Director Learning and Teaching
Mrs Julia Wood
St Mary’s College Presentation to the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership Mathematics Symposium
On 31 August, Donna Patterson (Primary Curriculum Leader) and Bart Sinkeler (Secondary Mathematics Domain Leader) addressed attendees at the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership’s Mathematics Symposium in Melbourne. They shared key insights from the College’s journey toward refining its Mathematics program.
Donna highlighted notable growth in NAPLAN outcomes, attributing this success to the implementation of explicit instruction, continuous checking for understanding, and increasing opportunities for student response. Bart Sinkeler focused on the secondary school pathway, sharing achievements such as the introduction of the VCE curriculum, standardised lesson and assessment structures for Years 7 through 10, and the pedagogical rationale behind using mini-whiteboards to enhance real-time classroom participation.
Their presentation concluded with a key message: remarkable instructional progress and achievement are possible with a consistent focus on structure and student growth. Donna and Bart were proud to share the development and enthusiasm of our students, as well as the dedication, professionalism and outstanding efforts of our teachers and LSO team that made this level of academic achievement possible.
As we reach the end of Term Three, it is an opportunity to reflect on the significant growth achieved across our learning community and to celebrate the commitment of both students and staff to achieving their academic bests.
Throughout the term, students have demonstrated strong progress across key learning areas. Through purposeful and targeted classroom experiences and high expectations, students have continued to develop their knowledge, skills and confidence. We have seen encouraging growth in literacy and numeracy outcomes across year groups, and this has been again supported with our 2026 NAPLAN data.
A particular highlight has been the way students have embraced challenge and demonstrated resilience in their academic pursuits. Across all year levels, teachers have provided opportunities for students to apply their learning in learning contexts, fostering curiosity, creativity and problem-solving skills. These experiences have enabled students to build strong foundations while developing the capabilities required for future success.
Central to this growth has been our continued focus on high-quality teaching. Staff have continued to engage in professional collaboration and development using the work of Bronwyn Ryrie Jones focused on responsive teaching and feedback. Through regular planning, moderation and professional learning opportunities, teachers have worked collectively to ensure that every student is supported, challenged and able to make progress. Student voice collected across the College has supported this.
“The teachers do an example on the board to make it so it makes sense. They are caring and they listen to you when you say something.” Year 7 student.
“They like when we ask questions, and they’re intrigued how we answer them.” Year 7 student.
“Our teachers teach in a way that helps us understand our work. They keep helping us until we can do it.” Year 8 student.
“In maths groups when I ask my teacher I get help when I don’t know what to do.” Year 3 student.
“In maths a lot of the time we use models, we use algorithms to help us.” Year 3 student.
“I like how the teachers model stuff when I’m struggling. They come over and explain it to me. Miss explained a question I had trouble with on the board, so everyone can listen.”
Year 9 student.
We recognise that successful learning is built on strong partnerships between our College and home. We thank families for their ongoing support and engagement
throughout the term. This plays a vital role in helping students thrive both academically and personally.
As we look ahead to next term, we are excited to build on the successes of this term and to continue providing rich learning experiences that inspire every student to achieve their potential.
We congratulate all students on their efforts and achievements this term and thank our dedicated staff for their professionalism, expertise and commitment to delivering outstanding learning opportunities every day.
We wish our entire College community a safe, restful and enjoyable break and look forward to welcoming everyone back for another successful term.
Mrs Julia Wood
Director Learning and Teaching