Thoughts for Lent

Fast from hurting words and say kind words.

Fast from anger and be filled with patience.

Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.

Fast from worries and have trust in God.

Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity.

Fast from pressures and be prayerful.

Fast from bitterness and fill your hearts with joy.

Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others.

Fast from grudges and be reconciled.

Fast from words and be silent so you can LISTEN.

(Pope Francis)

In my backyard, both the weeds and plants have enjoyed a good summer and are thriving. The garden is in need of both weeding and pruning. This week, we begin the season of Lent with Ash Wednesday. In many ways Lent is a bit like gardening. We look at our lives to ‘weed’ and ‘prune’ the things that are stopping us from living a full life, to ‘water’ the things we’re doing well and to plant new ways of being.

In Lent we choose simple actions that help us to become more prayerful, to live more simply, and to share what we have with those who are in need. We pay particular attention to prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

Lent originated in the very earliest days of the Christian church. The forty days of Lent mirror the forty days that Jesus spent in the wilderness. Originally it was a time when the faithful re-dedicated themselves, and when new Christians were instructed in the faith and prepared for baptism.

Lent is a perfect time for reflection and making changes in our lives. Our opening reflection attributed to Pope Francis provides some thoughts on what we might weed and plant as we journey through Lent.

Opening Mass

On Thursday we gathered as a school community for our opening mass and to induct our school leaders. In the liturgy we reflected on our 2025 school theme, Who do you say I am? and Jesus’ response that he is the way, the truth and the life. Thank you for Fr. Gerard Keith from Resurrection parish for leading our celebration of the Eucharist.

Thank you to all involved in preparing a prayerful liturgy, particularly the gathering rite where we were called to prayer through the beat of a drum. Various types of drum and different rhythms will feature throughout our prayer and reflection this year. Our opening mass left us with the questions: what is his way, what is his truth and what is the life to which we are called? We will reflect on these during Lent.

Induction of School Leaders

During mass we inducted our 2025 school leaders: School Captains, Social Justice Captains, SRC and House Captains. Congratulations to all the students who have graciously accepted a formal leadership role this year.

The full list School Leaders for 2025 are included later in the newsletter.

School Advisory Council

Earlier this week parents and guardians received information about our School Advisory Council (SAC). We are looking to fill two vacancies on the SAC. I encourage all families to consider putting in an expression of interest for this important role. Your application would be very welcome.

SACCSS Concussion Policy and Procedures

As is the case at all levels of sport, managing concussion appropriately is a priority for our sports association, SACCSS. Please find the SACCSS concussion policy and procedures by following this link.

It is important that families notify the College if a student experiences concussion through an outside of school activity. This will mean that we can ensure that all protocols are followed.

College Mobile Phone Policy

As is the case in schools across Australia, it is school policy that:

• Phones and audio devices are switched off and out of sight from 8.40am – 3.10pm.
• Devices are stored in a safe and secure place such as the office or lockers.

The College policy can be accessed by following this link.

Parents who wish to convey a message to their child are asked to ring the school on 9366 2544 and administration staff will make sure it is forwarded to them. Students can also ring home via the phone at reception.

Afterschool Extracurricular Activities

Extracurricular activities are a wonderful opportunity for students to make new friends, pursue areas of interest, try new things and to learn new skills. Often it is these experiences that we remember long after school is finished.

We remind families that students can only attend if parents / carers / guardians have given signed permission. Attendance is taken at all activities, and families will be notified by sms if their child is absent from the club for which they are enrolled.

Inter-house Athletics Carnival

The Inter-house Athletics carnival will be held on Friday 07 March 2025 at the Aberfeldie Athletics track. Everyone is looking forward to this event, the first major interhouse carnival of the year.

Families will receive detailed information through the Parent Access Module (PAM) and need to give permission through PAM.

Updating Medical Information on PAM

With the start of a new school year, it is important that all families check that the medical information we have on PAM is up to date. This is our first point of reference, both onsite and offsite in caring for your child.

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 Atalalina Ulugia Sa’ena at aulugia@crcstalbans.com.au. As Atalina is responsible for tracking absences we ask that parent/carer/guardian 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.

Please Note:    

Year 10 students finish at the College on Thursday 20 November but have an Orientation program at CRC Sydenham from Monday 24 – Friday 28 November.

Mid-year exams (Years 9 and 10): 16 – 27 June 2025

End of year exams (Years 9 and 10): 13 – 27 November 2025

Families planning to travel in the middle of the year or at the end of 2025 are asked to note that exams and the Orientation program at Sydenham are compulsory. Exams must be taken within the exam timetable. They cannot be taken before or after the exam week.

Please do not book travel before:

• 27 June in the middle of the year (Years 9 and 10)
• 28 November for Year 11 2026 students (Year 10 2025)
• 28 November for Year 9 students.

Journeying Through Lent:

Prayer, Almsgiving, and Fasting

As we enter the season of Lent, our school community is invited to reflect on the three pillars of this sacred time: Prayer, Almsgiving, and Fasting.

To support Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion, our Social Justice Team has created a Lenten Calendar filled with opportunities for reflection and action. This year’s theme, "Unite Against Poverty", calls us to stand in solidarity with vulnerable communities around the world.

Throughout Lent, we will take time to learn about those in need and support them through meaningful action. The Social Justice Team has organized four fundraising activities, with all proceeds going to support communities in Samoa, Vietnam, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In addition to fundraising, we will deepen our spiritual journey through prayer and scripture, reflecting on the question Jesus asked His disciples: "Who do you say I am?". This question invites us to explore our faith and consider how we can respond with love, compassion, and generosity.

May this Lenten season be a time of growth, reflection, and meaningful action for our school community.

- Ms Jacinta Dykes, Faith Leader

All students in Year 7 and Year 9 will take part in NAPLAN testing from Wednesday, 12 March to Monday, 24 March. During this time, all students will complete three tests in Literacy (Reading, Writing, and Conventions of Language) and one test in Numeracy.

The NAPLAN schedule is as follows:

To be ready for the NAPLAN tests, students need to:

• Get at least 8–10 hours of sleep the night before a test
• Avoid the use of electronic devices (screen time) one hour before going to sleep
• Have a healthy breakfast and snacks during the testing period
• Drink an adequate amount of water throughout the day of the test
• Ensure their laptops are fully functional and charged prior to the test
• Arrive to class on time, settled, and ready to do their best in each of the tests

Students may also wish to familiarise themselves with the online test tools by using the ACARA NAPLAN Online public demonstration site.

Please note that any student absent on the day of a NAPLAN test will need to provide a doctor’s certificate. Arrangements will be made for the student to complete the test at another time, as determined by the NAPLAN Coordinator.

If any students have issues with their laptops in the lead-up to NAPLAN, they are asked to see Simon or Chuong as soon as possible.

Students who are concerned about NAPLAN or have any questions are encouraged to talk with their PC teacher, Year Level Leader, or their Maths or English teachers. For more information about NAPLAN Online, families are encouraged to visit nap.edu.au or read the attached documents.

NAPLAN information brochure for parents and carers:

We wish all our Year 7 and Year 9 students the very best for their upcoming NAPLAN tests.

Mr Chris Orsini, Mathematics Learning Area Leader

User Agreement - Laptop Check

Be aware.  Be safe and secure.  Be prepared.

We have agreed to use the laptop correctly and to take care of our devices. During weeks 6 to 9, Pastoral Care teachers will 'check in' to ensure: laptops have covers, no breakages or cracks, and that devices are functioning properly.access.Let's work together to ensure that this valuable device is kept safe and secure both at school and at home.  

Thank you for your assistance in ensuring students maintain their laptops properly and abide by the user agreement.

Child Safety Committee

Thank you to everyone who applied to be on the Child Safety Committee. Applications have now closed. Successful applicants will be notified in the very near future to begin their task of discussing ways to keep our community safe both online and face to face.

Mr Len Tobin, Director of Wellbeing and Engagement

As we enjoy the outdoors and make the most of the sunny weather, it's important to remember the long-term benefits of staying sun-safe. Protecting ourselves from the sun’s UV rays is crucial not only for our skin but also for our overall health. In Victoria, UV levels are higher from mid-August to the end of April.

SunSmart practices help maintain healthy skin, reducing the likelihood of skin conditions.

SunSmart practices include:

Slip on a Shirt
Wearing a protective shirt helps cover your skin and reduce direct sun exposure. It’s an easy way to stay safe while staying comfortable outdoors.

Slop on Sunscreen
Sunscreen protects your skin from harmful UV rays. It’s a quick and effective way to reduce the risk of sunburn and keep your skin healthy.

Slap on a Hat
A wide-brimmed hat helps protect your face, neck, and ears from the sun. It’s one of the easiest ways to keep cool and shield sensitive areas from burning.

Seek Shade
Whenever possible, find some shade—especially during the hottest part of the day. This helps you stay cooler and gives your skin a break from direct sunlight.

Slide on Sunglasses
Sunglasses protect your eyes from UV rays, helping to reduce the risk of eye damage and keeping you comfortable in the sun.

By following these simple steps, we can enjoy the outdoors safely while protecting our health. Let’s work together to make sure everyone in our school community stays SunSmart!

The Loaves and Fishes Food Bank program at Holy Eucharist Parish, gave me Calvin and Shyam the opportunity to pack food and drink boxes for people in our community who may experiencing hardships. It also gave us a great chance to bond with all the other volunteers and get to know them. They were all so kind and gave us a few snacks and treats. It was an amazing experience and I hope to visit again some time in the future.

- Lily Jade, Year 8

Last week the Year 10 cohort began their Morrisby Online Assessment Tool.

The Morrisby assessment tool measures 5 career-related abilities to provide a complete accurate profile. This tool will provide the students:

• unique strengths and weaknesses
• lifetime 24/7 access
• careers information
• personalised recommendations
• management portal

Students are soundly tested in a variety of ways that will guide them towards a particular career pathway. The fact that once they create an account, they have it for life is a bonus. If at any time they wish to move in a different direction, then they can and Morrisby will be able to guide them further.

The whole process will take 2-3 hours; however, the students will work on the program in segments during Pastoral Care time.

The Year 10 Family Night will be an informative evening with universities, sporting groups and Brimbank Council coming along to provide more information on student pathways.  I will also be on hand if you would like to know about the Morrisby Online Assessment Tool.

Warmest regards

Ms Lee-Ann Steele, Careers & Pathway leader

Live Your Best Life in Love...

A Marriage Encounter weekend is for you…

Every married couple deserves this very special weekend.

Time-out to nurture your most precious relationship away from daily distractions.  

The two of you will come away from your weekend feeling more deeply connected 

and with tools to help keep the passion alive.

No group sharing required.

The weekend is based around Catholic values. Couples of all faiths are welcome.

Please check our website for more details and to book your special weekend:

Our next weekend is: 25-27 April 2025 at St Paul's Retreat Centre, Wantirna South.

Starts Friday evening at 7pm and finishes Sunday afternoon around 4:30pm

Information/Bookings: Phone Mercy & James 0409 183 676 or

Email: vicbookings@wwme.org.au    Website: wwme.org.au