QUICKLINKS
QUICKLINKS
QUICKLINKS
Pentridge Prison Excursion
By Evan Restall
On Thursday the 31st of October, Ms. Harrison, Mr. Byard and
Ms. Thwaits took all the Year 11 VCE VM Literacy classes to HM Pentridge Prison in Coburg. The day was full of fun. Starting with a general tour of the prison grounds, the tour guide showed where each division of the prison was and what their purpose had been. She then took us to the courtyard to show us where each prisoner would line up in rows for roll call every morning, marked by the large 'X’s on the ground. After that we moved to H division where the most notorious criminals would be kept. In here the inmates would be subject to numerous types of punishments that aimed to dehumanize the inmates in truly horrible and unethical ways that would be illegal by today's standards. During the tour of H division, we were given headphones and iPods that would activate a different story every time you walk into a different prison cell. Some of the stories told by the ex-prisoners were quite disturbing, telling stories of hearing other prisoners screaming from being physically punished just next door. I found the Pentridge experience really fun, and had a good time while learning about Australia’s history and including all the information I learnt into my essay about the laws and ethics around capital punishment in Australia. It helped inform my writing whilst developing my literacy skills in an engaging way. I hope next year we get to go on more excursions in Literacy, as it helps build more knowledge around our classes and subjects.
By Michael Paolo
On the 31st of October, we were offered an immersive and astounding experience, learning what prisoners went through in the infamous Pentridge Prison, a place where some of Australia’s most notorious criminals spent their last days before facing the death penalty. Our tour guide took us to various areas, such as the courtyard and H-Division. In the courtyard, we saw how prisoners spent their free time or plotted escape plans. We were also lucky to visit the inside of H-Division, known to inmates as "Hell Division." Equipped with iPods and headphones, we embarked on a 90 minute exploration that revealed stories about each cell and the harsh realities prisoners faced inhabiting these cells, such as brutal torture. The tour offered a unique and profound perspective on Pentridge’s dark history, ultimately deepening our understanding of its impact on Coburg and how this notorious institution helped shape the area as we know it today. Despite the heavy themes, the day allowed us to socialize and bond as a cohort. Excursions like this bring a refreshing contrast to classroom learning, making the experience much more engaging for students in the Vocational Major program. Overall, it was an exceptional way to end the year.
Louise Crossley Author Talk
By Bailey Vella
In Year 11 VCE VM Literacy, we had a book writer come and present about her books and tips on how to make a really good children's book. The author's name was Ms. Louise Crossley and she had given us her book called "Ella's Handbag". During this time, we had all made a children's book based on the ages for 4-7. The experience was really enjoyable and I am glad she had the time to come in and teach us new tips and skills. After this experience, we all now know how to have a better understanding of editing and publishing our final copy of our books! We want to thank Ms Crossley, for helping us grow.
Year 7 Aspire Presentations
Our Year 7 Aspire classes recently presented their projects to teachers and other students, detailing plans for making the school more sustainable. These presentations included handouts, brochures, diagrams, games and more, with the aim to create inspiring intellectual discussions about the feasibility of each presentation,
Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day Ceremony :
Sunshine RSL
On November 11, our school, Caroline Chisholm Catholic College, had the honour of attending a deeply moving Remembrance Day ceremony at the Sunshine RSL, alongside Harvester Primary School, local veterans and many other representatives. The event was an opportunity to pay our respects and reflect on the sacrifices made by those who fought for our freedoms, and it held particular significance for us as students.
The ceremony was opened by Gary Collins, the President of Sunshine RSL, who gave a very powerful and reflective speech. Mr. Collins, in his address, first reminded us of the importance of Remembrance Day, not only to honour the fallen but to reflect on what war has done to our lives today. He added that during past wars, many of the soldiers who were drafted were roughly about our age, high school students just like us, which is why I believe it to be so crucial to our curriculum. This fact made the day all the more personal, as it hit us how many young people sacrificed their futures for our country. It was a harsh reminder of how the past continues to mould the present day.
We were joined by local MP Daniel Mulino, representatives from the reserves and several veterans who also participated in the ceremony. We all stood in unison, bound together in memory of those who served and sacrificed. Part of that ceremony was a minute of silence, a time for reflection, a time to remember, and a time to honour the fallen. It felt powerful, knowing the silence held not just our gratitude but respect in remembrance of the people who died for our country.
At different intervals during the service, each group representative placed a wreath before the memorial shrine as a symbolic gesture of remembrance and respect. We were also given the opportunity to individually place poppies on the shrine. A tradition allowing each one of us to individually honour those who have served. It was the humbling reminder that through small but significant actions, we can show our respect and appreciation for the sacrifices of others.
To us students, Remembrance Day is not just about looking back but about the understanding of responsibilities as the next generation and I can hope that leaders of our school in future can continue to pass this down. The sacrifices of those who came before us continue to reverberate today, not just in the freedoms that we enjoy but in the values of courage, service, and unity.
The Sunshine RSL Sub-Branch ceremony was one such potent reminder that even though the years slip by, remembrance remains alive within our hearts and lives on through the values that we have such as Faith, Acceptance, Compassion, and Excellence. All qualities that each and everyone of the soldiers who fought for us had. As a Campus Captain of our college, I can only hope that this is something that we can continue to do every year as a way to honour those who paved not only Australian history, but our future too.
Saxon Chapman
SJ Campus Captain
Summer Music Concert
Our annual Summer Music Concert is a real highlight of our events calendar.
It was exciting this year to see the concert expand from it's previous home in our amphitheater, to a picnic style event on our playing green.
The shift in location was a response to growing enthusiasm and the amazing turnout we've had in the past. It was heartwarming to see everyone embrace the change with picnic mats and camping chairs, creating an even more vibrant atmosphere for connection, conversation, and celebration.
Our students, as always, put on an amazing show with performances from a variety of genres. Seeing some of our Year 12 students return after their graduation for a few final acts always stirs emotions, and this year was no different, as they got up for the last time onto our College stage, and said farewell through music.
A special shoutout to our incredible AV and tech teams who ensured that everything—from sound to lighting— in a new environment ran smoothly.
It’s moments like these that remind us how wonderful our community is. Together, we continue to make every event not just a gathering, but a celebration of what makes Caroline Chisholm Catholic College so special.
Afternoon of Excellence
Today was a big one for the College, with the Feast of Christ the King Mass, followed by our Afternoon of Excellence.
We welcomed our award winner recipient families to join us for the After of Excellence, where as a community we celebrated the success of our students for the 2024 academic year. We were treated to wonderful music performances and Italian poetry on stage too.
We also congratulated a number of sports teams who performed particularly well in the SACCSS tournaments, and have therefore contributed to the continued good standing of our College's name in Sport.
Thank you to all our staff and students for putting on such a wonderful event. A great way to mark the end of the last formal event for the year.
Congratulations to all our winners, we are so excited to celebrate your success.
