Thank You

As we draw to the end of what has been an action packed 10 weeks, I would like to thank students, staff and families for all your work and support throughout the term.  As we look back over the first semester, we can feel well pleased with all we’ve done and achieved. I am continually amazed by everyone’s generosity, openness and willingness to help in any way they can. We look forward to an equally good second semester.

I am sure that everyone is looking forward to the break and the chance to spend time with family and friends. Enjoy every minute, and come back refreshed and ready for a big Term 3.

Refugee Week

This week marks Refugee Week across Australia. In our community many people have experienced displacement due to war or persecution, whether this be in post war Europe or, as a result, of more recent conflicts in Vietnam, on the African continent, in the Middle East, or in South America.

Too often, when we think about migration, refugees, international students and asylum seekers we think about the cost, the burden, and about what we are called to give or give up. However, we forget about what all these people bring to our communities. We forget that at some time most of us, or our families, have also come from somewhere else. Migrants and refugees do not come empty handed. They come to us with an abundance of gifts, experiences and wisdom. Imagine our country without the rich influences of people who have come here from all parts of the world.

Refugee Week is an opportunity to give thanks for the many different cultures that make up our Australian community. In our own school: staff, students and their families come from over thirty different cultural and ethnic groups. We are indeed a richer and luckier school community because of this. It is also a chance to pause and reflect on how well we, as individuals, as local and parish communities and as a nation, welcome strangers. Do we open the door when they knock? Do we reach out or are we indifferent to their plight? Do we stand in solidarity or run in fear? Do we recognise Christ in the strangers we meet?

Farewell and Welcome

This week we farewell Ms Gabi Bond who leaves us to prepare for the birth of her second child in a few weeks. We wish Gabi and her husband, Jarryd, all the best at this very exciting time.

Ms Lin Lin will replace Gabi in teaching the Academic English program. We are delighted to welcome Lin back. Many students will know Lin as she worked at the College last year.

Middle Eastern Cultural Night

Two weeks ago, we enjoyed a terrific night of food, music and dancing with our Iraqi and Syrian families. Close to 200 people joined us for the Hafla (party) organised by students and families. It was lots of fun and a great opportunity to learn about the Iraqi and Syrian culture. Thank you to our hosts, to the mums who prepared the food, to Ms Carmel Kelly and the Intensive English class who did much of the planning for the night, and to Ms Laura Cioccia and Ms Louna Ghawi who worked tirelessly in the background to draw the night together.

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 you have shown. Each team can boast that they did their absolute best and that they continually improved throughout the season. Thank you to all staff who have taken training and accompanied the teams each week.

Years 9 and 10 Exams

I would like to congratulate students in Years 9 and 10 on their excellent approach to the recent exams. They were well prepared and managed themselves in a mature and responsible manner throughout the week.

With each experience of exams, students develop better approaches to their studies. As we look forward and begin to prepare for Semester 2, it is important to remember that the best preparation for exams begins in the first lesson of the semester, not the night before the exam!

Later in the newsletter, you will find Speech Box, a news item from our speech pathologists. In this edition, they present information about RIDER (Read, Image, Describe, Evaluate and Repeat) which is a great technique for remembering. Students and families may wish to add this to their study tool box.

End of Term 2

Term 2 will end on Friday 28 June. Classes will finish at 3.05pm. Students in Years 7 – 9 will have normal classes and Year 10 students will be visiting a range of Tertiary institutions, in preparation for Years 11 and 12 course planning which happens in the first half of Term 3.

Start of Term 3

Term 3 will commence on Tuesday 16 July 2019. Please note this will be Day 2 of the Semester 2 timetable.

There will be a new timetable in Semester 2. Students can access their new timetable through the SIMON Learning Management System in the second week of the school holidays.

Save the Dates:

Year 10 Families

In the early part of Term 3 Year 10 students will be selecting their courses for Year 11. This brings to a conclusion much of the planning and preparation that they have already done in the Chrysalis program and in their preparation for Work Experience.

Year 10 families need to be aware of some key dates related to course planning for Years 11 and 12. Each activity is designed to support students in planning for the next two years and in their transition to CRC Sydenham. It is very important that Year 10 students and their families attend all activities. Please note these in your diary.

Wednesday 31 July:

Sydenham Open Evening and Careers Expo

Tuesday 13 August:

Course Planning Day at CRC St Albans

Since our last newsletter…..

Over and above the day to day activities of the school since our last newsletter students, families and staff have participated in the following:

• Trinity community service
• Years 9 and 10 exams
• Year 7 swimming.
• Year 7 Visual Arts excursion
• Trinity Performing Arts rotations
• Year 10 Drama / Music Night
• Rehearsals for the school production
• STEM Club
• Health and Fitness Club
• Volleyball Club
• Titration Stakes
• Otaku Club

I am sure that students and their families are very appreciative of all these opportunities and the time and energy that staff put into organising and offering these experiences.