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.

Next week we see the completion of another school year. On Monday evening we will join together as a community and celebrate academic excellence at our annual Presentation Night. I look forward to celebrating and recognising the hard work, effort and achievements of our amazing students who will receive awards throughout the evening.

Our Year 7 to 11 students will shortly receive their end of semester reports. I hope all the hard work has paid off for our students and they will receive the recognition they deserve in these reports. I have included below some information about our Semester 2 Reports.

On Monday 11th December, our Year 12 students will receive their VCE results and ATAR scores. Throughout this year our senior students have studied for many hours and worked to the best of their abilities. I hope the commitment and dedication our students have shown towards their studies are reflected in the scores they will receive on Monday.

I wish all members of our school community the very best of the Liturgical season we are entering. I love this time of the year, and I am reminded to wait patiently and quietly for Christmas and to reflect on the humbling event which is the birth of our brother, Jesus. This time of the year is also a reminder of the depth of commitment to the world Mother Mary made. Over the next few weeks as we attend Church and share in Eucharistic celebrations, may we prepare ourselves for the coming of Jesus.

Sincere thanks to all members of our community for your support throughout the year. We are in a privileged position to be able to work with the young people in our care. May all members of our community have a holy and peace filled Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year. May it be a time of joy, connection and love for your family. I hope you take the opportunity to rest, recuperate and celebrate with your family and friends over these holidays. I look forward to another exciting year of teaching and learning in 2024.

Holiday reading

The holidays provide an opportunity to do some reading. We encourage our students to read the novels for their English classes in 2024. We also promote reading for leisure, and the Reading Australia website provides some tips for parents to support their children with their reading and literacy development (here). 

Semester Two Reports

At St Mary MacKillop College we recognise the importance of ongoing feedback to students about their academic progress. In light of this, we have the Parent Access Module (PAM) where grades for assessment tasks are published and feedback is provided to inform students of their achievements and areas for improvement. We encourage students and parents to access PAM regularly and to have conversations at home about their child’s academic progress. End of Semester reports have almost been completed and will shortly be available online via PAM. I encourage parents and guardians to take the time to discuss the report with their child.

To review detailed feedback on each assessment task, please refer to the individual subject Learning Area, accessible via PAM. Hardcopies of End of Semester reports will only be printed and posted home over the holidays if specifically requested. Please contact the office before Friday 15th December if you need any assistance accessing reports or if you need your password reset.

If any parent is unable to access their child’s report online or does not receive their specifically requested hardcopy by the beginning of Term 1, 2024, please do not hesitate to contact the Front Office.

All Victorian Government and Catholic schools now must use the Victorian Curriculum F-10 for determining achievement levels for students in Years 7 to 10. Schools are required to report on the achievement of all students including those with disabilities ‘without exception’. The Victorian Curriculum achievement graphs contain some significant changes, with an explanation of new terms and codes under each graph. If you have any questions or concerns with the reporting of Victorian Curriculum levels for your child, please contact me.

Please note: Some students who have a Personal Learning Program (PLP) may have an expected achievement level set that differs from their year level in some subjects. Sally Op’t Hoog, the Learning Diversity Leader, has emailed families about this.

Victorian Curriculum Standards

The scoring range for the Victorian Curriculum for Foundation Level to Level 10 is structured in 0.5 increments which nominally equate to 6 monthly progress within an achievement standard.

Achievement means a teacher locating a student on a continuum of learning for a Learning Area and /or Capability by making an on-balance, holistic, evidence-based, and defensible judgement of assessment evidence gathered during a reporting period.

Progress means representing the growth in learning that has occurred by referencing the last time such achievement standards were reported against for that student in the school.

Typically, by the end of the year, students should have achieved the following levels for the Victorian Curriculum as outlined in the table below. When students are at these levels on the continuum they are considered as ‘at standard’.

Grading Scale for Year 7 to 11 Assessment Tasks

End of Semester Reports: Grading for Assessment Tasks 

Assessments at Year 7 – 11 use the following grading criteria: 

VH (Very High):           All criteria addressed to a very high standard or 90 – 100%

H (High):                       Most criteria addressed to a high standard or 75 – 89%

M (Medium):               Criteria addressed to a medium standard or 55 – 74%

L (Low):                         Criteria addressed to a low standard or 40 – 54%

VL (Very Low):             Criteria addressed to a low standard or 30 – 39%

NY (Not Yet):              Student is not eligible for a result due to: Non-submission of work by the due date; lowest standard not met; copying or; plagiarism; or below 30%

LS (Late Submission):Late but Satisfactory

NA (Not Assessed):    Task Not Assessed

AB (Absence):               Absent for task

Grading Scale for Year 9 Project Based Learning (PBL) in English, Maths, Religious Education and Science

• Exceeding
• Accomplished
• Consolidating
• Beginning
• Not Yet Evident
• Absent

End of Semester Result for VCE units:

S – Satisfactory. Assessment tasks completed.

N – Not Satisfactory. Insufficient work completed, or work below standard.

Student Voice – 2023 Learning Survey

I recently sent our students a survey to reflect on their learning throughout the year. I am incredibly impressed at the reflections the students provided about their achievements throughout the year and how they overcame any challenges in their learning. I have included below some of the responses from the survey questions.

Explain the highlight of your learning in 2023.

• When I got a very high on most of my assessments.
• My sister and I ran a writing club in Terms 2 and 3, and ran a writing competition in Term 4. It was pretty cool; I made a few new friends and became familiar with some of the students in the younger year levels. 
• Being able to do more interactive things in small groups.
• I like going to VET Hairdressing and getting to know everyone. I have really enjoyed the time.
• The highlight of my learning in 2023 would be the different ways to do tests and assessments. Every class is a different form of work and it doesn't feel repetitive.

What were you most proud of this year in your learning?

• I was proud of successfully running our business in Money Markets and generating a profit.
• I felt like this year I was able to get the hang of planning my essays for English. It makes me so happy to not struggle so much and to have a system to work with.
• I started learning calculus and found out that it's quite fun.
• Whenever I get highs or very highs in Mathematics.
• When I improved my grades from semester 1 to semester 2.

Explain how you have grown as a learner throughout the year.

• I have grown as a learner as I am putting more effort into my work now than I was before.
• I feel like I have really tried this year, putting effort into my school work even at home.
• I can work with more people now
• At the start of the year, I was really bad a Mathematics, but after studying I know a lot more.
• Throughout the year I have grown as a learner by asking more questions.

What is your favourite subject and why?

• My favourite subject is Food Tech because I love cooking and it is so fun learning new recipes and testing new skills.
• This year I accelerated in Vis Comm, and it is my favourite subject; I was able to majorly improve my art ability, especially in design. I also found that I actually really enjoy Psychology as well!
• My favourite subject is English because I love reading and writing.
• English, because I like writing and creating stories.
• My favourite subject would be PE or Mathematics because I love doing sports and getting moving, and Mathematics is another thing I enjoy doing.

Explain how you overcame any challenges in your learning.

• I thought about it from a different perspective and asked for help.
• I overcame the challenge of studying for each of my subjects equally by using a randomiser and spending an hour studying each subject the spinner landed on without replacement until every subject on the wheel was done.
• I have overcome my fear of Mathematics by asking for help and trying my best.
• I overcame challenges in my learning by asking the teachers any questions that I had.
• I have overcome many challenges by trying to stay persistent in my learning.

Academic Recognition Program

Recently teachers nominated students from their Year 10 classes for academic and endeavour recognition. The following students were nominated:

Academic Recognition

Healthy Choices: Millicent Glowrey & Zoe White

Graphics Mix: Miley Keam

Science: Holly Ayars, Vanessa Hall

Maths: Miley Keam

Creative Writing/Film Studies: Hugh Langley-Sheldrick

1st Year VET Building & Construction: Tarkyn Doyle

RE: Vanessa Hall, Brooke Pearson

Food For Entertaining: Montana Davies

Italian: Brooklyn Benham

Psychology: Miley Keam, Millicent Glowrey

Endeavour Recognition

Healthy Choices: Charli Lovell, Mia Wong, Ava Seymour

Graphics Mix: William Tilbrook

Science: Benny Cimino, Koby McMillan

Maths: Caitlin McKissack

EAL: Mawa Abitama

Creative Writing/Film Studies: Jodie South

1st Year VET Building & Construction: William Tilbrook

RE: Bella Henderson, Judaya Majur

Food For Entertaining: Billy O'Toole

Italian: Will Russo

Psychology: Vanessa Hall, Jodie South

Thank you to the Academic Committee for organising this initiative. Congratulations to everyone who has been nominated this year.