From the Principal

This week I share with you important information from the Victorian Reponsible Gaming Foundation school education program called Be Ahead of the Game.

The program helps young people understand the risks associated with gambling and gaming, given how increasingly visible, enticing, and accessible it is to them.

Giving them the facts is the safest bet

Source: Victorian Responsible Gaming Foundation

As many of us know, gambling is heavily promoted and more accessible than ever before.

There’s growing concern over the way our teens are being exposed to widespread gambling messages through sport, advertising, online games and social media.

These can give your child the wrong impression about how gambling actually works, making it seem like an easy and fun activity. Unfortunately, this can often lead to difficulties down the track.

The good news is you’re in a great position to help your child develop a balanced understanding of how gambling actually works, and you don’t need to be an expert on the topic to start a conversation.

Health professionals say talking about gambling with teenagers is just as important as talking about other situations where risk may be involved – like drinking alcohol and driving.

Because gambling can become an issue for teens, we suggest talking to them sooner rather than later. That way they’ll have a better chance of understanding the risks involved with gambling, including the limited chances of winning, and avoid making choices they come to regret later.

Opportune times to have these conversations include when you’re watching sport together and you see lots of betting ads, especially during events like the Spring Racing Carnival, or when they’re starting to earn their own money.

The fact sheet below may also help you start a conversation with your child, encourage them to think critically about the risks associated with gambling and make informed decisions.

Gambling Awareness Fact Sheet

Looking Ahead - Melton Campus Students

Looking Ahead - Cobblebank Campus Students

From the Deputy Principal Student Wellbeing – Melton Campus

Our Year 8 students travelled to Anglesea last week for their three-day Surf and English camp enjoying a unique mix of physical activities intertwined with curriculum.

The camp is based on the novel The Road to Winter by author Mark Smith.

Students had the opportunity to bring the storyline to life and view the different scenes the author portrays by visiting various locations in Anglesea described in the book.

They immersed themselves in the beautiful countryside to gain a greater understanding of the themes and thoughts of the characters.

The students also enjoyed outdoor activities including an extended walk, high ropes, and surfing.

They worked together and developed their core values of Empathy, Endeavour, and Community throughout their time away.

I cannot emphasise the importance of learning outside the classroom for our students to have a well-rounded education.

From the Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching

There was a wonderful atmosphere at last week’s Subject and Pathway Selection Expo held at the Melton Campus where our teachers, leaders, careers team and student ambassadors spoke to students and families about their options in 2025.

Each of our domains showcased the subjects available, highlighting not only what is on offer at the College but also the opportunities for further study and career pathways.

Families and students appreciated free coffee and hot chocolate, snacks and popcorn supplied by the students and the coffee van.

Our Year 10 2025 and Year 11 and 12 2025 presentations were also held in the Performing Arts Centre on the night.

The Elite Sports Academy (ESA) Program began last year and continues to attract our passionate and talented sports students.

Melton Campus students can apply for the Athlete Development Program as a taster in Year 9 and then apply for selection to the ESA Program in Year 10. The course runs for three years across years 10-12. Students develop skills in strength and conditioning, with programs tailored to their sport, and complete the VET Sport and Recreation Certificate.

At St Francis Catholic College we are proud of the many opportunities offered to students. There is a strong focus on finding relevant and suitable pathways beyond Year 12 whether in a trade, apprenticeship, university, or other further study.

Year 8 students at both campuses will receive information this week on the electives they can choose for their Year 9 Gadal Program.

Western Edge Cluster Trade Training Expo

Upcoming Parent Webinars

Elevate Education’s Term 3 free webinars for our parents will begin on Wednesday 7 August.

Elevate works with our students, delivering high-impact workshops on study skills, motivation, wellbeing, and exam preparation. By tuning into their webinar series, you’ll learn how you can help support your child at home by reinforcing the skills they’re learning at school.

Their upcoming webinar on motivation will give you a simple, realistic action plan to help keep your child motivated right up until the day of their last exam.

Click here to register for free

Here’s what Elevate will cover on the night:

• Using praise and reassurance to motivate your child.
• Setting relevant and effective goals for your child.
• Helping your child to stay motivated long-term.

Year 8 Camp – Cobblebank Campus

Year 8 Cobblebank Campus students travelled to Anglesea last week for their three-day Surf and English camp.

Based at either Angahook Holiday Camp or Araluen Lutheran Camp, students completed challenge-based activities designed to build collaboration and resilience.

They thoroughly enjoyed their time on the beach and the guided surfing lessons hosted by Go Ride a Wave.

Making a special appearance at the camp was Mark Smith, the author of their English novel, The Road to Winter, who lives on the Surf Coast.

The camp was designed to bring The Road to Winter to life and help students engage with the text and included a walking tour of Anglesea, visiting key locations described in the book.

Visiting Italian Students

We were pleased to welcome four students and a teacher from our sister school, Convitto Nazionale Paolo Diaconoi (CNPD) in northern Italy who arrived last week.

The four students, Viviana, Ginevra, Sophia and Rosa and their teacher, Mr Alfio Marini, are taking part in four weeks of cultural immersion and classes in English to improve their language skills.

St Francis families are hosting the students, who have settled in well to their Melton homes.

Farewell Mass and Afternoon Tea

St Anthony’s Primary School and Parish invite past and present families to a Mass and farewell afternoon tea on Wednesday 14 August for principal Damien Schuster who is retiring.

Damien has been the principal at St Anthony’s since 2004 and in his 20 years has overseen the extensive growth of the primary school, guiding enrolments from 169 to more than 800 before the opening of St Lawrence of Brindisi Primary.

Mass will be held at St Anthony’s church at 2pm followed by afternoon tea in Padua Hall. For catering purposes, please RSVP to office@sameltonsth.catholic.edu.au by Tuesday 6 August.

Garma Festival 2025

Students from both campuses are invited to express their interest in attending the 2025 Garma Festival.

The Garma Festival is Australia’s largest Indigenous gathering. It is a four-day celebration of Yolngu life and culture held in remote northeast Arnhem Land.

Hosted by the Yothu Yindi Foundation, Garma showcases traditional miny’tji (art), manikay (song), bunggul (dance) and story-telling and is an important meeting point for the clans and families of the region.

The festival’s over-riding cultural mission is to provide a contemporary environment for expressing and presenting traditional Yolngu knowledge systems and customs and to share these practices in an authentic Yolngu setting.

In 2023, two of our teachers attended the festival. Click here to read more about their experience and see photos.

If you would like to attend the festival, please email our Project Officer – Indigenous Students Imra Banu at ibanu@sfcc.vic.edu.au.

Donations Wanted for Great Book Swap

Do you have books that really need a new home?

On Wednesday 21 August during Book Week, the College Library will again hold its annual Great Book Swap event and is now welcoming donations of age-appropriate reading material (fiction or non-fiction).

All books can be left at the front reception of either campus or at the Alexandria Resource Centre at the Melton Campus.

On the day of the book swap, students will be able to purchase a second-hand book for a gold coin, with all funds donated to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.

The Foundation helps provide culturally relevant books and learning resources to children and families living in remote Communities across Australia.

Donations also support the publishing of books written by Communities, for Communities, in languages of their choice.

Through our fundraising site, you can also make an online donation to the Great Book Swap in the lead-up to the event. Click here to donate now.

Thank you for your support and we look forward to another successful book swap in August. Happy swapping!

Community Notices

Young Women's Leadership Program

Goal Mentoring Program

Bounce Back Program

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