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School Reception: Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm
Phone: (03) 8099 6000
Email:info@sfcc.vic.edu.au
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On Tuesday we celebrated the Transfiguration of the Lord. This feast day urges us to reflect on the moment when Jesus revealed His divine glory to Peter, James and John. On the mountain, His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became dazzling white, symbolising His divine nature and the fulfilment of God’s promise.
For us, as a Franciscan community, this event is a powerful reminder of the spiritual transformation we are called to.
St Francis too experienced his own moments of divine revelation, leading him to a life of simplicity, humility, and deep connection with God and all of creation.
The Transfiguration calls us to seek our own moments of transformation through prayer, contemplation, and acts of service.
As we reflect on the Transfiguration, let us consider how we can be transfigured in our daily lives. How can we bring light to our families, our community, and the world? How can we listen more closely to the voice of God and respond with hearts full of love and compassion?
We pray:
Jesus, open our hearts to God's transformative power. May we always strive to reflect Christ's light and love in all we do just like you showed us.
Amen.
Last Friday evening our staff celebrated at the annual St Francis Catholic College Mid-Year Dinner. All staff and their significant others are invited to celebrate loyal service to the College.
In these changing times with significant teacher shortages, it is important to acknowledge the dedication of our staff to the College and recognise their hard work.
Some 270 staff and family gathered at Witchmount Winery to enjoy a meal and congratulate the following staff who were presented with certificates for their respective years of service to our community.
Abraham Jongroor, Kristina Hefter, Sam Tammaro, Kali Joyce, Sarah Abbas and Steven Woolmer
Narelle Layton, Lynette McGuinness, Rachel Agius
Sharryn Bertsias
We also officially farewelled one of our longest-serving staff members Kaye Kennedy. Kaye joined the College in 1998 and held many roles, primarily in payroll, finance and office administration. We wish her all the very best for her retirement.
Partners are invited to this dinner each year to thank them for the significant support they provide to our staff. Teachers often work long hours, marking and preparing for lessons. Without the support and understanding of our families, it would be difficult to sustain such a high-intensity workload.
Of course, the dinner is also an opportunity to socialise, relax and enjoy the company of colleagues at the mid-way point in the school year.
Thank you to our Director of Community Relations Amy Rowley who coordinates this wonderful event each year.
We are thrilled to announce that the College will receive a $6 million grant from the State Government’s Building Fund for Non-Government Schools for the construction of our Year 10-12 general-purpose learning building at Cobblebank Campus.
Announced last week by Minister for Education, The Hon. Ben Carroll MP, the College was one of 65 Catholic schools in Victoria to receive a share of more than $243 million to expand and modernise existing facilities or build new schools.
We are also grateful to Member for Melton Steve McGhie MP for his ongoing support of our College and its expansion. Without this grant, the College could not continue to build state-of-the-art facilities and offer the high-quality Catholic education that is in such great demand in the Melton area.
Work on the new Year 10-12 building is due to start before the end of the year, with a final design almost complete and expressions of interest for the building works advertised in The Age last weekend.
Work also recently began on the Creativity Hub at Cobblebank Campus, which is expected to be completed in mid-2025.
| Dates to remember | |
| Wednesday 7 August | Online subject choices due for Year 9 2025 |
| Monday 12 August | Campus Tour - 2pm |
| Tuesday 13 August | Parents and Friends Meeting - 7pm |
| Friday 23 August | Student Study at Home Day (Staff Faith Formation Day) |
| Thursday 29 August | Father's Day Prayer Reflection and Breakfast |
| Dates to remember | |
| Wednesday 7 August | Online subject choices due for Year 9 2025 |
| Thursday 8 August | Campus Tour - 9am |
| Tuesday 13 August | Parents and Friends Meeting - 7pm |
| Friday 23 August | Student Study at Home Day (Staff Faith Formation Day) |
| Friday 30 August | Father's Day Prayer Reflection and Breakfast |
Melton Campus students in years 9 and 10 who would like to join the Europe Trip in 2025 are invited to an information evening for families this Thursday, 8 August, from 7pm in the Performing Arts Centre.
The trip will embark on an exhilarating journey that spans the realms of history, culture, and discovery! Students will traverse the enchanting streets of Assisi, the artistic wonderland of Florence, vibrant Berlin and the poignant echoes of Krakow.
The approximate cost of the trip is $8000.
Families applying for the trip are expected to be up to date with their school fees. There are no prerequisite subjects for students who would like to attend.
You can find out more about the planned activities, cost breakdowns, the application process and other details on Thursday night.
Please email inquiries to piannazzo@sfcc.vic.edu.au.
The next meeting of the SFCC Parents and Friends Association will be held online on Tuesday 13 August from 7pm.
The association comprises representatives from both campuses and new members are always welcome.
Please contact me via email at arowley@sfcc.vic.edu.au for the Teams link.
Last week Cyber Safety expert Susan McLean spoke to Year 7 and 8 students at Melton Campus as part of a suite of cyber safety initiatives to promote safe online behaviour.
Susan is renowned for her expertise in the cyber world, promoting strategies that our young people should follow every time they go online.
Throughout the presentation, Susan elaborated on how actions today can affect the future and how an online footprint can never be deleted.
Susan’s credentials consist of presenting to elite sporting bodies such as Tennis Australia, AFL teams, the Australian Cricket Team, and Cricket Australia.
She has provided expert advice and evidence from the data and research she has conducted to the Victorian and New South Wales governments and the Federal Government.
Susan has created a cyber safety policy for Netball Victoria and has been involved with many initiatives overseas, often appearing in interviews on Channel 7.
Susan’s website - Cyber Solutions is a great source of information for parents and guardians who need immediate guidance or want to be proactive and research strategies for their children.
Below is a fact sheet you may also find useful.
Internet Safety Tips for Parents and Caregivers
Our ongoing education about online safety is crucial for students, so they can be fully informed about the consequences of their online practices.
Now is the perfect opportunity for conversations at home to consolidate their educational experience and continue to support the positive message of safe online behaviour.
Each semester, students are recognised for consistently displaying our Core Wellbeing Values of Empathy, Community and Endeavour.
The Semester 1 awards were presented at our full campus assembly yesterday.
The students who received this award have earned it by supporting people, encouraging their peers, taking steps to check on and improve the wellbeing of others, actively considering the feelings of those around them, and generally being positive and upstanding members of our community.
Semester 1 recipients
| House | Empathy |
| Anthony | Madison Griffith |
| Bernard | Alannah Hay |
| Catherine | Abbey Phelan |
| Bakhita | Abraham Dalumpines |
| Glowrey | Kobe James |
| Dominic | Victoria O' Shannessy |
| Lawrence | Scarlett Thompson |
| MacKillop | Aliay Yel |
Community is at the core of all we do at St Francis Catholic College, with one of our overarching goals being to ensure that young people feel they are an important part of the bigger picture. The students who received this award have earned it by taking an active role in different facets of school life.
Many of them volunteered to support various activities, took part in numerous events to help their house, offered assistance to teachers whenever they saw an opportunity, and were generally the first to get involved in programs in and out of the classroom.
Semester 1 recipients
| House | Community |
| Anthony | Bella Read |
| Bernard | Leila Eckardt |
| Catherine | Ryan Craig |
| Bakhita | Madeline Tracey |
| Glowrey | Deng Ayei |
| Dominic | Isabella Di Natale |
| Lawrence | Raph Guillaumier |
| MacKillop | Sage (Mia) Gnascinski |
We celebrate academic achievements on many occasions throughout the school year, but the Endeavour Award is a little different. This award does not always consider the highest grades; instead, students are nominated for their effort, improvement, and tenacity.
The recipients were nominated by their teachers and peers for their consistently strong and positive approach to continual improvement. They may already be at the top of their class but still push themselves, or perhaps there has been a clear change in attitude or achievement throughout the semester.
Semester 1 recipients
| House | Endeavour |
| Anthony | Kareena Allen |
| Bernard | Awatea-Lily Hawira |
| Catherine | Reid McDougall |
| Bakhita | Mariann Joseph |
| Glowrey | Lily Sacco |
| Dominic | Evan Dando |
| Lawrence | Nicole Bertsias |
| MacKillop | Chayanne Soobraydoo |
The Domestique Award is presented to a student who consistently demonstrates all three of our Core Wellbeing Values.
Domestique is a cycling term - the domestique is a rider who works for the benefit of his or her team and leader, rather than trying to win the race. For example, they give up their bike for the leader when theirs is broken or carry their teammates’ water.
Semester 1 recipients
| House | Domestique |
| Anthony | Zoe Maxwell |
| Bernard | David Johan |
| Catherine | Alisha Mifsud |
| Glowrey | Thomas Ibrahim |
| Dominic | Alannah Trovato |
| Lawrence | Erin Johnstone |
| MacKillop | Fynn Bowen |
The College is celebrating NAIDOC Week, a significant time on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander calendar.
This Friday, 9 August during Big Break at both campuses, our FIRE Carriers will host the Together We Walk walkathon.
Together We Walk is an Opening the Doors Foundation (OTDF) initiative that raises funds and awareness to support First Nations access to education. OTDF has supported our students in the past.
Students can earn House points through participation, and the College will donate money based on the number of laps recorded.
Our annual Homelessness Winter Appeal began at both campuses this week.
The appeal will run until 30 August and this year’s theme is Homelessness Action Now.
Along with raising awareness about homelessness in Australia, our Faith and Mission team has assigned each House items to collect, which will be donated to organisations in the local community.
And remember, each donation earns students one house point!
Tinnies for Vinnies
Collect canned food tins and pantry items:
Soups – Tomato, chicken and vegetable, beef and vegetable, pumpkin, vegetable soup, potato and leek
Vegetables – Carrots, corn, peas, mixed vegetables, beetroot, tinned tomatoes, baked beans
Tinned fruit – Peaches, pear, fruit salad, apple, apricot, pineapple
Pantry – Bags of pasta, pasta sauces, tinned tuna
Snacks – Small share packs of mixed chips, chocolates
Socks, Beanies and Blanket Drive
Socks, Beanies, Scarves - please collect new socks of all sizes for children and adults. Socks must be left in their original packaging.
Beanies and blankets can be new or second-hand.
Help Out with Hygiene Packs
All items must be new and in sealed packaging for health and safety reasons.
Toothpaste - small
Toothbrushes
Small packs of tissues
Deodorant (roll on)
Shampoo / conditioner (small travel size)
Help Out with Hygiene Packs
All items must be new and in sealed packaging for health and safety reasons.
Soap (single sealed packs)
Hand sanitiser (small)
Combs/brushes
Sanitary goods
Wet wipes
Band aids
Lip balm
Bric a Brac: Second hand goods
Decorative crockery and ceramics
Artwork, sculptures, ornaments
Candles, soft furnishings
Vases, bowls, pottery, and dishes
Picture frames and prints
Cookware, Tupperware, and storage
Help Others Thrive with a Clothing Drive
Clean out your wardrobe and donate any old, good-quality clothing.
Clothing must be clean and in good condition.
The rule is, if it is good enough to give to a friend then it is good enough to donate!
Families are welcome to donate any of the items from any of the lists above.
The Faith and Mission Team is gratefully accepting donations up to Friday 30 August.
Students can bring donations to school and place them in their House collection tub.
For more information email Trish Griffin tgriffin@sfcc.vic.edu.au.
Our Winter Sleepout will take place on the last day of the appeal, Friday 30 August, starting at 4.30pm and concluding at 7.30am on Saturday 31 August.
Students from both campuses will work together to prepare packs for the homeless, listen to presentations from local guest speakers learn more about the poverty and disadvantage faced by many Victorians.
Four students visiting from our sister school in Italy are settling into life at SFCC and enjoyed an Italian Week excursion with Year 9-12 students last week.
Viviana, Sophia, Ginevra and Rosa share their experiences below.
We arrived at St Francis Catholic College on 17 July, after two days of travel and eight hours of jet lag.
We were immediately welcomed by our host families and began our school experience the next day, noticing substantial differences right away.
In the first few days, the lessons seemed endless since we were used to going home at 1pm, but we got used to it over time.
The cultural shock also included the requirement to wear uniforms, a rule not very common in Italian schools, and having to change classrooms based on the subject (chosen by the student).
Additionally, here the school provides a laptop for every student to facilitate their work and simplify the communication of assignments.
In Italy, we also rely on an electronic register, but we are not allowed to use any electronic devices during lessons (with rare exceptions).
Another peculiar custom we don't have in Italy is the Debutante Ball, a very elegant event that two of us had the chance to attend.
During the last three weeks, the school organised two excursions: one for the four of us to the Italian Museum of Immigration in Carlton, and another to the Veneto Club in Bulleen with the students from Italian classes.
At the Italian Museum, we heard a testimony from the director, who was one of the Italian immigrants and observed everyday objects that Italians brought with them to Australia.
At the Veneto Club, we played soccer and bocce (sports common in Italy) and helped prepare our lunch of gnocchi with sauce. Through this experience, in particular, we bonded a lot with the students in the Italian classes.
Our visiting students also shared their thoughts on their visit in Italian
Siamo arrivate al St Francis Catholic College il 17 luglio, dopo due giorni di viaggio e 8 ore di jet lag. Siamo state accolte sin da subito dalle nostre famiglie ospitanti e abbiamo iniziato la nostra esperienza scolastica il giorno dopo, notando immediatamente delle differenze sostanziali.
I primi giorni le giornate sembravano non finire mai essendo abituate a tornare a casa all’una, ma continuando ci si abitua. È stato uno shock culturale anche l’obbligo di indossare l’uniforme, regola non molto comune nelle scuole italiane, e dover cambiare classe in base alla materia (scelta dallo studente).
Inoltre qua la scuola fornisce un laptop ad ogni studente per facilitare loro il lavoro e semplificare la comunicazione dei compiti, anche in Italia si fa affidamento a un registro elettronico tuttavia non siamo autorizzati ad usare nessuno strumento elettronico durante le lezioni (escluse le rare eccezioni).
Un’altra usanza particolare che in Italia non abbiamo è “il ballo delle debuttanti”, un evento molto elegante a cui due di noi hanno potuto partecipare. Durante le ultime tre settimane la scuola ha organizzato due escursioni, una per noi quattro exchange students al museo italiano dell’immigrazione di Carlton e l’altra al Veneto club di Buleen insieme agli studenti delle lezioni di italiano.
Al museo italiano abbiamo sentito la testimonianza del direttore in quanto uno degli immigrati italiani e osservato oggetti di vita quotidiana che gli italiani hanno portato con sé in Australia.
Al Veneto club abbiamo giocato a calcio e a bocce (sport comuni in Italia) e abbiamo aiutato a preparare il nostro pranzo a base di gnocchi al sugo, grazie a questa esperienza in particolare abbiamo legato molto con ragazzi che frequentano le lezioni di italiano.
Join us for drinks and canapes to celebrate the 10th anniversary of CRC Melton's Year 12 Class of 2014 on Friday 6 September from 6.30pm in the Performing Arts Centre foyer at our Melton Campus.
Reminisce, reconnect with friends and staff and find out more about what has happened at the College in the past decade.
To attend the Class of 2014 reunion, please RSVP by emailing me at arowley@sfcc.vic.edu.au
A huge thank you to our College Parents and Friends Association for funding a new trophy cabinet at Cobblebank Campus to showcase the sporting achievements of students and display coveted House trophies and House Spirit shields.
One of the very first students to feature in the cabinet is Year 8 student Xavier, who was the 2023 SACCSS Division 2 Swimming 13-year Age Champion.
Photos of our Cobblebank House captains will soon be displayed along with the campus House points tally.
Exciting news for Cobblebank Campus! Starting this week, we're launching a thrilling Dodgeball Skittle Competition!
Students will compete for their house in a series of matches each week, aiming to knock down skittles while dodging balls and strategising with their teammates to win house points.
It’s a fantastic opportunity to develop connections within your house and have a blast in a friendly competition.
Be ready to showcase your skills, enjoy some great team spirit, and cheer on your house as we kick off this exciting new event. Don't miss out on the fun, starting this Thursday, 8 August!
SACCSS Year 9 Premier League Competition – Round 3
| Team | Result | SFCC Ladder position |
| Boys Basketball | SFCC 86 d Marymede Catholic College 24 | 2 |
| Girls Basketball | SFCC 80 d Marymede Catholic College 16 | 3 |
| Boys Volleyball | SFCC 3 d Marymede Catholic College 0 | 6 |
| Girls Volleyball | SFCC 2 d Marymede Catholic College 1 | 3 |
| Girls Netball | SFCC 57 d CRC St Albans 3 | 1 |
| Boys AFL | Penola Catholic College 57 d SFCC 41 | 2 |
| Girls Football | SFCC 4 d CRC St Albans 0 | 3 |
| Boys Football | SFCC 6 d CRC St Albans 0 | 1 |
Congratulations to all our teams for their outstanding performances in Round 3 of the SACCSS Year 9 Premier League Competition.
Both the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams excelled securing big wins over Marymede Catholic College, moving them up into the top three on the ladded.
The boys’ and girls’ volleyball teams put in a great effort, both winning this week’s game.
A huge congratulations to the girls’ netball team on their incredible 57-3 victory, which has placed them at the top of the ladder. The girls showed true sportsmanship, helping the students from CRC St Albans, who had only played once before, learn the game of netball.
Although the boys’ AFL team faced a tough 57-41 loss to Penola Catholic College, they remain strong in second place and are ready to face them again in the weeks to come.
The girls’ football team delivered a solid first win of 4-0, making coach Jessica Storey very proud. The boys’ football team also came home with a 6-0 victory.
| Team | Result | SFCC Ladder position |
| Boys Soccer | Kolbe Catholic college 10 d SFCC 2 | 6 |
| Girls Soccer | Thomas Car College 17 d SFCC 0 | 6 |
The Melton Campus Senior Hockey Team participated in the SACCSS one-day tournament yesterday proudly representing SFCC, playing their best and showing great spirit, effort, and commitment on the field.
There wasn't one player who didn't try to do their part and we all played incredibly well.
It was a humbling 2-0 loss in the first game against Emmanuel Catholic College, so we switched up our game and went on to win against CRC North Keilor 2-0. Unfortunately we lost the semi-final 2-1 against MacKillop College.
It was incredible to see everyone put in as much effort as they did, and I would love to see the same team come back next year and bring home the flag.
Jonah Hermence – Team Co-captain
Congratulations to our Intermediate Girls AFL team for their resilience and determination at last week’s Gala Day!
The team were runners-up in the grand final against Kolbe Catholic College, who were tough opponents.
A special shoutout to Captain Emily Kakoshke for her exceptional leadership and contributions throughout the tournament.
The team’s communication, strategic teamwork, and sportsmanship made both the coaches and the entire school proud.
Well done!
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:
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!
Keep updated with College events, procedures, resources and information via the links below.
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