Newsletter Edition 11 / 2025 August 25th

Principal's Message

Dear Emmanuel College Families,

I hope the mid-term break was an opportunity for all our young people to enjoy an extended rest after what has already been a very full and busy term. I know the time was valued by our staff too, following the busyness of recent camp weeks, Year 10 Social, Seeds of Justice Conference, impressive achievements at sporting finals, and the many excursions and incursions that have enriched student learning across the term. Mid-term breaks this term and next also allow the College to honour its responsibility to staff who give generously of their time outside working hours to support these important formative experiences.

When staff returned on Tuesday, we were privileged to spend a professional learning day with Fr Justin Driscoll. Under the theme Pilgrims of Hope, Fr Justin invited us to reflect deeply on the rewards and challenges of Catholic Education today. It was an informative, grounded, and inspiring day, reminding us of the privilege and responsibility we carry in supporting the faith, learning, and wellbeing of young people in today’s world.

Following the same theme of Hope, Anchored in Faith, I took the opportunity to attend the Australian Catholic Education Conference in Cairns, which brought together more than 1,400 Catholic education leaders from across the country.  The conference explored the mission and strategic direction of Catholic Education in Australia and it was energising to engage with such a broad range of speakers and workshops. A particular highlight for me was the conference Mass, celebrated with the 1400 delegates and over 1,000 students from local and remote regions of Queensland, with a student choir of more than 400 voices filling the Cairns Convention Centre - a vivid expression of faith and hope.

Hope and inspiration were also front and centre at our Evening of Inspiration, held last Friday night. This joyful celebration not only recognised the remarkable achievements of our Inspiring Alumni and Young Alumni Achievers, but also highlighted the strength and vitality of our alumni network - a community that continues to enrich the life of the College well beyond graduation. The evening was filled with pride, joy, and reconnection, reminding us that Emmanuel is part of a rich tapestry of history, woven through past generations and carried forward in the inspiration our alumni provide to students of today. Our alumni community is a living example of what it means to share faith, hope and love across time and place, and it is a legacy we hold with gratitude and pride. My sincere thanks to all who worked so hard to make the evening such a success, and to the many alumni and their families who travelled from near and far to be with us. You can view the stories of our Inspiring Alumni on the College Website.

Evening of Inspiration

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This week, we have also enjoyed the imagination and creativity of Book Week. Staff and students took part in a variety of activities, including the very special launch of Robert’s Rocket Rescue, the first published work of our own Mr Gerard Bourke. Year 8 students created their own picture story books too, with shortlisted entries recognised in the categories of Best Picture Book and Best Illustrations. Congratulations to those students who have been shortlisted - it is wonderful to see the imagination, creativity and talent within our community.

Book Week is more than a celebration of stories; it is also a reminder of the powerful role that reading plays in strengthening literacy and improving learning outcomes. A love of reading builds vocabulary, fires the imagination, sharpens critical thinking, and opens new worlds of understanding. These are skills that support success across every area of learning. We are fortunate to have such excellent resources and a dedicated library team who work tirelessly to nurture a love of reading, and to ensure there is something to capture the interest of every student.

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our staff, students, and members of the community who attended my Commissioning Mass on 8 August. It was both an honour and a privilege to be formally commissioned into the role of Principal of Emmanuel College. The prayers, music, and spirit of the celebration remain with me, and I am grateful for the blessing of leading this community. The key focus of my address was a promise to our students, who are of course, the purpose of my work. I have included an excerpt of my address to students below:

I have also greatly enjoyed the opportunity to meet many of you at Our Emmanuel: Conversations with the Principal gatherings in recent weeks. These informal sessions have been both insightful and enjoyable, offering the chance to listen, to share, and to think together about our hopes for the years ahead. If you have not yet been able to join us and would like to, please contact the College for details of the remaining sessions.

Looking ahead, families will soon receive information about Homeroom and Mentor Groups for 2026. Our Year Level Teams will begin the thoughtful process of preparing groups with careful consideration of many factors, including subject choices, individual learning needs, classroom dynamics, and House Groups for senior students. If there is information that you believe would assist us in placing your child, please keep an eye out for this important communication.  Year 7 families will also be aware that we have welcomed Ms Jelena Lockett into the role of Year 7 Coordinator from 11 August to 5 September while Mrs Karen Hetherington enjoys a period of Long Service Leave.

Some of you may have seen a particularly moving feature on Channel Nine News recently, highlighting the story of Year 7 student Mira Brightwell and her mother, Katrina. It was a heart-warming story of love and resilience, and one that we are proud to share as part of the Emmanuel College story. Mira and Katrina’s story can be found on Facebook for those who would like to view it.

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

Homeroom/Mentor group Planning for 2026
Our year level teams will shortly begin preparing homerooms and mentor groups for 2026 and they invest a great deal of time and discernment into developing homeroom groups for the new school year.

We are aware that moving into a new school year may be a catalyst for anxiety for some students.   However, it is important to know that many variables influence the makeup of homeroom and mentor groups.  Such variables include elective choices, individual learning plans, teacher observations and feedback, classroom dynamics, and in the senior school, a student’s House group.  Year 9 students entering the senior school will remain in their House group.

As students transition through the school, we encourage them to work with other students, becoming less reliant on being with friends and building resilience to become independent learners.  Hence we place students with good working buddies.

In the senior school, students join a vertical homeroom structure with other students from their House group across Years 10 to 12. Academic class groups are entirely dependent upon subject selection.  Students in Year 9 will not be moved out of their current House for senior school.  Generally speaking, we do not put siblings into the same mentor group. If you would like to request siblings be placed together, please email the Year 9 Coordinator.

If you have any concerns about your child’s 2026 homeroom/mentor grouping, please communicate with their current Year Level Coordinator in writing by Friday 19 September, via the email addresses below. 

With the appropriate information we can hopefully address any concerns before homeroom/ mentor group lists are published as changes become very difficult to accommodate once groups have been finalised.  Changes will not be made unless there are extenuating circumstances and a process for review is completed by the College Leadership Team with no assurance of change.  Requests for specific teachers cannot be accommodated in fairness to all students. 

Thank you for your understanding and support as we work to ensure a positive start for all students in 2026.

Year Level Coordinators:

Year 7
Karen Hetherington -  KHetherington@emmanuel.vic.edu.au
 Annabelle Morton - amorton@emmanuel.vic.edu.au

Year 8 - Dee Tims -  dtims@emmanuel.vic.edu.au

Year 9 - Ben Brisbane - bbrisbane@emmanuel.vic.edu.au

Emmanuel Day Friday Sept 19
A highlight on our school calendar is Emmanuel Day. The purpose of this day is to come together as a school community to celebrate and have some fun as a school community and to raise awareness and much needed funds for two organisations, Edmund Rice foundation which supports the Ruben Centre in Nairobi and Mercy Works Projects. These organisations do fantastic work with some of the most vulnerable communities here in Australia and overseas.

The theme this year is 'Aussie Icons'. 

Check out the link below with our senior students announcing the theme and starring in some great dress ups!!

The tradition continues with Year 12 dressing up in their own theme for the day!
To ensure the smooth running of the day, students are required to purchase a wristband enabling access to all activities. An early bird special for $10 (+ fees) via trybooking will allow access to over 20 activities with no more to pay, some of which include an inflatable bungee run, pedal Go Karts, Silent disco, and lots more!!. After Sunday 14 September, tickets will be $15 (+fees ). There will be prizes to be won at some of the activities, for best dressed students and the day will conclude with the much anticipated ‘Emmanuel’s Got Talent’.

Tickets are on sale -  click on link below for early bird special and on the day students will be issued with a wristband to access all activities.

Country to Canberra
Are you a young person from regional Australia who is passionate about advocating for your community? Country to Canberra wants to hear from you! 

Country to Canberra’s national Leadership Competition is open for 2025 - empowering young women and non-binary people aged 15 to 18 years from regional Australia to reach their leadership potential. 

Winners will receive an all expenses paid trip to Canberra, where they will mingle with CEOs and politicians, receive career coaching, public speaking training, and networking opportunities to accelerate their leadership journey. 

Previous winners have had private meetings with the Prime Minister and other politicians, been trained by TEDx speakers, and completed media training to appear on TV! 

Is this you or someone you know? 

Head to https://countrytocanberra.com.au/leadership-competition-2025/ to find out more!

Transition to Summer Uniform
From Monday, September 8 students will be able to choose to wear summer or winter uniform based on the weather conditions. This transition period will continue into term 4 for the first 4 weeks.  As of Monday, Nov 3, all students will be required to be in summer uniform.  

Students are not to wear a combination of summer or winter uniforms.  PE uniform remains the same and is only to be worn by Year 7-9 students on the day you have PE to school. Students must be in full summer or full winter uniform depending on the weather.  At all times the blazer must be worn to and from school, regardless of winter or summer uniform. 

Please ensure that your child’s uniform is in good order and fitting well,  in particular the length of the dress needs to be at the school expected length,  with hem just above the knee cap. 

Mrs Claire Wrigley
Assistant Principal - Students

Social Justice - Seeds of Justice - Anglesea

Seeds of Justice Conference in Anglesea - Student Voice

On August 14th & 15th 2025, we were lucky enough to attend the Seeds of Justice conference in Anglesea. 

The aim of the Seeds of Justice Program is to form students and staff in the Mercy charism; to raise awareness of contemporary issues in social justice and to facilitate new links between students and staff of Mercy schools, both city and regional.

Students with an interest in Social Justice, gather together to find common ground in this experience, as well as the opportunity to mix with like-minded Mercy students from across the state. There are discussions, activities and moments of reflection and students come back to their schools with a greater understanding of how WE can be more active in a range of Social Justice programs.

Along with 7 other mercy schools, we came together to learn and listen about important topics that we face as a society in hopes to take away the initiative to take action.

The focus of the conference was on ecojustice and spirituality, and the fire carriers program, with guest speakers joining us to discuss the topics, and engaging activities to participate in. The inspirational guest speakers were Juliet Talarico and Lisa Moloney.

Our first day began with an introduction run by the camp staff, where all the 8 participating schools were introduced, as we shared similarities and differences about our numerous hometowns. We Joined together to share traditions of our local indigenous communities, by each offering a symbol of our local people (examples were native plants and local artworks).

Juliet shared with us the difference between eco and ego when referring to our perception of life and the environment. She encouraged us to consider the impact we have on the environment and what we can do to enhance ecojustice in our own lives. We learnt about an indigenous way of just being with nature in silence and being in touch with our senses and what we experience when we are silent with the environment. We then went for a beach walk to practice this and spent 20 minutes to ourselves being silent and engaged with our surroundings. While at the beach we collected two pieces of nature and took them back to our campsite to then use as stencils to make artwork.

Ms Natasha Cummings
Social Justice Coordinator

On the second day, Lisa Moloney spoke to us about the Fire Carriers Program, not currently introduced at Emmanuel, but hopes it will be in the future. The ‘Fire’ in Fire Carriers, stands for Friends Igniting Reconciliation through Education. Teaching us the importance our actions hold for First Nations people, explaining how difficult life may be for the First Nations people but it is in our actions that we can provide ease for them in their life, using the example of them being born with a head wind and us being the wind breakers. 

We then gathered in our school groups to discuss actions we can take or implement into our school to widen the inclusiveness of First Nations people within our school community. 

Along with learning about Ecojustice, an indigenous advocacy, we all took the opportunity to get to know others from the numerous surrounding mercy schools, participating  in (mostly!) friendly games of table tennis, and making new connections around the dinner table. 

This was an amazing opportunity to gather with like minded people and learn and discuss Social Justice as more than just a concept. We look forward to bringing these understandings back to Emmanuel and growing and sharing how we can all make a difference when we are more aware. 

Report by Year 10 students:
Neve MacDonald, Lila Kenny, Sienna Plozza & Max Hegarty

Year 11 VCE VM - Community-Based Tree Planting

Community-Based Tree Planting.
As part of the VCE VM program, the Year 11 students participated in a community-based tree planting initiative at Jubilee Park in Woodford this term. This activity was completed in collaboration with Warrnambool City Council and the Glenelg Hopkins CMA as part of the Platypus Project, which aims to restore and enhance local waterways. Students contributed to the rehabilitation of the riparian zone by planting native species to improve riverbank stability, water quality, and biodiversity. This hands-on learning experience connected classroom studies to the real world, fostering teamwork, responsibility, and community engagement — key areas of Personal Development Skills. By contributing to a community-led project, students built awareness of sustainability issues and recognised the value of active citizenship. The project highlighted the importance of sustainability and gave students an opportunity to make a tangible contribution to local ecosystem health.

Well done Year 11s!

Emily Doughtery
Teacher

The Literacy Lowdown

Reading Fluency: Reading Aloud with Expression

The Challenge: Flat, Monotone Reading

Some students read in a robotic tone, which affects comprehension and engagement. Reading aloud with expression improves fluency and understanding.

The Tip: Add Emotion and Pauses

Encourage your teen to:

•  Match the character’s emotions (Read dialogue as if acting it out!)
•  Pause at punctuation (Periods = stop, commas = slow down)
•  Adjust speed for effect (Exciting scenes = faster, serious moments = slower)

How Parents Can Help at Home

• Encourage them to practise reading aloud to a younger sibling or pet (they’re quite good listeners!).
• Read a passage aloud with expression, then have your teen mimic you.
• Use audiobooks as models for engaging reading.
  

Quick Challenge For Your Teen

Take a short paragraph from a book and read it in three different ways: dramatically, cheerfully, and sadly. Notice how expression changes meaning!

Mr Chris Allsop
Literacy Teacher

Maths at a Glance

100% Club 20% Question

Give this question a whirl. What is the answer?

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.

Year 7 Maths

• Maths Pathway feedback will be available via PAM prior to interviews later in the term. However, at any stage, parents/guardians can get their child to log into their Maths Pathway account to check their progress. On the home page you can:
  • Identify the current cycle.
  • See how many modules have been completed and when the upcoming test is.
  • Click back to see the previous cycle’s efforts.
  • Click on the ‘data’ link (on the left) or use the ‘parent/carers’ link (top right) to explore your child’s curriculum grid.

Students should be endeavouring to complete a minimum of six modules each cycle.

• All classes are focusing on Fractions this term
  

Year 8 Maths Pathway Flex

Feedback is available via PAM after every Maths Pathway test. However, at any stage, parents/guardians can get their child to log into their Maths Pathway Flex account to check their progress. On the home page you should be able to:

• Identify the current unit.
• See the work that has been set and what has been completed.
• See when the upcoming test is.
• Click on test results at the top to see previous test results.
• Click on learning profile at the top to explore your child’s curriculum grid.

VCE Maths - Upcoming Unit 4 Assessment Tasks

Students undertaking VCE General Maths are fast approaching the first of their Unit 4 SAC’s. This will take place in week 6 of term 3. Students are encouraged to continue to seek assistance from their teachers and use the help that is available to clarify any concerns.

Caroline Ryan
Teacher

Year 12 Outdoor & Environmental Studies

Alpine Experience
Earlier this term, the Year 12 Outdoor and Environmental Studies students travelled to Mt Buller for their alpine experience. The trip offered students the chance to immerse themselves in the unique mountain environment, surrounded by snow-covered gums, crisp alpine air and breathtaking views across the Victorian High Country.

Beyond the scenery, the program allowed students to develop a deeper appreciation for the alpine environment—both its fragile ecosystems and its aesthetic beauty. There were numerous times that students commented on the view and environment around them. 

A highlight of the trip was learning a new skill: skiing. For some, this was their first time on the slopes, and after a few tumbles, plenty of persistence, and support from instructors, students gained confidence gliding down the runs.

Overall, the Mt Buller trip was a valuable and memorable experience, combining skill development with a strong connection to place—perfectly complementing the Year 12 OES studies.

Mr Paul Aberline
Teacher

Performing Arts & Music

Alumni Visit
Samara Herpich graduate of 2023 was recently in Warrnambool shooting a short film she has written and is currently directing, and dropped by to speak to our media and drama students. Samara is in her final year of a Bachelor of Fine Arts Film and Television at Melbourne University's Victorian College of The Arts. The course specialises in directing and incorporates screenwriting and acting. It is always valuable to hear a first-hand experience of moving to and studying in Melbourne, especially in a highly competitive industry.

What is Band Karate?
Band Karate is a fun and motivating initiative that rewards students as they progress through different skill levels on their band instrument—much like karate, where coloured belts are awarded as skills are developed and mastered.

When students achieve a new level, they receive a coloured ribbon—matching the corresponding “belt”—to tie to the handle of their instrument case as a proud symbol of their achievement.

Last week, the following students were awarded their belts:

• Grace Bolton – Blue Belt
  Grace is only three belts away from earning her Black Belt!
• Violet McDowall – White Belt
• 7A Band Members – White Belt

Congratulations to all our budding musicians on their progress!

VCE Unit Drama Vic Trip
On Thursday the 31st of July, the Unit 4 drama students attended a solo exam workshop in Geelong. The workshop involved students in a variety of practical and theoretical sessions, each led by a VCAA examiner. The purpose of the day was to aid students in their development of their end of year 7 minute performance examination. Emmanuel College was fortunate enough to share this workshop with two other schools and were able collaborate with fellow Unit 4 students. Students left this workshop with an insight into preparation and developing their solo exam performance.

Junior School Play
Auditions have now taken place for an exciting new initiative — our very first Junior School Play! This student-led production will be directed by Year 7 student Paddy McKane, with Ms Davies supporting as producer. The play is a fast-paced, 15-minute ‘whodunit’ mystery, featuring 12 main roles and a 6-member ensemble. Audiences can look forward to enjoying the performance in the middle of Term 4.

Mrs Megan Davies
Head of Performing Arts & Instrumental Music Coordinator

Student Voice - Bell Shakespeare Company - Year 9 Drama Incursion

Olivia Knoop
Travelling all the way from Sydney, the Bell Shakespeare Company arrived at Emmanuel College to perform Romeo and Juliet: “Such Sweet Sorrow”. We, the lucky Year 9 students, had the opportunity to watch this wonderful performance. The players, also known as Team Titania, consisted of three actors — Oliver, Kate, and Umai — who managed to perform the entire play in a short period of time.

The production included a few clever modifications, with narration pointing out some of the strange and unusual details in the play, such as Juliet marrying at just 14 years old! The three actors constantly transitioned between different characters, which was incredible to watch. Their ability to switch personalities so quickly and seamlessly was truly inspiring.

The play centred on the two rival families, the Capulets and the Montagues, and how the hatred passed down through generations ultimately led to the deaths of the star-crossed lovers, Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet. It was captivating and inspiring to see such creativity and talent on display. We are extremely grateful to have experienced such a wonderful performance.

Gretta Wake
On Friday, we were lucky enough to experience a performance of Romeo and Juliet: “Such Sweet Sorrow” by the Bell Shakespeare Company. The three talented actors — Oliver, Kate, and Umai — were incredible. I loved how they put their own creative spin on the performance while still following the original Shakespeare script.

They incorporated comedy into the play through clever narration, making it entertaining and engaging. Each actor portrayed their characters’ personalities brilliantly, and they were all wonderful storytellers. Despite using Shakespearean language, the performance was easy to follow because the actors narrated and explained the story as they performed. Overall, it was a spectacular production.

Rose Armitstead
On Friday, we had the honour of watching the Bell Shakespeare Company perform Romeo and Juliet: “Such Sweet Sorrow”. The actors were outstanding, seamlessly transitioning from serious, in-character moments to humorous interactions with the audience.

This experience gave me an up-close look at what being an actor can be like, offering me a new perspective on their craft. Overall, it was an amazing experience, and the actors did a fantastic job.

Year 10 Social

Last week, our Year 10 Social was held in the Emmanuel Centre. Students arrived dressed to impress and enjoyed a fun-filled evening of music, dancing and celebration with friends.

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Sports News

Year 7 Junior Boys Football
On Friday, August 15th, our Year 7 boys travelled back to Ballarat to compete in the State Quarter and Semi-Final stage of the SSV Football competition. The forecast promised miserable cold, wet, and windy weather, but on arrival at Wendouree we were fortunate to find the ground in excellent condition and the weather holding off.

Our quarter final clash was against Maribyrnong, a team we knew would present a serious challenge. Kicking into the breeze in the first quarter, the boys showed great resilience and composure, managing to break even on the scoreboard with both sides kicking two goals apiece.

With the wind at our backs in the second term, we created plenty of chances but weren’t able to make them count, kicking four behinds from very gettable opportunities. Maribyrnong lifted in the second half, with some of their stronger players stepping up. Our boys, however, refused to give in and continued to apply excellent tackling pressure and maintaining a high work rate to keep the contest alive.

Heading into the final quarter with the breeze again, our hopes were high. The team fought hard right until the final siren, throwing themselves into every contest and giving their all. Unfortunately, we fell agonisingly short by just two points in what was a thrilling and hard-fought match.

Although the result didn’t go our way, the boys should be incredibly proud of their efforts. They represented the College to a very high standard, showing fantastic discipline, teamwork, and determination throughout the day. With their talent and commitment, we are confident this group will bounce back strongly and go even further in the years to come.

Emmanuel: 4.6.30

Maribyrnong: 4.8.32

Best players: Fletcher White, Zavier Nelson, Cooper McCosh, Oliver Carr, Logan Hunter, Finn Beaton, Oscar Saywell

Mr Daniel Weymouth & Mr Justin Marris
Year 7 Community Leader & Director of Goold

Year 7 Football Team

Sports News

Year 8 Junior Boys Football
Last week our Intermediate Years 9 and 10 boys football team qualified for the State Final after winning the Quarter Final and Semi Final in Ballarat.

In the Quarter Final our boys defeated Western Heights Geelong by 31 points in a fantastic display of team football.

In the Semi Final that followed, we defeated St Joseph's  Echuca by 6 points in a fantastic game. We trailed for the majority of the game and were down by 9 points at three quarter time kicking against a slight breeze in the final quarter. The boys were absolutely sensational and a late goal to Casey Carmin put us in front with only 4 minutes to play. The boys were then extremely disciplined and played the final minutes to perfection to hang on.

Better players throughout the day were - Finn Parkinson, Mack Steel, Jimmy Stevens, Charlie Jellie, Hamish Williams and Paddy Ragg, in a very even performance across the day.

The majority of these boys are currently in their own club finals so their commitment and effort to represent their school was fantastic.

We look forward tot he State Final on Wednesday, August 27.

Mr Ben Walsh
Health, PE & Sporting Academies Coordinator

GWR Soccer

On Wednesday, August 6, the GWR Soccer competition was held in Ballarat. Emmanuel College took 28 excited students, the teams consisted of Year 7 and 8s and were the first teams to represent our college in soccer in a number of years.

The day was a great success with many highlights, wins and goals scored.

In the year 7 competition three teams finished on top of the table. It came down to goals scored to find the eventual winner. Unfortunately the year 7 team did not qualify for the next rebound, but their team work and spirit shone out. They won two games and lost one game.

Goal scores were Indi Griffin, Ray Oakley and Tadhg Loughran.

A big thank you to Nathaniel Amartey our local soccer guru and district soccer coordinator who coached the team.

The year 8 team was coached by Jonny Hunt in year 9. The main goal scorer was Oisin Loughran with 6 goals for the day and Grace Passlow. The team won 3 games and drew one, finishing on top of the ladder. A great team effort by all players. The squad will now go to Melbourne for the State championships in early September.

A big thankyou to Blake Robertson and Christian Wise for their help on the day, Mr Algar and Jaffa for driving the bus.
The following students represented the college in soccer.

Mrs Jenny Callaghan
Teacher

Library News

CBCA Book Week Award Winners
The CBCA Book Award winners were announced on 15 August.

The winning books this year can be found at: 

https://cbca.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/2025_CBCA-Book-of-the-Year.pdf

The Library has a display of these books and the students are encouraged to borrow them.  There are picture books, fact books and longer reads suitable for the senior students. 

CBCA Shadow Judging Creative Responses
Children’s Book Council of Australia Shadow Judging Program

Students in the Emmanuel College Book Club have been involved in the Shadow Judging Program, reading the six books in the Shortlisted Picture Book category.

The group read the books, wrote down their own evaluation of each book and gave each one a rating.  Once each of the six books were read over a period, students met as a group and decided on which book should win the Picture book category.

The Truck Cat by Danny Snell and Deborah Frenkel was chosen in the voting as the winner.

Being involved in the program also meant that each student was asked to do a Creative Response to one of the Picture books.  The Response could be written or visual.  Congratulations to the students for their efforts in the Shadow Judging program.

Last week the Children’s Book Council announced their Book Award winners.  The Truck Cat not only won the Shadow Judging Award but won the Overall best Picture Book Award.  Well done to the students in voting for the winner!

CBCA Shadow Judging Creative Responses
Children’s Book Council of Australia Shadow Judging Program

Students in the Emmanuel College Book Club have been involved in the Shadow Judging Program, reading the six books in the Shortlisted Picture Book category.

The group read the books, wrote down their own evaluation of each book and gave each one a rating.  Once each of the six books were read over a period, students met as a group and decided on which book should win the Picture book category.

The Truck Cat by Danny Snell and Deborah Frenkel was chosen in the voting as the winner.

Being involved in the program also meant that each student was asked to do a Creative Response to one of the Picture books.  The Response could be written or visual.  Congratulations to the students for their efforts in the Shadow Judging program.

Last week the Children’s Book Council announced their Book Award winners.  The Truck Cat not only won the Shadow Judging Award but won the Overall best Picture Book Award.  Well done to the students in voting for the winner!

Book Week At Emmanuel College 2025
Book Week is being celebrated at Emmanuel College with lots of activities.

Prior to Book Week Mr Geary’s Year 8 English class visited the Library to read the Early Childhood and Picture Book category shortlisted books, looking at the text, theme and illustrations, then deciding which book from each category they thought should win the Award.  Students read the book to one another in small groups.

During Book Week students also celebrated the  Australian School Library Day on Wednesday 20 August.

The Year 8 Picture Book Shortlist and the Year 7 Frequent Borrower Awards for Semester 1 will also be announced during Book Week.

Book Week Book Launch
To complete Book Week at Emmanuel College, the Student Book Club hosted a morning tea and a book launch for Gerard Bourke and his book Robert’s Rocket Rescue.  Gerard volunteers at Emmanuel College on Mondays and Fridays working with students.

During this year Gerard wrote a book about  the 1800s and how ships and their passengers were rescued using a rocket system.  It is the story of Robert who lives in the 1800s in Warrnambool.  Robert would help his father at the Rescue Station.  The book is illustrated by Robin Goodall.

The Student Book Club congratulates Gerard on writing and publishing an historical fiction book.  Copies of the book can be purchased direct from Gerard.

If you would like any further information, please contact Margaret Sinnott, Library Coordinator  msinnott@emmanuel.vic.edu.au or ring the College for more information.

Mrs Margaret Sinnott
Library Coordinator

Career News

As we move further into the year, our senior students are beginning to look ahead to life after school. With VTAC applications now open, many are weighing up their next steps - whether that's university, TAFE, an apprenticeship, traineeship, or heading straight in the workforce.

This is the perfect time for students to stay connected with our Careers Department. Our team is here to provide guidance, practical advice and the latest information on pathways and opportunities. From course applications to career exploration, we're here to help students feel confident in the decisions that lie ahead.

VTAC - Victorian Tertiary Admission Centre - APPLICATION FEE
This year VTAC are experiencing a number of students having the incorrect fee displayed when processing their application. This is due to a mismatch between the secondary schooling information entered by the student and the student's secondary school records. If this is encountered, please confirm their input matches your records for their:

- Student Number

- School

- Name

Once these details align, the student will have the correct fee displayed.

If a student has paid the incorrect fee, you will need to contact VTAC Connect via an email through your VTAC account.

Items in the Career News include -

• Dates to Diarise in Term 3
• news from Monash University
  • Bachelor of Digital Business
  • Year 10 Discovery Day
• University of Melbourne: Fine Arts & Music Degrees in 2026 - important dates
• News from Deakin University 
  • Studying Health Sciences at Deakin
  • The Future of Cyber Security
  • Deakin 50th Anniversary Excellence Scholarship
  • Study Abroad Program
• Upcoming Info Days at Chisholm Institute
• Occupational Therapy Degrees in Victoria in 2026
• Paramedicine Degrees in Victoria in 2026
• Snapshot of the University of Queensland (UQ) in 2026 
  

For further information please view the Emmanuel Careers Website https://www.emmanuelcollegecareers.com/

Deakin Young Influencer Award - Application and selection criteria process
If you're a leader in your local community, have a willingness to help others, or enjoy thinking of new ideas to solve real-world problems, the Deakin Young Influencer Award may be perfect for you. Our prestigious award is offered to just one student from each of Deakin's select group of schools, meaning this excellent addition to your resume will give you a distinct edge on others in your future pursuits.

Selection Criteria

1. Successful students must be able to demonstrate excellence in one or more of Deakin’s core values:
   • Have made an outstanding contribution to their school or local community, or a community in need in Australia or overseas.
   • Demonstrate a real willingness to help, coach, teach or care for others in a significant
   • Foster inclusive and supportive environment wherever they go and show a willingness to challenge preconceived ideas
   • Be a strong leader, helping to bring about change for the betterment of
   • Generate and apply new ideas and fresh thinking to real‐world problems and help to deliver new solutions that make positive impacts.
   • Share knowledge and cultivate connections on a local level, or, far and

$5000 scholarship for one Year 11 student ($500 upon receipt of the award; $4500 in first year of study at Deakin in an undergraduate course 

          Application and selection process

1. Apply online at deakin.edu.au/young‐influencer‐award. Students may apply from Wednesday 27th August to Wednesday 8th October inclusive. Please note, late applications will not be accepted.
2. Online applications will be received by Deakin, collated and returned to the school after the closing date.

Mr David Gladman
Student Pathways & Careers Leader

Student Spotlight - Cyclist William Verhoef

Student Spotlight: William Verhoef
Emmanuel College Year 10 student and Port Fairy cyclist William Verhoef has claimed two state championship victories and is now preparing to take on the nation’s best at the 2025 AusCycling Junior and Masters Road National Championships in Wagga Wagga next month.

The 16-year-old impressed with a win in the Cycling Victoria under-17 road race at Phillip Island and backed it up with a win in the NSW criterium and third in the NSW road race. With the nationals to be held at the same venue, William is looking forward to the challenge.

Congratulations William, we wish you all the best at the Nationals!

Link to the full article below

Words for Wellbeing

BodyKind August at Emmanuel College
This year, Emmanuel College proudly supported the Butterfly Foundation’s BodyKind Campaign, a national initiative encouraging everyone to show kindness and respect towards their own bodies, and the bodies of others—both face-to-face and online.

Our Wellbeing Team partnered with our enthusiastic Year 9 Leaders, who took charge of a range of creative and meaningful student-led activities designed to promote awareness, positivity, and respect across the whole school.

Some of the highlights included:

• BodyKind Posters: Displayed in bathrooms, sporting centres, and the café, reminding students to use their bodies in positive ways and to fuel themselves with nourishing food.
• BodyKind Message Wall: A vibrant installation in the Year 9 foyer, where students shared uplifting and inspiring body-kind messages for the community.
• Mirror Affirmations: Positive reminders written on bathroom mirrors in Years 7–9, encouraging students to value their bodies and remember that what’s inside truly matters most.
• Assembly Leadership: Year 9 Leaders spoke at their assembly to raise awareness about BodyKindAugust and encouraged peers who may be struggling with body image to seek support from a trusted adult.
• BodyKind on the Big Screen: Inspiring videos played across all digital screens in the school, featuring Matilda's star Katrina Gorry sharing how she practices body kindness in her daily life.

A big thank you to our Year 9 Leaders for their creativity and leadership in spreading such an important message—and a special shout-out to Eve Ryan for her outstanding contribution.

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School TV

Digital Media Literacy and Safety Webinar
We would like to invite parents, carers, grandparents, educators and school leaders to attend an exclusive webinar supporting primary and secondary students.

This exclusive, one-off event is fast approaching and we’d love to see your families benefit from the insights of two of Australia’s leading experts, Susan McLean and Dr Michael Carr-Gregg.

They will share invaluable insights on how to empower young people to navigate the online world safely and responsibly.

WEBINAR: Digital Media Literacy & Safety (Part III)
DATE: Wednesday, 3 September 2025
TIME: 7:30 pm

Topics in this webinar include:

• New Social Media Regulations
• Digital Footprint and Reputation
• Screen Time and Brain Development
• Parental Controls

This webinar will not be available to replay later, 

Please note: Participants MUST REGISTER PRIOR to the commencement of the webinar to gain access.

https://emmanuel.vic.schooltv.me/webinar/east-coast-digital-media-literacy-safety-part-III

We look forward to having you join us for this insightful and engaging session.

From the SchoolTV Team

Community News