Leader of Learning & Teaching

This year at MCC, was another highly successful year of learning and pedagogical innovations.

2023 began with our School riding high on the back of our best ever HSC results, best in the Wagga Diocese and best in the entire South Western part of NSW. We continued this momentum by introducing our new Year 7 students to the high expectations and ways of learning at Marian in Term 1. Year 7 sat both the Best Start diagnostic Test and were joined by Year 9 a few weeks later for NAPLAN testing. Again the College’s results were outstanding with 9/10 domain levels above national and Diocese average.

These great results have been testament to our committed staff and students. In particular, I want to mention our teams of teachers who have been working behind the scenes to optimise teacher practice, and as a result student learning.

This year I was joined on the Gr8 Thinking Team by Dr Ludicke, Mrs Segrave, Mr Lyon, Mr Abdala, Miss Jensen, Mrs Abdala, Miss Kobold and Mr Marshall. This team of dedicated staff planned the College’s professional learning program and facilitated the PLT Program that ran in small groups for staff embedded in their timetable. One of the key focus areas this year for the team was upskilling staff in the ability to use proven critical thinking strategies to deepen the engagement and learning of students in the classroom. Some fantastic resources and changes in pedagogy have been witnessed as a result.

In the GAP Team, I was joined by Dr Ludicke, Mrs Segrave, Mr Lyon, Miss Jensen, Miss Carlile, Miss Kobold and Miss Jarvis. This group of committed professionals planned and facilitated all of the College Growth Action Plan Meetings. These meetings give staff a chance to bring a problem of practice, or work samples of a student that needs to be furthered in their learning, enabling cross KLA collaboration in order to find the best strategies to improve learning. This year, the GAP team trialled a range of different types of GAP Meetings to ensure the best possible outcomes for both staff and students.

In addition, on the Literacy Team I was joined by Mrs Segrave, Mrs Morris, Mrs Parle, Miss Carlile and Mrs Panebianco. This group of instructional experts met fortnightly to analyse the College Literacy results, diagnose areas of improvement and work with staff to embed change in practice. In Term 2, this team led a highly successful instructional approach to Vocabulary, building capacity of staff through the modelling of a range of evidence driven vocabulary strategies. I am pleased to say that we can see evidence of this great work, not only through improved student writing, but also in the vocabulary scaffolds and posters that we see around our College today.

Our teams of KLA Leaders and teachers have been busily reading, reviewing, organising, planning and programming for both finalised and draft new Curriculum approaches. Staff spent a Professional Learning Day at the beginning of Term 3 engaging in their new curriculum documentation and syllabus outcomes. Next year both our English and Maths KLA areas will introduce new programs, resources and activities in both Year 7 and 9, aligning with the new syllabus.

I wish to thank all staff and students for their focus on improving learning in 2023, and we look forward to continuing our great progress in 2024!