From the Principal

Welcome back to the 2026 school year. I hope all our students and families enjoyed a restful summer break.

We look forward to another exciting year at the College, which will see considerable emphasis on the celebration of St Francis 800 years after his death!

Strengthening leadership for 2026 and beyond

As we look ahead to 2026, I am pleased to share an updated leadership structure for St Francis Catholic College designed to strengthen clarity, consistency, and support across our One School, Two Campuses model.

Heads of Campus

In 2026, we have two Deputy Principal – Head of Campus roles:

• Cobblebank - Kerrie-Ann Matthews
• Melton - Cheryl Bullen

The Head of Campus role is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the College and for campus-specific staff induction. This includes oversight of all administrative, logistical, and operational matters, as well as the implementation of the Vision for Engagement at each campus.

Each Head of Campus is supported by a Director of Campus Operations:

• Cobblebank: Brad Heeps
• Melton: Georgina Aboud and Steve Woolmer

They are also supported by the Directors of Student Wellbeing:

• Cobblebank: Brad Ryan (Please note that Lauren Smith is currently the Acting Director of Student Wellbeing while Brad Ryan is on leave.) 
• Melton: Meryem McLeod

The Directors of Student Wellbeing lead our team of House Leaders at each campus.

This structure ensures strong operational leadership and a continued focus on student wellbeing across both campuses.

We are also excited to introduce two new Deputy Principal positions in 2026, welcoming new leaders to the College.

Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching

Our new Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching is Jennifer Frisardi. Jennifer's cross-campus role is responsible for all aspects of teaching and learning across the College. This includes staff recruitment, the implementation of the Vision for Instruction, and the ongoing development of the College Instructional Model.

This role is supported by our Directors of Learning and Teaching:

• Cobblebank: Henryk Slosarski
• Melton: Victoria Kamcev-Nicdao

Working closely with Domain Leaders on both campuses, this team will promote excellence in learning and teaching while ensuring consistency across the College.

This commitment to consistency reflects our belief in One School, Two Campuses. Families can be confident that students receive the same high-quality education, regardless of which campus they attend.

Deputy Principal Professional Practice and Staff Wellbeing

We welcome Ray Green to the new role of Deputy Principal Professional Practice and Staff Wellbeing.

This cross-campus role has a dual focus:

• maintaining high professional standards for staff
• supporting the wellbeing and engagement of our staff through best-practice strategies.

This aligns with the third pillar of the MACS strategy. Vision for Leadership, to be released in 2026, which emphasises staff wellbeing and engagement.

Ray is supported by our Director of Professional Practice, Mollie Daphne.

We believe this refined leadership structure provides greater direction, ownership, and clarity for St Francis Catholic College. Most importantly, it supports our shared commitment to best-practice teaching, staff wellbeing, and improved outcomes for every student in our care.

Click here to read more about our new Deputy Principals.

Parents and Friends Association

Our Parents and Friends Association provides valuable support to me as Principal and serves as a sounding board for feedback on various ideas and activities at the College. Members meet twice per term, and fundraising is not required, as it is included in school fees.

At each meeting, I present a report, and a guest speaker provides details on particular initiatives or changes occurring at the College.

I encourage all new Year 7 parents and guardians, as well as other members of our community, to join us. Meetings rotate between campuses and are held online in Terms 2 and 3.

The first meeting for 2026 will be held at the Melton Campus on Tuesday 24 February at 7pm. To express interest in joining the meeting, please email our Director of Community Relations, Amy Rowley, at arowley@sfcc.vic.edu.au

Welcome Evenings

I look forward to catching up with you at our upcoming Welcome Evenings. All parents and guardians have been emailed details and are encouraged to attend.

Looking Ahead - Melton Campus

Looking Ahead - Cobblebank Campus

Welcome Evenings

Families are warmly invited to attend our family Welcome Evenings at:

• Cobblebank Campus on Tuesday 10 February - please enter the campus through pedestrian gates 2 or 3 at the front of the campus.
• Melton Campus on Thursday 12 February - please enter the campus through Gate 1 on Bulmans Road and go to Sheehan Stadium.

The welcome evening is a great opportunity to meet your child’s mentor teacher, house leader, and other families from your campus.

Join us for pizza from 6pm – 6.30pm, followed by a welcome from Principal Marlene Jorgensen. After the Principal’s address, parents and guardians are welcome to attend the following presentations.

Cobblebank Campus

Year 7: House Leaders will provide an introduction to secondary school, our House structure, the College’s Core Wellbeing Values, the SHIELD Program, the Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) Program, and other policies and procedures.

Years 8-9: A presentation by Middle Years Curriculum Leader, Melissa Staley, to inform parents and guardians of key testing dates (including NAPLAN), provide an overview of our new teaching and learning model and explain why we do Academic Recall.

Year 10: Introduction to the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), VCE Vocational Major (VCE VM) and the Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC).

If you have children in different year levels, please attend the information session that best meets your needs.

Please remember that all children who attend the welcome evening must be supervised by parents/guardians at all times, including during the formal presentations. No child is permitted to roam the College grounds unsupervised by a parent/guardian.

For catering purposes, please click here to RSVP to the Cobblebank Campus Welcome Evening.

Melton Campus

Year 7: Introduction to SFCC and life at the College as a student in the junior years. A meeting with your child’s House Mentor and House Leader.

Year 8, 9 and 10: Thinking Traps by Toolbox Education. This presentation offers parents practical, science-backed tools to help young people recognise their thinking patterns and build confidence as they develop and grow.

Year 11 and 12: Senior School Information Session and Expectations

The Year 11 and 12 information session is relevant for all parents and guardians of VCE, VCE VM, and VPC students. It will cover important aspects of senior school, provide guidance and advice for families, and outline programs and policies pertinent to VCE students in 2026.

If you have children in different year levels, please select the information session that best meets your needs. 

For catering purposes, please click here to RSVP to the Melton Campus Welcome Evening.

We look forward to celebrating the beginning of the year with you.

If you have any questions about the evening, please email Amy Rowley, Director of Community Relations at arowley@sfcc.vic.edu.au.

School Photo Day Information

School photos will be taken as follows:

Melton Campus: Friday 6 February

2026 Photo Day Flyer - Melton Campus

Cobblebank Campus: Tuesday 10 February

2026 Photo Day Flyer - Cobblebank Campus

Please ensure your child wears the full academic uniform and brings their blazer for the photograph, even if they have a PE class.

You are not required to order or pay before photo day. Your child will receive a code to order photos when they are available.

Request a sibling/family photo

Cobblebank Campus

Sibling/family photos will also be taken at Cobblebank Campus on photo day – Tuesday 10 February.

If you would like your children to be photographed together, click here before photo day to request a sibling/family photograph.

Please enter the name and class of the eldest sibling and the names and classes of all other siblings to be included in the photo

Please note: sibling/family photo requests close at midnight the night before photo day.

Melton Campus

Sibling/family photos will also be taken at Melton Campus on Thursday 19 February.

If you would like your children to be photographed together, click here before photo day to request a sibling/family photograph.

Please enter the name and class of the eldest sibling and the names and classes of all other siblings to be included in the photo

Please note: sibling/family photo requests close at 9am on Thursday 18 February.

Simon Everywhere App

The Simon Everywhere app remains offline for all SFCC families.

Please click here log in to your PAM account via our website.

The parent portal can be easily accessed from the Portals tab that sits at the top of all pages on our website.

Just look for this icon.

If you have any difficulty logging into your PAM account, please contact the College on 8099 6000.

Faith and Mission - Upcoming Events

House Mass

Students and staff of Bakhita House will be the first to celebrate Mass together for 2026 on Wednesday 11 February.

All family members of students in Bakhita House are invited to attend Mass at 10.15am at St Catherine of Siena Church, Bulmans Road, Melton West.

We will gather as a house on this day to celebrate our patron, St Josephine Bakhita.

Opening College Mass 

Our Opening College Mass will be held at St Patrick’s Cathedral on Monday 16 February for all staff and students from both Cobblebank and Melton campuses. 

Buses will depart from 8.40am sharp, so it is important that everyone is on time so we can all arrive at the Cathedral ready to commence Mass at the scheduled time.

Students must wear the full academic uniform and bring their own water and lunch on this day.

Parents and guardians are asked to ensure the PAM permission request for this day is completed promptly. If you have any difficulties logging into PAM, please contact the College on 8099 6000.

Caritas Walk for Water

On Tuesday 17 February, all Year 7 students will participate in The Big Water Walk.

The walk is a Caritas initiative designed to engage students in learning and action to support people in Africa, Asia, and the Pacific who walk long distances every day to collect clean water.

Melton students will walk to Navan Park where they will receive buckets of water and take turns carrying them back to their campus. Cobblebank students will do the same, walking to and from the Atherstone Wetlands and Conservation Reserve.

By joining the 6km Big Water Walk challenge, students will be:

• acting in solidarity with students and families across the world who lack access to clean water

• learn about social justice and live out the principles of Catholic Social Teaching

• be inspired to raise funds to support communities across the world who dream of a better future.

Introducing Our New Deputy Principals

This week, we asked our two new Deputy Principals to introduce themselves to the SFCC community.

Jennifer Frisardi – Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching

Hello to all of our St Francis families - I come to you from Notre Dame College in Shepparton, where I’ve spent the past 14 years in a range of leadership roles, most recently as Deputy Principal. Over that time, I’ve worked across many areas, but at heart I belong in learning and teaching, and I’m excited to return my focus to this work.

I have always been passionate about learning and look forward to the new challenges this role will bring as I support the College's vision to ensure your children are working towards their learning goals.

It is a great privilege to work with young people in Catholic education, and it inspires me in my work to see their passion for our world and the roles they can play in it.

St Francis' Feast Day also happens to be my birthday, and I've long felt an affinity for his focus on the creation and the dignity of every person.

I was lucky to be able to chat to some of our new Year 7 students at the Melton Campus last Friday morning and they were both nervous and excited about commencing their high school journey.

I will be teaching a Year 7 Italian class at the Cobblebank Campus and am looking forward to getting to know you and your children as I settle into this already very welcoming community.

Ray Green - Deputy Principal – Professional Practice and Staff Wellbeing

Hi everyone - I am not only new to St Francis Catholic College, but also new to Australia, having trained and worked in the UK before moving to New Zealand in 2009.

I am very excited to be in this new role, created in response to the increased need to support staff professional growth and wellbeing. I have heard great things about this college.

In my career, I have held a wide variety of roles across schools of diverse sizes and profiles, and I hope to bring this experience to my new role supporting our great teachers in bringing out the best in the young people of St Francis Catholic College.

Although I have worked in both faith-based and secular schools, I feel most at home in Catholic education. With clear values guiding our collective work, I am deeply committed to upholding a culture where both teachers and students feel supported, valued, and empowered to thrive.

I have arrived in Melbourne with my wife and two dogs, and I look forward to experiencing the best aspects of this great city.

Wellbeing Teams at SFCC

The start of the year is always a busy and exciting time, full of new routines, fresh beginnings, and a mix of emotions.

As students organise their equipment and settle into their daily routines, it has been wonderful to see them embrace their new year level with enthusiasm.

The excitement of reconnecting with friends and getting to know new teachers has created a positive and happy start to the year.

Over the coming weeks, students will continue to develop clear routines and expectations through our Positive Behaviour 4 Learning (PB4L) framework.

By consistently reinforcing our College Core Wellbeing Values or Empathy, Community, and Endeavour, we are supporting students to make positive choices, build strong relationships, and feel confident in their learning environments.

These routines help students feel safe, supported, and ready to learn each day.

To guide and support our students, our Wellbeing and Learning and Teaching teams work closely with classroom teachers, families, and individual students.

Each team provides support for students’ social, emotional, and behavioural needs, ensuring every student feels connected, supported, and able to thrive at school.

To meet your campus wellbeing team, you are encouraged to attend the following Welcome Evenings. All families have also been emailed an invitation.

Cobblebank Campus Welcome Evening: Tuesday 10 February

Melton Campus Welcome Evening: Thursday 12 February

It is a great opportunity to meet your child’s subject teachers, House Mentor, and House Leader, as well as connect with other families in our school community.

Melton Campus 2026 Wellbeing Team

Cheryl Bullen – Deputy Principal - Head of Melton Campus

Meryem McLeod – Director of Student Wellbeing

Rebecca Toms – Anthony House Leader

Lucas McLennan – Bakhita House Leader

Jo Clinton - Bernard House Leader

Johnathon Bissell – Catherine House Leader

Jesse Sciberras – Dominic House Leader

Nathan Hunter-Gerber – Glowrey House Leader

Jordan Reithofer – Lawrence House Leader

Bianca Mifsud – MacKillop House Leader

Cobblebank Campus 2026 Wellbeing Team

Kerrie-Ann Matthews – Deputy Principal – Head of Cobblebank Campus

Director of Student Wellbeing – Brad Ryan

Acting Director of Student Wellbeing – Lauren Smith

Lauren Marett - Anthony House Leader

Lauren Smith - Bakhita House Leader

Vitolio Paulo - Acting Bakhita House Leader

Cassi Bottrell - Bernard House Leader

Sophie Martin - Catherine House Leader

Blake Ivory - Dominic House Leader

Michael Bretag - Glowrey House Leader

Stuart Carter - Lawrence House Leader

Shey Gordon - MacKillop House Leader

Student Wellbeing Practitioners

Jess Mitsch – Team Leader Psychologist (Cross-Campus)

Amber Lawrence – Psychologist (Melton)

Annie Sexton- Psychologist (Cobblebank)

Lucy Pilla – Counsellor (Melton)

Ashlee Schultz - Counsellor (Cross-Campus)

We look forward to working alongside you, sharing in your child’s learning journey, and celebrating their many achievements throughout the year.

Learning Diversity at St Francis Catholic College

The Learning Diversity Team at SFCC supports students with disabilities or learning needs and works closely with individuals, families, and teachers to make educational adjustments tailored to each student’s needs.

Recognising that the same approach may not apply to all students, our teachers make adjustments to facilitate access to the educational opportunities within the school.

Our Learning Diversity Leaders and teachers work together to ensure that adjustments are individually tailored to maximise growth for each learner.

The Learning Diversity Team at SFCC is aligned with the House system.

At Melton Campus, the Learning Diversity Leaders who oversee students with learning needs or disabilities are:

• Sandra Carey – Bernard and MacKillop house
• Joyce Keirsten – Anthony and Catherine house
• Charlene Nedinis – Bakhita and Glowrey house
• Gary White – Dominic and Lawrence house.

At Cobblebank Campus, the Learning Diversity Leaders who oversee students with learning needs or disabilities are:

• Andrea Nassiep – Anthony and Glowrey house
• Helen Kennedy – Catherine and Dominic house
• Tim Mahon – Bakhita and Lawrence house
• Jessica Meegama – Bernard and Mackillop house.

Our Director of Learning Diversity, Grant Buckler, works across both campuses and oversees Year 12 students at the Melton Campus.

If you have concerns regarding your child’s progress or wish to speak to a learning Diversity Leader, please contact the appropriate campus and ask for the Learning Diversity Leader who is aligned with your child’s house.

Wearing Correct Footwear for PE Classes

Students must wear proper runners with their PE uniform for safety and performance.

As outlined in the SFCC Uniform Policy, sneakers of any kind are not permitted. Students in improper footwear will incur consequences under the incorrect uniform flow chart, which may affect their ability to participate in PE classes and school sports teams until the issue is resolved.

Below are some examples of appropriate vs inappropriate footwear for your reference.

Road Safety at Cobblebank Campus

Motorists who pick up students from Cobblebank Campus after school are asked to be mindful of blocking traffic along Bridge Road and Adelong Boulevard while waiting for campus gates to open at 3pm.

Please park in the available bays while you wait, or delay your arrival until the gates open.

Please visit the Transport page on our website for full details about our drop-off and pick-up zone.

Ferris Road Closure for Rail Works

Ferris Road will be closed from 7pm Friday 27 February to 7am Monday 2 March between the roundabout at Abey Road and Shogaki Drive and the intersection at Hollingsworth Drive and Coach Street.

Detours will be in place. Please see the Level Crossing Removal Project works notice below and allow extra time for travel.

Ferris Road closure February 2026

Sport at SFCC

Welcome to all our new students this year! There is a range of sports opportunities available to you:

• Athletics Carnival (Term 1; all students)
• Swimming Carnival (Term 4; Years 7-8 and any students trialling for the Swimming Championships in 2027)
• Senior Sport (Years 10-12; Term 1 is Netball and Cricket, Term 2 is Volleyball and AFL, Term 3 is Basketball and Soccer)
• Premier League Basketball, Volleyball, Netball, AFL, Cricket, Soccer (Term 1 is Year 10 Cobblebank Campus only, Term 2 is Year 7, Term 3 is Year 9, Term 4 is Year 8)
• One-day Tournaments (Golf, Tennis, AFL, Badminton, Mixed Netball, Futsal, Hockey)

Trials to select teams are held a few weeks before the start date for each sport. Keep an eye on Simon Daily Messages for these trial dates, and make sure you attend or notify the coach listed.

If you have any questions related to interschool sport or the sport carnivals at the College, please contact:

Melton Campus – Claudia Alp, Director of Sport Cross-Campus, Head of Sport/Sports Coordinator

Cobblebank Campus – Miss Sophie Cryan, Head of Sport/Sports Coordinator

Year 12 Retreat

The Year 12 Retreat provided a valuable opportunity for the student to pause and reflect on their place in the world ahead of what will undoubtedly be a busy final year of school.

Stepping away from daily routines gave them time to reflect more deeply on their values, sense of purpose, and who they are and hope to become.

Through shared activities and meaningful conversations, they gained opportunities to strengthen their bonds with peers and deepen their appreciation for the support and understanding that come from shared experiences.

The retreat also encouraged the students to challenge societal expectations around success, particularly the pressure to define self-worth through academic results or external validation.

Through moments of prayer and quiet reflection, they were able to slow down, find clarity, and connect with their faith.

Student reflections

The recent year 12 retreat allowed for an easy and seamless transition into the new school year and acted as a moment of fun and reflection before the inevitable trials of Year 12 begin. During the retreat, we were able to put ourselves out there in ways we might not usually be able to, and by mingling with different people and groups, we connected through a shared experience - the beginning of the end of our schooling journey.

Among the many activities we did, my favourite was the girls' segment on the first day, when we separated from the men in our cohort and discussed topics relevant to our daily lives.

It provided a means for reflection and deeper insight into myself and my thoughts and feelings, in a more positive and nuanced way. I also enjoyed the affirmation letters, which enabled us to write positive handwritten messages to the people around us while highlighting the virtues of others we deeply cherish.

I had a lovely time at the camp, and I’m glad I was able to spend my time there with some of the people I love and appreciate the most in life. Temilola

I enjoyed the times I laughed with my friends and how we made the experiences fun. Nyandeng

It was an eye-opening experience for the cohort and definitely a moment for reflection before our final year begins. The activities helped us connect, gave us a chance to express our gratitude for one another and share our stories. It was a time to reflect and unite as one cohort for our final year of high school. Hannah

The PGL campsite served as a comforting and memorable place for the many experiences we had. From the kind and approachable staff to the clean and cozy cabins. This allowed students and staff to focus on the camp's reflection and connection aspects. The most enjoyable part of the retreat was the chance to reconnect and form new connections with people I wouldn’t expect to speak to. This experience gave us the confidence to enter the final year of high school with a sense of community and genuine connections, reducing the risk of feeling alone during this stressful time. Selena

The retreat was a fun experience as we spent time with our friends and did many activities. Although it only went for a night, it was very memorable and something to look back on. Many moments of laughter were shared, and it was an amazing time. Tess

Retreat was a great way for our cohort to bond and have fun together, while also learning more about one another and relieving the stress of the upcoming year. We all had so much fun and are so grateful for the experience. Elle and Abbey

The retreat was a deeply relaxing and refreshing experience. One of the most meaningful activities was sharing affirmation cards, which was both fulfilling and encouraging, especially hearing how friends see and appreciate one another. Ending the retreat with Mass was a perfect conclusion, and the time spent in Adoration was particularly powerful and peaceful. Paeki

Catholic Youth Festival

At the end of November last year, 24 students from Melton and Cobblebank journeyed into the city to join thousands of young Catholics at the Australian Catholic Youth Festival.

Over three days, after a pilgrimage from St Patrick's Cathedral to the Melbourne Expo Centre, students participated in praise and worship, celebrated Mass, and attended talks and workshops exploring the Catholic faith.

Our students were excited to see so many young Australian Catholics gathered to learn about and praise Our Lord, and they returned with a refreshed outlook on their faith.

Cobblebank Campus Fire Danger Procedures

Fire danger ratings and warnings are used in Victoria to provide clear direction on the safest options in a bushfire.

School procedures for days of Catastrophic fire danger

Schools listed on the BARR will be closed when a Catastrophic fire danger day is declared in their weather district. The Cobblebank Campus has been identified as being one of those at high bushfire risk and is listed on the BARR, so it will close on any declared Catastrophic fire danger days.

We will provide as much notice of a Catastrophic fire danger day as we can. A Catastrophic day will be declared the day before. Once we are advised of the declaration, we will provide you with advice before the end of the school day.

Once a Catastrophic day has been declared, the rating will not change, regardless of improvements in the weather forecast. This is to avoid confusion and help your family plan alternative care arrangements for your child.

It is also important to note that:

• No staff will be on-site on days when the school is closed due to Catastrophic fire danger.

• School camps will be cancelled if a Catastrophic fire danger day is determined for the weather district in which the camp is located. (Camps in some bushland areas may also be cancelled in the event of an Extreme fire danger day, but this will be determined on a case-by-case basis.)

• All bus routes will be cancelled.

On Catastrophic days, families are encouraged to enact their bushfire plan – on such days, children should never be left at home alone or in the care of older children. For those in bushfire-prone areas, fire services advise that the safest option is to leave the night before or early on the morning of Catastrophic days.

As part of preparing our school for potential hazards such as fire, the school has a robust Emergency Management Plan, and ensures that school grounds and facilities are well prepared for bushfire.

What can you do?

• Download the VicEmergency app to stay informed about emergencies and warnings in your area.

• Ensure we have your current contact details, including your mobile phone numbers.

• Keep in touch with us by reading our newsletters and by checking our website

• During the warmer months of the year, if you’re planning a holiday or short stay in the bush or in a coastal area, check warnings in advance of travel and remain vigilant during your stay.

Community Notice

International Women's Day Dinner

Useful Links

Keep updated with College events, procedures, resources and information via the links below.

PAM – Parent Portal

Enrolment

Parent Handbook

SFCC Careers Website

Facebook

Instagram

Policies

Uniform

Library