As we come to the end of another year it’s time to reflect on all that has taken place over the past twelve months. I don’t think there is anyone in the community who would deny that it has been a somewhat difficult year with many challenges faced. Whilst these tested our resolve, the fact that we were able to come through them as a community speaks volumes as to what we enjoy here at the College. The resilience shown and the willingness to work together through these issues has made us stronger and holds us in good stead for the future. We also have to remind ourselves that whilst we faced challenges there were also many great things happening around the College, and for this we have to be grateful. It was on this note that I share with the community my speech from last week’s Afternoon of Excellence which focused on the importance the virtue of gratitude is in all aspects of our lives. Please enjoy the read and take the advice into the Christmas season, and have a wonderful break.

Staff, proud parents, and, most importantly, the wonderful students of Caroline Chisholm Catholic College,

As we gather here today to mark the end of another academic year, I am filled with a profound sense of gratitude and pride. The journey we embarked upon at the beginning of the year has been one of growth, learning, and shared accomplishments. Each one of you has contributed in some way to making this academic year a memorable and successful one.

To the students we recognised here today, I commend you for your hard work, dedication, and resilience. Your thirst for knowledge, curiosity, and passion for learning are the driving force behind your success and that of the collective College. You have faced challenges head-on, overcome obstacles, and demonstrated a commitment to excellence. As you move forward, remember that education is a lifelong journey, and the skills you have acquired this year will serve as a solid foundation for your future endeavours.

I also want to express my deepest appreciation to our exceptional staff. The unwavering commitment of staff to foster an environment of intellectual curiosity and personal growth is instrumental in shaping the minds of our students. Your tireless efforts, creativity, and passion for education do not go unnoticed, and I am truly grateful for your contributions.

I also acknowledge Parents, for their support. I thank them for entrusting us with the education of their children. Parent involvement in their academic journey plays a crucial and integral role in their success, and I encourage parents to continue fostering a love for learning at home.

As we reflect on the achievements of this past year, I want to examine the reasons or factors behind students having the success we have recognised today. Most of us would immediately focus in on things like hard work, dedication, resilience, persistence which are all key factors that I have spoken about in the past. Today I want to focus on an often neglected factor that I believe to be crucial not only for academic success, but general success in life and that is the virtue of Gratitude. Some might ask' 'how on earth would having an attitude of gratitude have a positive impact on my studies'? Let me try to explain.

Cultivating an attitude of gratitude is a transformative virtue that enriches both our individual lives and the communities we engage with. Gratitude opens our hearts to the beauty and abundance that surrounds us, fostering a positive perspective even in challenging times. It serves as a powerful antidote to negativity, promoting resilience and mental well-being. When we express gratitude, we acknowledge the contributions of others, fostering stronger relationships and a sense of interconnectedness. This virtue not only enhances our emotional and mental states but also radiates outward, creating a ripple effect that elevates the collective spirit. Gratitude empowers us to find joy in the simplest of moments, appreciate the efforts of those around us, and approach life with a mindful, appreciative outlook. Embracing an attitude of gratitude is not merely a polite gesture; it is a transformative force that amplifies the richness of our experiences and enhances the tapestry of our lives. Having gratitude allows us to appreciate everything in our lives including our teachers, the great education system we enjoy in Australia and the amazing opportunities available to us and importantly we learn to appreciate our own gifts and those of others allowing us to apply these to all aspects of our lives including our education ensuring we make the most of the potential we have. Sadly not all of us appreciate and take things for granted when there are children in the world who would give anything to enjoy what we have. To further put gratitude in to perspective I share these wise words from Melody Beattie. “Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” 

In closing, as we celebrate the achievements of the student we recognised today, and finish the year I encourage you all to leave with a sense of gratitude, for the friendships formed, the knowledge gained, the lessons learned, the love and support you have enjoyed and let them serve as a stepping stone to a future filled with success, fulfillment, and continued growth. And let us take this gratitude into the season of Christmas and show our appreciation for our families and friends all that we have and not focus on the things we don’t. In the wise words of Oprah Winfrey “Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.”

Congratulations to each one of you, and I wish you a restful, rejuvenating and joy filled Christmas break. To our senior students See you all next year for new challenges, new opportunities, and new accomplishments and our junior students I look forward to finishing the year with you next week.

Thank you and God bless.

As we approach the joyous season of Christmas, I'm thrilled to share some heartwarming highlights from our vibrant faith community here at Caroline Chisholm Catholic College.

Our recent celebration of mass for Christ the King with Bishop Martin Ashe was a beautiful testament to our living faith in connection with our wider Church. Gathering together in the Blessed Daswa Hall we marked this special feast day with reverence and reflection. This feast day of the Christ the King has a special connection to our college being the name of one of our campuses.

When reflecting on the concept of kingship associated with Jesus it is one of mercy and compassion, a king that stands out against the many because of his selflessness and generosity. While the concept of a king is less familiar to us today, the idea of leading and having authority through the goodness of our character and the stewardship we have towards all people and creation rings true. Bishop Martin Ashe was able to illustrate the importance of caring for others as Jesus did in his homily during the mass.

In the spirit of giving, our collective efforts for the ‘MacKillop Family Services Christmas Appeal’ bore remarkable fruit. Thanks to the generosity of our students and families, we collected over 100 gifts for local children in partnership with MacKillop Family Services. These contributions will undoubtedly bring smiles to many young people within our community this coming Christmas.

Moreover, the overwhelming donations exceeding $2500 will provide meals for families in need this Christmas. Our Christmas Appeal has demonstrated that compassion and generosity continue to be the cornerstone of our community.

As we cherish these moments of generosity, faith, and community let’s continue to nurture a culture of kindness this Advent season, and find opportunities to reach out to those most in need, whether they be near or far.

Dear Students and Parents of CTK,

Over the past few weeks, CTK Campus has been celebrating the spirit of Christmas and the idea of giving back to others. With our tree adorned with decorations and lights, it has been wonderful to see students bringing gifts for those in our community who aren’t as fortunate.

As we head into our final week of the school year, a week of celebrating and reflecting, I hope that every student is able to recall happy memories, meaningful conversations and a sense of feeling like they belong.

On Friday 24^th, we were lucky enough to come together to celebrate the Feast of Christ the King. As a past student, I have wonderful memories of the fete and festivities that would see us united in our faith and gratitude for what we have. Our mass this year has again stirred those childhood memories and given me such a sense of pride in our college, our name and what we strive for.

Looking ahead, we will finish the school year by farewelling our Year 9 students, as they are ready to take the next step in their education. This is a strange time as we, the teachers and support staff, have developed relationships with the Year 9 cohort and a part of us is now smiling to see them leave yet also feeling a sense of loss as they will no longer be a daily part of our community at the CTK campus. We wish them all the very best for the next leg of their journey.

Finally, I would like to wish every CTK student, parents, teachers, and support staff a wonderful Christmas. May we all have the opportunity to celebrate a busy year, reflect on the successes and challenges and be ready to return late January 2024 to start again.

Merry Christmas,

Veronica

As we reach the end of a bustling and challenging term, I would like to take a moment to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the incredible St John’s staff who have dedicated themselves to supporting and leading our students

This term has been marked by numerous achievements and positive moments that we should all be proud of. Here are a few things that I have noticed and would like to acknowledge:

St John’s Shout outs:

• Caroline Chisholm Medal recipients Felix Roczo, Saxon Chapman and Minh Trinh
• Congratulations to all SJ’s students for their dedication and application during the exam period.
• Inter- LM Year 8 winners led by Ms Nguyen
• Inter- LM ingenuity egg challenge winners 9F led by Ms. Cesile
• Our Year 9 students who successfully attended VET Orientation

To our Year 9 students who have officially completed their time at St John’s, thank you for your lively spirits, commitment to studies and all of the friendly daily interactions you have with staff. As you enter the senior years of your secondary education, I hope you take with you, all of the positive attributes and characteristics you have learnt in St. John’s and continue to develop these at the Sacred Heart Campus.

I wish all students and families a well-deserved Christmas break and a safe and happy holiday period.

Take care, throughout 2024.

Luke Robinson

As our year begins to conclude, many students will be finishing their academic year over the next few weeks. 
At the same time, we begin to prepare for our newest students who will be starting next year, and for the students who will be moving campus'.

28/11/2023  -  Year 7 Orientation Day

New students will get the opportunity to see the school and meet teachers and students who they'll get to know before they commence in 2024.

29/11/2023  -  Sacred Heart Induction

Students who are graduating to our Sacred Heart Campus will attend a full day orientation , with guest speakers and activities designed to help students learn their way around the campus and become more comfortable with the expectations and opportunities that come with being a senior student at Caroline Chisholm Catholic College. 

30/11/2023  -  House Activities Day

Students will have the opportunity to participate in a range of fun activities across various interest areas, including sport, art, and music.  

01/12/2023  -  Final Day for Year 7-9 Students

Students will be at their respective campuses for assemblies, clean-up, and farewell of year 9 students. 
Students finish at 1pm on this day.

10/11/2023  -  Alumni Reunion Evening

It's always a fun evening for our alumni at their reunion night, and the 10th was no exception! Our past students got to come back and see how the campus had changed, catch up with one another, and have a few drinks with old friends. 
If you're an alumni, we highly encourage you to sign up to our alumni platform here: https://cccc.alumnly.com/

14/11/2023  -  School Swimming Carnival

The students from St Johns and Christ the King displayed all their swimming strength to gain Waa points and contribute to the Brother Bouchard House Cup.

Congratulations to Devansh Attrey

Current senior student Devansh Attrey has been selected to represent Victorias part of The Premiers Spirit of Anzac prize.

Devansh was selected as one of 12 students in Victoria who will travel to Turkey next year for 10 days to involved in a study of the role of Australia’s involvement in WWI and Galipoli. This trip is fully funded.

Devansh was selected from hundreds of applications that had to submit an extensive essay on Australia’s involvement in WWI and its relevance today to Australia.

Devansh is an Air Force Cadet and his career dream is to join the ADFA.

We are so extremely proud of him and he is a fantastic selection for the college.

Devansh was presented with his certificate at Victorian Parliament House on Thursday in a very special ceremony that was attended by some major political heavyweights including:

The Minister of Education/ Deputy Premier – Ben Carroll

The Minister for Veterans – Natalie Suleyman

Our local Member – Sarah Connelly

17/11/2023  -  House Acts

All of the students at our recent House Acts Performances did an incredible job. Watching the students perform across music, dance and drama to earn points for the Brother Bouchard House Cup was amazing. Congratulations to all students involved!

Move your Body 'A Very Joyful Christmas' Program

The festive season can be one of great joy, but can also be incredibly difficult for those who may have struggles with food and eating. 
Earlier this year we had Angelica from Move Your Body come and speak to our Year 10 Psychology and Health classes has offered our students a discount for her 'A Very Joyful Christmas' program.

This program includes a collection o evidence-based nutrition, lifestyle and mental health resources specifically designed to support each of us in the lead up to Christmas.

Sign up using the QR code below if you think this is something that could help you or someone you know this Christmas season.

21/11/2023  -  Summer Music Concert

All students who participated in the recent Summer Music Concert did an amazing job. As always, the caliber of musical performance shown by our students is incredible, and it was a fabulous night

 The sausage sizzle raised funds for our annual Christmas fundraising, and was a popular option amongst students, staff and parents alike, and the students serving did a great job at getting through lot’s of hungry customers.

It was a popular event, held in the amphitheatre, with so many people attending that space became limited!

23/11/2023  -  Afternoon of Excellence

Our Afternoon of Excellence formally acknowledges our students who have demonstrated exemplary academic or behavioral performance throughout the year.  

Congratulations to all students who received recognition this year. 

Prayer for Christ the King

O Lord our God, You alone are the Most Holy Ruler of all peoples and nations.

We pray to You in the great expectation of receiving mercy, peace, justice and all good things.

Protect our families and our homes.

Protect us from those who act against us, and those who seek to undermine peace and goodness.

Forgive us our faults, our errors, and our omissions.

Jesus, You are a King of Mercy.

Have mercy on us, Lord, we trust in Your Great Mercy. Amen.