The past two weeks have been filled with energy, creativity, and meaningful moments across our College. Whether in classrooms, on the sporting field, or through special events, students and staff have embraced every opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute.
From everyday learning to standout experiences, Weeks 5 and 6 have reflected the heart of our College community. We’re excited to share a snapshot of what’s been happening – and to celebrate the people and stories behind it all.
Riverland Cross Country Success!
On Friday Week 5, a team of our students proudly represented the College at the Riverland Cross Country event, held at the scenic Martins Bend in Berri. It was a fantastic day of competition, camaraderie, and community spirit, with students from across the region coming together to challenge themselves on the course.
We commend all participants for their perseverance and team spirit throughout the day. Our students competed with determination and resilience, achieving some impressive results:
Individual Achievements:
🥇 Jack O’Bryan – 1st place, U15 Boys
🥈 Samuel Walker – 2nd place, U14 Boys
🥉 Louis Brown – 3rd place, U15 Boys
🥉 Sarah White – 3rd place, U14 Girls
Team Results:
🏆 U14 Boys – Pennant Winners
🥈 U15 Boys – Runners Up
🥉 U16 Boys – Runners Up
We are incredibly proud of all our runners - your effort, sportsmanship, and commitment were outstanding.
A heartfelt thank you to Riverland School Sport, the event organisers, and the many volunteers who made the day possible. Our students thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and we congratulate all placegetters, pennant winners, and runners-up from across the region.
Well done, team!
Cross Country Competitors Represent SFOAC at Oakbank
Earlier this week, a group of our students travelled with Miss Poulish and Mr Goodman to Oakbank to compete in the Cross Country Championships, going head-to-head with students from across South Australia.
It was a cold but fantastic day of athleticism, determination, and school spirit, with our students pushing themselves to compete on a challenging course against some of the best runners in the state.
We are incredibly proud of the way these students represented St Francis of Assisi College, both in their results and in their sportsmanship.
Results from the day:
🏃♀️ Millie – 41st out of 113
🏃 Sebastian – 18th out of 128
🏃 Samuel – 26th out of 128
🏃 Logan – 136th out of 170
🏃 Matthew – 166th out of 170
🏃♀️ Isla – 50th out of 155
🏃♀️ Ninke – 83rd out of 155
Congratulations to all of our runners – your effort, perseverance and pride in representing our College community is truly commendable.
Check out some highlights from the day in the photos below!
Year 9/10 Boys Knockout Football Competition
On Wednesday last week, the school competed in the Year 9/10 KOC boys' football in Eudunda. The boys were to play Balaklava and a combined Burra/Eudunda/Riverton team.
The first game was against Balaklava, who had some strong players. We started the game well and kicked to an early lead at halftime. We came out firing in the third quarter and dominated most of the play however, we failed to convert that on the scoreboard and kicked 1 goal 7. In a tight final quarter, we again couldn't quite get the reward for our hard work, and Balaklava managed to take advantage of their opportunities and kicked straight to get the win by 1 point.
In the second game, we threw the magnets around, giving everyone the opportunity to play in positions they may not have played before. The boys played well throughout the game and always held a handy lead. By the final quarter, playing two games in a row started to take its toll, but we managed to fight it out and record the win.
Well done to all students who participated and made the effort to represent the school, whether they play football or not, everyone put in a great effort. Special thanks to Mr. Marks for field umpiring both games, Mr. Goodman for organising the event and Mr Anspach for coaching the team.
Results:
Game 1: SFoAC vs Balaklava
Final Score:
SFoAC – 9.8.62
Balaklava – 10.4.64
Best Players: Izac L, Will L-W, Jack O-B
Game 2: SFoAC vs Eudunda
Final Score:
SFoAC – 9.11.65
Eudunda – 5.7.37
Best Players: Hamish P, Harry L, Leeroy S
Stage 1 Outdoor Education Mountain Bike Camp
Year 10 stduents have spent the last few weeks preparing for their 3-day Mountain Bike expedition to Calperum Station. As their first expedition-style camp, students were guided through managing risks, packing adequate nutritional meals and ensuring their clothing was warm yet was lightweight. Over the course of the 3-days, students clocked up close to 100km on their bikes and are commended for their resilience, spirit and teamwork. As the expedition progressed, staff handed over the leadership reigns to the students who took on roles as Route leaders, front marker and back markers.
A huge thanks to Ivan Smith for his knowledge and expertise as well as being our support vehicle driver. His knowledge bank and engagement with the students was priceless and provided the class with many history lessons about the significance of the areas we visited. We also thank Mr Prokopec and Miss Gibbons for their support and assistance in numerous areas including bike maintenance, wellbeing support and being great role models for the class. As well to Mr. Prentice as a pre-service teacher providing many insightful comments to guide stduents through tricky situations and to support students with experiencing a successful camp both leading into and on.
A summary of the three days can be read below:
Day 1: College to Windmill Bend, Calperum
Our Stage 1 students kicked off their Mountain Bike Camp with a solid first day, riding from the college out to Windmill Bend at Calperum Station. Despite a chilly night under the stars, the group showed resilience and teamwork as they adapted to the demands of long-distance riding and camping in the great outdoors. They faced a few challenges along the way, but pushed through with grit and determination – supporting each other every pedal of the way. A campfire and dinner was exactly what the group needed at the end of the day.
Day 2: Calperum Loop
We started the morning with a session from Calperum Station educator, Lucy who provided a history of tyhe station to the stduents and fielded their questions. As we got riding, the students took the lead as they navigated a loop around Calperum Station. With maps in hand and route plans set, they showed fantastic initiative and leadership as they guided the group through diverse environments (including some very sandy stretches!).
We’re proud of how they have embraced the experience, learning practical skills and building confidence with every kilometre.
Day 3: Calperum to College
The group packed up efficiently this morning before taking off on our journey home. Although tired, sore and having to persist through some challenging sand and corrugations, the leaders kept the group together and willed each other on. As we approached the final 2 kilometres before reaching the College, our resilient, strong and inspiring teacher suffered a breakdown (of the knees) which unfortunately forced him to the support vehicle. An early arrival back to the College allowed the students plenty of time to clean bikes, sort through tents and reorganise the Outdoor Ed Shed learning valuable skills including resilience, responsibility and accountability. After a long camp, they did a great job of persisting through these important jobs.
Outstanding Global Success in the Education Perfect International Maths Competition!
We are thrilled to share the exceptional achievements of our students in the 2025 Education Perfect International Maths Competition - a global event that sees schools and students taking part in a celebration of mathematical thinking, problem-solving, and perseverance.
Our school performed incredibly well, earning recognition both nationally and internationally:
- 1st overall in South Australia out of 47 schools
- 17th globally out of 1,373 participating schools
- 8th in Australia out of 939 schools
- 3rd globally in the 101–250 students category (out of 250 schools)
- 2nd in Australia in the 101–250 students category (out of 163 schools)
- 1st in South Australia in the 101–250 students category (out of 9 schools)
These results are a testament to the dedication, focus, and enthusiasm our students brought to the challenge. Several individuals stood out for their incredible efforts, earning top-tier awards:
Emerald Awards (3,500+ points):
🌟 Armaan K – Ranked 137th globally, with 4,951 points
🌟 Tejdeep S – 144th globally, with 4,700 points
🌟 Gurshaan L – 209th globally, with 3,600 points
Silver Awards (1,500+ points):
⭐ Sebastian C – 489th globally, with 1,712 points
⭐ Jana M – 554th globally, with 1,512 points
We congratulate all students who participated in the competition and celebrate the extraordinary efforts of our award recipients. Their achievements have placed our college on the global stage and are a shining example of what can be accomplished through hard work and a love of learning.
Well done, everyone!
Language Learners Shine on the Global Stage - Education Perfect Languages Championship 2025
Our students have once again made us incredibly proud in the 2025 Education Perfect Languages Championship, an international celebration of language learning that schools and students take part from across the globe.
St Francis of Assisi College achieved some remarkable results:
- 11th overall in South Australia out of 68 schools
- 315th overall globally out of 1,804 schools
- 1st in SA in the 101–250 students category (out of 17 schools)
- 47th globally in the 101–250 students category (out of 416 schools)
- 7th overall in Arabic out of 479 schools
A number of our students earned individual accolades for their outstanding efforts:
🌟 Emerald Award
Jana M (Arabic) – Answered an incredible 9,349 questions, earned 5,002 points, and placed in the top 1.5% of competitors worldwide!
⭐ Credit Awards (Top 20% Globally)
Imogen N (German) – 1,687 questions | 950 points
Ishmeet K (German) – 2,162 questions | 528 points
Tahlia S (German) – 1,227 questions | 681 points
Noah J (German) – 1,260 questions | 732 points
These achievements reflect not only academic excellence but also a deep enthusiasm for languages and intercultural learning. We celebrate all participants for their fantastic contributions and for proudly representing our college on the world stage.
Bravo to all involved!
Shila Shares Traditional Dance with Year 11 Students
This week, we were honoured to welcome Shila, a local Aboriginal woman, to St Francis of Assisi College. Shila led our Year 11 students in a powerful workshop exploring traditional Aboriginal dance. Set to the song "The Children Came Back" by Briggs, Dewayne Everettsmith and Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, the dance allowed students to connect deeply with themes of culture and connection to Country.
Through movement and storytelling, students expressed ties to our local river, native animals, and the deep spiritual ties between people and place. It was a meaningful and memorable experience that deepened cultural understanding and respect.
As we mark National Reconciliation Week, this workshop was a timely reminder of the importance of listening, learning, and walking together towards a more united future.
See our Facebook page to watch the video of Shila and our students exploring traditional Aboriginal dance.
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