From the Principal

Parents and Friends

Thank you to all parents and guardians who joined us for our first Parents and Friends as St Francis Catholic College. A particular welcome to our new parents and those from the Cobblebank Campus. It was wonderful to see so many new faces.

Parents and Friends is an informal group who meet twice per term. The meetings are an opportunity for parents and guardians to hear first-hand what is happening at the College.

Often we invite guest staff to talk about the different aspects of their role. It is also a forum for me as Principal to gain feedback on upcoming proposals from the parent and guardian community.

I wish to thank Mrs Jenny Machado for her many years of service to the College as President of the Parents and Friends. Jenny’s son Liam, her youngest of three, graduated last year. We thank Jenny for her wisdom in guiding this group over the past nine years.

I thank and welcome Kate Mulholland who was elected as our new President and to Julie Gruis who will once again take on the secretarial role for the Parents and Friends.

New College Business Manager

The College has appointed a new Business Manager, Lisa Isaac, who will join us on 20 March.

On behalf of the College, I wish to thank Michael Testa who has worked so hard for the College over the past two years and for the Federation of CRC colleges over many years.

Michael’s understanding of the mission of Catholic education has seen him oversee a huge number of building projects whilst ensuring the financial longevity of the College. We wish him all the very best in his new endeavour.

The College is still seeking a qualified Religious Education teacher and a Technology – Wood teacher. Positions for suitably qualified tutors and EAL Learning Support Officers are also available.

Please email resumes to employment@sfcc.vic.edu.au.

Looking Ahead - Melton Campus Students

Looking Ahead - Cobblebank Campus Students

From the Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching

Year 10 Laptop Devices

In 2022 we introduced a school laptop for all Year 10 students. Students use this laptop for their ongoing senior studies.

Only our Year 12 students continue to use a device based on their learning needs. They remain under the Bring Your Own Device program the College previously used.

Introducing uniform student devices makes technology and resources easier to manage and monitor, benefiting our students. It allows equal privileges to enhance learning at the College and engagement in the curriculum without limitation of BYOD devices that may not be suited for the purpose.

All devices come with a protective tech skin to protect the laptops and are named for student identification.

Students and families are reminded that the tech skin is part of the College device and must remain on the device. This skin has allowed lost and misplaced devices to be returned to their owner quickly.

The laptop is a learning tool and should always be looked after. Students have received a protective case offering further protection against wear and tear. We ask that families discuss, with their child, the importance of looking after this item.

Only school-endorsed programs are permitted on their device. As we have moved to a standard device, iPads are no longer supported by the College and should be left at home.

Resilience Project Webinar

Parents and guardians are reminded to register for the upcoming webinar by presenters from The Resilience Project on Thursday 23 March from 6.30pm to 8pm.

Register now

Through emotionally engaging stories and practical strategies, this session will help parents and guardians understand the benefits of letting go of shame, perfection, ego and control.

It will combine powerful research with candid storytelling, along with a few laughs to help support what is arguably the toughest job in the world... being a parent or guardian!

Why attend the webinar?

When building positive mental health in schools, we know the best impact happens when we work together.

The ‘Authentic Connection’ presentation helps do just that by sharing those same evidence-based strategies being taught in the classroom, so they can be also practised at home and beyond.

Attendees will also be reminded of the importance of their own wellbeing - we bring the best versions of ourselves to our family and community, when we make time to look after ourselves.

Please note that this presentation will be recorded for those who are unable to attend or would like a recap.

Monitoring Social Media

The College has been monitoring and reporting offensive social media pages that use our logo and name and publish inappropriate and humiliating content for some time now.

I want to thank everyone in our College community who continues to inform us of these pages. I assure you that we take all your reports very seriously and do everything we can to have the pages removed.

If you come across content on social media that you believe is offensive, inappropriate or could be classed as bullying, please report it immediately to the relevant social media platform and then contact the school via email at principal@sfcc.vic.edu.au.

For example, on Instagram you can click on the three dots at the top of the page, select Report, then follow the prompts. This will report the account.

You can report individual posts by clicking on the post, then clicking on the three dots and selecting Report.

The more times a post or account is reported the more chance there is that it will be removed.

If your child is specifically targeted, follow the steps above and contact the eSafety Commission website using this link: www.esafety.gov.au/report.

Select Report Now and then select Cyberbullying of a child (under 18 years) and follow the prompts.

The school will also report the account or post through the relevant social media provider and will make contact with the eSafety Commission.

Whilst we make every effort to follow up and report these accounts and pages, we too are limited to the options listed above.

If you have more information on who might be responsible for the posts or accounts, please include this information in your email to the College so we can investigate further.

Diversity Week and Harmony Day

At St Francis Catholic College, we come together to celebrate Diversity Week from 20 to 26 March and Harmony Day on Tuesday 21 March. 

Throughout the week we will have art, craft, and sporting activities, guest speaker Nyingot Reech, a cultural dress day and our annual Ks for Caritas event.

Harmony Day was originally an Australian celebration but is now celebrated worldwide by people reflecting on the ways they can live in harmony with their neighbours, regardless of their background or circumstances.

As a way of showing support for Harmony Day on Tuesday 21 March, students are encouraged to come to school dressed in traditional cultural attire, wear a traditional cultural top or simply wear an orange top with their sports uniform.

We look forward to seeing the diverse cultures that make-up St Francis Catholic College.

Remember - Harmony Day is all about loving and understanding different cultures and ways of life and seeing how they can fit together. You may be surprised by what other cultures teach you!

Food Studies

Our VCE Food Studies students have been learning about the industrialisation and globalisation of foods and how they can be traced back to early cultures.

The Year 11 students have really enjoyed the different skills involved in bread making and the variety of flours that can be incorporated.

In Year 8, students have not only learned how to make delicious blueberry muffins, but also that preparation and clean-up are just as important when it comes to a successful cook.

NAPLAN 2023

Students in Year 7 and Year 9 will complete NAPLAN tests online beginning on Wednesday 15 March.

The test window is from 15 to 24 March, and students will use their laptops to access the tests. They will be allocated time to complete make-up tests should they miss them on these dates.

We ask that parents and guardians avoid making appointments for their children during the NAPLAN testing times. The NAPLAN tests are adaptive, allowing a more accurate prediction of student achievement. A public demonstration site is available for schools, teachers, parents, guardians and students to familiarise themselves with the online tests.

All students will be required to bring their fully charged device, earphones (these were on the booklist - no AirPods permitted) and pen or pencil to all assessments throughout the NAPLAN testing program.

The Lock Down Browser icon has been installed on all devices. Students are not permitted to remove it. Please remind your child of these requirements. Parents will receive a NAPLAN report by VCAA later in the year showing their child’s achievements against the national standards.

Our Learning Diversity Leaders will be in contact with parents and guardians under their support to discuss the NAPLAN Tests.

Youth Leadership Conference

On Monday 27 February a group of student leaders attended the Secondary Youth Leadership Conference at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The conference was organised by the Youth Leadership Academy Australia and was attended by more than 1400 students from 60 schools in Victoria.

The conference focused on individual perceptions of what being a leader entails.

Below is Bakhita House Captain Ajak Majok’s reflection on her experience.

Federal MP Visits College

Last Wednesday 1 March, the Federal Member for Hawke Sam Rae came to visit our school.

It was an exciting day, having the opportunity to meet a politician who represents the communities of Melton, Bacchus Marsh, Ballan, and Sunbury in the House of Representatives. We gave him a tour of our school and were able to ask him questions about what it was like being involved in politics.

We ended the tour in the library, where he met some of our Political Law and Legal Studies students.

Students were able to ask him some questions about his role and what he hopes to achieve in his position.

It was a memorable day and will be a highlight of my year. I am so glad I got to be part of the experience.

Harrison

Year 10 Political Law Student

Register for New Elite Sports Academy

Applications for the 2023 St Francis Catholic College Elite Sports Academy are now open. 

To apply, click here to access the application form. In order for applications to be accepted, please make sure all information is filled in and attach a reference letter from a relevant coach or trainer.

Please email me, ibox@sfcc.vic.edu.au, if you have any questions. Applications close next Tuesday 14 March.

Carnevale Celebration in Year 7 Italian

Our Year 7 students have enjoyed celebrating one of the most loved festivals in Italy, Carnevale. They completed a mask decorating activity and were invited to reflect on the origins of the festival and the meaning of the masks.

Carnevale is a celebration linked to the Catholic and Christian world, but its origins are from more ancient times, such as the Saturnalia of ancient Rome or the Dionysian festivals of the Greek classical period.

During these festivities, one could let go, free oneself from obligations and commitments, and devote oneself to jokes and games. Furthermore, wearing a mask made the rich and the poor unrecognisable, and so social differences disappeared.

The term carnevale is linked to Lent, which is a period of abstinence from eating meat. The word carnevale derives from the Latin carnem levare or remove meat from the diet.

Sports Update

The senior girls’ netball team played CRC Sydenham during Round 3 at Cobblebank Stadium and although determined and focused, the win slipped through their fingers.

The senior boys’ cricket team played Thomas Carr College and while unable to win, they happily shared safety gear with their opponents so that everyone could get out onto the pitch. Another great example of sportsmanship from our students.

All our Year 10 Premier League teams played Round 3 at Cobblebank Stadium against either MacKillop College or Penola Catholic College.

Our girls’ basketball team played well and came out with a win for the second week in a row. Using their skills to set up gameplays really helped them push through and win by one point.

The boys’ basketball teams both lost against MacKillop however they trained hard leading up to the game and fought to the end. MacKillop was just too fast for our boys.

The boys’ and girls’ volleyball teams both came out with a win against Penola Catholic College. Our girls didn’t give up and played well right to the end winning two sets out of three.

Congratulations to our Year 10 boys’ volleyball team (pictured below) who won 3-0 in their game against Penola. The team notched up their second win in a row, placing them second on the ladder.

For the first time this term, the boys’ soccer team had a full squad going into Round 3. They are improving each week and we commend them on their efforts against a very physical and capable MacKillop team.

Emily Cook - Sports Trainee

Senior Tennis competition

On Tuesday 28 February we took three of our senior students to the SACCSS Senior Tennis Tournament at the Hume Tennis and Community Centre.

Year 12 student Ajak played in the girls’ single tournament while Year 11 students Corey and Jonas played in the boys' doubles. All three displayed great sportsmanship and learned some invaluable tennis skills for the future. It was a great day out despite the misty rain.

Carolyn Howard and Maria Krajina - Coaches

Australia’s Best Teachers Campaign

News Corp has launched its Australia’s Best Teachers campaign and Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) is a major partner.

Australia’s Best Teachers aims to recognise the wonderful work of those in the profession by celebrating our most inspirational and innovative educators.

The campaign calls on Australians to nominate the great teachers who have, and have had, an incredible impact on our students and all of our lives. A panel of expert judges will then select and announce the top 50 teachers on Saturday 6 May 2023.

We have some great teachers at St Francis Catholic College and we encourage the school community to contribute nominations via the link below:

Nominate Australia's best teacher for an award

Year 12 Class of 2022 BBQ

We look forward to welcoming back students from our Year 12 class of 2022 next Wednesday 15 March to hear where life has taken them since they completed their senior studies.

Invitations have been sent to all of our 2022 cohort. The QR code above can be used to RSVP.

CRC Melton Class of 2012 Reunion

Join us for drinks and canapes to celebrate the 10th anniversary of CRC Melton's first Year 12 class on Friday 24 March from 6pm in our Performing Arts Centre.

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 2012 reunion, click here to register your details.

Urgent Call for Volunteers

St Vincent de Paul Melton Conference has been part of the Melton Parish for almost 50 years and is urgently seeking new members to ensure it can continue its vital work in the local community.

Members visit households in Melton weekly and provide assistance with food, petrol and Vinnies vouchers. Last year the Conference helped 181 households, including 413 adults and 611 children, and distributed more than $12,000 in food vouchers.

Members meet once a month for about an hour and would love to welcome some new volunteers. You can choose how you would like to contribute either by being part of meetings, home visits, soup van, breakfast club or helping to run the Conference.

Recent achievements by the Melton Conference:

• Organised and paid for more than 40 mattresses to be delivered to Melton residents in 2022.

• Created and delivered 27 hampers for Melton families last Christmas through generous food donations from Melton Parish.

• For 8 years, the Conference has run a successful Breakfast Club at the two Melton Parish primary schools (St Dominic’s and St Catherine’s). At each breakfast, (three mornings per week at St Dominic’s and one morning a week at St Catherine’s) members serve up toast from 12 loaves of bread for hungry children, which improves their concentration in the classroom.

• Last year, working together with the Melton Council, the Conference created a new Reading Program to assist children from various primary schools across Melton.
• Late last year, the Conference set up a new soup van. Currently, the van goes out one night a week and distributes tea, coffee, homemade soup, fresh rolls and pantry items. It has been a huge success already.

For more information on how to join, contact current president Maureen Mohr on 0437 439 449.

Community Notices

Free ON TRACK Holiday Program

The ON TRACK school holiday music experience will be held at Staughton College in Melton during the upcoming school holidays.

The four-day program from Tuesday 11 April to Friday 14 April is free and brings together artists who mentor, teach and share tricks of the trade with students. 

It gives students the chance to engage with music industry specialists, learn new skills and make new friends through specialised songwriting workshops.  

Across the four days, participants will:

• Channel their experiences and write a collaborative track
• Lay down demos with ON TRACK’s Studio In A Box
• Create their own music video
• Find their voice and take the stage to perform their tracks on Music Celebration Day.

Additionally:

• PTV travel vouchers are provided in advance if required
  
• Lunch and refreshments are provided
• There are prizes up for grabs every day.

To register for the program, complete and return the form below or click here to sign-up online.

ON TRACK Student Registration Form

Melton Youth Advisory Committee

Dream Big Festival

Useful Links

Keep up to date with College events, procedures, resources and information via the links below.

PAM – Parent Portal

What's new in 2023

Enrolment

Subject Selection Guide 2023

Cobblebank Campus

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