From the Principal

Last week, our staff began the semester with two days of professional learning, the theme being Making Positive Connections.

The first day focussed on learning and teaching, particularly the importance of a consistent whole-school approach to teaching writing.

Presenter Kirstin Bourne from Inform Education worked with staff in Domain areas to develop common practices to assist students in understanding writing conventions and the subtle differences across subject areas when using command words such as describe, explain and discuss. Click here to read more. 

On the second day, Jack Mather from Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools facilitated the first steps in developing a Framework of Positive Behaviours for Learning.

Once again, staff worked collaboratively in House teams to look at behaviours the College needs to address and ways to reframe these positively and affirm those that facilitate learning.

Teaching and learning and student wellbeing go hand in hand.

The best pastoral care is a well-planned lesson, yet the best lesson will only succeed if students are ready to learn.

Teaching and learning and student wellbeing complement each other and are equally important in ensuring student success. Therefore, we must dedicate time and resources to work as a whole school to establish expectations for learning and ensure all staff feel confident and capable of reinforcing them.

Looking Ahead - Cobblebank Campus Students

Looking Ahead - Melton Campus Students

From the Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching

Last Monday and Tuesday, our staff participated in two days of Professional Learning focusing on learning, teaching, and wellbeing.

Kirstin Bourne, from Inform Education, addressed Disciplinary Literacy with a focus on writing. Kirstin has worked with us on our Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) Secondary Schools Disciplinary Literacy Project as we focus on reading and writing.

This is one of the main areas within our School Improvement Plan. Teachers and learning support staff have increased their knowledge of literacy strategies and are now working towards constructing writing templates within discipline areas. 

Subject and Pathway Expo this Thursday

Our annual Subject Selection Expo and information sessions for current Year 9, 10 and 11 students and families will be held from 4 – 7.30pm this Thursday evening.

Domain Leaders, subject teachers and current students will be available to answer questions on the night. We look forward to providing insights into subjects and pathways offered and supporting students to make the best choices.

There will be year-level information sessions in the Performing Arts Centre (PAC). Please refer to the email sent to all families last week for the details or click here.

Your child’s report is a great place to begin a discussion with them on strengths, passions and areas of interest and gives valuable insight into suitable pathways and subjects for 2024.

Parents and Friends Meeting

The next Parents and Friends Association meeting will be held on Wednesday 26 July, online via Teams from 7pm. New members are always welcome.

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

Success for SACCSS Chess Team

Weeks of practice paid off for our Intermediate Chess Team who claimed second place in the 2023 SACCSS Chess Tournament at CRC Caroline Springs yesterday.

Melton Campus student and Intermediate Team member, Glanzmigue, also earned an individual second-place medal.

Congratulations to all the students and many thanks to the coaches Jonathan Antony, Abraham Jongroor, Nathan Belcher and Stefan Subasic who shared their expertise during lunchtime training sessions and supported students at the event.

Senior, intermediate and junior students from both Melton and Cobblebank campuses showed excellent sportsmanship throughout the tournament. Many who competed for the first time showed significant improvement by the end of the tournament.

Year 9 Camp

During the last week of Term 2, our Year 9 students participated in their Rite Journey camps.

The boys headed to the heritage-listed Roses Gap campsite, located in the stunning Grampians National Park. Our girls travelled to the award-winning Summit Adventure Park in the Gippsland region.

The camps are an essential part of The Rite Journey program in Year 9, designed to help students develop self-awareness, responsibility, respect, resilience, and resourcefulness as they journey towards becoming positive and capable adults.

The activities were intentionally created to promote teamwork, group bonding, and positive relationships between teachers and students.

Despite unfortunate weather conditions, the students' enthusiasm and eagerness persisted throughout the activities.

The boys participated in activities including abseiling, crate stack, vertical playpen, pamper pole, giant swing, Beehive Falls Walk, low ropes, initiatives courses, and canoeing.

Many boys were challenged to go outside their comfort zone and embraced the opportunities to grow. In the evenings, the boys attended their Rite Journey class, where they reflected on the day, set goals, and participated in activities such as the Push-up Challenge to raise money for mental health initiatives.

The girls participated in a range of exciting and diverse activities, including high wire, Tash's Ladder, giant swing, abseiling, snake challenge, nail wall, monster crush, and the awe-inspiring Crush a Car challenge, which allowed them to crush a car with a real tank!

Their efforts and incredible courage in completing these challenging activities are to be commended. The atmosphere at the girls' camp was fantastic, and this positive spirit carried over into the Rite Journey sessions in the evenings.

I want to thank the wonderful staff who made the camp experience exceptional. Their positive interactions with the students were heartwarming. The Year 9 students are fortunate to have such a compassionate and supportive group of staff to guide them through the unique and challenging camp program.

Thanks also to Jason Rowley, our Camp Coordinator, for his diligent efforts in organising the camp.

Push-up Challenge

Our Year 9 students and their teachers notched up almost 250,000 push-ups and raised $415 for Lifeline as part of the Push Up Challenge in June.

The Push Up Challenge puts a spotlight on the mental health issues affecting everyday Australians and ties in with our Rite Journey program which also focussed on mental health in Term 2.

While on their Rite Journey camps, students and took any opportunity to add to their push-up tally!

Thanks to all involved for highlighting how good exercise is for our mental health.

Jordan Reithofer

Lawrence House Leader

Student's World's Greatest Shave Campaign

Camryn’s long locks will be cropped tomorrow at lunchtime when she shaves her head as part of the World's Greatest Shave campaign to raise funds for the Leukemia Foundation.

You can support her brave move by donating to her fundraising campaign. Click here to visit her page or scan the QR code below. 

Every day, 53 Aussies are diagnosed with blood cancer, and 16 will lose their life.

Help Camryn raise funds that will help give those facing blood cancer all the support and information they need, while driving breakthrough research projects to discover better ways to diagnose and treat blood cancer.

Big or small, every donation counts.

Sports Update

Year 9 Premier League - Melton Campus Round 1

Melton Boys Soccer

Our Year 9 Boys' Soccer team may not have secured the win in Round 1, but they set the bar high with a thrilling contest against St Monica's Catholic College (SMC).

Despite a valiant defensive effort from the boys, SMC launched two into the back of the net during the first half. But SFCC rallied, holding the home team scoreless for the remainder of the match with a particularly impressive performance from goalkeeper Paeki Joyce.

The result was 2-0 to SMC.

Congratulations to Nowe Alumbulwa who was named SFCC's Best on Ground.

Senior SACCSS Sports Melton Campus - Round 5 results

Equestrian Update

Kirby Park Tamarisk and Alice Summers had an amazing time representing St Francis Catholic College at the Victorian Interschool State (VEIS) Championships held over the April school holidays.

The competition was held over three days at Werribee Park National Equestrian Centre and Alice competed in the 90cm senior show jumping and 95cm combined training (a combination of dressage and show jumping).

The weather was quite challenging, with rain, wind and slippery grounds. The pair had some unfortunate poles down in showjumping pushing them midfield against impressive competition.

More recently, Alice represented the College at the VEIS Show Jumping Grand Final on 17 June at Werribee Park, competing in the Intermediate show jumping classes 95cm – 105cm.

Community Notices

Becoming Catholic

Soup Van volunteers wanted

Butterfly Body Kind Youth Advisory Group

Students aged between 13-17 who are curious about social media and body image are invited to apply for Butterfly’s Body Kind Youth Advisory Group. It's your chance  to influence decision-making and share insights and ideas to inform a brand-new education program for Australian Secondary Schools, Body Kind Online Education. Visit butterfly.org.au to find out more.

Mental Health First Aid Course

Mental Health First Aid Course

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