Ciltius, Altius, Fortius

(Olympic Motto: Faster, Higher, Stronger, Together)

Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves: in your strength you will have no end of fun and games.

 Blessed are those who can tell a mountain from a molehill: in your sense of higher things you will be saved a lot of bother.

 Blessed are those who know how to relax without looking for excuses: You are running into the depths of wisdom.

 Blessed are those who know when to be quiet and to listen: You are stretching into great learning.

 Happy are you if you can take small things seriously and face serious things calmly: you will be able to run a marathon.

 Happy are you if you can appreciate a smile and forget a frown: you will walk on the sunny side of the world and see the magnificence of all human strivings for excellence.

 Happy are you if you can be kind in understanding the attitudes of others, even when the signs are unfavourable: your insight and personal strength may bring about the greatest change and victory for all.

 Blessed are those who think before acting and pray before thinking: theirs is the victory dais.

 Happy are you if you know how to hold your tongue and smile, even when people interrupt and contradict you or tread on your toes: the gospel has begun to seep into your heart and the olive branch is your monogram.

 Above all,

Blessed are you who recognise the Lord in all whom you meet:

The light of truth shines in your life

for you have found true wisdom,

wonderful strength,

dizzying height

and graceful speed.

This week’s prayer reflects on life and faith through the lens of the Olympics motto: faster, higher, stronger and together. Whilst there were some questions about whether the 2020 Olympics should have gone ahead, many have been uplifted by the performances, and the grace and sportsmanship of individuals and teams from across the world. Each of us will have our own highlight real. All Olympians, officials and the Japanese organising committee share the desire to be the best that they can be, individually and collectively. For some this will be a gold medal whilst for others, it will be fourth, tenth or fiftieth place but still their personal best, and cause for much celebration.

Since the return to onsite learning, students and staff have enjoyed a range of lunchtime activities in our own mini Olympics. Table tennis, 3 on 3 basketball, a soccer obstacle course and volleyball have all been lots of fun. Thanks to our Sports Assistant, Damien Marshall for his organisation of the activities.

Thank you to families for joining us for the Student / Parent / Teacher conferences on Wednesday and Thursday. In preparation for the conference, each student has used a range of strategies to reflect on their goals, report and learning in Semester 1, and to set goals for this semester. They have prepared a portfolio to discuss these reflections with their family and pastoral care teacher. Like the Olympians, many students will be able to celebrate achieving their personal best, and will have a clear picture about the next steps.

Lastly, it was great that interschool sport could resume this week and Year 9 students were finally able to start the Premier League season. Well done to all students on a good first round.

Term 3 Assembly

Due to COVID restrictions we were unable to gather as a school for the Term 3 assembly, however, the School Captains produced a terrific video to recognise a number of students for academic excellence, and others for contributions to the life of the school.

The Student Leaders group has initiated a new award that will be given to one student at each year level in Terms 2 and 3. Called the Centauri award, it will recognise students who use their talents to initiate, negotiate and implement a new idea or who reaches out to help others in a significant way.

Centauri Proxima is a small star, significant but too faint to see without a telescope, in the constellation of stars known as Centaurus. Through this award, students hope to shine light on those individuals who quietly, and often behind the scenes, do so much to build a caring community.

Congratulations to all award winners. The names are included later in the newsletter.

Professional Practice Day (Wednesday 18 August)

On this day students are not required at school as staff are involved in a range of professional learning and planning tasks.

COVID restrictions permitting, students involved in the School Production will have rehearsals on this day and are required at school.

Year 10 students taking a VCE or VET class will need to attend classes at CRC Sydenham as normal.

Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS)

Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) began its governance responsibilities for parish and diocesan schools in the Archdiocese on 1 January 2021, when 290 schools transferred to MACS, including our school. 

In line with this change in Governance, a range of previously local policies have transitioned to become MACS policies. Families can locate these new MACS policies on the College website.

Annual Report 2020

Our 2020 Annual Report is now available to families on the College website at www.crcstalbans.catholic.edu.au Hard copies are also available from the school office.

MACSSIS Surveys (Formerly CEMSIS surveys)

In 2021, our school is participating in Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools – School Improvement Surveys (MACSSIS). MACSSIS is an annual process whereby schools listen to the thoughts and feelings students, families and staff have about how their school can improve. These surveys help inform the ongoing improvement of schools across the Archdiocese of Melbourne.

One of the main goals of the family survey is to identify the strengths and areas for improvement in our school. MACSSIS data benefits everyone within our school and provides valuable community insights on areas that each school can focus on. Our school believes it is important to encourage families to have a voice and contribute to shaping the ongoing improvement of the school.

A letter with survey access details and pin will be sent home to all families in Week 7. The survey is available online, can be accessed from Monday 30 August and needs to be completed by Friday 17 September 2021.

Newsletter

The newsletter is published fortnightly on Day 10 (Friday Week 2).

Newsletter Days for Term 3 2021:             

Fridays:    20 August,     03 September,     17 September

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

Pope Francis' most recent encyclical Frattili Tutti is on social friendship. 

Social friendship or `Fraternity’ is about how we see and connect  with all people in our community, not just our inner circle. Pope Francis uses the scripture  of the Good Samaritan to unpack this connection. The Good Samaritan demonstrates his understanding of  friendship through action. He sees a wounded man on the road and he walks the road with this man. He tries to find help and provide what this man needs. This idea of friendship goes beyond a social friendship or an online friendship; it's a friendship that sees and responds and this makes it far more challenging.

The Year 10 students this year for their Reflection Day will be going into the city where they will see and listen to people in need in the community.  They will walk a journey with people and see the challenges they face. Frattili Tutti includes a quote from another significant encyclical Gaudium et Spes:

`The joys and hopes, the grief and anguish of the people of our time, especially of those who are poor or afflicted, are the joys and hopes, the grief and anguish of the followers of Christ as well’

The Year 10 Reflection Day is about taking time out to reflect on how they express their faith, through action. They will be challenged by the friendship the Good Samaritan extended to the stranger and in small groups discuss how we walk with people in need in our community. The day is planned for the 7th September and students will hear from  speakers from Ozanam House, Big Issue and the Salvation Army. 

If your teenage children live wound-up, highly scheduled lives then they need to rediscover the lost art of down-town.

Down-time is like mucking around except that it’s passive. It’s about kids relaxing, doing whatever it is they feel like doing – whether that’s watching a screen, hanging around with siblings or mates, reading a book or simply daydreaming.

There are three compelling reasons to allow kids down-time:

1. It’s great for mental health. Hard-driven kids need some time to rest their brains. The thinking wheels can’t keep spinning all the time.

2. It builds relationships.You’ve got to be close to someone to feel comfortable in down-time with them. A household needs to be relaxed and free from tension for down-time to happen.

3. It feels good, which is good reason to do something.

The art of down-time comes with age

Toddlers are too active for down-time. Their physiology ensures that when they have some free time they’ll generally keep moving and exploring.

Kids in primary school start to learn the value of down-time. They generally spend down-time on their own or by mucking around with their friends.

Teenagers are natural down-timers. They do it without trying. Teens take up a lot of space during down-time at home, tending to sprawl out and fill living rooms. Many don’t mind down-time with their parents if their friends don’t see them.

Many parents feel uncomfortable when their kids spend too long in down-time. Busyness is seen as a virtue. Sure, it’s good for our kids to be occupied a lot of the time, but active lives need to be balanced with opportunities for inactivity.

Don’t confuse down-time with brooding

Brooding, like ruminating, involves a young person repeatedly visiting their thoughts, going over past mistakes, or worrying about the future. Down-time is different as it enables a young person to chill out and relax. It’s free-range mindfulness, or unstructured meditation.

Down-time is a lifetime mental health, relationship-building, and happiness habit. It’s something to be encouraged, rather than clamped down.

SCHOOL FEES

All families will receive their School Fee Balance Statements next week.

Reminder to families that Term 2 fees should have been paid by now. If you have not
paid any fees yet and are having difficulties, please do not hesitate to contact Ms. Anne
Ross to discuss on 9366 2544 or 0427 036 925.

School Fees can be paid directly into our School Bank Account:

Catholic Regional College St Albans

(BSB) 083-347

(Acc No.) 6909 17667

Please include your Account Code as Reference Eg: 151021

Free Online Safety Webinars for Parents

Join one of our free webinars for parents and carers.

These live webinars explore the latest research and they are a great way to learn how you can help your child develop the skills to be safer online. 

All sessions are delivered by eSafety's expert education and training team.

eSafety’s parent  guide to  online sexual harassment and image-based abuse

1 in 3 young women and 1 in 5 young men have experienced online sexual harassment. When young people experience this type of online harassment and abuse it can have serious impacts. This webinar is designed for parents and young people to attend together to learn how to report and where to go for support.

It is designed for parents and carers of young people aged 13-18.

Dates:

Tuesday 10 August 7.30 to 8.30 pm

Tuesday 24 August 12.30 to 1.30 pm

Tuesday 31 August 7.30 to 8.30 pm

To register for one of these sessions, click here:

The Library has purchased the books nominated for the Children’s Picture book of the Year.  Why not borrow one to read to a younger brother or sister.

Norton and the Bear by Gabriel Evans

Is imitation the sincerest form of flattery? Or is it just annoying? Whether you're more like Norton or the bear, this story will show you that there's room for all kinds of creative expression.

Not Cute by Phillip Bunting

Quokka did not like being cute. Not one bit. The romping, stomping, chomping tale of one stubbornly adorable marsupial.

Birthday was the Best by Maggie Hutchings

The story of a plucky young cockroach who gate-crashes a birthday party – with hilarious results. Funny, silly and surprisingly cute, great fun to read aloud.

Unwilling Twin by Freya Blackwood

Jules and George are the same in every way. It is quite impossible to tell them apart. Like all twins, Jules and George do everything together. But after a long, hot day at the beach, even twins sometimes disagree.

How to Make a Bird by Meg McKinlay

A little girl contemplates the blue print of an idea, collects the things that inspire from the natural world to shape a bird and breathes life into it before letting it fly free. It shows how small things, combined with a little imagination and a steady heart, can transform into works of magic.

Dragon by Bob Graham

No friendship is imaginary. When Ellie is very little, she finds a newborn dragon fresh from the egg on a supermarket shelf, and calls him Scratch. He is quite the sweetest thing she has ever seen! From that day on, Ellie and Scratch do everything together. Ellie's mum and her teacher can't see her fiery friend, but all her friends can - and, over the years, Ellie's dragon grows to be big, house-trained, and very affectionate. And Ellie is growing, too... A moving story about the wonders of imagination and the nature of growing up from one of Australia's most revered bookmakers.