Principal’s Message

At St Francis Catholic College, we are committed to fostering a school environment built on collaboration, care, and continuous improvement.

A key part of this commitment is the work of our Consultative Committee - a group that plays an important role in ensuring the voices of our staff are heard and considered in key decisions that affect teaching and learning.

The Consultative Committee meets regularly throughout the year, usually during or adjacent to the school day, to discuss matters central to our staff’s professional life and wellbeing. While the Principal ultimately makes decisions as the Employer’s representative, this committee provides valuable recommendations and feedback on important areas such as:

• class sizes and scheduling
• teacher workload, including meetings, parent-teacher interviews, and co-curricular activities
• communication protocols, including staff email usage and after-hours expectations
• positions of Leadership within our school.

By engaging in this collaborative process, we aim to create a balanced, transparent, and supportive environment that benefits not only our staff but also the students they teach and care for every day.

We thank our staff representatives for their time and thoughtful contributions to this process.

Our Consultative Committee met last Thursday to recommend positions of leadership roles to support growing student enrolments.

The following positions for 2026 are now advertised on the College website and were in last Saturday's papers.

• Director of Learning and Teaching, Melton Campus, POL 4 (2026)
• Director of Learning and Teaching, Melton Campus, POL 4 (2026)
• Director of Daily Operations and Timetabler, Melton Campus, POL 4 (Teaching or non-teaching staff welcome to apply) 
• House Leaders, Cobblebank Campus, POL 3 (four positions in 2026)
• Middle Years Leader, Cobblebank Campus, POL 3 (2026)
• Domain Leaders, Cobblebank Campus, POL 3, combined for one year only with a six-year contract (2026)
• Learning Diversity Leaders, POL 2, Melton Campus one position, Cobblebank Campus two positions (2026)
• Careers Practitioner, Cobblebank Campus (2026)
• Executive Assistant to the Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching, Cross Campus (2026)
• Administration Assistant VET and Careers, Melton (immediate start)
• Learning Support Officers
• Teachers

Looking Ahead - Melton Campus

Looking Ahead - Cobblebank Campus

Parent Student Teacher Interviews for Year 12 and Year 11 Unit 3/4 Students

On Thursday 5 June, the College will hold online Parent Student Teacher interviews (PSTIs) from 4pm to 7pm for Year 12 students and Year 11 students who are completing a VCE Unit 3/4 subject.

The interviews will take place on Microsoft Teams and can be booked via PAM from tomorrow, Wednesday 28 May.

Instructions on how to make a booking are available below.

How to book your online Parent Student Teacher Interview

These interviews provide an opportunity to touch base with your child’s Year 12 and Unit 3/4 subject teachers as we enter the second half of the year.

If you have any questions about the process, please contact the College on 8099 6000.

Year 7 Camp

Year 7 students recently took part in a three-day Indigenous Culture, Bush and Coastal Care Camp in Somers, soaking up some great autumn weather, learning new skills and connecting with their peers and teachers.

During their first secondary school camp, students participated in a wide range of fun activities, including stand-up paddle boarding, canoeing, t-shirt printing, pizza making, beach games, team challeges and listened to a talk from an Indigenous guest speaker.

And as you will see from the photos – a great time was had by all.

Melton Camp

Our Melton students were magnificent while we were away on camp.

Parents always hope their children will represent them well in public, and that is exactly what the Melton students did!

They enthusiastically joined in activities and were respectful towards each other and to camp staff. Meals started with everyone standing quietly behind their chairs while a prayer was said. After they were seated, each group ate and chatted politely.

Our students were truly awesome, as were the amazing team of Melton teachers who accompanied them. We could not be more grateful for the experience.

Thank you to our Year 7 students, SFCC staff, including my fellow camp leader Lisa Hughes and our Camps Coordinator Laura McIntyre for pulling it all together! Gary White, Camp Leader

Cobblebank Camp

Year 7 students Levi and Ethan were asked to reflect on the Year 7 camp on behalf of their cohort.

Below is their response.

From 14-16 May Year 7 Cobblebank students travelled to Lord Somers Camp on the Mornington Peninsula.

During our stay, we participated in exhilarating and exciting activities. We particularly enjoyed the stand-up paddleboarding, pizza making, kayaking, and screen printing, where we made a t-shirt with a logo that we designed.

Before every activity, we gathered in the auditorium to play mini games on the stage with the camp leaders, and sometimes even the teachers joined in. All in all, we scored the activities five out of five.

Food

While we were having so much fun, we also burned a lot of energy, so we couldn’t resist the food, which was so good it felt like we were at home.

As soon as we arrived, we had rolls and cordial, which reminded us of summertime. That night, we had chicken and rice and apple crumble for dessert. For breakfast the following morning, we had hashbrowns (that were almost better than McDonald's), and eggs. We demolished that, but we still had room for more, so luckily there was cereal and toast with juice to wash it down.

That night, we had lasagna and veggies, with chocolate cake for dessert.

The food was amazing and very filling, so we rated it four out of five.

Lord Somers staff

The staff at Lord Somers were some of the best we have ever met. They came from many different backgrounds, were kind, caring, and always willing to answer our questions. So, overall, we rated them 500 out of 5!

Ensemble Camp

Last week, musicians from both the Melton and Cobblebank campuses took part in a three-day Ensemble Camp filled with music, learning, and fun!

Throughout the camp, students in the Guitar Ensemble, Concert Band, and Choir rehearsed intensively with their teachers, working on a challenging repertoire and developing their ensemble skills.

It was an incredible opportunity for students to refine their technique, grow in confidence, and collaborate with peers across campuses and year levels.

The camp concluded with a showcase performance on the final day, where students proudly presented the music they had been working on.

The energy and joy in the room were a testament to their hard work and the strong sense of community that blossomed over the three days.

We are so proud of the students’ efforts and can’t wait to see what they’ll achieve next!

“Ensemble camp was an amazing experience. All the ensembles worked exceptionally hard over the days leading up to the final performance. It was a great way to bond with the Melton Campus and get to know each other better through games and music.” Amaira, Year 8, Cobblebank Campus

Year 10 Hospitality Students’ Afternoon Tea for Staff

Year 10 Hospitality students showcased their dedication and skills by catering a staff afternoon tea.

After weeks of trialling recipes, refining techniques, and carefully considering feedback, they perfected their dishes and garnishes.

Their hard work and attention to detail did not go unnoticed, with staff praising their efforts.

A special thank you to teacher Martin Attard for his support and guidance throughout the year with this group of students.

Well done to our Year 10 Hospitality classes!

Illuminate STEM Agribusiness Challenge Inspires Cobblebank Students

During May, Year 9 STEM students at the Cobblebank Campus participated in an exciting and immersive workshop led by Illuminate Education Australia.

This nationally recognised organisation empowers young people to tackle real-world challenges through innovation and entrepreneurial thinking.

The hands-on workshop focused on Agribusiness - a vital and often overlooked industry crucial to Australia's future.

Students worked in teams to design sustainable agricultural solutions for the rapidly growing City of Melton, using local land to inspire their business ventures.

With guidance from industry mentors and the support of Illuminate’s innovation framework, students moved through stages of ideation, prototyping, and pitching their final solutions.

For many students, this experience was transformative.

Pall reflected, “At first, I was a little hesitant, as it looked a bit overwhelming, but as the mentors helped me to come up with more ideas and helped me to overcome my fears, I slowly found this elective exciting and enjoyable.”

Ekam, Connar and Zeba (Team 5) shared, “We accomplished many feats, such as figuring out how much our community garden project (Communi-Tree) would cost to launch. We made a prototype and presented our pitch deck slides to students and staff.”

From personal growth to real-world experience, the workshop helped students build resilience, leadership, and confidence.

Subha from Team 4 noted, “This elective enables you to learn perseverance and responsibility, as well as real-life skills like managing a business, taking on finances and presenting ideas in front of real people.”

Year 9 Student Erin added, “Before participating in this program, I was less confident in working and communicating with my peers effectively. This elective has helped me learn how to navigate working in a team.”

Nimar summed up the experience: “STEM has been a great experience for me, and I hope to be able to do it again next year.”

We thank Illuminate Education, particularly our inspiring mentors Kathryn and Adam, for their guidance and expertise throughout the workshop.

Programs like this truly illuminate our students' path to becoming capable, confident, and creative thinkers ready to shape the future.

Ancient History Excursion

Students studying Ancient History Units 3 and 4 visited the Hellenic Museum in Melbourne to prepare for their SAC on the Peloponnesian War.

Students toured the museum's extensive collections, learning about how the Fates and gods influenced the decisions of the Ancient Greeks. They viewed weapons and armour used by Greek hoplites and discussed the interpretations of the war by contemporary historians, such as Thucydides.

Perhaps most unique was the opportunity for students to handle artifacts from Ancient Greece. The artifacts were more than 2000 old and the chance to interact with historical artifacts is very rare.

Glowrey House Mass

On Wednesday, Glowrey House students from both campuses came together to celebrate a special Mass in honour of Sr Dr Mary Glowrey at St Catherine of Siena Church.

Students from each campus took on important roles during the service, including readings and the procession. It was truly inspiring to reflect on the incredible life and work of our House patron, and to consider how we can follow her example in our own school community.

After the Mass, Glowrey students and staff gathered outside Trade Training Centre at the Melton Campus to enjoy a donut for morning tea. It was great to see both campuses bond and come together as one to celebrate this special day. Keely-Shae and Emilyah, Glowrey House Captains, Melton Campus

Last week’s Glowrey House Mass helped us reflect on the challenges we face as a house, and how Dr Sister Mary Glowery inspires us to live in her image by being compassionate and treating each other with respect.

In Glowery House, we aim to learn from each other, and as a result, our community thrives as we follow in our patron’s footsteps. Erin, Glowrey House Captain, Cobblebank Campus

SMILE for Wellbeing

Last week, our Student Wellbeing Practitioners introduced SMILE - a simple way to look after your wellbeing. SMILE stands for:

S: Sleep

M: Mindfulness

I: Interests

L: Loved Ones

E: Exercise/Eat Well.

This week’s focus: ‘M’ for Mindfulness
Mindfulness means paying attention to the present moment. Whether it's noticing sounds on a walk, savouring your food, or taking deep breaths before studying, even a few minutes a day can help lower stress and sharpen your concentration.

For more tips and helpful info, click here to view the Reach Out resource.

Vision for Instruction

Professional learning is helping several SFCC staff contribute to the development of a common instructional approach at the College, based on the MACS Vision for Instruction.

The MACS Masterclass series, presented by TeachWell, is empowering our educators to embed a vision for instruction across the College. Teaching and learning strategies based on the principles of explicit instruction and research based on the science of learning will be embedded into teachers’ everyday classroom practice with support from curriculum leaders.

This common instructional approach develops a shared framework for all staff to draw from in their teaching and learning strategies.

This includes an emphasis on understanding how memory works, the teaching of language skills and the development of collective ways of instructional teaching for students across domain and subject areas.

Two of our staff leaders, Victoria Kamcev-Nicdao (pictured left) and Faye Quinn share their thoughts below.

“I’m thrilled to be participating in the comprehensive Masterclass Series in High-Impact Instruction. This innovative professional development program represents a significant investment in educational excellence throughout our Catholic school network.

“The series directly supports MACS' Vision for Instruction, which champions evidence-based teaching practices and instructional leadership. At its core, this vision works toward creating a future where every child in a MACS school, regardless of background or circumstance, can reach their full potential through exceptional teaching in every classroom.” Victoria Kamcev-Nicdao, Middle Years Curriculum Leader

“Over a series of spaced lessons in senior History, students’ long-term memory has dramatically improved with key participation strategies of Explicit Hand Cues/Routines, Choral Responses and the use of mini-white boards with set protocols.

“The mini-white boards and the protocols prepare students to participate in class, to think and to write in a positive, safe learning environment.

“The specific hand cues also prepare students to participate in choral response. Choral response is where students are asked a specific question about an event and respond as a class.

“It takes practice for the teacher and students to learn these participation strategies, but it is rewarding when students see the benefits - they rehearse their working memory and encode the knowledge into long-term memory.

“Students appreciate how much it helps them prepare for assessments and exams. They are excited as they remember the knowledge.” Faye Quinn, Learning and Teaching Pedagogical Coach.

Our curriculum leaders participating in TeachWell sessions have undertaken an assessment of their teaching and learning, in which their classroom practice was assessed in the top 91% for teacher performance against the principles of explicit instruction.

We thank them for their dedication to instructional practice and professional learning and the continual building of collective efficacy across our College.

Visit to St Mary’s College for the Deaf

As part of our work to introduce Auslan (Australian Sign Language) as a second language and taster program at the College, we recently visited St Mary’s College for the Deaf, at Thomas Carr College in Tarneit.

The day offered a unique opportunity to explore how Auslan and targeted support are embedded into the learning environment for deaf and hard-of-hearing students.

We began with a tour of the college and facilities used by students, followed by an informative presentation from the Assistant Principal, who provided valuable insight into how Auslan and intervention strategies are implemented to support student learning across the curriculum.

After recess, we had the opportunity to speak with a student about their school experience, the supports that assist their learning, and their future aspirations, including further education at TAFE. We also heard from a teacher of the deaf about their professional journey and the impact of signing in their role.

Later, we joined a session where the student demonstrated some basic Auslan, including common school-related signs, and spoke about the positive influence of the school’s Auslan Club. After lunch, we visited a classroom to observe a lesson and learn more about the content being covered in the VM Literacy class.

Our visit highlighted the importance of inclusive education and the powerful role Auslan plays in supporting student engagement and success. It was an inspiring and eye-opening experience that will greatly inform our practice moving forward.

Sports Update

Melton Campus – Round 4 – Year 7 Premier League

Melton Year 7 Boys Soccer

Our Year 7 boys have been amazing, especially in the past couple of weeks after picking up two wins from two games. They exceed our expectations every week.

The boys are determined, talented and always eager to participate as they demonstrate a great example of team spirit and constant encouragement for each other.

We are so proud of this team and hope their potential continues to grow.

Congratulations also to the Year 7 girls' team, who picked up their first win of the season against CRC St Albans this week.

Nicholas & Liam, Year 7 Premier League Boys Football Assistant Coaches

Cobblebank Campus – Round 4 – Year 7 Premier League

Community Notices

Youth Festival

To register for Youth Fest In The West click here.

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

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