Newsletter Edition 7 / 2025 May, 26th

Principal's Message

Dear Emmanuel College Families,

Emmanuel College is blessed to have an inclusive community that celebrates its diversity and the unique gifts we each have. As a Catholic school, we believe in the inestimable worth of every individual, for each is made in the image of God and is a reflection of God’s goodness. We actively seek to be accepting and welcoming - it is the heart of our Mercy values, and all that we do.

We have expressed this acceptance and welcoming in many ways over the month of May.

Staff, students and guests gathered for our school assembly last Thursday to celebrate student achievement across a wide range of fields and talents. The occasion was made especially meaningful by a powerful address from Mr Connor Devine, which marked the beginning of our National Reconciliation Week activities (27 May – 3 June). Together, we reflected on the significance of this week as a time to honour truth, listen with open hearts, and renew our commitment to the ongoing work of healing and justice - in partnership with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sisters and brothers.

This year’s Reconciliation Week theme, ‘Bridging Now to Next’, reminds us that reconciliation is not a single moment or statement - it is a living process. It calls each of us, now, to stand up, speak out, and walk humbly on this land with a deep sense of responsibility and solidarity, as we work together towards a more harmonious future. Throughout the week, staff and students will engage in classroom conversations and reflective activities that honour the histories, cultures, and voices of First Nations Peoples.

In staffing news, last Friday we farewelled Mrs Sue Bourke, a much valued member of our College community for over 14 years. Throughout her time with us, Sue made a lasting impact on both students and colleagues through her dedication, care and quiet generosity. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Sue for her many years of faithful service, and we wish her every blessing and much happiness in retirement.

This week, I’d also like to take a moment to honour and give thanks for the outstanding contribution of our Education Support Staff, whose dedication and care help our College be its best each day. These professionals, including our Learning Diversity Assistants, wellbeing staff, administrative personnel, specialised support staff, and many others, play a vital role in ensuring the smooth running of our school. Their work underpins the success of every school day, offering not only support to teachers but also direct care, learning assistance, emotional support, and specialised expertise to our students. They embody service marked by humility, patience and compassion, and we are truly grateful for all that they do.

Catherine McAuley urged us to ‘..strive to do ordinary things extraordinarily well.’ Let us continue to walk gently and purposefully together, guided by our Gospel values and the Mercy tradition.

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

Diversity Month of May at Emmanuel College - over the month we celebrate cultural gender and neurodiversity. 

A snapshot on Gender Diversity

In today's world, many young people are exploring who they are - not just in terms of career aspirations or friendships, but also how they understand themselves, including their gender identity. For some, this journey is straightforward. For others, it can involve questioning, rethinking, or expressing gender in ways that may not align with traditional expectations.

As a parent or caregiver, it's completely natural to feel uncertain or even overwhelmed at times. You might have questions, concerns, or simply want to better understand how to respond in a way that's helpful and affirming. The important thing to know is that gender diversity is not new - but our awareness and understanding of it is growing. It means recognising that not everyone experiences gender in the same way. While many young people feel comfortable with the gender they were assigned at birth, others may experience or express their gender in ways that feel different to what's traditionally expected.

Supporting a gender-diverse child doesn't require you to be an expert - it requires you to be present, open-minded, and willing to listen. Research shows that young people who feel accepted and supported by their families have significantly better mental health outcomes, regardless of where they are in their gender journey.

Click on link to watch clip - 

https://emmanuel.vic.schooltv.me/newsletter/gender-diversity-au

Senior School Fit4life Day - May 13
All students in year 10 -12 participated in a fit4life day with activities specific to year levels.
Below is a reflection of the day  from a student in each year level.

Student Voice - 

In senior school we had our Fit4life day last Tuesday, where each year level had different activities throughout the day. 
For the Year 10’s, our day started with a very informative presentation at the stage from  Paul Watkins. During his presentation we learnt about ways we can challenge ourselves and develop resilience when things don’t go to plan!

During periods three and four, the boys in Maguire did a session on ‘Breaking the Man code’. This was all to do about getting out of our comfort zones and doing things that weren’t necessarily thought to be something men would do, like getting their nails done. This session was also about learning facts and getting a deeper meaning of why it is better to seek help and speak out then keep something bottled up.

Period five was a session on ‘Cntrl your scroll’.  We learnt about different techniques and strategies we can implement into our own lives to limit that amount of time we spend on our phones. There were some really big figures that came up that shocked a lot of the group too.

During the final session, Headspace leaders run a session on what consent is and the types of ways you can tell if someone has given you consent or not. This was a fun session for many, especially when we got to come up with our own ways to either give or not give consent.

Overall, the day was great and gave us lots of new information and the opportunity to join in on  activities that got the whole group involved, which helped groups gain more trust and knowledge from each other.
Year 10 Reflection  -  Luke Robson

Last Thursday, the Senior School completed a range of activities for Fit4Life day. The year 11s main focus for the day was to gain the tools we need to become safe and responsible drivers. We completed a full-day program on driver safety run by RYDA (Rotary Youth Driver Awareness), a national road safety education program for young people in Australia. The program incorporated 6 sessions around topics including: Speed and Stopping, Road Choices, Drive SOS, and Crash investigators, where Gator, a local car accident survivor, talked to us about his experiences. Overall, this day was a very informative and eye-opening experience for us all. Thank you to all RYDA members and Rotary Club volunteers for offering this program.
Year 11 Reflection  -  Ruby Nelson

Last Tuesday, all senior school students participated in our annual Fit4Life Day. This day is always filled with so much fun and memories for us to hold onto when we graduate from high school. As part of this day, the year 12s partake in a year level dress up; this year's theme was “dress up as a teacher”. This theme was so much fun, and got not only the year 12s involved but the teachers too. We had many Mr Baileys walking around and Ms Slaters with their red sweaters; overall, the dress up theme made the day very enjoyable. 

To start off the day, we were very lucky to listen to some interviews of inspiring alumni from Emmanuel. We also had the opportunity  to ask them questions about their journey after graduation and some challenges they might have ran into along the way. Overall, this session was very inspiring and gave us an insight into our life after graduating from Emmanuel.

In the middle session, we were lucky enough to listen to high performance coach and motivational speaker Belinda Colubriale, who spoke to us about our mindset throughout our year, and strategies to develop a growth mindset. This session was very helpful, teaching us things that might hold us back from reaching our full potential in a very stressful year. 

Finally, at the end of the day, we were lucky enough to participate in the chaotic choir, with Tom Richardson, this overall was many people favourite part, it was a time for us all to bond together and sing some songs together, although I wouldn't say our form was amazing but we all had so much fun together. The teachers and students all joined in and had so much fun together while singing Country Road.

Overall, this day was very fun, and a great time for us all to come together, dress up and hear about things we can do this year and in our near future!
Year 12 Reflection  -  Hannah van de Camp  

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🚍 Important Notice: School Bus Usage Guidelines

Students are reminded that school bus services are designated for eligible country bus travellers only. To ensure the safety and efficiency of the School Bus Program, please adhere to the following guidelines:

• Designated Bus Travel: Students must travel on their assigned bus routes. Switching buses for purposes such as attending football or netball training is not permitted.
  
  
• Port 6 Bus Specifics: The Port 6 bus is reserved exclusively for students who have been allocated to this route. It is not available for others wishing to disembark at the Gardens Oval for training sessions.
  

Please be aware that the bus company will be monitoring bus travellers to ensure compliance with these guidelines. Adhering to these rules helps maintain the integrity and safety of the School Bus Program for all students.

Student Pick-Up & Traffic Update

To ensure the safety of our students and the smooth flow of traffic around the College, we would like to share some important updates regarding student pick-up and nearby roadworks.

• Ardlie Street – Parking
  The Warrnambool City Council has advised that, following a period of observation, parking infringements will now be issued to vehicles parked in No Standing zones on Ardlie Street, including those obstructing the school crossing. Families are reminded to observe all signage and avoid stopping in restricted areas to ensure the safety of students and compliance with council regulations.
  
  
• Botanic Road – Pick-Up Safety
  We kindly ask families not to back up out on Botanic Road towards the highway, if you arrive before 3:25pm for student pick-up, please consider using the Hopetoun Road car park to wait safely.
  
  
• Upcoming Road Works
  Minor road works will commence on Tuesday, 27 May along Hopetoun Road for the installation of a pedestrian refuge island.
  Additionally, there will be an adjustment to the existing pedestrian island at the entry/exit on Botanic Road. We are working closely with the contractors to ensure these works are paused during peak drop-off and collection times to minimise the impact on families.

Thank you for your continued cooperation in keeping our students safe.

Mrs Claire Wrigley
Assistant Principal - Students

Maths at a Glance

100% Club – 25% Question

Freya goes for a walk. If she starts at her house, number 27, and ends at house number 49, how many houses will she count with 3 in the number on her side of the street?

Answer in the next newsletter.

Last Newsletter's Solution: 
16 - Don't forget the question mark at the end of the word circle!

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.

My child says….. “I don’t have any homework?”
It is important to note that students can always be working on their Maths and consolidating their skills from the previous lesson or recapping work done earlier in the term.

In year 7 and 8, students always have their Maths Pathways modules to work on. Each student should be trying to complete their minimum six modules a cycle, however, if they have done their six modules, they can look at completing an additional one or two which may increase their growth rate further and allow them to fill in the gaps of their learning profile. Other options could include reviewing the completed modules, summarising any key terms, making note of key formula’s or working on questions that may have been problematic.

As the students’ progress and the curriculum begins to open up, setting productive study habits will be beneficial in the later years of schooling, At VCE, students will have work to finish off after most classes. Practicing and working through a range of problems allows students to experience concepts in different scenarios. It helps them to recognise the command terms and gives them an opportunity to break down what a question may be asking. Like anything, the more you practice, the better equipped you will be to handle the situation. And if you don’t understand something, just ask. There’s always bound to be a Maths teacher floating about in the library somewhere!!

If you have any questions regarding the information above, feel free to contact Mr Hodson.
E: rhodson@emmanuel.vic.edu.au

Mr Richard Hodson
Mathematics Coordinator

Outdoor Environmental Studies

The students of Unit 1 Outdoor and Environmental Studies completed a day excursion to the Southern Grampians on one of two days in April, Wednesday 23rd or Thursday 24th.

The aim of the excursion was for students to prepare for and participate in a 9km hike up and over Mud-dadjug (Mt Abrupt), located on Grampians Rd, north of Dunkeld. The students prepared for the hike by ensuring they carried enough food and water to fuel them effectively for the almost four-hour journey.

The first hour of walking was almost entirely uphill, and the students felt a sense of relief when they reached the summit, followed by an appreciation of the view from the top. The journey down the other side of the mountain was an eye-opener for many students, as the flora of the area changed dramatically. The wind-strewn trees and shrubs of the summit gave way to taller trees and mossy rocks, accompanied by a significant change in elevation on the mountain. The descent was more difficult for some students with steep stairs, causing weary legs to work even harder.

Our lunch stop for the day was at a hike-in camp located partway down the mountain. At the hike-in camp, the students refuelled, rested, and had a discussion about the incredible facilities, including tent pads that allowed campers to pitch tents in an area that is very rocky and not usually tent-friendly.

The remainder of the descent was easier to tackle, allowing the students to take in their surroundings more easily. Thankfully, no snakes were spotted by either group; however, sightings of several other animals, such as kangaroos, wallabies, lizards, and birds, made the trip even more enjoyable.

Well done to all students for the preparation and participation in the trip. Thanks to Jaffa,  Ms Sandra Skilbeck, and our trainees, Liv Wolter and Will Dobson, for their assistance with our trips.

Mr Jason Dart
Ms Hannah Dart
ODE Teachers

Social Justice

Reconciliation Week - 26 May - 03 June 2025

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have experienced a long history of exclusion from Australian history books, the Australian flag, the Australian anthem and for many years, Australian democracy.

This history of dispossession and colonisation lies at the heart of the disparity between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and other Australians today.

Including recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in events, meetings and national symbols contributes to ending the exclusion that has been so damaging.

Incorporating welcoming and acknowledgement protocols into official meetings and events recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners of land and shows respect.

This week we have a range of events organised to both celebrate and raise awareness about the importance of a Reconciled Australia  

Ms Natasha Cummings
Social Justice Coordinator

Term 2 Social Justice Group - Western District Food Share Visit - Student Voice

On Tuesday, six members of the Social Justice group participated in a volunteer session at Food Share. During the session, the group assisted in packing ‘emergency’ boxes and bags, which are provided to individuals in immediate need of food while longer-term support is arranged. In 2023 alone, the Warrnambool Food Share distributed 187 tonnes of food to the local community.

In addition to their food relief efforts, Food Share’s commitment to sustainability was notable. The organisation has implemented thoughtful recycling practices within the warehouse, repurposing materials such as cardboard boxes and even permanent markers. As a result, they produce only two red bins of waste each week.

The experience was both meaningful and rewarding, and students are strongly encouraged to take part in similar opportunities if they arise.

Caitlyn Belleville
Year 11 Student

Seeds of Justice - Student Voice
Recently we had the privilege of attending the Seeds of Justice event in Templestowe which is run by Mercy Education. The event involved coming together with many other students from other Mercy schools from around Victoria to discuss and raise awareness about social justice issues in our community so we could share ideas to bring back to our communities. The theme of the conference was refugees, ‘voices of the poor ?’ and had a strong focus on it being a jubilee year for the church. 

The two day conference involved participating in engaging activities about what we had learned, hearing from quest speakers and panels. The first guest speaker we heard from was Professor Michelle Foster who is the Dean of Melbourne Law and spoke about her experience being a leading international authority on refugee law, human rights and statelessness. 

This was followed by a powerful panel discussion featuring a recent refugee from Syria, a teacher from Kenya working with refugees in Australia, and three students—all first-generation Australians whose families arrived as refugees. It was a deeply moving and thought-provoking experience. A central message that emerged was the vital importance of creating spaces for belonging within communities, and the need for meaningful connection—especially for those who have left everything behind to begin anew in Australia.

Connecting with other Mercy Schools was a truly enriching experience. One of the highlights of the two days was the opportunity to share our initiatives and learn about the inspiring work being done by others.

We look forward to building off all that we learned and linking in with other support networks in Warrnambool to create shared conversations about how we can give Voices to others. 

Amelia Foard Year 11, Lucy Shiells Year 11, Tessa Phillips Year 10 , and Lottie McCosh Year 10

Performing Arts News

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

Intermediate Girls Football Team - More Success!

The Intermediate Girls Football team has advanced to the state quarter finals after winning the Greater Western Region football day last week. The girls had beaten both Warrnambool and Brauer College to make the finals a few weeks ago. The team travelled to Hamilton for the round robin competition.

Game 1 vs Mercy Regional College. After a tight first half the students kicked away in the second half to win by 3 goals.

Game 2 vs Ballarat High school. A comfortable win by 4 goals where the girls didn’t concede a score.

Game 3 vs Horsham College. Another comfortable win where the girls won by about 4 goals.

Game 4 vs Trinity College. Success once again with a easy win once again.

The girls didn’t concede a goal all day.

Better players for the day were: Mia Robinson, Lottie McCosh, Zarah Timpson, Eliza McDonnell and Eadie Batt.

 The team have won 6 games to make it through to the beginning stages of the state finals. We wish the team all the very best for their trip to Ballarat in August.

Mr Glen Martin
Director of 9@Rice
Girls Footy Coach

Library News

National Simultaneous Storytime at Emmanuel College
Emmanuel College celebrated and participated in National Simultaneous Storytime last Wednesday, joining millions of others around Australia in reading The Truck Cat picture book by Deborah Frenkel and Danny Snell.  Some English classes watched the Live Stream and others read the story as a group.  The Truck Cat is the delightful story of a cat called Tinka who befriends a truck driver and a bakery owner, along with many other people.  This is the 25^th year of National Simultaneous Storytime.

New Books to Read
The Library would like to suggest these books to students to read.  Some are brand new books just published, others have been around for a while but are definitely worth reading.

Footy Dreaming by Michael Hyde

Ben and Noah play on opposing teams in a footy-obsessed town. They each dream of playing on the G – and this is their make or break season. Tensions rise as sledging goes too far.

Will Noah lose his cool, and his chance, in the face of prejudice? Will Ben reject racism and forge his own path?

Noah and Ben both have the potential to play in the AFL. It’s up to each of them whether they make it.

The World According To Kaleb
Britain According To Kaleb
Life According To Kaleb

Kaleb is an English farmer and media personality.  He is best known for appearing on farming documentary show Clarkson’s Farm.  These books were suggested to the Library by a Year 7 student this year and have proved to be popular with students looking for a book on farming.

Never Forgotten: Honouring Our Veterans by Dave Morgan

Vietnam Veteran Dave Morgan explores the often-overlooked sacrifices of Australian military personnel. Inspired by his own experiences, Dave embarks on a journey to capture the diverse narrative spanning generations and conflicts, from Vietnam to Somalia and Afghanistan.

Through meticulous research and armchair conversations, he uncovers untold stories, from talented athletes like Ian Anderson to pioneering female veterans like Stephanie Shipman. The book weaves together tales of camaraderie and resilience, from heartwarming reunions to the loss of friends like Robert Wilson.

These accounts offer a mosaic of bravery and resilience and through these stories, readers gain a deeper understanding of the profound impact of military service on individuals and communities, highlighting the importance of preserving these invaluable narratives.

Sora Sweet Reads
Until August 25, students can log in to the digital reading platform, Sora and have a look at over 180 books to read as ebooks or to listen to as e audio books.  Sora offers the selection of books.  These books can be read by large groups of students all at the one time.  There is no waiting for a book to be returned.  We encourage the students to have a look at the large selection of books on offer.  Students use the link below and log in with their Emmanuel log in details.

https://soraapp.com/library/emmanuelau

Melbourne Writers Festival
Earlier in May members of the Student Book Club and Accelerated English Class attended the Melbourne Writers’ Festival at the State Library of Victoria.

Student Voice - Emmy Parsons – Year 10 writes about the experience.

Writers’ Festival 2025

On Thursday 8th of May members of the Student Book Club and Mrs Hodson’s Year 10 English acceleration class were fortunate enough to attend the Melbourne Writers’ Festival secondary school program at the State Library of Victoria. We had an early start at five thirty in the morning arriving three hours later just in time for our first author.

 We listened to Gary Lonesborough on his new novel I’m Not Really. Here The novel is described as a compelling, honest and warm story about navigating new friendships, grief, body image, queer love and the big emotions that come with adolescence. Gary explained how his own youth heavily impacted this story and his own journey of becoming an author.  

The next guest speaker we had the opportunity to listen to was Solli Raphael, a poet whose main focuses were on identity and poetry itself. Solli spoke on his journey and process of becoming a writer. He then moved on to his new book Starlight, which is a series of poems and life lessons Solli has learnt. Solli then recited a poem from his book which I really enjoyed and bought a copy for myself. I was fortunate enough to get the chance to meet him and sign my copy. 

After the first two authors we had a lunch break and got our book signed. Once we sat down again to discuss with Robyn Dennison about her book The Blind Spot which brought up heavy themes of assault. Following up after why she was first interested in writing we had an “ask me anything” session with Robyn. 

After Robyn spoke to us Neal Shusterman came on stage. He had flown all the way over from America to speak to us. Neal has written over thirty books and has written screenplays before. Neal had very good advice when it came to writing as to where he got his inspiration from and how he coped with writer's block which he claimed isn't real.  It is just part of the process of writing. 

Soon it was time to head home at around two thirty we got on Jaffa's bus. The day was fun and I and other students learnt a lot of skills that will help us with our writing.
Emmy Parsons – Year 10

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Story Box Library
Emmanuel Library pays a subscription for Story Box Library which offers our students and staff the opportunity to log in and listen to and watch more than 150 picture books being read.  These are often read and presented by the author or illustrator of the book or perhaps sometimes read by famous comedians or actors.

UNO Competition
On Wednesday May 29 the Library is running a UNO Competition in the Reading Room, open to students in Years 7-12.  Students are invited to come in to the Library 1.10pm on Wednesday to participate.  Each Term the Library organises a UNO competition and they are always very popular.

Journal Club
Journal Club is for students interested in being creative - writing and drawing. Each student in Journal Club receives a journal to use both in the sessions at school and at home. Students from all year levels are welcome. See the dates and times attached.

Please contact Mrs Margaret Sinnott, Library coordinator - msinnott@emmanuel.vic.edu.au or call the college if you require any further information.

Mrs Margaret Sinnott
Library Coordinator

Career News

Year 9 - Try a Career Day
The Year 9 Try a Career Day was recently held at Southwest TAFE, Sherwood Park Campus, from the 14 activities on offer students selected 3 that they would like to participate in, these were all “hands on” giving them a taste of possible VETDSS programs they could include or consider in upcoming subject selections, the session was very supported by our students with special mention and thanks going to our teachers and support staff that attended.

Careers Newsletter -
- Metro Academy
- Diploma of Business at RMIT
- AFL Grad Program 
- News from Deakin University
- News from Federation University
- New Politics, Philosophy and Economics/Communication
- Property and Real Estate Update
- Difference between an Actuary and Economist
- Environmental Science Degrees in Victoria in 2025
- Snapshot of the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in 2025

All this and more in the Emmanuel College Careers Newsletter:  https://www.emmanuelcollegecareers.com/

If you require any further information, don't hesitate to contact Mr Gladman - dgladman@emmanuel.vic.edu.au

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

Pat Cronin Foundation
Despite early technology difficulties requiring a change of location, the Pat Cronin Foundation presented their “Violence is never OK”- a workshop about Social Violence Prevention.  Both moving and confronting our Year 9 students were challenged to explore ways to resolve conflict that avoid aggression.  

VicPolice e-bike and e-scooter rules
VicPolice have requested that we provide this fact sheet to our community.  If you are considering purchasing an e-bike or e-scooter for your student’s next birthday - think again!  Age limits around these vehicles exist and they must be ridden on roads, never footpaths.

How To Be An Ally
See the attached poster for an overview on how to be an inclusive ally.  The Wellbeing team has a small number of  rainbow pens, pronouns badges and stickers for any student who would like one.  

Cntrl Your Scroll - Fit4Life Presentation
All year 8 students had a presentation from Xavier from Cntrl Your Scroll on Tuesday May 20.

Xavier shared his personal experience of how he realised he was addicted to mindless scrolling and how that had negatively affected his life during University. When using technology, we get a ‘hit’ of the chemical in our brain called Dopamine which our body then learns to crave, causing addiction. Xavier shared some confronting statistics that having a screen time of 8 hours a day is equivalent to 4 months of the year. Xavier encouraged students to reflect on their screen time usage, especially around bed times and the negative impacts using technology within 2 hours of going to bed and 15 minutes of waking up can have on your sleep. Students were made aware of the app called ‘OneSec’ which forces you to take a moment, stop and think about whether you really want to open an app before you press a confirmation button which allows the app to open. This app helps you to make a conscious decision of whether or not you actually want to open a specific app, a luxury that modern apps such as TikTok do not give us. Xavier helped students to create their own specific goals to help reduce their screen time. Simple and realistic goals such as ‘No phone usage while moving’ or ‘No phone usage while at the dinner table’ can help create a big difference in lowering individuals screen time.

A harm minimisation approach is at the centre of this presentation as almost every student in the year level has a mobile phone and social media access. Xavier outlined the following :

• What is social media and how is it shaping us?

Students were given an understanding of the potentially harmful effects social media can have, including topics such as algorithms, misinformation, unregulated content, and constant comparison. Xavier l discussed the role of social media in shaping their identity and how they see themselves. ​

• Protecting ourselves online by improving our practices

Students were provided with technical skills that not only bring awareness to these effects, but also build their capacity to become more conscious of their daily digital habits.  

• How can we be active participants in improving our social media

Students were educated on how to manage and protect their own social media pages to curate positive online experiences. 

Neurodiversity Poster Competition

At Emmanuel College, we value and celebrate neurodiversity - the natural variations in the human brain that influence how individuals think, learn and experience the world. Recognising and embracing differences such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia and more, helps build a more inclusive, understanding community. Neurodiversity reminds us that everyone has unique strengths and perspectives that enrich our schools and community.

To help raise awareness and promote acceptance, we recently held a Neurodiversity Poster competition inviting submissions that reflect the beauty of thinking differently. We love to celebrate our students creativity, and are proud to announce the five winners! Each winner received a movie voucher.

Congratulations to our talented winners and thank you to everyone who participated in spreading the message of inclusion and acceptance.

Emmanuel College Embracing Cultures, Heritage and Origins - ECECHO
Emmanuel College is excited to launch a new student-led initiative called ECECHO – Emmanuel College Embracing Cultures, Heritage and Origins. Open to all students, ECECHO is a space where diversity in all its forms is celebrated and embraced. Meeting weekly, the group creates opportunities for students to connect, share experiences, and explore what makes each person unique. Whether it’s background, beliefs, abilities, or personal stories, ECECHO encourages open-mindedness, inclusion, and mutual respect across the school community.

Through a mix of food, fun activities, and conversations, ECECHO aims to build a stronger sense of belonging and unity.

The group meets every Tuesday in A10 and all students and staff of the Emmanuel community are welcome

Curate Your Social Media

If you’re going to scroll, here are some positive suggestions for your socials
Instagram recommends from us to you -  

For Parents : The Common Parent - the ultimate toolkit for parenting teens.  

For Students : YACVIC (The Youth Affairs Council of Victoria) 

Upcoming Events

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

Monday 02 June
Cinderella - Youth Edition - Production Week
Forensics Excursion

Tuesday 03 June
Netball Academy Excursion

Wednesday 04 June
Premier Boys Football

Thursday 05 June
Boys AFL Academy Excursion

Friday 06 June
WD Junior Netball & Football
Year 7 2025 - Last day to accept offer

Monday 09 June
King's Birthday - Public Holiday

Tuesday 10 June
Student Free Day

Child Safety

Emmanuel College Public Speaking Comp

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

Financial Assistance for Concession Card Holders

Parents/guardians holding a valid concession card on Tuesday 22 April 2025 should submit an application form for the Camps, Sports & Excursion Fund (CSEF) allowance to Suzanne Dwyer via the McAuley Campus office or email info@emmanuel.vic.edu.au

Parents/guardians who have already applied for the allowance this year or in the past at Emmanuel College do not need to apply again.

The CSEF allowance is valued at $256 per student and is for holders of a health care card, or are a foster parent, or a Veteran Affairs pensioner.  A student over 16 years who is considered a mature minor and holds a valid concession card (such as a Youth Allowance Health Care Card or Disability Support Pension Card) is also eligible to apply.  Payments are made to the school and will be deducted from a family’s school fees.

Further details about the CSEF allowance can be found at the Department of Education and Training’s website at https://www.vic.gov.au/camps-sports-and-excursions-fund