Newsletter Edition 4 / 2024, March 18
Principal's Message
Dear Emmanuel College Families,
This term has proceeded at an extraordinary pace and when you read this report, I will have commenced long service leave and will be absent until Monday 29 April. Michael Wrigley will be the Acting Principal for the next six weeks. I thank Michael and the members of the College Leadership Team who make it possible for me to get away for an extended break. Term one is a short term concluding on Thursday 28 March making this the final newsletter for the term.
Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences
Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences will be held on Thursday 28 March between 8.45am – 2.45 pm in the Emmanuel Centre. This is the first time the conferences have been held during the school day without an after school or evening option available. The new industrial agreement that commenced in 2023 provides teachers with time in-lieu for school directed activities outside of regular work hours. Schools are juggling the requirements of the new Agreement, and as I’ve stated in the past, the College is endeavouring to maintain school camps, excursions and experiences that enrich student’s learning whilst accommodating the new industrial landscape. There is however an impact, and in this case the conferences will run during the school day meaning there are no classes on this day. While the day is an independent learning day for students, they are requested to attend the conferences with their parents/guardians. Emmanuel College staff are working with me to implement the new Agreement and I acknowledge that many staff volunteer their time so that various non-directed school experiences continue to be available to Emmanuel students.
Open Evening
The Emmanuel College Open Evening last Wednesday was a wonderful opportunity for the local community to view the College and explore the learning opportunities it presents to those seeking a Catholic school education. A huge number of families toured the school and I expect strong demand for enrolment. Enrolment applications for 2025 are open and will close on Friday 26 April. I encourage you to share this information with colleagues and friends who have an interest in their child(ren) receiving an Emmanuel education. Enrolment is open to all families in the region seeking a Catholic education for their child.
Applications may be made below:
Edmund Rice Centre
Many of last week’s visitors to the College were interested in the progress of the Edmund Rice Centre, the new home of Year nine and the 9@RICE program. Construction remains on schedule for completion by the end of November. We recently witnessed an important milestone with the removal of the statue of Mary and the Christ Child from the top of the building on the corner of Canterbury Road and Bromfield Street that will be repositioned in the courtyard of the new Centre. Having sat atop the building for close to 40 years, the statue needs minor repairs and a good clean. Despite the lichens the beauty of the statue is clear, and we are all excited to see it find its new home at the heart of the Edmund Rice Centre.
SchoolTV
The College recently invested in SchoolTV which will soon be freely available to members of the Emmanuel family via our website. SchoolTV is a wellbeing resource that can support families in the challenges relating to modern-day parenting. This award-winning resource helps build relationships, foster connections, enable understanding and break down barriers to navigate a pathway towards better mental health and wellbeing for young people. It can assist in starting conversations with young people on topics that are sometimes awkward or difficult to tackle.
Happy Easter
The end of this term coincides with the culmination of Lent and the beginning of the Easter season. For 40 days we have been waiting for Easter where we witness anew the passion and death of Jesus, and grapple with the idea that Jesus died on the cross so we could be free. It’s not an easy story to understand, nor is Jesus’ selfless act of sacrifice and love. Yesterday I heard a theologian on ABC radio say we are not meant to comprehend the story in its entirety in one telling or hearing. Returning to the story annually and at different times in our lives is part of a journey towards a deepening understanding of God. May your Easter be a blessed time; one to pause and encounter the Easter story anew.
Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness.
In your compassion blot out my offences.
A pure heart create for me, O God,
put a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence,
nor deprive me of your holy spirit.
St. Joseph: Pray for us. May the spirit of Catherine McAuley
and Edmund Rice guide us I all we do. Amen.
Kind regards,
Mr Peter Morgan
Principal
A Message from Mrs Claire Wrigley
Digital Device Use
Many parents today will share one thing in common…the challenge of managing digital devices their children are using.
More than 90 per cent of parents reported that excessive screen time was a problem and ranked it as the number one health concern across the board according to results from the Royal Children’s Hospital National Health Poll.(2021)
You are not alone, this is a real challenge. Please see a link to the Royal Children’s Hospital research conducted in 2021 that offers some suggestions for a healthy lifestyle for children.
https://blogs.rch.org.au/news/2021/03/18/excessive-screen-time-remains-top-health-concern-for-parents-poll-finds/
Transition to winter uniform
We have listened to student voice and the transition period will be extended with all students required to be in winter uniform by May 6. Up until this time, students for the first three weeks of term 2 can choose to wear summer or winter uniform based on weather conditions.
Mrs Claire Wrigley
Assistant Principal - Students
Free Dress Friday - March 22
Friday 22nd March will be a FREE DRESS DAY to raise awareness and money for Project Compassion. If ALL students contribute a gold coin to the day, we as a community can raise over $1000.00 which can fund a wide range of projects.
Please donate to Project Compassion - Together, we can help vulnerable communities face their challenges today and build a better tomorrow for all future generations
Whilst it is a free dress day, the College still expects students to observe principles concerning the dignity of each person and the respect for others. Students need to be mindful of the styles of clothing and appearance that are deemed to be appropriate for a school setting. Students should consider subjects they may have on days of casual dress such as PE, materials design etc. to ensure clothing is appropriate to participate in these classes.
As per school policy hair needs to be tied back for occupational health and safety reasons and students must wear covered in shoes, no Birkenstocks type shoes are permitted to be worn. Students should be mindful that if they are dressed inappropriately, or their appearance is deemed not suitable, then they will be required to change into more appropriate clothing or return home.
Student Voice - Girls got Talent
Ruby Nelson, Year 10 Leader
Emmanuel College's Girl's Got Talent took place on Wednesday 6th of March and was held in the Wyton Theatre to a full crowd of students, staff, and special guests.
This event was held during the week of International Women's Day and is all about celebrating the amazing talents and achievements of girls and women. I thoroughly enjoyed performing at Girl's Got Talent this year because this event encourages participation in a supportive and fun community.
All of the performances were very well received by the enthusiastic crowd and I am very grateful for this opportunity.
Humanities Update
Migration Morning
In conjunction with the Warrnambool Multicultural Association, Year 8 students were involved in Emmanuel College’s first Migration Morning. Five speakers were welcomed into the College, to tell their stories of migrating to Australia.
The activity was part of Cultural Diversity Week, and also brought to life the current Year 8 Geography topic; Changing Nations. Year 8 students were very fortunate to have been able to hear and understand first-hand the experiences of migration to our country.
We send a special thanks to Daisy Ye from the Warrnambool Multicultural Society for the organisation of the day, alongside presenters Meena Bharti, Xia’e Liu, Viktoria Yakushchenko, Otha Akoch, and Thomas Lual, for sharing their personal stories with the student’s.
We hope that the students found the experience rewarding and insightful, instilling an awareness and respect of all people who call our country home.
Mr Jarran Cook
Humanities Teacher
Maths Update
International Pi Day
To celebrate ‘International Pi Day’ the College Maths department held a competition to see which student (or teacher) that could recall Pi to the highest number of decimal places. A record number of students made their way to the McAuley Library to feast on party pies and endeavour to recite Pi to as many decimal places as they possibly could. And there were some remarkable performances.
Lena Watty, Year 8, managed to recite Pi to 57 decimal places, but it was Emily Rankin, Year 11, who eventually took out the competition with an astonishing effort, reciting Pi to 104 decimal places.
A big thanks goes out to everyone that participated in the competition and remember…'Never talk to Pi, they go on forever!’
Mr Richard Hodson
Mathematics Coordinator
Neurodiversity Celebration Week
This week is ‘Neurodiversity Celebration Week’ which was started in 2018 by Siena Castellon, an autistic teenager with ADHD, dyslexia, and dyspraxia. “I wanted to change the narrative and create a balanced view which focuses equally on our talents and strengths.” Neurodiversity Celebration Week is a worldwide initiative that challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences. It aims to transform how neurodivergent individuals are perceived and supported by providing schools, universities, and organisations with the opportunity to recognise the many talents and advantages of being neurodivergent, while creating more inclusive and equitable cultures that celebrate differences and empower every individual.
To celebrate Neurodiversity Celebration Week the Learning Diversity Team will be wearing new t-shirts designed and created by Phil Cooke from our team. All staff are encouraged to “Meet them where they [students] are” which will be different for each individual. Knowing students strengths and interests is key to developing rapport and building positive connections which builds student success. Our LDA staff know students well as they are often the adult in the room who knows the student best and research says collegial relationships between teachers and LDAs is the key to success for all students.
There are a number of free online seminars that are being offered throughout this week that parents, staff and students may find insightful or interesting. Please find the links to these seminars on the PDF attached.
- The Learning Diversity Team
Library News
Library UNO Competition
The Term 1 UNO competition was held in the Reading Room of the Library last Wednesday.
32 students participated in the competition, with 17 of the players being Year 7 students. Year 12s were also represented in the competition. Thank you to everyone for being involved. We will hold another UNO Competition in Term 2. Watch out for details on the Daily Messages on SIMON.
The five finalists were:
- Gikaela Lopez-Dee, Year 8
- Dane McNaughton, Year 7
- Jude Delaney, Year 7
- Harrison Chiller, Year 7
- Sithum Kumarapperuma, Year 12
New Books
The Library has just purchased these new books and they are ready for borrowing:
- Strife by Mia Freedman
- Kokoda by Alan Tucker. A story of history and war in the My Australian Story series.
- Countdown To Yesterday by Shirley Marr. A time travel and memory book. If James can live forever in one of his six favourite memories, which one will he choose?
- It’s The Sound of the Thing by Maxine Beneba Clarke. A collection of 21st century poetry.
Library Self Loan Kiosk
Over the next couple of weeks Year 7 students will receive their Library ID card. This card allows students to independently borrow and renew loan items on the Library self loan kiosk. Students are asked to find a safe place to store their Library card eg in the plastic pocket of their diary or in a secure part of their laptop bag.
World Poetry Day
Emmanuel College will celebrate World Poetry Day on Thursday March 21. Students and staff are challenged to visit the Library at Lunchtime on that day and try their luck at reciting a poem (or part of a poem) or a limerick. Participants need to bring a copy of the poem/limerick with them to the Library competition.
Student Book Club
Last week the Student Book Club gathered in the Library to discuss the Melbourne Writers Festival and the Children’s Book Council of Australia Notables list and the Shadow Judging program. Any students interested in joining the Student Book Club are asked to email Mrs Sinnott.
msinnott@emmanuel.vic.edu.au
Journal Club
Journal Club for Term 1 began last week on Tuesday. Students gathered in the Library with Mrs Sinnott and Caroline Garner to explore journalling. Students were provided with a journal, some coloured paper squares and a variety of writing implements for the session. Journal Club will meet on Tuesday 19 March and Tuesday 26 March, 3.45-4.30pm. New students are welcome to come along. See Mrs Sinnott in the Library or email msinnott@emmanuel.vic.edu.au
Mrs Margaret Sinnott
Library Coordinator
Social Justice
In 2022 Emmanuel College, as part of our Social Justice initiatives, began providing a welcoming space for people in our community to come along and have a nutritious and delicious meal each Tuesday evening.
Our 2024 Community Meals @ Emmanuel, commenced Tuesday 5th March, where we served over 30 free meals (dinner and dessert) to anyone in need. Each Tuesday throughout the school year in the Emmanuel Café Space we will continue to provide a meal to those in need.
The Emmanuel Community Meal is available each Tuesday evening during School Terms, excluding public holidays, from 5.30 pm to 6.30 pm. Our Community Meals work in conjunction with similar facilities that already operate in the Warrnambool community.
All of this is only able to be actioned with the help of volunteers, both Emmanuel staff and students, and with the amazing support of McMahon Catering.
Words for Wellbeing
International Women’s Day
“Girls got Talent,” Emmanuel’s annual celebration of International Women’s Day ran by our Fit4Life Wellbeing team, was a joyous event! Students from all year levels were invited to perform, sing, dance, and most importantly have fun and get involved!
Ticket holders were inspired by special guest speaker Maree Lane, who reminded students that other girls are your ally, not your competition.
The audience was enchanted by the acts including Diana and her drum beats, Ruby’s enchanting sing along, Jess’ haunting melodies, the fabulous Macarena led by Lily, Alena, Lucy and Anna and culminated in a rousing version of “We’re all in this together” from High School Musical. Kudos to the Year 12 ladies for their inclusiveness - they were indeed all in it together. The event was smoothly MC’d by College captains Mia and Emma.
The first 100 attendees were given an International Women’s Day badge designed by fellow students.
Due to a full house, the event was live streamed into the library which was also packed. The link to enjoy Girls got Talent is here - https://youtube.com/live/EdoUFCbzDh8?feature=share
Our Guest Speaker, alumni and local business woman Maree Lane’s inspiring speech can be read below.
Year 9 Fit 4 Life Day
As part of Year 9 Immersion week, Year 9 had a Fit4Life day of Wellbeing activities. Local identity Ben the Bandit, Ben Harkin attended to speak to Year 9 students about his full and adventurous life, despite being born with both arms missing.
Journal Club
All students are welcome to Journal club which is a jointly run activity by our Library and Wellbeing Team. All forms of journaling, whether it be writing or drawing, are great for self-awareness, practising gratitude and taking care of our mental health.
Journal club commenced on Tuesday night after school and will continue until the end of Term 1. Each participant is gifted a journal for their own use. This week students participated in a task selecting a small square of coloured and / or textured scrapbooking paper and writing why they chose that square. What did it remind them of? Was it the colour, the pattern, did it invoke a memory? A simple task but our students were oh so creative. Well done journallers!
Tuning into Teens - A program for parents
On our recent Fit4Life parent survey regarding education programs for parents, there was much interest in Tuning into Teens. Emmanuel College parents are invited to participate in this group session run by Headspace in collaboration with Catholic Care, running on Fridays from 1-3 pm from 19/4/24 for six weeks.
Registrations are currently open - Tuning Into Teens Term 2 - Google Forms
The Butterfly Foundations presents a Webinar for Parents on Body Image
RAISING BODY KIND TEENS - FOR PARENTS (ZOOM)
Join the experts at Butterfly for this practical webinar on supporting positive body image in teenagers. Includes strategies on:
Managing social media | Reducing appearance talk and body comparisons | Increasing body appreciation | Supporting Body Kind eating and movement | Responding to negative self-talk and appearance bullying | What to do if concerned.
WHEN: Wednesday, 20 March 7 - 8.30pm (AEDT)
COST: $15
VIA ZOOM: Time-limited recording available
REGISTER: Click HERE
Headspace hub: Helpful haven for families, friends and carers
This is an 8-week group session focusing on psychoeducation and support for parents / friends / carers. This is not a drop in service. Ranging from topics such as AOD, self-harming support, peer pressure, social media use and more. This is run each term online (on a Tuesday evening, 5:30-7 pm) and in person (on a Friday Morning, 9:30- 11 am).
Registration essential - click HERE to register.
Career News
This week’s items include:
- University of Melbourne: A Day at Melbourne
- Photography & Digital Imaging Workshops
- La Trobe University: Experience La Trobe
- Studying Design Courses at RMIT
- Studying the Bachelor of Cyber Security at Victoria University
- News from Swinburne University
- Studying Law at the Swinburne
- Studying Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Swinburne
- The Freight, Transport, and Logistics Industry
- Film & Television Courses in Victoria in 2024
- Snapshot of RMIT University in 2024
Click the button below to read more - The weekly Career Newsletter can be located on the Careers Website .
Mr David Gladman
Student Pathways & Careers Leader
Multicultural Picnic
Upcoming Events
Monday March 18
Year 7 & 9 NAPLAN - Numeracy
Social Innovators - Year 8 Leaders
Tuesday March 19
Social Innovators - Year 8 Leaders
Tertiary Information Service - Year 12
PST Conference Bookings Open - 4PM
Wednesday March 20
House Athletics Carnival
Friday March 22
Free Dress Friday- gold coin for Project Compassion
Ride to School Day
GWR Swimming
Monday March 25
Red Earth Pre-Departure Meeting - 5.45PM
Tuesday March 26
Year 9 Footy Academy Games - Hamilton
Year 7 Humanitites Excursion
Wednesday March 27
PST Conference Bookings Close - 12PM
WD Athletics
Inter-House Chess Competition
Thursday March 28
Independent Learning Day - Year 7-12
Term 1 Ends for Students - 2.30PM
PST Conferences - 8.45AM - 2.45PM
Friday March 29
Good Friday
Sunday March 31
Easter Sunday
Monday April 15
Term 2 Begins - transition into Winter Uniform
Year 11 Retreat Halls Gap - Egan and McAuley
Cyber Safety Police Presentation - Year 7 & 8
Tuesday April 16
Year 11 Retreat Halls Gap - Egan and McAuley
Wednesday April 17
Year 11 Retreat Halls Gap - Egan and McAuley
Friday April 19
House Cross Country - Year 7-10
Child Safety
