God of time and God of eternity

For you we wait.

God of outer space and God closer than we can imagine

For you we wait.

God of the roaring noise of the world and God of silence

For you we wait.

In our homes, classrooms, factories, offices and fields

For you we wait.

In this place and in this time

For you we wait.

Advent: A time of Waiting, Anticipation and Preparation

Sunday marks the beginning of Advent; the beginning of the Church’s litugical year and a time of anticipation and preparation.

Advent is sometimes described as a season of waiting. In modern life we are used to waiting. We wait at the doctor’s. We wait in traffic. We wait in line to be served at the local coffee shop. Advent is waiting also but not in the zoned-out way like we might wait at the supermarket, the anxious way we wait for test results or our impatient waiting in traffic. Advent is an active waiting, a time of anticipation, a time when the Church prepares physically and spiritually—for the coming of the Christ child.

Anticipation is a feeling we know well at this time of the year. We are counting down to many things: to the end of school, to the holidays and to Christmas. We live in constant anticipation of what is happening next. However, in the busyness of this time we also need to remember the point of the season; the birth of Christ. As a community of believers it is important to prepare personally and as a parish community for the birth of Christ. I pray that in the next few weeks, you will be blessed with the space to watch, wait and prepare.

Catherine McAuley Pins

In the College library we have a plaque from 1978 which recognises the contribution of the Sisters of Mercy and the Sisters of St Joseph in establishing primary and secondary education in the St Albans area. The quote from Catherine McAuley on the plaque reads as follows:

It is not for us to bestow gifts like benevolent people in the world but rather to bestow ourselves (1778 – 1841)

These words of Catherine McAuley capture well the spirit of our McAuley pins and the qualities we look for in the recipients. At CRC we encourage young people to be generous with their time and gifts; to look beyond themselves to the needs of others and to work for the common good. They are called to be responsible, compassionate and active citizens who know that they can make a difference, even if it is only one small step at a time. 

Throughout the year students have many opportunities to be involved in learning beyond the classroom and to contribute to the community. This happens through service, leadership, fundraising, sport, the Arts, extension programs and clubs.  I’d like to thank all students for the way they’ve participated and been involved in 2019.

Each year we recognise students who’ve made an outstanding contribution to the school and broader community with a Catherine McAuley pin.

Congratulations to the recipients of the 2019 Catherine McAuley pin. You are indeed people who make a difference and your willingness to lead, challenge, put in and to be part of things is very much appreciated. Thank you.

Thank you to all the families who were able to join us for the assembly and morning tea.  Your presence, support and encouragement are very much appreciated.

Recipients of the Catherine McAuley Pin for 2019 are……

Caelen Khoo, Amadeus Wejak, Mary Ann Shemiss, Reuben Rock, Hilary Ho, Melisa Nguyen, Olivia Barisic, Elisha Gomes, Rhanel Hao, Lydia Asmerom, David Do, Eleanore Durand Deslongrais, Gregory Estepa, Amber Nguyen, Calven Lipec, Matthew Le, Sarah Pham, Adongluge Fadiet, Miranda Gangur, Delvana Dorbor, Jessica Tran, Julia Cabaldon, Liora Acone, Sasha Bangit, Ana Markic, Sacreana Ulugia-Sa'ena, Genevieve Durand Deslongrais, Juswin Ramachandran, Nhi (Cindy) Nguyen, Emily Gerada, Brandon Khoo, Augustine Morris Jnr, Hannah Nguyen, Tommy Pham, Andy Bui, Tri Truong, Hai An Vo, Aiden Dang, Sonany Istaifo, Amy Ruel, Rejoyce Modi, Arabella Celine Julian and Samantha Smith.

Long Tan Leadership Award

Each year the Australian Defence Force provides a scholarship to recognise a Year 10 student who demonstrates outstanding leadership and teamwork within the school and in the broader community. This student must also demonstrate strong values such as respect for others, always striving to do their best and the best characteristics of mateship.

Congratulations to Jessica Tran who is this year’s recipient of the Long Tan Leadership Award.

Caltex All Rounder Award

This award acknowledges a student at Year 7 or 8 for their all-round contribution to the school and the community. Congratulations to Sacreana Ulugia-Sa’ena (8 Clark) on being the 2019 recipient of this award.

Loaves and Fishes Food Bank

A highlight of our final assembly was the presentation of a cheque for $8,600 to Charlie from the ‘Loaves and Fishes Food Bank’ at Holy Eucharist. Throughout the year students and staff help out at the food bank on Fridays. Led by Charlie, an amazing group of volunteers collects, parcels and distributes 200+ food packages each week. Where possible, produce from our school garden is added or sold to raise funds to purchase food staples like rice.

The Food Bank is in need of a new refrigerated van to assist with home deliveries. We hope that our contribution will go some small way to meeting this need.

Our fundraising efforts were led by our Social Justice Captains and the Student Leaders. Congratulations to all involved on an outstanding effort.

Year 7 Giving Tree Appeal

Continuing the theme of thinking of others – the Year 7 classes are collecting Christmas gifts to be distributed by Caroline Chisholm Society. This year we are focussing on Christmas hamper foods like hams, puddings and cakes, and gifts for children up to 12 years of age. I encourage you to support this very worthwhile work and thank the Year 7 House Council for leading this initiative.

Year 8 Premier League Volleyball

Congratulations to the Year 8 Boys’ Volleyball Team who has a fantastic win in the grand final of the Premier League volleyball last Friday. In a very tight battle with St Monica’s, they won 15 – 13 in the final set. We are thrilled for the team and their coach, Mr Connor. Throughout the tournament, they not only played some great volleyball but always worked well as a team and held themselves to the highest levels of sportsmanship. We are very proud of each of them. Congratulations to:

Nameer Alsakat, Aiden Dang, Matthew Le, Leo Thinh, and Tri Truong, 8 Attard

Christian Tapuala-Unasa, 8 Clark

Gabriel Montes De Oca, Hilton Tran and Van Lung Kan, 8 Edison

Ryan Tran and Leon Truong, 8 Hollows

Rabee Attallah, 8 Orifici

School Captains 2020

On behalf of the school community I would like to thank our 2019 School Captains: Arabella Julian and Rhanel Hao, and the Vice Captains: Jessica Tran and Dennis Truong for their great work as leaders in our school. Throughout the year they’ve contributed in a very real and practical way to making our school a great place and in ensuring that students ‘have a voice’ on many issues. I thank them for their time, generosity and willingness to serve our community.

It is with great pleasure that I can now announce that our School Captains for 2020 are Sonany Istaifo and Jude Sef. Our Captains will be assisted in their role by Cindy Nguyen and Loang Aweng who will be Vice Captains. They are a talented and impressive group of young people and I look forward to working with them next year.

We were privileged to have a fine field of candidates for these roles and the final decision was a difficult one. Thank you to all who applied for this important leadership role and to Emily Gerada, Alex Gebremichael, Rhanel Hao and Arabella Julian for all their work as members of the selection panel.

Farewell Year 10 2019

At our final assembly our Year 10 2019 students were farewelled by our 2020 School Captains. Thank you to Sonany and Jude who spoke so well about the contributions the Year 10 students have made over the past four years. They highlighted the leadership, hospitality and school spirit the Year 10 students have shown, and the sense of peace, welcome and inclusion they’ve helped to create in our school.

Arabella and Rhanel responded on behalf of the Year 10 students, thanking staff, students and families for their support and reflecting on their time at the College; the many terrific experiences they’ve had and how these have helped shape who they are today.

This evening we farewell Year 10 2019 more formally at the Year 10 mass and Graduation.

End of Year Arrangements for Years 7 - 9

Monday 2 to Wednesday 4 December are normal school days and students are expected to attend in full uniform and prepared to finalise their work.

On Thursday 5 December Years 7 and 8 students will enjoy the annual Ball Sports Day. This is the last chance for Houses to gain points towards the 2019 Williams Cup. Year 9 students will enjoy their final Trinity Day which includes skating at the Medibank Icehouse.

Students in Years 7 – 9 finish school on Friday 6 December. They are required to be at school by 8.40am (normal time) and will be dismissed at 12.15pm.

Gratitude: Shared Stories Anthology 2018

The 2019 edition of Shared Stories was launched on Wednesday. This is an annual anthology of writing and art work by students in 26 Catholic primary and secondary schools. The anthology forms part of the permanent collection of the State Library of Victoria.

For writers and artists there is no greater honour than to have your work published. Well done to all the students who have had their work included.

This is the 14^th edition of Shared Stories. The anthology was first published in 2006 with funding from the Felton Bequest. The concept was developed in response to the Cronulla riots in Sydney, as an authentic way of sharing perspectives across diverse groups.

From 72 pages it has grown into a massive tomb of 573 pages, far too heavy for bedtime reading, however, an exceptional collection of writing and art work.

Thank you to the English and Visual Arts teachers for supporting student involvement in this activity.

Lost Property

We have many items of lost property in the school office. If any student has lost an item of uniform you are asked to see Denise Geraldo before the end of the year.

Items not collected by the last day of Term 4 will be placed into the second hand uniform pool.

It is concerning that a large number of these items of uniform cannot be returned to their owner as they are not named!

2020 Re-enrolment

The re-enrolment forms for 2020 are now overdue. I ask that the families with an outstanding form return it as soon as possible.

Report Preparation Day: Friday 29 November

Whilst assessment and finalisation of reports continue into the last week of term 4, Friday 29 November is set aside for staff to mark exams and to begin the preparation of reports. Year 10 students will have finished by the date and students in Years 7 - 9 will not be required at school.

Re-enrolment for 2020

A number of families still need to return the re-enrolment form for next year. These are now overdue. I ask that you do so as soon as possible, as we have a number of enrolment applications at each level to finalise.

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:

• Shared Stories launch
• McAuley Awards assembly
• Year 11 alumni dinner
• Years 9 and 10 exams
• Year 7 Health excursions
• ANZCA music exams
• Year 10 picnic
• Trinity Arts rotation performance afternoon

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.

Australian Catholic Youth Festival CRC St Albans Pilgrims Blessing

The Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF) is a national gathering of Catholic young people established by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC). It exists to provide young people with opportunities to deepen their relationship with Jesus, be empowered to be disciples in the world today and encounter and celebrate the vitality of the Church in Australia. The  theme for this year festival is `Listen to what the spirit is saying’.  Catholic Regional College St Albans will be sending 15 Pilgrims to the festival. At Wednesday mass Father Justel gave our Pilgrims a blessing for the journey to Perth and their experience of the Festival.

Christmas Connections with Cumberland Manor Aged Care

As we draw to the end of our early Christian Communities unit, we reflect on Paul as a letter writer and how building a connections can occur through the written word.  With  this idea in mind the Year 8’s are writing individual Christmas cards to residents at Cumberland Manor Aged Care.  Students have shared a little about themselves and expressed Christmas wishes.

Year 10 Graduation Mass

The year tens having been meeting  Tuesdays in term four to discuss the theme for the Graduation Mass that encapsulates them as a group. The  following is an excerpt from the introduction of the Year 10 Graduation Mass.

The class of 2019 is like a campfire. Campfires start with a single spark and a few twigs. In the right conditions, twigs transform into flames, and with the right fuel burn evermore brightly.

In Year 7 we were the twigs, and our experiences over the last four years ignited within us, enabling us to grow and shine. The tiny flames, fueled by the Holy Spirit and nurtured by knowledge, experience, support, respect and kindness, have grown into a fire that is warm, welcoming and life giving.

In our gathering to laugh and cry; to tell stories and to share wisdom, and to dream a future we have strengthened each other, encouraged one another’s gifts and reminded ourselves of the Christ light that burns within us.

Even though we are leaving this campfire, we take a small part of the fire with us. The flame that is CRC St Albans will always burn bright within us, and bring light  wherever we go. The spirit of Christ will continue to guide us in all we do.

Our mass for the end of the 2019 school year will be celebrated at

Sacred Heart Church

on

Friday 6 December at 9.30am

We warmly invite families to join us

for this very special celebration.

SCHOOL FEES

All Yr 10 families should have paid their school fees. If you have any queries or concerns regarding School Fees, please contact Mrs. Anne Ross on 93662544.

Term 4 School fees are now due and should be paid before Friday 6^th December 2019.

The newsletter is published fortnightly and distributed on Day 10. The final newsletter for 2019 will be mailed home on Friday 18 December.

The college newsletter can also be accessed on the College website at http://www.crcstalbans.catholic.edu.au

Pop-Up Drive Through Recycling Day returns to Brimbank

Council’s second Pop-Up Drive Through Recycling Day will be held at Victoria University in St Albans, on Saturday 30 November from 8am-1pm.

Brimbank residents can safely and conveniently drop-off their unwanted household items, for reuse and recycling at the Pop-Up Drive Through Recycling Day—all at no charge.

The first event in March was a huge success with over 360 residents participating and more than 21,000 kilograms of items were collected on the day.

Residents can drop-off TVs, computers, electronic appliances, whitegoods, furniture (in good condition), bicycles (in good condition), mattresses, homewares, clothes and linen.

Council are partnering with local charity organisations, including the West Welcome Wagon, to collect and reuse unwanted household items, including TVs, computers, electronic appliances, whitegoods, clothing, furniture and bicycles, in good condition.

Event details:

Saturday 30 November 8am - 1pm               

Victoria University, St Albans Campus
Enter via Willis Street, St Albans 

To register visit: brimbankpopup.eventbrite.com.au

The ADF Long Tan Youth Leadership and Teamwork Awards are an important initiative by the Australian Government in conjuction with the Australian Defence Force, designed to encourage senior students – tomorrow’s leaders – to actively participate in the life of their schools and local communities.

At our McAuley assembly on Tuesday, the ADF Long Tan Award was presented by Squadron Leader Lucas Khawam to Jessica Tran of Year 10. This award recognises a student who demonstrates leadership and teamwork within both the school and the broader community and who displays strong values, such as doing one’s best and respect for others…qualities that are integral to Australian society.

Congratulations on a well deserved award Jessica.

You can read more about the ADF Long Tan award here:
https://www.adflongtanawards.gov.au/

READER'S CUP

End of year celebration

The students who read the most books this year all gathered in the library for a Pizza Lunch and the presentation of the the Trophy and prizes to the winners of the competition.

Congratulations  to Marsel Eshaq  for winning first place for reading 303 novels this year, and Gregory Estepa for coming second on 288.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE READERS’ CUP COMPETITION.

 THIS YEARS READING TOTAL OF 5320 BOOKS, IS OUR HIGHEST EVER.

-  CONGRATULATIONS AND KEEP READING  -

RECOMMENDED SUMMER READS . . .

JUST OUT!...  the next installment of the Wimpy Kid series

Try an oldie but a goody... Harry Potter is always a great read during the holidays.

Any of John Greene’s books are entertaining

Or if you want to read about a crazy family beach holiday try Cauldron Bay

Or any of the David Walliams books for fun and humour in the Sun

-  VISIT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY FOR MORE IDEAS  -

Australian Mathematics Competition

On Thursday 1^st August, 40 of our students participated in the Australian Mathematics Competition and were awarded the following certificates:

• 5 Distinction
• 8 Credit
• 20 Proficiency
• 7 Participation

Congratulations to the following students and all those who participated.

Certificate of Distinction

Year 7:  John Nguyen

Year 8:  Leo Thinh & Gyan Valenton

Year 9:  Vivi Nguyen

Year 10: Rhanel Hao

Certificate of Credit

Year 7:  Emily Kio, Jessica Lam & Elanore Durand Deslongrais

Year 8:  Genevieve Durand Deslongrais & Ryan Tran

Year 10:  Benjamin Carville, John Bosco Kio & Michael Cabritit

Williams Cup Update

Corbett House still holds the lead in the Williams Cup after the recent Box Car Derby and the Athletics carnival but the cup is far from decided!

With a number of points still available through the Term 4 Readers’ Cup and the Ball Sports Day – all Houses are still in with a chance. Current standings in the 2019 Williams Cup are as follows:

Corbett:   109

O’Reilly:   81

Reis:   92

Guelen:   99

Key Dates for Term 4 2019

Fri 29 November:

Report Preparation Day

(Students not required at school)

2 December – 6 December:

Year 11 2020 Orientation at CRC Sydenham

Thursday 5 Dec:

Years 7 & 8 Ball Sports Day

Final Trinity Day for Year 9

Family Partnership meeting CRC Sydenham

(Year 11 2020 families)

Friday 6 December:

Final Day for students in Years 7 - 9         

Wed 18 December:

School office closes