Newsletter Edition 6 / 2024, May 6

Principal's Message

Dear Emmanuel College Families,

Last week I returned from long service leave to a busy school held in very good hands during my absence by the College Leadership Team led by Deputy Principal Michael Wrigley. My sincere thanks to Michael and the members of the Leadership Team for steering the Emmanuel ship during my absence and caring for its many members.

Catholic Education Week
Across the Ballarat Diocese last week, from the mighty Murray River in the north to the Southern Ocean in the South, Catholic schools celebrated Catholic Education Week. Catholic Education Week is an annual opportunity to celebrate and promote the distinctive mission and ethos of Catholic schools within the diocese. Our celebration of this occasion at Emmanuel continues today with the Grade six children from Catholic primary schools joining the Emmanuel Year sevens for recess and snack followed by a musical masterclass with Tom Ricardson. Tom will be familiar to many of you as the musician and ‘conductor’ behind the all abilities, ‘Find Your Voice’ Choir. We hope to see all our young people find their voices during this fun and entertaining time together whilst recognising the wonderful contribution Catholic schools and Catholic education make to our local community.

Part of the annual Catholic Education Week is the recognition of school staff who have contributed 30 years’ service within Catholic schools. On Friday evening a beautiful mass was celebrated at Damascus College followed by dinner during which service awards were presented to school and Catholic Education Office staff who have completed 30 years’ service to Catholic Education. Congratulations to Emmanuel teacher Nerida Thurn who was recognised for her 30 years of service to Catholic education, mostly in Melbourne Catholic schools and more recently at Emmanuel College. The mass and dinner were doubly significant this year coinciding with the 150^th anniversary of the diocese of Ballarat. Prior to 1874, Victoria was a single Catholic diocese governed from Melbourne. But with the 1850s gold rush a major catalyst, Victoria and its population grew rapidly giving rise to the diocese of Ballarat, Sandhurst (Bendigo) and the formation of the Archdiocese of Melbourne. Marking this milestone, Catholic Education Ballarat commissioned a series of message sticks by indigenous artist Vicki Clarke OAM, one for each region in our diocese and a Mother Stick that remains in the Catholic Education Office Ballarat.  I was honoured to represent the Southern Region and receive the message stick for the south from Vicki, as it begins its journey of unity and peace throughout our region and symbolically reminds us, we are a hope filled community.

Tree of Life
Our local Star of the Sea Parish also celebrated the 150^th anniversary of the diocese at its Sunday mass yesterday. It was a most joyous occasion made memorable by the hospitality, music, and diversity of the congregation. There has been a gradual change to the make-up of our local church community with an increasingly diverse and multi-cultural community now evident. Such richness and diversity were highlighted with the launch of the ‘Tree of Life’. Much thanks go to the Emmanuel staff and students for creating the metal structure for the tree of life on which various ‘leaves’ already hang, some of which were produced here at Emmanuel. Thank you to Tina Jenkins, Ben McKenzie, Jacinta Skilbeck, Dean Mulholland and Megan Davies for assisting Star of the Sea Parish to celebrate the 150^th anniversary of the diocese.

Staff PD Day
A staff professional development and training day was also held last week with all Emmanuel staff responsible for teaching and learning hearing from Greg Mitchell. Greg has worked in schools for 40 years in multiple roles from grade two teacher to deputy principal, and curriculum consultant. We asked Greg to work with us to help us unlock the potential in young people by looking at what we do differently. At the staff meeting this week Emmanuel staff will be working with Tanya Rowan to further explore strategies and supports to use with neurodiverse children. Tania will present strategies and accommodations that benefit most students who have different types of neurodiversity (ADHD, Autism, trauma, anxiety) as well as neurotypical students who may be under a lot of stress. My sincere thanks to Claire Wrigley who coordinated the arrangements for both Greg and Tanya to support the ongoing learning of Emmanuel staff.

SchoolTV
In my last report for term one I referred to SchoolTV. SchoolTV is a wellbeing resource launched in the Ballarat Diocese aimed at supporting the parenting of young people.  Resources include fact sheets, apps, books, articles, podcasts, websites, and videos covering a range of topics. Please save the website link https://emmanuel.vic.schooltv.me/ as a resource and share with others.

Edmund Rice Day
In closing this week, I acknowledge yesterday was Edmund Rice Day. Edmund Rice founded in Ireland the Christian Brothers who later arrived in Warrnambool in 1912 to establish a Catholic school for boys. Most people will know the school they established as St. Joseph’s Christian Brothers College. Today we know it simply as the Rice Campus, part of Emmanuel College. With the development of the Edmund Rice Centre, the College will depart the Rice Campus at the end of this year when a new chapter in the school’s history and the story of Edmund Rice commences.

Mother’s Day
I sincerely wish all the mothers and those who care for children and perform the role of mothering, a wonderful Mother’s Day next Sunday. Our community is indebted to mothers for the extraordinary role they perform. Thank you and God bless you on Mother’s Day and throughout the year ahead.

Mr Peter Morgan
Principal

A Message from Mrs Claire Wrigley

Student Pick-up 
We have been advised by SJOG hospital that parents are parking in their car park and collecting children from Emmnauel. We please ask that you refrain from doing this,  this carpark is for clients, visitors and staff of SJOG hospital. We have access points at the stage and a designated pick up/drop off zone on the access road next to the Emmanuel Centre for collecting students. Parents also have the option to park in the surrounding streets to collect their children. Thanks for your understanding and cooperation with this matter.

Winter Uniform
A reminder to parents that all students now need to be in full winter uniform. This includes wearing a blazer to and from school each day, please note this includes Year 12 students, the hoody top should not be worn as the outer garment to and from school.

Junior School  Fit4Life Day
Our Year 7 & 8 students had a great time on their recent Fit4life day. The day had various activities across the two year levels with a focus around respectful relationships and teamwork. All students saw the Backflips against Bullying presentation that had a very important message for students around respect for others both in person and online presented in a dynamic way to gain students attention.

Student voice - Isabelle (7F) and Layla (7C)
Fit4Life day was an awesome experience full of fun activities, sport and more. On the day, we discovered what our character strengths were and why they are important in our day-to-day lives. We looked over our interim report from term 1 and discussed what we did well and what we should work on, and  set goals to achieve for the remainder of the year. 

In the Emmanuel Centre we watched Backflips against Bullying. The two presenters did tricks and backflips and played nasty pranks on each other to show us what we should do if somebody bullies us. It was a great experience and we learnt a lot about bullying. 

After the show we played some sport on the top oval in our house colours. We did skipping, basketball, cricket and footy. We tried our best to try and score points for our house! After sport we headed back to our homerooms and we had some reflecting time and talked about what important things we learnt over the day. The Fit4Life day was an awesome day with lots of learning, fun and exciting activities!

Year 10 Fit4life Day 
On Monday April 29 Year 10 students had a great time participating in various workshops. They worked with the team from Tomorrow Man, Tomorrow Woman workshop where our male identifying young people participated in Breaking the Man Code which was a highly engaging, relatable and immersive learning journey, that allowed space and time for our young men to talk about how to walk their own path, talk with gravity and engage actively, with purpose, in all areas of their lives. Becoming a person they are proud of and having a positive impact on their relationships and the world.

For female identifying young people, students examined the constraints and constructs placed upon femininity and looked at how to understand the authentic self that lies beneath these. This workshop created a sense of unity as women and worked towards rewriting the norm of what it means to be a woman. We were most fortunate to have some members of our Fit4life wellbeing team lead workshops for our students. The Fit4House Fun workshop challenged student teamwork in a fun and active session that required communication and collaboration skills to work together as a team. Fit4Flourishing  workshop created a space where students were asked if they were flourishing and what that looks like. Along with taking some time to do a Life Check-Up together and setting some goals on the path towards a life they love.

Mrs Claire Wrigley
Assistant Principal - Students 

Student Voice - Year 11 Retreat

Hannah Van De Camp, Year 11
Egan and McAuley students left Warrnambool 9am all excited ready to go to Halls Gap. Finally arriving 4 hours later we all split off into our small groups and completed get-to-know-you exercises and team bonding drills. Allowing our year level to bond over the little things.

Getting into our larger groups over the camp saw us doing canoeing, raft building, hiking up the Pinnacle or Venus baths, and high ropes, which tested our endurance and resilience. However, the highlight of the camp for most would be the formal dinner and trivia on the first night, getting dressed up, and having a nice night with all of our friends.

The final night was something to remember, allowing every one of us to connect and write down some personal goals in the camp liturgy. Placing them into the fire for them to become true over the next 5 years of our lives. Overall the camp experience was very different from something we have experienced at school, and something that we all enjoyed. 

Student Voice - Junior Fit4Life Day

Adele McNamara, Year 8
Last week the Year 8 cohort had their Fit4Life Day. We started the day off by doing some teamwork activities in our homerooms then moved outside to practise our new skills in a cross the river activity making sure to leave no one behind.

Later we moved into the Emmanuel Centre to listen to some guest speakers called “Backflips for Bullying”. This was a very engaging performance and some students even had the oppitunity to go down the front and join the show. Finally each house colour was bussed to different locations around Warrnambool to participate in a competition to see which colour could successfully bring back the most water from one location to the other. This day was very fun and informative and I think everyone enjoyed one part or another.

Sound of Music Tickets

The Sound of Music; Youth Edition is playing at the Wyton Theatre at Emmanuel College from May 17 through to May 19 (NEXT WEEK!) 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

Debating Eisteddfod

Warrnambool's Mozart Hall was the backdrop for this year's Warrnambool  Eisteddfod  Debating section where we were well represented by diligent students from Years 8, 9, 10 and 11. 

Our Year 8 team was made up of  Nikolas Keramaris (first speaker), Christian Wyss (second speaker), and Callum Wade (3rd speaker).  Blake Robertson was the chairperson. Blake opened up the first debate of the day between Affirmative team Emmanuel College and Negative team Warrnambool College on the topic of 'Artificial Intelligence should be welcomed and feared in equal measure. The boys did a brilliant job and Emmanuel came away with a convincing win. The judge's comments included how the team was well researched and their delivery was excellent. 

Our Year 9 team was represented by Max Hegarty, Lachie Gome and Alexei Khaidurov, with Jack Langley taking on the role of chairperson. They were arguing the affirmative for the topic our health system is stressed and failing due to avoidable causes for ill health such as smoking and poor diet choices. The boys did a fantastic job, making some excellent arguments, however Kings College won the debate by a point. The adjudicator pointed out how impressed he was by the high quality of the debate.

The Year 10 team was represented by Amelia Foard, Belle Plozza and Lucas Milich. They were arguing the same topic as the Year 9s, however, they were on the negative side. They made some really strong arguments, with their rebuttal being particularly good. However, on the day the points were given to Kings College.

At Year 11 we were represented by two teams. Molly Mansbridge, Zoe Graham, Flynn El-Hage, Grace Pollock, Maggie Carmichael and Sophie Jelly- did our school proud with their speeches on the topic "Democracy is being hijacked by political parties", with both teams arguing on the negative side. It was great to see some Emmanuel College parents take time out of their day to come and support the teams! All of the speakers displayed maturity and confidence in their delivery, presenting thoughtful arguments supported by compelling evidence, and we came away with a win!

In overall results:

• Nikolas Keramaris was awarded third best debater in the Years 7/8 section
• Max Hegarty was runner up Champion Debater in the Years 9/10 section
• Emmanuel College Year 9 was awarded the second best debating team of their group.
• The best debate in the Years 9/10 group was awarded to the debate between Emmanuel College Y9 vs Kings College Y9
• Emmanuel College Year 11B was awarded third best debating team of their group.
• Zoe Graham received an honourable mention for best individual debater in the Years 11/12 section.
• Emmanuel College was runner up in the best performed school in the Years 11/12 section.

A big thank you to Ms Tims, Ms Vogels, Ms Hodson and Ms Thompson who helped to prepare and/or supervise students. Congratulations to all students involved, you really did Emmanuel proud.

Ms Catherine Ryan
Literacy, English & Public Speaking Coordinator

Sports Update

Premier League Boys Football
The boys played really well last week gainst Rowville Secondary, who are a sports academy school.

Emmanuel College        9.16.70
Rowville Secondary       8.5.53

Best Players: Olly Myers, Talor Byrne, Sam Carter, Sam Rhodes, Leo Ellerton, Ryan Barnes.
Goal kickers: Olly Myers 3, Reggie Mast 3, Charlie McKinnon 3, Mitch Bright 2, Hamish Dobson  

Thank you to the central umpires Jase Moloney and Mr Clements. We appreciate you volunteering your time, and to Mr Templeton, Kate and Oscar for organising the day.

On to Essendon Keilor College -  Wednesday 15^th May, The Reid Oval @ 10:30am.

Mr Ben Woontoon

Library News

National Simultaneous Story Time
Wednesday May 22 will see Emmanuel College participate in National Simultaneous Story Time. This event is held annually by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA).  Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator is read simultaneously in libraries, pre schools, family homes and bookshops.

This is the 24^th year of this event.  It aims to promote the value of reading and literacy. The book being read this year is Bowerbird Blues by Aura Parker. Coincidentally, this book has also been shortlisted in the Children’s Book Council of Australia awards in the Picture book category.

On Wednesday May 22 Emmanuel students will listen to and read the NSS book.

Mrs Margaret Sinnott
Library Coordinator

Words for Wellbeing

Diversity Month
May is Diversity Month and Emmanuel College is celebrating diversity in all its shapes and forms. There will be lots of fun activities being held around the school. Keep an eye on Daily Messages for news of events happening all month. 

Diversity Film Festival
The Wellbeing Team hosted a Diversity Film Festival.
You can view all of the mini films shown HERE.  Warning – you might need some tissues!

Greg Mitchell
Education Consultant Greg Mitchell attended and worked with our Year 7 students last week, and returned on Friday for our staff Professional Development day. Greg is an enthusiastic presenter and challenged students to take responsibility for their own learning journey. 

Career News

Click here to read the Careers Newsletter -
https://www.emmanuelcollegecareers.com/

Items in this weeks newsletter:

• Dates to Diarise in Term 2
• ACU Talk with Industry Webinars
• Law Week 2024
• Reminder: University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)
• University of Sydney Year 12 Information Evening - Webinar
• News from Monash University
  • Monash Science Precinct Tours 2024
  • Upcoming Discover Monash Events
• Swinburne University's Early Entry Program – 2025 Entry
• La Trobe University's Aspire Community Contribution Program
• New Public Health and Epidemiology Major in Biomedicine at the University of Melbourne
• Business Degrees in Victoria in 2024    
• Commerce Degrees in Victoria in 2024  
• Snapshot of The Australian National University (ANU) in 2024

Mr David Gladman
Student Pathways & Careers Leader

The Science Experience

The Science Experience is an 1, 2 or 3 day STEM program of hands-on science, and is open to all Year 9 and 10 students in 2024. There is no selection process, all students are welcome to attend. 

The dates for the Victorian experiences are:

• RMIT University, Melbourne (3 days) - 2-4 July 2024
• KIOSC, Wantirna (1 day) - 19 September 2024
• University of Melbourne, Dookie (3 days) - 27-29 November 2024
• University of Melbourne, Parkville (3 days) - 20-22 January 2025
  

See flyer below for more information and application details. 

Upcoming Events

Tuesday May 7
Student Book Club – Melbourne Writers Festival Excursion
Intermediate and Senior Winter Sports Gala Day
Year 8 - Cntrl Your Scroll presentation

Wednesday May 8
Senior Girls Premier League Football
Chess Victoria Zonal Competition

Thursday May 9
Year 9 Girls AFL Academy Excursion

Friday May 10
Year 9 Boys AFL Academy Excursion
Junior Winter Sports Gala Day

Monday May 13
College Production Week!
Junior and Intermediate Girls Football

Tuesday May 14
WD Cross Country

Wednesday May 15
Senior Boys - Premier League Football

Monday May 20
Year 10 Camp (all week)

Child Safety