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School Reception: Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm
Phone: (03) 8099 6000
Email:info@sfcc.vic.edu.au
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Growing up in poverty impacts the hopes and dreams of young people
Kids growing up in poverty too often go to bed or school hungry; they can feel left out if they can’t afford to join a local sports team or go on school camps; they may be living in an overcrowded home where there’s no quiet place to do homework and they worry about their parents.
The latest available data shows 774,000 children or 1 in 6 Australian children aged 0-14 lived in poverty in 2017-18. At 17.7%, the percentage of children living in poverty is higher than the percentage of any other age group – including those aged 65 years and over.
In 2021, Foodbank provided food relief to more than one million Australians per month and reported 1.2 million children were living in food-insecure households.
Their 2018 Hunger Report found that single parents often make personal sacrifices to ensure their children can eat. Three in five single parents experiencing food insecurity skip a meal at least once a week to make sure there is enough food for their family, and one in three go a whole day without eating at least once a week.
"They’re used to hearing, 'I’m OK, I ate while I was cooking'.” Single mother to her children.
“We need to make sure that every child gets the opportunity to be the best that they can be, because that helps, not just that individual, that’s the key to Australia as well. We need to be the smart country.” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
God, thank you for the abundance of life, relationships, health, comfort, and wealth you have provided, and thank you that even in times of need, despair, and brokenness, you are there.
Please, put your arms around children and families in extreme poverty so they feel comfort and hope; meet their needs both physically and spiritually.
And, Lord, guide me so I can be your hands and feet pursuing justice for the poor and upholding the cause of the needy.
Last week the rules regarding COVID isolation changed. A letter outlining these changes was emailed to all parents and guardians last Friday (14 October). Despite the changed mandatory requirements it is strongly recommended that students:
If students become symptomatic at school, they should:
Face masks
Staff and students who wish to wear a face mask will be supported. As a College, we will continue to make face masks available for staff, students and visitors.
The Department of Health recommends masks be worn if you are outside your home and a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
Additionally, the department recommends that masks be worn outside the home for 10 days after you have tested positive for COVID-19.
Parents are asked to continue to report student absence due to COVID-19 via our student absence line.
As a College, we are still required to report all COVID cases to our governing body Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools.
Thank you for your continued efforts in keeping our staff and students as safe and healthy as possible.
In last Sunday’s readings, we hear Paul speak to Timothy, giving the following advice:
“You must keep to what you have been taught and know to be true; remember who your teachers were, and how, ever since you were a child, you have known the holy scriptures” Timothy 3:14
This reminder to remember your teachers made me think of my Form 3 (Year 9) teacher Miss McDermot who made a lasting impression on me.
She gave me a novel to read called Aborigine which awakened my understanding of our first nations peoples. She also inspired me to always push out of my comfort zone and introduced the class to the beautiful world of Shakespeare.
I am sure that many of our graduating students will long remember the impact of the staff who have taught them over the journey.
The reading also made me think of the large number of teaching and non-teaching staff who attended our Year 12 Graduation.
The strong bonds between students, staff, parents and guardians were evident, and the mood of the evening was celebratory and joyous.
As our Year 12 students head off to future careers, we are conscious of the partnership between educators and families to achieve the wonderful celebration we witnessed on Thursday night.
I hope this 2022 cohort and those to follow will remember their teachers and keep to what they know to be true.
| Dates to remember | |
| Wednesday 19 October | Year 7 Immunisations |
| Thursday 20 October & Friday 21 October | VCE Folio Exhibition and Junior Art Exhibition |
| Monday 31 October | Student Work from Home Day |
| Tuesday 1 November | Melbourne Cup public holiday |
| Wednesday 9 November | Year 9 exams (English and Maths) |
| Year 10 and 11 exams begin | |
| Wednesday 16 November | Year 10 and 11 exams conclude |
| Friday 18 November | Student Work from Home Day |
| Monday 21 November | Jump Start program begins |
| Thursday 1 December | Term 4 concludes for Year 10 and 11 students |
| Friday 2 December | Junior Awards Ceremony |
| Term 4 concludes for Year 7-9 students |
The next meeting of the Parents and Friends Association will be held on Wednesday 26 October at the College from 7pm.
The meeting will be held on-site in the conference room and new members are always welcome.
Over the next few weeks, our senior students will finish final assessments and begin exam preparation. Learning how to read exam-style questions and knowing how to answer these are essential for success.
Teachers will take time over the next few weeks to help students develop this skill. All teachers can provide ideas on how to study or improve knowledge retention.
The Jumpstart Program will begin on Monday 21 November for all Year 8 to 12, 2023 students as they begin next year’s curriculum.
Our senior students finish on Thursday 1 December. Junior students (Year 7 to 9,2022) finish on Friday 2 December.
Our Junior Awards Ceremony will be held on during Period 1 on Friday 2 December.
With the return to Homeroom at the start of the school day followed by Period 1, it is important that students arrive on time and ready to begin their day.
Punctuality is essential in all areas of our lives, and I encourage parents and guardians to ensure their child arrives on time.
Homeroom in the morning provides time for a check-in with students to ensure they are ready for the day and know of any upcoming commitments or changes to their timetables.
At the beginning of a lesson, important information about the structure and a recap of the previous class content will occur. When students arrive late, they miss this opportunity to maximise engagement in their learning.
The College farewelled the Class of 2022 last Thursday, the final cohort to graduate from Catholic Regional College Melton.
The day began with the traditional dress-up breakfast celebration – a morning filled with laughter, games and music and a chance for staff and students to celebrate the friendships and shared experiences of the past six years (see photos below).
In the evening, students, staff and families gathered in Sheehan Stadium for the Year 12 Graduation Mass and Ceremony.
It was wonderful to welcome everyone to our first in-person graduation since 2019, and all had a fantastic night.
Awards presented on the night were:
Community Spirit Award: Cate Cimarelli and Darcy Makin
School Spirit Award: Lucy Taylor and Nicholas Borg
Peer Award: Alyssa Nankervis
Abby Rogers Award: Mya Debono
Principal's Award: Heather Petelo Sauvao
We wish all our Year 12 students every success beyond CRC and best of luck to those completing exams in the next few week.
For the first time since 2019, the College community gathered for the annual Leadership Investiture, where we farewelled the Year 12 cohort and acknowledged the achievements of the 2022 Student Leadership Team.
The event was also an opportunity for our 2022 College Captains, Nathan Furtado and Lucy Taylor, to address the cohort for the final time before conducting one of their last official duties – the handover of leadership to the 2023 College Captains and Leadership Team.
It was also wonderful to have family members of our current and future leaders in attendance for the investiture. We hope they are just as proud as we are of them.
Working closely with the 2022 Student Leadership Team this year has been a great privilege. We have witnessed them build on the ideas of previous years whilst also leaving their own legacy behind at CRC Melton. I know that all of them will go on to achieve great things.
I look forward to working with our 2023 Student Leadership Team, which will be led by Jessica Hodge and Ashok Yel.
Our 2023 student leaders have a big year ahead of them as we begin a new era as St Francis Catholic College.
| College Captains | Jessica Hodge and Ashok Yel |
| Faith and Mission Captain | Elesha Gruis |
| Deputy Faith and Mission Captain | Patricia Perante |
| Academic Captain | Alannah King |
| Deputy Academic Captain | David Johan |
| Environment Captain | Georgina Bertsias |
| Deputy Environment Captain | Shanessa Teves |
| Sport Captain | Ryleigh Simpson |
| Deputy Sport Captain | Lincoln Braszell |
| Arts and Culture Captain | Isaac Attard |
| Deputy Arts and Culture Captain | Diamond Phan |
| House Captains (house allocations to be confirmed) | Lauren Paproth, Charlize Sygidus, Leona Guanlao, Ajak Majok, Chloe Walker, Lauren Martin, Chantelle McKay, Lily Muoot |
| Deputy House Captains (house allocations to be confirmed) | Arvin Shinto, Jackson Wright, Mangaar Nhial, Gabriel Bautista, Ebony Raudino, Jessica Ferris, Lucy Closter, Thinh Nguyen |
Join us for the opening night of our annual VCE Folio and Junior Art Exhibition this Thursday night in the Performing Arts Centre from 6.30pm.
If your child has taken an Art or Visual Communication Design class or attended an art club or workshop in the past two years, be sure to join us to see their work on display.
The exhibition makes a welcome return after being presented online in recent years due to COVID restrictions.
Finally, parents, guardians and friends will be able to walk through our exhibition and appreciate the talents of our senior students.
The work has been produced to meet the VCE study design requirements for the subjects of Media Studies, Studio Art and Visual Communication Design.
To make the night even more interesting, we will combine the VCE Folio Exhibition with our annual Junior Art Exhibition, which has also been sidelined for the last two years.
The exhibition can be viewed from 9am to 3pm on Thursday 20 October followed by an opening night celebration from 6.30pm. Awards will be presented at 7pm. Visitors are also welcome to view the exhibition on Friday 21 October between 9am and midday.
Last Friday, a group of Year 9, 10 and 11 students were fortunate to attend the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation (WBCF) Youth Expo and panel event. We visited stalls set up by organisations such as headspace, WorkSafe Victoria, Victoria University and Brimbank Youth Services.
We then listened to a panel of speakers, including the Mayor of Maribyrnong, an Orygen Peer Worker, an Orygen Clinical Specialist and a recent graduate of WBCF’s Bark for Youth Leadership Project.
They discussed the age and cultural barriers to mental health awareness, especially how it is hard to talk about mental health if you come from a migrant family and the need for more mental health services in the western suburbs.
Some of our students shared their thoughts on the day.
During the expo, students enthusiastically explored the stalls, learning from the members of the community organisations about the services and opportunities on offer in the west. During the panel discussion, we listened to a range of perspectives covering youth mental health issues, experiences and tips. When given the opportunity to ask a question to the panel, Thinh Nguyen asked a very reflective and inquisitive question which was praised by the panel members. - Elesha G (10C)
While at the expo, we walked around the stalls to learn how each organisation can assist young people (and collected lots of freebies). Four participants on the panel talked to us about their relationship with mental health and their different experiences. Will (a recent graduate of WBCF’s Bark for Youth Leadership Project) spoke to us about his efforts to spread awareness of mental health issues through his Bulldogs socks (that promote) It’s ok to not be ok. Overall, it was a great day out in the city, teaching us important lessons and most importantly telling us its ok to not be ok. - Lucy C (10R)
Lawrence House Leader
Last Tuesday, a team of Year 7 and 8 students competed in their first SACCSS Junior Futsal Tournament. The team won three out of five games and narrowly missed a place in the finals.
We congratulate the team for their enthusiasm, perseverance, and camaraderie throughout the tournament.
Lisa Bui and Nathan Hunter-Gerber - Futsal coaches
Year 8 Humanities students have explored their entrepreneurial, product design, and marketing skills in their Business Economics Unit.
They created
some wonderful prototypes including a facial cosmetics pack, chocolates,
perfume, an anti-acne face mask and a churro-making machine.
A special
mention to Jarryd (8M) who spent hours over the holidays creating a fantastic
model for his carpentry business.
The fantastic efforts of students and staff who notched up more than 800 laps of the soccer pitch in under an hour during our NAIDOC Week walk-a-thon have been recognised.
Opening the Doors Foundation presented the College with a special certificate to express their appreciation of all our ongoing support of the Foundation and the “tremendous efforts of students in 2022”.
In our Year 12X VCAL class, we have been learning about environmental issues, including food wastage, which significantly contributes to greenhouse gases.
We decided to initiate a theory and practical task on a functioning compost system and encouraged everyone to join in.
The effects of composting scraps have been shown to promote healthier plant growth and combat climate change. Placing your scraps in a compost system prevents them from going to landfill, which also reduces the methane gases being released, which are harmful to our environment.
Building a compost bin or a compost system is easy. All you need is the following:
This semester in our Personal Development Skills class we have been learning about social, cultural, and environmental issues. Our group chose to investigate the issue of homelessness.
In 2016, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) census found that more than 300 Melton residents were homeless.
Earth Village Community runs an opportunity shop in Unitt Street, Melton and the adjoining café that you can enter from the other side of the shop in Wallace Square.
The café runs a program called Bread Land. A member of Earth Village goes to Coles and picks up the bread that wasn’t sold from the day before and food is given out to people in need, including the homeless and senior citizens. Earth Village also provides frozen, hot meals and fresh produce received from the Foodbank.
Earth Village was formerly known as Community Care World Mission (CCWM).
Anyone is welcome to get involved with this community establishment. The two easiest ways to support Earth Village are to:
or
“I have been volunteering since November 2020. I have a sense of pride in being able to give back to my community along with making many new friends and enjoying the work,” Mya said.
Mya and Hollie, Year 12 VCAL students
More information is available below.
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