Assistant Principal News

We wish to congratulate Year 12 students on completing their Trial Exams. It was pleasing to note that students seemed content with their performance in most exams. And while they are relieved that this examination period is over, they also realise that bigger challenges lay ahead with the HSC in October.

Year 12 students have now returned to their final three weeks of classes. I wish to use this opportunity to urge parents and students to ensure that Year 12 students attend and actively participate in all remaining classes. These classes are not only mandatory to complete course requirements, but they are also specifically planned and targeted by teachers for the students. Teachers create lessons for these final three weeks after marking and reflecting on the Trial Exams. As a result, the lessons in these final weeks become specifically aimed at areas of student improvement and topics that students need to further refine. As such these lessons become crucial for student success.

Once students receive their examination results and responses, it is vital that they spend some quality time reflecting on feedback, strengths and areas of improvement. Students should collate this feedback and then devote time to updating their study notes and refining their responses. I also ask students to spend some time in the coming weeks meeting with their teachers to review their progress and plan a way forward to best prepare for the exams.

Congratulations also to all of our Year 12 students who have completed their Major Projects in recent weeks. I have been impressed with the quality and standard of a range of major works from Multimedia and Metal Projects, to Poetry Suites and Drama Monologues. In the coming weeks, students in Design and Technology, Visual Arts and Music will finalise and submit or perform their major projects. We wish them the best of luck.

We also wish our Year 11 students the best of luck in their upcoming Preliminary Examinations. Students should have developed an increased study schedule for these next few weeks, should be finalising their study notes, practising their retention of concepts and answering examination questions. Of course it is just as important that students remain healthy in the lead up to these exams by eating well, communicating with their family, getting a good night’s sleep and exercising. 

However, it is not just our students who are learning and working hard. Below I have included a range of images of some of the exciting new assessment for learning and Bump-It-Up Walls that our staff have been creating. These resources and learning activities are proven ways to better engage students, provide understanding of student learning and further develop the self regulation of learning in students. I look forward to sharing more exciting initiatives in the coming weeks.

Our Yr 11 students began their leadership journey this week. Students nominated themselves to present speeches to Year 9, 10 and 11 regarding their contributions to the Marian Community. The quality of the speeches was outstanding and we congratulate all of the students for their delivery, maturity and commitment to our College. We look forward to the interviews with the students and members of the College Senior Leadership team to determine our four College leaders for 2021.

On Tuesday our Year 8 students commenced the Smooth Sailing Program that is run through the Black Dog Institute in conjunction with the University of New South Wales. This program is run over eighteen weeks and allows the students time to focus on their own mental health and wellbeing. The completion of surveys allows for psychologists to provide the College with information to both support and provide interventions for any students that require it. However, for the majority it will be an exercise that will assist in the destigmatization and understanding of the role mental health plays, and ways to manage their own wellbeing and assist those around them. I encourage any Year 8 parents that are yet to provide permission to fill in the form via the Compass Portal.

Yours in learning

Lora Segrave and Damien Herb