Weekly Reflection

Father’s Day offers a special chance to honour the important role that fathers and father figures hold in our lives. Last week, we were delighted to welcome many of our students alongside their fathers and father figures for a time of reflective prayer, followed by breakfast, which was a truly memorable experience.

In the Catholic tradition, fatherhood is a reflection of God’s own loving and faithful care for us. St Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, is a powerful example of humility, courage, and unwavering trust in God’s plan.

St Joseph experienced the same difficulties in life we all do, yet he lived an exemplary life and established an ideal that is well worth emulating for all fathers.

St Joseph was a man of compassion and caring and possessed an unwavering faith in God.

He was a man who loved and protected his family. St Matthew describes him in his Gospel as a “righteous man” (Mt 1:19).

Just as St Joseph protected and provided for the Holy Family, we pray that all fathers in our community nurture, guide, and support their children with love and dedication.


Heavenly Father, we thank you for the strength, wisdom, and love 
we receive from our fathers and all father figures in our lives.
 
May the lessons of courage, patience, and faith they 
teach us guide us to be better children of God. 

Protect and bless all fathers, giving them 
your peace and joy today and always.

We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen.
Terri Curnow

Director of Faith and Mission

Principal’s Message

A week of community, celebration and achievement at St Francis

It has been a vibrant and rewarding week at St Francis Catholic College, filled with events that showcase the spirit of our community and the talents of our students.

The week began with the SACCSS Athletics Championships at Lakeside Stadium, Albert Park. Our students were strong contenders, displaying both enthusiasm and sportsmanship throughout the day.

Unlike last year, when the event was cancelled due to weather, we were blessed with perfect conditions. We extend our thanks to the staff who attended and supported our students, making opportunities like this possible.

Our Father’s Day celebrations were another highlight, with many fathers, grandfathers and father figures joining us for breakfast at the College.

We are grateful to all staff who helped prepare the breakfast and create such a welcoming occasion. Our singers who performed so beautifully and the readers of prayers all added to the celebration.

The presence of our families brought so much joy to the morning and continues to strengthen the partnership between the College and our parents as first educators.

Click here to see more photos from this special event at both campuses.

Music also took centre stage this week, as VET Music students performed across three evenings in our Performing Arts Centre.

Featuring an eclectic mix of genres from pop and jazz to musical theatre and RnB, the performances were a testament to our students’ talent and hard work. They also reflected the dedication of staff who support students in their creative pursuits and were a great example of the holistic education provided at the College.

Looking towards the future, our staff interviewed almost 600 prospective Year 7 students for the 2027 intake across two evenings.

The enthusiasm of these students was inspiring, and while there are only 500 places available across our two campuses, we are proud that so many young people are eager to join our community.

We extend our gratitude to all staff who gave their time and energy to this important process.

Our inaugural VCE study session was another success, with 70 students attending on Wednesday afternoon and evening.

This new initiative, coordinated by a dedicated team of staff, highlights both the strong commitment of our teachers to academic excellence and the determination of our students to achieve their best.

Finally, Health and Physical Education (HPE) Week brought energy and fun to the College. The HPE team organised a range of engaging activities, from competitions to healthy refreshments including the much-loved bike-and-blend smoothies.

Their efforts were very well received and helped to promote both wellbeing and community spirit.

This week has truly captured the essence of St Francis Catholic College - where learning, celebration, and community come together.

We thank all students, staff, and families who contributed to making it such a memorable week.

Marlene Jorgensen

Principal

Looking Ahead - Cobblebank Campus

Dates to remember
Wednesday 10 SeptemberStudents dismissed at 2.30pm
Thursday 11 SeptemberSt Francis Feast Day
Monday 15 SeptemberParent Student Teacher Interviews online - 4.30pm-7pm
Wednesday 17 SeptemberParent Student Teacher Interviews online - 4.30pm-7pm
Friday 19 SeptemberFinal day of Term 3 - students dismissed at 2.30pm
Monday 6 OctoberTerm 4 begins

Looking Ahead - Melton Campus

Dates to remember
Wednesday 10 SeptemberStudents dismissed at 2.30pm
Thursday 11 SeptemberSt Francis Feast Day
Monday 15 SeptemberParent Student Teacher Interviews online, 4.30pm-7pm
Wednesday 17 SeptemberParent Student Teacher Interviews online, 4.30pm-7pm
Friday 19 SeptemberFinal day Term 2 - students dismissed at 2.30pm
Monday 6 October Term 4 begins

Supporting Students Through Grief and Loss

It is with deep sadness that we acknowledge the recent devastating deaths of young people in our wider community.

These losses have profoundly impacted many within our school, and our hearts go out to the families, friends, and peers who are grieving. 

During times like these, it's important that we come together to support one another. Grief can affect young people in many different ways and everyone may respond differently.

As a school, we are committed to providing a safe and compassionate space for students to express their feelings and access support. 

We encourage parents and guardians to talk openly with their children and seek guidance if needed.

The following resources offer helpful advice and strategies for supporting young people through grief and loss: 

Kids Helpline: Supporting a Child Through Grief and Loss

Headspace: Grief and Loss- Support a Young Person

Emerging Minds: Talking to Children about Violent Events

If your child needs additional support, please don't hesitate to reach out to our wellbeing team via their House Leader.

We are here to listen and support our students and families during this difficult time. 

SFCC Student Wellbeing Practitioners

National Child Protection Week 2025

National Child Protection Week began on Sunday and is coordinated by the National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN).

This week reminds us of our shared responsibility in supporting the care, safety, and wellbeing of children and young people, both now and into the future. It champions the message: Every child in every community needs a fair go.

The 2025 theme, Every conversation matters: Shifting conversation to action, encourages us to move beyond discussion and ensure that our words lead to meaningful change, so every child feels heard, supported, and protected.

For further support and resources, we encourage families to explore the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) at www.accce.gov.au/resources/for-parents-and-carers and the eSafety Commissioner’s website: eSafety for Parents and eSafety for Young People.

Cobblebank Campus Stage 3 Building Underway

Laying the foundations – thank you to our builders Nicholson Construction for the first photos of works on our new Senior Learning Building.

Father’s Day Reflection and Breakfast

Thank you to all the dads, uncles, grandfathers, brothers and friends who joined us for a prayer reflection and breakfast to celebrate Father’s Day. We hope you had a wonderful day on Sunday!

Melton Campus

Cobblebank Campus

NAIDOC Week 2025

The College recently celebrated NAIDOC Week. This year’s theme was The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy, marking 50 years of honouring the voices, culture, and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The week was celebrated nationally in early July, during our school holiday period.

A range of activities took place throughout the week, with the main event being the Together We Walk Walk-a-thon. Staff and students walked laps as a symbol of unity and respect.

SFCC is a FIRE Carrier School, committed to keeping the flame of reconciliation alive. The week was a significant opportunity to affirm and celebrate the culture and heritage of our Indigenous students.

Trivia Tuesday and Lolly Jar

Trivia Tuesday was a fun and competitive way to celebrate and learn more about Indigenous history and culture. Mentor groups faced off in an online quiz packed with interesting NAIDOC Week facts, with valuable house points up for grabs.

Alongside the trivia was the lolly jar competition, where students and staff guessed how many lollies were used to represent the Aboriginal Flag. The following lucky winners walked away with the jar after coming closest to the total.

Congratulations to Concillia Yabanga, Sosuna Haile and Janella Ekenyam from Melton Campus and Gurnoor Rai, Karen Mauri, Parker Robertson and Jackson Smith from the Cobblebank Campus!

Indigenous Arts and Craft Workshop

Students participated in a creative and relaxing Indigenous arts and craft workshop. They coloured and painted a variety of NAIDOC Week-themed artworks, including posters inspired by this year’s theme.

Students also enjoyed hands-on crafts such as bracelet and ribbon making, and many tried their hand at a rainbow spiral snake activity, inspired by the Rainbow Serpent, celebrating one of the most well-known stories from Aboriginal culture.

The workshop was a wonderful way for students to connect with culture through creativity, while taking a moment to slow down, reflect, and celebrate the importance of NAIDOC Week.

Together We Walk

To end the week, students from both campuses participated in the annual walk-a-thon for the Opening the Doors Foundation. The weather was not too promising, however many students still managed to get involved and have a go. This year, participants walked a total of 2246 laps!

The walk-a-thon raised awareness for the Opening the Doors Foundation, a vital organisation that supports the educational needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

It was inspiring to see so many students, staff, and community members join in the walk.

Whether you completed one lap or many, every step taken showed solidarity and respect, helping us celebrate NAIDOC Week in a meaningful and active way.

Canteen special

To help celebrate NAIDOC Week, our canteen served up a delicious limited-edition treat Strawberry Gum Mini Churros with White Chocolate Dipping Sauce. The sweet and uniquely Australian flavour combination was a hit throughout the week, selling quickly and adding an extra element of fun to our NAIDOC Week celebrations.

A big thank you to our canteen team for creating something special that highlighted native flavours.

Imra Banu

Project Officer, Indigenous Program

Health and Physical Education Week

Health and Physical Education (HPE) Week was a fantastic success across both campuses, filled with energy, teamwork, and fun!

A standout highlight was the Bike N' Blend activity, where students had a workout while blending their own smoothies – a perfect mix of health and exercise that proved hugely popular.

Students also participated in a 3-point shootout competition, showcasing their basketball skills. Congratulations to our sharp-shooting winners: Year 11 student Olivia, Year 10 student Buolker, and Year 9 student Ater.

The competitive spirit continued with staff vs student games, including a mixed netball showdown at the Melton Campus. In a closely contested match, the Melton staff reclaimed bragging rights with a narrow two-point victory over the Year 12s.

This year's events proudly reflected the motto for National Health and Physical Education (HPE) Day: Good for Children, Good for Schools, and Good for Communities.

A timely reminder of the positive impact physical activity and health education have on all aspects of school life.

Well done to everyone who participated and helped make the week such a great success!

Mikaela Hurst

Health and PE Domain Leader

High Ability Mentoring Program Presentation

Last Friday, we proudly celebrated the achievements of our High Ability Mentoring Program students, who successfully completed a six-week STEM Mentoring Program.

This exciting program commenced in Week 2 of Term 3 and concluded last week, honing our students’ critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills.

As part of the celebration, 18 students showcased their learning during ten-minute group presentations in front of their parents, peers, staff and our distinguished facilitator, Sid Verma.

Each group confidently demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and innovative ideas they developed throughout the program.

To recognise their hard work and commitment, students were presented with certificates and prizes, marking the successful completion of their mentoring journey.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Sid and his dedicated team of coaches for facilitating such an engaging and inspiring program. 

The use of innovative tools like MURAL allowed our students to collaborate effectively, brainstorm ideas, and develop creative solutions in a dynamic digital environment.

A special thank you also goes to the parents and guardians who attended the event and supported their children throughout the program. Your encouragement has been invaluable in making this initiative a success.

Finally, congratulations to our students on their achievement! We are proud of your dedication and enthusiasm for STEM, and we look forward to seeing how you will continue to apply these skills in the future.

Ranish Chand

High Ability Practice Leader

Premier’s Reading Challenge

The SFCC Library Team is excited to celebrate the students who participated in this year’s Premier Reading Challenge!

Across both campuses, our students have been busy exploring new books, discovering exciting stories, and reaching impressive reading milestones.

Congratulations to all the students who completed the challenge, with a special shout-out to those who finished the full program! Your hard work and dedication to reading are inspiring.

This year, our participants read just over 1400 books, and the following students completed the challenge, reading 15 books: Jaipartap Gurjal, Bhavishya Nallamothu, Mamie Lukullay, Gursumit Brar, Vidit Patel, Zoey Dogillo, Tyler Blair, Agurke Poundak, Audrey Johnson, Evelyn Sandhu and Luisa Quosdorf.

Certificates and prizes will be awarded to all students who completed the challenge.

SFCC Library Team

SACCSS Athletics – Photo Gallery

As featured in last week’s newsletter, students from both campuses competed in the Division 2 SACCSS Athletics Championships on Monday 1 September at Lakeside Stadium in Albert Park.

Below are more photos of our athletes in action on the track, giving it their all.

We thank the staff and students who so proudly represented our College.

Sports Update

Melton Year 9 Premier League – Semi Finals

Team Result SFCC Ladder position
AFL Division 2 Kolbe Catholic College 79 d SFCC 15 SEMI FINAL
Netball Division 2 SFCC 27 d Thomas Carr College 21 SEMI FINAL
Girls Volleyball Division 1 Marymede Catholic College SM 2 d SFCC 1 SEMI FINAL
Boys Basketball Division 2 SFCC COB 56 d SFCC MEL 43 SEMI FINAL
Girls Basketball Division 2 SFCC 48 d Thomas Carr College 29 SEMI FINAL

Cobblebank Year 9 Premier League – Semi Finals

Team Result SFCC Ladder position
Boys Volleyball Division 2 Penola Catholic College 2 d 1 SFCC SEMI FINAL
Girls Volleyball Division 2 SFCC 3 d CRC St Albans 0 SEMI FINAL
Boys Basketball Division 2 SFCC COB 56 d SFCC MEL 43 SEMI FINAL
Boys Football Division 2 MacKillop College 4 d SFCC 0 SEMI FINAL
SFCC Sports Team

2025 VET Dance Showcase

Students and families are invited to watch our 2025 Dance Showcase. Details below and all welcome!

Ballarat V/Line Rail Disruption

V/Line has advised that due to Melton Level Crossing Removal works, there will be disruptions to Ballarat line services until 14 September.

During this time, buses will replace trains between Bacchus Marsh and Caroline Springs with trains running between Bacchus Marsh and Ballarat, Ararat, Maryborough and between Caroline Spring and Southern Cross.

A temporary timetable will be in place during this time.

Staff and students who catch a V/Line train to and from school are advised to check the timetable before they travel and allow extra time for their journey.

School Holiday Roadworks in Melton

Melton Council will temporarily close Centenary Avenue at Coburns Road in the September school holidays, Monday 22 September to Saturday 4 October 2025.

The council is adding a lane on Centenary Avenue, at the western side of the Coburns Road roundabout.

Currently vehicles queue back along Centenary Avenue, as there is only one lane of traffic that can enter the roundabout from the western side.

Construction of the additional lane will increase capacity of the roundabout, reduce congestion and improve safety.

A new footpath will also be constructed at the roundabout to improve pedestrian access and safety.

Impact on roads and traffic

From Monday 22 September to Saturday 4 October 2025, we will temporarily close the western side of Centenary Avenue at the Coburns Road roundabout. One lane will also close on Coburns Road at the southern side of the roundabout.

The closure will ensure that the roundabout is reopened with the new lane in time for the new school term.

There are multiple detours available, including a detour via Roslyn Park Drive or Westmelton Drive.

The council has encouraged everyone to plan ahead and explore other options, such as using High Street to avoid that section of Centenary Avenue.

Heavy vehicles will use High Street as the detour.

Construction impacts

Preliminary works will start on Friday 12 September, with the establishment of the work site. Works will take place Monday to Saturday from 7am until 5pm.

Disruptions will include noise, dust and trucks entering and exiting the site. Noisier works will start after 9am, and a water truck will be on site to reduce dust. Trucks entering and exiting the site will occur under traffic management.

For more information please visit the Council’s website: Centenary Avenue and Coburns Road Roundabout Upgrade Melton City Council.

Community Notices

Spotlight on YOUth


Adult Learners Week


VIC AUK Melton


Useful Links

Keep updated with College events, procedures, resources and information via the links below.

PAM – Parent Portal

Enrolment

Parent Handbook

SFCC Careers Website

Facebook

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Policies

Uniform

Library

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