May the humility of the shepherds,
the perseverance of the wise men,
the joy of the angels,
and the peace of the Christ-child
be God's gifts to us and to people everywhere this Christmas time.
And may the blessing of the Christ-child be upon us always.

Amen.

Thank You

As we come to the end of the year, I would like to thank families, students and staff for all your support, generosity of spirit and hard work throughout this year.

This year was certainly different to what we imagined it would be. Beginning with fires and floods in January it has been a strange and challenging year. For much of 2020, ‘school’ as we know it was turned upside down and inside out, with students and staff working remotely for 20 weeks.

That our students were able to transition so well between school and home based learning says much about them, and their maturity, commitment, resilience and resourcefulness. However, they could not have done it on their own. It is an ongoing joy and privilege to work them.

Thank you to all families and staff, for all you did, above and beyond, to support the learning and wellbeing of students. Never before have we seen the home-school partnership work so well to support young people and their learning.

I hope that as you reflect back over the year that has been, you feel a deep sense of satisfaction in the way that we have navigated our way through the year together. Thank you.

With the easing of restrictions, we are back in the mad rush that characterises this time of the year, I hope that despite this hectic time, you find a few moments of stillness to reflect on why we celebrate Christmas. Christmas is an ongoing invitation to each of us to be people of light, peace and hope.

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

Well Done

Congratulations to all students for the way that they finished the school year. With restrictions easing, all year levels were able to enjoy an end of year excursion.

Year 10 students and staff spent their final day with a Reflection morning and then headed to an outdoor adventure centre at Kinglake. It was a great chance to have some fun and to reminisce about the year.

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

Farewell

As we come to the end of the school year, we farewell a number of staff members who leave us as their contract positions come to an end: Ms Carmel Kelly, Ms Jasmine Crisci, Ms Jie Jing Xiao, Mr Fadi Babawe, Ms Nadera Qaqoz and Ms Sharika Venugopal. I thank each for all they have contributed to the school community. 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.  We wish them well.

Fr. James Wall Bursary

Each year the Catholic Development Fund awards learning bursaries to four Year 10 students in Catholic secondary schools in Melbourne. We are delighted that Jude Sef (10 Mannix) has been selected as a 2020 recipient.

The bursary is awarded to young people who demonstrate high levels of leadership and service, are inclusive, and work to make a difference, both at the school and in the community. Throughout his time at the College, Jude has done all of the above and more. As School Captain, he was a true servant leader who worked hard to make a difference and to keep our school community connected and thriving during the challenges of 2020. With the Student Leadership group, Jude was instrumental in starting the CRC-SA podcast, in organising the Fathers’ and Mothers’ day breakfasts, online assemblies, in supporting students and staff navigate the return to school after lockdown, and in initiating meetings with local State and Federal Government ministers to discuss a range of issues.

On behalf of the school community, I would like to congratulate Jude on this outstanding achievement. He is a deserving recipient and we are absolutely delighted for him.

Jude joins Augustine Morris jnr (2019) and Kathleen Mendoza (2016), CRC St Albans students who have received the award in recent years.

At our first assembly next year, Jude will be awarded the College gold (McMyler) pin in acknowledgement of this achievement. In March, he will receive his bursary from Archbishop Peter Comensoli.

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. The theme Same but Different captured well the strange year we have had.

Student Leaders 2021

Last week our School Captains, SRC, House Captains and Social Justice Leaders spent a day together to plan for 2021. I was able to join them for an hour or so. 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 2021.

Thank you to Ms Kristy Liberatore; Sonany, Jude, Loang and Cindy (2020 Captains), Mr Kevin Quinn, Mr Jeremy Ly and Mr Hayden O’Doherty for planning and leading.

SRC 2021

On behalf of the school community I would also like to congratulate the following students on their election to the SRC for 2021:

Year 8:  Monica Le, Jimmy Tran, Charlotte Gerada, Kayden Luzar 

Year 9:  Tran Hoang-Quan, Caelen Khoo, My Nguyen, Ana Markic

Year 10: Julie Pham, Aluoka Roaa, Thomas Le, Maryam Jabreta         

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 2021

Congratulations to the following students on being selected as House Captains for 2021:

Corbett: Nadeen Franso and Boi Bawi 

Guelen: Chloe Lefebure and Felix Tejo 

O’Reilly: Angela Tu and Aiden Dang 

Reis: Christian Tapuala-Unasa and Gabriel Monts De Oca          

Social Justice Leaders and Captains 2021

Congratulations to the following students who have been selected to be Social Justice Captains and Leaders for 2021:

Year 8: Fadiet Nyankuer and Audrey Gerada

Year 9: Amadeus Wejak and Tommy Pham

Year 10: Yania Saleem and Rueben Rock

Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS)

From 01 January 2021, a new company, Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) will be responsible for governing Catholic schools (primary schools, Regional Colleges and Diocesan Schools) in the Archdiocese of Melbourne.

Please click on this link to read a letter from Archbishop Comensoli explaining this change.

Start of the 2021 School Year

Friday 29 January 2021:             Years 7 students only     (9am – 2.15pm)

                                                New students at Years 8, 9 and 10 (11am - 12pm)

Monday 01 February 2021:         All students return (8.40am – 3.10pm)

The first day for the whole school on Monday 01 February 2021 will be Day 01 of the school timetable. Students should be able to access their timetable on SIMON from Thursday 28 January 2021.

Book Collection Day

Books purchased through the College supplier can be collected from the College library on Friday 22 January 2021. 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.

Classes 2021

Classes for Years 8, 9 and 10 2021 will be displayed around the school on the Book sale Day: Friday 22 January 2021. Alternatively, students can access their timetable on SIMON the day before school starts.

Getting ready for Day 1

It is important that students have all their books and uniform for the start of the 2021 school year, and that they name all belongings: books, folders, pens, schoolbag, calculators and all items of uniform are labelled. Throughout the year, many items are handed in at the office but cannot be returned to owners as they are not named.

Key Dates for Term 4 2020

Fri 18 December:                          School office closes

Term Dates 2021

Term 1:               Monday 01 February – Thursday 01 April  

Term 2:               Monday 19 April – Friday 25 June

Term 3:               Monday 12 July – Friday 17 September

Term 4:               Monday 04 October – Friday 03 December

Please Note:     

Year 10 students finish at the College on Thursday 25 November but have an Orientation program at CRC Sydenham from Monday 29 November to the Friday 03 December.

Mid-year exams (Years 9 and 10):            07 June – 15 June 2021

End of year exams (Years 9 and 10):        17 Nov – 24 November 2021

Families planning to travel in the middle of the year or at the end of 2021 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:

•  15 June in the middle of the year (Years 9 and 10)
• 03 December for Year 11 2022 students (Year 10 2021)
• 24 November for Year 9 students.

A full calendar for Term 1 will be sent home to families in the first week of 2021. However, key dates for Term 1 2021 are listed below:

Thursday 21 January                 School office re-opens

Friday 22 January                     Book sale day / 2021 class lists published 

Friday 29 January                     Year 7 2021 start school

Monday 01 February                  Years 8 – 10 students return

Wednesday 10 February             MacKillop Awards Assembly

Thursday 18 February                 Opening Mass

Thursday 04 March                     Inter-house Swimming Carnival

Monday 08 March                       Labour Day Holiday

Friday 26 March                          Term 1 Immersion Day

Tuesday 30 March                       SACCSS Interschool Swimming

Thursday 01 April                        Final Day Term 1

In our final assembly for the year, we returned to the story of the three trees and how unexpected events led to dreams beyond what we could have imagined.  

When 2020 started every student had a dream, some may have dreamed of forming strong friendships others dreamt of meeting the challenges of their studies. Then COVID arrived and those dreams changed. Suddenly the way we learnt and the way we studied looked very different. The new situation required our school community to find new ways to learn stay connected. As a result of this unexpected change, our school is stronger, more resilient and the value of our community has deepened more than we could ever have imagined. 

Students in all year levels wrote a brief reflection on their reimagined dreams and these reflections were incorporated into the beginning of our liturgy.

“I faced challenges in lockdown such as online learning, I did not imagine that my family would be my new teachers.”

“At the beginning of Year 7 I never imagined covid 19 would occur. Although it was a huge disadvantage, there were many advantages as we became closer online and had so many amazing and fun times.”

“I never imagined that I could learn to work so well on my own.”

I would like to conclude the last Faith Matters for the year with a big thankyou to all the students and staff that supported the liturgies throughout the year.

The second semester reports will be available through the Parent Access Module at http://www.crcstalbans.catholic.edu.au/ from Monday 14th December.  Students will also have access to their reports through the Learning Management System.  

With remote learning in Term 3 and the first three weeks of Term 4, some adjustments needed to be made to content and assessments in Learning Areas.   We ask that you appreciate the impact of COVID and Learning from Home as you read through the feedback provided.

We congratulate our students for all they have achieved in this challenging year and encourage them to continue their fine work in 2021.

Families that are unable to access the report online are asked to contact the office by Wednesday 16th December.

The recording of the Year 10 Graduation Liturgy can be viewed via the following link:

Yr 10 Graduation Liturgy

Yr 7 Ball Sports Day

Last Thursday the Year 7 students participated in the annual Ball Sports day at Westgate in Altona. The students had a great day taking part in dodgeball, futsal, netball, cricket and beach volleyball. Well done to all students on the way they participated in the activities. Congratulations to Guelen House who were the winners of the day.

Year 7 Novelty Sports Day

Last Wednesday the Year 7 students took part in the Novelty Sports Carnival during periods 3 and 4. The carnival gave students the opportunity to compete in their House groups in activities such as tunell ball, 70 meter sprints, shuttle relay and egg and spoon race. Congratulations again to Guelen on winning this carnival as well.