Prayer for Pope Leo XIV

Faithful God,

You guide us on the path of life

and your goodness is our constant companion.

Be with our new Shepherd, Pope Leo XIV,

In his service of the Church.

Fill him with the power of your Spirit,

the peace of your presence

and the compassion of Christ.

May he walk with you,

In wisdom and humility,

and lead us, together with all God’s people,

to embody your love of the world.

Amen

Last Thursday there were joyous scenes in St Peter’s Square as Catholics around the world welcomed a new pope, Pope Leo XIV. His first words to all who were gathered in the square and to the world at large were Peace be with you all, the very words with which Jesus greeted his friends and disciples, particularly in the resurrection stories.

Pope Leo is a multilingual canon lawyer and mathematician who ministered for many years in Peru, where he worked tirelessly with communities on the margins. His chosen name reflects a commitment to Catholic social teaching, and his public support for migrants, climate action, and abuse survivors signals a continued focus on key global issues. In his first message, he called the Church to move forward united, without fear, guided by Christ. We pray for Pope Leo. May he lead us with wisdom and compassion.

Traffic Safety on Theodore Street

Over the past few weeks, we have had a number of complaints about unsafe practices by drivers on Theodore Street.

It is very concerning to see drivers stop on the road and call students to run across the road to enter cars. This is both dangerous and illegal. Staff, parents and the crossing supervisor have witnessed a number of near misses where cars coming in the opposite direction have nearly hit a student.

We remind students and families that:

- Stopping on the road and asking students to run across the road is unsafe and illegal.

- It is also illegal to double park on Theodore Street.

- The speed limit around the College and Sacred Heart is 40 kmh.

- Students must use the crossings on Arthur and Theodore Streets.

- Those walking to and from St Albans station can use the safe crossing on the roundabout at the corner of Victoria and Arthur streets.

- Arthur Street provides less congestion and some good pickup points, as do Winfred and Alexina Streets.

- As Theodore Street is the most congested, we suggest that families do not   pick up or drop off in this street.

- I trust that families and students will discuss these suggestions and, where needed, adjust practices to ensure everyone remains safe.

Mothers’ Day Breakfast

We were delighted to welcome mums, grandmothers, carers and students to our annual Mother’s Day breakfast earlier this week. From very humble beginnings with about 15 mums in the library, it is now a very important and enjoyable event on our school calendar.

It was lovely to hear the buzz in the room as we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast and some light entertainment. An event such as this is the work of many hands. I would like to thank Ms Laura Cioccia (Family Engagement Leader), our wonderful student leaders, our performers and speakers, and all who helped in the background to ensure that our guests felt spoilt, special and appreciated.

Professional Practice Day: Wednesday 21 May 2025

On Wednesday staff will have a Professional Practice Day. On this day we will learn more about working with neurodiverse students, and on a range of learning area based planning projects.

Students are not required at school on Wednesday.

Youth Road Safety Fact Sheet

Families and students may be interested in the attached information from Victoria Police regarding e-bikes, motorbikes, modified or petrol powered bicycles and e-scooters.

Arrangements for Feast Day

It is now only two weeks until our 2025 Feast Day on Friday 30 May 2025. The Feast Day Planning group are working hard to organise the Feast Day carnival and preparations have begun for the mass and pastoral care activities. It is always a great day. Fingers crossed that the weather is kind to us. School will begin at the normal time of 8.40am and conclude at 3.10pm.

Newsletter Days for Term 2 2025:        

Fridays: 30 May, 11 June, 25 June                         

The newsletter can also be accessed on Friday morning (Day 10) on the College website at http://www.crcstalbans.catholic.edu.au

Prayer for Generosity and Compassion

Loving God,
We thank You for the many blessings in our lives—
for our families, our school, and the community we share.

Open our hearts to those who are struggling,
and help us to respond with generosity and kindness.
May our small acts of giving,
like bringing pasta and rice to support the food bank,
make a real difference in the lives of those in need.

Guide us to live out Your message of love and compassion,
and help us to always see Christ in those we serve.
Bless our efforts and unite us in the spirit of giving,
as we work together to build a community of care and support.

Opening Doors to Renewal and Reflection

Throughout this term, our school community has embraced the idea of "Opening Doors to Renewal" as inspired by the tradition of the Holy Doors in the four Papal Basilicas of Rome. During a Jubilee year, these sacred doors are ceremonially opened, symbolising an invitation to renewal, reflection and transformation.

We reflected on how our own school is filled with doors—each one representing the potential for growth, learning and connection for those who pass through. To bring this concept to life, each class participated in an activity where they reflected on their homegroup goals and selected a threshold statement inspired by Pope Francis’ legacy and achievements.

Once chosen, the statements were written on the provided cardboard and creatively decorated to express their deeper meaning. These beautifully crafted signs are now displayed above classroom doors throughout the school, serving as a daily reminder of our commitment to compassion, inclusion and growth.

This initiative has not only brightened our school environment but has also encouraged us to reflect on the values we strive to live out each day. Thank you to all the students and staff who participated with such enthusiasm and creativity. Your thoughtful contributions have truly transformed our spaces into places of renewal and reflection.

Year 8s Explore Online Respect and Responsibility

As part of our ongoing focus on e-safety, Year 8 students will be engaging in an important class activity this week and next, aimed at raising awareness about harmful online behaviours and what we can do about them.

In their Pastoral Care classes, students will work in groups to explore key issues from the eSafety Commissioner’s website, including:

• Online hate
  
  
• Bullying online
  
  
• Pressures from social media
  
  
• Trolling
  
  
• Being called out online
  

Each group will then present their findings to the class, encouraging thoughtful discussion and peer learning. Topics will include how negative online behaviour affects confidence and wellbeing and what young people can do to protect themselves and others.

Our eSafety message to students this week has been....

The eSafety website offers practical advice on how to respond, including:

• Blocking or reporting harmful behaviour
  
• Reaching out to a trusted adult or teacher
  
• Using wellbeing resources and taking breaks from toxic spaces

Let’s continue to support each other and build a culture both online and offline, where respect, empathy, and safety come first.

Hearing the Word of Laudato Si’ from Pope Francis

and welcoming Pope Leo XIV

At CRC St Albans, our Year 8 Religious Education classes have been exploring creation stories and reflecting on the idea that we are created to have dominion, not as domination but as care and stewardship,over the earth, the seas, and all living creatures.

In response to Pope Francis’ call in Laudato Si’ to care for our common home, we are making real and lived connections in our everyday lives. Over the past two terms, students have been placing used plastic bottles and drink cartons into a large collection container at school.

This week, our dedicated Year 8 Attard class sorted the contents into bags, preparing them for recycling at Cash a Can in Brimbank. The Catholic Earthcare Garden Group will now take on the task of delivering these bags, earning 10 cents per container which will be donated to Fishes and Loaves food bank at Holy Eucharist.

Stay tuned to find out how much we raise! More importantly, we celebrate the impact of our small actions: recognising God’s hand in creation, respecting the environment, and living out our Christian values in practical, thoughtful ways.

Year 10 FTEC Elective students created a meal suitable for a person with a lifestyle disease e.g., heart disease, diabetes. They planned for a recipe of their choice and cooked it during Week 4. Students worked well and presented their food in a creative manner. Well done Year 10s!

Big Science Competition – 5th May 2025

Australian Science Innovations (ASI) delivers a range of challenging science extension programs for high school students, aiming to broaden horizons, uncover potential, and help build Australia’s scientific community. In collaboration with schools and teachers, ASI offers opportunities for science-loving students to extend their knowledge and skills through engaging, real-world programs.

One such initiative is the Big Science Competition, open to students in Years 7 to 10 globally. This 50-minute online challenge tests science knowledge, critical thinking and problem-solving skills through a mix of question formats set in real-life, contemporary contexts.

On Monday 5th May 2025, during Period 2, a number of enthusiastic science students participated in this exciting competition. It was great to see strong interest and engagement, with a pleasing number of students registering and taking part. Well done to all who participated!

Ms Sangeeta Arora, Science Learning Area Leader