Around the College 

Nazareth College 2026 Showcase

On 8 and 9 October, Nazareth College held its exciting annual Showcase event which featured the diverse talents that our students possess in Performing Arts, Technology and Visual Arts. This event displayed over three hundred works including animations, bags, cakes, ceramics, dances, digital artworks, drawings, dresses, folios, models, monsters, movies, movie posters, music videos, paintings, performances, photographs, prints, and video essays.

Opening night, held on 8 October, was a busy event with the opportunity for students’ friends, families, teachers and the wider community, to observe what was on display and to watch the public showings of the Media films, as well as performances, including dance and musical pieces. There was also the reveal on many students works the nomination for the Principal’s Award, hand selected by Mr. Cosentino and Mr. Duckett, and People’s Choice Award. Students also enjoyed the opportunity during the school day on 9 October to visit the event space with their classes and see the works on display. This was well attended across the school.

Well done to all students who had pieces on display. A further thank-you goes out to all the staff involved in setting up and coordinating this event.

Mr Rosario Ripper 

Instructional Leader Visual Arts

Ms Kate Goodwin 

Instructional Leader Technology

SIS Book in a Day ... WINNERS 🏆

We are so proud of our SIS Book In A Day team of authors and illustrators.  

After independent and peer judging Nazareth College was awarded FIRST place for their short novel "Project Mutagen".  Thank you to Ms. Bailey and the English staff for mentoring the students in the program this year.  This is a trifecta for Nazareth this year in SIS Cultural Events - taking out gold in Teen Chef, Chess and now Book In A Day.🎉

SIS Book in a Day is an exciting event where school teams have eight hours, from 9am to 5pm, to write and illustrate an entire book based on a prompt from another school. Our prompt included the characters: a baby, teacher, and rat, setting of New York, the problem 

of sickness, and five random words: tuna, communism, martyr, destiny and facetious.

Our book, Project Mutagen, followed an ex-scientist turned teacher as she navigated a rat-infested apocalyptic world while racing to find a cure for a deadly disease. We had five writers working on different chapters and two illustrators, so the day involved lots of planning and creativity.  It was definitely challenging to bring such a random prompt together under a time limit, but it was a really fun experience and we are all proud of the book we've made.

-Alyna Joseph, Year 9 Student

Japanese Second Language - Ikebana

On Thursday, 17 September, VCE Japanese Second Language students were fully immersed in the Japanese culture as they co-created their first Ikebana piece during their Japanese lesson.

The origin of Ikebana goes back to the 6th century, when Buddhism was introduced to Japan from China. Unlike the western flower arrangement, which relies on symmetry and abundance, ikebana embraces the “Aesthetics of Subtraction”; by deliberately creating “ma” or a depth of space, the piece achieves to show the lines and to express tension.

After a short presentation about the history and the essential elements of Ikebana, both Year 11 and 12 students worked on their first piece following the Basic Upright Style Moribana in Sogetsu school.

It was pleasing to see the digital generations engaged with nature, working through math together to achieve the appropriate lengths and angles, debating their own aesthetic principles, and applying hands-on skills.

I think that the ikebana making was a fun experience that i got to share with my classmates and my senior classmates. I enjoyed the creativity and learning new skills while immersing myself in Japanese culture. 

-Kira Ly, Year 11 Student

On the last day of term, おもしろい文化を学ぶだけでなく、生花などができました！So we all tried 生花 for the very first time. きれいにするために、私たちはたくさんの枝葉と花を使った。It actually seemed complex at first with the different angles and measurements of the stems and all, but turns out we made somewhat of an ikebana masterpiece in the end! 全体的に、この経験はとても楽しかったと思います。

-Zoe Chong, Year 11 Student

Special thanks to Ms. Yoshida and Mr. Hjorth for providing the tools and equipment for this session.

Ms Yukari Nibun

Teacher

National Aerobics Championships

What an incredible season it has been for our Nazareth Aerobics team! We are extremely proud of every student who represented Nazareth with such pride, dedication and professionalism on the national stage. Competing at this level is a significant achievement, and each athlete should be immensely proud of the hard work, commitment and determination that went into preparing their routines throughout the year.

Our students showcased not only their talent and skill, but also the values of teamwork, resilience and sportsmanship that make our community so special. Congratulations to all competitors on their outstanding performances and the achievements they have earned this season.

National Championship Results:

💥Chelsea, Lux & Carla (Div C Lower Sec Multiple)  14th Place

💥Miranda, Victoria F, Jazlyn, Madi, Micaela & Iris (Div B Lower Sec Team)  5th Place

💥Victoria F, Madi, Shanaya & Alicia (Div 1 Aerodance) 6th Place

💥Darcie, Katya & Chituli (Div D Lower Sec Multiple) 5th Place, narrowly missing 3rd                 place by just 0.1 points

💥Maliyah, Victoria & Madi (Div D Lower Sec Multiple) 7th Place

A special thank you to our coaches, families and supporters who encouraged our athletes throughout the season. Your support has played an important role in helping our students reach this level of success.

For students who have enjoyed Aerobics this year and would like to continue training and competing outside of school, enquiries can be made directly with Aerodynamix Gymnastics, a local club offering aerobic gymnastics programs and competition pathways. Families are encouraged to contact the club directly for information regarding training schedules and program costs.

Well done to all of our athletes on a fantastic season. We look forward to seeing what you achieve next year!

Mr Brendan Newcomb

Sports Coordinator & Teacher

Year 10 Community Action 

Year 10 Community Action students (of which there are two classes) have been involved with a variety of activities this year. These have ranged from gardening and horticulture around Nazareth College to fortnightly visits to Regis Residential Care Facility in Bakers Road, where students have built up relationships with the residents there and joined in activities with them. 

However, the longest running project Community Action Students successfully completed in 2026 was producing Giant Jenga Blocks, one set of 100 blocks for each of the six houses at Nazareth, which are painted in each houses individual colour. Each set of Jenga Blocks comes in its own easily transportable tub with heavy duty castors. 

This project was finished at the end of term 3. Kudos to all the Community Action students for persevering with this project and seeing it through to the end. 

The Giant Jenga Blocks can be used inside or outside and will be used for individual house or inter-house Jenga Blocks building competitions, so lots of fun ahead with this activity! 

The photographs show the Community Action students proudly presenting the Giant Jenga Blocks to each of the Heads of House and House Year Level Captains. 

Mr Brendan Hermon

Teacher

Year 11 Youth Ministry @ Mulgrave Rise Community Care

“It was a deeply fulfilling experience to spend some time conversing with the elderly residents during our excursion to the aged-care home on Wednesday. I was struck by the depth and wisdom woven into their stories. Swept up in the whirlwind of an increasingly technology-saturated era, we can often overlook the most vulnerable members of our community, along with the invaluable perspectives they have to share. It was also a joy to sing some well-loved, timeless hits during a karaoke session, and I was honoured to share a microphone with a woman who had performed on stage alongside violinist and conductor André Rieu! From ABBA and The Beatles to Neil Diamond, different generations and walks of life were united through the power of song. I look forward to seeing my new friends again soon.” - Tia Clara, Year 11 Youth Ministry Student

Going to the elderly visit on Wednesday was the biggest highlight of my week. Just the experience of going to a place like this and listening to the stories that each person had was just so inspirational, the more I talked to each person the more I learnt that you can make a person's life so much happier, just by sitting and listening to them. I would go again if I were ever given the chance and I would definitely recommend others to go as well. - Jude Blake, Year 11 Youth Ministry Student

The elderly visit was such a rewarding and fulfilling experience. It was wonderful to sit down and listen to the elderly share their stories and memories. Seeing their faces light up and their smiles grow as we spent time with them made the visit even more meaningful. Singing songs together was also an absolute blast and created such a joyful atmosphere. It was heartwarming to know that simply giving them our time and kindness could make such a positive difference in their day. - Noura Showa, Year 11 Youth Ministry Student

Mr Peter Stewart 

Director of Faith and Mission

Ms Tessa Houlihan

Teacher

Health & Physical Education

On a beautiful sunny day on 8 October, the Year 10 Physical Education and Recreation students, alongside the Italy Study Tour students, recently participated in a series of dynamic excursions designed to showcase diverse lifelong fitness options. The program aimed to introduce the PE & Rec students to engaging recreational opportunities available both now and after completing school. For the Italy Study Tour, it was about building fitness in readiness for the Italy Study Tour in late November.

The cohort first tackled the iconic 1000 Steps Kokoda Memorial Track. This challenging walk tested their physical endurance while teaching them about sacrifice and courage of the Australians who fought during WWII to defend our nation and the benefits of nature-based fitness. All staff and students completed the trek and a big thanks to Miss Melissa Navaratnajarah, Miss Caitlin Trustum and especially Miss Christiana Sifinos who filled in last minute. It was a good chance for the Italy Study students to achieve something together and bond before the trip. 

As the Italy Study Tour returned to school the PE and Rec students continued on, shifting focus to skill acquisition and leisure, students visited the Morack Golf Driving Range and Mini Golf course. Here, they practiced precision, patience, and coordination in a social setting. The program concluded with a high-energy trip to Zone Bowling in Knox, where friendly competition highlighted the community and social health aspects of tenpin bowling. 

These excursions successfully demonstrated that staying active extends far beyond traditional team sports.

I would also wish to thank the PE & Rec staff Ms Amy Durham and Mr John Brenton for assisting me on this excursion.

Mr Andrew Moore

Instructional Leader Health & Physical Education

🧁Thank you to our NCCA

A heartfelt thank you to our NCCA for providing a delectable morning tea in honour of our teachers on World Teachers’ Day. Your generosity and thoughtfulness were greatly appreciated, and the delicious spread was a wonderful way to recognise and celebrate the dedication of our staff.  We are very grateful for all the support the NCCA provide to the Nazareth community!

1000 Steps Kokoda Trail - International Students.

This week our international students took on the famous 1000 Steps Kokoda Track Memorial Walk in the Dandenong Ranges.

For many students, this was their first time attempting the challenging climb. Surrounded by beautiful native bushland, students made their way up the steep steps, encouraging and supporting one another along the way.

For many students, completing the 1000 Steps was a significant personal milestone as they had not done anything like this in their home country.

However, the biggest surprise of the day came at lunchtime! A group of cheeky kookaburras decided to join us at the picnic area, swooping down and stealing food straight from unsuspecting students. Their unexpected visit caused plenty of laughter, excitement and a few startled reactions. 

Beyond the physical challenge, the excursion provided a wonderful opportunity for our international students to experience Australia's natural environment, strengthen friendships and create lasting memories together.

A special thank you to Mr Hermon and Ms Ho for accompanying the students and providing encouragement and support throughout the walk.

Mr Chuck Chan

International Student Coordinator

Year 10 Outdoor and Environmental Studies

Our Year 10 Outdoor and Environmental Studies students recently participated in an adventure activity at Bayside Rock, challenging themselves through indoor rock climbing.

The experience encouraged students to step outside their comfort zones, push their personal boundaries and build confidence. Students also explored Bayside Rock's caving-style tunnels, navigating confined spaces and testing their problem-solving skills in a unique underground adventure - this ended up being a highlight of the session!!

Through teamwork, communication and encouragement, students supported one another to overcome challenges and achieve their goals.

A fantastic opportunity to develop resilience, trust and teamwork in a fun and supportive environment!

Mr Adam Cooper

Teacher & Camps Coordinator

Breakfast Club & Eat Up Australia 🧇

A big thank you to Eat Up Australia for their generous support of our Breakfast Club since Term 2. Their donations have helped us provide a welcoming and nourishing start to the day for many students.

Breakfast Club offers fresh fruit, cereals and toast each morning, served by our friendly staff team. We also serve around 25 toasties each week, with our popular “Wednesday Special” running from 8:00-8:30am before school.

Students interested in volunteering can sign up to assist with serving at the Resource Centre. Thank you to everyone who helps make Breakfast Club such a valued part of our school community.