"Education is not about knowing things or taking lessons but about being able to use three lingos: those of the head, the heart, and the hands... learning so that you can think about what you feel and do, can feel what you think and do, and can do what you feel and think. Unity within a person." - Pope Francis

As a College community, we have again traversed our way through the very challenging and trying times that COVID-19 has presented us with this year. However, overwhelmingly we have done so yet again in a very positive, composed, and unified manner. For that, I acknowledge and applaud the entire CRCCS community of staff, students, parents/carers, and families.

The ongoing unpredictable changes presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the ensuing extended period of remote learning and subsequent return to on-site learning, have again posed additional challenges to our College and wider communities. I would like to congratulate all students for their resilience and for productively completing extended and intermittent period of remote and on-site learning. A big thank you also to parents and families who have supported the students through this unusual learning journey this year.

I would also like to express my thanks and gratitude to our teaching staff, who have worked tirelessly 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 our future learning and teaching experiences.

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.

Amidst the uncertainty and challenges surrounding COVID-19, the year has still been a very productive one for our College community. It was filled with many high-points and activities including:

• Opening College Mass
• Student Leaders Investiture Ceremony
• Easter Liturgy
• College 'Annie' Production
• Whole school and Year Level assemblies both on-site and via MS Teams
• School Choir live and virtual performances
• Swimming Carnival
• SACCSS Premier League and Swimming Carnivals
• Student Leaders camp
• Uganda building and food project
• Year 10 Graduation (live streamed to families)
• Presentation Evening (live streamed to families)

I thank and congratulate the increasing number of students acknowledged as Student Leaders. They have positively impacted the College. Each role continues to evolve and extend the student leaders’ responsibilities.

I would also like to wish all the best to our departing, Year 10 students. This group of students is an extraordinary and eclectic group of young men and women, both collectively and individually. They are scholars, athletes, narrators, engineers, musicians, mathematicians, artists, comedians, politicians and men and women of intense faith, devotion, and spirituality.

"School not only expands your intellectual dimension, but also the human heart. In a particular way, Catholic schools are attentive to developing human virtues such as loyalty, respect, faithfulness, commitment." - Pope Francis

When I look at these students, I have a genuine, optimistic hope for our future and for the future of our Catholic church. I feel certain, that their futures are bright, exciting, and positive. Through an active focus on our College motto ‘Live Fully, Act Justly’, our students have embraced a community in which faith is a "hands-on experience", in which they seek Christ in the each other and the world in which they live.

As the 2021 year concludes, I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to Catholic Regional College Caroline Springs. I continually feel blessed that I work in a school environment where the College motto of 'Live Fully Act Justly' is lived, breathed, and enacted each and every day.

Advent

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

"In a world where there is so much wealth, so many resources to feed everyone, it is incomprehensible how there can be so many hungry children, so many children without an education, so many poor". - Pope Francis

We continue to build on the very positive relationships that has been established between CRC Caroline Springs and St Luke’s parish 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.

Staffing News

We have a number of staff who will be leaving us at the end of this year; some taking leave and others beginning new positions at other schools. We wish the following staff members well as they leave us to work at other schools in 2022:

• Richard Brodrick- Deputy Principal Wellbeing (19/12/2016)
• Laura Bonini- Year Level Leader and English/Japanese Teacher (23/11/2017)

We wish the following staff members well as they undertake a period of leave:

• Jess Schembri- College Psychologist (Maternity Leave - returning Term 1, 2023)
• Yanina Martins- Performing Arts Learning Area Leader (Maternity Leave - returning Term 1, 2023)

We wish the following staff members well as there contracts have now concluded:

• Peter Botrous- Mathematics/Science Teacher
• Eunju Yu- Japanese Teacher

We thank all the above staff for their outstanding contribution throughout their time at the College and wish them all the best in the future.

College Captains

On behalf of the school community, I would like to thank our 2021 College Captain, Alexandra Wood; and Deputy College Captains, Thomas Cheal, Joshua Di Lullo and Maria Ranasinghe; for their great work as leaders in our school. They have displayed outstanding servant leadership characteristics and have led their peers with energy, passion, and enthusiasm. Throughout the year they’ve contributed in a very real and practical way to make our school a great place and ensure that students ‘have a voice’ on many issues. I thank them for their time, generosity, and willingness to serve our community.

It is with great pleasure that I can now announce that our School Captains for 2022 are:

College Captain – Ivanka Portelli

Deputy College Captains – Angel Yesudas, Christina Stanford and Meena Babawy

We eagerly look forward to working with these student leaders in 2022, and we wish them all the best in their roles.

Presentation Evening: A Celebration of Excellence

Our Presentation Evening: A Celebration of Excellence was held as a pre-recorded presentation and streamed to families on Wednesday 1 December. This event was an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the wonderful accomplishments of our 2021 Award recipients. Throughout the course of the evening, students were presented with Academic Achievement and Excellence Awards, College Service Awards, and other Major Awards for students in Years 7 through to 10. Celebrating together, the Presentation Evening gives us time to pause and take note of what we have achieved, individually and collectively, to honour and respect those who have excelled, and to give thanks. Congratulations to all Award recipients.

I would like to thank our Deputy Principal Learning and teaching Lucy Swan, the Learning and Teaching team, the administration, I.T and maintenance teams and all staff and students involved, for meticulously overseeing the planning, preparation, and implementation of the “Celebration of Excellence”.

Farewell Year 10s

The Year 10 Graduation Mass and Assembly was held at the College on Thursday 25 November, and live streamed to families.

During this evening, we celebrated Liturgy together as a College community and formally acknowledged our Year 10 students, who over their four years with us, have been guided by our motto of ‘Live Fully Act Justly’.

I ask our Year 10s to always remember the four relatively simple words of our College motto. Paradoxically these words are also very complex, deep, and spiritual. Over their time at the College they would have heard them hundreds, if not thousands of times. These rather unobtrusive four words are truly reflected in their time at the College and we hope they are also forever etched in their mind, and more importantly, etched in their hearts. At the Liturgy we gathered together as a Catholic community to celebrate the wonderful gifts and talents of our students and we formally farewelled our Year 10s. We hope that they take the ‘live fully’ and ‘act justly’ aspect of our motto with them on their next journey and truly achieve fullness of life.

I would like to thank Father Gerard Keith from Resurrection Parish Kings Park for leading us in the Mass and for his significant contribution to our College, CRC Federation and the Parish.

Thank you also, to all of the staff and students who were involved in preparing the Year 10 Graduation Mass and Formal presentations. I would particularly like to thank a few key people who made the evening such success. Firstly, our Head of Faith and Mission, Mr Paul Sammut and his Ministry team, and Year 10 Student Leaders for overseeing the Mass. Thanks also to our Deputy Principal Wellbeing, Mr Ric Broderick, for overseeing a whole team of staff involved in organizing this evening's Graduation ceremony.

Finally, I wish all of our families a happy, holy and safe Christmas.

God Bless

An Advent Prayer

Come, Lord Jesus! Come! May this Advent be a time of deep renewal in my life, dear Lord. May it be a time in which I strive with all my heart to seek out Your gentle and profound voice. Give me the grace, dear Lord, to turn away from the many noises of the world that compete for my attention and to turn only to You and to all You wish to say. Come, Lord Jesus, come into my life more deeply during this Advent season. Jesus, I trust in You.

Amen

Advent

Advent is upon us! What a wonderful time to renew our desire for Christ, for him to enter our hearts as we prepare for his arrival. Advent is the beginning of the Church’s liturgical year and the psalms of this Sunday’s Mass invite us to pursue our Christian vocation that we have all received “Make me to know your ways, o Lord; teach me your paths."

We must learn how to put ourselves on God’s timetable not ours. Very often we are not ready to receive God’s plan for us and we need to go through a period of training and discipline to be ready, so that our hearts are open to God’s will. During the season of Advent, we are called to enter this space. We all hate waiting, however we come accustomed to this practice during the pandemic. Where can we find opportunities in our life to slow down; to enter in prayer with God?

Let us ask the Lord to guide us, to show us his paths so we can be more charitable, forgiving, compassionate and loving as Christ is, as we approach the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

May the light and Joy of our Lord Jesus Christ bring peace and joy to your families this Advent and Christmas Season.

The True Meaning of Advent

Advent in 2 Minutes

Year 10 Graduation Mass

Yesterday, we celebrated our Year 10 Graduation Mass for our Graduating Year 10 students and families. Fr Gerard Keith celebrated the Mass with the assistance of Deacon Chris Creo. The Mass gave thanksgiving to God for all the graces and blessings he has bestowed over our students during their time here at Catholic Regional College Caroline Springs. The readings of the Mass related to our school motto Live Fully (John 10:10) Act Justly (Micah 6:8) and were chosen by our Year 10 Leaders. I was humbled by the discussion as we planned for the Mass as the students expressed how much the College Motto has been part of their life during their time here. I would like to thank all the students who participated in the various ministries throughout the Mass. Let us pray that our students will continue to develop their relationship with Christ and know “that He has come that they may have life to the full.”

Final 8:00am Mass for 2021

Today we had our last Friday 8:00am Mass for the year where we had the opportunity to pray for all the deceased persons written in our All Souls Memorial Book this month of All Souls. Although, we were not able to attend Friday 8:00am Mass all throughout the year due to restrictions. It has been a wonderful opportunity for our staff and students to begin the day nourished by The Word of God and the Eucharist and I often am grateful for the moments of peace and time with the Lord during the Mass.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank Fr Richard Rosse and Fr Simeon Anthony for making themselves available to celebrate the Eucharist every Friday morning as well as the many students who lead us in the Liturgy of the Word in the Mass. We hope to continue Friday 8:00am Mass in 2022.

Sunday Gospel Focus

Lk 21:25-28. 34-36

Be ready for the second coming.

Throughout 2020, the College undertook a review of its current Timetable structure. In Term 1 this year, the College Leadership Team endorsed a change of the timetable structure for 2022 from the current six 50-minute periods per day to a five 60-minute period per day timetable. The purpose of this Newsletter article is to summarise the information provided in the three previous Newsletter articles, that being the rationale behind the change to the Timetable structure for 2022, the College’s Instructional Teaching Model and the day structure in 2022.

Rationale

Before making recommendations regarding a change to the College Timetable, both educational literature and the findings of the 2019 School Review were addressed. Educational literature in the areas of increasing student engagement, improving student outcomes, increasing academic rigor and refining consistency in teacher pedagogy were used as the basis of informing this change. Some of the key findings from a review of the research are noted below:

• A school scheduling system must be well thought out to make a significant impact on the academic achievement of students (Olsen, 2020)
• A school schedule that is well thought out can result in more effective use of time, and school resources, improve the teaching and learning climate and assist in establishing desired instructional practices (Canady and Rettig, 1995)
• Spaced lessons over multiple days have an effect size of 0.71 on student achievement, compared with massed practice which has an effect size of 0.41 (Hattie, 2009)
• More contact with teachers provides greater opportunities for feedback to be provided to students (Hattie, 2009)
• Repeated or multiple opportunities to be exposed, encounter, engage or elaborate with content and knowledge provides greater opportunity for deep learning to occur (Hattie, 2009)
• Increased exposure to teachers across the course of a week, term or semester increases the relationship developed between teachers and students (Armstrong, 2006; Dickinson, 2001)
• Students cannot stay focused for longer periods of time, and knowledge retention diminishes if classes do not occur on a regular basis (Bowman, 1998)
• A shorter length of class time can be more conducive to the attention span of adolescents (Roberts, 2016)
• If the day is less taxing for students, there may be a range of positive consequences such as reduced stress, improved morale and fewer behavioural concerns (Morton, 2021)
• Student productivity is higher in the morning compared to the afternoon (Pope, 2016)

Supporting the educational literature, the School Review highlighted improving the quality of learning and teaching across the school was a high priority. However, the review noted that students felt that stimulating learning environments within the classroom could be improved. The review identified that there was a variety of contemporary teaching strategies being used across the school, but consistency in these strategies across all subjects and teachers was required, with examples such as Learning Intentions and Success Criteria being highlighted as important to deploy across all classrooms.

It is anticipated that the change to five 60-minute periods in 2022 will lead to increased levels of student achievement and engagement in classes, higher expectations of students within classes and an increase in academic rigor. Additionally, the timetable change will result in an increased frequency of contact between students and teachers across the cycle and the ability to minimise interruptions of learning in classes due to College events and co-curricular activities. The timetable change also allows for greater flexibility of scheduling practical and theory lessons across the cycle, increased opportunity for students and teachers to build positive relationships and greater opportunity to review curriculum and skills taught in previous lessons.

GANAG Instructional Teaching Model

Prior to selecting an Instructional Teaching Model for 2022, the College’s Learning and Teaching Team researched a variety of Instructional Models and identified similarities across the majority of these. Research has shown that the implementation of an Instructional Model consistently in the classroom increases student achievement (Hattie, 2008; Marzano et al., 2001). The GANAG model has the following steps occur throughout a lesson: setting a goal, accessing prior knowledge, introducing new knowledge, applying knowledge and reviewing the initial goal. In 2022 the College will implement an adjusted version of the GANAG Instructional Model (Marzano et al., 2001) across all subject areas. The Setting a Goal in the GANAG Model has been adjusted to Learning Intentions and Success Criteria of the lesson and the Reviewing the Initial Goal adjusted to a Lesson Summary/Reflection.

In 2022, within each lesson at the College teachers and students will:

• Identify Learning Intentions of the lesson
• Explore Success Criteria of the lesson
• Access Prior Knowledge about the content or skill being covered in the lesson
• Be presented with New Information about the content or skill being taught in the lesson
• Have an opportunity to Apply Knowledge learnt within the lesson
• Summarise/Reflect on the learning that has occurred in the lesson

A brief description of each part of the Instructional Model is below.

Learning Intentions – Learning intentions are statements that make the goal of the lesson visible for students. They typically start with the phrase ‘To be able to…’ Another way to think of a Learning Intention is what students are expected to learn in the lesson.

Success Criteria – Are more focused than the Learning Intentions that make the skills or content the students will be able to do or know about by the end of the lesson clear. They typically start with the phrase ‘I can…’ Another way to think of Success Criteria is how students will achieve the Learning Intention.

Accessing Prior Knowledge – This stage is designed to engage students so that they are ready to learn. It is also designed to get students thinking about what they already know about the topic being covered, or what they had learnt in the previous lesson.

New Information – In a format chosen by the teacher (e.g., video, information sheet, textbook, PowerPoint presentation) the new knowledge for the lesson is introduced.

Apply Knowledge – This stage is the most important stage in the lesson as it is when students begin to interact with the new knowledge. There are many ways students could be asked to apply this new knowledge.

Summary/Reflection – The aim of the summary/reflection is to reintroduce to students what they have achieved in the lesson.

The School Review in 2019 highlighted that students felt that stimulating learning environments within the classroom could be improved. The review identified that there was a variety of contemporary teaching strategies being used across the school, but consistency in these strategies across all subjects and teachers was required, with examples such as Learning Intentions and Success Criteria being emphasised as important to develop across all classrooms. With the implementation of the Instructional Model across all subjects at the College in 2022, increasing consistency in use of contemporary teaching pedagogy will begin to address some of the recommendations of the School Review.

Day Structure and Period Allocations

In 2022, the College will still run on a 10-day cycle, however, there will be a slight change to the time Homeroom begins, that being 8:42am instead of 8:45am. This change has been made to increase the time students spend with their Homeroom Teacher each morning, strengthening the relationship between each student and their Homeroom Teacher. The day structure also allows for the vast majority of learning to occur prior to lunch each day. The structure of the day in 2022 will be as follows:

With the change in timetable structure the number of periods that students complete in each subject has also changed. This is to align with the recommendations by ACARA and MACS. At Year 7 minimal changes to the time spent in each subject has occurred, and STEM has been introduced as a compulsory subject. Students will complete one semester of Italian, Japanese, Art, Drama, Music, Visual Communication Design (VCD), Digital Technology and Food Technology across the year.

*Denotes a semester-based Subject.

At Year 8, the elective options for students have been changed, with both STEM and Digital Technology introduced as new elective choices for Year 8 students. The time in elective subjects has also increased at Year 8. Students are required to study Materials Technology for a semester, and complete either Japanese or Italian for the whole year. Students are then able to select five semester-based subjects from the following options: Art, Drama, Music, VCD, Digital Technology, Food Technology, STEM and a second Language (Italian or Japanese).

At Year 9, students select four elective options, and study two in each semester. More information about elective options can be found in the Learning & Teaching Quick Guide, found on the College website.

At Year 10, students select four elective options, and study two in each semester. More information about elective options can be found in the Learning & Teaching Quick Guide, found on the College website.

At Foundation VCAL, students select two elective options from the Year 10 Elective Program, and study one each semester. Students will also select a VET subject to study at CRC Sydenham one day each week, and students complete Structured Work Placement, one day a week also. More information about VET and Structured Work Placement options can be found in the VCAL Course Handbook, found on the College website.

Should you have any questions about the 2022 Timetable Change, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the College’s Learning & Teaching Team.

The Semester Two Reports will be released to parents/carers after 4:30pm on Wednesday 8 December through the College Learning Management System, SEQTA Engage.

Semester Reports are designed to provide students, parents and carers with a clear and concise picture of a student’s level of attainment throughout the semester, whilst noting the remote learning environment that occurred.

Within the Semester Report, the Overall Result is designed to provide students and parents/carers an overall indication of how the student has performed in a subject throughout the semester, as a score out of 100. Student achievement within subjects may have been impacted as a result of the remote learning periods, and parents/carers are asked to be mindful of this when discussing their child’s results.

Glancing specifically at the Learning Area Achievement section of the Semester Report, the unshaded dot represents the last report progress, the shaded dot the current report progress and the shaded band the expected achievement at this report. The unshaded dot will not appear if the Learning Area Achievement was not assessed in the previous reporting cycle.

The work habits on the Semester Two Report are described in greater detail below:

Demonstrates academic improvement

Applies effort

• Attempts all tasks
• Maintains attention in class
• Participates in class
• Cooperates and collaborates in class

Manages personal learning

• Brings correct materials to class
• Organisation
• Satisfactory completion of set homework, in a timely manner
• Seeks teacher support as required

Demonstrates appropriate behaviours

• Punctuality
• Works respectfully with peers and teachers

If you have any questions about the Semester Two Reports, please feel free to contact a member of the Learning & Teaching Team at the College.

2021 School Fees

A friendly reminder that School Fees for 2021 are due in full by the end of November. If you have a current plan in place, kindly review if it is up to date and contact the Finance department if you wish to discuss it.

2022 School Fees

2022 School Fee Notices and payment arrangements have been sent out in the mail to all families. Please find the relevant links below:

2022 School Fee Payment Arrangement and 2022 School Fee Notice

What an amazing achievement for our students to preform Annie last weekend. 48 students stepped onto the stage to bring life to this production that has been rescheduled four times over two years. We were the first school in Metro Melbourne to perform to a live audience. I could not be prouder of the students, staff and Leadership team who enabled this to happen. As well as the cast, we had over 20 students help with hair, make-up, backstage and front of house. This really was a collegial event that the students will never forget.

Thank you to the cast who remained committed and engaged for the whole year despite the circumstances we faced due to the pandemic. The cast worked so hard, rehearsals after school, on weekends and sometimes even lunchtime! These students shined on stage, and I encourage them to continue to pursue their passions for Performing Arts.

To our parents, thank you for your support. For the back-and-forth taxi pick-ups to the countless hours of rehearsals and to having your children prepared with everything we asked for. Thank you for trusting us to produce this Musical, we could not do it without your support.

To our staff, although our Performing Arts team is small, we are a family and our wider family of you; all staff is something we cherish. To the staff that dropped us food and coffee, to the staff that gave up their weekends to supervise. To the messages of support in the lead up to the support in the busy production week, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

To the College Leadership team, thank you for never wavering on your support and drive to get this done. We were never once told “no” or "maybe next year". Instead, we were championed to achieve what we had set out to do. Thank you from the production team for this amazing commitment to Performing Arts.

Overall, it has been a very busy, crazy time to produce a musical. To the Production team Dr Chris McGillen, Ms Laura Mason, Mr Ben Wisbey, I thank you from the bottom of my heart what an awesome team to take this journey together.

We look forward to announcing the 2022 College Musical at the Final Assembly next week.

Many thanks to everyone that took part in the Cultural Immersion Live Stream Webinar on Tuesday 23 November. We have had a fantastic response from parents and students alike. If you were unable to attend, please see key details below for your reference including some important dates.

Tasmania Tour will take place on the 24 April – 29 April 2022 and is open to our current Year 8 and 9 students (Year 9’s and 10’s in 2022).

The Central Australia Tour will take place on the 7 May – 14 May 2022 and is open to our current Year 9 students (Year 10’s in 2022).

Please ensure that the Cultural Immersion Endorsement form and deposits are received by the due dates to secure your child’s place on these tours.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me via email on lbracco@crccs.vic.edu.au

The school chess tournament culminated in grand final games in mid-November. The finalists were able to play with a small audience of their year level peers. The chess boards and clocks were displayed on the television screens so that everyone could see what was happening.

In the Intermediate division, Yohance Espina and Noah McHenry were both outstanding Year 10 players, each having one every game they played throughout the year. Their grand final game was an exciting one, with the students evenly matched throughout the game. In the end, both students were left with just their kings on the board, resulting in a draw. A re-match the following day resulted in a win for Yohance Espina.

In the Junior division, Caleb Piacentini and Oscar Nguyen (both in Year 7) played their grand final game with intense focus. However, Oscar ended up checkmating Caleb and winning the game.

Congratulations to all the Chess Club students for their excellent sportsmanship and dedication throughout the year.

During Term 4, the VCAL group finally able to get their hands dirty and use their applied skills to design and create a garden on the school grounds. Due to Covid-19 the students were unable to participate in many of the planned activities and this was a great way to finish the year off. Working in teams, the students learned valuable skills that would be transparent and necessary in the workplace. Students looked at Work Health and Safety of the working area, planning, budgeting and purchasing.

With the assistance of the College gardener, the students were guided in implementing an irrigation system, planting native trees and shrubs and moving a whole lot of soil and bark.

The final results were a great outcome for the College.

Thank you to Tim and Phil (gardener) for supporting the students during the project.

After a long time of remote learning, it is wonderful to see our Forensic Science students conduct some hands-on practical activities. This week's classes are focused on Blood Splatter Analysis. Students have been looking at how blood patterns at a crime scene can give great insight into the true events of a crime. As students' progress further into next week, they will learn how to extract DNA from organic samples and learn how this is a way of identifying a suspect of a crime.

CRCCS launched its new Instrumental Music program in June marked by the visit from the Royal Australian Navy Band who not only performed some amazing music, also demonstrated the new instruments available from 2022: Flute, Clarinet, Alto and Tenor Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone and Percussion/Drums. Students are also able to take advantage of our other instrumental options: Voice, Piano, Guitar and Drums.

Current Parents and Carers are encouraged to discuss this wonderful opportunity with their son/daughter to learn an instrument at school and take part in the exciting new Concert Band program commencing at the start of 2022. Instruments are available for hire through the College at competitive rates on a semester, as well as accessing small group lessons scheduled during the school day with an Instrumental Tutor. Fees and charges are as follows:

Please contact Chris McGillen for further details about enrolling your son or daughter in the CRCCS Instrumental Music/Concert Band program in 2022.

Our wonderful Year 8 students recently had an opportunity in their Pastoral Care lesson to challenge themselves to design and construct a structure that would span a designated gap and support a predetermined weight. Sounds easy, right? As the small groups found, maybe not.

Working collaboratively to build a bridge that meets the requirement stipulated requires good communication skills, patience, acceptance, tolerance, and persistence.

Showing determination and a commitment to work through a series of trials and errors was certainly frustrating for some, but with guidance most groups were able to create a structure that at least spanned the gap.

The process was extremely difficult. However, students demonstrated great examples of empathy and support for each other.

Although most of the ‘bridges’ were not able to support the weight, student comments on how they would go about it if they attempted the task again clearly demonstrated a high degree of learning that had occurred.

This semester, the Pastoral Care subject has included various practical activities such as the Water Challenge and Learning and Teaching a New Skill.

Let us all come together and embrace the true meaning of Christmas. A time of giving, sharing the love, and thinking about others. This year, we will collect non-perishable food items as part of the St Vinnies Christmas Appeal.

"Christmas is a glorious season of the year... Our celebration of Christmas should reflect the love and selflessness taught by the Saviour. Giving, not getting, brings to full bloom the Christmas spirit. We feel kinder one to another. We reach out in love to help those less fortunate…”

These items may include pasta, rice, canned food items, sauce jars, and the like.

Every little bit makes a huge difference. 

God bless

Come join us for an evening of celebration, community and carols!

There will be a jumping castle, face painting, sausage sizzle, raffle and a visit from a very special visitor. Bring along a picnic blanket, some nibbles and your loved ones for a beautiful evening in anticipation of Christmas!

5:30pm on Sunday, 19 December 2021– All are welcome.

Please click on the following link to book: https://www.trybooking.com/BVVXT