As we reach the conclusion of Term 3, I want to warmly welcome you to our final newsletter for the term. It has been an incredibly vibrant and fast-paced few weeks. Our staff and students have been working tirelessly, diving deep into their learning while taking every opportunity to celebrate their hard-earned successes.

A clear highlight of this term was our recent Book Week celebration. It was wonderful to see our students participate with such thoughtful effort and enthusiasm. The creativity on display during our Book Week parade was outstanding, bringing energy and fun to the entire school. Beyond the costumes, this week served as an important reminder of the vital role reading plays in our lives. Regular reading is not just an academic tool; it is a gateway to immense social and cultural growth, helping our young people build empathy, understand the world around them, and expand their horizons.

Inside the classrooms, our students have been engaging in rich, diverse learning experiences:

• Religious Education & English: In Year 8, students have been exploring faith and transformation by studying St Paul’s conversion to Christianity. Alongside this, they have been polishing their formal essay-writing skills in English as they analyze the novel Runner.
• Science & Humanities: Our Year 7 students have stepped into the world of physics, exploring energy and discovering how simple machines work. In Humanities, they have wrapped up an insightful unit focused on urban liveability and what makes communities thrive.
• Food Technology: Practical skills have been on full display across both Year 7 and 8. Students have thoroughly enjoyed stepping into the kitchen to prepare delicious, healthy dishes, including vegetable fritters, homemade pizza, beef stir-fry, and garlic bread.

In addition to their academic growth, our Year 8 students recently took part in their annual Reflection Day, which focused deeply on the importance of gratitude in our daily lives. It was a wonderful opportunity for the cohort to bond with their peers through a series of team activities cantered around being happy and caring for others. The students are to be highly commended for their exceptional participation and maturity throughout the day, showing a genuine commitment to building a positive, supportive community.

Thank you for your continued support throughout this busy term. We wish all of our families a safe, restful, and happy upcoming school holiday break.

11 Standards in 11 months…today we look at Child Safe Standards 7 & 8:

Child Safe Standard 7:

“Processes for complaints and concerns are child focused.’’

As Catholic educators, we have a moral, mission-driven and legal responsibility to uphold and actively promote the wellbeing and safety of every student entrusted in our care. Our commitment to the protection of students includes ensuring that children, families and community members can raise complaints and concerns safely, are listened to respectfully, and understand how to access child-focused complaint processes that prioritise children’s voices and wellbeing.

Our Catholic communities uphold clear, accessible and child-centred policies and procedures for responding to complaints and concerns, supporting staff and volunteers to act promptly, lawfully and with integrity so that child safety and wellbeing are central to every response.

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.”

Our commitment to child safety includes equipping all staff and volunteers with the knowledge, skills, and awareness they need to recognise, prevent, and respond to risks of harm. Through ongoing education and training, our school communities foster a culture where safety is central, children’s voices are valued, and staff feel confident and capable in promoting wellbeing.

Catholic schools maintain clear policies, procedures, and professional learning programs to support staff and volunteers in their child-safe roles. By embedding child safety knowledge and skills across every aspect of school life, we ensure that children are protected, supported, and nurtured in a safe environment.

This newsletter series provides an overview of what the Child Safe Standards are, how they help keep children and young people safe, and how schools governed by Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) are prioritising and achieving this.

For additional information on Child Safe Standards 7 & 8, please click on the link:
https://care.macs.vic.edu.au/child-safe-standards/

A Season of Grace: Faith, Community & Mission at Penola Catholic College
What a remarkable season it has been at Penola Catholic College. Across the weeks of August and September, students and staff have been immersed in a rich tapestry of faith experiences, from archdiocesan celebrations and sacramental milestones to Josephite pilgrimages and powerful keynote presentations. Here is a snapshot of all that has unfolded across our community.

World Youth Day Launch, Catholic Leadership Centre
Students from Penola Catholic College were among the young people from across the Archdiocese of Melbourne who gathered for the exciting launch of World Youth Day at the Catholic Leadership Centre. World Youth Day helps prepare young men and women to bring about Christ's mission in the world and to equip them to be missionary disciples. And that missionary spirit was very much alive in the room.

The energy was electric, with key presenter Gen Bryant and her band bringing music and joy to the event, entertaining hundreds of enthusiastic young people and setting the tone for what promises to be a transformative journey of faith. It was a beautiful reminder that the Church's call to youth is not a quiet whisper, it is a joyful shout.

Celebrating the Solemnity of St Mary MacKillop
In September, the entire College community gathered to celebrate the Solemnity of St Mary MacKillop, a liturgical observance raised to the highest rank by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, acknowledging that the story of and devotion to Mary MacKillop holds a prominent place in the Catholic community and beyond.

The day opened with reverence, and the spirit of competition followed swiftly with a spirited Year Level Singing Competition to crown who could best perform the College song chorus. After some deliberation and considerable school pride, it was the Year 9s who took the title, with the Year 7s a close and impressive second. Well done to all year levels for your enthusiasm and school spirit.

The celebration continued with food vans, carnival rides, inflatables, and the highlight of the afternoon "Penola's Got Talent" which showcased the extraordinary gifts that exist within this community. St Mary MacKillop was Australia’s first native-born saint of Scottish descent, born in Melbourne, best known for co-founding the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart (Josephites) and establishing schools and places of refuge for the working class and poor across Australia and New Zealand. What a fitting way to honour her memory with joy, community, and a celebration of the gifts God has placed in each person.

Year 12 Final Faith Rite of Passage
Monday 31 August marked a profoundly moving milestone for the College's Year 12 students. In what is the final faith-based rite of passage before their Graduation Mass, students gathered in year-level classes in the Chapel for a short but deeply meaningful liturgy.

Each student then signed the Year Level Flag, a powerful symbol of their collective journey, which will be hoisted onto the flagpole when their final exams begin. It is a moment that speaks of both ending and beginning: the close of a chapter of formation and the beginning of a life lived in the world, shaped by the faith this community has cultivated in them. These young men and women carry with them not merely academic knowledge, but something far more precious, an encounter with truth.

Year 8 Reflection Days Chris Doyle, 9–10 September
On 9 and 10 September, the Year 8 students were treated to two extraordinary days with keynote speaker and musician Chris Doyle. His message centred on relationships and decision-making, two of the most pressing realities in the lives of young people and he brought the heart of the Gospels to life, placing Jesus firmly at the centre.

Chris's presentation was truthful, faith-filled, and deeply challenging. He called students to be Christ-like in how they live and in how they treat others. In an age so saturated with noise and confusion about what love, friendship, and belonging truly mean, his message was a clear and compelling invitation: let Jesus be the measure of every relationship and every decision. The students were engaged, moved, and challenged, exactly as they should be.

AJASS Pilgrimage to Tasmania
While the College celebrated together at home, three students and two staff members embarked on the AJASS Pilgrimage to Tasmania, joining other Josephite schools from the Southeast Cluster of Australia. This pilgrimage offered a rare and formative opportunity to encounter the Josephite charism at its roots in Tasmania.

The hope is that those who made this pilgrimage will return with a renewed and deepened understanding of that founding vision: a Catholic education that serves all, leaves none behind, and places Christ at the very centre. That is not simply history. It is a living inheritance.

Christian Services Program, Year 11 students
Throughout Term 3, the Year 11 students dedicated their time to assist a variety of agencies in their capacity to assist the most vulnerable in society. Our Year 11 students dedicated time during their days or evenings to make a difference to the needy. They volunteered their time and gave great effort to help others within the Josephite Spirit. The students emulated the values of the Sisters of St Joseph of the sacred Heart in displaying Creative Courage, mutual respect, Conscious Compassion and Intentional Inclusivity. Whether the were managing inventory for organisations like St Vinnies or El Rahman or serving tables at the hope café at st Mark’s parish Fawkner, or working with children at the Collingwood English language School or Broadmeadows Special Development School or helping young people at the Riding for the Disabled, the Year 11 students surpassed all expectations and should be congratulated for the way they have conducted themselves and represented the College and their families. This experience was a wonderful success and very much in the spirit of the Josephite charism.

A Community Walking in Faith
Taken together, these moments paint the picture of a school community that is not simply going through the motions of religious observance, but genuinely walking in faith, singing, celebrating, being challenged, gathering in the chapel, signing flags, and making pilgrimages.

This is what Catholic education looks like when it is alive.

St Mary MacKillop, pray for us.

St Joseph, pray for us

And may we always remember, to pray for one another

R U OK Day
Staff and students came together on national R U OK Day which highlights the importance of meaningful connection. Congratulations to all who supported this important initiative.

Staff Achievements
As we come to the end of a busy Term 3 I would like to thank our staff for their ongoing efforts and contributions to our College which enables students to have so many rich and varied academic, co-curricular and faith experiences.

• We are very proud of the following staff achievements which highlights the wonderful attributes and accomplishments of many of our staff:
• Several staff contributing to external resources and publications.
• Ms Dorothy Liapis who presented at the Resilience Project Melbourne teacher seminar day at the Melbourne Convention Centre.
• Gareth Henderson one of our College gardeners who was recognised at the Victorian School Garden Awards Breakfast at Ceres as a nominee for the Victorian School Gardens Champion Award. Gareth’s nomination is in recognition of his amazing work creating and maintaining a thriving vegetable garden at the Senior Campus.
• We are pleased that many of our staff will once again be VCAA external examination assessors for the upcoming year 12 examinations.

Wishing all members of our community a safe and well deserved holiday break.

A Night of Creativity at Penola! Art, music, film and celebration – all in one night!

Families and friends are invited to join us for the 2026 Penola Catholic College Visual Arts Showcase on Thursday 8 October, as we celebrate the incredible creativity and talent of our students.

Thursday 8 October 2026
5.00pm – 9.00pm
Performing Arts Centre, Senior Campus

The evening kicks off from 5.00pm with live music and drinks, before we officially open the Showcase with our awards ceremony.

Then it’s time to explore! Wander through the exhibition, enjoy more live music, and celebrate the incredible work of our young artists.

And there’s more! To finish the night, the Media Film Showcase and POSCARS will light up the PAC screen, featuring short films created by our talented Media students.

It’s set to be a fantastic night celebrating art, creativity, music and film, and the students who make it all happen.

Bring your family and friends and come celebrate the arts at Penola!

Entry is FREE, but tickets are essential. Book your tickets today!

BOOK YOUR FREE TICKETS

Maths Week at the Junior Campus was a celebration of mathematical thinking, problem-solving and a little friendly competition! This year, the Maths Department challenged students to put their skills to the test through the 1% Club, a series of daily questions designed to stretch their logic, reasoning and ability to think outside the box.

Students competed within their TRIAD groups, tackling progressively challenging questions as they battled for the title of 1% Club Champion. With more than 100 unique questions across the TRIAD competitions, there were plenty of opportunities for students to test themselves, challenge their classmates and discover that mathematics is about much more than simply getting the right answer.

The competition culminated in an exciting Maths Week Finale, where the five top Year 7 students and five top Year 8 students went head-to-head on stage. After a week of mathematical challenges, only one student could emerge victorious!

The Maths Department would like to congratulate all students who participated and embraced the challenge. Maths Week was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate curiosity, perseverance and the joy of mathematical thinking across the Junior Campus.

On Friday 28 August, Penola celebrated Australia’s rich music history at our annual sold-out Battle of the Bands. From renditions of AC/DC and Men at Work to bands dressed as Bunnings employees and tradies to a special appearance by Penola’s very own Wiggles, Battle Down Under was an unforgettable night of uniquely Aussie culture.

We welcomed 22 bands from 7 secondary schools across Melbourne’s northern region. In addition to our student musicians, we were honoured to be joined by didgeridoo artist Troy Kuhl of the Ulupna Clan of the Yorta Yorta Nation. Troy opened our celebrations with a performance of his original song ‘Hunters and Gatherers’ and joined the staff band for their legendary performance of Paul Kelly’s ‘Dumb Things’. The staff band also included Penola’s very own music tutors Matt Erickson and Jethro Negron on guitar and drums and College principal Tracey Kift on vocals.

Each student band was competing for the ultimate prize – a professional recording studio session. Guest judges scored each band on their pitch, rhythm, technical ability, musicality, stagecraft, and theme. This year’s overall band winners were:

Junior category (Years 7-9):

Radium from Overnewton Anglican Community College
‘Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again’ by The Angels

Senior category (Years 10-12):

Red Road Sign from Reservoir High School
‘Heart in Danger’ by Southern Sons

The competition also included a number of individual awards. Year 12 Penola student Michael Stevenson wowed the crowd and earned an ‘Encouragement Award’ by playing both saxophone and keyboard in his band Bloo’s rendition of ‘Who Can It Be Now?’ by Men at Work.

Dive Into Term 4 with Swim Squad!

Our Sport Development Swim Squad will take to the pool, with selected students representing Penola Catholic College while developing their swimming skills, fitness and confidence.

Students will train alongside a professional Essendon Swim coach, supported by Penola staff, in a dedicated morning program at Elite Swimming Performance / Essendon District Swim Club in Pascoe Vale.

The squad will train across five sessions throughout Term 4, providing students with a fantastic opportunity to challenge themselves, develop their potential and represent Penola with pride.

Want to apply? Email Mr O’Carroll.

A new era of sporting opportunity is here at Penola!

As Penola Catholic College continues to grow and expand the opportunities available to our students, we are excited to launch the Penola Sport Academy a dedicated high-performance program designed to support students with a passion for sport and the drive to reach their potential.

The Academy will provide student-athletes with access to specialised training, expert coaching, strength and conditioning, performance development, wellbeing support and competition pathways, while helping them balance the demands of sport with their academic journey.

But it’s about more than performance. The Penola Sport Academy will help students build leadership, resilience, teamwork, discipline and confidence, skills that extend well beyond the sporting field.

This exciting new program is another example of Penola’s commitment to giving our students the very best opportunities to discover their strengths, pursue their passions and strive for excellence.

Applications are currently open to students entering Year 7 in 2027 and Year 7 in 2028 who have accepted an enrolment offer at Penola Catholic College.

Whether their ambition is to compete at the highest level, develop their skills or simply challenge themselves to be their best, the Penola Sport Academy is ready to help our student-athletes take their next step.

Discover the Penola Sport Academy and find out more about the program, selection criteria and application process.

Penola is Excellence. And now, we’re taking sport to the next level.

Hume Fix-it-Fair

Matthew’s Car Boot Sale Sunday 8 November

Karting Madness

KADASIG AID and DEVELOPMENT Inc SEPTEMBER NEWSLETTER

Storm Waka School Holiday Program Week 1

Storm Waka School Holiday Program Week 2

The myLearners Free Driving Lesson Program

Bring your Bills Day

Partners in Parenting (PiP)