Weekly Reflection

St Anthony of Padua is another of our 2023 House patrons.

St Anthony was born Fernando Martins in Lisbon, Portugal. He was born into a wealthy family and, by age 15, asked to be sent to the Abbey of Santa Cruz in Coimbra, the then capital of Portugal. During his time in the Abbey, he learned theology and Latin.

Following his ordination to the priesthood, he was named guest master and was responsible for the Abbey’s hospitality. When Franciscan friars settled a small hermitage outside Coimbra dedicated to St Anthony of Egypt, Fernando longed to join them.

Fernando eventually received permission to leave the Abbey to join the new Franciscan Order. When he was admitted, he changed his name to Anthony.

Anthony then travelled to Morocco to spread God’s truth, but became extremely sick and was returned to Portugal to recover. The return voyage was blown off-course and the party arrived in Sicily, from where they travelled to Tuscany. Anthony was assigned to the hermitage of San Paolo after local friars considered his health.

As he recovered, Anthony spent his time praying and studying.

An undetermined amount of time later, Dominican friars came to visit the Franciscans and there was confusion over who would present the homily. 

The Dominicans were known for their preaching; thus, the Franciscans assumed they would provide a homilist, but the Dominicans assumed the Franciscans would provide one. The head of the Franciscan hermitage asked Anthony to speak on whatever the Holy Spirit told him to speak of.

Though he tried to object, Anthony delivered an eloquent and moving homily that impressed both groups. Soon, news of his eloquence reached Francis of Assisi, who held a strong distrust of the brotherhood’s commitment to a life of poverty. However, in Anthony, he found a friend.

In 1224, Francis entrusted his friars’ pursuits of studies to Anthony.

Anthony occasionally taught at the universities of Montpellier and Toulouse in southern France, but he performed best in the role of a preacher.

His simple and resounding teaching of the Catholic faith, led to him being declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XII in 1946.

St Anthony was only 35 years old when he died and was canonised less than one year later by Pope Gregory IX. He is typically depicted with a book and the Infant child Jesus and is commonly referred to today as the “finder of lost articles”.

In St Anthony's words:

“Nothing so humbles the proud sinner as the humility of Jesus Christ’s humanity.”

“Do you want to have God always in your mind? Be just as he made you to be. Do not go seeking another you.”

“The life of the body is the soul, the life of the soul is Christ.”


Prayer 

O Saint Anthony, come to the rescue of my weakness, taking away the diseases and dangers of soul and body; help me to always put my trust in God, especially in times of trial and suffering. 

Bless my work, my family, your devotees around the world or spiritually present here: obtain for all benevolence of heart towards the poor and the suffering.

Amen

Click below to read more about our other new house names.

Lawrence | Dominic | MacKillop | Bakhita | Bernard | Catherine

Shaun Coates

Director of Catholic Identity

From the Principal

The importance of Jump Start

Many years ago, schools would wind down as the Christmas holidays approached. Once exams were completed, teachers would often show a video, or students would ask parents to allow them to stay home because exams had finished.

With the introduction of our Jump Start program, the College is certainly not winding down.

We have realised that every day at school matters and that these last few weeks of school must not be wasted. This is particularly true given our last two years of lockdown.

The opportunity for teachers and students to build face-to-face connections provides the best possible start to a new year level.

The Victorian Department of Education Flyer entitled Every Day Counts points out that attendance is an important part of a student’s success in learning.

“Going to school every day is the single most important part of your teenager’s education. Students learn new things at school every day – missing school puts them behind.”

Attending every day is essential because we want our students to experience success. The building blocks for a great education begin with students coming to school each day.

“Missing school can have a big impact on students academically and socially. It can affect their test results, including VCE & VCAL, and, just as importantly, it can affect their relationships with other students, and lead to social isolation. There is no safe number of days for missing school – each day a student misses puts them behind, and can affect their educational outcomes.”

During Jump Start, students will begin to experience their new electives, meet their teachers who, for the most part, will be their teachers in 2023, and may be given a novel to read over the summer break.

Parents are asked to support the College by ensuring students attend all end-of-year classes.

Congratulations

Congratulations to Year 12 student Heidi Pardinas who won the 2022 Shared Stories Anthology Poetry Award for her poem Cinema

This is a great achievement by Heidi, who was up against 18 other Catholic schools across Melbourne. She also won the College’s Senior Hildegarde Literary Prize earlier this year for Cinema.

Click here to watch Heidi recite her winning poem.

Marlene Jorgensen

Principal

Looking Ahead

Dates to remember
Wednesday 16 November Year 10 and 11 exams conclude
Friday 18 November

Student Work from Home Day

Monday 21 NovemberJump Start program begins
Thursday 1 DecemberTerm 4 concludes for Year 10 and 11 students
Friday 2 December

Junior Awards Ceremony

Term 4 concludes for Year 7-9 students


From the Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching

Our Year 9, 10 and 11 students began their exams last week and Year 7 and 8 completed their Timed Assessment Task.

I would like to acknowledge the responsible way students have undertaken these exams and assessments. Their entry into the assessment spaces and their behaviour has been exemplary, with Domain Leaders and Year Level Coordinators pleased with the mature way they have approached the assessment time.

The process provides a chance to demonstrate learning across the semester and apply study preparation and time management skills.

Our VCAA exam supervisors have also commented on the exemplary behaviour of the VCE Unit 3 and 4 students undertaking external examinations. Our Year 10, 11 and 12 students continue their exams this week and a reminder that Thursday 17 November the final catch-up day for any rescheduled internal exams.

Students are encouraged to reflect on their exam preparation and experience, setting goals for 2023.

Preparing for 2023

Students received their subjects for 2023 this week. They will have a taster of these during Jump Start beginning next Monday 21 November.

Booklists have been emailed to families. In January this year, due to COVID restrictions, book orders were delivered to your home, which will continue in 2023. The location of the nearest Campion service centre (Derrimut) is provided for families who wish to collect their books directly.

Learning and wellbeing

At the College, we understand the important links between learning and wellbeing and continue to work on a holistic approach to improve learning outcomes for all students.

The Year 7-10 Tutor Program will continue in 2023 to support students in achieving their expected level. Tutors will work with teachers to support students who would benefit from extra support.

Our 2022 NAPLAN data has shown strong growth in writing, with the results at their highest across the last five years. This supports our strong approach to improving writing in all disciplines, including the commitment to the MACS Secondary Discipline Literacy Project.

End of year awards

We will recognise the achievements of the Year 7-9 students across a range of areas at the Junior Awards Ceremony on Friday 2 December.

The Senior Awards Ceremony (Year 10-12) will occur in Term 1 2023, allowing us to recognise the VCAA results and College Dux.

Joanne Holmes

Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching

Student Representatives for World Youth Day 2023

The Melbourne Archdiocese is overseeing arrangements to send 500 young people to Lisbon, Portugal in July/August 2023 for World Youth Day (WYD).

More than two million people are expected to attend!

Current Year 9 and 10 students are invited to nominate to become a student pilgrim representing St Francis Catholic College at WYD.

Interested students, who have the support of their parents or guardians, should email me scoates@sfcc.vic.edu.au by no later than Wednesday 23 November, with a statement indicating why they would like to attend.

WYD includes many activities and catechesis events ending with Stations of the Cross on Friday evening, a 10km pilgrim walk and sleepout on Saturday then mass with the Pope on Sunday.

The Melbourne pilgrims will then have a further day together, culminating with Mass on Monday before they begin the journey home on Tuesday 8 August.

Weeks later, the group will reunite for a retreat in the September school holidays.

For schools, the minimum age for student pilgrims is 16. This typically means Year 10 and 11 students in 2023.

The Melbourne pilgrims will have their own nurse, doctor and mental health professionals at their hotel.

The Archdiocese has worked with Harvest Journeys to create two travel options for student pilgrims.

Option 1: Direct to Lisbon 28 July-9 August Cost: $5900 approx.

Initially spend 2 days in Fatima followed by WYD Week in Lisbon

Option 2: The Italian Way 22 July-9 August Cost: $8100 approx.

Rome, Assisi, Fatima and WYD2023 Week in Lisbon

Students could be sponsored by fundraising activities held in their parish. Our College may also assist in funding one or more students to attend.

To help with fundraising, student pilgrims who initially register and pay their $500 deposit will receive a URL and a link that operates much like a Go Fund Me page. 

They can forward the link to their school and parish seeking sponsorship from their local communities. The amount raised this way will be limited to $4000.

Further details about WYD can be found here.

Shaun Coates

Director of Catholic Identity

2023 Booklists and Buying Secondhand Textbooks

Your child received their 2023 subjects and booklist by email last week.

All book orders and payments can be completed online through Campion. The due date is Wednesday 14 December 2022.

Orders will be delivered by Australia Post and posted by 25 January 2023.

Please contact Campion Education on 1300 433 982 if you cannot order online and would like to collect your order from their retail service centre at Unit 8, 12 Makland Drive, Derrimut.

Textbooks and electronic books are not required for Jump Start and students can use their current stationery and 2022 workbooks.

Using the Sustainable School Shop for secondhand books

The College supports the Sustainable School Shop, which provides secondhand textbook options to assist families in purchasing resources.

If you are buying secondhand books, please check that the publication and edition match those used by the College.

The Sustainable School Shop has been provided with our booklists for all year levels to help guide your purchasing. They provide a daily summary of the secondhand texts available for sale.

Visit www.sustainableschoolshop.com.au/booklist/catholic-regional-college

If you have any questions regarding the Sustainable School Shop, you can call their helpline on 0438 743 444.

Joanne Holmes

Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching

Sports Update

SACCSS Junior Boys Hockey Champions


Congratulations to our boys hockey team who won the SACCSS Junior Boys Hockey Tournament last Friday. 

The team, made up of students in years 7, 8, and 9, played at the Footscray Hockey Club in the one-day competition.

They showed excellent sportsmanship and were very strategic in their gameplay.

The first game was against Emmanuel College, with CRC Melton winning 5-0. After a five-minute break, the team played Caroline Chisholm Catholic College, with the final score 0-0.

The third game saw the boys win against St Monica’s College 2-0, securing a spot in the finals. They anxiously awaited their opponents and intently watched the game between Caroline Chisholm and MacKillop, the winner of which would also be in the finals.

Caroline Chisholm won a penalty shootout, allowing them to progress into the finals against CRC Melton.

The final game was intense, without a shot scored in the first half. At half time, the team planned their playing strategies, determined to shoot a goal in the second half so that they did not have to determine a win via a penalty shootout. Two magnificent goals were scored in the second half securing a win for CRC Melton!

Well done to captain Jonah Hermence who undoubtedly led and organised the team, encouraging them at every opportunity. We witnessed a true leader in action on the day.

Not only did the team walk away with championship medals but Year 9 student Findlay Donachie was voted best on ground by umpires on the day.

Congratulations and well-done boys!

Karina Dunne and Dave Arthurson – Hockey coaches


SACCSS Junior Girls Hockey tournament

The skill and determination of our Junior Girls Hockey team saw them draw in their final game against MacKillop College during Friday’s SACCSS tournament.

Despite two straight losses the girls regrouped and gave it their all to keep MacKillop scoreless.

They really got into the game, developed some great hockey skills, and communicated well as a team.

We congratulate them on a fantastic effort.

Carolyn Howard and Maria Krajina – Hockey coaches

Year 10 Hospitality

Year 10 Hospitality students have had an outstanding semester developing complex practical skills for food preparation and presentation to industry standards.

The highlight was seeing their skills and knowledge come together to cater for our 2022 VCE Folio and Junior Art Exhibition opening night.

The students prepared attractive, on-trend and beautifully presented grazing boards, serving a variety of delicious sweet and savoury food items that were almost too gorgeous to eat!

Guests were amazed by the students’ talents and the exceptionally prepared and presented grazing table. We were so proud and delighted by the feedback received and I congratulate the students on their achievement.

I wish the students well for their end of semester examinations, and I excitedly look forward to another year of teaching Hospitality in 2023!

During Hospitality this semester, we learned many useful cooking and catering skills.

When it came to preparing food for ourselves and others, we learned about the importance of proper hygiene practices and food safety in the kitchen and how to appropriately cater for the many food allergies, intolerances and dietary requirements in today’s society.

We had the opportunity to display our new skills at the 2022 VCE Folio and Junior Art Exhibition, where our hospitality class was given a chance to cater for the guests.

Working as a team, we produced professional-quality grazing boards with a wide variety of food choices whilst also providing for several dietary requirements.

Correct food preparation and presentation techniques, proper time management, and food safety and hygiene practices were helpful and ensured the quality of our presented food exceeded expectations.

Isabella Kitchener and Marlee Leetham - 2022 Year 10 Hospitality Students

Kristina Stefanovska

Year 10 Hospitality teacher

Students Achieve Language Certificate

Congratulations to the 21 Year 10 Italian students who have obtained a Certificate II in Applied Language.

Students began this nationally recognised certificate in 2021 and should be very proud of their diligent efforts, working through the course during distance learning mode.

The students are:

Anna Aguirre, Charlie Boog, Kaitlyn Borg, Emily Boyce, Montana Burke, Jessica Ferris, Brianna Gill, Elesha Gruis, Lena Guanlao, Paris Iaria, Dannilla Jeevakenthiran, Emma King, Isabella Kitchener, Jack Kontostergios, Mikaela Lorenzo, Dabora Manyok, Maryam Matti, Van Thinh Nguyen, Nikita Pereira, Diamond Phan and Annabel Tarantino.

Claudia Russo

Languages Domain Leader

Listen to the CRC Melton Radio Show

If you missed our student radio program on LIVE FM last week, follow the link below to view a special online magazine with all the segments from the show.

CRC Melton LIVE FM radio program

Remembrance Day

Hundreds of bright red poppies made by students and staff were placed in our garden beds as part of Remembrance Day events last Friday. 

The flowers commemorate those who made the supreme sacrifice in times of war. 

A prayerful memorial service was held in Sheehan Stadium to observe a minute's silence at 11am and a delegation of students placed wreaths at the Melton Cenotaph. 

New College Careers Website

In 2023 the College will use new online careers platform to manage careers and pathways information delivered to students and families.

This platform is important for all year levels, especially our senior students, as it allows for clear distribution of information during the academic year.

Students will also be able to develop an e-portfolio they can use when applying for jobs and courses when they complete secondary school.

At the beginning of Jump Start, students will receive an email invitation to set up their accounts on the new platform.

During Jump Start, Year 10 students will use it to complete preparation for work experience and Year 12 students will prepare for career interviews.

As a parent/guardian, we understand that there are numerous pathways your child may undertake and changes at the senior level with the introduction of VCE Vocational Major (VM) and the Victorian Pathways Certificate.

To enable parents and guardians to keep abreast of information and opportunities such as part-time employment and apprenticeships, they can also create an account on the new platform.

The aim is to make information more accessible.

The new careers platform will replace the current communication with students through Microsoft Teams.

The Pathways team (myself and Rachelle Spence) are also available at the College and students can continue to make appointments by emailing pathways@crcmelton.com.

We trust the new careers platform will assist students and families in making informed pathway decisions throughout their time at the College.

Kristiaan Vallak

Pathways Coordinator

Melton Parish Christmas Mass Times

Community Notices

Foster Care Information Session


Women in Sport Breakfast

Pasifika Festival

Power Saving Bonus

Free Kinder From 2023

Western Bulldogs Youth Leadership Project

Useful Links

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

PAM – Parent Portal

Subject Selection Guide 2023

What's new in 2023

Parent Handbook

Enrolment

Cobblebank Campus

Facebook

Instagram

Policies

Uniform

Library

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