Advent: A time of Waiting, Anticipation and Preparation

Sunday marks the beginning of Advent; the beginning of the Church’s litugical year and a time of anticipation and preparation.

Advent is sometimes described as a season of waiting. In modern life we are used to waiting. We wait at the doctor’s. We wait in traffic. We wait in line to be served at the local coffee shop. Advent is waiting also but not in the zoned-out way like we might wait at the supermarket, the anxious way we wait for test results or our impatient waiting in traffic. Advent is an active waiting, a time of anticipation, a time when the Church prepares physically and spiritually—for the coming of the Christ child.

Anticipation is a feeling we know well at this time of the year. We are counting down to many things: to the end of school, to the holidays and to Christmas. We live in constant anticipation of what is happening next. However, in the busyness of this time we also need to remember the point of the season; the birth of Christ. As a community of believers it is important to prepare personally and as a parish community for the birth of Christ. I pray that in the next few weeks, you will be blessed with the space to watch, wait and prepare.

Catherine McAuley Pins

In the College library we have a plaque from 1978 which recognises the contribution of the Sisters of Mercy and the Sisters of St Joseph in establishing primary and secondary education in the St Albans area. The quote from Catherine McAuley on the plaque reads as follows:

It is not for us to bestow gifts like benevolent people in the world but rather to bestow ourselves (1778 – 1841)

These words of Catherine McAuley capture well the spirit of our McAuley pins and the qualities we look for in the recipients. At CRC we encourage young people to be generous with their time and gifts; to look beyond themselves to the needs of others and to work for the common good. They are called to be responsible, compassionate and active citizens who know that they can make a difference, even if it is only one small step at a time. 

Throughout the year students have many opportunities to be involved in learning beyond the classroom and to contribute to the community. This happens through service, leadership, fundraising, sport, the Arts, extension programs and clubs.  I’d like to thank all students for the way they’ve participated and been involved in 2019.

Each year we recognise students who’ve made an outstanding contribution to the school and broader community with a Catherine McAuley pin.

Congratulations to the recipients of the 2019 Catherine McAuley pin. You are indeed people who make a difference and your willingness to lead, challenge, put in and to be part of things is very much appreciated. Thank you.

Thank you to all the families who were able to join us for the assembly and morning tea.  Your presence, support and encouragement are very much appreciated.

Recipients of the Catherine McAuley Pin for 2019 are……

Caelen Khoo, Amadeus Wejak, Mary Ann Shemiss, Reuben Rock, Hilary Ho, Melisa Nguyen, Olivia Barisic, Elisha Gomes, Rhanel Hao, Lydia Asmerom, David Do, Eleanore Durand Deslongrais, Gregory Estepa, Amber Nguyen, Calven Lipec, Matthew Le, Sarah Pham, Adongluge Fadiet, Miranda Gangur, Delvana Dorbor, Jessica Tran, Julia Cabaldon, Liora Acone, Sasha Bangit, Ana Markic, Sacreana Ulugia-Sa'ena, Genevieve Durand Deslongrais, Juswin Ramachandran, Nhi (Cindy) Nguyen, Emily Gerada, Brandon Khoo, Augustine Morris Jnr, Hannah Nguyen, Tommy Pham, Andy Bui, Tri Truong, Hai An Vo, Aiden Dang, Sonany Istaifo, Amy Ruel, Rejoyce Modi, Arabella Celine Julian and Samantha Smith.

Long Tan Leadership Award

Each year the Australian Defence Force provides a scholarship to recognise a Year 10 student who demonstrates outstanding leadership and teamwork within the school and in the broader community. This student must also demonstrate strong values such as respect for others, always striving to do their best and the best characteristics of mateship.

Congratulations to Jessica Tran who is this year’s recipient of the Long Tan Leadership Award.

Caltex All Rounder Award

This award acknowledges a student at Year 7 or 8 for their all-round contribution to the school and the community. Congratulations to Sacreana Ulugia-Sa’ena (8 Clark) on being the 2019 recipient of this award.

Loaves and Fishes Food Bank

A highlight of our final assembly was the presentation of a cheque for $8,600 to Charlie from the ‘Loaves and Fishes Food Bank’ at Holy Eucharist. Throughout the year students and staff help out at the food bank on Fridays. Led by Charlie, an amazing group of volunteers collects, parcels and distributes 200+ food packages each week. Where possible, produce from our school garden is added or sold to raise funds to purchase food staples like rice.

The Food Bank is in need of a new refrigerated van to assist with home deliveries. We hope that our contribution will go some small way to meeting this need.

Our fundraising efforts were led by our Social Justice Captains and the Student Leaders. Congratulations to all involved on an outstanding effort.

Year 7 Giving Tree Appeal

Continuing the theme of thinking of others – the Year 7 classes are collecting Christmas gifts to be distributed by Caroline Chisholm Society. This year we are focussing on Christmas hamper foods like hams, puddings and cakes, and gifts for children up to 12 years of age. I encourage you to support this very worthwhile work and thank the Year 7 House Council for leading this initiative.

Year 8 Premier League Volleyball

Congratulations to the Year 8 Boys’ Volleyball Team who has a fantastic win in the grand final of the Premier League volleyball last Friday. In a very tight battle with St Monica’s, they won 15 – 13 in the final set. We are thrilled for the team and their coach, Mr Connor. Throughout the tournament, they not only played some great volleyball but always worked well as a team and held themselves to the highest levels of sportsmanship. We are very proud of each of them. Congratulations to:

Nameer Alsakat, Aiden Dang, Matthew Le, Leo Thinh, and Tri Truong, 8 Attard

Christian Tapuala-Unasa, 8 Clark

Gabriel Montes De Oca, Hilton Tran and Van Lung Kan, 8 Edison

Ryan Tran and Leon Truong, 8 Hollows

Rabee Attallah, 8 Orifici

School Captains 2020

On behalf of the school community I would like to thank our 2019 School Captains: Arabella Julian and Rhanel Hao, and the Vice Captains: Jessica Tran and Dennis Truong for their great work as leaders in our school. Throughout the year they’ve contributed in a very real and practical way to making our school a great place and in ensuring that students ‘have a voice’ on many issues. I thank them for their time, generosity and willingness to serve our community.

It is with great pleasure that I can now announce that our School Captains for 2020 are Sonany Istaifo and Jude Sef. Our Captains will be assisted in their role by Cindy Nguyen and Loang Aweng who will be Vice Captains. They are a talented and impressive group of young people and I look forward to working with them next year.

We were privileged to have a fine field of candidates for these roles and the final decision was a difficult one. Thank you to all who applied for this important leadership role and to Emily Gerada, Alex Gebremichael, Rhanel Hao and Arabella Julian for all their work as members of the selection panel.

Farewell Year 10 2019

At our final assembly our Year 10 2019 students were farewelled by our 2020 School Captains. Thank you to Sonany and Jude who spoke so well about the contributions the Year 10 students have made over the past four years. They highlighted the leadership, hospitality and school spirit the Year 10 students have shown, and the sense of peace, welcome and inclusion they’ve helped to create in our school.

Arabella and Rhanel responded on behalf of the Year 10 students, thanking staff, students and families for their support and reflecting on their time at the College; the many terrific experiences they’ve had and how these have helped shape who they are today.

This evening we farewell Year 10 2019 more formally at the Year 10 mass and Graduation.

End of Year Arrangements for Years 7 - 9

Monday 2 to Wednesday 4 December are normal school days and students are expected to attend in full uniform and prepared to finalise their work.

On Thursday 5 December Years 7 and 8 students will enjoy the annual Ball Sports Day. This is the last chance for Houses to gain points towards the 2019 Williams Cup. Year 9 students will enjoy their final Trinity Day which includes skating at the Medibank Icehouse.

Students in Years 7 – 9 finish school on Friday 6 December. They are required to be at school by 8.40am (normal time) and will be dismissed at 12.15pm.

Gratitude: Shared Stories Anthology 2018

The 2019 edition of Shared Stories was launched on Wednesday. This is an annual anthology of writing and art work by students in 26 Catholic primary and secondary schools. The anthology forms part of the permanent collection of the State Library of Victoria.

For writers and artists there is no greater honour than to have your work published. Well done to all the students who have had their work included.

This is the 14^th edition of Shared Stories. The anthology was first published in 2006 with funding from the Felton Bequest. The concept was developed in response to the Cronulla riots in Sydney, as an authentic way of sharing perspectives across diverse groups.

From 72 pages it has grown into a massive tomb of 573 pages, far too heavy for bedtime reading, however, an exceptional collection of writing and art work.

Thank you to the English and Visual Arts teachers for supporting student involvement in this activity.

Lost Property

We have many items of lost property in the school office. If any student has lost an item of uniform you are asked to see Denise Geraldo before the end of the year.

Items not collected by the last day of Term 4 will be placed into the second hand uniform pool.

It is concerning that a large number of these items of uniform cannot be returned to their owner as they are not named!

2020 Re-enrolment

The re-enrolment forms for 2020 are now overdue. I ask that the families with an outstanding form return it as soon as possible.

Report Preparation Day: Friday 29 November

Whilst assessment and finalisation of reports continue into the last week of term 4, Friday 29 November is set aside for staff to mark exams and to begin the preparation of reports. Year 10 students will have finished by the date and students in Years 7 - 9 will not be required at school.

Re-enrolment for 2020

A number of families still need to return the re-enrolment form for next year. These are now overdue. I ask that you do so as soon as possible, as we have a number of enrolment applications at each level to finalise.

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:

• Shared Stories launch
• McAuley Awards assembly
• Year 11 alumni dinner
• Years 9 and 10 exams
• Year 7 Health excursions
• ANZCA music exams
• Year 10 picnic
• Trinity Arts rotation performance afternoon

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.