Weekly Reflection

On the weekend, we celebrated the feast of The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Pope Pius XII established this feast on 22 August 1954 although Mary’s Queenship has roots in scripture.

Queen of Heaven is the title derived from the ancient Catholic teaching that Mary was bodily and spiritually assumed into heaven. Queen of heaven was one of many Queen titles used for Mary, mother of Jesus. It is the Catholic belief that Mary ascended into heaven and is honoured there as Queen.

The Hail Holy Queen prayer, originally known by its Latin name, Salve Regina, is recited at the end of The Rosary and is also used in night prayers.

Hail Holy Queen, Mother of mercy, Our life, our sweetness, and our hope.

To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.

Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us. And after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement O loving O sweet Virgin Mary.

Amen

Loretta Kalms

Acting Director of Catholic Identity

From the Principal

Parents as partners

Teachers know that parents are the first educators of their children and that parents in partnership with schools can contribute significantly to successful student outcomes.

The lockdowns imposed as a result of the pandemic have brought these partnerships into the spotlight. Never before has collaboration with parents been more important.

Many parents, including our teaching staff, are juggling small children at home while trying to deliver lessons online. Parents are trying to supervise their children’s lessons and perhaps attend their workplace or work from home.

Some families have multiple age groups working in Distance Learning Mode so balancing the demands of primary and secondary students is a huge challenge.

I recall trying to assist my son with his maths homework even before such things as lockdown. Even though I was a teacher, things had changed since I went to school and studied maths. I felt out of my depth and struggled to help him.

My daughter, I recall, wanted nothing to do with mum when it came to homework. She was fiercely independent and talked to her friends to help her through any school work.

Each of our children is different, and each of our parents will be managing different circumstances at home.

As parents, you are best placed to know what your children need to help them through this pandemic. One thing that may help is to take the long view - suggest they think about the effects that something will have in the future instead of the present.

As a history teacher, I have often taught students about the conditions for parents and children during the Great Depression. I do not doubt that in the future, how we managed and what we endured will be studied by our grandchildren in the curriculum!

While this situation can be incredibly challenging it also provides opportunity. Many parents may only now understand the academic requirements placed on their children.

As parents, you are well placed to really know your learners, understand their level of competence, and try to engage or assist them in their studies.

“Knowing and caring for learners provides the foundation for learning.” Horizons of Hope

At the same time, Catholic schools aim to develop the whole person. You, as parents, are best placed to know when your child needs a break and some fresh air and when they need to be pushed.

As we continue in lockdown we pray for all of our parents. As primary carers on whom your children depend, take care of yourselves. Let us keep in mind the words of St Francis.

Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.

St Francis of Assisi

Is it a cough or a COVID cough? Only a test can tell.

The Victorian Government has launched a new ad campaign encouraging Victorians to always see their cold symptoms as possible coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms and to get tested as soon as they appear.

Aiming to drive up testing numbers across the state, the new campaign Only a test can tell was launched across all media platforms in the last few days, including television and radio networks. It will run indefinitely.

Data shows that even 18 months into this pandemic, many people still assume that their cold and flu symptoms are not related to COVID-19 and less than half the number of people who experience cold and flu symptoms get tested.

The campaign is about building community awareness of when to get tested, so people can act as soon as any symptoms appear and take the early steps to avoid being infectious in the community.

There are multiple mystery cases in this outbreak, which means coming forward to get tested is one of the most important things Victorians can do to help us get on top of the virus as soon as possible.

As a school community, I encourage everyone to do their part in helping to get our students back on site.

Marlene Jorgensen

Principal

Looking Ahead

Dates to remember
Wednesday 25 AugustParents and Friends Meeting
Wednesday 1 SeptemberCollege Screen-Free Day - no online classes
Tuesday 14 SeptemberParent Student Teacher Interviews (online)
Thursday 16 SeptemberParent Student Teacher Interviews (online)
Friday 17 SeptemberTerm 3 concludes

From the Deputy Principal Student Wellbeing

Screen-Free Day - Wednesday 1 September

Due to the length of the current lockdown and the continuation of classes in Distance Learning Mode we are conscious of the significant increase in students’ screen time.

As part of our focus on mental health and wellbeing, Wednesday 1 September will be a screen-free day. This will enable students to participate in activities that benefit their mental and physical wellbeing away from their devices.

In the coming week, a variety of screen-free activities will be sent to students. There are also links to ideas below:

Winter Sleepout

Last Friday I was invited to the annual CRC Melton Winter Sleepout, which highlighted homelessness in our society.

It was a humbling experience to share part of the evening with the group, to watch the clips and listen to the presenter who had a first-hand experience of being homeless, which, unfortunately, is experienced by many.

I was also proud of the insightful comments made by our students.

I would like to thank Ms Emma van Wees for organising the sleepout and the staff who took part in the evening.

Cheryl Bullen

Deputy Principal Student Wellbeing - Melton Campus

Parents and Friends Meeting

The next Parents and Friends Association meeting will be held tomorrow, Wednesday 25 August, at 7pm via Zoom. The meeting will include an update on the naming of our College and a presentation from our Social Justice Coordinator, Ms Emma van Wees.

If you would like to attend but have not attended a meeting this year, please email kmatthews@sfcc.vic.edu.au for the online link.

Kerrie-Ann Matthews

Director of Community Relations

Write A Book In A Day Goes Online

The plot thickens as our teams of junior and senior students prepare to complete the Write a Book in a Day challenge online next Monday 30 August.

Determined not to let lockdowns stop their efforts, our three teams of students will collaborate via Microsoft Teams from 8am to 8pm to write, illustrate, and submit a storybook targeted to a youth audience.

They will be supported online by staff from the English team throughout the event.

Write a Book in a Day is an annual competition promoting literacy, collaboration and creativity, administered by independent national charity, The Kids’ Cancer Project.

Completed books are uploaded to an online library accessed by children undergoing treatment in hospitals across the country. Winning entries are announced in November.

You can donate to their fundraising pages by following the links below.

All money raised goes to The Kids’ Cancer Project to support their vital scientific research into childhood cancer.

Junior Team 1

Sponsor now

Erin Johnstone, Max Barton, Hazel Buyuksu, Elyse Stancic, Sneha Sharma, Amelia Horne.

Junior Team 2

Sponsor now

Diana Taylor, Olivia Falzon, Layla Moore, Alexa Borg, Ruby Barnett-Tonna, Mia Grainger.

Senior Team

Sponsor now

Anne Lazaro, Darcy Makin, Nathan Furtado, Samantha Merin, Olivia Kastoriadis, Cate Cimarelli, Isaac Dalumpines, Samuel Gordon, Xavier Millan, Ashlea Bartlett-Barker.

To date, students have raised more than $2000 in sponsorship and it’s not too late to show your support for our talented teams.

Alexandria Resource Centre News

Students who have run out of physical books to read can access hundreds of ebooks and audiobooks available through the Wheelers ePlatform.

A reminder that to find these titles, students should go to Infiniti, search for a book, and follow the link to Wheelers ePlatform. If you need assistance, please email mhill@sfcc.vic.edu.au.

Below are just some of the new releases now available.

Happy reading!

Michael Hill

Librarian

Learning from a Different Angle

This week Year 7 students began work on their new unit of Geometry.

Mrs Kremer’s students decided to get creative and search their houses for all the angles they could see and created some fantastic collages of their findings.

This was an opportunity for students to see how maths can be applied in the world around us. It also allowed students to disconnect from their screens and explore, finding maths everywhere, even in their own homes!

Doan Nguyen

Mathematics Domain Leader

Science Week Success

Thank you to all students and staff who were involved in National Science Week activities. There was a fantastic effort by all involved despite students and staff being in distance learning mode.

The Trivia Competition proved popular and the Food Science Model Competition attracted many creative contributions.

Trivia

Congratulations to the following students for submitting their answers throughout the week and earning themselves points towards the final prize:

Jorgia Osbourne: 7 points
Alanis Furtado: 6 points
Zoey Mathews: 3 points
Alannah Trovato and Luke Boog: 1 point

The overall winner was Nathan Furtado with 12 points.


Food Science Model

Several students submitted their food science models for judging.
Well done to Cooper Byham and Jorgia Osbourne for creating DNA models out of food.

The overall winner is Alanis Furtado who creatively used mini oreos to model phases of the moon.


Along with student submissions, there were several staff members who also flexed their creativity by making models.

Mr Adam Cooper created a model of Shrodinger’s Cat, in which the paradox of quantum superposition was highlighted.

Ms Amatul Sayyada created an edible model of methane.

Mrs Marlene Jorgensen explained the chemical formula for water through food.

Finally, our overall winner Mrs Natalie Bourke and her son Aaron created life-sized models of different viruses.

Thank you and congratulations to both staff and students for submitting their models. Winners will receive their prizes when we are back on campus.

Lisa Bui

Science Domain Leader

2021 Virtual Winter Sleepout

Each year our Social Justice group explores the complex issue of homelessness through a series of events, the main one being our annual Winter Sleepout.

For the second year in a row, the sleep out was held online last Friday night with a group of staff and students participating from their homes.

The night aims to broaden participants’ understanding of homelessness in our community through guest speakers, interactive activities and ‘roughing it’ or sleeping on the floor.

Here is what some of our students had to say about the sleep out.

“This is my fourth time participating in the CRC Melton Winter Sleepout. Through all of these experiences, I have gained a deeper understanding of homelessness and the current situation in Australia. Through interaction with guest speakers and the activities I am reminded of all the things I am blessed to have and just how quickly it could all be taken away.” Darcy - Year 11

Darcy was also the winner of our poster activity during which he created this moving sign.

“I enjoyed the activities we got to do that were related to homelessness, such as the backpack rush where we had to pack 10 items we would take with us if we were told we had 10 minutes to leave the house. This taught me that homelessness can happen to anyone even if we think it can never happen to us or people we know. Hearing what homeless people go through made me open my eyes to this global issue that can happen to anyone in the blink of an eye.” Elesha - Year 9

“Although the winter sleepout was held online again this year it was still a fun and very confronting experience. We got to meet people who have experienced homelessness and hear about the harsh realities of life on the street and aspects of homelessness that we don’t always think about. It was good to participate in the hands-on activities that really got us thinking about the issue of homelessness and the ways it affects people.” Cate - Year 11

Cate's sleepout shelter


“My Winter Sleepout was rough and odd. I slept on the floorboards with the house heater off in a sleeping bag wearing three layers of clothing. As I settled into my sleeping bag under the fort I built, I spent a lot of time finding the right position to sleep in. I am a side sleeper and let me tell you my shoulders were uncomfortably squashed against the hard floorboards! Soon after I somehow found the right position and surprisingly fell asleep quite easily, probably due to boxing and studying so much. I was then awakened by my alarm and realised that the night had flown by.” Ophelia - Year 10

Ophelia's sign

Ophelia was also the winner of our shelter competition.

Following on from the Winter Sleepout, there are several online Social Justice activities students can participate in this week that focus on homelessness. All the details can be found on Simon.

Any students interested in participating in these events or in joining the Social Justice group can email Miss Van at evanwees@sfcc.vic.edu.au

Emma van Wees

Social Justice Coordinator

Learning From Home – Parent Perspectives

As we approach the fourth week of distance learning at the College and Victoria’s lockdown continues, the quiet, dedicated and unwavering work of our parents and guardians goes on.

This week, we asked parents to reflect on what distance learning looked like in their homes and the impact of the pandemic on the current generation of CRC Melton students.

One of the biggest challenges parents noted was the inability to help their children when they had difficulties with classwork.

“There was subject content that neither I or my husband could assist my daughter with. We encouraged her to make contact with classroom teachers and raise any concerns she had with the work or workload,” one parent wrote.

Juggling the demands of school and work is another hurdle.

“This mode of learning is definitely new to our household. There is no doubt that it has posed challenges to us as parents and to our learners. My children are in Year 12, 7 and 4. It can get very busy and hectic trying to manage full-time work and home schooling.”

And for others it’s the simple act of getting their child out of bed.

“Waking (my daughter) up and getting her out of bed before recess. First period is done under the doona.”

One parent also noted the swing between motivation and procrastination and eating normally and eating everything in sight.

Ways to get through the day

So what are parents and guardians doing to keep their children motivated, engaged and getting the most out of their online classes?

“We listen to our daughter when she tells us how she feels and what is happening in her classes. We also check in with her during her scheduled break times and support her (extra-curricular activities) such as vocal lessons and the Winter Sleepout. We also vary what she has each day for lunch and snacks,” a parent said.

Another parent encouraged her child to make a list and do the things she liked least, first.

A regular routine, being actively involved in family life and taking regular screen breaks was another approach.

“I try my utmost to supervise and guide them. I like to maintain school routine as much as possible including going to bed on time. I ask them to prepare their “work stations” even if it as simple as ensuring their devices are fully charged and laying out their pencil cases and diaries. I also get them involved in planning the meals for the next day. In the morning they have their breakfast and get (dressed) - this is important as they feel energised and ready for the start of the day.”

“I find that every so often I need to remind them to take breaks. Sometimes there is a tendency for them to keep working. It can be challenging to end the use of their devices when school has finished. This is when I introduce an outdoor activity.”

There have been some upsides to lockdowns for our families. Parents have described movie nights, walks, unlimited time to play board games and plenty of great food as family rituals that they all look forward to.

Pandemic memories

When asked what their children would remember about living through a pandemic, parents felt it was the disappointment of cancelled events.

“Unfortunately, they will remember what they missed out on. For our daughter it will most certainly be school activities, namely the school production, premier league and other sporting competitions. She also missed two consecutive birthday (celebrations) due to lockdown. She has missed her friends and social interaction. On the other hand, she has learned that she can accomplish things and be successful without relying on others,” one parent said.

“Boredom, isolation and ice cream,” another wrote.

Interestingly, one parent’s work has been a wake up call for their child.

“I have been helping a client get visas for family in Kabul. I asked my daughter for help and this affected her. She has been more talkative, actually cleaned her room and has asked for help with her school work, which she never does. Possibly made her realise how lucky she is.”

Tried and tested

There is no doubt parents and guardians have learned as much as their children about how to cope during distance learning and what works for their family. 

“It’s important to maintain a routine and provide quiet study space. It is also important to acknowledge the challenges and provide little ‘rewards’ to your child.”

“It may be an idea to slightly lower our expectations for our children as it is not easy for them to learn without the physical presence of their teachers and peers. Be more patient and ask how they are going,” another parent offered.

One parent had these tips:

  • Accept that they are going to have unproductive days.
  • Try and have a routine on school days and change it up on the weekend.
  • Don’t nag – it helps no one.
  • Encourage online socialisation with friends. Give them some popcorn and a drink and get them to make a group call.
  • Quiet does not mean your child is doing nothing.
  • Most importantly, don’t stress the small stuff. Let it go.

Seek help when you need it

Our parents also recognise that there are times to reach out for help.

“There are plenty of resources for parents that you can obtain online. We need to maintain our emotional and mental state as much as our children,” one parent said.

“Ultimately, be kind to yourself and your child(ren). It is important to eat and drink well and to maintain social contact with others,” another said.

“I’d also encourage parents to seek the assistance and guidance of CRC Melton staff. They have always been available and responded to our daughter.”

Year 8 Trick Shot Challenge

Year 8 students have been taking part in various competitions and challenges to stay connected during lockdown.

This week students and homeroom teachers sent in clips of their unique trick shots, compiling them into one-minute videos to showcase all of their homeroom’s awesome tricks and be in the running to win a prize when we return to school.

Entries were judged on the number of students in each class who took part, the originality of tricks and the video’s quality.

Videos had to be original and the tricks safe and appropriate and following all COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. Only one video could be submitted for each homeroom.

During lockdown, it can be difficult to motivate yourself to go outside and do physical activity.

The Trick Shot Challenge encouraged students to get away from their devices. It was also a fun opportunity for homerooms to work together as a team and stay connected during lockdown.

Congratulations to  8 Catherine on their winning video. Click below to watch.

Alanis and Zoey

Year 8 students

Year 8 Food Studies

Year 8 Food Studies students have started work on their major assessment in Distance Learning Mode (DLM).

They are required to observe and photograph an evening meal being cooked at home.

Students were encouraged to help prepare the meal, and although this was not compulsory it did inspire Nahuel of 8 Anthony to cook his family a pizza incorporating broccoli in the base!

Nahuel did an exceptional job and from the photos you can see how much joy it brought him!

Well done to all Year 8 Food studies students who are keeping up the hard work during DLM.

Joanne Tissera

Food Studies teacher

Supporting Our Student Leaders

Applications are now open for senior students who would like to join the Student Leadership Team in 2022.

The selection process is a rigorous one and guiding students and staff through the process is our Student Leadership Coordinator Nirasha Pandi.

This week we asked Ms Pandi to tell us more about what motivated her to take on the role almost two years ago and why strong student leadership is so important at the College.

How did you come to be the Student Leadership Coordinator at the College?

I have been teaching at CRC Melton for four years after completing my Bachelor of Arts/Teaching degree at Australian Catholic University. I currently teach English, Geography, Politics & Conflict and VCE Business Management. I took on the role of Student Leadership Coordinator at the start of 2020 and have enjoyed the experience so far despite the many challenges we have faced. I look forward to continuing in the role over the next few years.

Were you a student leader during your primary or secondary school years or at university?

I was a quiet child when I was younger, so it wasn’t until high school that I took an interest in student leadership. During my time in high school, I got to experience being a class captain and a member of the Student Representative Council. Eventually, in Year 12, I had the privilege of being one of the college captains. During my time as a school leader, I thoroughly enjoyed representing my peers and making a difference.

What motivated you to take on the Student Leadership Coordinator role? What are some of the aspects you enjoy most?

Due to my own experience as a school leader, I am a big advocate for student voice. By taking on the role of Student Leadership Coordinator I knew I would be in the best position to support the student leaders to become effective representatives for their peers. One of the aspects I enjoy the most is seeing student initiatives come to fruition after thorough planning. Mostly, the student leaders don’t have much experience planning events so watching them develop their skills and run a lunchtime activity or implement a school initiative is amazing.

What are some of the things that motivate students to become involved in leadership at school? Are they all high-achieving students or do the roles attract a mix of personalities and skill levels?

Students usually become leaders because they want to implement change at the school. One of their main goals is to ensure their peers have the best year possible and to achieve this they need to advocate for anything that needs to be improved or implemented. Sometimes students apply because they enjoy being a leader and to mentor their peers. They are also keen to develop their communication and organisational skills and build their confidence.

Why are student leadership and student voice important in our College community?

They are important because we are such a diverse community. With more than 1100 students from different cultures and backgrounds, we need to provide a space where everyone feels welcome and supported. Our student leaders have the unique opportunity to listen to the concerns and opinions of their peers and do their best to support them by working with staff to bring about change.

When selecting new student leaders, what are some of the key qualities you look for?

One of the key qualities I look for in a student leader is their ability to collaborate. Being a member of the Student Leadership Team involves working with other leaders to plan events and supporting initiatives they would like to implement. Good communication and organisation skills are also important as is the ability to manage a leadership role and school work. These roles do reduce the downtime a student has so they need to do their best to balance all aspects of their life. Other qualities I look for are empathy, passion and perseverance!

Reflections on Student Leadership in 2021

Our current student leaders reflect on their experiences so far and offer advice to students considering a student leadership position in 2022.


Bagena Malua - College Captain

Tell us about your involvement in leadership and any extracurricular activities at the College from Year 7 to now.

Fitting in was difficult for me as a student who arrived at CRC Melton in Year 9, but I persevered. Throughout my time at CRC Melton, I have taken advantage of as many opportunities as possible to become active in the school community and make new friends. I’ve had leadership experiences in school sports, where I provided a lot of advice to motivate my peers to be the best they can be.

In your opinion, what makes a great student leader?

Someone who stays loyal to themselves. This implies you don’t change for anybody, and you’re fully honest about how you feel, what you really value, and what you want. It also means sharing your emotions fully. A great student leader also has a strong dedication to and knowledge of their subject matter.

What have been the most rewarding parts of your leadership role this year? What has been challenging?

The most rewarding aspect of my leadership role this year is assisting my fellow team members and other students to develop, grow and succeed. I can also establish goals, take risks, and make things happen. However, attempting to keep motivated has been difficult due to COVID-19 and lockdowns. Throughout the year, I’ve realised that not everything will go as planned, and that adjustments will occur, but there will always be ways to work things out.

Where have student leaders had the most impact on the College in 2021?

Student leaders have had the most influence on the College’s sport and persuading students to become more engaged. For example, lunchtime games include dodgeball, 3-point basketball, volleyball and AFL longest kick. This was an excellent way to get students up and moving – the lunchtime activities were well-attended, with many students taking part.

What advice would you give to students thinking about applying for a leadership role in 2022?

The best advice I could provide is to keep doing what you do best and to never allow someone tell you that you can’t. Being the College Captain is a significant job within the school and being yourself is essential. Don’t allow anything, especially a position of authority, change you. Just enjoy it while you can.


Dillon Puskadija – Media Captain

Tell us about your involvement in leadership and any extracurricular activities at the College from Year 7 to now.

Throughout my time at CRC, I was not extensively involved in extracurricular activities up until around Year 10. In 2019 I began to offer my mediocre photography skills to the College in the hope of taking a photo that would end up in the newsletter.

Towards the end of the year, I heard about opportunities in senior student leadership and after looking further into it, found the role of Deputy Media Captain. Because of my love for photography and videography at the time, I signed up without hesitation. I was successful and in 2020 joined the media team and began planning and releasing different activities for students to participate in during our first major lockdown.

These were a big success and got many students involved. We ran other competitions throughout the year to keep students engaged and active throughout arguably one of the hardest years of our lives at school. This year as Media Captain, I’ve enjoyed brainstorming ideas with the media team, which has resulted in the establishment of a media club that began in early 2021.

In your opinion, what makes a great student leader?

Resilience is extremely important, especially nowadays when we are jumping in and out of lockdowns regularly.

Balancing your studies and leadership roles can be tricky at times, but as long as you keep a strong mindset and try your absolute best, you’ll find it in yourself to keep pushing onwards. That said, a strong commitment to your role is also important and defines a great leader in any context. If you can show others your commitment, you’ll inspire them to achieve their absolute best too

What have been the most rewarding parts of your leadership role this year? What has been challenging?

One of the most rewarding experiences for me was being able to do canteen duty, where the leaders would help serve the younger year levels. I have gained experience in teamwork and leadership and the opportunity to work with like-minded students with the aim of motivating other students to try their best whenever possible. The most rewarding part is seeing your efforts pay off.

Where have student leaders had the most impact on the College in 2021?

Throughout 2021, the student leaders have focussed on organising school events such as the swimming and athletics carnivals. We have all worked hard planning different activities and events throughout the year, such as weekly trivia, photo and film competitions and different sporting events to name a few.

What advice would you give to students thinking about applying for a leadership role?

My advice would simply be apply! If you are successful, you can influence changes at the College and continue the legacy left by previous leaders. It’s also a chance to continue the growth of innovative and creative ideas into the future.


Tijana Pirro – Environment Captain

In your opinion, what makes a great student leader?

In my opinion, a good leader inspires their peers to learn and do more about what they are passionate about. A good leader makes mistakes and uses those mistakes to develop better leadership skills and improve in their role. Confidence is a big factor in leadership as it allows people to build trust with you. Leadership requires a commitment to and passion for achieving the goals you set.

What have been the most rewarding parts of your leadership role this year? What has been challenging?

For me, the most rewarding part about being a leader has been seeing the development of our school’s environment and all the things we have achieved despite the challenges thrown at us throughout 2021.

Where have student leaders had the most impact on the College in 2021?

This year at the College I believe that all the student leaders have worked extremely hard to overcome challenges. The sports and house captains have continued to motivate and excite students, the social justice captains have worked hard to raise our awareness of world events and all leaders have helped create a beautiful community within our school.

What advice would you give to students thinking about applying for a leadership role in 2022?

To aspiring 2022 captains, don’t be afraid to voice your opinion and be confident in your ideas. If you are thinking about applying for a role in 2022, I definitely think you should. It will be one of the best experiences and something that gives you skills you can use in everyday life.

Raphael Hadfield – College Captain

Tell us about your involvement in leadership and any extracurricular activities at the College from Year 7 to now.

I really did not have any involvement in leadership until my final year. Looking back on it now, I wish I had explored all leadership opportunities within the College, however, my experiences now have taught me that it’s never too late to try. Making the most of my final year has opened many doors and brought opportunities for me both in and out of school.

In your opinion, what makes a great student leader?

A great student leader is humble, collaborative, and bases their decisions on the feedback of those they represent. They embrace servant leadership and are authentic and open with those around them. Success as a student leader comes from engaging all students and getting to know people on a personal level rather than simply being a figurehead.

What have been the most rewarding parts of your leadership role this year? What has been challenging?

I am grateful for the influence I can have on others and humbled that a lot of younger students come to me for advice or questions about schooling in general. We’ve run many successful events at the College and it’s great seeing how much they are enjoyed. We have struggled to run events and execute big plans due to lockdowns but it is great to see how well the leadership team has coped and come up with new ways online to make the most of the time we have spent isolated.

Where have student leaders had the most impact on the College in 2021?

The 2021 leadership team has left a great mark on the College, running big events and supporting good causes in the process. K’s for Caritas had a great turnout. The energy at the 2021 Swimming and Athletics carnivals was a great reflection of the effort put into planning and running the days. This year’s SRC selections by the leadership team have highlighted the potential our younger students have to offer. There have been many efforts and achievements even through times of uncertainty.

What advice would you give to students thinking about applying for a leadership role in 2022?

You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. Being a leader is very rewarding, especially if you are committed and optimistic. The experience of being a leader is valuable and you build many skills and qualities that help you succeed beyond school. Don’t let doubts or nerves hold you back from achieving and being the best version of yourself!


VCE Revision Workshops

Elevate Education Webinars

Parents and guardians have exclusive access to Elevate Education’s Parent Webinar Series for Term 3, 2021. Elevate works with our students, delivering workshops on study skills, motivation, wellbeing, and exam preparation.

Elevate’s webinar series can help you learn how to better support your child at home by reinforcing the skills they learn at school.

The next webinar, Exam home stretch and how to support your child in the final weeks will run live online from 7pm to 8pm on Wednesday 1 September. Registration is essential and  free for CRC Melton parents and guardians. It includes a live question and answer session so you can ask the presenter questions directly.

You can register for the free webinar using the link below.

Register now

Useful Links

Keep up to date with College events, procedures, resources and information via the links below.

PAM – Parent Portal

Parent Handbook

Events

Enrolment

Bulmans Road Upgrade

Facebook

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Policies

Uniform

Library

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