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.

Congratulations to our Year 10 and 11 students on the positive and productive way they approached their exams this week. Our Term 2 exam season concludes with the General Achievement Test (GAT) next Thursday.

General Achievement Test (GAT)

Students studying a VCE Unit 3 and 4 subject and students studying the Senior VCAL will be undertaking the General Achievement Task (GAT) on Thursday 15th June, starting at 9:00 am. The General Achievement Test (GAT) is a pen-and-paper test of general knowledge and literacy/numeracy skills taken by students in the course of completing their senior secondary studies. The exam is designed by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) and all students across Victoria sit the same exam.

The GAT plays an important role in the quality assurance of VCE assessments. The GAT is compulsory:

• if you’re enrolled in one or more VCE or scored VCE VET Unit 3–4 sequence, you are expected to complete Section A and Section B of the GAT.
• If you are enrolled in one or more VCE VM Unit 3–4 sequence or Senior VCAL Unit, you’re expected to complete Section A only.

Please click on the link below to be taken to the 2023 VCAA GAT Student Brochure

https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Documents/GAT/2023VCAA-GATStudentwithRulesBrochure.pdf

The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) has released the 2023 exam timetable. Please find in the link below the 2023 exam timetable.

https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/administration/Key-dates/Pages/VCE-exam-timetable.aspx 

I came across the following calm mind prayer for our students during their exam time.

Merciful God, thank you that I am never alone, your presence calms the troubled sea of my life and speaks peace to my soul. When I am filled with anxiety and uncertainty about my studies, would you calm my fears and fill my mind with your peace. Give me assurance that you are working everything for my good and your glory. May your love be the passion in my heart. May your joy be my strength when times are hard. May your presence be my peace that overflows. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Source: https://connectusfund.org/11-inspirational-catholic-prayers-for-teachers-and-students 

2023 ACER Global Academic Challenge

The Global Academic Challenge is a unique academic competition organised by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) and designed for students in years 4, 6 and 8. Recently a small group of students at Year 8 completed the Challenges for English, Mathematics and Science.

The Challenges provided an opportunity for our high achieving students to apply their knowledge and skills beyond the learning they do in their daily classes. Results for the Challenges will be announced later in the year by ACER. Congratulations to the following students for participating in this year’s Challenges:

• Ben Nelson
• Billy Kentish
• Calyssa Baber
• Carly Shepherd 
• Charli Conway 
• Emily Pekin
• Isabella Schlitz
• James Williamson
• Jemma Twentyman 
• Jordan Cimino
• Julian Muir
• Kyra Croft
• Luciana Senes
• Luka Brady
• Marion Doherty
• Milli Lawry
• Patrick Eade
• Reese Parsons
• Reesha Khosa
• Ryley Fogarty
• Scarlett Benham 
• Sunny Barry

At last Friday’s assembly these students received a certificate to acknowledge their participation in the Challenge.

Academic Recognition Program

This week teachers nominated students from their Year 7 to 10 classes for academic and endeavour recognition. The following students were nominated:

Year 7

Academic Recognition

Zyma Aslam, Melody Cimino, Stella Elston, Jenna Gray, Jimmy Kelly, Jake O'Brien, Skye Pekin, Ella Whateley

Endeavour Recognition

Archie Alderuccio, Jobe Crow, Isla Graham, Yasmin-Sara Hussain, Alexis Lee, Chloe Mazzarella, Gypsi O'Brien, Noah Pearson, Harnoor Singh

Year 8

Academic Recognition

Kyra Croft, Charlie Graham, Billy Kentish, Reesha Khosa, Nioka Nalder, Reese Parsons, Lily Scott, Sabrina Valenzuela, James Williamson

Endeavour Recognition

Hugh Adams, Scarlett Benham, Oliver Alderuccio, Jie Ann Edullantes, Amaya Henderson, Holly Lynas, Nioka Nalder, Archie O'Toole, Tye Saunders, Jemma Twentyman, Dakota Zucco 

Year 9

Academic Recognition

Mitchell Anderson, Willow Conlan, Isabella Corrie, Ava Crow, Grace Gibson, Indi Grey, Willem Holmes, Andi Meney, Maggie Meney, Mikaela Mitchell, Milla Nalder, Isabella Papa, Kiah Prince, Zion Rodriguez, Tess Thomson 

Endeavour Recognition

Koby Bath, Jack Brown, Tylan Collins, Seamus Doherty, Keenan Dreyer, Archie Gilchrist, Bodhi Kelly, Charli Lovell, Maggie Meney, Sam Miller, Milla Nalder, Isabella Papa, Aloka Ratnayake, Aleah Richards

Year 10

Academic Recognition

John Eade, Millicent Glowrey, Bella Henderson, Jaya Jenkins-Jaiswal, Miley Keam, Madison McCann, Chloe Twentyman, Lillie Wallace, Zoe White

Endeavour Recognition

Mawa Abitama, Jessica Burge, Taylor Dunlevey, Jasmine Harvey, Paddy Hufer, Bailey Johnson, Miley Keam, Nancy Mammone, Sam Miller, Brooke Pearson

Thank you to the Academic Committee for organising this initiative.