Learning Assistant Principal's Report
CEMSIS: seeking feedback from our community
Throughout each year at Nazareth College, we pause to listen to our students, families and staff to gauge how our learning community is travelling. This feedback is invaluable to our progress as an effective school community and is backed by evidence-based research and best practices. One of the more important formal ways we engage and gather data is through the Catholic Education Melbourne School Improvement Surveys (CEMSIS).
CEMSIS is a set of surveys that have been built specifically for Catholic Schools in Melbourne by Learning Services teams at Catholic Education Melbourne in partnership with researchers at Learning First and in wide consultation with Principals in our schools.
In 2019, students, families and staff will be invited to participate in CEMSIS using our brand new, secure and purpose-built online platform. The online platform is where our school leaders will access the summary reports that visualise the results of the student, family and staff surveys. The CEMSIS survey platform is operated by an independent supplier, ORIMA Research Pty Ltd. The platform meets with the very high security and privacy standards for handling student and school data.
Between 2 – 20 September, students at our school will be provided with supervised sessions where teachers are on hand to help and answer any questions. Families and staff will be able to complete the survey anytime over the same three-week window via an emailed link and password that will be provided by 2 September. Feedback from last year’s pilot trials across the diocese indicates many surveys were completed across a range of mobile devices and different web browsers. We will be providing more information about CEMSIS closer to the date via email and the College newsletter.
Our community’s opinions are critical to understanding how our school is performing – CEMSIS is a key data source for guiding the ongoing work to improve our school. All participation is invited, welcomed and 100% voluntary. The surveys are not a test; they are an inclusive way to feed the work we are already doing to improve our school. Everyone has the right to refuse to participate, or withdraw from the survey at any point before, during, or after completion of the survey. Please notify the College if your child does not wish to participate.
If you would like more information, please contact the College.
Subject Selection for 2020: now underway!
It was wonderful to welcome so many parents and students at our recent Careers Expo and Subject Selection evening on Wednesday 31 July. Representatives from all the major Universities, TAFE providers, and other educational providers and many employers were impressed with the turnout and the quality of inquiries from our Nazareth community (as well as the coffee and snacks served to them by our VCAL barista & student helpers!). Many thanks to our Director of Operations Ms Rinku Arora, Pathways Coordinator Ms Elena Flodstrom, Deputy Principal Mr Garry Giese and our Learning Leaders for their work in preparing and conducting the evening.
Online Selections are currently open on the Web Preferences portal and close on Tuesday 13 August. Importantly, the online selections are only confirmed once the student hands the printed form, signed by parents, to the Pastoral Teacher by Wednesday August 14. As part of the College Promotions Policy, students entering or continuing VCE subjects must also have the signed recommendation of current teachers for each 2020 VCE subject.
As noted on the handout provided at the Subject Selection assembly or evening, all Course Guides for 2020 are already available in navigable PDF format to parents via the Knowledge Bank section of PAM (for parents) and SIMON (for students) under ‘Subject Selection for 2020’.
Mr David Broadbent
Assistant Principal - Learning