Wellbeing

With the commencement of the academic year, I warmly welcome both new and returning students, and their parents/carers, to the College. I have been impressed with the standard of the boys’ grooming and wearing of the uniform. It appears that the majority of students are quickly settling back into the classroom after the disruptions of 2021.

The homeroom teachers, Year Coordinators and I are looking forward to working with you during the course of the year as we continue to assist in your son’s growth in all dimensions of his 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, their Year Coordinator or myself.

In the coming week I recommend that parents/carers are asking their son/s how they are coping with the return to lessons. Across the respective cohorts in their Pastoral Care Periods or Homeroom, students will be instructed to write their academic, wellbeing and personal goals for Semester One; I encourage parents and 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. Students who have their devices confiscated will receive an Infringement Slip and have the device returned at the end of the school day. If during the year the device is confiscated on a second occasion, a College Detention will be issued; on the third occasion the phone will be kept at the College overnight and a meeting required with a student’s Year Coordinator. The device will be returned to the parent/carer after the meeting. The student will also serve a Community Service Detention.

I take this opportunity to remind parents/carers of the expectations relating to student travel on public transport (p.42 College Diary) Students should always use their Opal Card; they should refrain from noisy and disruptive behaviour that may impact on the general public or driver. There will be significant consequences issued for students who are found to be persistently disrupting the travel of others.

Finally, parents/carers are to note that there will be no active supervision of students at the College prior to 8:15 AM unless they are involved in a College endorsed/organised before school activity (e.g., training, class, music etc). Families are encouraged to avoid having students arrive at the College before supervision commences. If students do arrive prior to 8:15 AM, they should be situated in the following areas only:

Years 5 and 6 Junior School Yard
Years 7, 8, and 9 Smollett Place
Years 10, 11 and 12 Senior Yard

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:

Dr Lavorato - Principal
Mr Byrne - Deputy Principal
Mr Simpson - Director of Wellbeing.

The above-mentioned staff have received additional specialised training 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. 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.

Applications for Leave

With the gradual return to travel to interstate and regional areas of NSW, 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. As has been communicated previously it is an expectation that all students be present at key College events such as Founder’s Day and Parent/Teacher interviews in June. If a student does not have a valid reason for being absent from these events, they will be required to complete a Community Service.

The Application for Leave and Exemption from Attendance Forms are available on the College’s website for parents to download, complete and return to Mr. Simpson, Director of Wellbeing.

Information Evenings

Further to any information provided by the 2022 Year Coordinators in their Introductory letters, parents/carers are advised of the dates and start times for the annual Information Evenings. Due to current Covid restrictions these events will be held as a Teams Meeting. Links will be distributed to parents prior to the event.

Secondary School

Year 7 Monday 7 February Time: 6:30 PM

Year 8 Tuesday 8 February Time: 7:00 PM

Year 9 Tuesday 8 February Time: 7:00 PM

Year 10 Wednesday 9 February Time: 7:00 PM

Year 11 Wednesday 9 February Time: 7:00 PM

Junior School

Year 5 Tuesday 15 February Time: 5:00 PM

Year 6 Tuesday 15 February Time: 6:00 PM

The Wellbeing Team wishes your family the very best for a productive and memorable 2022.

Robert Simpson

Director of Wellbeing