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Phone: (03) 8099 6000
Email:info@sfcc.vic.edu.au
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As I reflect on my recent Franciscan pilgrimage to Assisi and Rome with fellow staff, I am overwhelmed with gratitude at the great sense of spiritual growth I experienced.
We had daily creative celebrations of liturgy and prayer facilitated by Franciscan Friars Fr Stephen Bliss and Fr Paul Rout and our Franciscan Schools Australia Animator of Mission and Identity, Alison Stone.
Every encounter, every moment of prayer and reflection impacted my growth and animated our Franciscan charism in ways I had not imagined.
I am excited to share parts of our pilgrimage and our learnings as time goes on, but for now here are some major breakthroughs in my understanding of our Franciscan charism that have shifted my thinking.
1. Considering that St Clare co-founded our Franciscan charism alongside St Francis it is important that we carve out creative and meaningful opportunities to celebrate her in our College community. Interestingly, St Clare was the first female leader in the history of Christianity to write a religious rule that was approved by the Pope.
2. St Francis not only loved all creation, but he also used it as a vehicle to speak to God. He actively sought out solitude and created sacred spaces to pray in caves, mountains and forests and calls us to do the same. Who is to say we can’t have more liturgies and prayer reflections in nature, on beaches or even in our own school courtyard?
3. St Francis was called by God to ‘re-build the Church’ and with St Clare reformed the Church. We are encouraged to do the same. Pope Francis has taken on St Francis’ name, a subtle reminder that reform and change are needed still today. What is it about our Church that we need to rebuild or be reminded of today? Let’s start this discussion amongst ourselves and listen to how God wants us to start rebuilding.
4. Silence is golden! Prayer and sitting in solitude are vital parts of our charism. Prayer doesn’t always have to start with ‘Dear God’ and end with an ‘Amen’. Prayer can also consist of sitting in silence in nature and listening to how God is speaking to you in your own heart. For both St Francis and St Clare, prayer was a transformative force, that prepared them for active service in the world. They demonstrated that true faith is reflected in actions of love and compassion that flow forth from prayer. We are urged by them to do the same.
As yesterday was Earth Day, this prayer and discussion around creation is very fitting.
Creator God,
When we sit in stillness with you, we can feel the courage of St Clare and St Francis who against great odds reformed the Church.
Guide our hearts to embrace all creation, finding sacredness in every corner of your world.
Speak to us and help us to listen to the ways in which you want us to start re-building the Church.
In moments of quiet, may we hear your voice, and in acts of love, may we reflect all that is good in your name.
Amen.
Pictured right: A view from a rock that St Francis prayed on in La Verna, Mt Penna, Italy. A chapel very close to the view is where St Francis received the Stigmata.
Congratulations to Year 12 student Ryan who received Holy Communion and Confirmation at the Easter Vigil Mass on 30 March at St Catherine of Siena Church.
We are very proud of Ryan. May he know that he is filled with the love and support of his community and will always be carried by God in the palm of His hand.
Welcome back to Term 2.
This week, we begin by celebrating the hidden talents of one of our staff. James Villinger, our IT teacher, has just published the first of a series of science fiction novels. We congratulate James on this wonderful achievement. You can read more about James and his book Sisters of the Sands here.
We welcome back our pilgrims who have returned from the Italian town of Assisi.
Our Deputy Principal of Learning and Teaching, Joanne Holmes, Director of Faith and Mission, Rachel Prince, and Learning and Teaching Pedagogical Coach Faye Quinn spent three weeks on an immersion run by Franciscan Schools Australia.
The trip provided our key leadership team with a deeper understanding of what it means to be a Franciscan school in Melton and what we can learn from St Francis about how to listen to the call of Christ.
In her reflection this week, Rachel shares more about the experience and how we can incorporate the teachings and charism of St Francis in our college community.
Over the past week, our community has been shocked by the news of several violent incidents at Bondi Junction, Christ the Good Shepherd Assyrian Orthodox Church in Wakely, NSW, and our local Woodgrove Shopping Centre.
One of the challenges we face in the aftermath of such incidents is exposure to highly distressing images, footage and news coverage, both on television and online through social media.
I take this opportunity to remind our entire school community to be mindful of the impact this can have on students, especially if they happen to view this type of content.
As educators, we are responsible for protecting our students and keeping their safety and wellbeing our highest priority.
Similarly, we encourage all parents and guardians to speak with their children about their social media presence and use of online platforms.
For guidance on helping children cope with the trauma of disaster-related news coverage, please visit the Trauma and Grief Network or the eSafety Commissioner websites.
Our House Leaders and Mentors are aware of the distress these events may have caused and can provide assistance at school to help manage any anxiety or stress.
Please talk to your child about how they are feeling and contact their mentor teacher if you have any concerns.
Open communication is very important at home and school and working in partnership, we can ensure your child is heard and supported.
Below are some resources that you may also find helpful:
| Click to select | |
| Talking to children about violent events | Emerging Minds fact sheet |
| Helping children affected by tragic events | Tips for talking with and helping young people cope after tragic events Australian Psychological Society. |
| Disasters the media and your child | Information and advice from the Trauma and Grief Network |
| Helping Children and Young People Cope with Crisis | A booklet by the Australian Red Cross |
| Truamatic events the media and your child | Advice from the Victorian Parenting Centre |
Online and telephone support and counselling for students:
We remain focused on the wellbeing of our school community and keep all those impacted by these terrible events in our thoughts and prayers.
| Dates to remember | |
| Thursday 25 April | ANZAC Day public holiday |
| Friday 26 April | Student Study at Home Day (no classes)
College closed |
| Monday 29 April | Campus tour - 9am |
| Wednesday 1 May | Parent Student Teacher Interviews (on-site) 3.30pm - 7pm |
| Thursday 2 May | Melton Campus Athletics Carnival |
| Tuesday 7 May | Campus tour - 12.30pm |
| Friday 10 May | Mother's Day Prayer Reflection and Breakfast |
| Tuesday 14 May | Parents and Friends meeting (at Cobblebank Campus, 7pm) |
| Dates to remember | |
| Thursday 25 April | ANZAC Day public holiday |
| Friday 26 April | Student Study at Home Day (no classes)
College closed |
| Wednesday 1 May | Parent Student Teacher Interviews (on-site) 3.30pm - 7pm |
| Friday 3 May | Cobblebank Campus Athletics Carnival |
| Thursday 9 May | Mother's Day Prayer Reflection and Breakfast |
| Campus tour - 12.30pm | |
| Tuesday 14 May | Parents and Friends meeting (Cobblebank Campus, 7pm) |
It has been a busy start to Term 2.
All classes have begun with enthusiasm and students have returned to school engaged in their subjects.
Melton Campus Year 7 students attended a three-day camp at Lord Somers on the Mornington Peninsula last week, where they got to know their peers and engaged in activities that developed teamwork and cooperation.
It was an opportunity to enjoy hands-on activities in an outdoor environment.
I was privileged to attend the camp and meet with the students in a different setting where they are challenged to push themselves out of their comfort zone and realise the scope of their potential.
I congratulate our camp organiser Laura McIntyre and staff members Lisa Hughes and Gary White who led the camp. Thanks to their efforts and those of the team of teachers who attended, students created many lasting memories with their friends.
We must continue to raise awareness of online safety for our young people. Navigating a world online through social media is difficult for many young people, especially if they encounter comments that they have not come across in their everyday lives.
The eSafety commissioner recognises the distress this can cause and has several safety measures that can empower your child.
The webinars below for parents and guardians highlight the latest trends and where to go for support if your child needs it.
Click here or below to register for one of the upcoming sessions.
Our Year 7 and 9 students participated in NAPLAN assessments during Term 1. NAPLAN is a nationwide evaluation that measures young Australians' literacy and numeracy skills development. This evaluation is crucial for their academic journey and community engagement.
NAPLAN assessments provide valuable insights for parents, guardians, and educators. They indicate students' progress in these fundamental skills over time and compare them against national standards.
You will receive your child's Individual Student Report at the beginning of Term 3.
Excitingly, the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) plans to release the national results in August 2024. This marks a significant change, being eight weeks earlier than in 2023, an entire school term earlier than 2022, and the earliest in the history of NAPLAN.
For your planning purposes, please note the NAPLAN testing dates for the next two years:
Please ensure that any planned absences for your child during these periods are approved in advance by our College Principal, Marlene Jorgensen.
We kindly request your cooperation and adherence to the planned absence process, especially during the beginning and end of the school year.
Families who plan to take holidays or, due to unforeseen circumstances, may require their child to be absent for an extended period during a term must email the Principal at principal@sfcc.vic.edu.au, providing details of why and when the student will be absent.
These absences may have a detrimental effect on subject areas where sequential learning is essential.
Staff are not required to provide work for students absent due to holidays taken during a term, and it is the student's responsibility to arrange alternative dates for completing assessment tasks.
A reminder to all families that the Learning Lounge sessions will not be held across both our Melton and Cobblebank campuses on Wednesday 1 May due to Parent Student Teacher Interviews. Learning Lounge will resume on Monday 6 May.
A reminder to parents and guardians that cars can enter the school grounds to access the designated pick-up and drop-off zone.
You can enter from the small section of Bridge Road that can be accessed via Adelong Blvd.
Please follow staff directions when dropping off and collecting students and move through the zone at a walking pace.
No parking is permitted on the school grounds.
Vehicle access opens at 8.10am and closes at 8.40am, then reopens from 3pm to 3.30pm.
Please refer to the map for the location of the pick-up and drop-off zone and follow the guidelines below.
Our annual celebration of mothers and motherly figures is just a few weeks away, so please save the date!
A prayer reflection and breakfast will be held:
Students and their mothers, grandmothers, aunties or a significant adult in their lives are invited to join us for a 15-minute prayer reflection, followed by breakfast for those who would like to stay. Siblings are welcome to attend, as is anyone who would like to come along and say a prayer for mothers past and present.
Click here to RSVP or scan the QR code below.
We look forward to welcoming you to this very special event.
The next meeting of the SFCC Parents and Friends Association will be held on Tuesday 14 May at Cobblebank Campus from 7pm.
The association comprises representatives from both campuses and new members are always welcome.
The 2023 yearbook will be distributed to students during their morning Mentor Group sessions this week.
If you know of any students (especially those who completed Year 12 in 2023) who attended the school last year but are no longer at the college and would like a yearbook, please let them know they can pick up a copy from the Melton Campus front office.
Construction of our new Melton Campus Junior Hub is progressing well – the second storey is in place and a roof should be added soon!
Great care is being taken to preserve a historic mural featuring the College’s original motto.
We welcome our new Italian Language Assistant, Eleonora Rubicini, who recently joined the college community to support Italian teachers and students in the classroom at Melton and Cobblebank.
Eleonora is from central Italy and completed her university studies in Genova. She is very passionate about languages and can provide linguistic and cultural insights to our students.
During Eleonora's visits to Italian classes in the first week of Term 2, students warmly welcomed her and asked questions with enthusiasm and curiosity.
Eleonora will help our students develop their listening and speaking skills and prepare them for the upcoming poetry competitions.
We wish Eleonora a great time at St Francis Catholic College.
Enrolments for Year 7 2026 are open so if you have a child in Year 5 and would like them to attend St Francis Catholic College, please click here and complete an application online by Friday 16 August.
You will need to attach the following documents with your application:
You will also be required to pay an application fee of $50.
All families must attend an interview at the College as part of the enrolment process.
You will be notified of the interview time in due course after you lodge your application.
The College will notify all families of the result of their application by Friday 18 October 2024.
Our popular College Tours continue in Term 2 and are an excellent way for prospective families to see our campuses.
Click here to view all the available dates and times and register to attend.
We ended Term 1 with fantastic results at the annual SACCSS Swimming Championships, with students from both campuses representing the College in the Division 2 competition.
Congratulations to Year 8 Melton student Taylor, the 13 Year Girls Individual Age Champion. Taylor won the 100m freestyle, 50m freestyle, 50m backstroke, 50m breaststroke and 50m butterfly and was also part of the winning Girls 13-14 Years 200m Medley Relay team. An incredible effort!
Taylor has been invited to represent SACCSS in the upcoming 2024 Victorian School Association competition, where she will race against 14 other independent schools from across the state in her selected swimming styles. We wish her the best of luck!
We congratulate all students who committed to training in the lead-up to the championships and gave it their all on the day. The full results are below.
Junior Boys Division 2: SFCC 2nd place
Intermediate Boys Division 2: SFCC 2nd Place
Senior Boys Division 2: SFCC 3rd Place
Intermediate Girls Division 2: SFCC 2nd Place
Taylor Miller (Melton)
Lyla Phelan (Melton)
Emmett Locke (Melton)
Thomas Ibrahim ( Melton)
James Taniman (Cobblebank)
Benjamin Bonnici (Melton)
Mitchell Barton (Melton)
Amelia Alford (Melton)
Freya Fox (Melton)
Xavier Warne (Cobblebank)
Nicholas Ibrahim (Melton)
Olivia Dando (Melton)
Arna Maloney (Melton)
Matthew Cobreros (Melton)
Oliver Dreaver (Melton)
Cooper Byham (Melton)
Girls 13-14 200m Medley Relay 1st Place
Boys 15-16 200m Medley Relay 3rd Place
Girls 15-16 200m Medley Relay 1st Place
Boys 17-20 200m Medley Relay 1st Place
Boys 13-Year-Olds 200m Freestyle Relay 2nd Place
Girls 13-Year-Olds 200m Freestyle Relay 1st Place
Boys 14-Year-Olds 200m Freestyle Relay 1st Place
Boys 15-Year-Olds 200m Freestyle Relay 1st Place
Boys 16-Year-Olds 200m Freestyle Relay 2nd Place
Girls 16-Year-Olds 200m Freestyle Relay 1st Place
Year 11 Melton Campus student Alice represented St Francis Catholic College at the PETstock Equestrian Victoria Interschool State Championships, riding Sir Kalahad at Werribee Park National Equestrian Centre over four days during the term break.
The pair had an amazing time at the competition and pulled out their most successful dressage test, placing third in the 2-phase show jumping and eighth overall in a big competitive class.
Sir Kalahad is a relatively inexperienced horse, having recently left his racing career. This resulted in some interesting show jumping rounds, from which both horse and rider learned a lot.
Alice is looking forward to the future with Sir Kalahad as he starts his new career off the track.
We proudly announce that SFCC Melton Campus teacher James Villinger has published his debut novel Sisters of the Sands, soon available from our school library and for sale from Melton Campus reception.
We asked James to tell us about the book, what inspired the story and his plans for future novels.
What is Sisters of the Sands about?
That’s probably best described in the blurb…
“Once a child soldier of the female dominion, Sacet left that life behind long ago…
Now free from the brainwashing, Sacet would rather stay on the move with her adopted brother, Eno, doing her best to forget her past. When super-powered soldiers will stop at nothing to see them both caught, it becomes clear they won’t be able to run forever. As the past threatens to enslave them, Sacet faces a grave choice… Will she risk both their lives to fight back? Or serve her old masters once more to keep Eno safe?”
How long did it take you to write the book? What inspired you?
I've been thinking about the book series since I was a teenager, so for over 20 years, but back then, I didn't realise it would be a book until I was in my mid-20s. I've been writing it for a long time, shopping it around to different publishers, working on my craft, and editing entire manuscripts over and over. Eventually, I partnered with Shawline Publishing to make it real. I've been inspired by all sores of stories like Dune, The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner, Warhammer 40K and the list goes on.
But the real inspiration was that feeling in the back of my mind telling me to write. A feeling that wouldn't go away until the job was done.
Has writing a book been a long-term goal?
Originally, I didn't plan this as a book series, it was just an idea that grew and grew until I could no longer keep all the details straight in my head. But now, having spent over a decade writing, I can very much say that it has been a long-term goal, for sure!
Is this Book 1 of a series? If so, are you working on the next book?
Yes! I've already written two more books in the series, which need to be edited before they can be published. I also wrote Book 4, the finale, but I've decided to throw out almost the entire book (over 100,000 words) and start again with that one. I also have heaps of plans for side stories, tie-in novels, and an entire sequel series, but these things take time.
What advice would you give to any young budding authors at the College?
Your dreams won't be achieved by snapping your fingers or hoping a big-time Hollywood agent will come knocking on your door. Fulfilling your dreams is hard work. Making those dreams a reality takes a lot of time, effort and sometimes money. But know that after all is said and done, the harder you've worked, the greater the feeling of success. There's nothing better than holding up the fruits of your labour for the world to see, regardless of how successful it becomes.
The Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge is now open and St Francis Catholic College is excited to participate.
All students up to and including Year 10 can join the challenge, designed to recognise the importance of reading for literacy development. It is not a competition but a personal challenge for children to read a set number of books by 6 September 2024.
Students from Year 3 to Year 10 are challenged to read 15 books.
All students who meet the challenge will receive a certificate of achievement signed by the Victorian Premier and former Premiers.
To read the Premiers’ letter to parents, view the booklist and for more information about the challenge, click here.
Any students from Year 8 to 10 who have not yet indicated their interest are asked to email our Teacher Librarian Mrs Wall at awall@sfcc.vic.edu.au
Year 8 students at Cobblebank have been finishing their Sustainable Tote Bag task during their recent Design Technology Fibre classes.
Students spent Term 1 sewing their tote bags using calico and researching different foundations to represent on their bags.
The statewide plastic bag ban formed the basis for the task. Students had to create a saleable design they could envision selling alongside reusable bags at places such as Coles and Woolworths. Each design featured a foundation or charity for which the bags would hypothetically raise money with their sales.
Students enjoyed the task and came up with some great designs.
Term 2 will again be full of exciting sporting opportunities for all students.
In the next couple of weeks, both Melton and Cobblebank campuses will send out their Year 7 SACCSS Premier League teams, and we look forward to seeing what they can achieve throughout the season.
Also, our senior AFL boys and girls teams will have their first match on Monday 29 April. We wish both teams good luck for the fun and exciting weeks ahead!
Our college cross-country team has been working tirelessly for the past month. Students attend training every Thursday and run laps of Cambrian Way Reserve.
The runners have also attended a couple of gym sessions focusing on technique, strength, and mobility to prepare for the SACCSS Cross-Country Championships next Tuesday.
Our annual college athletics carnival is also coming up: Melton Campus on Thursday 2 May and Cobblebank Campus on Friday 3 May.
There will be many activities for students to participate in, ranging from the usual track and field events, which will run all day, to exciting novelty events for students eager to participate and earn House points while having fun. May the best House win!
Team |
Result |
SFCC ladder position |
Senior Volleyball Girls A |
SFCV 3 d Marymede Catholic College 1 |
2 |
Senior Volleyball Girls B |
SFCC 3 d Marymede Catholic College 0 |
1 |
Senior Volleyball Boys A |
Emmanuel College 3 d SFCC 2 |
5 |
Senior Volleyball Boys B |
SFCC 3 d Marymede Catholic College 0 |
1 |
After a refreshing break, our volleyball team set out for another week of senior sports matches, this time playing teams from Marymede Catholic College and Emmanuel College, with three out of our four teams coming home with a win.
The Boys A team played a long and tiring five sets and only just missed out on winning against one of the top teams by two points.
Year 7 students will have their first experience of interschool sport at SFCC, with the SACCSS Premier League season beginning on Wednesday 1 May.
Both campuses will represent the College in various tournaments, including basketball, volleyball, netball, soccer and AFL. We are incredibly excited about this opportunity for our students!
As part of our preparation for the Premier League season, all participating students will be asked to sign a Player Contract.
This contract states that it is a privilege to be selected to represent the College. It sets the expectation that our students will adhere to the College Code of Conduct and keep up with any schoolwork missed while attending Premier League.
We encourage the students to talk to their teachers and coaches so they can support them throughout this experience.
However, we also reinforce that breaching the College Code of Conduct could impact students' selection to play and, in serious cases, lead to their removal from the team.
We encourage our students to put their best foot forward so they can have the best experience possible, make friends, and have a fantastic time!
Our Melton Campus Year 11 Elite Sports Academy students visited Richmond Football Club late last term to learn more about career pathways in the sports industry.
After observing a closed training session for the Tigers AFL squad, students went to Richmond Institute, where a recent graduate presented information on study pathways after VCE and the broad range of employment opportunities in sports, health and fitness.
After lunch, students were put through their paces during a strength and conditioning session run by Richmond Institute's coaches, who work closely with the football club.
Our students left with a greater understanding of the growing opportunities for study and employment in the health and fitness sector.
Congratulations to our Melton Campus Girls' Cricket Team, which defeated Salesian College in the grand final of the SACCSS Open Cricket Tournament at the end of last term.
Salesian scored 47 runs for 7 wickets, and SFCC, 71 runs for 2 wickets.
Team captain, Year 10 student Shameka, was awarded the player of the match.
Nominations are now open for the School Crossing Supervisor of the Year Award.
The biennial award acknowledges the dedication of school crossing supervisors who contribute to the safe journey of students to and from school throughout Victoria.
Click here for more information and to nominate your local crossing supervisor.
Keep updated with College events, procedures, resources and information via the links below.
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