Learning and Teaching 

Create Belonging

As we celebrate the Feast Day of St Marcellin Champagnat this week, I’d like to share a reflection from my recent pilgrimage, where I followed the Journey of St Paul and walked in the Footsteps of Marcellin Champagnat.The experience was deeply moving and reminded me that we are part of something much bigger—a global network of Marist schools across Australia and the world. No matter where we are, we are united by a common mission: to educate young people and to ensure that each one is known and loved.Marcellin Champagnat’s vision for education is still very much alive today. Being with fellow pilgrims from the Star of the Sea Province, standing in the very places where Marcellin lived and worked, gave me a real sense that the Catholic College community is part of a wonderful network. It deepened my understanding of what it truly means to be part of a Marist school—and the important responsibility we share in continuing to walk in the footsteps of those who came before us.

As we have hit the midpoint of the semester, we continue to see evidence of students demonstrating and experiencing their sense of belonging at our school. Teachers and staff are committed to knowing students as individuals through positive relationships. We believe students learn best when they feel safe, respected, and supported, and we continue to strive to ensure this is lived at our school every day.An example of Creating Belonging was demonstrated at the Autumn Music Concert held in St Mary's Hall on 22 May. The sense of belonging was evidenced in the commitment to collaboration and growth by these students who shared their talents with our school community. The excellence demonstrated only comes through sustained effort and a shared purpose. This concert is not only a marvellous opportunity for these students to demonstrate their wonderful talents but also an opportunity for our community to celebrate the talent, commitment, and dedication of our students.

Strive for Excellence

As a school, we continue to look for ways to build aspiration for our students to encourage them to always be striving for excellence. Our Year 9 students have participated in the Morrisby Career Profile Testing. Through timed aptitude assessments and multiple-choice questionnaires, a profile is prepared, offering fascinating insight into a person’s inner strengths and abilities, preferences, motivations, and personality.The intention is to support the process of subject, course and career choice by providing an objective statement of a person’s underlying abilities, personality, and career interests.

• It uses measured potential rather than academic attainment.
• Its key focus is on what type rather than how much ability a person has.

This week, every Year 9 student will have an interview with one of our careers practitioners to discuss the results.

Exams for students in Years 9–12 will be held in the coming weeks. We encourage students to take some time to revise and study for these exams. Exams are an opportunity for students not only to experience the demands of exams, but also to demonstrate the skills and knowledge learned throughout the semester. A copy of the exam timetable was sent out via email to all students and parents.We kindly remind all families to ensure that students are coming to school each day prepared for learning.Please help your child remember to bring:

• A fully charged laptop
• Essential stationery items (pens, pencils, highlighters, ruler, notebook, etc.)

Having the right tools for learning allows students to participate fully in class activities and stay organised throughout the day. We appreciate your support in helping students take responsibility for their learning and come to school ready to engage.We thank you for your support in ensuring your child has their required resources as per the stationery booklist that can be found on the school website.

Share Success

We have recently celebrated World Support Staff Day. From all corners of the school, these staff members are integral to the everyday operations of our school. These staff are steady, consistent, and reliable. They may not always be in the spotlight, but they provide invaluable support to the teachers and students in our school and allow them to shine. They are often the quiet achievers of our school, who are student-centred and always willing to help. Their contribution is vital to the success of our students and school, and they are deeply appreciated.

We have had many student successes to celebrate over the past weeks. These include the wonderful school production, We Will Rock You, success at the Eisteddfod for our ensembles and solo artists, our students' success in the Plain English Speaking Competition, and the wonderful results we have experienced in many sports, including football, netball, and soccer. I thank all staff for their commitment to these extracurricular activities and the students for representing our school with enthusiasm and pride.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. Together, we are building a school community where every student can learn and thrive. We look forward to the rest of the term with optimism, pride, and a shared commitment to your child’s success.

Rachael Bown

Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching