Strategic Development & Organisation
Ms. Jodie Connell - Deputy Principal
NAPLAN Results
The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is an annual assessment for students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. These results have arrived at the school and were recently posted home to parents and guardians of students in Years 7 & 9.
It is important to remember that NAPLAN is a snapshot of your child’s understanding and skills. No matter what your child’s results are in NAPLAN, it is important that we are supportive and gentle with our young people, celebrate success and support them when they do not achieve the goals that they themselves have set. If you have concerns about your child’s literacy or numeracy skills, and what you can do at home to support your child, please speak with their English and Mathematics teachers.
Subject Selection Expo
On Monday 29th July, the Year 9 and 10 students participated in the Subject Selection Expo. During the day students were provided with plenty of information of the wide array of subjects on offer at Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College to assist them in deciding on their 2025 course of studies. I do want to acknowledge the great work of the Curriculum Team and the Careers Team, in organising and co-ordinating the day. The Teaching and Learning Leaders and their teams also did an amazing job in providing valuable information that enabled students to be well-informed in determining their preferred pathway.
The subject area displays set up in the Senior School Building allowed parents the opportunity to hear subject offerings firsthand and ask clarifying questions of staff so that they can be helpful partners in their child’s choices. I do want to emphasise the role of parents and teachers in providing information and support for students in choosing subjects. While we might have hopes and dreams for our children, it is important that our young people take responsibility for their subject choices and pathways. It is ultimately their life and as they approach the end of school, they need to be comfortable with what they choose to study.
Subject Selection
What do I want to be when I grow up? Which subjects should I select? What are the prerequisites for my course? Have I done my career profiling?
It is challenging for our young students to already have their career mapped out before they begin their Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or Victorian Certificate of Education – Vocational Major (VCE-VM) pathway, however, these choices are very important as they will help to shape their learning journey ahead. This may shift and change over the next two to three years of their academic journey based on their experiences or change of mind in career, which is perfectly understandable, particularly given the jobs our young people will most likely enter into don’t exist yet.
Therefore, the importance of seeking advice, asking the right questions and challenging their thinking surrounding the choices they make is more important now than ever! Please make sure, as parents and guardians of our future generation, that you are engaging in these types of conversations with your children and reassuring them there is guidance throughout the process. It is advised that they should choose subjects which suit their academic ability and interests, and most importantly, always strive to achieve their best.
Students and families can refer to the Subject Selection Handbooks for Years 10 and 11.
Students and parents with questions about the curriculum are welcome to email the relevant Curriculum Leader:
Religious Education – Mr Scott Blencowe sblencowe@mmcrc.catholic.edu.au
English – Ms Rahne Widarsito rwidarsito@mmcrc.catholic.edu.au
Mathematics – Ms Lisa Hogan lhogan@mmcrc.catholic.edu.au
Science – Mrs Cassie Racschle craschle@mmcrc.catholic.edu.au
Humanities – Mr Patrick McCarthy pmccarthy@mmcrc.catholic.edu.au
Arts/Technology – Mrs Beth Winterhalter bwinterhalter@mmcrc.catholic.edu.au
Health & PE – Mr Bernard Lumsden blumsden@mmcrc.catholic.edu.au
VCE – Mrs Dianna Malloy dmalloy@mmcrc.catholic.edu.au
VCE-VM/VET – Mrs Joanne Knox jknox@mmcrc.catholic.edu.au
VCE Acceleration – Mr Patrick McCarthy pmccarthy@mmcrc.catholic.edu.aul
General Curriculum Enquiries – Mrs Dianna Malloy dmalloy@mmcrc.catholic.edu.au
Students and parents with questions about University courses and prerequisites are welcome to email a member of our Careers Team:
Careers Leader – Mrs Kate Dwyer kdwyer@mmcrc.catholic.edu.au
Careers Teacher - Mrs Melissa Fuller mfuller@mmcrc.catholic.edu.au
Careers Teacher - Mrs Cassie Raschle craschle@mmcrc.catholic.edu.au
Students will make their subject selections via the Web Preferences website. We
are all on this journey together and want to make the experience as enjoyable and seamless as possible.
Subject selections for Year 10 (2024) close on Friday 9th August.
Subject selections for Year 11 (2024) close on Friday 9th August.
At Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College, the subjects we ultimately decide to run are determined by what students elect to study. If enough students do not choose a subject, then it will not run. Consequently, subject selection and submitting preferences is critically important for your child so as to:
- Avoid subjects not running, when students in fact want to do them
- Ensure we run an adequate number of classes for popular subjects
- Ensure that the timetable is constructed to maximise access to the subjects that students choose.
- Avoid missing out on doing subjects if they want to change subjects at a later stage
- Minimise the number of subject changes so that students do not miss
Elevate Education Parent Webinar Seminars
Elevate Education continues to provide parents of Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional Student College exclusive access to their Parent Webinar Series for Term 3, 2024.
To reserve your spot, you can register for free below,
Wednesday 21st August How You Can Make Technology an Ally (& Not the Enemy!)
Click here to register for free
Here’s what Elevate will be covering on the night:
✅Technology addiction and how to reduce technology dependence
✅Practical strategies and apps to minimise procrastination
✅How to help your child use technology productively to enhance their learning
Wednesday 4th September How To Help Your Child Improve Their Note Taking
Wednesday 18th September How You Can Support Your Child During Exams
The webinars are run live online from 6.30 pm – 7.30 pm (AEST) where the presenter will share Elevates key research and skills, and will conduct a live Q&A so you can ask them questions directly. If you are unable to make the webinar, don't worry! If you sign up to attend, you'll receive the webinar recording on Thursday morning.
Should you have questions or would like to contact Elevate directly, their details are listed below.
✉️ auscoaching@elevateeducation.com