Welcome Back

Welcome back to Term 4. I hope that everyone had a good break and returns well rested, re-charged and ready for a big final term.

The next few weeks look very busy as we prepare for Image 2022, our annual Arts and Technology Exhibition and the Inter-house Athletics Carnival, both in Week 4.

As we move into the fourth quarter, I encourage students to remain focussed on their studies. It is important to keep on top of things and in the words of football coaches to do the ‘one percenters’ well: use your diary, use class time well, ask questions, set up a study group with friends, complete homework, don’t leave things to the last minute, organise your locker and your study space at home, start exam revision today, meet deadlines, come to class prepared………If we do all this, there will be no regrets at the end of the year.

Year 9 Camp

It is always a great sign when students and staff come back from a camp with broad smiles on their faces. This was certainly the case on the last day of Term 3 when the Year 9 students returned from camp in the Grampians. Everyone had a great time.

On behalf of the Year 9 students I’d like to thank Ms Roberts and all the staff who planned and attended the camp. It was a terrific experience for everyone. Families will recognise that it is a huge responsibility taking away over 130 adolescents. I thank staff for their willingness to be part of challenging activities such as this, and students who were engaged, positive, mature and responsible in their approach to the camp. I know that the benefits of learning opportunities such as this are immeasurable.

Inter house Athletics Carnival: Friday 28 October

Preparations are under way as Houses get ready for the Athletics Carnival in two weeks. We hope for a fine day but should it be raining the normal Day 10 program will run.

Families are very welcome to join us for part, or all of the day. The carnival will be held at:

Moonee Valley Athletics Centre

Corio Street

Moonee Ponds 3039

Term 4 Uniform

From Wednesday 02 November all students will need to be in full summer uniform.

Sun Smart

The College Sun Smart policy is available on the website.

As we are now well into spring, forecasts of UV levels are predicted to reach three or higher during the period from now to the end of April. UV radiation is a major cause of skin cancer, and UV damage accumulated during childhood and adolescence is strongly associated with the risk of skin cancer later in life. We encourage families to speak with their child about ensuring they are Sun Smart during this time, including:

• wearing appropriate clothing
• wearing a broad brimmed, bucket or legionnaire hat while outside
• applying SPF30 or higher broad spectrum water resistant sunscreen approximately 20 minutes prior to going outside and re-applying every two hours while outside, or immediately after physical activity and swimming
• remaining in the shade during times when you are not involved in a specific outdoor activity, or if you are unable to follow the above recommendations.

We also encourage all adults, including parents/carers, to adopt a SunSmart approach for themselves, not only to protect themselves from the dangers of UV radiation, but to also act as role models for our students.

For more information on sun protection, please go to the SunSmart website:  https://www.sunsmart.com.au/

Cup Weekend

Families are reminded that there are no classes on Monday 31 October or Tuesday 01 November due to the Cup weekend. 

The break provides students with the opportunity to prepare for the final weeks of Term 4. It is a good time to catch up on work and hopefully time for families to have a break. Whilst we will still have restrictions, it is the first holiday in a while where we will not be in complete lockdown.

Changes to COVID-19 Isolation Requirements

You may be aware that the Victorian Government has announced changes to the COVID-19 isolation requirements.

This means that the mandatory orders around isolation for people with COVID-19 have ended and instead we move to health advice and recommendations for people with COVID-19 or COVID-19-like symptoms.

Our school will continue to adhere to the Department of Health’s recommendations to ensure that our school remains a safe environment for our staff and students.

The Department of Health strongly recommends that students and school staff:

• who test positive to COVID-19 stay home and isolate for 5 days and do not attend school after 5 days if they are still symptomatic
• who are symptomatic but have not tested positive, not attend school. This does not include students with pre-existing conditions such as hay fever.

If your child tests positive for COVID-19, please let us know. You should also continue to notify the Department of Health via their webform or by calling 1800 675 398.

However, we will no longer report positive cases to the school community. This means that families will no longer receive the email alert and letter when there is a positive case in the school.

Please continue to remain vigilant about preventing COVID-19 transmission. Any student who is unwell should continue to remain at home. This helps to keep staff and students healthy and well in our school and reduces the spread of both COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases. 

Parents and carers will be contacted if their child shows symptoms while at school.

Students who wish to wear a mask should continue to do so.

Enrolment for 2023

Enrolment at the College continues automatically from year to year. However, if a student in Years 7, 8 or 9 is not returning in 2023, we ask that families notify 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

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

Newsletter Days for Term 4 2022:   

Fridays:               28 October,    11 November,     25 November,     16 December