Welcome

A very warm welcome to the 2020 school year. I trust that you’ve had an enjoyable break and are looking forward to all that this year will bring.

We’ve had a really good start to the year. As always there’s a real buzz around the school as students catch up after the break, meet new teachers, get to know the students in their class, and once again settle into the patterns of school and study. It is great to see that everyone is positive and ready to do their best.

The focus for our opening assembly was servant leadership. We listened to the story of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples at the last supper and reflected on our call to serve and love as Jesus did.

At the assembly, our School Captains, Sonany Istaifo and Jude Sef shared some of their hopes for the year. They invited all of us to be the best version of ourselves this year, and to help those around us to be the best that they can.

While we were on holidays……

For most of us January was a time to kick back and to enjoy a break. However, during this time our cleaning and maintenance staff, and a host of contractors were very busy getting the school ready for the 2020 school year.

With the move of the office in preparation for the building project, and flood damage from the torrential rain in late January, it has been a big task. Improvement projects include:

• Shade and seating on the oval.
• New furniture for the Year 7 rooms
• The installation of artificial turf in the school yard.
• An upgrade of the basketball half court and four square courts
• Strengthening of the mezzanine level in the hall to accommodate the additional gym equipment purchased last year.

I thank all who were involved in these tasks but particularly our property manager, Adrian Norton, grounds and maintenance staff, Hasi and Michael, and our cleaning staff Rossi, Angie, Marcos and Mirtha. All went above and beyond to ensure the school was ready for Day 1. I am sure that students and their families really appreciate the work you’ve done on our behalf.

Our best thanks will be to take good care of the facilities.

Thank you to families

A very big thank you to all families for all you’ve done in the background to ensure a smooth start to the year. It’s a busy time as you sort through booklists, buy and label uniforms and once again establish the routines of the school term, especially after the more relaxed life of the holidays. All this takes planning, energy and patience. Thank you.

The importance of good routines, adequate sleep, eating well and having all the materials needed for school should never be underestimated.

New families

On behalf of the school community I’d like to extend a very warm welcome to the students and families who have joined our school community this year, particularly our Year 7 students.

The start of secondary school is an important milestone; something that students look forward to with great anticipation and excitement. I hope that your start has been a smooth one, that you already feel ‘at home’.

We look forward to meeting Year 7 families at the Family Nights which take place in a few weeks.

As well as the new students at Year 7 we also have students joining us at Years 8, 9 and 10. These students and their families come from diverse places: overseas, interstate, other areas of Melbourne and neighbouring schools. You are indeed very welcome.  

New Staff

It is with great pleasure that I welcome Mr Christopher Dib to our staff. Chris will be teaching Physical Education, Health and Outdoor Education. He also joins the Year 8 Pastoral Team as 8 Clark’s pastoral care teacher. Chris knows the school well as he completed a teaching placement at the College in 2018. We wish him every blessing as he joins our school community.

Mobile Phone Policy

Families are reminded of the College mobile policy. Mobile phones and earphones must be turned off and out of sight from 8.40am – 3.10pm.

We advise students to hand in their phone/earphones at the office when they come to school in the morning. Alternatively, they can be stored in lockers.

The response to this policy in 2019 was excellent and we expect that this continues in 2020. It is interesting that a similar policy is being introduced in Government schools this year. I thank all students and families for their support in this matter.

Opening Mass

Our opening mass will be held on Thursday 20 February at 9.30am at Sacred Heart Church.  At the end of the mass we will induct our 2020 School Leaders. I’d like to invite all families to join us if you have the time.

Contact with the School

At different times during the year families may wish to chat with staff regarding their child. This may be to raise a concern, to share information that might assist teachers or simply to share a ‘good news story’. We encourage you to do this.

The initial contact for pastoral matters is always the Pastoral Care teacher, then the Year Level Leader. For learning matters it is the subject teacher and/or pastoral care teacher. The names of Pastoral Care teachers and Year Level Leaders are printed below. Our office will help with the names of subject teachers when you ring.

Staff try to return calls or respond to emails as quickly as possible, however, I’m sure that you’ll appreciate that sometimes it’s difficult to do this immediately due to teaching commitments. If the matter is urgent and the PC teacher or Year Level Leader is not available, parents / guardians might like to speak with Mr Kevin Quinn (Deputy Principal Pastoral Care) or Ms Grace Cini (Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching).

Some families prefer email to phone contact. Staff email addresses follow a consistent pattern: the initial of their first name followed by their surname and then @crcstalbans.com.au.

Alternatively, emails sent to the College email enquiries@crcstalbans.com.au will be forwarded to the appropriate staff member.

Student Diary

All students have received their diary. As this is an important avenue of communication between home and school we ask all parents / guardians to check diaries at least once a week.

Supervision

Parents and students are advised that the College grounds are supervised on a daily basis from 8.20am to 3.20pm, except on Wednesday when supervision commences at 8.30am and concludes at 3.20pm.

Outside these hours there are sometimes special activities, practices or events. For these parents are notified through the weekly newsletter or a special letter.

Parents need to know that students who arrive prior to 8.20am on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and 8.30am on Wednesday or who leave after 3.20pm are not supervised.

The library is open until 4.30pm on Monday – Thursday and 4.00pm on Friday. Students are able to complete homework or read quietly in this space if they need to wait for parents.

MacKillop Pins

At the open assembly we recognised a number of students for academic excellence in 2019.

The Mary MacKillop pin is awarded to the top 10 students at each year level. Results from Semester 1 and 2 are considered in selecting these students.

I’d like to congratulate all students who received a MacKillop Pin. You are indeed a talented group! Excellence is never an accident or luck. In Edison’s words it is about 1 per cent inspiration and 99 per cent perspiration, or in other words, hard work.

Recipients of the MacKillop pin generally have the ability to stick at things and to work hard even when the work is not immediately enjoyable. They know that learning is about making mistakes and learning from them. They’re focussed, seek help, use feedback and constantly look for ways to do better. Well done on working hard throughout the year and doing everything to be the best you can be. Your pin is well deserved.

I’d also like to congratulate all the students who were not recognised with a pin, but who know that what they achieved last year was their very best. Well done!

Recipients of the Mary MacKillop Pin for 2019 were:

Year 7

Ana Markic, My Nguyen, Hoang-Quan Tran, Kimberly Vo, Laticia Nguyen, Amadeus Wejak, Tommy Pham, Amber Nguyen, Jessica Lam, Emily Kio, Laeisha Catayong, and Veronica Le.

Year 8

Leo Thinh, Matthew Le, Genevieve Durand Deslongrais, Sacreana Ulugia-Sa'ena, Dustin Nguyen, Madison Talevska, Gyan Valenton, Julie Pham, Jana Mikela Jacob and Hai An Vo.

Year 9

Angel Catayong, Katie Vu, Khristyl Love Aguila, Jordan Mo, Yousif Shemiss, Olivia Barisic, Rejoyce Modi, Sonany Istaifo, Vivi Nguyen, Alessia Lo Guarro and Joseph Phan.

Year 10

Samantha Smith, Dennis Truong, Arabella Celine Julian, Benjamin Carville, Hannah Nguyen, Keijin Dizon, Annie Pham, Vivian Dang, Rhanel Hao, Julia Cabaldon and Jessica Tran.

2019 Learning Bursaries

As well as the MacKillop Pin we also awarded a learning bursary for the DUX (student with the most outstanding academic results for each year level). The recipients of these awards for 2019 were:

Year 7:    My Nguyen

Year 8:    Gyan Valenton

Year 9:    Sonany Istaifo

Year 10:  Hannah Nguyen

Congratulations to these students. Each had a terrific year and achieved results of which they should be very proud. We hope that each student uses the prize in some way towards their education.

Kwong Lee Dow Scholar 2019

Congratulations to Hannah Nguyen on being accepted into the Kwong Lee Dow Scholars program at Melbourne University. Hannah has achieved excellent results throughout the year and has been involved in a range of co-curricular activities. She is a worthy recipient.

Congratulations

It is always great to hear about the many achievements of our students outside of school. Amadeus Wejak (8 Attard) studies Indonesian at the Victorian School of Language. Late last year he received an award in recognition of his consistent effort and very high achievement in his Indonesian studies. This is a terrific achievement. Well done Amadeus.

Fr. James Wall Bursary

Each year the Catholic Development Fund awards learning bursaries to four Year 10 students in Catholic secondary schools. We are delighted that Augustine Morris Jnr (10 O’Connell 2019) has been selected as a 2019 recipient.

The bursary is awarded to young people who demonstrate high levels of leadership and service, are inclusive, and work to make a difference, both at the school and in the community. Throughout his time at the College, Augustine has done all of the above. With students and staff, he proposed and set up an afterschool health club; lobbied the Victorian government for free public transport for young people, and developed a proposal to renew our school yard. Augustine is an elite athlete, representing Victoria in athletics, was a lead in last year’s school production, led Corbett house and gave 100% to his studies.

At Wednesday’s assembly he received the College gold (McMyler) pin in acknowledgement of this achievement.

Williams Cup

Congratulations to Corbett House on winning the 2019 Williams Cup. It was a very close race all year with the cup being decided at the final event, the Years 7 and 8 Ball Sports Day.

Final points for 2019 were as follows:

1. Corbett                128
2. Guelen                 122
3. Reis                        117
4. O’Reilly                 101

Competition for the 2020 Williams Cup kicks off in the next few weeks with Inter-house Swimming and Project Compassion. We wish each House the very best.

Changes in contact details

Families are reminded that the school needs to be notified immediately that there are changes to phone contact details or addresses.

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:

• Day 1 for Year 7 students
• Year 7 Sunnystones Day
• Year 8 and 9 Family Nights
• MacKillop Assembly
• Multicultural inclusion workshop

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.

Please Note:     

Year 10 students finish at the College on Thursday 26 November but have an Orientation program at CRC Sydenham from Monday 30 November to the Friday 4 December.

Mid-year exams (Years 9 and 10):

9 June – 16 June 2020

End of year exams (Years 9 and 10):

18 Nov – 25 November 2020

Families planning to travel in the middle of the year or at the end of 2020 are asked to note that exams and the Orientation program at Sydenham are compulsory. Exams must be taken within the exam timetable. They cannot be taken before or after the exam week.

Please do not book travel before:

• 16 June in the middle of the year (Years 9 and 10)
• 4 December for Year 11 2021 students (Year 10 2020)
• 25 November for Year 9 students.