From the Principal

As the cold weather is upon us, I take this opportunity to seek support from families in maintaining the high standards we expect when it comes to our uniform.

While I understand that the past week has brought freezing temperatures, it is important that we uphold our uniform policy and that students not wear clothing that is not part of the uniform to and from school.

The College has a beanie, scarf and windbreaker jacket to keep students warm. Added thermal undergarments are also acceptable, provided they cannot be seen under the uniform.

Having a set uniform is a central part of what makes us a Catholic school.

Not because of how we look but because of the ethos behind why we wear a uniform.

As a Catholic school, we believe that each individual is made in the image and likeness of Christ and worthy of respect. No individual is more worthy than another as each is equal in God’s eyes.

This philosophy of dignity and respect for all has many examples in our Gospels. Jesus asks to eat with Zacchaeus who is a tax collector and shunned by society. He heals lepers who reside in isolation outside the walls of the city and he teaches with stories of a good Samaritan who takes the time to assist a stranger when others have crossed the road to avoid helping.

All these examples point to the idea that we are all equal in the sight of God.

Having a uniform ensures that no student wears high-priced, on-trend clothing, while others feel left out for not being able to afford the same items. There is a sense of equality that allows students to focus on their studies rather than their appearance.

A uniform also offers a sense of belonging to a community that takes pride in the values and traditions that are symbolised by the uniform. For young people, a sense of belonging is a strong wellbeing protective factor.

Your assistance in ensuring students wear the correct uniform is much appreciated.

Our College Uniform Policy and pricelist are available here.

Looking Ahead - Melton Campus Students

Dates to remember
Wednesday 24 July	Year 8 Camp begins
Thursday 25 July	Subject Selection Expo (for current Year 9, 10 and 11 students) Padua building, 4pm-7.30pm
Thursday 25 July	Year 10 2025 Information Evening, PAC, 5.30pm-6.15pm
Thursday 25 July	Year 11 & 12 Information Evening, PAC, 6.30pm-7.30pm
Monday 12 August	Campus Tour - 2pm

Looking Ahead - Cobblebank Campus Students

Dates to remember
Wednesday 24 July	Year 8 Camp begins
Thursday 1 August	Campus Tour - 2pm
Thursday 8 August	Campus Tour - 9am

Students Rock the House – College Production 2024

And that's a wrap!

Our 2024 musical, Rock of Ages: Teen Edition has come to a close after four fabulous performances last week.

With opening and closing nights sold out, the house was abuzz as we stepped back to the 80s and entered the world of rock and roll.

Students filled the stage with voluminous hair, denim and leather, bright and bold eyeshadow and, of course, jazz hands to bring alive this musical. And boy, did they do a magnificent job!

Students began rehearsing for this production at the start of the year, having auditioned in late Term 4 2023. They spent countless hours learning lines, rehearsing choreography and singing harmonies, all of which paid off in their final performances. Students dug deep and embodied their characters throughout the show, demonstrating their growth as actors and performers.

Alongside our cast on stage were our student musicians, spotlight operators and backstage crew, who were so pivotal to the success of this show.

Student musicians who were interested in playing alongside the professional band were given the opportunity to audition to do so. They all did a rockin' job and should be proud of how much they've grown as musicians in this short time.

A special shout-out goes to Matthew (Year 11), who played bass guitar throughout the whole show with the band!

The production team is so proud of every student involved in this year's musical and grateful to have worked with such a wonderful cohort who showed humility and passion every day. We can't wait to see what the future holds for you all.

A big thank you and public acknowledgement are also required for the staff who dedicated so much time and effort to preparing this production.

To Natalie Saunders, our Lead Director, thank you for knowing the script inside-out and directing the cast in such a creative way, bringing it to life on stage. We would not have had such a smooth-flowing production without your hard work and dedication.

To Diana Gunn, our Director of Choreography, thank you for your creative vision and boundless enthusiasm in choreographing such lively and vivacious routines! Our students were challenged in the best way, and the dances looked incredible.

To Daniel Askew, our stage, lighting and sound technician, thank you for all of the work you did behind the scenes to make this musical sound and look as amazing as it did. The lighting added so much to the ambience and mood of the show, and the sound was just the perfect amount of knock your socks off.

To Amy Rowley, our Producer, backstage manager, marketing extraordinaire, props designer and more! The amount of work you put into fine-tuning so many aspects of this show has not gone unnoticed. Thank you for our programme, organising photographers and videographers, managing our backstage staff and students, organising ticket sales, and everything in between. I am so grateful.

To Kayla Stokes and Suzanne Askew, our student band leaders and Cobblebank powerhouse team. Thank you for all the bus rides between campuses and for organising logistics and permissions to allow our campuses to combine and unite as the one school we are.

Thank you for rehearsing with our student band to ensure they were up to the job of rocking with a professional live band and allowing them to showcase their talents. Thank you, Kayla, for gracing us with your rockstar prowess on the kit during the shows, and thank you, Suzanne, for assisting with operating lighting for each show.

To Olivia Cook and Steph Bertalmio, our assistant Director and Choreographer, thank you for your assistance in directing and choreographing scenes/dances. Thank you for stepping in and stepping up at all the right times, and for being two more bright and friendly faces the students could look up to each rehearsal.

To our backstage crew and props team: Nirasha Pandi, Trish Griffin, Shanelle Sertic, Mikaela Hurst and Danielle Naumcevski, thank you for giving up your time each week to source, make and repair props and for managing our backstage crew during the shows.

Finally, thank you to all staff who put their hands up to help in any way, shape or form. Producing a show takes a massive team effort, and every bit of help is greatly appreciated.

Thank you again to everyone involved: staff, students and anyone in between. The success of a show comes down to the people involved, and this group of people are truly exceptional.

Rock on everyone, and "save our strip"!

From the cast

“What I really enjoyed most about production this year was learning all the dances and songs and then performing them in front of a huge crowd!

“The highlight for me was being a protestor and protesting to save our strip! I will miss all the lovely teachers from Melton, as without them, none of us would have performed to our full potential!” Miguel, Year 8 Cobblebank Campus

“Sadly, Rock of Ages was my last school musical. Being part of this amazing experience, I had the chance to make new friends and create moments I will forever treasure.

“I will miss the rehearsals, learning new choreography and songs and transforming them into the show that truly embodied the Rock of Ages.

“The highlight for me was performing in front of primary school students and hearing them chant ‘save our strip’. I am so grateful I was able to be a part of this amazing cast and production. Rock on!” Elesha, Year 12 Melton Campus

“Rock of Ages was an amazing experience I will never forget. Over the past few months, the entire crew and cast have put countless hours of hard work and love into this show. It was amazing to build friendships with everyone and see them come out of their shell and flourish, turning the show into the acid-wash epicentre it is!

“It has been a privilege to work with everyone involved. Rock of Ages will be one of the highlights of my year, and it’s a bittersweet feeling for all of us that it's over!" Sage, Year 11 Melton Campus

"Rock of ages was such an incredible experience. The rehearsals and performances were always fun with wonderful students and teachers who taught us so much. I am so grateful to the students who joined the cast this year, the backstage teachers and students and the teachers who directed, choreographed and supervised which made this production not only possible but so exceptional. 

"The thing I will miss the most are the friends I made along the way and the theatre family we made. We all built such an amazing Sunset Strip." Erin, Year 10 Melton Campus

From the Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching

Melton Campus 

Our Subject and Pathway Expo will be held this Thursday for all current Year 9-11 students.

Students and families are strongly encouraged to attend this night for information on subjects, electives and pathways and where these choices can lead beyond the College.

This will help all students and their families make informed decisions about what subjects or pathway to select for next year.

Click here for more information.

NAPLAN results 

NAPLAN 2024 Individual Student Reports and the Year 9 Certificates of Achievement have been posted home. Please contact us if you do not receive your child’s Year 7 or Year 9 NAPLAN report by 31 July.

A number of our students received certificates of achievement in reading and numeracy for exceeding proficiency levels for Year 9. We congratulate them on this outstanding achievement. The students will be recognised at the campus assembly next Monday 29 July.

Cobblebank Campus

NAPLAN 2024 Individual Student Reports have been posted home. Please contact me or our Cobblebank Campus Director of Learning and Teaching Dr Lucy Cassar if you do not receive your child’s Year 7 NAPLAN report by 31 July.

From the Deputy Principal Student Wellbeing – Melton Campus

Arriving at school on time

It can take anywhere from 18 – 254 days to form a habit depending on the complexity of the task that is trying to be achieved. It needs dedication, the correct mindset and perseverance.

Being on time to school requires additional support from others for some of our students.

Forming a habit takes seven steps:

1. Set specific goals
2. Create a supportive environment
3. Track your progress
4. Use reminders and cues
5. Try habit stacking – linking to a habit you already have
6. Build a support network
7. Reward yourself

Source: www.calm.com/blog/how-long-does-it-take-to-create-a-habit

We are currently working with students to help them form morning routines that are sustainable and enable them to arrive at school on time each day.

Why is punctuality so important?

• To maintain a sense of belonging and purpose at the College.

• To ensure students don’t miss out on important information that is shared during Morning Mentor time.
• To develop bonds with their peers throughout the day.
• One of the goals of our new Strategic Improvement Plan is to improve student numeracy. Knowing the time school begins and estimating how long it will take to arrive on time will develop these skills.
• To prepare for the world of work and learn good habits.

All students need to arrive at school before 8.40am to prepare for the day.

Morning Mentor time begins at 8.45 am and every student is expected to join their Mentor group at this time.

We will continue to monitor and mentor those students who need extra support. If you would like to discuss this further please contact me at the College on 8099 6000 for additional guidance.

Bulmans Road Works

Melton Council has begun water main renewal work on Bulmans Road.

Currently, the southbound lane on Bulmans Road, between Sovereign Boulevard and Piccolotto Drive, will be closed to through traffic during the day and night until Sunday 15 September.

Please note that parking in this section of Bulmans Road will be temporarily removed during these works.

Families are asked not to park in the Happy Feet Learning Centre carpark (near the corner of Sovereign Boulevard). Using these car spaces makes it difficult for Happy Feet families to collect their young children safely.

There is angled parking and open space for further parking past the Happy Feet driveway.

Pedestrian access

Below are maps that highlight pedestrian access and crossings during the partial closure of Bulmans Rd.

Pedestrian Map 1

Pedestrian Map 2

Please take care around the worksite and follow directions from traffic controllers and signage at all times.

If you have any questions or require further information, please contact Melton Council on 9747 7200 or via email capitaldeliveryenquiries@melton.vic.gov.au.

Year 7 2026 Enrolments Due Soon

Student Wellbeing at SFCC

For more than a year now, the College has been implementing a Positive Behaviour 4 Learning (PB4L) framework.

This is an evidence-based school improvement framework that promotes positive behaviour and improves student wellbeing and academic outcomes.

It creates secure and encouraging learning environments for all students.

PB4L involves a whole school consistent approach to explicitly teach and reinforce expected behaviours, that include everyone in our students’ lives.

At St Francis Catholic College, PB4L includes the following key components:

• established effective classroom routines/systems
• clear and consistent behaviour expectations that are shared across various settings within the school, from the Student Expectation Framework (see diagram below)
• tiered levels of targeted support for all students.

On the first day of Term 3, our staff worked extensively on our continued implementation of PB4L at the College, with engaging presentations from our Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools Learning Consultant Jack Mather.

Staff collaborated throughout the day, focusing on explicit teaching of expected behaviour and routines.

As PB4L continues to evolve, the next stage to be developed is a whole school acknowledgement system.

Subject and Pathway Selection Expo

Our annual Subject Selection Expo and information evening will be held this Thursday 25 July to prepare students for Years 10, 11 and 12 in 2025.

The evening helps students make informed choices regarding subject selection and pathways that best suit their interests, strengths and career aspirations.

It is expected that all current Year 9, 10 and 11 students and a parent/guardian attend the expo and information sessions at the Melton Campus.

Subject Selection Expo

4pm - 7.30pm, Melton Campus, Padua building

Year 10 2025 Presentation

5.30pm - 6.15pm, Performing Arts Centre, Melton Campus

VCE and VCE VM 2025 Presentation (Year 11 and 12)

6.30pm - 7.30pm, Performing Arts Centre, Melton Campus

Students can find the 2025 Subject and Pathway Selection Handbook online via the College website and should look through this before attending the Expo and information sessions.

Students will receive a unique code and instructions on how to select their subjects. They will work with their Mentor teachers to complete this process. Final subject choices are due on Friday 2 August at 4pm.

If you are unable to attend the information sessions, please notify your child’s mentor teacher before the event.

Cobblebank Campus Semester 1 Awards

Each semester, students are recognised for consistently displaying our Core Wellbeing Values of Empathy, Community and Endeavour.

The Semester 1 awards were presented at our full school assembly at the end of Term 2.

Empathy Award

The students who received this award have earned it by supporting people, encouraging their peers, taking steps to check on and improve the wellbeing of others, actively considering the feelings of those around them, and generally being positive and upstanding members of our community.

Semester 1 recipients

House	Empathy
Anthony	Miguel Luna
Bernard	Damon Grimshaw
Catherine	Ellie Merington
Bakhita	Sayoshi Dharmaratne
Glowrey	Achraj Virk
Dominic	Tyler Holland
Lawrence	Brandon D'Silva
MacKillop	Maddie Stiles

Community Award

Community is at the core of all we do at St Francis Catholic College, with one of our overarching goals being to ensure that young people feel they are an important part of the bigger picture. The students who received this award have earned it by taking an active role in different facets of school life.

Many of them volunteered to support various activities, took part in numerous events to help their house, offered assistance to teachers whenever they saw an opportunity, and were generally the first to get involved in programs in and out of the classroom.

Semester 1 recipients

House	Community
Anthony	Van Hrethlua
Bernard	Ash Bajwa
Catherine	Gurjot Sohi
Bakhita	Jesse Whitaker
Glowrey	Arfan Sheiku
Dominic	Adam Joseph
Lawrence	James Robertson
MacKillop	Alannah Porter

Endeavour Award

We celebrate academic achievements on many occasions throughout the school year, but the Endeavour Award is a little different. This award does not always consider the highest grades; instead, students are nominated for their effort, improvement, and tenacity.

The recipients were nominated by their teachers and peers for their consistently strong and positive approach to continual improvement. They may already be at the top of their class but still push themselves, or perhaps there has been a clear change in attitude or achievement throughout the semester.

Semester 1 recipients

House	Endeavour
Anthony	Sophia May
Bernard	Alpha Khaimichho
Catherine	Angel Fofanah
Bakhita	Dawt Ling
Glowrey	Allayne Batta
Dominic	Grace Bolger
Lawrence	Gurtaj Hans
Mackillop	Maarja Solomon & Kanwar Sidhu

Year 7 Camp Awards

The following Year 7 students were chosen by their camp leader as the MVP of their group. They are acknowledged for getting involved in all activities, encouraging others, being respectful and stepping out of their comfort zone!

Anthony – Sophia May and Cadin Westlow

Bakhita – Isabella Rodelas and Ishaan Dhamodharan

Bernard – Skye Vella and Jasraj Singh

Catherine – Tanisha Moody Brewer and Wiraaj Sharma

Dominic – Tyler Holland and Grace Bolger

Glowrey – Savannah Sowter and Cooper Barwise-Scarffe

Lawrence – Charlotte Magri and Nathan Ilardo

MacKillop – Joseph Crawford and Sienna Petersen

Europe Trip 2025

All students currently enrolled in Years 9 and 10 are invited to take part in the 2025 Europe Trip.

The trip will embark on an exhilarating journey that spans the realms of history, culture, and discovery! Students will traverse the enchanting streets of Assisi to the artistic wonderland of Florence, from the vibrant pulse of Berlin to the poignant echoes of Krakow.

The approximate cost of the trip is $8000.

Families applying for the trip are expected to be up to date with their school fees.

An information evening, outlining planned activities, cost breakdowns, application processes and other information will be held on Thursday 8 August at 7pm in the PAC.

Families will be able to apply for the trip on the night.

Sports Update – Melton Campus

Senior sport

Team	Result	SFCC Ladder position
Boys soccer	Emmanuel College 7 d SFCC 2	6
Girls soccer	Caroline Chisholm 6 d SFCC 1	6

Our senior soccer teams played their second game last Thursday, with the boys facing Emmanuel College and the girls competing against Caroline Chisholm College.

Although both teams were unable to score a win, they displayed remarkable determination and sportsmanship. The boys' team put up a strong defence and created several scoring opportunities, showcasing their strategic play and teamwork.

The girls' team showed excellent resilience and persistence, fighting hard until the final whistle.

We wish both teams good luck in the weeks ahead.

Junior sport

SACCSS Year 9 Premier League Competition – Round 1

Team	Result	SFCC Ladder position
Boys Basketball	St Monicas College 46 d SFCC 27	4
Girls Basketball	St Monicas College 38 d SFCC 26	3
Boys Volleyball	St Monicas College 3 d SFCC 0	7
Girls Volleyball	St Monicas College 2 d SFCC 1	7

Our Year 9 Division 1 Premier League teams embarked on their first round of matches against St Monica's College last week, while the Division 2 teams had a bye.

All teams showed great resilience and team spirit and despite their losses are determined to work hard during the season. Their performance on the court was commendable, and they should be proud of their efforts.

Term 3 competition

It’s going to be another term full of exciting sporting opportunities for our students.

In the next couple weeks, we have the Year 10 Boys AFL Tournament as well as our Intermediate Girls AFL tournament.

We look forward to seeing what the teams can achieve throughout the tournaments and hopefully bring home some wins!

Cobblebank Year 7 Girls Volleyball Team

We are so proud of the amazing success of the Cobblebank girls’ volleyball team who reached the grand final of their first SACCSS Premier League competition last term.

The team was undefeated in all eight rounds of the competition but was defeated by CRC Caroline Springs 2-1 in the grand final match.

Our girls fought on valiantly to win the last set despite their disappointment and were gracious in defeat. As a coach, it was heartening to witness the personal development and friendships made by the girls during the season. They all had an opportunity to exercise leadership skills as rotating captains.

Well done to all the team and coaches, without whose support the success of the season would not have been possible.

Captain: Kanishka. Players: Ash, Sarah, Charlotte, Mansirat, Cassandra, Sophia, Tanisha, Sienna and Isabella.

VCE VM Student Projects

Our VCE Vocational Major Unit 1/2 classes have been working hard on their chosen projects.

Students applied for the project that best fit their career interests, aspirations, skills and knowledge and have been working in teams to produce some amazing results.

The Garden Team has weeded, fertilised and planted the College edible garden while the Garden Shed Team has repaired, painted and organised the shed.

Annabella has created a fairy garden that will flourish with flowers and feed our imaginations in weeks to come while our Dabbling in Craft Team has been using nail art to create and eventually market a variety of very fashionable false nail packs.

The Miniatures Team has converted one of our street libraries into a fully decorated doll house while Nesse and Billy have renovated a toy cradle. Both these projects will be donated to the Melton South community in the coming weeks.

Donations Wanted for Great Book Swap

Do you have books that really need a new home?

On Wednesday 21 August during Book Week, the College Library will again hold its annual Great Book Swap event and is now welcoming donations of age-appropriate reading material (fiction or non-fiction).

All books can be left at the front reception of either campus or at the Alexandria Resource Centre at the Melton Campus.

On the day of the book swap, students will be able to purchase a second-hand book for a gold coin, with all funds donated to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.

The Foundation helps provide culturally relevant books and learning resources to children and families living in remote Communities across Australia.

Donations also support the publishing of books written by Communities, for Communities, in languages of their choice.

Through our fundraising site, you can also make an online donation to the Great Book Swap in the lead-up to the event. Click here to donate now.

Thank you for your support and we look forward to another successful book swap in August. Happy swapping!

Premiers Reading Challenge continues

At SFCC we are 19 weeks into the Premiers’ Reading Challenge.

So far, we have six students across both campuses who have successfully completed the challenge to read 15 books. Our running total of books read and logged online is 409.

Thus far some of our students' most read authors include Karen M McManus, J.K Rowling, Jenny Han, Holly Jackson, Tui Sutherland, Anh Do, Jeff Kinney, Morris Gleitzman and Dav Pilkey.

It is not too late for students to complete the challenge and earn a certificate from Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan. Students have until 6 September to record their finished books.

Students can log in here to add their read books, or email me at awall@sfcc.vic.edu.au if they have any questions.

Focus Group for Burmese and South Sudanese Youth

Burmese and South Sudanese students from St Francis Catholic College are invited to participate in focus groups at the Melton Library and Learning Hub next week. 

Melton City Council’s Young Communities and Healthy Connected Communities teams are running two specific youth forums for young people aged 12-18 from South Sudanese and Burmese communities. The forums will be facilitated by experienced bicultural workers from respective communities.

The aim is to get a better understanding of social inclusion from our students, including their thoughts on what helps them feel included, what makes it hard, and how they connect to local programs and facilities.

Organisers of the event would love to hear from a range of young Burmese and South Sudanese people, including those who identify as LGBTQIA+ and/or are living with a disability.

If you would like to attend you must register using the links below.

Burmese Youth Focus Group

South Sudanese Youth Focus Group

Food will be provided and those who attend will receive a $100 Visa voucher for their time.

For more information, contact Luke Berry (Team Leader Youth Projects) via email at Luke.Berry@melton.vic.gov.au.

Garma Festival 2025

Students from both campuses are invited to express their interest in attending the 2025 Garma Festival.

The Garma Festival is Australia’s largest Indigenous gathering. It is a four-day celebration of Yolngu life and culture held in remote northeast Arnhem Land.

Hosted by the Yothu Yindi Foundation, Garma showcases traditional miny’tji (art), manikay (song), bunggul (dance) and story-telling and is an important meeting point for the clans and families of the region.

The festival’s over-riding cultural mission is to provide a contemporary environment for expressing and presenting traditional Yolngu knowledge systems and customs and to share these practices in an authentic Yolngu setting.

In 2023, two of our teachers attended the festival. Click here to read more about their experience and see photos.

If you would like to attend the festival, please email our Project Officer – Indigenous Students Imra Banu at ibanu@sfcc.vic.edu.au.

For Your Planning – Final Day of 2024

Please note that the final day for all students in Years 7 -11 for 2024 will be Friday 29 November.

Community Notices

Young Women's Leadership Program

Goal Mentoring Program

Bounce Back Program

Useful Links

Keep updated with College events, procedures, resources and information via the links below.

PAM – Parent Portal

Enrolment

Parent Handbook

SFCC Careers Website

Facebook

Instagram

Policies

Uniform

Library