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.

St Mary MacKillop College is a member of the Association of Josephite Affiliated Secondary Schools (AJASS). This week I had the privilege of taking Scarlett and Jordan from Year 10 on the AJASS Pilgrimage to the South Island of Aotearoa, New Zealand. The other participating schools were from other AJASS schools in Victoria, Tasmania and New Zealand. Together we followed in the footsteps of Mary MacKillop and learnt more of the story of Australasia’s saint in Aotearoa.

2025 is the Jubilee Year for the Catholic Church and the theme is Pilgrims of Hope, so it is appropriate that our pilgrimage to New Zealand occurred this year.

Our pilgrimage started in Christchurch where we visited Marian College and listened to Sr Eleanor Capper talk about Mary MacKillop’s work in New Zealand. We then travelled to Temuka where we went to Mass at St Joseph’s Church and visited the MacKillop Centre. After this we drove to Roncalli College in Timaru. We were warmly welcomed by the students and staff, and in the spirit of hospitality we shared a delicious meal together.

Our final day of travel saw us move from Timaru to Queenstown. Along the way we stopped at Lake Tekapo and the Church of the Good Shepherd, travelled through Lindis Pass, and stopped for lunch at Cromwell before heading to Arrowtown. At Arrowtown we visited St Patrick’s Church and were guided around Mary MacKillop’s Cottage. Our final destination was Queenstown where our students enjoyed the Skyline gondola and a walk around the town before returning to Australia.

It was a wonderful experience and a great opportunity to learn more about St Mary MacKillop.

Nathan Lane

Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning