From the Principal

This Thursday, I head off to the United States to undertake a pilgrimage. 

Dr James Nickoloff will lead the Christian Holiness and Social Action USA Pilgrimage and focus on Dorothy Day, Thomas Merton and Martin Luther King. We will visit New York, Louisville, Atlanta, Savannah, Montgomery (the scene of the Montgomery Bus Boycott) and finish up in New Orleans. 

In preparation, I have been reading Stride Toward Freedom by Martin Luther King Jr. It is fascinating to see the power of peaceful non-cooperation that was employed to stand up against gross discrimination. I look forward to the experience and will share some of the trip on my return in Term 4.

We again thank all of our staff for what continues to be a busy term. Last week, our Alexandria Resource Centre team hosted Book Week activities and our English Domain, the Write a Book in a Day challenge. Students and staff travelled to Mt Buller for the annual snow trip while our Faith and Mission Team spent last Thursday night at the College for our annual Winter Sleepout to raise funds and awareness for people experiencing homelessness in our community. 

As always the generosity of staff who shared their time and talents is very much appreciated. It is these extracurricular activities that students often remember well beyond their years at the College.

From the Deputy Principal - Head of Cobblebank Campus

The highly anticipated move to our new Cobblebank Campus last Wednesday was a milestone for our College.

From humble beginnings 43 years ago as CRC Melton, adding a second campus marks the beginning of yet another major development in the school's history and will be the hallmark of our first year as St Francis Catholic College.

News about the move from Melton Campus to Cobblebank was met with cheers from students and their excitement and joy as they arrived on buses last Wednesday morning made all the hard work by our staff worthwhile.

It was a wonderful first day that began with a whole-campus photo and House Assembly. Students then moved into their Mentor Groups, took a tour of the school, moved into their lockers and enjoyed a pizza and chip lunch. During the big break, students explored the outdoor areas, making the most of the basketball courts and soccer field.

Each student also added their thumbprint in their house colour and their initials to a banner to mark their first day at Cobblebank. The collage will be a lasting reminder of our first Year 7 cohort.

I am so proud of all our students and staff for the way in which they have settled in and adapted to the new campus and are wasting no time building campus spirit.

We celebrated the induction of our FIRE Carriers last Thursday and tomorrow our two Write a Book in Day teams will spend 12 hours crafting their mini-novels. On Friday morning all our fathers and fatherly figures are invited to join us for a special liturgy and breakfast (click here to RSVP) and next week we will celebrate our first St Francis Feast Day which promises to be fun for all.

I would like to thank all families for their support throughout this year and look forward to welcoming you on-site for the many events and celebrations during your child's years at St Francis Catholic College.

Photo Gallery - Day 1 at Cobblebank Campus

Photo Gallery - Students at work in their new classrooms

In the news!

Don't miss this week's edition of the Melton Moorabool Star Weekly which features photos of our opening day on Page 12.

Looking Ahead - Melton Campus Students

Looking Ahead - Cobblebank Campus Students

Parents and Friends Meeting

The next Parents and Friends Association meeting will be held tomorrow, Wednesday 30 August, online via Teams from 7pm. New members are always welcome.

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

Father's Day Liturgy and Breakfast - Melton Campus

The College will host a special Father’s Day liturgy and breakfast this Thursday morning (31 August) from 8am in the Performing Arts Centre to celebrate and recognise all the fatherly figures in our students’ lives. An invitation is attached.

Students and their fathers, grandfathers, uncles, brothers or a significant adult in their lives are invited to join us for a 15-minute liturgy, followed by breakfast for those who would like to stay. Siblings are welcome to attend, as is anyone who would like to come along and say a prayer for fathers past and present.

For catering purposes, please click here to register your attendance.

We look forward to seeing you on Thursday.

Father's Day Liturgy and Breakfast - Cobblebank Campus

The College will host a special Father’s Day liturgy and breakfast this Friday morning (1 September) from 8am at our Cobblebank Campus to celebrate and recognise all the fatherly figures in our students’ lives. An invitation is attached.

Students and their fathers, grandfathers, uncles, brothers or a significant adult in their lives are invited to join us for a 15-minute liturgy, followed by breakfast for those who would like to stay.

The Father's Day service will be held in the Yellow building. Pedestrian access to Cobblebank Campus will be from the footpath located at the corner of Adelong Boulevard and (the future) Bridge Road through the pedestrian gate.

For catering purposes, please click here to register your attendance.

We look forward to seeing you on Friday.

From the Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching

Last week I attended the annual EduTech Conference at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, which brought together a range of educational technology suppliers and plenary sessions on technology in the learning environment.

Technology is a part of everything we do. A focus was the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how it will affect life, learning and teaching over the next few years.

In Victoria, the Department of Education, Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) and independent schools are involved in discussions about the use of AI, its impact and future use for learning. These important conversations will help schools navigate this complex area.

Other areas covered by the conference included Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM)/ Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths (STEAM), Project Based Learning (PBL) and Virtual and Augmented Immersive Realities (VIR/AR).

Having the opportunity to solve real-world problems and learn to collaborate are essential skills for the future workplace. Our Year 9 students are currently completing PBL units in Science, English and Humanities. These topics focus on building the skills students will require beyond secondary school.

Education in the age of AI will be complex. Reality is defined as something that does not go away, even when you stop believing in it. Presenters spoke about change, how it can be gradual and then immediate, which is undoubtedly what is happening in the AI space.

Some areas of mastery we will need to develop in our students are critical thinking, self-reflection and a shared understanding of what success looks like. It is important to focus on the positives of AI as we navigate this complex field. It may provide more opportunities for curriculum delivery, but teaching is more than this. Relationships are essential in education, and there is a chance to recapture humanity.

Parent Student Teacher Interviews

On Tuesday 12 September and Thursday 14 September, the College will hold its Parent, Student Teacher Interviews (PSTIs) online via Microsoft Teams.

Interviews can be booked through the parent portal (PAM) from next Monday 4 September.

Instructions on how to make a booking with your child’s teachers are available below. You will also find information about access to the interview booking link.

Interviews for Melton Campus families can be booked from 4.30pm to 7pm on both days.

Interviews for Cobblebank Campus families can be booked from 4pm to 6.30pm on both days.

How to book your online Parent Student Teacher Interviews on PAM

Tokens for Feast Day Lunch - Melton Campus

On Thursday 7 September the College will host its first St Francis Feast Day. This day is an opportunity for staff and students to unite as a school community and have fun!

The day will begin with a whole school Mass, followed by Mentor Group morning tea. Students will then participate in various games and activities before we end the day with our whole campus talent show.

Students will be able to purchase food while they are participating in the activities session on the day.

They will pay for food using pre-purchased tokens. These tokens will be on sale outside the library during lunchtimes each day until Wednesday 6 September.

1 token = $1

Students will receive their tokens on Feast Day during their Mentor Group morning tea.

Food available on the day will include:

Popcorn - $1 per bag (1 token)

Fairy Floss - $1 per stick (1 token)

Jelly Cups - $1 per cup (1 token)

Cookie Decorating - $2 per cookie (2 tokens)

Soft Drinks - $2 per can (2 tokens)

Fruit Cup - $1 per cup (1 token)

Lolly bags - $1 per bag (1 token)

Hashbrown - $1 per item (1 token)

BBQ - $2 per sausage (beef or vegetarian) (2 tokens)

Donuts - $1 per item (1 token)

Pizza - $ 1 per slice (1 token)

Hot chips - $1 per cup (1 token)

Money raised from the sale of tokens will be distributed to various charities aligning with each House patron's charism.

If your child does not wish to buy food, they can bring their lunch from home. The canteen will not be open on the day.

Win a $100 Academy Uniform Shop Voucher

Complete a Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools annual survey and you could be in the draw to win one of two $100 Academy Uniforms vouchers.

Email our Director of Community Relations Amy Rowley at arowley@sfcc.vic.edu.au and you will be sent a link and login details to complete the survey.

At the end of the survey, take a screenshot of the final page as confirmation of completion, email it back to Amy, and you will go into the draw to win.

The survey takes 10 minutes to complete.

New uniform shop in Melton

Good news! Academy Uniforms will soon open a new store in Melton where it will stock the St Francis Catholic College uniform. See details below.

Write a Book in a Day - Melton Campus

The Alexandria Resource Centre was buzzing last Wednesday as Melton Campus students participated in our major Book Week activity, the annual Write a Book in a Day competition. 

During an arduous 12 hours, students worked furiously to meet the deadline to ensure their books were ready to be published online and eligible for judging in the national competition. The finished books, which you can read below, will be available in a digital library to help entertain children in hospitals around Australia.

Melton Campus Team 1 2023 - Behind the Mask

Melton Campus Team 2 2023 - What If

Melton Campus Team 3 2023 - Billy Roo

Melton Campus Team 4 2023 - Adventures of a Rad Lad

Here’s how Year 10 student Alanis summed up the day:

“WABIAD was an incredible experience to be a part of to develop collaboration and literacy skills and raise funds for a fantastic cause.

"We all formed teams of up to ten writers and illustrators, and we started by receiving our team's list of parameters and random words to include. We spent the morning planning and discussing the plot of our story, and then the fun started - the writing!

"All teams spent hours meticulously working on their stories and drawings. Towards the end of the day, we were treated to a pizza dinner and hot chocolates (shout out to Mr Woolmer!) as we edited and formatted our pieces.

"My team and I had so much fun creating a really random story that we hope kids across the country will enjoy during the hardest time in their lives. Our book Adventures of a Rad Lad is about a teenager who goes on a mysterious journey across Highpoint Shopping Centre. During his adventure, he receives poetic prophecies from an alluring fortune-teller, a swaggy hip-hop dancer and a disgraced pet shop owner that eventually leads him to find an unwanted truth from the person he least expects!”

A huge congratulations to all the students who competed on the day, not just for achieving their goal to write a book in a day, but also for their phenomenal fundraising efforts.

So far, St Francis Catholic College teams have raised an incredible $3464 for The Kids Cancer Project, funds that will go toward childhood cancer research to find better treatments and ultimately a cure.

We look forward to seeing our Cobblebank students’ work next week and wish them well for their event tomorrow!

You can still donate to all our teams here:

Melton Campus Teams

Support SFCC Melton 1

Bernice Acabel, Paige Cauchi, Gabrielle Pilapil, Jessica Sultana, Angelynne Gonzaga, Isabella Sestoso, Lorebeth Paler and Shreeya Prasad

Support SFCC Melton 2

Renee Furtado, Olivia Cunningham, Abuk Ngong, Hayden Hausfeld, Alisha Day, Raphael Guillaumier, Cecila Bui, Marla Moakkad

Support SFCC Melton 3

Edie Todd, Lily Maguire, Maddy Whelan, Abbey Honig, Erin Johnstone, Alannah Trovato, Bella Waters, Sienna Brown, Grace Cordell

Support SFCC Melton 4

Olivia Emin, Karina Delgadillo, Alanis Furtado, Alice Summers, Monica Teichelman, Addison McKellar, Tra My Nguyen, Jackamos Lillyst

Cobblebank Campus Teams

Support SFCC Cobblebank 1

Reejh Bhullar, Taranveer Dhaliwal, Harshpreet Gill, Ayush Sehgal, Kritika Sharma

Support SFCC Cobblebank 2

Senadee Dharmaratne, Ellie Merrington, Demitri Ong, Gurnoor Rai, Kanwar Sidhu, Liam Teh, Achrai Virk

2023 Winter Sleepout

Last Thursday, SFCC held its annual Winter Sleepout, with 20 students from years 8 to 11 attending, along with seven staff. 

The evening was very successful, informative, and a memorable experience for all who attended. 

Teacher Margaret Rowe-Watts and her team of VCAL students and food staff catered on the night. The meal was a replica of the food offered by soup vans, including soup, sandwiches, and a small sweet treat. This warmed us up for the cold evening ahead.

One of the main aims of the sleepout is to learn more about homelessness and the services available in the Melton community, and we were fortunate to have some excellent presenters join us on the night.

A friend of the College, Maureen Mohr from St Vincent de Paul spoke about the new Melton Soup Van service and the Vinnies shop, which relies on sales to fund services for those in need.

Martin Farrugia and Cheryl Nash spoke about the work that Rotary clubs do for those less fortunate and doing it tough, along with the Interact Programs that volunteers can get involved in. 

State Member for Melton Steve McGhie MP spoke about housing issues in Melbourne's western region and how these impact families and people experiencing homelessness. Steve also encouraged students to continue their advocacy work by joining his Youth Advisory Group to inform, suggest, and advise him on the challenges that young people in the community face.

Through their presentations, our guests had several recurring messages: how important volunteers are, how important it is to give back to our community, and how the issue of homelessness can affect anyone at any time. This resonates in St Mary MacKillop's words, “Never see a need without doing something about it". 

During the evening, students and staff also had the enormous task of sorting through donations families had provided for our August Homelessness Campaign. 

Our presenters were impressed by the students participating in the sleepout, the amazing contributions we had collected as a College, and how many services would benefit from our gifts.

Thank you to all in our Melton and Cobblebank communities for digging deep and giving so generously. It is genuinely humbling, and sincere thanks to all those who supported yet another successful sleepout.

Student reflections

"This is my second year participating in the sleepout, and it really gives an insight into the problems many people face." Alannah, Year 9

"Wow! What a truly humbling experience. It was certainly one that I will never forget. You often heard it said, "Never judge another until you have walked in their shoes". Last Thursday night, we had the opportunity to walk in the shoes of a homeless person. We started the evening with housekeeping, and one of the rules was that we carry all our stuff, sleeping bags, pillows, clothes, etc. everywhere we went, as a homeless person would do. That was hard, and on one occasion, I forgot my stuff and someone else carried it for me.

"As the evening progressed, we heard from the local member of parliament and speakers from the Rotary Club and Vinnies in Melton. We heard about how we are helping homelessness in Melton and Victoria, and what we could do to help further. The statistics are alarming and sad. Dinner was simple, like the Vinnies Soup Van, we had a choice of pumpkin or minestrone soup.

"We played some games highlighting the huge gap between the haves and the have-nots and then built shelters out of cardboard, which we slept under. We slept on the floor in B Block before waking at 6am, having a basic breakfast and going home.

Would I do it again? Absolutely, in a heartbeat. We see many homeless people around Melton, and we fear and stay clear of them when, in most cases, circumstances beyond their control have made them homeless. It could be family violence, a lost job or a misunderstanding that leads someone down this path of displacement and homelessness.

Ask how you can help and become active in your community to support others who do not have what you have." Isabella. Year 10

"This was my fourth Winter Sleepout and another incredibly rewarding experience. My highlight of the night was gaining a greater understanding of homelessness and connecting with the other students who attended." Elesha, Faith and Mission Captain

NAIDOC Week - Melton Campus

Another fantastic NAIDOC Week was celebrated at the College last week. Events included a walkathon, staff morning tea, jewellery making, a lunchtime cooking class and our Great Book Swap that raised funds for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.

Below are what students had to say about NAIDOC Week 2023:

"SFCC's celebration of NAIDOC Week was an amazing opportunity for us to learn about First Nations cultures and histories.

"The walkathon for Opening the Doors Foundation raised both funds and awareness to support educational opportunities for Aboriginal children.

"At the jewellery-making session, we were very lucky that local Elders, Auntie Charmaine, Auntie Rose and Emma could come and teach us their craft, using native and natural materials to make a range of different accessories

"NAIDOC Week reminds us to share our knowledge and learnings and promote reconciliation within and beyond the school community. - Alanis, Year 10

"NAIDOC Week was a lot of fun. I went to the jewellery-making class where we made Aboriginal jewellery with emu feathers and beads. I had an amazing time and learned a lot. I think NAIDOC week is something every school should take part in. - Erin, Year 9

House points tally

Congratulations to Dominic House who earned the most points during NAIDOC Week!

Dominic 349 points; Glowrey 309 points; Bakhita 272 points; Bernard 216 points; Lawrence 195 points; Catherine 192 points; Anthony 120 points; MacKillop 126 points

FIRE Carrier Induction - Cobblebank Campus

Last Thursday, seven Cobblebank Campus students were inducted as FIRE Carriers during NAIDOC Week celebrations.

FIRE stands for Friends Igniting Reconcilication through Education and these students are tasked with giving voice to the journey of Reconciliation at the College.

As FIRE Carriers they pledged to lay strong foundations in our school community to build respect, understanding and knowledge of our shared story that started more than 60,000 years ago and continues today. We know they will continue to build on the work of the FIRE Carriers who have come before them.

Throughout the ceremony, the students showed their commitment to Reconciliation and passion for learning about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures. 

It was a fantastic opportunity for our students to be inducted in front of staff and students at our brand new campus and inspire their peers. 

I am look forward to collaborating with these great leaders.

A word from newly inducted Year 7 FIRE Carrier Gurnoor:

"I am really excited to be able to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, especially now that I am FIRE Carrier and can have a role in organising activities throughout my time at the College. It was fun being able to speak in front of my cohort and promote Indigenous culture."

Book Week

Book Week 2023 was a great success, with many exciting events taking place. 

Monday began with groups of students participating in a library escape room activity, testing their minds with quizzes and riddles.

Tuesday saw creativity flowing with blackout poetry, which proved to be more difficult than it first appeared. 

Our bookmark competition was won by Year 12 student Illyana. 

Our week culminated with The Great Book Swap - a joint Book Week and NAIDOC Week event. Students relished the chance to purchase donated books for just a gold coin and all proceeds from the sales will go to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. This is an activity the library participates in regularly so anytime you have books that need a home, think of us!

On behalf of the library team we thank all of our generous donators, volunteer staff and students for making Book Week 2023 a page-turning success.

Year 10 Media Zine Fair

Our Year 10 Media class held a Zine Fair last week to showcase their work to staff and students.

Zines are mini magazines and those exhibited by Year 10 students were completely handmade on a topic of their choice. We had zines on everything from travel to food from around the world, movies, some that showcased the cultural backgrounds of our class, and one on rock band Metallica.

The students worked incredibly hard to produce their zines and the response from staff and students who visited was overwhelmingly positive.

Well done Year 10 Media!

Rubik's Cube Competition

Year 9 Food Studies

Year 9 food classes have been busy learning about healthier breakfast alternatives. Here are some of the breakfasts students have made.

Encouraging Students to Extend

Exciting news is happening in Learning and Teaching at SFCC with staff encouraging students to go further and providing opportunities for them to extend their skills. 

Health and PE Domain Leader Mikaela Hurst and her team have evaluated what and how they have been teaching throughout their Year 7 gymnastics unit. 

Through coaching, extension activities have been included to improve students who are advanced in gymnastics. 

For example students can attempt a backbend/walkover. Before attempting the exercise they need to watch an instructional video and can use the rectangle hard mat in the learning process before attempting a full backbend.,

The new extension activities are provided to all classes to ensure consistency in teaching and learning. Students also receive feedback from teachers on the growth of their skills.

Sports Update

Year 9 Premier League - Melton Campus Round 7

Six Year 9 Premier League teams have sealed a finals berth with both boys' and girls' volleyball and basketball teams, netball and boys' soccer qualifying with a top-four finish.

Soccer and boys' volleyball will play St Monica's next Wednesday while our boys' basketball and girls' volleyball teams will take on Salesian College. The netball team will face off with MacKillop College and girls' basketball will challenge Penola who they topped by five points last week.

We would like to congratulate all our teams and coaches on an incredible season. The raw talent was evident in so many of our competitors and the sportsmanship was outstanding.

The Year 9 Premier League semi-finals will be held tomorrow, Wednesday 30 August, followed by the grand final on Wednesday 6 September for those teams who make it through.

Senior SACCSS Sports Melton Campus Round 3

International Soccer Trial for Year 12 Student

Year 12 student Justin has been selected to participate in trials for the Maltese Under 19 team that will compete at the 2023 European Championships.

Having shined for Green Gully and Western United in the U18 and Reserves competitions, Justin will try and secure a place during a selection process that starts today and ends on 13 September. If successful, he will return to finish his studies and sit his exams, before joining the Maltese team in the finals of the Under 19's championship.

Justin said he had his mind firmly set on playing soccer at an elite level.

"The experience that I will gain from this trip to Malta will be an eye-opener as I will be exposed to European football where every Australian dreams to be and will gain more knowledge about the sport that I can use when I come back to Australia," Justin said.

"My dream team to play for is Manchester United, who are based in England and play in the Premier League. I would like to thank all the teachers for the support they have given me and the work they have done to make this process a lot easier for me."

Best of luck Justin!

Use Simon Everywhere to Report an Absence

One of the quickest and easiest ways to let the College know your child will be absent is to use the Simon Everywhere app.

Simon Everywhere can be downloaded to your mobile phone from the Apple Store or the Google Play store.

Click here to watch a short video that shows you how to notify us of an absence via the app and how to accept permission requests.

We recently emailed all families with information on how to download and login to Simon Everywhere. To view the step-by-step guide click here or use the instructions below.

Please email itsupport@sfcc.vic.edu.au if you require further information or assistance.

Community Notices

City of Melton Learning Festival

The City of Melton Learning Festival will be held from 2 to 9 September. Below are some of the activities on offer.

Learning Festival Open Day

Under the Dome

Study Hacks

Mandala Art

Listen and Fidget

DIY Jewellery Workshop

Cultural Yarn

Learning Festival Finale

On Track Holiday Program

Melbourne Victory Holiday Program

Foster carers needed

Soup Van volunteers wanted

Useful Links

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

PAM – Parent Portal

Enrolment

Parent Handbook

Cobblebank Campus

Facebook

Instagram

Policies

Uniform

Library