Strategic Development & Organisation
Ms. Jodie Connell - Deputy Principal
The 2024 academic year has come and gone and we now shift our sights to 2025 as we look to build on all that was achieved this year.
Congratulations to all students who were recognised for their efforts in 2024 at the End of Year Awards.
Subject changes 2025
A lot of time and effort goes into supporting students at Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College with their subject choices and ensuring that they choose the subjects that align with their career aspirations or interests and passions. As our timetable and staffing is informed by the subject choices our students make, it is essential that students pick the right subjects.
However, it is inevitable that some students find their career aspirations have changed since completing their subject selections and they now wish to change their subjects to align with their new aspirations. This needs to be done as quickly as possible as joining a class several weeks in, puts a student at a real disadvantage as they catch up on what they’ve missed. Therefore, any subject changes must be completed by Friday 7th February 2025.
Students are reminded that seeking a subject change to be with their friends or to have a particular teacher are not valid reasons for a subject change. Furthermore, some changes are not possible because of timetabling constraints and classes already being filled. This highlights the importance of students making carefully considered choices at subject selection time.
End-of-year reports
“The purpose of learning is growth, and our minds, unlike our bodies, can continue growing as we continue to live.” —Mortimer Adler
Our Progressive Online Reporting helps our students improve in all areas of learning by providing:
- Greater accountability of students’ work habits
- Students and parents the ability to see results and feedback online
- An opportunity to contribute to the review and reflection of the tasks
- Timely feedback – the feedback is issued when the task is completed and assessed
- The ability of the teacher and the parent to identify, intervene and improve
Parents are able to access results and feedback throughout the semester rather than waiting for the ‘End of Semester Report’ for indications on how their child is progressing.
Progressive Reporting will allow the parent and the student to see:
- What they have achieved
- What they need to improve and
- Suggested paths for improvement so action can be taken to allow this to happen in preparation for the upcoming task.
Semester 2 reports have been uploaded to SIMON (and accessed through PAM) and are now available to download.
This will provide judgments across a range of work habits, values for Victorian Curriculum levels (For Yr 7-10 classes), VCE Outcomes and Unit Results (For VCE classes) as well as summarising the grades for major assessment tasks completed during the semester.
These reports will not include class teacher comments as such information has already been provided with each assessment task. A step by step guide on accessing these reports is included below.
Accessing Reports
Step 1 – Log in to PAM
Step 2 – Click on any student
Step 3 – Click on Assessment Reports on left hand side menu
Step 4 – Click on any of the available report and the action button to preview or download the report.
PAM (Parental Access Module) can be accessed via the following:
www.pam.mmcrc.catholic.edu.au
Or
www.pam.mackillopleongatha.catholic.edu.au
Or via the College website
Parents can choose to either download a copy of the report and save it to the home computer or print a copy. If accessing these reports causes some difficulties then please contact the school to discuss options.
If you have misplaced or have forgotten your PAM Code please email the Office info@mmcrc.catholic.edu.au
What’s important in a report?
School reports can mean anxious times for children too. ‘Will my parents be disappointed or proud?’ is the main concern of most children. Kids of all ages take their cues from their parents, so your reaction to their school report can affect the way they see themselves as learners and as people. Focus your attention on these aspects to make sense of children’s reports:
Expectations
Expectations are tricky. If they are too high, then kids can be turned off learning. Too low and there is nothing to strive for. Pitch your expectations in line with a child’s abilities. A quick check of your child’s last report cards may give you a good yardstick.
Different rates of learning
Remember there are slow bloomers, late developers and steady-as-you-go kids in every classroom, so avoid comparing your child to siblings, your friends’ children and even yourself when you were young. Instead, look for individual progress.
Safeguard confidence
Self-confidence is a pre-requisite for learning, so be prepared to be as positive and encouraging as possible.
Please take the time to read your child’s report and discuss the report with your child talking about strengths first before looking at areas that need improvement. Ask your child how they performed and discuss their concerns. Be mindful that no matter how good, bad or indifferent your child’s report may be, he or she can wipe the slate clean and make a brand new start next year. And it’s amazing the difference a summer holiday can make.
Edrolo Textbooks
There are a number of VCE Science and Humanities subjects that are using Edrolo textbooks for 2025. Please note that the cost of these books includes a printed textbook as well as the complete digital textbook with access to video solutions to every question in the book, exemplar solutions, and hundreds of exam questions. Staff also have access to digital data on how students are tracking including their understanding of content (strengths and weaknesses) as well as completion of class work. Please note the cost of the subscription is subsidised by the College, there will be a subject levy invoiced to families at the end of Term One, 2024 for these subjects in lieu of a cost on the booklist.
Booklists
Booklists for 2025 are now available on the College Website.
Booklists need to be completed online by Friday 6th December to avoid additional fees.
How to place your order - Campion Education
Ordering FAQ's - Campion Education
If purchasing second-hand online, please be sure to check the current booklists to ensure that you are purchasing the correct editions. Please note Edrolo books are reprinted and updated yearly, they will be distributed by the College at the beginning of Term One, 2025.
Stationary Lists
The stationary lists are now completed and published online for ordering.
https://express.officechoice.com.au/home.aspx
To ensure stock availability and avoid any backorders, Office Choice have kindly ask if parents could place their orders promptly. Please note that they will be closing the booklist at COB on 13th December, and all orders must be placed by this date.
The Collection Day will be Friday 24th January from 11am – 3pm and will take place in the 7/8 Building.
Year 10 Work Experience 2025
If you are able to help by placing a student in the week of Monday 2nd June to Friday 6th June 2025, please let Melissa Preston know via email on mpreston@mmcrc.catholic.edu.au
Farewe
This will be my final newsletter as I am leaving the College to take up a position at Padua College, Mornington as Assistant Head of Campus and Learning & Pedagogy Leader.
I am filled with a deep sense of gratitude and appreciation for this incredible school community. It has been both an honor and a privilege to serve as Deputy Principal over the past 5 years. The experiences, the lessons, and the friendships that I have gained here will stay with me for a lifetime.
First, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the entire staff. Each of you plays a vital role in shaping this school into the supportive and dynamic environment that it is. Your dedication, hard work, and passion for educating our students are truly inspiring. You have made my time here meaningful, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to work alongside such talented individuals.
To the students, it has been an absolute joy to be a part of your journey. You are the heart and soul of this school, and your energy, curiosity, and resilience have inspired me daily. You remind me why we do what we do in education—to help you grow, to guide you as you discover your strengths, and to encourage you to reach for your dreams. I am confident that each of you has the potential to make a lasting impact in the world, and I can't wait to see the paths you will take in the future.
To our parent community, thank you for the trust you placed in me and the unwavering support you have shown. Your commitment to your children’s growth and learning has been truly inspiring, and your involvement has been the cornerstone of our shared success. Together, we have nurtured an environment where young minds flourish, where values are instilled, and where futures are shaped.
As I reflect on my time here, I am reminded of the many moments—both big and small—that have shaped me, and I hope I have had a positive impact on this community as well. Leading this school has been a learning experience for me, and I am proud of all that we’ve accomplished together. But beyond achievements and milestones, what truly matters are the connections we’ve built, the lives we’ve touched, and the growth we’ve all experienced.
As I prepare to step away from this role, I want to leave you with a few words of encouragement, especially for our students:
- Believe in yourselves. The future may seem uncertain at times, but if you remain true to who you are and trust in your abilities, there is nothing you cannot achieve.
- Embrace challenges. Growth doesn’t come without effort. Don’t shy away from challenges—tackle them head-on, learn from them, and know that they will only make you stronger.
- Be kind and compassionate. As you move forward in life, always remember that the way you treat others matters. Kindness, empathy, and respect for one another are the values that will guide you in every step you take.
- Stay curious. Never stop asking questions. Never stop seeking knowledge. The world is full of opportunities for those who are willing to explore, learn, and grow.
Though my time here has come to an end, I will carry the memories, the lessons, and the inspiration from this school with me. I am excited for the next chapter in my journey, but I will always hold this community close to my heart.
Thank you again for allowing me the opportunity to serve and lead here. It has truly been a privilege, and I wish you all continued success and happiness in the future.
Jodie Connell