Welcome to Term 2

Welcome back for Term 2. Hopefully all families had a good break and are continuing to enjoy the joy and hope of this Easter season.

The opportunity to participate in the Easter ceremonies (albeit in smaller numbers), the chance to celebrate with family and friends, and to get out and about, meant that it was a very different Easter to the one we spent in isolation last year. Our thoughts are with people across the world who are experiencing second, third and fourth waves of COVID.

A quick look at the calendar indicates that we have a big term ahead of us so I hope that everyone is well rested, full of energy and raring to go.

ANZAC Day

On Sunday we mark Anzac Day, the day that Australian and New Zealand soldiers landed at Gallipoli during the First World War. The theme of Anzac Day is ‘Lest we forget’. On this day we remember not only those who gave their lives in this war but also all who have sacrificed their lives in the conflicts that have followed and continue today. We should not remember only the heroism of our service personnel but also the horror of war itself. War can bring out the worst in people – on both sides. This is what violence does. As too many people in our own school community know, the damage to individuals and communities, on all sides of the conflict, lasts for generations.

Anzac Day falls within the Easter season and shares with Easter a hope for a world that lives in peace. One of the recurring themes in the Resurrection stories is peace. As Jesus catches up with his disciples he often greets them with ‘Shalom! Peace be with you’. ’ However, the peace Jesus wishes his friends is not a passive thing or just an absence of conflict and irritation, it is the peace that comes from creating God’s world; a world that focuses on our shared humanity, a world that is just and inclusive; a world where there is a place for everyone; a world where we live in right relationship with each other and our earth.

Both Easter and the Anzac tradition call us to be people who do everything we can to make sure God’s world happens.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

New Staff

With the start of a new term we welcome Ms Jasmine Crisci (Humanities / English) back to our staff. Ms Crisci is well known to many students as she worked at the College in Semester 2, 2020. With Mr David Boudaher (who was with us for a Term 1 replacement position), she is replacing Mr Russo and Mr Connors who are both on leave in Term 2.

We also welcome Mr Damien Marshall who will work as Sports Assistant and in Learning Support, and Mr Kevin Ba who is the new Business Manager for the CRC Federation. He replaces Mr Michael Testa who has taken up a position as Business Manager at CRC Melton.

Michael was with the Federation as Business Manager for eight years. We thank him for his tireless, dedicated and skilled service to the school community through this time and wish him well in his new role. Kevin comes to us with extensive experience in banking, higher education and business. We look forward to working with Kevin.

Each new staff member brings a wealth of experience, many gifts, fresh ideas and a strong commitment to learning and our students. I wish them every blessing as the join our school community.

COVID Safe Update

At the end of last term, the Victorian Government relaxed its COVIDSafe settings.

Changes to the COVIDSafe settings include allowing more visitors in the home, changes to mask wearing in some settings and updates to density limits in some settings. There are limited changes for schools.

Visitors continue to be welcome at our school, however face masks must be carried by individuals 12 years and over at all times and worn when physical distancing of 1.5 metres cannot be maintained.

Individuals aged 12 years and over must continue to wear a face mask when on public transport, school buses and when in taxis or ride share vehicles – unless they have a lawful exemption.

Thank you for your understanding and support throughout this term as we continue to implement COVIDSafe practices at our school.

We look forward to welcoming our students and families back to more school events in Term 2.

School Photos

School Photos will be taken on Monday 26 April. These were postponed in Term 1. Students are asked to ensure that they are in the full formal winter uniform for the photos.

SACCSS Interschool Swimming

Congratulations to all the students who represented our school at the SACCSS Interschool Swimming in the last week of Term 1. We are very proud of this small but dedicated team who not only achieved some fine results but also showed wonderful team spirit and sportsmanship.

Thank you to Ms Andrea Jurcec who ran training for the team, and to Mr Boudaher, Mr Marshall and Mr Donahoo for accompanying the team on the day.

SACCSS Cross Country and Year 7 Premier League

Best wishes to all the students who will participate in the SACCSS Interschool Cross-Country on Tuesday 04 May, and to Year 7 students who start Premier League on Wednesday. We hope that each of you achieves your personal best, participates in the spirit of sportsmanship, and enjoys the experience of representing the College.

Newsletter

The newsletter is published fortnightly on Day 10 (Friday Week 2).

Newsletter Days for Term 2 2021:             

Fridays:                 07 May,     21 May,     04 June,     18 June

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