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Heavenly Father,
We lift our voice in prayer for peace in our world.
Amid conflicts and unrest, we ask for Your intervention and guidance.
You are the Prince of Peace, and we ask that
Your peace would transcend borders and boundaries,
permeating every nation, community, and heart.
Bring an end to violence, hatred, and division.
Soften hearts that have grown hardened,
and replace animosity with understanding and love.
May the desire for peace grow stronger within us,
uniting us in our pursuit of harmony and justice.
Lord, let Your peace prevail.
In Jesus’ name, we pray.
Amen.
It is hard to believe that it has been twenty two years since the events of September 11, 2001. Over 3000 people lost their lives, with the most striking image being of a plane being flown into the world trade centre buildings in New York. It stands as a memory etched within our lives forever, as an image of distrust and disunity in our world.
Next Thursday, 21st September provides us with the opportunity to unite and pray for peace, which is built on trust and unity. It is the day designated by the United Nations as the International Day of Peace. It is an opportunity to remember, celebrate and strengthen the ideals of peace, both within and among nations and peoples but also within our own community, and in our personal relationships. It is an opportunity like this to unite as one voice for peace, challenge those who work against peace and enhance our vision that truly represents the voice of Christ.
Thank You
As this is the final newsletter for Term 3 I’d like to thank students, families and staff for your support, hard work and care that you’ve given so generously over the past 10 weeks. There have been many highlights: Immersion Day, the Year 9 camp, the Year 10 Social, Work experience, course selection for 2024, student led conferences, Year 9 Premier League and other interschool sport, our school production – ‘Nightmare on Theodore St’ and watching the growth of our new Art and Technology building coming to fruition. A very full term and one that we should look back on with great pride.
Start of Term 4
Students will return to school on Tuesday 03 October 2023. On the Monday staff will be involved in a Professional Practice Day. This will be the second day of our Restorative Practice training with David Vinegrad. There are no changes to the timetable for Term 4. Tuesday 04 October will be Day 2.
Design and Technology Centre
After a little over 12 months of construction, we are very excited to see the new building completed. Handover will occur on Wednesday 28th September. The first phase of movement into the new building has begun. This will include the canteen and Wood Technology.
As of Tuesday 3rd October, the new canteen will operate out of the new building, offering all of the services that are currently provided before school, recess and lunch. We thank the canteen staff for their efforts in moving and setting up in the second week of the holidays to ensure it is ready for service on the first day back. Special thanks to the Year 10 students working at school over this past week for their support in providing the students at year 7 and 8 with lunch, given that the canteen has been closed. This has worked very well and ensured that no student has gone without lunch and raised additional funds for the Buyaga Parish and school in Uganda.
Our Wood Technology department are currently moving into the new building as the term concludes. In week 1 of term 4, the department will set up the learning spaces and begin to introduce the students to the new building and preparing the learning area for classes. It is truly a magnificent learning area for the technology and arts department. We will be looking for opportunities over the course of the term where we can share this excitement with families.
Enrolment for 2024
Enrolment at the College continues automatically from year to year. However, if a student in Years 7, 8 or 9 is not returning in 2024, we ask that families notify us as soon as possible. Please email echalmers@crcstalbans.com.au or ring Eileen Chalmers on 9366 2544 with this information.
Your assistance with this is much appreciated as we have a waiting list at some levels and would like to let these families know sooner, rather than later.
Preparing for Term 4
School holidays are certainly a time for rest and recreation, however, the time between Terms 3 and 4 is more like a semi-colon than a full stop. It is a pause in the semester, a chance to catch your breath before the important final term. Some students will have projects or homework to complete over the break. It’s a good idea to get this done earlier, rather than later.
With exams only 7 or 8 weeks away, the holidays are a good time to begin revision of Term 3 work and / or to catch up on any missed work. Those who struggle with organisation might use this time to put some order into folders. Filing old notes and worksheets might be a good start. Ensuring that you have all the stationery you need for Term 4 would help.
If students do little else it would be helpful to find some time to read each day.
Term 4 Uniform
Families are reminded that Weeks 1 – 4 are a transition period for uniform. Students can wear either full summer or full winter uniform but not a mix and match of both.
Following the Cup Weekend, from Wednesday 8th November all students will need to be in full summer uniform.
The holidays may be a good time to check that students have all that is required.
MACSSIS School Improvement Surveys
Thank you to all students, staff and families for your input. This data will be released in late October and will provide important information for our planning for 2024. Next year will be a review year for our school. This data will provide valuable feedback on the progress we have made and inform our planning for our next School Improvement Plan.
Holy Land Immersion
We wish three of our staff Members: Jacinta Dykes, Marcelle Gusman and Eder Ramos all of the best as they travel together with 15 other staff members from the CRC Federation schools to Israel over the term break. They will be staying in Jerusalem and visiting the Holy Lands. A truly wonderful experience!
Year 9 Camp
Over the past three days of the term, the year 9 students have all been on camp at Halls Gap in the Grampians (Gariwerd). This is a great opportunity for the students to work together, experience the connection with the outdoors and immerse themselves in Aboriginal Dream time story and the Indigenous spirituality. We thank Christie Roberts (Year 9 YLL) and her team for the detailed planning and willingness to make this such a great experience.
Year 10 Work Experience
During this final week of school virtually all of our year 10s have been out on work experience. Reports that are coming back have indicated how successful this experience has been, helping our year 10 students to consider more carefully their pathways. It has been a great success, with special thanks to Chris Orsini (Careers Coordinator), Anthony Baressi (Yr 10 co-ordinator) and the year 10 team.
Head Lice
This is just to inform the school community that a case of head lice has been reported in the junior year levels. For further information on how to check and treat head lice, follow the link.
Newsletter
The newsletter is published fortnightly and available online on Day 10 (Friday Week 2).
Newsletter Days for Term 4 2023:
Fridays: 13 October, 27 October, 10 November, 24 November, 8 December
Key Dates Term 4 2023
|
Monday 02 October |
Staff professional practice day. (Students not required) |
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Tuesday 03 October |
Students return for Term 4 (Week 1 / Day 2) |
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Monday 16 October |
School Advisory Council Meeting |
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19 & 20 October |
Outdoor Education Camp |
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Thursday 26 October |
Opening Night Images 2022 Arts and Technology Exhibition |
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Friday 03 November |
Inter-house Athletics Carnival |
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06 & 07 Nov |
Cup Weekend Break |
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Tuesday 08 November |
Community Conversations |
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Wednesday 22 – Tues 28 November |
Year 10 exams |
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Wednesday 29 November |
Year 10 final day of classes / picnic |
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Thursday 30 November |
Year 10 Graduation Mass |
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Wednesday 22 – Wed 29 November |
Year 9 exams |
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Monday 03 Dec – Friday 08 Dec |
Year 11 Orientation Program – CRC Sydenham |
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Friday 01 December |
Report Preparation Day (No classes) |
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Tuesday 05 December |
Final Day (Years 7 - 9) |
In Semesters 1 and 2, the Year 9 students have been learning about the devastating yet influential history of the Aboriginal community in Religion and Humanities. All this discussion about their history has many Year 9 students wanting to have a say, in convincing people to vote YES to the Uluru statement.
“In 2017, Indigenous people from all around the country met at Uluru for a very special meeting. They had big talks, and they wrote the Uluru statement from the Heart. This document explains to all Austraians how we can find our heart.
This Uluru statement from the Heart suggests that first Nations people should have a Voice, and we should have Treaty and Truth”.
Finding our Heart, Thomas Mayor.
The History of the ATSI:
"The British decided to come to Australia due to the rise of convicts and crime rate in Britain. Wanting to start a new penal colony, they decided to start in a country, they thought that they were ‘the first to discover’. When Captain Arthur Phillip commanded over 150 hulks and over 700 British convicts to “New Holland” The Aboriginals felt violated by the British, as they brought in a lifestyle that was different to theirs. Due to the differences in lifestyle, this led to the British taking over, as they thought that the ATSI culture was wrong. Throughout the years, more Britons came and ruled Australia, wanting to wipe out the original owners to take ownership of the land. Soon, they took the children of the ATSI and white washed them, convincing them with damaging and racist rules that harmed an entire generation, which is called “The Stolen Generation”. The stolen generation refers to the time in Australian history where Aboriginal children were removed from their families because of the governmental policies of the 1910s till the 1970s. It has been said by many governmental leaders that the reason why this horrifying action took place was all because of people claiming that “the lives of First Nations people would be improved if they become part of white society”. This immense action led many stolen generation members to find it difficult to contribute to the spiritual life of their own Indigenous tribes. It left them clueless about their own beliefs, and they always had to follow up by saying “I don’t know anything about my culture.” It had an impact on the Aboriginal community since an entire generation was exploited and kidnapped from their home land. The ATSI children were led to feel that the ATSI (their own people) were frightening and strange, which influenced how they perceived their own culture, causing them to struggle with their own identity and their sense of belonging.
On Saturday the 14th of October, all Australians who are 18+ will have the opportunity to vote in support of a First Nations Voice into the Australian Constitution.
Please vote YES!"
by Clarissa Hurmez, 9 Hughes
Uluru statement
"After learning about the Aboriginals and the lost generation, I have come to terms that we as a nation have taken a lot away from the Indigenous people, taking away their lives, land and them as a person. Over the last hundred years the Indigenous people have had no voice in their lives, as they have not been given credit, living here before the first fleet came here and had everything taken away, we as a nation must change that. Why must we vote yes? We must vote yes to help the Indigenous people have their rights, freedom and their own voice to speak out on their opinions and thoughts to the world like everyone else does. Together as one we must be able to apologise for our ancestors' mistakes and give the Aboriginals a sense of freedom, what they’ve been wanting for their whole lives. We can’t change the past but we are able to change the future and give the Indigenous people a brand new life/future if you vote yes. Over 83% of first nation people support the voice because they know it will make a difference and so do we so VOTE YES! Your voice matters and your vote matters, to help the Aboriginals have the freedom they deserve, just imagine if you had to be taken away from your family, stripped of your beliefs and so on. That's what the Aboriginal went through for a long time, so we must change it! We can change the outcome of this if you vote yes. As a nation we have to be able to help one another, like Jesus had told us, “love one another as I had loved you”, we must treat the Aboriginals with this respect, because the Aboriginals are one with us, one with the nation and one with the world. So vote yes. We may not be able to give them back the times they’ve lost but we are able to give them freedoms and rights, and change this chapter in Australia's nation today. Vote yes to change lives!"
by Jessica Tran, 9 Hughes
STEM Day
On Tuesday the 5th of September the Year 7 students took part in a range of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) activities.
These included:
Science Show – Tick tick boom, which explored the science behind explosions and explained the importance of chemical safety. The presenter covered a number of Scientific concepts for students to think critically about.
- Virtual Reality Experience. Students immersed themselves in a range of simulated STEM based careers (Astronaut, Surgeon, Environmental Scientist etc.) through the use of a virtual reality headset and controllers.
- Small group activities that provided an opportunity for students to work collaboratively. These included:
- Ice-Cream Making
- Catapult Construction
- Maths Activities
I learned that liquid Nitrogen and boiling water cause a waterfall of smoke. - Aurora ArikapuBakua
I learned how to make ice cream and I also learned that if you add salt to ice, it drops the temperature lower than zero degrees like negative 10 degrees. - Evenezer Gebregziabhier
STEM/STEAM is an important thing for our future careers. It helps us to problem solve but also to open and experience new opportunities. It would be better if we had more activities we could do at our break times. - Xavier Cham
I tried Virtual Reality for the first time. It would have been better to have more time for VR and the ice cream activities. - Bahnam Ayshoa
I learned that in math games, you need knowledge, brains and patience. - Hanna Ngo
SACCSS Tennis Tournament
Last Thursday, seven of our Year 9 and 10 students traveled to Hume Tennis Centre to take part in the SACCSS Tennis Tournament. Well done to the students on their commitment to training in the lead up to the tournament, but also the way they played and conducted themselves on the day. Below is a paragraph from Angelina Brillouet who attended the day. - Mrs Jurcec
I really enjoyed SACCSS tennis even though we might not have won every game. It was a fun experience and it was really enjoyable playing against many professional, and not so professional players. Everyone was really nice and friendly even when we did lose it helped me personally learn not to be so mad whenever I lose. I think I can say this on behalf of the tennis team, despite our shortcomings, we still managed to have a lot of fun just playing tennis and hanging out.
By Angelina Brillouet, 9 Barton.
Snapshots!!
Health & PE Week
Shrine Visit
Yr 9 City Experience
Yr 9 City Experience Part 2
Wellbeing For Learning
Self-care September
Do you show yourself the same kindness as others? Many of us find this hard. Yet when we treat ourselves as deserving of love, everything goes better. For us and those around us too.
Mindful Moment: Try this now self-love meditation to cultivate compassion and inner peace.
True happiness comes from caring for ourselves AND caring for others. See our Self-care September calendar with lots of suggestions for little acts that make a big difference. And being kind also brings us a greater sense of fulfilment too.
Remember, you can't pour from an empty cup. So, let's make time to care for ourselves this month so we can then show up more for others too.
Catholic Regional College St Albans Scout Group
Empowering Growth, Skills, and Friendship
Join us in creating a transformative experience for you through the Catholic Regional College St Albans Scout Group.
Do you want to discover adventure, build character, and develop life skills while fostering friendships that last a lifetime?
Program Highlights:
- Engaging scouting activities: Scouts, Ventures, Rovers, and more
- Led by dedicated Scout Leaders: Dilan Denha, Jude Sef, Dale Sutton
- Weekly sessions during Term 4, 2023
- Fridays from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm
- Location: CRC St Albans – Auditorium (Year 10 Area)
Benefits for Students:
- Work towards scout awards and achievements
- Earn credit for Outdoor Activity Skills (OAS's) and Special Interest Areas (SIA's)
- Opportunity to achieve the prestigious Scout Medallion
- Boost mental wellbeing through outdoor activities and community engagement
- Early exposure to Scouts' principles and values.
Cost and Funding: Fully Funded by CRC St Albans
For further information visit Scouts Victoria's website: https://scoutsvictoria.com.au/
Get Involved: Become a part of this enriching journey! Join our Catholic Regional College St Albans Scout Group and shape your future through adventure, skill-building, and lasting friendships.
Contact Us: For inquiries and registration details, reach out to Mr. Dale Marshall by emailing dmarshall@crcstalbans.com.au
Get in fast, as we only have limited spots available.
"Empowering the Leaders of Tomorrow"
Get Involved: Become a part of this enriching journey! Join our Catholic Regional College St Albans Scout Group and shape your future through adventure, skill-building, and lasting friendships.
Contact Us: For inquiries and registration details, reach out to Mr. Dale Marshall by emailing dmarshall@crcstalbans.com.au
Get in fast, as we only have limited spots available.
"Empowering the Leaders of Tomorrow"
Emergency and Mental Health Support Information
and contact phone numbers
If you require any assistance over the school holidays while the school is unattended please contact:
- 000 Emergency Assistance
Emergency Police, Fire, Ambulance Ph:000
- Kids Helpline
Phone: 1800551800, https://kidshelpline.com.au/Free 24 hour/7 days a week advice and support for children and young people 5-25 years old.
- Parent Helpline
Phone: 1300 301 300 https://parentline.com.au/Free 24 hour/7 days a week advice and support for parents, guardians and carers.
- Lifeline
Phone:13 4357 https://www.lifeline.org.au/Free 24 hour/7 days a week crisis support and suicide prevention.
- Beyond Blue
https://www.beyondblue.org.au/ Ph: 1300 22 4636 Free mental health support and assistance for depression and anxiety.
- Suicide Call Back Service
www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au Ph: 1300 659 467
- Head to Help - headtohelp.org.au Ph 1800 595 212
- Your local doctor or medical centre.
