Catholic Regional College North Keilor – Yearbook 2023

2023 THE YEAR OF

Resilience

“All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle” St Francis of Assisi

2023

The Year of Resilience

The College Core Value for 2023 was Resilience, expressed by the following quote from St Francis of Assisi and accompanied by the symbol of a Eucalyptus tree.

“All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.” St Francis of Assisi

The Eucalyptus tree is symbolic of who we are and reminds us of our connection to the land and especially the connection that our Indigenous people have to this land.

The eucalypt grows in different environments and shows us that, like the temptations put to Jesus, we can work through what is put in front of us to become better people.

Our Vision

We are a school where every learner can become who God calls them to be.

Our Mission

To do this we take the time to know our students, their needs and aspirations. Every student achieves success through a personal pathway. We engage students by differentiating learning and offering a wide range of cultural and faith-based programs and immersions. We equip young people to become peacebuilders in our world.

Principal’s Welcome

MR TULLIO ZAVATTIERO Principal

What occurs each day in every class at CRCNK is important. It’s not always perfect and sometimes the learning is not as clear as what is intended, but rarely are things as perfect as what we hope they are. Learning is often messy and requires clarification, reinforcement, reflection and context for it to make sense; and what makes perfect sense to one person can make very little sense to another. Life itself is much like this and hence learning requires persistence, patience and resilience.

The outcomes of learning are critical; building a deep and rich understanding of new and existing ideas and concepts and then being able to use those understandings and skills to solve problems, both simple and complex. However, given that each of us learn and develop differently, it’s vital that we each understand our own learning and what works best for each of us. At CRCNK we challenge students with the notion of Growth Habits: engagement, persistence, and personal responsibility. The aim is to help students consider important ingredients of learning. They don’t encompass everything but coupled with our commitment to Faith as an integral part of learning and growth, they are a start to assisting students to develop positive learning habits, to understand their own learning and ultimately enable them to grow into critical thinkers.

Learning is about moments that have real meaning and connection for students and there are always highlights that come to mind when reflecting on all that’s been 2023. I was very fortunate to attend the language and cultural immersion trip to Italy earlier this year with 11 of our students. It was great fun seeing the amazing sights and sounds of Italy, but what I was most impressed with was when our students attended an intensive 4 days of learning the Italian language in Bologna. Working with teachers only speaking Italian, our students were focused and dedicated to the

task and emerged with increased levels of skill and confidence with the language. They were very impressive!

Similarly, for the small group of students who visited the Philippines in July, this was the learning experience of a lifetime. Our students took great pride in experiencing a very different culture, putting their faith into action, and working to support children far less fortunate than themselves.

Learning moments are often smaller but more frequent and no less significant than the examples quoted above. Such as when students put forward a powerful message through a piece of ‘Slam’ poetry, or offer a compelling argument in a debate, or solve a maths problem after a number of attempts, or overcome nerves to perform on stage, or realise a piece of art they have created is being exhibited for all to see. Sometimes, it can be the formation of a new friendship or a conversation between a teacher and a student, or a moment of reflection during Mass that lays the foundation for a new perspective. Learning moments, large and small are what school is about. They happen each day and are precious, even when they aren’t always noticed and appreciated.

We give thanks for all the moments of learning and growth that have been captured in 2023.

Deputy Principal’s Report

MR BRENDAN HALLINAN Deputy Principal

This has been a year of growth, stemming from reviewing our current practices to looking forward as to how we can best shape the future learning for our students.

The summary below encapsulates the key initiatives and achievements of 2023, emphasising the College’s commitment to student agency, learning diversity, staff development, and expanded opportunities for student engagement.

Student Agency and Learning Opportunities:

• Year 10 redesigned with 4 pathway options, facilitating subject acceleration in VCE, VET, Italian, Mathematics, and Structured Work Placement.

Introduction of student-driven electives in Year 10.

• Ongoing adjustments to subject selection processes, with recent expansions, with increased offerings of VCE subjects including Health and Human Development, Physical Education, Business Management, General Mathematics, and Psychology.

• Implementation of timetabled Structured Work Placement as a student choice.

Learning for All Abilities:

At CRCNK, we recognise that not everyone learns the same way, so we take a team-based approach to supporting students’ learning and wellbeing.

We have a strong Learning Diversity Team working with students and their parents/carers to modify work where appropriate, and also ensure the right wellbeing supports are in place to enable them to flourish, not only as learners but as active members of our College community.

We’ve looked at learning pathways and in 2023, we established:

• Four acceleration pathways for VCE/VET/Italian

An accelerated pathway for structured work placement, coupled with newly designed Vocational English and Vocational Mathematics.

Professional Development for Staff:

Our commitment to continuous improvement extends to our staff. Ensuring they are equipped with the latest curriculum innovations as well as personal professional learning translates to more positive outcomes in the classroom, especially with student engagement. This year: we provided high-quality professional learning in data literacy skills for tailored learning.

• Domain Leaders engaged in facilitated visits to enhance support for students transitioning to Year 11.

Expanded Student Opportunities:

Our teaching staff are always looking for opportunities to put learning into practice as a means of reinforcing knowledge, including the following extracurricular offerings:

• Participation in UN Youth Conference

• Debating Program

• Melbourne University, and Swinburne University, Engineering Competitions

• Italian Language competitions

• Performing and Visual Arts festival

Planning also commenced for the creation of select entry subjects in 2024 in Advanced Mathematics Classes at Years 7 and 9, and Learning Acceleration Pathways at Year 10.

I am really proud of the commitment of all our staff – whether they be teachers and learning support officers in the classroom, to our office staff who provide a welcoming face and assistance not only to parents/carers but to our students as well, through to Maintenance staff who keep our facilities in good working order, ready for students to learn, as well as all the other staff in between that make up our wonderful College community.

It’s been a big year and I am looking forward to continuing this work in 2024 with the ultimate goal to ensure we are doing everything we can to support students to be who God is calling them to be.

In 2023, we have had the honour of actively participating in and hosting many events for Catholic Regional College North Keilor. Our involvement began at the start of the year, where the student leaders had the opportunity to work with the Year 7s during their camp and leading many of their fun activities. We also contributed to a leadership panel at the Year 7 Information night, addressing enquiries about the school from both parents and prospective students alike.

Alongside this, we as leaders played pivotal roles in organising and motivating participants at the swimming and athletics carnivals, represented our school at the Annual Mass for schools held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and assisted with group activities for the Grade 5 Immersion program.

For the Year 10 students, we collaborated in organising graduation details and participated in the Year 10 Reflection Day. Schoolwide, we have taken part in countless assemblies and masses, as well as supporting the future student leaders as they prepared for their speeches.

Serving as College Captains in 2023 was an immense privilege in a school that has nurtured and guided us over the past four years. Our experience has not only enhanced our understanding of leadership but has also enriched our self-awareness. As we embark on the next phase of our journey, the confidence, dedication, and skills we’ve cultivated throughout this year will continue to shape our paths. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to CRC North Keilor.

College Captains

NATHAN SIOMOS AND HAYLEY DUFF College Captains

2023 Student Leaders

Hayley Duff College Captain

Jessica Camilleri Arts and Events Captain

Nathan Siomos College Captain

Vaughan Catubig Faith and Mission Captain

Talia Caiazzo First Nations Ambassodor

Milana Chetcuti Arts and Events Captain

Lara Simic Sports and Community Captain

Nearra Fernando Bosco House Captain

Kyan Nagendran Social JusticeBakhita

Veronika Andonov Bosco House Captain

Apollo Pete Romero House Captain

Giovanni Schepis Bakhita House Captain

Danielle Pinheiro Clare House Captain

Mischa Ibrahim Social JusticeClare

Kassandra Caliguiran Sports and Community Captain

Helene Mansour Clare House Captain

Daniel Bezzina Social JusticeBosco

Josephine Ibrahim Bakhita House Captain

Kate Fernandes Romero House Captain

Alayna Denkel Social JusticeRomero

Learning and Teaching

As we turn the pages of our yearbook, we find ourselves at the end of a remarkable journey through the 2023 school year. I am honoured to share with you the story of a year filled with growth, resilience, and unwavering commitment to learning.

With the shadow of the pandemic moving into the background, our ability to adapt and evolve has shaped the way we have encountered both challenge and opportunity throughout the year. The College has continued to focus on the development of pathways, with the development of an entirely unique Year 10 Program that provides our students with the opportunity to accelerate their learning through VCE offerings, Italian, Vocational Education and Training (VET) partnership with CRC Sydenham. We also formalised our structured workplace learning program, allowing students to engage in the development of work ready skills across a variety of trades and roles. The College is committed to helping students find their passion and prepare for their future and the offerings will only grow in 2024 and beyond.

We also trialled a Year 9 City Experience program, where our students worked out of an inner-city campus building, working collaboratively and undertaking an inquiry project relating to the issues facing Melbourne. A key component of the experience was developing the independence of travelling to the city each day, navigating public transport, working together as a team, undertaking research, and preparing and presenting an oral presentation about their findings. Our Year 9s embraced this type of learning model, developing important personal and time management skills, and developed incredible familiarity and confidence in navigating independently around the city, no doubt a useful skill that will serve them well in the future.

Beyond academics, our secondary community thrived in various extracurricular activities. The Artist in Residence program in Year 7, debating and public speaking, mathematics, science and engineering competitions. We were also fortunate to be a recipient of a five thousand dollar Melbourne Archdiocese grant to further develop our rocketry program in Science. Our Domain

Leaders are committed to providing students with opportunities to extend, enrich and explore their passions and expose students to contemporary real world learning experiences.

Our dedicated teaching staff played a pivotal role in making this year a success. They continued to leverage technology to engage students in innovative ways, fostering a sense of connection and collaboration. Through our commitment to using data to inform teaching practice, we have continued to foster a culture of identifying students in need of support and enrichment, creating pathways for student success.

As we bid farewell to the 2023 school year, it is with a sense of pride and gratitude that we look back on all that we have accomplished together. In closing, I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to the entire College community — students, parents and carers, teachers, and staff — for your dedication and unwavering support. Working in partnership we will continue to grow and learn together, no matter the challenges that lie ahead.

With every blessing.

MR SIMON GITSON Assistant Principal – Learning and Teaching

As the Assistant Principal of Wellbeing, I am pleased to reflect upon the past academic year, which has been a journey dedicated to nurturing the emotional and social wellbeing of our students. The year 2023 has proven to be a time of growth, resilience, and outstanding student leadership, showcasing the guiding lights of our school community.

In an ever-evolving world, the significance of wellbeing in our students’ lives has grown substantially. As we face the complexities of modern life, our school has placed a strong emphasis on creating a supportive and nurturing environment where each student can thrive.

Emotional wellbeing stands as the cornerstone of our efforts. Throughout this year, we introduced a range of initiatives aimed at promoting emotional intelligence, empathy, and selfawareness among our students. Our dedicated counsellors and House Leaders have been steadfast in establishing safe spaces where students can seek support when needed.

Our school’s House System continues to evolve, creating tradition and strengthening our sense of unity and community. The House Leaders of Bakhita, Bosco, Clare, and Romero, continue to provide our students with a profound sense of belonging and identity. Throughout this year, our Houses have fostered friendly competition and, importantly, served as platforms for raising awareness of social justice issues, fostering collaboration, and building camaraderie.

Our students have stepped into leadership roles with great dedication. The Vertical House System has encouraged them to actively engage in a wide range of activities, including academics, sports, community service, and the arts. Their unwavering commitment has been inspiring, and the strong sense of pride and unity within each House demonstrates the power of a collective identity and the bonds forged when working together toward shared goals.

Student Wellbeing

As we look to the future, our commitment to wellbeing remains at the core of our school’s mission. We will continue to be attentive to the evolving needs of our school community and adapt our programs and services accordingly. Together, we aim to cultivate a culture marked by compassion, resilience, faith, and respect.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Wellbeing Team for always ‘meeting our students at the gate’.

I extend warm wishes to all for a summer filled with welldeserved rest, moments of reflection, and a renewed sense of enthusiasm as we embark on the exciting journey of 2024!

MS NELLA CIRILLO Assistant Principal –Wellbeing

The theme for Catholic Education this year is Forminglivesoffaith, hopeandloveinthelightofChrist. It is a privileged position as teachers and leaders in a Catholic school to be working with our students because we get to explore the spiritual dimension of life with them.

Each child who started the learning journey with us this year brought with them their own unique experiences of learning, life and faith. Stepping into our faith community here at CRCNK students have had wonderful, faith-filled opportunities to further develop their understanding of who God is calling them to be. This is what makes Catholic Regional College North Keilor such a special and rich school community.

Following the introduction of the four Houses named after various Saints within the Catholic Tradition, this year students worked together with staff to honour the missionary example of each of these saints, by supporting a range of social justice initiatives. Bakhita House named after Saint Josephine Bakhita, formed a partnership with the Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans also known as ACRATH. We welcomed our Foundation Principal, Mr Bernard Dobson back to the school early in the year to speak to students and staff about his work as a volunteer for ACRATH raising awareness about the effects of human trafficking. Mr Dobson invited the Bakhita House student leaders, supported by some other leaders, to participate in a social justice pilot project which required them to create a resource which would educate and raise awareness about a specific form of human trafficking. Under the guidance of our Youth Minister, Jaiden Calleja, students met regularly throughout the year to work on the development of a comprehensive and professional video resource targeting Forced Marriage.

Bosco House named after Saint John (Don) Bosco got to work at the beginning of Term 2 leading our Winter Appeal. This year students, their families and staff were asked to donate unwanted clothing items which would support the Don Bosco Opportunity shops in Brunswick. The Op Shops in turn help support and

Faith and Mission

MR RICCARDO IUELE Director Faith & Mission

fund the Don Bosco Youth Centre. Fr Jan who is the director of the Youth Centre and volunteers from the Op Shops, was overwhelmed with the efforts and generosity of our community. There were several baskets full of clothing which were blessed during our Mass of the Sacred Heart of Jesus by Fr Jan. They were then delivered to the Op Shops which provided people in need with warm clothing during our cold Winter. Bosco House has formed an official partnership with the Don Bosco Youth Centre and Op Shops going forward.

Clare House named after Saint Clare has explored a range of social justice initiatives this year, initiated by this year initiated by the Poor Clares (nuns) based in Sydney, Australia. This ggroup of Catholic nuns has assisted our Faith and Mission Team in identifying meaningful mission outreach opportunities that we will endeavour to realise in 2024.

Romero House named after Saint Oscar Romero partnered with one of the Church’s largest service agencies — Catholic Mission. It is Pope Francis’ international mission agency in Australia. October is mission month in our Liturgical calendar and on the last day in October students and staff got to wear silly socks for the day as part of a fundraising initiative to support Catholic Mission’s work ‘on the ground’ in Timor Leste. As an international organisation, Catholic Mission works to support grassroots projects, including healthcare, education and spiritual care.

Forming community partnerships has been a key goal and strategic priority for our school community in 2023 and we can be very proud of the many connections that we have formed. In addition to the alliances that have been formed with Church service agencies for our school Houses, we have forged partnerships with the Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation, a Philippine-based poverty alleviation and nationbuilding agency and the Canossian Sisters as part of our Philippines Immersion trip.

Each of these connections formed this year is testament to our ongoing commitment as a Catholic school community, working together to serving the needs of the poor and honouring our duty to neighbour through selfless service.

The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

MATTHEW 25:40

Year 7 Camp 20 - 22 March 2023

At the start of Term 1, our Year 7 students embarked on an unforgettable journey to Phillip Island Adventure Resort for their camp, initiating their adventure into secondary school.

Beyond the picturesque landscapes and breathtaking views, this camp was a catalyst for forging enduring friendships and stepping outside their comfort zones. The excitement commenced on night one with an enchanting visit to the Phillip Island Penguin Parade, where students were captivated by the sight of these adorable creatures returning to shore. On the second night, spirits soared as the students gathered for a lively disco, creating lasting memories filled with laughter and joy. Throughout the camp, these young individuals embraced challenges and engaged in various activities that pushed their boundaries. From collaborative team-building exercises to encounters with Phillip Island’s unique wildlife, every moment was an opportunity for them to bond, learn, and grow. As they navigated through this experience, laughter and shared triumphs solidified their connections, laying a robust foundation for their upcoming school year and fostering a sense of camaraderie that will resonate throughout their secondary school journey.

MS CHERIE MCSWEENEY Year 7 Camp Co-ordinator

Year 9 Camp 1 - 2 November 2023

The Year 9 Camp 2023 provided lots of exciting opportunities to students and they were pushed to limits to challenge themselves in different activities in a relaxed yet enjoyable environment at Portsea Camp.

Students arrived at the Camp on Day 1 by buses and were welcomed by the Portsea Staff with an induction session. Students were grouped into 9 groups and the challenge was to complete 9 activities by midday the next day of Nov 2. The Giant Swing became very popular as it tested the sheer willpower of the students as the swing went up nearly 50 feet high! The screams of the students could be heard from any corner of the Camp site.

Students also enjoyed the Bike Rides in a serene setting of blue waters and lush greenery. High Ropes, Archery and a Flying Fox gave ample time for students to support and encourage each other. They built much stronger friendship bonds after returning from the Camp. Students experienced Positive Interactions and developed teamwork skills as they went on competing each other groups as they progressed through the day. Being away from home, students honed the life-skills of self-reliance, responsibility, and independence as they had to self-manage.

Teachers supported students in every way possible way to make the Camp experience memorable. The Award ceremony was liked by everyone as every Group Leader nominated a student from their group for his/her Personal Excellence during Camp.

I would like to thank all parents/carers for preparing their children for the Camp. On behalf of parents and teachers of Year 9 students, I offer my sincere thanks to the front office staff of CRCNK for working tirelessly to assist in making the Camp a huge success.

MR PETER RAVELA Year 9 Camp Co-ordinator

Italian Immersion Trip

31 March - 18 April 2023

After a long flight to Rome, we were straight into the sites of this beautiful city and a quick trip to Pompeii. The ancient ruins were an amazing backdrop to a thriving, modern culture. Everyone was in awe of the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, St. Peters Basilica and the Sistine Chapel.

We then travelled to Assisi to hear about the life of St. Francis, the school’s patron saint and St. Clare, the patron saint of Clare House. The next few days were packed full of adventure as we travelled to Florence, San Gimignano and Pisa. Many photos were taken of students trying to hold up the leaning tower. We also had a reflective moment in a private chapel of the Cathedral, giving thanks for all we have and remembering our families back home.

A quick trip to Milan gave us a view of the beautiful Duomo and tour of San Siro Soccer stadium, home to Inter Milan and AC Milan. Students were excited to sit in the famous players seats in the locker room and touch the roof of the players tunnel, as is the custom when they run onto the pitch.

We spent Easter Sunday in Como and attended morning mass with the locals at Saint Mary Assunta Cathedral. This was followed by a cruise on Lake Como. Everyone was trying to spot the celebrities’ homes.

On the way to Bologna, we visited the Ferrari Museum where a lot of wishful thinking for the future was planned. It was definitely a place for car envy. Bologna was our main stop on the trip. Students spent 4 days practicing and advancing their Italian language skills in classes at the Madrelingua School. We also had private lessons making traditional pasta with Bolognese sauce and our own pizza. YUMMY!

Our last few days were spent in Venice visiting the Doja’s Palace, relaxing on a Gondola ride through the canals, and shopping for those last minutes gifts to take home to our friends and family. We also visited the smaller islands of Murano for the glass blowing and Burano for the lace and coloured houses.

It was sad to say good to Italy, but many promises were made to come back, honouring the coins tossed into the Trevi Fountain at the start of the trip.

MRS SHEREE ZAVATTIERO Family School Partnerships

Philippines Immersion Trip

18 - 29 June 2023

In June of this year, a group of eight students, accompanied by Ms. Muyco and Mr. Hunter, embarked on a 12-day immersive and impactful journey to the Philippines.

This transformative experience was designed not only to contribute to the local community but also to provide a diverse learning experience for all involved. Spanning various locations across the country, the trip focused on engaging students in construction and service initiatives, cultural immersion, and education activities.

Canossa Health and Social Centre in Tondo

The journey began in Tondo, where the team immediately delved into community service at the Canossa Health and Social Centre. Over five days, the collaborative efforts of the students and the Canossa sisters transformed a room into a kindergarten, creating a conducive learning environment for young children. The impact was immediate, with enrolments nearly tripling in the months following the visit. The team also visited the slum area known as Happyland, gaining profound insights into the socio-economic challenges faced by marginalized communities and fostering empathy among the students.

Tagaytay and Alapan

The picturesque mountain city of Tagaytay provided a contrast to the bustling urban landscape of Tondo. The Canossian Sisters kindly offered accommodation to the immersion group as they spent the next four days journeying to Alapan to observe the diversity in the local way of life. Partnering with charity organization Gawad Kalinga, the students actively engaged with the community, dedicating time and effort to construct foundations for future homes. Beyond construction, afternoons were spent entertaining local children, fostering connections beyond cultural barriers and creating everlasting bonds and memories. In addition, the community organised a special 15th birthday celebration for Cruz. This heartfelt event brought joy, celebration, and a sense of belonging to Cruz and the entire immersion group, highlighting the power of human connection and kindness.

GK

Enchanted

Farm, Angat Province

The GK Enchanted Farm offered students a retreat that combined leisure and cultural immersion. A day by the pool allowed for much-needed relaxation, while a presentation by a local entrepreneur showcased the process of making delicious Filipino treats. This cultural exchange highlighted the importance of GK sponsorship in enabling local entrepreneurs to create sustainable businesses that benefit the entire community.

Exploring Manila: Intramuros and Mall of Asia

The final leg of the journey took place in the City of Manila, where students explored the historic old city of Intramuros, gaining insights into the country’s rich heritage. The trip concluded with a visit to the modern Mall of Asia, providing students with a contrast to the historical exploration and allowing them to experience modern Filipino culture.

Student Reflections

Amidst these experiences, students shared personal reflections on their time in Tondo, particularly at the Canossa Health and Social Centre. The refurbishment of the kindergarten became a collective effort, creating a vibrant and engaging learning space. Memories were made through painting, building furniture, and opening the kindergarten to the local community. The impact of these efforts went beyond physical changes, shaping perspectives and relationships among the group.

The journey also included activities in Alapan, Gawad Kalinga, where the students enjoyed running games for the children, creating smiles and laughter. The term “HUA,” standing for “Heard, Understood, and Acknowledged,” resonated with the students, reflecting the essence of their mission. The generosity and resilience of the people in Alapan inspired a commitment to make a difference in the lives of the less fortunate.

In conclusion, this journey through the Philippines was not merely a trip; it was a transformative experience that left an unforgettable mark on the students as well as the staff members. By contributing to local communities, fostering cultural exchange, and building connections, the participants of this journey became catalysts for positive change. The echoes of their impact will continue to resonate, urging others to recognize the power of empathy, understanding, and social responsibility in creating a brighter and more interconnected world.

MS MARIEL MUYCO AND MR JASON HUNTER

Bakhita House Report

In 2023, Bakhita House continued to thrive as a hub of familial bonds and connections, embodying its core values. Under the guidance of Giovanni Scheppis, Josephine Ibrahim and Kyan Nagendran, the House has achieved numerous accomplishments this year.

Evidently, during the ACTs Showcase, several students showcased their musical talents, representing both themselves and the House. Notably, Bakhita House secured the top position in the swimming carnival and a commendable second place in the Athletics Carnival. These achievements underscore the camaraderie and enthusiasm of Bakhita students in wholeschool events.

Among the year’s successes, the Bakhita House food drive stands out. Many students across the mentor groups united to donate food items for the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC), supporting migrant asylum seeker families in our community. This act of generosity humbled us all and serves as an ongoing aspiration.

St. Josephine Bakhita’s legacy of compassion and humility resonates through her dedication to serving those who endured challenges similar to her own. Her transition from adversity to enlightenment serves as an inspiration, offering solace to others who find themselves in a struggle. Bakhita’s determined spirit encourages us to confront our challenges with grace while fostering empathy for others’ difficulties.

St. Bakhita’s advocacy for fellow survivors of slavery positions her as the patron saint of human trafficking and slavery. This status granted Bakhita students access to insights from Mr. Bernard Dobson, an advocate for ACRATH (Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans). Mr. Dobson explained the persisting global concerns of human trafficking, offering strategies for combating it in our daily lives.

As my tenure as Bakhita House Leader concludes in 2023, I extend my gratitude to the students and families I’ve had the

privilege of engaging with during my time in leadership. I’ve endeavoured to embody the values of St. Josephine Bakhita of empathy, resilience, humility, and selflessness. Collaborating with dedicated Bakhita Mentor Leaders has been a pleasure, as they’ve consistently shown compassion and care for their mentor groups. With Bakhita House and its vertical structure still in its infancy, I eagerly anticipate witnessing the evolution of its identity into a more expansive family for its students.

MR JUSTIN CARUSO Bakhita House Leader

Bakhita 1

MENTOR LEADER: MR JOSH PORTER

Josh Porter

Mary Georgiou

Chanel Alex

Chelsea Brancatisano

Marko Cvitkovic

Nathan Farrugia

Josh Gatt Salvador

Ryce Gopez

Connor Muscat

Charlotte Sena

Erica McGann

Joseph Sculli

Kyle Huang

Christian Pullia

Jiveden Tabone

Amy Gusman

Elyssa Orrico

Montana Sirianni

Gabriel Iacono

Josiah Saad

Gabriella Tomassi

Chelsea Lauritz

Teresa Sabu

Daniel Vukovic

Bakhita 2

Deborah Kirk

Brianna Falzon

Irene Botros

Kacper Cichy

Miley Consiglio

Collin Dajcaj

Chelsea Debrincat

Sienna Ferraro

Kaitlin Mazzacca

Nathan Siomos

Benjamin Marvilla

Alana Rumoro

Emma Gauci

Hayley Miles-Povey

Antonio Trangolas

Caleb Galea

Dylan Micallef

Mia Tomassi

Daniel Iacobaccio

Shane Moraes

Flynn Vella

Abby Lau

Kyan Nagendran

Ari White

MENTOR LEADER: MS DEBORAH KIRK

Mia Yates

Bakhita 3

MENTOR LEADER: MR MATTHEW MICALLEF

Matthew Micallef

Richie Cvitkovic

Alicia Abbriano

Michelle Avossa

Katelyn Bilos

Matilda Copeland Sofia Corbino

Nicolas Fabris

Amelia Legudi

Anugraha Suni

Dara Kelly

Claudia Pullia

Deion Gatt Salvador

Alessandra Nedelkovski

Stephanos Trangolas

Brianna Frachea

Orland Mihaljevic

Ann Tawadrous

Evan Giurdanella

Lara Polidano

Tymika Zahra

Isaiah Hajal

Joell Jeen Pulickal

Bakhita 4

MENTOR LEADER: MS BRONWYN TURNBULL

Bronwyn Turnbull

Preston Faraj

Olivia Barbieri

Maddison Borg

Sethan Calleja

Aaron Camilleri

Annabelle Cullia

Nicola Georgiou

Ryan Pace

Orlando Spataro

David Nov

Giovanni Schepis

Heaven Halim

Aaron Pereira

Sofia Van Engelen

Isabelle Gold

Frankie Payne

Kody Strolla-Klung

Josephine Ibrahim

Holly Polidano

Abbey Willmott

Siera Kvesic

Hazel Anne Saliba

Zachariah Zirafi

Bakhita 5

MENTOR LEADER: MR TONY FRASER

Tony Fraser

Natarsha Cuzzupi

Rand Al Sammour

Tahlia Benvenuto

Nathan Briffa

Zoe Busuttil

Julian Catalogna

Damien Fabris

Nicolas Logozzo

Emily Rees

Michael La Mendola

Eva Prato

Calvin Phan

Ryan Gauci

Rivin Muthucumarana

Sophia Scicluna

Maria Fam

Eva Mercieca

Noah Sawan

Sebastian Kucma

Portia Orsini

Ameya Suni

Ashlyn Kuriakose

Krish Parekh

Devlin Tabone

Bakhita 6

MENTOR LEADER: MR JAMIE MCRAE

Jamie McRae

Michael Faraj

James Attard

Kassandra Caliguiran

Sophia Ysabelle Cruz

Daniela Damcevska

Nicholas Duvcevski

Indiana Farrugia

Dimitri Mitsinikos

Andre Schepis

Luca Logozzo

Phillip Prato

Edan Gregory

Eshlyn Pasamanero

Lara Simic

Jinan Gopez

Sebastian Paradowski

Ethan Scollo

Ava Hovancek

Primo Persich

Anton Vukovic

Aidan Kokkat

Keisha Pineda

Emily Willmott

Bakhita 7

Mariel Muyco

Alexis Craig Jovani Abdelmalak

Sierra Africano

Noah Amott

Nathan Ashby

Sienna Briffa

Lexie Edwards

Tahli Pettenon

Anthony Van Engelen

Xavier Pasturi

Sofia Toro

Evangelos Gamitas

Sofia Pudney

Alexander Yates

Elijah Fam

Maverick Prior

Kayla Vukovic

Ayden Giurdanella

Basil Puthiyamadam

Marie Zampaglione

Sienna Gonzalez

Alannah Salera

Orlando Zirafi

MENTOR LEADER: MS MARIEL MUYCO

Jad Nemah (Picture unavailable)

Bosco House Report

In 2023, the influence of St. John Bosco continues to resonate profoundly within our community of Bosco House. Under the stewardship of leaders Veronika Andonov, Nearra Fernando and Daniel Bezzina, Bosco House has achieved the great success of winning the House Award for 2023. The leaders worked tirelessly to build enthusiasm and encourage students to participate in events throughout the year.

The achievements of Bosco House extended beyond house competitions. The generous and charitable act of donating clothes to be sent to the St John Bosco youth centre, op shop stood out as a shining example of the compassion and empathy that define the ethos of our house. Witnessing students from various mentor groups generously contributing their once loved clothes demonstrated the immense solidarity within Bosco House, mirroring the values upheld by St. John Bosco himself.

Just as St. John Bosco dedicated his life to serving marginalised youth, his unwavering commitment to education and empathy continues to inspire our community. His legacy lives on through the actions and goodwill of Bosco House students, who emulate his spirit by extending a helping hand to those in need and nurturing an environment of inclusivity and support.

As my role as Bosco House Leader concludes in 2023, I express my heartfelt gratitude to the students and families who I have been lucky enough to journey and connect with during my time here at the College. I also extend my deepest appreciation to the dedicated team of Mentor Teachers whose commitment to nurturing our students has been truly commendable. I am excited for Bosco House to continue to evolve and foster a sense of community and purpose for the families and students who belong to it.

MS CHERIE MCSWEENEY Bosco House Leader

Bosco 1

MENTOR LEADER: MRS AMY MANGION

Amy Mangion

Lucca Borg

Lilly Ansell

Markus Antunovic-Spehar

Noah Arthur

Jazelle Barbuto

Jorja Borg

Lian Cortina

Kayden Korunoski

Lauren Puli

Ellie Jones

Joshua Palmer

Luka Fedcesen

Rita Matni

Lucas Sant

Isabelle De Sensi

Jin Limpin

Alexa Rando

Luka Grgic

Sebastian Moyano

Abigail Webster

Tahlisa Javornik

Tyson Oppy

Tahlia Zougaib

Nathan Galea (Picture unavailable)

Bosco 2

MENTOR LEADER: MISS REBECCA FERRARO

ABSENT: Zaan Nabil

Rebecca Ferraro

Ethan Clarke

Joaquin Aclan

Miles Attard

Emma Bosevski

Giuseppe Bruzzaniti

Anthony Canturi

Sabina Coffano

Amelia Kheir

Mason Sant

Petar Kasalo

Ethan Neskov

Sascha Fedcesen

Adrian Lewis

Abbey Syamanond

Hayley Duff

Amelia Komadina

Lily Sorpreso

Oliver Gilmore

Mikail Luppino

Niko Cwikowski

Giorgia Costanzo

Joshua Girgis

Siera Muraca

Bosco 3

MENTOR LEADER: MR LUKE SMITH

Luke Smith

Lana ortina

Christina Attard

Matilda Blazevski

Zoe Bulzomi

Isabella Cedro Orlando Coffano

Alexander Csizmadia

Ethan Lang

Indiana Pantalleresco

Tejana Kouroumalos

Lachlan O’Sullivan

Alanah Gallo

Benjamin Morely

Annet Shaji

Nearra Fernando

Christian Logozzo

Lilly Parkinson

Klara Habeeb

Jordan Nakhuda

Jaydan Sorpreso

Noah Ion

Lucas Nobile

Ronan Marc Thomas

Bosco 4

MENTOR LEADER: MR DANIEL ATTARD

ABSENT: Connor Palmer

Daniel Attard

Megan Duff Lachlan Anastasio

Zoe Browning

Maya Casa

Cienna Cassar

Jonathan Del Grosso

Yasemin Erkan

Tattiana Munoz-Gaviria

Maksimus Putrino

Jamie Moore

Jesse Procida

Talisha Galea

Caitlin O’Sullivan

Charlotte Williams

Nathan Fernando

Lachlan Musgrove

Bianca Stella

Marcus Jackson

Claudia Jovanovski

Cruz Oppy

Christian Lanza

Zara Palmieri

Bosco 5

MENTOR LEADER: MR DANIEL HORAN

ABSENT: Madeleine Attard

Daniel Horan

Jayden Borg

Veronika Andonov

Roman Antonypillai

Sienna Aparo

Lucas Attard

Daniel Bezzina

Alyssa Di Natale

Michael Kisielewski

Daniel Jovanovski

Mia Romanos

Siearra Polidano

Leila Gonzalez

Kristian Moyano

Amy Duff

Ruby Lewis

Ciara Srour

Alexia Divitaris

Nicholas Lanza

Ryan Saliba

Phoenix Galea

Julian Massara

Carla Sultana

Lachlan Gilmore

Tyler McBride

Mavis-Rose Vandenberg

Bosco 6

MENTOR LEADER: MS HEATHER CLARK

Heather Clark

Elizabeth Corluka Lucas Accaputo

Jordan Agostino

Harrison Ansell

Emma Beasley

Milan Borg

Mia De Petro

Chelsey Neophytou

Michaela Sapuppo

Liam McBride

Carnell Puzon

Mikayla Horvat

Krystal Olivieri

Jordan Xiberras

Isla Hall

Christina Nobile

Clara Xavier

Mathew Kovacevic

Cruz Pantalleresco

Dimitri Luppino

Noah Pizzinga

Bosco 7

Kerry Gauci

Isabella Cassar

Ethan Baker

Domenic Baldassarro

Priscilla Baran-Rotiroti

Kiara Bugeja

Ella Camilleri

Talia Clarke

Jonah Hall

Jack Power

Rita Haddad

Ethan Pizzinga

Tianah Cugliari

Joyce Kathryn Mandajos

Aliciya Ruscigno

Zachary Collins

Isaac James Kheir

Jake Reeves

Massimo Cullia

Lauren Faraci

Jordan Muscat

Tom Rypalski

Adam Glavan

James Neskov

Yianna Zogakis

MENTOR LEADER: MS KERRY GAUCI

“Let the love you have in your hearts be shown outwardly in your deeds.”

ST CLARE OF ASSISI

Clare House Report

Our actions speak louder than our words and this aligns with our biblical model, ‘faith’ without deeds is dead’. The life of St Clare of Assisi became a ‘role model’ for many members of Clare House as they emulated works of charity, exemplified by St Clare. Mentor Group Leaders of Clare House have worked relentlessly to support and encourage students all through the year to live by the Clarian values.

Parents were very supportive of the strategies developed by Wellbeing Team throughout the year. Many students from Clare House were positively recognized by teachers for upholding the special character of our school in their daily walk at school and these students were promptly recognized via our Schoolbox page. This gave them even greater motivation to bring out their best behavior and excellent work ethics to their classes, daily. This year has witnessed many acts of charity, in ‘word and deed’, by many students resulting in the wholistic transformation of many students. This gives me greater satisfaction as a new momentum has set in Clare House to ‘serve others’.

My very sincere thanks to all Mentor Group Leaders for their dedication, commitment, and an exceptional level of resilience that they exhibited to bring the best out of every student from their respective Mentor Groups.

Student Leaders provided much needed support during the Athletics Carnival, Establishment Day, Academic Awards Assembly and Clare House Feast Day. They showed genuine interest in upholding the values of St Clare through their actions. Congratulations to Jay Singh who replaced Helene Mansour in Term 3.

I would like to thank all students who took part in House competitions to earn points for Clare House. Their contributions to Premier League was exceptional. Thanks to everyone who made contributions to the school in co-curricular activities. Nicholas Xavier, Year 10 student of Clare House was selected to be part of a 30-member squad representing the Melbourne Cricket Club. Many Clarians have excelled co-curricular areas. Congratulations to the Year 7 cohort for embracing and imbibing Clarians values. I wish Year 10 and the new Student Leaders for 2024 all the very best for next year.

MR PETER RAVELA Clare House Leader

Clare 1

MENTOR LEADER: MR PATRICK FITZGERALD

Patrick Fitzgerald

Amalie Ciocca

Alexandra Abela

Briana Alescio

Zaiden Axiak

Josh Beniwal

Dylan Bentley

Lily Rose Deguara

Thomas Ogden

Jack Tsiaras

Charli Mangan

Marcus Rados

Miranda Magnaye

Eva Pocev

Samuel Withoos

Mia Ibarra

Thomas Pierorazio

Bianca Mancino

Angelina Polanski

Jamie Zeine

Liana Mandorla

Jack Quinsee

Tallia Turiello (Picture unavailable)

Clare 2

MENTOR LEADER: MR JULIAN SEOL

Julian Seol

Alivia Garra

Nicholas Basile

Nayte Briffa

Amelia Rose Christopher

Adam Clare Izaac Falzon

Aaliyah Horsley

Maria-Coco Munetsi

Isabella Terranova

Jemma Mulcahy

Daniela Stanovic

Daniel Maratt

Danielle Pinheiro

Charlotte Young

Milania Ioculano

Jacob Pagliaro

Nicholas Vasilevski

Misha Michael

Denzyl Pinheiro

Jakob Zambara

Summer Milvain

Matthew Rados

Oscar Zeine

Sienna Pesa (Picture unavailable)

Clare 3

MENTOR LEADER: MRS SUSAN HENRY

Susan Henry

Evangeline Deluca

Shania Balik

Lucas Beniwal

Marcus Bonello

Ben Clare Reon Cuevas

Sienna Fenech

Thomas Karslake

Analise Smolcic

Aaliyah Jakie

Thomas Quinsee

Deng Goaer

Nate Milvain

Ruby Vassolo

Nikki Galdes

Dihein Lokuarachchi

Jacqueline Taylor

Sienna Grima

Melissa Nov

Jade Winbanks

Dylan Hluschko

Luca Pierorazio

James Young

MENTOR LEADER: MS HAYLEY RIVERS

Hayley Rivers

Milana Chetcuti

Pavao Bilic

Monique Bonello

Matthew Broughton

Luka Bucic

Alessia Cariddi

Mia Goettlicher

Makayla Pipolo

Caleb Spiteri

Mary Pham

Joseph Sakic

Aidan Yao

Mischa Ibrahim

Cooper Renda

Scarlett-May Wood

Jake Grima

Daniel Portelli

Hamish Webster

Jesse Jovic

Rhys Rafael Rodgers

Mila Wyka

Imogen Kline

Hollee Rodrigues

Nicholas Xavier

Clare 5

MENTOR LEADER: MR DAVID MAGRIS

David Magris

Benjamin Gauci

Thomas Atkinson

Charlie Colla Duc Nguyen Do

Christella Dodaj

Sophie Fagan

Anabel George

Alessia Pedis

Benjamin Wright

Joshua Naumovski

Lily Winbanks

Luka Grgat

Klara Sakic

Olivia Gesovski

Kiara Sacchetta

Jacob Seth Zamora

Bailey Mulcahy

Jay Singh

Joshua Nasta

Aidan Spiteri

Anthony Conforto (Picture unavailable)

MENTOR LEADER: MRS LAUREN FARLEY

Lauren Farley

Nicholas Esposito

Bianca Blavicki

Mya Briffa

Talia Caiazzo

Maddison Daskalovska Kuat Daw

Tamika Fabri

Austin McIntyre

Michael Simic

Monique Keenan

Ann Mary Sajo

Ava Zeine

Anthony Fraietta Jnr

Dylan O’Neill

Emilie Sweedman

Jayden Fastuca

Caitlin Medved

Giselle Singh

Summer Hanula

Mataeus Psaila

Jeremy Widyaratne

Mike Ibrahim

Oscar Robison

Dylan Yao

MENTOR LEADER: MISS TERESSA PASHOS

Teressa Pashos

Ajak Daw

James Argetto

Adrian Barletta

Peyton Bondin

Jack Brne

Lavinia D’Angelo

Lillian Dimopoulos

Marley Kelly

Connor Prendergast

Dante Iuele

James Portelli

Dallas Wood

Alannah Filip

Monica Ndau

Tara Rametta

Joshua Falzon

Helene Mansour

Arielle Psaila

Caitlin Healey

Cascade Nguyen

Isabella Sweedman

Lola Henry

Brodie Pizzonia

Archie Thompson

Romero House Report

Perhaps the greatest challenge faced by Romero House this year was that of change. In June of this year, I was asked to take the reigns of responsibility for Romero House for the remainder of the year.

To that point, Romero students had participated in Athletics, Swimming, SACCS Cross Country and Premier League teams, all with great commitment and under the wonderful leadership of Miss Emily Forti. In March, the Mentor Groups celebrated women’s achievements by embracing equity; the Year 8s hosted a Viking incursion and the Year 7s doing the same with Ancient Romans. This all culminated in students at each year level receiving “Dynamic Participation” awards –coinciding with Miss Forti’s final assembly with Romero.

Semester 2 saw our students continuing to live out the message of Oscar Romero by supporting those less fortunate. The key event for this was played out during the feast day celebration for Romero House where our students participated in the ‘Socktober’ fundraising for Timor-Leste, raising over $200. Our “Dynamic Participation” continued to feature strongly as several Romero students willingly gave up their time to help with the after-school Grade 5 Program. In addition to this, we called upon the Year 9 students to nominate for both House and College leadership roles for 2024, resulting in the appointment of some very talented and socially conscious students to key student leadership positions. To that end, we farewelled our Year 10 cohort and ushered in the new leadership.

Romero finished 2nd overall in the St Francis Shield (House Competitions) after being the inaugural winner the previous year. This result alone reflects the true character of our House and consistency in living out the values of Oscar Romero. It is with this that I now hand over the leadership to Ms. Belinda Sorbello, who will no doubt lead Romero to achieve even better things next year.

It has been my privilege to lead Romero House in Semester 2. We are principled, we are kind, we are dynamic, we are optimistic and determined – we are Romero.

MR JOHN RUSSO Romero House Leader

Romero 1

MENTOR LEADER: MRS MARIA MIKLETIC

Maria Mikletic

Maddison Collina

Christian Blake

Jessica Camilleri

Luca Camilleri

Vaughan Catubig

Felicity Chau

Jayden Farah

Maya Jezierski

Mia Moschen

Jonathan Ibrahim

Maksim Ante Mikulic

Susannah Fenech

Jolie Kostandy

Jayda Tarola

Joshua Farrugia

Alex Karapanagiotidis

Peter Nguyen

Ella Gauci

Ethan Lanza

Lily Zerafa

Thomas Giuffrida

Liana Marrocco

Sarah Solomon (Picture unavailable)

Romero 2

MENTOR LEADER: MR LACHLAN BEZZINA

Lachlan Bezzina

Lara Clare Isaac Agius

Charles Booth Kaelan Brennan

Joseph James Bubory

Jacob Caput

Poppy Curtain

Olivia Khalifeh

Cassandra Pereira

Ryan Hadathy

Connor Meredith

Eleanor Filipovic

Alis Lennon

Brayden Trajkovski

Jayden Farrugia

Alessia La Ganga

Emma Tenaglia

Emelie Formosa

Ava Magri

Jason Zahradka

Sienna Fraser

Jordy Meiers

Romero 3

MENTOR LEADER: MS IRENA GRBESIC

Irena Grbesic

Grace Cullen

Jordan Antonio

Charlotte Bellino

Alana Bergam Cruz Boeddu

Joshua Carbis

Cain Davis

Alex Galea

Aviraj Singh

David Fernandes

Danae Potter

Alayna Denkel

Tomislav Ivkovic

Cristian Tizzani

Gisele Debrincat

Sophia Gangemi

Phillip Theuma

Noah Diaz

Ena Lukic

Sophie Vidovic

Hannah Dimovski

Apollo Pete

Amelia Zahra

Romero 4

MENTOR LEADER: MR NICHOLAS THORP

Nicholas Thorp

Nicholas Debono

Isabella Bonnici

Akuch Akot

Jai Brennan Leah Camilleri

Joel Carbis

Nicola De Lisle

Matthew Di Donato

Keira Le

Noah Sant

Ethan Ibrahim

Jessica Reichstein

Dino Francis

Jett Millen

Eva Varghese

Gemma Ferraro

Sheldon Mamaba

Tristan Sia

Jade Gathercole

Jacob Pizarro

Chloe Zahradka

Jason Glassup

Mikayla Raiti

Romero 5

MENTOR LEADER: MS MELANIE AQUILINA

Melanie Aquilina

Isabella Debono

Jack Baker

Sabrina Calidonna

Mitchell Cassar

Memphys Dalli Diesel Davey

Jordan El-Sheikh

Aaysha Julien

Kade Sheehan

Bianca Jackson

Helena Ryan-Green

Jacob Farah

Chantalle Kostandy

Matthew Villadolid

Jake Eppingstall

Charlie Khalifeh

Zachariah Tadros

Joshua Galea

Jakob Matkovic

Shannon Vinci

Mia Gauci

Sienna Portelli

Jack Zakic

Romero 6

MENTOR LEADER: MS ADRIANA QUAGLIARELLA

Adriana Quagliarella

Liam Fagone-Lazita

Giulia Pia Aiello

Toby Bloomfield

Marcus Bonnici

Melina Calidonna

Makayla Denkel

Alessa Ferraro

Matthew Meocevic

Cohen Samaratunga

Emily McCardle

Alanna Prokopiou

Dona Maria Francis

Brandon Novella

Jasmine Struklec

Boze Filipovic

Isabella Mucciante

Tom Stanisic

Claire Gibboyi

Phoenix Pete

Josh Jijo Mathew

Sienna Power

Romero 7

MENTOR LEADER: MR BRENDAN SHIELDS

Brendan Shields

Olive Curtain

Apiath Adut

Marcus Azzopardi

Adrian Barresi

Orlando Beg

Marcus Cassar

Jessica Cuschieri

Marcus Inguanti

Zoe Reichstein

Markus Zakic

Cooper Goodwin

Liljana Rados

Natalie Zahra

Zac Di Fiore

Aditya Mude

Ava Stanisic

Giselle Dalli

Isabella Matkovic

Kaida Richard

Kate Fernandes

Matthew Muratore

Giada Tizzani

Joshua Giuffrida

Krish Panicker

Isabella Mara Vicencio

2023 has been another year of progress, creativity and inspiration for our teachers and students in the English Domain. Students in Years 7 to 10 have continued to grow in confidence in the skills of reading, writing, speaking, and listening; embracing the challenges that have been offered.

Whether it has been developing the skills of analytical text response essay writing in Year 7, or refining their knowledge and skills of Argument Analysis in Year 10, the students have had the opportunity to engage with a curriculum that aims to progress essential skills and further develop their understanding of the written and spoken word.

As has occurred in the past, the students have participated in incursions with both guest authors and The Eagle’s Nest Theatre Group who performed excerpts of Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ to our Year 9s in Term 3. Additionally, it has been wonderful to witness some of the extra-curricular successes of our students, which of course were made possible by the dedication of passionate staff. It requires enthusiasm, commitment, and a willingness to work outside the classroom, but the rewards of involvement in these activities for both staff and students cannot be underestimated.

Debating continued to grow, and CRCNK had two teams that competed in the Debating Association of Victoria competition. Our D Grade Team from Year 9, consisting of Zara Palmieri, Giulia Aiello, and Chelsea Brancatisano performed competently as a team at the St Bernard’s College venue, winning a couple of debates in a strong field of experienced opponents. Our Year 7 and 8 Teams, consisting of Teresa Sabu, Irene Botros and Ann Tawadrous, were part of the Junior Development Program that the Debating Association of Victoria offers, and they won

each of their debates confidently. All three speakers spoke with poise and precision, voicing strong arguments about taxing drinks with sugar, and the benefits of exams and assessments. All participants should be commended for their efforts and commitment.

Other students who took to the stage to raise their voices were our participants in the Wynspeak competition, and the Year 8 students who represented our school in the Slam Poetry competition, OUT LOUD 2023. In the latter, David Fernandes and Jovanni Abdelmalak made it to the final and performed exceptionally well in a competition that was, according to our annual resident poet EZB, the “boldest and fiercest competition we have had so far.” Emma Beasley and Ashlyn Kuriakose spoke well earlier in the year at Wynspeak, presenting engaging speeches on “Medjugorje” and “Bilingualism,” respectively. My thanks to Matthew Micallef who assisted with the training of the public speakers and the poets, and who accompanied both groups to their competitions.

Sincere thanks must also be extended to Sharon Perry and the library team who continue to support all students with an ongoing reading program and an accessibility to St Veronica Lonergan Learning Centre for quiet reading sessions. The exponential growth in the Student Book Club has been truly inspirational and it is fitting that we pay tribute to Sharon, whose generosity and enthusiasm has facilitated the continued growth of this worthwhile program in our school.

Finally, I have been very grateful for the support of a very dedicated team of passionate English teachers who work extremely hard to make the curriculum relevant and responsive to the needs of the students. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them all for their hard work, professionalism, and friendship, as I hand over the reins to Melanie Aquilina who will competently take up the position of Domain Leader in 2024.

MRS MARY-ANNE BRATOVIC Domain Leader - English

Religious Education

As the year unfolds, the continuous excellence exhibited by our students in Religious Education is truly commendable.

Noteworthy among these accomplishments were the outstanding creative projects undertaken. The Year 7 Diorama project, coupled with the impressive promotional videos highlighting our school, reflected the dedication of our students. The Year 8 cohort demonstrated exceptional skill in crafting comic strips elucidating creation stories, while the Year 9 students showcased their nuanced understanding through creative writing on Indigenous Spirituality and the Stolen Generations. Lastly, the collaborative efforts of the Year 10 class in exploring three monotheistic religions and engaging in mature discussions on significant ecclesiastical topics exemplified their intellectual depth.

Looking ahead, the Religious Education domain is enthusiastic about providing even more enriching opportunities for the exploration of faith through innovative and compelling approaches. This commitment extends to incorporating enriching excursions, hosting distinguished guest speakers, and contemplating the introduction of elective courses to further elevate the learning experience.

MS TERESSA PASHOS Domain Leader- Religious Education

Health & Physical Education

MR LUKE SMITH Domain Leader – Health & Physical Education

This year has been predominantly a year of consolidation in Health & Physical Education at Catholic Regional College North Keilor. Whilst maintaining what has already been established, there was also a focus on continually developing, re-shaping and adding to the features of the H&PE content.

From a PE perspective, a new Game Sense Unit introduced at Year 7 was a highlight, as it looked to teach the fundamentals of game play, allowing the students to make smart decisions around what skills to use at the appropriate times and implement advantageous team play. Hopefully the students were able to take many things from these exercises to create a foundation of competence and confidence for the remaining units across the all years of PE. As usual, one of the most anticipated sessions from PE was the WheelTalk incursions at Year 8 as part of the Disabled Sports Unit. The students had an opportunity to participate in wheelchair basketball activities and listen to the presentation from Disability Sports and Recreation about the crucial role they play in supporting Victorian’s living with a disability to have choice, gain access to and participate in organised sport.

Within Health, Year 10 Health was re-established to offer Health curriculum at all years at CRCNK. The students completed a Mental Health Unit, building skills to identify poor mental health and establish positive behaviours, and a Health Research Unit, working in small groups to investigate and present information linked to various health issues related to adolescents. A few tweaks were also made to the My Risk Taking & Decision Making Unit, where extra lessons linked to vaping were created to update the Year 8 curriculum. No doubt, all students have taken away many important lessons or pieces of information to help them manage all aspects of their health as they mature.

Once again, the H&PE Electives were very well represented, with students grasping the opportunity to participate in sport and leisure activities outside of what can be offered at school. It was also very pleasing to see students extending themselves and completing Units 1 & 2 in VCE Physical Education and VCE Health & Human Development.

2024 will be a very exciting year with the introduction of a new PE elective called Sports Education and Physical Education Program (SEPEP), the re-establishment of a previous elective called Driver’s Education, and the offering of our Sport Science elective at Year 9 as a pathway for students to complete the accelerated learning of VCE PE when in Year 10.

Thank you to all who have contributed so much to deliver or participate in everything H&PE in 2023.

Humanities

Humanities helps students understand the world in which we live in, and builds skills to think critically, communicate effectively, respond to issues and consider challenges for the future.

During 2023, the Humanities team collaborated with the Faith team to lead the ANZAC Day Liturgy as well as the Remembrance Day Liturgy, which brought our whole school together to remember and honour the significance of these days.

Year 7 students learnt about ancient history, with a focus on the first Australians and Ancient Rome. They got to experience Ancient Rome in a hands-on way through an exciting incursion. In Geography, students researched how liveable their own suburbs were and the quality of the water they access at home. Towards the end of the year, they learnt about what it means to be a responsible Australian citizen.

Year 8 students explored the Middle Ages with a particular focus on Vikings and the Spanish Conquest. Students had the opportunity to extend their learning through a Vikings incursion. In Geography, students investigated urbanisation and how migration impacted the local suburbs they live in. To end, students researched into the world of employment and work.

Year 9 classes studied a time of significant change, through the Industrial Revolution as well as the first world war. They also studied Food Security and how the world is interconnected through a process of globalisation. For the first time, students participated in an immersive week-long geographical investigation led by City Cite. Through this, students developed independence, teamwork, research and presentation skills.

Year 10 classes explored the impact of WWII with a focus on the Holocaust and how the civil rights movements shaped our modern history. For Geography, students investigated the environmental changes that have occurred due to human activities and researched the indicators of human wellbeing around the world.

MS MELANIE AQUILINA Domain Leader - Humanities

Learning a second language opens doors in our increasingly interconnected and interdependent globalised world. Language learning helps our students to develop skills in listening, reading, speaking, writing, editing, creative thinking and problem-solving.

Research proves that parts of the brain devoted to memory, reasoning and planning are larger in the bilingual brain. In studying Italian at Catholic Regional College North Keilor, students not only acquire language skills, but enter into another culture and in doing so, develop a deeper understanding of themselves.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF 2023

As part of Cultural Diversity and Languages Week, students engaged in lessons considering the value of studying a second language and created resources to promote second language acquisition. On Wednesday 15th March, we celebrated Italian Day which included: bells being replaced by Il ballo di qua qua (what is commonly known as the duck/chicken dance), Tombola in the Learning Centre, Tarantella dancing, Bocce and Italian music on The Green, soccer on the oval and gelati for all! Year 10 Italian elective students were also lucky enough to participate in a Commedia dell’arte drama workshop, learning about the different characters they associate with Carnevale.

On Wednesday 7th June, selected Year 9 students and all Year 10 Italian students competed in the Dante Alighieri Italian Poetry Recitation Competition at the University of Melbourne. We congratulate Talia Caiazzo, Gabriel Iacono, Ethan Scollo, Hayley Duff, Nicholas Xavier, Isabella Bonnici, Cruz Boeddu, Annabelle Cullia, Xavier Pasturi, Joseph Bubory and Pavao Bilic who all made the finals and were able to return to the university on Friday 21st July to compete for a winning place. A huge congratulations to Hayley Duff, who placed 1st in the NonItalian section and Ethan Scollo, who placed 2nd in the Italian section. What a magnificent achievement ragazzi!

Language - Italian

On Monday 11th September, selected Year 7 and 8 students competed in the Centre of Italian Studies Poetry Competition here at school. We congratulate Jovani Abdelmalak who placed 1st in the Year 8 Non-Italian section and Makayla Denkel who placed 2nd in the Year 7 Non-Italian section. Another amazing achievement!

As part of the Year 10 Italian elective, students engaged in a detailed study on the topic of Italian Immigration. The class were privileged to have Mr. John Russo share his father’s migration experience and many related documents from the time for them to examine. What an enriching learning experience!

Our Year 10 students also wrote Italian storybooks related to their childhood and shared these with the Grade 1 students are St. Mary Mackillop Primary School. This shared reading initiative was treasured by both our students and the junior students.

At CRCNK, we value the learning of Italian culture and traditions, alongside the learning of the language. Our Year 10 students also participated in an Italian cooking class, in which they prepared their own sugo (pasta sauce) and delicious fettuccine pasta.

“The experience of studying Italian in Year 10 has been nothing but positive. While I do not speak Italian with my family, I am still able to learn and grow by developing my skills in this language. Collaborating with friends and learning alongside them is something I especially enjoy. This year has been filled with lots of fun experiences, including the Dante Alighieri Poetry Competition, Italian film studies, and even digging deeper into my family’s history when learning about il passato prossimo. Additionally, I have gained an appreciation for Italian culture through the study of food, art, music, and grammar.”

TALIA CAIAZZO Clare 6

MRS BIANCA TURRISI Domain Leader- Languages

“Mathematics is not about numbers, equations, computations, or algorithims: it is about understanding.”

WILLIAM PAUL THURSTON, AMERICAN MATHEMATICIAN

2023 was yet again a busy and productive year for both students and teachers at Catholic Regional College North Keilor. This year many students actively engaged in their education whereby dedicated pursuits entailed. Within the Mathematics Domain, Years 7 - 10 students demonstrated an overall eagerness, with many students excelling in NAPLAN results, Australian Maths Trust Competition, and classwork and assessments.

Our students demonstrate mathematical skills in a variety of ways, through explicit instruction, practising in class, using technology such as CAS calculators, Mathspace and Cambridge interactive, working to solve problems with peers and of course regular homework. All students also had the opportunity to attend Mathematics Support, held every Tuesday afternoon, from 3:30 to 4:30. It was pleasing to see the increase in students attending these sessions, where a growth from 12 students in Term 1 quickly expanded to 30 plus in Term 4.

Both the students and I are very appreciative of the efforts and support from our magnificent staff, including Rudy Ramos, Jason Hunter, Di Burgess, Nadia Yates, Draga Baljak, Olga Basile, Ash Carr, Grace Saporito, Liana Veronika, Georgia Vassolo, Monica Silec, Lina Cerra, Moira Mullan, Daniel Attard, Rushda Othman, Keith Whaley, Brendan Shields, Mariel Muyco, Kerry Gauci, Susan Henry, Lachlan Bezzina, Daniel Horan and Katia Corluka.

Mathematics

57 students voluntarily participated in the AMT Competition, with 4 students receiving distinctions and 21 students receiving credits. We are incredibly proud. A special mention to Aaron Pereira, Year 7 who received the highest aggregate score for the school, placing him in the top 5% of the country. Congratulations also to the following students:

YEAR 7

Distinction

Ella Gauci

Credit

Indiana Farrugia

James Attard

Christian Blake

Annet Shaji

Ashlyn Kuriakose

Cassandra Pereira

Aaron Pereira

Nayte Briffa

Ollie Beg

Rhys Rogers

YEAR 9

Credit

Zara Palmieri

Aidan Kokkat

YEAR 8

Distinction

David Fernandes

Credit

Dylan Bentley

Basil Puthiyamadam

Noah Pizzanga

Phoenix Pete

YEAR 10

Credit

Talia Caiazzo

Milana Chetcuti

Bailey Mulcahy

Apollo Pete

Calvin Phan

MR PATRICK FITZGERALD Domain Leader - Mathematics

NITOR 2023

MR DAVID MAGRIS Coordinator – Nitor Program

Nitor 2023 proved to be a fantastic year for a wonderful group of young men. Day in day out they worked hard, constantly stepping out of their comfort zones to become better students and better people.

Term 1 and 2 allowed us to explore Melbourne by foot and by bike. We took in many sights and sounds as the Nitor boys orientated themselves with Melbourne’s CBD, learning about the city’s history from Indigenous people, to the establishment of Melbourne by the British. The design and architecture of Melbourne were also studied. A different side to Melbourne and its inner suburbs was discovered by taking the bike trails through Coburg, Carlton and all the way to the CBD.

Fitzroy was once again an engaging suburb to explore. Through gentrification, the Nitor boys witnessed the juxtaposition between rich and poor in Melbourne’s first, and smallest suburbs. We also were able to delve into the various welfare agencies in Fitzroy, especially the youth liaison team at Victoria Police. Both the Indigenous and Catholic sides to Fitzroy were two other aspects the Nitor boys looked into.

Our last three bike rides of the year in Term 4 saw the group exploring the waterways from Essendon to Williamstown including the use of these waterways by Indigenous Australians. We also looked at the socio-economic breakdown of Melbourne along the bayside ride from Black Rock to Port Melbourne, as well as the role Melbourne played in the post-war immigration to Australia.

This year, as part of their manhood studies, we were lucky enough to have Garth Cupido speak to the boys about his life in South Africa under the Apartheid regime. Gender equality played a major part in the boys learning and we thank Ms Emily Forti for leading this discussion.

The annual Nitor Amazing Race was held over the traditional two legs. This year the first leg was in Sydney as the boys raced around the Sydney Harbour precinct completing many varied

challenges and finding clues. There was plenty of exploration of Sydney as well including Manly, Bondi and the CBD traveling by planes, trains, buses and ferries. The Sydney trip was once again a great success. It was great to have Mr Brendan Hallinan join the Nitor team as the boys.

The Second Leg of the Nitor Amazing Race was held in Melbourne. The six teams raced around Melbourne, solving clues and completing physical challenges through the precincts of Melbourne they have explored all year. Problem solving skills and navigational skills were at the fore as the boys battled against each other.

Many thanks to Luke Smith, Patrick Fitzgerald and Daniel Horan who worked so tirelessly with the Nitor boys, and to those other members of staff who gave up their time to come on field trips, bike rides or help out in the classroom.

And thank you to the 26 young men who made the Nitor year such a success.

2023 was an exciting year for CRC NK’s esports scene, marked by notable student achievements in vibrant House and InterSchool competitions.

Throughout the year, CRC NK hosted three electrifying FUSE Cup Melbourne West Schools Tournaments, encompassing Just Dance, Mario Kart, and Rocket League for students from Year 5 to Year 8. The events were filled with energy and joy as students competed and socialised in a safe and engaging space.

We applaud Jessica Reichstein, Indiana Farrugia, Sofia Pudney and Joseph Sakic for their outstanding second-place finish in the Just Dance Teams Division. Special accolades go to Joseph Sakic, who won the Singles Division title for the second consecutive year, earning a spot in the State and National finals at the FUSE Cup Festival in October.

In Mario Kart, Jacob Pizarro demonstrated exceptional gaming skills, emerging victorious and securing his place in the State and National finals at the Gold Coast FUSE Cup Festival.

The Rocket League competition at Melbourne’s EduTech conference highlighted strategic teamwork by Milan Borg and Jake Eppingstall, who secured first place, while Daniel Jovanovski and Thomas Giuffrida earned an impressive second place. Their teamwork and strategy were exemplary, earning Milan and Jake a place in the State and National finals alongside Joseph and Jacob.

Our Year 9 and 10 students also shone brightly. Competing at Melbourne Girls Grammar, seven students reached the Quarter Finals of the Super Smash Brothers Tournament, with Brayden Trajkovski advancing to the Semi-Finals. Mario Kart enthusiasts Lachlan Gilmore and Dallas Wood excelled, finishing third and fourth in the Grand Finals.

The FUSE Cup Festival in October was a grand showcase of talent. Although our competitors just missed the National title, we celebrate Jacob Pizarro’s second-place finish in the Victorian State Final for Mario Kart, Milan Borg and Jake Eppingstall’s victory as Rocket League Victorian Champions and Joseph Sakic’s continued reign as the Victorian State Just Dance Champion.

These accomplishments reflect the dedication and skill of CRC NK students, supported by their families and the College community. The year 2023 stands as a testament to their hard work and the growing prominence of esports at CRC NK.

ESports

MR MARIEL MUYCO Learning & Engagement Leader

Science

It’s been an action-packed year in Science at CRCNK.

The newly arrived Year 7s were introduced to the Scientific Method and experiments in Term 1, and these new students had a chance to explore the complex equipment and instruments available to them in the labs. They then applied this knowledge to their studies focused on Forces, Astronomy, and Animal Adaptations throughout the remainder of the year. A highlight was the Melbourne Zoo excursion in Term 4, when the year level was blessed with beautiful weather as they observed many fascinating animals in their (semi-)natural environments.

The Year 8s started by examining cells under the microscope, and then studied Rocks, Chemistry, and Electricity. A new excursion was introduced in the Rocks unit, with Year 8 classes undertaking a field trip to Hanging Rock, a world-class volcanic formation just 45 minutes from Keilor. Here the Year 8s studied igneous rocks in-situ while getting fit hiking up the rock formation. The Year 9s explored Chemistry, Light, Body Coordination, and Plate Tectonic theory.

A few high performing students from Years 8 and 9 were selected to go on the “Mission to Mars” excursion at the Victorian Space Education Science Centre in Strathmore. Here they took part in a simulated mission to Mars, learning about the complex jobs that both astronauts who land on Mars, and the flight controllers back on terra firma, will have to undergo when this event finally happens in real life.

Our seniors studied Genetics, the Periodic Table, the Physics of Motion and finished the year testing the health of local waterways and producing a scientific poster based on this testing. This is a skill that they will need to refine if they go on to study VCE science in 2024.

The year also saw several extra-curricular highlights. A selected group of Year 10 students took part in the Amazing Spaghetti Machine competition at Melbourne University, where they created their own Rube Goldberg Machine. Another group of students from across all levels took part in the inaugural CRCNK powered rockets experiment, launching a series of solid powered rockets up to 100m in altitude in a park near school.

MR NICHOLAS THORP Domain Leader - Science

A highlight of 2023 in the Performing Arts at North Keilor was the performance of the student play “Oz” during Arts Week.

The cast and crew started preparing this event in Term 1, and the quality of the performance they presented to the College community in Term 4 (including parents, carers, family members from the North Keilor community, as well as students from Mary MacKillop Primary School) was a testament to the skills and dedication of the students involved. It was a terrific opportunity for students to showcase their abilities and be part of a focussed team who really built something over the course of the year that they deserved to be proud of. A huge thanks to staff Jamie McRae and Teressa Pashos who oversaw preparations for the play and made it possible. Big thanks also to the 2023 Arts and Events Leaders for 2023 (Jessica Camilleri and Milana Chetcuti) who did a terrific job of directing the play, leading cast and crew and helping ensure the play was the best it could be.

The ACTS (A Chance To Step Up) Showcase in Term 2 was another highlight, featuring diverse dance and music performances in a wide range of styles ranging from Metallica through Olivia Rodrigo and Coldplay. ACTS was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the Performing Arts with the College Community, and we were also very fortunate to have 2 former students (Tia and Aiden Lautier) perform to wrap up the event.

2023 also saw some end of semester performances in Performing Arts classes. It was great for families, carers and members of the College Leadership Team to be invited to these performances which were selected and performed by students. These sessions also served as a lovely way for families and carers to get some insight into Performing Arts classrooms and celebrate student learning in the arts.

Performing Arts

MR CASEY NICHOLSON Domain Leader - Performing Arts

In October, CRCNK hosted its annual Arts Night, a vibrant event celebrating the creativity and talent of students from Years 7 to 10.

The showcase featured a diverse array of group installations, and impressive individual works- including intricate sculptures, beautifully crafted ceramics, vibrant paintings, detailed drawings, native hand-dyed fabrics, and captivating photography. The event was a testament to the student’s hard work and creativity, and it provided an opportunity for the school community to come together and appreciate the diverse talents of our young artists.

We also hosted the artist-in-residence, Dani Heyward, who worked closely with our Year 7 students on a special collaborative project. Together, they created a remarkable artwork that drew inspiration from the theme of God’s presence in nature. This collaborative piece not only demonstrated the students’ artistic skills but also reflected their ability to convey profound themes through art.

Visual Arts

MS HAYLEY RIVERS Domain Leader - Visual Arts

The Langham and Crown excursions for Year 9 Food and You students was an opportunity to see how a 5-star hotel works at the front of house and back of house. Students enjoyed stunning surroundings as well food made from around the world. They learnt about the amazing career opportunities such establishments can provide- the world is their oyster!

Year 10 Food Makers- Practical Work- students got to increase their skills to make foods ranging from making their own ravioli to homemade Tim Tams, to stretchy Mozzarella cheese on homemade pizza bases, to light sponge filled with chocolate mousse. All students should be proud of their efforts as were staff. We certainly have been eating well on Wednesdays this year!

Year 7 and 8 continued to learn how to work safely and hygienically in the kitchen and then cook for their families- some lucky families in our community got a treat on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. We made delicious food such as wontons, pork stir fry, nachos, and chocolate chip muffins!

Many thanks to Jo Azzopardi without whom we could not even begin to make all this delicious food- she works tirelessly every week to source the best produce and she maintains the kitchen to such a high standard. Thanks Jo!

Food Technology

MRS SUE COYLEE Domain Leader – Food Technology

Report

KEITH WHALEY Head of Sport

Results/Highlights of Premier League/ SACCSS Competitions

SACCSS PREMIER LEAGUE

Year 7 Premier League:

Grand Finalists: Girls Netball, Boys Soccer Semi Finalists: Girls Soccer

Year 8 Premier League: Champions: Girls Netball

Grand Finalists: Girls Soccer

Semi Finalists: Boys Soccer

Year 9 Premier League

Grand Finalists: Girls Soccer

Semi Finalists: Girls Basketball, Boys AFL, Boys Soccer, Girls Volleyball

Year 10 Premier League

Champions: Boys Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Girls Netball, Girls Basketball

Grand Finalists: Boys Basketball A and Boys Volleyball

Semi Finalists: Boys Basketball B SACCSS

SACCSS YEAR 8 BOYS AFL Year 8 Boys AFL undefeated Premiers

SACCSS YEAR 10 BOYS AFL

Year 10 Boys AFL Team made the Grand Final and lost narrowly

Dante Iuele awarded Most Valuable Player of the tournament

SACCSS BADMINTON

Winner Junior Girls B Doubles: Scarlett-May Wood and Matilda Blazevski

Winner Intermediate Girls B Doubles: Abby Lau and Kassandra Caliguiran

SACCSS CHESS

Junior Chess – CRCNK 2nd Overall Best result ever achieved

Juniors Phoenix Pete 3rd

SACCSS DIVISION 1 JUNIOR FUTSAL

Junior Girls Team were Champions of the Tournament

Junior Boys Team were Champions of the Tournament after extra time and a penalty shootout against Thomas Carr

SACCSS DIVISION 1 INTERMEDIATE FUTSAL

Intermediate Girls Team were Grand Finalists but lost to St Monicas in a close game

This team was invited to the All-Schools Futsal Competition and finished 2nd overall

Boys team did not make finals

SACCSS HOCKEY

Junior Boys Hockey – Made the SemiFinals after a 4-0 win and 0-0 Draw in the group stage. A great effort

Intermediate Boys Hockey - Competed well but did not make finals

SACCSS TENNIS

Junior Tennis

Rhys Rodgers runner up Boys Singles

Austin McIntyre and Jonathon Dal Grosso Semi Finalists Boys Doubles

Intermediate Tennis Natarsha Cuzzupi and Maria Fam 2nd in group stage

MR

On Monday, March 6, we enjoyed a perfect day for our annual CRCNK House Athletics Carnival at the Keilor Park Athletics Track. The atmosphere was electric, with an impressive display of House Spirit as students decked in blue, green, red, and yellow cheered passionately from the sidelines.

Congratulations to all our competitors for their outstanding efforts across various events. A special shoutout goes to Bosco House for their stellar performance, clinching first place with a remarkable 428 points. Bakhita House followed closely with 422 points, showcasing strong competition. Clare House secured third place with 406 points, and Romero House finished with a commendable 357 points.

Well done to everyone for making the day such a memorable and spirited event!

Special mention to the following Age Group Champions:

Under 13 Girls – Lola Henry (Year 7)

Under 13 Boys – Joseph Sculli (Year 7)

Under 14 Girls – Isabella Debono (Year 8)

Under 14 Boys -Andre Schepis (Year 8)

Under 15 Girls – Elizabeth Corluka (Year 9)

Under 15 Boys – Dallas Wood (Year 9)

Under 16 Girls – Kassandra Caliguiran (Year 10)

Under 16 Boys – Giovanni Schepis (Year 10)

Athletics Carnival

6 March 2023

10 August 2023

On Thursday August 10 CRCNK celebrated its 41st Anniversary by holding its annual Establishment Day Celebration, a day that was held to celebrate our school and the wonderful memories we’ve made here.

The day was a tremendous success, with many activities and food for everyone to enjoy, reminding us of why CRCNK is such a special school to be a part of. In the morning, a mass was held inside the auditorium to reflect on the humble beginnings of our school, and how much our college has grown over the years. We looked back at the old buildings and small staff that helped keep the school afloat, and looked back at our past college Principals who helped shape the school that we reside in today. Once the mass was over, the festivities were set up, with a multitude of different foods, games, and attractions put in place to keep every student entertained. The food was especially popular, with the longest lines coming from the pizza and sausages, although the queues for the popcorn, fairy floss, subway rolls and smoothies were always busy. There was even an ice-cream van parked in the front of the school! All the food was very delicious, and there was enough for every student to enjoy!

Not only did we reminisce about our school’s history and indulge in delicious food, but we were even able to celebrate our school’s 41st Anniversary through various exciting activities! From taking group photos in the photo booth to playfully wrestling our friends in sumo suits, the whole atmosphere was so exhilarating! The school was filled with students who decided to get their faces painted with very vibrant colours and wonderful designs. The DJ booth that was situated near the SW buildings helped keep the whole day cheerful with upbeat music, and right next to it was a colourful jumping castle that many students found entertaining. The school made sure not to leave out our sporty students either, by placing ping pong tables and inflatables where we could jump to our hearts’ content, as well as Super Smash Bros and FIFA being available for our video game lovers. My personal favourite was bracelet making located in the library. My friends and I went there straight away to find peace and quiet while still doing a fun activity. Overall, CRC North Keilor’s Establishment Day was indeed a wonderful DAY!!

NATHAN SIOMOS & KASSANDRA CALIGUIRAN 2023 Student Leaders

The highly anticipated Year 10 formal took place on Thursday, September 7 at the picturesque Witchmount Estate in Plumpton. The theme for the evening, ‘An Enchanted Evening,’ provided the perfect backdrop for our Year 10 students to dress up and celebrate their final year at CRCNK in style.

The night was a magical blend of elegance and fun. Students enjoyed a delectable three-course meal and a photo booth added to the enchantment, capturing countless memories for our students.

The dance floor was the heart of the evening, pulsating with energy as students danced the night away. The nostalgic playlist, expertly curated by our Youth Minister and talented DJ, Jaiden Calleja, kept everyone on their feet, creating an atmosphere of pure joy and celebration.

It was a night to remember, a fitting tribute to the end of a significant chapter in our Year 10 students’ lives.

Year 10 Dinner

7 September 2023

Trivia Night Fundraiser

2 June 2023

On Friday, June 2, we hosted an unforgettable Trivia Fundraiser at CRCNK. The evening was filled with laughter, friendly competition, and a strong sense of community spirit, making it a memorable event for a great cause.

Teams gathered in our auditorium, buzzing with excitement and armed with trivia knowledge. The questions spanned arts/ entertainment, sports, pop culture, math/science, history, music, and surprise rounds, challenging everyone.

Our incredible hosts, Mick O’Neil and David Magris, kept the night lively with their enthusiasm and witty banter, adding their unique flair and even a few costume changes. Their efforts ensured each round was as entertaining as the last.

In addition to trivia, we had fundraising activities, raffles, and surprise giveaways, with fantastic prizes donated by local businesses. The sense of community involvement was heartwarming.

This event's success wouldn’t have been possible without our incredible sponsors, hardworking staff, and all who attended. Your contributions significantly impacted the Canossian Daughters of Charity in Tondo and Gawad Kalinga.

We are thrilled to announce we raised $10,100.89! This money helped transform a basic room at the Canossian Convent into a kindergarten and provide free meals. Additionally, our students and staff will assist Gawad Kalinga in building homes for families in extreme poverty. Initially aiming to fund one home, we exceeded our target and now hope to contribute to building two homes.

An amazing effort by our CRCNK community!

Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea

12 May 2023

On Friday 12th of May we celebrated the incredible women who fill our lives with love and warmth. We shared the most heart-warming Mother’s Day afternoon tea at school where we celebrated the incredible love and devotion of all the amazing Mothers, grandmothers and significant female figures in the lives of our students.

Our special guest speakers Rozanne and Kalma from CatholicCare Victoria spoke about the work they do with people from all walks of life and from diverse cultural backgrounds and shared client stories of strength and resilience of Mothers who have used their services.

Our Mum’s were invited to indulge in a delightful spread of afternoon tea and refreshments prepared just for this special occasion and took home a delicious Mother’s Day cookie.

Of course, no celebration is complete without the drawing of the annual Mother’s Day raffle, 10 lucky winners walked away with some fabulous prizes. We are proud to announce that we raised $301 that will go directly to CatholicCare Victoria.

The afternoon was a reminder of the immense value and impact motherly figures have on our lives. They are our guiding lights, our biggest cheerleaders, and our constant pillars of strength. We are truly blessed to have such incredible women shaping our students’ futures.

On Wednesday 30 August an inspiring Father’s Day breakfast was held at the College. Not only did we enjoy a delicious breakfast of bacon and egg rolls, muffins, coffees and juices that were shared with our students and their Dads, but we were also honoured to have the legendary Terry Daniher as our special guest speaker.

Terry’s wisdom and stories from his childhood to life in the AFL left us all motivated and moved. From footy fields to life lessons, his wisdom and insights about life, leadership, and the importance of family resonated deeply. A big shout out to all the fathers and Grandfathers who joined us – your presence made all the difference.

Of course, no celebration is complete without the drawing of the annual Father’s Day raffle, 10 lucky winners walked away with some fabulous prizes and we are very proud to announce that we raised $400 for ‘Fight MND’ who’s co-founder & patron is Terry’s brother Neale Daniher.

Happy Father’s Day on Sunday to all the important fathers and father figures who make a difference in the lives of our CRCNK students. Father’s Day Breakfast 30 August 2023

Student Achievement Awards

Semester 1, 2023

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARDS

YEAR 7

Makayla Denkel Mathematics, Product Design, Science

Kayden Korunoski Health, Humanities, Italian

Keira Le Digital Technologies, Health, Italian

Emilie Sweedman Italian, Religious Education, Visual Arts

Dylan Yao Digital Technologies, English, Humanities

Ella Gauci English, Mathematics, Science, Visual Arts

Indiana Farrugia English, Drama, Health, Italian, Music, Science, Visual Arts

YEAR 8

Jovani Abdelmalak English, Italian, Health

Nathan Ashby Health, Italian, Religious Education

Eshlyn Pasamanero Drama, Music, Visual Arts

Phoenix Pete Health, Humanities, Mathematics

Ava Zeine English, Food Technology, Mathematics

Alexa Rando Health, Italian, Mathematics, Visual Arts

Natalie Zahra Drama, Health, Humanities, Product Design

Charles Booth Digital Technologies, English, Humanities, Italian, Science

David Fernandes Digital Technologies, Humanities, Italian, Mathematics, Science

Noah Pizzinga English, Humanities, Italian, Physical Education, Science

YEAR 9

Miley Consiglio Health, PE Plus, Science

Lian Cortina Digital Imaging, Humanities, Religious Education

Aaysha Julien Health, Humanities, Science

Zara Palmieri Creative Writing, English, Mathematics

Joell Pulickal English, Health, Visual Communication & Design

Aswathy Sunil Mathematics, Skills, Visual Communication & Design

Mavis-Rose Vandenberg Italian, Mathematics, Advanced Photography

Gisele Debrincat English, Health, Humanities, Forensic Science

Duc Nguyen Do English, Mathematics, Science, Wired to Learn

YEAR 10

Emma Bosevski English, Health, Italian

Alayna Denkel English, Science, VCE Health & Human Development

Hayley Duff Humanities, Italian, Religious Education

Bailey Mulcahy Humanities, Science, VCE Business Management

Jay Singh Physical Education, Product Design, Science of Industry

Milana Chetcuti Pre-Methods Mathematics, Model & Manipulate, Religious Education, Science

Jessica Camilleri English, Focus on Fitness, Health, Humanities, Illustrator, Science

Talia Caiazzo Biology for VCE, English, Industry & Enterprise, Humanities, Italian, Religious Education, Science

GROWTH HABITS AWARDS

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

Year 10

Lilly Ansell

Klara Habeeb

Ethan Lang

Liana Marrocco

Jessica Reichstein

Teresa Sabu

Dylan Bentley

Matilda Copeland

Anthony Fraietta Jnr

Siera Kvesic

Alis Lennon

Bianca Mancino

Giulia Pia Aiello

Erica McGann

Alessandra Nedelkovski

Xavier Pasturi

Dallas Wood

Isabelle Gold

Miles Attard

Emma Bosevski

Kaelan Brennan

Lara Simic

Aviraj Singh

Alexander Yates

HOUSE SPIRIT AWARDS

Bakhita

Bosco

Clare

Matilda Copeland

Miles Attard

Dallas Wood

Romero Phoenix Pete

AUSTRALIAN SCIENCE INNOVATIONS COMPETITION

David Fernandes High Distinction

Milana Chetcuti Distinction

Irene Botros Credit

Anthony Fraietta Jnr Credit

Benjamin Morely Credit

PRINCIPAL’S HIGH ACHIEVER AWARDS

NAPLAN Year 7

Christian Blake

Sabrina Calidonna

Ella Gauci

Joshua Girgis

Aaron Pereira

NAPLAN Year 9 Duc Nguyen Do

Joshua Naumovski

Joell Pulickal

Mikayla Raiti

Zara Palmieri

Alayna Denkel VCE Health & Human Development

Dino Francis VCE Physical Education

Abby Lau VCE General Mathematics

Bailey Mulcahy VCE Business Management

Student Achievement Awards Semester 2, 2023

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARDS

YEAR 7

Emilie Sweedman Italian, Mathematics, Visual Art

Jessica Reichstein English, Italian, Visual Art

Anabel George Health, Humanities, Mathematics

Makayla Denkel English, Humanities, Science

Keira Le Digital Technologies, Religious Education, Science, Mathematics

Marcus Bonnici Health, Italian, Music, Religious Education

Ashlyn Kuriakose Drama, English, Italian, Mathematics, Science

Indiana Farrugia Digital Technologies, English, Food Technology, Science, Mathematics, Visual Arts

YEAR 8

Ava Zeine English, Health, Physical Education

Phoenix Pete Humanities, Mathematics, Visual Art

Tamika Fabri Digital Technologies, Humanities, Physical Education, Visual Art

Irene Botros English, Italian, Science, Religious Education

Nathan Ashby Health, Italian, Mathematics, Religious Education

Noah Pizzinga English, Health, Humanities, Italian, Science

David Fernandes Drama, English, Humanities, Italian, Mathematics, Science

Jovani Abdelmalak Digital Technologies, English, Food Technology, Health, Physical Education, Religious Education

YEAR 9

Xavier Pasturi Anatomy & Human Systems, Industry & Enterprise, Italian

Zara Palmieri English, Mathematics, Science

Joel Carbis Mathematics, Physical Education, Science

Alessandra Nedelkovski Mathematics, Pe+ Girls, Physical Education, Product Design

Gisele Debrincat Fabric Technology, Computer Game Design, English, Mathematics

Erica McGann Art Make Your Mark! Humanities,Industry & Enterprise, Italian, Religious Education

Miley Consiglio English, Humanities, Italian, Science, The Art Of Visual Photography

Mavis-Rose Vandenberg Health, Humanities, Italian, Industry & Enterprise, Mathematics, Science

YEAR 10

Emma Bosevski English

Giselle Dalli Vocational English

Jessica Camilleri Humanities

Helena Ryan-Green Vocational Mathematics

Emma Tenaglia General Mathematics

Lucas Attard Pre-Method Mathematics

Jack Zakic Physical Education

Hayley Duff Religious Education

Alayna Denkel Science

Krish Parekh VCE Business Management

Milana Chetcuti VCE General Mathematics

Dino Francis VCE Physical Education

Lara Polidano VCE Health And Human Development

GROWTH HABITS AWARDS

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

Year 10

Julian Catalogna

Rita Haddad

Olivia Khalifeh

Apiath Adut

Zoe Busuttil

Eshlyn Pasamanero

Jesse Procida

Marcus Rados

Ann Tawadrous

Christina Nobile

Mavis-Rose Vandenberg

Joshua Naumovski

Dallas Wood

Markus Antunovic-Spehar

Miles Attard

Daniel Bezzina

Jai Brennan

HOUSE SPIRIT AWARDS

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

Year 10

Bosco

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

Year 10

Clare

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

Year 10

Romero

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

Year 10

Teresa Sabu

Jovani Abdelmalak

Alana Rumoro

Josephine Ibrahim

Ethan Pizzinga

Jesse Procida

Lana Cortina

Daniel Bezzina

Thomas Atkinson

Tamika Fabri

Nicholas Basile

Milana Chetcuti

Marcus Bonnici

Phoenix Pete

Giulia Pia Aiello

Jessica Camilleri

LIAM O’SULLIVAN INAUGURAL READING AWARD

Indiana Farrugia

Jovani Abdelmalak 1st Prize Non-Italian

Makayla Denkel 2nd Prize Non-Italian

ESPORTS AWARDS

Joseph Sakic Victorian Champion – Just Dance

Jacob Pizarro Crcnk Representative At State Level

In Mario Kart

Milan Borg Fuse Cup Victorian Champion, Rocket League

Jake Eppingstall Fuse Cup Victorian Champion, Rocket League

Student Achievement Awards Semester 2, 2023

SACCSS PREMIER LEAGUE MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS

YEAR 7

Clara Xavier Netball

Jake Eppingstall AFL

Lola Henry Girls Basketball

Jack Quinsee Boys Basketball

Monica Ndau Girls Soccer

Jaydan Sorpreso Boys Soccer

Cassandra Perreira Girls Volleyball

YEAR 8

Scarlett-May Wood Netball

Noah Pizzinga Cricket

Abbey Syamanond Girls Basketball

Apiath Adut Boys Basketball

Isabella Debono Girls Soccer

Flynn Vella Boys Soccer

Jacob Pizzaro Boys Volleyball

YEAR 9

Lucas Beniwal AFL

Jasmine Struklec Girls Soccer

Cruz Boeddu Boys Soccer

Erica Mcgann Girls Basketball

Caleb Galea Boys Basketball

Caitlin Medved Girls Volleyball

Duc Nguyen Do Volleyball

YEAR 10

Ruby Vassolo Netball

Lauren Puli Girls Basketball

Thomas Ogden Boys Basketball – Group A

Jay Singh Boys Basketball – Group B

Sophia Scicluna Girls Soccer

Mia Tomassi Girls Soccer

Nicholas Debono Boys Soccer

Jessica Camilleri Girls Volleyball

Peter Nguyen Boys Volleyball

ANNUAL AWARDS (YEAR 10)

ADF LONG TAN LEADERSHIP AWARD

Hayley Duff

AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE FUTURE INNOVATORS AWARD

Talia Caiazzo

UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE’S KWONG LEE DOW YOUNG

SCHOLARS PROGRAM AWARD

Alayna Denkel

SISTER VERONICA LONERGAN LEADERSHIP AWARD

Daniel Bezzina

NITOR AWARD

Christian Logozzo

Apollo Pete

PHILIP KECHENOVICH SPORTS EXCELLENCE AWARD

Mia Gauci

Nicholas Xavier

JACOB BETADAM ARTS AWARD

Milana Chetcuti

COLLEGE DUX

Alayna Denkel

MRS TANIA GUSMAN

A total of $6,529 was raised by the Parents and Friends Association (P&F), which will be going towards various projects in 2024.

P&F members volunteered their time to help prepare student activities and the BBQ lunch on Establishment Day and staffed second-hand uniform stalls.

The P&F hosted the following events to provide opportunities for parents/carers to connect:

• Year 10 Graduation Supper

• Year 7 Orientation Day Parents Welcome Morning Tea

• End of Year dinner at Quatrefoils Restaurant (CRC Sydenham)

Throughout the year we organised three fundraising events. These were:

• Easter Raffle

• Tony’s Pies

• Bunnings BBQ

I would like to extend our best wishes to the following parents whose last child finished Year 10 this year:

• Angie Gregory

• Natalie Camilleri

• Jenny Karslake

Kim Moore

Helen Muscat

Tania Gusman

Our Community

President – On behalf of the Parents and Friends Association

As I finish my role as President, which I have held for the last 7 years, I would like to thank all the parents and carers who have given up their time over the years to help in various activities. This group would not be able to continue if it were not for the input of parents and staff. I have met many people from my time at CRCNK. I have farewelled a longstanding Principal and Deputy Principal and was invited to participate in various school occasions. It is a great community to be part of and I wish everyone well, including all students past and present, in their future endeavors.

I am so proud of the hard work, dedication, energy, and enthusiasm of the P&F Association and have been delighted to collaborate with them for the benefit of all our young people at North Keilor. I thank them for their efforts in 2023 and I know I leave the group in great hands with the current parents, as well as any new parents or carers, in 2024.

Daniel Attard

Katia Corluka

Shane Griffin

Jaiden Calleja

Tony Fraser

Randa Ibrahim

Jamie McRae

Joanne Azzopardi

Suzanne Coyle

Brendan Hallinan

Joanne Cambruzzi

Jessica Galicia

Riccardo Iuele

Cherie McSweeney

Olga Basile

Lauren Farley

Amy Hempel

Ashton Carr

Kerry Gauci

Francesca Lo Presti

Clancy Merrett

Mary-Anne Bratovic

Patrick Fitzgerald

Matt Hollow

Lina Cerra

Simon Gitson

Franca Maisano

Matthew Micallef

Draga Baljak

Georgina D’Souza

Carolyn Harrington

Keanan Carew

Katie Gauci

Deborah Kirk

Marree McSweeney

Lachlan Bezzina

Rebecca Ferraro

Susan Henry Justin Caruso

George Georgiou

David Magris

Maria Mezzatesta

Dianne Burgess

Jim Flynn

Daniel Horan

Nella Cirillo

Sarah Graham

Amy Mangion

Maria Mikletic

Mary Calabro

Emily Forti

Jason Hunter

Heather Clark

Irena Grbesic

Pamela McLaughlin

Melanie Millado

ABSENT: Bronwyn Calnan

Michelle Montalti

Anthony Refalo

Nathan Tomic

Teressa Pashos

Monica Silec

Erika Webb

Chip Therapy Dog

Alyshia Moore

Hayley Rivers

Bronwyn Turnbull

Jocelyn Peach

Tayla Silec

Keith Whaley

Moira Mullan

Carol Rowland

Pete Vamvakas

Lynelle Petersen

Theresa Smith

Brooke Yallop

Casey Nicholson

Grace Saporito

Amit Verma

Adriana Quagliarella

Alan Thomas

Josie Zanic

Clare Moore

Megan Rolls

Bianca Turrisi

Sharon Perry

Luke Smith

Daniel Whimpey

Mariel Muyco

John Russo

Georgia Vassolo

Josh Porter

Miriam Theuma

Nadia Yates

Mick O’Neil

Julian Seol

Liana Veronika

Rudy Ramos

Nicholas Thorp

Sheree Zavattiero

Rushda Othman

Brendan Shields

Susan Ward Peter Ravela

David Tomic

Tullio Zavattiero