Term 3 is in full swing! A shorter term ahead with many rich and varied experiences for our students, which I hope they take full advantage of. My thanks to students and families for their cooperation with uniform requirements and a reminder that winter uniform is to be worn in term 3.

Feast Day
Our College Feast Day is a significant event as we celebrate the life of St Mary MacKillop. This year is extra special with our 30th year anniversary and we will be celebrating off-site at St Patrick’s Cathedral and Luna Park. Students and families are urged to take note of the requirements of the day including full winter uniform and the later dismissal times. I am looking forward to a wonderful and memorable day.

Student leadership and co-curricular
Congratulations to all students who have taken part in the College student leadership and co-curricular offerings. The range of offerings have allowed students to explore their skills and talents whilst meeting others and developing social connections. Students are encouraged to check the daily bulletin for upcoming events and activities. Thanks to our dedicated and talented staff for all their work in creating these opportunities.

Partnerships
I would like to acknowledge organisations in the local community that work in partnership with the College to provide valuable experiences and opportunities for our students. Over the past fortnight, these have included:

- Hume City Council who supported access to the Resilient Youth Survey to assist us to gain valuable insights to better understand our students wellbeing needs and there generous support of the Hume Youth Opportunity scholarship. Congratulations to Gheni of year 10 who was the very worthy recipient of this years award.

- The Hume Whittlesea LLEN who continue to provide innovative and practical supports and experiences for students.

- Our alumni in particular, former students who generously gave up their time to share their experiences with our year 11 and 12 students as part of the recent Careers Expo.

- DPV Health and their fabulous Health Promotion staff who have been supporting our students to develop their skills in peer education around respectful relationships.

- The Resilience Project for their continued support of our well-being program implementation and capacity building of staff.

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 Newsletter item 29 July 2025

Term three has started and we are thrilled to announce that the Christian Services program continues from this time last year. We are grateful to the numerous agencies in the northern suburbs who have agreed to take on our Year 11 students in a voluntary capacity. A part of the Ethics Unit in Religion and Society requires each student to volunteer at a community agency based on their needs and interests. Following these selections, this term, every Year 11 student will spend a day at their chosen agency where they will help and support as needed. Students will receive a form to complete and reflect upon their volunteer experiences after their placement. These reflections will be used in the AOS 2.3 Ethical Issues in Society.

Many thanks to Melissa Fry and Amanda Abboud who completed a mountain of work to ensure that the Christian services program continues to maintain links within the community. We trust that all Penola students will use the time volunteering as an opportunity for personal growth and formation. We are grateful to them for their support in assisting the different organisations and thus growing the relationship between Penola Catholic College and the various agencies in need.

Year 12 Reflection Day 2 and TOB

Late last term, the Year 12’s gathered for a second time to build upon their learnings from the opening Reflection Day, “Launch into the Deep” held in Term 1. Whilst we did not have Gen Bryant for this second day, the students reflected on their first day’s experience and built upon that. The day was couched in the second “catchers of fish’ story, from the gospel of St John, where Peter rushes to meet Jesus on the shore in the post-resurrection narrative. Peter has summed up his experience of Jesus and weighed up where his allegiances lie. He made the intentional decision to follow Jesus and continue Jesus’ ministry by being the head of the Catholic Church. In the end, the students were posed key questions about who they wish to be, moving forward and, they were invited to think about the legacy they want to leave behind as they prepare for the final stage of secondary education. The students were given one final opportunity to write letters to themselves; a beautiful tradition held at Penola. They will read all their letters at their final reflection day leading to their graduation in October.

Following the morning session, we had a shared lunch of either fish and chips or kebabs and then moved into the PAC to listen to a presentation by Steve and Annie Lawrence, who spoke about relationships and the sanctity of matrimony and the family. This presentation was interactive and drew from the teachings and addresses of Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II during their papacies.

Feast Day and JJAMM Week

As we move towards the end of July and head into August, much planning is being done to celebrate our Australian saint, Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop. Each Year level will run a fund raiser for their charity agency in the days leading up to Feast Day. Feast Day lands on Friday 8 August where we will gather for a Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral to also celebrate the College’s 30th anniversary since its establishment in 1995. Archbishop Peter Comensoli will be the main celebrant and will be assisted by Fr Samuel Pearson (Church of Good Shepherd, Gladstone Park) and Fr Mahir Murad (Our Lady Guardian of the Plants, Campbellfield). We will follow with an afternoon at Luna Park. We pray for a dry day on the feast day of our own Australian Saint.

Starrs Productions and the Year 7 students

Starrs Productions visited the junior campus on Friday 25 July and presented two performances to the Year 7 students about the life of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop and the beginning of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart. The cast presented an hour-long play depicting key moments in Mary’s life helping bring to life the patron saint of Penola Catholic College for our newest students. At the end of the play, the students had an opportunity to ask questions of the cast in a Q&A style. We look forward to getting Starrs Productions back in 2026.

Conclusion

Finally, continued thanks is directed to Fr Sam Pearson, who comes to the College every Friday to pray the Rosary with staff and students in the chapel, in a tradition that would please our Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop. Furthermore, I have immense gratitude to the students and staff who continue to gather and support the faith formation activities held throughout the year. Finally, the Faith and Mission Team, Ms Abboud, Miss Yako, Mark Salazar and Mrs Fry and the Christian services captain, Jwana Sona, as they shine the light of Christ on the Penola 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.

Mr Vince Iannuzzi

Deputy Principal Faith and Mission

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