Lord God,
you sent your Son into the world,
and before his hour had come,
he washed his disciples’ feet.
You had given all things into his hands.
He had come from you, and was going to you,
and what did he do?
He knelt down on the floor,
and washed his friends’ feet.
He was their teacher and their Lord,
yet he washed their feet.
Lord God, help us learn from his example;
help us to do as he has done for us.
The world will know we are his disciples
if we love one another.
Strengthen our hands and our wills for love
and for service.
Keep before our eyes the image of your Son,
who, being God, became a Servant for our sake.
All glory be to him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
One God, now and forever.
Amen.

Rachel Marie Stone        

As I write we are in the midst of Holy Week and we are also preparing for the Easter Holidays. Interestingly, the word ‘holiday’ comes from the idea of a ‘Holy Day’; a day off work to give time to holy things. With the media and business spruiking chocolate eggs, hot cross buns, mega sales and blockbuster football games, it can be easy to forget that Easter is about so much more than chocolate.

Easter is a time to remember that despite the hardships and obstacles of life, God never abandons us. In Jesus’ death and resurrection, we witness unconditional and selfless love, and the power of infinite love over evil. Easter calls us to love others as Jesus loves us, and through our love and service to bring hope, light, joy and renewal to our world.

I encourage all families to join with their parish communities in the ceremonies of Holy Week; particularly Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. We’ve included the schedule for Holy Week ceremonies in our parishes in the ‘Faith Matters’ section of the newsletter.

May the blessings of Holy Week and the joys of Easter be with you over the coming days and weeks. May the hope and joy of Easter fill your hearts and lives as we celebrate with family and friends.

Thank You

As this newsletter marks the end of Term 1, I’d like to thank students, staff and families for all you’ve contributed to our school community in Term 1. It has been a really good term and we have much to celebrate. Many thanks for everything.

The holidays bring the opportunity for rest, recreation and time with family and friends. Enjoy. I look forward to your return after Easter, refreshed and raring to go.

Enhancing Catholic School Identity (ECSI) surveys

Thank you to all the families who have completed the survey. MACS has extended the deadline for completion to Friday 5^th May, 2023.

Information for accessing the survey can be found by following the attached link. 

ecsi-survey

We still have a number of surveys to go to reach the target of 60 responses from parents / guardians. If you can help, that would be very much appreciated.

Congratulations

Thank you and congratulations to our College Swim team who competed in the SACCSS Interschool Swimming earlier this week. This small squad achieved some really good results. We are very proud of the commitment, sportsmanship and team spirit shown by all involved.

On behalf of the swim team, I’d like to thank Mr Boudaher, Ms Jurcec and Mr Fernando for all their work with the team in the lead up to the carnival and for accompanying the team on the day.

Student Parent Teacher interviews

Thank you to all the families who made the time to meet with teachers last night and today. We hope that students found this opportunity for reflection and feedback, both affirming of the progress they are making and helpful in setting the direction for Term 2.

Day 1 Term 2

Staff return on Monday 24 April but this will be a Professional Practice Day.

The first day of classes for students will be Wednesday 26 April 2023 as the Tuesday is ANZAC day.

This will be Day 3 of the College Timetable.

Last Tuesday Year 7 students were involved in a personal and spiritual reflection day. The theme for the day was ‘What it means to be People of Peace’. Students worked in small groups and the day concluded with a liturgy where each student was presented with a CRC St Albans Peace Badge. I would like to thank both students and staff for their contribution to the day.

Students were asked what they enjoyed about the reflection day. Here are some of their responses:

What worked well is that everybody in my group contributed and I was able to talk too.

What worked well was our teamwork with each other and cooperating to make peace.

It was reflective and I was able to share my thoughts.

Throughout the day I could connect to God through prayer.

Getting to have some peaceful time and walking in the olive grove.

Social Justice Teams Caritas Fundraising

On Wednesday the Social Justice Team ran their final Caritas fundraiser. The team has met their goal of raising over $1000 for Caritas.

At Catholic Regional College we recognise that learning an additional language is an invaluable asset in an increasingly multicultural society. In particular we aim to help students understanding that learning languages has a multitude of benefits, such as:

- Building an intercultural understanding
- Improving your memory and ability to multi-task
- Developing an appreciation for other cultures
- Help you in the future if you go travelling
- Improving your English Language skills by explicitly focussing on vocabulary building and grammar techniques.

During the Year 7 Term 1 Assembly on 30th March we acknowledged the incredible efforts of all students in learning an additional language at school. We know that this is not an easy thing to do and for some students Chinese or Italian is their third, fourth or maybe even fifth language that they are learning. In the assembly we acknowledged five students across the Year 7 homerooms who have demonstrated a love for language learning.

Congratulations to the following students:
 Maryam Salman (7 Avoca)
 Abuk Dimo (7 Kiewa)
 Riva Pataq (7 Snowy)
 Norman Tuuga (7 Wimmera)
 Aleesa Xiriha (7 Yarra)

We hope that you continue to bring your enthusiasm and passion to every language class.

Mr Zarosinski and the Languages Faculty.

HOW CAN YOU MAKE THE BEST OF YOUR HOLIDAYS?

Holidays are a great time for high school students to recharge, relax, and engage in activities that they enjoy. But it can be easy to get caught up in doing nothing or wasting time on activities that don’t add value (like watching Netflix all day). It’s essential to use your holidays wisely to set yourself up for success in the upcoming term. Here are three things high school students can do to make the most of their holidays…

Pursue a passion project 

One of the best ways to make the most of your holidays is to pursue a passion project. It could be anything that you’re interested in, like learning a new language, playing an instrument, coding, or cooking. Not only will this keep you engaged, but it can also add a new skill to your resume.

Read a lot 

Reading is an excellent way to improve your language and comprehension skills, broaden your horizons, and enhance your imagination. You could read books on any topic you find fascinating, like biographies, fiction, or non-fiction. Additionally, reading academic articles in subjects you’ll study next term could help prepare you for class ahead of time.

Get ahead in your studies

You don’t have to wait until school starts to begin studying for next semester. You could get ahead by revising what you learned this term, learning new concepts that you’ll encounter in the upcoming term, and going over feedback on assignments and homework. Doing so will help you stay on top of your studies and be prepared for what’s coming next.

WHAT’S COMING UP ….

 

Year 10 Transition Information

 

Year 10 Morrisby Profiles

 

All year 10 students have now signed up to a Morrisby account. Half of the testing has now been completed at school. Students are required to complete the remaining tests and questionnaires at home prior to their return in term 2.

 

The Morrisby profiles will assist the career counsellors and pastoral care teachers to work with students in term 2 to explore student strengths and interests, career pathway options, develop career action plans and put together a draft course plan for year 11.

 

Year 11 2024 Enrolment @ CRC Sydenham

 

Enrolment for CRC Sydenham is currently open and this is the first step in the transition process for our year 10 students and families. All year 10 students have now received an enrolment form from their PC teacher. Families are encouraged to complete the enrolment form as soon as possible and hand this in to the main office at CRC Sydenham to complete the enrolment process for 2024.

 

Alternatively, enrolment forms can be completed online using the following link:

https://crcs.vic.edu.au/join-our-community/apply-now/

 

Year 11 Compulsory Academic Testing @ CRC Sydenham

 

• Date: SATURDAY 29 APRIL
• Venue: Catholic Regional College Sydenham
• Seat Number: Provided on the day.
• Time: 8.30am until 12.30pm (Please ensure that students are picked up promptly at 12.30pm)
• Bring: Black or blue pen and a scientific calculator but not a CAS calculator. A snack and drink is required for recess.
• Uniform: Full College uniform, as per their current College of enrolment, must be worn on this day.

 

Academic_Testing_Letter_2023_1_.pdf

Academic_Testing_Letter_2023_1 pdf 275.67 KB

CONVERSATION STARTER

How do you spend your time each week? As a student’s priorities and schedules change with more extra-curricular activities, part time work, or family commitments, the need to manage the increased workload becomes more important. Finding a balance between doing the things we want to do and the things we need to do is key for a successful and fulfilling life.

Over the next two weeks we encourage families to find a time and space to ponder the following question :

CAREER SPOTLIGHT

Do you love the outdoors, and want a career that will see you building and maintaining beautiful green spaces?

You might like to consider a career as a landscaper – and one of the best ways to get your foot in the door is by completing an apprenticeship.

As part of a landscaping apprenticeship, you will be doing real work for an employer while completing study with a TAFE or RTO. A landscaping apprenticeship can take anywhere between 3-4 years to complete, depending on whether you work and study full or part-time.

There are tons of benefits to an apprenticeship, rather than just work or study alone, including:

• Getting paid while you learn.
• The opportunity to get hands-on experience.
• The potential to connect with an employer and continue working with them after your apprenticeship is finished.
• Your qualification will be nationally recognised, meaning you can work anywhere with it.

For a career related to horticulture, watch the videos below and find out more:

BECOME A GARDENER:

BECOME AN URBAN PLANNER:

BECOME A PARK RANGER:

Wellbeing for Learning

Pastoral Care Program

Catholic Regional College Pastoral Care program provides a sequenced curriculum from years 7 to 10 using a multimodal approach designed to develop the achievement and wellbeing of the whole person (spiritually, intellectually, morally, physically, socially and emotionally).

Our Pastoral Care program centres around the social-emotional learning (SEL) model, a school-based organisational framework through which students learn to become lifelong learners who recognise, reflect and manage their emotions and empathise with others.

Our Pastoral Care program fosters the development of positive relationships. It provides opportunities for students to grow from challenging experiences to contribute positively to their community and flourish as responsible global citizens.

Term 2 Concepts and Themes

Year 7 – Building Community: Sharing

Year 8 – Respectful Relationships and Teamwork

Year 9 – Courage – Bravery

Year 10 – Careers and Pathways

Active April

Movement can bring amazing benefits to our minds and bodies. So please see the Active April Calendar attached to encourage you to get active in whatever works for you.

As the Dalai Lama once said: "Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions”.

So let's get active this month. Remember, when we take care of ourselves, we're better placed to care for others around us too.

Weekly Wellbeing Pulse Checks

We hold the care, safety and wellbeing of young people as a central and fundamental responsibility of our school. We, as a college, are fully committed to the safety and wellbeing of all students, and we understand that every student has the right to feel safe. We strive to do this by ensuring that all staff are able to proactively ensure the safety of students at all times. Therefore, we have introduced our Weekly Wellbeing Pulse Checks for our Year 7 and 10 students, to check in with the mental, social and physical wellbeing.

Weekly Wellbeing Pulse Checks makes it safe and easy for students to ask for help. Teachers get a clearer understanding of how individual students are feeling so they know who needs their help most. It provides deep insight into wellbeing and sentiment data to improve the whole school experience.

For further information, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s Year Level Leader or Mr. Dale Marshall (Wellbeing for Learning Leader).

Extracurricular Activities at CRC St Albans

Participating in extracurricular activities in Secondary Schools is important for students to grow both academically and personally. These activities offer students the opportunity to develop a range of skills, including leadership, teamwork, time management, and communication, which are essential for success in the future.

Extracurricular activities also provide students with a sense of belonging and the chance to pursue their passions and interests outside of the classroom. These experiences can lead to meaningful relationships, new perspectives, and opportunities for personal growth. Extracurricular activities are a central aspect of CRC St Albans that provides students with a well-rounded experience, helping them to develop their full potential and achieve their goals.

We have a vast range of activities for students to participate in during lunch-time or after-school. If you would like further information, please do not hesitate to speak to the supervising teacher identified below or check our daily bulletin for further information.

Emergency and Mental Health Support Information and contact phone numbers

If you require any assistance over the school holidays while the school is unattended please contact:

• 000 Emergency Assistance

Emergency Police, Fire, Ambulance Ph:000

• Kids Helpline

Phone: 1800551800, https://kidshelpline.com.au/Free 24 hour/7 days a week advice and support for children and young people 5-25 years old.

• Parent Helpline

Phone: 1300 301 300 https://parentline.com.au/Free 24 hour/7 days a week advice and support for parents, guardians and carers.

• Lifeline

Phone:13 4357 https://www.lifeline.org.au/Free 24 hour/7 days a week crisis support and suicide prevention.

• Beyond Blue

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/ Ph: 1300 22 4636 Free mental health support and assistance for depression and anxiety.

• Suicide Call Back Service

www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au Ph: 1300 659 467

• Head to Help - headtohelp.org.au Ph 1800 595 212
• Your local doctor or medical centre.

Cyber Safety Awareness Night

Through our community conversations, one of the common concerns was the amount of time young people spending online. As the online world continues to change and provide positive opportunities, it can also be difficult space for families and young people to navigate. As a College we acknowledge the importance of families and the community working together to support the digital wellbeing for our young people.

On Wednesday 10^th May at 6:45 pm the College will be hosting a Cyber Safety Awareness Night and the night will address the following:

• Plan, Prevent and Protect
• Safety on the Socials
• Gaming and your Family
• Digital Balance and Wellbeing.

Further information and details will be sent out early next term to ensure families can plan to attend.

Synopsis: Jolene is an energetic teenager who loves to get involved in everyone’s business until one day, the teachers and students of Regional High take matters into their own hands. Let’s just say; school camp (at Camp Theodore) doesn’t always go the way it is expected to. Nightmare on Theodore Street is a Comedy/Horror musical with many twists and turns; join us if you dare.

We thank Serghei for sharing his time, knowledge, expertise and experience with our Year 10 classes. We are inspired by how he has adapted to the lifestyle in Australia, his ability to balance his profession and passion and his immense commitment to training and coaching.

- EAL Team