As we bask in the glow of yesterday’s Top 20 assembly, where we celebrated academic achievement from 2023 and scholarship winners for 2024, it is a great reminder of one of the ways we measure success here at the college.

The Top 20 assembly is more than just an event; it's a testament to the dedication and hard work of our students. It represents the culmination of countless hours spent studying, researching, and striving for excellence in their academic pursuits. From the valedictorian to the students who have shown remarkable improvement throughout the year, each individual honored at the assembly has left an indelible mark on our community.

Moreover, the assembly serves as a reminder of the diverse paths to success. While academic achievement is certainly commendable, it is not the only measure of success. The General Excellence scholarship winners for 2024 exemplify this notion, showcasing not only academic prowess but also leadership, resilience, and a commitment to making a positive impact on the world around them.

In celebrating these achievements, we also acknowledge the invaluable support network that surrounds our students. Behind every successful student is a team of dedicated educators, supportive family members, and mentors who have provided guidance and encouragement along the way. The Top 20 assembly is a moment to express gratitude to these individuals who have played a pivotal role in shaping the journey of our students.

I want to conclude with Philippians 4:13: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." This verse encapsulates the idea that success is not solely dependent on our own abilities, but also on the strength and guidance we receive from our faith. It serves as a powerful reminder that with God's help, we can overcome challenges, achieve our goals, and find success in all aspects of our lives.

- Laura Ruddick, Acting Principal

Our year has begun with great energy and joy in the Faith & Mission area. We’ve been blessed to welcome all of our new staff and year 7 students to the college in the recent College Opening Mass. This annual event was celebrated in our Blessed Daswa Hall filled to the brim with our growing community. We welcomed new staff, processed in our new Year 7 students and placed their name within the Sacred Heart statue for the next six years of safekeeping, and inducted our new student leaders. Furthermore, it was during this mass we announced our annual theme for 2024: Let love flow from the heart as living water.

Our theme is drawn from the story of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well in chapter 4 of John’s Gospel. This story is beautifully dramatized in this video and I encourage you all to watch it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=el7dzoNV3IY

Our theme focuses on two powerful symbols, water and the heart. When I think of living water I imagine a bubbling stream or flowing river bringing life to all about it. This water is alive and in turn brings life. The other symbol of the heart is significant in our college history due to our connection to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. A beating heart makes me think of life, of love, of energy and excitement – of our humanity. Our theme calls us to live with hearts so full of love for ourselves, our neighbours, and God that it overflows and reaches all around us. I entrust to you our annual theme and ask that you share in it, may your hearts flow with living water and love.

In this light I want to bring to attention of first fundraising appeal for the year: Project Compassion 2024 in collaboration with Caritas Australia. They work locally and internationally in areas such as crisis response, education, healthcare, community building, advocacy, peace and more. Every year during Lent we focus on prayer, fasting and almsgiving, and we encourage all our students and staff to think of others in need and contribute to the Project Compassion appeal.

To learn more about Project Compassion and donate to the fundraising appeal please visit: https://schools.projectcompassion.org.au/o/caroline-chisholm-catholic-college or use the QR code provided. I only ask that when you donate please include the Learner Mentor group of your child in the name so we can congratulate these Learner Mentor groups.

Thank you and have a blessed Lent,

Tristan O’Brien

Campus Report - St Johns

I would like to extend a warm welcome to all of the St John’s students, families and carers as we finish our third week of the 2024 academic year. It is pleasing to note the way students have returned full of energy and enthusiasm, ready and prepared to commence their studies and to make the most of a busy term.

On Wednesday 28^th of February from 6:30pm-8:00pm all families of Year 7 students are invited to join us for the Year 7 Social Night, which will be a great opportunity to meet the Year 7 team and families from our College community. I am looking forward to meeting the newest family members in our community.

A reminder to students and parents/careers that each Wednesday the College offers an After School Program where students engage sporting, learning and group activities. This is a great opportunity to come and have some fun with your friends in a supervised and supportive environment.

The College also offers a SJ Homework Club that runs in the BISC each Thursday afternoon from 3:10 pm- 4:10 pm, another opportunity to get some extra teacher support in completing any unfinished classwork or Checkpoint tasks. Hope to see many more students there each Thursday!

Finally, here is a list of some of the positive contributions staff and students have made to our community already!

St John’s Shout Outs!

• 8B and 8C who have relished the opportunity to catch some waves and form new bonds at camp. Thanks to Mr. Piperno and Ms. Saunders for accompanying the students.
• To the Year 7’s who have all successfully managed to work their locks! Always a challenge!
• Lachlan Boyd, the violin virtuoso for his performance at the Top 20 Assembly
• All of the students who put their names down to represent their Learner Mentor’s as leaders.
• Gratitude to all of the SJs Learner Mentor’s and staff who have supported a seamless introduction for our students.

Luke Robinson

Campus Report - Christ the King

Dear CTK Students, Parent and Guardians,

It has been a very smooth, calm, and positive start to the 2024 school year for the CTK students.

The weather has been very kind, especially for February and it is lovely to see our students looking refreshed from the Christmas break.

It is hard to believe we are already three weeks into the school year.

The first few weeks of the school year are always busy as we try to fit in the formal College functions and the new academic timetable. For most, classrooms have changed, and new friends have been made. For our Year 7 students, a great deal has been achieved in a short amount of time.

We mustn’t forget that our Year 7 students have come to us from very different environments, and it is a big deal to navigate a new school, new uniform, a timetable that constantly demands movement of students and teachers, and at the same time trying to fit in and feel a sense of belonging. We ask a great deal of our Year 7 students, yet they respond with enthusiasm and an energy.

Our Year 8 and 9 students have very much stepped up and entered the College with positive and caring mindsets, ready to engage and learn.

The term will continue to be busy, with Progress Reports and the wonderful opportunity for parents/guardians to connect with Learner Mentors onsite week 6.

Happy 2024,

Veronica

Campus Report Sacred Heart

The year has started very well at the Sacred heart Campus with students at years 10, 11 and 12 all engaged in their learning. The year 10’s are settling in to their new campus and the new year 10 area which is in the second year of operation, opposite the language centre. Year 11’s have entered VCE, and VCE-VM, and have begun planning study timetables and focusing on organisation skills in their Learner Mentor sessions. VET classes have started for students from year 10-12 with Certificate courses in subjects such as Early Childhood, Electrotechnology, Hospitality and Screen Media, just to name a few. There have already been SAC’s in a number of subjects and students are organising their time between school, study, working, sport and other activities, getting a balance between study and life and supporting each other in their learning.

The Sacred Heart students were lucky to have pancakes and ice-cream as we celebrated ‘Shrove Tuesday’ and they participated in Ash Wednesday Liturgies in their Learner Mentor classes to begin the season of Lent. We have had formal events such as our ‘Opening Mass’ and the ‘Top 20 Assembly’ and the Sacred Heart students were exemplary. They are amazing role models for the students at St. Johns and Christ the King, led by our wonderful year 12 cohort. The ‘Top 20 Assembly’ gave them all some insight in the dedication needed to achieve this and gave all the Sacred Heart students something to aspire to.

I look forward to the year ahead on the Sacred Heart Campus as we begin the journey of 2024 together.

Molly Coyne

Director of Sacred Heart Campus

Multicultural Education Aids

Here at 4C we're incredibly blessed to have three wonderful Multicultural Aids on staff. 

Ruth, Jeremiah and Kieu are all available to assist students and families.

You can contact them using the details on the cards below.

Breakfast Club Expands Days

Our every popular Breakfast Club is back for 2024, and is now running on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays on both campuses.

All students are welcome.

28/02 - Year 7 Parent/Carer Social Gathering

If you're a parent or carer for a Year 7 student, we would love to see you at our upcoming Social Gathering!

This is a chance to meet the Year 7 team and have a chat, as well as other parents and carers of Year 7 students. 

RSVP here: https://events.humanitix.com/y...

29/02 - Photo Catch Up Day

If your student didn't missed out on photo day earlier in the Term, the photographer will be back on the 29/02. It's a requirement that all students and teachers have valid photos for their Compass profiles and cards, so any students or teachers who haven't had a photo taken will have it taken on the 29th. 

Top Designs 2024 Student Entry

Congratulations to Cooper Smith, who has been selected to exhibit their VCE Visual Communication Design work in Top Designs 2024 at Melbourne Museum.

Top Designs is an annual exhibition coordinated by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) in partnership with Museums Victoria, showcasing outstanding design works made by VCE and VCE VET students from schools across the state.

This year, only 92 works were selected for the exhibition from over 1,000 applications. Selected works exemplify the innovation, skill and creativity that can be achieved within the Victorian Curriculum.

Top Designs will run from Saturday 23 March until Sunday 14 July at the Melbourne Museum, 11 Nicholson St, Carlton.

Commissioning Mass and Assembly

On the 5th of February we welcome new staff and our new 2024 student leadership team into their roles in our annual Commissioning Mass. 

Congratulations and welcome to all!

Girls Year 8 and 9 Interhouse Dodgeball

The Year 8 and 9 girls played their first round of Interhouse Dodgeball on Monday 12 February, and the final on Wednesday 13 February, with Galgani emerging the winner! 
Congratulations to all the students who participated.

Shrove Tuesday

Shrove Tuesday saw a pancake sale and an ice cream sale on both Campus'. As Tuesday 13 February was a 38 degrees, Ice Cream, proved incredibly popular - but the pancakes still sold incredibly well, with no leftovers! This was a final celebration, as many within our community begin Lenten practices on Ash Wednesday the following day.

Thanks to all who contributed, including students and teachers who cooked the pancakes!

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent for Christians across the world. Joining in that tradition, students completed a liturgy including being marked with Ash's during their LM groups on the 14th of February.

Senior Boys Futsal SACCSS

Our Senior Boys Futsal Team participated in a SACCSS event on Monday 12 February.

Overall goal scorers for the tournament were:

• Issacher Hailu (7 goals)
• Anthony Tran (5)
• Mayen Thou (3)
• Christian Kovko (3)
• Sam Edward (1)

Congratulations to all the students who performed exceptionally well, both on and off the court.

Top 20 Assembly

Once again we congratulated our students academic achievements in our Top 20 Assembly, this year held on Thursday 15 February.

It was wonderful to welcome back some of the class of 2023, but in the actual assembly and in the week before, as they were fitted for academic gowns and shared an afternoon tea with their past teachers.

We also had the opportunity to congratulate many of our high-achieving Year 11's who completed VCE subjects in 2023, along with those whose art has been purchased by the school.

Congratulations to all who were recognised.

Our prayer comes from Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion appeal for 2024. We pray this prayer during Lent with a focus on generosity, compassion and hospitality towards one another, especially those people in need.

God of all hope,

We prayer for our world with all its beauty and need.

We thank you for the love in our lives, that is a mirror of your unending love.

May all creation know your compassion this Lent, and may we take courage to share it., especially to those who don’t have what they need.

In our time, we hear the same words you spoke to Moses: “I will be with you,” when you ask us to do courageous things.

Through our prayer, fasting and charity, move us to act in the company of your Spirit showing compassion and acting for justice to renew the face of the Earth.

We do this now and for all future generations.

Amen.