Principal's Message
Dear Mater Dei Family,
It has been a very settled start to 2014 at Mater Dei Catholic College. We have enrolled 149 Year 7 students, another 27 new students from Years 8 to 12 who join students from last year to total 740 in 2014. This enrolment is our largest yet and if the last three years of enrolment pattern continues, the College could grow to be as much as 840 students by 2018.
In saying that, there has been much happening!
On Wednesday 5 February, the College gathered to recognise the efforts of the 2013 HSC Cohort. Their results continued the ongoing trend at Mater Dei which sees students achieve positive learning gain and above state average results in 16 out of 27 subjects, most particularly 2 Unit Mathematics which was 10.26% above the State Average; an outstanding effort! The 2013 cohort will also be known for having four students achieve an ATAR of more than 94; this has not been achieved before at the College. Anyone of those four students (with the mark they got this year) would have been the College Dux in 2008 or 2010, or would have placed second in 2009, 2011 and 2012. There is more 2013 HSC detail elsewhere in this Newsletter.
On Tuesday 11 February, the whole school gathered for our Opening Mass for the 2014 school year. With our College Chaplain, Father Bernie Thomas as our celebrant, and joined by Father Wilf Plunkett, the students were gently challenged to ensure that Mater Dei was indeed an inclusive school where all students could feel they belong. The Mass was another expression of reverence and respect for the Sacrament of Eucharist from all those gathered. To conclude the Mass, there was also a solemn Blessing for our 2014 student leaders.
On the evening of Tuesday 11 February, an Information Evening was held for Year 7 parents regarding our connecTED learning program. The evening clarified for parents that the aim of TED is to develop independent, collaborative lifelong learners. For a summary of notes from that presentation, please go to Parent Information and Technology Access.
The teaching style of Guided Inquiry figures prominently in TED. Guided Inquiry (GI) is designed to help prepare students for living and working in the changing information environment of the 21st century. One of the Learning Priorities for 2014 is for teachers to develop a clearer, more consistent understanding of Guided Inquiry. This will be done through a one to one, teacher accredited professional learning programme as well as through whole staff professional development programme. This is not to say that our teaching style will only ever be using a GI approach. In fact, throughout our professional learning this year we will continue to strike the best balance between GI and (still necessary, at times) instructional, ‘lecture style’ of teaching.
With an Inquiry Learning Approach, students engage in a unit of work which starts with a lead question followed by further questions such as those found in the 'jigsaw' graphic, or it can also follow a process, like what the Year 7 TED team use to support them with the Ross Todd, Guided Inquiry approach to learning (the other graphic).
On another matter, please be informed that “Welcome Drinks” for Year 7 and other Parents new to the College will commence at 7:15pm on Friday 28 February. I look forward to meeting some new faces on that evening.
Lastly, I offer my best wishes and prayers for Year 12 students as they embark on their Retreat experience next week.
Many Blessings for the fortnight ahead
Greg Miller
Principal
NOTICES
The Year 12 Mid Course Exam timetable has been finalised. You can locate it @ Exam Timetable
Parents can access the online work of their child. To access their ‘Google Docs’ (electronic exercise book), all you need to do is provide your email address. To access Moodle (our online Learning Management System which provides learning resources) you need your child’s ‘login' details. I am sure they will give them to you. To learn more about this click on the link @ Moodle