It is hard to believe that it has been twenty two years since the events of September 11, 2001. Over 3000 people lost their lives, with the most striking image being of a plane being flown into the world trade centre buildings in New York.  It stands as a memory etched within our lives forever, as an image of distrust and disunity in our world.

Next Thursday, 21^st September provides us with the opportunity to unite and pray for peace, which is built on trust and unity.  It is the day designated by the United Nations as the International Day of Peace. It is an opportunity to remember, celebrate and strengthen the ideals of peace, both within and among nations and peoples but also within our own community, and in our personal relationships. It is an opportunity like this to unite as one voice for peace, challenge those who work against peace and enhance our vision that truly represents the voice of Christ.

Thank You

As this is the final newsletter for Term 3 I’d like to thank students, families and staff for your support, hard work and care that you’ve given so generously over the past 10 weeks. There have been many highlights: Immersion Day, the Year 9 camp, the Year 10 Social, Work experience, course selection for 2024, student led conferences, Year 9 Premier League and other interschool sport, our school production – ‘Nightmare on Theodore St’ and watching the growth of our new Art and Technology building coming to fruition.  A very full term and one that we should look back on with great pride.

Start of Term 4

Students will return to school on Tuesday 03 October 2023. On the Monday staff will be involved in a Professional Practice Day. This will be the second day of our Restorative Practice training with David Vinegrad. There are no changes to the timetable for Term 4. Tuesday 04 October will be Day 2.

Design and Technology Centre

After a little over 12 months of construction, we are very excited to see the new building completed.  Handover will occur on Wednesday 28^th September.  The first phase of movement into the new building has begun. This will include the canteen and Wood Technology. 

As of Tuesday 3^rd October, the new canteen will operate out of the new building, offering all of the services that are currently provided before school, recess and lunch.  We thank the canteen staff for their efforts in moving and setting up in the second week of the holidays to ensure it is ready for service on the first day back.  Special thanks to the Year 10 students working at school over this past week for their support in providing the students at year 7 and 8 with lunch, given that the canteen has been closed.  This has worked very well and ensured that no student has gone without lunch and raised additional funds for the Buyaga Parish and school in Uganda.

Our Wood Technology department are currently moving into the new building as the term concludes.  In week 1 of term 4, the department will set up the learning spaces and begin to introduce the students to the new building and preparing the learning area for classes.  It is truly a magnificent learning area for the technology and arts department.  We will be looking for opportunities over the course of the term where we can share this excitement with families.

Enrolment for 2024

Enrolment at the College continues automatically from year to year. However, if a student in Years 7, 8 or 9 is not returning in 2024, 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.

Preparing for Term 4

School holidays are certainly a time for rest and recreation, however, the time between Terms 3 and 4 is more like a semi-colon than a full stop. It is a pause in the semester, a chance to catch your breath before the important final term. Some students will have projects or homework to complete over the break. It’s a good idea to get this done earlier, rather than later.

With exams only 7 or 8 weeks away, the holidays are a good time to begin revision of Term 3 work and / or to catch up on any missed work. Those who struggle with organisation might use this time to put some order into folders. Filing old notes and worksheets might be a good start. Ensuring that you have all the stationery you need for Term 4 would help.

If students do little else it would be helpful to find some time to read each day.

Term 4 Uniform

Families are reminded that Weeks 1 – 4 are a transition period for uniform. Students can wear either full summer or full winter uniform but not a mix and match of both.

Following the Cup Weekend, from Wednesday 8th November all students will need to be in full summer uniform.

The holidays may be a good time to check that students have all that is required.

MACSSIS School Improvement Surveys

Thank you to all students, staff and families for your input. This data will be released in late October and will provide important information for our planning for 2024.  Next year will be a review year for our school.  This data will provide valuable feedback on the progress we have made and inform our planning for our next School Improvement Plan.

Holy Land Immersion

We wish three of our staff Members: Jacinta Dykes, Marcelle Gusman and Eder Ramos all of the best as they travel together with 15 other staff members from the CRC Federation schools to Israel over the term break. They will be staying in Jerusalem and visiting the Holy Lands.  A truly wonderful experience!

Year 9 Camp

Over the past three days of the term, the year 9 students have all been on camp at Halls Gap in the Grampians (Gariwerd).  This is a great opportunity for the students to work together, experience the connection with the outdoors and immerse themselves in Aboriginal Dream time story and the Indigenous spirituality.  We thank Christie Roberts (Year 9 YLL) and her team for the detailed planning and willingness to make this such a great experience.

Year 10 Work Experience

During this final week of school virtually all of our year 10s have been out on work experience.  Reports that are coming back have indicated how successful this experience has been, helping our year 10 students to consider more carefully their pathways.  It has been a great success, with special thanks to Chris Orsini (Careers Coordinator), Anthony Baressi (Yr 10 co-ordinator) and the year 10 team.

Head Lice

This is just to inform the school community that a case of head lice has been reported in the junior year levels. For further information on how to check and treat head lice, follow the link.

Newsletter

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

Newsletter Days for Term 4 2023:   

Fridays: 13 October,   27 October,  10 November,   24 November,   8 December