Step Inside FCJ College: A Glimpse Into Our Learning

We’re less than two weeks away from our Let’s Find Our Voice concert—and the excitement is building! The choir is sounding amazing, and tickets are now ON SALE.

🎫 Book now: https://www.ticketebo.com.au/letsfindourvoice

‍This promises to be a beautiful evening of music, connection, and celebration—don’t miss it!

In Systems Engineering, students have been using Arduino programmable microchips to build and program fully functioning traffic lights for a model intersection. It’s a great example of how coding, electronics, and problem-solving come together in real-world applications.

Over in Science, our Year 11 Physics students explored the fascinating world of electrostatics. Using a Van de Graaff generator, they experienced electric charge firsthand. With hands on the dome and hair standing on end, they watched physics come to life before safely discharging the energy with an earthed metal rod. A fun and unforgettable way to learn about electric charge and discharge.

In Woodwork, our Year 7 students are progressing from their bookend projects to designing and building their own pencil boxes. As they measure, saw, chisel, and hammer, they’re building practical skills and growing in confidence.

Our Year 9 Outdoor Education students took learning into the wild this week with their first overnight hike in the Warby-Ovens National Park. Hiking in from opposite sides of the range and meeting at Wenhams Camp, students enjoyed crisp, sunny weather, a night walk to the Kwat Kwat lookout, and a challenge-filled second day. Carrying their own packs and cooking their meals, they built resilience, teamwork, and a sense of independence.

Back on campus, staff member Mel hosted Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea, raising an incredible $718 for the Cancer Council with a delicious spread of home-baked treats. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported this wonderful event—and to Mel for all her incredible effort!

Meanwhile, 19 of our dedicated students travelled to Bright to take part in the 20th annual Japanese Speech Contest — a regional event celebrating language learning, sponsored by Monash University. Students from across Northeast Victoria came together to showcase their hard work and growing confidence in Japanese.

Our students shared inspiring reflections of the day. Many described feeling nervous, but proud, excited, and ultimately accomplished. For some, it was their first time performing publicly. For others, it was a moment to challenge themselves and celebrate their progress.

A highlight was the performance by Melody and Zhixian, who placed first in their division. Zhixian reflected:

"At first, I felt really proud of myself for getting this far, but I also felt really nervous to talk in front of everyone. Nevertheless, I got before the mic with my partner Melody, then I finally started speaking. When I was speaking, I could feel my legs tremble! I was very nervous. Then again, who knew Melody and I would come first! Overall, I learned so many new words in such a fun way in about five weeks! I believe my next goal would probably be to believe in myself more and make sure that I speak maybe a little slower and be more confident. I am 100% doing this next year!"

Congratulations to all students who took part — your courage and commitment was amazing. We look forward to seeing even more students take the stage in 2026.

As the term unfolds, we can’t wait to share more highlights—from classrooms to the great outdoors. This week’s learning adventures remind us that growth happens everywhere.

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