Victorian Certificate of Education

Last week the Alexandria Resource Centre was a hive of activity. Our senior students returned to the College in large numbers to study with peers and attend workshops with VCE teaching staff. The first major VCE examination, English, was completed today.

We wish all our students the very best. Be confident that your teachers have prepared you well for each examination. Now it is over to you to be the best version of yourself. Our prayers and thoughts are with you all over the coming weeks.

Deepest sympathies

We are saddened to hear of the passing of the father of Mr Shaun Coates. We keep Mr Coates and his family in our prayers.

Each grief has its own imprint, as distinctive and as unique as the person we have lost. - Elizabeth Kubler Ross

Looking Ahead

Reminders

Now that the weather is warming up, students should remember to bring a drink bottle to school each day. All drinking taps have been turned off due to COVID-19 restrictions but the College has taps available for students to refill their bottles.

Parents are also reminded that due to ongoing VCE exams for Year 11 and 12 students, announcements over the College public address system are being limited.

From the Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching

Our students have settled in to face to face learning and as Term 4 progresses, we have many important events occurring.

Jumpstart

As part of preparation for next year, CRC runs a Jumpstart Program for VCE and VCAL students. This introduces the students to their next year of study, provides opportunity to begin Unit 1 and Unit 3 courses and allows for completion of work-related modules in VCAL.

Jumpstart runs from 18-27 November for VCE (Year 11 and 12 2021) and 23-27 November for VCAL (Year 10-12 2021). 

Booklists

Families are reminded that the booklists have been sent out via Operoo.

Students have received an email with their 2021 subject and elective choices. Families should refer to this when ordering books for subjects and electives.

For senior years, Edrolo may be listed as a resource. This is compulsory and is ordered directly through Edrolo, reducing the cost to families.

CRC Melton supports the Sustainable School Shop. This provides second-hand textbook options to assist families in the purchasing of resources. Follow this link to register and access the online store www.sustainableschoolshop.com.au. Please remember to check the edition is correct when purchasing.

Awards Ceremony

At the start of 2021, we will recognise our VCE College Dux and students who achieve academic excellence in their VCE studies.

We will also recognise our Year 7 to 11 2020, high achieving students at a whole school assembly. Parents and guardians will receive an invitation to attend this next year, providing there are no COVID-19 restrictions in place.

From the Deputy Principal Students

School Photos 2020

Our annual school photos were taken last week by Arthur Reed Photos. A catch-up day for students who did not have their photo taken will be held on Thursday 19 November.

To view the images of your child and order photos, you will need to register online.

1. Go to https://order.arphotos.com.au
2. Enter the 2020 image code for your child (from their personalised flyer received on photo day)
3. Fill in your email and mobile details

You will be notified by email or SMS when the 2020 images are ready to view and purchase.

In the webshop, you can view the photos taken of your child and customise your photo package. Choose any layout, any image and choose a digital image download, which includes all of their 2020 portrait images.

Even if you registered last year, you need to register again this year to link your child’s images for the current year with your details.

Once you have registered, please wait for notification that 2020 images are ready to view before making your purchase. All photo orders will be sent directly to the address you provide when ordering.

From the Deputy Principal Staff

2021 subject selections

As previously advised, students have all received their 2021 initial confirmation letters. Any change requests need to be completed by this Thursday 12 November so booklists and levies can be finalised.

Year 11

Year 11 VCE students are now completing their Semester 2 exams that will end on Tuesday 17 November. Students are only required at school when they have exams.

All returning students will then be involved in Jumpstart classes for 2021. Individual Jumpstart timetables will be available to students during the exam period and via SIMON.

Asthma awareness

A reminder to all families that November and December are critical months in terms of thunderstorm asthma events.

All students with asthma need to carry their inhaler with them at all times (not leave them in lockers or home). Our recent emergency response drill highlighted that many students did not have their inhalers with them or have easy access to them. 

We are undertaking staff asthma awareness sessions and will post reminders in the daily Student Bulletin. We are all aware of the tragic results that can occur if treatment is not readily available.

Term 4 key dates

Listed below is a summary of Term 4 key dates.

Year 11 and 12 VCE 2021 Jumpstart will run from Wednesday 18 November to Friday 27 November. Our Year 10/11 Farewell Mass will be held on the afternoon of Friday 27 November. Students will receive individual timetables for Jumpstart. 

VCAL 2021 Jumpstart will run from Monday 23 November to Friday 27 November for Foundation, Intermediate and Senior students. This week is compulsory and will count towards VCAL 2021 attendance. Students will complete work placement modules and should wear their full summer uniform. 

Year 7, 8 and 9 students will finish on Friday 4 December. We are still waiting to confirm if the Year 7 Camp and Year 9 City Experience will go ahead. There will be a special last day program on Friday 6 December.

Farewell to Year 12 students

A glorious morning was spent with our Year 12 students on their final day on 30 October.

The morning was full of celebration and excitement as students enjoyed their last day together as a cohort with their homeroom teachers. The relationships that students fostered with their homeroom teachers were significant, especially in this unusual year.

The day started with a display of costumes and plenty of photos. Students then gathered in small groups to view their graduation ceremony video that was filmed the week prior due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Plenty of cheers could be heard in Padua as students congratulated each other on receiving their certificates of completion! It was a very positive and energetic atmosphere with lots of laughter, clapping and cheering.

A celebratory walk through the College was next on the agenda and our Year 12 students enjoyed parading their costumes while other year levels congratulated them and clapped their achievement.

Although our traditional breakfast was not possible this year, students received a food pack that they enjoyed in Sheehan Stadium while they watched a video put together by staff as a send-off.

Despite all the restrictions in place, students and staff had a great time celebrating this significant milestone.

In the evening, parents and guardians were invited to view the pre-recorded Graduation Mass and Ceremony from the comfort of their own homes. Principal Marelene Jorgensen welcomed families and staff and students were asked to light the candle that was gifted to them in preparation for the Mass.

Although we were physically separated, we joined together as a community for this special moment.

I would like to thank staff, parents and guardians and the College leadership team for supporting our first-ever virtual graduation event.

Once again, I’d like to congratulate the Year 12 class of 2020 on their graduation. Whatever path students have chosen for 2021, I wish them the best and hope the effort and commitment they showed in 2020 continues beyond our gates.

Good luck to students who are joining the work force, moving into a short course, starting a traineeship or are planning on taking a gap year. I wish you happiness and blessings as you begin a new stage in your life. Good luck also to students who are currently completing examinations. I am sure your hard work, determination and resilience will bring success.

May God Bless you all and continue to keep you safe as you transition from secondary school and start your journey as well-equipped young adults.

New Student Leaders

CRC Melton’s new 2021 Student Leadership Team was announced during the annual Leadership Investiture Assembly held on Thursday 29 October.

The event also marked the end of leadership commitments for this year’s representatives who were recognised for the remarkable effort they made to ensure remote learning was a positive experience for the whole school cohort. I am genuinely appreciative of all their hard work and their commitment to their roles as school leaders.

The Investiture was an opportunity for College Captains, Paul and Chantal, to handover leadership to Bagena and Raphael, our 2021 College Captains, on behalf of their respective teams.

The 2021 Student Leadership Team is a remarkable and enthusiastic group of students who I look forward to working with next year. A full list of the students and their roles is available below.

Vocal Ensemble Performance

It has been a year of firsts for the entire world, and the CRC Melton Vocal Ensemble is no exception.

This year the Vocal Ensemble was faced with unprecedented challenges. Singing rehearsals were paused, camps and performances were cancelled and face to face contact was halted while Victoria grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this, the ensemble has been adaptive, dedicated, and creative.

I was inspired by the thousands of choristers around the world who, while in lockdown, put together virtual choir performances. I approached the College Ensemble with the idea of creating something similar. Not only did the students rise to the challenge, but they also surpassed expectations, showing a fantastic dedication by rehearsing and filming themselves to put together their version Let It Be originally written and performed by The Beatles.

The song was first suggested by Arts and Culture Captain, Elizabeth McKay, and was the perfect choice for these trying times, conveying the moral message of turning to God and having faith that things will work out for the better in times of hardship.

We hope you enjoy the performance. Click the image to watch now.

Let It Be by The Beatles – Performed by CRC Melton Vocal Ensemble. Backing track by Ms Amy Bandiera. Video editing and audio mix by Different Gravity Virtual Choir Services.

NAIDOC Week

It’s NAIDOC Week and the College is celebrating with a host of activities to build further connections with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities.

This year’s theme Always Was, Always Will Be recognises that First Nations people have occupied and cared for this continent for more than 65,000 years.

Events planned for this week include a daily competition on our INFINITI library catalogue, a homeroom challenge and displays throughout the College.

NAIDOC Week celebrations are usually held across Australia in July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC is celebrated not only in Indigenous communities, but by Australians from all walks of life. Due to COVID-19 the event was rescheduled to 8 -15 November.

Watch our Facebook and Instagram pages to see how our students and staff celebrate this important week that invites all Australians to embrace the true history of this country.

Humanities Update

We are excited to have our students back at school and return to face-to-face teaching. We have missed the laughter, the chats, the classroom vibe and the adventures of a Humanities classroom.

It was with a mix of emotions we recently farewelled our Year 12 students. As they prepare for their final exams, we encourage them to submit tasks for feedback and stay connected with their teachers. Our senior Humanities students will complete the following Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) exams in the coming weeks: Accounting, Business Management, Australian History, History – Revolutions and Legal Studies.

Our Year 11 students have finished their Unit 2 classes and began their Semester 2 exams yesterday before heading into Jumpstart. It is hard to believe that 2020 has passed us by and we are about to begin preparing current Year 11 students for their final year of secondary schooling.

On behalf of the Humanities Domain, I would like to wish all of our Year 12 students the very best in their upcoming exams and future endeavours. As I said to my students in Legal Studies and Business Management, “There is no rainbow, without the rain”. So, we are expecting a very bright rainbow as we have experienced a flood!

We also wish all our students and our broader community a safe journey forward.

Year 10 Hospitality High Tea

During Distance Learning Mode, Year 10 Hospitality students began designing a high tea to serve when they returned to school.

Despite gaining limited cooking experience this semester, the students presented a beautiful high tea to College leadership staff last week.

The students involved on the day were Georgia, Chloe, Keirah, Georgia, Charlie and Cleo while Diana, Alim and Rhyanon assisted with planning but were absent on the day.

The students were very proud of their efforts

CRC Wishing Tree

The Wishing Tree initiative is a long-held tradition at the College and is particularly important given the difficult times many families have experienced this year.

The aim is to collect delicious Christmas foods and gifts that will spread joy and cheer to families doing it tough in our community this Christmas.

Each homeroom has received a poster with details about the family (ages and members only) for whom they are creating a Christmas hamper.

Students and staff are encouraged to fill a basket with goodies for the family or collect donations and the Social Justice team will buy gifts to fill the hamper.

We ask that only non-perishable foods be donated and that gifts are left unwrapped. The Social Justice team will sanitise all items before wrapping up the hampers.

All donations are very much appreciated and should be given to homeroom teachers by Wednesday 25 November.

Thank you for your support.

Colour Mindfulness Sessions

The College can be a busy, noisy place so to help students settle back in after the extended lockdown, art teacher Ms Jennifer Segrave ran colour mindfulness sessions in the art room during lunchtime last week.

Soft lighting, meditative background music, salt lamps, fragrances and fairy lights created a peaceful and relaxing environment for students who quietly ate lunch and coloured a range of sheets, some also experimenting with patterns and colour selections. Many of our Year 7 to 10 students enjoyed the sessions.

Polished man

Students and staff also raised almost $70 in one recess and lunch break late last month for Polished Man. The organisation supports trauma prevention and trauma recovery programs for children who are at risk of, or who have suffered violence.

The Social Justice Team set up outside the canteen and invited the College community to have a single fingernail painted blue for a gold coin donation.

Donations to Polished Man are distributed among several organisations around the world including the Australian Childhood Foundation, Survivors and Mates Support Network, Hagar Australia, the New York Center for Children and YGAP.

To find out more about Polished Man please visit their website https://polishedman.com/

Community Business Directory

As we move closer to a COVID normal, the Student Representative Council (SRC) would like to remind the College community about the CRC Melton Community Business Directory.

The SRC developed this initiative to support businesses owned by families in our CRC community, especially during these difficult times.

If you are a past student of CRC Melton or currently have a child attending the school and are interested in promoting your business in the directory, please complete the attached Expression of Interest Form and forward it to src@sfcc.vic.edu.au

We look forward to hearing from you and continuing to support local businesses.

Community Notices

Moving from primary to secondary school

Parents and guardians of Grade 6 students are invited to take part in a free online forum hosted by psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Gregg tomorrow (Wednesday 11 November).

The forum has been organised by Melton City Council Young Communities to help parents and guardians navigate the transition to secondary school. To register email youngcommunities@melton.vic.gov.au or call 9747 5373.

More information is available in the flyer below.