Step Back in Time

Congratulations to all involved in last week’s school musical, ‘Step Back in Time’. The very talented cast took us back through time to re-visit the music highlights of the last 60 years. The singing was superb; the dancing and acting were captivating, and the costumes and props were amazing, in fact, the whole experience was just a delight.

A production like this is the work of many hands. Thank you to all the wonderful students who took part, both on stage and behind the scenes. There are just not enough superlatives to express how gifted and generous you are. The many hours of after school and weekend rehearsals were well worth the final experience. You are all such incredibly talented young people. We are in awe of what you’ve achieved.

Thank you to all the staff involved but particularly Mr Clarence Marshall (Writer / Producer / Director), Ms Kristy Liberatore (First Assistant Director/Choreographer), Ms Emma Baldacchino (Second Assistant Director), Ms Georgia Trousdale (Choreographer) and Ms Pauline Corson and Ms Jo Mallia (Costumes) for all your work. There would be have countless unseen hours of planning, preparation and worry in bringing the production together. We hope that you are all well pleased with what you’ve achieved. It was terrific.

Reading, Learning and Wellbeing

This week is Book Week in schools across Australia. I really like this year’s theme which is 'Reading is my Secret Power'. When you think about this, reading does indeed give us secret powers: the power to walk in the shoes of others through their stories; the power to escape into other worlds; the power to visit and experience the world without leaving the couch at home; the power to test our thoughts and opinions; the power to improve our literacy, vocabulary and imagination…the list goes on.

As well as being a secret power, reading also enhances our wellbeing as it gives us the gift of downtime: time to escape from the frenetic pace of life and to decompress. It is interesting that reading for leisure is used as an indicator of wellbeing in the Resilience surveys we use with students.

I wonder how many of us, young people and adults have lost the art of reading for leisure. I know that with work related reading and the ‘rabbit hole’ of social media, I need to make a conscious effort to set aside some time each week to read for enjoyment. When I do, life has a much better balance. Book Week invites us all to re-connect with the world of reading, not only for our learning but for leisure and our wellbeing.

Sad News

Earlier this week we were saddened to hear of the death of Mr Mark Zitterschlager. For 35 years, Mark served the Catholic Regional College community as honorary accountant, was a member of the College Finance committee and the College Council. He was on the original planning committee for the College and part of the very active group of parishioners who lobbied the Archbishop and Catholic Education Melbourne (CEM) for Catholic secondary education in the St Albans area. We are indebted to Mark for his generosity, vision and energy. What this school community is today, is, in no small part due to all he did. Our condolences to his wife, Kathy, and his family.

SACCSS Interschool Track and Field

Best wishes to all the students who are representing the College at the SACCSS Interschool Track and Field on Monday 02 September. Students have been training and trying out for places throughout Term 3. We wish you well.

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:

• Year 7 Classification incursion.
• Year 10 Evolution incursion.
• Years 11 and 12 course planning day (Year 10 students)
• Year 10 Social
• School Production
• Year 8 Discovery Rotations
• Year 9 Premier League
• 100 Story Treehouse excursion (Year 7)
• Year 9 Family Night
• Brimbank Young Researchers project.

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.