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 so 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. As we head towards the end of the term, our students are busy completing final assessments, and our Year 8 to 11 students will soon complete exams.

Professional Learning Day

On Monday 17 August, our teaching staff and LSOs participated in a professional learning day led by Christopher Thomas from PWRD Leadership.

The day was highly practical, with Christopher sharing a range of strategies designed to engage students more deeply in their learning. There was a real sense of energy and enthusiasm among our staff following the day, as conversations continued around how these strategies could be applied in classrooms.

Over the coming weeks and months, our students will see these strategies being implemented across their classes. We look forward to seeing the positive impact this will have on student engagement, participation, and learning outcomes.

2026 National Science Week

This week was National Science Week, Australia’s annual celebration of science and technology. The following information is from https://www.scienceweek.net.au/schools/.

The school theme for National Science Week in 2026 is Seeds of Science: nurturing science for all.

This theme invites students across Australia to explore the power of curiosity, inquiry and shared learning in growing scientific understanding. Just as seeds need the right conditions to grow, knowledge flourishes when it is nurtured, shared and applied to real-world and authentic challenges across all the scientific disciplines.

The theme encourages schools to explore how ideas take root, develop and spread – from the first spark of a question to the sharing of discoveries that benefit the wider community. It’s a celebration of how knowledge grows when tended with care, creativity and collaboration.

While it aligns with the United Nations International Year of Woman Farmers and the year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, it's about more than just agriculture. There are opportunities to explore seeds in all their forms... from seeding pearls, to growing crystals. (Source: https://www.scienceweek.net.au/schools/)

I thank our amazing team of Science teachers, led by Mrs Jaclyn Clark, Science Curriculum Leader, for organising different activities to engage our students throughout National Science Week. The activities for Science Week started on Tuesday with a demonstration of special effects including wound creation, a smoke machine, and how to make snow. Science is all around us. From the medicines we take when we are sick, to the planes we fly in when we travel. Science is an important Learning Area in our curriculum. It enables students to ask questions about the world around them, to hypothesise and to find answers through experiments. When I wander around our school, I always enjoy seeing the exciting learning taking place in our Science classrooms. Please click here for further information on National Science Week.

Thank you for the music

On Sunday I had the privilege of addressing the cast of Mamma Mia and audience members at the end of the final performance.

Our College mission statement says, ‘We respect the unique dignity, faith and gifts of each person’. Our community has been enriched by witnessing the unique gifts and talents of our students on display. What we have seen on stage is the culmination of many hours of rehearsal. I am extremely proud of our students, and they should be proud of the way they have worked together to produce such a highly entertaining performance for us all to enjoy.

It is a huge task for our students to remember song lyrics, dialogue, blocking, and dance moves. However, it is not only our talented students on stage who have worked so hard in the lead-up to these performances. I would like to acknowledge Rianne Quaife and the members of our live student and staff band for the many hours they have spent rehearsing the music for the show; former parent Sandra Scalora for volunteering her time to organise the many costumes; former student Toni Mia Scalora for her help out back; our backstage crew; the front-of-house team and those responsible for the decorations in the Parish Function Centre; our sound and lighting technicians; set designers and builders; ushers; and our VET Hospitality students for making and selling refreshments during interval. Our students performing these important roles behind the scenes have been supported every step of the way by members of our amazing staff.

Everyone has played a part in ensuring the success of each performance. This is a fine example of our students and staff working together as one big team, and I thank you all very much for your contributions. Hopefully, our students who were not involved this year have been inspired to participate in next year’s production; to step outside their comfort zone; to challenge themselves to do something they perhaps would not have previously considered; and, above all, to give it their best shot.

The memories of being in our school production, and the friendships our students make along the way, will hopefully last a lifetime.

There is one person I would like to acknowledge who has an incredible vision for our school productions each year; who guides the process from the very beginning, when auditions are held, right through to the performance season; who ensures that every student who wishes to perform has a role, no matter how big or small; who oversees all aspects of the production; whose attention to detail is outstanding; and who invests so much of their time and energy into our production because they genuinely love what they do. As a result of their dedication and commitment, we all get to enjoy a performance of the highest quality. That person is Talia Henderson.

Thank you, Talia, for your amazing gifts and talents, for your passion and dedication, and for giving our students the opportunity to pursue their interests in the performing arts each year through our annual production. Your contributions to our school community are very much appreciated.

Nathan Lane

Deputy Principal Teaching & Learning