In his message for World Migration Day in 2000, Pope John Paul 11, asked us, ‘How can the baptised claim to welcome Christ if they close the door to the foreigner who comes knocking?’.

In a world marked by increasing displacement of people due to war, conflict and persecution, this question is all the more real in 2024. Last week we marked Refugee Week across Australia. It is an opportunity to celebrate the strength, courage and resilience of all who’ve been forced to leave the world they know to build a new life in a ‘foreign’ land. It is also a chance to pause and reflect on how well we, as individuals, as local and parish communities and as a nation, answer their cry – will you let me in? Do we open the door, reach out and work for justice? Do we see Christ in the strangers we meet?

As part of our Refugee Week celebrations, the Animation Team released a short animation that tells the refugee story of one of our families. A link can be found in the Faith Matters section of the newsletter.

Thank You

As we draw to the end of what has been a very good term, I’d like to thank everyone: students, staff and families for all your hard work and support over the last 11 weeks.  This last part of the term has been particularly busy for everyone. Just in the last two weeks we’ve had exams, final assessment tasks, reports and the Year 10 Music and Drama Night. Tomorrow, Year 9 students participate in Trinity and on Thursday we look forward to the Immersion Day where each level heads out for different activities. This includes the Year 10 Tertiary visits, Year 9 City Experience, Year 8 Reflection Day and the Year 7 Galleries and Museums visits. Without a doubt, this break is well deserved.

I wish all students, families and staff an enjoyable and relaxing break.

Year 7 Premier League

This term Year 7 students have been participating in Premier League. Congratulations to all teams on the terrific school spirit and fine sportsmanship they’ve shown. Each team can boast that they did their absolute best and that they continually improved throughout the season.

Congratulations to the Girls Volleyball team who made the semi-finals, and the Boys Volleyball Team who won their semi-final and play St Francis College in the Grand Final on Wednesday.

Thank you for Mr Boudahar (Sports Leader), Mr Fernando (Sports Assistant) and all the coaches and staff for their support of the teams.

Years 9 and 10 Exams

We’d like to congratulate all students in Years 9 and 10 on their excellent approach to the recent exams. They followed instructions, were well prepared and managed themselves in a mature and responsible manner throughout the week.

Thank you to families for all your support during exam week, by being there for your son / daughter, in ensuring that they have the time and space for study but also in dealing with the changed arrangements for the school day.

With each experience of exams, you can see students developing better approaches to their studies. Hopefully, everyone is beginning to see that the best preparation for exams begins in the first lesson of the semester, not the night before the exam!

Year 10 Music Night

In Week 9 we enjoyed a change of pace at the Year 10 Music and Drama Night. Students showcased their work to an audience of family, staff and an external adjudicator. It was a diverse and entertaining program, much enjoyed by all who attended. Congratulations to all students who performed on the night. We admire your skills and the quiet confidence with which you performed. 

I thank all the Year 10 Music and Drama students, and Ms Baldacchino and Mr Marshall, for a very good night, and all the families and staff who came along to support them.

End of Term 2

Term 2 concludes for students on Thursday 27 June 2024 at the normal school finishing time. All students will be participating in an Immersion Day program on this day. Students are not required on Friday 28 June, 2024 as staff will be finalising assessment and preparing Semester 1 reports.

Start of Term 3

Term 3 will commence on Monday 15 July, 2024. Please note this will be Day 1 of the Semester 2 timetable.

There will be a new timetable for Semester 2. This will be available on the SIMON Learning Management System from Friday 12 July 2024.

Friday 26 July 2024: Staff Formation Day

On this day, all staff from the Federation of Catholic Regional College (CRC North Keilor, Sydenham, Caroline Springs and St Albans) will gather at CRC Sydenham for a Staff Formation Day. The day will be led by Dr. Ernesto Valiente, Associate Professor Systematic Theology at Boston College. This will be followed by the Federation mass in the afternoon.

Uniform Shop

Our uniform provider, Academy Uniforms, has moved from Derrimut to Niddrie. Families are asked to note the new details at the end of the newsletter.

Newsletter

The newsletter is published fortnightly and distributed to families electronically on Day 10. Students can access the newsletter via a link in the student bulletin on Monday morning.

Newsletter Days for Term 3 2024:            

Fridays:  26 July,   09 August,  23 August,   06 Sep,  20 Sep                             

The newsletter can also be accessed on Friday afternoon (Day 10) on the College website at http://www.crcstalbans.catholic.edu.au