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.

It was wonderful to welcome everyone back to school last Friday. Our school is such a quiet place without our amazing students who make our learning environment so vibrant. Once again our community showed that we are flexible and agile in response to changes we have no control over, and this allowed us to navigate the return to online learning successfully. Our students showed they are independent learners and were active and engaged in their remote learning. They remained focused on tasks assigned to them by their teachers and they continued to build their skills and knowledge.

Over the course of our remote learning days, our students took ownership of their learning and successfully used their emails, Google Classroom, Google Meets and Simon to access notices, emails and resources to ensure they could continue with their learning. Morning homeroom conducted through Google Meet provided an opportunity for homeroom teachers to connect with their homeroom each day.

I would also like to acknowledge the hard work of our teachers who ensured continuity in learning throughout last week. The time spent preparing classes to deliver online is very much appreciated.

This week our Semester 1 exams commenced. In many respects, these exams are a culmination of a semester’s worth of learning. For our students, learning takes place in a variety of locations, mostly in the classroom, but also in the LRC, and before and after school at home. Exams provide an important opportunity for students to demonstrate growth and improvement in their subjects. I hope all students prepared well for their exams, and are rewarded by results that reflect they worked consistently throughout the semester to achieve their personal best. I also hope our students take the time to review the feedback their teachers provide for these exams. Undertaking exams can be a very stressful time for students and their parents, however, they are a valuable learning experience and help to identify strengths and areas for improvement.

2021 General Achievement Test (GAT)

At the time of newsletter publication, the VCAA has yet to determine a new date for students studying a Unit 3/4 subject to complete the GAT. As soon as we are informed of the new date we will communicate this to students and families.

Year 9 NAPLAN certificates of achievement

The following information has been taken from the Victorian Department of Education and Training website (https://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/Pages/naplancert.aspx).

From 2020, Year 9 students who achieve outstanding results or who significantly improve their results in NAPLAN tests will receive a NAPLAN Certificate of Achievement.

The certificates aim to celebrate and recognise the importance of both excellence and learning growth.

Categories of achievement

The certificates will be awarded for two categories of achievement:

• Category one: the achievement of excellence through getting a result in the top band for Reading or Numeracy, or both.
• Category two: the achievement of outstanding learning growth through improving by two or more bands between the NAPLAN Year 7 and Year 9 tests for Reading or Numeracy, or both.

Measuring a student’s learning growth

Learning growth is a way of measuring how much progress a student makes in their learning. It is measured by identifying the number of NAPLAN bands they have moved up over time.

A band is a set range of student NAPLAN scores that identifies student performance, compared to other students. Achieving a score in the top band is considered an outstanding result and a jump of two bands from Year 7 to Year 9 is considered a significant growth in learning.

Eligibility

A student’s growth in learning is measured by comparing their Year 7 and Year 9 NAPLAN test results. This means only students who sit the Year 7 NAPLAN test are eligible to receive a certificate for learning growth.

More information

Further information about the Year 9 NAPLAN Certificates of Achievement will be provided later in the year.

I wish our community a most relaxing long weekend.