From the Principal

Each year, principals must complete a detailed attestation that checks that all aspects of the school are adhering to registration requirements.

One part of the attestation is the requirement to display the Values for Australian Schools (pictured below).

Simply displaying these values does not, however, enact the principles listed.

Events such as Harmony Week celebrated at the College last week highlight our commitment to the statement. The activities visibly and actively promoted respect, care and compassion, understanding, tolerance and inclusion.

It was wonderful to finally be able to celebrate Harmony Week. We have planned activities for the past two years, only to be thwarted by lockdowns and restrictions so last week’s program generated great excitement.

Harmony Day commenced in Australia in 1999 and is now celebrated worldwide.

As a Catholic school, the concept of harmony is central to who we are. When we talk about a holistic education, we expect that what our students learn is more than Pythagoras or verbs and nouns.

What they learn is the profound Catholic message that we are all made in the image of our creator and that each of us is valued and worthy of respect.

Harmony Week celebrated our students’ cultural backgrounds and was an opportunity to reflect on how we can live in harmony with our neighbours regardless of nationality or circumstances.

It raised awareness of racism and promoted our message of empathy and inclusion. The ability to walk in the shoes of another and empathise leads to understanding and compassion. This is the holistic nature of Catholic education.

For many years now, Australia has been a multicultural society. Studies show that diverse communities are happier, healthier and more prosperous. So the ability of our students to live in harmony with each other is an essential skill that will allow them to become active and informed citizens who make a significant contribution to our global community.

When I visited a Year 7 classroom to talk about my Irish convict background, I challenged our students to reflect on what cultural dress they might wear in 2023. I look forward to seeing even more students participate next year, if not in national dress, then in orange as a sign of our solidarity and commitment to harmony in our community.

To see more photos and stories from our Harmony Week activities click here.

Condolences

The College community extends its deepest sympathies to our canteen manager Colleen Morrow on the passing of her father, and grandfather to students Jack and James, on 9 March. May they feel the light of the Lord bless their family and bring them peace. 

Looking Ahead

Parent Student Teacher Interviews

On Tuesday 5 April and Thursday 7 April, the College will hold its Parent Student Teacher Interviews (PSTIs) online via Teams from 4pm.

Interview times can be booked through PAM from next Wednesday 30 March. Term 1 reports will also be made available on this day. Families will receive an email with booking instructions.

Due to the ongoing uncertainty around COVID-19, we will use Teams to run the interviews so there is no need for families to come to the College on either evening.

Parents and Friends Meeting

The next meeting of the Parents and Friends Association will be held on Wednesday 30 March and will also be our Annual General Meeting.

The meeting will be held on-site in the conference room, but you can also join us online via Teams. New members are always welcome.

Please contact me via email arowley@crcemelton.com.au for the Teams link. You will automatically be sent the new link if you joined the last meeting.

2022 NAPLAN Information – Coordinated Practice Test

This Thursday 24 March, all students in Year 7 and 9 will complete the 2022 NAPLAN Coordinated Practice Test.

Students will need the following:

• Their fully charged CRC Melton device (Year 7 laptop, Year 9 iPad).
• A set of headphones.

The Coordinated Practice Test is designed to test the NAPLAN system, CRC Melton’s IT system and the student devices.

It also allows students to attempt NAPLAN-style questions, similar to the full assessment in May.

You can read more about NAPLAN online below.

NAPLAN information for parents and guardians

Give your opinion on Catholic Education in Victoria

I invite you to participate in the Enhancing Catholic School Identity Survey, which will assist us in better understanding how our Catholic identity is expressed in work and practice here at Catholic Regional College Melton.

The purpose of the research is to gain meaningful insights into our Catholic identity today and how such identity might be shaped for tomorrow.

Everyone’s input is important.

It’s best to finish the survey in one attempt, without having to come back later.

Your responses are anonymous and your personal data is treated confidentially in accordance with ethical and legal guidelines.

Only you will be able to view your individual results and this can be done once you’ve completed the questionnaires.

Instructions and passcodes to complete the survey are available below.

ESCI Survey Instructions

Click here to begin the survey: https://www.ecsi.site/au/user/

If you have any questions, please contact me at arowley@sfcc.vic.edu.au.

From the Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching

Tutor Program 2022

As we work towards achieving our aim of 12 months of growth for 12 months of learning we are continuing the Year 7-10 Tutor Program that began in 2021.

The Tutor Program is designed to support students whose learning has been disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Funding from the Victorian Government enables us to engage tutors to provide targeted teaching to students identified as needing support. Students have been identified from PAT Reading and Maths data. The College has employed 10 tutors who work both within the class and as part of the various homework clubs.

What does a tutor do?

• Helps unpack the lesson tasks.
• Helps a student understand what is required in a lesson.
• Provides support with decoding and skills to understand the literacy task.
• Provides support with basic numeracy skills to help students understand mathematical equations and improve problem-solving.

Tutors are in the classroom providing small group tutoring with targeted learning. The students establish goals with the tutor from a range of skills and strategies to improve understanding.

As students move through the College, we want them to have access to as many pathways as possible. Being at standard allows this to happen. We ask parents to support this process and encourage their child’s participation.

On Wednesday, Maths Club runs at lunchtime and Homework Club after school, both in the Alexandria Resource Centre. Teachers and tutors are available to help students. On Thursday a dedicated Homework Club occurs for Year 8 students. Please contact Pedagogy Coach Faye Quinn, Middle Years Curriculum Leader Loretta Kalms or myself if you have questions about the tutor program.

From the Deputy Principal Student Wellbeing

Last week we celebrated Harmony Week with many different activities on offer such as guest speakers, cooking demonstrations, dancing and our annual Ks for Caritas to raise awareness of global poverty.  Students thoroughly enjoyed the week and we thank our Social Justice Coordinator Trish Griffin for planning and organising the program of events.

Student clubs

Extra-curricular activities are provided during lunchtimes and on occasions after school. They give students the opportunity to try a new activity and meet students who have a similar interest but may not be in their year level. Below is a timetable of activities. 

CRC Melton Student Clubs timetable

You may like to encourage your child to join a club or if they have a particular interest or idea for a club that isn’t offered, please ask them to either email me cbullen@sfcc.vic.edu.au or come by and see me.

Student Attendance

A reminder for families that many different protocols need to be followed to ensure the safety of our students.

If your child arrives late to school, it is imperative they obtain a late pass from Student Reception. This ensures that they will not be marked absent for homeroom, you will avoid communication from the College and their attendance records will not be adversely affected.

If you are collecting your child before the end of the school day, they must have a written note in their diary to show their teacher. They need to go to Student Reception, sign out and meet you in the reception area.

Additionally, all students who feel unwell and need to go home must come to Sick Bay first, where they will see our medical staff for assessment. Once it is deemed the student should go home, a parent/guardian will be called to collect them.

To ensure a timely process, it is essential that parents/guardians keep all mobile phone and emergency contact numbers updated via PAM. In an emergency, we need to be able to contact you as soon as possible.

A reminder too that if your child is unwell on a school day, please call our absentee line on 8099 6000 to leave a message with child’s name, year level, homeroom group and reason for the absence.

I thank families for working in partnership with us to keep their children safe.

Uniform Survey Results

Feedback from parents, guardians and students calls for fit and fabric to be among the top considerations when designing our new College uniform.

Our recent uniform survey highlights that although opinion on the comfort of the school jumper is firmly split, our sports shorts are overwhelmingly ranked the most uncomfortable item in the sports uniform, particularly among girls.

Parent and Guardian Survey

Of the 75 responses received, 51 were from families who had purchased the girls uniform or both girls and boys.

Overall the responses show:

• The shirt, shorts and jumper are the most comfortable items in the full school uniform.
• The sports shirt and tracksuit pants top the comfort list in the sports uniform.
• The jumper also tops the list of most uncomfortable items along with the blazer, summer dress and sports shorts.
• The jumper’s weight and texture, the blazer’s size and weight, and the cut and fabric used for the summer dress need to be reconsidered.
• The sports shorts lack stretch and are not designed to fit different shapes and sizes, making them uncomfortable and unflattering.

According to parents and guardians, comfort, price and fabric should be the College’s main considerations when designing a new uniform. They also ranked durability and ease of care as important.

College Principal Marlene Jorgensen said families could be assured that the new uniform would be phased in over several years as students outgrew or wore out their current items.

Student Survey

Almost 300 students responded to the uniform survey, with close to three-quarters girls and a majority in either Year 8 or 9.

Their responses show:

• The jumper is the most comfortable item in the full school uniform followed by the trousers and shirt.
• Tracksuit pants topped the comfort ranking in the sports uniform.
• The summer dress and girls sports shorts are among the most uncomfortable items of the current uniform.
• The fit of the sports shorts, the colour and fabric of the summer dress, and shoulder pads in the blazer are among the things to review.

Comfort, fit and colour were ranked the top three considerations students believe the College should consider when designing the new uniform, with gender-neutral options also suggested.

Where to from here?

A forum to discuss the survey results was held with students last week. A representative from our uniform supplier, Academy Uniforms, joined staff and students to discuss how their feedback could be applied to the design of the new uniform.

Parents and guardians are invited to the next meeting of the Parents and Friends Association on Wednesday 30 March. They will have another chance to provide input to the new designs and hear from Academy Uniforms.

More results from the uniform survey are available below.

CRC Melton Uniform Review Survey Results

For more information or if you have any questions please email Deputy Principal – Head of Cobblebank Campus Kerrie-Ann Matthews at kmatthews@sfcc.vic.edu.au

Galgani Aspire Program

The Galgani Aspire Program (GAP) to extend our more capable students in Year 10 to 12 was introduced last year and will continue in 2022.

Six past students have been employed as tutors to work collaboratively with teachers and students across various subject areas. They will provide lunchtime sessions and after school workshops for students to further broaden content knowledge and subject-specific skills and help them achieve the best results possible.

Our GAP tutors achieved excellence in several subjects in 2020 and 2021.

Our 2022 tutors are:

All VCE students have been provided with a link to book these tutors either during a study period, recess, lunchtime or after school.

If you have any questions regarding the Galgani Aspire Program, please feel free to contact me via email at clock@sfcc.vic.edu.au

Harmony Week

Last week, the College celebrated its cultural diversity with four days of activities designed to celebrate the nations and traditions represented in the school community.

Organised as part of National Harmony Week, the activities included cooking and craft demonstrations by parents from the South Sudanese community, guest speakers, art workshops and a day for students to come to school in cultural dress.

It was great to see students come together and be willing to share their culture and learn more about others in our school community. Colombia, Nigeria, Vietnam, India, Samoa, Tonga, and Chile were represented on the day.

Harmony Week celebrates Australia’s cultural diversity - it’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone, attributes embedded in the College’s wellbeing program.

The week began with fun photos with our Harmony Day Selfie frame and a collaborative leaf painting project supported by parent Sandra Bala and our Social Justice team.

Cooking and craft demonstrations

Creating a traditional South Sudanese dish called Akop, CRC Melton parents Agaw Gatcair and Debora Dau cooked up a feast in the College’s food technology rooms during lunchtime last Wednesday with many students eager to learn more about ingredients such as red rice flour and try the tasty meat and vegetable dish. Agaw explained that Akop could be made with different types of meat and was a meal cooked regularly in her homeland.

Jewellery making, henna tattoos and handmade basket displays were also popular, with parent Mary Anwat encouraging students to create their own designs and sharing stories about the traditional baskets she was taught to make by her grandmother in Sudan to sift ground corn.

“In the dry season in January and February we make these woven baskets and then in the wet season we make others from palm leaves,” Mary said.

“We made jewellery from beads in the village. These are traditional skills we learnt and we are trying to teach our young people too."

Mashair Abdalla is a South Sudanese community leader and support worker for the Centre for Multicultural Youth who joined parents on Wednesday to share her culture with students. She said activities such those organised at the College last week helped bring people together.

Our parent volunteers were organised and supported in the kitchen and craft rooms by Social Justice Coordinator Trish Griffin, EAL Coordinator Maria Krajina, Community Liaison Officer Abraham Jongroor and Student Leadership Coordinator Nirasha Pandi.

Understanding harmony

Year 9 students explored the themes of harmony, inclusion and multiculturalism through various interactive activities presented by guest speakers Mr Frank Newah-Jarfoi and Mr Josh Hill from Melton Young Communities last Thursday.

Student Diana Taylor reflected on the experience.

“Today we had the opportunity to meet two men, one named Frank and the other Josh. These two wonderful people explained to us the meaning of harmony.

Something that Frank did that really stood out to me was when he split the room into three sections then clapped a rhythm that we copied. He gave different rhythms to each section but told us to clap them at the same time.

By doing this, Frank and Josh explained that harmony is about different people coming together and living peacefully with each other.

This is something that we as humans do all the time but we forget the significance of immersing ourselves in each other’s cultures and traditions. Thankfully Frank and Josh reminded us of the beauty of harmony.”

Inclusion and acceptance

Our senior students were called to be a voice for change by guest speaker Kano Ravalji who overcame racism and bullying to become an advocate of diversity and multiculturalism.

Kano migrated from India to Australia when he was 7 with his parents and sister. Leaving India with only a few hundred dollars seeking a better life, Kano said he watched his parents struggle with severe financial pressures.

“They had no choice – they had to make it work here because they could not afford to go back,” Kano said.

“When we arrived, I went to language school to learn English. I spent six months with migrants and refugees, none of whom spoke English. Even though we couldn’t speak the language we were united in this common goal. I think this is where my passion for working with multicultural communities started.”

Kano found school difficult and was often excluded because of how he looked. In Year 10, after being subjected to bullying, he decided to speak up, only to be told that he should ignore the behaviour and that it wasn’t racism.

“I didn’t know what to do so I decided not to say anything anymore. I was angry and anxious but something was also telling me that this wasn’t right,” Kano said.

“I started to do a lot of research online to try and overcome it. I realised I had to accept who I was. It wasn’t an easy journey but I decided that the bullying and racism was their problem and not mine.”

Kano is keen to inspire young people to become comfortable with themselves by sharing his experiences.

“Diversity is more than colour – it’s exploring different ways of thinking. Inclusion is an action – it’s what we are doing to make sure everyone is listened to and understood,” he said.

“People are complex and have many layers. I hope you can look at someone and not judge or assume things about them because of how they appear.”

Aside from public speaking, Kano also mentors Year 12 VCE students in leadership roles, has worked on multiple youth-led social media projects and promotes peace and positivity wherever he goes.

And judging from the reception he received from our students after his presentation, Kano is definitely hitting the mark.

Harmony Week house points

Here are the tally boards for house points earned by students during last week’s activities.

Ks for Caritas and Project Compassion Barbecue

Students and staff enjoyed a sausage sizzle for Project Compassion on Friday 11 March and raised over $500.

This year’s theme For All Future Generations reminds us that what we do today will impact the lives of generations to come, and by working together, we can find long-term solutions to global issues.

Therefore, it was appropriate that our annual Ks for Caritas event was held last Friday during Harmony Week celebrations.

Students and staff walked or ran laps on the school soccer pitch carrying bags of rice or buckets of water. These K’s for Caritas help to raise awareness of global poverty. Many underprivileged people, including young children, walk several kilometres each day to access fresh water, education or work. Many of the things that we take for granted.

Through Project Compassion, Caritas Australia brings Australians together to help vulnerable communities find a path out of poverty.

Helping remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities

We are now in the third week of Lent with the Project Compassion story of Janice, a Wagilak woman and traditional dancer who tells her family’s stories through movements handed down over generations.

Like many remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, Janice’s faces a range of challenges – low employment and education, financial hardship, poorer health and lower life expectancy.

With your help, Caritas Australia supports Djilpin Arts Aboriginal Corporation, which operates a centre for traditional and contemporary Aboriginal arts and culture, providing employment and generating income for local communities.

Janice believes that Djilpin Arts’ work is essential to create opportunities for young people to stay on-country, to share intergenerational knowledge between elders and the younger generation - to promote healing, and to keep culture alive.

Watch a short film about Janice’s story here.

Watch this space each week for inspirational stories about how your donations to Project Compassion can make a real difference to the lives of people from across the world.

Year 10 Media Zine Fair

Last Friday our Year 10 Media class hosted a Zine Fair to raise money for the College’s Project Compassion appeal and share their hard work with those who visited.

The class spent two weeks creating their unique zines by hand, ready for this opportunity.

More than $80 was raised for the appeal and we thank all staff and students who visited and supported the class.

Swimming Carnival

All Year 7, 8 and 12 students and selected Year 9, 10 and 11 students headed to Melton Waves on Tuesday 8 March for the annual College Swimming Carnival.

Our House Leaders arrived very early, decorating their areas and promoting house spirit to our younger students upon their entry. Our Year 12 cohort also looked amazing in their costumes, proudly representing their house colours.

The overall behaviour of students on the day was outstanding. All represented the College with pride and displayed great sportsmanship during events. A special mention goes to our junior students who filled any gaps in events to support their teams and win points for their houses.

I would also like to thank Heather Petelo Sauvao, Siale Viatole, Lena Akon, Awaak Mayan and Alakir Kir Deng who organised fun and engaging games for our students on the day, including a very popular dance-off and even more popular staff dance-off. Well done girls!

And finally a massive thank you to our student leadership team and student leadership coordinator Nirasha Pandi who provided the barbecue for our students on the day.

The results of the day are below. House MVPs will be announced at our next full school assembly.

1^st Place – Reed, 1328 points

2^nd Place – Fitzgerald, 1190 points

3^rd Place – Daffey, 1164 points

4^th Place – Glasheen, 862 points

Mikaela Hurst – Sports Coordinator

This year, the swimming carnival, despite the weather, was an awesome day. Those who competed in either the racing or novelty events did so with big smiles. Those who didn’t compete encouraged and supported their housemates. Overall it was a day full of good sportsmanship that was enjoyed by all. Ethan Thewma – Sports Captain

Multisports Carnival

Our annual Multisports Carnival was held in Sheehan Stadium and the new stadium in Cobblebank. The day allows students to get more involved in the College community and compete for their house in their chosen sport. It was great to see so many students involved and display teamwork, cooperation, and great sportsmanship. The effort and participation from all houses was outstanding making the day enjoyable and providing great competition.

Thank you to all staff who helped organise, run and supervise the day, and senior leadership students who helped with house organisation at both the Multisports and Swimming carnivals.

Jess Hodge – Deputy Sports Captain

E-Sports

Whether it be a physical activity or a digital one, our students prove time and time again that they have competitive spirits.

During our various card, board, and video game tournaments, hoots and cheers could be heard from afar. The energy in the computer labs was electric on the day (pun intended).

Most importantly, our students enjoyed themselves, as did our staff. Here's hoping that we have all learned that gaming isn't just about sitting alone in the dark with a screen but is actually a social event at its core. The results for our main event of the E-Sports tournament were as follows:

Counter-Strike Tournament

1^st Place – Daffey

2^nd Place – Reed

3^rd Place – Glasheen

4^th Place - Fitzgerald

Special mention goes to some of our individual winners on the day, including Taylan, Paul, Charlie, Mikael, Emma, Ryan, Alicia, Emma, Kiara, Grace, Archie, and Lucas.

James Villinger – E-Sports Coordinator

Basketball

Sheehan Stadium was buzzing with student enthusiasm and athleticism during the Multisport Carnival basketball tournament.

Year 9, 10 and 11 students participated, representing their house in their year levels. It was a vibrant atmosphere, there was a lot of support from the crowd and fantastic basketball abilities were demonstrated during the day. Congratulations to all students for their participation and behaviour during the tournament.

Jordan Reithofer - Basketball Coordinator

Netball and Volleyball

This year, our Netball and Volleyball teams had a shorter commute to the new and improved Cobblebank Stadium.

Our Volleyball students displayed exceptional sportsmanship and enthusiasm for the entire day, at times even helping to fill numbers for teams who could not field a side. The energy levels were fantastic and students displayed great talent throughout the day.

Ian Box - Volleyball Coordinator

Our netball players also showed great sportsmanship and spirit, combining teams to ensure everyone could participate. They were enthusiastic on and off the court and are commended for their commitment on the day.

Annika Miesen - Netball Coordinator

Sports Update

Senior Netball and Cricket

Our Senior Netball and Cricket teams ended their seasons last week, finishing in third place in their respective competitions.

Our Senior Netball team played their last game at home against rivals CRC Sydenham and finished the season with a fantastic win! The girls displayed excellent teamwork and sportsmanship, playing their best game yet and were victorious with a final score of 30-9.

Our Senior Cricket Team played their last game against Mackillop College and unfortunately fell short of the win, ending their season. The cricket team moved up to Division 1 this year after winning the Division 2 Premiership last year.

The boys have displayed determination, motivation, and relentless positivity throughout the season. Well done boys!

Our next senior competitions (Volleyball and AFL) will commence in Term 2.

Mikaela Hurst – Sports Coordinator

SACCSS Gala Cricket Day

On Friday 11 March, the College fielded two girls’ teams in the SACCSS Gala Cricket Day.

The girls, mostly new to the game, trained with great energy in the weeks leading up to the competition.

Our senior team of Year 8 and 9 students played to a high standard against older and more experienced players and made the semifinals!

Our junior team also had a great day, winning two of their four games and only losing to both of the eventual finalists.

Ms Bertalmio, Ms Higgins and I were proud of the girls’ endeavour and the joyous spirit they displayed on the day.

Shaun Coates – Cricket Coach

Year 10 Premier League

After coming off a bye in Round 5, our Year 10 Premier League Teams were eager to get back into the competition.

Teams played their second last home game against St Monicas College (SMC) and despite a few losses this week, our volleyball teams finished strong and looked to be good finals contenders.

The results from Round 6 were:

Girls Basketball: SMC def CRC 77-22

Boys Basketball A: SMC def CRC 81-20

Boys Basketball B: SMC def CRC 62-44

Girls Netball: SMC def CRC 29-26

Girls Volleyball: CRC def SMC 3-1

Boys Volleyball: CRC def SMC 3-1

Girls Soccer: SMC def MEL 9-0

Boys Soccer: SMC def MEL 5-0

Mikaela Hurst – Sports Coordinator

Bulldogs Pathways Program

A 12-session Leaders of the Pack Program for Year 10 students run by the Western Bulldogs began at the College on Friday 11 March with students getting to know each other and more about the fun activities they have ahead of them.

Program organiser Hannah presented the group of 19 with Bulldogs beanies and led a discussion about the qualities leaders possess. She asked students to consider world leaders and people they saw as leaders in their own lives.

Through the program, students will participate in workshops that explore different education and employment pathways.

Year 11 Tertiary Experience Day

Last Tuesday 15 March, Year 11 students visited several universities to learn more about courses, life on campus, and opportunities beyond Year 12.

Four groups of students and staff travelled to:

• RMIT Melbourne Campus and Australian Catholic University
• La Trobe University Bundoora
• Federation University SMB and Mt Helen campuses Ballarat
• The Gordon Institute of TAFE Geelong and Deakin University Waurn Ponds.

Students enjoyed a tour of the university they visited and had lunch on the grounds.

Year 8 Textiles

Year 8 Textiles students have hit the ground running this semester, beginning work on a tote bag.

In class, we have researched the effect plastic pollution has on the planet, and the steps the Victorian Government has taken to help reduce this waste by banning lightweight plastic bags.

Students are creating tote bags to use in place of plastic bags. As well as considering the effect of plastic pollution, students have researched sustainable fashion including upcycling old clothing and repurposing fabrics.

Students learnt how to tie-dye for their tote bag project, a skill they can use at home to bring new life to old clothing and support sustainable fashion.

Community Notices

Foster carers needed

If you have thought about foster care, please get in touch and ask the questions you have always wanted to. Key Assets Victoria is a Melbourne foster care agency that urgently needs new foster families. 

Phone Key Assets 1800 932 237 or 1800 WE CARE or email info@keyassets.com.au. You will also find more information on their website canifoster.com.au or keyassets.org.au

The Huddle school holiday program 

The Huddle school holiday program flyer

On Track holiday program 

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