Weekly Reflection

As we live out our lives on our journey of faith, it is often the intangible aspects of our Catholic tradition that take precedence in our hearts and minds. The Word of God, the Sacraments, and the teachings of the Church are the foundational elements that guide us in our spiritual walk. However, there is another element of our faith that is often undervalued but holds profound significance – the concept of beauty.

In our Catholic tradition, beauty plays a remarkable role, one that extends far beyond mere aesthetics. Beauty is a reflection of the divine, a way in which we glimpse the majesty and splendour of God's creation.

Our churches are adorned with magnificent artwork, stunning stained-glass windows, and ornate altars, all of which testify to the importance of beauty within our faith. It is through these visual and artistic expressions that we are reminded of the transcendent and divine nature of our Creator.

The recent donation of five sets of Chalice Veils and burse sets of exquisite quality by Fr Alex and St Anthony's Parish is a powerful reminder of the role of beauty in our Catholic faith. These beautifully crafted items are not mere ornaments; they are vessels that hold the body and blood of Christ during the Eucharist, our most sacred and profound act of worship. Through their beauty, they draw us closer to the divine.

We are immensely grateful for the generosity of Fr Alex and the entire St Anthony's community. Their donation enriches our liturgical celebrations and reaffirms the importance of beauty in our faith journey. Their act of kindness reminds us that beauty in the Catholic Church is not a luxury but a means to elevate our spiritual experience.

A special thanks to Andrew Sciberras for his exceptional work as Liturgy Coordinator in enriching the reverence and content of our College masses, particularly at our recent Graduation Mass. His devotion and passion have played a significant role in deepening our spiritual connection during these important events.

In addition, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to Amy Bandeira and Kayla Stokes for their outstanding contributions to our College Ensemble. Their musical talents have graced our masses, adding the gift of music and further enriching our liturgies. The harmonious melodies and soulful notes they bring to our celebrations touch our hearts and lift our spirits.

As the Acting Director of Faith and Mission at the College, I am inspired by the generosity and dedication of individuals like Andrew, Amy, and Kayla, who labour to enhance the beauty and spirituality of our worship.

May we continue to appreciate and cultivate the beauty within our faith as we strive to bring the light of Christ to the world. Together, as a community, we embrace the profound impact of beauty on our spiritual journey and continue to cherish the divine splendour surrounding us.

Jonathan Antony

Acting Director of Faith and Mission

From the Principal

A school review occurs every four years as part of the MACS School Improvement Framework cycle and has two dimensions – improvement and compliance.

The improvement dimension supports schools to self‐assess and reflect on their performance and growth in all spheres over the past four years of the School Improvement cycle.

Post‐review, schools work closely with their MACS Regional Learning Services team to set their four-year improvement agenda by developing and implementing a School Improvement Plan and Annual Action Plan.

Our last review as Catholic Regional College occurred in 2019 and the recommendations formed the basis of the previous Strategic Plan. This week, a group of external reviewers has once again spent time reviewing College policies and procedures to ensure we are compliant across various areas.

Of note in the Compliance sphere are the 11 new Child Safety Standards. Reviewers ask for specific evidence that the College can demonstrate implementation of the standards. I am pleased to advise the College is compliant in all areas of child safety.

The reviewers’ report also provides three key suggestions for continual growth in student learning outcomes. The draft report comments on the considerable work already being undertaken in student wellbeing. Once we receive the final report, the Leadership Team, together with staff will formulate the Strategic Plan for 2025-2028.

Marlene Jorgensen

Principal

Looking Ahead - Cobblebank Campus Students

Dates to remember
Monday 6 November	Student Study at Home Day
Tuesday 7 November	Melbourne Cup Public Holiday
Friday 17 November	Student Study at Home Day
Monday 20 November	Jump Start Program begins
Thursday 30 November	Junior Awards Ceremony
Friday 1 December	Term 4 concludes

2024 School Fee Notice

Please find below the College Scholle Fee Notice for 2024.

St Francis Catholic College School Fees 2024

From the Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching

Year 12 students

This week our VCE Unit 3/4 students are preparing and revising for their VCAA exams that start with English on Tuesday 24 October and continue until Wednesday 15 November. We wish all students well as they prepare for these exams. Our VCE Coordinator, Carissa Lock, Year 12 Coordinator, Kosta Masouras and subject teachers are able to offer further support during this time.

It has been a challenging four years for our 2023 cohort with the impact of COVID and distance learning during 2020 and 2021. Being back on site in 2022 and 2023 has provided the opportunity to be face-to-face with teachers and their peers.

Year 12 students who have chosen a non-scored pathway are not required on-site provided all assessments and outcomes are complete.

Exams and Timed Assessment Tasks – Years 7-11

Over the next few weeks our Year 10 and 11 Unit 1/2 students will finish final assessments and begin preparing for exams.

Year 9 students will prepare for end-of-year exams in English and Mathematics.

Learning to read exam-style questions and knowing how to answer these is essential for success. Teachers will spend time over the next few weeks helping students develop this skill. They can provide ideas on how to study or improve retention of knowledge and students should feel confident seeking their advice.

In Years 7 and 8, teachers are preparing students for their Timed Assessment Tasks.

Jump Start 2024

The Jump Start program will begin on Monday 20 November for all current Year 7-11 students as they begin next year’s curriculum.

Our senior students finish on Thursday 30 November. The junior students, Years 7 to 9, finish on Friday 1 December.

This year, a Junior Awards Ceremony will be held for Cobblebank Campus students on Thursday 30 November and for Melton Campus students on Friday 1 December. More information will be provided closer to the date.

Arriving at school on time

Morning mentor time provides time for a check-in with students to ensure they are ready for the day and are aware of upcoming commitments or changes to their timetables. It’s also a time for students to get to know each other and take part in House activities.

Mentor group time is followed by Period 1 and every Thursday fortnight by the Pastoral Care Program.

It is important that students arrive on time and ready to begin their day. When they are late, they miss this opportunity to maximise engagement in their learning. Punctuality is essential in all areas of our lives, and I encourage parents and guardians to make sure their children arrive on time.

New Lumination Lab – Melton Campus

The new Lumination Lab will bring exciting new learning opportunities for students and comes with an extensive range of lessons and topics across all subject areas.

The College has appointed a number of staff as Lumination Lab Champions who have already begun learning about the new virtual reality classroom and will support staff to incorporate it into lessons for various topics in 2024.

Literacy Project

The College is participating in its second year of the Secondary Disciplinary Literacy Project through MACS. This year the focus has been on Domain-specific vocabulary and writing within Domain areas.

Joanne Holmes

Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching

Annual Art Exhibition – Melton Campus

Families are invited to the 2023 St Francis Catholic College Art Exhibition this Thursday 19 October from 6pm to 7.30pm at the Melton Campus Performing Arts Centre.

The exhibition is the culmination of months of hard work, passion, and dedication by our Melton Campus students. It celebrates artistic expression and innovation while showcasing student creativity and talent.

The artwork on display will encompass a wide range of mediums, styles, and themes, offering a diverse and engaging experience that demonstrates work completed in Art, Visual Communication Design, Media and Technology subjects.

The opening night will include refreshments provided by our Hospitality students, a welcome by Principal Marlene Jorgensen at 7pm and a presentation of awards.

Hollie Dawson

Teacher

Farewell Year 12s

There was plenty of laughter, celebration and a tear or two as we farewelled our Year 12 Class of 2023 last Thursday.

Their final day began with breakfast cooked up by staff followed by a parade through the campus. Dressed as dinosaurs, movie characters and a host of other creative costumes, students posed for photos, played games, reminisced, and watched a video presentation created by their teachers.

It was a fantastic way to say goodbye and we congratulate students for making it such a memorable morning.

The Year 12 cohort and their families returned to Sheehan Stadium in the evening for their final Mass and Graduation Ceremony. While some will sit final exams in the coming weeks, others will begin the next stage of their life beyond SFCC. We wish every student the best of luck and many blessings in the years ahead.

Western Bulldogs 2023 Leader of the Pack Program

The College was fortunate once again to be involved in the Western Bulldogs Leader of the Pack Program this year.

More than 20 of our Year 10 students signed up to participate in the 12 lunchtime workshops, which ran from the start of Term 3 and concluded last week.

The program’s focus was to create an environment that was both welcoming and safe for students, that promoted personal development, goal setting and decision-making.

We had presenters from Headspace, the Victorian Women’s Trust, and others, cover topics such as mental health, gender equity, education pathways and leadership skills.

The workshops reinforced a range of lifelong skills to help our students develop and become the leaders of tomorrow.

I congratulate and commend all the students who committed to this program and actively participated.

"I learned a lot about myself and what my values are. I really enjoyed how passionate the presenters of the program were. I also had a lot of fun with my friends during the program. I highly recommend the program to any student that gets the chance to join." Kobi. Year 10

Carolyn Howard

Learning Support Officer

Jiu-Jitsu Champion eyes World Title

Year 8 student Renzo (Dominic 6) will travel to Abu Dhabi next month in an attempt to add a world jiu-jitsu title to his impressive medal tally.

Renzo has won an incredible five state titles this year and also took out his fourth consecutive national title in his category (Yellow belt division, 13-year-old category).

Notching up wins in South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT, Renzo is well prepared for his upcoming challenge, and we wish him all the very best!