Weekly Reflection

Listening to Trees

If you wanted to reduce the teachings of Jesus to a single theme, you might not do better than to focus on the kingdom of God.

“The kingdom” isn’t a fairy tale place of castles and royal courts. The reign of God, as some translators phrase it, is a matter of allegiance more than geography. We don’t move to “kingdom come” when we die. We reside there in the here and now if we choose God’s way over our way in every decision.

Jesus compares the kingdom to a tiny seed hidden in the ground: small, obscure, seemingly without relationship to anything but its secret self.

But kingdom seed will emerge to become its own universe of roots and branches, connecting earth and sky and all of life altogether. What seemed irrelevant becomes paramount. What was unseen emerges as dominant against the horizon.

Is it so impossible to imagine that one day, everything we can hold in our hands will become worthless? And that invisible things like truth, goodness, faith, love, hope and justice will become the only things that matter? How do you invest in the kingdom today? What seeds are you sowing now for the harvest to come?

Pay attention to trees, shrubs, flowering things. They grow to meet their absolute potential with simple ingredients like water, air, and sunshine. What do you need to do the same?

We pray:

No longer afraid, we go forth in joy! The love of God will motivate and direct us. Filled with hope, we go forth with praise on our lips! The example of Jesus Christ will show us the way. Held in the love of God, we go forth to bring change for good! We will be inspired to work with God’s Holy Spirit.

Amen

Shaun Coates

Director of Catholic Identity

From the Principal

It feels a lot like Groundhog Day welcoming students back once again from our fourth lockdown.

However, there is an opportunity in every challenge, and this lockdown has given us a chance to develop our coping skills.

If there is a lesson to learn, then it is one of resilience. As I welcomed students at the gate on Friday morning, there were smiles and joy at being reunited with friends. Students displayed a high level of compliance with mask-wearing and seemed genuinely pleased to be back at school ready to learn.

This joy speaks volumes of the community of Catholic Regional College Melton. Our students feel safe and secure at school and are happy to be back at the College. They have learnt to bounce back quickly into regular routines despite the disruptions of COVID.

This resilience or capacity to recover quickly from difficulties is an important skill for students. These skills are part of the hidden curriculum - the skills we learn outside the identified formal curriculum. They are part of the development of the whole person, which is central to Catholic education.

We know that young people in our society display high levels of anxiety and are experiencing mental health issues. Resilience is a protective measure for students who may feel overwhelmed and helps them maintain balance and perspective during stressful periods.

As significant adults, we have a role to play in helping students develop their resilience in these uncertain and unusual times.

As hope-filled people, we pray that we can remain at school for the final weeks of the term.

Marlene Jorgensen

Principal

Looking Ahead

Dates to remember
Monday 21 June	Student free day - Staff Professional Development Day
Friday 25 June	Term 2 concludes
Monday 12 July	Term 3 begins

View the full College Calendar

From the Deputy Principal Student Wellbeing

Young people need at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous-intensity physical activity every day. This promotes healthy development and encourages positive mental wellbeing. Participating in regular exercise can:

• increase levels of serotonin and endorphins, the neurotransmitters involved in regulating and improving mood

• promote sleep – which also helps regulate moods, increase energy levels and improve memory and learning

• increase the connections between the brain neurons, which improves memory and learning capacity

• pump blood to the brain to boost mood, concentration and alertness

• promote relaxation by reducing skeletal muscle tension

• provide young people with an outlet for excess energy and frustration, which relieves tension

• provide an opportunity for young people to socialise and meet new people

• improve motor and cognitive skills, which boosts self-esteem

Source: Beyou.edu.au

Current statistics from the Australian Government Department of Health show that 7.9% of 13 to 17-year-olds meet the physical activity guidelines.

Screen time during childhood can have long-term impacts on a child’s development. The Department of Health recommends no more than two hours of sedentary recreational screen time per day for children and young people. This does not include screen time needed for schoolwork.

Students are encouraged to participate in physical activities on offer at the College - there are various lunchtime sports clubs, training for Premier League, year-level competitions, and basketball coaching.

If your child wants to participate in any of the activities on offer, they can speak with their Homeroom teacher, who can assist them in joining a club.

Additionally, I would urge you to look at what clubs your child may be interested in joining in your local area. Raising participation levels will enable our students to reap the many benefits of physical activity and move away from devices.

Click here to read more.

School Uniform

A reminder to all parents and guardians to ensure their child’s school uniform is worn as expected.

The full winter uniform is compulsory during Term 2 and 3.

Please remember:

Blazers are the outer garment that must be worn to and from school
Skirt length is to the knee
Scarf must be navy blue
The only jewellery permitted in the ear is one plain silver or gold stud or one small sleeper.
No facial piercing, nail polish, false or extension nails allowed
Physical Education tracksuit pants must be full length and not folded up at the bottom. If they are too long, they need to be taken up.

Your continued support to maintain the high standards of the College uniform are greatly appreciated.

Click here to find the College Uniform Policy

Cheryl Bullen

Deputy Principal Student Wellbeing - Melton Campus

From the Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching

Last Friday, our Year 10 students began their examinations. The examinations are modelled on the process used for VCE and allow students to experience the expectations, practice timing for completion of exam papers and identify materials that can be brought into an exam space.

I congratulate the students on the way they have followed the rules and processes. All mobile phones and digital programmable watches are kept in lockers and are not permitted in the exam room. Year 10 exams will be completed by Friday and regular classes will resume on Tuesday 22 June.

Our Year 11 students completed their exams yesterday and are back to regular classes today.

This week our Year 7 and 8 students will complete their Timed Assessment Tasks (TATS) in English, Mathematics, Science and History. This will occur during their regular class time.

The release of reports will be delayed until early Term 3 to allow all semester assessment tasks, SACs and examinations to be completed, marked and entered into Simon by teachers.

Simon provides real-time reporting so parents and guardians do have access to assessment task results via PAM.

With the school holidays only two weeks away, students are busy completing Semester 1 units.

Next Monday 21 June is a student-free day to allow teaching staff to undertake professional learning. As part of our School Improvement Plan (SIP) and Annual Action Plan (AAP) we will focus on Learning Intentions, Success Criteria and Feedback, embedding this into our curriculum design and lesson plans for Semester 2 units.

Joanne Holmes

Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching

Enrol Now for Year 7 2023

Cancer Fundraiser

Statistics suggest that 50% of us will get cancer by the time we are 65. What is cancer? It is a disease where some abnormal cells of the body grow uncontrollably and spread. Cancer doesn’t just affect older people. Each year in Australia, about 2000 children are diagnosed with cancer, with skin cancer being the most common in teenagers.

Unfortunately, several people in our school community are currently dealing with cancer in their lives. To show our support for them and contribute to the fight against this disease, we are raising money for the Cancer Council during the last two weeks of this term.

All students are encouraged to take part in the Guess the Skittles in the Jar competition. One guess costs 50 cents, or they can have three guesses for $1. The winner will be announced at the end of the term.

Cancer Council donation boxes will also be placed in the canteen for students who would like to donate their change.

Next Tuesday 22 June the College will hold a Beanie Day. Students can donate a gold coin and wear a beanie of their choice for the day. While beanies can be worn to and from school and in class, any inappropriate ones will be confiscated.

On the same day at lunchtime, Olivia Rabottini from student reception, teacher Mrs Natalie Bourke and Year 12 student Czarliz Vanguardia (pictured left to right above) will cut their hair to raise funds for the Cancer Council.

Click here to donate and support their brave efforts!

New Date – Cobblebank Campus Information Evening

Swimmer joins Victorian School Team

Congratulations to Year 11 student James Morrow who has been selected to represent CRC Melton on the School Sport Victoria swim team.

James competed and represented the College in the SACCSS and Victorian School Association Swimming Competition (VSASC) events this year, captaining our SACCSS team alongside Alla Rowley. He is a dedicated swimmer and a great role model for our younger athletes.

Even though the national schools swimming competition cannot go ahead this year due to COVID-19, James will participate in the School Sport Victoria program.

We wish James all the best with his future swimming endeavours.

Mikaela Hurst

Health and PE Domain Leader

Year 10 Hospitality

A beautiful gourmet morning tea grazing box was one of the many projects delivered by our Year 10 Hospitality students this semester.

Students worked as a team to produce 20 grazing boxes for College staff that catered for their individual dietary needs. All the food was specifically selected and prepared from scratch by the students.

The impressive grazing boxes were warmly received by staff who commented on the exceptional high-quality of the food and the attention to detail in the presentation.

Year 10 Hospitality students have worked diligently and confidently throughout Semester 1 developing their industry-specific knowledge and skills.

The students have explored how the Hospitality industry operates and the vast range of job opportunities available to them. With the industry currently experiencing a skilled labour shortage, the demand for qualified hospitality staff in Australia is at an all-time high.

A variety of design briefs this semester challenged students to complete catering tasks involving current industry foods trends, including the design, production and decoration of commercial standard sponge cakes and professional standard cheese and fruit grazing boards.

I congratulate the students on an excellent semester and wish them all the best with their examinations this week.