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 2024, 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 2024
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Students’ profile
The French-Australian School of Melbourne currently has over 350 enrolled students (2024).
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 / Équipe de Direction et Secrétariat
Chris Chant
School Principal
Caroline Pommier
Director French Binational Program
Broden Borg
Assistant Principal
Megan Barclay
Business Manager
Gérard Maher
Mental Health and
Wellbing Leader
Melanie Absous
Administration
Alisha Liddell
Administration
Sophie Laforest
Administration
Communication
French Enrichment
Trudy Warman
Administration
First Aid
Frank Meo
Facilities Manager
Harish Yalamanchi
IT Network Manager
Prep Team / Grande Section
Kam Pank
Teacher Prep B
Team Leader
Victoria Vitebsky
Teacher Prep A
Céline Coquet
Teacher FBP Prep C/D
Niall Greene
Teacher FBP Prep C/D
Lisa Nicolas
Classroom Assistant
Grade 1 /2 CP/CE1
Emily Zajc
Teacher 1/2 B
Team Leader
Allison Bellamy
Teacher 1/2A
Leora Jaye
Teacher 1/2C
Jessica Hartig
Teacher FBP 1D/1E
Claire Pelage
Teacher FBP 1D/1E
Learning Specialist
Candice Nicol
Teacher FBP 2F/2G
Learning Specialist
Sandra Ballin
Teacher 2F/2G
Grade 3/4 / CE2 & CM1
Stefan Beal
Teacher 3/4A
Team Leader
Matilda Wilson
Teacher 3/4C
Hannah Gibson
Teacher FBP 3D/3E
David Prevet
Teacher FBP 3D/3E
Don Kirk
Teacher FBP 4F/G
Sylvette Rayner
Teacher FBP 4F/G
Sue Karantonis
Teacher 3/4B
Grade 5/6 / CM2 & 6ème
Kathleen O'Connell
Teacher 5/6A
Learning Specialist
Lewin Davis
Teacher 5/6B
Bridgette Van De Velde
Teacher FBP 5C/5D
Will Ramano-Egan
Teacher FBP 5C/5D
Jayden Van Dyk
Teacher FBP 6E/6F
Team Leader
Virginie Brochu
French Enrichment
Teacher
Specialist Team / Professeurs spécialistes
Sheralee Spencer
Teacher
Digital Technologies
Team leader
Laure Baqué
Teacher
Performing Arts
Vincent Berraud
Teacher
Physical Education
French Enrichment
Ana Quesada
Teacher LOTE French/Spanish
Anne-Cécile Floch
Teacher
Visual Arts
Cat Wilson
Teacher
STEM
Enrichment Team / Équipe de soutien à l'éducation
Leslie Bokobza
Enrichment Teacher
Team Leader
French Enrichment
Léa Leduque
French Enrichment Support
Laura Clapette
French Enrichment
Support
Demos Diplaris
Professional Development
Inclusion
Matilda Bedendo
Inclusion Coordinator
Team Leader
Justine Houpert
Inclusion Support
Sharon Portelli
Inclusion Support
Grace Mahoney-Smith
Inclusion Support
Jayde Okleshaw
Inclusion Support
Fiona O'Hare
Inclusion Support
Meghan Fiddler
Inclusion Support
Holly Evans Plumelet
Inclusion Support
Dipika Gandhi
Inclusion Support
Jocelyn Schwalm
Inclusion 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 2024 School Council members are:
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Charlie Porter (President) – Charlie has two children, in Grade 5 and 2. Charlie’s previously the chair of the Buildings, Grounds and Masterplan sub-committee, and is now the President of School Council. Charlie works in corporate and commercial communications, owning a company that delivers video and animation content.
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Marine Pesret-Thompson (Vice-president, EFM President)
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Marc Warshall (Treasurer) – ​Marc has a son in Grade 3/4. He is a class convenor, Friday treats coordinator and regular volunteer on the Parent’s committee. Marc has been the treasurer of the school council since he first joined the group in 2023 which fits in nicely with his career as an accomplished CFO.
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Jessica Marchand (Member) – She has experience organising many events for the French community in Brisbane and Melbourne (some with over 100 attendees!),As a parent, she understands the struggles (and the joys!) of trying to be everywhere at once. She is passionate about giving a voice to all parents, especially those who might be having a tough time.. Don't hesitate to reach out !​​​
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Tom Pearce (Membre) – Tom has 15 years expericence in the educaiton sector in Australia and abroad. He has taught refugee camps in Palestine in 2011, and have since worked in several Victorian secondary schools, hospital settings, and juvenile prisons. He is currently Assistant Dean of Music, Director of Choir, and classroom Music teacher, at St. Kevin's College Toorak (Junior School). He is equipted with a bachelor degrees in Arts, Music, and Psychology (Honours), and a Masters in Teaching. His son, Disco, has started in Prep this year.
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Alex Lord (Member)
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Thibault Schweitzer (Member)
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Julia Yuncken (Parents’ Committee President) – She has been involved in volunteering as a class convenor for several years, and in the PC for 2 years, taking on the role as President in 2025. She has two children in the Victorian program, one in Grade 3 and one in Grade 4. She is part of the buildings subcommittee and also liaises between the School, HIP, EFM and the PC. ​​​​​
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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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Céline Coquet (Teacher)
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Jayden Van Dyk (Teacher)
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Our School Values, our HEROes
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OUR HISTORY
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.
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