Emmanuel College Warrnambool eNewsletter

Principal's Message

Dear Emmanuel College Families,

As I put pen to paper this week, I am conscious this is the last principal’s report I will write as principal of Emmanuel College. As you know, I am finishing as principal at the end of the term, and I shared the following message with staff and students at a recent school assembly.

Lots of people have asked me how I feel about retiring. Each time I’ve responded by saying my head and my heart feel differently about this decision. In my head it is a straight-forward decision. I started working in Catholic education 40 years ago and I have worked in schools in Camperdown, in New York, in Geelong, in the beautiful city of Singapore, and here in Warrnambool. I’ve been principal of Emmanuel College for 12 years, and like all the places I’ve worked, I’ve loved being part of the Emmanuel school community, or the Emmanuel family.

But having worked about 50 hours a week for the last 12 years it’s time to take a break, and Emmanuel College is in great shape making it the perfect time to hand on to the next principal. The Emmanuel College Leadership Team aspires to make Emmanuel College the leading school in south-west Victoria, and I believe we are well on the way. So, as I said, the head decision to retire was an easy one knowing the College will keep on developing and improving and making us proud to belong to the Emmanuel family.

The heart decision was not so easy. I feel like the Year 12 students feel at the end of the year, ready to move on but sad to be leaving. Emmanuel College has been part of my life; it’s been slightly more than one quarter of my working life. In fact, I’ve been the principal of Emmanuel for longer than most current students have attended school.

Being the principal is more than a job. Education is an investment in the future, and everyone who works in this school believes in the power and the value of education to make a difference to you and to me, and to our future. Even though we all need to earn a living from our job, people who work in schools like Emmanuel look beyond the income and see the impact their work has in shaping the lives of young people. People who work in schools are people who want to make a difference to the world we live in; they want to be part of shaping the future. We know that working with you and helping you become your best self, is not only one of the greatest jobs, but it’s a powerful way of influencing the future.

This is an ideal time to thank the staff of Emmanuel College for all they do and the pride they take in their work. We have excellent facilities here, but unless we have excellent staff the facilities will languish and go to waste. Thank you to every Emmanuel staff member, current and former, who has helped me to grow Emmanuel College. As students you may not get on with everyone who works at Emmanuel; that’s life! But you should remind yourself from time to time we all do what they do for you, and importantly you should say thank you to every staff member with whom you make a connection.

Teaching and working in schools is not an easy job. Let’s face it, some of you can be challenging, making the classroom more difficult than it needs to be. So, it’s worth remembering, each day is a fresh start, a new opportunity for you to put your best foot forward. You receive approximately 160 school days each year to start afresh and do a little better than you did the day before. Catherine McAuley who founded the sisters of Mercy who started this school in 1872, said the most important thing in life is to be “good today, but better tomorrow”.

I’ve made many speeches over the years and some of them may have been longer than you wanted. Thank you for your patience and your attention. My speeches were always sincere in nature, and while the words may have been different, time and again I have communicated the message to you that you belong to a very special place called Emmanuel College. It has a rich history, a proud tradition, and an incredibly exciting future. But it’s up to you to make the most of it; to use this opportunity we call education to give yourself the best start in life.

The 2025 college theme provides us all with a signpost showing us the best way to do this. I wish you every success as you “journey as one” this year and beyond. And I thank Emmanuel College, somewhere that will always have a place in my heart, for allowing me to be one small part of the history and the journey of this great school.

This is the final newsletter of term one so a reminder the term concludes for students at 3.25pm on Thursday 3 April followed by parent, teacher, student conferences Thursday evening, and Friday 4 April until midday.

My responsibility officially concludes on Sunday 20 April and Ms Rachel McGennisken takes over as principal on Monday 21 April. May you show Rachel and the talented, invested team of Emmanuel employees every support and empower them to take the College on the next steps of the journey to being a dynamic learning community, bringing to life the gospel values of Faith, Hope and Love and continuing the Catholic tradition of Catherine McAuley and Edmund Rice.

Wishing all members of the Emmanuel community a safe and rewarding journey and may the future continue to burn bright for Emmanuel College.

O God, be for us
A companion in walking,
A guide at the crossroads,
A defence against dangers,
Shelter on the road,
Shade in the heat,
Light in the darkness,
Courage in dismay
And firmness in our uncertainty
So that following you,
We may arrive safely at the end of the journey.
(Pilgrims Prayer on the Way of Santiago de Compostela)

St. Joseph: Pray for us. May the spirit of Catherine McAuley and Edmund Rice guide us in all that we do. Amen.

Mr Peter Morgan
Principal

A Message from Mrs Claire Wrigley

Social Media - We need your help!!

We encourage you to have a conversation with your child(ren) about responsible social media use. It has come to our attention that a TikTok account, @emmanuel.memes, is being followed by a significant number of students, particularly in Years 7 and 8. With nearly 200 followers, we are mindful that pages like these can escalate beyond their original intent and go in a direction that is not appropriate.

We kindly ask all parents to discuss with their child the importance of using social media responsibly. It is not appropriate for students to create or follow accounts named after the school, and we strongly recommend that any student following such pages remove themselves. We discourage students from joining a large group account of Tik Tok, snap chat etc.

As a school, we are committed to educating students about digital safety. In Term 2:

Year 7 students will attend a session with the police covering social media laws, online safety, and responsible use.
Year 8 students will participate in a "Cntrl Your Scroll" presentation, focusing on their engagement with social media.
Year 10 students will also attend a "Cntrl Your Scroll" session as part of their Fit4Life program, exploring how digital habits impact wellbeing and learning in senior years.
Year 7 & 8 students will take part in a Fit4Life session with Project Rockit CONNECT, which empowers them with online skills to build positive digital communities, support wellbeing, and navigate online challenges.

By working together—through open conversations and education—we can help ensure a safer online environment for our young people. Thank you for your support in guiding them toward responsible digital choices.

Resources for parents to help with monitoring keeping your child safe online

The Best Parental Control Software for 2025 - article review on best apps

Beacon: This Australia-first, evidence-based cyber safety app aims to improve the digital future for Australian children by building parents' digital skills. Beacon | Cyber Safety App.
Bark: Bark is a parental control app that offers content monitoring, screen time scheduling, website blocking, and location alerts to help keep kids safe online. Bark in Australia: The Parental Control App Expands.
Qustodio: This app helps monitor online activities, set time limits, supervise social media use, block inappropriate websites, and monitor messages & calls. Software to Protect Your Child Online? [in Australia] - SouthEast IT.
Google Family Link: This app, developed for families with children under 13 who have an Android device, enables parents to set screen time limits, review app permissions, block apps and downloads, and filter content. https://families.google/familylink/
Canopy: Canopy is a parental control app that scans and blocks inappropriate content in real-time, before it reaches your child's device. Canopy: An Innovative Parental Control Tool to Make Kids Safer Online | SafeWise.
MMGuardian: This app uses AI to help parents safeguard their children by monitoring popular social media platforms, web browsing activity, and text messages. Link to website
OurPact: This app helps parents protect their kids online 24/7 and offers features to help with cyberbullying and sexual predators. https://ourpact.com/
Net Nanny: This app uses artificial intelligence to block dangerous content before your child is able to see it. https://www.netnanny.com/
Kaspersky Safe Kids: This app is designed to protect kids online, allowing parents to see reports, customize settings, and manage access to games and inappropriate apps. Link to welbsite
Norton Family: This parental control platform offers features to protect children online, including monitoring search and browsing history, blocking unsafe websites, and setting time limits.
E-safety Commission - Go to E-Safety For Advice And Resources On Keeping You And Your Family Safe Online. We Help Australians Have Safer And More... eSafety Commissioner

By working together—through open conversations and education—we can help ensure a safer online environment for our young people. Thank you for your support in guiding them toward responsible digital choices.

New Tracksuit Pant Option
We have listened to student voices and now have available for purchase new fleece tracksuit pants in the uniform shop as part of the PE uniform. All students in Year 7 - 9 are required to wear a PE uniform with the school logo on all items including the tracksuit pants for PE that have the school crest on them. The cost of the fleece pants is $39.

Parents parking in Ardlie Street for pick up
Can we please ask parents to not park too close to the corner of Ardlie & Crawley streets. We ask that you be mindful of parking a safe distance away from the corner so those cars coming out of Crawley street have clear sight up Ardlie street. The council will be patrolling the area to check people are parking legally.

Year 8 Community Leader
Mr Timmy Hunt will be on leave from Friday, March 21, until May 6. During his absence, we are pleased to welcome Ms Carlyn Spencer as the interim Year 8 Community Leader. Carlyn will work closely with Year 8 students and support Year 8 Coordinator Dee Tims throughout this period.

Mrs Claire Wrigley
Assistant Principal - Students

Maths at a Glance

100% Club – 15% Question
An empty recycling bin is 2 metres long, 1 metre wide, and 1 metre high. It cannot be loaded above the top of the bin rim. How many 2 metre long, 1 metre wide and 5cm thick plywood sheets will it take before the bine is no longer empty?

Answer in the next newsletter

Solution: Adelaide
The times on these clocks are a code to the name of which Australian city?
1:04 5:12 1:09 4:05

Maths Help
When: Wednesday Afternoon (3.45pm – 4.30pm)
Where: McAuley Library
Students can get assistance with their Mathematics on Wednesday afternoons in the McAuley library. Look out for the Math teachers, bring your questions and get some help. It’s a great opportunity to work on those areas that you may not fully understand or consolidate the work that has been covered in your class.

Math Pathways – Year 7
How many modules should my child be completing?
Students are encouraged to complete at least six modules every two-week cycle. By completing and then mastering six modules, students will end up with a 200% growth rate, meaning the student has demonstrated the equivalent of two years of growth within the cycle. By doing additional modules, students can to increase their growth rate further, provided the modules are mastered. This allows the students to catch up on the concepts that they may have covered in primary school but were unable to remember and answer correctly during the diagnostic testing.

International Pi Day – Friday March 14^th
On Friday March 14^th, several students headed to the Emmanuel College library during lunchtime to celebrate ‘International Pi Day’ and have a go at reciting Pi to as many decimal places as they could. Some hot party pies were also on offer while students waited to have their go. The efforts of the participants were amazing and in any other year, they may have taken out the title. But in the end, it was Emily Rankin of Year 12 defending her title by reciting Pi to over 100 decimals places for the second year in a row. This year Emily managed an impressive109 decimal places. Following Emily was Niamh McGoldrick who managed 67 decimal places, while Lexi Gleisner and Coen Rigg reached 44 and 42 decimal places respectively.

Students interested in participating or seeking more information about the Math Com or anything else mentioned above, don't hesitate to contact Mr Hodson at: (rhodson@emmanuel.vic.edu.au)

Mr Richard Hodson
Mathematics Coordinator

Library News

Looking Back
This week marks four years since the Emmanuel College Library was refurbished and extended.
In 2020 works began on refurbishing the existing Library that was built in 2007 and extending into the building that in previous times has been the Music Room and an earlier Library. The 2020/2021 project enabled the Library space to be refreshed with new furniture and shelving and a review of the Library collection was undertaken, following on from Kevin Hennah, Library Consultant’s visit to Warrnambool.
The Library now includes various spaces for teaching and learning to take place, with students having access to Meeting Rooms and whiteboards to assist them with their study. The Reading Room is popular, particularly with English classes who visit the Library to make use of the Library collection, browse the books and borrow, with often time provided for quiet reading time afterwards.

St Patrick’s Day
The Library celebrated St Patrick’s Day on Monday, March 17 with a quiz and a lolly jar competition.
Tom Foster in Year 11 won the St Patrick’s Day Quiz with his knowledge of all things Irish and Darcy Wicking of Year 8 successfully estimated the number of lollies in the jar (55 was the correct answer).

World Poetry Day
On Friday World Poetry Day was celebrated in the Library with students taking the opportunity to recite or read a poem. Some poems included classics such as Clancy of the Overflow, Teddy Bear Teddy Bear and The Raven. Thank you to the students who participated. All students are to watch out for Tongue Twister Tuesday in Term 2 where the tricky poems and tongue twisters will be tried out!

Mrs Margaret Sinnott
Library Coordinator

Student Spotlights

Achievements in Tennis!

Congratulations to Emmanuel College’s Year 9 student Adele McNamara on her incredible achievement at the Warrnambool Lawn Open. Competing in scorching conditions over the long weekend in March, Adele McNamara showcased her talent and determination, persevering through a tough three-day tournament to claim the Women’s A Grade Singles Title.

In a tough final, she fought back from three match points down to secure victory! With such dedication and talent, Adele has a bright future ahead, and we can’t wait to see what she achieves next.

Well done Adele! We wish you all the best for your future in tennis!

If you would like to recognise the achievements of a current Emmanuel student, please send us the details and photos to newsletter@emmanuel.vic.edu.au

Chess Club News

Emmanuel College Chess Club – A Thriving Club!
The past two weeks have been busy with intense competition and suspense as the Inter-House Chess Competition unfolded in the Library during recess and lunch. The atmosphere was exciting as players from all four houses battled it out over the chessboard, showcasing tactical skills and cool-headed decision-making when making decisions under pressure.

The first week saw play-offs between McAuley and Rice and Egan and Maguire, setting the stage for more challenging matchups in week two. The second week did not disappoint, with Rice taking on Egan and McAuley facing off against Maguire in some stalemates and checkmates.

When players regrouped and the final moves were made, Egan House emerged victorious with an impressive 33 points. Rice House followed closely behind in second place with 31 points, while McAuley House claimed third with 21 points. Maguire House rounded out the standings in fourth place with 17 points — but not without showing great spirit and determination.

The competition also served as a valuable selection process for the Inter-School Chess Tournament at Kryal Castle this week. A team of 22 determined players were chosen to represent the school, and we can’t wait to see how they perform on the big stage.

A huge congratulations to all the players for their hard work and sportsmanship! And to those who didn’t make the team this time — keep your heads up. More chess competitions and activities are on the horizon this year, so stay sharp and ready for your next move! ♟️

Mr Andrew McKenzie
Chess Coordinator

Words for Wellbeing

Girls got Talent
Girls Got Talent is Emmanuel College’s annual celebration of International Women's Day. The event was MC’d by female captains Evie McCosh and Hannah van de Camp. 23 year old Warrnambool Youth Citizen of the Year Sharna Rodgers was the guest speaker before the audience was treated to six entertaining acts including singers, dancers and composers. As it was a full house, the event was live streamed into the Library which was also packed. You can watch the fabulous event here : 2025 "Girls Got talent"

Save the Date for Time and Space
Year 7 Mothers / Female Guardians / Female Mentors are invited to save Monday May 5 to attend our Time and Space evening with their Year 7 child. Please see the information below and register online.

Time_Space_Mother_Child_1_Page_Flyer_ECW_2025_Web_.pdf

Standing Tall
Emmanuel College is excited to welcome Standing Tall back to our school community. Standing Tall is a mentoring program that pairs students with trained community mentors who meet weekly to foster mutual learning and the development of positive relationships. Now in its third week, the program is currently engaging nine Year 9 students, providing them with a supportive environment to expand their social networks, enhance their communication skills, and strengthen interpersonal connections. At its core, the program aims to promote the overall social and emotional wellbeing of all participants.

PDF Flyer

Fit4Minecraft
A new initiative from the Wellbeing team is a weekly Minecraft Group. Every Friday lunchtime an enthusiastic group of Year 7 students get together and play Minecraft moderated by our placement student Johnathon McKenzie and wellbeing staff. The participants are looking forward to building a Minecraft world. We have loved watching the students get to know each other and start to build friendships.

If you are interested in joining the group, please look out for the link on Daily Messages to complete the Google Form to join the group

Mineraft_Poster_3_.pdf

FIT4COURAGE
Fit4Courage is a character-building program designed to help a select group of Year 9 male students discover their identities, true potential and navigate through their teenage years by learning some essential life skills. The program takes a game-based approach, engaging students to build interpersonal skills and explore their individual personal development. The group this term has covered a range of topics including: emotional intelligence, communication and strengths.

FIT4HIGHPERFORMANCE
The High Performance Athlete program had Sophie from our Fit4Life team join them last Wednesday morning to chat all things Sport Psychology. Sophie led a guided meditation that had a body scan focus. For some students they were finishing up a sporting season or beginning a new one so it was a great time to check in with how their body’s were feeling.

Careers News

Career Newsletter
Our career website is packed with ideas and conversation starters, it's as simple as using this website to provide you with all the latest information about your future career and life beyond school. You can use this site to locate Universities, TAFE and any other type of courses across Australia, get information about VCE, VCEVM, search for job vacancies and much more. Feel free to drop into the Careers Office if you have any questions.

https://www.emmanuelcollegecareers.com/

Topics in the Career News include -

Hands-on April Holiday Activities at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne Residential Colleges Open House
Studying the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) at RMIT
Ag CAREERSTART GAP Program
Projects Abroad - Volunteering for Teens
Simpson Barracks Open Day 2025
Business Degrees in Victoria in 2025
Commerce Degrees in Victoria in 2025
Snapshot of RMIT University in 2025

Employment Projections
Jobs and Skills Australia’s (JSA) has commissioned Victoria University (VU) to produce employment projections to May 2034.
Total employment in Australia is projected to grow by around 950,000 people (or 6.6%) over the next 5 years, and by nearly 2.0 million people (or 13.7%) over the next 10 years, reaching 16.3 million employed people by May 2034.
The structural shift in Australian employment towards services industries is projected to continue with 3 industries, i.e. Health Care and Social Assistance; Professional, Scientific and Technical Services; and Education and Training, contributing to over half (50.4%) of the employment growth over the next decade. For more information, please use this link under Employment Options https://www.emmanuelcollegecareers.com/

April School Holiday Program
Every year Universities will conduct around the 1^st term holidays, this year is no different, we have developed a document that gives you an idea/understanding of what is going to be available, please note not every event tmay run is published here – we just wanted to ensure the registration links were active. Hoping this stand-alone document provides to be of it use. https://www.emmanuelcollegecareers.com/

Matrice for Degrees at Universities and TAFE providers
Each year there are a number of students that will start their investigation into degrees at Universities, what prerequisites are required, do I need an ATAR and most importantly who offers these particular Degrees/Diplomas, we have developed a comprehensive document that can be a great starting point for discussion for families, please refer to our careers website, click on the Careers Newsletter, course details prerequisite tab https://www.emmanuelcollegecareers.com/

Neil Porter Legacy
Careers Night for Parents
On Wednesday April 2^nd Michael Absalom from the Neil Porter Legacy is holding an information session at the Port Fairy Surf Lifesaving Club’s Education Centre for parents, Michael will give tips on how to help your child balance work and study options, how to engage your child in career conversations whilst understanding the importance of choosing the right career for the right reasons, the presentation starts at 6.00pm going through till 7.30pm, please see the attached flyer on how to register.

Mr David Gladman
Student Pathways & Careers Leader

NPL_Careers_Evening.pdf

Alumni

The Emmanuel College Connection

The College Connection is a vital link between Emmanuel College and its alumni. From its humble beginnings 30 years ago, it has remained an essential source of connection and pride for the Emmanuel College community, - continually adapting to meet the needs of its readers while staying true to its core mission of celebrating alumni and school accomplishments.

Our first edition for 2025 Emmanuel College Connection is coming out soon! Are all your details up to date to make sure you receive your copy?
https://www.emmanuel.vic.edu.au/stay-in-touch

Ms Candice Hampstead
Alumni Coordinator

Social Justice

Project Compassion
SOCIAL JUSTICE @ EMMANUEL HOUSE FOOD DRIVE- TINNED TUNA

Each Tuesday we host COMMUNITY MEALS @ EMMANUEL, as well as providing food pantry items for people to take home with the help of Western District FoodShare.
This term we are collecting donations of tinned tuna from students as part of a house challenge to give back to Western District Food Share Warrnambool.
Please add a few tins of tuna this term to your next shop and send into school to be added to the collection points at each office.

This is a great opportunity for us as a college community to support OUR shared community.
Emmanuel College is a wonderful community that understands how important every act of kindness and awareness matters, and this is just one little way that everyone can get involved and contribute.

Ms Natasha Cummings
Social justice coordinator

Languages News

Japanese Melbourne Excursion

Year 12 Japanese VCE students and Japanese exchange students recently travelled to Melbourne for a Japanese excursion, immersing themselves in Japanese culture and cuisine. They enjoyed authentic Japanese sweets and drinks at Hareruya pantry for morning tea, followed by a traditional lunch at Shoya Japanese Restaurant. The day continued with a guided talk and tour of the Yayoi Kusama exhibition at the NGV.

It was a fantastic experience that provided deep insight into Japanese culture and art.

French Trip
Wishing our students and staff an unforgettable adventure as they head off on Thursday to France for the French trip! We hope you all have a wonderful time, filled with new experiences, learning and wonderful memories. Take it all in and enjoy the culture, cuisine, and all the incredible sights - à bientôt! (See you soon!)

School Photos

School photos will be distributed this week, with the exception of Year 9 students, whose photos will be handed out next week due Immersion.

For families interested in ordering additional photos – including the School Captains, Leaders or Year 12 Group photo – please see the information below, which contains a QR code and access code for easy ordering through the My School Photos website

Emmanual_College_Special_Group_poster.pdf

2026 Enrolments Now Open

Open Night
Last Wednesday, we hosted our Open Evening, and the beautiful autumn weather set the perfect scene as we welcomed hundreds of families to our campus. Guided tours gave prospective families the opportunity to explore our facilities and experience the vibrant community that makes our college so special.

Enrolments for 2026 are now open and will close on Friday, May 2, 2025. Don't miss out—click the link below to start your enrolment process!

https://www.emmanuel.vic.edu.au/enrolment

SchoolTV - Dr Michael Carr Gegg - Visit

Parents / Carers 7pm - 8pm Monday 5th of May, 2025

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg will be visiting Warrnambool on Monday the 5th May. Parent/Carers can attend The Lighthouse Theatre from 7pm to 8pm where Dr Carr-Gregg will cover a range of critical issues facing young people today, empowering parents, carers and other loved ones with the knowledge and tools to help navigate the challenges of parenting. Dr Carr-Gregg will offer a range of practical and actionable advice that can be implemented immediately to support children and adolescent mental health. Scan the QR code on the parent carer flyer attached or visit the below link to save your seat! Tickets for Parents & Carer Session - Warrnambool: https://www.lighthousetheatre.com.au/index.php/2025-youth-mental-heath-road-show-parents-carers

This is a free event - To save a seat, simply scan the QR code on the relevant flyer attached or click on the link above - places are limited.

We look forward to seeing you there!