May today there be peace within.
May you trust
that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget
the infinite possibilities born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received,
and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content
knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones,
and allow your soul
the freedom to sing and dance.
It is there for each and every one of you.
Amen
(St Teresa of Avila)

The school burst back into life this week with the return of our Year 7 students. It has been lovely to hear their chatter and laughter, to see them playing in the yard and to know that they are back to onsite learning. It has been a big week as they re-learn and settle into the rhythms and routines of the school day. 

I would like to thank and congratulate each Year 7 student on the resilience, perseverance and positive spirit that they continue to show. Transitioning back to onsite learning takes a fair bit of emotional energy, I imagine most are quite tired at the end of the day. Thank you also to families who helped students to prepare for the return. 

We now look forward to the return of students in Years 8, 9 and 10 on Monday 26 October. Students and families at these year levels will receive a Return to School Guide and further information on Wednesday or Thursday next week. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions at the P/T/S interviews.

Parent Teacher Student interviews: Early Finish

Year 7 families are reminded that Year 7 students will finish after period 4 (1.25pm) on Tuesday 20 October and Thursday 22 October due to parent / student / teacher interviews.

If there are any families who are unable to pick up students at 1.25pm, please contact Jill on 9366 2544 and we will arrange supervision at school.

Online classes for Years 8 – 10 will also finish at this time. 

For the interviews, families will be contacted by the pastoral care teacher at the appointed time. Appointments need to be made through the Parent Access Module (PAM). 

Planning and Key Dates for Term 4

With the return to onsite learning, we have included a calendar of dates in the newsletter. As with all things this year, these are tentative and could well change as the term progresses.

Like everyone in Victoria we are watching closely the easing of restrictions to see what we can and can’t do, what events and activities will be possible, whilst continuing to ensure everyone is as safe as possible. 

Year 10 students, in particular will be wondering what the end of year will look like. At this time, CRC Sydenham are intending to have the Orientation program, from Monday 30th November to Friday 4th December as planned, and we hope to mark the end of their time at St Albans in as special a way as we can. What all this will look like depends on how the restrictions ease. Stay tuned. Plans A, B and C are in development. Mr Ramos will meet with some of the students next week so that we can get their input. 

Enrolment for 2021

Normally in Term 4, we send home a form to Years 7, 8 and 9 families to confirm enrolment for the following year. We have reviewed this practice and decided that as all students are enrolled from Years 7 – 10, and most stay with us for this time, there is no need for all families to complete a ‘re-enrolment’. 

However, if a student in Years 7, 8 or 9 is not continuing at the College in 2021, we ask that their family notifies us as soon as possible. Please email echalmers@crcstalbans.com.au or ring Eileen Chalmers on 9366 2544 with this information.

Your assistance with this is much appreciated as we have a waiting list at some levels and would like to let these families know sooner, rather than later.

Term 4 Uniform

From Wednesday 04 November all students will need to be in full summer uniform.

Sun Smart

The College Sun Smart policy is available on the website. 

As we are now well into spring, forecasts of UV levels are predicted to reach 3 or higher during the period from now to the end of April. UV radiation is a major cause of skin cancer, and UV damage accumulated during childhood and adolescence is strongly associated with the risk of skin cancer later in life. We encourage families to speak with their child about ensuring they are Sun Smart during this time, including:

• wearing appropriate clothing
• wearing a broad brimmed, bucket or legionnaire hat while outside
• applying SPF30 or higher broad spectrum water resistant sunscreen approximately 20 minutes prior to going outside and re-applying every two hours while outside, or immediately after physical activity and swimming
• remaining in the shade during times when you are not involved in a specific outdoor activity, or if you are unable to follow the above recommendations

We also encourage all adults, including parents/carers, to adopt a SunSmart approach for themselves, not only to protect themselves from the dangers of UV radiation, but to also act as role models for our students.

For more information on sun protection please go to the SunSmart webiste: https://www.sunsmart.com.au/

Cup Weekend

Families are reminded that there are no classes on Monday 02 November or Tuesday 03 November.  

The break provides students with the opportunity to prepare for the final weeks of Term 4. It is a good time to catch up on work and to do some exam revision.

Newsletter

In Term 4 the newsletter will continue to be published online only. Families will receive a SMS with a link to the newsletter, and students will receive the newsletter by email.

Newsletter Days for Term 4 2020:             

Fridays: 30 October     13 November     27 November     18 December

The newsletter can always be accessed on the College website at:

http://www.crcstalbans.catholic.edu.au

Term 4 2020

19 October:

PE and Health Week

Tuesday 20 October:

Parent / Teacher / Student interviews (2.30 – 5.00pm)

Thursday 22 October:

Parent / Teacher / Student interviews (2.30 – 5.00pm)

Friday 23 October:

Grand Final Public Holiday (no classes)

Monday 26 October:

Year 7 – 9 return to onsite learning 

27 and 28 October:

Kids Teaching Kids Conference

02 and 03 November:

Cup Weekend Holiday (no classes) 

Tuesday 17 November:

McAuley Awards Assembly

18/11 – 24/11:

Years 9 and 10 exams

Wednesday 25 November:

Year 10 Picnic / Final Day 

Thursday 26 November:

Year 10 Graduation Mass

Friday 27 November:

Report Preparation Day (Students not required at school)

30/11 – 4/12:

Year 11 2021 Orientation at CRC Sydenham

Friday 04 December:

Final Day for students in Years 7 - 9

Friday 18th December:

School office closes

Wurundjeri Speaker

On Wednesday we were lucky to have speaker Uncle Bill from the Wurundjeri Community. Uncle Bill spoke to the Year 9 students on Zoom. He explained the term ‘Uncle’ is a term indigenous people use to refer to elders or leaders in their community.

Uncle Bill was asked to explain about the Wurundjeri land that Catholic Regional College St Albans is built on and educate us about the spiritual connection to the land.

The Wurundjeri People take their name from the Woiwurrung language. The word ‘wurun’ means the Manna Gum (Eucalyptus viminalis) which is common along ‘Birrarung’ (Yarra River), and ‘djeri‘, the grub which is found in or near the tree.  Uncle Bill explained that if he was to give a 'welcome to country' at our school, it would involve an Elder giving the school vegetation to nourish all that reside on the land. Finally he would snap the spear to show that, while you were on Wurundjeri land, you were safe.

The Wurundjeri people believe the Bunjil is the creator spirit of the land. The Wurrendjeri people also believed that they are part of and responsible for the land. Uncle Bill used the analogy of the land being more like a home than a house. The land is where their spirits and relationships exist. Uncle Bill explained that many of the spiritual ceremonies of the Wurundjeri are undocumented and over time have been lost when the early white settlers arrived on the land.  White Settlers also brought Christianity to the area. Uncle Bill discussed how the Genesis 2 story and Wurundjeri creation story both have man created from the earth and in both creation stories God reminds us to take care of the Earth.

God of holy Dreaming

Great Creator Spirit

From the dawn of creation you have given your children

The good things of Mother Earth

You spoke and the gum tree grew

In the vast deserts and dense forests, in the cities,

At the water’s edge, creation sings your praise.

Your presence endures as the rock at the heart of our land.

When Jesus hung on the tree

You heard the cries of all Your people

And became one with Your wounded ones

The convicts, the hunted and the dispossessed.

The sunrise of Your Son

Coloured the earth anew

And bathed it in glorious hope.

In Jesus we have been reconciled to You,

To each other and to Your whole creation.

Lead us on Great Spirit

As we gather at this special place

Located on land where ancestors of long ago

Gathered for work, play and praise.

Enable us to walk together in trust from the hurt of the past

Into the full day which has dawned in Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Prayer courtesy of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC).

Our year 7s were met with sunshine on their first day back for term 4. Thank you to Ms Eileen Chalmers for capturing these great moments. Click through the gallery of images below.

Tuesday 20th October and Thursday 22nd October

As noted in the last newsletter, the second round of Student / Parent / Teacher interviews will be in on Tuesday 20th October and Thursday 22nd October, from 2.30 – 5.00pm. For students, teachers and families, these interviews are a chance to touch base before students return (Year 8 to Year 10) and to check in on how the first week or so has gone for Year 7.

Interviews will be by phone with the Pastoral Care teacher (same teacher as in Term 3). Families are asked to book online through the Parent Access Module by Friday 16 October.

There will be no period 5 class on these days so Year 7 students will be dismissed from school at 1.25pm.

SHAPE week has arrived!

SHAPE Challenge Update 

Well done to the following students who successfully completed at least 5 of the CRC SHAPE Challenge 2.0 activities last week to start off the term.

WEEK 1:

Community food program update

As the last of the winter crops finish in the school garden, we're getting ready for a bountiful summer. Planting corn, kale, chillies, parsley, capsicium, cucumber, spring onions, garlic chives, pumpkins, zucchini, tomato (cherry, roma and beefsteak), basil and summer flowers and grains.

The garlic is also finishing nicely ready for braiding in December.