Loving God,

your mercy towers to the heavens,

and your faithfulness to the skies.

May your love temper our desire for more.

May your love shape lifestyles that

lead to life for all.

May your love guide our steps

towards sustainability.

May your love be enough.

We make this prayer in the name of Jesus,

our risen Lord,

through the power of the Holy Spirit,

now and for ever. Amen

This week is Laudato Si’ week, marking the seventh anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical (letter) to the world on ecology and climate. In his letter, Pope Francis invites us to adopt more sustainable lifestyles, to live more simply, to consume less and to be satisfied with ‘enough’ rather than always seeking more, in terms of material goods.

Household clutter we never use, single use items and food that are thrown away as waste are examples of overconsumption and people not satisfied with ‘enough’. One small change we could make this week might be more thoughtful buying. Before purchasing anything, we might ask – Do I need this? Will this make me happy? Whose lives will be impacted by this purchase? Where are there opportunities to make a change?

The emptier a person’s heart is, the more she or he needs to buy, own and consume.

Laudato Si 204

Mothers’ Day Breakfast

It was great that so many mums, grandmothers, carers and students were able to join us for our Mother’s Day breakfast. From very humble beginnings with about 15 mothers, it has moved to the hall and become a very important event on our school calendar. I would like to thank Ms Laura Cioccia (Family Engagement Leader), our wonderful Student Leaders and everyone who helped in the background to ensure that our guests felt spoilt, special and appreciated.

Our guest speaker for the morning was Sandra Nicholson, a former Assistant Commissioner with the Victoria Police. In her 35 years with the force, Sandra was a pioneer, taking on roles and responsibilities previously seen to be the reserve of male officers, and following a path few women had walked before. She spoke about the importance of mentoring and the support she had from many senior police officers, both male and female. It was inspiring to listen to hear her story. Her key takeaway message was to encourage us to take any and, all opportunities that come our way.

Arrangements for Feast Day

Next Friday 27 May, we will celebrate our Feast Day. School begins at the normal time of 8.40am and concludes at 3.10pm.

Over the past few weeks, Student Leaders have been working hard to plan the Feast Day Carnival, Year Level Teams are planning the pastoral care activities and the Liturgy Team is finalizing the mass. We are very appreciative of the work all groups are doing.

Due to cancellations over the past two years, it will be the first Feast Day for students in Years 7 – 9.

The day will include mass, pastoral care activities and the Feast Day carnival. It is always a terrific day and we are really looking forward to it.

Students can come in casual clothes and there is no charge for this. All carnival activities are free, however, there is a small cost for food. The canteen is open throughout the carnival and there will be a sausage sizzle and a range of treats. Students are encouraged to bring their lunch.

Fingers crossed that it is a fine day!

Canteen Week

Did you know that this is Canteen Week across Australian schools? We are lucky to have the most amazing staff in our canteen. Not only do they prepare delicious breakfasts, snacks and lunches, but they provide service with a smile at all times. A very big thank you to Wendy, Pauline, Adriana and Hayden – your warmth, deep sense of hospitality and care is very much appreciated by students, staff and families. Thank you.

NAPLAN Tests

Congratulations to all Years 7 and 9 students on the maturity and application they have demonstrated during the NAPLAN testing period.

Students and their families should receive the NAPLAN report in late Term 3 or early Term 4.

Newsletter Attachment: Nationally Consistent Collection Data (NCCD)

Please access information about the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data by clicking the links below. Schools have been collecting and forwarding this data since 2015. Both the State and Commonwealth governments use this data to inform funding to schools.

COVID Safe Practices

The State Government announced this week that families will continue to receive Rapid Antigen Tests every two weeks until the end of term. However, from next week the advice regarding testing has changed.

• Students no longer need to test twice a week.
• Instead, they need to test if they have any signs of cold or flu-like symptoms. 

It is important that students who are ill with cold and flu-like symptoms remain at home, even if they have a negative Rapid Antigen Test.

Newsletter

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

Newsletter Days for Term 1 2022:           

Fridays:               03 June,     17 June

All dates and activities are tentative and a final decision will be in light of COVID risk assessments.

This year to celebrate our School Theme "Hearts Open to the World" an Art Installation is being created by students under the direction of our Art Teacher Ms Petrucelli. This is an important symbol in our school and is a reminder of our schools commitment to this year's theme. 

A small group of students came up with the design, they decided to beautify a space in the yard, a wire fence, that students would walk by. This ugly piece of fence became the canvas, where the students could give their attention, time and creativity.

1st Stage of the project

Every Tuesday in Lent, each student at CRC St Albans reflected on the challenge of the Good Samaritan story. We explored how the Good Samaritan opened his heart to his neighbor and we challenged ourselves to open our hearts to people in our community. 

The installation started with one piece of fabric, symbolising a small weave/action, can be the start of something great. Over 2200 pieces of fabric had been prepared by each student, each piece unique, much like our community. Each piece represents a different lenten experience, whether it was orange ribbon for harmony day or red ribbon to represent students' commitment to positive relationships. Each piece of fabric was knotted together, to symbolise  the students' connections with each other and the world. The fabric has been knotted together to create a web and a sense we are all bound together as one. The web is both fragile and linked for strength. 

'We weave what we are as a community and what we hope to be within ourselves, our community, and the world.'

Monica  Year 9 Hughes 

2nd Stage of the project

As we prepare for feast day Mass, each PC has been challenged to make a commitment to being people whose 'Hearts are open to the world' by signing  their name on red fabric.  This fabric will form the words in our art installation.

The PC reflection was concluded with this prayer.

All: Response: Hearts open to the world. Come to me with open hearts.

Teacher: Love one another in your actions

              Love one another as I have loved you.

All: Response: Hearts open to the world. Come to me with open eyes.

Teacher: Love with compassionate eyes

              Love your neighbour as yourself.

All: Response: Hearts open to the world. Come to me with an open Spirit.

Teacher: Love guided by the Spirit

              Love for a just world.

All: Response: Hearts open to the world. Come to me with open hands.

Teacher: Love with hands that heal,

              Love to build a better world.

Rostrum participants Loya, Melak, Sierra, Janelle and Vicky.

The Rostrum Public Speaking competition is a national competition which allows students all around Australia to challenge their public speaking skills. On the 15^th of May, 5 of our ‘Speak Your Mind’ elective students took up the challenge and proved to be serious competitors! Sierra Lynch, Loya Nedjo, Janelle Lawang, Melak Al-Najjar and Vicky Huynh brushed their nerves aside and captivated their audience as they all spoke both eloquently and confidently. Their six minute speeches were successfully researched and presented with passion, in front of a packed audience. All students should be proud of their efforts and a special congratulations to Janelle Lawang who, after gruelling heats, was awarded state runner up! Well done Janelle.

- Ms Mariella Pannunzio

Positive School-Wide Behaviour in the yard

Please see our Positive Schoolwide Behaviours in the Yard and Canteen attached.

We ask that each class and student revisit and discuss each statement as a kind reminder of how we behave in the yard and canteen at CRC St Albans.

This will ensure we are creating a safe and orderly environment for all to enjoy.

Character Strength of the Week

Spirituality - Virtue of Transcendence

Definition: Having coherent beliefs about our place and purpose in the universe and about the meaning of life.

Explanation: Searches for meaning, feels a sense of purpose, senses a relationship with the sacred.

Synonyms: Divine, refined, devotional, holy.

Quote: "Awakening is not changing who you are, but discarding who you are not." - Deepak Chopra

"The great thing to remember is that though our feelings come and go God's love for us does not." - C.S. Lewis

How to ignite your spirituality:

• What positive role does spirituality or a sense of meaning play in your life?
• How does your spirituality affect your relationships with others?
• What role has spirituality played during challenging times in your life?

Meaningful May

Our new Meaningful May calendar (please see attachment) which is full of actions to help you feel part of something bigger, so please share it and help spread the word.

This month please be kind to yourself and remember you do not need to have everything figured out to find meaning in life. There are lots of actions that help us live with purpose, even in difficult or uncertain times.

Parent Corner - Effective Communication with your Teen

Parents and young people tell us that the most important thing they want to know is how to keep their relationship strong through effective communication.

Psychologist Clare Rowe gives us some tips on creating quality and effective conversations that can help your teenager to open up about their feelings. Please see the ReachOut Parents: Effective Communication video for further information.

Wellbeing for Learning Around the School

Year 7:

The Year 7 Pastoral Team has just started the School Spirit Awards, which celebrate the acts that display pride for being part of the school community. This includes attendance, uniform, homework, the Premier League and pride in their class environment. Additionally, Pastoral Care Teachers are introducing our students to the concept of GEM and we are placing a particular focus on empathy and emotional literacy.

Year 9:

With how busy the return to school has been, it is my pleasure in saying that students have returned to school willing to learn and following the routines that they haven't been able to implement due to COVID over the past two years. The Year 9s have entered this year in full force, with the students partaking in the PC program, Trinity and various events. Some of the highlights of Term 1 included:

• Empowerment Days: Where the students were split up and led creative discussions about gender stereotypes.
• City Experience: Students enjoyed a day out in the City exploring what Melbourne has to offer.
• Project Rockit: Focusing on Bullying and how to stop it.
• Art of Defence: A self-defence session about how to physically defend yourself.

This Term brings its own experiences, with students learning about careers (as they are formulating their own resume and participating in a mock interview) and Exams from June 14th-20th. Students are encouraged to begin studying and revising on what they have learnt in each of their subjects. Students will be exposed to various methods of studying and taught the importance of sleep and healthy eating habits to support their studying within Pastoral Care.

Lastly, the Year 9s participate in Community Homeroom every Thursday, where individual students are nominated by teachers for their achievements based on their Character Strengths. Recently, the S.T.A.R Award has also been launched, with students competing in their homerooms to win points based on their demonstration of 'Strength, Trust, Authenticity and Resilience'.  Through this award, students are given the opportunity to be rewarded for the positive behaviours they show each day such as supporting others, contributing to class discussions and upholding the values that CRC students are known for. Overall, the students have many things to look forward to, but it is a chance to celebrate everything they have achieved in such a short time so far.

We have started a Parent Helper Registry for families who would like to volunteer their time at the school.  At this stage we are collecting interest from families who would like to help in the school garden, the college canteen and assisted reading program. 

School Garden - all aspects of gardening.

Canteen - Weekdays, 10.30am - 1.30pm. Help to prepare and serve food.

Reading Program - Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10.45am - 11.10am - listening to Year 7s read.

Please note that all parent helpers must provide proof that they are triple vaccinated and also have a Working With Children (WWCC).

Register your interest here, or contact Laura Cioccia for more information: lcioccia@crcstalbans.com.au

Thank you to all of our wonderful mothers, aunties, grandmothers, sisters, friends and carers who joined us for our Mother's Day Breakfast. 

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

Have you ever wondered, what if?  What if I had finished school and gone to university. What if I had a different job.  What if I lived in another city and met other people.

Somewhere out beyond the edge of the universe there is a library that contains an infinite number of books, each one the story of another reality. One tells the story of your life as it is, along with another book for the other life you could have lived if you had made a different choice at any point in your life. While we all wonder how our lives might have been, what if you had the chance to go to the library and see for yourself? Would any of these other lives truly be better? Nora Seed finds herself faced with this decision. Faced with the possibility of changing her life for a new one, following a different career, undoing old breakups, realizing her dreams of becoming a glaciologist; she must search within herself as she travels through the Midnight Library to decide what is truly fulfilling in life, and what makes it worth living in the first place.