Principal

Dear Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College Community,

Today is the last day of Term 2.  Therefore, I wish everyone a safe and restful time during the break.

Principal’s Formative Appraisal

Next term I will be undertaking a formative appraisal process. Below you will find a link to a letter from Debra Punton, Deputy Director: Catholic Identity, Leadership, Learning and Teaching, Chief Operations Officer - Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Limited and Panel Chair of my appraisal which will take place next term.

The purpose and process of the appraisal is explained in the letter and it also includes details of the Panel Members. Additionally, there is a link to a survey that can be completed by community members and it is due by 19 August 2024.

Thanks in advance for your thoughtful and considered responses to the survey.

Exams, Final Assessments, and Reports

Over the last few weeks students and staff have been busy finalising assessments. 

There is an enormous amount of work that takes place by staff in writing and correcting exams, setting and correcting assignments, and writing reports. While this is not a surprise to anyone about the intensity of the work at this time of year, therefore some planning and work can be done in advance. However, the most time-consuming elements are completed in a compressed period.

It is also a busy time for students, particularly our Years 10 to 12 young people who have been engaged in undertaking end-of-semester exams, SACs, and other important assessments including the GAT. Parents, carers, and guardians also feel pressure supporting their children during this time. 

Therefore, it is not surprising that people in schools are tired by the end of Semester 1. Accordingly, thank you to everyone for the manner you have approached this last month and worked hard to ensure this is a productive time that results in valuable feedback.

I also want to specifically acknowledge the work of Jodie Connell, Di Malloy, and Edson Letendrie for their work concerning all of this important work.

Year 7 2025 Enrolments

Year 7 2025 enrolment interviews will take place early next term. Details on how to book these have been included with the enrolment offer letters that were sent out yesterday (Thursday, 27th June). This year, the offer letters were sent via email, so please check your spam/junk mailbox if needed. If you encounter any issues receiving the offer letter digitally, please contact the College's registrar, Nia Robinson, for further assistance.

Currently, we have received 114 applications for Year 7 2025, and another 5 are in progress. As advised the numbers have already exceeded our expectations based on previous trends and current enrolments in Year 6 at the various primary schools in the area. We are very pleased with the interest from families in applying for a place in our Year 7 cohort for 2025. 

However, a key factor impacting the number of students we can accept is the capacity for students to be able to be placed on buses for transport to and from the College. Our bus network comprises a fleet we contract and buses managed by Leongatha Secondary College. This will not be a factor for every family applying but will be in some cases.

Therefore, while the due date was 31 May 2024, which has been advertised on our website, we will continue to accept applications. However, as a matter of justice, priority will be given to available places to those who have submitted their applications on time. 

We do not make assumptions regarding enrolments so formal applications must be completed for places in Year 7 next year.  

Year 12 Youth Ministry

Thank you to the Year 12 Youth Ministry Team and their teacher Sarah Roscoe-Smith for all their work in raising awareness for the homeless and running a donations appeal for warm clothes: coats, scarves, jumpers, puffer jackets, hats, and gloves. If you have any spare items in clean, good condition, please consider donating them. Collections will continue next term. Your contribution will make a huge difference to those in need. 

The team have also been busy selling baked goods, hot chocolate and running competitions to raise money for St Vincent De Paul.

Well done everyone on your great efforts.

Staffing News 

At the end of this week, we farewell the following staff after concluding their contracted positions concluded:

• Tony Chandler
• Milly Ellen

Next term we will welcome a new teacher Darren Besanko who will be teaching Mathematics and Science.

Congratulations to Melissa Fuller on her completion of a Graduate Certificate in Career Development Practice recently.

Sapientia Domini Docet Nos

John M Freeman