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.

As we know, last Sunday was Mother’s Day. 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 were spoilt last Sunday! 

A Mother’s Day Prayer

On this Mother’s Day, we pray for blessings on all women who have loved and nurtured us throughout our lives. We give thanks for the mothers who have guided and protected us, who have taught and encouraged us. We give thanks for mothers who have passed away, birth mothers, adoptive mothers, foster mothers, grandmothers, aunties, sisters, and for all women who take on a motherly role. We ask your blessing upon mothers who have lost children, that they may have your continuing strength and courage. We ask your blessing upon those who would like to be mothers. Pour your blessings upon all women. Protect and guide them and keep them in your care. Our Lady, a role model for all women, pray for us. 

Amen 

Source unknown 

Subject Expo

Planning for the 2026 school year has already commenced. Last Wednesday and Thursday, and yesterday, we welcomed groups of Year 6 students for our Transition Days. It was wonderful to see these students join our community on these days. Our planning for next year continues with our Subject Expo coming up at the end of May.

Our annual Subject Expo is a wonderful celebration of learning and will be held on Wednesday 28 May from 5.00pm to 8.00pm in the Jubilee Centre (JC). We encourage students and their parents to attend this event.

Each Learning Area will have a stall. Students and parents will be able to visit the stalls and ask questions, and get information about our subject offerings in 2026.

Over the coming weeks students will be visited in their classes by members of the Pathways Team and the subject selection process will be explained to them. They will be given a planning sheet to help with their selections. I encourage our students to have conversations at home and with their teachers about the subjects they would like to study in 2026. 

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 2026 in the Parish Function Centre for students and parents: Year 7 2026 Parent Information: 5.45pm 

Year 9 and Year 10 2026 Pathways Information: 6.30pm

Year 11 and 12 2026 Pathways Information: 7.15pm

Each year we produce a comprehensive Curriculum Handbook which outlines the subjects we offer from Years 7 to 12. This document is currently being updated and will be available on the College website and PAM. Thank you to Vanessa Hall for designing the cover for this year’s handbook.

World Education Support Personnel (ESP) Day – Friday 16 May

Today, Friday 16 May, the enormous contribution of Education Support Staff is recognised internationally. The support staff in our school: the administration team, canteen staff, LSOs, LRC staff, IT team, pathways, maintenance, counsellors and wellbeing team, and cleaners are all vital to the educational journey of our students. Their work underpins the success of every school day. We thank you very much for the contributions you make to our wonderful school.

Nathan Lane

Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning