To all our families we would like to share with you all our achievements and celebrations that have concluded our 2024 school year.

At Year 7
The Year 7 students have gathered to celebrate all their achievements reflecting on all they have done in their first year of high school. They shared a homeroom breakfast while participating in a quiz that covered memorable moments of year 7 including, facts about their teachers, our college values, Mary Mackillop feast day, Year 7 Camp and the swimming carnival. Our year 7 students have shared the following comments:

• “I will never forget my very first Mary MacKillop Feast day it was a highlight for me as a new Penola student” Michael F 7G
• ‘Being able to participate and represent Penola in Premier League Basketball allowed me to meet new people and make great friends as a new year 7 student” Zack K 7G

During the student remote learning day last Friday, we had approximately 30 Year 7 students who volunteered to come into school to be part of our annual grade four visit day. We had just over 240 primary school students visit our junior campus. The day was a huge success thanks to our staff who ran workshops and to our junior student that assisted as tour guides and helpers in the variety of workshops that were offered on the day. The primary school teachers said that our students were to be commended on their participation and presentation.

Last Thursday our junior students completed English and Maths exams. The Year 7 students experienced their first exam, and the Year 8 students completed their Maths and English exams with a lunch break in between. Mrs Sandra Warren our head of teaching and learning was impressed with the way our junior students prepared for their exams and the way they were able to stay focused for each exam.

Congratulations to all the Year 8 premier league teams who participated in the SACCSS competition this term. Our girls’ volleyball and girls’ soccer teams won their grand final games played yesterday. A truly amazing achievement to all our Year 8 players.

Today our Year 8 students begin their first day as Year 9s in their new building the MacCormack Centre on the senior campus. We wish them all the very best as they continue their journey throughout secondary school. Our Year 7 students today begin their first day as Year 8s, marking the end of their first year of secondary school. We look forward to spending the next week with our Year 8 2025 cohort before our summer break.

On behalf of all the staff at the Glenroy campus we would like to wish all our families a very Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year. May the festive season bring love, joy and blessings to all in our Penola community.

As we finish the month of November and enter the season of Advent we prepare for a season of changes. Liturgically we move from the season of Ordinary time, where we follow the gospel accounts of Jesus’ ministry leading to his entrance into Jerusalem for the final stages of his ministry. The Church pauses on this and places emphasis on hopeful waiting, where we prepare for the birth of Christ through the Advent season and then finally Christmas.

We have some acquisitions depicting the birth of Jesus in our school. Both Glenroy and Broadmeadows campuses have recently acquired nativity scenes, and these are on display in their respective chapels. The time of hopeful waiting gives us the opportunity to reflect upon the meaning of Jesus’ birth on our world and we are encouraged to prepare through Scripture, Prayer and Hospitality.

Recently we celebrated our final masses at both Broadmeadows and Glenroy. Fr Peter Njau Parish Priest, St Dominic’s Parish, Broadmeadows and Fr Joe Truong, Parish Priest, Holy Child Parish, kindly responded to a call to celebrate Masses at each campus. Both liturgies were accompanied by the Year 7 and 8 student junior voices who sang a range of Christmas carols. Many thanks to their teachers. Ms Pradhan and Ms Dihayco on preparing the students who complemented the liturgy in an amazing fashion.

Today we commence HeadStart, and our College theme for 2025, to “never see a need without doing something about it”.

“Never see a need without doing something about it" is a tenet that was given to the Josephites by Fr Julian Tenison Woods way back in 1867. 

This is a call to action to respond to the daily needs of those in our communities and to act as needed. It suggests that even a small act can have a significant impact on others. It starts with a small ripple and can soon become a tsunami of support and make a real difference to someone in need. This tenet is a call to action and something that all stakeholders within the school community to strive for.

Furthermore, we look forward to the celebration of the centenary of the St Joseph Chapel at Broadmeadows on Friday 6 December at 5pm. This is a unique opportunity in history to recognise the role the Catholic faith tradition has had and continues to have upon both past and present members of Penola Catholic College. Please contact the College if you wish to attend. Our main celebrant is the Most Rev. Terry Curtin, Auxiliary Bishop Northern region and past College chaplains, Fr Tony Cox and Fr Bernie Lane. We look forward to welcoming them back to our College.

Finally, just as the Holy Family needed help leading up to and following Jesus’ birth, may we too, be beacons of help for others. May Our Lord’s birth bring peace to our homes, our community and our world.

Grade 4 Students Experience High School Life at Penola

Last Friday, Penola Catholic College welcomed over 2024 Grade 4 students from local primary schools for a special day designed to give them a taste of high school life. The excitement was evident as students rotated through engaging classes in Food Technology, Science, Languages, Music, PE, and Humanities, exploring the diverse opportunities that await them in secondary school.

Highlights of the day included performances by our talented Senior Band and Junior Choir, which captivated the young visitors. A lively photo booth added a touch of fun and created lasting memories for the students. Each visitor also received a goodie bag to take home as a memento of the day.

Our current students played a vital role in the event, assisting with activities and showing their leadership skills, ensuring everything ran smoothly. Their enthusiasm and friendliness left a lasting impression on the visiting students.

By the end of the day, the Grade 4 students departed Penola with smiles on their faces and a buzz of excitement about the possibilities high school holds. The event was an enormous success, building connections with our local community and inspiring future Penola students.

We are thrilled to share the incredible success of our Junior Music and Drama Night, held on Wednesday 13 November, at the Performing Arts Centre, Broadmeadows campus. This special event showcased the immense talent and dedication of our Year 7 and 8 students, bringing together a vibrant celebration of music and drama.

The evening was filled with an array of captivating performances, including dynamic solo and ensemble pieces, harmonious choir renditions, energetic band showcases, and powerful concert band performances. The two short drama acts brought stories to life on stage, and our students shone not only as performers but also in vital behind-the-scenes roles.

It was heartwarming to see the Glenroy campus community come together to support our young performers. The energy in the room was electric, and the applause spoke volumes about the pride and joy felt by families, friends, and staff.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the students who participated and made the evening such a memorable experience. A big thank you also goes to the dedicated staff and volunteers who worked tirelessly to make the night possible.

Here’s to celebrating the arts and looking forward to even more wonderful performances in the future!

2025 has been a year of great change at Penola with our new Principal Tracey Kift leading the way. There have been many alterations to the curriculum which will be implemented in 2026. Science and Humanities subjects regain their core subject status and will be running yearlong at both Year 9 and 10. We have been busily writing our new curriculum ensuring that it aligns with the new Victorian curriculum 2.0 to safeguard continuity of teaching and learning at Penola.

This year marks the end of my five years as Head of learning at Broadmeadows and I would sincerely like to thank both the executive team at Penola for giving me the opportunity to lead our science team but also to the families and students who have been incredibly supportive over this time. I will always be grateful for this opportunity and wish our incoming Head of learning the very best as they continue to provide the finest education for our students at Penola.

On behalf of the Science team, we would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and may God keep you safe over the holiday period.

Head of learning (Broadmeadows)
Leanne Attard

What a tremendous success Visual Arts Week was in the fourth week of Term 4. On the Monday, the Artist in Residence Painting Workshop was held with acclaimed Australian Portrait and Landscape painter Daniel Butterworth. With his expressive style of brushwork, he engaged our senior art students with an intensive day of painting. The day after, we inaugurated the ‘3 in 6’ Short Film Competition with two small groups. With a full day of filming and editing, the workshop was driven by a secret message which was revealed the morning of. It was fantastic to see our students engage with the digital video cameras, dress up in costumes, script and act and collaborate whilst having a fun time.

This year also saw the relaunch of the Staff Art Exhibition displaying over 15 entries in the ERC. A celebration with afternoon tea, presentation of awards and classical music provided a much-needed opportunity for staff across both campuses to celebrate each other’s creativity.

Thursday 31^st October, saw the Visual Arts Showcase Evening, firstly with the ‘Under the Stars’ musical performances, the Visual Arts Exhibition, and ‘POSCARS’ film evening. Opened by outgoing Mayor Naim Kurt, our college awarded the creative efforts of our student finalists in Art, Visual Communication and Design and Media.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Visual Arts Staff for their tireless efforts throughout the college year in engaging our students in their art practices. I would also like to thank our Visual Arts Technician Naomi Diaz for her efforts in the recording and coordination of art works in the lead up to the event as well as her assistance in the week. I would also like to thank the maintenance team for their proactiveness in the set up and pack up of all displays, the Technology Department in serving of the delectable finger food for the evening and lastly the Performing Arts Department in the coordination of all performances for our showcase.

Mrs. Margaret Borg
Head of Visual Arts

Discover Your Passion for Dance and Music in 2025!

Penola Catholic College is thrilled to offer exciting Dance and Instrumental Music programs in 2025, open to students eager to pursue their creative talents outside of regular studies.

Our Dance Program, led by a trained instructor, focuses on developing technique and exploring a variety of dance styles. Students will learn and perfect routines throughout the year, showcasing their skills in a semester-end performance.

For those with a passion for music, our Instrumental Music Program offers the chance to learn and perform with woodwind, brass, and string instruments. This full-year commitment provides the perfect opportunity to hone your musical abilities and collaborate with peers in an inspiring environment.

Don’t miss out on the chance to express yourself, build confidence, and create unforgettable memories. Join us in 2025 to be part of the magic!

For more information, contact Ms Jasinta Savage.

As a class composed of Year 12 and year 11 students, we were able to learn from each other various things relating to the subject and since the class was small, each of us were able to interact comfortably as we all received great assistance from Ms Carr and Ms Diaz.

The experience of eating bentos with our small class was enjoyable, because we were all able to experience a portion of Japanese culture while collectively having fun.

Year 11 & 12 Japanese class, 2024
Grace, Angelina, Azrael and Samantha

Buy and Sell School Essentials the Eco-Friendly Way!

Looking to save money or give your school supplies a second life? Check out Sustainable School Shop, the perfect platform to buy and sell uniforms, textbooks, and other essentials in an eco-friendly way.

List well-preserved items you no longer need to help reduce waste while supporting other families. Or, browse affordable, high-quality second-hand items to gear up for the school year without breaking the bank.

Join the community making a difference by reusing and recycling school resources. Visit Sustainable School Shop today and start saving sustainably!

Saver Plus

Gladstone Park Tennis Club

December

Thursday 5 December - Term 4 Concludes

February

Monday 3 February - Term 1 Commences

Monday 10 February - Glenroy School Photos

Monday 10 February - Academic Assembly (Broadmeadows)

Tuesday 11 February - Broadmeadows School Photos

Friday 21 February - Swimming Carnival