their HASS units Civics and Citizenship.

Try a Trade

Above:  Despite the weather, students completed all their tasks at the Motivation Training Centre, Whiteman Park.

From Wednesday 21 June to Friday 23 June, Year 9 students attended the Motivation Training Centre in Whiteman’s Park, West Swan. After their Induction students took their check list and Performed a Safety Check n a machine. They were then ready to each have a turn on the Road Roller, which is articulated, so not as easy to maneuver as you would think! After lunch students then had a turn on the Skid Steer Excavator.

Day 2 saw the students creating a pathway. First, they had to dig the area and then place the formwork down in preparation for the actual concrete laying on Day 3. Later in the day the students were again on the Skid Steer Excavator as well as the Crawler Excavator.

Day 3 dawned wet and a little miserable for outdoor work but the Year 9 students were troopers, learning that weather does not always halt work. They were hard at work taking the concrete from the truck to the path in wheelbarrows. They were then spreading it out, so it was flat, and encouraging the air bubbles to the surface. After a short break to let the concrete cure for a short while and due to the rain, students headed inside where they dabbled in some Body Percussion as light relief before lunch. A little more experience Safety checking machines and some more work on the two excavators, students headed back to the concrete to finish it off. At the end, with a job well done, students wrote the schools and their name in the wet cement for posterity. It gave students an opportunity to consider the Civil Industry as a future career path.

Gillian Usher
Teacher

Coral Coast Cup Camp

The Edmund Rice Clontarf Academy were fortunate and excited to be able to take 6 of our Year 7-10 boys on a camp to Carnarvon and Geraldton. Camps are an integral part of the Academy program, as they are a reward for effort, as well as a great opportunity to present learning opportunities to the boys cross our pillars of Sport, Education, Employment, Well-Being, Leadership and Partners.

The boys were selected for the camp based on high attendance, participation in Morning Training sessions, good behaviour in class, and living the Clontarf Values.

We took off early on the Tuesday for the long drive to Carnarvon, with the boys selecting the playlist for the van, with an eclectic mix including Zac Brown Band, Destiny’s Child and George Ezra! On arrival in Carnarvon, the boys then got to play a variety of games against the other academies, including street hockey, soccer and ultimate NFL

Wednesday saw our boys combine with the Girrawheen Academy to play in the Coral Coast Cup, against academies from Kiara College, Port Hedland, Yule Brook, Newman and Northam.  The team played some good footy, winning 2 of their matches and just falling short of qualifying for the grand final.

The boys showed great Clontarf Spirit of having a crack, playing out of position, subbing in when the opposition were short on numbers and playing with great sportsmanship.

Thursday and Friday saw our boys get to learn a lot about the great unknown of space, with a tour of the Carnarvon Space Museum and Geraldton Museums excellent VR exhibit ‘Beyond the Milky Way’ Seeing the boys ask great questions of the tour guides, and use the interactive exhibits made both tours a highlight of the trip.

We want to congratulate Kieren, Damien, Kim, Brandon, Vinnie and Angelo on being selected for the camp, and we look forward to going on more camps throughout the year.

Paul Pitchers
Academy Director

In the Classroom

As part of the Year 9 Woodworking classes, students have been making a timber bench for the College grounds.  Painting time is always the messy part but teaching staff made sure no uniforms were ruined on the day.

Above:  Teaching staff, Neha Singh with the Year 9’s painting the nearly completed bench.

Boarding Report

We are half way through the AFL season and it’s been a whirlwind of driving to football games, fitting in some shopping, attending Mass in Perth, and trying to get a bit of a sleep in on Saturdays. Most of the Boarders play football, so we have students in 6 teams, and they play at different grounds often at the same time. Our boarding staff are certainly racking up the k’s on the buses this Term. We’ve had some great wins, with the year 7’s last weekend winning by over 100 points. One of year 10 girls, Lloydessa is flying to the Gold Coast this weekend to participate in the Woomeras AFL Tournament.

The boarding students all flew home this week for the school holidays. Some students were met by unseasonable rain and weren’t able to get all the way home. I’m currently in Broome with a number of students who are waiting for the rain to stop so they can fly on their charter flights to their communities. While we’ve been here we have watched the Garnduwa football and basketball competitions, we’ve met up with family member who live in Broome, and seen a few young people who used to be at Bindoon. We’ve had great hospitality from Kimberley Air and Kimberley Sands Resort who have done exceptionally well to host us at the last minute.

We are also very thankful to the CEWA TSU who went into action as soon as I called to say we had students stuck in Broome on Tuesday. Staff were sent to Broome airport to supervise the students while we waited to hear about flights. Staff bought the students dinner and continued to up date me on the plan. In the end the students flew back to Perth, and stayed at the college before flying once more to Broome on Wednesday. Broome Residential College looked after 2 boys for the night who were not able to fly back to Perth, while they were under no obligation to help us out, they made the boys feel welcome, and brought them back to the airport the next day. From what was a really stressful situation initially, it really showed how much everyone comes together to support each other when an issue arises.

While the students are at home with family, we wish everyone a restful, rejuvenating break. Boarders are returning Tuesday 18th July. We pray for good weather and strong tail winds to bring them back to Perth safely.

Sam Jenner
Head of Boarding