From the Principal

Congratulations to our VET students who were recognised at the Western Edge Cluster Annual Awards Night last Thursday evening. St Francis Catholic College was well represented at the awards.

Thank you to all of our VET trainers who strive to help students achieve their competencies. And thank you to Nikki Fuller, our VET Coordinator, for all the hard work ensuring successful pathways for our students.

Once again, the year has flown by and yet as I reflect back, we have achieved so much.

Another 200 students commenced as Year 7 students at the Cobblebank Campus and Stage 2 at Cobblebank, the wonderful Creativity Hub, was completed and handed over in Term 4. We opened the Cobblebank Oval with a fun colour run and commenced construction of Stage 3.

At Melton, our new Junior Learning Hub opened for the start of 2025 and saw students using the great al fresco dining space, new Food Technology rooms and textiles and science facilities.

Preparations for our production of Mamma Mia are well underway, our College band has expanded, and the College hosted a fantastic SACCSS chess competition together with the final SACCSS Awards lunch.

Each campus celebrated an end-of-year Mass last week with students and staff reflecting on the year and giving thanks for the gifts received in 2025.

At our awards ceremonies, I spoke about the legacy of St Francis and reflected on the rich heritage that binds us together as a Catholic community. At the heart of our College lies the spirit of St Francis of Assisi, a man whose life of humility, simplicity, and devotion continues to inspire us daily.

As we draw near to Christmas and conclude another remarkable year at St Francis Catholic College, it is fitting to reflect on one of St Francis of Assisi’s most enduring gifts to the Church: the Nativity scene.

In 1223, on a quiet hillside in Greccio, St Francis created the first live Nativity. His purpose was beautifully simple - to help people encounter the mystery of Christ’s birth in a real, tangible way. By gathering a humble manger, hay, and animals, Francis sought to awaken hearts to the wonder of God choosing to enter the world in utter simplicity.

For Francis, the Nativity was never just a charming display. It was, and remains, an invitation to deeper reflection. Through this living tableau, he hoped to inspire “greater devotion” by drawing attention to the humility, tenderness, and hope revealed in the birth of Jesus.

Today, nearly 800 years later, the Nativity continues to speak to us.

It mirrors the values at the heart of our College community: simplicity, care for creation, compassion, and a faith that expresses itself in action. As we pause at the manger scene this Christmas, we are reminded of our call to live these Franciscan values in our daily relationships, choices, and commitments.

Throughout 2025, we have witnessed countless moments where our community has embodied these ideals. From the joy and effort displayed in classrooms, creative arts, and on the sporting field, to the generosity shown through initiatives such as K for Caritas and our service programs, our students and staff have been a living sign of hope. These acts, large and small, have woven together a tapestry of kindness that reflects the spirit of St Francis.

As we enter the Christmas season, may the simplicity of the manger and the example of Francis inspire us once again to be people of peace, gratitude, and compassion.

May this holy time bring rest and renewal to all our families, and may the light of Christ guide our community into the year ahead.

Wishing you a blessed Christmas and a joyful start to 2026.

Staff Farewells

We would like to acknowledge and farewell the following staff leaving our community this year. We wish them well and thank them for their contributions to the College.

Looking Ahead - Melton Campus

Looking Ahead - Cobblebank Campus

Reminder: Booklist Orders

A reminder that booklist orders are due by Wednesday 10 December.

All orders and payments should be completed online through Campion Books.

Click here to order

The Resource List code is JG7V and is required when creating new students in your account.

Booklist orders can be picked up or delivered by Australia Post. The home delivery cost and a processing fee will be added to your order. You will be advised of the expected delivery timeframe when placing your order.

Please contact Campion Education on 1300 433 982 if you have any questions. Their retail service centre is Unit 8, 12 Makland Drive, Derrimut.

If you are buying secondhand books, please check that the publication and edition match those used by the College. Please do not purchase secondhand workbooks if they have been filled in already. 

Click here to view booklists for all year levels in 2026.

SFCC Uniform in 2026 – Melton Campus

A reminder to all Melton Campus families that from the start of 2026, the St Francis Catholic College uniform will be compulsory for all students.

This means that students will no longer be permitted to wear any of the CRC Melton uniform.

Please use the summer break to ensure your child has the correct uniform items, which can be purchased from Academy Uniform’s Melton outlet (see details below)

Unit 4, 18 Harrison Court, Melton. Phone: 03 9768 0328

Opening hours are Tuesday-Friday 9am-5pm and Saturday 10am-1pm.

Uniforms can also be ordered online at www.academyuniforms.com.au. 

To order any items of the uniform, please select St Francis Catholic College.

Please note: our uniform is no longer stocked at the Academy Uniforms store in Deer Park.

If you require the new uniform, please plan ahead to ensure the items you need are available, as we have 500 new Year 7 students and some from other year levels who will be purchasing their uniforms before the start of the 2026 school year.

Save the Dates

Opening Mass 2026:  Monday 16 February

We are excited to announce that on Monday 16 February 2026, all staff and students from both campuses will travel by bus to St Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne, to celebrate Mass. 

This will be our first College Mass at the Cathedral, and we are grateful to Bishop Martin Ashe for presiding. 

Mass will begin at 11am, and further details will be provided via PAM permission forms.

Bakhita House Mass

All families and friends of students and staff in Bakhita House from both campuses are warmly welcome to celebrate Mass at St Catherine of Siena Church, Bulmans Road, Melton West, commencing at 10.15am on Wednesday 11 February 2026.

We will gather as a house on this day to celebrate our patron, St Josephine Bakhita.  

From the Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching

It was wonderful to see high attendance at the 2026 Jumpstart Program, including many of our new students, who we look forward to having join us next year.

Jumpstart is an essential part of the school year and provides students with the chance to be re-energised in their learning with their new 2026 subjects and teachers. 

In talking to a number of students, there was great excitement around the subjects and electives they are studying for 2026.

Our applied learning students participated in a range of activities to obtain micro-credentials and began preparation for their work placements in 2026. 

Work placement is invaluable for identifying and practising the skills required in the workforce. It can be very competitive in the employment sector, and having experience often leads to greater employment opportunities beyond Year 12.

The VCE students began their 2026 courses, consolidating some of the learning from 2025. 

Year 11 and 12 students for 2026 have had holiday homework set. This further consolidation of the skills and knowledge will help them get off to a good start next year. We ask parents and guardians to support us by ensuring their child completes any work set before they return in the new year.

We celebrated more than 250 students who received awards at the Year 7-9 (Cobblebank) and Year 7-11 (Melton) Awards Ceremonies, with many families attending. Thank you to the teams that worked behind the scenes to create successful ceremonies at both campuses.

As we finish for the year, I would like to thank and acknowledge all staff at St Francis Catholic College for their ongoing support for students and their families, and for the dedication they have given to ensure learning occurs every day. 

As I move to retirement, I will continue to follow the progress of St Francis Catholic College. Its growing facilities will provide excellent opportunities for students in Melbourne's west, enabling them to achieve their aspirations and forge successful careers. 

I wish everyone a happy and holy Christmas.

Melton Year 8 Premier League Girls Volleyball Champions

The Year 8 Premier League Girls Volleyballers finished the season on a high, defeating Emmanuel College 2-0 in the SACCSS Grand Final.

The victory was well-deserved for the team that trained hard to complete the season with seven straight wins.

Congratulations to all the students who participated in this year’s competition and thank you to Year 11 student coach, Sienna-Ramona and staff coach, Hmangaih Tuimuk, for their efforts in guiding the team this season.

Cobblebank Year 8 Premier League Boys Football Champions

Our Cobblebank Year 8 Premier League Boys Football team brought home championship flag last week, defeating CRC St Albans 4-2 in the SACCSS grandfinal match.

After losing by a goal in the semi-finals last year, it was a satisfying and well-earned win that ended the year on a high.

Congratulations to all the boys who competed this year, and thank you to their coach, Cassi Bottrell, for all the time and effort she’s put into the team.

Melton Campus 2025 Awards Ceremony

Congratulations to all Melton Campus students whose achievements were recognised during last Friday's annual Year 7-11 Awards Ceremony.

Thank you to all families who joined us for this special annual event.

Click here to see a full list of award recipients.

Cobblebank Campus 2025 Awards Ceremony

Our 2025 Cobblebank Campus Award Ceremony was held last Thursday to celebrate students' achievements across all year levels.

We congratulate all award recipients and thank families who joined us for this special annual event.

Click here to see a full list of award recipients.

Cobblebank 2026 High Achievers Program

Congratulations to the following Year 8 2026 students who will join our inaugural Cobblebank Campus High Achievers Program next year: Celestine, Zephan, Bernardo, Lucas, Steph, Ayaan, Zoey, and Anoop.

The students have been selected for their academic talent and their first exciting challenge will be the Da Vinci Decathlon in May, an event they will begin preparing for in Term 1.

The Da Vinci Decathlon is a prestigious academic competition that challenges and engages students’ minds. Teams of eight students compete across ten diverse disciplines: engineering, mathematics, code-breaking, art and poetry, science, English, ideation, creative producers, cartography, and legacy.

The competition encourages creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking - skills that will serve our students well both in and beyond the classroom.

We are very proud of these students and look forward to seeing them shine as they prepare for this exciting journey that encourages a culture of high expectations, resilience, and a commitment to lifelong learning.

Successful Year for Elite Sports Academy Students

It was a busy and successful year for our Elite Sports Academy (ESA). We proudly farewelled our first Year 12 graduates, and many of our students accomplished significant achievements in 2025.   

As the year draws to a close, we would like to congratulate the students below, whose persistence, dedication and efforts have made them them fantastic ambassadors for the ESA and the College. 

Jonah Hermence – College Captain 2025

Shameka Grero – Sports Captain 2025

Caleb Hurst – SACCSS Athletics Age Champion & Cross Country Age Champion

Harlow Lesko – SACCSS Cross Country Age Champion

Melakhy Samani-Niko – Player of the Tournament – Team Victoria (Rugby League)

Olivia Cunningham – Australian National Team (Karate)

In 2026, ESA students will take up senior leadership positions while two graduates will continue to pursue a career in sport. 

Shameka Grero – College Captain 2026

Ava Sliwa – Catherine House Captain 2026

Lily Montebello & Marcus Edmunds – Deputy Sports Captains 2026

Ned Lerm – Glowrey Deputy House Captain 2026

Marcus Edmunds & Molly O’Prey – Gained entry into the Richmond Institute/Swinburne University Diploma Program

House Patron on the Way to Sainthood

Exciting news was announced last weekend, particularly for members of our Glowrey House. 

Pope Leo XIV recognised Dr Sr Mary Glowrey’s ‘heroic virtues’ on 21 November 2025. 

Venerable Mary of the Sacred Heart Glowrey, as she will now be titled, is just the second Australian, after St Mary MacKillop, to be accorded this status. 

Pope Leo’s decree marks the second major step in the formal process towards sainthood, signifying that the Church has officially found evidence of a life marked by extraordinary virtue. 

The next phase, beatification, will require the approval of a miracle attributed to her intercession. 

Click here to read more.

Help Your Child Find Their Next Great Read

With Australia set to restrict social media use for under-16s, there’s a fresh chance to help children and teens rediscover the joy of reading. 

Research shows that time once spent on books has increasingly shifted to social media, even though reading for pleasure can ease stress, boost cognitive development, and support learning, not to mention being genuinely fun. 

So, how can you guide your child to bring back books in their everyday lives?

The Australia Reads website offers simple tips for parents and guardians who want to encourage their child to read for pleasure.

And a reminder that the College's ePlatform digital library, offers free access to ebooks and audiobooks year-round, including during the summer holidays!

Why choose ePlatform for summer reading?

With ePlatform, your child can enjoy 24/7 access to a vast collection of ebooks and audiobooks, meaning their reading journey doesn’t have to stop when school breaks begin.

There’s no need to worry about library hours or returning books - students can check out titles whenever and wherever they choose. With thousands of options, there’s something for everyone to enjoy!

Benefits of ePlatform

• 24/7 access to ebooks and audiobooks, perfect for summer reading on the go.

• Thousands of age-appropriate titles to keep your child engaged.

• Customisable reader settings (font, colour, etc.) to make the experience even easier for all readers.

• Professionally curated content with age and grade-level restrictions set by our school

Whether your child is a reluctant reader or already an enthusiastic bookworm, ePlatform can support their growth and help them explore new worlds and ideas!

How to Get Started

1. Download the free ePlatform app from the Apple Store or Google Play Store, or visit eplatform.co on any device.
2. Login using your child’s unique SIMON credentials (provided by the school).
3. Browse, borrow, and start reading or listening to their favourite books, anytime, anywhere!

If your child has trouble logging in or accessing content, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re happy to help.

We hope you’ll encourage your child to keep reading over the summer, and we look forward to seeing all the wonderful books they’ll discover!

Community Notices

Make Your Move 2025

Melbourne Victory School Holiday Programs

Useful Links

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

PAM – Parent Portal

Enrolment

Parent Handbook

SFCC Careers Website

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Policies

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