DEPUTY PRINCIPAL - TEACHING & LEARNING 

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.

Semester 2 Year 10 and 11 

Congratulations to our Year 11 students for completing their formal classes for semester 2 today. Next week they will complete their semester 2 exams. Our Year 10 students will complete exams for English, Maths and Science on Monday 1 December and Tuesday 2 December, before starting their orientation program for 2026 Year 11. 

End of Year Arrangements for Year 11s 

As communicated to parents via PAM and in our last newsletter, Year 11s will not be required at school on Monday 17 and 24 of November. 

Exam Preparation – Study Skills Video Presentation 

To assist students prepare for their exams, I have put together a short study skills video here. I hope this is a useful resource for our students. 

We wish our Year 10 and 11 students all the best as they prepare for their upcoming exams. 

2026 Subject Selection Process 

Next week our senior students entering Year 12 in 2026 will attend interviews with staff to finalise their subject choices for next year. I always enjoy these conversations as I get to find out more about the unique pathways our students wish to pursue once they finish secondary school. Thank you to our amazing Pathways Team for organising these interviews. Thank you also to our parents and guardians who will attend the interviews with their child and support the subject selection process. I hope parents and guardians find the conversations beneficial as we talk about your child’s goals and plans for the future. The interviews for students entering Year 11 in 2026 will be held from Tuesday 25 to Friday 28 November. 

On Monday, Year 8 and 9 students and their parents/guardians were emailed their elective choices for next year. It is an exciting time for these students as they get to explore new studies through our broad elective program. 

2026 Year 11 and 12 Orientation Programs 

The orientation program for our 2026 Year 12 cohort will be held from Tuesday 25 to Friday 28 November, and from Tuesday 2 December to Friday 5 December for our 2026 Year 11 students. The orientation programs give our students a solid start to the academic year ahead. They also provide an opportunity to set some goals for next year and to reset standards. Students will receive a timetable for their orientation program, and it is an expectation that all students attend their orientation classes. 

Even though the summer holidays are getting closer each day, we encourage all students to keep working hard and persevering until the end of the school year. A lot of hard work at this time of the year can make a big difference.  

2026 Booklists 

Booklists for 2026 Year 7 to 12 are now available on the Campion website. Campion is the booklist supplier to St Mary MacKillop College, and the link to the Campion website can be found on the College website in the top banner, or accessed at the following web address: https://campion.com.au/ using 7V4W as your code. The due date for orders is Sunday 15 December.  

Students in Year 11 and 12 in 2026 will confirm their subject choices during their Senior School Transition interview. 

Students in Year 9 and 10 in 2026 have been emailed their elective choices so they can purchase the appropriate resources from the booklist. 

Nathan Lane

Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning