In the absence of our Principal, it is my privilege to compose the article for this instalment of the College newsletter. As we approach the conclusion of Term 3, the school is bustling with activity, encompassing assessments, student conferences, and reporting. Our Unit 4 VCE students are entering a phase of rigorous revision and exam preparations, while our Year 12 VCE VM students are putting the finishing touches on their ultimate assessments. We embark on a journey to celebrate the culmination of their 12-year educational voyage, standing by their side as they commence the last exhilarating stretch toward the finish line.

Given Mr. Brennan has entrusted the leaders of the College to keep the school running in his absence, I feel it only fitting to make trust the theme for this article. Just as a strong foundation supports the growth of a magnificent structure, trust forms the bedrock upon which our school community flourishes. Trust is the bond that unites students, parents, staff, and educators, fostering an environment of collaboration and mutual respect. Our Catholic faith teaches us that trust is integral to our relationship with God, just as we trust in His divine plan for us.

A Prayer for Trust: Inspired by Psalm 28:7

Loving God,

You are my strength and shield,

My rock in whom I trust.

In the midst of uncertainty, I turn to You,

Knowing that Your plans are perfect and just.

As I walk through the challenges of life,

I place my trust in Your unwavering care.

You are my refuge, my constant guide,

In Your presence, I find solace beyond compare.

When doubts arise and fears take hold,

I remember Your promises that never fade.

You lead me beside still waters,

In Your embrace, all worries are laid.

Just as the Psalmist proclaimed,

"The Lord is my strength and my shield,"

I declare my trust in You, O God,

To Your love, I yield.

May my trust in You be a beacon of light,

A testament to Your faithfulness so true.

Guide me, Lord, through every step,

In Your presence, I find strength anew.

Amen.

With trust and blessings,

Laura Ruddick

August has been a full and blessed period of time for the Faith and Mission team. Whether it’s leading the college through the Feast of the Assumption mass or the special Father’s Day mass or providing numerous lunchtime house sports competitions and food sales to raise money for our house charities or spending beautiful times together as a Year 7 or Year 8 cohorts on reflection days – each event has been a blessing.

During this time our staff have also spent a day of faith formation growing in our understanding of the life and legacy of Caroline Chisholm. Led by Clara Geoghegan, our day included an engaging lecture on her life, a dialogue session exploring Caroline Chisholm’s work with young people in 19th Century Australia and ending on a high with some light-hearted trivia – Caroline Chisholm inspired too of course!

The Faith and Mission team, from student leaders through to staff, have been able to create spaces that foster a sense of community, belonging and joyful learning. We give thanks for these opportunities and look forward to many more in Term 4.

Dear Parents and Carers,

As the term draws to an end, we can be grateful for all the events and activities our students have had. Camps have continued to provide our young people with a positive experience. Years 7 and 8 have participated in reflection days, sport, House activities and this week book week and our VCAL students spending time at the Western Bulldogs for a community foundation and leadership day.

An important reminder to parents and carers of your duty of care to inform the college if you son or daughter is going to be absent. If you plan on taking your child out of school for extended leave, please ensure that you have made contact with their Year Level Coordinator to discuss plans for missed work. It is a college requirement as a part of our registration to ensure unexplained absences are accounted for. This can be done via the parent portal on compass on the day or in advance if you know. See below tutorials.

You can also call reception on 9296 5311 by 9am on the day. Families receive a text message at 10:00am if their child is away. Student Services will then follow up with a phone call following this if we still have unexplained absences for your child. Please support the college with this compliance and inform us of when your child is absent.

Compass Parent Tutorial and guide
Adding a note/approval: Parents are shown the process of adding a note to explain their child’s attendance after their child has been marked NP/U or L/U and also how to add a note in advance for a known upcoming absence.
Video
https://register.gotowebinar.com/recording/3477204810537194497

Guide
https://www.compass.education/guide#section-attendance

At the beginning of term 4, students will be required to be in full summer uniform from day 1. This means that our female students can wear the summer dress, winter skirt with long white socks, shorts, or pants with the straight cut blouse. The boys have the option of wearing either shorts or pants with the straight cut shirt. If students choose to wear the straight cut shirt, they do not need to wear the tie. If students are wearing the older tailed shirt with top button, then they should wear the school tie with their shirt tucked in. Students do not need to wear the blazer to and from school but are required to wear if for formal events such as Mass or assemblies. In term 4 the outer garment is with or without blazer. The red jumper is not an out garment. Thank you for your support with this.

Finally, it was lovely to see parents actively engaging in constructive conversations within our hallways at last night’s parent, student, and teacher conferences. We look forward to more of these face-to-face conferences in the future.

Wishing our students and families a restful term break.

God bless,

Stephanie Banks Deputy Principal Student Wellbeing.

Updates from the Learning and Teaching Department

As we embark on another exciting phase of the academic year, I'm thrilled to share with you some important updates from our learning and teaching community.

Allwell Testing Success - A Glimpse into Student Achievements:

I'm delighted to report that we have successfully completed the Allwell testing for our Year 8 students and incoming Year 6 students. The Allwell assessment provides us with valuable insights into the academic progress of our students, enabling us to tailor our teaching strategies to meet their evolving needs. Congratulations to all students for their efforts, and a heartfelt thank you to our educators for their tireless commitment to fostering a culture of continuous learning.

Upcoming Unit 4 VCE Trial Exams - A Pathway to Success:

As we approach the first week of September school holidays, our senior students will be gearing up for the Unit 3 and 4 VCE trial exams. These mock exams are not only a significant milestone on their academic journey but also a vital opportunity to refine their exam-taking skills, strengthen subject knowledge, and alleviate any apprehensions they might have. Our dedicated teaching team has been working diligently to prepare a conducive environment for these trials, ensuring that our students have the best possible chance to excel. To the students facing these exams, remember that hard work and determination are the keys to unlocking your potential.

Harnessing Data for Educational Enrichment - The Power of Bloum

At our College, we believe in leveraging technology to enhance the learning experience. I'm excited to highlight the instrumental role that "Bloum," our innovative data platform, plays in shaping how we use data. Our teaching staff have been working with Bloum and upskilling themselves to analyse student data. A data-driven approach allows us to gain a deeper understanding of individual learning patterns, identify areas of improvement, and tailor our teaching strategies accordingly. This is something we have embedded in our pedagogical framework and we are excited to monitor the growth of all of our students during their time at the college.

Laura Ruddick

Deputy Principal of Learning and Teaching

Call Out for Winter Raffle Hamper Contributions

In term 4 our students will be starting their Vinnies Christmas Appeal. They're hoping to start with a raffle to win a hamper filled with some serious goodies, but need your help!
If you're in a position to contribute a voucher, item or service to the hamper, please contact Tristan O'Brian, or drop your contribution off at reception.

The students are hoping to raise a significant amount this year, so they'd love your help!

04/09/2023
Write a Book in a Day Competition 

The Kids Cancer Project are running a 'Write a Book in a Day' competition, and our BISC library will be conducting the competition on the 4th of September, throughout the day in the library. For more information, head to https://writeabookinaday.com/about/

06/09/2023
Cultural Dress Up Day

Students are encouraged to come to school in an outfit which reflects their cultural heritage!
The dress up day is a part of a larger languages week, and there are a series of other events on during the space of the week, including gelati and sushi lunchtime sales, Tai Chi, Burmese dancing and more! Students and staff can see what's happening on the Compass announcement. 

12/09/2023
VET Music Showcase

Music students have been preparing all year for their VCE VET exam. This is an opportunity for parents, students and staff to see the VET students perform!

The first mini concert will be at 4pm, and the show will go through to 7.15pm. Individual students each have an allotted time, which they are aware of. We would encourage anyone available to come along and provide a supportive audience for all of the students!

15/09/2023
Whole School End of Term Assembly

Please note that all students and staff are expected to attend the End of Term Assembly. 

18/09/2023 - 29/09/2023

School Holidays

Feast of the Assumption Mass

As a Catholic College, we really value the times that we gather as a whole College to worship. On Tuesday the 15th of August, students and staff from all campuses joined one another in the Daswa Hall to commemorate the Assumption of Saint Mary.

Gold Waa Awards

Directly after the Feast of the Assumption Mass, we transitioned to a more standard assembly where students who had achieved enough points for their Gold Waa Award were presented with their badge. Congratulations to every student who has contributed so significantly to the life of both the school and the wider community that they received their Gold Waa. We hope you'll wear your badge with pride!

Staff Faith Formation Day

Staff at Catholic Colleges are required to undertake a minimum of 25 hours of extra faith based training each year. The Staff Faith Formation Day contributes to these hours, and gives our staff an opportunity to focus on their own knowledge, as well as building relationships with one another to ensure that we can serve students as effectively as possible. This year we focused on the life of Caroline Chisholm, and how we can take her admirable ethos and apply it everyday in our day-to-day work.

NEST Program Continues

We continue to be impressed by the NEST program being run by OzHarvest.
Students have focused this last week on food nutrition and simple swaps they can make to choose healthier options, as well as looking at their food goals. They've also been busy in the kitchen, and have made french toast with greek yoghurt, mixed fruit and honey, and sausage rolls made with mince and grated vegetables, using mountain wraps instead of pastry one week, and then a taco salad with guacamole, greek yoghurt and corn chips and banana cookies the next!

Pizza Sale

Students are constantly finding new ways to support their chosen charities, and the 22nd of August saw our students raising money through a Pizza Sale at lunchtime. In the end, students raised almost $250!

Save Lee Point Lecture

Students heard from Doctor Amanda Lilleyman, Adjunct Professor at Charles Darwin University, in regards to Lee Point, an environmental campaign focused on protecting areas of significance to wildlife from being developed into housing.
The Year 12 Outdoor and Environmental Studies who participated in the session will be expected to include analysis and commentary on a recent environmental campaign, so hearing directly from a leader from such a campaign will be invaluable to their year 12 exams

Book Week

We were thrilled to have three amazing authors come and speak to students and staff during book week. Thank you to Alice Pung, Nicole Hayes and Mark Wilson for being willing to give up your time and speak to us.

Chinese Puppet Show Incursion

Here at CCCC we try to ensure students have multiple opportunities to learn alongside their classroom studies. On the 25th, students from a few of our younger years got to see a Chinese Puppet Show, using both English and Chinese language.

Battle of the Bands

Last night, on the 31st, our students participated in the Battle of the Bands. This was a brilliant night, the energy was incredible and it was so amazing to watch our students getting to perform pieces that they chose and love. 

Fathers Day Mass and Breakfast

This morning was our fathers day mass and breakfast for 2023. Focusing on the parable of the lost son, it's always lovely to see the students and the significant men in their lives spending some time with each other in worship and community. Thank you to all those who took the time to be involved.

Early University Acceptance

A number of universities offer 'guarantee' spots, which allow students to apply to universities early. A number have sent out conditional invites already, and we're thrilled that we have students who have been offered a conditional invite here at the College.
While students do still need to complete all other admission requirements for their specific course (e.g. a specific study score in a subject) it's an incredible achievement.

We have over 13 students so far who have received their guarantees - congratulations!

Special Father’s Day Blessing

We invite all fathers, grandfathers, men and mentors who care for our youth to come forward or stand to receive a special blessing.

Heavenly Father, we ask You to bless our earthly fathers for the many times they reflected the love, strength, generosity, wisdom and mercy that You exemplify in Your relationship with us, Your children.

We honour our fathers for putting our needs above their own convenience and comfort; for teaching us to show courage and determination in the face of adversity; for challenging us to move beyond self-limiting boundaries; for modelling the qualities that would turn us into responsible, principled, caring adults.

Not all our fathers lived up to these ideals. Give them the grace to acknowledge and learn from their mistakes. Give us the grace to extend to them the same forgiveness that you offer us all.

We ask your blessing on those men and mentors who served as father figures in our lives when our biological fathers weren't able to do so. May the love and selflessness they showed us be returned to them in all their relationships.

Give new and future fathers the guidance they need to raise happy and holy children, grounded in a love for God and other people - and remind these fathers that treating their partners with dignity, compassion and respect is one of the greatest gifts they can give.

We pray that our fathers who have passed into the next life have been welcomed into Your loving embrace, and that our family will one be day be reunited in your heavenly kingdom.

In union with St. Joseph, whom you entrusted with Your Son, we ask Your generous blessings today and every day.

We make this prayer through Christ our Lord.

Amen.