Welcome to the Student Portfolio

My name is Melissa D’Amico, and it has been an honour joining the community at Caroline Chisholm Catholic College as Deputy Principal – Students this year. I am excited to work alongside our students, families and staff to continue building a school culture where every young person feels safe, valued, connected and inspired to flourish.

The Deputy Principal – Students portfolio is centred on student wellbeing, engagement and growth. This role oversees the pastoral care structures across the College and works closely with students, families, teachers and support staff to ensure that each student is known and supported throughout their journey at the College. The portfolio includes student wellbeing programs, behaviour support, attendance, student voice and leadership, social and emotional learning, restorative practices, child safety and the coordination of support services for students who may require additional assistance.

At the heart of this work is the belief that students learn best when they feel safe, connected and supported. Education is about far more than academic achievement alone; it is about forming confident, compassionate and resilient young people who understand their value and their capacity to positively impact the world around them. As a Catholic school, we are called to nurture the whole person, spiritually, emotionally, socially and academically and this mission strongly resonates with me both professionally and personally.

What I am most passionate about is creating environments where young people feel that they truly belong. Every student deserves to feel seen, heard and respected. Adolescence can be a challenging and complex time, and schools play an incredibly important role in helping students navigate relationships, identity, wellbeing and personal growth. I am deeply committed to fostering a culture of inclusion, dignity and care where students feel confident to seek support, celebrate their strengths and learn from challenges.

I am also passionate about working in partnership with families. Strong relationships between school and home are essential in supporting student wellbeing and success. I look forward to connecting with families and working collaboratively to ensure the best outcomes for every student. Open communication, mutual respect and shared care for our young people are key to building a thriving school community.

Another area close to my heart is Child Safety. Ensuring that all students not only are safe, but feel safe, is fundamental to everything we do. Creating a culture where students know their voices matter and where respectful relationships are modelled and nurtured is a responsibility we all share.

This term we will launch the Child Safety Committee which will support the College’s commitment to maintaining a safe, inclusive, and faith-filled environment for all students. The Child Safety Committee will provide a structured forum for monitoring, reviewing, and strengthening child safety practices in alignment with Catholic values. The objectives of the committee will be to promote a shared understanding of child safety, support compliance with Child Safe Standards, provide a platform for authentic student voice, review and improve policies and practices and identify risks and recommend strategies for improvement.

I feel incredibly privileged to have stepped into this role and to be part of the Caroline Chisholm Catholic College community. I look forward to continuing to get to know our students and families and contributing to a College environment where faith, learning, wellbeing and belonging are at the centre of all we do.

Melissa D'Amico
Deputy Principal - Students

What are Restorative Processes and why do we use them?

At Caroline Chisholm Catholic College, we are committed to building a school culture where every student feels safe, respected, valued and connected. One of the key ways we foster this positive culture is through the use of Restorative Practices. 

Restorative Practices are an approach to building relationships, resolving conflict and supporting student growth through conversation, reflection and accountability. Rather than focusing only on punishment when things go wrong, restorative approaches encourage students to understand the impact of their actions, repair harm and rebuild relationships. At its heart, restorative practice is about people, connection and learning from mistakes.

As educators, we recognise that young people are still developing emotionally and socially. Mistakes and conflict are part of learning and growing. Restorative Practices help students take responsibility for their behaviour in a meaningful way while also ensuring that those affected feel heard and supported. This approach encourages empathy, respect and reflection — skills that are essential not only at school, but throughout life.

Restorative Practices are important because they help create a strong sense of belonging within the school community. When students feel connected and supported, they are more likely to engage positively in learning, relationships and school life. Research consistently shows that schools using restorative approaches often experience improved student wellbeing, stronger relationships, reduced conflict and a more positive learning environment.

At Caroline Chisholm Catholic College, Restorative Practices are not simply used after incidents occur; they are embedded into the daily life of the College. Building positive relationships is preventative work. Staff intentionally create welcoming and inclusive classrooms where students feel known and valued. Simple practices such as greeting students, holding respectful conversations, checking in regularly and encouraging student voice all contribute to strengthening relationships and trust.

When conflict or behavioural issues arise, staff work with students to reflect on what has happened and how the situation can be repaired. Students may be guided through restorative conversations using questions such as:

• What happened?
• Who has been affected?
• What were you thinking and feeling at the time?
• What needs to happen now to make things right?

These conversations encourage accountability while maintaining the dignity of all involved. The goal is not to shame students, but to help them understand the impact of their choices and support them to make better decisions moving forward.

Our approach also aligns strongly with our Catholic values and commitment to the wellbeing of the whole person. Respect, compassion, forgiveness and reconciliation are central to restorative thinking and reflect the Gospel values we seek to model within our community.

Importantly, Restorative Practices do not replace boundaries or consequences. High expectations for behaviour remain essential. However, restorative approaches ensure that consequences are paired with support, reflection and opportunities for growth. This helps students learn from challenges rather than becoming defined by them.

At Caroline Chisholm Catholic College, we believe that every interaction is an opportunity to strengthen relationships and help young people grow into respectful, compassionate and responsible members of the community. Through Restorative Practices, we continue to nurture a culture where students feel safe, connected and empowered to flourish.

Melissa D'Amico
Deputy Principal - Students

Careers Week

This week has been Careers Week at the College!
Students have been busy in LM classes completing A-Z Careers Challenges, busting careers myths and playing careers Kahoot. Our Year 11 and 12 students have attended the Careers Expo at Melbourne Showgrounds to discover potential career paths, and our Year 10 students attended a Shape Your Destiny Incursion to explore turning their passions into their futures. 

It's been an incredible week, and we hope all our students feel inspired to live their dreams in the future!

Visual Arts Week

Visual Arts Week was held last week, with students celebrating across both campuses. It was incredible to see so many students engaging with the visual arts, whether it was through creating Mother's Day Cards, in an Art and Poetry session or through using everyday tools such as paper or pipe cleaners to create masterpieces!

Mother's Day Mass and Breakfast

Our annual Mother's Day Mass and Breakfast continues to be an incredible morning, filled with love and appreciation for all the mothers in our lives.

The morning began with a mass where we thanked, blessed and prayed for the mothers both within our community and in the wider world, followed by a breakfast and time of community to celebrate all the wonderful mothers who attended.

We were delighted to welcome so many attendees to the morning, with a full house at both the mass and breakfast! We invite all families to RSVP in advance to College events, to ensure that catering and staffing can be generous. 

This Is Your Body Nutrition Incursion

Our Year 10 Community Health classes recently completed incursions with This Is Your Body Nutrition. 
The session explored a huge range of cultural and social expectations and subconscious messaging our students may have encountered, and how to prioritise nurtition and a healthy relationship with food and their bodies.

This included discovering:

- Body image & the factors that influence the way we feel about ourselves

- Navigating diet culture in a digital era (parasocial relationships and influencer marketing)

- Why we eat

- Nutrition basics (carbohydrates, fats, protein, calcium) and how we can use those foods for energy

- Challenging the beliefs we hold about food

- Diet culture myth-busting

- Body appreciation as the path forward

- Strategies to prepare food and learn to accept our bodies

It was such a valuable session, and we hope students left the session feeling confident in their ability to navigate the tricky landscape of nutrition.

Commedia dell'Arte Incursion

As part of the Performing Arts curriculum, students are required to view and analyse a live performance.
We recently welcomed a Commedia dell’Arte production to the College, and the production was a classic example of a Commedia dell'Arte show, with popular characters from the 16th century reimagined as contemporary, real life pulbic figures. Students responded with a great deal of positivity, and really got involved in the audience participation that's so central to this style of theatre!

New Coaching for Sports Academy

We are excited to announce that our Sports Academy is working with two new coaching organisations.

The Athlete Development team through the Universal Athlete Centre will be working with our students to coach and improve basketball skills as well as strength and conditioning. The Lustica Football team will be providing specialised European football training and player development for our students. 

Bringing experts in to work with our students ensures that they can receive specialist training, and we can't wait to see where these collaborations will take us!

Cross Country Results 

Congratulations to all our Cross Country SACCSS participants for an incredible day!

We had a number of outstanding results across all age groups, and it was wonderful to see our College perform at such a high standard during our first year in Division 1. 

Particular congratulations to:

Leanne Ellis (17-20 yr old, Senior Girls)
Ran a 10:15.6 3km
Beat her record from last year and the previous association record of 10:20:00

Eve Inglis (15-16 yr old, Intermediate Girls)
Placed 3^rd overall, 2^nd in Div 1 12:45.1 3km

Sophie Milona, (13 yr old Junior Girls:)
15^th Div 1 finish, 14:16.5 3km

Harry Lacy (13 yr old Junior Boys) 
5^th Div 1 finish, 11:36.6 3km

Vivian Nelson Duarte Ramos (14 yr old Junior Girls)
7^th Div 1 finish, 13:45.5 3km

Finlay Rooney (14 yr old Junior Boys)
8^th Div 1 finish, 11:41.0 3km

Sebastian Sacco (15-16 yr old Intermediate Boys)
45^th Div 1 finish, 19:50.4 4km

Kale Aria (17-20 yr old Senior Boys)
4^th Div 1 finish, 15:51.9 4km

Senior Pathways Course Selection Evening

Our Senior Pathways Course Selection evening is being held on the 20th of May from 4.45pm.

It is an expectation that all Year 9 students and their parents/carers will attend to speak to tertiary providers, pathway coordinators and more.

This exciting event will help students and families discover options and make decisions about the future of studies for each individual student. 

World Africa Day with Maribyrnong Youth

On Friday 21 May, Maribyrnong Youth is celebrating World Africa Day with sport, music, and culture.

Young people are invited to come together, get involved, and celebrate African cultures through movement, rhythm, and community.

Event 1: Youth African Drumming Workshop

When: Friday 22 May, 3.30pm – 5pm

Location: Phoenix Youth Hub, The Bunker

For: Young people ages 12-25 years

Get hands‑on with rhythm and culture in this youth‑only African drumming workshop.

You will:

• Learn traditional African drumming
• Play as a group
• Explore rhythm, movement, and expression
• No experience needed

No registration required- just show up!

Event 2: Big Bang Sports Program – World Africa Day Celebration

When: Friday 22 May, 3.30pm – 6pm

Location: Braybrook Community Hub

For: Young people ages 12-20 years

Big Bang Sports is getting an African Fest takeover.

Come along for a free, drop‑in session with:

• Social sports and games
• African music and vibes
• African food, culture, and community
• A relaxed space to hang out and get active

No bookings needed.

Just show up, bring a mate, and join the celebration.

Big Bang Sports & Rec Program runs every Friday and is a partnership between Maribyrnong Youth Services and YMCA RecWest Braybrook.

LM and Subject Conferences

A reminder to keep an eye out for Subject Conference bookings on Compass!
The Conferences will be held on Wednesday the 27th of May, and give families the opportunity to discuss their students learning with subject teachers.

You can make a booking with subject teachers via the Compass announcement. 

Winter Music Concert

Our annual Winter Music Concert is coming up!

It will be a wonderful evening, filled with incredible music and performances. 

Get your ticket here!

https://events.humanitix.com/w...

Loving God,

As we celebrate the Ascension of your Son, Jesus Christ,

we remember His promise to remain with us always

and to guide us as His disciples in the world.

In this year of our College theme,

“Be the Salt of the Earth: Serve with Humility and Compassion,”

help us to bring hope, kindness, and courage

to all whom we meet each day.

May we be people who lift others up,

who serve quietly and generously,

and who reflect the love of Christ

through our words and actions.

As Jesus ascended to You in glory O Lord,

inspire us to keep our hearts fixed on what is good,

to live with faith and purpose,

and to share the light of the Gospel in our school community.

Bless our students, staff, and families,

and strengthen us to be witnesses of your peace and compassion

in our classrooms, homes, and wider world.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.