Creator of heaven and earth and all that is in them.
You created us in your image and made us
stewards of your creation, of our common home.

You blessed us with the sun, water and bountiful
land so that all might be nourished.

Open our minds and touch our hearts
so that we may attend to your gift of creation.

Help us to be conscious that our common home belongs not only to us,
but to all future generations, and that it is our responsibility to preserve it.
May we help each person secure the food and resources they need.

Be present to those in need in these trying times,
especially the poorest and those most at risk of being left behind.
Transform our fear, anxiety and feelings of isolation into hope
so that we may experience a true conversion of heart.

Help us to show creative solidarity in addressing the consequences
of this global pandemic.
Make us courageous to embrace the changes that
are needed in the search of the common good.
Now more than ever may we feel that we are all
interconnected in our efforts to lift up the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.

We make this prayer through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

(Prayer written for Laudato Si Week 2020)

On Sunday, it will be exactly five years since Laudato Si’ was published by Pope Francis. It is a landmark document that has been an important point of reference, not only for the Church and Catholics but also for governments, politicians and world bodies like the United Nations, as well as environmental groups and movements worldwide.

The theme for Laudato Si week is Everything is Connected. Our appreciation of this concept has never been more heightened than, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pope Francis has invited Catholics from all around the world to reflect, pray and to commit to creating and strengthening our care for each other and our home.

Return to Onsite Learning

Whilst we still have another two weeks of learning from home, we are all looking forward to Tuesday 09 June when classes resume at school.

Staff are working very hard at the moment, firstly in continuing the Learning from Home program, and secondly, in beginning to work through the many issues that will ensure that our return to school is safe and seamless.

Our arrangements will be finalised at the Staff Planning Day on Monday and we will provide a detailed update for families later in the week.

Year 10 VCE and VET Students

Classes for our Year 10 VCE and VET students start on Wednesday 27 May. Families will have received information from CRC Sydenham regarding arrangements for the return.

Staff Planning Day: Monday 25 May

Monday 25 May is a staff planning day. This is a ‘Catch Up Day’ for students, a good opportunity to get on top of work missed so that they can make the most of the final two weeks of Learning from Home. There will be no formal online classes or classes at school on this day.

We have moved!

With the completion of the office extension, we have now moved back home. The entrance to the school is now once again via Theodore Street.

Thank you to all families and students for your help in managing the temporary space.

For the moment, the library will remain in its temporary home, as we are using the library space as a flow over staff study and staffroom. This is allowing us to put in place appropriate social distancing for staff and visitors.

More importantly, it gives us the opportunity to work with students and staff to re-imagine the current library space. We are looking to paint and purchase new furniture and fittings.

Winter Uniform

As students prepare to return to school, a number of families may need to purchase winter uniform. Our supplier, Academy Uniforms has asked that we let you know that the Deer Park store is open for normal trading hours and that they recommend visiting sooner rather than later.

The store is fully stocked and adhering to strict social distancing rules. When store capacity is reached, customers need to wait outside or in their cars. All surfaces are cleaned between sales.

There are currently no queues so you will be served very quickly but this will change the closer we get to the return to school.

Online sales are also available at all times. 

Students who need to be supervised at school

For those students who cannot be supervised at home, the existing model of onsite schooling will remain in place until we return on the 9 June.

As more parents / carers return to work there are probably more families who will need this support. If this is the case, please let the school know so that we have adequate staffing in place.

Email; enquiries@crcstalbans.com.au

By phone on the normal school number 9366 2544

Vietnamese Multicultural Aide: Mr Tung Phan on 0428 045 680

Arabic Multicultural Aide: Ms Louna Ghawi on 0437 210 544

Dinka Multicultural Aide: Mr Deng Alier on 0428 158 780

Students who are working at school will do the same work as those learning remotely.

Newsletter

This term our newsletter will be published online only. Families will receive an SMS with a link to the newsletter, and students will receive the newsletter by email.

Newsletter Days for Term 2 2020:

Fridays: 05 June 19 June

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

Key Dates: Term 2

Monday 08 June: Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday

Tuesday 09 June: We are back!

Wednesday 17 June: Report Preparation Day

Friday 26 June: Final day Term 2

Laudato Si' Week

Pope Francis invites Catholic communities around the world to celebrate Laudato Si' Week from 16 to 24 May 2020. This is the fifth anniversary of the publication of the Encyclical Laudato si', Pope Francis. In this week the Pope asks us to reflect on "What kind of world do we want to leave to those who will come after us, to children who are growing up?". The Pope also renews his urgent call to respond to the ecological crisis: "The cry of the earth and the cry of the poor cannot continue.".

All week in prayer in the school bulletin we are praying and reflecting on greater stewardship in our global and school community. 

Our social justice captains will also be participating in a International Youth Prayer, Reflection and Dialogue for Laudato Si’ week.This is an opportunity to participate in an international discussion exploring earth care initiatives by students around the Island nations including Malta, NZ, Tonga and Australia.

While the discussion and dialogue about climate change can often be contentious in Australia, it was humbling to listen to impassioned young people from the Pacific Islands talking about the immediate threats of rising sea levels, floods and water security to their daily lives. There was no doubt for these young people that climate change needed to be addressed immediately and that Australia should be taking a much stronger stance on climate change in the Pacific region.

For the young Australian delegates there was an opportunity for discussion about the rising community awareness of climate change in Australia and globally during and immediately after this summer’s truly terrible bushfire season, which seems to have been forgotten in the new COVID-19 world. 

On the 5th anniversary of Laudato Si, there is a call for our whole community to work together for a brighter, cleaner future for all.

Interfaith Dialogue – Where do we experience God?

The Year 10 RE students are learning about the similarities and the differences between the three Abrahamic religions Judaism, Islam and Christianity.  In addition to finding the origins of all three religions, students will explore the connections through the sacred story of God's request that Abraham sacrifices his son.

WELLBEING RESOURCES FROM SchoolTV

SchoolTV has generously shared two special video reports as part of its Coronavirus series. In these special reports, parents/carers are provided with information on how to support the wellbeing and mental health of their children.

If parents or carers have any concerns about the wellbeing of their child, they should contact the school for further information. For immediate assistance, seek medical or professional help.

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg Research shows there are specific risk factors that increase the likelihood of teenagers developing a mental health problem. Adolescents are considered to be more at risk of anxiety and depression disorders which may affect their mood, thinking and behaviour. These can impact their ability to function and perform normal activities. Early intervention, diagnosis and treatment are more important than ever in the current climate.

Click here to read more: Wellbeing Checklist for Secondary

Examples of the great work that students are producing at home. 

The Sport Health and Physical Education (SHAPE) Team have set a series of challenges for our students (and families) to complete while learning from home.

Students are encouraged to complete a minimum of 5 activities each week. Those who meet the challenge guidelines, will receive a Subway voucher electronically, thanks to the generosity of Subway Delahey. Students will also gain House points towards the Williams Cup for successfully participating in the SHAPE Challenge each week.

Take care and stay active!

Mr Dale Marshall

Health and PE Leader

House Points for SHAPE CHALLENGE so far......

Well done to the following students who successfully completed at least 5 of the CRC SHAPE Challenge activities in week 4 of this term. These students have collected points for their Houses.

WEEK 4:

Some photos that Mr Tobin has taken of school life at the College during COVID.

As you would be aware a large number of career events including both the VCE and Careers Expo 2020 and the inaugural Victorian Careers Show 2020 have been cancelled due to COVID-19. Disappointing though this obviously is, many organisations have found a way to assist the thousands of students, teachers and parents who would have attended the 'live' events and in particular the high quality seminar programs.

Many of the wonderful seminar presenters, scheduled to present 'live' at the inaugural Victorian Careers Show 2020 three weeks ago and the VCE and Careers Expo 2020 last week, have generously produced videos of the seminars they would have presented to assist us all.

In term 3 each year our school subject selection process takes place. Prior to this students in each year level are led through a process where they view presentations and complete a number of activities to assist them in selecting elective subjects which align with their career pathway prospects. More details around this will continue to be announced through our daily messages on Simon.

In the meantime, it is important you continue to improve your understanding of career pathways and the various courses institutes around Australia provide, by accessing the seminar program videos.

The website will be updated daily as videos come in from presenters. The online video seminar program will be available to students, parents and teachers until Monday 5 June 2020. If you are looking at getting through each of the clips over the next 4 weeks, I suggest watching one clip each night (about 15-20mins).

This online time at home is a great opportunity to engage in the world of careers, talk with parents, siblings and teachers about careers and most of all keep safe.

Mr Orsini

Denton Little's Deathdate: A Novel by Lance Rubin

The Enemy by Charlie Higson

Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Tales of Extraordinary Women by Francesca Cavallo

Batman: Nightwalker (DC Icons Series) by Marie Lu

Dear Evan Hansen by Val Emmich

The Girl Who Came Out of the Woods by Emily Barr

Frankly in Love by David Yoon

The Million Pieces of Neena Gill by Emma Smith-Barton

The Safest Lies by Megan Miranda

The Book of Dust: Volume Two, The Secret Commonwealth by Christopher Wormel

BOOK REVIEWS

This book has been shortlisted for the Following awards:
The Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2020
The Branford Boase Award 2020
The Romantic Novelists’ Association Debut Romantic Novel Award 2020


Entries close FRIDAY 29TH MAY

EMAIL  YOUR PHOTOS TO:

library@crcstalbans.com.au

or

arobinson@crcstalbans.com.au