National Careers Week 13th - 19th May

National Careers Week is an initiative of the Career Industry Council of Australia and aims to celebrate careers, career development, career development services, and career development practitioners.

It also promotes the economic, social and personal benefits of career development for all Australians.

To celebrate this week the school community is invited to be part of the events we will be running during this week. Any students wishing to attend these events will need to express interest by filling in the following google form:

https://forms.gle/b1bu8RtFJoBqURBw6

Events

Monday 13th May  (Lunchtime)

AIE (Academy of Interactive Design) - Guest Speaker  https://aie.edu.au/

The Academy of Interactive Entertainment offers Game Design Courses, Game Art Courses, Game Programming Courses, 3D Animation Courses and VFX for Film. Come along to this lunchtime event to find out more on what they have to offer in this technology field.

Tuesday 14th May  (Period 3)

Mindflight 7 Virtual Reality - Immersive experience https://www.mindflight7.com.au/

Harnessing the power of immersive Virtual Reality technology, Mindflight7 provides career guidance and subject specific learning experiences for Australian school students. This event is limited to 20 students.

Wednesday 15th May  (Lunchtime)     

Police Force - Guest Speaker  https://www.police.vic.gov.au/careers   

Make a difference every day in a role as a police officer, protective services officer (PSO), police custody officer (PCO), or Victorian Public Service (VPS) employee. 

ADF - Guest Speaker  https://www.adfcareers.gov.au/

Ready for a career unlike any other? Work with one of the world's leading military organisations helping communities and supporting international operations.

Thursday 16th May  (7pm - 8pm)    

Year 9 Parents as Career Partners Evening

An important evening for Year 9 students and their families to find out information about future pathways and career resources. This evening is delivered as an introduction to career pathways and sets out to empower students and families with the skills they need to navigate career information, career tools and websites to build career knowledge and prepare for Year 10 subject selection. 

Friday 17th May (Lunchtime)

Career Websites to empower students to explore pathways 

Come along to this event with your laptop. During this time you will be able to see a range of career platforms available for you to use to begin your exploration of career pathways. You will be given short tutorials to assist you in completing short surveys and navigating your way through these platforms to build your career knowledge.

All students wanting to attend these events must fill in the Google form by Friday 10th May so that we can best prepare for each of these events.

Melbourne Careers Expo - Free Ticket

Download your free ticket for the Melbourne Careers Expo being held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre in July.

Pastoral Care Program

Catholic Regional College Pastoral Care program provides a sequenced curriculum from Years 7 to 10 using a multimodal approach designed to develop the achievement and wellbeing of the whole person (spiritually, intellectually, morally, physically, socially and emotionally).

Our Pastoral Care program centres around the social-emotional learning (SEL) model, a school-based organisational framework through which students learn to become lifelong learners who recognise, reflect and manage their emotions and empathise with others.

Our Pastoral Care program fosters the development of positive relationships. It provides opportunities for students to grow from challenging experiences to contribute positively to their community and flourish as responsible global citizens.

Term 2 Concepts and Themes

Year 7 – Building Community: Sharing

Year 8 – Respectful Relationships and Teamwork

Year 9 – Courage – Bravery

Year 10 – Careers and Pathways

Embracing Screen-Free Day: A Step Towards Digital Well-being

As we write this newsletter, our school community is eagerly preparing for our upcoming Screen Free Day. Set to take place on Friday 10^th May, this initiative marks a significant milestone in our journey towards promoting digital wellbeing and balance in our lives.

Screen Free Day presents a unique opportunity for individuals to disconnect from digital devices and engage in alternative activities that foster creativity, connection, and mindfulness. By temporarily stepping away from screens, students and staff alike can reap numerous benefits, including:

• Promoting Physical Health: Screen Free Day encourages physical activity and movement, reducing the sedentary behaviour associated with prolonged screen time. Whether it's outdoor games, sports, or simply taking a walk, participants have the chance to prioritise their physical wellbeing.
• Enhancing Mental Wellbeing: Constant exposure to screens can contribute to feelings of stress, anxiety, and being overwhelmed. Taking a break from screens allows individuals to recharge mentally, fostering a sense of calm and relaxation.
• Encouraging Face-to-Face Interaction: Screen Free Day creates opportunities for meaningful face-to-face interactions and social connections. Whether it's engaging in conversations with peers, playing board games, or collaborating on creative projects, participants can strengthen relationships and build a sense of community.
• Fostering Creativity and Imagination: Without the distractions of screens, individuals can tap into their creativity and imagination. From arts and crafts activities to storytelling sessions, Screen Free Day encourages participants to explore new hobbies and interests.
• Promoting Digital Literacy and Balance: By experiencing life beyond screens, participants develop a greater awareness of their digital habits and the importance of balance in their use of technology. Screen Free Day serves as a reminder to prioritise offline experiences and maintain a healthy relationship with screens.

We are committed to supporting the wellbeing of our students, staff, and families. In line with this commitment, we plan to run a Screen Free Day once a term in our school community, providing regular opportunities for digital detox and reflection.

We invite all members of our school community to embrace Screen Free Day wholeheartedly, and we look forward to experiencing the many benefits it brings.

Extra-curricular Activities at CRC St Albans

Participating in extracurricular activities in secondary schools is important for students to grow both academically and personally. These activities offer students the opportunity to develop a range of skills, including leadership, teamwork, time management, and communication, which are essential for success in the future.

Extracurricular activities also provide students with a sense of belonging and the chance to pursue their passions and interests outside of the classroom. These experiences can lead to meaningful relationships, new perspectives, and opportunities for personal growth. Extracurricular activities are a central aspect of CRC St Albans education that provides students with a well-rounded experience, helping them to develop their full potential and achieve their goals.

Students who engage in extra-curricular activities will be recognised with a commendation and points will be allocated towards McAuley Award.

We have a vast range of activities for students to participate in during lunch-time or after-school. If you would like further information, please do not hesitate to speak to the supervising teacher identified below or check our daily bulletin for further information.

Extra-Curricular Program 2024

Cyber Safety Awareness Evening: A Resounding Success!

We're thrilled to share the success of our recent Cyber Safety Awareness Evening held on Tuesday, May 7th, in collaboration with The Cyber Safety Project. This event wouldn't have been possible without their invaluable support and collaboration, and we extend our deepest appreciation to them.

The event saw an overwhelming response, thanks to the hard work and dedication of our Multicultural Education Aides: Atem George, Manal Hadeed, Teresa Tran, and supported by our interpreter, Van Cer Hnem. Their tireless efforts, along with the support of our incredible families, played a significant role in making this evening a success.

The feedback received from both our Multicultural Education Aides and the attending families has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the importance of such initiatives within our community.

The Cyber Safety Project played a pivotal role in shaping the success of our event by providing comprehensive training sessions to our Multicultural Education Aides. These sessions were skilfully tailored to cater to the diverse cultural backgrounds of our families, making the content relatable and easily understood.

The culturally sensitive approach taken by The Cyber Safety Project was highly appreciated by our attendees, making the information more relevant and accessible. We're grateful for their efforts in building the confidence of our Multicultural Education Aides and empowering them to deliver presentations that deeply resonated with our community.

We're pleased to share visuals from the event, serving as cherished memories for our participants and showcasing the collaborative efforts that made this evening a resounding triumph.

A heartfelt thank you to our families who attended! Together, we look forward to continuing our journey towards fostering a safer digital landscape for our community and empowering more families to take proactive steps in safeguarding our young people.

Catholic Regional College - Collaborating School

This year Catholic Regional College is proudly collaborating with the Cyber Safety Project to facilitate cyber safety education with parents and guardians. By uncovering the risks of learning, connecting and playing online, parents and guardians will be empowered to support their child(ren) with important conversations to navigate the online world safely.

Our Year 7 and 8 educators are equipped with a sequenced cyber safety curriculum mapped to the Victorian framework, which underpins key values for a strong foundation for online safety and digital wellbeing.

The Cyber Safety Project is endorsed by the eSafety Commissioner as a Trusted eSafety Provider. To further support cyber safety education at home, you can find helpful online home safety guides, conversation checklists and resources for creating a safe digital environment at home via cybersafetyproject.com.au

Additional online safety support resources: 

• Report online harms including cyber bullying, image-based abuse or illegal and harmful content - eSafety.gov.au 
• Report child exploitation material to the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation - accce.gov.au
• If your child is immediate danger call 000.

https://forms.gle/8TF4ALWrGH9XG2uV6