Principal’s Message

Our Leader of the Pack Program, run by the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation, includes workshops on mental health, goal setting, financial literacy and gender equity.

The purpose is to provide Year 10 students with an opportunity to develop leadership skills while gaining insight into key social issues and exploring ways they can contribute to positive change in their communities.

After completing the course, students are given a windcheater to celebrate the completion of the course.

This windcheater is not part of the College uniform. In recognition of the willingness to undertake the leadership course, students may wear the garment only for the remainder of the term in the year they completed the course.

Students who completed the course before 2025 should not be wearing non-uniform items to school.

Thank you

Thank you to Year 7 Cobblebank student Jacob and his family for their generous donation of a thurible. Jacob donated the thurible to the College on return from a trip to the Philippines.

A thurible is a type of metal incense burner, typically suspended from chains, used in religious rituals, particularly in Christian churches. It holds burning incense on hot coals and is swung to release fragrant smoke during services.

In religious contexts, the smoke from the thurible can symbolise prayers rising to God, the presence of God, or the purification of space and individuals.

The use of the thurible during our opening Mass in the stadium helps to convert our basketball stadium into a sacred space as we celebrate the Eucharist.

Child safety – Cobblebank car park update

At St Francis Catholic College, student safety is our highest priority.

We are therefore pleased to advise that the second extension of the Cobblebank Campus car park is now complete and open for use. This new development has been designed to support a safer and more efficient flow of traffic during busy drop-off and pick-up times.

We kindly ask all parents and guardians to use the College’s internal drop-off zone instead of parking along Bridge Road. The increased presence of heavy vehicles and construction traffic servicing the nearby hospital site poses unnecessary risks for students walking through this area.

The expanded car park aims to reduce congestion and ensure a smoother, safer experience for families. We appreciate your ongoing cooperation in using the designated drop-off zones and for supporting our shared commitment to student safety.

Looking Ahead - Melton Campus

Looking Ahead - Cobblebank Campus

Parents and Friends Meeting

The next meeting of the SFCC Parents and Friends Association will be held online tonight, Tuesday 5 August from 7pm.

The association comprises representatives from both campuses, and new members are always welcome.

Please contact me via email at arowley@sfcc.vic.edu.au for the Teams link.

Winter Sleepout at SFCC

The College’s annual Winter Sleepout is fast approaching and will take place overnight from Thursday 21 August to Friday 22 August at Melton Campus.

This important event provides students with the opportunity to stand in solidarity with those experiencing homelessness by spending one night sleeping on campus.

Organised by the Faith and Mission Action Team, the evening will include guest speakers, reflection activities, and a simple meal – all designed to raise awareness and promote empathy around the issue of homelessness in our community.

We encourage students from both Melton and Cobblebank to get involved and be part of this powerful experience.

Participation is open to all students from Years 7 to 12, and permission forms will be available soon.

Students can email their expressions of interest to tgriffin@sfcc.vic.edu.au (Melton Campus) and mtaylor@sfcc.vic.edu.au (Cobblebank Campus).

Let’s come together to make a difference.

Class of 2015 Reunion

Join us for drinks and canapes to celebrate the 10th anniversary of CRC Melton's Year 12 Class of 2015 on Friday 29 August from 6.30pm in the Performing Arts Centre foyer at our Melton Campus. 

Reminisce, reconnect with friends and staff and find out more about what has happened at the College in the past decade.

 To attend the Class of 2015 reunion, please RSVP by emailing me at arowley@sfcc.vic.edu.au

VCE Practice exams

The College will hold practice exams for all Melton Campus scored VCE Unit 3/4 students during the first week of the upcoming school holidays, from Monday 22 September to Monday 29 September.

A full schedule of dates and times is attached below.

VCE Practice Exams 2025

The practice exams will be held in the Trade Training Centre.

The purpose of the practice exams is to replicate the students’ VCAA exams in October and November. The practice exams will be supervised by VCAA exam invigilators and conducted under the same conditions as their final exams.

Students should meet in Padua before their exam and will be escorted to the Trade Training Centre by staff.

Students can wear appropriate casual clothes when they attend practice exams during the school holidays.

Student absences will be followed up by House Leaders and me. Non-scored VCE students are not required to sit the practice exams.

Students have been asked to arrange any exam changes due to clashes with me.

If you have any questions regarding these practice exams, please contact me via email at clock@sfcc.vic.edu.au.

Foundations for Academic Success - Routine and Structure

As we begin Term 3 and the second semester of the year, it’s important to keep the learning momentum going.

Successful academic outcomes are built on consistent daily routines. Research shows that students who maintain structured study schedules achieve better learning outcomes and experience reduced stress levels. A well-established routine provides:

• predictability that reduces anxiety and decision fatigue

• time management skills that serve students throughout their lives

• consistent progress rather than last-minute cramming

• better work-life balance through clear boundaries.

Establishing a daily structure

Encourage your child to create a daily schedule that includes dedicated study time, breaks, physical activity, and adequate sleep.

The key is consistency - studying at the same time each day helps establish productive habits that become automatic over time.

Homework guidelines Years 7 - 12

Based on Victorian educational guidelines and best practice recommendations below are the suggested homework and study timeframes for each year level.

Year 7: 45 minutes per night

Year 8: 60 minutes per night

Focus on consolidating classroom learning and developing study skills.

Year 9: 75 minutes per night

Year 10: 90 minutes per night

Preparing for senior school demands and developing independence.

Years 11 and 12: three to four hours per night plus weekends

Adapting to VCE requirements across multiple subjects

Intensive preparation for final assessments and strategic revision

Remember: Quality over quantity - focused, purposeful study is more effective than lengthy, unfocused sessions.

Key events for this week

Both campuses: Italian Week, Year 9 Premier League

Cobblebank Campus: Thursday 7 August, 6pm, Cricket Academy Information Night

Uniform Expectations

Wearing the correct school uniform is an important part of life at SFCC. It reflects not only our shared identity and pride in our College but also contributes to a respectful and positive learning environment.

Please remember…

Uniform

• Students must wear the academic or sports uniform as outlined in the Uniform Policy to and from school each day. This includes wearing the blazer to and from school.

• Students are only permitted to wear the College sports uniform on days of PE and/or Dance or Drama, or as otherwise specified by the College Leadership Team. However, on days when there is a campus assembly or House or College Mass, the full academic uniform must be worn instead of the sports uniform, even if PE and/or Dance or Drama classes are scheduled.

Jewellery and accessories

• Wearing a watch and chain with a small cross/crucifix is permitted.

• Other religious jewellery may be permitted at the Principal’s discretion.

• The only jewellery permitted in the ear is plain silver/gold studs or small sleepers. No facial piercings. A clear nose stud is permitted.

• All other jewellery will be confiscated.

Following uniform expectations sets a positive example for peers and reflects each student’s commitment to our College values.

A breach of the Uniform Policy that can be rectified immediately will result in the item being confiscated and taken to reception.

The student can collect the item(s) at the end of the day.

A uniform infringement that cannot be rectified immediately will result in the student attending the Restorative Room (Melton Campus) and a notification will be sent home.

Consistent breaches of the Uniform Policy will result in parent meetings and subsequent follow-ups.

Parents should communicate with their child’s House Mentor the reason their child is not wearing the correct uniform and the timeframe for which this is expected to occur.

Click here to see further information about the College uniform on our website.

We thank students and families for working together to uphold these standards and maintain the strong sense of unity at SFCC.

Australian Government Schools Census

As outlined in last week’s newsletter, each year in August, all non-government schools across Australia participate in the Australian Government Schools Census. This census plays a vital role in shaping how funding is distributed and how educational needs are understood across the country.

At St Francis Catholic College, the census helps ensure our students and staff are accurately represented.

The information collected includes student enrolment numbers, year levels, gender, age, and other important characteristics such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status, students with disability, and those engaged in distance education. It also includes data about our teaching and non-teaching staff.

Your role in the process

Parents, guardians, and students play an important role in ensuring that school records are up to date. If any of your contact, enrolment, or student details have recently changed, please inform the College office as soon as possible.

At St Francis Catholic College, we are committed to transparency and privacy. All information is reported securely and in accordance with Australian privacy laws.

More information is available below.

2025 Non government schools census privacy collection notice

Parent Webinar on AI and Online Safety

Catholic Network Australia (CNA) and the Cyber Safety Project will host a free AI & the Digital Generation  webinar for parents and guardians of primary and secondary school students next Monday 11 August from 7.30pm to 8pm.

To register or find out more click here.

The webinar offers insights into topics including generative artificial intelligence (AI) and AI companion apps, deepfakes and online misinformation.

Resilience Project Webinar Recording for Families

Below is a link to the Building Resilience at Home for Parents/Carers Webinar presented by The Resilience Project last week.

Watch now.

Please note that this link will expire on 31 August.

Expressions of Interest to Attend Australian Catholic Youth Festival

The College is seeking expressions of interest from students in Year 9 and above to attend this year’s Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF) in Melbourne from 30 November – 2 December.

The ACYF is a national gathering of Catholic young people established by Australian Bishops more than ten years ago.

Spanning three days, the festival offers young people from all over Australia the chance to connect, deepen their relationship with Jesus, be inspired to live out their faith in the world, and experience the diversity of the Church across the country.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne is excited to host the ACYF this year and is looking forward to welcoming thousands of young people to Melbourne.

As a College, staff will support students to attend by accompanying them to and from the event. For more information, please consult the ACYF website.

Students who would like to attend should send their expressions of interest to our Director of Faith and Mission, Terri Curnow, via email at tcurnow@sfcc.vic.edu.au.

Year 8 Camp

Last week, Year 8 students from both campuses took part in our Anglesea Surf and English Camp, and it proved to be an enriching and memorable experience for everyone involved. Students stayed at four different camp sites where they participated in a program that combined outdoor adventure with learning.

As part of the camp experience, students had the opportunity to meet Mark Smith, the author of their English novel The Road to Winter. Hearing directly from the author gave students valuable insight into the writing process, enriching their understanding of the text in a meaningful and engaging way.

Students also took part in a range of challenge-based activities designed to build teamwork, resilience, and confidence. Whether navigating physical tasks or stepping outside their comfort zones, students overcame challenges and supported one another along the way.

A highlight for many was the guided surfing session run by Go Ride a Wave. Students embraced the opportunity and enjoyed learning new skills with their peers.

It was great to see many close friendships flourish on camp and watch the students unite to support one another. We commend them for their enthusiasm and participation.

The camp was a blend of learning, challenges, and fun, creating lasting memories.

Below, some of our students share their reflections on the experience.

Surfing was the best, being able to stand up and go into the water and not be cold. Dancing was really fun because everyone joined in and supported each other. Spaghetti bolognese was pretty good too, and the homemade pizzas for morning tea. Liv, Melton Campus

I really enjoyed my experience at Year 8 camp. Pushing yourself out of your comfort zone was one of the best experiences and being supported by my friends made it that much more enjoyable. Aish, Cobblebank Campus

Camp was a very adventurous and memorable experience. I had a lot of fun and amazing times with my friends. All of the activities were great and I really enjoyed the surfing. Ruchika, Cobblebank Campus

We all had a lot of fun at camp. The giant swing was my favourite activity. Jasmine, Cobblebank Campus

Camp was fun because I got to do activities I'd never done before, which made it feel so much more intriguing. Surfing was the best part as we got to experience what it is like surfing and also saw whales. The food was also very yummy. I enjoyed the whole three days of camp. Zac, Cobblebank Campus

Camp was super fun and exciting as I got to try awesome stuff like surfing and rock climbing. I learned that teamwork really matters during challenges, and doing things that scare you a little can actually be the most fun! Georgia, Cobblebank Campus

Elite Sports Academy Student's Success

Congratulations to Year 10 Melton Campus Elite Sports Academy student Melakhy, who helped his NRL Victoria U15 School Boys Squad bring home a grand final win in the Australia Secondary Schools Rugby League Championship in Townsville earlier this month. 

Victoria played The Goannas (a strong team from Queensland) and emerged victorious in a closely fought match. Both sides went try-for-try until a late try by the Victorian side put them in front, winning the grand final with a score of 24-16.

Melakhy was named Player of the Championship and helped his side to become the first Victorian team to win in the age group since 2022.

SACCSS Senior Hockey Tournament Win

Congratulations to our Melton Campus senior boys hockey team, who came home victorious yesterday from the 2025 SACCSS Senior Hockey Tournament.

The team had four straight wins and played MacKillop College in the grand final match, winning 5-0 and remaining undefeated on the day.

Well done to Year 9 student Ben who was named best on ground in the grand final.

The team showed great determination and sportsmanship from start to finish. Their commitment both on and off the field was inspiring, and their success was the result of hard work, persistence and skill.

Our Melton Campus senior girls team and Cobblebank Campus senior boys team also competed in their respective tournaments yesterday, proudly representing SFCC.

Year 7 Cobblebank Students Enter Coding Competition

Last Thursday 31July, our SFCC Cobblebank Year 7 students participated in the WiseTech Global Programming Competition and the Python (Intermediate) Grok Learning Challenge.

These young coders spent time over the school holidays preparing for the competition by learning advanced coding concepts well beyond their year level.

Their dedication, resilience and hard work were outstanding! A big well done to all involved - it's great to see our students stepping up and making the most of these exciting opportunities!

Sports Update

Melton Year 9 Premier League - Round 3

Melton Senior Sport – Round 4

Cobblebank Year 9 Premier League – Round 3

Community Notices

Bringing Up Great Kids Program

Kinship Carers Victoria

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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