Weekly Reflection

Last week Pope Francis spoke to some 200 participants in a conference promoted by the pastoral ministry of the Italian Episcopal Conference for emigrants, immigrants and migrants.

The conference in Rome discussed the theme, Italians in Europe and the Christian mission. Much of what he spoke about is very relevant to us in Australia, a nation that traditionally has opened its arms to migrants, but which in recent years appears to have hardened its heart to those wishing to reach out to us for refuge.

The Pope said, “immigrants, if they are helped to integrate, are a blessing, a source of enrichment and new gift that encourages a society to grow”.

He reiterated the four steps of welcoming, accompanying, promoting and integrating migrants.

The Pope said that migrants are also a blessing for Europe and its Churches. “If integrated, migrants can help breathe the air of a diversity that regenerates unity; they can nourish the face of catholicity; they can testify to the apostolicity of the Church; they can generate stories of holiness.”

As a case in point, he referred to Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, who in 1946 became the first United States citizen to be canonised by the Church. The Italian-born nun founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to care for her fellow Italian immigrants in the US.

Pope Francis said, “We often see migrants only as ‘other’ from us, as strangers, when in reality migrants are a significant part of ‘us’, people close to us - our families, our young students, graduates, unemployed, our entrepreneurs".

A Prayer to Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini

Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, woman of God, disciple of Christ, you offered the people you met the gifts of life and love by responding to their physical, emotional and spiritual needs in practical and creative ways.

Inspired by your confidence in God and your compassion, love and sense of justice, we ask you to accompany us as we work to respond to the urgent needs of our sisters and brothers fleeing their home countries in search of refuge and peace.

Teach us. Pray for us. 

Amen.

Shaun Coates

Director of Catholic Identity

From the Principal

Pictured from left at last week's Cobblebank Campus Groundbreaking Ceremony: 2022 Liturgy Captain Aydan Dear, Melton Councillor Bob Turner, State Member for Melton Steve McGhie, Fr Michael Moody, Fr Fabian Smith, Principal Marlene Jorgensen, and 2022 College Captains Lucy Taylor and Nathan Furtado.


Cobblebank Campus Groundbreaking Ceremony

Catholic secondary education for families in Melbourne’s outer west began back in 1980 when CRC Melton was first opened. Since that time, the movement of families into the area has grown exponentially. This has resulted in increasing pressure on enrolments at our current campus.

Therefore, it was with great pleasure that last Wednesday 10 November, we celebrated the first breaking of ground for our new campus at Cobblebank.

Achieving this important milestone took the considerable foresight of many contributors, combined with years of discussion and planning. The efforts of others who have gone before us will ensure quality Catholic education is available to the fast-growing population in Melton South.

The work has involved collaboration among many stakeholders - the Catholic Education Office, now Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools, had the foresight to purchase suitable land. The State Government has continued its support of Catholic education through its grants program. The CRC Federation schools, together with parish priests, were foundational in developing the Education Brief and the Masterplan for this Cobblebank campus.

Cobblebank campus will provide the same holistic education offered at CRC for the past 41 years.

Our programs and practices focus on academic achievement and developing a child’s spiritual, physical and emotional wellbeing to ensure that all who leave our gates are well equipped to face the future with confidence and compassion. Our graduates are future leaders who will become global citizens who have the courage to make a significant difference in our world.

An education that develops our young people so they become successful lifelong learners, confident and creative individuals and active informed citizens.

These are goals of the Melbourne Declaration, which we are committed to achieving for all our young people.

The next few years will be exciting ones and I feel confident that under the leadership of Ms Kerrie-Ann Matthews, as Deputy Principal Head of Campus, this new educational facility will thrive and become yet another example of outstanding Catholic education in the western suburbs.

The state-of-the-art facility that we commenced on Wednesday will ensure that we as a community provide our students with an education that promotes equity and excellence for all.

Our Groundbreaking Ceremony also featured in today's Melton and Moorabool Star Weekly  newspaper. 

Click here to read the story on Page 13.

COVID-19 update

Thank you to all families who have kept unwell students at home. Your contribution to keeping our community safe and healthy is greatly appreciated.

To date, the College has only had one positive student attend on-site in a Year 9 class and one case during lockdown. Both incidents have now been resolved.

The most important strategy for keeping our community safe requires parents and guardians to notify the College immediately if a student tests positive to COVID-19. We will undertake contact tracing and ensure all those affected have clear information regarding isolation and returning to school.

Requirements for isolation vary with each scenario. It depends on vaccination status, length of exposure and notification of a positive result. 

I thank you for your continued support as we work to keep our staff and students safe for the remainder of Term 4. 

Marlene Jorgensen

Principal

Looking Ahead

Dates to remember
Wednesday 17 NovemberYear 11 and 12 VCE 2022 Jump Start begins
Friday 19 NovemberStudent Free Day and Staff Planning Day
Monday 22 NovemberJump Start begins for Year 8, 9, 10, VCAL and Vincit 2022
Friday 26 NovemberFinal day for Year 10 and 11 2021 students
Friday 3 DecemberFinal day for Year 7-9 2021 students
Tuesday 7 DecemberYear 7 2022 Orientation Day


News from Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools

Attached is a letter from the Archbishop of Melbourne, Most Rev Peter A Comensoli, regarding the proposed Equal Opportunity (Religious Exceptions) Amendment Bill 2021 and accompanying fact sheet.

Archbishop Peter’s letter and the fact sheet outline the Archdiocese of Melbourne’s position on the changes to the Equal Opportunity Act.

Letter from the Archbishop of Melbourne, Most Rev Peter A Comensoli

Equal Opportunity Laws and Religious Freedom Fact Sheet

Important PAM Information

When our Jump Start program begins on 22 November, students will use their 2022 timetable.

As a result, from this date, the College will officially commence Semester 1, 2022.

This change will affect how you view information in PAM relating to your child’s 2021 Semester 2 results.

Follow this link for instructions on how to access your child's 2021 results from 22 November.

From the Deputy Principal Student Wellbeing

This year, we are pleased to offer a Jump Start program for all year levels, giving students the opportunity to meet their new coordinators, teachers, and classmates and learn more about what to expect in 2022.

In preparation for the program, I’d like to introduce our new Year Level Coordinators for 2022.

2022 Year Level Coordinators (above, from left) Emma van Wees, Brad Ryan, Kath Jones, Lauren Whitford, David Arthurson (and below from left) Jordan Reithofer, Rebecca Toms, Meryem McLeod and Rebecca Cassar..

Year 7: Emma van Wees and Brad Ryan

Year 8: Kath Jones and Nathan Hunter-Gerber

Year 9: Lauren Whitford and Dave Arthurson

Year 10: Rebecca Toms and Jordan Reithofer

Year 11: Meryem McLeod

Year 12: Rebecca Cassar

Cheryl Bullen

Deputy Principal Student Wellbeing - Melton Campus

From the Careers Office

Parents and guardians of students in secondary school with disabilities, neurodiversity, and mental health issues are invited to a series of free workshops to help their teenagers make career transition decisions.

PACTS is a series of workshops and resources developed to provide parents with up-to-date information about career coaching, pathways and job hunting.

The sessions will be held online on 17 and 24 November and 1 December from 4.30pm to 6.30pm.

Follow this link to book your place. https://bit.ly/3BIhM0K

Students Achieve Language Qualifications

Congratulations to the following Year 10 students who have been awarded the nationally recognised certificates in Italian and Indonesian. Thanks also to their teachers Louise Crocitti and Tony Gavran who skillfully taught the students and prepared them for their assessments.

Well done on your exceptional efforts in completing this innovative course over two years online and on-site.
Claudia Russo

Languages Domain Leader

Master Art Classes Wrap Up for 2021

Disclaimer: Masks were only removed for photo purposes.

The final Master Art Class for 2021 was held yesterday with students finishing two art works and learning about their craft along the way.

The class started with more than 20 students at the beginning of the year. We had to stop and start because of ongoing lockdowns but a small group (pictured above) were so keen that they came along to the art studio every lunchtime as soon as we were back on-site. They worked very hard and came along to the final two after school classes to complete their work.

The students completed two paintings - one was a guided step-by-step sunset and the other a landscape of their choice using oil paint on canvas, which is a very hard medium to learn and use. I am very proud of Sneha, Samantha and Alek, Lucy and Elesha and their work is terrific. They are to be commended on their exceptional work ethic and positive attitude towards the visual arts.

Kath Jones

Catherine House Leader

CRC Melton Wishing Tree Appeal


Emma van Wees

Social Justice Coordinator

Elevate Education Webinars


Elevate Education’s final parent webinar for Term 4, 2021 will be held on Wednesday 24 November on the topic of exam room skills.

Elevate works with our students, delivering high impact workshops on study skills, motivation, wellbeing, and exam preparation. By tuning into their webinar series, you will learn how to support your children and reinforce the skills they learn at school.

Registration for the parent webinar is essential and free for parents and guardians of CRC Melton.

You can register by clicking here.

The webinar will run online from 7pm to 8pm. Elevate’s presenters will share key research and skills and conduct a live question and answer session.

Should you have questions or would like to contact Elevate directly, their details are listed below.

Elevate Education

Phone: 1300 667 945

Email: auscoaching@elevateeducation.com

Website: https://au.elevateeducation.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElevateEd/

Community Notices

Retirement celebration


St Anthony's Parish Youth program

Useful Links

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Bulmans Road Upgrade

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