Learning & Teaching

Unit 3 / 4 Trial Examinations

Unit 3 / 4 Practice Examinations are an integral and compulsory component in student preparation for the VCAA scored examinations. These practice examinations provide students with timed practice in completing examinations in a similar environment to end of semester exams and provide a summative indication of the progress made by students in relation to their examination preparation. Staff use these examination results to inform the structuring of their revision program as well as providing further information which assists in finalising derived examination scores for the VCAA.

This year, as publicised, the practice examinations will be scheduled from Friday, the 18th September - Monday, the 28th September. The final timetable for these examination allocations was provided to students and families through formal communication previously this term. A formal presentation to students included information about student conduct and examination regulations. External supervisors will administer these examinations. These examinations will mirror the end of year VCAA examinations and, as such, students must adhere to all examinations rules and regulations.

All students will be provided with feedback on each exam and an academic transcript will be sent home to families summarising the outcomes of these examinations. Much importance is placed upon the benefits of these practice examinations and their purpose as part of a whole revision process and therefore all practice exams are deemed as compulsory.

MSJ staff will be present at the school during the examination time, with the front office open for external communication purposes. Students are not required to wear uniform for these examinations and are only required onsite for their examinations. Students need to arrive 30 minutes prior to the commencement of each examination. All trial examinations will be held in the MacKillop Centre.

VTAC Application Process

Year 12 students have been working through the VTAC Application process with guidance from Ms Nolan, Ms Stafrace and House Leaders.

We are very aware that this experience can be both exciting and daunting as students begin to consider their pathway beyond life at MSJ. Some students will be very clear about their plans for 2026 and will work towards achieving those goals. Others will still be trying to work out just what it is they would like to pursue.

As educators and parents, it is important we acknowledge there is no normal in this process. Our main aim is to guide and coach students so they can reach their full potential in both an academic and a personal sense.

VTAC Applications are due on 28 September by 5.00pm. These applications require a $83 application fee. Any applications submitted after this date will attract a higher fee. Please visit the VTAC site for more information relating to applying: https://vtac.edu.au/applying

PARENT / TEACHER / STUDENT CONFERENCES

Thank you to all parents who attended the parent teacher student conferences during week 6. These conferences are a great way of obtaining key information about your children and their academic progress in their classes. A reminder for families to continue to access PAM to obtain timely feedback about summative and formative assessment results.

Chantelle Gauci - Deputy Principal, Learning and Staff

Building Life Skills for the Future

Previously, our Year 10, 11 and 12 students took part in the Life Skills program as part of the College's Senior Pastoral Program.

Developed by our Learning Mentors and House Leaders, the program was created to give students the opportunity to build practical skills that will support them well beyond their school years. While the classroom plays an important role in preparing students academically, Life Skills focuses on the everyday knowledge and confidence needed as young people become more independent.

Students were able to choose topics that were most relevant to their own interests and future plans. Year 10 and 11 students completed two workshops, while Year 12 students selected one session that best suited their needs as they prepare for life after school.

Workshop topics included:

• Nutrition and Budgeting
• The Reality of University Life
• Home Maintenance
• Practical Car Maintenance and Buying Your First Car
• Financial Literacy (budgeting, tax and investing)
• The Realities of Moving Out of Home
• Gap Year
• Applying for a Job and Interview Skills

Each workshop was designed to give students practical advice and useful information that they can apply in real-life situations, whether that's preparing for university, entering the workforce, managing their finances or living independently.

The Life Skills program is another way we are supporting our students to become confident, capable young adults. We thank our Learning Mentors and House Leaders for their work in developing and delivering this valuable initiative, and we look forward to continuing the program in the future.

Georgia Bettiol - Teacher &House Leader (McCormack)

Library News:

Book Week 2026

Book Week 2026’s theme, A Symphony of Stories, gave the library a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with the music department.

We received some fantastic entries in our Album Cover Inspired by a Favourite Book competition, making the judging a challenging task! Congratulations to Lila Boyd (Year 12) for her first-place depiction of Five Survive by Holly Jackson. Sejal Singh (Year 9) was awarded second place, with Alexis Oliver (Year 7) taking out third place.

We are also very grateful to Phoebe Black, Bernice Chu, Evie Scrap, Sarah Muyunga, and Amalia Brocas-Reti as MC, who performed in the Library at lunchtime to a very large gathering of students. The performances were so well received that we are already looking at adding more lunchtime concerts in the future.

Karaoke was another popular activity—we could easily have continued for the whole afternoon with the entire Library singing along! From music and clubs to craft activities, there was something for everyone to enjoy throughout the week.

The annual trivia competition was the finale of Book Week, with more than 100 staff and students joining us in the Byrne Open Space for a festive and feisty competition. The day was won by a team of Year 9 students, with the teachers’ team tying for second place with another team. There was only one point separating the top positions!

Our New Quiet Reading Space

In early September, we also launched our new Quiet Reading Lounge. Created in collaboration with Year 9 student Charlotte Jones whose ideas helped inspire the space, it includes a cosy Book Nook. The space has been designed as a place for students to enjoy quiet reading, take some time away from the busyness of the school day, and relax with a book.

We hope the space will become a welcoming retreat for students looking for a quiet place to read, reflect, or simply enjoy some peaceful time in the Library.

Larissa Lever - Librarian / LRC Leader

Bullying No Way Week: Aug. 17-21st

Bullying is everyone’s responsibility, and small acts can make a real difference. This year’s theme, 'Small Acts, Big Impacts', reminds us that actions don’t need to be big to change someone’s world. In our school and wider communities, our goal is to build environments where everyone belongs, diversity is celebrated and bullying is never accepted.

To say 'No Way', Library staff hosted a range of engaging activities, including bracelet making and an interactive photo booth, designed to help students connect with one another, discover new friendship groups, and strengthen their sense of belonging within the MSJ community.

At MSJ, we are committed to ensuring every student feels safe, respected, valued, and empowered. Through opportunities like these, we encourage our girls to build positive connections, celebrate inclusivity, and play an active role in creating a community where bullying has no place.

For more information on bullying prevention, resources and support services, head to: https://www.bullyingnoway.gov.au/

Tia Mell - Marketing, Events & Communications Officer

Year 12 Food Studies

As the Year 12’s complete their final few weeks in the kitchen, they have been exploring the topics of food security, food ethics, food sovereignty and sustainable food production and have completed an inquiry research task.

They have produced a range of dishes including home-made fresh fettucine pasta with an alfredo sauce using the pasta machines and organic ingredients. They mastered this skill with precision.

Helen Simcic - Student Engagement Associate

Year 10 Science of Food: Celebrating Food Through Science

The aroma’s from the kitchen with the Year 10 Science of Food classes and Celebrating Food classes have had staff walk by and pop in and ask, ‘what’s cooking?’

The students in the Science of Food have been studying the topics of nutrition, diet related diseases, fad diets and credible sources of information. They have created pide with a meat filling and a vegetarian option and home-made focaccia without any preservatives.

The Year 10 Celebrating Food class have explored Indigenous culture and cuisine and were adventurous in taste testing ingredients the have never tried before including finger limes, Davidson plums and meal worms. They made lemon myrtle biscuits with a macaroon topping.

Helen Simcic - Student Engagement Associate

Building Digital Skills Through Innovation and Design

Our Year 7 and 8 Digital Technologies students have been developing their digital literacy, creativity and problem-solving skills through a range of engaging and purposeful learning experiences. Year 7 students have explored data acquisition and analysis, learning to collect, interpret and communicate information through meaningful data visualisations.

They have also used Adobe Express to create innovative digital content that effectively communicates their ideas. Building on these skills, our Year 8 students have explored web development, designing and coding their own websites using HTML. Students have worked through the design, development and testing process before evaluating their final products. This reflection has encouraged them to consider the effectiveness of their designs, identify areas for improvement and assess how successfully their products meet the needs of their intended audience.

Hariklia Tzelepis - Computing Teacher 7-12