Principal's Report

Dear Families and Friends of Nazareth College

This week our students had an extended break to enable our staff to spend time to explore a variety of resources that will, hopefully, improve learning and wellbeing.

A variety of resources was scrutinised and reported on.  It has given our staff a point of reference and a pathway for staff to lead parents and students.

Listed below are the websites that were researched and utilised.  Please feel free to source them and determine how this information can assist you in our partnership with your children:

• Department of Education and Training – Health Wellbeing and Safety Program
• http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/health/Pages/default.aspx
• National Safe Schools Framework – Student Wellbeing Hub
• www.studentwellbeinghub.edu.au
• Beyondblue
• www.beyond.blue.org.au
• MindMatters
• www.mindmatters.edu.au
• Reachout Australia
• https://au.reachout.com
• CASEL – Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning
• https://casel.org
• Better Health
• www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au
• Silvereye
• www.silvereye.com.au
• Response Ability
• www.responseability.org
• Bullying No Way
• www.bullyingnoway.gov.au
• Protect
• http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/health/protect

Shibuya Exchange Students

On Friday 9 March, nine students (Japanese Year 9 students) and two teachers from Shibuya High School arrived and were billeted out to Nazareth College families. These students are extremely grateful to their host families for making them feel at home.

On Tuesday 13 March, the Japanese students, along with their host students and Nazareth International students, went off to the Mornington Peninsula. Later in the week, they will also go explore the sights of Melbourne.

These excursions will hopefully provide students with a variety of experiences to reflect upon and will form the basis of their English journal writing.

I thank Ms Lenka Zallmann for all her great work in coordinating this visitation. I am sure, at some stage, our Nazareth students will be hosted by our sister school in Japan.

Online Reporting

This week, our staff have also spent time exploring a new initiative at Nazareth which we hope to introduce over the next year ie Online Reporting, through SIMON and PAM. At this stage, Learning Leaders and staff are exploring the dynamics of the Parent Access Module and the implications and practicalities of having unit-based reporting.

This would mean that student assessment would be posted at the end of the teaching unit rather than at the end of the Semester.

There are still many more aspects to work on, but I bring it to your attention so that you are aware of the work that the staff undergo throughout their staff Professional Learning Day.

The Easter Fair

This will be a tremendous College event.   I urge you to give it your full support as everything organised is ultimately for the benefit of the College Community.

Please come and bring along your family and friends to share in this momentous occasion!

God Bless

Mr Sam Cosentino

Principal