Weekly Reflection

Celebrating Mass at school

For Catholic communities such as ours, celebrating the Eucharist is the central and defining ritual, so it is with great expectation we look ahead to Friday this week when our College community will congregate in Sheehan Stadium for the end of year mass.

Not surprisingly this will be the only Mass celebrated at CRC Melton since our opening school mass in February due to the pandemic. The opportunity to gather together as a faith community in this special way is one we look forward to.

Pope Francis was once asked, “Why must one go to Church, given that those who regularly participate in Holy Mass are still sinners like the others?” His response?

“The one celebrating the Eucharist doesn’t do so because he believes he is or wants to appear better than others, but precisely because he acknowledges that he is always in need of being accepted and reborn by the mercy of God, made flesh in Jesus Christ.

"If any one of us does not feel in need of the mercy of God, does not see himself as a sinner, it is better for him not to go to Mass! We go to Mass because we are sinners and we want to receive God’s pardon, to participate in the redemption of Jesus, in his forgiveness.”

General audience, St Peter’s Square, 12 February, 2014.

Shaun Coates

Director of Catholic Identity

From the Principal

Last Friday 19 November was Freedom Friday. As many restrictions lifted in Victoria, the timing could not have been better for our Year 12 Graduation Dinner.

With students, staff and parents dressed for the occasion, it was wonderful to be on the dance floor and leave our masks at home. This cohort has suffered in particular from the last two years of COVID restrictions, with much of their senior years spent learning via Teams.

For those who coped with this more independent learning style, the time has been manageable. For most, however, the lack of interaction with friends and the support of face-to-face teaching has been incredibly difficult.

It is a credit, therefore, to our 2021 graduates that they remained so positive and resilient.

Their energy on the dance floor and enthusiasm for celebrating together was palpable on Friday evening and the large number of staff who attended is testament to the strong bonds established between them. This student-teacher relationship is even more important than the content delivered, so I thank staff for the time and effort to support our graduating students.

I also take this opportunity once again to thank parents for their support along the journey. Educating young people is a partnership that can not be successful unless parents fully support the College.

We wish our graduates all the very best for the next stage of life’s journey and look forward to hearing of the many successes they achieve.

Marlene Jorgensen

Principal

Looking Ahead

Dates to remember
Friday 26 November	Final day for Year 10 and 11 2021 students - 3.20pm dismissal
Friday 3 December	Final day for Year 7-9 2021 students - 1.15pm dismissal
Tuesday 7 December	Year 7 2022 Orientation Day
Wednesday 15 December	2022 booklist orders due online
Friday 17 December	College office closes
Tuesday 1 February 2022	Term 1 begins for all students

From the Deputy Principal, Operations, Staffing and Strategic Intent

Incredibly, we are fast approaching the end of a very challenging year. The College is already planning for 2022 and looking forward to a more settled year.

To help families with their planning I have included some key dates below.

Term 1 begins for all students on Tuesday 1 February 2022.
Year 8 Camp is from Tuesday 1 March to Friday 4 March 2022.
Year 7 Camp is from Monday 21 March to Thursday 24 March 2022.
Parent Student Teacher Interviews are on Tuesday 5 April and Thursday 7 April 2022.
Term 1 concludes on Thursday 7 April 2022. Friday 8 April is a study from home day for students.
Term 2 begins for all students on Tuesday 26 April 2022 (ANZAC Day is Monday 25 April).
Tuesday 14 June is a study at home day for the students. (Staff Faith Formation Day).
Term 2 concludes on Friday 24 June 2022.
Term 3 begins on Wednesday 13 July 2022. Monday 11 July and Tuesday 12 July will be staff professional development days.
Friday 26 August will be a study at home day for students. (Staff Service Day)
Parent Student Teacher Interviews are on Tuesday 13 September and Thursday 15 September 2022.
Term 3 concludes on Friday 16 September 2022.
Term 4 begins for all students on Monday 3 October 2022.
Term 4 concludes for Year 10 and 11 students on Friday 25 November 2022 and for Year 7, 8 and 9 students on Friday 2 December 2022.

These days will be uploaded into the College Calendar.

Michael Wilcock

Deputy Principal, Operations, Staffing and Strategic Intent

Starting Secondary School Webinar

An online webinar hosted by well-known adolescent psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Gregg and experienced secondary educator Sharon Witt will be held tomorrow at 7pm for parents and their young person beginning their secondary journey in 2022.

Tickets cost $30 and you will have 12 weeks to view the recorded webinar as many times as you wish.

Topics will include:

The effect lockdown and remote learning have had on students and will be disadvantaged due to the pandemic?
How to help a child who is worried they have missed out on so much in Year 6 this year.
Understanding the adolescent brain.
Managing change: timetables, new school, teachers.
Homework
Navigating friendships.
Managing a child’s Health: sleep, exercise, nutrition.
Understanding mental health concerns of adolescents and when to seek help.

Follow this link to book your ticket.

Cheryl Bullen

Deputy Principal Student Wellbeing - Melton Campus

From the Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching

Students are participating in our inaugural, whole school Jump Start program to begin their 2022 studies. We welcome all new students attending and send our best wishes to those leaving the College as they embark on the next part of their educational experience and journey.

There is a great sense of calm and excitement as I move around the College with welcoming assemblies, activities and new classes underway.

A reminder that students require their usual stationery, writing materials, iPad or laptop but are not expected to have their 2022 books. Teachers will have photocopies or electronic copies of the text material required. For VCE students, where Edrolo is book-listed, accounts have been activated for Jump Start and before payment. Payment is made via the Edrolo Payment portal.

I would like to acknowledge the responsible way students undertook their VCAA and internal examinations. For our Year 10 and 11 students, this provided a time to experience study preparation, the examination environment and balancing the timing of responses. Students are encouraged to reflect on their experience and set goals for 2022.

At CRC Melton, we understand the importance of Learning and Teaching and Wellbeing working together to provide a holistic approach to improve learning outcomes for all our students. We will continue the Year 7-10 Tutor Program in 2022 to help students achieve their expected level.

We will look forward to recognising our Year 7-9 students across a range of areas in the Junior Awards Ceremony on Friday 3 December.

It is an exciting time as the 2021 year draws to a close and the 2022 learning year begins.

Joanne Holmes

Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching

Year 9 Outdoor Education

After spending Term 3 and the start of Term 4 in distance learning mode studying different environments and people’s motivation for visiting these environments, our Year 9 Outdoor Education students finally got out from behind a screen to experience the real thing!

On Monday 8 November, students took part in a surfing experience at Anglesea main beach, honing their skills on a surfboard and appreciating the calmness of a water environment.

The next day students travelled to the You Yangs Regional Park for two hours of mountain bike riding around winding trails before getting up close and personal with the granite outcrops of the park while rock climbing.

After a long semester inside, it was a well-deserved couple of days for our Outdoor Education students.

Jason Rowley

Year 9 Outdoor Education Coordinator

Year 7 Art

On their final day of art class for Year 7, teacher Kath Jones captured some of the great work completed by students. Oil pastels, coloured pencils, permanent markers and coloured paper were used to create abstract art.