by Rosina Fotia, Principal

Learning Focus

Term 3 has an uninterrupted focus on teaching and learning. Students are busy in all classes where teachers are actively involved in challenging their learning and developing an environment where students are encouraged to extend themselves. Writing to learn strategies, buoyed by substantive talk activities provide opportunities for every student to engage with their learning. Year 12 students have almost completed their course work for the year and are working towards their practice exam period. Teachers continue to access their Professional Practice days and are using these for program preparation and assessment. In addition, teachers also undertook professional learning opportunities in conjunction with neighbourhood primary and secondary schools during this month.

Curriculum Day August 15

Curriculum Day was held on Wednesday 15 August teachers. Teachers worked collaboratively to revise and update Semester 1 and Semester 2 curriculum plans. This work will include refining Common Assessment Tasks (CATs) and School Assessed Coursework tasks (SACs); documenting the Writing-to-Learn and Substantive Talk strategies teachers have been using to improve students’ content knowledge and literacy skills; and using curriculum design principles to ensure the curriculum is firmly focused on achieving important student outcomes in terms of knowledge, skills and dispositions.

Strategic Review

August 13 saw the final day of strategic review. The outcome of this has been identification of goals, targets and key improvement strategies for the new Strategic Plan. In addition to this, the College was audited against all VRQA standards. Thank you to parents, students and staff who were involved in the process. It is anticipated that the new strategic plan will be presented to Council before the end of this year.

Careers and 2019 Subject Selections

Information Evening for all prospective 2019 students to assist in making informed decisions about selection of electives and options for their Middle & Senior School programs was held this month. Students received further information at a Year Level Assembly prior to the Information Evening. Following this, students and parents were invited to attend Managed Individual Pathways sessions (MIPS) to assist them in finalising selections for subjects in 2019. These selections determine which subjects will be offered in the 2019 school year. Thank you to the staff who have given their time to support students and their families with this decision making process.

Athena and Science Week

The second and third Athena Mars Missions were undertaken successfully during this month. I am pleased to report all astronauts returned from their mission safely. This year saw 11 girls trying their hands at being astronauts. They spent 30 hours on the Athena space station and accepted and met many challenges designed to test their individual thinking capacity and ability to work collaboratively. The “Space week” culminated in a family science night. Congratulations to Shannon Sargeant and Terry Payne and all supporting staff for all of their work.

College Production: Nothing Stays Buried

The mind of Mr Peter McKenzie works in many mysterious, creative and inclusive ways. Once again, he has written and produced this year’s College Production. Over 70 students from Years 7 to 12 have been involved in the production this year. Congratulations to all students who contributed in a variety of capacities from performing on stage, to set design to costume creation and back stage support. The power of the College Production is its unfailing ability to bring students from all year levels together for one united purpose.