Volume 19 Issue 8: June 5 2015

Coming Events

From the Principal Dr Watson Pentecost Term 2 has been named the Pentecost Term as this is when we celebrate the birth of our Church. The feast of Pentecost is celebrated each year on the fiftieth day after Easter and ten days after the Feast of the Ascension of Christ. This year, as we celebrated Pentecost, Archbishop Oscar Romero who was shot to death in a tiny chapel was beatified in El Salvador. A quarter of a million people were there to celebrate this extraordinary and marvelous event. So it's appropriate that as we listen to the Scriptures on the feast of Pentecost, we do it with the background of the life and martyrdom of Oscar Romero, truly a saint for our time. I couldn't go past these words from Oscar Romero when reflecting on the Feast of Pentecost: It will always be Pentecost in the church, provided the church lets the beauty of the Holy Spirit shine forth from her countenance. When the church ceases to let her strength rest on the power from above – which Christ promised her and which he gave her on that day – and when the church leans rather on the weak forces of the power or wealth of this earth, then the church ceases to be newsworthy. The church will be fair to see, perennially young, attractive in every age, as long as she is faithful to the Spirit that floods her and she reflects that Spirit through her communities, through her pastors, through her very life. MAY 14, 1978 Confirmation Congratulations to the following students who received the Sacrament of Confirmation last Sunday at St. James Parish. I had the pleasure of presenting to Emma Quinn, Jonathan Saligari, Ebonie Ganley, Olivia Wait, Tate Blackhurst, Michael Saligari and Arjan Mata their Confirmation stoles on the Friday before their Confirmation.

JUNE Mon 8: Queens Birthday Public Holiday Tues 9: Parents & Friends Meeting 7.00pm Wed 10: GAT Exam Fri 12: Staff Correction Day (Student Free Day) Tues 23: Board Meeting Thurs 25: Year 12 Careers Day Fri 26: Last Day of Pentecost Term Mon 29: Bursary Applications Close JULY Mon 13: Assumption Term Begins Student Free Day Tues 14: Students Return for Term 2 Fri 17: AFL Victorian Girls Football Tournament Sat 18: St. James Dinner Dance Tues 21: Parents & Friends Meeting 7.00pm Thurs 23: Year 9 Parent Information Night – COMPULSORY 7.00-8.30pm Fri 24: College Cross Country and Winter Sleep Out 6.00pm – 9.00am Mon 27: Careers Development Week begins Tues 28: Year 7 Subject Selection Assembly and Board Meeting Wed 29: Year 11 Subject Selection Assembly Thurs 30: Staff Faith Day – Student Free Day

Bishop Vincent Long confirmed students from Thomas Carr College, St. James the Apostle, St. Clare’s and St. Francis of Assisi.

College Theme for 2015

College Vision

‘Seek God with all your heart’

Thomas Carr College is a dynamic Catholic learning community, guided by the Gospel.

Prayer for Students We devote our prayers to all who are completing examinations this week. We know that this is a stressful and difficult time for many. We remember that it is important we each dedicate ourselves to our studies and do the best we can. This is all God asks of us and is all that we can ask of ourselves. Amen.

Excellence and opportunities to develop are pursued. Through our hope and service to others we shine our light into the world.

Archbishop’s Pentecost letter to the Youth Every year, Archbishop Denis Hart writes a letter to young people which is released on Pentecost Sunday. The Pentecost Letter is inspired by the Archbishop’s annual conversation with student leaders and reflects on the hopes, concerns and questions expressed by young people at this gathering. Please click here for a copy of the letter. This year’s Pentecost Letter is an invitation for young people to ‘go higher’ in their lives by living the beatitude given as the 2015 World Youth Day theme: ‘Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God’ (Matthew 5:8). The invitation to ‘go higher’ is inspired by the life of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, a young man whose generosity and integrity was offered as a model for young people everywhere by Pope John Paul II who named him a ‘man of the beatitudes’. Archbishop’s Pastoral Letter on Same Sex Marriage Please click here for a copy of a media release from Archbishop Denis Hart regarding his Pastoral Letter on Same Sex Marriage. Please click here for a copy of the Pastoral Letter from the Catholic Bishops of Australia to all Australians on the “Same Sex Marriage” debate for your consideration. Australian Government Budget Update Federal Treasurer, the Hon. Joe Hockey MP, delivered the Abbott Government’s second Budget on May 12. Overall Economic Outlook The Australian Government has forecast a $35.1 billion deficit for 2015–16, with this falling to a $25.8 billion deficit in 2016–17. The Budget is not projected to return to surplus in the forward estimates. Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to rise by 2.75% in 2015–16, with further optimistic growth of 3.25% in 2016–17. Future Indexation Arrangements for Non-government School Funding In the 2014–15 Budget, the Australian Government announced that school funding would be indexed by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) from the 2018 school year. At the time, the Government acknowledged that it would make allowance for changes in enrolments. The 2015–16 Budget’s forward estimates incorporate last year’s indexation measures, with total sector growth, including enrolments, slowing to 3.94% in 2018–19. Over the last decade, Australian Government recurrent grants for Catholic schools have grown at an average of over 5% per annum. This contrasts with the CPI, which has grown at an average of 2.7% over the last decade. Catholic education will need to work with the Australian Government in the lead up to the next federal election to ease any potential cost pressures on Catholic school communities. Other Announced Measures Improving the Quality of Teachers and Teacher Education Courses In response to the Teacher Education Ministerial Advisory Group’s report, Action Now: Classroom Ready Teachers, the Australian Government has committed $16.9 million over four years to improve the quality of initial teacher education. The funding will be provided to the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) to:  establish a stronger accreditation process for teacher education courses  implement a rigorous selection process to assist in determining applicants suitability for teaching  establish an assessment framework to ensure graduates are classroom ready

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undertake research nationally into the effectiveness of initial teacher education and workforce data. Parental Awareness Campaign The Australian Government will provide $5 million over two years for a communications campaign to raise awareness of the positive effect parents can have on their children’s achievement in education. Student Achievements Congratulations to Christian Gonzales who has been selected to participate in the Hip Hop International Competition in San Diego in August this year. Congratulations to Nicholas Zammit (8 Blue) who came third in the Indonesian State-wide Speaking Competition run by Victorian Indonesian Language Teachers' Association. He will be attending an award ceremony at University of Melbourne on Friday June 5.

Christian Gonzales

From the Board Mr Butler - Parent Representative The College Board met on May 26. At this meeting we discussed the ‘Protocols and Guidelines for Parents/Guardians in Expressing Concerns about College Related Matters’ and the importance of this document to ensure all dealings are done so in a respectful manner. The Catholic Education Office has also issued a ‘Safe and Sound Practices’ book which assists schools in dealing with parties that can become abusive. The Board ratified the Memorial Plaques policy which relates to the memorial garden at the rear of our Chapel and how members of our community will be recognised by the College on their passing. Dr Watson gave the Board an update on the new Performing Arts Centre, Gymnasium extension and Administration renovation. We are quite confident these new facilities will only enhance the learning and teaching practices at the College. The Board held a vigorous discussion regarding the iPad program and the roll out of a new device in 2016, post the conclusion of the Digital Education Revolution (DER) funding. The College aims to maintain the 1:1 program and are investigating different models moving forward. The Board fully supports this direction and thanks the Technology Committee for their in-depth research around this topic. The Board will meet next on June 23.

From the Deputy Principal Ms McDonald Thomas Carr Day The money raised on Thomas Carr Day has been tallied! It was a wonderful community effort with students and staff contributing so generously to this fundraising event. We raised $4569.60 this year which is slightly under the amount raised in 2014. The College will be sending cheques, on behalf of each year level, to the following catholic charities: Year 7 Catholic Care $603.25 Year 8 Aboriginal Catholic Ministry Melbourne $914.90 Year 9 Catholic Mission $804.85 Year 10 Young Paulists $872.10 Year 11 St. Vincent De Paul Society $1374.45 Congratulations also goes, to 11 Jade and Ms Simmons, who raised the most money selling soft drinks - $544.45! Casual Clothes Day After two Casual Clothes Day so far this year, the amount raised is $3479. At Thomas Carr, a significant amount of money is raised for outside charities and organisations. Our Casual Clothes Days are the only opportunity the students have to raise money which can be used for student driven projects.

Nicholas Zammit

Last year, students were asked to participate in a survey to decide how best to use the money raised. It was spent on additional seating around the campus. This seating is due to be installed near C Block and near the oval within the next week or two. The SRC will be deliberating about their next project during the Assumption Term. A Night to Shine If your son or daughter has achieved an excellent outcome in a pursuit outside of the College, we encourage you to share the exciting news with us. We require the name and Homeroom of the student and some details about the particular achievement to be highlighted. A photo would also be great to include in our slideshow. Please forward these details to the relevant Year Level Co-ordinator or Head of School by the end of the Assumption Term so that we can ensure its inclusion in our presentation. The Beacon Award The Beacon Award recognises achievements of our students. Selected students will be presented with a certificate of commendation and their names will be published in each edition of the Beacon. A maximum of 5 students per level may be recognised each fortnight. The criteria is:  Evidence of learning which is consistently exemplary or displays great improvement.  An action performed by a student(s) that supports the Catholic ethos of the school  Evidence of behaviour which is consistently exemplary or displays great improvement  Active and purposeful involvement in a college or community event Congratulations to the following students: Year 7 Kurt Butler; Lachlan Redpath, Chelsea Dennis, Jemma Hodgson, Panogiotis Roidis Year 8 Michael Lapina, Tarnah Inguanez, Annabelle Candiloro, Juliane David, Claudia Nave, Farhan Aamer, Lyam Abergos Year 9 Hayden Reeves, Zala Dong, Majok Kooc, Many Aguek, Michael Scarati Year 10 Matthew Lloyd, Mia de Marco Year 11 Megan Ferrer, Michael Cooper, Caterina Sottile, Katerina Carapina Year 12 Agatha Zukowski, Dilan Ismail, Shaelyn Camilleri. Monique Faraj, Brock Bicket

From Director of Catholic Identity Ms Berardinelli Celebrating our Pentecost Term – “Receiving the Spirit” The Spirit of God has been poured into our hearts; a flame of love has descended on us… Alleluia, Alleluia. Inspired by the Archbishop’s Pentecost Letter for Youth and complimented with the Archdiocese of Melbourne’s excellent video resources, a successful liturgical celebration at Thomas Carr College marked the great feast of Pentecost. The entire College community gathered in the morning the day after Pentecost for a 30 minute liturgy led over our PA system accompanied by a multimedia presentation. Each Homeroom was invited to sit in a horseshoe in their classrooms. A candle was placed at the centre on a red prayer mat surrounded by key symbols including a dove and seven flames; representing the gifts of the Holy Spirit. This created a space that allowed each member to enjoy the simplicity of prayer in the hope of receiving the spirit of joy that can be found in a life of faith.

In his letter, the Archbishop invited us to ‘go higher’ in our lives by living the beatitude given to us as by Pope Francis ‘Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God’. The invitation to ‘go higher’ is inspired by the life of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati who was named a ‘man of the beatitudes’ by Pope John Paul II. Over our PA we read out sections of Archbishop’s Denis Hart’s letter and viewed the videos provided to schools to stimulate discussion. Our whole school liturgy led by our College Vinnies Conference encompassed all the perfect elements of deep prayer, meditation, ritual, music and song. Allowing us an opportunity to discover why the great feast of Pentecost gives true meaning to our lives today, what Jesus’ Beatitudes are trying to communicate to us and who this man Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati was and why he can be a role model for us. Through our celebration, we were reminded that Jesus Christ gave us the eight Beatitudes on the Sermon on the Mount as practical words of action and promise for life in His kingdom. Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati represents these actions and a whole lot more. However, we too can embody such gifts by allowing the sign of God’s love to pour upon us. So too, we hope the Holy Spirit continues to breathe upon our College. National Reconciliation Week - ‘It’s time to change it up’ Late May provides us with the opportunity to reflect on our relations with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, with National Sorry Day on 26 May and National Reconciliation Week commencing on 27 May. As a College community we devoted our Morning Homeroom prayers to reconciliation and reflected on the theme within the RE classroom. Promotional material was also placed up and a morning tea was hosted for our families of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander decent. The theme for NRW 2015 is ‘It’s time to change it up’. It is an opportunity to take fresh action for change in our schools, workplaces and communities. A reflection is included below from Chloe James in 9 Gold. “I stand here proud of my heritage of being an Aboriginal woman of the Yorta Yorta tribe (mob). Justice and being treated with equality is what my people hold close to our hearts. On 13th February 2008 an apology from the previous Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd on the ‘Stolen Generation’ was voiced in public. He apologised especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country. Members of my family and friends that are part of the Stolen Generation share stories that are inspirational but also quite sad. Inspirational in the sense that they are now their own people with their own families. They endured the most difficult times some reaching breaking point. They’re the people that inspire me the most. With my mum working in an Aboriginal community I do get to meet many people one of whom is Raymond Marks. He was a victim of the 'Stolen Generation' taken from his parents and forced to live a 'white person' life. In the short time I have known him, he has taught me general respect for elders and other members, by calling male and females either cousin, sister, brother uncle or aunty. Despite his past hardship he is good company, he loves to talk and laugh. He is a gentle good hearted person that I am grateful to know. Promotion & Awareness of College special events - ‘They will Shine’ We have a thriving community at the College and are proud of our rich Catholic Identity. The College provides many avenues for involvement and, we’re also committed to being involved in the broader community. This is actioned through our service initiatives, the hosting of significant events and liturgies. For this reason, we continue to make the news in both the wider Catholic and local community circles. I encourage you to take the time to read our recent inspiring articles published on the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne website and local newspaper;

Chloe James and Ray

Pentecost Liturgy http://www.cam.org.au/News-and-Events/News-and-Events/Parish-and-SchoolNews/Article/19265/Celebrating-the-Pentecost-Term-at-Thomas-CarrCollege#.VWLZ903z6Ul Malaya & Borneo Vets Service http://www.wyndham.starweekly.com.au/story/1837568/thomas-carr-collegestudents-salute-veterans/ Mother’s Day Mass http://www.cam.org.au/News-and-Events/News-and-Events/Parish-and-SchoolNews/Article/19145/Mothers-Day-Mass-at-Thomas-Carr-College#.VWOn-9KJgaI Year 11 Community Service Program http://www.cam.org.au/News-and-Events/News-and-Events/Parish-and-SchoolNews/Article/19105/Students-serve-the-disadvantaged-at-Ozanam-CommunityCentre#.VWOoS9KJgaI

From the Senior Director Mr Scarlata The College has entered its end of semester exam phase for students in Years 7, 8, 10 and 11. Additionally, all students undertaking a Unit 3/4 subject will participate in the General Achievement Test (GAT) on Wednesday June 10. These important assessments are milestones in the academic year and adequate preparation for them occurs across a semester – not just the night before! Included in this edition will be further tips and resources that students may call upon to help them maximise their preparation and study time. Examination timetables have been distributed to students and appear in this edition of The Beacon. In my experience, examinations serve to confirm what may already be known about a student’s academic progress. When the exam result and what I know about a student’s academic work are in conflict, it is rarely as a result of exam ‘nerves’. Good preparation – not just reading over class notes – and using revision guides serve to minimise stress about exams. Examination papers should not contain new concepts or topics that have not been addressed throughout the semester or year. I encourage every student undertaking an exam, to prepare and try their best. Semester Summary Reports Semester Summary Reports contain the academic grades students have received for their Learning Area Assessment Tasks (Years 7-10) and Unit 1 SACs. Year 12 Summary Reports contain only ‘Satisfactory/Not Satisfactory’ (VCE) or ‘Competent/Not Yet Competent’ (VCAL). The College will be using SIMON to report a summary of your child’s assessment. Feedback regarding each of the assessments completed throughout the semester can be located via the Assessment link in the Parent Access Module (PAM). There is no feedback for semester examinations in the student’s Learning Area. Semester One Summary Reports will be published via the PAM from 4.00pm Monday June 22. The report format will be as follows: 1. Cover page listing subjects and subject teachers 2. For each Learning Area: a) Unit/Course description b) Work Habits c) Student’s attendance for that subject throughout the semester 3. Years 7 – 10: a list of assessments and their percentage results will be published along with the AusVELS level achievement. 4. VCE Unit 1: the report will indicate “S” (Satisfactory) or “N” (Not Satisfactory) for each outcome as well as a percentage mark for the assessments. 5. VCAL: the report will indicate “Competent” or “Not Yet Competent” for each VCAL subject.

The report contains the following descriptors: Not Assessed: The ‘Not Assessed’ descriptor is used for a student who did not submit or sit the assessment. Absent: The ‘Absent’ descriptor is used for a student who was absent for the period of the assessment. Subject Selection & Compulsory Parent Information Nights Before the end of term, Subject Selection information will be available to our community. The information will detail the 2016 subject offerings as well as the restrictions that are placed on selecting courses of study. Just because a subject is offered, is not confirmation that it will run the following year. Elective subjects (including VCE subjects) only run if sufficient numbers of students (determined by the College) select the study. Before any selections are made, consideration should be given to:  Academic ability  Subject interest  Alignment with pathways  Pathways choice: VCE/VCAL  Information  Cost (VET courses incur fees) Early in the Assumption Term, students will be attending subject selection assemblies where the process will be explained in more detail. In the coming weeks the dates and times of relevant information nights for parents from various levels will be advertised. At these upcoming presentations, parents and students will hear in more detail with regard to the subject selection processes, subject offerings and the various pathways in the Senior School as well as the opportunity to speak with Heads of Learning. Parents will be asked to register their attendance upon arrival. Improving Students’ Home Study Skills Success in school requires children to use good study skills. Effective studying requires many different skills. While many study skills are taught and monitored at school, success in school will require the use of these skills outside of school hours, for example, when completing homework, studying for tests or SACs or simply revising work presented during the day. Parents can play an important role in helping their children develop good study habits and skills. Ways that parents can help their children include:   

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Find a Good Study Place: An effective workplace is one that has adequate space to spread out, is well lit, has the needed supplies close at hand, and is relatively free from distractions. Limit Distractions: As a general rule, one should try and control and limit meaningful distractions, such as telephone, TV, vocal music, and interruptions from others during study time, particularly during difficult tasks. Time Management- Monitor How Much Time Your Child Is Spending in Study: Your child will need to study at home for two primary reasons: to complete homework assignments and to study for tests/SACs. The amount of time needed would vary from year level to year level and the nature of the task studying, but should range from approximately 45 minutes to 3 hours per night (depending upon the level). Help Your Child Develop a Daily and Weekly Schedule: One of the benefits of studying is that it can help children develop their skills in organizing and managing their time. In order for studying to not interfere with important social and recreational activities, your child will need to learn to plan ahead. On a daily/weekly basis, have your child decide what needs to be done that day and when to do it.

By working together we can help the students in our care do better.

From the Head of Learning & Teaching: Middle School Mr Wilkinson Student Data and Assessment – NAPLAN 2015 Commencing Monday, May 11 Year 7 and Year 9 students completed the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN). The results of these tests will provide information for students, parents and teachers on student achievement and then be used to inform teaching and learning programs. A special thank you to all staff and students that were involved in the supervising, sitting and organisation of the NAPLAN, especially, Ms Alphonso and Mr Scarlata who were integral in the organisation, implementation, administration and support of the program. Without their strong support the NAPLAN would not have run as smoothly as it did. Examinations Students in Year 7 and 8 underwent their semester examinations during the week of June 1 to June 5, 2015. The exams ran very smoothly and I commend the students on their great attitude towards these assessments. I am sure that revision was completed and all students gave the exams their best shot! The exam results will be recorded in the mid-year report accessible on the Parent Access Module (PAM) and will provide valuable feedback in regards to how students are traveling in the examined subjects at this time. Again I congratulate all staff and students involved in the exam period, especially Mr Scarlata (Senior Director), the various Heads of Learning, subject teachers and Administration staff.

From the Head of Senior School Ms Knurek Newman College Dinner On Friday May 22, I attended a Forum Dinner at Newman College with Dr Watson and our College Vice-Captains, Emily O’Connor and Connor Graham. The guest speaker for the dinner was Mr Michael McGirr, a well- known author and columnist who spoke on “Things That Matter”. It was a stimulating and thought provoking evening. Archbishop Carr laid the foundation stone of Newman College in 1916 and half of the Newman College crest is shared with Thomas Carr College. Newman College is named after the eminent English writer and theologian John Henry Newman. Newman initially wanted to reconcile the Roman and Anglican branches of the Catholic Church, but eventually left the Anglican Church and converted to Catholicism and was made a Cardinal by Pope Leo X111 in 1879. He had strong ties with Oxford (an association that lasted for some 30 years) and founded the Catholic University of Ireland. This later evolved into University College Dublin, and wrote on the ideals of university life as a search for knowledge and truth. His influence did much to encourage the present day search for a basis for church reunion. A writer of note, he is known for his theological works, popular hymns and prayers and I include one here: Prayer for Christlikeness by John Henry Cardinal Newman Dear Jesus, help me to spread your fragrance everywhere I go; Flood my soul with your spirit and life; Penetrate and possess my whole being so completely That all my life may be only a radiance of yours; Shine through me and be so in me That everyone with whom I come into contact May feel your presence within me. Let them look up and see no longer me—but only Jesus. Amen.

Study and Examinations: This week and next week, Year 12 students will have the GAT and all Year 10 and 11 students will be involved in examinations. The following week they will receive their results. They will have the opportunity to review the exams in class, look at where they delivered correct information and areas and strategies they need to focus on for the future. Poor performance in an examination can affect subject choices and career opportunities. While exams are only one part of the assessment process, it is an important part of preparation for VCE. In the last weeks of this term and early in Term 3 the subject selection process and Pathways guidance for 2016 will begin. Performance in subject areas is an important part of this process. Please refer to the article from Mr Scarlata, our Senior Director for full details of the subject selection process. Effective learning is very much a collaborative process with students, staff and parents and we welcome your support and participation. Year 11 VCAL Students in Examination week. Please note that during the week Wednesday June 3 – Friday June 12, while Year 11 VCE students are undertaking their examinations, year 11 VCAL students will not be required at the College on Friday June 5 and Tuesday June 10. Friday June 12 is a student free day. VCAL students are expected to be at their TAFE and work placement on the Wednesday and Thursday of these weeks. As many of the VCAL students have been and will be involved in holiday blocks for VET courses, this is an opportunity for VCAL students to catch up on any outstanding work requirements at home and to ensure they are meeting all requirements for their TAFE or VET course Appointments There are numbers of Senior School students signing out for appointments on Wednesday afternoons. While the College is mindful of students not missing academic classes, it is also important that students maintain their commitment to the ACS Sporting program or to the Year 11 Community Service Program. Participation in one of these activities is a compulsory part of the Year 11 program at the College. Much work has been put into the preparation of both aspects of these activities. Absence from this will be regarded as truancy unless a medical certificate is provided. Parents are asked to please make appointments outside College hours. Year 12 Students On Thursday June 25, year 12 students, as part of the careers program at the College, will be involved in a half-day program titled ‘Life Beyond Thomas Carr’. The day will provide students with valuable information in planning for their future, with as much ‘real’ information as we can so they can make informed choices about reaching their goals. The day will begin with information sessions to assist with setting career goals and exploring pathway options. Students will participate in workshops with professionals from varying industries of their choice. In these workshops the professionals will provide the students with real life examples of their industry/ occupation, how they became qualified, the highlights and lowlights of their occupation with the opportunity for question time. There will be fourteen workshops for students to select from. I wish to acknowledge the work of the Ms Covacci and Careers staff for their continued work with our students in this area. Year 12 VCAL students will have a similar program arranged for Tuesday June 23. This will focus on employment opportunities and skills and provide them with valuable information to assist them in the next stage of their life journey.

On the last day of term, Year 12 VCE students will participate in a Reflection Day. This is part of our Catholic Identity and is a compulsory day for all Year 12 students who are expected at the College from 8.40 – 3.20pm. Students who are absent on this day without a medical certificate will receive a Saturday detention. Students will receive their Year 12 jackets at the conclusion of this day. Year 11 VCAL project On Monday May 25, a number of year 11 VCAL students ran a morning tea to raise funds for Cancer research as part of their VCAL project for the semester. The students were responsible for the organisation, preparation and set up for the morning tea event that will form part of their assessment for the term. The activity raised over $100. My thanks to the students for their commitment and enthusiasm and for all who assisted and supported them in this activity.

From the Head of Middle School Mr le Roux Year 7 and 8 Examinations Over the last two weeks, Middle School students have been participating in their MidYear Examinations. I want to thank those students whose behaviour has been outstanding during this examination period and hope that their Examination results reflect the hard work and dedication that many of them have displayed. Year 8 Safety Survey On Friday May 29 2015 the Year 8 students participated in the Annual Safety Survey. It is designed to get a sense of how safe the students are feeling within the College. If there are any concerns identified this will help the College to take the necessary steps in addressing these concerns. Year 9 City Experience 9-BLUE and 9-GOLD participated in their City experience during the week of June 1 to June 5. This experience allowed students to study the cultural, historical and sporting aspects of the city of Melbourne. The program recognises students’ increasing independence and requires students to develop their own transport plans in order to complete each of the set activities for each day. Many aspects of City Experience interrelate with the iD9 curriculum. The students visit the Melbourne Zoo which ties in with two key aspects of the My Neighbour unit – endangered species and sustainability, an example of this includes the Orang-utan exhibit and the consequential impact of palm oil production. As part of the My Future Unit students visit the Melbourne Museum. The Museum offers diverse range of displays and exhibits with direct and strong links to the curriculum. The students are allowed to spend as much time as they choose here. The students also visit the Shrine of Remembrance. The memorial site was created to meet the needs of the grieving population after the extensive loss of life during WW1. This ties in with the My Country unit as students study the intricacies of trench ware fare and the events of Gallipoli. A visit to the Old Melbourne Goal allows our students to gain an understanding of the first fleet and convict life. As part of this visit the students undertake a case study analysis of Bush Rangers and our most infamous bushranger, Ned Kelly. Students find this visit and experience exciting as they get locked into jail cells and learn how it felt to be a criminal locked up in the since decommissioned prison. The Parliament House tour links to the My Self Unit. The students have a tour through the two houses of Parliament and get to witness Parliament in session.

Year 11 VCAL Project for Cancer Research

The Youth Homelessness Tour is linked in with the College’s social justice program. Students are educated on the struggles that our youth may face today and then taken on a tour of where the young adults may actually reside for the night around the city.

From the Year 7 Co-ordinator Ms Solier Justice Education in Catholic Schools Student Social Justice Day On Tuesday May 26, four Year 11 students attended the Justice Education for Catholic Schools for a student social justice day entitled “Unchain My Heart”. Students were addressed by keynote speaker Pam Curr regarding the plight of refugees in Australia, moving students to consider ways they may inspire change. Students were also addressed by Franciscan priest Fr Dean Mathieson, who talked about his Order and how Pope Francis is calling for change in the world. Students attended workshops to discuss the value of the human person and the violation of human rights that occurs not just abroad but also in our own backyard. Students took part in workshops with different Catholic organisations that work to help ensure that human rights are being upheld. Lunch was prepared by the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre and students participated in an African drumming session. At the end of the day our students made a pledge to take up action for social justice in our school and over the next six months will endeavour to meet the following goals:  Take part in Refugee Week to raise awareness within the school about the plight of refugees in Australia.  Write letters to Parliament to partition for fair trade labels on products and for companies to use fair trade.  Raise awareness within our school community about human trafficking. We look forward to meeting our goals and working towards social change.

From the Director of Student Services Ms McCarthy Help for Parents of Troubled Adolescent Parenting a teenager is never easy, but when your teen is anxious, depressed, abusing alcohol or drugs, or engaging in other reckless behaviours, it can seem overwhelming. You may feel exhausted from lying awake at night worrying about where your child is, who he or she is with, and what they are doing. You may despair over failed attempts to communicate, the endless fights, and the open defiance. Or you may live in fear of your teen's violent mood swings and explosive anger. While parenting a troubled teen can often seem like an impossible task, there are steps you can take to ease the chaos at home and help your teen transition into a happy, successful young adult. Most adolescents experience some behavioural changes that can seem concerning or unpredictable to parents. As parents of a troubled adolescent, you may find yourself faced with even greater challenges, such as at-risk behaviours, substance-abuse, selfharming behaviours or school refusal. Some young people exhibit symptoms of mental health problems like depression, anxiety or eating disorders. While any negative behaviour repeated over and over can be a sign of underlying trouble, it is important for parents to understand which behaviours are normal during adolescent development, and which can point to more serious problems. Seeking Professional Help for a Troubled Adolescent If you identify red flag behaviours in your son or daughter, consult a doctor, counsellor, or other mental health professional for help finding appropriate treatment. If you require assistance during normal school hours, then the Student Counsellors at Thomas Carr College may be able to provide assistance or direct you to other external organisations and health professionals who may be able to assist you. If you are requiring critical assistance after hours, then there are a range of support services available who will be able to assist you. Some of these include:  Your General Practitioner – a good place to seek initial help;

Aaron Eshetu, Kongor Gak, Ebony Laws, Mark Muo

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Suicide Helpline Victoria – 1300 651 251 - a 24-hour crisis counselling and referral telephone service providing specialist telephone counselling and information to anyone affected by suicide;  Lifeline – 13 11 14 – Lifeline is an anonymous and confidential 24 hour telephone counselling, information and referral service. If Lifeline cannot help you, they can refer to the appropriate organisation, service or individual that can;  Youth Substance Abuse Service (YSAS) – 1800 014 446 – 24 hour telephone service providing information, counselling and referral services on drug and alcohol issues. They provide outreach teams, home-based withdrawal and residential services and are open to young people, their families and the community;  Orygen Youth Health – 1800 888 320 – provides mental health assessment and treatment services for young people aged 15 – 24 years who live in the western and north western suburbs of Melbourne. The Student Wellbeing Team have provided on PAM a range of tip sheets on mental health and wellbeing issues specifically geared for parents. If you have any specific concerns, please contact the Student Wellbeing Team Leader for assistance. Careers Expos – Year 10 and Year 12 Students In recent weeks, all Year 10 students attended the WRICA Careers Expo. This is the biggest Careers Expo in the West and the third largest in Victoria. The Expo provided an opportunity for students and the wider community to research and receive quality information from exhibitors regarding Employment, Apprenticeships, Traineeships, Industry, TAFES, Universities, Government Organizations and Private Providers within a safe, open environment. This is a good opportunity for all Year 10 students to consider various options and pathways in the lead-up to their work experience later in the term and hopefully will enable them to make more informed decisions in their subject-selection next term. Year 12 students also attended a Careers Expo on Thursday May 7. Held at the Caulfield Racecourse, the VCE and Careers Expo 2015 featured over 190 exhibitors, seminars on VCE subjects, career and study advice. The VCE and Careers Expo brought together exhibitors including Australian major tertiary institutions and providers of VCE and career resources and information. It is the best attended and longest running education and careers event in Victoria and the biggest in Australia and our students were indeed fortunate to have had the opportunity to attend. It is expected that, together with individual careers counselling which our Careers team has provided, the information which they obtained from the expo will assist them to plan their pathways beyond school. Thank you to Ms Covacci and Ms D’Silva for organizing these excursions. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education On Monday May25, Student Counsellor, Ms Georgey, arranged a morning tea for our students and parents who are from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds. The Catholic Education Office Melbourne provides consultancy support to schools to meet the educational and cultural needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. With the assistance of Ms Christensen from the Catholic Education Office, Ms Georgey provided the opportunity for parents and students to discuss professional learning activities to assist with the implementation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives within the College and also suggestions for appropriate cultural activities such as National Reconciliation Week (celebrated last week), NAIDOC and International Day of the World’s Indigenous People. Special thanks to Ms Georgey for coordinating this event and for the ongoing work she provides in this area.

From the Student Wellbeing Office Ms Georgey – Student Counsellor The 5 r’s of Developing Emotional Intelligence in Young People RESTORE-Start with restoring an equilibrium of adequate sleep, balanced diet and regular exercise and outdoor activities. Prioritise regular family time such as meals together, games nights, homework help and walking pets together. You might need to schedule these things initially, but new habits do not take long to form. Hopefully, these

habits that your mind, body and loved ones crave, will fairly soon become just a part of your daily routine. REGROUP-Calming exercises such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation and meditation are a necessary way to reconnect a calmer mind with a healthier body. Getting back to basics need only take a minute to begin with; a deep breath at the traffic light, listening to the sounds of nature around you as you get the mail or take out the bins and feeling the sun or rain on your skin. These are all tiny first steps toward becoming more mindful. As you start this journey you will find yourself naturally begin to develop a deeper desire to delve into a more advanced mindful awareness. Nurture that by exploring some of the following tools: download the application called ‘Smiling Mind.’ Search online for ‘SenseAbility – keeping well’, you will be directed to a list of eight brilliant YouTube clips, created by Youth Beyond Blue. These will teach foundation skills in breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, correcting common thinking errors, self-talk and self-care, to name a few. RECOGNISE-Encourage and support children to verbalise their emotions. All emotions are natural and okay, it is what we do with them that matters. Associate Professor Lea Waters (2014) states that “As soon as you ask a child to verbalise their emotion, the child accesses the brain’s prefrontal cortex, which is the part they use for language and to process what’s happening. It takes them out of their amygdala, the lower region of the brain, responsible for those emotional reactions, and it helps them to calm down because it controls their impulses”. This is especially important when we consider the messages we communicate to young males, historically told not to cry or ‘be a girl’ if they demonstrate their emotions. Boys too need to be encouraged and supported to recognise and regulate their emotional responses to life’s inevitable challenges. The danger in promoting repression and silencing expression, manifests in difficulties with impulse control, tantrums, violence and aggression, catastrophizing and other maladaptive patterns that increase rates of depression and anxiety. REGULATE-Promote the notion that bad feelings and situations don’t last forever, but they are a healthy and inevitable part of life, from which we bounce back. REAFFIRM-Modelling these vital life skills and demonstrating calm, rational and constructive thinking strategies and coping skills, reaffirm in action, the messages we are preaching to our children. Our children will learn the most from those unspoken messages and behaviour patterns they observe of adults in their immediate environment. Consult your GP to rule out any underlying causes.

From the Head of Learning: Arts and Technology Mr Dalley Battle of the Bands Don’t forget to get your tickets to see Battle of the Bands on 18 June, 7:30pm9:00pm. Ticket prices are $5.00 and ALL proceeds go to charity!

Parents and Friends Association Second Hand Uniform Shop Open during term time on Thursdays from 3.00pm – 4.00pm. Cash and cheque payments only (no eftpos available).

Community News Uniform Shop Scarfs will College logo available now for only $20.00! Normal trading hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday 8.15am – 4.00pm.the Uniform Shop will be closed for school holidays on Wednesday June 24 at 4.00pm and reopen on Monday July 13. Over the holidays we will be open on Friday July 10 from 9.00am-4.00pm only Any questions please phone Natalie on 9749 5969.

Feast of St. Anthony at St. Andrew’s Church The Feast of St. Anthony is a day for all children to celebrate and we would be very excited if we could gather children from all over Werribee to celebrate his life and his many works. It is also a very good experience for children to take part in the procession for St. Anthony (with his statue). Sunday 14 June 2015 at St. Andrew’s Church, 105 Greaves Street, Nth Werribee Mass to commence at 2.00pm celebrated by Fr Benneth Osuagwu Concelebrated by Fr Frank Buhagiar P.P. and Fr Shymon Thekkekalathungal Followed by the procession and the blessing of the Bread of St. Anthony with distribution to the Congregation. On completion refreshments will be available at St. Andrew’s Room 3 at St. Andrew’s School For more information ring Vilma on 9741 6815 or the Parish Office on 9741 4144.

27 May 2015

Android phones not securely deleting user data: Alert Priority High Hundreds of millions of smartphone owners worldwide may be leaving sensitive data on their handsets that subsequent users could exploit for financial gain or identity theft. The problem occurs because a flaw in the ‘factory reset’ option of Android smartphones leaves sensitive data on the handset, despite the user’s attempts to delete the information. This issue primarily affects people who wish to sell or give away their Android smartphones. It is considered best practice to perform a factory reset of your phone before selling it, so that the next owner cannot access your data. The flaw is estimated to affect more than 500 million Android devices worldwide, including models sold in Australia. This recently discovered flaw allowed security researchers to recover data on supposedly wiped smartphones. The researchers retrieved important login information from the smartphones, allowing them to log in, sync user contacts, and read other data left on the devices by the previous owners. The flaw is believed to be present on many types and models of Android smartphones, although the list of exact models affected has not yet been established. Android versions between 2.3 (Gingerbread) and 4.3 (Jelly Bean) were found to allow access to data after the device was supposedly wiped. It is not yet known whether the latest versions of Android are affected. The factory reset option on smartphones is designed to remove all of the data that the user has put on the phone, including photos, emails, apps and passwords to sensitive sites and restore it to the factory settings. Protecting your data Enabling and using full hard drive encryption on your smartphone provides the best protection for your data. Newer Android phones (4+ KitKat and Lollipop) should give you the option to perform hard drive encryption when you first set up your phone. If you wish to apply hard drive encryption to your phone, seek advice from your smartphone vendor as the steps vary between models. If you have highly sensitive data, you should consider not selling or giving away your old smartphone. Instead, you may wish to seek technical advice on destroying the device,

including its hard disk. Alternatively, the contents of the hard drive could be properly deleted by writing random data to the drive. However, performing this action is difficult to achieve, and it is recommended that you seek technical advice when investigating this option. Despite the recently discovered flaw, it is still recommended that you perform a factory reset of your phone before selling or giving the device to others. Check your smartphone user guide or online resources to find how to access the reset phone option.

More information Stay Smart Online has more information on protecting your mobile phone. The original flaw was discovered by security researchers at the University of Cambridge. The information provided here is of a general nature. Everyone's circumstances are different. If you require specific advice you should contact your local technical support provider.

Feedback Thank you to those subscribers who have provided feedback to our Alerts and Newsletters. We are very interested in your feedback and where possible take on board your suggestions or requests. Disclaimer This information has been prepared by Enex TestLab for the Department of Communications ('the Department'). It was accurate and up to date at the time of publishing. This information is general information only and is intended for use by private individuals and small to medium sized businesses. If you are concerned about a specific cyber security issue you should seek professional advice. The Commonwealth, Enex TestLab, and all other persons associated with this advisory accept no liability for any damage, loss or expense incurred as a result of the provision of this information, whether by way of negligence or otherwise. Nothing in this information (including the listing of a person or organisation or links to other web sites) should be taken as an endorsement of a particular product or service. Please note that third party views or recommendations included in this information do not reflect the views of the Commonwealth, or indicate its commitment to a particular course of action. The Commonwealth also cannot verify the accuracy of any third party material included in this information.

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