Visit to CRC by Steve McGhie MLA

On Monday, we greeted our local state Member for Melton, Steve McGhie and his assistant Broden Borg.

Our visitors spent an hour visiting our classrooms and facilities, and listening to our local issues.

We look forward to an ongoing relationship with Steve and his office.

Melton History

This week we received a copy of Growth, Progress and Community Spirit, a history of the Melton District. It looks, at first glance, to be a terrific resource for all in the community who have an interest in Melton’s growth over the past hundred years. A copy is available for viewing in the College Library.

Resilience Project Parent Evening

On 7th May, the College hosted a parent workshop presented by the founder of the Resilience Project, Hugh van Cuylenburg, with approximately 100 parents attending the evening.

Hugh told stories from his life, giving practical, evidence-based, positive mental health strategies to build resilience and happiness. “It’s for everyone, no matter how happy they currently feel, no matter how good their headspace,” he said. “It’s about giving them strategies to stay that way.”

He gave tips which included paying attention to all the great things we have, rather than focusing on the things we don’t have, learning how to be calm and present in the moment, learning the importance of being kind to people and how to reconnect in a genuine and authentic way.

Hugh offered simple strategies on how we can practise gratitude, be empathetic and be mindful. For example, ask yourself and write down what are three things that went well for you today? If you do that every day for 21 days, you rewire your brain to start scanning the world for the positive and in 42 days, you are less likely to get sick, have higher levels of energy, feel happier, have a better quality of sleep and have lower levels of depression and anxiety.

Every time you do something for someone else, your brain releases oxytocin and this leads to increased self-esteem and confidence, increased energy, levels of happiness and positivity. A simple exercise when practising mindfulness or meditating he offered was when walking your dog, only focus on the sounds around you not how the day went and what do I have to do in preparation for tomorrow, but be in the present moment.

The messages of Hugh fit with the presentation made by our College Captains, Evana Miesen and Dylan Hassan at a recent full school assembly. They spoke of one of their key focuses as college captains this year being the promotion of mental health amongst our school and community.

1 in 7 young people are affected by a mental health disorder. Suicide is the leading cause of death amongst young people. Rates of suicide are the highest that they’ve been in 10 years. These numbers are tragic and represent the action we must take. I feel as though it is our responsibility as a school to reach out and help those suffering from these terrible diseases. However, it is not that easy, that’s the thing about depression (or any other disorder): many people I have spoken to who are suffering, have explained we can’t force it to go away. If I could just “stop feeling sad” I WOULD. This is why it is so important that we don’t turn a blind eye and realise the significance that the promotion of mental health can bring to students’ academic performance and social interaction.

Through our school community we can look after and support one another by encouraging students to speak up. I urge you to understand that there is nothing weak in asking for help. Give yourself permission to acknowledge that you’re feeling terrible (or bad, or whatever it is you are feeling), and do a little thing, just one little thing, that you probably don’t feel like doing, and I PROMISE you it will help.

Some of these things include talking, seeking professional help, colouring, mindfulness or getting support from a friend. As a friend, it may feel confronting or overwhelming to be in this position.

If you need some guidance, RUOK has suggested 4 steps.

1. Ask your friend “RUOK”?

2. Listen

3. Encourage action - refer them to their Year Level Coordinator

4. Check in.

CRC is full of bright students full of so much potential, we cannot let depression/anxiety win, so I encourage you to seek help, ask your friend if they are okay, and together as a school through supporting one another we can fight back. With the assistance of Media Captain Cassandra Nguyen, students produced a video to support their message.

https://crcmeltonmy.sharepoint.com/:v:/g/personal/528242_crcmelton_com_au/EWdIdidwHclLoZ4z3o_q-z4B_UtJbmuhLE4vtP0jeFaZ0g?e=t9zj5w

On Wednesday 29th May or Thursday 30th May, Year 9 students and their parent/s are invited to participate in the Year 9 Rite Journey Calling and Departure ceremony. This ceremony marks the important journey that Year 9s are embarking on this year in Rite Journey. The Rite Journey reinvents the traditional process of a Rite of Passage to assist in transforming the adolescent from dependency to responsibility, from childhood to young adulthood. The ceremony is a symbol of this transformation.

In preparation for the evening we ask that parents write a letter to their son/daughter. A template for this letter has been provided in the Caremonkey form sent out earlier in the week. During their Rite Journey classes, the Year 9s will also be writing a letter and these letters will be exchanged on the evening.

It is an expectation that one or both parents/guardians attend the night as the purpose of the night is to recognise the role parents have had in their child’s life and the journey they are going on. Due to the significant nature of this ceremony, siblings should not attend.

Details for the night are as follows:

Date:

BOYS - Wednesday 29th May 2019

GIRLS - Thursday 30th May 2019

Time: 7:00pm

Location: Catholic Regional College Melton Sports Stadium

Dress code: Neat Casual (no track pants or active wear)

Outline for night:

7.00 – 7.15pm: Introduction and welcome

7.15 – 7.30pm: Exchange of letters and leaf activity

7.30 – 8.10pm: Calling and Departure Ceremony (Fire pit and archway walk)

8.10pm – 8.30pm: Photos and tea/coffee

If you have any questions about the night, please don’t hesitate to contact me via email at lhill@sfcc.vic.edu.au or 8099 6000.

Lauren Hill

GADAL Director

Parents, Carers and Guardians can now access our NCCD google folder for updated CECV NCCD Information Sheets for 2019. Please click on the following link:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1oCvbUjSZbjetbn6Q31Wqe9v0bHwQt8mB

Rebecca Carey

Student Services Coordinator

SACCSS Cross Country Carnival

On 7th May we sent over 50 students to represent the College at the SACCSS Cross Country Carnival. All the students ran great races throughout the day. The encouragement, support and positivity not only between team mates but the sportsmanship between all 14 schools was fantastic. Congratulations to the following students who placed in the top 10 within their age group:

• Girls under 13s- Danielle Ide 6^th place
• Boys under 14s- Gabriel Acosta 10^th place
• Girls intermediate-Lucy Taylor 4^th place
• Boys intermediate- Solomon Miesen 9^th place

And a very special congratulations to Jackson Wright who won the under 13's boys race. An outstanding effort by Jackson for his first year at the College. What a great achievement as a year 7 student.

Thank you to Emma Brown for coaching and training the team and a special thank you to all the parents who attended to show their support for our school.

Year 7 Premier League

Last week on Wednesday 8th May we had our second round of year 7 premier league. We had a home game against CRC St. Albans. Our Footballers played at Arnolds Creek, Soccer was at Kurunjang Synthetic and Basketball, Netball and Volleyball headed to Eagle Stadium. The students were eager and excited to play especially the boys' Football team being their first game. We had an extremely successful day out with all 8 teams winning. Next round we play Mackillop which we know will be very challenging for all teams. The scores from round 2 are as follows:

• Won Boys AFL 115-1
• Won Girls Netball 64-1
• Won Boys Basketball 42-16
• Won Girls Basketball 75-2
• Won Boys Soccer 3-2
• Won Girls Soccer 5-2
• Won Boys Volleyball 94-74
• Won Girls Volleyball 75-39

Jordyn Syme

Head of Sport

Wings of Fire: The Lost Heir Book 2 By: Tui T. Sutherland, Mike Holmes (Illustrator)

The lost heir to the SeaWing throne is going home at last. She can't believe it's finally happening. Tsunami and her fellow dragonets of destiny are journeying under the water to the great SeaWing Kingdom. Stolen as an egg from the royal hatchery, Tsunami is eager to meet her future subjects and reunite with her mother, Queen Coral. But Tsunami's triumphant return doesn't go quite the way she'd imagined. Queen Coral welcomes her with open wings, but a mysterious assassin has been killing off the queen's heirs for years, and Tsunami may be the next target. The dragonets came to the SeaWings for protection, but this ocean hides secrets, betrayal and perhaps even death.

Strange the Dreamer: Muse of Nightmares By: Laini Taylor

In the wake of tragedy, neither Lazlo nor Sarai are who they were before. One a god, the other a ghost, they struggle to grasp the new boundaries of their selves as dark-minded Minya holds them hostage, intent on vengeance against Weep. Lazlo faces an unthinkable choice - save the woman he loves, or everyone else? While Sarai feels more helpless than ever. But is she? As humans and god spawn reel in the aftermath of the citadel's near fall and a new foe shatters their fragile hopes, the Muse of Nightmares must take possession of her power - and of her fate, and everyone else's. Love and hate, revenge and redemption, destruction and salvation all clash in this gorgeous sequel to the international bestseller, Strange the Dreamer.

Library Team

Thank you to the staff and students who have been collecting Woolworths Earn and Learn stickers. This promotion runs until 25^th June, so keep collecting! Stickers can be given to your Homeroom Teacher or the Librarians. We also have a collection box located at the Woolworths store inside of Woodgrove for your friends and family to donate to.

Come and see some amazing bike creations and daredevil riders on the Chopper Stopper, Double Eagle, Penny Farthing and Puny Cycle.

Practise your design skills, watch the stunt riders or have a go yourself! For big and little kids who love bicycles.

Children under 12 need to be accompanied by a responsible adult. No bookings required. Full details in attached leaflet.

Nicole Hilder

Digital Access and Local History Librarian | Melton City Council

The Filipino Community profile is a fantastic opportunity to learn about our growing Filipino Community here in the City of Melton and how to engage with them more effectively. See attached flyer for event details.