The Season of Creation

As well as being the first day of spring, the first day of September also marks the start of the Season of Creation. The Season of Creation is the annual Christian celebration of prayer and action for our common home. Together, the ecumenical family around the world unites to pray, protect and advocate for God’s creation.

The College Social Justice team has organised a number of activities to raise awareness and engage students, staff and families in reflection and action.  These include daily prayers reflecting on creation, an Environment Forum on Tuesday afternoon and a competition to design and make a mascot for the zero litter campaign from recycled materials.

Our responsibility to care for creation and to hear the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor is explored by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference in the 2021 – 2022 Social Justice Statement. I would encourage students and families to read the statement which provides a theological foundation for our work in this area. The statement can be accessed by following this link Social Justice Statement 2021. Interestingly, the statement reflects our 2021 school theme.

Signs of Hope

Yet another extension to lockdown and rising numbers of COVID cases can leave us feeling very flat and wondering if it will ever end. Yet, contrary to this, we are surrounded with signs of new life and hope. The fruit trees in the community garden and the crab apples in the school grounds are all in wonderful blossom.

The photo below tells a wonderful story. It is a nectarine tree in our garden. Late last year the trunk of the tree split in two, right to the ground. Many would have thought there was no hope and that the tree was lost. However, Hayden and his trusty garden helpers bolted the trunk together and with care over autumn and winter, the trunk mended and the tree flourished. Both sides are once again in blossom.

This tree could well be a metaphor for our time. We know that this time will pass and with care for each other, we too will come through it and flourish.

Extension to Lockdown

As students and families will know, remote and flexible learning now continues to the end of Term 3, and announcements about Term 4 will be made this week. We will forward a Family Update when more is known.

The ongoing lockdown is testing our resilience and some days it is hard to maintain motivation, however, students, families and staff continue to do their best. Thank you.

Thank you to all (students and staff) who are offering extra activities that keep us connected and engaged. Every week there is lots to do – please check the student bulletin. The SHAPE Challenge, CRC’s Got Talent, Chess, the Yearbook Committee, the school newspaper are just a few activities on offer over the next two weeks.

Fee Relief

The financial impact of lockdown varies from family to family. Some continue to work and are unaffected, however, other parents / carers have been stood down or had their work hours reduced.

We are keen to support families as much as we can. Fee relief is available to all affected families. Please contact our Bursar, Anne Ross so that adjustments can be made. Her contact details are as follows:

PH:   0427 036 925               Email:  aross@crcstalbans.com.au

Father’s Day Breakfast

Yesterday we enjoyed our annual Fathers’ Day breakfast. It was great that a number of dads and important male figures were able to join us with their sons and daughters. Our guest speaker was Dr. Sami Sef, father of Jude (Year 10 2020). Sami shared his reflections on the importance of family, faith and being a father. His is an inspirational and universal story, of leaving the country, his career as a doctor and all he knew, to offer his children a better life in a new land.

In the Q and A after his presentation, students asked about advice Sami might have for fathers. He spoke about the need to be vulnerable; the need to love and live deeply with your children, and the need to know that you are not always right. He attributed his own resilience to patience, looking to the light at the end of the tunnel and most importantly to his faith in God. It was a real privilege to listen to Sami, and we thank him and Rasha, his wife, who assisted as interpreter.

Thank you to our student leaders who did a superb job in hosting the morning, and Ms Cioccia, Ms Liberatore and Mr Quinn for all their work in organising this event. I know that it has taken quite some planning and organisation but it was well worth it.

Happy Father’s Day

We wish all the dads, grandfathers and all father figures in our school community a very happy Father’s Day for Sunday. We remember also the dads who are no longer with us. May all dads know that their unconditional love, support and all that they do for us are very much appreciated, even though we may not say and show this nearly enough.

Newsletter

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

Newsletter Days for Term 3 2021:             

Friday:    17 September

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

Key Dates Term 3 2021

Due to the lockdown extension both the Immersion Day and Year 9 camp have been postponed. A final decision about the camp will be made after next week’s announcements around the return to onsite learning.

Friday 17 September                      Final Day Term 2