College Street News | Issue 9, 2026

Loving God, 

As Term 3 comes to an end, we thank you for guiding us through every challenge, achievement and opportunity to grow.

Thank you for our teachers, staff, families and friends, whose encouragement and support have helped us along the way.

Give us strength and perseverance as we complete our responsibilities, peace during times of pressure and gratitude for the gifts and opportunities we have received.

Bless those who are tired, worried or facing difficulties. May they know your presence and be strengthened by your love.

As we look ahead, guide us with wisdom, hope and courage. Help us to use our gifts generously, care for one another and continue to grow in faith, so that we may Live Fully Act Justly in all we do.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. 

Amen.

2026 has been a significant year of growth and development for Catholic Regional College Caroline Springs. The College continues to experience strong demand for Catholic secondary education across Caroline Springs and the surrounding growth corridors, with our transition to a fully integrated Year 7–12 secondary college remaining a key strategic priority. Year 11 will commence in 2027, followed by our first Year 12 cohort in 2028, providing students and families with a seamless Catholic education pathway from Year 7 through to Year 12.

Preparations for the commencement of Year 11 in 2027 are progressing very well. Students will have access to a comprehensive senior secondary program, including 34 VCE subjects, the VCE Vocational Major and a range of VET opportunities through CRC Sydenham and VET Cluster providers.

Construction of our new Senior School building has also commenced and is progressing as planned. Scheduled for completion for the start of the 2028 school year, the facility will include 14 general learning classrooms, three senior science laboratories, dedicated staff workspaces, specialist learning and support spaces, a purpose-designed VCE Student Lounge and a dedicated Pathways Centre. This significant investment will provide contemporary facilities to support the academic, wellbeing and pathways needs of our senior students.

Alongside these major developments, the College has continued to provide a rigorous academic program and a rich range of co-curricular and enrichment opportunities. These have included SACCSS sporting competitions, excursions and incursions, faith formation and wellbeing days, assemblies and liturgies, music performances and concerts. A particular highlight was our College musical, The Little Mermaid, which played to sold-out audiences from 23–25 July. These experiences contribute greatly to student engagement, wellbeing, personal growth and connection to our College community.

We recently celebrated our annual Live Fully, Act Justly Day, including our whole-school Mass and a range of festivities. This special day provides an opportunity to celebrate our Catholic identity and reflect on our shared commitment to faith, service, justice and living our College motto.

Our Mass was celebrated by Fr Richard Rosse, Parish Priest of St Catherine of Siena, whose homily on the Holy Spirit was both relevant and inspiring. Following Mass, our College Captains, Best Nnajieze and Richardine Culas, addressed the College community. Best reflected beautifully on the meaning of our motto:

“Living fully does not only mean to seize opportunities, but to become closer to Jesus. By acting justly, we can love God and every person through not only words, but actions.”

These words capture the heart of what it means for us to Live Fully, Act Justly.

I thank all of our student leaders for their outstanding contribution to College life, particularly our College Captains, Best and Richardine, who have led with grace, vision and commitment. I also acknowledge our Deputy Captains, Manuela Ma and Gabriella L; Faith and Social Justice Captain, Matilda S; Performing Arts Captain, Emilia R; our House Captains and all student leaders who serve our community with dedication and pride.

A treasured tradition of Live Fully, Act Justly Day is the recognition of staff who have reached significant milestones of service to the College. Their generosity, professionalism and commitment have helped shape CRCCS into the community it is today. We congratulate and sincerely thank our staff recognised for 10 and 15 years of service.

15 years
Margaret Gray Bannerman

10 years

Anne Crockford

Artemis Stephanou

Danielle Galea

Emmeka Reithofer

Ian Amador

Jamie Lee Lafferrairie

Jamie Madigan

Kelly Nguyen

Victoria Lalor

I also extend my sincere thanks to Katie Murray Fawcett, our Live Fully, Act Justly Day committee, administration, finance and maintenance teams, Paul Sammut and the Catholic Identity and Mission team, Danny Godoy for overseeing the Talent Quest, and Allison Caruana for coordinating the chair movement and logistics. Their work ensured the day was a wonderful celebration for our entire College community.

As we come to the end of Term 3, I extend my deep gratitude to all members of our teaching and support staff, including our IT, Maintenance, Counselling, Learning Diversity, Library, Administration, Finance and Support teams. Their professionalism, dedication and generosity of spirit ensure that our College continues to operate effectively and, most importantly, that our students are supported to flourish each day. On behalf of the CRCCS community, thank you for your commitment and care.

Overall, 2026 marks another significant chapter in the history of Catholic Regional College Caroline Springs. The transition to Year 7–12, the introduction of senior secondary pathways and the construction of our new Senior School represent exciting opportunities for the future. At the same time, our continued focus on learning, wellbeing, faith and community ensures that we remain firmly committed to our mission to Live Fully, Act Justly.

Finally, I wish all members of our College community a safe and restful holiday break. May it provide an opportunity to rest, rejuvenate and spend quality time with loved ones. We look forward to welcoming everyone back in Term 4 for another term of learning, growth and the pursuit of excellence in all aspects of College life.

Term Three Interim Reports were released via SEQTA Engage (for parents and carers) and SEQTA Learn (for students) on Thursday 17 September.

Interim Reports are designed to provide students, parents and carers with a snapshot of a student’s progress and work habits at the midpoint of the semester. Teachers will also use the Interim Report to either request or welcome a meeting with parents and students for our upcoming Student Parent Teacher Interviews to be held on Monday 5 October.

In the Interim Report, student work habits are reported against the following categories:

Demonstrates academic improvement

• Demonstrates growth in class tasks and assessments.

Applies effort

• Attempts all tasks

• Maintains attention in class

• Participates in class

• Cooperates and collaborates in class

Manages personal learning

• Punctuality

• Brings correct materials to class

• Organisation

• Satisfactory completion of set homework, in a timely manner

• Seeks teacher support as required

Demonstrates appropriate behaviours

• Works respectfully with peers and teachers.

• Respects Self, Others and our Environment.

Following the release of Interim Reports, if you have any questions about the report or your child's progress, please contact your child’s subject teacher.

This is a reminder that on Monday 5 October (Week 1 of Term 4), the College will be holding Student Parent Teacher Interviews (SPTI) onsite.

Please note that there will be no classes on this day.

Booking your interviews

Bookings are made through our online platform (Booked), available via the link below or through the College website:

Student Parent Teacher Online Platform.

To access the platform:

• click on the link above
• click on the tab “Obtain Password”
• enter your email address registered with the College
• a password will be sent to your email for login
• return to the link above and use your email and password to login.

We recommend logging in ahead of time to ensure everything is working smoothly. Note that while you can login early, the system will not allow you to make a booking until Friday 18 September.

Key dates

Bookings open on the platform: 9:00am, Friday 18 September
Bookings close on the platform: 9:00am, Thursday 1 October
Student/Parent/Teacher Interviews: 9am to 8pm Monday 5 October.

Please note:

• Before bookings open, teachers will show as “No Times Available”
• Each interview runs for 10 minutes
• Each teacher has a limited number of available times, so we encourage you to book early.

On the day

• Students are expected to attend interviews with their parent/carer
• Please arrive on time and follow your scheduled booking times
• Interpreters can be arranged where required
• A map for the day is attached but will also be available on the day for your reference.

Purpose of Interviews

These interviews are an opportunity to:

• discuss your child’s progress following interim reports
• identify strengths and areas for improvement
• set goals for the remainder of the year.

If you require any assistance with bookings, please contact College Reception on 9217 8000.

Thank you for your support, and we look forward to seeing you on the day.

Catholic Regional College proudly celebrated our Live Fully Act Justly Day last Friday September 11. It was an incredible day for our school community where our staff and students gathered to celebrate Mass, celebrate staff service awards, take part in our annual carnival and talent quest. Our students fully embraced what the day had to offer and we could not be prouder of their efforts.

This year our students were able to enjoy various activities such as a petting zoo, rides, face painting, photobooth, basketball tournaments and delicious treats including chocolate and candy, donuts, potato twists, ice cream and showbags. In the afternoon we gathered in the College Hall once again to enjoy the incredible talents of our students as well as a very special appearance by some of our brave staff members, including our very own College principal who took John Farnham to a whole new level! We were once again blessed with beautiful blue skies and sunshine, and to see the smile on the students faces at the conclusion of the day was something truly special.

Given that our College Feast Day is named after our motto to ‘live fully act justly’ it is an important reminder of our ongoing commitment and mission to support our Uganda Project. This year the College were incredibly proud of the generous donations of our College families. In total, we raised over $25,000 which will allow us to construct further classroom blocks and continue the support of providing more resources for the students learning at St. Francis of Kizinga.

Once again, a huge thank you to our staff for their contribution and work in supporting Live Fully Act Justly Day 2026 as well as our students and their families for their online donations and token purchases. Looking forward to 2027 where we will have the opportunity to celebrate our 20^th anniversary as a College community.

We are delighted to announce our 2027 College Captains, who will take on an important leadership role within our College community next year:

• Best N - College Captain (Year 11)
• Emilia R - College Captain (Year 11)
• Matilda S - Deputy College Captain (Year 10)
• Xander R - Deputy College Captain (Year 10)

All candidates completed a written application, were shortlisted and then presented to a panel which consisted of our College Principal, Deputy Principal Student Wellbeing and the 2027 House and Student Leadership Coordinator. Students were asked to present their vision for student leadership, a new initiative and answer questions from the panel.

Our incoming College Captains demonstrated commitment, enthusiasm and a genuine desire to serve others. They will work closely with students, staff and families to help build a positive, inclusive and connected community as the school grows into a Yr 7-12 College in 2027 and 2028. We look forward to seeing them grow as leaders throughout next year and the ways in which they will represent and contribute to our school.

We congratulate Best, Emilia, Matilda and Xander and wish them every success as they begin this exciting leadership journey.

On Friday 11 September, our College community gathered for the annual Live Fully Act Justly Feast Day Mass, a significant celebration of our College motto and our call to live with faith, purpose and service.

Celebrated as a Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit, the liturgy reminded us that God is present in all we do as a Catholic school community. In his homily, Fr Richard Rosse encouraged us to seek the guidance and protection of the Holy Spirit in every decision we make. Drawing on Romans, Isaiah and the Beatitudes, he reminded us that the Spirit strengthens us in weakness, sends us to bring hope to others, and calls us to be people of mercy, justice and peace.

This same call to live by the Spirit was reflected in our acknowledgement of staff members who have served our College community for 10 and 15 years. We gave thanks for their dedication, generosity and witness to our mission, and for the many ways they continue to shape the spirit of our College through everyday acts of presence, care and service.

The message of the Mass was also expressed through our continued partnership with St Francis Kizinga Secondary School in Uganda. Students were encouraged to “live fully” by embracing the gifts God has given them and to “act justly” by standing in solidarity with those who are vulnerable or in need. In this way, the celebration reminded us that faith finds its fullest expression when it is accompanied by action.

As we continue through the semester, may the Holy Spirit guide our words, choices and actions. Inspired by the promise that the Spirit may we continue to be people of hope, mercy, justice and peace, living fully in God’s love and acting justly in service of others.

"What does the Lord require of you but to act justly, to love tenderly, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8)

Our College community recently gathered with great joy to celebrate our annual Father’s Day Mass and breakfast. It was a special opportunity to honour and give thanks for the fathers, grandfathers, stepfathers, carers and significant male role models who offer such generous love, guidance and support in the lives of our students.

The morning began with Mass, where we came together in prayer and thanksgiving for the gift of fatherhood. Fr Richard spoke beautifully about the vocation of fathers and the quiet, faithful ways they reflect God’s love through their care, sacrifice, encouragement and presence. As a Catholic community, we were reminded that the love of a father is a powerful witness to God’s own love for each of us.

Following Mass, our guests enjoyed breakfast together, sharing conversation, laughter and time with their children. There was a genuine sense of gratitude throughout the morning as families came together in the spirit of community. It was heartening to see so many people present, and it reminded us of the strong partnership between home and school in helping our young people grow in faith, character and compassion.

We extend our sincere thanks to all the fathers and special guests who joined us, and to the staff and students who helped prepare and support the Mass and breakfast. Their generosity and care helped make the morning a memorable celebration.

As we continue through the year, we give thanks for the many fathers and father figures in our community. May God continue to bless them with wisdom, strength and love and may their families be surrounded by His grace and peace.

This year, Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) has launched a new child-safe campaign and website called MACS Care. The purpose of this is to assist schools in continuing to build a child safety culture and maintain compliance with the Victorian Child Safe Standards.

The MACS care website includes a number of resources and templates to guide schools throughout the year as they focus on all 11 standards each month.

This month, we will be focussing on Child Safe Standard 8: Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.

As Catholic educators our commitment to child safety ensures that staff undertake ongoing training and professional development that supports them to identify children at risk. Such training will also support staff in recognising indicators of harm, take action when it comes to wellbeing and child safe concerns and ultimately create culturally safe environments where our young people feel protected.

Child Safe Standard 8 recognises that safeguarding requires ongoing learning, development and reflection for staff. Professional development ensures that educators are informed when it comes to legislative obligations, evolving risks and what is best practice when it comes to student wellbeing and child safety.

I encourage you to read the Newsletter Child Safe Standard 8 which will give you a better understanding of what our College do to ensure our students are safe and the processes involved in making Catholic Regional College Caroline Springs a child safe school.

Our school celebrated Book Week from 24 - 27 August, with this year’s theme, “Bands, Books and Stories.” The theme provided us with a wonderful opportunity to showcase books featuring music and celebrate the connections between music, books and storytelling.

The library was transformed with purple streamers and two giant guitars, creating a fun and colourful atmosphere for students. A Book Fair was also held, giving students the opportunity to purchase books at discounted prices.

Throughout Book Week, library staff organised a range of competitions and lunchtime activities, including a pinata, Wheel of Fortune and photo wall. It was wonderful to see so many students getting involved and enjoying the activities.

Congratulations to our winners!

Best Borrower of Library Books

Sarah Kurian – Novels

Karl Kalibbala – Manga

Zein Touma – E-books

Guess the Children's Book Council Award Prize Winners – Older Reader Section

Winner: Lewis-Dimitrije Perkovic

Runner-up: Madeline Chung

Guess the Book in the Jar

Winner: Ivana Bryla

Runner-up: Eleanor Cuze

A big thank you to everyone who purchased books from the Book Fair and participated in our Book Week activities. Your enthusiasm and support helped make Book Week a fun and successful week in the library.

This is just a gentle reminder to our families that our College gates do not open until 8am. Students that arrive at this time are invited to access the library where it is supervised. Students are requested to only access the basketball courts of a morning and avoid going on the oval and soccer pitch.

Please note that staff on morning yard duty do not begin until 8.25am and after school supervision concludes at 3.20pm.

If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact the College.

On Wednesday September 9, four year 8 and 9 Chess Club students participated in the Secondary Open Chess Regional State Final at Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School against one hundred and thirty four students from around Victoria. 

In order to qualify for this event, students had to finish amongst the top students at the Northern Star Chess Tournament and SACCSS Chess Tournament which took place earlier in the year. 

Playing 7 games throughout the day, students competitively tested their skill and strategy against opponents of execeptional Chess ability resulting in the College finishing in fourteenth place on the leaderboard amongst twenty six schools. 

Congratulations to Abel, Joshua, James and Nathaniel for their success in representing the College and their outstanding Chess skills!

During Week 6, the College celebrated National Science Week with a range of activities designed to get students thinking, experimenting and having fun with science.

Throughout the week, students began each morning with our National Science Week Homeroom Trivia Competition. Homerooms tested their scientific knowledge across a range of challenging questions, with 10 Wonga ultimately taking out the title as our 2026 Science Week Trivia champions. Congratulations!

Each lunchtime also featured a different hands-on science activity. On Monday, students participated in a robotics workshop, using Arduino technology to explore coding, electronics and robotics. Tuesday saw students put their knowledge to the test in a lively group science trivia competition, while Wednesday’s Science Amazing Race had teams solving scientific clues and challenges to work their way around the College.

On Thursday, students explored the science of taste in our Miracle Berry Workshop. After trying miracle berries, students sampled a range of different foods and experienced first-hand how the berries can temporarily alter the way our taste buds perceive sour flavours.

We finished the week on Friday with a Shower Steamer Workshop, where students investigated some of the science behind the ingredients while creating their own shower steamers to take home.

It was fantastic to see so many students getting involved throughout the week and engaging with science beyond the classroom. Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make National Science Week a fun and memorable celebration of curiosity, discovery and experimentation.

Each Wednesday lunchtime, the LIHM Sisters join us at St Catherine of Siena Church to run short, fun programs for our students.

To mark the beginning of September, we had a special celebration for the birthday of Mama Mary! Like any great birthday party, there were games, music, snacks and plenty of sweets.

Amidst all the fun, the Sisters also shared an important message with our young people: just like Mary, each of us has a particular mission and purpose. Mary showed great courage in saying yes to God, and we too can be brave in responding to what God is asking of us, trusting that His grace will always be there to support us along the way.

This is the third year our students have celebrated Our Lady’s birthday together. This annual celebration was initiated in 2024 by our then Faith and Social Justice Captain, Mihini Rodrigo, and has now become a much loved part of our College calendar.

It was a wonderful way to celebrate Mary and remind our students that faith can be joyful, personal and lived out in the everyday. We look forward to continuing our Wednesday LIHM Sisters sessions to the end of the year!

As Term 3 draws to a close, we would like to sincerely thank the many staff, students and families who joined us for our weekly Friday morning Masses. Gathering together in prayer before the school day begins has been a wonderful opportunity to strengthen our faith, build community and place our lives and work in God's hands.

The presence of parents, carers, students and staff each week is a powerful witness to the importance of faith within our College community.

We look forward to continuing this beautiful tradition in Term 4. Our Friday morning Masses will resume on Friday 16 October at 8.00am in the College Chapel. All members of our College community are warmly invited to attend.

We hope you can join us as we continue to gather around the table of the Lord in prayer and thanksgiving.

Dear Families, October is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Rosary, a beautiful prayer through which we draw closer to Jesus with Mary as our guide. During this special month, families are warmly invited to join our College community in prayer through the following events.

Online Family Rosary Evening

Tuesday 13 October 2026, 7:45pm - 8:15pm

Join us online for a short and prayerful Family Rosary Evening. This gathering will be an opportunity to pause together, pray for one another, and entrust our families and College community to the loving intercession of Our Lady.

Registrations close 12 October 2026 at 9:00am.

Register here: Family Rosary Evening Registration

Living Rosary

Thursday 22 October 2026, 1:10pm - 1:45pm (College Grounds)

Join us to participate in our annual Living Rosary. This beautiful tradition brings the Rosary to life as we gather in prayer on the College grounds, offering a visible witness to our faith and our devotion to Our Lady. All are welcome to be part of this special community celebration.

RSVP closes 13 October 2026 at 9:00am.

Register here: Living Rosary Registration

How long have you worked at Catholic Regional College Caroline Springs?

I started working at Catholic Regional College Caroline Springs in late 2008 and so that makes it 18 years!

What is your role at the school?

I am currently a Year 9 and 10 Mathematics teacher. Over the years, I have also been privileged to work as the Mathematics and Numeracy Learning Area Leader, supporting teaching and learning initiatives within the school.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

The most rewarding part of teaching is the connection I build with my students. Seeing them grow, overcome challenges, and develop into confident young adults is a privilege. Supporting them both academically and emotionally, and celebrating their successes along the way, is what makes this profession so meaningful to me.

What is your ideal way to unwind and relax?

Going for a walk with my dog and enjoying some sunshine while listening to music are my favourite ways to relax and switch off.

What's your most fond childhood memory?

My dad taking me on his scooter for a swim in Malta’s pristine warm sea when he came back from work!

When you were little what did you aspire to be?

A newsreader!

What was your favourite subject at school?

Mathematics of course!!

How many languages do you speak?

I speak four languages: English, Maltese, Italian, and a little French! I studied French at school, so while I'm not fluent, I can understand it and put together a few sentences when needed.

If you could choose to be anything for a day, what would it be?

A cabin crew member. And yes, ideally on a flight heading to some warm place, having to spend a couple of days there until my next flight back home!

What's your favourite holiday destination?

I love travelling to islands with beautiful warm waters and sunny weather. Malta will always be a favourite because it's where I can reconnect with family, but I would happily spend time in the Whitsundays, Fiji, the Maldives, Seychelles, Cook Islands or the Bahamas.

The 2026 School Fee Schedule and Fee Payment Information are available on the College website (College Tuition Fees – CRC Caroline Springs) for your convenience.

Families are reminded that school fees must be paid in instalments as outlined in the Fee Payment Agreement. Fees for the current tuition year must be paid in full by the conclusion of the school year. If you are unable to pay your fees in full, please contact the Finance Office to arrange an appointment with the College Business Manager to discuss your circumstances and payment options. Alternative arrangements must be approved by the College Business Manager.

The BPAY payment option is now available. Please refer to your monthly statement for the relevant BPAY details.

If you have recently changed your home address or email address, please notify the College to ensure our records remain up to date.

Thank you for your continued support and commitment in relation to school fees.