Newsletter - Term 4, Week 9 - 29 November

In my household, late November into December is the season of the cheesy Christmas movie. Much to the disgust of my two sons, each evening is greeted by contrived predictable story lines, woeful under or over acting and more fake snow than you could shovel with a twelve-tonne earth mover. It’s our tradition; it’s what we do.

So as two oldies, my wife and I (don’t let my wife know I said that) dive headfirst into the delightful world of Hallmark Christmas flicks with their charming small towns, predictable plots and a sprinkle of romance. In surveying these predicable entertainment offerings, I notice a similarity (really!?) in the ascribed professions of the protagonists. There’s a plethora of event planners, writers (magazine, blog, book) and inn keepers. Then there are Christmas tree farmers and bakers and not so well-hidden royals in disguise, all vying for the attention of a significant other. After a week of knowing each other there is a not so surprising happily–ever-after Christmas. Occasionally, in an evening’s sappy festive film of choice, one of these intensely detailed characters is irresistibly drawn to bake — see the list of professions above — a sweet Advent treat. The cake in question being Bûche de Noël (Bûche pronounced “bush”).

Ah yes, the Bûche de Noël, or as it's lovingly referred to in English, the Yule Log cake is a dessert that mysteriously pops up in many a cliché Christmas classic. It exists alongside snowy towns where everyone inexplicably knows each other’s business and where baking contests are somehow the pinnacle of human endeavour.

But what is it really? Well, it’s a rolled sponge cake dressed to impress as a log. Slathered in chocolate buttercream frosting, it’s lovingly textured to resemble bark by the central character baker. Add the finishing touches, berries, sprigs of green plant stuff or even cute tiny mushrooms made of meringue and you’re almost there. Finish the whole thing with an ambitious sprinkle of powdered sugar “snow” for the full winter wonderland effect and voila, Bûche de Noël!.

But wait - what's a Yule Log?

A real Yule Log isn’t a dessert; it’s an ancient tradition that harks back to European pagan celebrations of the winter solstice. Back in the day, families would haul a massive piece of timber into the hearth, light one end on fire and let it burn slowly over the course of 12 days. It wasn’t just about warmth; the Yule Log was steeped in symbolism. This subtle wooden simmer represented the return of the sun and the promise of brighter days ahead. People even sprinkled it with wine or spices to ensure prosperity for the coming year.

So how did we go from burning a log to baking one? Leave it to the French to take a perfectly practical tradition and turn it into an edible work of art. The Bûche de Noël is said to have emerged in the 19th century, possibly as a response to the decline of giant hearths in homes. If you can’t burn a log, why not bake one? The bonus? It’s less likely to burn the house down. The cake caught on (is that a fire pun?) and now it’s a symbol of holiday cheer, particularly in France and apparently anywhere Hallmark movies are filmed.

As the year winds down and we all pause to appreciate the whirlwind of 2024 (seriously, how did it go by so fast?), I hope all our Eddies families have the opportunity to celebrate their own Christmas traditions in the company of loved ones, traditions old and new, logs both edible and flammable, as well as the multitude of little joys that make the holidays special.

I wish everyone in our Eddies Team and indeed everyone in our extended community, a Happy and Holy Christmas. It may be a time of gifts and celebrations and reindeers and Santa but most importantly, it’s a time of Jesus.

Next year presents itself as another wonderful opportunity to grow and improve. I look forward to again working as one of our Team to provide the best experiences for our young men - strong, kind and gentle, Eddies Men.

Staffing 2025

Sadly, there are some staff who will be leaving us at the end of the year to take up new roles or challenges.

• Adam Brown (End of Contract)
• Tom Hall (End of Contract)
• Peter Kemp (Teacher, Sophia Catholic College)
• Christine Grieve (Retirement)
• Karen Callaghan (Retirement)

Eddies has been blessed with the dedication and contribution of all these valued members of our Team. We wish them the very best for their future; we will miss them.

As you would be aware St Edmund’s College operates a textbook hire scheme for the benefit of all students at the College. The success and viability of this scheme is contingent upon the timely return of texts in good condition that allows for their redistribution to students for use in subsequent years. Unlike other schools, we do not charge a levy or require students to purchase texts separately. Often these costs are in the vicinity of $250 to $400. To assist us with the maintenance of the scheme we require your support in ensuring that your son’s texts are returned in good condition and in accordance with the timelines set out below:

YEAR 12 TEXTBOOK RETURN DATES

• Friday 18 October - ALL  books NOT needed for Exams **OVER DUE**
• Tuesday 12 November - All remaining books **OVER DUE**

As you would understand we require students to return all textbooks before the end of term or their departure from the College to allow for cleaning, bagging and replacement arrangements to be made for next year.

Payment for any lost or damaged textbooks can be made at the College Reception.

YEAR 11 TEXTBOOK RETURN DATES

• Friday 18 October - Return Unit 1 and 2 textbooks **OVER DUE**

YEAR 10 TEXTBOOK RETURN DATES

• Wednesday 27 November - Return of ALL books **DUE NOW**

YEAR 7 - 9 TEXTBOOK RETURN DATES

• Wednesday 27 November - Return of ALL books **DUE NOW**

As you would understand, we require students to return all textbooks before the end of the Term or their departure from the College to allow for cleaning, bagging and replacement arrangements to be made for next year.

Payment for any lost or damaged textbooks can be made at the College Reception.

In each newsletter, we will bring you an article from SchoolTV. It’s never been more challenging for parents and caregivers to raise happy, healthy and resilient children. The SchoolTV platform provides an extensive range of wellbeing resources for parents and caregivers, so together with the College, we can all work together to ensure better wellbeing for all students.

Celebrations, partying and socialising are a fundamental rite of passage and one of the most important aspects of a young person’s life. Although the prospect might seem somewhat daunting or even terrifying for parents and caregivers, keeping young people safe can often be a compromise and a challenge.

Your son or daughter may appear to be physically large and mature, but this is not necessarily matched by their emotional maturity and responsibility in behaviour. Most young people try to do the right thing most of the time, but your leadership as a caregiver is crucial. Ensure you are a good role model and discuss your personal views on drug and alcohol use. Your attitude towards addictive substances can have an enormous influence on the way your teenager approaches their own use.

Hosting a celebration at home or at a venue for your teenager can be a fun and memorable event. It all comes down to careful planning. It is important to agree on the ground rules well before your event is announced to ensure there are no misunderstandings later on. As the host you owe your guests a ‘duty-of-care’ and therefore should take all reasonable steps to ensure everyone attending the party is kept safe. Every party has the potential to get out-of-hand, as sometimes it’s hard for young partygoers to make good decisions. Communication and regular discussions are vital, particularly because young people are often faced with peer pressure to do things they prefer not to engage in.

Further information relating to this topic can be accessed by downloading the SchoolTV Special Report Resource below.