With Student Led Conferences, 2024 course planning, elective selections and the Year 10 Social last week; the school production this week and a number of other activities happening alongside these, it has been a busy time at the College. Thank you to families for your support of all these activities.

Spotlight on Science and Languages

We’re currently enjoying a season of special weeks across the school. Last week we celebrated the delights of learning languages and this week we explored the mysteries and wonders of Science. Thank you to all the staff and students who’ve been involved in planning, organising and participating in activities.

These weeks are lots of fun, encourage learning beyond the classroom and help to highlight the importance of different disciplines. However, saying that, there’s also an interesting thread that links Science and Languages. Both push us beyond ourselves, into new and interesting worlds. They take us out of the world we know, help us to walk in others’ shoes, to see with new ‘eyes’, invite us to be curious and to broaden our vision of life.

Congratulations: Year 10 Students

The last five weeks have been a significant time for Year 10 students. They have selected courses for Years 11 and 12 and thoroughly enjoyed a great night at the Year 10 Social.  Each of these events is very much a rite of passage; a marker on their journey towards adulthood. They have impressed us all with their preparation, maturity and openness to advice. The next milestone will be work experience in the last week of term.

A very big thank you to Mr Anthony Barresi (Year 10 Level Leader), Mr Chris Orsini (Careers) and the Year 10 teachers who have supported students during this time.

Lastly, thank you also to all families who have been with their children every step of the way; the additional meetings at school and at Sydenham; ploughing through the course selection information and taxiing students around for the social. This year’s pick up from the social was so smooth all staff were well on their way home by 10.30pm. Thank you. We couldn’t do it without you and your support is very much appreciated.

With pathways for 2024 finalized, it is important that students now focus on the present, particularly their Year 10 studies. Too often thinking about the future can be unsettling. We can lose focus and forget the routines that have served us well to this point. In many ways the only thing that you can do about the future is to do your absolute best in the present. With more than 1/3 of the year to go, there is still much work to be done!

School Improvement Surveys

Each year the school invites feedback from students, staff and parents through the MACSSIS School Improvement surveys. These surveys are completed in Catholic primary and secondary schools across Melbourne. The data helps schools to identify what is going well, to measure the impact of new initiatives and to identify areas for further growth.

The surveys are completed online and are available in a number of languages. The MACSSIS survey period runs from Monday 28 August to Friday 15 September. Parents / Carers will receive their survey link via email.

We encourage all families to contribute. For the data to be valid, we need as many families as possible to provide feedback. Your assistance will be greatly appreciated.

Further information about the MACSSIS surveys is available by clicking these links:

Nightmare on Theodore Street

After months of rehearsals and preparation, ‘Nightmare on Theodore Street’ premiered to a full house and much acclaim last night. Take a school camp – deep in the bush, a full moon, an ill-conceived practical joke, a series of disappearing students, some scary wood dwellers, a sprinkling of romance and some mishaps and missteps, and you have a story that captures the audience from start to finish. The production has everything: high energy and action, an amazing band, superb singing, great dancing, and outstanding performances by the main cast and the ensemble.

A production like this is the work of many hands. Thank you to all the wonderful students who took part, both on stage and behind the scenes. There are just not enough superlatives to express how gifted and generous you are. The many hours of after school and weekend rehearsals were well worth the final experience. You are all such incredibly talented young people. We are in awe of what you’ve achieved.

Thank you to all the staff involved but particularly Mr Clarence Marshall (Writer / Producer / Music Director), Ms Emma Baldacchino (Director), Ms Jennifer Comerford (Choreographer) and Ms Pauline Corson (Costumes and Props) for all your work. There would be have countless unseen hours of planning, preparation and worry in bringing the production together. We hope that you are all well pleased with what you’ve achieved. It was terrific.

Newsletter

The newsletter is published fortnightly and available online on Day 10 (Friday Week 2).

Newsletter Days for Term 3 2023:           

Fridays:               01 September,   15 September