Student Activities 

CCS Students Support St Vincent de Paul Food Drive

Following a successful food drive, CCS was delighted to receive a letter of thanks from the Sale Conference of St Vincent de Paul for our generous donations. We are incredibly proud of our students for their kindness and generosity, and we commend our RESA class for organising this important program. Well done to everyone involved!

Year 9 Student Prepares for Belgium Exchange

Year 9 student, Sam Crouch, is preparing to embark on an exciting adventure later this year as part of a student exchange program with WEP (World Education Programme). Sam will spend several months living and studying in Belgium, immersing himself in the French language and culture. 

French teacher, Ms Sophie Garner, caught up with Sam to hear more about his upcoming journey.

Why Belgium?

“Canada and France were also offered through the exchange program,” Sam explained. “Canada was the pricier and colder option, and I preferred Belgium because the Belgians are more relaxed than the French. I’ve also heard there’s a nicer atmosphere over there.”

What are you most looking forward to about your trip?

“I’m really excited about learning more about the culture and making lots of friends. I’ll be meeting people at school and learning in a different language, which will be really cool.”

How do you think living in a French-speaking country will help your French?

“I think it will be a bit of a shock at first, but it will help my French significantly—just from speaking it every day and being immersed in the culture and language.”

Is there a particular food, place, or experience you’re excited to try?

“Definitely the waffles and fries—they’re really good in Belgium! I’m also probably going to Disneyland in Paris, which is one of the experiences offered by WEP.”

How did you hear about this opportunity?

“I started doing some research back in January this year when I decided I wanted to do an exchange, and WEP was one of the top results.”

What do you hope to bring back to share with your classmates?

“Aside from improving my French, I hope to bring back a better knowledge of the world, more cultural awareness, and higher confidence.”

Sam’s exchange experience will no doubt be an incredible opportunity for personal growth and cultural learning. We wish him every success as he prepares for this adventure abroad.

Pathways Expo 

Catholic College Sale proudly hosted its annual Pathways Expo Evening, with more than 800 students, families and community members attending the event. The outstanding turnout highlighted the strong partnership between the College, families, and the wider community.

The Expo provided an invaluable opportunity for students and their families to explore a wide range of career options and future study pathways. Attendees were able to engage directly with education providers, training organisations, and industry representatives, gaining insights into the evolving employment landscape and future job opportunities within the region and beyond. Students also got to chat with subject teachers at CCS, and we sincerely appreciate the teachers giving valuable advice to our students.

Former student, Prue Nowak (Class of 2020), now an Accountant at DMG Partners, returned to the College as part of the evening.

“It was great to be back at the College providing support and advice to the younger students,” Prue said.

Principal Brett Van Berkel said the success of the evening reflected the College’s commitment to supporting students as they prepare for their next steps.

“The energy in the stadium was incredibly positive, and the diversity of outside providers created a real sense of possibility and direction for our students. We are deeply grateful to the many providers and industry representatives who generously gave their time to share valuable insights into future job opportunities and the evolving employment landscape in our region.”

Catholic College Sale extends its sincere appreciation to everyone who contributed to making the 2025 Pathways Expo such a valuable and inspiring event, including all the education and industry providers who supported the evening; TAFE Gippsland, Jobs and Skills Victoria, Educational Living (VETiS), AGA Apprenticeships and Traineeships, East Gippsland LLEN, Federation University, Deakin University, Wellington Shire, WPC Group/ESSO Australia, Victoria Police, Southerly Ten, Central Gippsland Health, Southern Rural Water, William Adams, DMG Financial, Gippsland Accounting Solutions, Forest and Fire Management Victoria, Uniting Vic/Tas, Jet Aviation, Phillipsons Accounting & Financial Planning, Offshore and Specialist Ships, LaTrobe Regional Health, Tequa Plumbing and Civil, and Richmond Institute.

Game Changers Retreat Day

On Friday 8 August, students from Years 7 and 8 participated in a Marist Game Changers Retreat Day. The event was held at Marcellin College Bulleen, Melbourne. Over 140 students attended the day, coming from Kilmore, Bendigo, Melbourne, Warragul, Traralgon, and Sale.

The program focused on teaching students how to be present as role models and how to be good role models in our schools and local communities. Students participated in a range of activities to help build self-confidence and develop networking skills with students from other schools.

I would like to thank Mr Kelsey, who drove the bus on the day, ensuring that we travelled to and from our venue safely, and Amanda Traeger for supporting the students throughout the program.

Mr Damian Hogan

Game Changers Mentor

VCE VM

Students Gain Career Insights at Lardner Park Careers Expo and Industry Visits

Last month, our students took part in the highly anticipated Lardner Park Job and Careers Expo, joining hundreds of young people from across the region in exploring their future career options. The event brought together a diverse range of employers, training providers, and industry representatives, giving students the chance to ask questions, discover pathways, and gather resources for life beyond school.

From hands-on demonstrations to one-on-one conversations with professionals, students were able to connect theory from the classroom with the realities of the workplace. Many commented on how valuable it was to hear directly from people working in the fields they are interested in whether that be trades, health, agriculture, technology, or creative industries.

In addition to attending the event, students have been continuing with industry visits throughout the term. These excursions give them a first-hand look at day-to-day operations, workplace expectations, and emerging trends in different sectors.

Recent visits have included a visit to the Wellington shire performing arts centre - The Wedge, and Gippsland Regional livestock exchange. Students were able to talk with employees and staff at each location, including a talk with Kim, a team leader at GRLE, who discussed possible careers within Wellington shire, pathways to agronomy and how to become a stock and station agent. These experiences help students make informed choices about subject selection, further study, and potential apprenticeships or traineeships.

By combining the broad exposure of the Lardner Park Careers Expo with targeted industry visits, our students are gaining a clearer picture of the opportunities ahead and the skills they’ll need to succeed.

Josh Stubb 

VCE VM Coordinator