It is with great pride and excitement that I write this first newsletter article for 2021. I am indeed both honored and privileged to again serve and lead such a wonderful Catholic school community.
The ‘Healing of the Leper’ scripture reading from this Sunday’s Mass reflects the theme of answering God’s call to serve Him and be the best we are called to be by not just observing certain ‘Laws’, but ultimately by our ‘Actions’ towards ourselves and others. After all, Jesus healed the sick on the Sabbath, touched lepers and mixed with the poor and downtrodden. Jesus taught us that the greatest commandment was putting the love of God and the love of neighbour together and teaching that one cannot be accomplished without the other.
Welcome
A very warm welcome back to all our staff, students, and families. We particularly welcome those who are joining the College community for the first time. We have a total of 238 Year 7 students beginning their journey with us this year, as well as 15 new students joining us in Years 8, 9, and 10. We warmly welcome you all. Congratulations to the Year 7 students who have settled in extremely well. The school community has worked hard to ensure that our new students have been welcomed and supported in their transitional period. I also extend a warm welcome to those families that are also joining our community for the first time. I hope that your time within the Catholic Regional College Caroline Springs community is both enriching and rewarding.
The 2021 school year at Catholic Regional College Caroline Springs has begun with the usual burst of energy and enthusiasm. I am excited to be working in a school where the holistic development of each student is of the highest priority.
It is important that all students begin the year well in every context. It is important that the College uniform is worn well at all times; it means getting down to the core business of working hard in class and working with every teacher to produce the best set of results possible. I also ask all students to challenge themselves to participate in the vast array of co-curricular activities available and to embrace and contribute to the numerous Faith and Social Justice opportunities available at the College. May all members of the College community truly live and breathe our ‘Live Fully Act Justly’ motto.
Health and Safety Guidelines
Below are the links to the ‘2021 Term 1 Student Health & Safety Guidelines’, which contains some very important information regarding the students safe return to school for Term 1 2021. The guidelines are very similar to those implemented during the previous return to school in Term 4 2020. Please take the time to read through the ‘2021 Term 1 Student Health & Safety Guidelines’ with your child and contact the College if you have any questions.
Click here to view the 2021 Term 1 Student Health & Safety Guidelines
Masks Update
"Masks will be mandatory in public indoor spaces. If you have visitors in your home, it is strongly recommended that masks are worn during the visit. Masks must be worn in indoor public spaces apart from when eating or drinking. If you are planning to leave your home – take a mask".
- DHHS
As per the DHHS guidelines, staff and students are now required to wear masks whilst indoors. However, please note that as per the CECV School Operations Guide, school staff are not required to wear face masks while teaching or caring, but those who wish to do so, can. Parents and external visitors will also be required to wear masks whilst on-site. Therefore, I ask all parents and carers to ensure that their child always has a face mask with them at school, as per Government guidelines. Students without a face mask will not be able to attend classes, unless they have a medical exemption.
The DHHS link below has additional information, which is updated regularly:
https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus
New Staff
It is with great pleasure that I welcome the following staff into the CRCCS school community:
- Dr Christopher McGillen: Head of Music Performance/Music Teacher
- Sandra Mobbs: LTL Digital Learning/Digital Technology and Business and Economics Teacher
- Sarah Cunningham: English Teacher (Semester 1)
- Jack Dawson: PE Teacher (Semester 1)
- Gabriela Bond: English/Humanities Teacher (5 weeks LSL Replacement)
- Sarah Ziino: Learning Support Officer
- Sophia Russell: Marketing and Communications Coordinator
- Chloe Fellows: Reception/Administration Officer
Returning Staff
- Victoria Lalor: Humanities LAL and Humanities Teacher
- Deacon Chris Creo: Religion/Humanities Teacher and Faith and Mission Team
- Melissa Vickery: Science Teacher
Opening Mass
On Friday 5 February, we had the honour of having Father Richard Rosse parish priest at St Catherine of Siena parish to celebrate our Opening College Mass.
I would like to thank Fr Richard for being the celebrant of the Mass and for inspiring the school community with his stirring homily. I would also like to thank Deacon Chris Creo who also celebrated the Mass with us.
I would also like to thank all the students who participated in the Mass so respectfully and reverently. Thank you also to our Head of Faith and Mission Mr Paul Sammut and the College Mission and Faith team and to all the staff and students involved in the Mass. It was certainly a wonderful way to gather as a school community and celebrate the Eucharist. The Eucharist is at the heart of the CRC Federation of schools. It is in the Eucharist that we find ourselves, called, invited, and challenged and the Eucharist makes visible the Christ we seek to know.
Parents & Friends Association
This year we are looking to further develop our Parents & Friends Association as we see this as a very important support group for our College. Unfortunately, last year due to COVID-19 restrictions we were unable to meet regularly and hold our usual social events. Meetings are open to and attended by interested parents/carers, friends of the College, teachers, and administrative staff, as well as the Principal, or one of the Deputy Principals.
Everyone is welcome to come and meet other parents to learn more about our wonderful College as well as participate and share in general discussion often relating to significant issues about College events.
Our meetings will be held a minimum of once a term and all parents are most welcome to attend. Details regarding the first meeting for 2021, will be available in the next edition of the newsletter. We would like for interested parents to please email the College at principal@crccs.catholic.edu.au
Supervision
Parents and students are advised that the College grounds are supervised each day from 8:20am to 3:40pm. Outside these hours there are sometimes special activities, training, or other events. For these activities parents will be notified. Parents need to be aware that students who arrive on the College grounds prior to 8:20am or leave after 3:40pm are not actively supervised. The Library however will be open and supervised from Monday - Thursday from 8:00am to 4:15pm, and Friday 8:00am to 3:45pm.
Building Update
The College, as part of its vision and mission, aims to provide excellence in learning. This will be supported by ongoing development and upgrading of College buildings, grounds, and facilities.
Some exciting news is that work is almost complete on the new Year 9 Learning Centre. This centre will be a great inclusion for our community and students will reap the rewards of this state-of-the-art facility. This building will host nine homerooms, as well as two large collaborative learning spaces and numerous staff offices. The building and other new facilities recently opened at the College provide a rich and stimulating learning environment for all our students to flourish and reach their full potential. The Year 9 Learning Centre should be completed soon and an announcement regarding the naming of this building will be made in the coming weeks.
