It has been an honour and pleasure to serve the Catholic Regional College Caroline Springs community this term. There have been so many wonderful achievements this term and much to celebrate. Just this week we hosted our Inaugural Twilight Music Concert. The CRCCS community gathered to celebrate the incredible talent and hard work of our student musicians, who have dedicated countless hours to perfecting their craft and honing their skills. Wednesday’s concert featured new Year 7 Instrumental students including our first Trombone students and a new Ensemble at Catholic Regional College Caroline Springs the Stage Band who recently played at the Catholic Education Week Concert at the Treasury Gardens.

I was thrilled to see so many families attend, eager to support our talented young musicians and enjoy a wonderful evening of music under the stars. This event marked the last concert on the Hogan Green before construction commences on the new three storey building (which includes a new home for Music classes). Very exciting!

These student performers have demonstrated remarkable creativity, leadership, and commitment to bringing this event to life. We are incredibly proud of their hard work and dedication; their performances were nothing short of amazing.

I also want to take a moment to recognise our incredible music teachers who have inspired and guided our students along the way. Their tireless dedication and commitment to our students’ musical education is truly admirable, and we are all fortunate to have them as part of our community. We were also joined by our Social Justice Team who provided the BBQ, lollies, and drinks as a fundraiser for our Uganda Project St Francis Primary School, Kizinga and Caritas.

More Socials Less Newsletters

As of Term Two we will be sharing more updates and information on our social media platforms to enhance timely communication to our College community. To keep up to date with the College please follow us on Instagram/Facebook, College Website and SEQTA Engage.

On Instagram/Facebook you will find: (link)

Event reminders

Activity, Camp and Excursion updates

Social Justice Activities

Alumni opportunities

Musicals & Concerts

Student reminders

On our College Website you will find: 

Policies

School Calendar

Newsletters

On SEQTA Engage you will find: 

Lessons and assessments and feedback and results

Interim & Semester Reports

Communication from teaching staff

Pastoral Care information

Timetable

Absences & Lates

The College Newsletter will continue to be published in weeks 5 and 10 of each Term to highlight and capture detailed information pertaining to Catholic Regional College Caroline Springs.

Holy Season

I would like to take a moment to wish you and your families a very holy and happy Easter.

Easter is a time of reflection, renewal, and hope when we are reminded of the incredible sacrifice that was made for us and the hope that it brings. We are also reminded of the power of faith and the transformative impact that it can have on our lives. It is a time when we come together as a community to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the promise of new beginnings.

I would like to thank our teachers who through their dedication, compassion, and unwavering commitment to our faith, inspire young minds to grow in knowledge, wisdom, and faith. Our hope it that our students will come away from this Easter season with a deeper understanding of these values and how they can apply them to their own lives in living out our College motto Live Fully Act Justly.

Finally, we want to express our gratitude for your ongoing support of our school community and your child’s education. I hope that this Easter season brings you renewed hope, joy, and peace. May you feel the warmth of God’s love in your heart and know that your support is valued and appreciated.

Term 2 Student Return Date

Please note that Tuesday 25 April is the ANZAC day public holiday and Monday 24 April is a student free day. Students will return to the College on Wednesday 27 April (students are expected to wear full winter uniform for Terms Two and Three).

Headphones are a great resource within our classrooms, and are featured on our booklist for all students.

As a College, we have updated our Mobile Phone Policy to include our expectations around students bringing AirPods to school. The updates include:

• The use of AirPods on school property are banned
• They are a valuable item that can be easily lost or stolen
• They also create Occupational Health and Safety risks when used in the schoolyard at recess and lunch
• If a student is caught with AirPods in class, on the schoolyard, at a College event or excursion, they will be confiscated
• Confiscated AirPods will need to be collected by parents/carers once reception has notified families

It is expected that all students will have ‘over the ear’ headphones that are visible to staff in class and can only be used when instructed by a class teacher. Hopefully the holidays will provide families time to update their child’s headphones in line with the College policy.

We thank our families in supporting this expectation with our students.

Holy Week

As we journey through Holy Week, we celebrate Christ’s paschal mystery - the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Each of these holy days are rich in meaning, symbolism and of great significance in the life of the Church.

We began last Sunday with Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem as King which is in strong contrast to what occurs during the Easter Triduum later in the week. Holy Thursday signifies Christ institution of the Eucharist and the new priesthood as Christ becomes the new ‘Passover Lamb.’ We have the beautiful image of Christ washing his disciples feet as he ‘sets us an example that we should do as he has done for us (Jn 13:15).’ In the liturgy all the decorations of the Church are removed or shrouded and all candles are extinguished to represent darkness. The priest strips and washes the feet of 12 people and instead of the final blessing we have adoration of the Eucharist.

On Good Friday we remember Christ’s Crucifixion. The ultimate act of love in which God humbles himself to become man. The tabernacle is empty and the church is again undecorated. We have the silent and solemn procession for the liturgy and we venerate the cross by kneeling before it and kissing it. The Eucharist received is consecrated from the day before.

The week culminates with the Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord (Easter) in which we celebrated Christ’s rising from the dead. The Mass begins gathering in the dark symbolizing the darkness of the tomb and our sin. We follow the candle like the Israelites who followed the pillar of fire and we here nine readings and eight Psalms, which tell the story of Salvation that Jesus won for us. During the Gloria, the Church lights come on and we decorate the Church to symbolize Christ’s Resurrection. We also baptize and welcome new people into our church and renew our baptismal promises. The richness of the Liturgies over the coming days enables one to enter into the Paschal Mystery of our Lord.

I strongly encourage you to check your local Parish for Easter Mass times. May the joy of the Risen Lord be with you and your families these Easter holidays.

Holy Week Explained

Catholic Education Week - St Patrick’s Day Mass & Colloquium

On Friday 17 March Mr Tony Zammit and three student representatives travelled to St Patrick’s Cathedral for Mass celebrated by Archbishop Peter A Comensoli. The Mass was attended by Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools around the Archdiocese of Melbourne and provided an opportunity to come together and commemorate the wonderful gift of Catholic Education. Below are some excerpts of the experience of our students who attended the day.

The Saint Patrick's Cathedral Mass was a beautiful time to reflect and reconnect with our faith during the season of Lent. Seeing other schools come together and to be present with God made me have an appreciation for the lives that we lead as Catholics. Seeing Father Rob Galea once again gave me more insight into the type of life I want to live, as I was only in Year 8 when I first heard him speak. Sometimes we truly need to stop for a moment in our lives and listen to what God is trying to tell us.

• Maya S (Faith & Social Justice Captain) 10 Lingiari
  

Attending the St Patrick’s Day Mass was a wonderful and memorable experience. The cathedral was beautiful inside & out, and the choir sounded angelic whilst singing hymns. This event brought me closer to God and strengthened my Christian faith. After the mass we had a short walk to the Catholic Leadership Centre where we listened to Father Rob Galea speak about his life and journey into Christianity. Although the three of us had already listened to him two years ago, his story was still interesting and engaging. His way of speaking was entertaining and appealed to young adults.

• Alyssa D (Deputy College Captain) 10 Barak

On the 17th of March, St. Patrick’s Day, I and two other captains, Alyssa and Maya, were fortunate enough to attend the feast day's ceremony at St. Patrick's cathedral, as representatives of the student body. It was a beautiful opportunity, which enabled us to be a part of such a welcoming, faithful mass, consisting of many other Catholic Schools across Melbourne. With a talented choir, an engaging and fruitful mass, and an opportunity to bond, we were able to celebrate unitedly alongside the Archbishop of Melbourne, Peter Comensoli.

With the day drawing to a close, we attended an event involving Fr. Rob Galea, a priest who had visited during our time in eighth grade. It was an amazing (and nostalgic) experience to once again hear his inspirational journey, and an eye-opener into the ways of faith and it's miracles. The messages he taught us will be something that we all can continue to hold onto. 

• Zalaika F (College Captain) 10 Murphy Wandin

Friday 8am Mass

Last Friday we had our last 8am Mass for the term. It has been so wonderful to see so many staff, students and their families attend. Friday 8am Mass will continue in Term 2 commencing Friday 28 April. Mass concludes at 8:25am, ensuring that there is more than ample time to get ready for Homeroom. Students can sign up to minister as readers via SEQTA Notices. We look forward to your presence.

FORMED Digital Subscription

Dear Parents/Carers,

Catholic Regional College, Caroline Springs are excited to offer our families free access to FORMED - a digital subscription service that provides the very best Catholic content from more than 60 organisations to help families explore their faith anywhere.

Discover thousands of books, audio talks, movies, documentaries, and studies... there is something for every member of the family to help them grow closer to Christ and His Church.

Registration instructions are below. Please consults FORMED - Privacy Policy in the following link before registering
 Privacy Policy - FORMED

Sunday Gospel Reflection

EASTER SUNDAY – THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD

JN 20:1-9

Mary Magdalene finds the tomb empty, Peter sees and believes.

Holy Week Mass Times in our local Parishes

St Catherine of Siena, Caroline Springs (scroll to the middle of the page)

Resurrection, Kings Park

Sacred Heart/Emmaus, St Albans/Sydenham

Other Parishes

Dear Parent/Carer,

2023 Whole School Photos are being held on Monday 15 May and Tuesday 16 May.

For the above date, students will have their individual portrait taken, as well as take a traditional group photo with their homeroom class.

In Term 3, we will have our Specialty Group Photos where students will take a group photograph with their extra-curricular school group and/or sport teams. Information about Specialty Group Photos will be published closer to the date.

Parents will receive an email from MSP Photography with our online ordering process leading up the day. Please note, students will not receive a hard copy form to order photos this year.

For Monday 15 May and Tuesday 16 May, students are required to wear the full CRCCS Winter Uniform with their blazer on their allocated photo day.

Uniform reminders:

Boys:

• CRC monogrammed navy long pants or shorts,
• CRC monogrammed long-sleeved white shirt, tucked in,
• CRCCS tie,
• No jumper
• CRC blazer,
• CRC navy formal sock with stripe,
• Polished, black, hard-leather school shoes.

Girls:

• CRC tartan kilt, worn at knee length and/or, monogrammed navy pinstripe shorts or long pants,
• CRC monogrammed; long-sleeved white shirt, tucked in,
• CRCCS tie,
• No jumper
• CRC blazer,
• CRC navy formal sock with stripe/navy tights,
• Polished, black, hard-leather school shoes.

Students are not to wear make-up or jewellery.

• If make-up, earrings, or nails cannot be removed, then the student will miss their photo.

A photo schedule will be made available to students on Monday 8 May via SEQTA notices with further instructions. This will inform students of the day they are to wear their full winter uniform.

Students will be required to wear their winter uniform on their scheduled photo day, even if parents/carers choose not to purchase a photo pack, as these photographs will be taken for the 2023 College Yearbook.

On Monday 1 May, the College is hosting a hybrid Student Parent Teacher Interview (SPTI) event, scheduled from 9:00am to 8:00pm. There will be no scheduled classes for students on this day.

In response to parent/carer and teacher feedback, parents/carers will be able to select to have their interview either face-to-face or remotely, via Microsoft Teams. Each interview will be 10-minutes in duration, with a 5-minute break between each interview.

The interviews are designed to provide students, parents/carers and teachers an opportunity to discuss progress throughout Term 1 and as a time for setting learning goals for Term 2.

Bookings will open for parents/carers via the Parent Teacher Online (PTO) platform from 9:00am Wednesday 12 April and close at 9:00am on Friday 28 April.

When booking via PTO, parents/carers will enter their interview mode preference in the ‘Phone number/contact details’ field, as shown by the image below.

• ‘Face to face’ should be entered to indicate the parent/carer and student will be attending the College onsite for a face to face interview.
• ‘Teams’ should be entered to indicate the parent/carer and student will be attending their interview remotely via Teams.

If joining remotely, the process remains the same as previous SPTIs.

Instructions on how to access PTO and make bookings, together with how to join a scheduled Teams interview will be sent to your College registered email address inbox on Thursday 6 April.

Students are expected to be present for the duration of all booked interviews with their parent/carer either at the College or from a suitable place at home. Students are also expected to be dressed appropriately for the interview as outlined in the Student Parent Teacher Interviews - Microsoft Teams Policy.

Parents are asked to adhere to the booked times and abide by the Parent/Carer Guardian Code of Conduct during SPTIs. Interpreters will be made available for parents as required.

You may download a copy of the Microsoft Teams: Student and Parent Guidelines, Student Parent Teacher Interviews - Microsoft Teams Policy and Parent/Carer/Guardian Code of Conduct by clicking on the links here.

If you have any questions, or need any assistance, please contact the College Reception on 9217 8000.

Please note, the following teachers will not be in attendance on the day:

Ms Sandra Mobbs
Ms Thao Nguyen-Lye
Mr Dino Conversano
Ms Olivia Reljic
Ms Janet Pepper
Ms Jenny Strati

Our talented students from Drama Club and our College Choir, accompanied by our Instrumental and Performing Arts staff lead a beautiful adaptation of the Stations of the Cross at our end of term Easter Liturgy. We reflected on Jesus Christ's journey to the cross as it reminds us just how much He sacrificed for us and the miracle of His resurrection. Thank you to all the staff and students involved in the rehearsal and planning of our end of term Easter Liturgy. We are thankful that you have shared your gifts with our College Community.

Easter, a customary holiday, is regarded as one of the holiest times of the year. It's a time when we recall Jesus' Resurrection and celebrate the anniversary of his ascension into heaven. As a member of the Social Justice team, I always focus on sharing God's love with the world during this season. Jesus' resurrection serves as a reminder to us that God is the source of everything.

In the book of Matthew, Jesus instructs us to overcome our fears. To serve everyone who comes our way and to follow Jesus as we exercise dominion with him. ‘Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age’. Matthew 28:19–20. And keep in mind that I will be at your side till the end of time.

Let this verse sink into your soul. Keep in mind that Jesus is ever-present, and that the resurrection has given us new information concerning the Gospel. Every year, we are aware of how lucky we are to live in a community where we can continually give back. Celebrate with your loved ones as you extend Jesus' generosity to every part of your life. Even if it's just a small gesture that barely brightens someone's day, I'd like to celebrate Easter this year by doing something kind for someone else. The Social Justice team wishes you luck in finding a way to give back to your neighbourhood this Easter.

Let God continue to bless you – Christ is Risen!

Student Leader Corner

Term 1 has been a busy term for the Student Leadership Team, and I am very proud of all their achievements. The students have participated in many events including the Year 7 Welcome Day, Opening College Mass, Year 7 House Building Day, Investiture Ceremony, Ash Wednesday Mass, Student Leadership Camp, Swimming Carnival, Student Leadership Development Event, and the Halogen Youth Conference. Throughout the term, students have also attended to their regular duties including attending weekly meetings, writing newsletter articles, hiring out sport equipment every recess and lunch, monitoring the flagpoles, and participating in College tours. The students have also written detailed and extensive proposals to create positive change in the school community.

To gain an insight into some of this Term’s highlights, please read below!

Halogen Youth Conference Review

On 27 March 2023, the four college captains travelled alongside Ms Bugeja into the city to attend the Halogen Youth Conference at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. There were 4000 other young leaders in attendance from schools across Victoria. Four high-profile presenters from the sport, arts, media, and business industry, spoke to students about their leadership journey. Amanda Johnstone, Candy Hertz, Nazeem Hussain and Robert Diperdomenico (Dipper) shared their tips, insights and life lessons about how to become a successful leader. It was a great experience that the college captains were able to learn from.

Written by: Nyankat D (Deputy College Captain)

Student Leadership Camp review

The Student Leadership camp took place on the 6 March to the 8 March with thirty-six of our amazing student leaders in attendance. During the camp, students participated in various workshops that helped build teamwork and public speaking skills. On the first night, the student leadership team were treated to an amazing dinner prepared by Ms Murray-Fawcett. Students then spent the evening by the beach and participated in a wonderful talent show where everyone surprised themselves with their diverse talents. The next morning, students watched the sunrise while eating breakfast together as a team, after which they started working on various proposals that were going to be presented to leadership. Once finished, students were able to show off their amazing surfing skills during an eventful surfing lesson with Go Ride A Wave. The remainder of the camp was a great experience that included many highlights. Some of these were the sunrise walks, ice cream trip, painting session, and movie night. The camp also gave students lots of free time, allowing them to connect as a team and create long lasting friendships.

From my experience, the camp gave us a chance to showcase and develop our leadership skills in various ways, whether through the various workshops undertaken or supporting one another through obstacles. I’m sure that I speak on behalf of everyone when I say A LOT of friendship’s were made and we all enjoyed each other’s company. Personally, I enjoyed the talent show and walk to get ice cream because I believe this is where a lot of the friendships were formed, whether it was encouraging each other during a performance or trying to order ice cream in Italian (a fun challenge set by Ms Bugeja)!

Written by: Nyankat D (Deputy College Captain)

Swimming Carnival Review

Swimming Carnival is a day where everyone gets to dress up in their house colour, compete in different competitions to earn house points, and simply have fun. Different activities took place on this day for houses to earn points. Although swimming is an essential part of the day, the Carnival hosted many land events, like volleyball, mini-games, and a fiercely competitive water polo competition for each year level.

Student Leaders assisted at the Swimming Carnival by helping at various events. The House Captains rallied event swimmers during and before their race, the Student Leaders rotated by helping teachers at different land events and the Year 10’s paraded in with the House Captains while showcasing their House Banner. Without the Student Leadership team assisting with the Swimming Carnival, this day would not have run as smoothly as it did.

Personally, I enjoyed water polo as it was fast, entertaining, and very competitive. After an already busy term, Swimming Carnival was a great day to socialise with friends, have fun and earn house points for our team!

Written by: Isaac D (Norman House Captain)

Students across the school all dressed up in their fantastic house colours and it was great to see everyone in their creative costumes. House captains gave their welcoming speeches at the start of the day and the winning house (O’Reilly) gave their winning speech at the end of the event. It was great to see many students from all year levels participate, whether it was competing in competitive swimming or participating in the land events. The Swimming carnival included competitive swimming styles in different meters such as freestyle, butterfly, breaststroke, and relay. Water polo was also played competitively against House Teams, as did our volleyball game and thong toss. It was great to see everyone participating in at least one of these events; it really goes to show how much our house captains' speeches really gave people the motivation to get out there and have fun.

At Swimming Carnival, all the student leaders took it upon themselves to help out at every running station. Our House Captains showcased the newly done 2023 house banners while walking in for the last time with the year 10’s of their corresponding house. Encouragement was also shown throughout the day by our house captains.

As O’Reilly’s house captain, it was incredible to see many red caps at the marshalling area and seeing the sheer amount of people engaging with the day. I really saw the collaboration of our houses come together during our House vs House water polo. It was great to see everyone working together as one to bring O’Reilly points. I think overall, the teamwork and participation throughout all the houses this year had to be my favourite thing of this day. I can’t wait to see what 2024 has to bring!

Written by: Augustha M (O’Reilly House Captain)

During Term 1 we welcomed several international students to Catholic Regional College, Caroline Springs. In doing so, we have allowed our students to broaden their intercultural understanding and actively engage with young people from across the world.

It all commenced in February with 24 Italian exchange students from our sister school Liceo Scientifico Cambi visiting us for one week. Together with their host students, they explored famous Melbourne attractions such as The Lume, Sea Life Aquarium, Puffing Billy, and Arthurs Seat Eagle. Our students formed incredible friendships with their Italian exchange students. We look forward to visiting our sister school in Italy during September.

Soon after, we were visited by 16 Japanese exchange students from our sister school Notre Dame Seishin High School. During their visit, students participated in various workshops facilitated by our staff including Indigenous Australian art, Australian music and a STEM laser cut plane workshop. It was a wonderful opportunity for students to use their language skills whilst participating in tailored workshops. Moreover, our Japanese exchange students enjoyed an array of excursions with their hosts including a thrilling Eureka Skydeck edge experience, Sovereign Hill and Arthurs Seat Eagle. We look forward to visiting our sister school in Japan during October.

A massive thank you to all our wonderful host families for supporting our Cultural Immersion Program and opening their homes to our exchange students.

Article One:

At Year 7 camp, we made lots of spectacular memories that we will forever cherish. It was also an opportunity to overcome many of our fears.

During our camp we participated in a lot of fun activities such as the giant swing, snorkelling, flying fox and so much more. We were very lucky to be near sunny side beach and even luckier to go there. On my first day I was very fortunate to be able to go to the beach. I had snorkelling as my first activity and enjoyed it so much. I was able to make some new friends and shared many laughs with them while we were snorkelling. After snorkelling we had raft building, during raft building we had to communicate with new people, and it was very fun. Our raft ended up sinking but I was fine with that because we all got to swim afterwards.

On the second day I had the best activity at the whole camp, the giant swing. I was very certain I wanted to go to the top. I may or may not had let out a few screams, but the view was amazing. Even though we were lucky enough to have the opportunity to do those amazing activities, they were not the highlight of my Year 7 camp.

The highlight for me was the friendships I made. At first, I was a little sceptical about my cabin, but I ended up becoming really good friends with all of them. They were all so amazing and I will cherish the friendships I had with them. I also became closer with people in my homeroom and now I hang out with them every day.

Some advice I’d give to anyone is to make the most of camp, as it can easily be an experience that you could easily take for granted. Thank you for taking the time to read my experience of Year 7 camp.

Jasmine P - 7 Wonga

Article Two:

I would really love to start off with how this camp was such a great experience for me. I must say that my friends and I have had such an enjoyable time experiencing new things and even managing to make new friends! Even though some of us were disappointed that we had to miss a few activities that we wanted to do, I think it’s agreeable that it was fun to try new experiences that most of us never did, and I must say, I was not wrong.

Archery, flying fox, and kitchen garden were a great experience, however in my honest opinion, the giant swing was the best activity because of its intensity and how pleasing the view was when you reached the top. It was funny to see people scream as they swung down from the giant swing because of its scary height.

I learnt that trying new things can help you seek more of the world. I would really advise everyone to get up and seek new hobbies they might like.

Lastly, I want to thank all the teachers who gave up their time to make this a spectacular camp. This is what my experience in Mount Eliza is.

Janelle M - 7 Wonga

Article Three:

Hi, my name is Gabriella L from 7 Coranderrk, and I would like to share my experience of Year 7 camp.

On the way to camp it was a long ride of an hour and 50 minutes, but it was all worth the journey. When we arrived at the campgrounds, we met Pea (head instructor of Manyung) and settled into our cabins. All throughout the days of the camp, we did many different activities testing our abilities such as archery, the giant swing, scuba diving, water safety, raft building, biking, high ropes, crate climb, student leadership and a lot more.

During my camp experience, there were many highlights, like the talent show, playing UNO and chatting with my cabin mates and friends, making new friendships, and doing adventurous things I’d never thought I’d do.

On the last day of camp, it was very sad and heartbreaking knowing we had to leave and get back home to reality. My advice to campers would be:

One, the walls of the cabins are paper thin so you can hear what’s going on in the other cabins which is probably how the teachers could hear us laughing and having fun.

Two, go to camp with an open mind and prepared to have loads of fun and be willing to take part in all the activities camp has to offer.

The days on camp go by so fast and before we knew it, it was day three and we were all packing and leaving to go back home. ‘Go with the flow’, try out all activities, do everything camp has to offer because trust me this is a wonderful life experience that you would want the memories to replay, repeatedly.

I had an amazing camp experience and enjoyed myself from the get-go.

Gabriella L - 7 Coranderrk

Year 7 Camp is always a mixed bag of emotions. Some are extremely excited, some are nervous, some cannot wait to get away with their friends and some probably feel a mixture of things. Though, with all these feelings aside, Ms. Lafferrairie and I are so proud to report, that the Year 7 Camp was a great success.

Camp Manyung often preaches to our students that their camp experience is “challenged by choice” whereby students push themselves to their own limits to participate in a variety of activities. We are super proud of the many students who leapt, jumped, swam, and swung into new experiences such as ‘The Giant Swing’, ‘Tree Top Challenge’, ‘Water Rafting’, and so much more! For many this was their first experience away from home and they showed great resilience being put into a new situation.

A special shout out to all the students who participated in our very first “Year 7 Camp Talent Quest”. It was another great opportunity for our students to share their gifts and talents. An honourable mention to our two winners:

Camp 1: Maksymilian P

Camp 2: Jayden U

We would also like to thank the many staff who attended Year 7 Camp. Their effort, collegiality, and care whilst away, is to be commended. Our students are very lucky to have such supportive staff who give up their own time, so that our students can experience new things.

Spoken from the heart, three Social Justice team members worked together to present to the Year 9 Cohort during the end of term Assembly. This presentation is filled with passion for all of us to feed off.

Speech – Carlos, Tomasso and Lucas

This year, we are part of the CRC Caroline Springs Social Justice Team, and we are very excited to tell you all about what our team has been doing in the first term of 2023.  

If you didn’t know already, the team hosts events throughout the year to promote our school motto, Live Fully Act Justly. There issa lot of things we do behind the scenes, and our intentions are a lot deeper than giving people a little bit of paper to write their name on at the start of the day.  
The four pillars of CRCCS are what we want everyone in this school to embed in their hearts, not just for the 4 years they are here, but for the remainder of their lives. It makes a huge difference to see what only four words can do to a person's entire personality.

The biggest factor in the Social Justice team is Compassion. We wake up, get to school at 8:20am, and we think about all the opportunities we get to change a person’s perspective on how something so small can mean so much to one person. This is why we promote our fundraisers so much, especially in these times where we have poverty, social prejudice, and other issues we experience in our lifetimes, even though these issues should have been eradicated ages ago.  

Helping people is why we do this job, not just to give people free food when they walk into school, but more so to make a difference in the world we live in. Simple 50 cents from each student at school can make such a huge difference to our surrounding brothers and sisters.    

Overall, all these events are thought out and planned carefully. This term, selling Green Jelly on Saint Patrick's Day, and the organizing of a bake sale, were just a few of the events organized to help people who are less fortunate than us.

GOD BLESS

Earlier this term our Year 8 students participated in a wellbeing quiz to gain a better understanding of their overall personal wellbeing. We explored four essential aspects of life that, when balanced, enable us to function at our best. On the other hand, when these aspects are out of balance, it can be difficult to concentrate on schoolwork and perform at our best.

The quiz results were intriguing, and we presented them to our Year 8 students during their Student Development Day. We also explained the significance of improving these areas of life and keeping them in check as well as tips to support in changing their habits. Additionally, we created four infographics that highlight key tips for each aspect to help students understand and make progress towards better personal wellbeing.

Our Year 8 students now have access to three sets of information packs: a list of possible benefits, a list of possible negative impacts, and a list of tips for each aspect of life. We hope this information will encourage our students and their parents to discuss their wellbeing and make positive changes.

Catholic Regional College Caroline Springs was one of only four Catholic Secondary Schools invite to take part in the Catholic Education Week celebration concert in the Treasury Gardens on Friday 17 March. The newly formed Stage Band took on this challenge and after only five rehearsals gave an entertaining and engaging performance. This 14-piece Combo of Singers, Instrumentalists and rhythm section presented two songs: I feel good by James Brown and an Afro-Cuban original song entitled My Dog Tim. Many thanks to the students and the staff, Mr Danny Godoy and Mr Luke Julien for putting together such a memorable performance, we are sure to be invited back in 2024!

Dear Students and Parent/Carer,  

One of the most fulfilling yet time-intensive roles we have is to serve as mediators for those who require our assistance. While we are glad to offer support to our students in need, we often find ourselves emphasising the importance of the fundamental value of forgiveness in order to equip our students with the tools they need to solve these issues themselves and become more resilient in the process.   

Forgiveness is an important but often overlooked value. In this article I would like to share with you why forgiveness and letting go are important at school and how we can cultivate it in ourselves and others.   

Forgiveness and letting go are important for students because they help them build and maintain positive relationships with others. At school, our students interact with a diverse range of people, from classmates and teachers to administrators and staff. Sometimes, these interactions can lead to misunderstandings, conflicts, or hurt feelings. Without forgiveness and letting go, these negative experiences can accumulate and erode the trust, respect, and empathy that are essential for a healthy and supportive school community. By forgiving others and letting go of grudges and resentments, we can restore and strengthen our relationships, and create a more positive and inclusive school environment.   

Forgiveness is important because it helps students learn and grow from their mistakes and failures. In a school setting, they are constantly challenged to learn new things, take risks, and face obstacles. Sometimes, these challenges can be frustrating, discouraging, or overwhelming, and they may feel tempted to blame themselves and often, others for their shortcomings. Without forgiveness and letting go, these negative feelings can undermine their confidence, motivation, and resilience, and prevent them from learning from their mistakes.    

So, how can we cultivate forgiveness and letting go at school?    

Practice empathy and perspective-taking: Encourage your children to see things from the other person's point of view and understand their motivations and feelings. This can help them appreciate their strengths and weaknesses and avoid taking their behaviour personally.   

Communicate assertively and respectfully: Express their own thoughts and feelings in a clear, honest, and respectful way, and listen actively and attentively to others. This can help them clarify misunderstandings, resolve conflicts, and build trust and rapport.   

Use positive self-talk and affirmations: Encourage themselves with positive self-talk and affirmations, such as "I am capable of forgiveness and growth," "I can choose to let go of the past and focus on the present," and "I can learn from my mistakes and improve over time." This can help you cultivate self-compassion and self-esteem and develop a more positive and resilient mindset.   

Seek support and guidance: Reach out to trusted adults, such as teachers, counsellors, parents or guardians for support and guidance when they face challenging situations or emotions. This can help them gain perspective, learn new coping skills, and feel more connected and supported.   

Forgiveness and letting go are essential values and skills that can help us build and maintain positive relationships, learn and grow from our mistakes and failures, and create a more positive and inclusive school community. By practicing these skills, we can cultivate forgiveness and letting go in ourselves and others and make our school a better place for everyone.   

We wish all our families a very Happy Easter as we prepare for the most important day of the church calendar. There is probably no better way to end this article than to remind everyone that Jesus’ death on the cross provided a way for humans to receive FORGIVNESS of sin and be restored to a full relationship with God.  Let us forgive each other and be restored to a full relationship with each other and God. 

Performing Arts students been involved in an eventful start to the 2023 school year.

Students across Year 7 Music & Drama have been treated to various learning experiences. This included using Music Technology, bucket drumming practical activities, hands on instrument trials as part of the Instruments of the Orchestra unit, choosing a fairy-tale and writing a script with twisted characters / storyline.

Our Year 10 Theatre Studies class enabled students to explore stagecraft with their project focusing on an element of stagecraft e.g., set design, hair, make-up and acting.

Students created a portfolio before presenting to the class.

All students were able to work in a collaborative and socially engaging classroom environment.

Well done to all students involved throughout Term 1.

Throughout term 1, our Year 8 Materials Technology students have been preparing to utilise our newly acquired laser cutter.

For the first time in our college’s history, our students were given the opportunity to use industry-standard software and manufacturing equipment to create products that any shopkeeper would be pleased to sell in their stores.

Adobe Illustrator is a widely used graphic design tool in the design industry that enables our students to create high-quality, vector-based images that can be scaled, exported, and manufactured in various ways.

The students were tasked with researching, designing, and producing a laser-cut keyring or earrings that they would like to purchase from a shop. The results were astounding, with many students going above and beyond to create highly detailed and aesthetically pleasing products. This week, students will be using the laser cutter for the first time to cut out their designs, and we are thrilled to showcase our newfound skills and knowledge to the college and school community.

Catholic Regional College Caroline Springs inaugural VCE Physical Education class applied what they have been learning to HitFit Melton where former CRCCS student Darcy Ellis and his team took the students through a series of stations and exercises around the art of boxing.

Students were able to see the concepts of the musculoskeletal system that they have been covering in class, by viewing how boxing can be used as a training method to improve overall fitness and how the body adapts to change through continual exercise and movement.

A big thank you to Darcy who has established a fantastic business and has several facilities in western Melbourne and promotion events where monies raised go to charity.

On Friday 3 March, six students from CRC Caroline Springs represented the College in the 2023 SACCS Golf Day. The event was held at the Melbourne Airport Golf Club and was conducted in pairs over 9 holes, with each pair submitting a combined score. Parings were as follows:

A Pair -  Zachary C (10 Coranderrk)
               Oscar G (10 Barak)

B Pair -  Noah P (9 Lingiari)
               Luka K (8 Kororoit)

C Pair -  Matthew H (8 Wonga)
               Ash P (7 Kulin)

These boys each performed admirably, with ‘A Pair’ finishing second overall. Well done boys.

Save the Date - Academic Testing will be held on Saturday 29 April at 09:00am, further information will be sent to families in the coming weeks.

If you have not yet enrolled, please complete an application as soon as possible.

For any queries relating to enrolment please contact Jennifer Rowe on 9361 0002 or enrolments@crcs.vic.edu.au.

Community Road Safety Session for Young Drivers and Supervising Parents

Please view the invitation letter from Melton City Council for an online Community Road Safety Education Session, being delivered on Thursday 27 April.

This session is intended to be interactive and engaging, where students will have the opportunity to provide feedback on how road safety messaging should be delivered going forward. Melton City Council are asking for up to five students that are or will soon be drivers and their parents/supervisors to attend and participate.   

Please note participants need to register at  Melton Learning Directory  to receive the Zoom link via email on the day prior. 

All those that attend will go in the draw to win over $500 worth of prizes, including detailed driving courses (suitable for new and supervising drivers) and Autobarn vouchers.  

If you have any questions or require any further information, please use the contact details on the invitation.

Alpha starts this year! From Every Wednesday (7-8:45pm) from 26 April to 21 June, Catholic Regional College Caroline Springs Cafeteria. 

To book your place please call 8361 9822, scan QR code or visit https://www.trybooking.com/CGQCI