What a first week back for Term 3! We have seen rehearsals with staff and students working together over long hours to produce another fantastic College Production, and our College Assembly was led by our College Captains where we recognised students with School Spirit awards, heard from one of our student ‘Fire Carriers’ and promoted our upcoming Winter Sleep Out.

Best wishes to our Production team and students. I am looking forward to seeing this year's Little Shop of Horrors performance. We also wish our Year 9 Premier League students the best of luck in the first round of their Sports competitions which begin tomorrow.

2020 Subject Selections

Thanks to all families who attended last week's 2020 Year 11 Subject Selection Information Evening. There was a great turnout and the quality of the presentations and information was a tribute to Ms Layton (Director of Learning), Mrs Dickson (Pathways Coordinator), Ms Lock and Mrs Mifsud (our VCE and VCAL Coordinators), and the other Faculty leaders who attended. The next part of the VCE selection process involves student and parent/guardian interviews on Wednesday, 31st July.

School Spirit Awards

Year 7

Noma Masuku - Noma is a student who is always friendly, optimistic, helpful and studious. She is a selfless, caring, respectful and encouraging member of 7R and is always looking for new ways to improve her work. She is courteous to staff and her peers. Her kindness, compassion and willingness to help others are qualities that should be admired.

Jack Kontostergios - Jack is a conscientious and hard-working student. He is a positive and motivated member of 7A, showing initiative, working hard in all subjects and contributing positively to classroom discussions. He is personable and has established good relationships with both his teachers and his peers and is a positive role model for other students.

Year 8

Riley Williams - Riley has been described by a number of his teachers as an individual who is very respectful to all teachers. He is supportive to his classmates and friends, completes all tasks and activities to the best of his ability as well as demonstrating exceptional behaviour. Riley gets involved in many of the opportunities available at CRC Melton. Two examples of this were the Project Rockit Digital Ambassadors workshop and the 2019 Ration Challenge.

Taya Wilken - Taya has been nominated by a number of teachers. Over the course of Semester 1, she displayed a strong work ethic across all subjects, achieving fantastic results as well as exhibiting great respect for all of her teachers and peers. Also, a valued member of 8M, she has been described as a mature, polite, hardworking and friendly person.

Year 9

Caleb Braszell - Caleb consistently demonstrates our school’s values and displays natural positive behaviours in everything that he does. His attitude and optimism make a difference to his peers and to his teaching staff. Caleb dedicates himself to his learning and to any activity that he participates in. His energy is motivating and his work ethics are admirable.

Abuk Chol - Abuk intervened into a situation that required maturity and calmness. She showed exemplary leadership by ‘speaking up,’ during this event. Abuk spoke up and this had a significant impact. Her maturity was commendable and she role modelled to other students the importance of not being a bystander.

Year 10

Haley Spiteri - Haley 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 through the first half of the school year. Haley received glowing reports regarding her work experience.

Ben Trethowan - Ben is a student who 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. During his week of work experience, he represented himself and the College immensely well, and was provided with glowing reports. The positivity this student displays is evident through his cheerful interactions with his teachers, and his genuine and often light-hearted connection with his peers and friends.

Year 11

Briannah Mungcal - Briannah is an active participant in the extra-curricular activities offered here at the College. She is in ensemble and has one of the lead roles in this year’s school production - The Little Shop of Horrors. Briannah is often called up to sing the Australian National Anthem at every assembly and does so diligently and with conviction. Briannah has demonstrated positive leadership skills by always being supportive of her peers in classroom situations. She always comes to class with a positive attitude and puts in 110% effort. Briannah is an exceptional example of positive time management with the memorising of script lines and maintaining a high level of work ethic in her school work.

Ngong Achiek - Ngong works quietly but hard in his classes. He has been commended for respecting others' learning environments and is motivated to working to the best of his ability, consistently completing his work to a very high standard. Ngong has been recognised for being a likeable character who is always respectful, polite and courteous to both his peers and teachers. He is a very positive student and always has a smile on his face.

Year 12

Tahlia Wheadon - Tahlia received the award due to her supporting and caring nature towards her peers. She is always willing to participate in class discussions and ensure that what needs to be said is done so in a courteous manner. Tahlia is very helpful in homeroom assisting with what is asked of her to do. Tahlia is demonstrating to all her teachers how hard she is working in Year 12 and it has not gone unnoticed.

Caleb Bastiaan - Caleb lives out his Catholic values by the way he interacts with others and supports those around him. He is working hard across all subjects. Despite some difficulties he keeps up, he asks questions and is always pleasant. He is generous with his time, helping others where he can and is always a pleasure in terms of his manner.

College Captain Report - Mental Health and Wellbeing

As highlighted at the beginning of the year, one of our primary focuses is the advocating of mental health and wellbeing. Since then, we have organised for a range of different organisations to come to our school to present to our students. One of these was the Batyr organisation, created and driven by young people, for young people. This organisation spoke to Years 9-12 and gives a voice to the elephant in the room. In addition, Headspace came to speak to Year 12 and provided them with strategies to deal with the challenges they may be facing mentally.

Student Leadership introduced the mental health Push Up challenge, which we are in the process of completing. This challenge involves completing 3128 push ups representing the number of deaths due to mental health in 2017. We are also very pleased to say that our small group has raised $790 in which all proceeds go towards Headspace which will help young people get back on track and strengthen their ability to manage their mental health in the future.

Although we are proud of what has been achieved throughout Semester 1, we are determined to keep providing more opportunities for you to better your mental health in Semester 2. In September, CRC Melton will be hosting its own Mental Health week where we will promote Mental Health through a range of activities and RUOK day.

We are very excited for what lays ahead for the semester, and we encourage that even though RUOK day is only one day that you continue to ask yourself and those around you RUOK? Because remember, it is okay to not be okay and asking for help is not weak- it is strength. We are eager to be moving forward with this project and urge you all to get involved.

- Evana Miesen and Dylan Hassan

Facebook Design Jam

Last Tuesday, two of our Year 9 students Nathan Furtado and Sara Mantilla Mesa travelled to Facebook Head Office in Sydney to participate in the Design Jam program. This came about as a result of the work we did with the Project Rockit team last term. Project Rockit teamed up with Facebook to give Digital Ambassadors a really special opportunity to have their voices heard. Nathan and Sara had the unique opportunity to work with 20 students across Australia and New Zealand. They had the opportunity to share their perspectives and experiences before rolling up their sleeves and creating their own apps to help young people engage safely online.

The event was opened by Office of the eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, and included representatives from Google, Instagram, Beyond Blue and more. Students pitched their ideas to Antigone Davis, Facebook's Global Head of Safety. CO-CEO of Project Rockit, Rosie Thomas said this was a room of some pretty powerful people who have a genuine ability to influence positive change in this space.

As Nathan noted, "Sara and I were able to help design apps and work with coordinators from TTC Labs, Facebook and YouTube as well as the e-safety commissioner and even a graphic designer from California who designs app interfaces. We got to design various fictional apps and incorporated the safety features we wanted to see in real apps. It was great meeting students and industry leaders from across the country. I thank the school for this wonderful opportunity to represent our College."

Mia Garlick, Director of Policy Australia New Zealand, Facebook and Instagram acknowledged their work and importance of their role by saying:

“We were thrilled with everyone’s insights, thoughtful questions and considered pitches to ensure the safe use of our products and services by young people.

The outcomes from the day will be critical in informing a global perspective on age-appropriate design, safety and transparency. Together with insights, prototypes and designs from the global series of Design Jams, they will culminate in the production of a TTC Labs guide for age-appropriate design which will both inform Facebook’s own approach as well as being open sourced and shared with the wider industry to design better products and improve young people's experience online.”

2020 Term Dates

To assist families in planning for next year, below are our 2020 term dates for students:

Term 1

Year 7 students start: Friday, 31st January

Year 7 – 12 Classes begin: Monday, 3rd February

Term finishes: Thursday, 26th March

Term 2

Classes begin: Tuesday, 14th April

Year 10 Work Experience: 22 – 26 June

Classes finish: Friday, 26th June

Term 3

Classes begin: Monday, 13th July

Term finishes: Thursday, 18th September

Term 4

Classes begin: Monday, 5th October

Year 12 student classes finish: Thursday, 15th October

Year 11 & 10 students finish: Friday, 27th November

Year 7 – 9 students finish: Friday, 4th December

Child Safety

We have had reports of students crossing Bulmans Road unsafely. Parents are asked to remind students to use the designated crossings.

Additionally, if your child rides to school, please ensure helmets are being worn.

Catholic Regional College Melton presents Little Shop of Horrors. "Seymour, an orphan and a nerd, is taken in and given a job by Mr. Mushnik, the owner of a run down florist in the seedy part of town. Seymour spends his time doing menial tasks and dreaming of the shop assistant, Audrey. One day, just after an eclipse of the Sun, Seymour discovers a strange plant. He buys it and names it Audrey II. While caring for Audrey II, Seymour discovers the plant's rather unique appetite. The plant grows and grows, as does Seymour's infatuation for Audrey, but who will get her first? FEED ME!"

Rehearsals are well underway and everything is shaping up for an amazing performance season in the Performing Arts Centre on Thursday 25th, Friday 26th and Saturday 27th July 2019.

Tickets are now on sale and available through the TryBooking website. Make sure you book group tickets early to ensure you are all seated together.

For bookings go to:

https://www.trybooking.com/BDONZ

We congratulate Ashley Scicluna for obtaining third prize in the Dante Alighieri Italian Poetry Competition on Thursday 18th July. What a wonderful achievement.

Ashley will be presented with her award on Friday 6th September at the University of Melbourne. Congratulations Ashley!

Claudia Russo

Domain Leader - LOTE

Sarah Clewer of Year 12 has written a novel: A Spell for an Eye

If you were fated to become a 'Saviour' to a planet and chosen by a meteor programmed to find help, what would you do?

At only four years old, Celeste Teal and her best friend, Miranda, were struck by a meteor. Both girls developed mysterious powers after the accident, with Celeste gaining ice powers, and Miranda the ability to control water. Five years later, Celeste's parents die and she is torn away from Miranda and forced to attend a strict boarding school in Antarctica. Over the years, her powers advance, and she is eventually reunited with Miranda. They both soon discover a third victim of the meteor strike - Vanessa, a girl with the ability to wield fire.

After an attack with an old enemy in the caves of Antarctica, the trio discover an ancient written legend composed and kept in the archives of six planets within the solar system. As well as attempting to learn their place in the legend, they must gain each other's trust in order to combine their powers to defeat foes and win over the evil that has taken Antarctica and threatens the world.

During this journey, Celeste meets a mysterious admirer who appears to know everything about her, including her parents' deaths. Is he a friend, or is he after something? And why does he always disappear before Celeste can talk to him?

Should you wish to purchase a copy of Sarah’s book, please pay $20 to the College to pre-order. Orders will be accepted until Friday, 2nd August. Payment can be made by cash or credit card at the Office.

On this date, the College will purchase the number of ordered copies and distribute to purchasers on delivery from the publisher.

We congratulate Sarah on her fine achievement and wish her well in her future endeavours as an author.

Disney Villains: Mother Knows Best

The tale of Rapunzel is widely known. So what of the old witch, Mother Gothel? Where does she come from? And how does she come across the magical golden flower? Here is one account that recounts a version of the story that has remained untold for centuries . . . until now. It is a tale of mothers and daughters, of youth and dark magic. It is a tale of the old witch.

Yassmin's Story By Yassmin Abdel-Magied

At 21, Yassmin found herself working on a remote Australian oil and gas rig; she was the only woman and certainly the only Sudanese-Egyptian-Australian background Muslim woman. With her hijab quickly christened a 'tea cosy' there could not be a more unlikely place on earth for a young Muslim woman to want to be. This is the story of how she got there, where she is going, and how she wants the world to change. Born in the Sudan, Yassmin and her parents moved to Brisbane when she was two, and she has been tackling barriers ever since. At 16 she founded Youth Without Borders, an organisation focused on helping young people to work for positive change in their communities. In 2007 she was named Young Australian Muslim of the Year and in 2010 Young Queenslander of the Year. In 2011 Yassmin graduated with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (First Class Honours) and in 2012 she was named Young Leader of the Year in the Australian Financial Review and Westpac's inaugural 100 Women of Influence Awards as well as an InStyle cultural leader and a Marie Claire woman of the future.

Library Team