As we conclude another busy and rewarding term, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to our entire College community for a highly successful Term 3.

To our parents and guardians, thank you for your ongoing partnership and support. The strong relationship between home and school always plays a vital role in the growth, learning and wellbeing of our young people. Your trust, encouragement and collaboration are deeply appreciated.

To our students, thank you for your presence, commitment and enthusiasm throughout the term. Whether in the classroom, on the sporting field, through the arts, in service activities or simply in the daily life of the College, you have contributed positively to our community and made us proud.

Finally, I would like to acknowledge our staff for their professionalism, dedication and genuine care for our students. Their commitment to excellence, their willingness to go above and beyond, and the relationships they build each day help create a learning environment in which every student can flourish.

Thank you to everyone for your contribution to a wonderful term. I wish all members of our community a safe, restful and enjoyable break, and I look forward to all that Term 4 will bring.

Please read below my Assembly Address shared with our students today.

Good morning everyone,

Thank you for the way in which you have conducted yourself during this assembly. I want to begin by reflecting on what has been an extraordinary period in the life of our College. Over the past term, we have witnessed countless examples of excellence, perseverance, and generosity that have made us immensely proud.

Across representative sports, our students have led the College with distinction. Whether on the field, court, track, or in competition, you have demonstrated not only talent but also teamwork, resilience, and humility. Success in sport is not measured solely by victories and trophies, but by the way we conduct ourselves and the respect we show our opponents. Everyone who has participated in sports competitively against other schools have been outstanding ambassadors for our College. The wins, medals and trophies are just a bonus.

In the performing arts, our students have once again shown remarkable creativity, courage, and passion. Music, and the drama, and dance on display at the musical were extraordinary. Through the arts, many of the students continue to enrich our community and remind us of the incredible gifts that God has entrusted to each of us. The dedication shown by our performers, directors, musicians, and staff is inspiring.

Academically, we have much to celebrate. Every student who has committed themselves to learning, who has persevered through challenges, who has sought improvement, and who has embraced feedback deserves recognition. Achievement is not only reflected in the highest reached goals and scores, but also in the commitment to growth, effort, and continuous improvement. Education remains one of the greatest gifts we can receive and the most powerful tool we have to shape our future.

Our commitment to service has also been evident throughout the term. Through outreach programs, fundraising initiatives, justice activities, and simple acts of generosity, many of you have demonstrated what it means to place others before yourselves. In doing so, you have lived the values upon which our College was founded.

As we look beyond our own community, we are all aware that we live in a world experiencing significant political and social tensions, both here in Australia and internationally. In times such as these, it is easy for division, negativity, and fear to dominate public conversation. However, as people of faith, we are called to something greater.

We are called to always uphold our values, commit to our faith, dedicate to our learning, and be determined to become better versions of ourselves for the benefit of others. The world does not need more anger or division. It needs people of character, integrity, wisdom, and compassion.

This always begins with goodness.

It begins in the way we speak to one another.

It begins in the way we speak about one another.

It begins when we choose kindness over gossip, understanding over judgement, and forgiveness over resentment.

As a Catholic community, we believe that every human person is created in the image and likeness of God. Every person possesses a sacred dignity that must be respected, protected, and honoured. No matter a person's background, beliefs, strengths, struggles, or circumstances, everyone deserves to be treated with respect.

In the Gospel according to John, we are reminded that:

Jesus said: “a new command I give you: Love one another as I have loved you”

These words capture beautifully what it means to be a member of our College community. Faith is not simply something we proclaim. It is something we live. We live it through our words, our actions, our relationships, and our commitment to serving others in the manner demonstrated by Jesus Christ through love.

Jesus showed us how to live with courage, humility, compassion, mercy, and hope. As we continue to navigate a complex world, may His example remain our guide and may his command to love proclaim his ministry in our actions.

I would also like to acknowledge our Year 12 students, who continue their Trial Examinations as they prepare for their final VCE examinations later this year. These exams represent an important milestone, and I know how much effort, commitment, and sacrifice has gone into their preparation. And if this is not yet the case, it is not too late to get moving.

For all students who are completing coursework requirements, assessments, and preparing for examinations over the holidays, this is a significant time. Continue to finish strongly. Continue to show determination and pride in your work.

I encourage our Year 12 students to embrace the final moments of your secondary school journey. These years pass quickly. Take time to appreciate the friendships you have built, the opportunities you have experienced, the challenges you have overcome, and the memories you are creating.

And for every student here today, please remember to thank your teachers. Their commitment to your learning, wellbeing, growth, and success often goes unseen. Behind every lesson, every assessment, every conversation of encouragement, and every opportunity provided to you is a teacher or a helper who cares deeply about your future. We are blessed to have an outstanding staff who give so much of themselves for the benefit of our students.

As we move into the holiday break, I encourage everyone to take the opportunity to rest, spend time with family and friends, recharge, and enjoy a well-earned break.

When we return next term, let us do so with renewed purpose and commitment. Let us return ready to engage fully in our learning, to demonstrate the highest standards of behaviour, to cooperate respectfully with our staff, and to continue building a culture where everyone feels safe, valued, respected, and able to thrive.

I will be asking staff to monitor your presentation, appearance, engagement in the classroom and progress very closely. It is important that we finish the year strongly.

Thank you for a wonderful term. Thank you for your commitment to our College. Thank you for the ways in which you contribute to making this community special.

May God bless you and your families during the holidays, keep safe, and enjoy the sun.

Have a wonderful break, and I look forward to welcoming you back next term.

Thank you.

Napoleon Rodezno
Principal

Our College has the privilege to have Caroline Chisholm as our patron and namesake. As a Servant of God recognised by the Catholic Church we look to Caroline’s example of heroic virtues of fortitude, justice and charity.

In our College’s social justice, sustainability and ecological justice programs we strive to emulate Caroline’s virtues. Whether it be fundraising money for our various charitable partners, raising awareness of causes, or striving to create a mentality of responsible stewardship of our Earth.

I wish to take this opportunity to speak to the breadth of work in our social justice domain. We support the following charitable organisations: Caritas Australia, MacKillop Family Services, St Vincent de Paul Society, Smith Family, Cancer Council, Duke St Community House, Abbey Solo Foundation, Opening the Doors Foundation, Brigidine Asylum Seeker Project, Australian Catholic Religious Against Human Trafficking (ACRATH), and Caroline Chisholm Society.

Our fundraising initiatives raise approximately $18,000 annually for the above charitable organisations. For this we deeply thank the staff, students, parents and carers, and community partners who support these efforts.

I would also like to extend an invitation to the community to join us as partners and sponsors in any of the following ways:

1. Sponsoring student tuition fees for families requiring financial assistance. Donations to the Fr Karmel Borg Scholarship Fund above $2.00 are fully tax deductible and will contribute towards the fee assistance program run by the College.

1. Sponsoring academic, musical and general excellence scholarships. Individuals, businesses and organisations are able to make fully tax-deductible donations to the Fr Karmel Borg Scholarship Fund above $2.00. These donations contribute towards the scholarship program run by the College and your name or business can be acknowledged in College publications.

1. Sponsoring minor building works, including a newly commissioned prayer garden at the Christ the King Campus or a proposed Memorial Garden at the 204 site. Donations to the Building Fund above $2.00 are fully tax-deductible.

To make a donation please contact our Accounts Team at accounts@cccc.vic.edu.au and indicate in the subject that you wish to make a tax-deductible donation.

I thank all our community members for your ongoing support of our College’s social justice programs. These initiatives make a tangible difference in the lives of our students, families, and the wider community. May God bless your endeavours and generosity.

Tristan O'Brien
Deputy Principal - Mission

At Caroline Chisholm Catholic College, Mission is expressed through a variety of student clubs and initiatives.

We are extremely proud of the work our teams do across Social Justice, Student Leadership and Sustainability, and how they reflect God's love for humanity and the earth. 

 Student Leadership

Student Leadership at Caroline Chisholm Catholic College is grounded in our commitment to Service Leadership, a model inspired by the example of Jesus and the values of Caroline Chisholm. At its heart, Service Leadership calls students to use their gifts, influence, and opportunities to serve others, make values-based decisions, and contribute to the common good.

Through a range of leadership opportunities, students are empowered to become active participants in shaping their College community. Initiatives such as the Student Voice Forum provide student leaders from across all campuses with a platform to represent their peers, identify areas for improvement, and present initiatives directly to the College Leadership Team. These experiences encourage students to listen deeply, advocate respectfully, and work collaboratively to create environments where others can flourish.

Student leaders also participate in leadership development programs and workshops designed to strengthen their skills, broaden their understanding of effective leadership, and build their capacity to lead with confidence and integrity. These opportunities challenge students to reflect on their values, develop effective communication and teamwork skills, and understand the responsibility that comes with leadership.

Importantly, our approach to student leadership emphasises that leadership is not defined by a badge or position, but by a willingness to serve others. Students are encouraged to model empathy, inclusivity, and respect while seeking opportunities to make a positive difference within the College community.

By providing authentic opportunities for voice, participation, and service, the Student Leadership Program supports our mission of forming young people who lead with compassion, integrity, and purpose. Through their actions, our student leaders help foster a culture where all members of the College community feel valued, supported, and empowered to flourish.

Isabella Bojic
Student Leadership Coordinator

Sustainability and Ecological Justice

Involvement in sustainability initiatives at our College is an excellent way for students to live out their faith through action. Our College provides many opportunities for students to learn about, and reflect on, the importance of being stewards of creation, caring for God’s gifts and contributing positively to our local community.

This term has been particularly eventful in the sustainability space. During Sustainability Week in week 7, students at both campuses participated in a range of activities, including our College Book Swap, lunchtime recycling activities and Plastic Free Lunch. These activities encouraged students to think about how we can reuse resources, reduce waste and make more sustainable choices. The week concluded with our annual movie night, where students watched WALL-E and reflected on the impacts of waste on our environment.

We also launched our Cans for Our Common Home container deposit scheme initiative. This student-led idea, run by our Eco Committee, involves collecting cans and bottles from major College events and recycling them through Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme. The funds raised are then put back into our sustainability projects.

The Eco Committee meets once a week at lunchtime at both the CTK and 204 campuses and is an excellent way for students to have their say about what they would like to see happen around the College. The Committee is responsible for caring for our garden beds at both campuses. Students choose, plant and care for the vegetables, which are then donated to Duke Street Community House to support its weekly food run for members of our local community.
This term, members of the Eco Committee and Sustainability Captains also attended the Youth Climate Summit and Rerum Novarum workshop, where they learnt from other schools and developed an action plan focused on improving waste management at the College.

Through these initiatives, students are able to put their faith into practice by caring for creation and supporting members of our local community.

Kate Moss
Sustainability and Ecological Justice Coordinator

Social Justice

At the College the Student Social Justice Group doesn't just focus on fundraising campaigns, they also create opportunities for empowering themselves through education, reflection and collaboration with others. In doing so, they embrace the mission of Caroline Chisholm Catholic College, striving to become the best they are called to be within a faith-filled and inclusive community, while living out the FACE values of Faith, Acceptance, Compassion and Excellence. 

This semester has provided valuable opportunities for students to reflect on their Semester One achievements and consider how they can continue to grow as advocates for justice. The team has supported House fundraising initiatives, volunteered at the Abbey Solo Foundation canteen during the school musical, and represented the College at the Vinnies Student Conference.

A particular highlight was presenting at the Vinnies Conference, where our students shared how the Social Justice Teams collaborate across campuses to plan and implement campaigns that promote awareness, action and service. While they were proud to showcase the work being undertaken at our College, they were equally grateful for the opportunity to listen, learn and be inspired by the experiences of other schools. Through these conversations, students gained new insights into how young people can respond with compassion to the needs of others and create meaningful change within their communities.

These experiences have strengthened our students’ sense of purpose and sparked fresh enthusiasm for future initiatives. Inspired by the ideas and practices they encountered, they are now exploring innovative ways to educate, engage and empower the wider College community in social justice campaigns. We look forward to sharing these exciting developments in the months ahead. Stay tuned!

Suzanne Mosca
Catholic Social Justice Coordinator

SACCSS Term 3 Results

The College has seen some incredible sporting results in Term 3!

Congratulations to every student who participated in SACCSS, your efforts and contributions to our College are enormously appreciated, and we hope each one of you is exceptionally proud. 

A special congratulations to our championship-winning teams:

• Senior Girls Volleyball
• Senior Boys Football
• Senior Boys Basketball
• Senior Boys Volleyball
• Year 7 Girls Volleyball
• Division 1 Athletics Team

A particular congratulations to our Senior Boys Volleyball, who, after winning the SACCSS competition, went on to play in the Catholic Association Shield game against the winner of the ACC Competition. The boys did an incredible job and won in 5 sets to become the first ever SACCSS School to win the Catholic Association Shield.

Our Senior Boys Football champions had a dominant year, going through undefeated and winning the grand final, which is the first senior footy championship in over 20 years for the College!

Also of significant note are Leanne Ellis who broke two SACCSS records and Eva Mehmet who broke one, both at SACCSS Athletics in Division one.

Congratulations to all involved!

Battle of the Bands

Our students put on an incredible show for our annual Battle of the Bands Competition! There were a range of genre and styles displayed, from pop classics to metal headbangers, but all were exceptionally well executed. Congratulations to all our students who put so much into creating an incredible performance. 

Police Academy

Some of our Sacred Heart students were thrilled recently to attend the Police Academy for an incredible day program, including a tour and hearing from officers about their careers and opportunities. 

MAV Games

Congratulations to those who recently competed in the Mathematics Association of Victoria (MAV) Games days. 

Students completed a variety of tasks throughout the day, aiming to develop their mathematical talents and thinking skills, working with like-minded students from a diverse range of schools, and winning prizes and rewards. 

Our College has only been attending for a few years, so we're incredibly proud of our results, coming 32nd and 47th out of more than 60 teams. 

Congratulations!

Brimbank Youth Symposium

A big thank you to the members of our Student Leadership Team who recently represented the College at the Brimbank Youth Symposium. Our Vice Captain, Zoe, and College Captain, Minh, also took on the role of MCs for the day, leading the event with confidence and professionalism. Meanwhile, our Humanities Captain, Leah, led a number of inspiring sessions throughout the day. 

Alongside student leaders from six other schools, our College Captain, Vice Captains and Campus Captains presented findings from the Youth Resilience Survey data and shared an initiative they developed through the Trailblazers Program. Students explored both College and wider community data, working collaboratively with other schools across the Brimbank area to identify factors influencing the results and develop practical solutions to create positive change.

Our students presented exceptionally well, demonstrating outstanding leadership, insight and initiative. We are incredibly proud of the way they represented our College and contributed to important conversations about building stronger and more resilient school communities.

RU OK? Day

Our College recently celebrated RU OK? Day with a number of initiatives. Students and staff were greeted with yellow and black balloon arches, given stickers, and participated in a number of wellbeing activities throughout the day. 

It was a wonderful day, and we hope everyone is taking the lesson of the day, that every conversation can make a difference, out into the world with them. 

First Nations Graduating students

Celebrating student milestones is a great privilege.
Recently we had the pleasure of recognising graduating First Nations students from Catholic Secondary schools. Two ATSI year 12 students from our College; Madeline & Stephanie will both complete their secondary education this year. VCEA hosted a special dinner to congratulate and acknowledge ATSI students from various Catholic Secondary schools.
The room was full of graduating students, proud families, and staff to mark this occasion. Madeline and her Mum, Ros, joined Dr Rodezno and members of staff at this celebration. Staff that have supported Madeline’s cultural connection and growth during her time at the College were extremely proud to see her recognised in this way. Ros said “I felt so proud to see Maddi representing and honouring her culture at the graduation. It was such a great evening “

Congratulations to Madeline and Steph!

Staff recognition

At the College, we are incredibly proud of the outstanding individuals who make up our staff team.

Last week, our Deputy Principal - Staff, Paul Toney, was awarded a 2026 Victorian Catholic Secondary Schools Deputy Principals' Association Fellowship Award (VCSSDPA). This significant award recognises Deputy Principals who make a substantial contribution to Catholic secondary education through outstanding leadership, integrity and service. Paul's work at the College continues a long history of excellence in Catholic education, overseeing Staff, Compliance and Senior School students throughout his career.

We are also proud to recognise Sarah Mollison, one of our esteemed Health and Physical Education teachers. Sarah was awarded Athlete of the Decade by the Maribyrnong Sports Academy and is a proud member of the Academy’s alumni. The award recognised her six World Championship appearances for Australian Lacrosse, the World Lacrosse Heart Award in 2026 and her outstanding contributions to the sport over many years.

We are incredibly proud of the achievements of our staff and congratulate Paul and Sarah on their outstanding contributions to both our College community and their respective fields.

Year 12 Finals Masses

As part of their Religious Education learning, our Year 12 students had the wonderful opportunity to organise and lead a Gratitude Mass, bringing together many aspects of their learning, faith and journey at Caroline Chisholm Catholic College.

The students took ownership of the celebration by selecting the readings, preparing the Prayers of the Faithful, serving as altar servers, sharing their musical gifts and assisting in the many roles that made the Mass a truly student led celebration. They also created beautiful posters, artworks, prayer cards and pamphlets to share with one another.

Most importantly, the Mass provided our Year 12 students with a precious opportunity to pause amidst the busyness of their final year, reflect on their journey and give thanks to God for the many blessings they have received throughout their time at CCCC.

It was a beautiful and spiritually uplifting experience, reminding us of all of the joy that comes when we gather together in prayer.

Term 3 Assembly 

Our Term 3 Assembly was a celebration of our students, recognising the efforts, successes and achievements of all.

We heard from Learning Areas, Programs and each Campus regarding their highlights for Term 3, as well as awarding Gold Waa Awards, presenting trophies to our Principal for SACCSS achievements and celebrating Spirit Award winners.

Well done to everyone who participated, and thank you to the staff and students who made the event possible.

Term 4 dates

Monday 5 October: All students return
Monday 2 November: School closure day
Tuesday 3 November: Melbourne Cup public holiday
Friday 27 November: Whole College Mass and Afternoon of Excellence
Friday 4 December: Last day of classes, Year 7 - 9
Friday 18 December: College closes for summer

Loving God,

As we come to the end of Term 3, we give You thanks for a busy, challenging and amazing term, and for the many opportunities we have had to live our faith through service and social justice.

Thank You for every act of kindness, every helping hand, every voice that spoke up for what is right, and every moment where we chose to see the dignity and worth of another person.

Lord, help us to live our FACE values each day:
Faith that calls us to action,
Acceptance that ensures everyone belongs,
Compassion that moves us to respond to need,
and Excellence that encourages us to make a difference.

Jesus tells us, “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world.” May we be salt and light by bringing hope, kindness and justice to those around us.

Through St Gemma, may we care for those who are poor and vulnerable.
Through St Clare, may we live generously and stand in solidarity with those who have less.
Through St Ambrose, may we have the courage to speak for truth and justice.
Through St Lorenzo, may we have the strength to remain faithful and stand up for what is right.

Inspired by Caroline Chisholm, may we never simply notice injustice, but have the courage to respond to it. May we continue her example of seeing a need, taking action and creating opportunities for others to flourish.

As we reflect on Term 3, we thank You for everyone who has helped make our College a community of faith in action.

May we carry this spirit of social justice into the term ahead, remembering that we are never too young or too busy to make a difference.

Help us to be salt and light, many minds and one heart, always choosing to serve, include, speak up and care.

Amen