Student Activities 

VM Market 

On Wednesday 24 June, our VM students proudly hosted the annual VM Market, welcoming students and staff from across the College to support their small businesses and celebrate the hard work of our Vocational Major program.

The market featured a fantastic range of handmade products, clothing, unique gifts and other creative items, all designed and produced by our students. The event provided an authentic learning experience, allowing students to apply their enterprise, customer service and financial management skills in a real-world setting.

It was wonderful to see the College community come together to support our VM students, with many taking the opportunity to browse the stalls and purchase locally made products. Every purchase helped support our students while recognising the effort and dedication they have invested in developing their businesses.

Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to the success of the market. Your support made a real difference and helped create a memorable and rewarding experience for our VM students.

Year 7 Family Gathering Celebrates a Successful First Semester

More than 250 students, parents, carers and staff gathered recently for our Year 7 Family Gathering, marking the first time this much-loved event has been held since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The evening provided a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the completion of the students' first semester of secondary school and acknowledge the many experiences, achievements and friendships that have shaped their transition to college life.

Families were warmly welcomed by Principal Mr Brett Vanburkel, who spoke about the importance of community and partnership in supporting our young people. Guests also heard from Mrs Catherine Sandeman, who presented valuable information about digital wellbeing, and Ms Tahnee Cashman, who shared insights into the College's Learning Engagement Continuum and the ways students are supported throughout their learning journey.

One of the highlights of the evening was seeing students proudly guide their families around the school, showing them their lockers, classrooms and favourite spaces. Families also enjoyed a photo display showcasing the many activities Year 7 students have participated in throughout the semester, alongside a video featuring students reflecting on their favourite parts of school life so far.

In true Marist spirit, the community came together to share a meal. Our Hospitality Team prepared a delicious dinner of slow-cooked meats, jacket potatoes and fresh salads, providing the perfect opportunity for families to connect with one another and with staff.

It was fantastic to see so many families brave the cold weather to attend and contribute to such a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The Year 7 Family Gathering was a wonderful celebration of community, connection and the successful completion of the students' first semester at the College.

VM Shop

VM students were proud to open the VM Shop this term. The fitout of the shop started earlier in the year, with the construction team working hard with repairs, installing shelving and creating a great new mural wall. Other students worked on making products for the shop and gaining real-life experience of small business marketing, finance and administration. 

The grand opening was a great success, with many happy customers! Olives from the charism garden, dehydrated fruit, chopping boards, beef jerky, sweet treats, upcycled clothing, jewellery, bags of kindling, hand made cards, coasters, candles, plants and fresh produce from the VM garden were all popular items. 

The VM shop is now open regularly on a Friday morning for staff and students. We are working towards being open to the wider school community in the near future - and planning now for some  Christmas best sellers. 

Sports Academy 

Year 10 Basketball and Netball Sports Academy students recently attended the Victorian Institute of Sport as part of their High Performance Athlete Excursion. During the visit, students were given a guided tour of the world-class facilities and gained valuable insight into what it takes to be an elite athlete. They learned about the importance of training, recovery, nutrition, injury management, and the daily routines required to perform at the highest level.

Students were able to explore the high-quality facilities used by elite athletes and develop a greater understanding of the support systems available to high-performance sportspeople. In addition, students were privileged to participate in specialised coaching sessions delivered by high-performance coaches at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre. These sessions provided students with expert guidance and practical skill development in their chosen sports, making the experience both inspiring and educational.

Charlie McCallum Scholarships

What an incredible achievement for CCS Year 11 students Oliver Skeels and Hudson Doherty, who have been awarded Charlie McCallum Scholarships.

The scholarship provides local students with the opportunity to trek the Kokoda Trail, developing a deeper understanding of its historical significance and the sacrifices made by Australian servicemen and women.

As part of the selection process, students completed a written application and participated in an interview, demonstrating their knowledge, commitment and enthusiasm for the opportunity.

Congratulations to Oliver and Hudson on this well-deserved achievement. We wish them every success as they prepare for this incredible and life-changing experience and look forward to hearing about their Kokoda journey upon their return.

Year 9 Agriculture 

Our Year 9 Agriculture students recently participated in an exciting incursion with RACE Agriculture Gippsland, exploring how technology is shaping the future of farming. Students had the opportunity to fly drones and program robots to navigate a set path using Edison software, developing their problem-solving and digital technology skills. The activities highlighted the growing role of precision agriculture, where drones and automated systems are used to monitor crops, collect data, improve efficiency, and support sustainable farming practices. It was a fantastic hands-on experience that showcased the many career opportunities emerging in modern agriculture.

VCE VM Trade Skills for Teens 

This term, 11 of our VCE VM students participated in the Trade Skills for Teens program at Bunnings Warehouse Sale. The program aims to help young people develop practical building skills while working alongside the Bunnings team and industry professionals, gaining insights into trade pathways. 

Over several weeks, students constructed a range of projects, including garden seats, a BBQ, and a cubby house. These projects were then donated back to the community, with one of the recipients being St Patrick’s Primary School Stratford.

As a special gesture, our VM students gifted the cubby house and garden seats to the Year 3 students in memory of their friend and fellow student, Louisa Jackson. 

We sincerely thank Bunnings for providing this incredible opportunity and for supporting our students to develop practical skills, confidence, and community connections. 

Year 10 Taste of Hospitality 

Year 10 Taste of Hospitality students were hard at work preparing for our Year 7 Family Night, locking in one of the evening's fresh menu favourites!

Students made coleslaw for 280 guests, using fresh produce harvested straight from the College VM Garden. It was a fantastic opportunity to develop practical hospitality skills while showcasing the quality of produce grown by our VM students.

RAAF Base Visit

On Wednesday 27 May, some Years 10 and 11 students were able to visit the Sale RAAF Base for Vocations Day to see what was available. The RAAF offers five different training schools, and we were privileged to see three of these: Air Traffic Controller, a flight simulator, and the RAAF planes.

Firstly, we were looked at the Air Traffic Controller who completes a 9-month course. These are commissioned officers who end up managing gliders, parachutes, and anything airborne in their space. The RAAF has two runways where the skill involves multitasking. It was identified that people who played video games tended to do well in this position.

Secondly, we were taken to the flight simulator where students were able to fly up and over the Sale area, even fly to Darwin if they wished. This created a clearer understanding of the touch of the plane when flying and what this looked like from the pilot’s perspective. 

We were then taken to look at the Pilatus PC-21, which is used by The Roulettes, the Royal Australian Air Force's formation aerobatic display team. 

We also were able to see the sporting facilities and speak with the personal trainer, who creates many individual programs for the pilots and those still in training.

Students were able to try on body equipment for its weight and get a first-hand idea about how to move in this equipment. Helmets were donned, and even weapons were handled to get a feel for what the job entailed.

Something to note, Sale RAAF Base remains the RAAF's primary training base, operating continuously in a training role since 1943. The base was being used to assist with firefighting and relief operations.

We’d like to thank Mrs Considine for organising this visit.

Ms. Julia Moulton

Paulinus House Leader