Faculty News - Gifted & Enhancement

Gifted & Enhancement

'To everything, there is a season - or so it is said - and for Mazenod's Enhancement program, Term 1 2022 has been a time of both continuity and great change. For the College, there is a continuity in the success of our Enhancement cohorts, which should be celebrated. Across the Humanities, Enhancement students put Mazenod amongst Victoria's most elite programs in 2021, as borne out by our incredible results and the numbers of 40+ scores. There were outstanding results from Mathematics, Music, Religion and Society and just about every other individual subject's Enhancement pathway. Consistently, the College and its staff have put talented students in a position to succeed at the highest level and reach their considerable potential. The achievements of the Class of 2021 will not be forgotten. These achievements did not begin in Year 12, they are the result of six years of hard work and input from many peers, teachers and other staff at the College - a great deal goes into every single top subject score. Our most recent Old Boys finish their journey at the College and with the Enhancement program, while our newest Year 7s begin theirs and look ahead to the continuation of our traditional academic success.

Beyond continuity, however, 2022 also represents a significant change. English Enhancement has replaced General Enhancement in Years 7-9. English Enhancement focuses on key argumentation skills, techniques and creativity, enabling students to progress down an established English pathway into middle school and beyond. Our Junior School students can look ahead to participating in the Shared Stories anthology later in the year and potentially having their creativity enjoyed by numerous readers. Meanwhile, Enhancement STEM has launched as a replacement for Enhancement Robotics, with a brand new curriculum designed by our talented and highly knowledgable IT/Design Technology departments and taught by Ms Carolyn Gekas. This program will look to broaden the horizons and further the interests of our most talented Mathematics and Science students with drones, robotics and other STEM-oriented themes. Enhancement Religious Education has also seen considerable change with a re-developed curriculum, under the guidance of Mr Zaar and Mr Tighe. Altogether, these changes represent a considerable shake-up for the Enhancement program, as a whole, with more change on the way. It is an exciting and rewarding time to be an Enhancement student at Mazenod College.

Mr Mladen Spasic

Head of Gifted & Enhancement