DEPUTY'S DESK

LEARNING AND TEACHING REPORT

We start the semester running as we embark on a very busy and important period. We are very fortunate to have Dr Carmody Grey leading us on our Staff Professional Practice day on 26/7. Dr Carmody Grey is Assistant Professor of Catholic Theology at the Centre for Catholic Studies, University of Durham, UK.

Dr Grey has degrees in theology from Trinity College Oxford, King's College Cambridge and the University of Nottingham. She has completed her doctoral studies in theology at the University of Bristol, focusing on a theological account of life and nature. Before starting her doctorate, she was Head of Philosophy, Religion and Ethics at Bedales School in Hampshire, UK, as well as pursuing her ongoing interest in ecology and the life sciences through a postgraduate degree from Edinburgh.

She has been involved in theological formation of priests, deacons and catechists. We will be undertaking sessions on “The Gospel of Mercy” and “Measuring Success”. Staff from St Mary Mackillop College Swan Hill will join us for this Professional Practice day.

Our VCE students, especially our Year 12 students, are now starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It is a particularly important time for them as they persist in their academic endeavours. The temptation is to drop off in intensity at this time of the year, but in reality it is a time that requires great persistence and resilience if they are to achieve all they are capable of.

Even though we are only just over halfway through our 2019 program, we are already turning our minds to preparation for 2020. This week marks the beginning of a very important process for our Year 8, 9, 10 and 11 students. The Subject Selection Process for 2020 needs to be completed by August 16.

Subject Selection

I spoke to Year 8 students on Monday at their assembly and this was the start of the Subject Selection Process. Year 8 students will by now have received their access codes and passwords for selecting their subjects online via Web Preferences. Subject information booklets are available from the school website as are instructional videos. These instructional videos explain how to access 'Web Preferences' and how to undertake the task of selecting subjects. Students at other year levels are encouraged to start to look at the subject selection booklets online on the Schools Website > Learning >Curriculum.

Over the next few weeks, students at these year levels must make selections about what subjects they would like to undertake as part of either Vertical Organisation (Years 9/10) or VCE/VCAL (Years 11/12) next year. It is an important and not always easy process. Students should take the time to familiarise themselves with the various subjects that are being offered, and attend the VO/VCE/VCAL/VET Information Night on Tuesday July 30 at the Mercy Campus, between 7.30 pm and 9.00 pm.

The night will feature presentations for parents regarding the subject selection process for VO (Years 9 and 10) and Years 11 and12 (VCE/VCAL/VET). There will also be subject displays and teachers available to discuss subject selection and subject choices in the basketball court area. You are welcome to visit the display area at any time between 7.30pm and 9.00pm; however, there are set times for the formal presentations. Please see the flyer in the College News section of this newsletter for the full presentation schedule. Any students interested in undertaking a VCAL course in 2020 should ensure they have a talk to the teachers in the VCAL area on this evening.

We will once again be using the 'Web Preferences' online subject selection process that we have used in recent years. If you are unfamiliar with this process there are video presentations explaining the process on the school’s website.

Participating in this information evening should make subject selection a much easier process. It is also important for parents to involve themselves in this process. Talk to your child about what they want to do, why they want to do it, and how best to achieve their goals. Homeroom teachers will also be working with students from their own homeroom to ensure that the students fully understand the process and to provide support for them as they undertake this important process.

Mr Greg Kluske

Deputy Principal, Learning and Teaching