All Saints

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

Pray for us.

All holy angels and archangels,

Pray for us.

All disciples, apostles and evangelists,

Pray for us.

All holy priests and religious persons,

Pray for us.

All holy martyrs,

Pray for us.

All holy men and women,

Pray for us.

St Mary of the Cross,

Pray for us.

St Patrick, patron of our Archdiocese,

Pray for us.

St Alban

Pray for us.

May we be inspired by the words of great saints.

May we be inspired by the actions of great saints.

May we aspire to be modern-day saints.

Amen.

Wednesday is the Feast of All Saints and on Thursday we mark All Souls. At the moment the trappings of Halloween are everywhere in our supermarkets and shopping centres. However, Halloween actually has little to do with monsters, pumpkins or spider webs. It is a shortening of the words, All Hallows-Evening, the night before All Saints Day (or All Hallows Day).

The feasts of All Saints (01 November) and All Souls (02 November) are important feasts in the life of the Church. The days remind us that the Church is a community – a communion – of all the faithful, both in this world and beyond. All Saints and All Souls invites us to remember those who have walked before us; all the holy men and women, acclaimed and anonymous, who have truly lived the gospel, in their time and place, and are now at peace in heaven.

Saints are an interesting bunch. Some of their stories are gory and grisly, especially those of the early martyrs. Others are known for their patience and persistence, for quiet heroism and for ordinary lives lived well. There are saints who have founded great religious orders whilst others simply cooked for their community all their lives. There are saints who went to war and those who died for peace. There are saints who challenged the Church and others who have been thinkers and theologians. There are saints who were hermits and others who, like St Teresa of Kolkata are known across the world for their good works. Some are named but many are unknown. They could be people we have known.

On All Saints Day we pray for all saints and thank God for the lives they have lived and the example they provide for us. On All Souls Day and throughout November, we remember our loved ones who have died.

(With acknowledgment to Anne Rennie)

World Teachers’ Day

Today is World Teachers’ Day across Australian schools. It is a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge our teachers and to thank them for all that they do.

At CRC we’re fortunate to have dedicated, talented and enthusiastic teachers who work hard to ensure that students have every opportunity to achieve their full potential. Their skill, openness to further learning, ideas, generosity of spirit, care for students and commitment to the St Albans community are inspiring. On your behalf, I thank each of them for all they give to our community.

Year 12 Graduation CRC Sydenham

Last Friday, the Year 12 students celebrated the conclusion of their secondary education with mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral. As a school community we can be very proud of these young people and all they’ve achieved throughout their time at CRC. Their first day in Year 7 seems only yesterday. Thank you to all the staff, both here and at Sydenham, who’ve worked with them and supported them to this point.

The students are now fully focussed on their final exams which began with English on Tuesday. I ask that you keep them and their teachers in your thoughts and prayers at this very important time.

Images 2023

Unfortunately, due to staff illness we have had to postpone the opening of Images to next week. The opening night will now be on Thursday 02 November. It is a chance to see some amazing art work by our students. The exhibition will be held in the new Design and Technology centre, the first chance for families to visit the new learning space. We look forward to seeing you there.

Design and Technology Centre

Yesterday, to the delight of students and staff, we opened our new canteen. The canteen staff are very happy to be in their new space and look forward to providing many delicious options for breakfast, morning tea and lunch. I would like to thank everyone for their patience over the last few weeks as we managed with temporary facilities.

Arts and Technology classes will move into the new centre gradually over the rest of the term, with Materials Technology classes starting in a week or so.

Inter house Athletics Carnival: Friday 03 November

Preparations are under way for the Athletics Carnival next week. Families will have received information about the day and an excursion permission form through the PAM portal. We ask that these are completed in a timely manner.

School starts and finishes at the normal times.

We hope for a fine day but should it be raining, it will be a normal school day, Day 5 of the timetable.

Term 4 Uniform

For the first five weeks of term, students are able to wear either the winter or summer uniform. From Wednesday 08 November all students will need to be in full summer uniform. We ask students to ensure that they are not wearing non-uniform items.

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 06 November or Tuesday 07 November due to the Cup weekend. 

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 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 2023:           

Fridays: 10 November,     24 November,     20 December

Last week, staff participated in an afternoon reflection where we recognised the connections to the land on which our school resides. The session aimed to challenge our staff to view the land on which we work, in a different way.

The session began with us acknowledging the First Nations Peoples land on which our school resides: our 1st nations people the Wurrendjeri of the Kulin nation. They saw in the land all that was sacred; that the land knew the story of what had been, what was in the present, and held the possibility of what could be.

For the 1st Nations people the land that CRC St Albans now resides would have been the place of stories, rituals, language and rules, that go back tens of thousands of years. It is part of our mission as a Catholic community  to understand how their spirituality continues to enrich us today. For feast day this year students explored the totems, creation stories and language of the Wurrawong Wurrendjeri people to build a connection to this sacredness.

The story of the land of CRC St Albans does not end there. When Father O’Reilly turned the soil to create the first of a Federation of Catholic High Schools he continued the tradition of this place as one of story, ritual, language and rules. In new words, with new imagery he imagined an expression of the sacred which was different. 

Those who work with the land know it has its own sense of time, its own needs and its own end point. It has its own experience of death and destruction and its own unique ability to regenerate and restore itself, even within its own body. Land is not an island; it responds to the elements, to weather, to activity. And it responds to us, it holds us, somehow it contains us - even after death - those who walk on it. 

The new building gives us an opportunity to stop and think about our land and space.  We work hard to make our students time on this land significant - personally, educationally and spiritually. 

Staff reflected on how the land of CRC St Albans has fed us spiritually and professionally. The session concluded with staff discussing how they can continue to create more sacred spaces at school. 

Year 10 Outdoor Ed camp - Brisbane Ranges

State Parliament Visit

Happy World Teacher's Day!

at Loaves and Fishes Foodbank.

Vatican at the Lume, Melbourne.

Optimistic October

Sometimes, we must remind ourselves that hope is possible, even in difficult times. This month, you can be a realistic optimist by taking small positive steps and helping others.

Please see and share the Optimistic October calendar, which is full of inspiring daily ideas.

Also, try the finding hope meditation to give yourself a lift.

Let’s Continue our Consistent Predictable Routines

Let us continue placing a strong emphasis on maintaining consistent and predictable routines for the benefit of all. Please take note of the following guidelines to ensure a smooth transition between classes and we ask that parents/carers/guardians remind their child of these expectations and assist them by ensuring they have the correct material to ensure they are ‘ready to learn’.

1. Seating Between Classes: We kindly remind all students to remain seated in their classrooms during transitions between periods 1 and 2 and 4 and 5. Leaving classrooms during these intervals is discouraged.
2. Prompt Transition: Should you need to move to a different room, we expect you to arrive within 3 minutes of the period's starting time. It's essential to be punctual, as your classroom teacher will note lateness on the attendance roll.
3. Organised Materials: To promote efficiency, ensure your laptops and relevant materials for periods 1 and 2 and 4 and 5 are organised in advance. Please refrain from leaving your classes to retrieve materials between classes.

Following these routines can create a more helpful learning environment for everyone. Thank you for your cooperation and commitment to making Term 4 productive and successful.

 Expression of Interest

Yr 10 Peer Support Leader 2024

Overview:

The CRC St Albans Peer Support Program is your chance to make a positive impact on our school community. This initiative is all about creating connections and fostering a sense of belonging among our Year 7 students. It's an opportunity for current Year 9 students to step into leadership roles, pass on their wisdom, and help shape the future of our school.

Objectives:

• Foster greater connectedness between Year 7 students and the school.
• Cultivate a positive, cohesive and friendly school community that lives by our values.
• Develop the leadership skills of 2024 Year 10 students, allowing them to leave a lasting legacy.

Role:

As a Peer Support Leader, you will:

• Be assigned to a Year 7 Homeroom, with three leaders per group.
• Engage regularly with your Year 7 class.
• Play an active role during the first-week transition period and orientation.
• Collaborate with Year 7 classes to unpack our school's core values.
• Lead Homeroom sessions once a week.
• Organise and conduct 1-2 pastoral care lessons per term, cantered around our school's values.
• Have the opportunity to participate in Year 7 events such as Year 7 Reflection Day and Family Night.

Program Structure / Methods of Delivery:

Peer Leaders will facilitate sessions from a module, working with groups of 8-10 younger students. These modules will focus on developing connectedness, resilience, a sense of self, and a sense of possibility.

Peer Leaders Selection Criteria:

To become a Peer Support Leader, you should:

• Be approachable, friendly, and capable of relating to younger students.
• Demonstrate organisation and strong study skills.
• Possess teamwork and communication skills.
• Show an understanding of and the ability to model our school values.
• Have the capacity to promote a strong sense of community.

Current Year 9 Students who are ready to take on this exciting role and contribute to the growth and unity of our school, express your interest in becoming a 2024 Peer Support Leader. We look forward to welcoming passionate and dedicated students who are eager to make a positive impact.

Please fill out the Google form provided: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf2ZW8cpvhJFNMJefSKTrmEHooSjR5IBxAAuorEVya0icxH_g/viewform?usp=pp_url

CRC St Albans Scout Group

Empowering Growth, Skills, and Friendship

Join us in creating a transformative experience for you through the Catholic Regional College St Albans Scout Group.

Do you want to discover adventure, build character and develop life skills while fostering friendships that last a lifetime?

Program Highlights:

• Engaging scouting activities: Scouts, Ventures, Rovers, and more
• Led by dedicated Scout Leaders: Dilan Denha, Daniel, Dale Sutton
• Weekly sessions during Term 4, 2023
• Monday’s from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm
• Location: CRC St Albans – Auditorium (Year 10 Area)

Benefits for Students:

• Work towards scout awards and achievements
• Earn credit for Outdoor Activity Skills (OAS's) and Special Interest Areas (SIA's)
• Opportunity to achieve the prestigious Scout Medallion
• Boost mental wellbeing through outdoor activities and community engagement
• Early exposure to Scouts' principles and values.

Cost and Funding: Fully Funded by CRC St Albans

For further information visit Scouts Victoria's website: https://scoutsvictoria.com.au/

Get Involved: Become a part of this enriching journey! Join our Catholic Regional College St Albans Scout Group and shape your future through adventure, skill-building, and lasting friendships.

Contact Us: For inquiries and registration details, reach out to Mr. Dale Marshall by emailing dmarshall@crcstalbans.com.au 

Get in fast, as we only have limited spots available. 

 "Empowering the Leaders of Tomorrow"

Catholic Regional College Sydenham

Monday 20 November 2023

380 Sydenham Road

Sydenham, 3037

Tours of the College 5:00pm - 6:30pm

Information Session 7:00pm - 7:30pm 

Bookings required. Please follow the below steps below:

How your teenager can manage distractions

It’s completely normal for teens to get distracted from study from time to time, especially during stressful exam periods or when they’re struggling to understand the work. Plus, the transition to digital school work and having the internet right at our fingertips means that it’s never been easier to be distracted.

Avoiding doing work or study is a really common response to feeling overwhelmed and stressed, but while leaning into a bit of self-care to get through high-stress study periods is one thing, you don't want your teen perfecting the art of procrastination because it’ll come back to bite them during exam time.

If your teenager is struggling to balance study with school work, social media and other daily distractions, there are ways you can help them help themselves.

Set time aside for fun
After spending hours studying and working, it's to be expected that your teen might be feeling exhausted or stressed. While they may already have a study plan, encourage them to have a fun plan, too. If they have a specific time set aside for relaxing, social media or gaming, they’ll have less desire to distract themselves while working.

Take regular minibreaks
Suggest that they work in chunks of time – say, 20 minutes – then take a few minutes to get a drink, stretch and walk around. This will keep up their energy, maintain their concentration and make study feel more manageable. You might keep an eye on how they’re going by having a cup of tea and a quick chat with them during one of these scheduled mini-breaks.

Block screen alerts
If they're working on a tablet or computer that is linked to their messages or social media, encourage them to block the alerts. When they're concentrating, a message alert pinging up will distract them and break their train of thought. In their non-study time, they can go for it and catch up on social media.

Agree on 'phone free' zones
Have a conversation about areas of the house that can become temporary phone-free zones, such as where they study and where everyone eats together. Encourage the whole family to play a role in making it happen.

Create a space they can concentrate in
This is especially important if your teen has to study in a common area with plenty of distractions, like the living room or kitchen. Being around a lot of noise and activity can significantly disrupt their study routine. Creating a space that is primarily dedicated to their study hours (if possible) will help them to focus and concentrate.

If you’re unable to create a dedicated space, try to create a quiet environment where they're studying. Keep the TV turned down or off and avoid having lengthy conversations around them. If you have other kids, ask them to keep the noise down, so their sibling doesn't get distracted. Some people work best with silence, others with a hum of background noise or music. See what works for them.

Minimise interruptions
While they're studying, don't let anyone disturb them; leave it until they’re having a break. Did you know that it takes most people around 20 minutes to get back on track with study after an interruption?

Monitor their sleep
Lack of sleep makes you lose focus, so it's easier to procrastinate or get distracted when you’re tired. Here's how you can help them get better sleep. On the flipside, if your teen is studying from home, there may be a temptation to hit snooze on the alarm and lay around all day. Explain to them the importance of maintaining a routine at a time like this, including when they wake up and go to bed. They can learn more sleep routine tips here.

Eat healthy, regular meals and snacks
Being hungry causes energy levels to drop and makes it hard to concentrate, so encourage your teen to eat proper meals and healthy energy snacks such as nuts. Help them out by using these handy tips when cooking them food. Sharing a meal with your teen is a good chance to check in on how their study is going. Even a break for a quick lunch before heading back to the books gives you a chance to ask how they’re feeling and support their wellbeing.

Cut the caffeine
Encourage them to drink lots of tap water; being hydrated will help them concentrate. Long days at the desk may make them keen for coffee (and lots of it!). Remind them that too much of a good thing can be bad, and suggest alternatives: Herbal teas are an excellent calming substitute.

Exams, expectations and study loads can lead to your teenager being stressed and easily distracted. Trying even a few of these tips can help you support them to manage teenage distractions, keep calm during exam periods and study more efficiently, which reduces their overall stress and improves their wellbeing. If your teen has ADHD, it’s likely that many of these traditional distraction management methods won’t be as effective for them. Read more on how to support teens with ADHD.

Did you find what you needed?

• Yes - Take the quiz to see if you have the same expectations as your child
• No - Check out our 7 tips for helping your teenager manage exam stress
• I need to know more - Read our fact sheet about exam stress

How to Have a Great Relationship with Your Teacher by Dr Justin Coulson

By the time your child graduates high school, they will have spent about 17, 640 hours at school. That’s a lot of hours. In fact, on a typical school day, our kids spend 2-3 times as many hours with their school teacher than they spend with us, their parents and caregivers.

Our teachers work hard. On average, Australian teachers work 45 hours a week, with many even working on weekends to keep up with the workload. Yet 71% of teachers feel as though their work is unappreciated, and that their profession is not respected. I don’t know about you, but anyone who spends twice as much time with my kids as I do on a regular basis deserves to feel all the appreciation in the world. And while buying a #1 Teacher mug or a box of chocolates as a gift on World Teachers Day certainly helps, there are things we can do all year round to have a great relationship with our kids’ teachers, and help them to feel supported and appreciated:

Communication

Having open and frequent communication with the teachers goes a long way towards establishing a supportive relationship. This includes taking a proactive approach at the start of the year, where you should share with the teachers any relevant information that may affect your child’s performance or behaviour at school. This includes medical conditions, learning difficulties, and even special interests. Then throughout the school year, keep the teacher updated about any changes in your family’s or your child’s circumstances. Communication can occur through emails or phone calls on an as-needed basis, but also make sure to attend parent-teacher conferences, school events, and any other meetings organized by the school. Frequent contact fosters open communication. Finally, if your child is facing any academic or behavioural challenges, collaborate with the teacher to address any difficulties and identify strategies that you can employ together to support your child’s learning.

Involvement

Show interest in your child’s education by asking them about their day and experiences in class. When you demonstrate an interest in their education, it sends a positive message. If you can, make time to get involved in the school community. Volunteer in your child’s classroom as a parent helper, participate in school events, or join the parent council. Getting involved both supports your child’s education and eases the burden on your child’s teachers. Finally, support classroom rules and expectations. Don’t undermine your child’s teachers by disrespecting them at home. Encourage your child to take responsibility in the learning process, and follow the guidelines set by their teachers.

Respect

I wish this didn’t need to be said, but sadly it does: Don’t verbally threaten, intimidate, or get physical-ly aggressive with your kids’ teachers. It’s never ok. Respect goes beyond that though. Treat teachers with kindness and appreciation for their work. Take time to acknowledge and appreciate their efforts and dedication. Be grateful for the time they invest into your children. Make sure you see your child’s teacher as a whole person (hopefully as an adult you no longer believe that teachers sleep at the school!), with responsibilities and interests beyond teaching. Avoid contacting them outside of school hours and be patient in awaiting their responses.

Teachers do one of the most important jobs in our society. They are shaping the next generation of leaders, thinkers, caregivers. Let’s do what we can to thank them for everything they do for our kids.