Saint Carlo Acutis was canonised recently on Sunday 7 September.
He is a great reminder to us that young people have so much to offer. Even without years of lived experience, they have wisdom, fresh perspective and a simplicity that challenges those of us who feel stuck or overwhelmed or cynical or disappointed by ourselves, other people, the world, to submit all our worries to God and trust in Him.
Saint Carlo’s words even made an impact on Pope Francis who included them in his apostolic exhortation Christus Vivit (Christ is alive). Carlo said, “Everyone is born original, but many people end up dying as photocopies”. Young people often want to be different, but in trying to be different, they get distracted by social media and consumerism and end up ‘the same’ as others, instead of offering their unique personal talents from God. Pope Francis warned young people, ‘Don’t let that happen to you!’ (Christus Vivit106). I think this applies equally to adults.
He is a role model for young people of how to use technology without being manipulated or controlled by it. He used the internet to share his faith, to support his local Church with their Sacramental Program, and to create a website documenting the miracles of the Eucharist. https://www.miracolieucaristici.org/en/liste/list.html. This is how Saint Carlo chose to use the internet. Not for gossip, for hatred or for things that damage our relationship with ourselves, with others and with God.
Saint Carlo is a reminder to us that young people have so much to offer; that we can learn so much from them especially if we take the time to listen and try to understand their perspectives. Through role modeling, we can teach them how to be make the most of their personal talents as God intended. Using our own personal talents and not wasting them. By not allowing anxiety, the opinion of others, and the cynical world stop us from doing so..
Oh God, Our Father,
thank you for giving us Carlo,
a life example for the young
and a message of love for everyone.
You made him become enamoured with
Your Son Jesus, Making of the Eucharist
his “Highway to Heaven”.
You gave him Mary, as a most loving Mother,
and, with the Rosary, you made him
a poet of her tenderness. Receive his prayer for us.
Above all, gaze upon the poor,
whom he loved and helped.
Grant for me too, by his intercession,
the grace that I need ...
And make our joy fulfilled,
placing Carlo among the Saints
of your Church, so that his smile
may shine again for us in the glory of your name.
Saint Carlo, pray for us.
Amen
DJ Tobiahs Fakhri visits St Joseph Campus
On Tuesday 16 September we had the privilege in meeting DJ Tobiahs Fakhri and personally thanking him for his fundraising support to our College along with Leaders of Change Charity.
Thanks to DJ Tobiahs Fakhri, Antonine College was fortunate to receive $15,946.66 fundraising from his 24 hour Live Streaming his music mixes on Twitch. The money was raised to assist Year 7 students whose parents may be struggling to cover costs associated with starting secondary school such as fees, devices etc.
Last year when I was in Rome, I heard about a great Youth Ministry Program called Spiritus that was running in many schools around the world. Upon my return, I was keen to bring this program to Antonine. We introduced some of the program this year and we sent staff to Canberra for training and faith formation.
We are very excited that for 2026 and beyond, we will have the Spiritus Program from year 5 to year 12. The Spiritus youth ministry student program consists of students participating in four phases. The Four - Phase Model is built on the evangelisation process consisting of witness, proclamation, conversion, discipleship, community and mission outreach.
We hope that the Spiritus Program will ensure that our Catholic Identity and especially our Maronite and Antonine Charism will continue to be strong into the future. We will continue to share with you the progress of the program.
I pray that all students, staff and families have a safe and happy holiday.
- Ms Joanne Bacash
CDFpay
From the start of Term 3, Antonine College will be using CDFpay for canteen ordering payment at St Joseph Campus using student ID card, College events and fundraising at our school. In the future, this system may be extended to other services. Please note that students can still use cash at the canteen on both campuses and St Joseph campus students can also still use bank cards.
If you are an Alumni student or know any alumni students, we would appreciate your support in connecting with us and other alumni by adding Antonine College to your education history on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/antoninecollege/
Deputy Principal - Learning and Teaching
STEAM Learning Exhibition
The STEAM Learning Exhibition at Saint Joseph Stadium on September 11 was a fantastic showcase of creativity. With the expanded focus this year—including Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics—and the uplifting theme "Hope Springs", it was both educational and optimistic for the future.
The event was well supported, with all money raised through a gold coin donation, the sale of lolly bags and the silent auction to go towards the Arts program at Antonine College.
Voting for the People’s Choice art award went to:
Nicolina Gorevski - 5A – Quilling
Khaleesi Khayat Kahaleh - 3B – Sunflowers
Angelina Chahine - Year 11 Art Making and Exhibiting
Marybel Hadchity - Year 12 Visual Communication & Design – Amoura Couture
Maher Moussa - Year 10 Art History – Borealis
Sienna El Zain – Year 12 – The Battle of Good Between Evil
Cruz Bruni – Year 4D – Places of Worship
Leo Ion – 4A - Places of Worship
Moussa Elsoukmani – 4A - Places of Worship
Anthony Kairouz - 4B - Places of Worship
Elie Semaan – 4D - Places of Worship
Jude Mardini – 4D - Places of Worship
Jean-Paul Eid – 4D - Places of Worship
Nicholas Zakhour – 4D - Places of Worship
Pilara Elisha - 4C - Places of Worship
Special mention to the silent auction piece ‘Sacred Heart’ by Josh Gerges which sold for $150.
Thank you to all families who attended and supported the learning exhibition and to the Antonine staff who participated in the organisation of the event.
Deputy Principal - Student Management and Wellbeing
2025 Year 7 Immunisations
Year 7 Immunisations Monday 20 October, our year 7 immunisation visit to Antonine College is scheduled for Monday 20 October. All vaccine consents are now online.
The web link has information about the program and the consent link to provide yes or no consent.
Below is important information on school vaccines if you wish to know more about this immunisation schedule for your child. Additionally below is a consent system user guide in Arabic.
Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns regarding this.
- Ms Helen Diab
Deputy Principal - Cedar Campus
Thank you to all our dads and special father figures who joined us for our Father’s Day celebration. It was wonderful to see so many of you sharing the morning with your children and enjoying our scrumptious breakfast together.
A heartfelt thank you to Sr Veronique and our P&F who generously gave their time and energy to support our Father’s Day Stall and Breakfast. Your kindness, creativity, and willingness to help made this event such a success. We are truly grateful for your generosity and the joy you bring to our school community.
As we come to the end of Term 3, we look back on a month filled with excursions, incursions, learning, growth and plenty of fun!
Some key highlights recently include our ongoing Celebration of Learning, whole-school assemblies, the joy of Book Week, the energy of Footy Colours Day- even though Adelaide lost both finals, and our incredible STEAM Exhibition. It was wonderful to see so many families engaging with the students’ learning and celebrating their creativity and curiosity. We also had the pleasure of hosting our Father’s Day Breakfast, which was a beautiful morning shared with dads, grandfathers, and special father figures. It was lovely catching up with many of you throughout the term. Your support, involvement, and encouragement continue to make a big difference.
With some of my previous articles this year, I have provided information about Child Safe Standards that are central to our role as educators.
Safe Standard 9, focuses on child safety in physical and online environments. Schools are required to ensure that physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children to be harmed. As the school holiday time approaches, it is timely to consider online and physical safety
for our students as they engage in activities online and out in our community.
Online Safety:
We encourage you to talk with your children about
appropriate ways for them to use the internet and gaming at home.
staying safe when online.
not sharing images, private information and not responding to people they don’t know
The link below for the esafety commissioner website has lots of helpful resources to support online safety conversations at home.
Staying close to a trusted adult when out in the community.
Road safety and staying safe when crossing roads and in public spaces.
The Raising Children website provides lots of information for parents and families about a vast range of topics.
The link below provides some information about road safety, which might be helpful for our young people as they develop their awareness of road safety.
Thank you for another fantastic term. We wish you all a restful and safe break, and we look forward to seeing everyone refreshed and ready for Term 4!
- Mr Abraham Diab
Faith Development
Year 8 Buddhist Temple Visit
On Tuesday 2nd and Wednesday 3rd September, students in Year 8 visiting the FGS Buddhist Temple in Yarraville as part of our ‘9 Aspects of Religion’ unit.
Students learnt about the temple’s history and the story of Buddhism, practiced tai chi, and even tried their hand at ancient calligraphy.
To conclude their ‘Sacred People, Sacred Stories’ unit, students in year 6 were tasked to create a storyboard depicting a sacred story from a faith of their choice.
On Wednesday 10th September, our Year 4–6 students came together to celebrate Mass for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross with Father Richard. This special feast reminded us of the power of God’s love shown through the Cross of Jesus, a symbol of hope, strength, and salvation.
Through prayer, song, and reflection, we gave thanks for the gift of the Cross in our lives.
Our Year 6 students commemorated the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross by lighting candles in the shape of a cross in the classroom. This rite is a unique and old practice of the Maronite Church, using candles to reflect the light of Christ.
On Monday September 15th, in a beautiful display of faith and devotion, our students led the Feast of the Exaltation procession during Break 1. Carrying icons, crosses, and candles, they moved with reverence through the school grounds while reciting prayers, inspiring the whole community to reflect on the meaning of this special feast and the gift of faith in our lives
Our Father’s Day Stall was a great success! The students were very excited to buy gifts for their dads, and it was wonderful to see the joy on their faces as they prepared to surprise them.
The highlight of the celebration was our Father’s Day Breakfast, where we welcomed over 300 dads along with their children. The atmosphere was truly amazing, filled with laughter, smiles, and a beautiful sense of community. We were also blessed to have many grandfathers join in, making the event even more special.
A big thank you to our generous sponsors, the Parents and Friends Committee, our ESO team, and the admin staff for helping to make this day so memorable.
Every year, we look forward to seeing so many fathers come together at our school. On this special occasion, we wish a Happy Father’s Day to all the dads, grandfathers, and teachers. We also keep in our prayers all the fathers who have gone to heaven.
On Wednesday, 17 September, during the last week of Term 3, our school held a Casual Day. Students came dressed in casual clothes instead of their school uniforms, ready to celebrate the day together.
Everyone enjoyed delicious bags of popcorn and jelly. The atmosphere was filled with joy as students spent the day laughing and sharing special moments.
A big thank you to our Parents & Friends and our dedicated teachers for their support in making the day run smoothly. Thank you for all the families who support our Antonine College.
On Thursday, 28 August the children in the 3 & 4 year old groups from the Antonine Sisters Childcare Centre visited the Cedar Campus library for a Book Week incursion. The sessions started with a story time reading of Spiro written and illustrated by Anna McGregor. This hilarious tale was shortlisted for the Book of the Year Award - Early Childhood, and it tells the story of a plucky little, neon pink spider called Spiro and his determined search for a decent meal. This delightful picture book explores themes of tenacity, ingenuity and adaptation. The children then made their own version of Spiro in his web.
The Great Book Swap was held on Thursday, 11 September to celebrate Indigenous Literacy Day. Students brought to school any books that they have loved and enjoyed (but could bear to part with) and made a gold coin donation to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF).
Over 1134 books were swapped and $366.00 was raised. This money allows the ILF to buy new books for children in remote Aboriginal communities. The perpetual gold trophy for the most money raised went to Mr Murphy and 4D for donating $130.00, and the silver perpetual trophy went to Mrs Janine and 3B who swapped 161 books. This is the second year in a row that Mrs Janine and her class have won the silver trophy. An incredible effort from both classes. Special thanks to Mrs Theresa Essey who generously gave her time to set up the book swap.
Looking for ways to make maths fun at home? Games are a fantastic way for children to build confidence and practise their skills.
Each fortnight in Maths Corner, we’ll share a game that students have been playing in class. These games can also be played at home with family or friends. They’re all about thinking, problem solving, and having fun together.
Have a look at our featured game and try it at home!
Thank you to Azelle and Mila from Year 1B for demonstrating the game.
- Miss Jessica Doumit
Year 1 Inquiry incursion
As part of our Inquiry unit on Forces, the Year 1 students enjoyed an incursion this week.
They explored forces through engaging activities and discovered how pushes, pulls, and gravity can make objects move in different ways.
A highlight of the day was making their own O-wing toy, which they took home.
- Ms Adele Chamoun, Ms Jessica Doumit and Ms Rita Chalhoub
eSmart Virtual Storytime
Student reflection
On Tuesday 3A, 3B and 1C joined a virtual eSmart storytime about how Poppy became an internet Superhero to explore five key rules of staying safe online. Poppy was using her mums laptop when she received a message to tap on a link – but she got hacked. Poppy went into the virtual world with her friend Astra and learnt five important rules to keep her safe online.
We want to share with you these rules so you also can be internet superheroes.
Our enthusiastic Year 3 students went on an exciting excursion to the iconic Eureka Skydeck in Melbourne. We zoomed up to the 88th floor to take in breathtaking views of the city.
From the top the students spotted famous Melbourne landmarks such as Flinders Street Station, Federation Square, the MCG, and the Yarra River. They explored the city from above learning about Melbourne’s famous landmarks.
We then enjoyed a walk along the Yarra River, to the Birrarung Marr playground at Federation Square, where we had a chance to relax, play, and enjoy some well-earned fun with friends.
The excursion was a joyful experience that blended learning with exploration and play. It was a fantastic opportunity for students to connect classroom learning with real-world experiences — and to see their city from a whole new perspective!
- Mrs Joelle Zakharia, Ms Georgia Petraki and Ms Janine Wanda
Year 3-4 Netball
The Year 3 and 4 students learnt some new netball skills with a coach from Netball Victoria. Over a period of 4 weeks, they have built on their skills, learning how to:
Pass – including chest passes, bounce passes, and shoulder passes
Pivot and move – practicing how to keep one foot grounded (ice) while turning to find a teammate (cream)
Defend
– taking one big step back and using monster arms
Work as a team – communicating, supporting each other, and having fun!
Our young netballers have loved playing games and drills to practise their techniques, and it’s been amazing to see their confidence grow.
Last week, our Year 5 students transformed the school into a bustling marketplace as part of their Economics unit – and what a fantastic day it was!
Students had the opportunity to create their own businesses, offering a wide range of goods and services, from handmade crafts to fun games and activities. Using classroom currency, they became buyers and sellers, putting into practice what they’ve been learning about needs and wants, supply and demand, and the value of money.
It was wonderful to see the creativity and teamwork on display. Students planned their stalls, advertised their products, and thought carefully about pricing and customer service. Not only did they learn important economic concepts, but they also developed their communication, collaboration and problem-solving skills.
The excitement and energy were contagious, and it was clear that all of the students had a great time while learning so much. A huge well done to all our Year 5s – you did an incredible job and should be very proud!
Thank you to all the teachers and staff who supported the day, and to our school community for encouraging and celebrating this valuable learning experience.
- Ms Martina Gawro
Year 5 MAV Games Day
On Friday, 15th August, eight maths extension students from Year 5 went to Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School (PEGS) to represent Antonine College in the Year 5 MAV Games Day. There were 31 teams there from 18 different schools, and it was exciting to play games and compete in such a challenging environment. There were problem-solving booklets that increased in difficulty, partner logic games to play against other schools, and just like the Year 3 Games Day, a relay that involved racing back and forth to grab problem cards to solve as a team.
It was a fun and challenging day, and we are very proud of our students for their behaviour and enthusiasm on the day.
On Friday, 5 September, eight Year 6 students went to Genazzano FCJ College in Kew to compete against 20 other schools in the annual MAV Games Day. They participated in problem solving, strategy challenges and puzzle games, and two of our players were lucky enough to win “lucky dip” prizes! We are very proud of our great mathematicians because of their mathematical skill, their teamwork and cooperation, and most importantly because of how well they represent our school.
On Thursday 4th September, students in Year 6 visited the Chinese Museum and National Gallery of Victoria as part of their ‘Asian Migration’ unit in Integrated Studies and ‘Sacred Stories, Sacred People’ unit in Religion.
They were treated to a Kung-Fu lesson at the museum and explored different religious and Asian culture artwork at the NGV. It was a beautiful day spent immersing ourselves in art and culture.
We are nearing the end of our ‘Decimals and Percentages’ unit in Year 6 maths. To consolidate their understanding, 6B played a conversion race where they were assigned into a group and had to race to the board to fill in any blank boxes to complete the decimal, percentage and fraction form.
The team to accurately complete all boxes first, won!
To celebrate Father’s Day, our students shared their love and appreciation through a special poem in Arabic. With confidence and pride, they recited verses expressing gratitude, respect, and admiration for their fathers.
Exhibition:
Spring is the perfect time to celebrate creativity and talent. Our Spring Exhibition showcases the wonderful work of our students, filled with colour, imagination, and fresh ideas.
Students in Year 6 linked movement with learning in the artworks of Arabic letters. (Psychomotor learning of Arabic letters) in addition to using Arabic Calligraphy to express in one word what does Spring mean to them, and write this word in different Arabic Calligraphy.
- Mr Joseph Abou-Zeid
SACCSS Athletics Championships 2025
On Monday, 1st September, 50 of our talented Antonine College athletes took to the track and field at the 2025 SACCSS Athletics Championships. Selected for their outstanding results at our Term 1 Athletics Carnival, these students went head-to-head with nine other Catholic schools from across Melbourne.
It was an inspiring day filled with determination, teamwork, and school spirit. Our students gave their absolute best, achieving fantastic results and placing in many events - all while showing respect and encouragement towards others. We couldn’t be prouder of the way they represented the College.
Congratulations to all who competed, and a special shoutout to those who participated in their events. Thank you also to Ms Athaide, Ms Stack and our student helpers for their wonderful support on the day.
In science, our class had the chance to look through microscopes and investigate the five kingdoms of living things. The five kingdoms are: Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plants, and Animals. Each group has special features that help scientists classify organisms. We made careful observations of different samples. Under the microscope, we saw onion cells, which belong to the Plant Kingdom. They were long and rectangular in shape, with clear cell walls. We also looked at Amoeba from the Protista Kingdom.
They were small, pink, and round with a changing shape. Next, we observed mushrooms from the Fungi Kingdom. These looked white, with string-like structures inside. From the Plant Kingdom again, we looked at leaf cells that were green because of chlorophyll, which helps them make food through photosynthesis. Finally, we examined Monera and Spirogyra. Monera were tiny cells, all different in shapes and colours. Spirogyra, a type of algae, looked like long green strands under the microscope.
This experiment helped us understand how scientists group organisms and how different each kingdom looks when magnified. It was amazing to see the hidden details of life that we can’t spot with our eyes alone!
On the 10th and 11th of September, all the year 7 classes were treated to a zoo excursion, in light of our biology and ecology topic. After all, what better way to learn about animals than to study the animals in person?
We split into groups to see keeper talks, in which the zoo keepers spoke about their animals. It was a great way to learn about the different adaptations of the animals while also seeing the animals themselves!
My favourite animals were the lions, who had a sort of lazy yet dangerous look about them, and the butterflies, who were beautiful.
After an hour of recreational sightseeing, we eventually made it back on the bus, exhausted but exhilarated at the same time. Going to the zoo was both practical and fun. Thank you to all our teachers who worked hard to make it happen!
As part of the STEAM Learning Exhibition, Year 9 and 10 students were involved in preparing and serving food for parents, students and staff attending the event. This was a great opportunity for students to showcase their practical cooking skills as well as rewarding to hear the positive feedback given for the food prepared.
Students took part in a workshop designed to encourage open conversations about mental health and the importance of expressing emotions.
Working in smaller groups, students explored the idea that “a problem shared is a problem halved.” The sessions included engaging activities, personal stories shared by the facilitators, and meaningful discussions among peers about their own mental health and wellbeing.
Students approached the workshop with great respect, and the facilitators remarked that they were “some of the best” they had ever worked with.
On the 15th of September, the Year 11 Psychology class visited the ArtVo Art Gallery in Docklands. This excursion provided us an opportunity to apply visual perception principles such as Gestalt Principles in a fun and hands on environment. Whilst interacting with the artworks, we were able to make learning both engaging and memorable in preparation for our upcoming SAC.
- Jenevieve, Year 11
During our excursion to Artvo in Docklands, we had the opportunity to explore key concepts from psychology in a hands-on way. We revisited topics we’ve been learning about in class, such as the Gestalt principles, which explain how our brains organise visual information into meaningful patterns. We also explored visual constancies, which allow us to perceive objects as stable even when their appearance changes. One of the most engaging parts of the day was experiencing visual illusions like the Müller-Lyer and Ponzo effects, which showed just how easily our perception can be tricked. Overall, the excursion helped me connect our classroom learning to real-life examples, and it made me appreciate how fascinating and complex human perception really is. - Shaban, Year 11
The Victorian Police delivered a presentation to our senior students, focusing on the importance of responsible behaviour, alcohol awareness, and understanding legal consequences. They stressed the need to stay safe, look out for one another, and plan ahead to avoid risky situations.
Their key message was to encourage smart decision-making to ensure everyone enjoys social gatherings safely.
VCE Personal Development FoodBank Australia Excursion
On Friday 5th of September, students in Year 11 and 12 VCE VM Personal Development attended Foodbank Australia’s warehouse in Yarraville for a presentation and a school tour, exploring food insecurity and reflecting on how this food relief organisation makes a different in the lives of Victorians who are struggling. Students enjoyed seeing the volunteers in action, as they witnessed the different roles that exist within a warehouse.
Student reflection
‘As VCE students, we found our excursion to Foodbank Australia to be a very eye-opening experience. We learnt about how the organisation operates and the important role it plays in supporting people who are experiencing food insecurity. Foodbank explained that they work with farmers, manufacturers, and retailers to collect surplus food and groceries, which are then distributed to charities, schools, and communities across Australia. We were taken on a tour of the warehouse, where we saw how the food is carefully stored, organised, and packed before being delivered. Seeing the size of the operation and how efficiently everything is managed helped us understand how Foodbank can support so many people. We also participated in an activity during the excursion, which allowed us to work together and contribute in a small but meaningful way. This hands-on experience showed us the teamwork and dedication needed to keep the organisation running smoothly. Overall, the excursion was very valuable for us as VCE students. It gave us a deeper understanding of the importance of community support, the impact of organisations like Foodbank, and how even small contributions can make a big difference.’ - Alena, 12C
- Ms Natalie Saliba
Year 12 Physics excursion to the Australian Synchrotrom
Student reflection
The Year 12 physics class was privileged to make a visit to the Australian synchrotron for a tour guided by a researcher from a Swinburne university. We got to partake in a practical experiment which demonstrated the wave nature of light due to double slit and single slit interference patterns. This was a great opportunity to use specialised instruments and equipment to put the theory we learnt to practice.
The tour around the complex and hearing the uses of the electron beam line inspired me, and I assume others, to consider research as a potential path in the future.
Cedar Campus (Foundation - Year 6
130 Harding Street, Coburg VIC 3058
Saint Joseph Campus (Year - Year 12)
71 Grandview Ave, Pascoe Vale South VIC 3044
