Welcome

Welcome to the 2023 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 great start. I would like to congratulate students on how well they have settled into their new classes, into study and the rhythm of the school year. There was lots of noise and excitement on the first morning as students re-connected with friends after the break. It is great to see everyone so positive and ready to do their best.

Thank you to families

A very big thank you to families for all you’ve done in the background to ensure a smooth start to the school year. It’s always 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.

Your role in supporting the learning of students cannot be underestimated. It is very hard to do your best with your studies without good nutrition, effective routines, adequate sleep and the right materials for class. Thank you.

New families

On behalf of the school community I’d like to extend a very warm welcome to the students and families who’ve joined us 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 are beginning to feel ‘at home’ and that your time with us is all that you hoped for, and more.

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 local schools. You are indeed very welcome. 

New Staff

I am delighted to welcome Ms Georgina Hart (Materials Technology), Ms Marie Pintarich (English, Humanities and RE), Mr Ray Mizzi (Health and P.E and Religious Education) Ms Dorothy Stavros (EAL and Humanities), Ms Lesly Ryan (Maths, Science and Tutoring) who join our teaching staff.

As well as this, we welcome Mr Danny Sgro (Student Wellbeing and Engagement), Ms Joanne Johnston (Finance), Mr Duwapatabendige Fernando (Sports Assistant), Ms Joy Pekez (Canteen), Mr Jay Fernandez (Learning Support), Ms Amelia Pannunzio (Learning Support) and Mr James English (Learning Support).

Each brings a wealth of experience, many gifts, fresh ideas and a strong commitment to our students. I wish them every blessing for their time with us.

MacKillop Assembly

This morning we gathered as a school community for the MacKillop Assembly. This was an opportunity to formally mark the start of the 2023 school year and to celebrate the achievements of students who attained all round excellence in learning in 2022.

It was lovely to have families and some Year 11 students join us for the assembly. Thank you to all involved in preparing and leading the assembly.

MacKillop Pins

The Mary MacKillop pin is awarded to the top 10-12 students at each year level. Results from Semester 1 and 2 are considered in selecting these students.

We would like to congratulate all students who received a MacKillop Pin. You are indeed a talented group!

Recipients of the Mary MacKillop Pin for 2022 were

2022 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 2022 were:

Year 7: Stella Mom                

Year 8: Angelina Brillouet                          

Year 9: Janelle Lawang               

Year 10: Michela Bartolo           

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 2022

Congratulations to My Nguyen on being accepted into the Kwong Lee Dow Scholars program at Melbourne University. My has achieved excellent results throughout the year and is a worthy recipient.

Williams Cup

Congratulations to Corbett House on winning the 2022 Williams Cup. Corbett established an early lead and built on this throughout the year. Well done to everyone for your participation and House spirit.

Final Points:   Corbett (78)     Guelen (65.5)    Reis (61)     O’Reilly (58.5)

Year Level Leaders 2022:

Year 7:                 Mr Andrew Bain-King                    abain@crcstalbans.com.au

Year 8:                 Ms Stella Alexopoulos                  salexopoulos@crcstalbans.com.au

Year 9:                 Ms Christie Roberts                       croberts@crcstalbans.com.au

Year 10:              Mr Anthony Baressi                       abaressi@crcstalbans.com.au

Pastoral Care Teachers

Year 7 Pastoral Care Teachers

7 Avoca: Ms Jasmine Crisci

7 Kiewa: Mr Mitchell Porter  

7 Snowy: Mr Chris Strachan

7 Wimmera: Mr Daniele Zarosinski

7 Yarra: Ms Marie Pintarich

Year 8 Pastoral Care Teachers

8 Attard: Ms Sangeeta Arora

8 Clarke: Mr Ibrahim Huseyin

8 Edison: Ms Marcelle Gusman

8 Hollows: Ms Georgina Hart / Ms Claire Rayos

8 Orifici: Mr Clarence Marshall /Ms Jenny Spataro

Year 9 Pastoral Care Teachers

9 Barton: Ms Emma Baldacchino

9 Curtin: Mr Chris Dib

9 Deakin: Mr Dale Marshall

9 Hughes: Mr David Boudaher

Year 10 Pastoral Care Teachers

10 Little:  Ms Mai Nguyen

10 McAuley: Mr Len Tobin

10 MacKillop:  Mr Chris Orsini

10 Mannix:  Mr Alon Gilad

10 O’Connell:  Mr Ray Mizzi

Newsletter

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

Newsletter Days for Term 1 2023:           

Fridays:               10 February          24 February           10 March              24 March          07 April

Supervision

Parents and students are advised that the College grounds are supervised on a daily basis from 8.20am to 3.30pm.

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

Parents need to know that students who arrive prior to 8.20am and who leave after 3.30pm 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.

School start / finish times

Students need to be at school by 8.40am and classes finish at 3.10pm each afternoon. However, students may be detained by teachers until 3.25pm without formal notification to parents. This allows teachers to follow up work, provide additional assistance or to address minor behavior issues before they become major.

Notification of Absences

We ask that parents or guardians contact the school before 10.00am if a student is absent on any day. This can be done by phone on 9366 2544 or email Ms Atalina Ulugia-Sa’ena at aulugia@crcstalbans.com.au. As Atalina is responsible for tracking absences we ask that parent notification by email be directed only to her, not to other staff.

If the phone call or email notifying absence is received it will be taken as the official explanation of the student’s absence and no further note is required. If no contact is made with the school, a note explaining the absence will be required on the student’s return to school.

To ensure the safety of students, the College has a policy of contacting parents when a student is away from school without notification. Atalina rings parents after 10.00am. It is a great help if parents/guardians ring before we make contact. 

Term Dates 2023

Term 1: Wednesday 01 February – Thursday 06 April  

Term 2: Monday 24 April – Friday 23 June

Term 3: Monday 10 July – Friday 15 September

Term 4: Monday 02 October – Wednesday 06 December

Please Note:    

Year 10 students finish at the College on Thursday 30 November but have an Orientation program at CRC Sydenham from Monday 04 December to Friday 08 December.

Mid-year exams (Years 9 and 10): 13 – 19 June 2023

End of year exams (Years 9 and 10): 24 – 29 November 2023

Families planning to travel in the middle of the year or at the end of 2023 are asked to note that exams and the Orientation program at Sydenham are compulsory. Exams must be taken within the exam timetable.

Please do not book travel before:

• 20 June in the middle of the year (Years 9 and 10)
• 08 December for Year 11 2024 students (Year 10 2023)
• 01 December for Year 9 students.