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.

Since the start of Term 2, we have celebrated Arts and Technology Week, Humanities Week, and Health and PE Week. Sincere thanks to our Curriculum Leaders for these Learning Areas: Mrs Quaife, Mrs Watt and Mrs Crow for organising a variety of activities during these weeks. A number of the activities were also organised by our students. We thank our students for their support in organising these activities for the enjoyment of everyone in our community.

2024 Open Day and Subject Expo 

Many thanks to our community for supporting our Open Day and Subject Expo on Wednesday 22nd May. It was wonderful to see so many students and parents in attendance and to see the Jubilee Centre transformed into a celebration of teaching and learning. There was a real buzz throughout the evening in the JC. Many thanks also to our amazing staff who spent much time organising their displays. There were great displays of student work and the expo provided an opportunity to discuss, face-to-face with subject teachers, the various subjects we have on offer as we begin the 2025 subject selection process. External organisations were also represented on the evening, including the Australian Defence Force, SuniTAFE and Murray ACE, who provided information on possible career pathways for our students to consider.

Congratulations to Alexis Lee, Charli Lovell, Emily Pekin and Remi Alderuccio for winning the Subject Expo Treasure Hunt.

2025 Subject Selection for Current Year 8 – 11 students – Online Process using Web Preferences 

• All students have received a planning sheet and had the process explained to them in their Pathways classes or in special meetings for Year 8 students.
• On Monday 27th May, students will receive an email containing a student access code and password in order to complete their subject selections online.
• Students have been encouraged to discuss their planning sheets with parents and their teachers.
• All students need to complete their Web Preferences by Wednesday 12th June. 

For any families without internet access or who need further assistance with completing the online Web Preferences subject selection process, please contact the Pathways Team to make an appointment.

The online entry of 2025 subject choices is part of the first stage in our subject selection process where students indicate their preferences so that final subjects for 2025 can be determined. 

Year 8 and 9 students need to plan their completion of the Year 9/10 vertical curriculum carefully, ensuring they complete the required minimum units in a range of subjects whilst also choosing electives that suit their particular interests and learning needs. 

Year 10 and 11 students have been encouraged to seek further advice from their parents, teachers and Pathways Coordinators on their career and tertiary education pathways. Students should consider the numerous options within VCE or the VCE VM, including the opportunity to complete School Based Apprenticeships and VET subjects for those more focused on preparing for the workforce, or the need to research prerequisite subjects and ATAR scores required for university courses. 

Once the final blocking of subjects to be offered in 2025 is completed, all students in Year 11 and Year 12 will have subject counselling interviews in November. Parents or guardians are required to attend these interviews and booking times will be available online using PAM. 

Subject selection assistance is also available from students’ Homeroom Teacher or subject teachers, as well as more specific planning advice from Mrs Looney or Anna Steicke in the Pathways/Careers Office each lunchtime for the remainder of Term 2 and Term 3.

Subject Selection Website

To support students and parents as they navigate their way through the subject selection process for 2025, a website has been put together containing useful resources for students entering Years 9, 10, 11 and 12 in 2025. Please find here the link to the website. We hope this will be a useful resource for students and parents. If you have any feedback on the website, please email nlane@mackillopsh.vic.edu.au.

2025 Curriculum Handbook Cover

Thank you to Vanessa Hall from Year 11 for designing the front cover for the 2025 Curriculum Handbook.

A prayer for our students as they navigate subject selection 

I spend a lot of time each week online researching all things related to education. Recently I read a beautiful prayer that captures the subject selection process for 2025 which our students are currently undertaking.

At times, there is a frightening complexity to the challenges that we face Lord, 

As teachers, the essence of our vocation is clear yet daunting,

Give us the fortitude to constantly recognise the myriad of gifts that our students possess, 

Help us to be the sinews of their wildest and broadest dreams, 

May our work and the lives of our students honour you,

May your love guide them to vistas and sunsets beyond our reckoning. 

We ask this of you, Christ, our Lord, for our students of yesterday, today and tomorrow, Amen

Adapted from Shane Reid