DEPUTY PRINCIPAL - TEACHING & LEARNING REPORT 

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.

Last week was a celebration of our Year 12 cohort. On Monday we gathered in Houses to farewell our Year 12 students during the House liturgies, and on Tuesday we had another opportunity to farewell our Year 12s during the end of year Mass and formal assembly. I congratulate our Year 12 students on the positive way they finished their formal schooling last week. 

This week was the beginning of the VCE exam period for students undertaking a Unit 4 subject. While some of our students completed performance exams earlier this term, for most of our students their first formal exam was the 3 hour and 15-minute English exam on Tuesday.

The exams our Year 12 students will complete over the coming weeks are a culmination of 13 years of learning, study, and personal organisation. As our students continue their exams, we wish them all the very best and encourage them to study hard, sleep and eat well, take brain breaks while studying, and maintain good levels of exercise. I know our students will enter each exam well prepared by our amazing teachers and by their own effort and commitment to their studies.

We extend our best wishes to our senior VCAL students as they transition into apprenticeships, traineeships, further study or employment. We are very proud of our students in the class of 2023 and wish them every success over the next few weeks of their final school year.

Year 10 and 11 Exams

Soon our Year 10 and 11 students will receive their end of year exam timetables. Reviewing study notes and exam preparation should be underway for these students. An interesting question I am often asked is, ‘Why do we have exams?’. A search on the Internet will reveal many reasons why exams are important. Exams are one part of a student’s academic journey and they help to develop a range of skills. In particular:

Time management: Exams require students to manage their time effectively, both during the process of preparing for the exam, and also during the actual exam. During the exam, students are being tested on their ability to complete the exam questions in a specified time frame.

Memory and recall: In order to achieve success in exams, students need to retain, recall and apply information that has been taught to them.

Critical thinking: Exam questions often move beyond the simple recall of facts, and require students to think more deeply and analyse, evaluate, and synthesise information. This assists students in developing critical thinking skills.

Communication: Often exam responses require students to communicate their ideas clearly and in a logical manner. Performance exams, such as oral exams for languages, require students to articulate their thoughts on the spot as they respond to the questions from the assessors.

Problem-solving: Depending on the subject and exam, students may be required to solve problems or apply their skills and knowledge to real-world contexts, rather than simply recounting facts.

Organisation and planning: In the lead-up to and throughout the exam period, students need to organise their time effectively to be thoroughly prepared for each exam they will undertake.

Resilience: We know completing exams can be a stressful experience. However, exams provide an opportunity for students to learn to cope with stressful situations and to develop resilience and perseverance.

(adapted from https://tokyo.globalindianschool.org/blog-details/what-is-the-importance-of-exams-for-students-in-schools)

Last year I put together a short video on preparing for exams and study skills. Please find here the link to this video.

Over the next few weeks our Year 7 to 9 students will be completing final assessments for the subjects they are studying this semester. We encourage our students to work steadily and adhere to deadlines, and reach out to their teachers for support if they are experiencing any challenges in their learning. We wish all our students the very best for their studies in Term 4.

Happy World Teachers’ Day 2023

World Teachers’ Day is held across Australia today, Friday 27 October. It is a day to celebrate the difference our amazing teachers make every day in the lives of our young learners. Our teachers make a positive contribution and impact in our community, and we thank them for their passion, commitment and dedication to education as they inspire the students at St Mary MacKillop College. They consistently go above and beyond in their work to ensure our students feel safe and supported in their learning.

Academic Recognition Program

Recently teachers nominated students from their Year 12 classes for academic and endeavour recognition.

Academic Recognition

Agriculture: Danika Meehan

PE: Dustin Holmes

RE: Abbey Buckingham, Angelica Watson

English: Anellie Sabado

Maths Methods: Dustin Holmes

Legal Studies: Charlotte Angus

Psychology: Charlotte Angus

Endeavour RecognitionAgriculture: Jye Hogan

PE: Danika Meehan

RE: Annie Wallace, Thanh Pham

English: Milla Scott

Maths Methods: Tanisha Frazzica

Legal Studies: Abbey Buckingham

Psychology: Rose Crowe

Recently teachers also nominated students from their Year 11 classes for academic and endeavour recognition.

Academic Recognition

Health and Human Development: Tess Meney

Visual Communication Design: Eloise Storer

Psychology: Hugh Langley-Sheldrick

Legal Studies: Grace Doherty

VM Literacy: Trinity Sutton

VPC Literacy: Lucy McCann

RE: Evita Caruso, Emily Hall

Biology: William Gilchrist, Grace Doherty

Agriculture: Bella Henderson

Endeavour Recognition

Health and Human Development: Kate Whorwood, Jorja PlantVisual Communication Design: Anna Whiting

Psychology: Joshua Virtuso

Legal Studies: Jorja Plant

VM Literacy: Sophie Fasham

VPC Literacy: Harry Scott

RE: Ella Vrolijks, Remi Alderuccio

Biology: Tess Meney, Abbey Houlihan

Agriculture: Lleyton Purcell

Thank you to the Academic Committee for organising this initiative.