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.

In my report for this fortnight I have included some information on the different activities and events that will take place over the next few weeks.

2025 Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews

We believe education is a partnership between teachers, parents and students, and we encourage communication between all parties. Parent/Teacher/Student interviews are an integral part of the ongoing school-home relationship, and we value the very important conversations we have about your child’s learning.

Year 7 TA Interviews

Our interviews for 2025 commence with the Year 7 TA interviews on Monday 3 March. Each term students in Year 7 to 12 meet with their homeroom teacher and talk about the progress they are making in their studies, their learning habits, the goals they have set for themselves and any support they require. We call this our TA (Teacher Advisor) interview process.

Parents and guardians of Year 7 students are invited to attend, with your child, their first TA interview. Interviews are for 20 minutes with your child’s homeroom teacher and will be held from 3:45pm to 5:45pm. Bookings can be made through the Parent Access Module (PAM) and interviews will be held in your child’s homeroom. We believe attending your child’s first TA interview is an opportunity to develop a positive relationship between the family and their homeroom teacher, and to assist you in developing a better understanding of the benefits of the TA program. The interview will involve feedback from both the homeroom teacher as well as from the child on how they have settled into St Mary MacKillop College. Students will discuss their interests and learning needs as well as set goals, discuss learning habits and address any questions they may have. If you are unable to attend, your child will still have their TA interview with their homeroom teacher during regular school hours. For further information, please refer to the information included in this newsletter.

VCE/VCE VM/VPC/VET Interviews

Parents and students are invited to attend the VCE/VCE VM/VPC/VET Parent/Teacher/Student Interview evening on Wednesday 26 March from 4.00pm to 8.00pm. These interviews include any Year 10 student studying a Year 11 VCE Unit 1 Subject. Please refer to the information included in this newsletter.

2025 NAPLAN

Students in Year 7 and 9 will complete NAPLAN tests from Wednesday 12 March to Monday 17 March, with makeup tests on Tuesday 18 March if they have been absent.

Below is the schedule, mandated dates and proposed times. We ask that parents and carers avoid making appointments for their child during the NAPLAN testing times.

Wed 12 March	Thurs 13 March	Fri 14 March	Mon 17 March	Tues 18 March
Writing: 42 mins	Reading: 65 mins	Conventions of language: 45 mins	Numeracy: 65 mins	Catch-up tests
Lessons 3 and 4	Lessons 1 and 2	Lessons 1 and 2	Lessons 1 and 2	Lessons 1 and 2

The NAPLAN tests will be conducted online. Students must bring their MacBook fully charged to all tests. They must also bring a pen or pencil and headphones for the writing, conventions of language and numeracy tests. Please remind your child of these requirements. Parents and guardians will receive a NAPLAN report by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) later in the year showing their child’s achievements against the national standards.

Students may be withdrawn from the testing program by their parent/carer. Withdrawals are intended to address issues such as religious beliefs and philosophical objections to testing. A withdrawal form must be completed prior to any test the student is being withdrawn from.

If you would like to help your child prepare for NAPLAN, please read the attached information and go to https://nap.edu.au/naplan/public-demonstration-site for practice questions.

A catch-up session will run in lessons 1 and 2 on Tuesday 18 March to ensure all students have the opportunity to participate.

Please click here to be taken to the VCAA website for further information regarding the upcoming NAPLAN tests.

We wish our students all the best as they complete this year’s NAPLAN tests. Please contact me should you have any questions.

International Women’s Day – Saturday 8 March

Saturday 8 March is International Women’s Day. It is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality. This year’s theme is ‘Accelerate Action’. The following is from the International Women’s Day website:

Collectively, we can Accelerate Action for gender equality.

Step forward in solidarity for International Women's Day (IWD) 2025 on March 8 to help #AccelerateAction.

At the current rate of progress, it will take until 2158, which is roughly five generations from now, to reach full gender parity, according to data from the World Economic Forum.

Focusing on the need to Accelerate Action emphasizes the importance of taking swift and decisive steps to achieve gender equality. It calls for increased momentum and urgency in addressing the systemic barriers and biases that women face, both in personal and professional spheres.

So, together, let's Accelerate Action to speed up the rate of progress worldwide.

Read more about International Women’s Day here.

I pray for all the women in our College community. May we all help to create a gender equal world.

Nathan Lane

Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning

DATES TO REMEMBER

MARCH 2025