I dreamed I stood in a studio

And watched two sculptors there,

The clay they used was a young child’s mind

And they fashioned it with care.

One was a teacher; the tools being used

Were books and music and art,

One a parent with a guiding hand

And a gentle, loving heart.

Day after day they toiled

With touch that was deft and sure,

While the parent laboured just as hard

And polished and smoothed it o’er.

When at last their task was done

They were proud of what they wrought,

For the things they had moulded into the child

Could neither be sold nor bought.

And both agreed they would have failed

If they had worked alone;

For behind the parents stood the school

And behind the teacher, the home.

World Teachers’ Day

Today marks World Teachers’ Day in Australian schools. It is a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge our staff and to thank them for all that they do.

At CRC we’re fortunate to have dedicated, talented and enthusiastic teachers who work hard to ensure that students have every opportunity to achieve their full potential. Their skill, generosity of spirit, care for students and commitment to the St Albans community are inspiring. Never has this been more evident than in their response to the challenges of 2020.

On your behalf I thank each of them for all they give to our community.

Thank you to the student leaders who have organised a number of activities to thank staff for all they do.

This year, with Learning from Home, families have had a more direct experience of the work of teachers, and many say, a greater appreciation of all they do.

Our opening prayer is a reminder that parents and families have a particularly important part to play in educating young people; in fact, they are the first and primary educators of their children. As teachers in Catholic schools we are called to assist and support families in the Christian formation and education of their children. Our prayer illustrates this beautifully. We thank all parents, carers and family members who have worked with us this year, in our work as teachers.

A Great Week

Hasn’t it been a good week? Very low numbers of new coronavirus cases, two ‘0’ days, restrictions easing, Melbourne opening up, more people returning to work and Years 8 – 10 back at school! The school is noisy, busy and full of life. Just as it should be.

Keeping Everyone Safe

All families and students are reminded that whilst restrictions in Melbourne are easing, each of us needs to do our part in reducing the risk of transmission of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Students and staff need to:

1. Stay home if they are unwell, and get tested for COVID-19 if they show even the mildest of symptoms.
2. Practice good hand hygiene.
3. Coughing into the elbow.
4. Wearing a mask to and from school, and at school.

The advice on masks is that they should be changed after four hours. Families are asked to send students to school with a second mask and a plastic bag for storing the used mask. Spare masks are available from the office if students forget their mask at home.

Congratulations

We were delighted to hear that Arabella Julian has been selected as one of the College Captains at CRC Sydenham in 2021, and the Augustine Morris Jnr will be a Vice Captain. Both were part of our leadership group last year and did some terrific work. We are sure they will provide great service and leadership to the Sydenham community.

Enrolment for 2021

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

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:               13 November     27 November     18 December

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

2 and 3 November:

Cup Weekend Holiday (no classes) 

Tuesday 17 November:

McAuley Awards Assembly

18 November – 24 November:

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 November – 4 December:

Year 11 2021 Orientation at CRC Sydenham

Friday 4 December:

Final Day for students in Years 7 - 9

Friday 18th December:

School office closes

Please note:

There have been some minor adjustments to the dates for Term 4.

Exams will begin slightly later (Friday 20/11/20) and the final day for Year 10 students will be Friday 27 November. As it is unlikely that the Year 10 students will be able to go offsite for their final day, combining this day with Report Writing Day gives us greater scope as to the activities we are able to do onsite.

Students in Years 7 – 9 will not be required at school on this day as it is a report preparation day for Years 7 – 9 staff.

Food Drive

Over the next two weeks students at CRC St Albans will be organising a food drive for  the Loaves and Fishes Food Bank and Holy Eucharist Parish. CRC ST Albans has a long association with the important work of the Food Bank, with the Year 8’s going out weekly to assist in organising food parcels.  CRC St Albans is also raising money for a Food Bank Van by organising a casual clothes day on the  6th November with all students bringing a gold coin donation. The Loaves and Fishes Food Bank Van will play a valuable role in making sure that food parcels reach people in need.

Food Bank Video Reflection

Father Minh reminds us, by sharing what we have we remember our humanity.

What can you do to help?

Year 7 food drive item: Rice

Year 8 food drive item: Pasta

Year 9 food drive item: Canned tomatoes

Year 10 food drive item: Passata 

REMEMBER Casual Clothes Day Friday 6 November please bring gold coin donation for the Food Bank.

There will also be lunchtime activities so don't forget to bring a gold coin to be part of the fun.

`For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink’                                                                                         Matthew 25

YEAR 7 FOOD TECH

During Food Tech the Year 7 students made scrambled eggs with the whole nasturtium plant; bulbs, flowers and leaves, plus spinach, parsley and rosemary from the school garden.  It was such a rewarding and enjoyable class. 

HEY MA, THE CHICKENS ARE HERE!!

WORLD TEACHERS DAY

Here is a message to all the wonderful, dedicated and hardworking teachers at our school. 

CRC-SA PODCAST - EPISODE 5 OUT NOW

CRC-SA Podcast Episode 5 - Girls Talk, Boys Talk

Part 1:

The girls get together, along with guest speaker Sparkles, to discuss issues that females face in today's society. They explore topics such as body image, feminine expectations, fitting in and relationships.

Part 2:

The boys get together, along with guest speaker Mr Dale Marshall, to discuss issues that males face in today's society. They explore topics such as maturity, toxic masculinity, values and virtues, dealing with emotions and male stereotypes.

CRC SA - SPOTIFY EPISODES

Photographic Challenge

Seeing the world with a new perspective.

Take up the weekly challenge and send in your photo to view and share.  Each week will be a different theme; the challenge is to take that photo. 

photos@crcstalbans.com.au

This week’s theme is:

BACK TO SCHOOL

Closing Date: Thursday 5th November

Submissions to: photos@crcstalbans.com.au

To enter the Photography Challenge, make sure that:

• It must be your photo
• There's no such thing as a good or bad photograph
• It is your interpretation of the theme
• No online photo or image  

This is a photographic challenge so try to demonstrate your photographic skills by looking at: composition, color, leading lines, originality, editing.  

To participate send your photos to: 

•  photos@crcstalbans.com.au

• jpeg format

• Cropping to square (iphone editing)

• Send with your name, year level, Photo Challenge No 1.

• A short explanation of your photo

If you are using a serious DSLR camera, digital SLR or a phone camera, it doesn’t matter.  Photos will be selected and recognized each week in our school newsletter.  Student leaders are working towards a platform for viewing all photos, yet to be determined. Tips and hints to be suggested by in house experts.

Here are submissions from CHALLENGE 1: THINGS I AM GRATEFUL FOR

SHAPE Week 2020 Onsite and Online

Last week our school community celebrated Sport, Health and PE Week with students and staff getting actively involved in a variety of activities during class, recess, lunch-time and before and after school.

This year’s activities were a little different to what we had experienced in the past, as we had some activities taking place remotely and online.

Congratulations to all students and staff who participated in the activities and well done to our 2020 SHAPE Week Winners. Can all winners please see Mr. D Marshall to collect your prize.

Sport Trivia Winners:

• Year 7 – Audrey Gerada
• Year 7 – Kelvin Jutee
• Year 8 – Ethan Doan
• Year 10 – Emily Gerada

Push-Up Challenge Winners:

• Year 7 Female – Audrey Gerada (OReilly) 56 push-ups to fatigue
• Year 7 Male – Nathan Lay (Reis) 55 push-ups to fatigue

Tunnel Ball Challenge:

• Vicky Huynh - 7 Snowy
• Maya Pion - 7 Snowy
• Violet Lutar - 7 Snowy
• Shareen Dhillon - 7 Kiewa
• Jack Lowe - 7 Kiewa
• Christopher Dang - 7 Kiewa
• Kayden Luzar - 7 Kiewa
• Jayden Attard - 7 Kiewa
• Caleb Tapuala-Unasa - 7 Wimmera
• Adrian Barbar - 7 Wimmera

Footy Colours Day – Raising Funds for the Fight Cancer Foundation

A very big thank you to our Year 7 Team of staff, Mr. Mead and our students and parents for their support of our Footy Colours Day. Last Thursday 22^nd October, students and staff wore their favouite AFL, Rugby or Soccer teams' colours to raise awareness and funds for the Fight Cancer Foundation. We would like to thank all those who contributed as we raised $200, which will go towards helping young people with cancer to continue learning during treatment and recovery. For more information or to donate to this great cause go to: www.footycoloursday.com.au

Here are some links to remote SHAPE Activities:

• Explore the Virtual Australian Sports Museum – take a self-guided tour of the Australian Sports Museum.
• Mindfulness Colouring – Between Sessions and Youth Focus
• Active Victoria Self-Guided Session
• Smoothies from Home 

As always it was the efforts of many hands working together to ensure a fun filled week. On behalf of the school leadership team, I would like to thank our Health and PE Team for assisting with the many activities and ensuring our school community is looking after our health and wellbeing.

Mr. Dale Marshall

Health and Physical Education Leader

SHAPE Challenge

While learning from home the SHAPE Team has encouraged our students to look after their physical and mental health by completing various physical, recreational and mindfulness activities each and every day.

Students who completed a minimum of five SHAPE Challenges per week were rewarded with a Subway Voucher, kindly donated by our local Subway in Delahey. We would like to congratulate all students who participated in looking after their health and wellbeing during a challenging time. The CRC St Albans school community would also like to sincerely thank Atual Dip and his team from Subway Delahey for their community support and supporting our SHAPE Challenge initiative.

SHAPE Challenge Update 

Well done to the following students who successfully completed at least 5 of the CRC SHAPE Challenge 2.0 activities in weeks 2 and 3 of this Term. Year 7 students did not take part in the challenge this term as they were back at school.

WEEK 2:

Immunisations for Y 7s and Yr 10s will take place on Monday 9th November
Yr 7 students will be receiving their 2nd Dose of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
Yr 10 students will receive their Meningococcal Vaccine.

Notice from the Proactive Policing Unit:

Safe Practices around Schools