Catholic Regional College St Albans eNewsletter

GOD COUNTS ON US

Only God creates

but we are called to enhance that creation.

Only God gives life

but we are called to cherish life.

Only God gives faith

but we are called to be signs of God for each other.

Only God gives love

but we are called to care for each other.

Only God gives hope

but we are called to give each other reason for hope.

Only God gives power

but we are called to get things going.

Only God can bring peace

but we are called to build bridges.

Only God can bring happiness

but we are invited to be joyful.

Only God is the way

but we are called to show others the way.

Only God is light

but we are called to make that light shine in the world.

Only God makes miracles happen

but we must offer the loaves and fishes.

Only God can do the impossible

but we must do what is possible.

Volunteering

This week is National Volunteers Week. It is an opportunity to remember all the people who make a world of difference to our communities by giving their time in service of others. Volunteers build community, connectedness and social cohesion. Where would our communities, especially our parishes, be without them?

At our school we call students to be involved in volunteering and community service at all year levels. Over the next few weeks, Year 9 students will undertake a series of service projects in the Trinity program. These initiatives range from cleaning up and re-vitalising a section of Koroit Creek to students putting on a mini concert at Keilor Downs. Year 10 students work in the community garden, help out in the canteen and visit the elderly in aged care facilities. Year 8 students help out at the Loaves and Fishes Food bank and volunteer for many different tasks in our community. During the school holidays there are always many helpers in our community garden. These are all very practical way of living out Jesus’ invitation to love others as he loved.

We give thanks for the army of volunteers who quietly yet faithfully offer their services for the wellbeing and support of others. May all these unsung heroes be blessed. They truly understand that it is in giving that we receive.

Australian 24 Hour Movement Guidelines for Young People

The Australian Government Department of Health has released new guidelines for physical activity and sleep for young people (5 – 17 years). It recommends that for optimal health young people need to increase physical activity and sleep, and decrease screen time. The daily recommendations are:

60 minutes or more of vigorous aerobic activity per day.
Several hours of light physical activity.
Limit screen time to no more than two hours.
Breaking up long periods of sitting as often as possible.
9 – 11 hours of uninterrupted sleep per night for 12 and 13 year olds, and 8 – 10 hours for 14-17 years.
Consistent bed and wake up times.

More information can be found in the brochure included with the newsletter.

Arrangements for Feast Day: Thursday 30 May 2019

We are looking forward to celebrating our Feast Day next Thursday. With only six days to go you can feel the excitement building! Our student leaders have been very busy planning the day, preparations are well in hand and we have our fingers crossed for good weather.

School will begin at the normal time of 8.40am and conclude at 3.05pm. As is always the case, all students are required at school on this day.

Students can come in casual clothes.

Newsletter

The newsletter is published fortnightly and distributed on Day 10 (Friday Week 2). Students will have a chance to read it before placing it in their diary to be taken home to parents that evening.

Newsletter Days for Term 2 2019:

Fridays: 7 June AND 21 June

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

Since our last newsletter…..

Over and above the day to day activities of the school since our last newsletter students, families and staff have participated in the following:

Year 7 Premier League
SACCSS Girls AFL
NAPLAN Tests
Ball Sports and Coaching primary school visit
10 MacKillop Community Service
Top Arts excursion (Yr 10 Visual Arts and Vis Com)
Yr 10 Outdoor Education camp
Year 9 Mock Interviews in Trinity

I am sure that students and their families are very appreciative of all these opportunities and the time and energy that staff put into organising and offering these experiences.

We remind students and families that our library is open until 4.30pm on Monday – Thursday, and 4.00pm on Friday.

There are a number of learning support staff are available each day to assist with homework and to provide study support. We encourage students to make use of this extra assistance.

Catholic Regional College St Albans – Semester One 2019 Exam Schedule

Year 10:

Year 10 examination period is scheduled for Thursday 13th June to Monday 17th June.
Students studying VCE or VET subjects must attend their regular class and/or sit their Year 11 exam at Sydenham on Tuesday 11th June or Wednesday 12th June.
Tuesday 11th and Wednesday 12th June, Year 10 students have normal timetabled classes.
Thursday 13th June and Monday 17th June during periods 1 and 2, students have the option of studying at home and coming in at recess (10:40 am) or coming to school to study at normal school time.
Friday 14th June, students will have normal timetabled classes followed by one study lesson before their 2-hour English exam in the afternoon.

Year 9:

Year 9 examination period is scheduled for Tuesday 11th June to Tuesday 18th June.
During period one scheduled exams students are expected at school by 8.30 am and ready to line up in class groups and move into the hall by 8.40 am.
When students are not completing exams, they will have their normal scheduled classes.

There are several measures that students and parents/guardians could perform that may help ensure success in study through this challenging period.

These include:

- Having a good study work space at home which is well lit with natural light and is comfortable for them.

- If they are using technology to study ensure that any form of social media is not in the background.

- The majority of learning happens inside the classroom; therefore, students are strongly encouraged to use this time as effectively as possible.

- Students are encouraged to have an open dialogue with their teachers about their learning and approaches to studying.

- Healthy habits that include a healthy diet, exercise and good sleep patterns are also important.

- Asking your child each night how they are going with exam preparation and opening conversations with them.

- Ask your child to share their study notes with you for each subject.

If you would like support with this, please contact your child's homeroom teacher or year level leader.

We trust that students will be adequately prepared and wish them well with the exams.

We remind all our families that exams are a compulsory part of our school program at Year 9 and 10. If a student is sick on the day of an examination, parents are asked to please notify the school and provide a medical certificate. Once student returns, they must reschedule the exam with Mr Dale Marshall.

Parents of current Year 10 students are reminded that compulsory academic testing will take place for all who are entering Year 11 at CRC Sydenham campus next year.

Testing will take place in the Sydenham college hall on Saturday 25 May 2019.

Academic Testing – Saturday 25 May

8.45am – 1.00pm

COMPULSORY for all YEAR 10 students.

Catholic Regional College Sydenham

College Hall

380 Sydenham Road

SYDNEHAM 3037

For further information,

please contact the college on: 9361 0000.

Staff Professional Learning Day

Friday 31 May, 2019

Friday 31 May will be a professional learning day. In the morning, staff will be completing Warden Training and doing an emergency management refresher. We are mandated to do this at least every two years.

This year we are reviewing the Years 9 and 10 learning program. Students have had input through surveys and focus groups. The input will be analysed on Friday with a view to developing some models for further discussion.

Please note: Students are not required at school on Friday 31 May

Federation of Catholic Regional College Mass

Once a year all the staff of Catholic Regional College (North Keilor, Sydenham, Caroline Springs, Melton and St Albans gather for mass and afternoon tea.

The mass has been incorporated into our professional learning day next Friday and will be hosted by CRC Melton. The Principal Celebrant will be Archbishop Peter Comensoli.

It will be a special celebration, in that, the mass marks the 40^th anniversary of CRC Melton. We congratulate the Melton community on reaching this very important milestone.

All families would have received their updated school fee statements as of 15^th May 2019.

Term 2 fees are due by Friday 28^th June 2019.

Please note if school fees are paid in full before 28^th June you receive a discount of $100.

If you have any queries or concerns regarding School Fees,

please contact Ms. Ross on 93662544.

School Fees can be paid directly into our School Bank Account:

Catholic Regional College St Albans

BSB: 083-347 A/c. No. 6909 17667

along with your Account Code as Reference.

READERS’ CUP LEADERBOARD

The following students are

currently leading the Readers’ Cup competition.

Congratulations to them for their efforts. Good luck to everyone.

KEEP READING . . .

1 Marsel Eshaq, 9 BARTON

2 Sasha Bangit, 7 SNOWY

3 Brandon Wolfe, 7 KIEWA

4 Claretta Rock, 7 SNOWY

5 Phillip Nguyen, 7 SNOWY

6 Tommy Pham, 7 SNOWY

7 Francees Alhadaya, 7 YARRA

8 Athraa Matti, 7 SNOWY

9 Maddison Mavrogenis, 7 SNOWY

10 Randee Attallah, 7 KIEWA

. . . What's On When . . .

MILO MORNINGS EVERY TUESDAY FROM 8.00AM

MINI BREAKFAST EVERY THURSDAY MORNING FROM 8.00AM

Aurora Rising (The Aurora Cycle #1)

by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman

The year is 2380, and the graduating cadets of Aurora Academy are being assigned their first missions. Star pupil Tyler Jones is ready to recruit the squad of his dreams, but his own boneheaded heroism sees him stuck with the dregs nobody else in the Academy would touch…

BUT this squad of losers, discipline-cases and misfits might just be the last hope for the entire galaxy!

NEW MANGA SERIES

Fairytale

By Hiro Mashima

S-Class quests are so dangerous that one false move means certain death! Now loose cannon Natsu, rookie Lucy, and nearly powerless Happy have embarked on a stolen S-Class quest, setting out for Demon island. Can anyone stop them before they get themselves killed?

COMING SOON

Black Butler

by Yana Toboso

Sebastian is a butler who guards the aloof 13-year-old earl, Ciel Phantomhive, a giant in the world of commerce, Queen Victoria’s faithful servant and a slip of a twelve-year-old boy. After losing his parents, Ciel hunts for the culprits who dared to end the Phantomhive family. Together he and his loyal butler, Sebastian, solve cases ordered directly from the Queen in late 19th century England.

There apparently is nothing Sebastian cannot do. In fact, one might even say Sebastian is too good to be true or at least, too good to be human. https://mangarock.com/manga/mrs-serie-145052

Award-Winning In-School Theatre Performances

Verbal Combat

On Monday the 3^rd of June Brainstorm Productions will be presenting their student wellbeing program ‘Verbal Combat’ for our year 7 students.

Words are powerful. Words can hurt and cyber bullying is devastating. Verbal Combat is a live theatre program that follows three friends who learn that their online words can last forever. The desire to fit in and be liked is strong and when one friend starts to post witty, but mean rumours to get more online likes, the play takes a cruel twist. All too soon, the posts are wreaking havoc in all their lives and the characters quickly discover that there is no easy way out. Verbal Combat is essential learning, that addresses the dire consequences of cyber bullying and will help students understand that their digital footprints are hard to erase and so are their mistakes.

Verbal Combat is part of our student wellbeing curriculum and the program has been developed in consultation with teachers, psychologists, as well as real-life student experiences. The methodology of the program is safe, supportive and nonjudgmental and designed to provide students with positive and useful tools that they can use in their everyday lives.

More than 350,000 Australian students have already benefited from Brainstorm Productions multi award-winning educational theatre programs over the past twelve months. Their programs cater to the specific wellbeing needs of students, helping to create a healthy and harmonious school environment. If you would like to know more about Brainstorm Productions, visit their website at www.brainstormproductions.edu.au.

Alternatively, you can contact the Year 7 Level Leader, Mr Justin Mead, at jmead@crcstalbans.com.au.

This week our year 9 students participated in mock interviews as part of the Trinity Program titled 'World of Work'. It was an opportunity for students to develop resume and cover letter writing skills and also participate in a mock job interview to prepare themselves for their own future pathways and employment options. Students were well prepared and presented professionally.

Rostrum Public Speaking

Congratulations to all the students who represented the College at the Rostrum Public Speaking competition. You all need to be very proud of how you presented, your eloquence and passion as speakers.

Special congratulations to Rejoice Modi who was runner up on the day with her empowering speech on What does beauty really mean? We are thrilled for Rejoice who is such a talented student.

Thank you to Mrs Pannunzio who coached and accompanied the students and to all the families who supported them on the day.

Greetings parents and guardians of students of Catholic Regional College, our names are Hannah Nguyen and Samantha Smith and we are the Year 10 Social Justice Captains. As Year 10 Social Justice Captains, we have chosen to devote time into making a cause and raising awareness about the challenging situations that many in the world are forced to endure. Through this, we can form solidarity within the school community and overall sensitise everyone regarding dilemmas even developed nations experience. The Social Justice Captains intend to execute many campaigns in our own unique way and will assist the students of Catholic Regional College in being more conscious about communities that require our support. We will undertake the role of assisting the other members of the group in the planning of the events following special campaigning weeks such as ‘Solidarity Week’ and the ‘Winter Appeal’. Through these, we will be able to expand the knowledge and understanding of everyone in the school community.

This year within our social justice council, we are focusing on three main areas which are solidarity, fundraising and information. To us, solidarity is about uniting as a team and taking action whether it be through spreading awareness of issues or creating events in order to donate to organisations and make a difference in the world. We plan to make continuous acts of solidarity while in our meetings and everyday life. Fundraising is going to be a major focus this year and we have already kicked it off with tremendous donations towards Caritas. We have exciting ideas on the horizon in order to raise funds and make a change in people's lives. Finally, information and updates about social justice projects and ways to get involved will be posted frequently on the bulletin and newsletter.

‘Refugee Week’, a special period of time intended to spread awareness about the conflicting issues refugees experience during their demanding migration, is initiating on June 20 in 2019. The Social Justice Team intends to notify students and teachers of Catholic Regional College weeks prior about the events occuring to commemorate those being robbed of a fortunate life as they make a gruelling journey. An excursion to a real life refugee camp has been planned for those willing to volunteer and devote their time to expanding their knowledge about a crisis in our world. Moreover, there will be days where the Social Justice Team will organise a ‘lunchbox’ for students in the school, representative of the scarce amount of food refugees are given in Detention Camps and raise awareness about another factor of their struggles. It can also be interpreted as ‘an act of solidarity’. Other activities for Refugee Week include: watching videos in Pastoral Care which follows the lives of particular persons that would be considered as ‘refugees’, having discussions and answering questions in relation to the given video or statistics regarding refugees, competing in pop quizzes regarding to refugees and perhaps even a competition on rap/pop about solidarity or heart-wrenching story they wish to share.

After the events of ‘Refugee Week’, Catholic Regional College will step into the new duration that is the ‘Solidarity Evening’, which was formerly known as ‘Winter Appeal’. The purpose of this appeal is to transform the lives of those who are poverty-stricken and inform everyone about the hardships the homeless have to endure, particularly in the winter. Events for this campaign include knitting woolen apparel, donating for the Winter Sleepout and most importantly, the ‘Winter Sleepout’ which is a day where volunteered students sleep at school, Samantha Smith and Hannah Nguyen Year 10 Social Justice Leaders

Jade Nguyen Year 10 Designed our Social Justice team Logo, shown below:

Feast Day Mass

Mass will be at 9.30am at Sacred Heart church. Families are very welcome to join us.

Arrangements for Feast Day: Thursday 30 May 2019

We are looking forward to celebrating our Feast Day next Thursday. With only six days to go you can feel the excitement building! Our student leaders have been very busy planning the day, preparations are well in hand and we have our fingers crossed for good weather.

School will begin at the normal time of 8.40am and conclude at 3.05pm. As is always the case, all students are required at school on this day.

Students can come in casual clothes.

Feast Day Fund Raiser

Our student leaders have been looking at how we can make Feast Day about others rather than only ourselves. They have decided to focus their work on people who have been displaced due to war, persecution or natural disasters.

The UNHCR’s annual Global Trends Report shows that 68.5 million people around the world were forcibly displaced at the end of 2018. 16.2 million people were newly displaced just last year. 31 people are newly displaced every minute of the day. 52% of the world’s refugees are displaced children. Overwhelmingly, it is developing countries that carry the work of assisting displaced people. Our students believe that it is important that we do something!

This year the focus will be on supporting people who have been displaced by the war in Iraq. In subsequent years we will look at other groups.

On Feast Day students are invited to donate a coin to assist refugees and displaced people. As well as this, the proceeds from the Feast Day BBQ will also be donated. I congratulate the students on their important leadership, in both raising awareness and in seeing a need and doing something about it.

Congratulations to our CRC St Albans Girls AFL Team who represented our school at the SACCSS Intermediate Girls AFL recently, with endeavour and enthusiasm. The score line was not a true representation of our girls efforts, but we look forward to working together over the year, as we prepare to take the majority of our current Year 9 students one step further in 2020.

Thank you to our Year 10 students who represented our school in AFL for the last time; Kira Jansen, Lydia Asmerom and Delvana Dorbor.

Congratulations to our best players today; Kahlia Cuccaro, Emily Gerada, Kira Jansen, Delvana Dorbor and Chloe Lefebure from 8 Clarke who kicked a great goal.

Lastly; thank you to Brett Peacock and Matt Ikov for helping out and all the girls for representing our school with pride.

NOT JUST A HIKE

Last Thursday and Friday approx 40 Year 10 students embarked on a personal challenge which they will never forget- a two day 20km pack hike! The students set off in two separate groups, Mr Quinn's Class and Miss Lowe's class, on two different hiking trails in the beautiful scenery of the Brisbane Ranges National Park. Overcoming many personal challenges, each group was able to share a unique experience among their peers. Highlights were definitely sharing stories around the camp fire in the evening, and then seeing the welcome sight of the bus - 'civilization' at the end of the hike!! All students are to be congratulated for the mammoth effort and achievements on completing this hike, and for many overcoming personal physical and mental challenges!! Well done!!

- Miss Lowe