As we begin Semester 2 and also edge closer to the end of Term, we have the opportunity to reflect on many wonderful learning and co-curricular achievements that have taken place to date especially in recent weeks. I congratulate all students on their efforts to date and thank our hard working staff for their continuous commitment to providing valuable learning and co curricular opportunities. Thank you to families for the support you provide and for working in partnership with us.

City Experience
Congratulations to our Year 9 students on their terrific engagement with the city experience program. The students represented the school with pride as they engaged in a range of activities and various site visits around the City of Melbourne. It was pleasing to see their confidence and independence grow throughout the week and their respectful interactions with tour guides and members of the public.

Year 10 Work Experience
Staff have enjoyed visiting our students in a range of work places as they gained valuable skills and further explored potential careers of interest. I hope the students can use these new insight as we move into subject selection and careers exploration in Term 3.

The end of Semester is a busy time of course work completion and exams. Many students engaged in active revision and have achieved pleasing results.

Holidays
The holidays are a chance for rest and preparation for Term 3. I take this opportunity to remind students to please be mindful of the college uniform requirements when considering hair cuts and any new piercings. Students continue to wear winter uniform in Term 3. Families requiring any support with uniform items are encouraged to please contact the Year Level Coordinator.

Support over the holidays
Below is external supports that can be contacted should students, families or someone you know require support over the holidays.

Hume City Council - resources for families

Kids Helpline - 24 hour phone counselling Phone: 1800 55 1800

Headspace - mental health support for young people

As we come to the end of Term 2 I am pleased to share with you all that has been happening on the Junior Campus.

Firstly, we would like to share the results achieved by our Year 7 and 8 French students from the Berthe Mouchette Poetry Recitation Competition. We are extremely proud of their efforts and the way they represented Penola Catholic College.

Here are the results:

Year 7

• Jacob A – Bien
• Khadeejah R –Encourageant

Year 8

• Yashika B – Bien
• Maeve D – Excellent

Congratulations to all the students who participated in the competition.

Thank you to Irena Pavlovska and Mona Harsan involved in preparing and supporting our students. Their hard work and enthusiasm truly reflect the values we aim to instil in our French program.

Languages Week is being organised and some activities that will be available for students to participate in are listed below.

French (Years 7&8)

• Crêpes Suzette Competition
• Craft Activity: Make a béret, a moustache, and a model of the Eiffel Tower
• Poster Competition: “Pourquoi apprendre le français ?”
• Presentation: PowerPoint on Les Gaulois
• Film Screening: Astérix aux Jeux Olympiques (clickview)
  
  

Italian Year 7

• Watching the movie Luca from
• Playing Tombola.
• Watch Two Greedy Italians

Italian Year 8

• Watching the movie Nonnas
• Music - Focus on Sara Perche` Ti Amo (Ricchi e Povero)
  

Japanese (7&8)

• Neat Hiragana writing
• Anime drawing
• Origami making
• Cooking
• J-POP Songs
• Ekakiuta-drawing anime characters
• Movie screening

Please encourage your son/daughter to participate in the activities being offered during languages week.

Student Ambassadors

The following students assisted with our Principal Tour of the junior campus on Wednesday 11 June.

• Kai H
• Ed M
• Serena H
• Lucy M
• Jaydon G
• Grace W

As always our families from our local primary schools were very impressed with the way our students welcomed and presented information about being a student at Penola.

Our student Ambassadors Bethany Y 7D, Rubie Y 7G, Aaryav P 7I, Zoey P 7D, Sophia D 7V, and Mary B 7G are also attending CERES today representing Penola and making connections with our young leaders that are interested in sustainability. We look forward to hearing about their experiences next term.

Introducing Our New Year 7 Student Librarians!
A huge congratulations to the following dedicated Year 7 students who have successfully completed their job interviews and are now officially Student Librarians!

• Madrona and Tina of 7B
• Reinhart, Noah and Bethany of 7D
• Anokina from 7E
• Ashley of 7H
• Keely and Ivan of 7I
• Sarah of 7V.

They'll be instrumental in keeping our library buzzing, guiding their peers, helping them discover fantastic reads, and assisting with book maintenance and reshelving. We're thrilled to have their support and working with our dedicated teacher Mrs Mona Harsan.

Year 7 Premier League
Our Year 7 students who participated in Premier League for the first time as Penola representatives would like to share their experience with our community. When asked what they enjoyed about their experience this is what they had to say:

“Reaching the finals has been really exciting”.

“I have learnt it has been a privilege to play for Penola and we had to earn our spot on the team”.

“Whether we win or lose we keep our heads up and have fun at the same time learning to look out for each other”.

“We got the opportunity to get to know other students that were not in our class”

We would like to thank all the coaches and teachers that make Premier League possible for our junior students.

In addition students from 7E have had the opportunity to reflect on their first Semester as high school students.

“We have made lots of new friends and we know they will be memories that stay with us”

“I love food tech and cooking our favourite dishes were pizza and apple pie triangles”.

“Our teachers have been really helpful making us feel supported as new members to Penola”

“Our learning has been fun and exciting we have enjoyed topics such as fractions, algebra, conducting science experiments and researching livability of cities around the world”.

As we begin Semester 2 may students reflect on their achievements in semester one and set goals that will allow them to continue to be successful in the second half of their academic year. As we near the tend of Term 2 I wish all staff and students a restful holiday break.

Faith and Mission at the Heart of College Life

This term, our College community has come together regularly in faith and mission, embracing opportunities to reflect, celebrate, and grow spiritually.

One of the highlights was our Mother’s Day Mass, held on Thursday 9 May and celebrated by Fr Dishan Candappa, Parish Priest of the Church of the Good Shepherd Gladstone Park. It was a joyful occasion, where we honoured the mothers, grandmothers, and significant women in our lives. Following the Eucharist, families gathered in the Assembly and Sports Hall for a special Mother’s Day Breakfast. It was heartwarming to see so many families enjoying the “breakfast of champions” together. A heartfelt thank you to all staff who helped make this large and memorable event such a success.

Throughout the term, students and staff have continued to participate in regular prayer, praise, and worship opportunities. Our Catholic identity calls us to be a place of evangelisation and proclamation of the Word of God. We’re grateful to Fr Samuel Pearson (Assistant Priest at Church of the Good Shepherd) and Youth Minister Marc Salazar for their ongoing support of our lunchtime faith activities. Topics explored this term have included the power of prayer and our call to be “Pilgrims of Hope” during the Jubilee Year.

We also thank Jwana S, our Christian Services Captain, for her dedicated work preparing faith presentations for her peers. Weekly Rosary prayer gatherings continue each Friday in the College Chapel, and we’ve recently introduced Fish and Chips and Fellowship Mondays, where students meet informally in the PAC foyer to share food and discuss all things Catholic.

Our Year 11 Reflection Day on Thursday 29 May was another powerful experience. Youth Mission Team Australia led sessions on social justice and human dignity, including vibrant praise and worship that invited students to consider their own role in God’s world. The day began by reflecting on St Mary of the Cross MacKillop on St Mother Teresa of Kolkata, India. Both worked with intention and purpose to work with the displaced, the poor and the needy. This day was an opportunity to appeal to our students to help them realise that they too can be a difference to others’ lives. We also touched on Pope Leo XIV and his intention to bring into discussion the introduction of AI and its impact upon the dignity of the human person. From here, the Year 11’s will embark upon choosing their Christian services agency to volunteer one day during Term 3. This program is designed to complement the Religion and Society Unit 2 subject in Semester 2.

Prior to this, our students experienced their Year 8 Reflection Day that took place early June. Students were led by youth Mission Team Australia as they examined the topic of relationships, with themselves, their peers and God. Like the Year 11’s, the day ended with a moving liturgy, inviting students to a prayerful contemplation.

Finally, the faith and Mission Team prepared a secondary Reflection Day for the Year 9 students that were unable to be present at their original days in April. We were fortunate to have Aunty Jo and Eve available to support us on the day, they baked and gardened and taught the students how to work with the environment through a First Nations lens. In addition, we had Sean from Didgeridoo Australia, as the indigenous presenter who worked with the students to learn about life and the culture of the First Nations Peoples. Soon, our Year 12s will return for Part 2 of their Reflection Day on Monday 30 June, continuing to reflect on the theme of “Launch into the Deep.”

As we round off Term 2, we commence preparing for the Australian Catholic Youth Festival, programmed to be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on November 30 – December 2. The aim is to take as many students from Years 9-11 to this Catholic Youth Festival in praise and worship and to listen to some moving talks by numerous key-note speakers from around the world. More information will be promoted throughout the coming weeks.

A special thanks to the staff and the Faith and Mission Team, Ms Abboud, Miss Yako, Mark Salazar and Mrs Fry who continue to support the faith development of the College community. We look forward to journeying in faith together as the term continues.

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, pray for us

St Joseph, pray for us

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

As Term 2 comes to a close, Penola Catholic College is celebrating a huge term of sport, with students showcasing their skills, determination, and incredible team spirit across a wide range of competitions. Sport at Penola is about more than just results — it’s where character is built, friendships are strengthened, and excellence is lived out in action.

Our Senior Boys Volleyball team led the charge with an impressive run to the grand final, displaying outstanding commitment and teamwork. On the basketball court, both our girls and boys teams made the finals of the Victorian 3v3 Championships, an outstanding result at a competitive state-level event.

In the pool, Penola made waves at the SACCSS Division 2 Swimming Carnival, where our students were crowned Intermediate Girls and Boys Champions. Their combined efforts also secured the Intermediate Aggregate Award, a fantastic team achievement that reflects the dedication and strength of our swimming program.

On the footy field, Year 9 and 10 boys proudly represented Penola at the SACCSS Inter Boys AFL Gala Day. A squad of 26 went head-to-head with Salesian, MacKillop, Emmanuel, and CRC Caroline Springs. The team fought hard all day and showed great spirit, unity and determination.

The momentum doesn’t stop there. Senior Soccer kicks off this week and Year 9 Premier League begins next week, giving even more students the chance to compete and shine. And for the first time in two years, Penola returned to the eSports arena, giving students a fresh platform to showcase quick thinking, collaboration and digital prowess.

We are so proud of every student who has represented the College this term — whether in traditional sports or emerging spaces, you’ve shown what it means to be part of Team Penola. Bring on Term 3!

We’re excited to share that our new bus service is officially up and running! A big thank you to all the families who have already registered and are using the service, we hope it’s making the school commute easier and more convenient.

If you haven't yet signed up, we encourage you to register now for Term 3. The service is designed to support families by providing a reliable and safe transport option to and from school.

Register now for Term 3

What You Need to Know:

• Students must have their Penola Catholic College Student ID cards to travel on the bus.
• Students are also required to collect an ID lanyard from either the Accounts Department or Campus Office. These lanyards are to be clipped to their school bags for easy scanning when boarding the bus.
• We’re using RollCall, a smart bus management system with GPS tracking. It allows both the school and families to track student travel in real-time.
• For more information, including RollCall’s Privacy Policy, please see the following link: https://rollcall.com.au/why-rollcall/.
• A Code of Conduct is attached and must be followed by all students when using the bus service.

Bus Service Details:

• Cost: $8 per day
• Term 3 Payment: $336
• Payment Deadline: Friday 11 July
• Payment Options: Payment must be made in full for the term prior to use and can be made:
  By phone: Call the Accounts Department on 9301 2777, or
  In person: Visit the Accounts Office at the College
• No deductions will be made for absences.

Thank you for your support in making this service a success – we look forward to welcoming more students on board next term!

At Penola Catholic College, we are proud to offer students the opportunity to immerse themselves in the rich and rewarding study of the French language. This term, our Junior Campus students have not only embraced their learning in the classroom but have also stepped up to represent the College in state-wide French competitions with fantastic results!

We extend our congratulations to the following students for their outstanding performances in the prestigious Berthe Mouchette Poetry Competition, organised by the Alliance Française. This competition challenges students to recite French poetry with accuracy, expression and confidence a true test of language learning and public speaking skills.

Berthe Mouchette Poetry Competition Results:

• Year 7 Jacob A – Bien

• Year 8 Yashika B – Bien, Maeve D – Excellent

In addition to their poetic talents, our students also brought their creativity and cultural knowledge to the table — quite literally — in Le Plat du Jour, a French culinary competition coordinated by the Association of French Teachers in Victoria (AFTV). This competition allowed students to explore the culinary traditions of France while applying their language skills in a fun and hands-on setting.

Le Plat du Jour Participants:

• Year 8 Rivaldo K, Xander S, Ashur O

• Year 7 Najiya M, Jacinta B

These experiences offer so much more than just competition they help students grow in confidence, deepen their cultural appreciation, and find joy in language learning.

We are incredibly proud of all students who participated and thank our dedicated French teachers for their guidance and encouragement. It is wonderful to see such enthusiasm for French at the Junior Campus, and we look forward to more exciting opportunities as the year continues.

Do you have a child starting Year 7 in 2027 or know a family interested in joining Penola Catholic College? Now is the time to apply!

• Friday 16 August Applications close
• Friday 17 October Letters of Offer will be sent to families
• Friday 7 November Final date for families to accept offer from College.

We look forward to welcoming new students and families into our wonderful school community. If you have a younger sibling ready to start or know someone considering Penola, we encourage you to apply early to secure a place.

Visit our website to book a tour or to complete an online enrolment form. We can’t wait to welcome the next group of Penola students!

Merri-Bek Council's July Teen School Holiday Program

ACU Free Online Study Skills Webinar for Year 11 Students

School Holiday Soccer Camp

Hume City Council Young Mayors Program