Welcome to the first official edition of our newly named newsletter ‘College Street News’.
In this edition of ‘College Street News’ you will read about the wonderful day to day learning and teaching programs at the College as well as the various co-curricular events and activities that have taken place throughout this term.

Firstly today, 8 March, we recognise International Women's Day and the theme this year is to Inspire Inclusion.  
When we inspire others to understand and value women's inclusion, we forge a better world. And when women themselves are inspired to be included, there's a sense of belonging, relevance, and empowerment.

What does it mean to truly inspire inclusion?
To Inspire Inclusion means to celebrate diversity and empowerment on International Women's Day 2024 and beyond.

International Women's Day (IWD) is a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. Each year, this day serves as a powerful reminder of the progress made towards gender equality and highlights the work that still needs to be done.

This year's campaign theme underscores the crucial role of inclusion in achieving gender equality. It calls for action to break down barriers, challenge stereotypes, and create environments where all women are valued and respected.  Inspire Inclusion encourages everyone to recognize the unique perspectives and contributions of women from all walks of life, including those from marginalized communities. Collectively, let's forge a more inclusive world for women.

It has certainly been a very productive and busy first 6 weeks of Term 1. It has been wonderful to have begun the school year with so many co-curricular and whole school activities taken place.

As we enter into March and the season of Autumn, it is timely to reflect on some of this year’s key events so far:

• 1025 students have been engaged in day-to-day classes and learning
• Opening/Ash Wednesday College Mass
• Student Leadership Investiture Ceremony
• Whole School and Year Level Assemblies
• Various Parent Information Evenings
• Cybersafety Parent Evening
• Dr. Andrew Wake Parent Presentation
• Student Development Days
• Student Leadership Camp
• Social Justice Leaders Development Day
• College Athletics Carnival
• College Swimming Carnival
• Year 10 Premier League
• SACCSS Junior Golf
• Project Compassion and Caritas Fundraising Activities
• Year 9 Program incursions
• Outdoor Education Surfing excursions
• Little Shop of Horrors Musical auditions
• Years 7 Camps will take place from Monday 18 March

All these events and activities take planning and preparation to ensure that they are successful events. I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the CRCCS community to thank our staff for their effort. They have been extremely diligent and generous with their own time to enable the many events listed above to take place.  Without the support of staff, these activities simply would not take place, so I thank staff most sincerely for their efforts.

Catholic Education Week
Catholic Education Week which begins on Sunday 10 March, is an opportunity for all Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Melbourne to celebrate their Catholic identity, the pivotal role they play within their local community and the strength of the sector.

This year’s theme, ‘In the light of Christ’ is drawn from the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools strategic plan, MACS 2030: Forming Lives to Enrich the World. Christ is our inspiration, the very life of our purpose as Catholic educators. Everything we do is illuminated by this.

At CRC Caroline Springs, we take seriously our primary purpose of nurturing our students’ faith. Christian teaching is central to our work and the challenge for us is to continually ensure it is included in all we do.

Parents and 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. 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/carers, to learn more about our wonderful College as well as participate and share in general discussion often relating to significant issues about school events.

We would like for interested parents to please email the College at principal@crccs.vic.edu.au

St Patrick’s Day
Saturday 17 March is St Patrick’s Day. It is a global celebration of Irish culture and remembers St Patrick, one of Ireland's patron saints, who ministered Christianity in Ireland during the fifth century.

St Patrick is known and admired all over the world as the young slave who became an unlikely hero, the shy boy transformed into a courageous missionary. Patrick came to an alien land that soon became his adopted home, and a foreign people became his friends. He was no brilliant scholar but a man of deep faith tried and tested in the fires of slavery and exile. At first a reluctant preacher until filled with the strength of the Trinity he overcame his fears and limitations to establish one of the strongest Churches in the Christian world.

Patrick was a towering figure. He had a strong biblical faith centred on the Trinity. He was deeply familiar with the Word of God and pondered it day and night. He lived in intimate union with Christ who was always before, behind, above, within him. Every step he took was in the company of Jesus, every word he spoke was inspired by Jesus, every breath was full of the spirit of Jesus.

The faith of Patrick worked its way into every fibre of life. The true Irish faith of which we can be so proud made our forefathers a people of saints and mystics, of poets and scholars. St Patrick was a great saint. May he be our guide and inspiration.

In this prayer he asks for God’s help in various ways:

May the Strength of God pilot us. May the Power of God preserve us. May the Wisdom of God instruct us. May the Hand of God protect us. May the Way of God direct us. May the Shield of God defend us. May the Host of God guard us. Against the snares of the evil ones. Against temptations of the world May Christ be with us! May Christ be before us! May Christ be in us, Christ be over all! May Thy Salvation, Lord, Always be ours, This day, O Lord, and evermore. Amen

Jamie Madigan
Principal

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
My memory, my understanding
And my entire will,
All I have and call my own.
You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.
Everything is yours; do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace.
That is enough for me.

Amen.

Prayer of St. Ignatius of Loyola

During Lent, I have been reflecting on excerpts from the book "He Leadeth Me" by the Jesuit priest Walter J. Ciszek. Father Ciszek's life unfolds as one of the most incredible stories one could ever hear. At the age of 35, amidst the onset of World War II, he made the daring decision to covertly become a missionary priest in Russia. However, due to the Soviet Union's staunch atheist regime and animosity towards the Church, he was falsely accused of espionage, leading to five years of solitary confinement. Subsequently, he faced a harsh sentence of 15 years in a Siberian labor camp, enduring freezing conditions.

His spiritual reflections on the radical nature of surrender hold great significance for our Lenten journey, serving as a wonderful reminder of our need to surrender to our Creator, who loves us unconditionally. In "He Leadeth Me," he articulates this profound insight:

“In times of ease, it is remarkably easy for us to become dependent on our routines, on the established order of our day-to-day existence. We are surrounded by friends and possessions, with one day seamlessly flowing into the next, marked by good health and overall happiness. We may not actively desire the worldly riches, yet we unconsciously find comfort and well-being in them, trusting them as our support – and taking God for granted. Somehow, God must break through these routines and remind us, akin to Israel, that our ultimate dependence lies solely upon Him. He has created us, destined us for a life with Him throughout eternity, emphasizing that the things of this world and the world itself are not our lasting city. We belong to Him, and we must turn to Him in everything.” (p.21)

Paul Sammut
Director of Catholic Identity and Mission

The Investiture of Student Leaders Ceremony took place on Thursday 22 February and is one of our formal College events each year. It is an opportunity to celebrate and formally induct our new College leaders for 2024 and wish them well as they begin their leadership journey for the coming school year. For our ceremony this year we welcomed our past College Captains from Catholic Regional College Sydenham, as well as our special guest 2019 College Captain Martin Nguyen, parents, students and staff.

The ceremony included formally inducting our College Captain Rita Yousef and College Deputy Captains Lucas Previti, Tomasso Corrente and Tileah Tabone. This part of the Investiture Ceremony included the passing over of leadership through the symbol of a lighted candle and the leadership journals which signify the work our College Captains for 2024 will accomplish. All student leaders from Years 8-10 were introduced to our College community and given their leadership pins which were blessed by Deacon Cris. Our student leaders recited their leadership pledge in front of the entire student cohort where they promised to uphold the traditions and culture of Catholic Regional College Caroline Springs.

College Captain for 2024, Rita Yousef, gave her address and made special mention of how past leaders and her parents have inspired her to be the leader she is today. We were also very blessed to invite Martin Nguyen back to the College to give his reflection on his experience of being a student leader and the impact the College has had on his personal journey since leaving. Martin highlighted the importance of being a servant leader and spoke about what it means to have a vocation and the influence that can have when working within a community. It was a real privilege to have Martin present to our students and we are very proud of all that he has achieved so far.

We look forward to what our student leaders will achieve this year, the work they will do, proposals they will put forward and how they will continue to be great young role models within our school community.

Katie Murray-Fawcett
Deputy Principal of Wellbeing

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) for Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 students is held in March each year. NAPLAN tests assess student knowledge and skills in writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar, and punctuation) and numeracy. The results of the tests provide information for students, parents, teachers and principals, which can be used to improve student learning and achievement.  

Students are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the test format via the NAPLAN Online Public Demonstrations Tests accessible at https://www.nap.edu.au/online-assessment/public-demonstration-site, which has also been available via a SEQTA notice.

Official NAPLAN Online testing is held from Weeks 7-9, of Term 1 (commencing next week). The NAPLAN Online timetable features below:

Information about the four NAPLAN Online tests is below:

Support can be arranged for students with disabilities if the student regularly uses similar support for classroom assessment tasks. Please contact Learning Diversity for further information.
Please note that students will require a fully charged MacBook and College approved headphones for the tests.

Schools generally receive students’ NAPLAN reports from mid-August to mid-September. We will notify you when the reports are being sent to your home. The same report format is used for every student in Australia.

For more information about NAPLAN Online, please view the below supporting documents:
NAPLAN information for parents and carers brochure (PDF 108 KB)
Simple English NAPLAN information brochure for parents and carers (PDF 1 MB)
NAPLAN information for parents and carers brochure: Arabic (PDF 214 KB)

Elise Nowak
Director Data Analytics and Digital Innovation

Project 9 is a program delivered to all Year 9 students each Friday, focusing on various topics such as Be the Change, Careers and Resilience in Semester 1.

On Friday 9 February, our cohort of students considered their own journeys in their first workshop run by their classroom teachers. To compliment this, Ben Pettingill and Mike Roll’s from Real Life Resilience presented to the students in our Performing Arts Centre about their own life challenges. Ben lost 98% of his eyesight overnight at the age of 16 due to a rare genetic syndrome that he was not aware that he had. Mike is a Meningococcal Septicaemia survivor, but as a result of this deadly disease, became a double amputee, losing both his legs at just 18 years of age.

Despite this, Ben and Mike embody an attitude and belief that even the greatest challenges can be overcome with the right mindset, strategies and support. The Real Life Resilience Workshop made students consider their own challenges and change and worked with them to develop the skills and confidence to overcome them. The students loved hearing Ben and Mike’s inspirational stories and were engaged in all the fun activities run by the pair.

We would like to extend our appreciation to Ben and Mike for coming to workshop with our Year 9 cohort.

So far this year, fashion students in Year 10 have explored the creation of new fabric as well as the decoration of existing fabric.

The following images show how a new fabric can be created from scraps of material, ribbons, wools and feathers, as well as the Indonesian technique of batik design and dyeing.

PE students were thrilled to experience inclusion and diversity in sport last week at the National Wheelchair Rugby Competition. Immersing themselves in the excitement of the tournament, students were inspired and presented with an alternative way to play.

The event held at the Caroline Springs Leisure Centre, aimed to break down barriers and challenge our preconceived ideas towards athleticism and competition. Revealing to students that with the right determination, imagination and adaptability, anybody can involve themselves in sport and achieve at a high standard.

Delivering an electric atmosphere, students observed the clashing of metal frames, the speed of rotating wheels, cheers, and high-fives all round. The concept of this competition embraces social inclusion and showcases resilience, two valuable lessons upheld within our Health and PE curriculum. The experience provided a unique perspective on physical activity and the adaptations we can make for the optimal involvement of all.

This performance sparked many conversations upon the return to school and students were reflective on the challenges faced by the athletes and then in awe over the ability to overcome. Ultimately, students expressed how impressed they were by the grit, skill and integrity displayed throughout the competition.

Events like these play a significant role in expanding our appreciation for the lessons that derive within sport. We extend our gratitude to the organisers of this event, Disability Sport & Recreation, Wheelchair Rugby Victoria, the Caroline Springs Leisure Centre staff, and all athletes involved.

The National Wheelchair Rugby competition has reminded us that through passion and dedication real athleticism is limitless. We look forward to future events that seek to promote unity through sport.

The art of vector design may seem daunting at first, but for our Year 8 students stepping into the Materials Tech classroom, it's a new and exciting journey into the world of design principles.

This term, our Year 8s embarked on an adventurous design journey filled with learning experiences and triumphs. Adobe Illustrator, the industry standard design tool utilised by graphic, motion, and product designers worldwide, became their creative playground. While many encounter Illustrator in higher education, our Year 8s had the unique opportunity to dive into this design environment early on as they prepared to craft keychains or earrings using our state of the art college laser cutter.

I'm thrilled to showcase some of the remarkable artwork our students have created within Illustrator. Beginning with a universally recognizable object like a tree and basic Illustrator tools, they progressed through scaffolded tasks, introducing new tools and concepts along the way. In just a short three-week period, our students have produced work that fills me with immense pride, which you can explore below and appreciate for yourself. Additionally, I've included pieces from two of our current Year 9 students, Ava Condello and Andre Tomassi, who continued to push their artistic boundaries even after their formal study in Adobe Illustrator concluded.

It's important to note that all the artwork featured here is original student work. While they may have drawn inspiration from reference materials, every shape, combination, or stroke of the pen tool is a testament to their own creativity and initiative. Take a moment to enjoy and admire the talents of these skilled young artists.

David Sammut
Materials Technology Teacher

On Thursday 15 February, the Social Justice Team of 2024 convened for their inaugural meeting, marking a significant moment for collaboration and visioning for the year ahead. The day provided an opportunity to exchange ideas and aspirations, all framed within the overarching theme of Caritas' motto for 2024 – 'for future generations'. Reflecting on Pope Francis' poignant words from 2015, emphasising our responsibility to both past and future generations, the team contemplated their role in shaping a better world for all. This sentiment resonated deeply with our college motto and its pillars of compassion and stewardship.

During the second session, guest speakers took the stage, sharing their insights with contagious enthusiasm and drawing parallels with our college's core values. The team demonstrated a keen interest in delving further into the initiatives presented by Assist Ability Australia and Catholic Care.

The afternoon was dedicated to brainstorming and refining ideas, with students passionately engaging in dialogue and creating an atmosphere filled with positivity and excitement. Throughout our planning, our vision remained Christ-driven and purposeful.

In anticipation, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the team for their unwavering commitment and infectious passion. May God bless our endeavours, and I eagerly look forward to the journey that lies ahead in 2024.

Matilda Mattar
Social Justice Coordinator 

Shrove Tuesday, occurring a day before Lent, derives its name from the Old English term 'Shriven', signifying the act of seeking forgiveness through confession before embarking on the Lenten journey. Alternatively known as Pancake Tuesday, this day is marked by a tradition of indulging in pancakes, using ingredients like eggs, milk, and butter, often seen as symbolic of using up rich foods before the Lenten period of fasting and abstinence.

Cherishing our traditions is special, ensuring their continuity. The Social Justice team extended their outreach to the community, spreading joy and satisfaction during recess. This year the pancakes were so popular we sold out, with all proceeds going towards Caritas - Project Compassion – For all future generations 2024.

Matilda Mattar
Social Justice Coordinator

Memory is 26 years old and lives in rural Malawi. As the eldest child in a low-income farming family, Memory had to take on many household chores and farming activities to support her parents. They struggled to pay for Memory’s school fees and school supplies, and Memory often had to walk to school barefooted.

Despite the challenges she faced, Memory understood that education was her best chance of breaking the cycle of poverty. With the support of Caritas Australia and its partner the Catholic Development Commission in Malawi (CADECOM), Memory undertook a three-year carpentry course. CADECOM supported her by providing part of her tuition and boarding fees.

Memory became the first female carpenter from her village! Today, Memory works as a carpenter at a hydroelectric power station. Her income has enabled Memory to provide some financial support to her parents. In the future, Memory wants to build a house for her parents and own her workshop to support and employ others in her community.

Watch Video Here: https://vimeo.com/showcase/10792309/video/880747327

Wednesday 14 February

On St. Valentine's Day, love permeated the atmosphere at Catholic Regional College Caroline Springs, inspired by the scripture from 1 John 4:8: "Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is Love." The Social Justice Team stationed themselves at the front gate, warmly welcoming the school community with smiles, stickers and treats.

Our symbolic "love heart," made up with the names of students from our community, symbolised their commitment to embody the College Motto – Live Fully, Act Justly. The act of spreading love carries immeasurable value, serving as a heart-warming gesture that uplifts all involved.

Students can access online resources via the Library Portal on Seqta, either at school or from home. These resources are authoritative, current, and free of bias or advertising interests. They are excellent for research projects or homework tasks.

The following resources are available on the Library Portal:

	CATALOGUE Students can quickly access the library catalogue to determine the library collection and if the books are currently on loan or available. (This can only be used at school.)
	EBOOKS AND AUDIOBOOKS Students have the choice of thousands of ebooks to read or audiobooks to listen to online.
	NEWSPAPERS Various online newspapers can be read whilst at school. NEWSBANK This platform allows students to search for past newspaper articles from home.
	ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA This extensive online encyclopedia has information on all topics and provides a choice of readability levels and depth. It is an excellent resource to use, especially when starting assignments.
	ECHO ONLINE This platform provides context and background to issues presented in the news media, including hyperlinks to information, as well as a searchable database.
	ISSUES IN SOCIETY These books are in pdf format and include statistics, graphs, and information on a variety of contemporary social issues. They are an excellent resource for debates, oral presentations, or research.
	REFERENCING Referencing information is also available on the Library Portal including Bibliographies, Footnotes, and a link to an automated Harvard Referencing Generator.

2024 School Fees
2024 School Fee notice and Fee Payment Agreements were mailed home. If you have not received them, please contact the finance office or visit the school website - https://www.crccs.vic.edu.au/enrolment-1/college-tuition-fee

If you have changed home address or email details, please also update the school.

2024 Payment arrangements are now due back as commencement of payment for fees was February 2024 and to be finalised by November 2024 unless prior arrangement is in place.

CSEF 2024 (Current health care card holders)
CSEF applications are being accepted for 2024. Please complete the application form on our website and return the completed signed form along with a copy of the parent/carer current health care card valid until the end of term one 2024 to the College office as soon as possible. CSEF-application-form.pdf (crccs.vic.edu.au)

STEM Immersion USA - 13/09 -24/09 2024
Payments due dates are 22 April 2024 $1500.00 and 27 May 2024 $1100.00.
If you wish to discuss any finance concerns, please reach out to us by phone 9217 8000 extension 2 or email accounts@crccs.vic.edu.au

Thank you,
Finance Office

Five Minutes with Staff - Meet Jordyn Bugeja

How long have you worked at Catholic Regional College Caroline Springs?
3 Years

What is your role at the school?
Music Performance Coordinator and Performing Arts & Religion Teacher.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Witnessing my students thrive and grow is the most fulfilling aspect of teaching; it brings me so much happiness.

When you were little what did you aspire to be?
A Singer and Actress

What was your favourite subject at school?
Drama – which is why I became a Drama Teacher!

What skill would you like to master?
I would like to learn how to speak Maltese.

What book/tv series/podcasts are you into at the moment?
I love all of Colleen Hoover’s novels and I listen to Mamamia Out Loud on Spotify.

What would you sing at karaoke night?
The Prayer by Celine Dion

If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Homemade Gnocchi or Woodfire Margherita Pizza

What's your favourite holiday destination?
I’ve travelled to Bali over ten times - it is my favourite holiday destination. I love the food, the people, the culture.. and of course, the beautiful resorts!

Who would you want to play you in a movie of your life?
Margot Robbie. I think she is an incredible actress, and I grew up watching her on ‘Neighbours’.

What is something you could spend hours doing?
Shopping.. or as I like to call it, ‘Retail Therapy’.

What is a guilty pleasure you enjoy?
Eating dessert before dinner