Newsletter Edition 5 / 2024, April 22

Acting Principal's Message

Dear Emmanuel College Community, 

 Welcome to term two. I hope many families had time to relax and refresh over Easter and the holiday break. I was grateful for a few days in Adelaide to experience Gather Round. The start of a new term is always a time of renewal and fresh beginnings, and we have certainly hit the ground running over the first week as we embark on a journey of learning, growth, and discovery for the second part of Semester One. At Emmanuel, we firmly believe in the power of community, collaboration, and continuous improvement. We are committed to providing a holistic education that empowers our students to excel in their academic pursuits and character development, leadership skills, and contribution to society.

Last week, we commenced the term with the first rescheduled Year 11 Senior School Retreats at Halls Gap. I hope the Year 11s who attended enjoyed reflecting on their spiritual and emotional well-being and spending quality time with their peers and teachers. We wish the Maguire and Rice Year 11s a safe journey next week, and I thank the staff who have made the various adjustments to allow this experience to occur. Tomorrow our Junior School students will participate in their Fit4Life Day and the Year 10 students will have a Fit4Life Day the following Monday. These days are compulsory events designed to support the well-being of our young people and I urge you to please ensure that your child is in attendance.

It was wonderful to be present last week at the Junior school assembly to witness the induction of our newly elected Year 7 student leaders. Once again the number of students who took the time to apply was impressive. Congratulations to the 20 students who will represent their peers this year.

Thanks to our community for supporting two Social Justice initiatives before the Easter break. Our Caritas fundraising efforts raised $2170 and the Red Earth Easter Raffle raised over $1000 which will be used for the construction materials required for a community project on the traditional homelands that students will stay on in Central Australia later this term.

Mercy Education News
You may be aware that Emmanuel College is governed by Mercy Education Ltd. This transition of governance took place a few years ago. Late last year the current CEO of Mercy Education Christopher Houlihan announced that he was stepping down from the role at the end of April. On behalf of the Emmanuel College, Warrnambool community I would like to acknowledge and thank Christopher for his leadership and guidance to Emmanuel College during the past few years. Please read the attached letter regarding the announcement of the new CEO of Mercy Education Ltd – Louisa Rennie.

Honouring ANZAC Day at Emmanuel College Warrnambool
As we approach the solemn and significant day of ANZAC Day on April 25th, it is important for us to pause and reflect on the profound legacy and sacrifices of our servicemen and women. ANZAC Day holds a special place in our hearts as we pay tribute to the courage, resilience, and selflessness of those who have served and continue to serve our nation.

At Emmanuel, we are committed to fostering a deep understanding and appreciation of our country's history, including the ANZAC spirit that unites us all. Through meaningful commemorations, educational activities, and moments of reflection, we honour the memory of those who have bravely defended our freedoms and values. The community will pause for a short ANZAC ceremony on Wednesday morning just before recess. I encourage families to attend one of the various services held around the district on Thursday.

This ANZAC Day, let us come together as a school community to remember the sacrifices made, acknowledge the contributions of our veterans and active service members, and reaffirm our commitment to upholding the principles of courage, mateship, and sacrifice.

Lest we forget.

"Lord, grant eternal rest unto the souls of all our brave soldiers who have died in the service of their country. May their sacrifice never be forgotten, and may they find peace and joy in Your heavenly kingdom. Comfort their families and loved ones with Your strength and love, and grant them solace in their grief. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen." 

 College ID Cards
Students received their Emmanuel College ID cards last week. These official College cards give students appropriate identification, showing their school photo, name, and birthdate. Students can use these cards for job interviews, student travel concessions, and other purposes when a photo ID card is required. The cards are current until April 2025. A small fee will be payable if a card needs to be replaced. Please reinforce to your child that the card needs to be stored in a safe place so that they can access it as required.

 Enrolments Year 7 2025
This is a final reminder that applications for Year 7 enrolments in 2025 close this Friday, 26th April. If you know anybody who intends to enrol a child at the college for 2025, please alert them to the closing date. Current families are reminded that despite already having a child at the college, you must still ensure that you complete an online enrolment application if you have a child in Grade 6 and intend to send them to Emmanuel. 

Contact our College Office at 5560 0888 to speak with our registrar Jo-Anne about 2024 enrolments across all year levels. You can also apply for enrolment online on our college website 
https://www.emmanuel.vic.edu.au/enrolment

Finally, this is a reminder that next week, Thursday, May 2nd, and Friday, May 3rd, will be student-free due to the Warrnambool May Races Holiday and a Staff Professional Development Day on Friday.

Best wishes,

Mr Michael Wrigley
Acting Principal

A Message from Mrs Claire Wrigley

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.

We do remind students that the school blazer is to be worn to and from school for all year levels, including year 12 over their hoody top. We ask for parents assistance with ensuring students are in the correct uniform and have winter uniform organised by May 6. 

Mrs Claire Wrigley
Assistant Principal - Students 

Student Voice - Cyber Safety Presentation

Below are two reflections from Students about the cyber safety session run by Victoria Police on Monday April 15.  

 Year 7 Student Atticus D:
On Monday, the Year 7 group went to the Stage to listen to members of the Warrnambool Police. They talked to us about cyber safety and being safe online.
They told us how to stay safe online and that you need to think twice before typing something online which is really important to know. They also told us when something goes wrong online or you feel upset, to talk to a trusted adult, teacher or friend.
On behalf of Year 7, thank you to the Warrnambool Police for coming to Emmanuel College and speaking to the Year 7 group.

Year 7 Student Layla V:
On Monday, two police officers named Brooke and John came to Emmanuel College to give the year sevens a chat about cyber safety. We watched a video about teenagers posting photos without permission, and how quickly it can all get out of hand. We now know to ask for permission before posting anything and to always speak up.

Student Voice - Earth Hour

Zane Lockland, Green Group @ Emmanuel Member
Earth Hour at lunch time on Friday 25th March:
It was a fun time and lots of students from all year levels turned up to be a part of the day. The purpose was to encourage students to complete their own Earth Hour on Saturday Night at 8.30pm. Below is the bookmark and poster that the Green Group made to encourage this and promote the event.  

In the library we turned off all the lights. Thank you to the library Staff for letting us do this. Thanks also to the IT staff and many staff who took part. 

We organised and ran many activities for Earth Hour. Including, Nikolas K teaching people how to solve a Rubik's Cube. Nikolas can complete a Rubik's Cube in less than 12 seconds!

There were Djembe Drums for students to use. These drums were invented 800 years ago in West Africa by the Numu people. It was fun to have a go! 

We also had an Environment focused Colouring Comp which was won by Finn L and Hamish J. There was Chess and Uno comps. We handed out the bookmarks. We gathered the names of students who came along and gave out spot prizes. 

We would love to give a big thanks to Jess B and Akira F for the Live Music. Jess and Akira sang nice songs about the environment. It really helped make the day.

Inter-House Chess Competition

Over 40 keen chess players participated in our annual Inter-house Chess Competition at the end of last term. The competition afforded all of the participants with online experience at competition level. Each house had representative players from Year 7 - 12. Congratulations to all of our players for representing their respective houses. After 7 rounds of chess, the results for the competition were as follows. It is important to note that the top 4 players from each house have their points combined to determine the final position. I was really pleased to see so many of our regular chess players participating in today’s tournament. 

• First - Maguire (22.5 points)
• Second - Rice (19.5 points)
• Third - Egan (17 points)
• Fourth - McAuley (15.5 points)

The results of the first 10 positions:

Mr Andrew  McKenzie
Chess Coordinator

Sports Update

State Swimming 
Thanks to college leadership for arranging overnight accommodation in Geelong, this set the tone for our swimmers and contributed to our team performing at their best without the need for a super early start and 3+ hours of travel on race day. Twenty eight of our best swimmers from the college took the plunge at MSAC to represent our school at the School State Swimming Championships. A jam packed day of solid competition, which resulted in Emmanuel College placing 5th overall, a great outcome for our school. While every swimmer represented us proudly and swam solidly, the following swimmers are to be congratulated on their personal successes, while being enthusiastically supported by their team. Year 11 students Jade K and Jude S had their game on taking home silver and bronze medals for their fly and backstroke events. While the boys 15 years Freestyle (Year 9 students Jack S, Zav A, Cooper H, Jake D) and the girls 17 years Freestyle and Medley relays (Year 11 students Kendra W, Jade K and Year 10 Students Lola M and Layla M) all swam with great determination to take the silver.

Going into this event we had 18 individual events and 10 relay teams entered, strong representation and a chance to take our place in the top 3 in the state. Mr Ablerine, Ms Elliot and Mrs Wellens are extremely proud of our team’s achievement at State Swimming Championships, and the way in which every individual represented Emmanuel College. Well done team! 

-Mrs Suzie Wellens 

House Cross Country 
On Friday the 19th of April Year 7, Year 8 and those who nominated from Year 9 and 10 took part in the House Cross Country. With the weather on our side, all the students involved enjoyed a run in the sun. Congratulations to all involved, Team Results will be announced at the upcoming School Assembly. Individual results can be found below. 

Mr Alastair Templeton
Sports & Lunchtime Activities Coordinator

Library News

Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge
Students in Years 7-10 are encouraged to participate in the Premiers’ Reading Challenge.
Log in details are now available from Mrs Sinnott or your English teacher.
The site to log in to is:  https://vprc.eduweb.vic.gov.au/home

Students can record the books that they read on this site, as well as give a star rating for a book read or write a review.  They will also be able to see popular books being read at Emmanuel College and across Victoria. If students have any questions about the Challenge, please email msinnott@emmanuel.vic.edu.au  

Many English classes are having quiet reading time so this is an opportunity to get some reading done and add to the books read for the Challenge.

World Book Day
World Book Day will be celebrated on Tuesday 22 April with the Student Book Club participating in a Book Quiz.  The theme for this year is Read Your Way.  At Emmanuel we have many different ways that students can read, with ebooks and e audio books being available on the digital reading platforms and books available with dyslexic friendly font.

The digital reading platforms available for students to search for books to read and listen to are:

https://soraapp.com/library/emmanuelau

https://emmanuel.wheelers.co

https://emmanuelvic.borrowbox.com

On these sites you can change the book font to open dyslexic font - some students find this easier to read: the letters are more heavy-based.  You can also change the background colour for the ebooks on these sites.  Please ask Library Staff if you would like to be shown how to do this.

Melbourne Writers Festival Excursion
On Tuesday May 7 members of the Student Book Club will be attending the Melbourne Writers Festival Schools Program being held at the State Library of Victoria.  Across the four sessions of the day, award-winning authors and acclaimed illustrators engage students in a broad range of topics, from the craft of writing and challenges of growing up to ecology, innovation, science and First Nations knowledges. Each session is directly linked to key curriculum areas and objectives.  In between sessions, students can have their books signed by their favourite authors and they can also purchase books from Readings Bookstore on the day.  Students will see:  Astrid Scholte, Mike Lucas, Biffy James and Steve Mushin.

Top 10 Most Popular Books Read By Emmanuel Students In Term 1 2024
The most popular books read by Emmanuel students last Term are listed in the image below. 

Mrs Margaret Sinnott
Library Coordinator

Words for Wellbeing

International Women’s Day
The Wellbeing Team ran an art competition as part of International Women’s Day with designs submitted being turned into badges which were distributed for students to wear at Girls Got Talent.  The five winning entries attached each received a movie ticket prize and were created by Lucy M, Dakota S, Jules M, Ben A and Lenny G.   Congratulations on your beautiful art! 

 Stay in control of your Snapchat
Here’s a short and helpful video of how to prevent being added to random Snapchat groups.   Stay in control of your social media by updating your privacy settings. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNNZRNb224k

This link from SchoolTV to a fact sheet about Snapchat written for parents is a helpful resource.  https://emmanuel.vic.schooltv.me/newsletter-resource/6396/46

 Cyber Safety
Vic Police attended and gave a great presentation to our Year 7 students about cyber safety.  The Youth Resource officers showed and discussed this award-winning video resource “Tagged”  from the office of the e-safety commissioner, which parents may like to watch.  https://www.esafety.gov.au/educators/classroom-resources/tagged/student-home 

Headspace
Headspace is a free youth-friendly service that supports young people with their mental health and wellbeing, physical and sexual health, alcohol and other drugs support, and work, school and study.  We were fortunate to have Headspace attend our Athletics Carnival.  Headspace ran a marquee posing questions to get students thinking about good mental health and handed out lots of prizes and freebies.  

Sound of Music - Tickets available now

The Sound of Music; Youth Edition is playing at the Wyton Theatre at Emmanuel College from May 17 through to May 19 with matinee and evening performances scheduled. The spectacular 60-minute musical, designed for secondary school performers, is based on the 1965 film and the 1959 Broadway adaptation.

The Emmanuel College cast will include students from across all year levels led by Producer (Head of Performing Arts) Megan Davies, Director Cindy Lee Morgan, Music Director, Dean Mulholland and Vocal Director Maria Carras-Kerr.

Show Times:

• Friday May 17 7:30PM
• Saturday May 18 12:00PM
• Saturday May 18 7:30PM
• Sunday May 19 12:00PM

Financial assistance for concession card holders

Parents/guardians holding a valid concession card on 15 April 2024 should submit an application form for the Camps, Sports & Excursion Fund (CSEF) allowance to Suzanne Dwyer via the McAuley Campus office or email info@emmanuel.vic.edu.au

 Parents/guardians who have already applied for the allowance this year or in the past at Emmanuel College do not need to apply again.

 The CSEF allowance is valued at $250 per student and is for holders of a health care card, or are a foster parent, or a Veteran Affairs pensioner.  Payments are made to the school and will be deducted from a family’s school fees.

 Further details about the CSEF allowance can be found at the Department of Education and Training’s website at https://www.vic.gov.au/camps-sports-and-excursions-fund

Community forum with Dr Robert McWilliams & rehearsal skills and conducting master class workshop

Brophy Foster Care

Upcoming Events

Tuesday April 23
Junior School Fit4Life Day

Wednesday April 24
Senior Girls Premier Football
Colac Clay Target Competition 
Concert Band Workshop with Dr Robert McWilliams

Thursday April 25
ANZAC Day

Friday April 26
Year 7 2024 Applications Close

Monday April 29
School Uniform Transition Period continues
Catholic Education Week (all week)
Year 11 Retreat - Maguire & Rice
Year 10 Fit4Life Day
CBC Catch-up

Tuesday April 30
Year 11 Retreat - Maguire & Rice
Year 7 Immunisations

Wednesday May 1
Year 11 Retreat - Maguire & Rice
Top Screen/Designs Excursion - Year 11 & 12 Media
Year 10 Immunisations
Senior Boys - Premier League Football

Thursday May 2
May Races Public Holiday

Friday May 3
Staff PD Day - Student Free Day
VCE Careers Expo
VCAA VCE Drama UNIT 1 & 3 Play Excursion

Sunday May 5
Edmund Rice Day

Monday May 6 
Winter Uniform to be worn

Child Safety