Leader of Teaching & Learning
Welcome to our new families and students!
The start of a school year always brings great hope and opportunity. There are many messages of motivation and inspiration and the newness of pencil cases and clean pages in books is symbolic of a fresh start to learning. For our juniors, it is a chance to experience high school, reconnect with friends and teachers and experience new electives. For our senior students the start of the year can be daunting as they face the increased expectations of Year 11 and HSC courses. However, school is not a place you endure. School is not a sentence! It is a journey to enjoy. Many students find this journey more enjoyable when they can find their compelling reason ‘why’, their purpose in becoming educated and following this ‘why’ up by planning some suitably challenging goals. Purpose far outweighs feeling motivated to learn. I encourage all students to connect wholeheartedly to the learning opportunities and experiences we offer here at McCarthy Catholic College.
It has been an industrious start to the year for teachers, collegiality is thriving among us as we share our gifts and talents in order to maximise student learning in our respective Key Learning Areas. Our students are the beneficiaries of teachers’ deep collaboration, they receive enriching learning experiences and fresh opportunities to achieve new levels of personal best.
For Year 12, it is a continuing HSC journey and I encourage them to focus on their daily behaviours, routines and habits which will assist them in the long run. Consistency and persistence are attributes that will put them in good stead for this final HSC year. Together with our Leader of Pedagogy Mrs Martin, I will be working closely with Year 12.
Year 7, you look fantastic in your uniforms and I congratulate you on your enthusiastic start to the year, you are exceptionally organised and prepared, ready to learn! Enjoy the variety of subjects available here at McCarthy and the chance to move between classes throughout the day. It is a big change for you.
Key changes to the Curriculum have been implemented by NESA; the New South Wales Education Authority have implemented revised Stage 5 syllabus in HSIE, PDHPE and TAS. Our Stage 5 elective offerings have undergone transformation and students will now experience electives as Stage 5 eg: Year 9 & 10 combine for 100 hour electives. We now offer school-based electives in Mathematics and HSIE. It is our sincere hope that students enjoy the breadth of our new offerings.
Featured in this Newsletter is further information about an exciting new program for Year 9 students. ‘Future Finders’ is a program that has been designed around the Australian Blueprint for Careers 11 competencies in the Areas of Personal Management, Learning & Work and Career Building. I acknowledge and thank the team of teachers who have worked with me behind the scenes in order to deliver this unique and researched approach to Year 9.
Community and positive relationships are integral in education. There are many ways you can assist teaching and learning in your home. Some ways we can do this include:
Ensure your child has the equipment, books and materials they need for ALL classes. If you need help, please get in touch with your Leader of Student Care immediately.
Support high rates of attendance and avoid booking holidays mid term or midday sign outs.
Discuss the impact of part time jobs on learning and modify part time work hours to the recommended 8-10 hours per week.
Speak positively about McCarthy and our teachers. Encourage your child to ask questions if they are having difficulty. Changing classes or requesting to choose your teachers is not sustainable. Our teachers look forward to building high trust, learning centred, working relationships with each and every class member.
Schedule into your calendar the opportunity to attend Parent Teacher Evenings
As we settle into Term 1, may I encourage all students to engage effectively in the lessons; participate in lively classroom discussions, open up and share their views and responses. While the development of skills and knowledge may be challenging, our teachers are highly skilled and they dedicate much time to ensuring students are participating in challenging activities, in a collaborative, student centred learning environment.
Future Finders
We are very excited to announce the launch of McCarthy’s Future Finders program in 2020. All Year 9 students will participate in the program for one period a fortnight during Semester One. This is a new initiative that McCarthy is implementing to develop skills that will allow all our students to be successful in life beyond McCarthy, regardless of the path they choose. The program has been developed around the Australian Blueprint for Career Development. Our Future Finders will participate in activities that focus on the 3 key areas: Personal Management, Learning and Work Exploration and Career Building. Every student will be provided with a Future Finders folder and resources each fortnight that they can take with them at the conclusion of the program. In the second half of the year we will be assisting students with Work Experience opportunities, information sessions with TAFE and Universities and supporting students in the important process of choosing the appropriate subjects for their senior years. We look forward to equipping our Year 9 students with life long skills.
Study Skills Tip
With the beginning of the new year, it’s always a great time to reassess your academic approach. The key to making the most of this opportunity is focusing on the things which will bring the biggest return.
1. Simplify Your Organisation System
Every student has an organisation system. True, the definition of “organization” may be looser for some students than others, but everyone has a way they stay organised (or attempt to).
Maybe you’re the “Type-A” student and you have a clearly defined system. You’ll know that you’re “Type-A” by the file folders you both own and use, the folded socks in your drawer, and all the lists by which you keep track of important information. You probably have a calendar, a planner, and you know exactly which clothing is clean and which is dirty.
But not everyone fits in such a naturally organised world. These students can be called “Type-B.” If you’re a “Type-B” student, you’re not alone, but organisation probably requires more effort. “Type-B” students tend to prefer “piling systems” to filing cabinets. Calendars often seem like too much work, so they’d rather just put everything in their backpacks and find it later. Students on the far end of the “Type-B” universe may even find themselves sorting laundry via the “smell check” method. Regardless of whether you are a Type A or B student, though, one of the biggest difference-makers this year is your organisation system. Few things will s