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School Reception: Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm
Phone: (03) 8099 6000
Email:info@sfcc.vic.edu.au
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As we approach World Teachers Day on 27 October, a quote by St John Chrysostom resonates with me:
"What greater work is there than training the mind and forming the habits of the young?"
These words beautifully encapsulate the essence of our collective mission as educators, and it's a timely reminder of the profound impact that teachers, both within and beyond our college, have on the lives of our students.
For all our parents and students, you play an integral role in our community, and your support is what makes St Francis Catholic College truly special. We are excited to share this moment with you and offer a glimpse into the wonderful work that happens within our walls.
St John Chrysostom, the patron saint of education, stands as a symbol of our shared mission. He too understood the importance of shaping young minds and nurturing virtuous habits. As we celebrate World Teachers Day, we can draw inspiration from his dedication to education and service.
The process of nurturing young minds and fostering positive habits goes far beyond academics. It's about igniting a passion for learning, encouraging critical thinking, and empowering students with the knowledge they need to thrive in a complex world. Our teachers, including myself, strive to instil these qualities in our students each day, helping them reach their full potential.
Equally significant is the role we play in shaping the character of our students. As mentors and role models, we guide our students toward becoming responsible and compassionate individuals. We emphasise values that extend well beyond the classroom, teaching our students the importance of endeavour, community, and empathy. We recognize that our influence reaches far beyond textbooks and exams.
This World Teachers Day, we invite you, our parents, and students, to celebrate with us. It's an opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate the remarkable efforts of our teachers. Your support, encouragement, and collaboration with us are vital to the success of our college. Together, we create an environment that empowers our students to grow academically and as individuals.
On this special day, let us celebrate our entire teaching community at St Francis Catholic College, whose combined efforts empower our students and shape their futures. The impact we have as a collective is immeasurable, and we are privileged to work alongside such passionate and committed individuals.
Congratulations to all students who showcased their talents last Thursday night at the Melton Campus Art Exhibition.
It was an opportunity to see first-hand the work created by our Art, Technology, Visual Communication Design and Media students from years 7 to 12. The standard was incredible, and I feel certain we will see many of these students pursue a career in the arts. A number of awards were also presented on the night. For a full list of recipients, click here.
Well done to our Hospitality students, who provided an impressive food and beverage service for guests.
I would like to thank all of our staff who worked so hard throughout the year to inspire and encourage our students. The passion for the arts is contagious and was evident in the final pieces produced by students.
In June this year, Pope Francis had an audience with many renowned artists in the Sistine Chapel.
During his audience, he told the artists that “true beauty inspires the desire for God and renders Glory to Him”.
“With your talents, you bring to light something exceptional; you enrich the world with something new,” Pope Francis said.
"The creativity of the artist can thus be said to share in God’s own passion for creation. You are sharers in God’s dream!"
We encourage our students to continue to refine and improve their skills and to use the talents and gifts given to them. Our Art Exhibition again demonstrates the value of a wholistic education provided in a Catholic school.
See more from last week's exhibition here.
| 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 (all current Year 7-11 students) |
| Thursday 30 November | Term 4 concludes for all current Year 10 and 11 students |
| Friday 1 December | Junior Awards Ceremony (all current Year 7-9 students) |
| Term 4 concludes for all current Year 7-9 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 |
Term 4 is always dynamic and engaging. As we approach the middle of our final term for 2023, it is pleasing to see students' dedication as they begin to prepare for exams and the culmination of assessment tasks after a year of hard work.
Creating child-safe environments and preventing abuse
We all have a role to play in creating safe environments for children and young people and preventing abuse.
This week I'd like to draw your attention to a Federal Government campaign launched last weekend to help parents and guardians talk to their children and young people about strategies they can use if they find themselves in an uncomfortable situation and how to set boundaries for their personal safety. You can watch the One Talk at a Time advertisements here
Conversations have the power to prevent child sexual abuse. You don't have to be an expert and the new resources are designed to help adults have preventative conversations about child sexual abuse with children and young people, other adults and those who work with children.
These conversations can be difficult, so the National Office for Child Safety toolkit aims to develop your understanding of what child sexual abuse is, offers advice on looking after your wellbeing and preparing for a conversation, provides tips on what to say, and encourages awareness and understanding of what respectful relationships are like.
To access the toolkit click here.
If you would like support initiating a conversation with your child, please contact the College.
If you or someone you know, has been impacted by or is concerned about a child’s safety, below are services and resources that can help.
National Office for Child Safety
1800RESPECT 1800 737 732
Bravehearts 1800 272 831
Stop It Now! 1800 011 800
Kids Helpline 1800 551 800
Lifeline 13 11 14
Headspace 1800 650 890
Families, students and staff enjoyed another wonderful evening of art and food at our 2023 Melton Campus Art Exhibition last Thursday.
Not only did the exhibition showcase the work of Art, Technology, Visual Communication Design and Media students from years 7 to 12, but also recognised those who had shown a dedication to their craft and produced exceptional pieces throughout the year.
| The 2023 award recipients are: | |
| Principal's Award (Art) | Yar Wel |
| Principal's Award (Technology) | Henry Vanderberg |
| Art Making and Exhibiting Units 3&4 | Sinead Bradford, Yar Wel |
| Art Making and Exhibiting Units 1&2 | Shayne Manalili |
| Visual Communication and Design Units 3&4 | Illyana Baraci |
| Visual Communication and Design: 1&2 | Diamond Phan |
| Product Design Technology Units 3&4 | Caitlin Mai |
| Media Units 3&4 | Jasmine Parr |
If you were lucky enough to have visited the Art Exhibition last Thursday you would have also seen how busy our Year 10 Hospitality students had been over the last two weeks.
The students worked in small teams to provide guests with a huge selection of delectable delights to enjoy both before and after viewing the exhibition.
It was a massive undertaking for the Hospitality students (who are typically used to eating their own cooking), learning to put others before themselves and developing the cooking, storage and presentation techniques required for event catering.
The menu on the night included finger foods such as beef sliders, sausage rolls, decorated chocolate brownies, freshly made scones with raspberry jam and cream, mocha balls, chocolate truffles and a variety of flavoured waters, all prepared and served by the two groups Hospitality students. Some foods were cooked in advance and decorated on the day, while others were cooked fresh on the day.
A special thank you to the eight students who volunteered to stay behind on the night to continue to decorate and plate up food items before the event opened then donned their formal hospitality attire and served guests. I am exceptionally proud of the way they moved as a team among the crowd in such a polite, well-presented, and extremely hard-working manner.
None of this would have been possible without the organisational prowess of our Technology Domain Leader Jessica Attard, the assistance of teaching staff Margaret Rowe-Watts, Jo Tissera, Gary White and Trish Griffin throughout the day, and the constant and continued support behind the scenes, of Joanne Boyd, Kylie Nicholl and Kristina Hefter. A huge thank you to everyone involved!
Jen White, Hospitality teacher
Last month, 95 of our Italian students participated in the CIS Junior Italian Poetry Competition, which was open to Year 7 and 8 students across Victoria.
We congratulate all students who took part and are pleased to announce that St Francis Catholic College has achieved fantastic results in this year's competition, with 22 students receiving a Certificate of Distinction.
Special mention goes to Mollie Downie who came second in the Year 8 Non Italian category and Gabby Valentine who came third in the same category.
Students will receive their certificates at the Junior Awards Ceremony on Thursday 30 November (Cobblebank Campus) or Friday 1 December (Melton Campus).
Year 7 | Year 8 |
| Miriam Armanious | Bernice Acabal |
| Bridget Bairstow | Amelia Alford |
| Reejh Bhullar | Kiana Barnett |
| Abhijeet Brar | Mara Chhaihlo |
| Serebe Dagnew | Raphael Guillaumier |
| Alisha Day | Romy Hossni |
| Levi Lemnos | Chelsea Monitto |
| Miguel Luna | Shelby Vallance |
| Kanwar Sidhu | Tyrese Young |
| Chayanne Soobraydoo | |
| Keira Stapleton | |
Edie Todd | |
| Maddy Whelan |
In the classroom, teachers have been making use of a language platform called The Language Gym, which we recently subscribed to. The website and its underlying teaching principles are promoted by the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria in all Catholic schools due to the highly documented ability to increase student retention, engagement and success.
Below are some comments from students about The Language Gym.
“I like the large variety of lessons per topic, and there are many ways to learn the content. My favourite is the boxing because it is a competition between you and your classmates to see how fast people can finish the quiz and how accurately you can do it. It's easily accessible and super easy to log into and is most definitely one of my favourite platforms to use for my learning.” Lily, 8A
“What I like about Language Gym is that it helps make learning Italian easier. It uses games and fun strategies to encourage us to learn more about the language. It's very different from other learning software we've used and I think it's good that we're exploring new ones that students will enjoy more. Using an online platform is way better than using textbooks. Hopefully in the future, we will use Language Gym more than our textbooks and hard-copy worksheets.” Isabella, Year 8
It's Bandanna Day this Friday and Melton Campus students can buy a colourful bandanna from the student hub outside the canteen any lunchtime this week.
There are several fabulous designs available for just $5 each.
Money raised through the sale of bandannas goes to Canteen, which provides practical and emotional support to young people affected by cancer.
Every year, about 23,000 young people aged 12-25 are impacted by cancer in Australia. Sadly, these young people are up to six times more likely to experience mental health issues such as depression and anxiety than their peers.
By buying a bandanna, students will help fund Canteen's peer-support programs, counselling and other specialist services so that no young person goes through cancer alone.
So let's get behind Bandanna Week at SFCC!
Cobblebank Campus students were fortunate to have a visit from local Aboriginal elders Aunty Charmaine and Aunty Rosemary at lunchtime last Wednesday.
Together, they created earrings and necklaces using emu feathers, gum nuts, string and wool.
It was great fun and the students thoroughly enjoyed learning new skills.
Current Year 9 students are invited to apply to become Peer Support Leaders in 2024.
It’s a great way to build confidence and leadership skills while helping our new Year 7 students settle into secondary school.
Application forms are available on Simon.
Completed forms should be emailed to our Student Leadership Coordinator Nirasha Pandi by Wednesday 8 November.
Year 9 Food Studies students have been rethinking Australian culture, specifically looking at Aboriginal people and their roles and responsibilities to their land.
They have been reading colonial journals that make reference to the land while cooking with indigenous spices to immerse themselves in their learning.
Students made Bush Tomato Risotto using native bush tomato and Johnny Cakes, a native bush scone that is rolled and cooked flat in a fat component and topped with native fruits.
Below are some of the students' sketches and journal entries.
Keep updated with College events, procedures, resources and information via the links below.
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