We would all have preferred to commence Term 2 in person at the College. However, to reduce the spread of COVID-19, we have made the move to Distance Learning Mode (DLM).

On our first day, of the1090 students enrolled at the College, only 28 failed to log in and commence online learning. This statistic is outstanding! It speaks volumes about the community of Catholic Regional College Melton.

It says that our students are eager to learn and as young adolescents will adapt and make the most of this new frontier.

It tells me that parents are supporting the move by providing an environment to learn, ensuring the Internet is connected and enabling teachers to deliver learning in a new and exciting mode.

It tells me that teachers are genuinely lifelong learners, switching from face-to-face teaching to an entirely new model in only three weeks. Staff have learnt how to use Microsoft Teams, developed online learning and spent hours researching ways to engage students without the joy of face to face teaching.

As educators, we have been inundated with research and recommendations to manage Distance Learning Mode. This extract from Steve Francis' latest School Leadership Insights newsletter is worth a mention.

"I am unashamedly a big fan of author, Gabbie Stroud. (Her) key message for parents is that they are the most important teacher their children will ever have. In her letter to parents she says, “You are their first teacher and their lifelong teacher. You. The work that I do, the work that any classroom teacher does, is secondary to the teaching that you do every single day of your child’s life. You may not realise it, but you’ve been teaching your children for years".

As well as the deliberate teaching that parents do, teaching children to talk, walk, put on their shoes, to clap hands and blow out candles, but all of the other things parents have unconsciously taught them too.

Gabbie highlights that children are always looking to parents to discover how they should BE in the world. As parents you teach them through:

• The way you speak to people
• The way you respond to the chaos of your life
• The way you listen to others
• The way you approach work
• The way you spend your time
• The way you experience failure and acknowledge success.”

Click here to read the full article

Maintenance and new artworks

Our maintenance staff have used the opportunity to complete many works around the College. They have painted several areas, arranged for new carpets, varnished our outdoor seating and the gardens are looking beautiful.

One change is the addition of new prints in our front reception. These distinctly Catholic images remind us that we are a not just a school but a Catholic school and that our Catholic identity underpins all that we do and say.

St Joseph (Picture 1 below)

St Joseph was a humble man who obeyed the will of God. He quietly took Mary as his wife despite her pregnancy. He was a man of courage and humility who protected Mary and Jesus when they were in danger.

Sister Jospehine Bakhita (Picture 2 below)

Sister Josephine Bakhita is a Sudanese saint. Bakhita was born in 1869 in Darfur in western Sudan. At the age of seven, she was seized by Arab slave traders and suffered greatly. After many years as a slave she eventually became a nun and is now the patron Saint of Slavery.

Mary of the Aboriginals (Picture 3 below)

This print is a copy of the original by Karel Kupka, which hangs in the Darwin Cathedral. Mary holds Jesus on her shoulder in the way of indigenous mothers and has a self-assured and calm composure.

Thank you parents

I'd like to thank all parents for their support so far. Your feedback is much appreciated. I'd particularly like to share with you some of the comments College staff have received in the past week.

"Hi Lauren, I just wanted to congratulate you and the Year 9 team so far in preparing the children for this online learning. Today went fairly smoothly with my daughter's classes. I know there will be hiccups along the way however we are off to a good start. Please pass on my congratulations to the team. It was nice to hear her having some time to talk to you and her classmates, this is what we are all missing greatly! Good luck for whatever the term may bring."

"Homeschooling is going well. I really like that the process follows the usual school day timetable and because I know that quite well, I can ensure that they are on task and taking breaks when they are meant to be. The system is working well and the boys are successfully logging on and interacting with their teachers. They haven’t had any complaints. I hope it is working well from the school’s perspective as well. "

“I missed 4 years of school in Bosnia during the war. Four whole years with a war happening. I came to Australia at age 13 with no English and no schooling since I was 8. I’m 33 and I have a university degree and a very good career. The kids will be fine. Don’t sweat it. Every kid in the world is in the same boat. They aren’t missing out and they aren’t in a war zone. Chill. Their teachers are doing the best they can. You are doing the best you can. They are children. What they want is to feel safe and loved.”

Thank you to parents and guardians for the tremendous support so far in ensuring that students are engaging with the learning materials.

It is often tempting as a parent to jump online and ask questions of a teacher rather than watch children struggle with technology.

Having students try for themselves is far more empowering and builds confidence. Even if students struggle, encouragement to persist builds resilience.

If as parents you have questions of subject or homeroom teachers, please email the teacher directly. Please do not participate as a parent in our classroom or homeroom Teams forums.

The Microsoft Teams group is the same as a classroom or homeroom, and no adolescent wants their parent to interrupt a lesson and start talking to the teacher.

It is also not practical for teachers to answer parent questions while conducting a lesson. Teaching staff will answer your questions via email as soon as possible.

Also, parents are asked to contact the school directly if they have any concerns so that any misconceptions or issues can be quickly resolved .

Thank you for your understanding as we navigate these uncharted waters.

As we enter our second week of Distance Learning it is wonderful to hear from students and parents/guardians on their progress.

As teachers and parents, we hope our children will develop resilience, initiative, self-motivation and enhanced problem-solving skills throughout their educational years. These are needed in all occupations and throughout life. They are also skills that employers look for in their staff. Distance Learning provides many opportunities for our college Community to develop these skills as we navigate a very different learning landscape.

Throughout this term our students will become more aware of the type of learner they are as they are provided with a range of engaging, motivational, creative and innovative classes. Perhaps they are more visual, auditory or kinaesthetic or perhaps they prefer a slower or a faster pace in their classes. For our senior students, the type of learning experience they enjoy will help them decide on their future pathway or subjects/electives they want to undertake in 2021.

The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) is working through the implications of Distance Learning and has made changes to some of its administration dates. VCE, VET and VCAL students will be notified of all changes by the relevant coordinators. Students should disregard other unauthorised communication because it may be inaccurate or incorrect.

We thank our parents/guardians for their patience as we navigate this different learning experience. If you have any concerns please contact the relevant subject teacher or Learning Support Leader.

I am confident that through this time, our students will become better equipped to take ownership of their personal learning.

The mental health of our students and families has never been more important and our ongoing connection with The Resilience Project (TRP) provides valuable resources to the whole College community.

Last week I introduced you to TRP@ Home. It provides families with activities linked to the principles of Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness. TRP's mission is simple - it aims to teach positive mental health strategies to help people become happier.

The latest addition to TRP @ Home focuses on Empathy; our ability to feel what someone else is feeling. When we think of others, we are more likely to be kind so these activities will focus a lot on kindness. Click here to see the Empathy video

I would also encourage you to share the GEM CHAT questions (Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness) with your family. These appear under the Empathy video presentation in the link above.

We understand that not all activities can or will be completed during this period of distance learning. However, by sharing the GEM CHAT questions, we hope that families can have regular conversations and practice the principles together.

Online Safety

We are now in the second week of Distance Learning Mode. Online safety is very important as parents and guardians become the main monitor of their child's access to the Internet.

The eSafety Commissioner has provided some advice and tips and offers live webinars that explore the latest research and expert advice for using technology safely. They are a great way to learn how you can help your child develop the skills to be safer online.

A booklet that provides advice to parents and guardians about keeping children safe online during the COVID-19 pandemic is also available from the eSafety Commissioner. You can download it here:

COVID-19 Global Online Safety Advice for Parents and Carers

ANZAC Day

We would normally gather as a school community to commemorate the sacrifice of those who fought and died at ANZAC Cove on 25 April 1915. Although this is not possible this year because of the COVID-19 restrictions, students and families are still invited to participate in ANZAC Day commemorations.

In Homeroom on Friday, students will participate in an online commemoration service with their teachers and class and we will hold a private ceremony at school to lay a wreath at the foot of our Lone Pine.

The Department of Veteran Affairs is also suggesting several ways to be involved. Click here to find out more

For example Light Up the Dawn is a campaign by RSL Australia and ABC local radio. Australians are being asked to stand in their driveways or on their balconies at dawn on 25 April 2020. You could light a candle and place a small wreath around it then together:

• hear The Ode and The Last Post played on the radio
• share a 1-minute silence together.

You can pledge to participate at rslanzacspirit.com.au.

We also invite you to take a photo of your ANZAC Day commemoration and share it with the College so we can post it on our social media pages and include it in next week's newsletter. You can send your photos and brief description of the commemoration to rblackley@sfcc.vic.edu.au

Two students from each year level have been recognised with a School Spirit Award for their positive contribution to the College in Term 1.

Our congratulations goes to all the award winners who will receive their certificate and gift in the mail this week.

We will continue to acknowledge positive behaviour and school spirit during Term 2 while we work in Distance Learning Mode.

Year 7 award winners

Zoey Matthews (7 Dominic)

Zoey is a student who is always friendly, optimistic, helpful and studious. She has demonstrated a positive and mature approach to her first term at CRC and works hard in all of her subjects to achieve her best. Zoey has met the challenges of year 7 with diligence and a positive attitude. She has shown her caring nature and leadership skills as well as her team spirit participating to the best of her ability at the Swimming Carnival.

Jacob-John Cauchi (7 Bernard)

Jacob is always positive, caring, and helpful. He works hard in all his subjects always striving for his best. Jacob helps other students in his class showing initiative and being supportive of those around him. He does everything with a smile. Jacob was the driving force of the Acts of Kindness project engaging in many kind acts in his class and always encouraging others. He is a mature positive role model in Year 7 always thinking outside the box to help those around him.

Year 8 award winners

Olivia Eagle (8 Reed)

Throughout this term, Olivia has shown herself to be an extremely diligent student and a wonderful role model for the Year 8 cohort. She wears her uniform with pride and consistently demonstrates exemplary behaviour. Olivia has a positive and thoughtful disposition and interacts warmly with both peers and staff members.

David Johan (8 O'Reilly)

David has been a consistently cheerful, energetic, and hardworking member of the 2020 Year 8 cohort. He is quick to volunteer his assistance for assemblies and Mass, is enthusiastic when involved in school activities, and works diligently in his classes. David wears his uniform with pride and is quick to help others.

Year 9 award winners

Jessica McMillan (9 Catherine)

Jessica’s growth has been amazing and she has shown real leadership and support for her Rite Journey group. Initially, very shy and only sharing minimally, Jessica is now leading and being a positive voice in terms of our activities (like the stave challenge and the tik tok challenge). Her positivity and voice are strong.

Ophelia Fernando: (9 Dominic)

Ophelia’s leadership skills and involvement in extracurricular activities is outstanding. Ophelia is the Year 9 SRC Representative and attends every meeting and partakes in every school competition. Even in Homeroom, she includes the entire group and when she wins, she happily shares her prize with her peers. Her generosity to help students and staff when she can, giving up her own personal time, demonstrates her active participation and valued leadership skills within our school community.

Year 10 awards winners

Samuel Beckett: (10 Anthony)

Samuel has made a positive start to the 2020 school year. He looks out for the safety of his peers in the classroom and for the general wellbeing of the cohort through his open interactions with his coordinators. Samuel has positive relationships with his teachers and has displayed maturity and resilience in his attitude to school work and behaviour throughout Term 1.

Wanwue Tarpeh: (10 Anthony)

Wanwue has embraced the life and culture of her new school. Wanwue has displayed mature interactions with her teachers, working with them in the spirit of building positive working relationships, highlighting her resilient and positive outlook to her studies. She has applied herself to extra-curricular activities at the College and engages well with her peers, highlighted by her representation of Year 10 on the Student Representative Council.

Year 11 awards winners

Dillon Puskadija (11 Catherine)

Dillon consistently displays a desire and aptitude to learn. His teachers testify that this dedication has enabled him to form excellent work habits that will hold him in good stead throughout VCE. Dillon has performed well as Deputy Media Captain throughout Term 1. The positivity he displays is evident through his cheerful interactions with his teachers and his genuine and often light-hearted connection with his peers and friends.

Alla Rowley (11Mackillop)

Alla is a valued member of the cohort who consistently presents a positive attitude and willingness to assist where needed. The character and integrity she demonstrates, embodies the College ethos as attested by her teachers who note the happy demeanour she presents within the classroom. Her diligent approach towards her studies has enabled her to achieve some excellent results throughout Term 1.

Year 12 award winners

Aleisha Sneddon (12 O'Reilly)

Aleisha has demonstrated great leadership in her VCAL course often being labelled as a positive role model for her peers. Aleisha is always polite, engaged in her work and completes her tasks to a very high standard. She is one that takes pride in her schooling and reflects a positive attitude in the VCAL classroom.

Shara Richards (12 O'Reilly)

Shara has gone above and beyond in making her homeroom a nice place to be. She demonstrated initiative by adding decorations and organising the layout of the homeroom to make it extra special. Shara is also very generous - she helps others and makes new people feel welcome in homeroom. She shows good leadership skills and is always diligent in her schooling. Shara is polite to all those around her and takes pride in her education.

Our Active April Challenge began yesterday (20 April) and I hope everyone involved is excited to be taking part.

I decided to create this program because student health and wellbeing are important. Now that we are learning online it becomes tougher for students to stay active and healthy and we need to remember to get up and about.

The challenge involves just one simple, achievable task a day and is a great way to get students moving and out of the house.

We have had a great response so far but would love to see more students sign up. The motivation and enthusiasm already shown has been fantastic.

Tasks we have planned in the next two weeks include stretches and exercises, healthy eating, walking, jogging and just simply getting outside to move about. You will find more details in the guides attached below.

Bonus challenges on Monday, Wednesday and Friday are also a great way to earn extra points for your house. See below for more on these activities.

If you haven’t signed up yet it's not too late! Contact Ms Nirasha Pandi via email npandi@sfcc.vic.edu.au.

While self-isolation measures are necessary, we still need exercise to function well, maintain a healthy body and keep our spirits up during these challenging times. Exercise can help keep our immune system strong, making us less susceptible to infections and better able to recover from them.

How much physical activity should you and your child be doing?

Australian recommendations are for all adults to do at least 150 - 300 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity per week, as well as muscle-strengthening activities on two or more days a week. Children aged 5-17 years are encouraged to do a minimum of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise every day.

The Health and Physical Education Faculty Team is working hard to provide students with opportunities for physical activity and promote how to do these safely at home.

We have created an ‘active at home’ unit of work through which students will gain a better understanding of the Australian physical activity guidelines, while being encouraged to stay active and record their progress.

The pictures below demonstrate how our Year 7 students are completing a physical activity of their choice that they record in their PE activity diary. Examples of how to be active at home were posted on the Year 7 Health and PE team page for every student.

On the Teams app, teachers have also provided additional resources and ideas on how students can keep active. Suggested activities are updated every week, but if you’re struggling for ideas, you can contact the Health and PE department at dkelly@sfcc.vic.edu.au

You can also get involved as a family by joining the Active April challenge https://www.activeapril.vic.gov.au/

The College is running its own Active April Challenge for students. They can sign up by emailing npandi@sfcc.vic.edu.au. More information on the challenge is provided in this edition of the newsletter.

Seven reasons to keep up exercise in isolation

1. To reduce stress

Research tells us that regular physical activity helps reduce stress. Exercise stimulates the ‘feel good’ hormones that improve your mood and help protect your mental health. It also helps improve sleep which is important when it comes to maintaining healthy daily routines.

2. To keep up a daily routine

These are really uncertain times and it’s completely understandable if people are feeling on edge. Try your best to keep things in perspective – this is a very serious public health situation but it is temporary. Keep up your daily routine – including regular exercise. Draw up a calendar for the day and week so you have a daily structure.

If you can’t access your usual sport and exercise venues, search YouTube for indoor and outdoor exercise videos. Exercise apps will also help motivate you and record your progress.

Use technology to link up with fitness professionals. This can be a great replacement for classes or gym sessions. They can help with tailored exercise and physiotherapy programs.

3. To get you out of the house and into the fresh air

If possible, go for a walk or run among nature. If you have a dog, they will always appreciate the extra exercise.

4. To loosen up your body

Too many hours indoors and without exercise can leave us feeling stiff, less mobile and with less energy. Adults should aim for at least 30 minutes per day of moderate-intensity exercise, like brisk walking or gardening. Kids should double this.

5. To boost your immunity

A new study by researchers at the University of Melbourne found that keeping up regular, daily exercise at a time when much of the world is going into isolation will play an important role in helping maintain a healthy immune system.

6. To give you a screen break

Keep fit at home by tackling cleaning jobs you’ve put off for ages. Gardening keeps you flexible, strong and gives you a sense of accomplishment when you finish mowing the lawn or weeding a garden bed. Clear gutters of moss, leaves and twigs and fix any leaks. Steam couches and carpets and clean garden equipment and furniture ready to be packed away for winter.

7. To give yourself some 'me' time

During this time when it’s easy to spiral into worry, having some strategies to give your mind a break is really important. Mindfulness and exercise can help us keep our minds anchored in the present and manage the avalanche of worries during this challenging period.

Dan Kelly

Faculty Leader Health and Physical Education

Entries for the annual CRC Melton Writing Competition will close at 4.30pm this Thursday 23 April.

This year submissions must include all the following words – malice, slippery, hindsight and shameful.

The competition has a Junior category (Year 7 to 9) and a Senior category (Year 10 to 12). First prize in each category is a $50 Woodgrove Shopping Centre voucher. A $100 Woodgrove voucher will also be awarded to the best entry overall from any year level.

All stories and poems should be no more than 800 words, include a title and be submitted via email in Word format to Mr Cyril Fox cfox@sfcc.vic.edu.au.

During Distance Learning Mode, junior students are still expected to complete their language tasks in Education Perfect either during class or for homework.

Also, for our senior students studying Italian (Year 9-12), we have a poetry competition dedicated to Dante Alighieri, a famous Italian poet who wrote the Divine Comedy. Dante Alighieri was born in Florence, Italy in 1265 and died in Ravenna, Italy in 1321. He was only 56-years-old.

Students are expected to recite a poem from memory and will be judged by our Italian teachers in Term 3 at the College. Students are required to recite their poem by July 15 and prizes will be awarded to the top three students. In bocca a lupo!

Wishing you all the very best during this challenging time for us all.

Claudia Russo

Languages Domain Leader

The Alexandria Resource Centre continues to provide learning, reading and research support in Distance Learning Mode.

The attached document for students and parents outlines some of the resources and services available to students learning at home. It includes links to several online and digital databases as well as contact details for Resource Centre staff who are available if students need help.

Michael Hill

Teacher Librarian

Melton support services

Melton City Council has provided a list of local resources and support services that may assist students and their families during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Emergency Food Relief

CCC Foodbank https://foodbankmelton.org.au/ Phone: 9747 6811

Northpoint Centre Food Pantry https://www.meltonsouth.org.au/food-parcels.html Phone: 9338 1898 or 0434 009 344

Catholic Care Victoria http://www.ccam.org.au/page/110/emergency-relief Phone: 0409 810 104

Resurgence Inc. https://www.facebook.com/ResergenceInc/ Phone: 0450 889 295

Community Care, Melton City Council https://www.melton.vic.gov.au/ Phone: 9747 7320

Local Businesses

To see which businesses are still open and support your local traders visit https://www.facebook.com/meltoncitymuchmore/

Melton Libraries and Learning Hub

Brush up on your reading with free download on all eBooks and magazines at https://www.melton.vic.gov.au/Out-n-About/Libraries-and-learning/Libraries/eCollections

Melton Learning Directory

For online activities to keep you active and learning at home visit https://meltonlearning.com.au/ and https://business.facebook.com/MeltonLearning/

Latest COVID-19 Updates

Australian Government Department of Health https://www.health.gov.au/