Loving God,
We pray for one another.
Give us open hearts to notice when someone is struggling,
and the courage to reach out with kindness and care.

Bless our conversations so they bring comfort, hope, and support.
Help us to listen with patience,
speak with compassion,
and remind each other that no one is ever alone.

May our community be a place of friendship,
understanding, and love,
where every person feels valued and supported.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

Today we marked R U OK day across the school. The R U OK campaign raises awareness about the importance of connection, of meaningful conversations and of checking in with friends, family and colleagues. It reminds us that showing care and being a supportive listener have the power to change lives. Feeling connected and cared for by others is vital for mental health and wellbeing. A simple conversation can make a difference and often prevent problems from becoming bigger. We are reminded to:

• Start a conversation by asking ‘R U OK?’
• Give others our full attention and listen without interrupting.
• Encourage others to seek help if they are struggling.
• Follow up and check in after the conversation to show you care and still there for them.

Whilst R U OK? Day is an important day for raising awareness about mental health and wellbeing, every day needs to be an R U OK? Day in how we care for each other. Thank you to all in our school community who organised our R U OK Day events.

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 over the past eight weeks.

There have been many highlights: the recent Immersion Day, Year 9 Community Service, the Year 10 Social, course selection for 2026 interschool sport and much more.

Next week Year 10 students will be on Work Experience, and Year 9 students are looking forward to their camp. We hope that these will be enriching experiences for both groups, and look forward to hearing all about what they have learnt on their return.

Congratulations to Year 9 students on a terrific Premier League season with three teams making the semi-finals (Girls and Boys Volleyball, and Boys Soccer). As much as we are thrilled with the success students have experienced, we are equally proud of the great sportsmanship and school spirit shown by all students who represented the school.

Without a doubt it has been a full term, so it’s no surprise that we’re all ready for a break! I hope that everyone enjoys this time with family and friends, and the opportunity to enjoy life at a less hectic pace.

Start of Term 4

Students will return to school on Monday 06 2025. This will be Day 6 on the timetable.

Term 4 Timetable

There are some changes to the timetable for the start of Term 4. We ask that students check their timetable in the second week of the holidays. Remember, we start on DAY 6.

Enrolment for 2026

Enrolment at the College continues automatically from year to year. However, if a student in Years 7, 8 or 9 is not returning in 2026, we ask that families notify us as soon as possible. Please email jneves@crcstalbans.com.au or ring Jackie Neves on 9366 2544 with this information.

Your assistance with this is much appreciated as we have an extensive waiting list at most 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 6 or 7 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 05 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.

Newsletter

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

Newsletter Days for Term 4 2025:           

Fridays: 10 October, 24 October, 07 November, 21 November, 15 December

Year 10 Reflection Day – Seeds of Hope: Compassion, Justice & Stewardship

Our Year 10 students recently took part in a meaningful Reflection Day, centred on the theme Seeds of Hope: Compassion, Justice & Stewardship. The day combined practical service, deep reflection, and prayer as students explored how small acts of kindness can grow into hope for others.

One of the highlights was the class task, Cooking for the Food Bank – Seeds of Hope in Action. Working in groups of 3–4, students spent an hour preparing either Bolognese or Napolitana sauce, which was then packed, labelled, and frozen to be donated to the Food Bank. This hands-on activity reminded students that preparing a simple meal can bring comfort, dignity, and hope to families facing hardship.

Beyond the kitchen, each House group had unique opportunities to connect faith with action: Chisholm students visited Parliament House, where they met with State Minister for Youth, Natalie Suleyman, engaging in discussion about serious issues such as domestic violence, bullying, and refugee and homelessness. Meanwhile, MacKillop students travelled to CERES Community Environment Park, where they explored how stewardship of creation calls us to care for the earth as part of our faith and responsibility for future generations.

The afternoon continued with small group discussions guided by the “See, Judge, Act” model. Using images, stories, and personal reflection, students explored issues of poverty, homelessness, and justice in our world. They connected their classroom learning and fundraising for the Ugandan school project with the practical service of the day, recognising the global and local impact of their actions.

To close, each group took part in a Seed Planting Ritual. Together, students planted seeds in a class pot—a symbol of their commitment to sowing hope through compassion, justice, and care for creation. These pots will remain in their classrooms as a living reminder of their faith journey and will later be brought to Sacred Heart Church as part of a communal prayer celebration.

The day concluded with a liturgy of thanksgiving, where students offered their reflections from their experiences at The Big Issue, Parliament, CERES, MacKillop Family Services, and the Food Bank. Through prayer, scripture, and symbolic action, they celebrated the many ways they had seen hope, courage, and compassion at work in the world.

Year 10 Reflection Day was a powerful experience that invited our students not only to reflect but to act—to become sowers of hope in their communities, guided by faith and a commitment to justice.

As a part of Year 9 Trinity program Hughes were lucky enough to have the fortunate opportunity to give back to their community by assisting the wonderful people at Iramoo Grassland Centre at Victoria University in St Albans.

Iramoo is a native word meaning ‘Grassy Plains’ in the Woiwurrung language. These grasslands were once flourishing with native plant species and a source of food and material for art and tools for First Nations peoples over thousands of years. Due to urbanization the native plant species started to disappear from the region.

9 Hughes contributed their time as apart of their ‘community service’ for their Trinity Program this term. Students participated in a wide range of activities that contributed to restoring the Grassland back to its natural biodiversity by weeding, planting and plant propagation. Through this experience, students received an insightful experience in the purpose of giving back to the community and to promote the importance of preserving natural biodiversity.

On the behalf of CRC St Albans, we would like to thank Megan at Iramoo for contributing her time to provide Hughes with a unique experience.

Mr Samuel King, 9 Hughes Homeroom Teacher

This week our Year 9 and 10 students took part in the Road Smart Interactive Program, delivered here at school by the Melbourne Museum. This engaging and hands-on program gave students the opportunity to explore the importance of being safe and responsible road users. Through interactive activities and real-life scenarios, they learned practical strategies to keep themselves and others safe on the road—whether as pedestrians, passengers, cyclists, or future drivers. The program was a valuable reminder of how we can all make safer choices and contribute to a positive road safety culture in our community. 

Our Year 9 students are heading off to Halls Gap soon for their school camp!
To help with preparation, we encourage families to start gathering essential items such as sleeping bags, warm jackets, and other camping gear this weekend. 

If you have any questions or need further information, please contact the school — Blake Robinson will be happy to assist.

We can’t wait for an exciting and memorable camp experience!

Mr Blake Robinson, Year 9 Leader

This term, students across all year levels have been learning how to resolve conflict in respectful and positive ways. Through Pastoral Care, they have been exploring the Conflict Resolution Process, a step-by-step guide that encourages them to reflect on their emotions, listen to others, and make Smart Choices when problems arise.

These activities give students the tools to handle disagreements calmly and fairly—skills that will serve them well at school, at home, and in the community.

We encourage families to continue the conversation at home. Talk together about the importance of making Smart Choices and how respectful problem-solving can strengthen relationships and build a kinder, more supportive community.

Path 1: Stay upset, ignore them, and let the problem grow.
The friendship gets weaker, and the conflict remains unresolved.

Path 2: Try a Restorative Conversation to make things right.
Here are the 6 guiding questions:
1. What happened?
2. What were you thinking at the time?
3. What have you thought about since?
4. Who has been affected by what happened?
5. What needs to happen to make things right?
6. What support do you need?

The choice is yours — but only one path leads to respect, understanding, and stronger friendships.

Which one will you choose?

Sam from Cybersafety Project visited Our Year 7s to talk about navigating the digital world safely

Live Your Best Life in Love...

Time-out to nurture your most precious relationship away from life's distractions.  

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

and with tools to help keep your renewed intimacy alive.

No group sharing is required.

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

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

We have 2 further weekends on offer this year

October 3-5 at Tooleybuc Sporting Club / Tooleybuc Motor Inn - a great weekend getaway

October 10-12 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