May we be blessed with gratitude for the gift of another new day of life.

May we be blessed with love, love for God and for all people.

May we be blessed with hope; the possibility of growth in each moment.

May we be blessed with compassion for all of creation and for our deep connection.

May we be blessed with generosity in all that shall be asked of us this day.

May we be blessed with laughter; the joy that will refresh hearts.

May we be blessed with patience in the difficult challenges that may arise.

And may all who hear the Word of God be blessed forever.

Amen.

     Artwork: Max Conlon

Welcome

Welcome back for Semester 2. I trust that everyone enjoyed the break, is well rested and ready for what will hopefully be an interesting and productive term.

We’ve had a very positive start to the term with students and staff settling into the learning program and cocurricular activities seamlessly.  

Year 9 students are enjoying their Premier League seasons; preparations for the school production in Week 5 are in full swing, and students in Years 8, 9 and 10 are starting to plan for 2026 as course planning gets underway.

SACCSS Interschool Chess.

We currently have a huge interest in Chess at the College with a strong competition running on Tuesday at lunchtime.

Congratulations to our Interschool Chess Team who performed very well at the recent SACCSS Interschool Championships. We note particularly the intermediate team who won their division, holding off St Monica’s College by 0.5 points (21 to 20.5 points). This is an outstanding feat and we are very proud of all involved.

In particular we congratulate Ben Dau who took home the Intermediate silver medal and Charlie Ho who achieved a supplementary bronze. Thank you to Ms Andrea Jurcec and Mr Fernando for accompanying the team, and to Mr Tobin and Leroy (7 Avoca) for organising the lunchtime competition.

Welcome

This term we warmly welcome Mr Kaho Chow to our staff. Mr Chow teaches Humanities and Media Studies, and is replacing Ms Pintarich who is on leave. We wish Mr Chow a fruitful and professionally enriching time at our school.

Parent webinar on AI and online safety

Catholic Network Australia (CAN) and Cyber Safety Project are hosting a free ‘AI and the Digital Generation’ webinar for parents and carers on Monday 11 August 2025 from 7.30 – 8.00pm.

This webinar will cover essential insights into a range of topics, including the following:

• generative artificial intelligence (AI) and AI companion apps;
• deepfakes and online misinformation;
• AI safety in the home; and
• Legal and ethical consideration of AI use.

The webinar will help parents and carers:

• understand the online tools and technologies their children are using;
• build confidence in discussing AI, deepfakes and digital truth with their children; and
• learn practical strategies to encourage safe and ethical online behaviour.

Registration and further information are available by clicking the following: https://www.cna.catholic.edu.au/events-1/ai-the-digital-generation-parent-webinar

Updating family phone and email contacts

At times families change their phone or email contacts and forget to let the school know. In case of emergency, it is very important that these details are always up to date. If your contact details have changed, please notify the school, either by ringing the College or sending the information via email at enquiries@crcstalbans.com.au

Year 10 Families

In the next three weeks, Year 10 students will be selecting their courses for Year 11. We encourage all families to ensure that they attend the following activities which support the course planning process:

Wednesday 06 August:  Twilight Open Evening CRC Sydenham

Mon 11 / Tues 12 August:  Course Finalisation Day (During Student Led Conferences)

Year 10 families have received information from CRC Sydenham regarding the Twilight Open Evening. It is important that a parent / guardian attends with students.

Staff Professional Learning Day: Wednesday 13 August 2025

At the College we are always looking to improve our teaching practice to ensure that all students flourish and are able to do their personal best.

Wednesday 13 August will be a student free day. On this day, teachers will be working with staff from Teach Well to learn about a series of high impact instructional practices. These practices are grounded in the Science of Learning, and central to the MACS Vision for Instruction.

A small number of teachers have already completed the Teach Well professional learning, and are implementing the practices in their classes. All say that whilst the professional learning was challenging, it has had a real impact on their practice and student learning outcomes.

To ensure that the instructional practices become whole school practice, it is important that all teachers have the opportunity to complete the professional learning.  

NAPLAN Results

2025 NAPLAN results will be posted to Years 7 and 9 families in the next week.

Newsletter Days for Term 3 2025:       

Fridays:   15 August,     29 August,    12 September                              

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

Year 7 Reflection Day – A Journey Toward Peace

On July 3rd, our Year 7 students participated in a meaningful and reflective day away from the classroom, designed to explore the theme of peace—within ourselves, our relationships and the world around us.

The day began with a Paraliturgy, setting a reflective and reverent tone for what was to come. Next, in small groups, students explored “Snap Shots of Peace,” engaging in discussions and activities that invited them to consider how peace looks in their own lives and the world around them. After a break for recess, the reflection deepened through two calming, hands-on activities: creating a clay symbol of peace, and a peaceful walk through the olive grove.

Following lunch, students joined their PC groups for a collaborative Vision Activity, reflecting on how they can bring peace and positive leadership into their homerooms and the wider school community.

I would like to thank all the staff, students and helpers who made the day such a success. May the peace we reflected on continue to shape how we live, learn and lead.

A Visit from Father Page – A Franciscan Perspective

This term, we were honoured to welcome Father Page Polk, a Franciscan friar visiting from Arizona, to CRC St Albans.

Father Page joined a group of our students on the school’s Prayer Pilgrimage, taking time to reflect, pray, and walk alongside them through the sacred spaces of our campus. Along the way, he engaged students in a thoughtful conversation about the historical and cultural context of Jesus’ life, helping bring to life the world in which Jesus lived and taught.

After his time with the students, Father Page met with our Religious Education team, where a rich discussion unfolded. Topics ranged from how to inspire and motivate students in the RE classroom, to comparing Israel in the time of Jesus with modern-day Israel—highlighting how place, politics and religion have shifted over centuries, and how that impacts the way we teach Scripture today.

Looking ahead, Father Page will also be meeting with staff from each of the Catholic Regional College Federation schools to reflect on the Year of Jubilee and explore the powerful theme of being "Pilgrims of Hope". His visit is an opportunity for all of us—students and staff alike—to deepen our understanding of faith, mission and spiritual renewal.

We are grateful to Father Page for his warm presence, his wisdom and for reminding us of the global Franciscan mission to live simply, love deeply and follow Christ faithfully.

— The RE Team

The first semester reports are now available through the Parent Access Module at http://www.crcstalbans.catholic.edu.au/  

During Pastoral Care, students have been looking closely at their reports, focusing on their strengths and areas for development and using teacher feedback to assist them in setting goals for Semester Two. 

At the Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences, students will share their reflection on learning, achievements to celebrate and explain their learning and wellbeing goals.

Conferences with Pastoral Care teachers will take place on Monday 11^th August from 4 to 6pm and on Tuesday 12th August from 9am to 4:30pm. The conferences will be led by the students and are expected to run for approximately 20 minutes. 

The Year 7 conferences will be conducted in the students’ homerooms.

Year 8 & 9 conferences will take place in the College Hall.

Year 10 conferences will take place in the Year 10 Centre.  

The Year 10 conferences will be a combination of self-reflection, goal setting and finalisation of Year 11 Courses.

Families are asked to complete the online booking through the Parent Access Module by Friday 1^st August.

A How to Book Parent/Teacher Interviews guide can be found on our website

https://www.crcstalbans.catholic.edu.au/parents/

Tuesday 12^th August

There are no classes at school on Tuesday 12^thAugust so that the Student Led Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews can take place.

Our school’s chess team had a fantastic day at the recent SACCSS Inter School Chess competition, proudly representing our College with teamwork, focus and determination.

The competition was held at St.Francis College in Melton, the event brought together talented players from the association schools. Our students demonstrated excellent strategy and sportsmanship throughout the day, competing in a series of challenging matches.

We are thrilled to share that our intermediate team won first place in the Intermediate Division—a remarkable achievement that reflects their hard work and commitment to the game. Each player contributed to the team’s success, showing resilience under pressure and a deep understanding of the game.

Special congratulations to Ben Dau, who placed 2nd overall and Charlie Ha, who finished equal 3rd, both earning individual recognition for their outstanding performances in the Intermediate Division.

Congratulations to all our players for their efforts. We’re incredibly proud of how well they represented our school, both on and off the board!

The Year 9 Boys Premier League soccer team has made an impressive start to the season, remaining undefeated after their first two matches.

In Round 1, the team delivered a commanding performance with a 6–1 victory over St Francis, followed by another dominant win in Round 2, defeating Caroline Chisholm 5–0. These strong results have placed the team at the top of the Premier League ladder as the season progresses.

The boys take each match seriously and consistently bring a strong work ethic and positive attitude to the field. Their focus, determination and teamwork have been key to their early success. They not only compete with intensity, but also represent the College with great pride and sportsmanship in every game.

Goal scorers so far include:

• Daw Daw – 3 goals

• Sam Cosmano – 2 goals

• Joseph Di Bella – 2 goals

• Van Hoi Hmung Kheng Lot – 2 goals

• Akol Athian – 2 goals

• Van Bawi Thank Linmaung – 1 goal

Well done to all players involved. We look forward to following their journey throughout the season and celebrating more fantastic results on and off the field.

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