Dean of Middle Years 

A very successful round of Academic Progress Review Conversations was held between parents, students and Homeroom teachers in Week 1 of term. 

The conversation around students’ academic goals, strategies and progress across subjects from Semester One is always informative and valuable, as it allows a review of your child’s learning profile, identifying key themes in the feedback and refining strategies to support their continued improvement. The aim of these conversations is to support your child’s overall educational well-being and build ongoing relationship and rapport between home and school. Thank you to all parents who attended these sessions, particularly to those who provided feedback to us indicating the value and success of these meetings.

SET planning for Year 9 involved informed conversations about Senior Education Training and Pathways. Mount Alvernia understands that parents and students in Year 9 need advice and support in relation to decisions about future study areas and pathways. The aim of these conversations was to ensure that students and parents have the right information they need, to make subject selections for students into Year 10 (the beginning of the Senior phase of learning). These face-to-face meetings encouraged student voice in the conversation and feedback indicates that these meetings were productive and of benefit to parents and students. The SET plans are currently being checked and finalised, allowing for the best outcomes for our future year 10 students.

Over the past few weeks, important choices have been made with regard to year 7 and 8 subjects for next year. In Years 8 and 9, students will have greater flexibility over some aspects of their course of study. The decisions you and your child have made now help to map out an academic path for the future. Important criteria for choice of subjects included your child’s:

•              areas of interest

•              demonstrated areas of strength

•              overall educational goals

Parents, carers, and students were also asked to consider the objective of a broad and balanced education. 

The final subject offerings for each year level are dependent upon student selection numbers. While the school aims to accommodate as many preferences as possible, subjects with insufficient selections may not proceed. In such cases, reserve subjects will be allocated. 

Yesterday at a special assembly, we celebrated academic achievement and academic improvement awards, as we reviewed Semester 1 results. In our year of joy, the Mount Alvernia College motto is “Hearts of Joy, Spirit to Strive” which could be defined as ‘pursuing a purpose with passion’.  For the students who receive academic achievement awards, their demonstrated scholarship, persistence, and readiness, coupled with a commitment to academic success, has helped them achieve their aspiration.   

Celebrating those students who’ve made significant improvements in their academic performance in Semester 1, 2025, is about acknowledging the effort, resilience, and persistence that is required and that underpins improvement. It is those qualities of resistance and persistence – often described as GRIT in popular vernacular – that we encourage and applaud in all Mount Alvernians.

Finally I would like to highlight one of the Learning Dispositions of Mt A – agency - and what agency means for your life. Agency is the sense of control that you feel in your life, your capacity to influence your own thoughts and behaviour, and have faith in your ability to handle a wide range of tasks and situations. Your sense of agency helps you to be psychologically stable, yet flexible in the face of conflict or change. Agency is your very own power - your ability - to affect the future.

Whether you and your child have been involved in mentor meetings, SET planning and/or subject selection, hopefully these pursuits have contributed to the quality of agency in our students.

Amanda Bopf

Dean of Middle Years – Transition and Outcomes