Sunday marks the beginning of Advent; the beginning of a new Church year and a time of anticipation and preparation.

Now that lockdown restrictions have eased, we are all looking forward to the holidays, Christmas and time with family and friends. Once again, we feel that sense of anticipation, of good things to come. However, as our world opens up, expectations return and the ‘to do list’ grows. Christmas catch ups, present buying, traffic frenzy, holiday planning, people to remember and so much more. Lockdown resolutions of a quieter, gentler life are a distant memory.

My hope for you in Advent 2020 is that amid the hype, you find time to experience the quiet anticipation and peaceful wonder of the season, and the space to reflect on how you might make Jesus present in our world. May there be silent moments and calm days. As you pray during Advent this year, may the season draw you closer to God.

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. It is fitting that our College pins for Community Involvement (McAuley) and Academic Excellence (MacKillop) are named after the founders of the two orders.

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 awards 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.

Each year we recognise students who’ve made an outstanding contribution to the school and broader community with a Catherine McAuley pin. Points towards this award are accumulated throughout the year and about 10 students at each level receive a pin at the final school assembly.

Congratulations to this year’s recipients – they are an outstanding group of young people. In a year like no other, they have taken up and sought out opportunities to live a full life, despite the restrictions of COVID, given much to the school and broader community, and have kept us connected. Their kindness, thoughtfulness, care, commitment, involvement and school spirit has been outstanding.

Recipients of the Catherine McAuley Pin for 2020 are……

Year 7:

Audrey Gerada

Kayden Luzar

Liam Sid Lim-It

Charlotte Gerada

Evan Barisic

Maya Pion

Roger Louis

Sierra Lynch

Vicky Huynh

Kayla Lay

Year 8: 

Jessica Lam

John Bryton Santiago

Caelen Khoo

My Nguyen

Fadi Makdessijarjis

Andy Bui

Adenline Tran 

Ana Markic

Tommy Pham

Eleanore Durand Deslongrais

Year 9:

Sacreana Ulugia-Sa'ena

Melisa Nguyen

Tri Truong

Christian Tapauala-Unasa

Jana Mikela Jacob

Arasema Teshome

Hilary Ho

Dustin Nguyen

Nikoa Markic

Aiden Dang

Debra Stevens

Year 10:

Rhaven Hao

Angel Catayong

Emily Gerada

Olivia Barisic

Alessia Lo Guarro

Nhi Nguyen

Sonanay Istaifo

Megan Flores

Rejoyce Modi

Marsel Eshaq

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 Cindy (Nhi) Nguyen (10 O’Connell) who is this year’s recipient of the Long Tan Leadership Award. Cindy is an excellent role model, an outstanding leader and is always ready to give her time, has initiative and the ability to get things done. Well done Cindy.

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. This year the award was given to Tommy Pham (8 Orifici). Congratulations Tommy.

School Captains 2021

On behalf of the school community I would like to thank our 2020 School Captains: Sonany Istaifo and Jude Sef, and the Vice Captains: Cindy Nguyen and Loang Aweng for their great work as leaders in our school. Throughout the year they’ve contributed in a very real and practical way to keeping the community connected through remote learning 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 2021 are Sacreana Ulugia-Sa’ena and Cayden Aguila. Our Captains will be assisted in their role by Alexandra Chau and Tri Truong 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 Jesse Renda, Anna-Maria Borlace, Sonany Istaifo and Jude Sef for all their work as members of the selection panel.

Farewell Year 10 2020

At our final assembly our Year 10 2020 students were farewelled by our 2021 School Captains. Thank you to Sacreana and Cayden 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 way they have kept the community connected throughout this difficult year.

Jude and Sonany 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.

As I write this newsletter, preparations are under way for tonight’s Graduation. For all of us, students, families and teachers, Year 10 Graduation always brings mixed emotions, sadness that it’s time to part, trepidation about the unknown future, but most importantly we all feel a deep sense of satisfaction at a job well done. Tonight will be no different. We are farewelling an outstanding group of young people. It has been a real privilege to work with them.

End of Year Arrangements for Years 7 - 9

Monday 30 November to Wednesday 2 December are normal school days and students are expected to attend in full uniform, with the required books and be prepared to finalise their work.

On Thursday 3 December Years 7 - 9 students will enjoy level based offsite activities days.

Students in Years 7 – 9 finish school on Friday 4 December. They are required to be at school by 8.40am (normal time) and will be dismissed at 12.15pm.

Enrolment for 2021

If a student in Years 7, 8 or 9 is not continuing at the College in 2021, we ask that their family notifies us as soon as possible. Please email echalmers@crcstalbans.com.au or ring Eileen Chalmers on 9366 2544 with this information.

Your assistance with this is much appreciated as we have a waiting list at some levels and would like to let these families know sooner, rather than later.

Newsletter

In Term 4 the newsletter will continue to be published online only. Families will receive a SMS with a link to the newsletter, and students will receive the newsletter by email.

Newsletter Days for Term 4 2020:         

Fridays:             18 December

The newsletter can always be accessed on the College website at http://www.crcstalbans.catholic.edu.au