Federation Mass

Last Friday Bishop Mark Edwards led the celebration of the Mass for the 40th Anniversary of CRC St Albans.

St Albans was the first of the CRC Campuses, being established in 1978.

Some 450 staff from North Keilor, Sydenham, Melton and Caroline Springs attended the Mass.

Special guests in attendance included Fr John O’Rielly, Mrs Bev Kennedy, Father Fabian, former Principals Paul Daffey, Sister Sylvia Williams, Brian O’Loughlin and Bernard Dobson.

Stations of the Cross

On Monday, our artists in residence installed the new images of the Stations of the Cross which enhances our Catholic identity on Bulmans Road. Along with the Stations of the Cross at the front, the side panels represent The Road to Calvary and the cleansing properties of holy water.

Chris Sage and Regina Byrne worked in their studio at Malmsbury to design the 15 Stations and the two side panels that were then laser cut and powder coated. The installation will be a valuable learning resource during Religious Education classes.

Resilience Project – Parent workshop

The Resilience Project delivers emotionally engaging programs to schools, providing evidence-based, practical strategies to build resilience and happiness. The Resilience Project has delivered programs to over 500 schools around the country, through presentations, wellbeing journals, school curriculum, teacher diaries and the TRP app. The Resilience Project seeks to help all Australians become mentally healthy through the values of Gratitude, Empathy, Emotional Literacy and Mindfulness.

Recently all students were invited to complete the Resilient Youth Survey as part of our commitment and engagement of the Resilience Project team this year. The results will be presented to the staff later this term. As part of our involvement the team will present student workshops early next term and a parent workshop on 25th June.

The parent workshop will deliver a presentation that provides practical strategies to help you build their son/daughters resilience. An invitation will be sent out this week through CareMonkey. The 1 ½ hour workshop begins at 7:00pm and will be presented in the Performing Arts Centre.

Find out more information on their website https://theresilienceproject.com.au/schools/ and the science and research that sits behind the four principles that they teach in their programs https://theresilienceproject.com.au/resources-references/.

Semester 2 Subject / Electives Changes

All Year 9 and 10 students will receive copies of their Semester 2 electives this week. After reviewing with parents, request for changes to Semester 2 electives must be emailed directly to myself at jchristie@sfcc.vic.edu.au between Monday, 28th May and Friday, 8th June. In the email, students need to nominate the electives they wish to change from and change to, along with a reason. I will then email students times to follow up on requests. Note that all changes are subject to blocking clashes, class sizes and selection requirements.

Year 11 students will be able to investigate Unit 2 subject changes from Tuesday, 12th June. Students must first talk to their subject teacher before requesting a time to meet with Mrs Dickson, Pathways Coordinator. Once a pathway plan has been approved, students can complete a 'Change of Subject' form. All changes must be applied for and processed by Thursday, 28th June.

VCE Unit 3 / Year 12 VCAL Parent-Student-Teacher Interviews

A Parent-Student-Teacher Interview evening will be held on Thursday, 7th June between 4.00pm to 7.00pm for VCE Unit 3 & Year 12 VCAL students. These Interviews will be booked through our Parent Access Module (PAM)which will open on Thursday, 31st May. Normal classes will operate during the day.

It is expected that students attend interviews with their parents/guardians.

Mid Year Exams & Timed Assessment Tasks

Last week we published the College’s formal assessment schedule that will operate across Years 7 – 11. Below is a reminder of the first of these. Year 9 – 11 Exams begin on Thursday, 14th June.

Year 9

Year 9 students will undertake assessment tasks beginning Tuesday, 14th June. Elective assessments (TATs) will take place in normally scheduled class times. Exams in Mathematics, English, Science and Humanities will take place in the Osma Centre on the following dates.

Year 10 & 11 Exams

Year 11 students will undertake VCE Unit 1 exams from Thursday, 14th June to Friday, 22nd June. Year 10 students will also have exams during this time.

• All Year 10 & 11 exams will take place in our Padua exam centre
• Students are only required at school when they have exams
• Supervised study rooms will operate for students who need or wish to be at school during non-exam periods
• Students will be expected to wear full college uniform when present for exams
• Students need to be at the College at least 15 minutes before the published starting times to ensure smooth entry into the exam venues
• Friday, 22nd June is allocated as a catch up day for any students who need to complete a missed exam or not completed subject outcome

Years 11 & 12 - VCAA General Achievement Task (GAT)

All Year 12 VCE Students and any Year 11 students undertaking a Unit 3/4 study must sit the GAT on Wednesday, 13th June as below:

Year 10 VINCIT and Year 11 & 12 VCAL students will follow their normal programs during the exam period.

Queens Birthday

Monday, 11th June is the Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday.

VCE Semester 2

Unit 2 and Unit 4 Studies begin on Monday, 18th June.

Throughout Reconciliation Week, CRC Melton staff and students had the opportunity to learn more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and acknowledge Reconciliation Week, which is celebrated all around Australia between 27th May to 3rd June.

This year during National Reconciliation Week, Australians were invited to learn more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories, to share that knowledge, with the aim of helping us grow as a Nation.

This year’s theme was “Don’t Keep History A Mystery: Learn. Share. Grow” which explores history hidden just beneath the surface, ready and waiting to be uncovered.

At CRC Melton students and staff participated in morning reflection and were encouraged to engage in conversation whilst wearing ribbons in the colour of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags which were distributed by students over the lunch break. Students could also participate in a daily quiz related to significant events that fall within this week. Staff were privileged to a student performance of the song “Took the children away' by Briannah Mungcal.

The students in the picture proudly wear the colours of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags.

We look forward to NAIDOC week which will be celebrated at the college during the first week of Term 3.

Daniela Harrington

Humanities Domain Leader

On Thursday 31st of May Year 9-12 Italian students attended the Dante Alighieri Poetry Competition at Melbourne University.

Each student chose and learnt a poem off by heart, reciting it in front of an examiner on the day. The lucky Year 12 students had the privilege of meeting John Lando, the author of their poem ‘Purificazione’ following their recitation. He was both flattered and proud to not only meet dedicated Year 12 students, but ones who had chosen his poem to recite.

Following the visit to Melbourne University, students explored ‘Little Italy’ and the treasures of Lygon Street, attending the Italian Immigration Museum at CO.AS.IT and taking in the many cultural aspects of the Italian heritage in Lygon Street. Students enjoyed emerging themselves in a traditional Italian lunch of their choice to top off the amazing experience and as a well-earned reward.

A big thank you to Mrs. Russo for organising a wonderful excursion, and to Mrs. Alfonsi and Ms. Crocitti for all their support. We look forward to receiving the results of the competition that will be announced early term 3. Congratulations to all students that participated.

Ethan Trethowan & Dylan Hassan

LOTE Students

The College is planning to take a small group of Year 10 - 12 students to the Ignite Catholic Youth Conference, for young people from all over Australia during 27th September – 1st October 2018 (middle of the September school holidays).

More information is available at https://igniteyouth.com/conference18/.

If you are interested in your child attending, please email me at sanastasia@sfcc.vic.edu.au or contact the College office on 8099 6000.

An Information Evening will be held in the College Library on Thursday 21st June at 7:00pm.

Sister Anastasia

Religious Education Teacher

Winter sleep out and appeal 2018

Did you know that there are approximately 300 people that are homeless on any given night in Melton?

“Are you ready to step up?”

On Friday 10th August we are hosting our very own Winter Sleep Out at school. Our aim for the night is to raise awareness and some vital funds to help those experiencing homelessness in and around our community. A school sleep out also gives students the opportunity to understand the realities of homelessness by sleeping “rough” for one night.

During the night we will hear from some guest speakers, discuss the issues around homelessness and share a small meal together before setting up our “bed” for the night in the hall. Several staff will be in attendance and appropriate security measures will be put in place to ensure that our night is a success.

Participants in the event are asked to raise between $75 –$100.00 through sponsorship. The money raised will be passed onto St. Vincent De Paul and Hope St. Melton who provide many valuable services for the homeless in Melton and the surrounding areas.

Students wishing to take part are able to obtain the necessary forms from the student office. They should be returned as soon as possible to the office or to Ms. Rowe-Watts. If you have any concerns please email me at mrowe-watts@sfcc.vic.edu.au

Winter coats and blankets are urgently needed.

Each year Vinnie’s feeds and houses thousands of families doing it tough through winter. They urgently need good quality winter clothing particularly Coats, blankets, sleeping bags, hats, gloves and scarves.

We will make sure these get given out to those that need them.

Marg Rowe-Watts

Social Justice Coordinator