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Phone: (03) 8099 6000
Email:info@sfcc.vic.edu.au
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The sculpture Sphere within Sphere by artist Arnaldo Pomodoro (pictured above) was designed for the Vatican and stands within the 16th-century Belvedere Courtyard among beautiful Renaissance architecture.
Some of our staff, myself included, were blessed to see this incredible work while on the Franciscan Pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi this year.
The artwork depicts two interlocking spheres. These spheres appear to be growing, one within another, whilst geometric columns, pyramids, and discs push through the crevices.
Made from bronze, the material's reflective quality mirrors its surroundings. Click here to watch the sculpture move and spin and imagine your reflection becoming part of the artwork.
Consider what this work could mean for us today. In many ways, this sculpture symbolises the emergence of a new world from the old as it moves and reminds us of the power we must shift and transform our ways of thinking while remaining true to the past.
Could this work be a subtle nod from the Church, suggesting that while we must treasure and hold the past close to our hearts, we also need to recontextualise the Good News in new and meaningful ways for our contemporary world?
If this sculpture were in Australia, I think it would be inspiring as a work in the outback. Imagine the red sand and warm blue sky reflected as you watch it spin.
Instead of geometric shapes bursting from within perhaps, there could be hints of Australian natives growing out from the centre. This idea is imaginary, but I mention it to highlight the need to carve new and meaningful connections with our heritage while also honouring what once was.
Yesterday, we gathered as a fraternity to embrace this idea.
Both campuses held a Reconciliation Week Assembly, during which we recognised the immense need in our country to reconcile with Indigenous Australians, inspired by Jesus and St Francis.
This gathering was a step towards understanding and embracing the rich cultural heritage that has shaped our nation, paving a new path of inclusivity and harmony.
And so this week, we pray the National Reconciliation Prayer.
Creator Spirit,
All creation once declared your glory,
Your laws were honoured and trusted,
Forgive us our neglect as our country approaches the most critical moment in its history.
Listen to our prayer as we turn to you,
Hear the cry of our land and its people,
Just as you heard the cry of Jesus, your Son, on the Cross.
Help us to replace our national shame
With true national pride by restoring the dignity of our First People whose antiquity is unsurpassed.
May our faith and trust in you increase.
Only then will our nation grow strong and be a worthy place for all who wish to make their home in our land.
Amen.
On Saturday, I attended the annual Dreamtime game at the MCG. This game, traditionally played between Richmond and Essendon, recognises and celebrates the profound impact of Indigenous players.
These two clubs were chosen by former Australian rules football coach and player Kevin Sheedy because their colours (yellow, black and red) mirror those of the Aboriginal flag. This year marks 20 years of the two teams playing this significant match.
While I always love the atmosphere and enjoy the Welcome to Country and performances on the night, I am also sometimes saddened.
The game reminds me is there is still a significant gap that exists between our Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations.
In 2020, the Closing the Gap Report highlighted the need for all levels of Government to commit to achieving equality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in health and life expectancy within a generation.
The seven targets, which every state and territory and the Federal Government agreed to work towards, aim to improve outcomes for Aboriginal people by 2031 in the areas of health and wellbeing, education, employment, justice, safety, housing, land and waters, languages and digital inclusion.
Target 5 aims to “Have students achieve their full learning potential”, a goal the College aspires to for all its students. This is an important goal because completing Year 12 is closely linked to future success and happiness in post-secondary life. Successful completion of secondary education gives students the freedom to choose their preferred pathways and provides opportunities for further study or employment.
At present, only 68% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students complete Year 12 or an equivalent certificate, compared to 90% of non-Indigenous students.
With only seven years until these very important goals are due to be achieved, we still have much to do.
This week, as we participate in Reconciliation Week, we are asked to consider how far we have come and what we still need to do.
As a FIRE Carrier school, we are committed to promoting reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Victorian schools. FIRE stands for Friends Igniting Reconciliation through Education. The FIRE Carrier program is a way Catholic schools can promote respect, fairness and inclusion for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
This year’s Reconciliation Week theme is Now more than ever.
This means that if we only have seven years left to achieve the considerable goals of the Closing the Gap Report, then we need to act now.
Now more than ever we need to act to provide Aboriginal students and their families the same opportunities that all Australians take for granted.
”For the last four years, the College has had a Project Officer - Indigenous Students. This role ensures the needs of our Indigenous students and their families are considered and advocates for and supports students' social and educational needs.
This week, please talk to your child about what they can do to advance reconciliation in our community.
Could they read more about the issues and become more informed? Could they welcome students who identify as Aboriginal into their friendship groups and be curious about their cultural heritage and connection with country? Could they use the power of prayer to ask St Francis to ensure that the goals of Closing the Gap are not only met but exceeded?
Our College theme for 2024 asks us to start by doing what is necessary and possible so that we may achieve what seems impossible. So, this week, I urge you to think about ways you can contribute to a more just and inclusive world where all students are welcomed and valued, especially our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and their families.
| Dates to remember | |
| Thursday 30 May | Year 12 and VCE Unit 3/4 Parent Student Teacher Interviews |
| Friday 31 May | Year 10 Immunisations |
| Wednesday 5 June | Campus Tour - 9am |
| Friday 7 June | Year 7 and 8 Timed Assessment Tasks |
| Monday 10 June | King's Birthday public holiday |
| Tuesday 11 June | Year 10 and 11 exams begin |
| Parents and Friends meeting | |
| Wednesday 26 June | Campus Tour - 9am |
| Friday 28 June | Final day of Term 2 - 2.30pm dismissal |
| Dates to remember | |
| Wednesday 29 May - Friday 31 May | Year 7 Camp |
| Wednesday 5 June | Campus Tour - 2pm |
| Friday 7 June | Year 7 and 8 Timed Assessment Tasks |
| Monday 10 June | King's Birthday public holiday |
| Tuesday 11 June | Parents and Friends meeting |
| Thursday 13 June | Campus Tour - 9am |
| Friday 28 June | Final day of Term 2 - 2.30pm dismissal |
Last Friday, Cobblebank and Melton teachers and Learning Support staff gathered for our Numeracy Matters professional learning day.
We listened to keynote presentations and participated in numeracy-related activities facilitated by Dave Tout, Julia Hill and Justine Sakuai from the University of Melbourne Numeracy Team.
The team has worked on several numeracy initiatives, including the current VCE VM and VPC curriculum and Positive Psychology for numeracy and mathematics.
Dave spoke about the importance of everyone being numeracy literate and how it is essential for all workplaces. He provided examples from employment in roadworks, to AFL and sports score calculations and medical dosage calculations.
His humour and real-life examples highlighted the need for staff across all Domain areas to provide explicit teaching when tackling numeracy.
Improvement in numeracy is one of the priorities in the College’s School Improvement Plan and its Annual Action Plan.
Staff also used the time to plan explicit examples of where numeracy will be taught in upcoming units and topics.
As students explore their interests and start consolidating career ideas, some may realise they are studying a subject that no longer aligns with their plan.
In Years 10 and 11, students can make a subject/elective change for Semester 2 provided:
Students must complete subject change paperwork (electronic) and obtain all relevant signatures, including that of a parent/guardian. Families are required to obtain all equipment (e.g., texts, stationery, Edrolo) for the new subject at the beginning of Semester 2.
Strict deadlines apply for Semester 2 subject changes – all applications must be received by Friday 21 June. No further changes can be made after this date.
Information is available on Simon Daily Messages and from the Pathways Department.
Students will be notified of successful changes, and this will appear on their Semester 2 timetable.
I encourage parents and guardians to discuss career ideas and options with their child. Senior students have recently visited universities and TAFE colleges and attended career expos. Our newsletter also showcases the many learning opportunities occurring within the College and their impact on our students. Their reflections provide great insight into the breadth and accomplishments of their learning journeys.
New FIRE Carriers were inducted at both campuses during assemblies yesterday, proudly committing to learning about Aboriginal culture and promoting reconciliation within and beyond our school community.
At Melton Campus, Year 10 students Ayuen, Sneha, Avneet and Aliay were welcomed into our FIRE Carrier community.
At Cobblebank Campus, Year 7 student Clorinda, Year 8 students Mackenzie and Rhianna and teacher Eva Davoli enthusiastically accepted their badges and certificates, excited to embark on their journey of reflection, recognition, and reconciliation.
Year 8 student and FIRE Carrier Taranveer inducted the new members, speaking with pride about the important responsibilities that come with their new role.
St Francis Catholic College became a FIRE Carrier School in 2019. FIRE stands for Friends Igniting Reconciliation through Education.
The FIRE Carrier Project is a joint initiative of the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry Victoria and the Opening the Doors Foundation with the Sandhurst Catholic Education Office.
It seeks to keep the reconciliation flame alight in schools, educating the wider community about reconciliation.
Our FIRE Carriers are commissioned annually and hold an important leadership role in the school community.
Students and teachers plan initiatives and events to educate and inform our College community about reconciliation, our shared history and culture. These include Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC week activities.
Students: Jai Gnacinski, Ollie Fischer, Alannah Trovato, Izabella Boon, Isabella Di Natale, Hannah Sabu, Vanessa Chinmouth, Erin Johnstone, Aliay Yel, Avneet Brar, Ayuen Majok, Sneha Sharma, Tra My Nguyen, Karina Delgadillo, Alanis Furtado, Emma King, Patricia Perante, Elesha Gruis
Staff: Alannah King, Imra Banu, Kimiora Joyce, Trish Griffin, Lisa Hughes, Nirasha Pandi, Joanne Holmes, Debra Whitney, Rachel Prince
Students: Clorinda Dennis, Taranveer Dhaliwal, Achraj Virk, Ricky Singh, Adam Joseph, Kulman Brar, Miguel Luna, Gurnoor Kaur Rai, Mackenzie Planche, Rhianna Parker
Staff: Charlee Keating, Eva Davoli
Imra Banu, Project Officer - Indigenous Program and Charlee Keating, Student Leadership Coordinator, Cobblebank Campus
There are a host of activities planned at both campuses during Reconciliation Week.
Reconciliation Week activities at both campuses will culminate with a celebration and acknowledgment of the 20th anniversary of former AFL football player Michael Long’s historic walk from Melbourne to Canberra.
You can read more about Michael’s epic achievement below:
On 21 November 2004 Michael Long embarked an historic trek, walking from his home in the suburbs of Melbourne all the way to Parliament House in Canberra – more than 650km away.
After returning home from yet another Aboriginal funeral, Michael decided that something needed to be done about the plight of his people. He took it upon himself to get Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues back on the national agenda and resolved to meet with Prime Minister John Howard to discuss his concerns… even if he had to walk all the way to Canberra to do it.
Michael was joined on the road by Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal supporters from all over Australia. Some walked in support for an hour, some for a day and some took the journey all the way to Canberra. As the walkers passed through the Victorian countryside, local people came out to meet them, offering encouragement, support and assistance.
Seeing both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people rallying together, Michael’s Long Walk became a mission of hope. The troupe started walking out of frustration and pain but as they walked they began to understand that Australians from all walks of life had been looking for a way to express their support for Aboriginal culture for a long time.
Source: thelongwalk.com.au
Last week, our Indigenous students attended an Aboriginal Walking Tour at Birrarung Marr.
Birrarung, meaning "river of mists," and Marr, meaning "besides," describes the traditional name for the area along the Yarra River.
Students were impressed by the Spears installation at Birrarung Marr. Each spear is uniquely designed for hunting specific animals, such as the bull shark, highlighting traditional Indigenous knowledge and skills.
After the walking tour, students visited the Koorie Heritage Trust (KHT), a non-profit organisation, at Federation Square.
Here, students learned about the history of Indigenous artefacts including various boomerangs, clap sticks, a parrying shield, didgeridoo, and possum fur.
Students also explored Josh Muir’s remarkable art collection at the KHT Gallery providing them with a deeper understanding and appreciation of Indigenous culture and heritage.
Caption: Students standing in front of the Spears installation at Birrarung Marr. Each spear is uniquely designed for hunting specific animals, such as the bull shark, highlighting traditional Indigenous knowledge and skills.
Staff were treated to a delicious soup lunch made by our Year 10 Hospitality students last Wednesday. Along with pumpkin and minestrone soups, the students served some beautifully decorated focaccias and provided a dining area for staff.
Hospitality aims to equip students with the skills required to undertake a career within the hospitality industry. They develop complex practical skills in food preparation and presentation.
The students were back in the kitchen the next day and presented some amazing savoury platters with dips, antipasto and more mouthwatering focaccias.
Keep updated with College events, procedures, resources and information via the links below.
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