St Francis of Assisi College - Term 1 Week 10 - 2025

Year 11 Students Get a Taste of Kayaking at Jane Eliza Lagoon

Last week, Year 11 students had an exciting hands-on experience at Jane Eliza Lagoon as part of their Stage 2 outdoor education. They spent a couple of hours practicing essential kayaking skills, including paddling techniques and capsizing drills. It was a great opportunity for everyone to become familiar with how kayaks travel on the water and learn how to handle them effectively.

A big thank you to Jim from Canoe the Riverland for providing running the session, as well as Mr. Ivan Smith for helping out. The students left with newfound confidence and a greater appreciation for kayaking as an outdoor activity. What a fantastic way to kick off their adventure on the water!

Stage 1 Child Studies

Our Stage 1 Child Studies students recently delved into pre-natal nutrition, researching essential nutrients for a growing baby and preparing a meal suitable for a pregnant woman.

This practical learning experience provided valuable insights into child development and the importance of maternal nutrition. The assessment tasked students to produce an action plan, practical session, and a final evaluation.

Well done to all the students for their dedication and engagement!

Stage 2 Child Studies

Our Stage 2 Child Studies students have been engaged in two meaningful projects. They explored children’s well-being in disasters, investigating ways to support young people in challenging situations. Additionally, they visited OLOR, where they conducted science experiments with children, creating fun and engaging learning experiences.

These hands-on activities deepened their understanding of both the emotional and educational needs of children. Everyone conducted themselves well and we would like to thank the staff and students at OLOR for having us.

Year 10 Food & Hospitality Students Serve Up Crispy Chicken Tacos

Our Year 10 Food & Hospitality students recently put their culinary skills to the test by preparing delicious crispy chicken tacos — and impressively, they made the tortillas from scratch!

This hands-on activity allowed students to explore the full process of meal preparation, from mixing and kneading dough to cooking and assembling the final dish. It was a fantastic opportunity for them to develop both practical kitchen skills and a deeper appreciation for the art of cooking.

The students demonstrated excellent teamwork, creativity, and attention to detail throughout the process. Their tacos didn’t just look incredible — they tasted amazing too!

Well done to our aspiring chefs for their hard work and enthusiasm. We’re proud of the way they continue to grow and thrive through real-world learning experiences.

Year 9 Music

This term, Year 9 Music students have been diving deep into the world of musical creativity, forming their own small bands and taking on a fun and challenging task: creating a "Like A Version” of a popular 4-chord song. What makes this project unique is the freedom students have had in choosing their genre and instruments, allowing them to bring their own flair to the task.

Throughout the term, students have explored various “Like A Versions”, where artists reimagine existing songs in their own style. They analysed both the original tracks and their cover versions, comparing how different genres, tempos, and arrangements can change the feel of a song.

Students have shown great initiative in experimenting with sound, collaborating with their bandmates, and refining their performances. This project has been a wonderful opportunity for them to express themselves musically and learn how to work together as part of a creative team!

Year 8 Clever Carpentry

Throughout Term 1, 8A Clever Carpentry class have been designing and making their own compressed air dragsters. Students were tasked to investigate what aspects, such as aerodynamics and mass, make dragsters efficient are as quick as possible. Students then produced their designs and raced to see who would take out the championship of the fastest dragster. Well done to all the students, as a lot of effort was put into their designs, and some awesome dragsters were created. Congratulations to Ivan, who won the championship.

Year 8 Gets a Taste of Good Food!

Our Year 8 students have been putting their taste buds to the test in their Good Food lessons! As part of their exploration of flavours and food combinations, they recently participated in a series of small taste-testing tasks. From sweet to savory, students expanded their palates and learned how different ingredients can taste, smell and change their textures.
These hands-on activities not only made learning fun but also encouraged students to think critically about the food they eat and how flavours from around the world influence our Australian Culture
Who knows? We may have some future food critics or chefs in the making!

Year 7 Global Perspectives – HASS

In the latter part of Term 1, 7C has been deeply engaged in their Global Perspectives (HASS) studies, exploring the vital role of water in our world. They have not only examined the significance of global water sources but have also focused on understanding the Murray River and its crucial impact on the Riverland.
As part of their learning, students have investigated the expansive Murray-Darling Basin, which stretches across multiple states, including a portion of Queensland. Through their studies, they are gaining a deeper awareness of how human actions influence the climate and, in turn, our natural resources.

Parish Mass with Ignis & Terra

On Wednesday, students from Ignis and Terra house groups gathered for a special Parish Mass, led by Fr. Hau.

It was a meaningful time of reflection and prayer, bringing our house communities together in faith. A big thank you to everyone who participated and helped make this celebration special! May this celebration inspire us to continue to plant seeds of hope in our hearts and in the world.
 

A Fantastic Day at Catholic Athletics

Our students recently represented St Francis of Assisi College with pride, energy, and determination at this year’s Catholic Athletics Carnival in Adelaide. It was a wonderful day filled with team spirit, strong performances, and memorable achievements.

The Under 13s team delivered an outstanding result, finishing 2nd overall, while other age groups consistently placed around 5th — a fantastic accomplishment given the level of competition on the day. Across the board, we saw impressive results, with many of our students earning blue ribbons and placing strongly in their events.

Beyond the competition, the day was a great reflection of the teamwork and dedication that goes into events like this. A heartfelt thank you goes to the staff and students who assisted with the organisation and officiating of events throughout the day. Special thanks also to Mr Goodman for his tireless efforts behind the scenes to ensure everything ran smoothly.

It was an incredibly successful day, and all involved should be proud of their hard work and commitment. Congratulations to all our athletes on a job well done!

Online Safety with SAPOL

We were fortunate to have a SAPOL representative visit our school recently to speak with Year 10 students about the importance of online safety.
Through real-life scenarios, students explored practical strategies for handling tricky online situations and discussed the best ways to stay safe and responsible in the digital world. The session also covered valuable tips on securing their online presence and profiles, ensuring they remain protected and private.
A big thank you to SAPOL for this insightful session, helping our students navigate the online world with confidence and awareness!

Career Insights with SAAS MEDSTAR

Students recently had the opportunity to hear from Belinda from SAAS MEDSTAR, who shared valuable insights into career pathways in emergency medical services. She provided a firsthand look into her role, detailing what a typical day involves and the challenges and rewards of working in paediatric care.

This session gave students a deeper understanding of the skills, training, and pathways required for a career in paramedicine and critical care transport. A big thank you to Belinda for inspiring our students with her knowledge and experience!

Mrs Amber Burgess, VET & Student Pathways Coordinator

Wednesday 9 April, 6-8pm, Berri 410 Army Cadet Unit, 8 Foreman Road, Berri.
Consider a career like no other and represent Australia with pride in the Navy, Army or Air Force. Speak with current serving personnel at our upcoming info session and ask your questions - is a career in the Australian Defence Force for you? It is highly recommended you book as soon as possible to avoid missing out as places are strictly limited!

Don't forget we have a Facebook page for parents/caregivers to exchange College uniforms. 

You'll need to be a member of the group to access and can then directly communicate with others wanting to exchange uniforms. 

The College also keeps a small supply of emergency uniforms that are needed from time to time. If you would like to donate pre-loved uniforms please drop them into the College office. Thank you.

Don't hestiate to contact the College office on 8595 4500 if you have any difficulty with the various mediums used by the College to commuicate with families. Or alternatively complete the form below. 

We are championing our Family Business Directory and inviting families to be part of the Directory. 

The Family Business Directory is an opportunity for families who run businesses to promote their business via our College webpage and Facebook page.

The Family Business Directory gives members of the College community a chance to support businesses from the Directory when making their purchasing decisions.

The Family Business Directory is free of charge for current families of the College.

To be included, send the following information to info@assisi.catholic.edu.au

Family Surname (not for publishing):
Business Name: Sample Family Business
Business Phone Number: 1800 SAMPLE
Business Email Address: sample@familybusiness.com.au
Business Website: www.sample.com.au

And your business logo or photo (small file size is fine).
We look forward to seeing many College families' businesses get involved!

Riverland Youth Theatre

New event alert 🚨🚨🚨 3RD PLACE: CLOTHING SWAP & ALTERATIONS

Wednesday, April 16 & Thursday, April 17 | 12pm - 5pm | RYT | For ages 13 - 18

Need something to do in the school holidays? 3rd Place: Clothing Swap & Alterations is a two-day, drop-in style event for participants to bring in clothes they no longer wear, swap them, or alter them! Let's bring life back to our old clothes.

RYT will provide some materials (sewing equipment and tools, dyes, fabrics). Please feel free to bring your own.

This project is part of the Bigger Picture project funded by FRRR

Register: https://www.trybooking.com/DAPTT