A Prayer for Our Earth

All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe

and in the smallest of your creatures.

You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.

Pour out upon us the power of your love,

that we may protect life and beauty.

Fill us with peace, that we may live

as brothers and sisters, harming no one.

O God of the poor,

help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth,

so precious in your eyes.

Bring healing to our lives,

that we may protect the world and not prey on it,

that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.

Touch the hearts of those who look only for gain

at the expense of the poor and the earth.

Teach us to discover the worth of each thing,

to be filled with awe and contemplation,

to recognize that we are profoundly united

with every creature

as we journey towards your infinite light.

We thank you for being with us each day.

Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle

for justice, love and peace.

Pope Francis, Laudato Si

Following the release of his encyclical Laudato Si in 2015, Pope Francis designated September 1st as the annual World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. He hopes this day will be a time for individuals and communities to “reaffirm their personal vocation to be stewards of creation, to thank God for the wonderful handiwork which he has entrusted to our care, and to ask his help for the protection of creation.” Families may wish to reflect on our opening prayer as a way of marking this day.

Spotlight on Science, Reading and Languages

We’re currently enjoying a season of special weeks across the school. Last week we explored the mysteries and wonders of our world through Science week, and this week we’ve celebrated the joy of reading and the delights of delving into a new language through Book and Languages Weeks. Thank you to all the staff and students who’ve been involved in planning, organising and participating in activities.

These weeks are lots of fun, encourage learning beyond the classroom and help to highlight the importance of the different disciplines. However, saying that, there’s also an interesting thread that links Science, Languages and Reading. All push us beyond ourselves, into new and interesting worlds. They take us out of the world we know, help us to walk in others’ shoes, to see with new ‘eyes’, and to broaden our vision of life.

Our newsletter is changing!

Families and students may notice that this week’s newsletter looks a little different. This is because we’re now using Schoolzine to produce the newsletter. The key advantage of this is that families who access it electronically can now read the newsletter in different languages. In a few weeks it will also be available on an app.

Congratulations: Year 9 students

Well done to all Year 9 students who represented the College in Premier League this term. All teams competed well with a number missing finals by only the smallest margin. Coaches and staff who attended have all commented on the fine school and team spirit shown by all Year 9 students, their sportsmanship and exemplary conduct. Congratulations to everyone involved. You should be proud of all you’ve achieved.

Newsletter Days for Term 3 2018:           

Fridays:                 7 September   21 September         

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 9 Premier League
• GoGirls IT excursion
• Year 7 National Gallery visits
• Yrs 11 and 12 course planning day
• Year 10 Social
• Years 9 and 10 2019 elective selection process
• ACMI Film Making Day (Yr 9 Media Studies)
• 10 Mannix community service
• Yr 8 Discovery rotations.
• Yr 8 Lawn Bowls excursion
• Outdoor Ed Ski Trip
• Bookweek Breakfast.

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.

SCHOOL FEES 2018

We encourage families that are not on a payment plan to pay their school fees either fortnightly or monthly as there is only 3 months of school left.

Net Banking …..

A reminder to those families who are using Internet Banking for payment of school fees, that it is important that you enter the I.D. number and child’s family name which is located on the bottom right hand corner of your statement as shown below.

If you have any concerns or difficulties regarding your child’s school fees, please Contact Mrs Ross :   9366 2544

CHANGED YOUR CONTACT DETAILS ?

Families are reminded that the school

needs to be notified immediately if you

have changed your phone contact details

or have moved to another address.

Please contact the office on:  9366 2544

to inform us of any changes.

DIGITAL SOCIAL SKILLS   By Catherine Gerhardt

As parents we want to do whatever it takes to minimise the mistakes our children make online. Netiquette is a set of general guidelines for cyberspace behaviour. Here are some basic principles parents can use to help young people solve their own ‘netiquette’ dilemmas.

1. Be kind

Remember the human behind every screen.  Every user is an independent person with individual thoughts and feelings.  It can be easy to misunderstand another person’s intentions or even be rude to others when you are not interacting with them in person and given the grace of viewing facial expressions and emotions.  Perhaps the best mantra we can go back to as parents is the golden rule of “Treat others how you would like to be treated.”  

2. Respect privacy

With the world wide web being a public place, privacy is paramount. Learning how to protect personal information and the importance of looking at a website’s privacy policy can help develop skills around internet privacy.  Asking for permission before creating accounts and downloading files, strategies for identifying scams and limiting the type of information kids give about themselves or others can help set a strong foundation for their digital lives.

3. Develop their internal filter

Parents may feel that they have some control over their child’s use of technology and many use programs and apps that allow for monitoring and filtering content. We need to help young people develop their internal filter, as this is the one they will always have and may need to rely on. Research is clear that the best way to teach morals and ethics is through example.

4. Teach them to do the right thing

Parents can nurture moral principles that will guide young people to stand up for their beliefs and act right even without us.  Know what you stand for so that your child knows. Discuss with your child how you feel about the issue and why.

5. Be upstanding

There will be times online when your child will have to be brave and stand up for others, when they will have to go against social pressure to do what is right. Encourage your child to stand up, speak up and act up against online abuse.  They can support the target by letting them know they are there and provide empathy.  Encourage your child to report what is happening to a trusted adult; someone who they believe will listen and has the skills, desire, and authority to help. 

6. Use THINK

Using the THINK rule can go a long way in practicing digital social skills.  It is a checklist of questions that children must go through before they post or comment online. 

• Is it True? 
• Is it Helpful?
• Is it Inspiring?
• Is it Necessary?
• Is it Kind? 

Created to emphasise care online, it applies to real world engagement as well.

FAITH IN ACTION AT CRC ST ALBANS

Over the four years at St Albans, students are involved in a wide variety of social justice opportunities. This could be in the form of liturgy and prayer as we saw this week with Year 10 Little and Year 10 McAuley focusing their mass on the cause of social justice. Other opportunities are imbedded in both the RE curriculum.  Others opportunities are extra-curricular such as participation in the Vinnie’s group or participation in the CRC St Albans community garden. It is our hope that students at the end of their time at Catholic Regional College St Albans see their belief in God and their call to action as the foundations of their Catholic Identity. 

The way social justice evolves within the school is that it starts at home and within the school and as the students’ progress to the senior levels the scope of this service expands. The Year 7’s theme this term is growing in our community.  They do this by responding to needs at home and in their classroom. In the RE program the students document their thoughtful acts and reflect on the impact this has had on their families and their classrooms. In term 4 the Year 7 theme is giving.  In this term they will be preparing for Christmas by donating toys and food to St Vinnies so they can create hampers for those in need.

In year 8 the students are currently studying in RE the Kingdom of God. After looking at how the first and second testament explore the kingdom of God students develop their own vision of the Kingdom of God and how we can go about creating the Kingdom of God, here on Earth.  They actively do this by assisting in both community garden and on Fridays at the Holy Eucharist Food Bank.

In Year 9 next term in RE students will be examining Catholic Social Teaching principles. Two Principles Subsidiarity and Stewardship are demonstrated through the Trinity program students in their classes support local disability services, and assist with local environmental projects.

The Year 10 students are completing `A Call to Justice’ unit in RE where they are examine key Church Docuements such as Gaudium et Spes and explore how the Catholic Church should responds to social justice issues around the world.  As part as the community service students  in small groups visit age care services, and assist students with reading after school and within the classroom.

There are heaps of interesting science facts out there in the world around us.  For example:

• There’s a parasite that takes over the brains of rats and turns them into zombies
• Or, Just like humans, British cows moo in regional accents
• Or, Russian cosmonauts wee on the back tyre of a bus before take-off  for good luck?

What do you think is the World’s most interesting science fact?

Enter the Catholic Regional College St Albans Interesting Facts Competition for a chance to win an ULTIMATE EARS BOOM 2 BLUETOOTH SPEAKER!. It is open to all students (as well as parents and staff), can be on anything ‘Sciencey’ and you can enter as many times as you like.  The Interesting Fact must be 43 words or less and must come with a reference (where you got it from e.g. website, book, etc).  Submit your entries to the web address below.  Competition closes (31^st August 2018).

BOOKWEEK ACTIVITIES

Paper plane competition WINNER Juswin Ramachandran 7 Kiewa.

BOOKWEEK

We have been having fun in the Library this week with Bookweek Activities. On Monday Juswin 7 Kiewa, won the paper plane competition with a mighty throw that hit the back wall of the Library.  Our Principal Miss Utri was on hand to award the winner his prize.

On Tuesday during Reading Hour a group of students had their first chance to read and borrow our new Library books while enjoying some special treats.

READING HOUR

READER'S CUP

Congratulations to the following classes for all moving up 1 place on the ladder: 8 Attard, 9 Hughes, 8 Clark, 9 Deakin and 9 Barton ... KEEP READING

Wraith by Shane Smithers and Alexandra Smithers

On Wednesday 22^nd August, as part of Languages Week, the Year 8 Chinese and Italian classes watched a comedy play titled Mission Gnocchi. Students watched on in laughter and enjoyment as the two actors fumbled their way through making gnocchi, a famous Italian dish, calling on a number of students to help them. All in all, it was thoroughly enjoyable and the students walked away in smiles having learnt a bit more about Italian food culture and how to say a few Italian words!

Every 2 years, the Victorian ICT for Women network runs an event for all Victorian school girls in years 5 to 12 to hear about the incredible range of vocational avenues available in Information Technology (IT). This year the event was held at Deakin University and attended by over 2000 students from across Victoria. CRC St Albans attended the event last week with 30 students from across the years.  Students had opportunities to participate in a wide range of activities to make them aware of the educational and career paths available in the world of technology. 

The students attended presentations by female entrepreneurs from across the globe, participated in ideas workshops and attended a trade show. At the trade show the students had the opportunity to meet industry and educational leaders and discuss, and experience, cutting edge technologies such as Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality and how they can be use in the future. The students left the event with a greater appreciation of careers available within IT, some educational routes open to them and most importantly a full show bag. Roll on GOGIRLS 2020.

The Year 9 Girls Netball Premier League team did a great job this term, with their true sporting colours blazing.

Congratulations to everyone who participated in Year 9 Premier League this year, well done.