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ABOUT OUR SCHOOL

We are committed to providing students with diverse learning opportunities in a multicultural context that challenges them to recognise their individual potential .

Caulfield Junior College is a unique school that values the rich cultural diversity of our community. In this fast evolving world of digital technology and international collaboration, the notion of multiculturalism becomes a key that unlocks the true potential of the young minds and broadens their horizons. Our students are the thinkers and leaders of tomorrow; our goal is to prepare them academically and socially for their secondary education and beyond, and provide them with tools that exceed the limits of the traditional curriculum.

We offer two streams at CJC:

  • The Victorian curriculum that meets the standards of the Department of Education and Training Victoria.

 

  • The French Binational Program curriculum which offers a bilingual education based on both French and Victorian curricula that meets the standards of the Department of Education and Training Victoria as well as the French Ministry of National Education.

Furthermore, a Hebrew language program is offered to all CJC students as a before and after school extension opportunity.

In 2022, CJC is proud of its community that represents 28 different nationalities, speaking 23 languages other than English at home.

The Structure of the French-Australian School of Melbourne in 2022

Students’ profile

The French-Australian School of Melbourne currently has over 330 enrolled students (2022).

Most of these children were born in Australia to Franco-Australian parents, 75% have a French speaking parent who lives at home. Approximately 10% of our students are from expatriates families.

 

Teachers’ profile

In 2020, the French Binational Program represents 14 bilingual classes: 8 French teachers who graduated in their country of birth and hold a valid French teaching license, and 7 Australian teachers who graduated in an English-speaking country. The teachers work in binome (pairs) from Prep to Grade 6.  They plan and teach a program that meets the expectations of both education systems. There is also a class assistant in prep and two additional teachers working with the French Binational Program that support the students in their French education journey.

 

The examinations

The students are assessed according to the French National evaluation papers from Grade 1 to 6, as well as the Australian National testing system (NAPLAN) in grade 3 and 5.

 

Click here find out more about the French Binational Program

Team
OUR TEAM
Leadership & Administration Team
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Chris Chant
Principal
Mme Caroline Pommier.jpg
Caroline Pommier
French Director
Directrice du programme français binational
Mr Broden Borg.jpg
Broden Borg
Assistant Principal
Ms Megan Barclay.jpg
Megan Barclay
Business Manager
Mme Sophie Laforest.jpg
Sophie Laforest
Communications
Mrs Carole Micciche.jpg
Carole Micciche
Administration (FBP)
Ms Catherine Percil.jpg
Catherine Percil
Administration
Ms Melanie Absous.jpg
Mélanie Absous
Administration/Library
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Henry Le
Specialist technician
Miss Evelyn Dang.jpg
Evelyn Dang
Local Technician
Mr Frank Meo.jpg
Frank Meo
Facilities Manager
Prep Team
Lily Owen
Teacher
Team Leader
Miss Lily Owen.jpg
Gerard Maher
Teacher
Mr Gerard Maher.jpg
Miss Aurianne Brandely.jpg
Aurianne Brandely
Teacher - FBP
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Georgia Leonard Shannon
Teacher (FBP) -
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Rime Hoummada
Classroom Support  (FBP)
Grade 1 and 2 Team
Ms Emily Ding.jpg
Emily Ding
Teacher

 
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Natasha Vais
Teacher
Mme Cat Wilson.jpg
Cat Wilson
Teacher 
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Anne Cécile Floch
Teacher (FBP)
Ms Leora Heitlinger.jpg
Leora Heitlinger
Teacher (FBP)
Mme Christelle Breimeyer.jpg
Christelle Breimeyer
Teacher - FBP
Mrs Soula Karantonis.jpg
Sue Karantonis
Teacher (FBP)
Team Leader
Grade 3 and 4 Team
Mr Demos Diplaris.jpg
Demos Diplaris
Teacher 
Mrs Emily Wade.jpg
Emily Wade
Teacher
Learning Specialist
Mr Erwin Dumenden.jpg
Erwin Dumenden
Teacher
Mr William Ramano-Egan.jpg
Will Ramano-Egan
Teacher (FBP)
Mrs Katrina Donald.jpg
Katrina Donald
Te
acher (FBP)
Ms Angelique Beauvais.jpg
Angélique Beauvais
Teacher (FBP)
Learning Specialist
Mr Donald Kirk.jpg
Don Kirk
Teacher (FBP)
Team Leader
Grade 5 and 6 Team
Ms Irena Karakousis.jpg
Irena Karakousis
Teacher
Mr Lewin Davis.jpg
Lewin Davis
Teacher
Ms Anne Aubree.jpg
Anne Aubrée
Teacher (FBP)
Team Leader
Mr Stefan Beal.jpg
Stefan Beal
Teacher (FBP)
Mr David Prevet.jpg
David Prévet
Teacher (FBP)
David Preston
Teacher (FBP)
Mr David Preston.jpg
Specialist Teachers Team
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Melissa Wright
Visual Arts Teacher
Team Leader
Mme Laure Baqué.jpg
Laure Baqué
Performing Arts Teacher
Mr Vincent Berraud.jpg
Vincent Berraud
LOTE Teacher 
Mr Thomas Lewis.jpg
Tom Lewis
STEM
Teacher
Mr Nick Reese.jpg
Nick Reese
Physical Education Teacher
Ms Sheralee Spencer.jpg
Sheralee Spencer
Digital Technology
Teacher
Intervention Team
Ms Diana Duimovich.jpg
Diana Duimovich
Teacher

Intervention Coordinator
Mrs Corinn Crawford.jpg
Corinn Crawford
Intervention Teacher
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Katherine Keily
Learning Support Teacher
Ms Laura Clapette.jpg
Laura Clapette
FBP Intervention
Education Support
Miss Lea Leduque.jpg
Léa Leduque
FBP Intervention 
Education Support
Kelsie Madsen.jpg
Kelsie Madsen
Intervention
Education Support
Mrs Trudy Warman.jpg
Trudy Warman
Intervention
Education Support
Wellbeing & Integration Team
Ms Shauna Sanderson.jpg
Shauna Sanderson
Wellbeing Coordinator
Miss Matilda Bedendo.jpg
Mathilda Bendendo
Student wellbeing 
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Lisa Hermelin
Wellbeing teacher
Mrs Dipika Gandhi.jpg
Dipika Ghandi
Integration Aide

Classroom Support
Mr Jamie Haigh.jpg
Mr Jara Larter.jpg
Jamie Haigh
Integration Aide

Classroom Support
Jara Larter
Integration Aide

Classroom Support
Mrs Jayde Ockleshaw.jpg
Jayde Ockleshaw
Integration Aide

Classroom Support
Mrs Fiona O_Hare.jpg
Fiona O'Hair
Integration Aide

Classroom Support
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Luna
Wellbeing Furry Friend
School Council
SCHOOL COUNCIL

School Councils play a key role in Victorian government schools. Participating as a school council member is a rewarding and challenging experience. The School Council supports the principal to provide the b​​est possible educational outcomes for students.

 

The three main responsibilities of the School Council are Finance, Strategic Planning and Policy development and review. 

 

Further to the main School Council Committee, CJC has five sub-committees that help govern specific areas of the school administration (Buildings and Grounds, French Binational Program, Policy and Development, OSHC and Master Plan).

 

To find out more about the functions of the School Council, please visit:

https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/management/community/Pages/schoolcouncils.aspx

 

Our Sub-Committees are open to parents of any child enrolled at CJC, as well as any staff member.  It is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to the school community, especially if you have some particular expertise and would like to join the committee or a sub-committee, please contact the school office at  caulfield.jr.co@education.vic.gov.au .

 

Our 2022 School Council members are:

Joseph Chang (School Council President) – Joseph has three children, including two at the school, in Grade 4 and Grade 1. Joseph was previously engaged in the masterplan and in Finance as Treasurer, and has now been President of the School Council for a year. He is now engaged in the School Identity, School Engagement and Finance sub-committees. Joseph works in finance.

Adina Nijemcevic (School Council Vice President) – Adina has two children, including one at the school in Grade 2. Adina is probably the person who is the most familiar with CJC, as she is herself a CJC alumni and now a close neighbour of the school. Adina is engaged in the food provision and Team Kids sub-committees, but also in the Parents’ Committee. Adina works in adult education.

Tom Roth (Treasurer) – Tom has three children: one son is a CJC alumni, one son in Grade 6 and one daughter joining CJC in the next year. Tom was previously involved in the masterplan and now in Finance subcommittees as the Treasurer. Tom works in healthcare management

 

Anne-Sophie Aguado – Anne-Sophie has 2 daughters in grade 1 and 3. She has been involved with the school Parents’ Committee as the treasurer for the past year and is now also a new member of the School Council. She is involved in the Engagement and Identity subcommittee and is looking forward to recreate our CJC community after 2 long years of isolation. She works for 7 Eleven as a sourcing manager. 

Benjamin Avanzi – Benjamin has two children (Grades 3 and 5). In Melbourne since 2020, he got involved in the School Council and the EFM subcommittee. He is the Convenor of the Policy Review and Development Sub-committee. Benjamin is a Professor at the University of Melbourne

 

Asmine Hammadou (EFM President) – Asmine has a child in Grade 1. In Melbourne since 2013, Asmine engaged with the EFM subcommittee two years ago as the secretary and helped the association transition to the online platform through Covid. She took over the role of president late last year. For the School Council, she convenes the French subcommittee and is involved in the School Identity and School Engagement subcommittees.

 

Craig Jacobs –   Craig has two children in Grade 2 and in Prep. Craig has a vested interest in their education and the environment in which they learn. Joining the School Council is his way of helping the school thrive after a difficult couple of years. Craig is hoping to put his work and life experience to good use in whatever ways CJC requires.

 

Charlie Porter – Charlie has two children, one in Grade 2 and another starting at CJC next year. Charlie is leading the recent School identity sub-committee, which aims to consolidate the school positioning and its visibility to all of our community. Charlie works in corporate and commercial communications, owning a company that delivers video and animation content.

 

Maud Rocher Vagedes - Maud has a daughter in Grade 4 and a son in Prep. She is engaged in the School Engagement subcommittee, and is also involved in the Parents’ Committee. Maud works in Marketing and Product Development. 

 

Chris Chant (School Principal) – Chris joined CJC as School Principal in 2017 for a short stay and returned in 2018 as the ongoing Executive Principal and has been instrumental to the recent developments of the school.

 

Caroline Pommier (French Director) – Caroline joined CJC in 2015. Caroline has a daughter at the school and works closely with our local communities to improve the school’s connection with families.

 

Broden Borg (Assistant Principal) – Broden joined CJC in 2021. He works closely with all teaching staff to improve the teaching and learning at CJC.

 

Anne Aubrée (Grade 5 teacher) – Anne joined CJC in 2007. Anne, her husband and their 2 boys arrived in Australia in 2004 initially for 4 years…but have decided to stay a little bit longer! Anne is engaged in the French binome subcommittee. 

 

Cat Wilson (Grade 3 teacher) – Cat joined CJC in 2009. Cat is a classroom teacher and coordinates our working bees and environmental initiatives.

 

The convenors of our subcommittees and a brief description of their functions:

  • French Binational Program – (Convenor - Asmine Ammadou) the subcommittee is responsible for ensuring the ongoing integration of the French Elective in the school.

  • Policy & Development – (Convenor – Benjamin Avanzi) the subcommittee is involved in reviewing, updating and ratifying the documented school policies (i.e. Uniform policy, Child Safety, Camps & Excursions etc.)

  • School  Identity Subcommittee (Convenor Charlie Porter) The subcommittee's mission is to consolidate the school positioning and its visibility to all of our community

  • Community Engagement - (Convenor Maud Vagedes) Promoting community engagement in the various aspect of the Parent Committee's initiatives.

  • OSHC – (Convenor – Megan Barclay) the subcommittee oversees and reviews the OSHC services.

Our History in Detail

Over a century ago, in July 1914, Caulfield Junior College opened its doors for the first time (as Balaclava Road Primary School), just two weeks before the news broke that WW1 had begun. Caulfield was then a flourishing new suburb and the residents had been pushing the project for several years. 400 students were already enrolled when Balaclava Road Primary opened its doors, making it one of the largest primary schools in Melbourne. What a great achievement it was for the local community as previously, the students residing in Caulfield North had to walk several kilometres through bushland or swamps to schools, which were located as far as St Kilda or Malvern.

The original playground consisted mostly of swampland in winter and dry dusty land in the summer. The students had to battle flies, ants and other pests in this harsh environment. Nonetheless, the school proved to be popular and has been thriving throughout the last and current centuries. From its original building, new purpose built classrooms and modern shared areas have been added, and thankfully, the swamps have been replaced by a sporting oval, a basketball court, playgrounds and zoned recreational areas!

Not only did our school go through a series of name changes, from Balaclava Road Primary School to Caulfield North Central School to Caulfield Junior College, it also served as a hospital in 1917 during the First World War when it was hosting Spanish flu victims in quarantine! Of course…the students were relocated elsewhere before the first patients were admitted…

 

Nowadays, Caulfield Junior College plays a unique and important role in Melbourne’s greater community; it is the home of the French-Australian School of Melbourne, teaching a French binational program, as well as remaining a fantastic local government school offering a Hebrew Immersion Program to suit the need of our diverse community. With over 530 students from 28 nationalities who contribute to the rich international background of the school, we celebrate the citizens of the world by introducing various cultural celebrations throughout the year.  

In this fast changing world we live in, we are dedicated to offering Caulfield Junior College students the best multilingual education they can get and equip them with a broad range of cultural knowledge to help them become the leaders of tomorrow.

OUR HISTORY
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