Learning and Teaching 

Create Belonging

Over the past few weeks, our students have had the opportunity to participate in a wide range of extracurricular activities across many learning areas. These experiences provide valuable opportunities for students to extend their learning beyond the classroom, develop new skills, and pursue their interests and passions.

I would like to thank our staff for their commitment to sourcing, organising, and supporting these opportunities. Their dedication and willingness to go above and beyond enrich the educational experience of our students and help foster engagement, confidence, and a strong sense of belonging within our College community. We are grateful for the significant time and effort staff invest in creating these meaningful learning experiences for our students.

Timetabling for 2027 is now underway, with significant planning taking place to ensure we can provide a broad and engaging range of learning opportunities for our students. A key feature of our timetable is that it is built around student choice and voice. The subject selections made by students inform the construction of class groupings and timetable blocks, allowing us to create pathways that best meet student interests, strengths, and future aspirations. Students will be notified of their subject allocations for 2027 in November.

Strive for Excellence

A key teaching practice being strengthened across the College is the use of daily review, where lessons begin by revisiting learning from the previous day. This approach helps students consolidate and reinforce their understanding, creating strong foundations for new learning. By regularly recalling and applying prior knowledge, students are better able to connect concepts and retain information over time. Our staff have undertaken professional learning in the implementation of daily review and other evidence-based instructional strategies, and we continue to develop teacher expertise in these areas. This ongoing commitment to professional growth ensures that our teaching practices have the greatest possible impact on student learning and achievement.

Chromebook Loan Procedure

The College’s Bring Your Own Supported Device (BYOSD) policy supports students to have access to a suitable device for learning. Where needed, students may borrow a day-loan Chromebook from the Library if their device is being repaired, purchased or has a depleted battery.

Chromebooks are available for one-day use only and must be returned by the end of the school day. Loan devices are not intended for ongoing use, and borrowing patterns are monitored. Students with overdue devices may be restricted from further borrowing until the device is returned.

Overdue devices will be followed up with students, Pastoral Teachers and, where necessary, House Leaders. Any damaged devices will also be followed up through the student’s House Leader.

Long-term loan requests must be referred by the student’s Pastoral Teacher to the Deputy Principal of Learning and Teaching for approval. Once approved, the Library and IT teams will arrange the loan.

Share Success

Congratulations to our Music Department and students on their outstanding success at the recent Yarram Eisteddfod. The dedication, talent, and commitment of these students demonstrated their wonderful talents and provided a fantastic opportunity to showcase the strength of music at our College. We are grateful to our Music staff for the many hours spent preparing and supporting students to perform at their very best.

The excitement continues to build as we look forward to our 2026 School Production, High School Musical JR, with opening night fast approaching. Tickets are now on sale, and students and staff have been working very hard behind the scenes and on stage to bring this production to life. From rehearsals and choreography to set design and musical preparation, the commitment of everyone involved has been wonderful. We encourage families and community members to support our talented students and enjoy what promises to be a highly entertaining and memorable performance.

These achievements highlight the rich opportunities available to our students through the Performing Arts and reflect the passion, creativity, and dedication of both our students and staff. We are proud of all that they have accomplished and look forward to celebrating their continued success.

Alumni Profile - Tegan McKay 

Where has life taken you since graduating from Catholic College Sale?

My path since leaving Catholic College Sale has definitely not been a straight one. After finishing Year 12, I moved to Melbourne and started out in a completely different career, studying and working as a Remedial Massage Therapist. I returned to the country, continued working, and then, at 24, decided to completely change direction and go back to university to become a Psychologist.

Becoming a Psychologist involved six years of full-time study, which I completed over eight & a half years. I deliberately took the longer road so that study could fit around life. During those years we started our family, welcomed our children and continued to make travel and experiences a priority.

In 2019, while I was still finishing my psychology studies, I started my own online private practice. What began online continued to grow, and in 2024 I opened an in-person psychology clinic here in Sale. Today, we have a team of practitioners providing support both online and in person.

What do you enjoy most about what you’re doing now?

I think what I enjoy most is the variety. No two days really look the same. I might be seeing patients in the clinic, consulting at a school, working alongside our team or occasionally presenting a workshop.

I also really value the flexibility and autonomy that comes with running my own practice. It has allowed me to build a career that fits around my family and the things that are important to me.

But ultimately, the part I enjoy most about being a Psychologist is working with people. It is a real privilege when someone trusts you with their story, and I love being able to help people better understand themselves and give them practical tools that they can take with them beyond the therapy room.

What are some of your favourite memories from your time at Catholic College Sale? Was there a particular event, tradition, subject or experience that stands out?

I have great memories of the camps, particularly our Tasmania camp, the Outdoor Ed snow camp and our Year 12 retreat. They were probably some of the experiences that stand out most when I look back.

But I also remember plenty of the smaller, everyday things. The ongoing banter with Robbo, what felt like my daily Vegemite scroll ritual from the canteen, and just the general fun and friendships that were simply part of your everyday life at the time.

What advice would you give your younger self back in your school days?

I think I’d tell my younger self to back herself a little more and not feel like she needed to have everything figured out.

When you’re at school, it can feel like you’re meant to know what comes next. What you’ll study, what career you’ll have and what your life is supposed to look like. I’ve learnt that life doesn’t really work like that.

Plans change. Priorities change. You change. Sometimes things take longer than expected, and sometimes you end up somewhere you never planned to be.

I’d also tell myself to spend less time worrying about what everyone else is doing. Travel when you can, make time for the people who matter, give things a go and don’t be afraid to change your mind.

And don’t get so caught up in getting to the next thing that you forget to enjoy and appreciate what’s already around you.

Is there a message you’d like to share with the current students or staff at Catholic College Sale?

To the students, make the most of what’s around you, but also remember that school is just one part of your life. Some friendships will continue long after school, others won’t, and you’ll meet plenty of people and discover new parts of yourself as life changes. Try things, ask questions and don’t take yourself too seriously. There is a lot of life outside the school gates that you haven’t experienced yet.

To the staff, connection is so important. How a young person experiences their interactions with the adults around them can have a lasting impact. The words you use, the interest you take in them, the encouragement you give, and simply making them feel seen and valued can stay with them well beyond their school years. Your influence as a teacher or mentor can be far greater than you ever get the opportunity to see. I was fortunate to have some amazing mentors throughout my time at Catholic College Sale, and I still appreciate the impact they had on me.