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School Reception: Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm
Phone: (03) 8099 6000
Email:info@sfcc.vic.edu.au
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Just as St Francis and St Clare (co-founders of our Franciscan tradition) built bridges of understanding and peace in their own time, we should also strive to contribute to a world where conflict is resolved through dialogue and mutual respect.
Considering the current Gaza-Israel conflict, this is ever more important for us as a global family. In this way, the dignity of every human person is held first and foremost, setting aside all other disagreements and differences.
At St Francis Catholic College, we commit as staff and students to upholding our Catholic and Franciscan values in all our actions. We recognise the sacred nature of all people (students, staff, parents, and community members alike) as reflections of God’s image. Here, we celebrate that all are children of God with an inherent worth that no action or word can undo.
This is central to the teachings of St Francis, who himself entered into a peaceful conversation with the Islamic leader of Palestine during The Fifth Crusade (1219) as an expression of his love for all people and commitment to peace.
As Franciscans, we are urged to resolve all disagreements with love and compassion centred around speaking and listening.
With this in mind, let us pray:
Loving Creator,
In the spirit of St Francis and St Clare, may we always strive to uphold speaking and listening amidst disagreements, following in their commitment to peace.
As we are all made in your image, help us to always see your love and light in every person we encounter. May we always strive for empathy and reconciliation in all our thoughts, words and interactions.
Made in your image, may we always value love, compassion and peacemaking above everything else as we start renewing love in the Church and in our world.
Amen
ANZAC Day, which falls on 25 April, is one of Australia’s most important national occasions. It marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during World War I.
Many young people may be unfamiliar with the Great War between 1914 and 1918. They may have little remaining connection with those who suffered and gave their lives so that we in Australia could live in a free and democratic society.
Asking our students to remember those who gave their lives or were wounded is an important part of the holistic education at a Catholic school. Such events build gratitude, empathy, and a sense of belonging to Australia’s recent history.
Thank you to our staff and students who represented the College at our community's various ANZAC Day commemorations. Our students placed wreaths at both Bachus Marsh and Melton RSL.
"Going to the dawn service in Bacchus Marsh and having the opportunity to lay a wreath with Ms Clinton and Mr Rogers is something I will never forget." Giselle, Arts and Culture Captain
The College also held ceremonies at both campuses, at which our students laid wreaths under our Lone Pine tree at Melton and amongst our flags at Cobblebank.
Traditionally, flowers have been laid on graves and memorials to remember the dead. Rosemary, symbolising remembrance, is popular on ANZAC Day. Laurel is also a commemorative symbol; woven into a wreath, the ancient Romans used it to crown victors and the brave as a mark of honour.
As we commemorated ANZAC Day this year, students were asked to reflect on what it means for them in 2024 and how they could demonstrate the ANZAC spirit of tenacity, camaraderie and sacrifice.
With the introduction of our new uniform in 2023, a very clear directive regarding the college blazer was issued to all students.
The blazer identifies our students as belonging to this wonderful community. As such, we expect the blazer to be worn to and from school daily. The privilege of attending St Francis Catholic College brings with it responsibilities. The appropriate wearing of the College blazer is one such responsibility.
As our partners in education, I ask that you discuss with your child the significance of wearing the blazer as part of our College uniform.
| Dates to remember | |
| 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 |
| Year 7 Immunisations | |
| Tuesday 14 May | Parents and Friends meeting (at Cobblebank Campus, 7pm) |
| Friday 31 May | Year 10 Immunisations |
| Dates to remember | |
| 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) |
A reminder that students are not permitted to wear long-sleeve tops underneath their short-sleeve polo shirts.
Long-sleeve polo tops that can be worn with the Sports uniform are now available from Academy Uniforms for $49.
Thank you to all families who attended Parent, Student, and Teacher Interviews (PSTIs) last Tuesday. Meeting and interacting with students and families during the evening was a pleasure.
The interviews are a valuable way for us to inform you about your child's progress and learn from you about their individual needs and strengths. They establish connections, identify challenges or concerns, set clear academic and behavioural expectations, celebrate progress, and strengthen partnerships between teaching staff and families.
A reminder that the next round of interviews will be held tomorrow, Wednesday 1 May from 3.30pm to 7pm at both campuses.
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.
Join us for our annual celebration of mothers and motherly figures.
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.
Five students from our sister school, Convitto Nazionale Paolo Diacono in northern Italy, will visit the College from 18 July to 13 August and families are needed to host them during their stay.
The students (four girls and one boy) range in age from 15 to 17 and speak English. The students are here to experience school and life in Australia.
Families can host one or more students during their four weeks here and transport them to and from school as they would their children.
The Italian students will be in classes at the College and some excursions will be organised for them.
If you would like to welcome someone from another country into your home for a few weeks, learn about their life and culture and build new friendships and connections, or you have any questions, please contact me at piannazzo@sfcc.vic.edu.au
Year 8 Cobblebank students enthusiastically used specially designed tables with a whiteboard surface to practice percentages in their maths class last week.
In the lead-up to their second assessment task for the term, the activity increased collaboration among students, encouraged discussion and group annotation and enabled students to demonstrate key working-out skills in a very visual setting.
Teachers could also look for common misconceptions and understand students' concept knowledge on a larger scale.
Year 8D student Senadee had this to say:
“This was a really good experience to help us revise our math lessons before the upcoming test. We could work with our peers on whiteboard surface tables, as our teacher helped us with the questions. We were also able to concentrate more on our work since the atmosphere in the collaborative space at that time was amazing. It was a fun experience for everyone - we could all sit together at the same table and share our knowledge.
Our Melton Campus VCE Vocational Major and Victorian Pathways Certificate students have been working hard preparing a range of handmade gifts for the annual Makers Market, to be held during Big Break on Friday 10 May.
This year, our students are exploring various creative skills in preparation for the market. They have dabbled in UV resin, decoupage, polymer clay, melting wax and soap, terrarium building, macrame, embossing and much more.
Items for sale will include resin pendants, bookmarks, body wash and scrubs, lip gloss, wall art, homemade cards, jewellery/gift boxes, soap, and more. All proceeds raised will be donated to a worthy cause.
Producing this range of products has developed our students’ problem-solving and teamwork abilities. They are also achieving their course outcomes around Occupational Health and Safety, collaboration, conflict resolution in groups, idea sharing, and developing transferable employment skills.
The Makers Market is a great chance for students to purchase a handmade Mother’s Day gift! Cash and cards will be accepted, and hot chocolates whipped up by our budding baristas will also be available.
The tenth anniversary of the planting of the Lone Pine at our Melton Campus is an opportune time to delve back into the history of this special tree, which is a descendant of the original from World War 1.
The Lone Pine was the name given to a solitary tree on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey, which marked the site of the Battle of Lone Pine in 1915 during World War I. It was the sole survivor of a group of trees that had been cut down by Turkish soldiers who had used the timber and branches to cover their trenches.
The tree was obliterated during the battle; however, pine cones that had remained attached to the cut branches over the trenches were retrieved by two Australian soldiers and brought home to Australia.
Private Thomas Keith McDowell, a soldier of the 23rd Battalion, brought a pine cone from the battle site back to Australia. Many years later, his wife's aunt Emma Gray of Grassmere, near Warrnambool, Victoria, planted seeds from the cone, and five seedlings emerged, with four surviving.
These seedlings were planted in four different locations in Victoria: Wattle Park (May 8, 1933), the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne (June 11, 1933), the Soldiers Memorial Hall at The Sisters near Terang (June 18, 1933) and Warrnambool Botanic Gardens (January 23, 1934).
Another soldier, Lance Corporal Benjamin Smith from the 3rd Battalion, also retrieved a cone and sent it back to his mother (Mrs McMullen) in Australia, who had lost another son at the battle.
Mrs McMullen planted seeds from the cone in 1928, raising two seedlings. One was presented to her hometown of Inverell (New South Wales), and the other was forwarded to Canberra, where it was planted by Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, at the Australian War Memorial in October 1934.
The Shrine of Remembrance's lone pine was felled in August 2012, and the timber was used as part of a remembrance project after a disease known as Diplodia pinea, or blue stains fungus, killed it.
Melbourne Legacy and the Yarralumla Nursery in Canberra have grown seedlings sourced from the trees at the Shrine of Remembrance and the Australian War Memorial, respectively.
They presented these seedlings to schools, as well as ex-service and other organisations throughout Australia.
The photo below is of the tree in 2014 (mostly obscured by the rock). It was much smaller than this when the college received it, and the maintenance team cared for it and got it ready to plant in front of our chapel.
Thank you to former staff member Daniela Harrington and teacher Martin Attard for providing the information about our Lone Pine.
In partnership with Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools, News Corp has launched its Australia’s Best Teachers campaign, recognising inspirational and innovative educators nationwide.
Students and families can nominate their favourite teacher via an online form.
The campaign aims to highlight the incredible role that teachers play by asking the community to nominate their favourite teachers.
This is an excellent opportunity for our school to recognise the fantastic work of our teachers.
Nominated teachers will have the chance to be featured in News Corp print and online publications, including Herald Sun and VWeekend.
A judging panel will select the top 50 teachers, who will be announced at the campaign's completion on 30 June in VWeekend.
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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