Principal's Message

Ready to Learn

Congratulations to all the students for their semester one reports. Their hard work has paid off in achieving good results. We can also see the progress many of the students have made in work ethic and behaviour both of which are the foundations to doing well academically.

I encourage all students to make time to sit and read the reports with parents and to set goals for next semester around being Ready to Learn. Students may choose to use the list below as a discussion starter about how to make improvements for semester 2.

How do students show they are Ready to Learn?

• Prepare school bag and uniform the night before
• Get enough sleep (between 8-10 hours for growing bodies)
• Eat healthy foods most of the time (growing bodies need good nutrition)
• Have a regular study pattern or timetable for homework
• Bring all materials to class and submit all homework
• Complete all set class tasks in class time to the best of their ability – give everything a go
• Meet all school and class expectations in terms of work ethic and behaviour
• Show respect to parents, teachers and College staff and to peers by cooperating at all times.

It is important that students take the time for reflection as this will help them prepare for next term as well as celebrate the achievements of last semester.

College Strengths and Enrolments

The main strengths of our College according to recent review data:

• College Antonine/Maronite/Religious life
• Sense of belonging and inclusion
• Modern teaching spaces with good facilities and resources
• Learning Diversity is valued – all students are supported with their learning
• Teaching staff and the students are great

As a result of the above we have had constant enrolment growth and are nearing capacity at most year levels. Parents are reminded that Foundation 2025 only has a few places left for enrolment priorities. Please see our enrolment information on our website. 2026 Enrolments are also filling up so please get your application in to be considered.

Four Important things to do each day

At recent assembly at St Joseph Campus, students were reminded of the importance of doing these four things every day (or many days as they can a week):

• Exercise for at least 30 minutes – get those natural endorphins going
• Pray for at least 30 minutes – try the Hallow App or Pray as You Go online
• Fix, clean, build, do something that you see needs doing, learn something new – be productive!
• Do something for someone else without expecting something in return – live out the teachings of Jesus

This keeps you spiritually, physically and mentally fit as well as making sure that you live out the commandment that Christ gave us – to love one another. The holidays are a great time to try these out on a daily basis so you develop good life-long habits.

Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi (Prayer for Peace)

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Wishing you all a safe and relaxing school break

- Ms Joanne Bacash

We are now on LinkedIn

Please follow our College LinkedIn account: https://www.linkedin.com/schoo...

Alumni students on LinkedIn

If you are an Alumni student or know any alumni students, we would appreciate your support in connecting with us and other alumni by adding Antonine College to your education history on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/antoninecollege/

Deputy Principal - Business Manager

Dear parents, from the start of Term 3, Antonine College will be using CDFpay as another form of payment for canteen ordering at St Joseph campus using student ID card, as well as College events and fundraising at our school.

For more information on how to sign up please click here: https://bit.ly/CDFpayletter25

- Mr Robert Fomiatti

Deputy Principal - Learning and Teaching

SIMON updates

SIMON is updating and this will interrupt services on July 16. The SIMON interface will look different, and it may take time to acquaint with the navigation of the updated interface. Please check in prior to returning to school.

SIMON server upgrade
 

SIMON will also be unavailable on Monday 7 July and Tuesday 8 July due to server upgrades
 

Timetable

Across Year 7-12 we have moved into Semester 2 and VCE Unit 2 and 4 content. This timetable change occurred on the 23 June and will mean that students have some new teachers and classes, including elective subjects. Please take note of the updates and ensure you are working off the most current timetable.

Semester One Reports

Teachers have been busy ensuring all student semester reports are completed. These will be released to students and parents via SIMON and PAM on Thursday afternoon. Please see the link below to a short video unpacking the features of the reports.

https://bit.ly/Report-Guide-for-Families2025

- Ms Ria Coffey

Deputy Principal - Student Management and Wellbeing

End of Term Reflection

As we come to the end of Term 2 and look ahead to the winter break, I want to take a moment to thank our students, families and staff for the energy, effort and resilience shown across the semester. The coming holidays offer a much needed opportunity to pause, reflect and recharge.

Rest and restoration are vital, not only for physical health but also for emotional wellbeing and cognitive functioning. As the winter break begins, I encourage families to embrace this time as a chance to slow down, reconnect, and support your children in preparing for a strong start to Semester 2.

One of the most powerful ways to support young people’s wellbeing and academic success is through healthy sleep routines. The holidays are the perfect time to reset sleep habits that may have drifted over the term. A consistent sleep schedule helps improve focus, emotional regulation and overall mood, essential ingredients for a successful return to school.

We encourage you to use this time to gently guide your children back into regular bedtime and wake up routines, limit screen use before bed, and create calm, restful environments that promote quality sleep.

Semester 2 brings fresh opportunities and new challenges. With adequate rest and a renewed sense of purpose, our students will be well positioned to thrive in the months ahead.

Wishing you and your family a safe, restful and restorative break.

- Mrs Helen Diab

Deputy Principal - Cedar Campus

Welcome to the last newsletter of Term 2. It has been a long term of 11 weeks and I'm sure the children are looking forward to the break. It has been another exciting and busy term filled with wonderful learning experiences and engaging events.

During the term, I was fortunate to take a short break, and I was truly overwhelmed by the warm welcome I received from our students upon my return - a reminder of the strong connections we build within our school community.

Celebrating of Learning

A huge thank you to our wonderful school community for attending our Celebration of Learning last Week. It was fantastic to see such strong support and involvement for our Year 1 and Year 6 students. Well done to all the children for their great work and confident presentations you should be very proud. Our Celebration for Learning will continue during Term 3. We are all looking forward to seeing you at school engaged with your child’s learning.

Uniform

Now that we are truly into our winter months, a timely reminder to ensure students are wearing the full and correct College winter uniform. Please note that coloured tops or non-uniform items are not permitted to be worn under or over the uniform. Please ensure to go through your child’s uniform and make the necessary updates during the term break.

Break Times & Early Pick-Ups

A reminder our outside break times are between 10:50am to 11:20am and 1:30pm to 2:00pm. If you need to collect your child for an appointment, please be mindful of these times, as students are playing in the yard and announcements over the loudspeaker may not always reach them. A reminder that if you need to pick up your child between school hours, you will be required to provide a valid reason. This ensures fairness for all families following school procedures and helps maintain a focused learning environment for students.

Birthday treats

Birthdays are a special milestone in every child’s life, and we love to celebrate them in a simple yet meaningful way. To ensure the safety of all students, particularly those with allergies, we kindly ask that no food items be sent to school for birthday celebrations. If you would like to acknowledge your child’s birthday, we suggest a small non-food treat, such as a pencil, balloon or bubbles.

Child Safety

Child safety is a priority at Antonine, and we are bound by laws and regulations that we

must uphold when dealing with children in our care. All teachers are mandatory reporters and by law have an obligation to report any concerns that they may have about a child’s safety. We take this responsibility very seriously and at all times follow the processes that we are bound by when we have concerns or incidents happen. My response to any mandatory report is guided by the “Child Safety Standards” and the “Responding to Disclosures” process document which I am required to follow by law. When reports are made to Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) who are the government department responsible for child protection, we follow their advice and directions on how to respond. We also report to our governing body (VRQA) and again follow their advice particularly relating to what we need to do at the school level. Even as a Catholic school we are bound by very strict government legislation that tells us what we can and cannot do in regard to responding to child safety concerns.

- Mr Abraham Diab

Faith Development

Blessing the New Works in the St Joseph Chapel

On Tuesday June 24th, Monsignor Joe came to celebrate a small prayer service for the reopening on our St Anthony Chapel. Over the past few weeks, the chapel has had a refresh with decal of our Maronite and Australian saints along with the Maronite Icons along the walls. It was a sacred afternoon, and we thank all those involved in these works.

- Ms Tanya Khattar

Feast of Corpus Christi at Cedar and St Joseph Campus

On Thursday 19th June, some of our Year 12 students led a beautiful prayer service at Cedar Campus for the Feast of Corpus Christi. Each class individually came together to pray in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.

Student reflection

On Thursday the 19th of June, myself and 7 other year 12 students went to lead the primary students in prayer in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, the Eucharist on the Feast of Corpus Christi. We each led each year level in groups of 2. It was a blessed experience teaching the young children about the Eucharist and the meaning behind the Feast of Corpus Christi.  - Charbel C, Year 12

On Monday June 23rd, to mark the Feast of Corpus Christi at St Joseph Campus, Father Ehab led a procession holding the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance to each class. It was a beautiful morning sharing Christ’s presence and blessings with our whole school community.

- Ms Tanya Khattar

Year 4 Reconciliation

On Wednesday June 11th, Year 4 students gathered in prayer for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, reflecting on the Parable of the Sower. They asked God to help them grow as seeds planted in good soil, open to His love and forgiveness

- Ms Tanya Khattar

Year 5 Reconciliation
 

On Wednesday June 25th, Year 5 students took part in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, reflecting on God's unconditional love and mercy through the Parable of the Prodigal Son. A meaningful opportunity to grow in faith, forgiveness, and understanding of God’s grace.

- Ms Tanya Khattar

Year 7 King of Kings Excursion
 

On Monday June 23rd, Year 7 students attended an excursion to Hoyts to watch King of Kings, deepening their understanding of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection through powerful storytelling and visuals. It was a memorable experience that brought the Gospel to life.

- Ms Tanya Khattar

Year 10 Retreat
 

On Tuesday 3rd of June, students in Year 10 attended their Retreat with Youth Ministry Team (YMT). The focus of the day was on ‘self-image’. Students explored different stations focusing on how we can be true to ourselves and not change who we are to gain the acceptance of others.

- Ms Tanya Khattar
 

Year 12 Spiritus Retreat

On Wednesday, June 25th, the Senior Youth Faith and Ministry group embarked on a spiritual retreat to St Charbel’s Maronite Village in Greenvale. The day began with a solemn group prayer, allowing students to ease into the sacred stillness of the Church and engage in heartfelt reflection on their personal journeys.

Student reflection

Students joined in worship and some had the honour of serving at the altar during a solemn mass run by Fr. Charles Hitti for the parishes Ladie's Group. This was followed by the Sacrament of Reconciliation, offering a profound moment of spiritual renewal and cleansing. Later, the group gathered again for a Mass led by Fr Ehab, where they were blessed to hear the Gospel and receive the Holy Eucharist.

A brief lunch provided both nourishment and a moment to prepare for the jam-packed schedule of the Year 9 Retreat. The day concluded with an inspiring group discussion, led by Fr Ehab, on the theme of “Spiritual Growth,” exploring life’s purpose and the transformative impact of confronting sin.

- Michel S

Spending a day at Saint Charbel Parish was a deeply enriching and spiritual experience, offering a much needed pause from the academic stress of VCE. The church, known for its peaceful atmosphere, provided the perfect setting to reflect, pray, and reconnect with God. One of the most meaningful moments of the day was a talk with Fr Ehab, who spoke with honesty and warmth about the challenges of faith in the modern world. His words encouraged us to stay rooted in prayer and to see every struggle as an invitation to trust in God more deeply. Later, we gathered for Mass a beautiful and reverent celebration that brought us all together. The incense, the chants, and the quiet reverence of the Eucharist made it clear this was more than just a ritual it was a moment of divine encounter. By the end of the day, hearts were lighter, minds clearer, and spirits renewed. The retreat reminded us that even one day spent in faith can reshape our outlook entirely. - Ibrahim A

- Mr Fadi Elbarbar

Learning and Wellbeing

Classroom Helpers

We have been fortunate enough to have parents assisting in different classrooms across F-4 this term. The classroom helpers have been assisting teachers with listening to students read, home readers, small group work and helping students practice their sight words and sounds. Having extra support in the classroom allows students to strengthen their Literacy skills through extra practice and support. Thank you to all of those parents who volunteered their time to help out in the Literacy sessions this term. The Classroom helpers program will continue in Term 3 and times/days will be confirmed with parents early in the term.

- Ms Jessica Hine

A big semester of learning and thinking

As we get to the end of the term, and the middle of the year, I reflect on just how much our students have learned and grown since the start of the year. While much of their growth is measurable in reading levels, maths diagnostics and plenty of other assessments (and of course the semester reports which are released this week), a lot of it is more subtle: it is in the way they think. Our instructional models at Antonine College are based on everything that happens inside students’ heads and hearts:

Of course this still means that students need to know the “facts”: what sound each letter makes (for reading and writing fluency), how many 4s are in 24 (for maths fluency), as well as facts and knowledge for history, science, religion, the arts and more. At least as important as all of these facts, however, is how students connect the facts they have. When students learn something, what does it remind them of? How do they make sense of it? What makes them curious? What other feelings do they have about their learning? Engaging students in these questions is how teachers have helped them to achieve so much progress in their learning, and the more we celebrate the encourage students’ thinking, the more they will continue to grow.

It has been a very long term, and all of us are undoubtedly ready for a break. As you and your family enjoy a relaxing holiday, make sure you take time to celebrate everything your children have achieved over the first semester. Let them tell you what they are most proud of (it may not be the same as you!) and what they hope to achieve in the second half of the year (it may not be the same as what the teacher has written!). Balance the holidays with opportunities to read, write or even just tell stories; to play games (and discuss the best way to win); and to rest and recharge. We look forward to seeing everyone back at school next semester, restored and ready for more learning and thinking.

Have a wonderful holiday.

- Ms Mori Milholland

Cedar Campus Burger Day

On Tuesday 24 June we had a wonderful and successful Burger Day and we are truly grateful to everyone who helped make it such a special event.

A big thank you to our dedicated Parents and Friends Committee: Jacquie, Sahar, Jimmie, Hiba, Jihan, Sophie, Sandra, Rita, Lilian El Khoury and Najwa, for generously donating all the food and supplies and for preparing the delicious burgers. Your efforts brought so much joy to our students and staff. We deeply appreciate the time and love you put into making the day such a success.

A special thank you also goes to the Kairouz family for their generous donation of the meat.

We would also like to thank:

• Rawa, Noel, and Martina for helping with preparation
• Nelly and Juliana for managing the paperwork and orders
• Carlos, Michelle, and Natalie Chahda for cooking the meat

Thank you to all the students for your enthusiastic participation and school spirit. It was uplifting to see everyone coming together and enjoying the day.

When I asked the students how the burgers were, they responded with big smiles, saying: “So yummy! Delicious! Too big! I ate the whole burger for the first time!” It was beautiful to hear such positive feedback from our students.

Alf Sahten, everyone!

Student Reflection
 

On Tuesday 24 June, all the Cedar campus students gathered to eat some tasty Burgers and drink some refreshing Apple juice for lunch. It was a wonderful fundraiser, and all the funds went towards upgrading the atrium. Thanks to all the teachers, the parent association and a special thanks to Sr Veronique - Mikayla E, 5C

- Sr Veronique Karam

Labneh Day

Our students gathered to enjoy Labneh Day as part of our cultural celebration, helping to build friendships and create a warm, welcoming environment. Everyone shared a delicious meal of labneh, olives, and fresh bread.

A big thank you to Mr Michael Kadamani for donating 20 bags of Lebanese bread, Paul Hakim for the 10 kgs of olives, and the Antonine Sisters from the Child Care, Mrs Rima Atme and Ms Michelle Khaissi, for providing 27kgs of the labneh.

Student Reflection

Thank you Sister Veronique for the Zaytoon. – Nour I, 3A

On Monday and Tuesday on the last week of term 2 the Cedar Campus students had a labneh and zaytoon breakfast we really enjoyed it, thank you Mrs Atme and Sister Veronique for setting this wonderful breakfast up. – Amelia E, 3A

On the last week of school all the Cedar Campus students had a labneh and zaytoon breakfast. A few classes went on Monday, and a few classes went on Tuesday. It was really yummy thanks to all teachers who helped and especially Mrs Atme and Sr Veronique.

– Sham R, 3A

- Sr Veronique Karam

Cedar Campus Colour Fun Run

On Friday 13th of June, Cedar had their Colour Fun Run! It was a beautiful afternoon in the sun, running through clouds of colour and cheering each other on for support. We had a goal to beat our first Fun Run in 2022, and our families definitely helped us smash that!

Congratulations and thank you to our top 3 fundraisers;

1. Alyssa A, 1B - $3850
2. Zain S, 2B - $ 2920
3. Noujoud S, FB - $2920
4. Charlotte H, 1C - $2000

Thank you once again for donating to the students' profiles and contributing to our school fundraiser. We are beyond appreciative of your generosity

- Ms Tanya Khattar

eSmart Storytime: Brick Needs a Break

This week, our Foundation, Year 3 and Year 6 students took part in an eSmart Storytime Webinar, where they began exploring one of the 4Cs of online safety risk: Compulsion.

Compulsion refers to the challenge of balancing our use of digital technology. Through fun and interactive activities, students learned about the importance of developing healthy habits, managing screen time, and building self-regulation skills.

As part of the session, students also reflected on how their bodies feel after spending too much time on screens. They noticed signs like tired eyes, sore necks, or feeling restless—helping them understand the importance of taking regular breaks.

Our goal is to support students in using devices in a healthy and balanced way, encouraging them to enjoy a variety of screen-free activities that support their wellbeing.

If you would like more information about compulsion please use the links below:

• Screen Time | eSafety Commissioner
• DigiTalk | Alannah & Madeline Foundation
• Dolly's Dream: Beacon Cyber Safety App

Student reflection:

“For the eSmart Storytime activity, we watched a story called Brick Needs a Break. Through this story, we learned about the importance of taking breaks from technology.

Some alternatives to using technology include playing outside, talking with your parents, reading a book, and admiring nature.

One question we were asked was, "How do you feel when an adult tells you to turn off the technology?"

A popular response in our class was that we often feel frustrated. This led to a deeper discussion about technology addiction.

The story helped us realise how much time we actually spend on devices and highlighted the importance of having a healthy relationship with technology.” - Year 6 students

- Ms Joelle Zakharia

Foundation - Arabic Class

Foundation students are learning how to say the time in Arabic , watch and learn the time.

- Mr Joseph Abou-Zeid

Foundation planting seeds
 

On May 16th, all the students from FA and FB planted some flowers and lettuce seedlings in the school garden, with a little help from Ms Vicki, Miss Michelle and Miss Barb. We are so excited to see them grow bigger each week, with all the wonderful rain and sunshine we have been getting over the last 6 weeks.

- Mrs Barbara Siddiqui

Year 1 Excursion to Como House

Year 1 students had a fantastic time visiting Como House as part of our history unit, “Then and Now.” They explored the mansion, learned about life in the past, and took part in fun hands-on activities like washing clothes with a washboard and participated in solving the mystery of the broken doll.

It was a wonderful way to bring history to life! Thanks to the parent helpers that joined us on the day.

- Ms Adele Chamoun

Year 1 Celebration of Learning

On Friday 20th June, Year 1 students held their Celebration of Learning. Families were invited to see what students had been working on in Media Arts. Students ran a short assembly, shared their learning, and showcased their stop motion clips. In the classrooms, families had fun creating their own clips together using the iMotion app. It was a wonderful morning of creativity and sharing!

- Ms Adele Chamoun

Year 2 Excursion to CERES
 

On the 3rd of June, 2025, the Year 2 students went on an exciting and inspiring excursion to CERES Community Environment Park in Brunswick East. The day was all about learning how we can care for our environment by reducing waste and making more sustainable choices.

Students participated in three hands-on workshops throughout the day. At the Merri Creek Clean-Up, they explored the local environment and helped collect litter along the creek. They learned how waste can end up in our waterways and the impact this has on animals and the natural world.

In the Composting session, students discovered how food scraps and garden waste can be turned into healthy soil through nature’s recycling process. They enjoyed looking at worms, compost bins, and learning how easy it is to reduce food waste at home and school.

During Rethinker Tinker, students made their own recycled paper and explored creative ways to reuse everyday materials. This fun and interactive activity encouraged everyone to think differently about the things we often throw away.

The day helped students understand how the choices we make—like bringing nude food, using reusable items, and sorting our rubbish correctly—can have a big impact. They returned to school full of ideas and enthusiasm about how we can all work towards a zero waste future.

Thank you to our wonderful parent helpers and to CERES for such a valuable learning experience.

- Ms Tania Lancuba

Charlotte's Web play

The Year 4 students studied the novel Charlotte's Web this term and they performed the play for their parents. They worked hard to learn their parts and many students learnt their lines off by heart. It was a wonderful performance, enjoyed by everyone.


 

Student Reflection
Everyone was in character. Their facial expressions and body movements were outstanding. - Celine D

Even though one or two students were sick or away, I was the understudy for all the roles and enjoyed it very much. - Rayan A

I was Charlotte. I studied my strict a lot and I knew all my "huge" part off by heart. I liked that everyone tried their hardest to make to play epic. - Carla K

I felt nervous when I was reading the part of the narrator but the more I went into it, the less nervous I was. At the end I felt good about everything. - Charbel T

It was fun and excited to do the play. We all enjoyed it and I was the sheep and the ending was my favourite part. - Aliyah S.

- Mrs Anna Stradiot-Gatto



 

Year 4 Mad Science Incursion
 

Student reflection

On the 7th of June, the Year 4 students participated in the Mad Science incursion about natural disasters. Oscar the instructor conducted a few experiments. Our first activity was about tornadoes. We each had little bottles with water and glitter in them. When we shook the bottles, we made little tornadoes inside our bottles. We also learned in 2003 humans witnessed the first fire tornado. Oscar showed us a mini fire tornado. It looked cool and we couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen next. He used an empty teabag, emptied it and lit it on fire to show us how hot air rises and it flew up into the air. Next our class got little pieces of instant snow. We learned if you put water on it, it will grow and if you put it in the sun it will shrink. Our last activity was to build a structure with pasta sticks and play doh and we had to make it withstand the earthquake shaker. Many groups were successful; however, one group’s structure broke and fell. Overall, we all had a fun and exciting learning experience.

- Robert E, 4C

Year 4A Inquiry - Natural Disasters

Students in Year 4A completed a unit on Natural Disasters for Inquiry in term 2. As part of the unit, the students undertook a research project on a volcano of their choice.

The students needed to:-

• name and identify the type of volcano
• provide the location of the volcano and the locations of other volcanoes of the same type around the world
• describe how the volcano erupts
• provide a history of previous eruptions.

This information was displayed on a poster and presented to other students in the class. The students also created three dimensional models of their volcano and simulated an eruption using vinegar, bicarbonate soda, detergent and food colouring.

- Mr Gavan Kelly

Year 4B Volcano Projects
 

During Term 2, Year 4 students researched plate tectonics and volcanoes which included designing models that simulate volcanic eruptions as part of their Inquiry unit on ‘Natural Disasters’. There was also a specific focus on the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD which destroyed the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. It was amazing to witness all the volcanoes erupting and for students to share their knowledge of specific volcanoes around the world.

- Mr Corrado Blanco
 

Year 5 Sovereign Hill Camp

Last week, the entire Year 5 cohort embarked on a two-day excursion to Sovereign Hill in Ballarat, an immersive open-air museum that brings the 1850s gold rush era to life. From the moment we arrived, it felt as though we had stepped back in time. The streets were lined with historical buildings, and actors in period costume moved through the town, creating a vivid and realistic atmosphere.

Our experience began with a tour of the Red Hill Mine, where we ventured underground to learn about the harsh and dangerous conditions miners faced in their search for gold. We then had the opportunity to try gold panning ourselves in the creek, and to our excitement, some students even discovered tiny specks of real gold. Throughout the day, we explored various trades and crafts, including candle making and sweet-making demonstrations, which gave us insight into everyday life in the 1850s.

After a traditional-style dinner, we reflected on what we had learned, surrounded by the historic setting. On the second day, we visited the Chinese Camp and the Gold Museum, where we deepened our understanding of the cultural diversity and challenges of the goldfields.

As night fell, we were treated to the AURA Sound and Light Show, a 90-minute immersive experience that illuminated the night sky with stunning projections and 3D animations. The show began with the Wadawurrung creation story, soaring over Sovereign Hill’s Lake, and then transported us through the cosmos to the gold rush era. We witnessed the gritty story of gold, including rebellion, gunfights, triumphs and tragedies, all brought to life through high-tech projections and sound effects.

The excursion was both educational and engaging, allowing us to connect with history in a meaningful and memorable way. Spending the two days together as a whole year level made the experience even more enjoyable and enriching. Sovereign Hill truly brought the gold rush era to life, and it is an experience we will not soon forget.

- Ms Martina Gawro

Year 6 Science Fair
 

On Tuesday 24th and Thursday 26th of June, the Year 6 students proudly hosted a Science Fair focused on the topic of solids, liquids, and gases. The event was a huge success, with the whole school community—including students, teachers, and Year 6 families - coming together to explore the wonders of science. From erupting volcanoes to melting candyfloss, engaging Kahoot quizzes, and live demonstrations, the fair was filled with excitement and discovery. We are incredibly proud of the creativity, teamwork, and scientific thinking our Year 6 students demonstrated, and we hope everyone who attended had as much fun as we did!

Student reflection

The Year 6 Science Fair was really fun, challenging, and full of surprises for many students. Our project was “How a Volcano Shows the Three States of Matter.” A lot of students came up to ask questions and were excited to play our Kahoot. We created a mini version of Mt Fuji, which we erupted using baking soda, food colouring, and vinegar. We even had a raffle that gave students the chance to erupt the volcano themselves. - Joseph D, 6C

Our Science Project was called “The Popping Point.” From this experiment, we learned that popcorn kernels contain moisture. When the kernels are heated, they can no longer hold the moisture and they pop, turning into the fluffy, white, delicious popcorn you see today. We also included hands-on activities for parents, teachers, and students to try. These included a Kahoot with questions based on our board, a question box, and a video demonstrating our experiment. On Tuesday, we also had a photo booth with popcorn props. We hope that lots of people were able to learn about the topic of solids, liquids, and gases through our experiment. - Louise A, 6B

Our Project was called “What Melts Faster: Chocolate or Butter?” We found that butter melts faster than chocolate. Butter takes 15 to 20 seconds to melt, whereas chocolate takes between 1 to 2 minutes. We created two games: one was a question game, and the other was a hands-on activity where participants put their hand in a box and had to guess whether the item inside was a solid, liquid, or gas. - Sandra A, 6A

Our Board explored which chocolate melts the fastest. The milk chocolate and white chocolate melted at 2 minutes, while the dark chocolate melted at 1 minute 30 seconds. Dark chocolate has fewer ingredients and is more natural, which is why it melts faster. Our hands-on activity asked students to hold chocolate in their hand and use body heat to melt it. Lots of students, teachers, and parents were successful in doing this. Our board had its ups and downs and took a while to make, but in the end, it turned out perfectly. - Giselle M, 6A

We Created a Board called “Is Oobleck a Solid, a Liquid, or Both?” We showed all the students how Oobleck changes depending on how it’s handled. Students had so much fun playing our Kahoot and trying to get hidden prizes out of the Oobleck. Overall, the Science Fair was a great experience because we all got to learn new things about states of matter and showcase our learning in a creative and effective way. - Sienna S, 6C

- Ms Mori Milholland
 

Year 6 Fractions

This term in Year 6 we have been looking at all things fractions. We’ve simplified, ordered, compared, found equivalents, converted, added and subtracted like and unlike, multiplied and some of us took that step forward and divided them. Take a look at how 6B has explored fractions recently. We did a classroom walk having to multiply and simplify the different challenge cards and we played a boardgame with a partner to help us practice our multiplication skills.

- Ms Tanya Khattar

Year 6 Incursion 'Mad about Science' - States of Matter

Year 6 classes had an exciting visit from Mad About Science! The hands-on incursion brought our learning about the states of matter to life through a series of fun and interactive experiments.

Students explored solids, liquids, and gases in action—observing changes, making predictions, and even creating some surprising reactions! It was a fantastic opportunity to see science in motion and deepen our understanding of how matter behaves in different forms.

A big thank you to the Mad About Science team for sparking our curiosity and making science so engaging!

- Mrs Chantelle Luciani

Year 7 Drama Performances

Year 7 students have the opportunity to participate in drama for one semester, learning about the rehearsal process and performance skills. 7C and 7D worked hard in class to prepare short scenes from a variety of plays. In the final week of semester 1, each class was able to showcase their efforts to the year level. Well done on your hard work in drama this semester!

- Ms Indira Natoli

Year 8 Science

 

Year 8 students have been exploring the fascinating cardiovascular system as part of their science curriculum. To deepen their understanding, they had the exciting opportunity to dissect a heart, observing its chambers, valves, and vessels up close. This hands-on activity helps students make real-life connections to classroom theory, reinforcing key concepts about how the heart works to pump blood throughout the body. Such practical learning experiences are essential in developing scientific skills and curiosity about human biology.

- Ms Stephanie Hartnup

Cedar Library Visit - Year 9 Creative Writing

During their library lesson on Wednesday, 11 June the students in Year 4C were joined by students from the Year 9 Creative Writing elective from St Joseph Campus. The Year 9 students had been writing and illustrating children’s story books and wanted to present them to an authentic audience.

The stories were created and presented digitally using the Canva app and were visually colourful and appealing. The Year 4 students were particularly impressed by the use of rhyming language, onomatopoeia, and highlighting key words in the text by using different shapes, size and style of font. After individual presentations to the whole class, the Year 9 students broke up and presented the remaining stories to small groups of the 4C students.

Student reflection

For two weeks, students in Year 9 Creative Writing planned, drafted, and wrote their own original short stories for children. Each story was planned according to the structure of a short story, including the implementation of literary techniques to engage young readers. It was essential that all stories included a moral. After the writing process, students spent time illustrating their stories using Canva, creating vibrant and stimulating pages. After completion, students visited Cedar Campus, where they engaged in Storytime and read their stories to grade four children as a whole group and later in small groups. Students were not only sharing their stories, but were also engaged in discussion about literary techniques, and the process involved in writing and illustrating children’s books. This allowed St Joseph Campus students to connect with a younger audience. In turn, Cedar students were able to experience first-hand how an elective subject can not only be a learning experience, but also a rewarding one! - Maria K, 9D

- Mr Gavan Kelly and Ms Diane Farah

Trade Fit Expo
 

Student reflection

On 3rd June, girls from Year 7-12 went to The Trade & Tech Fit career expo at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, exclusively for females.

This is a unique event offering a safe and inclusive space to explore career pathways in industries traditionally pitched to males.

During the expo we were able to visit many companies and business and learn about what they do and provide. There was a wide variety of different exhibitors such as RMIT, VU, Melbourne Polytechnic and many other providers.

By seeing and communicating to many exhibitors it allowed us to get an insight of what they offer and provide. It was a great experience for everyone and provided us with lots of knowledge and choices for our future career.

- Chloe M, Year 12

Year 9 Food Technology - Black bean chocolate brownies

Year 9 students have recently been exploring the topic of allergies and intolerances and how this influences one’s food choices. To consolidate this learning, students experimented with ingredient substitutions by making chocolate brownies with black beans instead of flour and potentially catering for those with a wheat allergy. The result was a rich, delicious chocolate dessert which tasted very similar to the usual brownies most are familiar with. This lesson encouraged awareness around allergens as well as creative food solutions to specific dietary needs.

- Ms Norma Francis

Year 10 Food Technology- Grilled chicken wraps

The Year 10 Food Technology students recently enjoyed a practical cooking lesson, preparing grilled chicken wraps as part of their exploration into nutritious balanced meals and eating for good health. For many, this was their first experience in cooking chicken, consolidating their knowledge in safe food handling and hygienic food practices. All students worked together to create their delicious final products and were very happy with the end results!

- Ms Norma Francis

Year 10 Italian and Food class making pizzas
 

On Wednesday 18th June, Year 10 Italian and Year 10 Food Technology classes joined forces to make pizzas to celebrate their last lesson before the beginning of exams. The two classes numbered 40 students with Ms Francis leading the demonstration while Ms Mezzatesta provided the Italian background music. Students were both enthused and excited to make their own pizzas even though it took some a while to get used to kneading the dough. When it was time to put the toppings on the pizzas we had a variety of choices including olives, capsicum, mushroom and unfortunately to say even pineapple!

Thanks to Ms Josephine who made sure that the pizzas were cooled enough so that students could take them home. All in all it was an exciting lesson with students working together to make and cook their pizzas from scratch and then to clean their stations ready for the next class!

- Ms Maria Mezzatesta

Deakin University Work Experience at Burwood Campus

Student reflection

Work experience at Deakin university science laboratories is great. We have been working in laboratories and were given a booklet to enter our results and observations.

So far at Deakin we have tested ourselves for staphylococcus a disease that’s present in 40% of humans and is relatively harmless. We have examined the disease through a microscope and saw how it looked. We also used things like dyes and alcohols to examine other items through the microscope. Additionally, we have talked about natural selection and played around with beads, toothpicks, hair pins and hair ties to learn about them.

We also tested water for PH, Temp, NTUs and the like. We also used binoculars to document birds in the nearby park and used a tracker to track photos of animals in Australia.

There is so much to do and learn.

- Ravnoor S, Year 10

Year 11 History Holocaust Museum Excursion

Our Year 11 History students had the privilege to travel to the Melbourne Holocaust Museum for their Area of Study 2 Unit on Social and Cultural Change between 1920-1945. Students have been learning about how the Holocaust changed the lives of the Jewish Community during the time of Nazi Party in World War 2.

Student Reflection
“Our Year 11 History class recently visited the Holocaust Museum in Elsternwick, an experience that significantly deepened our understanding of 1900s Germany. The museum's collection of authentic artifacts, provided a truthful and intimate glimpse into the lives of those who lived through that period. This visit offered valuable insights beyond textbooks, making the history further understandable and deeply impactful.” -Isabella I
 

“This term, my History class went on an excursion to the Melbourne Holocaust Museum, and it was an experience I’ll never forget. Going with my classmates and teacher made it even more special because we got to learn and reflect together. The museum helped me understand how real and painful this part of history was. Some of the things that stood out to me most were the striped pyjamas worn by those imprisoned in the camps and a suitcase that had been taken from someone during the Holocaust. Seeing those items up close made me think about the people connected to them and what they had gone through. Overall, the experience was meaningful, and I’m really glad I got to share it with my class.” - Jamileh T
 

- Ms Stephanie Hartnup

Year 12 Breakfast with the Principal

On Tuesday 1st July, Year 12 students enjoyed a lovely breakfast at  Cedar Bakery with the Principal, Ms Bacash, and senior leaders, Ms Guido, Ms Diab, Ms Coffey and Mr Fomiatti. Students indulgent in a variety of cheese/ meat manoush, Zatar and hot chocolate provided by the college. The morning was filled with smiles as students enjoyed a well-deserved break from studies. We thank the college for organising the breakfast - a memory our senior students will cherish.

Student reflection

On Tuesday the 1st of July, our Year 12 cohort was fortunate enough to spend a special morning away from school. Our morning consisted of sharing a breakfast with our principal and taking a break from our usual school routine to enjoy being together as a year level. There was something really refreshing about siting together, without having to worry about deadlines or exams. Just chatting, laughing and taking it all in.it was a relaxed and memorable start to the day. A chance to appreciate the people around us and moments that often get lost in the busyness of Year 12. - Dima H

- Ms Ayesha Guido

Year 12 VET Business Excursion to Coca Cola Europacific Partners
 

The Year 12 VET Business students visited Coca Cola Europacific Partners in Moorabbin on Wednesday the 18th June. The excursion provided a wonderful opportunity to consolidate student learning as part of our study of the units BSBPEF301 Organise Personal Work Priorities and BSBTEC301 Design and Produce Business Documents. Students have been learning about policies and procedures relevant to work tasks, and analysing the principles and techniques of goal setting, performance measurement and time management. They have also been creating professional work documents including: business letters, meeting schedules, agendas and procedure manuals. Students have learned the importance of staying consistent with company Style Guides, watermarking and trademarked logos.

Andrew, the production manager at Coca Cola Europacific partners met us as we arrived and discussed some of the safety procedures before entering the plantation. The safety briefing allowed a new appreciation for how seriously health and safety are taken in professional work environments.

Students were excited to wear the safety equipment, which included: hair/beard nets, a hard hat, earpieces, headphones and high-vis vests. This allowed for a real industry experience and reinforced how essential preparation and awareness are in workplaces, especially those that pose potential risks to production and manufacturing. We toured the plantation and were shown all key steps in the bottling process from water treatment to syrup preparation, carbonation process, filling and packaging, quality and control checking, and finally, packaging and distribution.

After the guided tour, Andrew showed us around the offices, where professionals were working behind their desks. Some were on zoom calls with colleagues from different departments, others were analysing statistics and data of current coca cola quality and the speed of the production line for that day. Students were invited to take a drink from the fridges which they were very excited about.

Another highlight of the excursion was the opportunity to discuss career opportunities with Andrew at the end of the tour. He discussed a current advertisement for 10 new job opportunities to work in the plantation as part of their $105.5 million expansion beginning early next year. The students were shocked to learn that for those 10 jobs, they have currently received over 750 applicants. This enabled a rich discussion about competitive industries, potential internships and recruitment processes.

We are grateful to have had such a wonderful opportunity. Students were let in on a secret and were the first people outside of the company to see the new can designs which will be released in two weeks’ time.

I thank all students for demonstrating such professionalism throughout the site tour and asking some insightful questions of the production manager. Andrew shared some positive feedback about the enthusiasm and behaviour of our students.

- Ms Cayla Garra

Year 12 Business Management Visit to Yakult

In Unit 3, Outcome 3 Business Management, students learn how businesses coordinate and organise the activities involved in producing the goods or services that a business sells to customers. In other words, how a business efficiently and effectively turns an input into an output.

To consolidate our learning, Tuesday 3 June, we visited the Yakult Operations Site in Dandenong North. The site visit to Yakult provided an excellent opportunity for Business Management students to deepen their understanding of how a manufacturing business, such as Yakult, can optimise their Operations Management through technology, quality management and waste management while maintaining high Corporate Social Responsibility. We learnt that Yakult produce 11,000 outputs per hour, five days a week, with minimal human labour as it is a capital intensive (automotive) business.

Taste testing a Yakult drink was a highlight as well as leaving with a show bag of goodies.

The students are to be congratulated for their enthusiasm and cooperation on the day. The experience was fun, and we are grateful to have had the opportunity to apply our content knowledge learnt in the classroom to a real-world business example.

Student reflection

The year 12 business class was fortunate enough to go on an excursion to the Yakult factory, where we gained valuable insight into real-world production processes and operations management. Students observed how Yakult is made from the use of locally sourced ingredients like fresh milk from local farmers to the advanced machinery used in bottling and packaging. We also got to witness quality control checks taking place in which employees assessed products to ensure they are all meeting a set standard. The tour gave students a visual aid into the operations management content we have been learning in class. At the conclusion of the tour, we as a class were given some Yakult to sample from Amanda our tour guide. Overall, it was an enjoyable and informative excursion.

- Tahyla M

Our tour guide explained all the stages of the production process, from the creation of the plastic bottles, all the way to the Quality Control labs, where they regularly test the milk before sending it out. This tour helped us to further understand the area of study that we have been covering in class and apply real life examples into our work and upcoming SAC on Operations Management.

- Phillip F

- Ms Fran Cometti & Year 12 Business Management

Upcoming Dates:

4 July: Last day of Term 2

21 July: Term 3 Commences

4 August: Staff Professional Learning Day (Pupil Free Day)

8 August: 100 Days Celebrations

19 August: Parent teacher interviews - online from 2pm - 6pm (classes conclude at 1.20pm)

11 September: Antonine College STEAM Learning Exhibition

Pilgrims of Hope - College Theme 2025