
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:
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The Victorian curriculum that meets the standards of the Department of Education and Training Victoria.
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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.
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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.
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The Structure of the French-Australian School of Melbourne in 2022
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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
OUR TEAM
Leadership & Administration Team




Hello, my name is Mme Pommier, I work in the apple industry. I am passionate about apple trees. One of my role models is Mireille Mathieu. In my spare time, I enjoy eating apples. A fun fact about me is that I once drove a train.
Chris Chant
Principal
Caroline Pommier
French Director
Directrice du Programme français binational
Broden Borg
Assistant Principal

Megan Barclay
Business Manager

Sophie Laforest
Communication/Translation

Carole Micciche
Administration (FBP)

Catherine Percil
Administration

Mélanie Absous
Administration/Library

Henry Le
Specialist technician

Tim Richardson
Local Technician

Frank Meo
Facilities Manager
Prep Team
Lily Owen
Teacher
Team Leader

Gerard Maher
Teacher


Aurianne Brandely
Teacher - FBP

Georgia Leonard Shannon
Teacher (FBP) -

Rime Hoummada
Classroom Support (FBP)
Grade 1 and 2 Team

Emily Ding
Teacher

Natasha Vais
Teacher

Cat Wilson
Teacher

Anne Cécile Floch
Teacher (FBP)

Leora Heitlinger
Teacher (FBP)

Christelle Breimeyer
Teacher - FBP

Sue Karantonis
Teacher (FBP)
Team Leader
Grade 3 and 4 Team

Demos Diplaris
Teacher

Emily Wade
Teacher
Learning Specialist

Erwin Dumenden
Teacher

Will Ramano-Egan
Teacher (FBP)

Katrina Donald
Teacher (FBP)

Angélique Beauvais
Teacher (FBP)
Learning Specialist

Don Kirk
Teacher (FBP)
Team Leader
Grade 5 and 6 Team

Irena Karakousis
Teacher

Lewin Davis
Teacher

Anne Aubrée
Teacher (FBP)
Team Leader

Stefan Beal
Teacher (FBP)

David Prévet
Teacher (FBP)
David Preston
Teacher (FBP)

Specialist Teachers Team

Melissa Wright
Visual Arts Teacher
Team Leader

Laure Baqué
Performing Arts Teacher

Vincent Berraud
LOTE Teacher

Tom Lewis
STEM Teacher

Nick Reese
Physical Education Teacher

Sheralee Spencer
Digital Technology
Teacher
Intervention Team

Diana Duimovich
Teacher
Intervention Coordinator

Corinn Crawford
Intervention Teacher

Katherine Keily
Learning Support Teacher

Laura Clapette
FBP Intervention
Education Support

Léa Leduque
FBP Intervention
Education Support

Kelsi Madsen
Intervention
Education Support

Trudy Warman
Intervention
Education Support
Wellbeing & Integration Team

Shauna Sanderson
Wellbeing Coordinator

Mathilda Bendendo
Student wellbeing

Lisa Hermelin
Wellbeing teacher

Dipika Ghandi
Integration Aide
Classroom Support


Jamie Haigh
Integration Aide
Classroom Support
Jara Larter
Integration Aide
Classroom Support

Jayde Ockleshaw
Integration Aide
Classroom Support


Luna
Wellbeing Furry Friend
Fiona O'Hair
Integration Aide
Classroom Support
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 2023 School Council members are:
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Joseph Chang (School Council President) – Joseph has three children, including two at the school, in Grade 5 and Grade 2. Joseph was previously engaged in the masterplan and in Finance as Treasurer, and is now President of the School Council.
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Adina Nijemcevic (School Council Vice President) – Adina has two children, including one at the school in Grade 3. 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 Team Kids sub-committee, but also in the Parents’ Committee. Adina works in adult education.
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Marc Warshall (Treasurer) – Marc has a son in Grade 1. He is a class convenor, Friday treats coordinator and regular volunteer in the Parent’s committee. Marc is new to the school council and has taken on the Treasurer role which fits in nicely with his finance and accounting background working for Creature Technology, an animatronics manufacturing company.
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Anne-Sophie Aguado – Anne-Sophie has 2 daughters in Grade 2 and 4. She has been involved with the school Parents’ Committee as the treasurer for the past two years and has been a member of the School Council for a year. She is involved in the Community engagement and school identity subcommittee and is continuing to bring the CJC community together. She works for 7 Eleven as a sourcing manager.
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Issy Arieli – Issy is very fortunate to have 5 children. Two have completed their studies at CJC and are now studying at Glen Eira College. Our one boy is in year 3 and a daughter is in year 1, while our youngest will start at CJC next year. I am returning to the school council after missing a year. Issy is involved in property investments after previously having a software business.
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Asmine Hammadou (EFM President) – Asmine has a child in Grade 2. In Melbourne since 2013, Asmine engaged with the EFM subcommittee three years ago as the secretary and helped the association transition to the online platform through Covid. She took over the role of president in 2021. For the School Council, she convenes the French subcommittee and is involved in the School Engagement subcommittee.
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Craig Jacobs – Craig has two children in Grade 1 and 3. 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.
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Amy Pate (Parents’ Committee President) – She has been involved in the PC for 5 years, 2 as President. She has two children in the binome program, one in Grade 5 and one in Grade 1. She is part of the community engagement forum and also liaises between the School, HIP, EFM and the PC.
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Charlie Porter – Charlie has two children, in Grade 3 and in Prep at CJC. Charlie is chair of the Buildings, Grounds and Masterplan sub-committee, providing for the maintenance of existing facilities including, while developing and considering various capital works plans and proposals, all with the goal of making the school the best environment for children, staff and the school community. Charlie works in corporate and commercial communications, owning a company that delivers video and animation content.
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Maud Rocher Vagedes - Maud has a daughter in Grade 5 and a son in Grade 1 She is leading the School Community Engagement & School Identity subcommittee, and is also involved in the Parents’ Committee. Maud works in Marketing and Product Development.
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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.
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Caroline Pommier (French Director) – Caroline joined CJC in 2015. Caroline works closely with our local communities to improve the school’s connection with families. She leads the French Binational Program and is also the Vice President of the AAFEBS ( Australian Association of French English Bilingual Schools).
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Broden Borg (Assistant Principal) – Broden joined CJC in 2021. He works closely with all teaching staff to improve the teaching and learning at CJC.
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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.
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Cat Wilson (Grade 1/2 teacher) – Cat joined CJC in 2009. Cat is teaching in Year 1/2 and in Year 1 French Enrichment, and coordinates our working bees and environmental initiatives.
The convenors of our subcommittees and a brief description of their functions:
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French Binational Program – (Convenor - Asmine Ammadou) the subcommittee is responsible for ensuring the ongoing integration of the French Elective in the school.
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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.)
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School Identity Subcommittee (Convenor Charlie Porter) The subcommittee's mission is to consolidate the school positioning and its visibility to all of our community
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Community Engagement - (Convenor Maud Vagedes) Promoting community engagement in the various aspect of the Parent Committee's initiatives.
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OSHC – (Convenor – Megan Barclay) the subcommittee oversees and reviews the OSHC services.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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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