Emmanuel College Warrnambool eNewsletter

Principal's Message

Dear Emmanuel College Families,

As I continue to settle into my new role, it has been a joy to witness our College in full flight - alive with energy, purpose and a deep sense of community. Walking through classrooms, and school grounds, I am constantly impressed by the high-quality leaning taking place, not only in formal lessons, but through the many immersive opportunities our students embrace with enthusiasm and pride.

Over the past fortnight, I’ve seen rehearsals underway for our much-anticipated production of Cinderella, students representing the College in sporting competitions with determination and sportsmanship, young writers exploring their craft at the Melbourne Writers’ Festival, and active engagement in our Fit4Life program. The friendly rivalry of our school chess leaderboard and the camaraderie it fosters has also been a delight to observe.

In every one of these spaces, what shines through most is our students’ commitment to learning and their positive, 'can-do' attitude. They are living out our College values with integrity and spirit. As Catherine McAuley reminds us, "The simplest and most practical lesson I know... is to resolve to be good today, but better tomorrow." This resolve is evident in our students' dedication across all facets of College life.

I was particularly moved during last week’s assembly, where Year 7 and 8 students were recognised with Merit Awards. The pride in the eyes of parents and carers was unmistakable—it was a celebration of hard work, perseverance, and character. I congratulate each award recipient on this wonderful achievement and encourage all students to continue striving to 'bring their best' in all that they do.

We have also seen the spirit of Mercy alive in the way our community responds to the needs of others. The VPC students’ heartfelt hosting of the Biggest Morning Tea fundraiser, the generosity shown through the Tinned Tuna Drive, and the thoughtful celebration of Diversity Month are all powerful examples of our collective commitment to justice, inclusion and social responsibility. In staffing news, last week we farewelled Sophie Woolstencroft who has been a valued member of the Emmanuel College community for many years as a student, College Vice Captain, and more recently, as a dedicated member of the Fit4Life Team. We sincerely thank Sophie for her outstanding contributions in supporting our students, staff and families, and wish her every success as she embarks on the next chapter of her career.

We welcomed Ebony Marris to the Wellbeing Team. Ebony is a proud past student who recently completed a Bachelor of Psychology and is excited to be part of our College community once again. I would also like to acknowledge and thank Carlyn Spencer for her work in the role of Acting Year 8 Community Leader while Timmy Hunt was on leave. We welcomed Timmy back last week. Finally, I would like to join in thanksgiving with our global Catholic community on the election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as Pope Leo XIV, and ask God’s blessing for him and our Church, and I wish all the mothers, grandmothers and other significant females in the lives of our students, a very happy Mother’s Day for yesterday.

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

Warm regards,
Ms Rachel McGennisken
Principal

A Message from Mrs Claire Wrigley

Safety Around Streets - Student Crossing - Raglan Pde, towards Sth Warrnambool
If your son or daughter walks home and crosses Raglan Parade to get to South Warrnambool up Hider Street or Hyland Street, for their safety we ask parents to speak with your child about crossing at the supervised crossing.

Some students are not using the crossing; instead, crossing at other areas along the road putting themselves in very risky situations, making us genuinely concerned for their safety. Please speak with your child about making better choices and encourage them to use the supervised crossing

SchoolTV - Special Report: Shaping Healthy Masculinity
In today's fast-moving world, many boys are struggling to find direction. Even well-meaning online searches about fitness, confidence or relationships can lead them to content that promtes rigid or unleahtly ideas about masculinity. The critically acclaimed TV show 'Adolescence' has brought fresh attention to this issue, hightlighting how boys are often exposed to messages that glorify toughness and dominance, while dismissing empathy and emotional openness.

These outdate beliefs can limit emotional growth and impact how boys relate to others - with real consequences in schools, homes and communities. That's why it's more important than ever to guide boys with care, clarity and connection.

By offering healthier role models, safe spaces to talk, and encouraging respectful friendships - especially across geneders - we can help boys develop the confidence, empathy and relationship skills they need to thrive.

This SchoolTV Special Report calls for a cultural shift and advocates for curiosity-driven dialogue that builds trust and critical thinking. The goal is to raise boys who are not just resistant to harmful influences, but actively capable of questioning and rejecting them

Here is the link to the Special Report:

https://emmanuel.vic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-shaping-healthy-masculinity-au

Time & Space Evening - Year 7s with their Mums/Mentors
Time and Space Evening 2025 - Building connections, one conversation at a time .

Last week, just in time for Mother's Day, Emmanuel College provided The Time and Space program for our Year 7 mothers/mentors to talk, listen and reflect via real conversations with their Year 7 children. meaningful and continued dialogue between parents and their adolescent children is critical to the often challenging transition to adulthood. Completing the evening by sharing treasured items and a prayer by candlelight made for a beautiful memory to share. Checkout the following reflections from the evening:

Students
- It was great, I got a massive letter and my first Mother’s Day card back from when I was a baby!

- Really great experience, really enjoyed it and my mum and I got closer.

- Very good, got closer with each other. Learnt things about each other that we didn’t know.

- It was interesting to see my mum’s point of view on her life during our journey together.

Mums/Mentors
- I really treasured the opportunity to be involved with my daughter in her school environment.

- Much needed time to connect in a busy life, thank you.

- The whole experience was positive.

- This made me stop and listen because it’s so hard talking to my teen. I really heard her and heard similar thoughts by her peers. I felt safe and supported by the other adults and even thanked one of the children for sharing, as it helped me understand my own child better.

- Hearing from the young people and parents – to understand the commonality and complexity

Mrs Claire Wrigley
Assistant Principal - Students

Faith & Mission

Farewell Father Bill Lowry
As many of you will already be aware, Father Bill Lowry recently completed his time as our College Chaplain, and as assistant priest at Star of the Sea parish. Bill has been appointed as Assistant Priest in the Sunraysia, Robinvale and Ouyen Parishes.

Bill has been a fantastic support to us with masses, liturgies and other special events over the last few years, and always approached each occasion with enthusiasm and an unpretentious attitude. He was always able to engage students with anecdotes that were often funny, but also very insightful and thought provoking.

Although Bill was newly ordained when he joined us midway through 2022, and I was brand new to my role as Director of Faith & Mission a few months later, he was always available to provide encouragement and advice in a role that was new to him as well, and we thank him for making this time easier. He was also appointed to the parish during a time of significant change, yet he handled this with sensitivity and optimism.

Bill was always able to provide theological and philosophical reflections with a deeply spiritual perspective in his homilies and combined this with a great sense of humour. With his down to earth nature he was able to form wonderful connections with people of all ages and backgrounds in our community.

Fr Matthew Restall commenced as Assistant Priest for Star of the Sea parish in early May and we look forward to welcoming him to the school community very soon.

We will miss Bill, we were very fortunate to have him as a member of our community, and wish him all the very best in this new chapter.

Pope Leo XIV
The Catholic Church is in a state of significant change at the moment, mourning the death of Pope Francis, and now welcoming the election of a new Pope - Pope Leo XIV.

The election of a pope may seem a distant and irrelevant event for some, however, the leadership, compassion and humility demonstrated by Pope Francis throughout his life shows the positive impact the pope can have on a Church of 1.4 billion people.

Pope Francis has left a wonderful legacy, which inspired Catholics and non-Catholics alike. He promoted and lived the importance of dialogue, from the people he met, to his encyclical ‘Laudato Si’ and his forays into social media with his tweets @Pontifex
https://x.com/pontifex?lang=en

With his encyclical ‘Laudato Si’, he inspired people to prioritise the care for our common home. This papal letter was addressed to "every person living on this planet" and urged a worldwide conversation on how our everyday choices and actions are shaping the planet’s future.

People from all over the world have expressed deep sorrow at his passing and gratitude for his lifelong commitment, and he has been praised for his focus on the marginalized, justice and his call to spread the Gospel with hope and compassion.
His life has been described as a model of humility, service, and love.

The following prayer is adapted from the writings of Irish Catholic philosopher & poet, John O’Donohue.

As we step out onto new ground,
May our courage be ignited to trust the promise of a new path.
May we take time to reflect, to be grateful for what was learned and what was accomplished.
May we take time to celebrate new beginnings and be optimistic and hopeful for what is to come.
May we be inspired to live with compassion and justice, growing in our journey of faith, hope and love.

Saint Joseph, pray for us.
May the spirit of Catherine McAuley and Edmund Rice guide us in all we do. Amen.

Mrs Jacinta Skilbeck
Director of Faith & Mission

Maths at a Glance

100% Club – 20% Question

Answer in the next Newsletter

Last Newsletter's Solution: AW
Ozzie the Postie is in an odd state. What two-letter abbreviation is missing from his list?

AS; TN; TCA; WSN/CIV/SAT/DLQ

The list consists of Australian states and territories abbreviated backwards!

Maths Help
When: Wednesday Afternoon (3.45pm – 4.30pm)
Where: McAuley Library
Students have the opportunity to get assistance with their Mathematics on Wednesday afternoon’s in the McAuley library. Look out for the Math’s 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.

Looking into the future…..'Do I need to do Mathematics in VCE?'
This depends on whether you are undertaking the VCE or VCE VM/VPC. Students undertaking their VCE do not have to complete a Maths subject, it is optional. Currently English is the only subject that is compulsory for VCE students. However, students that are enrolled in VCE VM/VPC must complete a number of units in Numeracy or a VCE Mathematics.

Completing VCE Mathematics can be helpful whether a student is looking to go to university or enter the workforce. A number of students who have completed electrical apprenticeships have mentioned that while the content within General Mathematics may not have been entirely relevant, the problem-solving and use of different formulae was beneficial when completing their apprenticeship.

If you are looking to continue with Maths through VCE, making sure you choose the right option is really important. Start the conversations with your teachers and careers staff now!

AMT -Computational and Algorithmic Thinking (CAT) Competition
The Australian Mathematics Trust will once again be running the Computational and Algorithmic Thinking (CAT) Competition from May 22nd to may 24th. Emmanuel College will be running the competition on Wednesday, May 23rd, during periods 5 and 6. The competition is undertaken online, students will have one hour to copmlete the test and are allowed the use of a scientific calculator. The competition focuses on logic and algorithmic based questions, comprising of multiple choice and integer answers. Here is a question from the 2024 Intermediate paper:

Students interested in participating or seeking more information about the CAT Competition or anything else mentioned above, don't hesitate to contact Mr Hodson E: rhodson@emmanuel.vic.edu.au

Mr Richard Hodson
Mathematics Coordinator

VCE VET Health

VCE VET Health Students Visit St John of God Hospital
Last Thursday, May 8th, our VCE VET Health students had the valuable opportunity to tour St John of God Hospital and the Health Services Centre. The visit offered insight into the operations of the organisation and showcased the wide range of healthcare careers available.

We were especially fortunate to hear from Ruth Walker, a former Emmanuel College Food Tech teacher who has since returned to the field as a Dietitian. Ruth, along with Adrian Benson – Allied Health Manager and Physiotherapist, and Nurse Educator – Rebecca White guided our students through the facilities and provided engaging, hands-on experiences that deepened their understanding of healthcare roles.

Students were also appreciative to learnt about the hospital’s history, including the connection to our own Emmanuel College site. They discovered that St John of God nuns, originally from Ireland, lived with the Sisters of Mercy on the Emmanuel College site while preparing for the opening of the hospital.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable and enriching experience for our students. Here are some of their reflections:

"After our tour of the St John Of God Hospital, I am feeling very enhanced in my knowledge surrounding everything in the health field. It has made me start thinking about what I would like to do down my future pathways and I really did like the idea of physiotherapy!" Sadie Schrama - Year 11

"Overall the tour was great, it gave me an insight of what life will be like if I choose to pursue any career based within healthcare." Cameron McKenzie - Year 11

"I really enjoyed looking at all the different jobs within the hospital and it has opened my eyes as to what I might like to do in the future." Amelia Harris - Year 11

"It definitely inspired me and I would like to have a career in the healthcare system, just not exactly sure just what at this moment in time!" Chloe Dance - Year 11

"Overall, this experience helped my understanding of the roles in the healthcare system and also helped me think about my future in this area." Matilda Bonnett - Year 11

We thank Adrian Benson for his continued support of Emmanuel College and providing this immersive experience for our students.

Mrs Rachel Sabo
Teacher

Fit4Life
Last Wednesday, May 7th, our year 7 students participated in a Fit4Life Day, a day designed to support their personal growth and wellbeing. While a scheduled special presentation was unfortunately cancelled, it didn't derail the success of the day!

The activities began in homerooms during periods 3 and 4, where students took time to reflect on their Term 1 interim report results. They considered what they were most proud of and identified areas where they could improve. Building on this self-reflection, each student then set three SMART goals to help guide their efforts for the remainder of the year.

Next, students explored their individual Character Strengths by completing a survey. After discovering their top five strengths, they shared them with classmates to identify which qualities were most common in their homeroom groups. It was great to see the spread of strengths among each homeroom and what each individual brings to Emmanuel!

The day wrapped up with a high-energy session in the Emmanuel Centre, where students competed in house teams across a range of fun challenges — including skipping, cornhole, handballing a footy into a bin, basketball layups, and a quiz. The winning house earned valuable points towards the House Cup, and standout performers received merit points for their efforts.

Overall, it was a fantastic day filled with reflection, teamwork, fun, and hopefully each student walked away having learned something new about themselves and their peers.

"The Fit4Life Day was awesome because I got to practice my teamwork with my house colour. My favourites were the quiz and the cornhole toss. It was a great break from learning and my brain enjoyed it too! The best part was the Rice girls WON!!! YAY! We also set goals after reading our first term report and I learnt a lot about what I need to improve on. The Character strengths activity was quite fun, we took a quiz and figured out what our top strengths were, and I love to learn new things about myself so it was a lot of fun!" Evie Coxall - 7H

"On Wednesday the 7th of may 2025 we participated in a Fit4Life day. We participated in various activities, including an online test to see our top character strengths, then we worked on some time management skills by making a planner in our diaries. Period 5 & 6 we went to the Emmanuel Centre. We worked in our houses and participated in skipping, trying to handball a football into a bin, doing basketball layups, cornhole and a twenty-question quiz, it was also really fun. After all these activities, McAuley ended up winning for the boys, Rice won for the girls, but Egan ended up winning overall. Overall, it was a really fun day and I really hope it’s this much fun next year." - Lauchie Griffiths - 7D

Mr Dan Weymouth
Year 7 Community Leader

Alumni News

CBC Reunion - Nearly 60 Years on
Over the last weekend in April, a remarkable group of past students came together to celebrate almost 60 years since their days as schoolboys. From Saturday night to Monday evening, these lifelong mates renewed old bonds and made new memories, through a series of activities and events.

The festivities began with a Meet & Greet on the Saturday night, where familiar faces were met with warm welcomes and many stories of mischief, lessons learned, and sporting triumphs were shared over a cold one.

Sunday morning brought a moving Mass led by their very own classmate, Fr Patrick Mugavin. It was a heartfelt celebration that highlighted the enduring value of connection and friendship. In a particularly touching moment, classmates who had passed were remembered with reverence and love—gone, but never forgotten.

Following Mass, the group embarked on a campus tour, retracing the paths of their school days. While buildings had seen some remodelling, there was amazement in how clearly their old classrooms could still be identified—even if the walls were no longer quite where they remembered.

Sunday concluded with the key event, a luncheon, that gave the boys the opportunity to continue to share stories over a meal and take in an impressive memorabilia display.

It’s always wonderful to see groups of past students coming together, and how friendships easily pick up where they left off, even 60 years down the track.

Link here for a photo gallery: https://www.emmanuel.vic.edu.au/cbc-reunion

Marking the Feast of Edmund Rice with Reconnection

Our annual CBC Catch-Up was once again a standout event for past students of CBC Warrnambool, as we mark the feast of Blessed Edmund Rice, founder of the Christian Brothers.

Held this year in the newly opened ERC building, the evening impressed attendees with its modern facilities—so much so that a few joked about wanting to return to school. The turnout was exceptional, with standing room only as alumni from CBC Warrnambool gathered to reconnect. Despite their varied backgrounds and life paths, all were united by a shared history and enduring friendships forged during their school years.

A highlight of the night was a moving address by Brother Brian Clery, who has devoted more than 70 years to the Christian Brothers. Teaching in Warrnambool from 1957 to 1963, he was known as a talented sportsman, a masterful storyteller, and a man of great character. Deeply loved and respected, his words resonated with all in attendance. Even decades later, his former students still look up to him, both in admiration and stature. His reflections offered timeless wisdom on the value of education and the lifelong impact a teacher can have.

Thanks as always for joining us boys. It’s always great to see you back on the grounds.

Link here for a photo gallery: https://www.emmanuel.vic.edu.au/cbc-catch-up-2

Ms Candice Hampstead
Alumni Coordinator

Biggest Morning Tea

VPC Class Hosts The Biggest Morning Tea
On Wednesday, May 7th, the VPC Class proudly hosted The Biggest Morning Tea at Emmanuel College. As a part of this meaningful initiative, students showcased their culinary skills by baking a delicious assortment of treats and preparing barista-made coffees for staff.

The event was a great success, with students putting significant effort into planning and running the morning tea. Their hard work paid off, raising nearly $600 for the Cancer Council! These funds will go toward vital cancer research, support services, prevention programs, and advocacy efforts.

The VPC students would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to all the staff who supported and contributed to the success of the event.

Ms Rebecca Down
Applied Learning Coordinator

BMT.Poster.pdf

Social Justice

Community Meals @ Emmanuel
Each Tuesday evening from 5:30pm we open our doors here at Emmanuel College to anyone in the community needing a warm meal, hot coffee and some friendly conversation.

Thanks to the generous support of Western District Food Share, we also offer food pantry staples, fresh fruit and vegetables, and baked goods for our guests to take home.

Now in it's fourth year, this initiative is proudly run by Emmanuel College Staff and senior students, with amazing support from McMahons Family Catering. Please give generously to our Food Drive as we collectively care for the people in our wider community.

Ms Natasha Cummings
Social Justice Coordinator

Term 1 Social Justice Initiative - Tinned Tuna Food Drive - Student Voice
Last term, Emmanuel College's Social Justice Food Drive focus was a Tined Tuna donation drive, run as a friendly competition between house groups to encourage participation. Thanks to the generosity of our students, staff and families, we were able to donate an incredible 93 kilograms to tuna to Foodshare - an outstanding effort from our school community.

On Tuesday, May 6th, Lottie, Tessa and I had the opportunity to visit Western District Food Share and deliver the donations in person. The experience was both eye-opening and inspiring, reminding us that even small contributions like a single tin of tuna - can go a long way in supporting families doing it tough.

For this Term's Food Drive we are collecting Canned Soup to be donated. Please consider supporting this Social Justice Initiative by dropping a tin of soup into one of the collection boxes across the school

Neve MacDonald
Year 10 Student

Performing Arts News

Year 7 Band Program
We're thrilled to launch an exciting new initiative this year - Band Karate!

This awesome merit system celebrates student achievement and tracks progress as they level up their skills on their band instruments.

Just like martial arts, students can earn coloured 'belts' to tie onto their instrument case handles - showing off their growth and dedication! And that's not all - they'll also rack up merit points along the way! This week we'd like to give a huge congratulations to:

White Belt
Geordie Donohoo
Brody Manson

Yellow Belt
Grace Bolton

The Year 7 Band Program '5 Note Concert' is in late June and an Operoo and Flyer will be sent to parents/carers over the next week.

Music_karate_2_.pdf

Cinderella - Youth Edition
The Youth Edition of Cinderella is a delightful reimagining of the classic fairy tale, specially adapted for younger audiences. With charm, humour, and timeless lessons, it follows Cinderella’s journey from a mistreated girl to a princess who finds love. This version, featuring the beloved music of Rodgers & Hammerstein, offers a slightly altered plot and a condensed script to make the story more accessible, while preserving the iconic characters, memorable songs, and core themes of kindness, courage and the power of dreams.

This year, our school production will feature two main casts: the Pink Cast and the Blue Cast which will perform as follows:

Pink Cast: Thursday Evening 5th June - 7:30pm & Saturday Matinee 7th June - 12noon

Cinderella - Matilda Webster
Prince - Finn Davis
Stepmother - Jessica Bushell
Godmother - Molly Sheen
Step Sisters - Sofia Resk-Wilson & Jasmine Phillips
Herald - Grace Bolton

Blue Cast: Friday Evening 6th June - 7:30pm & Saturday Evening 7:30pm

Cinderella - Layla Kermond
Prince - Flynn El-Hage
Stepmother - Molly Mansbridge
Godmother - Ruby Nelson
Step Sisters - Bonnie Leslie & Dakota Symons
Herald - Amelie Williams

Chorus
Lexie Amarant, Elouise Auletta, Lilibet Bellamy, Charlie Bellman, Cruz Bermingham, Isabella Berry, Emily Blain, Jye Chisholm, Evie Cooper, Maddi Crowe, Kitty Curtain, Atticus Delaney, Francesca Di Cesare, Aurora Duane, Immy Edwards, Flynn El-Hage, Madison Finnigan, Maya Furphy, EJ Gass, Roisin Hansford, Martha Hawkins, Alia Kamath, Bonnie Leslie, Elise Mahony, Elina Mansbridge, Paddy McKane, Ella Monaghan, Belle Plozza, Hannah Pohlner, Paddy Quinn, Emily Ranking, Remy Roberts, Anna Robson, Gretel Ryan, Noah Sabo, Kolo Sakate, Jack Steffensen, Grace Stephens, James Turner, Josh Uys, Gretta Wake, Saskia Warren, Sarah Wright, Ethan Wu

Crew
Director - Cindy Lee Morgan, Musical Director - Dean Mulholland
Jacki Carruthers, Hamish Allsop, Candice Hampstead, Oliver Stephens, Lisa Bail, Kathy McDonald, Megan Davies, Tom Ward, Logan Kelly, Harrison Chiller, Olivia Knoop

We’re thrilled to showcase the talents of both groups and can’t wait for you to see them perform!

With less than a month till production week! Tickets now on sale, get yours here: https://www.trybooking.com/DBNNF

Mrs Megan Davies
Head of Performing Arts & Instrumental Music Coordinator

Sports News - 2025 GWR Swimming

Emmanuel College shines at the 2025 GWR Swimming Carnival
On Thursday, May 1st, our incredible Emmanuel College swimmers took to the pool at the State Swimming Titles in Melbourne. They gave their all in every race—both individual events and relays—showing determination and team spirit, representing Emmanuel College honourably.

It was a huge day, but our students stayed strong and enthusiastic all day! We’re thrilled to share that Emmanuel College placed 5th overall in the state! An amazing result in a very strong competition.

Huge congratulations must also go to our 12/13 Years Girls Freestyle Relay team of Ruby Kenwright, Hannag Ragg, Miranda Jansz and Matisse Aberline for getting gold - making them State Champions!!!

A big thank you to our dedicated coach and support crew - Mr Paul Aberline, Mrs Natalie Elliott-Jackson, and Jaffa. Your guidance and encouragement mean a lot.

Individual Swimmer Results
Kai Moloney - 200m Free - 8th, 12-20 yrs 400m Freestyle - 5th

Hugh White : 14yrs 50m Breaststroke - 6th, 14yrs 50m Butterfly - 7th, 14yrs 50m Free - 4th,
14yrs 50m Backstroke - 4th

Lisa Bail: MC 17 yrs 50m Butterfly -2nd, MC 17 yrs 50 Freestyle- 2nd, MC 17 yrs 50m Backstroke - 2nd,
MC 17 yrs 50m Breaststroke - 2nd

James Turner: MC 12-14 yrs 50m Free - 8th, MC 12-14 yrs 50m Backstroke - 8th

Mrs Suzie Wellens
Teacher

Intermediate Girls Football

Intermediate Girls Football Team Success!
On the final day of Term 1, our Intermediate Girls Football Team showcased their talent and determination in matches against Brauer College and Warrnambool College. Winning both games by large margins, our Emmanuel College girls demonstrated excellent teamwork and skills.

The 36 students involvement shows great commitment representing Emmanuel College with pride—even though it was not a required school day, their dedication to the team speaks volumes about their passion and team spirit.

As a result of their outstanding performance, the team will progress to the Greater Western Region (GWR) Finals, which will take place on May 20th in Hamilton.

Standout players on the day included Mia Robinson, Hannah McMeel, Lottie McCosh, Leny Watty, and Edie Batt—well done!

Mr Glen Martin
Director of 9@Rice
Girls Footy Coach

Cross Country WD

WD Cross Country Results
Last Monday, May 5th, Emmanuel College had approximately 60 students compete in the WD Cross Country held at Woodford. The sun was shining, but strong winds made conditions challenging for our runners.

Despite the tough conditions, our students performed exceptionally well. We're proud to report that around 55 students have qualified for the Regional competition, which will take place on 26. This is an fantastic achievement, and we congratulate all participants for their hard work and determination.

In addition to this incredible overall effort, we also had some outstanding individual performances. The age group placings are as follows:

13 Years Girls
1st - Charlotte Staaks
2nd - Molly McNeil
3rd - Matisse Aberline

13 Years Boys
1st - Occy Hayes
2nd - Tadhg Loughran
3rd - Dane Nicholls

14 Years Girls
1st - Charlotte Versace
2nd - Lexie Gleisner
3rd - Esther Gleeson

14 Years Boys
3rd - Roy Savage

15 Years Girls
1st - Lucy Howland
3rd - Eve Ryan

15 Years Boys
3rd - Hugh Hunter

15 Years Girls
1st - Rylee Foreman
3rd - Mikayli Hoffman

16 Years Boys
1st - Will Verhoef
2nd - Michael Lougheed

17 Years Girls
3rd - Olivia Lenehan

17 Year Boys
1st - David Boyd
2nd - Angus White
3rd - Edward Northeast

18 Years Boys
1st - Will Callaghan
2nd - Jack Gleisner

Thanks to Mrs Kate Foster, Mr Alastair Templeon and our PE Trainees for their help on the day.

Mr Mark Jansz
Teacher

Library News

New Books
The Library has a number of new books that students may borrow. Anh Do, one of the most popular authors with readers at our school has a new book called Ninja Girl. Students are able to borrow this one now and may look at the many other books Anh Do has written that we have in our collection.

National Simultaneous Story Time
National Simultaneous Story Time is held each year in Australia. Each year Emmanuel College participates by reading the book suggested. This year the book to read is The Truck Cat by Deborah Frenkel and Danny Snell.

This is the 25th year of NSS, promoting the value of reading and literacy and focusing on an Australian children's book. Last year over 2.3 million people took part. Students across Emmanuel College will participate in the reading of The Truck Cat on Wednesday May 21. Students in Year 8 may take particular notice as they will be planning the picture book that they are going to create, design, write and illustrate for their English classes.

https://alia.org.au/Web/Web/Events/Event_Display.aspx?EventKey=NSS25

New Books

Melbourne Writers Festival
Students from Emmanuel College Student Book Club and other students will be attending the Melbourne Writers Festival on Thursday, May 8th, at the State Library of Victoria. Four authors will present their books, their writing and will encourage the students to read and write.

The authors presenting their work on the day are:
Robyn Dennison
Gary Lonesborough
Solli Raphael
Neal Shusterman

Victorian Premier's Reading Challenge
The 2025 Premier's Reading Challenge is now open. Students in Year 7 to 10 are encouraged to participate. English teachers will be given the log in details for students to log in and record the books they've read.
We encourage as many students from year 7 to 10 to participate. Certificates, recognition and merit points will be given to those who participate.

Library Items Overdue
The Library Staff will look at Student loans from Term 1 and ask that items please be returned this week or early next week. In Week 3 of each term the cost of items not returned from the previous Term are billed to school fees.
Student receive a number of email notifications to say items are due back in 3 days time, are now overdue and then follow-up emails are also sent, then if the item is not returned, an email is sent to parents/guardians.
If you have any questions about this, please see Mrs Sinnott. By returning items gives other students the opportunity to borrow them.

If you find Library items at home that haven't been returned from last year or beyond, please return them and if you have been billed for them, you will get a credit on your school fees. We don't mind how long you have had them on loan, we'd really appreciate you returning them. Sometimes these items cannot be purchased to be replaced for the Library collection, so we value getting items returned.

Please contact Margaret Sinnott, Library Coordinator msinnott@emmanuel.vic.edu.au or ring the College for more information.

Mrs Margaret Sinnott
Library Coordinator

OverdueLibraryItems.pdf

Chess Club News

Zonal Inter-School Chess Competition
Last week The Zonal Inter-School Chess Competition was held at St Joseph's Colle in Newtown. Showcasing an impressive standard of play, with the top three teams locked in a close battle throughout the day! The competition remained incredibly tight until the final two round, when Emmanuel College pulled ahead to secure the lead and take out the title of Zonal School Champions, with a total of 22 points.

St Joseph's College performed strongly on home ground, finishing second with 20.5 points, closely followed by Geelong Grammar School in third place with 19.5 points.

Final standings:

1. Emmanuel College, Warrnambool - 22 points
2. St Joseph's College, Newtown - 20.5 points
3. Geelong Grammar School - 19.5 points
4. Ballarat High School - 19 points
5. Trinity College, Colac - 17 points
6. Oberon High School, Armstrong Creek - 17 points
7. St Patrick's Primary School, Geelong West - 5.5 points
8. Christian College, Geelong - 1 point

Below are our individual results for our players. An outstanding set of results for all our players. I certainly enjoyed watching them play and couldn't be more proud of all our players. A special mention goes to Ayden Tempany who was the Zonal Champion and to those who have qualified for States late in the year.

Player	Year	Points /7	Qualification/award
1	Ayden Tempany	10	6.5	High Distinction - Gold -> States
6	Austin Francis	7	5.5	Distinction - Gold -> States
11	Don Heenpalla	12	5	Distinction - Bronze -> States
12	Luke Robson	10	5	Distinction - Bronze ->States
16	Leo Di Cesare	10	4.5	Credit -> States
18	Torin Kamath	10	4.5	Credit ->States
23	Michael Lougheed	10	4.5	Credit ->States
25	John Ngo	10	4.5	Credit ->States
26	Seth Berugodaarachchi	7	4.5	Credit ->States
29	Yusuf Zaid	9	4.5	Credit -> States
30	Jackson Ball	8	4	Credit
40	Ryan McLean	8	4	Credit
45	Lauchie Griffiths	7	3.5	Participation
51	Geordie Donahoo	7	3.5	Participation
53	Lisa Bail	11	3.5	Participation - Girls - Gold - States
55	Rohan Elliott	7	3.5	Participation
59	Lokesh Narra	10	3.5	Participation
62	Reegan Walden	9	3	Participation
65	Darcy Sorlie	7	3	Participation
70	Jack Keller	7	3	Participation
72	Joshua Bishop	10	2.5	Participation
73	Joshua Veale	7	2.5	Participation
94	Harry Plozza	7	0.5	Participation

Mr Andrew McKenzie
Chess Coordinator

Career News

Responsible Serving of Alcohol - RSA
Each year we get a number of enquiries from our students to obtain their RSA.
We have arranged with SWTafe to deliver this course to our students on Wednesday, July 9th, the first Wednesday of the Term 2 holidays - 9am - 3pm. If you are interested, please use the jotform below, spaces are limited to 25 so first in best dressed. Cost is $70 Spaces are limited - https://form.jotform.com/241267538161861

Work Experience
A reminder regarding Work Experience - Year 10 students are encouraged to consider Work Experience as an option this year. It's a great opportunity to explore potential career paths and gain valuable workplace skills. Students should reach out and contact employers to see if they are open to hosting a student. Once an employt is on board, we then work together with the employer to confirm a suitable week that works for all parties.

Important: Students considering a placement in the Construction Industry they must complete the White Card training prior to commencing their placement. For more information or support with arranging a placement, please contact me at: dgladman@emmanuel.vic.edu.au

St Mary's Residential College
St Mary's is an academic residential College, affiliated with the University of Melbourne. The College was originally founded by the Loreto Sisters and is grounded in the Catholic tradition, however, each year they warmly welcome students from diverse religious backgrounds into our community, from all over Australia and worldwide.
With 160 undergraduate students, St Mary's is a medium-sized College which means that it's small enough to foster close friendships with a wide range of people.
St Mary's places are great emphasis on the education and development of the whole person, encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence while enjoying the many social, sporting ,cultural and spiritual opportunities on offer.
On Thursday, May 15th, Darcy McCormack will be presenting in the Library Reading Room from 1pm to discuss the many opportunities on offer at St Mary's, including residential life and scholarships.

Army Reserve Immersion Day
A reminder that there are still spots left for the upcoming Army Reserve Immersion Day on Wednesday, June 25 at the Tel el Eisa Barracks, Pertobe Road, Warrnambool.

This one day event will shocase part-time and full-time careers in the Army and is open to students in Years 10-12

Supervision at the event will be provided by our Defence Work Experience staff. Details as follow:

Date: Wednesday, June 25

Who: Years 10 - 12 students interested in careers in the Army

Time: Arrival at 9:15am

Event: 9:30am - 2pm (start/end times may vary)

Where: Te el Eisa Barracks, 19 Pertobe Road, Warrnambool

Registration: Individual registration link: https://defencecareers.nga.net.au/?jati=3F078436-BB5C-550E-B432-E3ABD3252259

Please feel free to contact Navi Kaur vic.workexperience@defence.gov.au should you have any queries.

If successful in your application please advise Mr Gladman.

Dates to Diarise in Term 2

Victorian Law Week 2025
News from Federation University
- Bachelor of Social Work at Berwick in 2026
- Early Entry ProgramDeakin University: Cracking the Case: Where a Forensic Science Degree can take you?
Hawthorn College of Sport Information Session
Camp SEEK 2025
Double Degrees at Monash University
- What is a Double Degree?
- Science Double Degrees
Architecture, Construction & Surveying Degrees in Victoria in 2025
Snapshot of the University of Adelaide in 2025

More Information can be found on https://www.emmanuelcollegecareers.com/

Mr David Gladman
Student Pathways & Careers Leader

Student Spotlights

Student Achievements

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

Words for Wellbeing

Diversity Month
Welcome to Diversity Month! Diversity Month is celebrated at Emmanuel College during the whole month of May! Diversity means understanding that each individual human is unique, and recognising our individual differences. These differences can be race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, or other ideologies. Diversity awareness allows the acceptance of these differences in a safe, positive, and nurturing environment. At Emmanuel College we hope to not just understand our differences but move towards embracing and celebrating the rich diversity within each of us. Everyone belongs here.

Diversity Month was launched with a film festival in The STAGE. Showcasing some entertaining but diverse short films/reels and media. Emmanuel College will proudly fly the rainbow flag on one of the school flag poles for the month. There are lots of activities happening around the school for Diversity Month. Students should keep an eye on daily messages for opportunities to participate in some fun celebrations of diversity as well as educational messages of diversity awareness. If you missed our Film Festival you can enjoy watching our variety of short clips celebrating diversity here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VmezpS61rdQ2ir0LB39R1golUy7yIx9r/view?usp=sharing

postersafeschoolinclusion.pdf

Vic Police present - Cybersafety
Leading Senior Constable Brook Pollock attended Emmanuel College to discuss cybersafety with our Year 7s. Students were shown resources from the Office of the eSafety Commissioner, and discussed the appropriateness and legal consequences of filming, sharing and storing videos, photos and content online and between friendship groups.

Here is a simple 3 minute video for parents/carers and students about online behaviour:

https://vimeo.com/190791656

Junior School Fit4Life Day
Student reflection - Finn Davis Year 8

Last week on Wednesday, May 7th, our year level participated in Fit4Life day activities. We had some homeroom activities in the morning before lunch. After lunch all the Year 8 cohort took buses down to different spots on the foreshore. We were given some water and buckets, then in our house colours we competed against the other houses to see who could spill the least amount of water over a 3km walk. This was a fun activity for team building and having time out of the classroom to build connections with our peers. After finishing the walk, McAuley House came out victorious with the least amount of water spilled! Overall this was a fun day with activities that were out of the ordinary for a normal school day.

Upcoming Events

Monday 12 May
Full Winter Uniform required from today
Industry & Enterprise Market Day - Lunchtime EC Foyer

Tuesday 13 May
Senior School Fit4Life Day
WD Junior Girls Football

Thursday 15 May
Big Science Competition
Seeds of Justice Conference
St Mary's Residential College Visit

Friday 16 May
Junior Sports Gala Day

Tuesday 20 May
GWR Intermediate/Senior Girls Football
Year 8 'Control Your Scroll' presentation

Wednesday 21 May
Premier Boys Football - V Maribyrnong

Thursday 22 May
WD Intermediate/Senior Winter Sports
Whole School Assembly

Friday 23 May
2026 Year 7 Letters of Offers released.
Year 9 - Try a Trade for a Day

Monday 26 May
Catholic Education Week
Year 10 Camp
GWR Cross Country

Child Safety

ChildSafety_Poster_Jan2025.pdf

WARRNAMBOOL_REPAIR_CAFE.pdf

Emmanuel College Public Speaking Comp

public_speaking_3.pdf

Living_with_Teens_Warrnambool_May2025.pdf

Youth_Gambling_Workshop_Poster_A4_Proof1.pdf

ComeFromAway.pdf

Education_News_Term_2_2025.pdf

Circle of Security for Grandparents
Circle of Security for Grandparents is an evidence-based program, backed by five decades of research into attachment, and how security is support, and not supported. For grandparents and extended family of chilcren aged 0-12, focusing on understanding behaviour as a communication of need, rather than trying to change behaviour using reward/punishment.

This program will help you:
- gain a better understanding of attachment-based approaches
- understand your grandchild's emotional world by learning to read emotional needs
- support your grandchild's ability to successfully manage emotions
- enhance the development of your grandchild's self esteem
- honour the innate wisdom and desire for your grandchild to be secure

Free Program

When - Thursdays, 29th May - 3rd July
Time - 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Where - Children's Services Centre, 550-600 Raglan Pde, Warrnambool

Register here: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1374263

ATO.Comp.pdf

Newsletter Edition 6 / 2025 May, 12th