“The mission of schools is to develop a sense of truth, of what is good and beautiful. And this occurs through a rich path made up of many ingredients. True education enables us to love life and opens us to the fullness of life.” Pope Francis
What a year 2020 has been! We have certainly as a College community navigated our way through unprecedented, challenging and unique times. However, thankfully we have done so, in a beautifully calm, united and connected way. For that, I thank and congratulate the entire CRC Caroline Springs community of staff, students, parents/carers and families.
“The ultimate measure of a person is not where they stand in moments of comfort and convenience, but where they stand at times of challenge and controversy.” Martin Luther King Jnr
The challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent extended period of forced remote learning have certainly not been times of comfort and convenience, but rather times of challenge and controversy. Again, I would like to congratulate all students for standing tall and successfully completing an extended and intermittent period of remote and on-site learning. A truly remarkable effort, one of which the entire CRC Caroline Springs community is extremely proud of. A big thank you also to parents/ carers and families who have supported the students through this unusual learning journey this year.
Despite the challenges our students remained engaged, connected and involved in their learning throughout this year. Our students have indeed made history as the first ever students to have been so resilient and agile and to have undertaken learning in such challenging and unique ways. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 we had to cancel all of our international and interstate trips this year including the NASA-STEM, Italy, Kokoda Trek and Central Australia trips.
“We pray for students who have to learn and take exams in a way they are not used to. Let us accompany them with prayer.” Pope Francis
I would also like to express my thanks and gratitude to our teaching staff, who have gone above and beyond this year to ensure students had a positive remote and on-site learning experience. They have worked long hours and have tirelessly re-written curriculum, course outlines and assessment tasks to accommodate remote learning. They have also undertaken various new and contemporary modes of pedagogical delivery, including the use of flipped learning, various new digital resources, video conferencing and MS teams throughout this period, to enhance the students remote learning experiences. These key learnings will benefit the students and ultimately have long term benefits for the College and will enhance future learning and teaching experiences.
“Let us pray for teachers who have to work so hard in order to do lessons on the internet and other media.” Pope Francis
We also thank the College I.T., maintenance, counselling, learning diversity, library, support, administration and finance teams who have been actively working on-site throughout the entire year.
With another year of productive learning concluded under very difficult circumstances, I would like to sincerely thank the students for their efforts. In particular, our departing Year 10 students who showed diligence, respect and friendliness for self and others throughout 2020. I wish each of them every success for their future.
In the very busy lead up to Christmas, we often miss Advent's power because these December weeks are full of Christmas shopping, parties and other end of year events. Each year, the business of this month serves to distract us from having an Advent season that truly prepares us for the celebration of Christmas, with all its meaning.
This Advent let us all remember; it is the feast that sings of the gift of life. The birth of a child moves us and causes tenderness. It is a stimulus to discover the warmth of simplicity, friendship and solidarity. Christmas can become an occasion to welcome, as a personal gift, the message of hope that emanates from the mystery of the birth of Christ.
Uganda Project
We continue to build on the very positive relationship that has been established between CRC Caroline Springs and St Luke’s parish, Maunya as well as our sister school St Francis primary school in Kizinga, Uganda.
By reaching out in friendship and solidarity with the community of St Francis, Kizinga we have given hope to hundreds of children and their families who otherwise couldn’t access education. The support of our students has enabled the construction and furnishing of a brick classroom; a food program; the refurbishment of the church with a concrete floor; and soon the installation of water tanks. Compassion, empathy and love for one another are the cornerstones of our teaching at Catholic Regional College Caroline Springs and we are immensely proud of our community for continuing to embrace the Uganda Project.
