Whole School

With the commencement of the academic year, we warmly welcome both new and returning students, and their parents/carers, to the College. The Year Coordinators, homeroom teachers, counsellors, and the both of us are looking forward to working with you over the course of the year as we continue assisting in the growth of the young men through addressing all dimensions of their wellbeing. 

As outlined in the respective introductory letters being distributed by the Year Coordinators, if at any stage you have concerns, please feel free to contact your son’s homeroom teacher in the first instance and their Year Coordinator after that. 

Introduction of New Wellbeing Structures

In response to feedback from students, parents/carers and staff, there have been a number of notable changes to the College’s Wellbeing Frameworks in 2024. Firstly, the division of the year groups into Middle School (Years 5-8) and Senior School (Years 9-12). This will facilitate changes to activities such as College Assemblies whereby the respective Middle and Senior School cohorts will have separate times for the Friday B school cycle. 

Secondly, the introduction of the Pastoral Care Lesson (PCL) that will complement the long-standing Year Coordinator Meeting (YCM) and daily homeroom period. The fortnightly PCL, linked to the Wellbeing Framework, aims to supplement presentations, and extend activities undertaken in the YCMs; it also aims to promote and build a positive sense of self and belonging, and the skills to make positive and healthy choices to support learning and achievement, provided in a safe and accepting environment for all students and staff. The dedicated wellbeing activities undertaken by students in their homerooms assist in developing a strong sense of wellbeing and connectedness as a result of learning and interacting in an environment that is welcoming, equitable, inclusive, and respectful. 

The timing of these events is clearly listed in your son’s diary and timetable.

In the coming week we recommend that parents/carers ask their son/s how they are coping with the return to lessons. Across the respective cohorts in their allocated homeroom lessons and Year Coordinator Meetings, students will be instructed to write their academic, wellbeing and personal goals for Semester 1; we encourage parents/carers to check the goal-setting section when signing your son/s diary. There is a space for parents/carers to sign and provide feedback to students. 

Parents/carers are reminded of the Mobile Device Policy and procedures (pages 46-47 College Diary). Students who have their devices confiscated will have a hierarchy of consequences applied depending on the occasion. 

We take this opportunity to remind parents/carers of the expectations relating to student travel on public transport (page 40 College Diary). Students should always use their Opal Card; they should refrain from noisy and disruptive behaviour that may impact on their peers, general public, or driver. There will be significant consequences issued for students who are found to be persistently disrupting the travel of others or travelling on the 407 public bus in the afternoons prior to 4:00 PM.

Please be aware that active supervision at the College begins at 7:55 AM at the Scientia Plaza (outdoor lower ground area). From 8:15 AM onwards, students will move to the below supervised areas:

Where students participate in College endorsed/organised school activities (e.g., Co-curricular training, additional class, music etc.) they will be actively supervised by relevant staff associated with that activity.

Child Safeguarding

Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA) has developed the EREA Child Safeguarding Standards to enhance the way that each EREA school creates and maintains a child safe environment. The Standards aim to develop further a culture within each EREA school wherein protecting children and young people from abuse and other harm, and the promotion of child safety, participation, empowerment, and wellbeing, is embedded in the everyday thinking and practice of our College’s leaders, staff, and volunteers. Furthermore, Child Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. All adults in the College community have a shared responsibility for contributing to the safety and protection of students​. 

The following senior staff members are listed as nominated Child Safeguarding Officers at the College:​

They are a point of contact for raising child safety concerns within the College and are also responsible for championing child safeguarding within the College and assisting in coordinating responses to child safety incidents with respect to child safety and protection issues such as Physical Abuse or Harm​, Sexual Abuse​, Grooming, Serious Emotional of Psychological Harm, Neglect​ and Family Violence​.

Applications for Leave

Parents/carers are reminded that ordinarily the College requires at least four weeks’ notice of Applications for Leave; this includes requests for the final day of the term. Unless prior approved leave has been granted, it is an expectation that all students be present for key College events such as Opening Mass and High Achievers’ Assembly (Friday 9 February), College Swimming and Athletics Carnivals, Founder’s Day, and Parent/Teacher interviews in June. If a student does not have a valid reason for being absent from these events, there will be a consequence applied.

In past years, the NSW Oz-Tag and Touch Football Championships have been held in February at times that have coincided with key College events. Requests for Leave to attend these events will need to be submitted as soon as possible so they can be processed, and notification provided to parents/carers.

Parents/carers are asked to contact their son’s Year Coordinator prior to a requested absence such as family situations, attending funerals, special or religious events. Once approved, the absence will be added to the student’s attendance record in TASS.

For requests of three days or more, the Application for Leave and Exemption from Attendance Forms are available on the College’s website for parents/carers to download, complete and return to Mr. Sinadinos, Director of Middle School or Mr. Simpson, Director of Senior School.

Information Evenings

Further to any information provided by the 2024 Year Coordinators in their introductory letters, parents/carers are advised of the dates and start times for the Annual Information Evenings. 

The Middle School and Senior School Wellbeing Teams wish families the very best for a productive and memorable 2024.

Alex Sinadinos                                                               Robert Simpson

Director of Middle School                                       Director of Senior School