Weekly Reflection

Our Australian summer will soon draw to a close. Summer offers longer hours to spend outside and take part in important recreational opportunities. We can picnic, take walks, play sport or sit quietly in a park under a shady tree or by a little creek. As summer draws to a close we can spend a moment or two being thankful for the Simple Gifts this season offers.

Simple Gifts

by Bruce Prewer

The smell of the bush after some rain,
the desert in flower on a red plain,
the coming of sleep after much pain;
For gifts simple and profound,
we thank you, loving Friend.

The sound of waves along the shore,
the children’s laugher as they explore,
the promise of love for evermore:
For gifts simple and profound,
we thank you, loving Friend.

The sight of black swans on a calm lake,
the taste of summer in a fruit cake,
travelling by faith after a mistake:
For gifts simple and profound,
we thank you, loving Friend.

The scent of green grass from the cut lawn,
the pure-white blossom on a rough thorn,
the return of hope with a new dawn:
For gifts simple and profound,
we thank you, loving Friend.

The fragrance of bread just freshly made,
the brimming cup sipped in the shade,
the pardon of debts never repaid:
For gifts simple and profound,
we thank you, loving Friend.

Shaun Coates

Director of Catholic Identity

From the Principal

Safety at the College

Since the College opened 42 years ago, it has invested significantly in physical resources. The result is exceptional buildings for our students and staff.

To ensure our facilities are protected and maintained, the College has upgraded its camera surveillance systems. These new cameras provide clear images and record the time and date so staff can quickly identify the small number of students vandalising our precious resources.

The College has also invested in sensors to identify students smoking or vaping on-site. Vaping has a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of students. We aim to support students to choose a healthy lifestyle that leads to improved health outcomes. These detectors will help staff identify students who are at risk.

These new systems form part of a wider program to provide a strong culture of child safety at the College. Commencing in July this year, a new set of 11 standards will replace the seven Child Safety Standards implemented at the College.

Key changes included in the new requirements are:

  • to involve families and communities in organisations’ efforts to keep children and young people safe
  • for a greater focus on safety for Aboriginal children and young people
  • to manage the risk of child abuse in online environments
  • for greater clarity on the governance, systems and processes to keep children and young people safe.

Below are the eleven new Child Safe Standards.

Victorian Government COVID-19 announcements

Last Thursday, the Victorian Government announced that existing COVIDSafe measures in schools and early childhood settings would continue until the end of Term 1.

Rapid antigen surveillance testing will continue until the end of Term 1. We expect the delivery of rapid antigen tests (RATs) for weeks five and six will start very soon, with additional RATs to be delivered in the coming weeks.

The testing settings will remain the same, with all secondary school students and staff asked to test at home twice a week.

RATs have proved an important COVIDSafe tool to help reduce the number of COVID-19 cases and ensure our schools are as safe as possible. Their use will remain voluntary for staff and students but is strongly encouraged.

Congratulations

Congratulations to Year 7 student Lemeki Malu, who received a Hume Education Scholarship.

The scholarship is part of the Hume City Council Education Scholarships program. The initiative celebrates the importance of education and lifelong learning and supports primary school students’ transition to high school.

Well done Lemeki!

Marlene Jorgensen

Principal

Looking Ahead

Dates to remember
Wednesday 23 February Parents and Friends meeting
Friday 25 FebruaryYear 7 Immunisations
Tuesday 1 MarchYear 8 camps begin
Tuesday 8 MarchCollege Swimming and Multisports carnivals
Monday 14 MarchLabour Day holiday
Monday 21 MarchYear 7 camps begin


Pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinic at CRC Melton

The College will host a pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinic in the Performing Arts Centre foyer on Thursday 3 March and Friday 4 March from 3pm to 7pm.

There will be expert clinical staff on-site to answer any questions you might have about vaccination and Dinka-speaking interpreters who can help you communicate with the medical team.

The Pfizer vaccine will be available for students and their families including parents, grandparents and younger siblings aged 5-11.

Importantly, even if you're not quite ready to be vaccinated, you are welcome to visit the clinic and talk to the medical staff who are happy to help and support you. They understand if you want more time to think about it and choose not to get vaccinated that day.

If you have any questions, please contact our Deputy Principal Operations, Staffing and Strategic Intent, Mr Michael Wilcock or Community Liaison Officer Abraham Jongroor on 8099 6000.

Click here to watch a short video in Dinka about the pop-up clinic.

From the Deputy Principal Student Wellbeing

During the first few weeks of this term, each year level has worked on embedding our Core Wellbeing Values of Community, Empathy and Endeavour within their cohort.

Students have considered how these values structure our learning and form the basis of how we work with each other at school.

Community focuses on developing a positive, inclusive, and respectful environment for every school member. Developing this core value is critical to feeling safe and respected. We encourage our students to demonstrate Community by:

  • taking an active role in groups and activities on offer at the College
  • meeting new people
  • offering assistance to peers and teachers
  • looking after our learning space.

Endeavour focuses on achieving personal goals and calls for students to strive for their best and improve in every aspect of their education. They are encouraged to push beyond their comfort zone and engage in learning activities that extend them to achieve their full potential.

Empathy focuses on respect and how we treat each member of our community, including:

  • developing polite and respectful attitudes towards each other
  • when necessary, participating in supported and guided reflective conversations to restore relationships.

Each year level has been encouraged to focus on our Core Wellbeing Values through various activities, including designing a kindness campaign, homeroom group challenges, a wall of positivity, year level assemblies and lunchtime activities.

Cheryl Bullen

Deputy Principal Student Wellbeing - Melton Campus

New Staff in 2022

The College welcomes all staff who have joined our team this year. They bring a wealth of experience to our growing College community.

New staff not pictured:

Sussan Khadem – English teacher

George Perera – Science Laboratory Technician

Stefan Subasic – English teacher

Hmangaih Tuimuk – EAL Student Support Officer

Debra Whitney – VASS Administrator

Stephanie Bertalmio – Sport and Recreation, HPE and VCAL Teacher

Arsyella Venansius – Timetabler

Parents and Friends Meeting

The first meeting of the Parents and Friends Association for 2022 will be held online tomorrow, Wednesday 23 February at 7pm.   

Parents and Friends provides an opportunity to meet other families, hear about what is going on at the College and have a say in new initiatives. Each meeting includes a short presentation from a College staff member.

To express interest in joining the meeting, please email arowley@sfcc.vic.edu.au.

Amy Rowley

Director of Community Relations

Sports Update

This week our Year 10 Premier League teams travelled to Eagle Stadium in Werribee and CRC North Keilor to compete in Round 2 of the competition. Here is a wrap up of the results:

Girls Netball: CRC Melton def Mackillop 27-7

Girls Soccer: CRC North Keilor def CRC Melton 10-0

Boys Soccer: CRC Melton def CRC North Keilor 6-0

Boys Basketball A: Mackillop def CRC Melton 69-22

Boys Basketball B: CRC Melton def Mackillop 32-27

Girls Basketball: Mackillop def CRC Melton 32-22

Girls and Boys Volleyball: CRC Melton def Mackillop 2-0

Our Senior Netball and Cricket teams played their second round against Salesian College. Both teams played well but unfortunately fell short of a win.

Ella Higgins

Sports Assistant

Youth Strategy Consultation

On Thursday 17 February, a group of students represented the College at the City of Melton’s 2022 Youth Strategy Consultation. The aim was to hear from local young people about how we can help ensure people of all abilities and ages in the community can grow and thrive throughout all life stages.

The students were asked to contribute their thoughts on what they enjoy about their local area, things they would like to see change, and anything else they hoped to see develop to ensure everyone can thrive.

Despite participating in this consultation online, it was wonderful to see our students contribute their thoughts and get involved in the activities.

We look forward to seeing how these ideas are developed and hope the students are inspired to continue contributing to the local and wider community.

Year 10 student Lucy Closter who took part in the consultation said students could relate to many of the topics raised on the day.

"The team involved in the forum discussed issues such as smoking and vaping in public areas and youth mental health. More availability of school counsellors and psychologists would greatly improve the wellbeing of students who are struggling. We agreed that these issues strongly impact students.," Lucy said

"We also considered a local news channel, newspaper or radio made especially for the young people in Melton and surrounding areas. We think this would be a great opportunity to give students a voice both within the College and the wider community."

Nirasha Pandi

Student Leadership Coordinator

Artist in Residence at CRC

Local artist Leanne Pagliaro will run a range of drawing and painting workshops for students at the College on Friday 4 March.

Leanne has exhibited at several galleries throughout Melbourne, including the Brunswick Street Gallery, Fitzroy Art Collective, Flemington Art Show, Mental Health Foundation Art Show and Whitehorse Art Show.

She has also completed commissions for clients in Melbourne, Sydney, New York, Wales, and Philadelphia. 

Students interested in learning more about soft pastels and watercolours from Leanne during her day at the College should email Miss Segrave jsegrave@sfcc.vic.edu.au by Friday 25 February.

More of Leanne's work is pictured below.

Jennifer Segrave

Art Teacher

Year 8 Food Studies

Year 8 Food Studies students have started the year by focusing on Occupational Health and Safety skills. They have looked at knife skills and how to stay safe when cutting different ingredients.

This week the students made fruit skewers with a range of summer fruits along with a toasted coconut and vanilla yoghurt dip. They are looking forward to making a range of different recipes this year.

Jessica Attard

Technology Domain Leader

Homework Club

Our Homework Club has returned for 2022, providing a quiet, supervised space for students on a Wednesday afternoon from 3.30pm to 4.30pm in the Alexandria Resource Centre.

Homework Club runs throughout the year, except in the first and last week of term. It provides students with additional access to teachers and student support officers.

Please encourage your child to look out for notices on SIMON and come along.

Belinda Brown

Alexandria Resource Centre Library Technician

Instrumental Music Lessons

The College offers a wider range of private instrumental music lessons in piano, guitar, drums, flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone and vocal tuition.

Playing a musical instrument has so many benefits. It improves your memory and mathematical ability, refines your time management and organisational skills and teaches you perseverance, to name a few.

Students who enrol in private instrumental lessons will also have an opportunity to perform at various College functions, such as school masses, liturgies, assemblies, concerts, and the wider community. The 25-minute classes are held during the school day.

For more details or to enrol in a lesson email Instrumental Music Coordinator, Daniel Askew: daskew@crcmleton.com.au

Community Notices

Community Road Safety Forum

The City of Melton will host a Community Road Safety Forum, on Thursday 31 March at the Melton Library targeting new or younger drivers aged 16 to 21 and their parent and guardians.

The forum will include guest speakers from Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria and the Road Trauma Support Services who will talk about the rules of the road, and share some life experiences about being involved in, or responding to traffic accidents.

Every young driver who attends will go in the draw to win free driving lessons and other prizes. Click below for more information or to register visit meltonlearning.com.au/events/roadsafetyforum/

Community Road Safety Forum

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