Newsletter Edition 4, March 21 2021

Principal's Message

Dear Emmanuel College Families,
It’s been impossible to view or read the news lately without feeling overwhelmed by some of the things happening in our world.   Internationally, the Russian military’s bombardment of Ukrainian cities is frightening and likely to deteriorate further before there is a ceasefire.  Even with a ceasefire, or a total end of warfare, it will take generations to rebuild people’s lives and the infrastructure senselessly destroyed.  Closer to home, the aftermath of the devastating floods in Queensland and New South Wales sees many without homes and years of repair and rebuilding ahead of them.  It’s difficult to find a positive message, a glimmer of hope, even when we search for one.  However, two things caught my eye in the last week that reminded me of the goodness at the core of human nature.

VCAL Activities

The Emmanuel senior VCAL class have conducted activities including a BBQ at the recent Athletics Carnival, and coffee sales each Friday morning from their new Café’ in the refurbished under-croft.  In the last fortnight their efforts were rewarded with close to $1000 profit creating the opportunity to ask whom can we help?  The VCAL class identified the Lismore Flood Appeal and Project Compassion which, via Caritas, will support the people of Ukraine.  Congratulations to the VCAL class and to all students who took part in the Casual Clothes day on Friday, with their gold coin donations also going to support Project Compassion.  The staff of Emmanuel have also contributed $1000 to the Lismore Flood Appeal which will assist Catholic schools in the Lismore Diocese.

The second message of hope I witnessed last week came from Pope Francis.  Pope Francis told Patriarch Kirill, the Head of the Russian Orthodox (Catholic) Church in Russia, and supportive of Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine, that the pair should “unite efforts … to help the suffering, to create paths to peace, and to put out the fire.”  “The Church must not use the language of politics, but the language of Jesus,” the Pope said.  Francis said, “Those who pay the bill for the war are the people, it is Russian soldiers and it is the people who are bombed and die.”  “At one time we also spoke in our churches of holy war or just war. Today we cannot speak like that.  The Christian conscience has developed on the importance of peace.”  “The churches are called to contribute to strengthening peace and justice … Wars are always unjust, because the ones who pay are the people of God,” the Pope said.  May world leaders also hear the Pope’s message and continue to bring their influence by every peaceful means to end the war in Ukraine.

Vaping research

Those of you following school updates will be aware vaping seems to have increasing appeal among young people.  Australian research shows vaping by young people has increased. We know that young people who vape nicotine are exposed to a toxic chemical that can harm adolescent brain development and lead to dependence, while vaping has been found to increase the incidence of depression and anxiety in young people. Emmanuel students were recently asked to complete a short, anonymous survey about vaping which saw just over 70 percent of them participate.  The results confirm the prevalence of vaping but also indicate a less frequent occurrence among our students than anecdotal accounts would suggest.  The survey was helpful in confirming the location and the regularity of vaping, while identifying the year levels that are most actively vaping.  This issue is a health and wellbeing issue and the information from the survey will assist us to target approaches including education, harm minimisation and supervision.  The College takes a zero-tolerance approach towards school students vaping.  As such we seek your support in the community and welcome your communication of information that may assist us to deal with what is essentially a community issue.

9@RICE Immersion Week 

We extend our best wishes to year nine students and their teachers and support staff who are participating in the first Immersion Week this week.  The Immersion Week is new in 2022 and is an integral component of the 9@RICE program unfolding this year.  There are three immersion week experiences and over the course of the year, students will take part in all three.  The three immersions are:

• A discovery week, a full week trip to Canberra where students are challenged to learn and grow through their experience in the Nation’s capital and discover career paths in the sciences, arts and public services
• A resilience week that includes hiking from Port Fairy to Warrnambool with an overnight camp at Kilarney, while pushing the individual’s personal and physical boundaries
• An exploration week, in which the local region is explored with an emphasis on gaining an insight into and developing an understanding of the indigenous history of our region up to the present day

The 9@RICE program seeks to equip students with new skills to communicate across cultures, solve problems in an inquiring manner, empathise with others, learn about themselves and their relationships with others and to contribute to society as responsible global citizens.  We are learning as we go and this first immersion week will be a new experience for all of us.  It is my wish that all of the year nine team will travel well and return safe.

Parish changes at Star of the Sea 

The Star of the Sea Parish recently shared important news with their community members.  Bishop Paul Bird officially announced that Fr. Lawrence O’Toole is retiring June 25, 2022, after which Our Lady Help of Christians Parish will unite with the Star of the Sea Parish to form one parish.  Fr. John Fitzgerald will continue in the role of Moderator of the Star of the Sea Parish.  Emmanuel College extends its very best wishes to the members of each community as they prepare and work through the various changes.

School Sport returns 

School sport was significantly impacted during the last two years and so it’s good to see a gradual return of school sport opportunities.  The College athletics held last week saw Egan House victorious, while our swimmers and cricketers have experienced local and regional level success and will next compete at state level.  Congratulations to our teams and their coaches Julian Claridge, Paul Abeline, Suzie Wellens and Isaac Jones, as well as College Sport Coordinator Alastair Templeton.

Open Evening

An invitation is extended to current and future Emmanuel College families to attend the 2022 Open Evening next week, Wednesday 30 March.  The Open Evening is a great opportunity to see the recent developments that have occurred and which give rise to a re-imagined Emmanuel College.  The information session and school tours where “learning in action” can be viewed, is an ideal opportunity for families with grade five and six children to explore what an Emmanuel education offers.  Emmanuel College enrolment is open to all who seek for their children a Catholic education in the Mercy tradition.  Please share this information with family and friends who are interested in Emmanuel College enrolment. Bookings can be made here.  

God of truth,
We pray that your Spirit will lead us to speak with truth and love.
Inspire us and grant us the courage and guidance to witness our faith in our daily lives.
St. Joseph: Pray for us.  May the spirit of Catherine McAuley and
Edmund Rice guide us in all that we do.  Amen.

Kind regards
Peter Morgan,
Principal

A Message from Mrs Claire Wrigley

Opportunity for parents to access online ‘Raising Boys Summit’

Early bird tickets are now open for the Bringing Up Boys Summit.  Please click here 

On Wednesday 6 April, there's an all-day online summit happening to help equip parents (teachers! carers!) with advice and strategies and tools and wisdom when it comes to raising boys.

This ONLINE raising boys summit will cover ...

•         Friendships / how to choose good mates
•         Alcohol and vaping
•         Sex, consent and pornography
•         Social isolation
•         Toxic masculinity and gender stereotypes
•         Screen time and/or gaming battles
•         Anxiety, depression, suicide and other mental health concerns.
•         Mother-son bonding

The list goes on ...

Now it's happening on Wednesday 6 April but if you can't sit at your computer and watch every session -- NO FEAR! You will be given LIFETIME access to the recordings to watch (and rewatch) whenever you like.

ONLINE BRINGING UP BOYS Summit 

TWELVE speakers

Life-time access to the recordings

This event has been created by  Dr Justin Coulson as a way to give parents everywhere access to a whole range of speakers on these critical topics which are impacting the lives of our boys.

The Early Bird Price is $149 and ends on 29th March! (Get it now and save yourself $50 because the regular price is going to be $199.)

Click here to book your ticket! 

Mrs Claire Wrigley
Assistant Principal Students

A Refection on Lent

A Reflection on Lent: 

Recently I was reading an article titled ‘Lent Enough’ by Peggy Weber (Loyola Press) on the struggles and challenges of Lent. It was an article that provided a humorous recount of our human weaknesses at this time of the Christian calendar. Weber is honest in having us consider the obstacles that we all face during this period. I am sure many of us can share in the reality of commencing  lent with the best of intentions with ideas of how we are going to partake in the three pillars of lent: almsgiving, fasting and prayer.  We imagine ourselves being good examples to our children of how we can be more and use this period to reflect and develop ourselves spiritually. Yet, the realities of life are ever present and we sometimes don’t meet our goals or personal expectations. 

Weber pointed out however, that it is in our recognition of our failings, that we are doing what lent asks us to do, reflect, evaluate and reset for new beginnings. God never created perfect human beings, but people who are fallible. But it is from these experiences we learn about ourselves and others and grow. 

Weber shared what Pope Francis, wrote in Gaudete et Exsultate, to remind us of the need for us to be kind to ourselves during this period:

We should not grow discouraged before examples of holiness that appear unattainable. There are some testimonies that may prove helpful and inspiring, but that we are not meant to copy, for that could even lead us astray from the one specific path that the Lord has in mind for us. The important thing is that each believer discern his or her own path, that they bring out the very best of themselves, the most personal gifts that God has placed in their hearts, rather than hopelessly trying to imitate something not meant for them. (#11)

So, maybe this Lent we may need to consider being the very best of ourselves and let the personal gifts God has placed in us shine.

The article 'Lent Enough' can be read here

Helen Hodson
Director of Faith & Mission 

Library News

Writing Matters Competition – Year 7-12 Students

As we grapple with issues big and small in 2022, young Australians’ voices are more important than ever. The What Matters? Writing Competition is the perfect platform for your students to express what they care about and why. 
Part writing exercise, part civics and citizenship activity, this national writing competition is free to enter and is open to young people from Years 5 to 12.
The competition has been developed with clear links to the curriculum, and allows students to submit entries as fiction or non-fiction, prose or poetry in up to 600 words.
Each student receives a certificate of participation and there are great category prizes on offer, including $1,000 for the overall winner, alongside a prestigious awards ceremony. 

For further details on the writing competition please click here  

Entries close Friday 6 May 2022

YABBA

Young Australians Best Book Award – Nominate your favourite Australian book.
Students are invited to nominate their favourite book: 

https://yabba.org.au/nominating/

YABBA is all about getting children's views on their favourite books. So the entire YABBA program begins with Victorian children recommending their favourite books so others can read them. The ten most popular books in each section will appear on the shortlist for that year. Later in the year you will get the chance to vote for your favourite book from the nominated list.

You can nominate up to 4 books.
*Any child from Grade Prep to Year 9 may nominate up to 4 books
*Books nominated must be the child's free choice
*Books must be Australian fiction
*Books must have been first published in the past 10 years
*Books can't be a previous YABBA Winner

Later on in the year, students will be able to vote for these nominated books.

New Graphic Novels

We have a number of new graphic novels available for borrowing, many with a lead female character. 

The books are:
5 Worlds: the sand warrior
5 Worlds: the emerald gate
Camp by Kayla Miller
Witches of Brooklyn by Sophie Escabasse
Akissi: even more tales of mischief by Abouet and Sapin
Basketball Camp Champ (Sport Stories Graphic novels)

Visit the Library to borrow any of these or do a search on the Library catalogue to find out more about each one.

St Patrick’s Day

Last Thursday the Library celebrated St Patrick’s Day with some Irish dancing, Scattergories, a competition and music.  Thanks to staff and students for being involved, including doing some impromptu Irish jigs.  It was great fun and provided an opportunity to learn more about Irish heritage.  The winner of the guess the number of green mint leaves in the jar is:  Amity Brooks, Year 12.  Amity guessed 90 mint leaves and the total of mint leaves was 91.  Thanks to all for participating.

One Year In the Library

This week on Tuesday March 22, the Library celebrates a one year anniversary of being in the refurbished and expanded Library.  We opened the Library just before Open Evening in 2021 and we remember the leaders and students who helped out on the night, having the first excited look at the new spaces.  We have made up a little movie to show a recent short history of the Library.  We hope you enjoy seeing some before and after photos which can be seen below.  

Rotary Book Sale

The Rotary Club of Warrnambool support numerous international, national and local causes.  Recently they have been able to hold some second hand book sales.  Their next second hand book sale is on Easter Saturday, 16 April.  Families can donate books to be sold at the sale to help the many causes Rotary works for.  Further details on Rotary Club of Warrnambool can be found here

The Student Book Club has decided to help support the Rotary Club of Warrnambool by collecting books that are no longer needed and bringing them to the College Library as a collection point.

We will then ensure that Rotary receives these books.

Mrs Margaret Sinnott
Library Coordinator

Year 12 VCAL Students experience trade school

Connor is currently enrolled in Year 12 VCAL and undertaking a school based apprenticeship in Carpentry. Jasper is also enrolled in Year 12 VCAL and undertaking a school based apprenticeship in Electrical. Connor and Jasper spent a week at trade school last month. 

What did you do at Trade School?

Connor: At trade school I  learnt how to set out houses, by using string lines and hurdles. These are used to get the perimeter and levels of houses. Carpentry is hands-on and I enjoy creating things and seeing the finished product.

Jasper: At trade school I  learned about magnetism, how current affects magnetic fields around a cable. I’m really enjoying learning electrical as it's a great skill to have that I can use around the world. It also challenges me and it pays well.

Rebecca Down
VCAL Coordinator

A visit from The Gideons International

Last week we were fortunate to have John and Geoffrey from The Gideons International Warrnambool visit representatives of our Year 7 classes and gift them with copies of the New Testament. We appreciate The Gideons International, Warrnambool members taking the time to come and speak to the Year 7 students about the message provided in the Bible and their ongoing support of the College.

Helen Hodson
Director of Faith & Mission

National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence

Friday March 18  was the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence. The theme for 2022 was Kindness Culture. By building Kindness Culture together, we can promote inclusion, respect and community belonging for all students in schools across Australia. 

Students and staff were all encouraged to wear a splash of orange and our Year 7 and Year 12 students enjoyed lunchtime activities together, playing soccer, cornhole, football and trying to kick the footy into a rubbish bin – no one was successful though staff member Jason Moloney tried hard moving the target to give everyone the best opportunity. Students wore casual clothes and a gold coin donation was collected with a donation going to Caritas.

Tracey Van Rooy
Student Wellbeing & Intake Worker

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 9

Next

Sports Report

Over the last fortnight we have had a number of students represent the school in a variety of different sports. Congratulations to all involved and good luck to the competitors who now progress to further levels in their respective events.

GWR Golf
Last Monday the 14th of March the College was represented by 9 students in the GWR Golf Finals held at Port Fairy Golf Club. It was a successful day with Lachie Walker taking out the Senior Boys competition shooting +1 over in the 9 hole event. In the Junior boys Elijah Mcloed also took out the title with Sam Marris finishing 3rd. Good luck to everyone who has qualified for the State Finals held in June.

House Athletics
On Wednesday the 16th of March we held our House Athletics at Braurander Park. Well done to all staff and students for batting through a warm day. Congratulations to Egan House who took out the Athletics Team title! All house results and Age Group Champions can be found below. Well done to all students who have now progressed to WD Level which is held on Tuesday the 5th of April.

Champions: EGAN House - 1343 points
Runner Up: MAGUIRE House - 1172 points
3rd Place: McAULEY House - 1110 points
4th Place: RICE House - 864 points

A big congratulations to the following students that were the Age Group Champions:

Girls
12-13: Winner: Hannah McMeel (Egan) & Runner Up: Fleur Mahoney (Egan)
14: Winner: Indigo Sewell (Rice) & R/Up: Layla Nicolson (Maguire)
15: Winner: Hilary Hannagan (Egan) & R/Up: Molly Mansbridge (Maguire)
16: Winner: Chloe Mutton (Egan) & R/Up: Leah Dickson (McAuley)
17: Winner: Milli Illingworth (Egan) & R/Up: Ruby Couch (Egan)
18-20: Winner: Samara Herpich (Egan) & R/Up: Erin Russell (Egan)

Boys
12-13: Winners: William Ralston (Rice) & Oliver Turner (Maguire)
14: Winner: Hamish Dobson (Maguire) & Runner Up: Jye Quirk (Maguire)
15: Winner: Sam Rhodes (Maguire) & R/Up: William Callaghan (McAuley)
16: Winner: Reggie Mast (McAuley) & R/Up: Jeffrey Collins (Maguire)
17: Winner: Segdae Lucardie (Maguire) & R/Up: Mitchell Wollermann (Egan)
18-20: Winner: Ethan Boyd (Egan) & R/Up: Curran O'Donnell (McAuley)

Senior Boys State Cricket Finals
On Monday this week we had our Senior Boys take on Maribyrnong College in Geelong at the State Quarter Finals. In a terrific result the boys were victorious chasing down 170 runs to progress to the State Semi Finals. Standout performances were Curran O'Donnell scoring 55, Will White with 43,  Noah Greene with 33 and Ethan Boyd hitting two sixes in the second last over to finish with 30. Well done and good luck to the team as they move through to the Semi Finals in October.

Alastair Templeton,
Sport Coordinator 

GWR Swimming Championships

Last Friday the 18th of March we had 39 students take an early bus ride up to Horsham for the Greater Western Region Swimming Finals. In what was a successful day for the school, we were able to win the Overall School Championship. Age Group Champions have not been released as of yet however there will be a number from Emmanuel also. Good luck to the 26 students who will now move onto the State Finals held on Thursday the 28th of April in Melbourne.

Clay Target Shooting - Seaside Carnival

Competing at the Warrnambool Seaside Shooting carnival this year was a great experience, getting to meet people from all over Victoria who share the same passion as you. Competitors who came to compete and try their best:  from Mildura to Bairnsdale back to Wangaratta. We left school early on  Friday February 11th to head out to Lake Gillear ready for a weekend of competition to begin at 3:00pm on Friday. The first event on Friday was 75 Targets Champion of Champion with an 18-metre handicap, the second event on Friday was the 30 Targets South-West Zone night double-barrel Champion, where we shot 30 targets after 9:00pm so it was pitch black. The first day didn't end until roughly 1am in the morning because there were about 30 squads of people. On Saturday the events started at 10:00am, starting with a 25 target point score championship followed by the 25 targets single barrel championship. The last event was the 50 targets double-barrel seaside classic championships. Saturday ended a little earlier at roughly 12:00am. Sunday was the last day of the Seaside Event and started at 9:00am. Sunday had the biggest turnout for the whole weekend because if you did well in the events, you were entered into the draw to win a Browning Citori 30” 12 gauge trap gun, which was valued at $2000.00! The first event on Sunday was the 25 targets seaside handicap and the last event for the whole weekend was the 45 target medley, where we had to shoot 15 targets double barrel, 15 targets single and 15 targets point score.

Overall the weekend was great fun and a great way to learn from people that had more experience than me. I only started doing Clay Target about 9 or 10 months ago with school. I can now confidently say that it was one of the best decisions I've ever made for myself. I've got to hang out with friends and compete doing something I now love. The school goes out to Lake Gillear every Wednesday after school to shoot for about two hours. We practise ‘Down the Line’ or ‘Trapshooting’ and sometimes ‘Five Stand’ also known as ‘Sporting’.

Ebony Mason
Year 10 Student

Community News - Wannon Water Community Panel

Wannon Water is hosting a Community Panel in April and May 2022 to discuss what projects and services are most important to deliver for our community over the next five years.      

Each participant will be thanked for their contribution through a $350 gift card on completion of the panel events in May. 

We’re looking for 12 customers reflective of our large service area to participate on our panel. The valuable input from the panel will be considered alongside technical reviews and broad customer engagement insights received between 2019 and 2021 to help us determine our activities, investments and prices for the 2023-28 Price Submission period. 

How does it work?
The program will be delivered in four parts: three in-person events and one self-led online activity session.  Further detail on each part can be found in the panel topics outlined on our webpage.

It is important that participants are available and committed to attending all four parts before registering.

How to register your expression of interest?

1. Go to the Wannon Water Community Panel 2022 webpage at: engageandexplore.wannonwater.com.au/communitypanel2022/expressionofinterest/
2. Check availability to attend all sessions
3. Click the ‘Register Here’ button to fill out the expression of interest form

Timeline

• 23 March 2022 - Applications close (COB)
• 25 March 2022 - EOI Outcomes advised
• 1 April 2022 - Meet & Greet
• 2 April 2022 - Panel session 1
• 30 April 2022 - Panel session 2

Contact
Contact us by emailing engagement@wannonwater.com.au or you can call Capire Consulting Group on 9285 9000.

Community News - Climate Rally

You are no doubt aware that the climate crisis is of huge concern to many young people.  You  will be pleased to know that a climate action event is planned for April 2.  It will commence with a Walk from Lake Pertobe to Cannon Hill and on to the Civic Green.  The Walk will be led by the enigmatic and very cool Red Rebels and Blinky the Bushfire Koala.  At the Civic Green there will be live music and short speeches by political candidates, children, young people and experts.

This event is not connected to any political party or political candidate.  It is a community event telling all candidates that urgent action is needed to address the climate emergency.  As the terrible 2019-20 bushfires and current flood disasters show, we can wait no longer to rapidly move away from fossil fuels in order to stop global heating.

Upcoming Events

Monday March 21
Week 9A
Year 9 Immersion Week One
8.30am Senior State Cricket Final - Geelong

Tuesday March 22
Year 9 Immersion Week One
Year 7 and 10 Catch Up Immunisations

Wednesday March 23
Year 9 Immersion Week One
6.30pm - Year 10 Social

Thursday March 24
Year 9 Immersion Week One

Friday March 25
Year 9 Immersion Week One

Monday March 28
Week 10B
Year 11 Outdoor Ed Camp
Interim Reports Released
PST Conference Bookings Open

Tuesday March 29
Year 11 Outdoor Ed Camp

Wednesday March 30
4pm Opening Evening

Monday April 4
Week 11A
PST Conference Bookings Close at 6pm

Tuesday April 5
PST Conferences 1 - All year levels. Bookings for night 2 open at 8pm
Western District Athletics

Wednesday April 6
1.30pm Year 9 NAPLAN Practice
3.45pm Training - Senior Boys Football

Thursday April 7
Year 9 AFL Academy - Hamilton

Friday April 8
Term 1 Ends - 2.25pm