The middle of the year offers us a unique moment — a chance to pause, to look back and to look ahead. It’s a natural point for reflection, a time to ask ourselves: What have I achieved so far? What have I learned about myself? And what can I do differently to make the rest of the year even better?

In the first eXcel lesson, students were challenged to reflect on their goals for the semester ahead. This activity gave students the space to think about their academic journey, set personal goals, and put their reflections into writing.

We encourage parents to ask their child to share this reflection at home. A simple conversation around the dinner table can make a big difference — showing your child that their goals matter and that they have a team behind them, both at school and at home.

The partnership between home and school is one of the most powerful tools in supporting student success. Parent-Teacher Interviews, taking place at this time, are an ideal opportunity to connect with teachers about how your child is tracking in each subject. These meetings are also a great chance to ask for subject-specific study tips, understand which skills your child should be focusing on, and find out how you can help support their learning at home.

For students, this term is a fresh start — a chance to hit the "refresh" button. Making mistakes is a normal part of growing up, but what really matters is the ability to reflect on those mistakes and make intentional changes. That’s where real growth begins.

Dr. Carol Dweck, renowned for her work on growth mindset, puts it best: "Becoming is better than being." In other words, progress is more important than perfection. Reflecting, resetting, and taking small steps toward improvement are what lead to lasting success.

Research also shows that forming a new habit takes just 14 days of consistent practice (Lally et al., 2010). Whether it’s improving study habits, being more organised, or building confidence in a particular subject — small, consistent changes can lead to significant long-term results.

Our recent Senior School Awards Assembly recognised students across a wide range of areas — academic excellence, sports, leadership and effort. We are most proud of their accomplishments, and we hope they feel equally proud of themselves. Numerous other students will be celebrated in upcoming House Assemblies.

To all our Senior School students: Term 3 is your moment. Reflect, reset, and rise to the challenge. You have the support of your teachers, your families, and the school community behind you.

Senior Academic & Endeavour Awards

On Thursday 31 July Padua College took a moment to recognise our senior students on their achievements over the course of Semester One. Our Senior Awards Ceremony provided an opportunity to celebrate those students who excelled across a range of different disciplines including sport, languages, academic excellence and those who showed exceptional community spirit. Congratulations to all.

Integrating Shaper Origin into Our Design and Technology Department

Padua College is embracing emerging technologies to enhance student learning and creativity. We are excited to announce the acquisition of the Shaper Origin, a cutting-edge tool that is among the first of its kind in Australian schools.

The Shaper Origin is a handheld CNC router that merges the familiarity of a traditional router with the precision of a high-end CNC machine. Compatible with most industry-standard design software, Origin is incredibly versatile and easy for students to learn. It empowers students to cut profiles, create patterns, fabricate detailed joinery, and even produce engraved signage.

The Origin supports a more hands-on, engaging learning experience. Students gain practical experience with modern fabrication techniques while working directly on real materials, fostering creativity, precision, and confidence in their making skills.While the students are able to use the tool intuitively, they also begin to develop a foundational understanding of the complex programming and workflows used in professional CNC environments.

This cutting-edge technology opens exciting new possibilities for our Design and Technology Department, enabling students to explore advanced design solutions that were previously out of reach with our current tools and machinery.

Teen Chef

The annual Teen Chef Competition was held late in Term Two with Years 9-11 students demonstrating passion, creativity, and excellence in their dishes. Judges included local chefs Guy Mirabela, Laura Skvor and Simon Keel, who commented on how impressed they were with the level of expertise amongst our students. Selecting winners proved difficult, but we congratulate the following students who went on to represent Padua College at the SIS Teen Chef Final: Owen C, Keenan L, Lucy Q, Sophie K, Sierra F, Mia M, Lexi H and Phoebe P-N.

Dante Alighieri Italian Poetry Competition

Ciao Ragazzi!

On 27 June, Padua College students from Years 9 and 10 had the privilege of travelling to the University of Melbourne to compete in the prestigious Dante Alighieri Italian Poetry Competition. With students from schools across the city gathered to perform, the atmosphere was electric, filled with anticipation, nerves, and excitement.

Each Padua student stepped forward with confidence, reciting their Italian poems with grace, emotion, and flair. Their weeks of preparation, both at school and at home, shone through every line and gesture. Out of a staggering 2,000 students, six Padua students advanced to the next round, placing in the top 10% of competitors across Melbourne!

We are thrilled to congratulate our finalists who performed at the Grand Final on the 25th of June: Year 10 students Logan Shelley, Laura Howard, Kaer Piper, Sofia Sinopoli, and Elsa Murphy, along with Year 9 student Isabelle Ferlin. These talented individuals represented Padua College with passion and pride. Bravissimi!

To celebrate, we strolled down Melbourne's iconic Lygon Street, a slice of Italy in the heart of the city. Surrounded by the vibrant colours of verde, bianco e rosso, we indulged in delicious Italian cuisine from traditional pizza, creamy gelato, to mouthwatering pasta. It was a perfect end to a day filled with culture, creativity, and connection.

On behalf of the Italian cohort, we extend our heartfelt thanks to Mr Cussigh, Barbara, and Mrs Rothschild for their unwavering support, enthusiasm, and dedication. Your guidance made this experience unforgettable. A special congratulations to Mrs Rothschild as she prepares to welcome her ‘bambino’, we wish you all the best on this beautiful journey!

Arrivederci e grazie mille!

Da Logan Shelley e Laura Howard

Celebrating Cultural Diversity at Padua

This week during eXcel, myself and fellow students introduced a multicultural panel to the students and teachers of Tyabb Campus. The goal for this panel is to have a more open conversation about racism and how it feels being a part of a minority group in our Padua community. We aim to tackle a problem that exists all around us today, one step at a time. I enjoyed being able to share who I am as a proud Colombian young adult, while also informing others of my story personally. This panel will continue for two more excels, one for the Mornington Campus and another for Rosebud. I hope to change perspectives within our students and faculty and for them to leave with a more open mind.

Ana-Lucia Rosenquist, Francis 5

Drama Excursion

On Wednesday 6 August, our VCE Drama, Theatre Studies, and Year 10 Drama students attended a matinee of Beetlejuice The Musical at The Regent Theatre. They were thoroughly entertained by the spectacular set, costume, makeup, special effects, and fabulous score. Eddie Perfect was outrageously brilliant as Beetlejuice, bringing the iconic role to life with flair. Students left buzzing with inspiration — and plenty to write about in their upcoming analytical assessments.

Mrs Kylie Donnelly

Student Photo Permissions

At times, photographs or videos of our students will be published in newsletters, on the school intranet or website, or in our social media. Copies of our Standard Collection Notice and Privacy Policy are available on the College website in the Enrolments section of our Policies page. Please note that consent to use these images in this way, if provided at enrolment, may be withdrawn at any time by contacting our marketing team via email: marketing@padua.vic.edu.au .