I have come to bring you peace.

Not the peace of the season, for it is too fleeting.

Not the peace of the carol, for it is too nostalgic.

Not the peace of the greeting card, for it is too slick.

Rather, I have come to bring you peace.

Peace of the ordinary and the everyday.

Peace for the worker, the retired, the student.

Peace in the office, the kitchen, the schoolyard.

I have come to bring you peace.

The peace of accepting yourself as I know you;

the peace of loving yourself as I love you,

and the peace of being yourself as I am who I am.

I have come to bring you peace.

The peace that warms you at the end of a task;

the peace that sustains you through the day,

and the peace that touches you

when you are reconciled with each other.

I have come to bring you peace.

Without peace, my coming is unfulfilled.

Without peace, my birth is forgettable.

Without peace, Christmas is a contradiction.

I have come to bring you peace.

Thank You

As we come to the end of the year I’d like to thank you for your support and hard work throughout 2019. As we look back over the year, we can be well pleased with all that has been achieved. Our school community is indeed blessed; blessed in the young people with whom we work, blessed in the staff who choose to work here; blessed in the loving and faith filled families who give us such support. It’s been a terrific year. Thank you.

In the mad rush that sometimes marks this time of the year, I hope that all families find moments of stillness to reflect on why we celebrate Christmas. Christmas is an ongoing invitation to each of us to be people of peace.

May you all enjoy the joy, peace and hope of Christ this Christmas and may the New Year be blessed with happiness, good health and many graced moments.

Farewell

With the end of the school year we farewell a number of staff and thank them for all they’ve contributed to the school. Thank you to Ms Georgia Trousdale, Ms Emma Van Wees and Ms Emily Lindsay. Each has been an exceptional, passionate and committed member of staff. I thank them for their dedication to our profession; for their care and support of students, staff and families, and for sharing their many gifts. Their energy, care and dedication has been very much appreciated by all of us. We wish them well.

Well Done

Congratulations and thank you to all students for the way that they finished the school year. Year 10 students and staff had a great final day at St Kilda Beach. It was a great chance to have some fun and to reminisce about the year.

Similarly, Years 7 – 9 students enjoyed their final day which included an end of year mass and pastoral care activities. Many thanks to all families for your support in ensuring that students finished so well.

College Yearbook

One of the highlights of the final day is the distribution of our College yearbook. Once again, it did not disappoint. Congratulations to Ms Laura Cioccia and the dedicated yearbook team on producing a creative and entertaining snapshot of our year.

This year’s book was presented in the form of a scrapbook. This is fitting as scrapbooks, like yearbooks, are a way of storing memories and providing us with a connection to the past. They bring us back to the time that was. That is why they are so important. I hope that you enjoy the yearbook. It is a wonderful reminder of the great year we have had.

Student Leaders 2020

Last week our School Captains, SRC, House Captains and Social Justice Captains went away for an overnight camp to plan for 2020. Activities included a mix of leadership skill development, planning and Christmas festivities. I was lucky to be able to join them for dinner and the evening session on the first night. What a terrific group they are! The energy, ideas, collaboration and excitement of all involved suggests that they will be off to a great start at the beginning of 2020. Thank you to Mr Kevin Quinn, Ms Emma Van Wees, Mr Jeremy Ly, Mr Hayden O’Doherty and Ms Sharika Venugopal for planning and attending the camp.

SRC 2020

On behalf of the school community I would also like to congratulate the following students on their election to the SRC for 2020:

Year 8: My Nguyen, Andy Bui and Caelen Khoo

Year 9:

Tri Truong, Sacreana Ulugia-Sa'ena and Melisa Nguyen

Year 10: Phillip Rafoo, Spence Page and Rhaven Hao

We trust that each of you will contribute much to our community next year and will learn a great deal from the experience.

Thank you to all the students across the school who nominated for leadership roles. We are very lucky to have so many people interested in putting themselves forward. It seems that the SRC will have many willing helpers throughout the year.

House Captains 2020

Congratulations to the following students on being selected as House Captains for 2020:

Corbett: Alex Rafoo and Isabel Jankovic

Guelen: Rejoyce Modi and Kahlia Cuccaro

O’Reilly: Emily Gerada and Raymond Abad

Reis: Olivia Barisic and Megan Flores

Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF)

From all accounts, students and staff who attended the ACYF in Perth had an amazing time. They had the opportunity to explore issues of faith with a range of presenters and to meet with young people from across Australia. We look forward to learning more about their experiences when they return to school in February. I thank Ms Jacinta Dykes, Mr James Younan, Ms Adele Simoncini and Ms Kristy Liberatore for accompanying the group.

Changes to the School Day

For a number of years we have had a mix of 50 and 45 minute lessons across the week. With the changes in the way we teach and learn, both staff and students have found that these arrangements are no longer the most effective use of time.

Following a review of the school day, the College will introduce one hour lessons from the beginning of 2020. This means that students will have 5 classes of 60 minutes each day, instead of 6 shorter classes.

As all lessons in the new arrangement will be the same length our school day will increase by 5 minutes. School will now finish at 3.10pm.

School Day 2020

	Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri		Wednesday (Mass at 8.30am)
Locker Bell	8.40	Mass	8.30
Pastoral Care	8.45	Locker Bell	9.05
Period 1	9.00	Period 1 (Pastoral Care)	9.10
Recess	10.00	Recess	10.00
Locker Bell	10.20	Locker Bell	10.20
Period 2	10.25	Period 2	10.25
Period 3	11.25	Period 3	11.25
Lunch	12.25	Lunch	12.25
Locker Bell	1.05	Locker Bell	1.05
Period 4	1.10	Period 4	1.10
Period 5	2.10	Period 5	2.10
School Finish	3.10	School Finish	3.10

Start of the 2020 School Year

Friday 31 January 2020:

Years 7 students only (9am – 2.15pm)

New students at Years 8, 9 and 10 (9 – 11am)

Monday 3 February 2020:

All students return (8.40am – 3.10pm)

The first day for the whole school on Monday 3 February 2020 will be Day 1 of the school timetable. Students should be able to access their timetable on SIMON from Thursday 30 January 2020.

Relocation of Office for Term 1 2020

During Term 1 next year we are extending the school administration area to create additional offices and meeting rooms. It is expected that this work will be completed by April.

For this work to happen the school administration area and main entrance for families and visitors will be moved to the library from the beginning of the year. Families are asked to follow the signs when coming to the school.

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 10 Picnic
Year 10 Graduation
Year 7 and 8 final assemblies
Trinity Ice Skating and Artvo
VCE / VET Orientation (Year 10 2020)
Ball Sports Day
End of year mass
Student Leaders end of year dinner.
Orientation Day (Year 7 2020)
Student Leaders Camp
Australian Catholic Youth Festival

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.

Classes for Years 8, 9 and 10 2020 will be displayed around the school on the Book sale Day: Wednesday 22 January 2020. Alternatively, students can access their timetable on SIMON the day before school starts.

It is important that students have all their books and uniform for the start of the 2020 school year, and that they name all belongings: books, folders, pens, schoolbag, calculators and all items of uniform are to be labelled.

Throughout the year many items are handed in at the office but cannot be returned to owners as they are not named.

Books purchased through the College supplier can be collected from the College library on Wednesday 22 January, 2020. It would be great if families could attend at the following times:

A – G: 8.30 – 11am

H – M: 11am – 1pm

N – Z: 1 – 2.30pm

All: 2.30 – 3.30pm

Payment can be made by cash, EFTPOS or credit card. No cheques are accepted. Families paying in cash are asked to bring an extra $10.00 in case of price increases.

Semester two reports are now available to students and families through the Parent Access Module (PAM). Printed copies of the report have been forwarded to families who have requested the report in this format.

On Tuesday the 29th of October, a group of students from CRC St Albans went to the Melbourne Water Kids Teaching Kids Conference 2019. The students who went to this conference were Sacreana Ulugia-Sa’ena, Tri Truong, Eleanore Durand Deslongrais,Jehan Daddoo, Hilary Ho, Genevieve Durand Deslongrais, Victoria Olatunbosun and Caelen Khoo.

Kids Teaching Kids is a program where kids from Victoria and other states come to learn about our world and how we can save it. For this conference we went to two places, Melbourne University and Collingwood Children’s Farm. There were two days for everyone to present their ideas to each other, the CRC St Albans team came up with an idea of making a mindful mud dumpling, the influence of our idea was the GEM project, the project that we do at school. We focused on educating the kids about being grateful, showing empathy and being mindful, these values helped us to help kids understand the concept of the mindful mud dumplings. In my opinion our mindful mud dumpling workshop was pretty interesting and fun, for the fact that a lot of people were interested in making a mud dumpling and enjoying their time. For me as a first experience, it was amazing, helping and teaching others in a very calm environment. I would just like to thank Hayden because without his help it wouldn’t be possible.

Written by Caelen Khoo

Singing Performance Examinations

Congratulations to the following students on their achievements in the recent ANZCA Singing Performance Examinations:

Lesina Maoluma

Grade 4 Singing Performance 97/100 First Class Honours

Olivia Barisic

Grade 5 Singing Performance 95/100 First Class Honours

Arabella Julian

Grade 5 Singing Performance 96/100 First Class Honour

All girls should be very proud of these amazing scores and for their hard work and dedication throughout the process.

Mr Marshall

Catholic Regional College St Albans

wishes the college community

a safe and happy Chistmas.

*

Thoughts of Peace are with you

as you enter the New Year.

*

We look forward to seeing

our new Year 7 students

on Friday 31 January

and our years 8, 9 and 10 students

on Monday 3 February

for an engaging New Year in 2020.

Term 1 2020

A full calendar for Term 1 will be sent home to families in the first week of 2020. However, key dates for Term 1 2020 are listed below:

Wednesday 22 January

School office re-opens

Wednesday 22 January

Book sale day / 2020 class lists published

Friday 31 January

Year 7 2020 start school

Monday 3 February

Years 8 – 10 students return

Wednesday 12 February

MacKillop Awards Assembly

Thursday 20 February

Opening Mass

Thursday 5 March

Inter-house Swimming Carnival

Monday 9 March

Labour Day Holiday

Tuesday 24 March

SACCSS Interschool Swimming

Wed 25 March – Fri 27 March

Year 8 Camp

Friday 27 March

Final Day Term 1

Term Dates 2020

Term 1: Monday 3 February – Friday 27 March

Term 2: Tuesday 14 April – Friday 26 June

Term 3: Monday 13 July – Friday 18 September

Term 4: Monday 5 October – Friday 4 December

Please Note:

Year 10 students finish at the College on Thursday 26 November but have an Orientation program at CRC Sydenham from Monday 30 November to the Friday 4 December.

Mid-year exams (Years 9 and 10):

9 June – 16 June 2020

End of year exams (Years 9 and 10):

18 Nov – 25 November 2020

Families planning to travel in the middle of the year or at the end of 2020 are asked to note that exams and the Orientation program at Sydenham are compulsory. Exams must be taken within the exam timetable. They cannot be taken before or after the exam week.

Please do not book travel before:

16 June in the middle of the year (Years 9 and 10)
4 December for Year 11 2021 students (Year 10 2020)
25 November for Year 9 students.

Premier League Volley

St Albans serve it up to St Monica's College in a thrilling Grand Final

The Premier League SACCS Volleyball competition was a fought out competition for two teams undefeated during the season - St Albans and St Monica’s College (SMC). The five set match determined the winner of these two very close and highly skilled teams with St Alban’s taking the lead 15 to 13 at the end of five sets. The overall points show how close the sides were with St Albans 106 winning points to 103 SMC.

Right from the start the competition was tough with SMC jumping out to take the first set. SMC used tactics not seen before by our team, playing three blockers standing together on the net in soldier formation. Taken by surprise, St Albans were able to steady in the second by dropping the volleyball into gaps created by the soldier formation. The blocking by our boys was extraordinary, at times, coming at a cost as their long reaches several times clipped the net resulting in handover points. The third set taken out by St Albans 26 to 24 ensured the boys a buffer but certainly no guarantee of a win.

As expected SMC came back strong in the fourth set and held off St Albans 25 – 19. The umpire became involved as tensions rose, however, high sportsmanship was upheld by both fiercely competitive teams. The support by cheering family and team members on the side line at times was deafening.

In the final set that in competition is played to 15 points (not 25 points) St Albans jumped out to a 4-1 lead with controlled volleys and shared team play. SMC came back once again with powerful spikes and deep returns to lead 9-5 and what looked like the seasons flag. St Alban’s boys had other ideas and with calm captaincy by Aidyn and positive team spirit came back to take the finale 15-13. An amazing effort.

The coach Mr G Connor congratulated the boys after the game to say that volleyball is a team game - no individual can win this game on their own. This final showed what a positive mindset, training, a belief in self and others can achieve. A real team effort shown by the Volleyball Champions 2019.

SACCSS Awards Lunch

The SACCSS Awards Lunch was held at Caroline Chisholm Catholic College this year. 14 students from our College, who had taken part in the school sporting program this year attended the lunch. The students were lucky enough to hear Carly James and Caitlin Greiser speak. Carly completed her education at Emmanuel College in Point Cook and is currently a member the Australian National Junior squad for hockey. Caitlin went to CRC Carline Springs and now plays for the St.Kilda AFLW team.

Congratulation to Olivia Barisic and Augustine Morris who received the John Landy award at the lunch. These students were selected because of their commitment to the sporting program at our school and the way that they are role models to other students.

Ball Sports Day

Well done to the Year 7 and 8’s on taking part in the annual Ball Sports Day. There were 3 sports on offer on the day, futsal, volleyball and basketball. There was definitely some friendly house competition throughout the day and also sportsmanship was displayed by all students. It will be exciting to see the effect that these results has on the William’s Cup points! Well done also to the staff volleyball team who beat the student team in a nail biter 21-20. Results and photos are below: