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 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.

We find ourselves at the end of Term 3. I hope our community has had a great term. Congratulations to our students who completed the General Achievement Test (GAT) last week. This year the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) introduced a new literacy and numeracy section in the GAT and a new cohort of Senior VCAL students not completing a Unit 3–4 study sat the assessment.

We are blessed to have amazingly talented students in our community, taught by our passionate and committed staff. Last week I had the great pleasure of visiting the Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery and viewing the exhibition of our student work from Art Express as part of the student exhibition, ‘Stand Out’. I was most impressed at the artistic talents of our students on display, and the artworks looked amazing in their professional frames. Congratulations to the following students:

• Holly Ayars
• Imogen Cummins
• Jaya Jenkins-Jaiswal 
• Mia Lisa Wong Chon Lew
• Sajad Jafarzada (former student)

Many thanks also to our dedicated team of art teachers, Ms Stewart and Mr Wood, for organising this opportunity for our students. The opportunity for our students to have their art displayed in a professional gallery space is a truly valuable and memorable experience.

2022 NAPLAN

The 2022 NAPLAN test results have been released. When the testing period occurs in May, there is always lots of commentary in the media about the tests, both positive and negative. At St Mary MacKillop College, we are an inclusive learning community that caters for students of all abilities. For us, the NAPLAN data provides valuable information to ensure we support our students and their endeavours at our school. One of the many roles teachers have is to meet students where they are at in their learning. The more data and information we have regarding the abilities of our students, the better we are able to meet their individual learning needs and in turn ensure they are well supported throughout their secondary school learning journey.

As in 2021, NAPLAN Certificates of Achievement have been awarded to students in Year 9 who have achieved excellence through receiving a result in the top band (Band 10) for Reading or Numeracy. The certificates celebrate students who achieve the highest level irrespective of where they start. The Certificates of Achievement have been jointly signed by the Minister for Education and the VCAA CEO. The aim of the certificates is to motivate students to bring their best efforts to the NAPLAN. We congratulate the following Year 9 students for the achievement of excellence in reading:

• Vanessa Hall
• Miley Keam
• Maeve Sheldrick

Please find here the link to the recent NAPLAN media release from the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA).

Trial Exams and Exam Preparation

The first week of the upcoming holiday break provides an opportunity for students to rest and recharge away from their computer screens and also to organise the notes and summaries they have made for their Unit 3/4 subjects, as well as reread novels and texts. This targeted preparation is the foundation for the trial exams that will start in week two of the holidays.

In preparation for the VCE exam period in October and November, all students studying a Unit 3/4 subject will complete trial exams during the September holiday break from Monday 26th September to Wednesday 28th September. These exams provide an opportunity for students to experience the same exam conditions as they will for their actual exams. The trial exams help to identify areas of strength and areas that require focus in the lead up to the VCE exams and provide practice in time management. I wish our students all the best as they prepare for their exams. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. We ask parents to support their child to approach their trial exams with determination and commitment.

It is important to keep in mind the following as you prepare for your exams:

• Be organised and prepare early rather than later. The more organised you are will assist in achieving success in your exams.
• Prepare a study plan and routine. Make sure you have given yourself enough time to study for the exam. Studying in small blocks of time on a regular basis is more effective than revising once a week for a subject.
• Organise a study space away from distractions (turn off your phone and the television)
• Take regular breaks to recharge
• Study with a group of friends if that works for you, but make sure you remain focused
• Complete practice exams if available
• Actively seek feedback from your teachers when there is something you still need to clarify
• If you catch the bus to or from school, make use of that time to review your notes or cue cards
• Using online sites such as Quizlet might be useful for creating flashcards
• Approach your studies with a growth mindset. We know there are times for all of us when we face challenges, but if we approach things with a growth mindset then we are more likely to succeed.

When it comes to revising for exams (and SACs for that matter!), variety makes learning fun. I encourage our students to be innovative in the way they study for their exams. You might consider some of the following:

• Use a mini whiteboard to test yourself
• Use the voice record function on your phone and record responses to questions or summaries you can listen to later
• Handwrite flashcards (or create them on Quizlet) and test yourself as you walk around the block – exercise and study at the same time!
• Find some chalk and brainstorm a response to a question on the driveway at home

When our VCE/VCAL students return in Term 4, they only have a couple of weeks of their secondary schooling left and they need to maintain their focus in order to achieve their personal best in their final SACs and end-of-year exams. Many thanks to our committed staff who continue to support our VCE/VCAL students in achieving their academic goals for 2022.

We wish our community a safe and enjoyable holiday break. We look forward to seeing everyone back at school at the start of Term 4, refreshed and re-energised for another term of learning.