From the Principal

Friday 19 March is the Feast of St Joseph. And 2021 is the Year of St Joseph.

Having attended St Joseph’s in Chelsea for my primary education I have always had an affinity with St Joseph.

He is a wonderful role model. Joseph took the Word of God and applied it to his everyday life, he listened to God and acted with compassion and courage.

Sr Monica Cavanagh is Congregational Leader of the Sisters of St Joseph. Her letter speaks volumes about the type of person St Joseph was.

“Much has been written about Saint Joseph. This year I thought it apt to focus on the ‘creative courage’ of Joseph. Like Mary MacKillop, Joseph found himself taking fresh courage as he listened deeply to what God was asking of him.

“Joseph’s courage comes to light when we see him step outside the norms of his Religious Tradition and take the pregnant Mary into his care instead of casting her aside as the Jewish law required he should. We see it again when we find Joseph taking Mary and Jesus into the safety of Egypt as a refugee as Herod pursues the death of this new-born child. Here Joseph carried out his role as protector of Mary and Jesus. Pope Francis highlights that like Joseph everyone has been entrusted with the role of protection – protecting all of creation and showing loving concern for each person.

“We see Joseph’s creativity at play when he transforms the stable into a birthing place for Mary and when he chooses Nazareth as the home where he will bring up the Child Jesus instead of returning to the wrath of Archelaus in Judea. It was here in their home in Nazareth that Joseph and Mary taught Jesus the values that shaped Jesus’ ministry – inclusivity, respect, compassion, tenderness, courage, resilience, hospitality.

“Our world is in urgent need of Joseph’s creative courage. We have seen it in our frontline workers throughout the pandemic. We see it in people revolting against structures of government that hold people in situations of oppression, and we see it in the faces of those left homeless or unemployed through the experience of COVID-19.

“We hear it in those giving voice to realities where people are unjustly treated, as revealed in our recent Australian Aged Care Report and in the voices speaking out against the destruction of planet Earth urgently calling all to address the impact of climate change.

“Everyday we learn of the courage of parents dealing with mental health issues impacting their children lives, of employees taking stances for the good of society, of teachers managing online learning for their students, of aid workers steadfastly working with those at the fringe of society and the poorest parts of our world, and of journalists bringing to our attention people and situations where oppression occurs. Like Joseph they have let no obstacles deter them from acting with courage.”

Production rehearsals continue

Recently I was given a sneak peek at the Wildcats working out. The energy and fun are evident at our production rehearsals. Be sure to save the date - shows will be held on Friday 23 July and Saturday 24 July.

Looking Ahead

View the full College Calendar

From the Deputy Principal, Operations, Staffing and Strategic Intent

The end of the term is quickly approaching, with only a few weeks to go until Easter.

Term 1 concludes on Wednesday 31 March and students return for Term 2 on Monday 19 April.

On Tuesday 30 March and Wednesday 31 March, the College will hold its Parent, Student, Teacher Interviews (PSTIs) online.

Interviews can be booked through the Parent Portal PAM from Wednesday 24 March. Term 1 reports will also be available on this day.

Parents and guardians will be emailed instructions on how to book interviews with their child’s teachers. Interviews can be booked from 4.30pm on both days.

We will use Teams to facilitate the interviews, so there is no need for families to come to the College on those evenings. The online interviews worked well last year and will continue in 2021.

From the Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching

There was a great atmosphere of collaboration as teachers began Collaborative Curriculum Planning (CCP) sessions last week to review lessons, reflect on progress and make adjustments for the semester.

Teachers will meet regularly to reflect on the design and delivery of their lessons, ensuring that writing and numeracy are targeted at each year level and that their teaching strategies cater to students’ varying needs.

As a College we are committed to providing all students with an opportunity to reach their full potential. Our School Improvement Framework (SIF) is focused on achieving 12 months of growth for 12 months of learning for all students.

Another strategy we are using to ensure students achieve 12 months of growth for 12 months of learning is our Tutor Program. Selected students are working with tutors to:

• help unpack the lesson tasks
• understand what is required within the lesson
• receive support with decoding to understand the literacy required
• read for sense incorporating glossary terms
• receive support with basic numeracy skills to access mathematical equations and problem-solving

Once a class begins and the teacher explains the lesson, some students are placed into small group tutoring outside the classroom for more targeted learning. Our tutors are pre-service teachers and the students benefitting from their expertise have been identified using our 2021 PAT data and 2020 teacher recommendations.

As students move through their secondary years at the College, we want them to access as many pathways as possible. Being at the standard required for their year level allows this to happen.

We ask parents to support this process if their child is part of a tutor group within an English and or Mathematics class. Students are not withdrawn from every class.

Please contact Literacy Coordinator Victoria Moore or myself at the College if you have questions about the Tutor Program.

Headspace webinar

Headspace Melton in partnership with Headspace National, will host a webinar for parents and guardians on Tuesday 30 March, to help them support their children’s mental health through COVID-19.

Full details are available here: Headspace Webinar Information. You can use the QR code below to register.

Parents and Friends Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the College Parents and Friends Association will be held on Wednesday 24 March at 7pm in the Conference room. 

At the conclusion of the AGM, Director of Catholic Identity Shaun Coates will discuss the school naming process for our College and our new campus in Cobblebank.

School Naming Process 2021

As outlined in last week’s newsletter, the addition of Cobblebank Campus to Catholic Regional College Melton will see our school separate from the Federation of Catholic Regional Colleges and take on a new name.

Continued population growth in the western suburbs has placed consistent pressure on enrolments at CRC Melton. To cater for the increasing number of families seeking a Catholic education for their children, land for a new educational facility has been purchased in nearby Cobblebank. The new campus will welcome approximately 150 Year 7 students in 2023 and grow to accommodate 1500 Year 7 to 12 students by 2028.

A consultation process to select an appropriate name for our two-campus College will begin shortly. Members of the College community, including parents and guardians, students, staff and parish priests, are invited to help formulate a shortlist to be considered by Archbishop Peter Comensoli, who will choose the name.

Guiding criteria for names

1. That there is not a school already by the same name in the College’s wider geographical area.
2. If considering the name of a Saint or title (Pope, Sacred Heart, etc.) it should readily generate a charism linked to the College’s history and be relevant in future years.
3. The name should take into account input from members of the community.
4. The process should be cognisant of the Federation of Catholic Regional College’s policy for naming buildings, awards etc.
5. The name should be worthy of support by His Grace, Archbishop Comensoli.

To begin the naming process, I invite input from parents and guardians via the next Parents and Friends Association meeting on 24 March or to me directly via email scoates@sfcc.vic.edu.au.

At the Parents and Friends meeting, the group will nominate two parents to join the CRC Melton Naming Steering Committee, which will consider all suggested names at two meetings in July and August.

The steering committee will formulate recommendations to our Principal, Marlene Jorgensen and her Leadership Team.

Technology Domain Update

Technology students are back and busy in the classroom. Students have begun the year enthusiastic, passionate and eager to get creative within their technology classes.

Year 11 Food Studies

Year 11 Food Studies students have started their year by investigating the factors that influence the emergence of different food systems, food products and food practices around the world.

The students completed an investigation task that required them to choose an ancient ingredient and prepare a modern-day recipe that showcases their selected ancient ingredient. They have begun the year showing a real dedication towards their learning.

Year 10 Food Studies

Our Year 10 Food Studies students have been putting theory into action, whipping up eggs benedict. They made the hollandaise sauce from scratch, poached eggs to their liking and topped with fillings of their choice.

Students have shown real skill this year, also successfully producing a passionfruit soufflé. Some students got creative and made their dish with a lemon flavour.

Year 9 Food Studies

Our Year 9 students used the microwave to cook a delicious butter chicken. The students gave great feedback on the practical task. If your child is doing Year 9 food Studies, why not ask them to cook this for dinner one night? - Jessica Mazur, Food Studies teacher

Design and Technology Wood

The Design and Technology Wood course aims to teach independence and problem-solving skills and develop confidence in the safe use of tools and equipment.

Our Year 7 students’ creativity and enthusiasm in Design and Technology has been a joy. Using a product design process, they made identification tags out of plastic, safely using the portable drill. Their use of colour and shape has been inspiring.

Students are now working on an open wooden container. Each product is unique and the function varies. Some students want it to hold kitchen utensils or tools found in the shed, while others have made smaller containers to hold makeup brushes.

Our Year 9 students are making attractive small containers with lids that feature beautiful Australian timbers such as Jarrah and Victorian Ash.

Year 10 students have spent three weeks drawing and designing a small piece of furniture and are now excited to produce it. - Robin Panousieris, Product Design & Technology (Wood) teacher.

Humanities Update

It is hard to believe we have already completed six weeks of the school year in 2021. It only feels like yesterday that we farewelled each other at the end of 2020.

As a Domain, we never underestimate the importance of the Social Sciences in children’s education and the capacity to explore the relationship we as individuals have with the society in which we live.

Along with CRC’s broad areas of focus, Humanities teachers have been considering ways to teach students using techniques that suit an individual student’s learning style.

I am sure you can appreciate the many challenges this presents. Imagine having 28 children at home and trying to cater to their individual needs. It is not something that occurs overnight and takes considerable thought, collaboration and reflection from staff and students alike.

Our Year 7 students have settled in well. They have been learning about history and some of the core history skills. We hope your child has enjoyed their classes at the beginning of their secondary schooling.

Year 8 students have been studying Medieval history. Why not ask your child if you can have a look at some of their class tasks? There have been a variety of hands-on activities to allow students to engage in the content in various ways.

In Year 9, students are embarking on a new program offered as part of the Gadal Program. Related to their Geography unit, Open for Business focusses on interconnectedness in the modern world. The style of learning is project-based, but students will be taught explicit content. We begin this in Week 8, so it is worth checking in with your child to see how they feel about the unit. Please feel free to contact me if you would like to chat about this unit next term.

Our senior students continue to focus on building the skills to succeed in their Year 10 or VCE subjects.

This year we again have students studying Civics and Citizenship, Geography, History and Business Economics in Year 10.

In VCE we have students studying Accounting, Business Management, History and Legal Studies. It is exciting that this year we also have students studying Geography in Unit 1-2.

Senior students have access to our GAP Tutors to help them in maximising their outcomes. Students have called on the tutors in various ways and those looking for extension are encouraged to request time with them. A student’s teacher may also recommend this.

Last week the Unit 3/4 Legal Studies class participated in an incursion with retired County Court Judge Jane Patrick. It was an invaluable experience and Jane has offered to run Zoom sessions during the students’ lunch breaks if they would like to ask more questions.

Please remember to book a Parent Student Teacher Interview with your child’s Humanities teacher. These will be held online on 30 and 31 March.

I hope your child enjoys and engages in their Humanities studies. The subjects instil lifelong skills in personal finance, the law, geographical topics and help students understand history and interpret historical information accurately. These are skills that are invaluable in modern society.

Please contact us at the College if you need any further information or assistance.

Studio Art Excursion

Our Year 11 and 12 Studio Art students enjoyed a day at the Art Gallery of Ballarat recently to view the folios of Year 12 regional students who completed the subject last year.

The exhibition includes student visual art diaries and artworks selected by the gallery for it’s annual Next Gen exhibition.

Each year, CRC Melton Year 12 Studio Arts student can apply to be part of the exhibition. Many of our past students have had the great honour of being selected to exhibit their work.

During the excursion, students also viewed several other exhibitions, including the gallery’s permanent collection. Students are expected to write notes and participate in group discussions during the presentation and viewings. This helps them prepare for School Assessed Coursework (SACs) and exams and to develop their folio.

Our next excursion will be to Geelong Gallery in Term 3, where the focus will be on Arts Industry Practice.

Kath Jones

Catherine House Leader

Busy Term for VCAL and Vincit Students

The VCAL and Vincit cohort are off to a flying start this year. Our teaching team has focussed on creating integrated projects that enable students to work collaboratively.

We aim to develop employability skills in our students and give them the competencies they require for a rich and long career path.

You will see our efforts in this shortly once our pop-up shop has been constructed.

The VCAL class 12S designed and is building our shop to feature in the College grounds at lunchtimes and parent functions throughout the year. Students have been creative with their product range making their candles, shower jellies, dream catchers, seed bombs, plants and terrariums. All proceeds will go to a worthy cause.

Our Garden to Table Program continues to thrive with tomatoes so plentiful that we had to freeze some. I am looking forward to a bolognese sauce cooked by our students later in the term. One of our Vincit classes turned their hand to cooking recently, putting on a BBQ for the school community to raise money for Project Compassion.

Other learning this term included:

• Researching the purchase of a car
• The use and creation of formulas in Microsoft Excel
• Investigating career path timelines
• Assisting in Year 7 PE classes by running basketball and taking fitness test measurements
• Design activities using Lego.

Narelle Layton

Applied Learning Leader

Dance Performance

On Thursday 11 March our Year 10 Dance students presented their first performance assessment task, a routine prepared by a professional choreographer from Lion Heart Dance Company.

The students trained for this performance over four intense lessons and performed to a small audience of College staff.

The students commitment and the emotions conveyed during the performance had a great impact on the audience. I congratulate them on a wonderful performance.

Homework Club

Students who need some extra help with their homework or just a quiet place to complete it are welcome to the College Homework Club held in the Alexandria Resource Centre every Wednesday after school until 4.30pm (except for the first and last week of term).

Teachers are available to answer questions and students can prepare for upcoming assessments or simply use the time to get their homework done.

Community Notices

Woodgrove student event

Useful Links

Keep up to date with College events, procedures, resources and information via the links below.

PAM – Parent Portal

Parent Handbook

Policies

Uniform

Library

Facebook

Instagram