Welcome back to school: Best of luck with Semester 2

As we begin a new semester, I warmly welcome all students, staff, and families back to Caroline Chisholm Catholic College. I hope the holiday period provided opportunities for rest, renewal, and time with loved ones. Term 3 always brings a sense of energy and purpose as we come together once again in pursuit of learning, growth, faith, and community.

The first half of the year has given us much to celebrate. Across the College, our students have achieved remarkable success in a wide range of endeavours, demonstrating the talent, commitment, and determination that characterise our community.

Our sporting programs continue to flourish, with students proudly representing the College in the SACCSS competition. From hard-fought premiership victories to outstanding individual performances, our young people have displayed excellence, teamwork, resilience, and sportsmanship. These achievements reflect not only the dedication of our students, but also the commitment of staff, coaches, and families who support them every step of the way. The College's sporting success has included multiple SACCSS premierships and strong participation across divisions.

Equally impressive have been the academic achievements of our students. Every day, we witness young people striving for personal excellence, embracing challenges, and engaging deeply with their learning. Whether through outstanding assessment results, participation in enrichment opportunities, leadership initiatives, or creative and cultural pursuits, our students continue to inspire us with their dedication and growth. This is complimented by the extensive participation in extra-curricular programs such as the Musical, drama performances, and musical concerts. The degree of achievement and display of skills are always impressive.

Our recent Sacred Heart Day celebrations also provided a powerful reminder of who we are as a Catholic learning community. Through prayer, reflection, service, and acts of generosity, we celebrated the love, compassion, and hope embodied in the Sacred Heart of Jesus. These occasions strengthen our shared faith and remind us of our responsibility to care for one another and to serve our wider community with humility and kindness.

I would also like to acknowledge the extraordinary work of our staff. Every achievement within our College is built upon their professionalism, care, generosity, and unwavering commitment to our students. Whether in classrooms, learning support spaces, wellbeing programs, administration, maintenance, or pastoral care, our staff continually place the needs of students at the centre of their work. Their dedication helps create an environment where every young person is known, valued, challenged, and supported.

At our College, our commitment to the wellbeing of every student remains a fundamental priority. We recognise that young people flourish when they feel safe, connected, respected, and supported. Through our wellbeing programs, learner mentoring structures, student support services, faith formation opportunities, and partnerships with families, we continue to foster a culture that places the dignity and growth of every child at its heart. The College's wellbeing initiatives continue to focus on ensuring students feel connected, protected, respected and supported in their learning journey.

As we start another semester of learning, I encourage all parents and carers to become involved in our Parents and Friends Network. This group plays an important role in strengthening the partnership between home and school, fostering community connections, and supporting events and initiatives that enrich the life of the College. Whether you are new to our community or have been with us for many years, your involvement and presence are greatly valued.

I partnership with each of you, let us continue to work together in partnership, guided by our faith, inspired by our young people, and united by our shared commitment to helping every student thrive.

Please read this   Newsletter for information about the Catholic Schools Victoria Network.

May God bless our students, staff, and families throughout the term ahead.

Nap Rodezno
College Principal

“To know neither country nor creed, but to serve all justly and impartially” – Caroline Chisholm, St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney on Easter Sunday, April 11^th 1841.

When wishing to convey to our College community the purpose of the Mission Team, I thought it is best to start with the words of our College’s patron, Caroline Chisholm. Her vision was to offer all members of society the same respect, love and dignity irrespective of any religious, cultural or material differences. We, as the Mission Team, strive with a similar ambition to offer service to our College community in the spirit of respect, love and dignity for all.

The Mission Team has two major functions, firstly, the Faith & Mission portfolio oversees many programs such as: reflection days and retreats, social justice and fundraising, sustainability, sacramental preparation, liturgies and masses, student leadership, and the house co-curricular program. This is an intentionally broad team that ensures faith education and our Catholic ethos is embedded into all areas of the College.

The second portfolio is Community Services. This is a newer team that brings together many staff who provide invaluable service and support to students and families alike. This team includes our nurses, counsellors, youth workers, social workers, multi-cultural education aids, and family partnerships. It is through this team that many of our young people receive the additional support they need to grow and flourish in our College.

Connecting our work in the Mission Team with our motto, Many Minds One Heart, I wish to offer a brief explanation to the centrality of the heart. In our College’s history and charism we place a strong emphasis on the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This is the heart that loves us, the heart that was pierced on the cross in loving sacrifice, and the heart that beats with a similar humanity to our own. Jesus taught us that when loving our neighbour it requires a certain amount of humility, sacrifice and relationship. It is these sentiments we draw from the heart of Jesus into our work in the Mission Team.

In conclusion, allow me to leave you with the words of Fr Andre Coindre, after whom our College chapel in named. For the young “a safe haven must be found”, a sheltered harbour in which they may grow and learn, laugh and play. The many works of the Mission Team work towards this common goal, to create in our College an atmosphere of safety, security and support in which every young person can flourish. Be assured of our prayers and best work for your young people, and likewise, we ask for your prayers and support in our endeavours as the Mission Team.

Tristan O'Brien
Deputy Principal - Mission

LM and Subject Conferences

LM and Subject Conferences are being held on Tuesday 04 and Wednesday 05 of August later this Term. More details will be released via Compass.

Legally Blonde Jr - Tickets Now Available!

Tickets to our College production of Legally Blonde Jr are now available here: Legally Blonde tickets.

Our students have been hard at work rehearsing, the set is almost ready and there are some truly fabulous costumes ready to see the stage!

Get your tickets before they sell out!

Term 3 Key Dates

Dante Alighieri Poetry Competition

Congratulations to the Year 9 Italian students who recently competed in the Dante Alighieri Poetry Competition. 

There were some incredible recitations, and students went out to share an Italian meal with one another following the competition, to celebrate one anothers efforts.

It was a wonderful day, and we look forward to sharing results from the competition at a later date.

Werribee Zoo Excursion

Our Unit 4 Biology class attended an excursion at Werribee Open Range Zoo this week, linking theories learned in class with real world examples. 

Students loved the excursion, and felt that it helped them gain a deeper understanding of a number of concepts, such as immunity and vaccination, conservation and animal welfare, and application of PCR and disease-monitoring concepts. 

A prayer for Caroline Chisholm’s intercession.

We thank you, most loving and merciful God, for the admirable life of Caroline Chisholm, who heard your call in youth and responded as a woman of patient, energetic faith.

With the support of her husband Archibald and her children, she assisted people in need, irrespective of their country or creed, by social reforms and charitable work, especially re-uniting families, protecting vulnerable girls, placing the unemployed in gainful work and achieving improvements for poor emigrants.

According to your providential will, may we receive the favours we ask through her intercession, and may her heroic virtue be recognized and her example followed throughout the world, leading the Church to number her among your saints.

Caroline Chisholm, Servant of God, pray for us.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

Amen.