From the Principal

What a term this has been. As we work through this last week of an 11-week term, it is incredible to reflect on the historical times through which we have lived.

As a new Principal, I could not have asked for a better team to support me through these unprecedented challenges.

The teaching and support staff have proven to be agile and hope-filled. Our students have been flexible and resilient as they moved first into Distance Learning Mode and then back into face-to-face teaching with hardly a glitch. Our parents and guardians have been vigilant and supportive, keeping our young people safe and ensuring their learning progressed.

I offer my huge thanks and congratulations on what has been an incredible first semester. I could not have wished for a more supportive community to journey with me in my new principalship. As we seem to be approaching a tightening of restrictions, our leadership team will stay informed and will communicate with parents immediately if any changes regarding schools are required.

Once again I remind parents to keep their children at home if they show any signs or symptoms of illness.

Inclusion week

This week we celebrate Inclusion Week at the College. At our Assembly on Thursday I will speak to students about the clear message of inclusion given to us in the Gospels. The Samaritan woman at the well is just one example.

Generally, women would collect water from the well before the heat of the day, and yet Jesus encounters this woman at the sixth hour. Immediately the reader knows that this woman is an outcast. She goes on to ask why Jesus is even speaking with her as she is a Samaritan and he is a Jew. The two groups did not get on in the time of Jesus.

Finally, it is revealed that the woman has five husbands and is currently living with another woman’s husband. Not only does Jesus talk to this woman, but he offers her living water “..the water that I shall give will become a spring of water within, welling up for eternal life.” John 4:14

This is just one of many examples where Jesus demonstrates our obligation to be inclusive of all, regardless of race, sexuality or religion. I challenge our students to consider what this Gospel message means in practical terms for us at Catholic Regional College Melton? What is it that we can do in our everyday encounters to ensure that all feel included? Only in this way can we live out our College motto and ensure that in all things God is glorified.

I wish students and staff a safe, healthy and restful term holiday.

From the Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching

Our staff had a very productive morning yesterday reviewing the student reports in their Homerooms.

This provided opportunity for the Homeroom teachers to see the significant progress made by many students and to identify those who need further support in Term 3.

Distance learning was challenging for students and teachers. It is common that when we are faced with challenges, we grow in our understanding of ourselves and those around us. Semester 2 will begin with new opportunities, challenges and a chance to apply our learning in the next context.

It is important for parents and students to discuss the reports, reflect on the semester and set new goals for Term 3. 

Semester 1 reports will be available for parents and students on Wednesday and can be accessed through the Parent Portal, PAM. Instructions on how to login to PAM and access your child's report are available below.

PAM Login Student Reports

Term 3

New electives and subjects begin on Day 1 of Term 3. Students should ensure all the required stationery, texts and resources are ready for their first day of classes. VCE Unit 4 classes will begin, although in many cases work has already started this term. Our VET and VCAL students continue to work through their programs.

School holidays

With the school holidays just around the corner, it is important for our students to use the time to recharge, look after their health and have some rest and relaxation before the next busy term.

For our VCE students, holiday homework may be set by teachers to enable completion of courses and time for examination preparation. I remind students and families that balance is important and the holidays provide a time to unwind after a very challenging and interesting semester.

From the Deputy Principal Students

Headspace recently released a COVID19 study. Of the young people surveyed, half said their mental health had gotten worse during the pandemic, one in five said they needed mental health support but weren’t getting it, and 66 per cent said they had not considered reaching out for help.

The report revealed that young people were struggling with the pandemic more than their parents thought. It also showed there was a disconnect between what parents were concerned about for their children and what young people were worried about.

To read more follow this link Headspace COVID-19 study.

At our Staff Professional Learning Day on Monday, time was spent by staff exploring and navigating through the resources and strategies found on the Beyond Blue, Be You website.

The modules completed by staff promote good mental health and wellbeing in secondary schools. Be You empowers educators, helping them to develop valuable mental health skills and knowledge, while also providing an effective model for implementing a whole-learning community approach to mental health and wellbeing.

Headspace provides information and resources for both young people and their family and friends struggling with mental health. You can find more information on their website.

If you or your child need assistance please contact our wellbeing counsellors or psychologist, or contact Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.

From the Deputy Principal Staff

Semester 2 subject and electives changes

Requests for changes to Semester 2 subjects and electives have now closed. Students should speak to their Year Level Coordinators about any future changes. Please note that all changes are subject to blocking clashes, class sizes and selection requirements.

Year 11 students who would like to make a Unit 2 subject change should speak to their subject teacher first and then book an appointment with Pathways Coordinator Mrs Sasha Dickson.

Once an altered pathway plan has been approved, students can complete a Change of Subject Form.

All changes must be applied for and processed by Friday 26 June.

Last day of Term 2 and Buses

Our College will finish classes on Friday 26 June at 2.30pm. All Bacchus Marsh Coaches will arrive an hour earlier to accommodate the 2.30pm finish but not our Sita Town bus services.

A reminder that buses are not free. Students are required to tap on and off with their Myki cards. Last Friday, only 17 of the 45 students on the Underbank bus tapped on. In future, the bus company will not let students board unless they tap on. Could families please make sure students have a Myki and that it has sufficient credit loaded.

Term 3

Term 3 (Semester 2) will begin for all students on Monday 13 July. This will be Day 1 of the timetable. Students in Year 7 to 10 will receive a hardcopy of their timetable with their Semester 2 elective and rotation classes. These will also be available on SIMON.

2021 Subject Selections

Term 3 will also mark the start of our 2021 subject selection process, beginning with Year 10 and 11 students.

Year 11 students will be given their 2021 Year 12 subject selection information in the first week of term. They will begin the process with an Information Evening on Thursday 16 July, which all students and parents/guardians are urged to attend. Part of the VCE selection process also involves student and parent/guardian interviews. More information will be provided to all families.

Unboxy Project

The Unboxy Project, run by Y2Architecture, provides students with the opportunity to use their imagination creatively and practically while promoting abstract thinking. Students are provided with a large box of shapes and connectors to create any formation they choose. 

We held our first session last Friday with 12 eager and excited Year 11 students taking part. Hats were popular while a suit of armour, some Picasso inspired animals, and the beginnings of a life-size car also created some buzz.

The Unboxy Project will continue this week and all students are welcome to join in.

Students interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics are encouraged to join the newly formed STEAM Club. Please email epiacquadio@sfcc.vic.edu.au if you are interested in joining or have questions.

Parents and Friends Meeting Tomorrow

The next Parents and Friends meeting will be held tomorrow evening, Wednesday 24 June, at 7pm. Our Student Leadership Coordinator Nirasha Pandi will discuss the opportunities available to students, the growing student voice in our school community and some of the achievements this year.

Due to COVID-19, meetings are currently being held remotely through the Microsoft Teams platform. If you did not attend the last meeting but would like to be part of the next one, please email kmatthews@sfcc.vic.edu.au to receive the information required to join the meeting. All families are welcome to attend.

Writing Competition Winners

After some delay occasioned by the weird and unusual circumstances of the past couple of months, the winners of the 2020 CRC Writing Competition have been decided. The winners for 2020 are:

Best Junior Entry (Year 7 to 9) Glanzmigue Farolan of 7F for his short story A Kingdom’s Fall. Glanz’s story about an epic battle was judged to have ‘a great sense of time and place’.
Best Senior Entry (Year 10 -12) Nathan Furtado of 10M for Finding Valiant. Nathan's piece was described as a ‘fun and irreverent’ superhero story.
Best Entry in Competition 2020 Ellen Kerr of 10C for her poem The Lonely Planet. Ellen's thoughtful and thought-provoking poem was described as ‘evocative and thoughtful’ and as an ‘interesting exploration of the unanswerable.’

Refugee Week

As part of Refugee Week activities, members of the Social Justice Team set up a refugee detention display in the courtyard outside the canteen at lunchtime on Thursday (18 June).

Students stood behind a fenced-off area with signs that displayed information about the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers. They also collected money on the day for the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre in Footscray. Combined with the Hunger Experience campaign, the College has raised more than $800 for the centre.

The team would like to thank everyone for their support.

Inclusion and Diversity Week

Our Social Justice Team is ending the term with activities this week that highlight inclusion and diversity.

Students have been moved by recent events surrounding equality, racial injustice, and marginalised members of society.

They aim to celebrate the diverse student community at the College by creating artworks and video presentations that highlight the importance of fairness and acceptance.

The activities aim to show support for the LGBTQI community, the Black Lives Matter movement and victims of abuse.

Today staff and students were offered rainbow ribbons and tomorrow they will be invited to show their respect for the dignity of the human person by placing their inked thumbprint on a CRC Black Lives Matter poster.

On Wednesday, Social Justice Team members will also be walking the College grounds, camera in hand, to film words of support for an anti-racism video. During Period 2, students and staff will observe one minute’s silence for black deaths in custody.

On Thursday, the Social Justice and Media Captains will film a video to show support for victims of abuse. Staff and students are encouraged to visit Padua during the day, create a poster of support and have a picture taken with their sign. The video will be shown at an assembly early next term.

Photography Competition Winners

The Media Team would like to congratulate the following staff and students who have taken out top honours in the third round of the CRC Melton Photography Competition for 2020.

Junior Category winner:  Deandra Fernando

Junior Category runner up: Tra My Nguyen

Junior Category runner up: Elisha Gruis

Senior Category winner: Zoe Attard

Senior Category runner up: Nathan Furtado

Staff category winner: Miss Emma Van Wees

With every round, it became more challenging to choose from the range of quality entries. Thank you to everyone who participated, and we encourage you to enter future competitions.

All entrants will receive two house points. Winners in each group will receive ten house points, with runners up earning five. All winners will receive movie tickets, to be handed out early next term. Keep an eye on your inbox for details.

Virtual Careers Expo

During these unprecedented times, the Melton City Council Careers Expo has gone virtual.

Traditionally Year 10 and Year 12 students have visited the Expo. However, due to COVID-19, we invite all students and families to experience this great event online.

Hosted over two full days this Thursday 25 June and Friday 26 June, the Expo will showcase more than 40 exhibitors. You will have a chance to step in and out of live virtual stands, look at the virtual show bag offerings and participate in scheduled live webinar sessions. More details are available in the flyer attached below.

2020 Melton City Council Virtual Careers Expo

Dates for Release of ATAR and VCE Results

The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) has confirmed that VCE results will be released to students on Wednesday 30 December at 7am. The ATAR will be released to students at the same time.

After the release of results, students will have until 12pm on Monday 4 January to finalise their tertiary preferences before the January Round 1 offers are made on Thursday 14 January.

VTAC recognises that students will need additional support in this exceptional year. It will operate a comprehensive suite of services, including extra opening hours for its customer service, school enquiry service, and extension of the Post Results and ATAR Service run jointly with VCAA.

VTAC support services will be available every day from the release of results through to the 4 January change of preference deadline, including the weekend of 2 and 3 January, except New Year’s Day.

A letter will be sent to Year 12 students and parents in Term 4 detailing how College Careers staff will support the students throughout these times.

Final Week of Rejuvenate in June

Glasheen is leading the tally board with 46 points as we enter the final week of the Rejuvenate in June Challenge.

Daffey is not too far behind on 38 points followed by Reed with 10 points and Fitzgerald yet to score.

Below are this week’s daily activities and bonus challenges. A full wrap-up of results will be published next term.

If you'd like to still participate and contribute to your House's tally, please email Ms Pandi.

Year 10 Food Studies

Our Year 10 Food Studies students have been learning about dietary requirements. For their assessment task, students cooked a range of vegetarian dishes suitable for teenagers. Some of their dishes are pictured below.

Year 7, 2022 Enrolments

Enrolment application dates for Year 7, 2022 have been changed by Catholic Education Melbourne due to COVID-19.

Enrolment applications are now due on Friday 9 October. Application forms can be returned to the College reception or via email enrolments@sfcc.vic.edu.au.

If you return your application via email, you will be contacted regarding the payment of the $50 enrolment fee when the application is processed.

Applicants will be notified by mail of the result of their application by Tuesday 1 December 2020.

A reminder that all families who apply are required to make an appointment to see their Parish Priest.

Holiday Office Hours

The College Reception will close at 3.30pm on Friday 26 June, the final day of Term 2. Office hours during the holidays are 9am to 3.30pm.