DEPUTY PRINCIPAL - TEACHING & LEARNING REPORT 

Vision for Teaching and Learning at St Mary MacKillop College - a statement that drives the development of a high performance learning culture at SMMC

At St Mary MacKillop College we have high expectations of our students as we equip them with the knowledge, skills and dispositions for lifelong learning. We pursue excellence through a teaching and learning environment that is inclusive, engaging and encourages growth. We value collaboration, innovation and building strong relationships.

Term 2 is well underway and our mid-year exams will be upon us in no time. I have included in this edition of the newsletter the dates for the Year 10 and 11 exams. Students in Years 7 to 9 English, Maths and Science are doing at least one timed assessment task under exam conditions throughout the semester in order to develop their exam skills. 

It is a timely reminder as the term progresses for our students to think about their home study routines. Students who have a home study and revision routine are more likely to achieve success in their studies. 

The article in the link here is from 2020 and looks at six research-tested ways to study better. These include:

1. Remember and repeat
2. Adapt your favourite strategies
3. Quiz yourself
4. Make the most of study groups
5. Mix it up
6. Figure out what works for you

The video in the link here focuses on developing a mindset for successful learning. The information is organised into 10 principles of effective study that will help students maximise learning from their study time.

TA Interviews and Reports

Term 2 Reports are now available for Year 10, 11 & 12 students. 

TA Interviews are currently being completed for Years 11 & 12 students. Year 10 TA Interviews will begin in Week 4. Copies of both the reports and interviews can be accessed via PAM. 

Preparing for Semester 1 Examinations

The Semester 1 examination period will commence in June for students in Years 10 and 11.

Students should be encouraged over the next few weeks to allocate time not only for homework, but also time for revision in preparation for these exams.

The following Year 10 and 11 subjects will have an examination in Semester 1:

Year 10 Exams (Thursday 8 and Friday 9 June)

English

Maths

Science

Year 11 Exams (Monday 5 to Thursday 8 June)

Year 11 students will receive their exam timetable shortly.

In the event that a student fails to attend a Year 11 examination, if possible, it will be rescheduled only if the absence was for an approved school event or for an illness that is verified by a medical certificate. 

All students are required to wear their correct full school uniform in all exams.

We wish our students all the best for their Semester 1 examinations.

Subject Expo

Our Subject Expo will be held on Wednesday 24th May from 5:00pm to 8:00pm in the Jubilee Centre. Over the coming weeks students will be starting to have conversations with their teachers about their subject selections for 2024. Year 9 students have had our VCE acceleration policy explained to them, and the policy can be found here. We are blessed with an expert team of Pathways teachers who will support your child in making informed choices regarding the subjects they will choose for next year.

Information Sessions for 2024 in the Parish Function Centre

Year 7 2024 Parent Information: 5:45pm

Year 9 and Year 10 2024 Pathways Information: 6:30pm

Year 11 and 12 2024 Pathways Information: 7:30pm

World Education Support Personnel (ESP) Day – Tuesday 16th May

On Tuesday 16th May, the enormous contribution of Education Support Staff is recognised internationally. The support staff in our school: the admin team, canteen staff, LSOs, LRC staff, IT team, maintenance, counsellors and cleaners are all vital to the educational journey of our students and we thank you very much for the contributions you make to our wonderful school.

Learning Recognition Program

Congratulations to the following students for being nominated by their teachers for academic achievement and endeavour.

Academic Recognition

Ava Cummins, William Gilchrist, Dustin Holmes, Danika Meehan, Ava Sarre, Amy Simpson, Angelica Watson, Dakota Wilckens

Endeavour Recognition

Emily Free, Ngaire Harlan, Brehana Hodgson, Farirai Muyambo, Thanh Pham, Joshua Rogers, Nikita Rogers, Ava Sarre

ChatGPT

Towards the end of last year and well into this year, ChatGPT has been in the news and all over the internet. To put it simply, ChatGPT is an Artificial Intelligence (AI) program that is capable of generating human-like text based on the prompt that has been provided. It is an emerging technology and something which I think we will see develop moving forward into the future. Back in February 2020, the Rome Call for AI Ethics document was signed for the first time. The document states:

Pointing to a new algorethics, the signatories committed to request the development of an artificial intelligence that serves every person and humanity as a whole; that respects the dignity of the human person, so that every individual can benefit from the advances of technology; and that does not have as its sole goal greater profit or the gradual replacement of people in the workplace.

Please click here for further information on the Rome Call for AI Ethics.

Pope Francis has also spoken about the ethical use of artificial intelligence. In an article on the online Vatican News on 27 March 2023, Pope Francis says ‘AI raises serious questions and must be ethically and responsibly used to promote human dignity and the common good’. The link to the article can be found here.

At our Teaching and Learning Staff Meeting on Thursday 4th May, I introduced ChatGPT to our staff. I have been following with interest the many conversations on social media regarding ChatGPT and its implications for teaching and learning in schools. As an example, I put the following prompt into ChatGPT: create a newsletter article on current issues in teaching and learning for Catholic secondary schools in regional Victoria, Australia. The response that was generated can be found here.

I conclude this week’s newsletter article with an acknowledgement of the mothers in our community. I wish them a very Happy Mother’s Day on Sunday. Mary MacKillop reminded us that ‘gratitude is the memory of the heart.’ Mother’s Day is a wonderful way to show gratitude and to recognise all that mothers do for their families every day, the love and care they show and the sacrifices they make. I hope the mothers in our community are spoilt on Sunday! For the first time in many years I shall be in Adelaide over the weekend and will be able to spend a little bit of Mother’s Day with my mum before heading back to Swan Hill. 

The following is a prayer in gratitude for our mothers:

Gentle God, 

We pray in gratitude for our mothers and for all women Who have joined with you in the wonder of bringing forth or supporting life. You who became human through a woman, grant to all mothers the courage they need to face the uncertain future that life with children always brings. 

Give them the strength to live and to be loved in return, not perfectly, but humanly. 

Give them the faithful support of family and friends as they care for the physical and spiritual growth of their children. 

Give them joy and delight in their children to sustain them through the ups and downs of motherhood. Most of all, give them the wisdom to turn to you for help when they need it most.

Author Unknown

Adapted from: https://www.xavier.edu/jesuitresource/online-resources/prayer-index/mothers-day-prayers