Principal's Message
Term 4 2021 is now underway with a renewed hope that we are on the right pathway to the true version of schooling as we know it. It has been great to have Unit 3 & 4 VCE students and Year 12 VCAL students back onsite for the last stage of their courses of study. I have spoken to these students and acknowledged their perseverance and commitment to see the year through. We are disappointed that we have had to curtail the Year 12 end of year program. However, we feel that there may be an opportunity to celebrate their end of secondary schooling after the conclusion of the VCE Examinations. I congratulate them for the way they have supported the school throughout this time especially in adhering to the enhanced safety requirements. I wish them well in the preparations for the Exams and/or the submission of final school work.
School Review 2021
Over 2021, the College has undertaken a whole school review as part of our School Improvement Planning. We initially measured ourselves against rubrics in the 5 spheres of school improvement: Religious Dimension, Learning and Teaching, Leadership and Management, Student Wellbeing and School Community. Two external reviewers, Meredith Nolte and Leslie Tulloch, then reviewed our documentation, our rubric assessments and, over two days, interviewed staff, students and parents. We have now received their final report and it was overwhelmingly positive. It was heartening to see that the efforts and commitment of all our community has created a culture and environment where all of us can be proud. The Reviewers Executive Summary included the following comments that highlighted Marian strengths:
- a welcoming and inclusive community
- provides relevant, challenging and accessible educational opportunities
- Catholic identity and charism of the Brigidine Sisters remains central
- Inclusiveness, justice, love and forgiveness are integral
- a sense of belonging and pride
- an explicit improvement agenda
- increasing improvement in student outcomes
- staff strengthened practice working in learning teams
- staff reflect on their practice regularly
- staff explore strategies for meeting the needs of individual students
- strong focus on student wellbeing being a defining feature
- a positive and nurturing environment
- students have positive relationships with their teachers
- students have high regard for the College as a place of welcome
- Catholic identity data has remained strong
- Brigidine values pervade the College
- College holds true to its mission and vision
- continues to build local and wider community connections
- positive reputation and parents identify the college as a ‘school of choice’
- offers broad post-compulsory pathways to meet the diverse interests, abilities, and aspirations
These are reflections and insights that should be celebrated widely by all those connected with the College. Thank you for the part you play in supporting the continued growth and outcomes at Marian. The Reviewers also provided us with recommendations and areas to consider for the future. We are now well underway in formulating the next School Improvement Plan 2022-2025 (SIP) and we are being assisted by staff from the Melbourne Archdiocese of Catholic Schools (Western Region). We plan to present the new SIP towards the end of this year.
I pray that you are all safe and well and I continue to encourage you to seek support from the College whenever there is a need.
Raymond Pisani
Principal