"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!” - Isaiah 43:18
Welcome
A very warm welcome back to all our staff, students, and families. Every new school year brings a sense of excitement, anticipation, and a fresh opportunity to start anew and focus on the year ahead with a positive attitude and an optimistic resolve.
We particularly welcome those who are joining the College community for the first time. I hope that your time within the Catholic Regional College Caroline Springs community is both enriching and rewarding.
We have a total of 274 Year 7 students beginning their journey with us this year, for the first time we have a 10th Year 7 Homeroom named ‘Wurundjeri’. We also have 10 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.
The 2022 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, and 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 ‘2022 Term 1 Student Health & Safety Guidelines’, which contains some very important information regarding the students safe return to school for Term 1 2022. The guidelines are very similar to those implemented last year. Please take the time to read through the Guidelines with your child and feel free to contact the College if you have any questions.
2022 Term 1 Student Health & Safety Guidelines
Rapid antigen tests
Rapid antigen tests will be available for the first four weeks of Term 1 2022. Students received a pack of five tests to take home with them on their first day back at school and another pack at the end of Week two.
The Department of Health is strongly recommending that students complete a test twice a week to help proactively identify any cases, reducing the risks of an outbreak. We recommend students do the rapid antigen test in the morning before school on a Monday and Wednesday.
We have been supplied with tests by the Victorian Government – you do not need to buy your own.
Students and staff will do the tests at home; they only need to report their result if it is COVID-positive. They must report a COVID-positive result to:
- the school by phone or the VicEd COVID Portal; this is so that we can support students, record that they will be absent while in 7-day isolation, and let the rest of the school community know there has been a positive case onsite and that they should monitor for symptoms
- the Department of Health via the COVID-19 Positive Rapid Antigen Test Self-Reporting Form or call centre on 1800 675 398.
Information about how to do a test and how to read RAT results, including a how-to video translated into 33 languages, is available online.
Vaccination requirements
Parents and carers must have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine or have a valid medical exception (with limited exceptions) to enter school buildings.
COVID-19 vaccinations for students are not required for them to attend school but vaccination for students is highly encouraged. If your child has not yet had their first dose, please try to organise this before term begins. For more information on how to book a vaccination, including important information about vaccination for children aged 5 to 11, visit the Vaccination information for children and teenagers page on the coronavirus.vic.gov.au website.
Masks
As per the DHHS guidelines, staff and students are again 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. We ask parents to ensure that their child has a face mask with them every day and carry a spare mask in their school bag. The College has not been supplied with face masks from the Government and have a very limited supply and are not able to supply students with a face mask each day.
Ventilation
We will also make sure that classrooms are well ventilated by opening windows and doors, to minimise the risk of infection. We have received air purifiers, which are being used around the school as an added safety measure.
Vital COVIDSafe steps
Hand hygiene, mask wearing, and social distancing will continue wherever possible in Term 1.
Staffing our school
I know many of you will have questions about what happens if your child’s teacher gets COVID-19. While there may be some disruption because of staff absences, we will be able to bring in extra teachers and other staff if we need them and will be doing everything that we can to make sure our school stays safe and open.
Other information about school operations
For the first four weeks of Term 1, as per the School Operations Guide to limit mixing of year levels the library will not be open for student use. The College cafeteria will be open for students to purchase their lunch or morning tea. However, the inside dining area will not be available for students.
Please note that staggered finish times will again be implemented as per the Melbourne Archdiocese of Catholic Schools (MACS) Operations Guide. This means that Year 7 and 8 students will be dismissed at 3:05pm and Year 9 and 10 students at 3:15pm.
I would like to stress the importance of keeping students’ home if they are ill or show any COVID symptoms at all. I know that they have already missed large chunks of face-to-face learning. However, the safety of staff and students at the College is paramount and we need to do all we can to remain open.
Thank you for your continued support.
New Staff
It is with great pleasure that I welcome the following staff into the CRCCS school community:
- Katie Murray-Fawcett: Deputy Principal Wellbeing
- Luke Lentini: Head of Student Wellbeing
- Neve Lesnjak: Learning Area Leader, Mathematics & Numeracy
- Shanaye Botten: English Teacher
- Shingo Gibson-Suzuki: Japanese Teacher
- Abbigale Hoole: Humanities Teacher
- Erin Crowe: Learning Support Officer/Tutor Program
- Samantha Matthews: Science Laboratory Assistant
- Harjinder Singh: ICT Network & Systems Administrator
Returning Staff
- Abby Wellstead: (returning from Maternity leave)
- Alison Caruana: English Teacher
- Jordyn Bugeja: Drama Teacher
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, the last two years 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 2022, will be available in the next edition of the Newsletter. We would like for interested parents to please email the College at principal@crccs.vic.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.
I thank you in advance for your ongoing support and understanding as we begin a new and exciting school year. I assure you that I, along with all staff at CRC Caroline Springs are doing our utmost to support your child and we will continue to provide the best possible outcomes for all in 2022.