The end of our 2025 year is quickly approaching! On the Junior campus we are looking forward to our Year 7 annual camp and our Year 8s are participating in a transition program preparing them for Year 9 2026 at our Senior campus.

Our first camp is currently in the heart of the beautiful Toolangi Forest situated in the Yarra Valley region of Victoria. TOOLANGI, an indigenous word that means ‘tall trees’, is true to its meaning as the campsite is home to some of the largest and oldest trees in Victoria. Our second camp takes place next week Monday to Wednesday. Camp provides our students with the chance to build new relationships and strengthen existing ones, to develop their teamwork and communication skills and to challenge themselves in a supportive environment. We look forward to celebrating a milestone year with our Year 7s as we congratulate them on finishing their first year of secondary school. We wish all our Year 7 students and staff an enjoyable and memorable camp experience.

Our Year 8 students are also celebrating their time on the Junior campus coming to an end. We look forward to sharing a day on the Senior campus where they will immerse themselves in their surroundings for 2026. They will meet members of the wellbeing team and teachers that will continue to support them as they continue their secondary school journey also learning about the rich Josephite history and heritage of our senior campus.

Then on Friday night we look forward to enjoying an evening of music and food as our Year 8 students dance the night away at our annual Year 8 social. A fitting way to celebrate two years of high school completed.

Our last day for students will be on Thursday 4 December where we will all participate in an end of year campus mass followed by year level assemblies where we congratulate the year levels on their successes and achievements for 2025.

As we enter our festive season we have lots to be grateful and as a Catholic community we give thanks to God for our blessings.

Have a warm, loving and peaceful Christmas and New Year.

It is hard to believe that we are almost at the end of the school year for 2025! Whilst we are now in the full swing of Headstart, and students being introduced to their 2026 subjects and Teachers, I hope there are moments in the coming weeks where students can reflect on their learning year and consider:

• What has worked well this year? i.e. a learning strategy, a social emotional skill developed, a co-curricular involvement.
• What could be even better in 2026?

College Assembly
As the year draws to a close we came together as a whole College community on Tuesday 25 November for a College Assembly which shared and celebrated recent College highlights. Our guest of honour was former student and Olympic Bronze basketball medallist Ezi Magbegor. The student leaders prepared insightful interview questions for Ezi about her experiences balancing her education with her elite sport, overcoming mental barriers and social pressures, and her memories as a student of Penola. We are very grateful to Ezi for her willingness to visit and connect with Penola during her time back in Australia.

Uniform reminders
The holidays are a chance to rest and recharge as well as become organised for the 2026 year. We ask students and families to please work together to ensure all required materials are obtained such as books/stationary/laptop and checking that all uniform items are in appropriate condition. Students and families are reminded:

• Any additional piercings other than one small stud/sleeper in each ear lobe must be clear and flat. A “fresh” piercing is not an acceptable excuse for not abiding by the College piercing rules.
• Hair styles are to meet College requirements including no flamboyant styles e.g. no lines/patterns shaved in, no stark contrast in side and top lengths, and only natural hair colours (no pink, green).
• When buying school shoes families are asked to be mindful of companies that market their products as “school shoes” but do not meet the College requirement of a school shoe.

If you have any questions about the above or any other uniform query please do not hesitate to contact your child’s year level coordinator.

Supports for families
Below are some helpful numbers if over the holidays should your child or someone you know be needing support:

Kid’s Help Line: 1800 551 800 - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Free, private and confidential telephone and online counselling service for young people aged between 5-25.

Nurse on Call: 1300 606 024 - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Expert health advice from a registered nurse.

Parent Line: 13 22 89 Phone service for parents and carers of children from birth to 18 years old - confidential and anonymous counselling and support on parenting issues.

Headspace: 8338 0919 with locations in Craigieburn and Glenroy, , free support for young people aged 12 to 25, their families and friends. Headspace can assist young people with a range of issues including students who are feeling down, stressed or can't stop worrying, wanting to talk about, relationships, finding it hard to deal with school, university, TAFE or work etc.

Wishing all students and families the very best for 2026 and thank you for all your contributions to our College.

Pope Leo XIV’s Apostolic Letter, “Drawing New Maps of Hope” serves as a reminder of the role of the Catholic school. The Holy Father draws upon the content of the Conciliar declaration Gravissimum educationis formulated 60 years earlier during Vatican II. This very document reminds the Church “that education is not an ancillary activity, but forms the very fabric of evangelisation” 1.1 The Catholic school is called to bring the Gospel to life, guided by the Word of God to animate our relationship with Christ, to build bridges, not walls and to make everything anew the scripture and through being authentic witnesses of Christ.

This term has presented many opportunities for students and staff to make use of the opportunities to grow within the Catholic faith as Christ would want and how St Mary of the Cross MacKillop and Fr Julian Tenison-Woods envisioned. Mercy night was held at the Senior campus on Wednesday 19 November. Fr Mahir Murad, from Our Lady Guadian of the Plants Campbellfield joined us and led us in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. The small community that gathered was completely focused on the presence of Christ visible through the consecrated host, displayed in the Monstrance.

On Thursday 6 November, we welcomed Father Benneth Osuagwu, who presided over the Memorial Mass celebrated annually. Fr Benneth’s powerful singing voice left the congregation awestruck during the beautiful Mass offered for the repose of the souls of all of the faithful departed connected with Penola Catholic College. The Mass was well attended as the staff, students, families and community of the College came together for a special occasion.

Our student leaders were recently elected and spent a day out at MacKillop Catholic College Werribee and worked with other student leaders to learn more deeply about the Josephite charism and vision of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop and Fr Julian Tenison-Woods. The students gathered in prayer and discussed all things leadership, with the view of developing themselves as young leaders of 2026.

Our new Christian Services captains, Maria L and Wirrhena R led their first Faith Corner session today, preparing and delivering a beautiful session reminding us of the Feast of Christmas and the Advent period that is about to commence next week. We look forward to more Faith Corner sessions in 2026.

A message to our Year 8 cohort from the charity that we raise money for, KATASIG. Last week Kadasig Aid & Development was recognised by the Government & the Education Department of Cebu in a special ceremony recognising the support by Australian schools assisting many students in schools in the Province of Barili. Certainly partnerships here & in Cebu have made a great difference to many, many students & teachers.

This is a distinctive Award & Recognition by the authorities. Congratulations to the Year 8 students and the College for their unending support!

This week we welcomed our Year 8 students to the College to officially commence their Headstart program. The Faith and Mission department ran a Jubilee pilgrimage for each class. All students walked to key points in the College, sought Jubilee images and maintained a journal of their spiritual Jubilee Josephite journey. The Faith and Mission department also provided a deeper dive into the history of the College, providing further information about the Houses, the patrons and the history of Catholic education from the perspective of different charisms that funneled into the Josephite charism that realised the vision of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop and Fr Julian Tenison-Woods. Students participated in the memory game, the Great unjumble in relay fashion before heading to a short liturgy, presentation and the release of the new College song, We Walk in Her Way, written and sung by Ms Tracey Kift.

Finally, we are on the eve of Australian Catholic Youth Festival where 27 students and 8 staff will dive into the beauty of the Catholic faith. We pray that the experience will be a fulfilling one, that draws us all closer to Christ.

And so, as we prepare to enter the Advent season, having just celebrated the Feast of Christ the King, let us contemplate the greatness of this Christmas, we wait for the coming of the child Jesus to bring the light of God to each member of the Penola catholic Community.

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, pray for us.

St Joseph, pray for us

And may we always remember, to pray for one another.

Do you love music? Ever wanted to learn an instrument, join an ensemble, or be part of Penola’s vibrant Performing Arts community? Now’s your chance!

We’re inviting any students who’d like to take part in Instrumental Music Lessons in 2026 to submit an application using the link below. Whether you’re a total beginner or already play, our music program is a fantastic way to build confidence, spark creativity, make new friends, and be part of something special.

With a strong and growing Performing Arts culture at the College, there are plenty of opportunities to shine, from concerts to showcases, bands, ensembles and more. Lessons are fun, supportive, and tailored to each student’s ability.

If you’re ready to discover your musical side or take it to the next level, click the link and sign up today! Let’s make 2026 a year filled with rhythm, harmony and big Penola energy.

On Tuesday 18 November, we attended the Annual SACCSS Sports awards, held at St Francis College, Melton. Students are invited to attend if they're award winners, have represented the College to an exemplary standard in multiple sports or shown outstanding leadership both on and off the sporting field. Our attendees celebrated with a luncheon and enjoyed hearing from 2 ex-professional soccer players who both played at Melbourne Victory. Their insight into elite sport, training and managing workload as well as one players journey to representing the Turkish National team was truly inspirational.

Bailey K of Year 10 was awarded Player of the Series for Senior Division 2 Cricket, joining him was Leo M also in Year 10 winning the Player of the Series for Senior Division 2 Basketball. Coleen E and Sanuka D were our John Landy Award winners; each school selects 2 award winners who truly embody the spirit of John Landy.

Thank you to all students and families that have donated to this year’s Vinnies Christmas collection! Your generosity and kindness in helping others that are less fortunate has been so greatly appreciated.

Again many thanks and blessings for the festive season Mrs Bruzzese, Ms Kavanagh and Mrs Quiriconi.

From 10 December, updated social media age restrictions will come into effect across major platforms. To help families understand what these changes mean and how to support their young people online, we’re directing parents and carers to the Social Media Age Restrictions Hub.

This hub provides clear information about platform requirements, practical advice for setting up safe accounts, and tips for navigating online behaviour with your child. We encourage all families to take a few minutes to explore the resource and prepare for the upcoming changes.

Visit the Social Media Age Restrictions Hub to learn more.

2026 Term Dates

Term 1
Monday 2 February - Thursday 2 April

Term 2
Tuesday 21 April - Friday 26 June

Term 3
Tuesday 14 July - Thursday 7 September

Term 4
Monday 5 October - Thursday 3 December