½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï

Creative solutions to complex problems is the mantra of our students as they navigate their learning in the 21st century. As educators, we support students to collaborate with their peers to design solutions and options to demonstrate knowledge and understanding. STEM skills that promote processes of design, prototyping and experimenting challenge students to review and improve their ideas and refine their thinking. Across the College, from the Marian Makerspace, to the Coder Dojo at Lavalla and the entrepreneurship program on Marcellin, exploring ideas supports our students to Shine through Discovery!

NAPLAN Analysis

2018 NAPLAN results have been released and it is pleasing to note that ½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï performed above the national average in many outcomes. Spelling and Numeracy were areas of relative strength for most cohorts and reflects some of the different strategies utilised in both primary and secondary contexts. Writing persuasively and imaginatively is an area of growth for most groups of students and will be an area of focus in 2019.

Primary staff have been working with NAPLAN data to review areas of relative strength and areas for focus with current and future year groups. Staff meeting time has been allocated to data literacy and access to bespoke resourcing depending on cohort needs through an external group Best Performance. Extensive time has also been allocated to scope and sequencing of writing across the primary years to better target student areas of need.

Secondary staff have been engaged in productive projects and discussions this year to reflect on the way a range of data sources can be used to personalise the learning experience and activate growth for all students. NAPLAN data is one set of information which also helps target our literacy and numeracy intervention strategies along with Allwell Testing and class-based assessments and observations.
NAPLAN also assists us in providing data informed teaching and learning, which is in line with the College’s annual school improvement plan.

2019 Parent Funded BYODD

Next year ½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï will continue the parent funded, designated device model that commenced in 2016.

• All students in Years 3 – 6 will require an Apple iPad. A summary can be found here  
• All students in Years 7 – 11 will require a Microsoft Surface Pro. A summary can be found here. 

Parents will be required to purchase a device for students entering Year 7, current Year 8 and current Year 9 cohorts. 2019 will be the last year for the College funded MacBook program for students in Year 12. Please refer any queries to your relevant Leader of Wellbeing.

Gratitude Program

Year 11 students continue to affirm each other through the writing of Gratitude notes that are distributed through PCG.
All families are reminded that if they have a concern about the education or Wellbeing of their child, they should contact the College directly. We are always willing to support families, but school matters must be managed by the College. It is not appropriate to contact other families about concerns you have about their child. Please direct these matters to the classroom teacher, Leaders of Wellbeing or any member of the Senior Leadership Team.

Social Media

The College recognises the convenience of year group Facebook pages that are moderated by parents. This is an excellent platform for sharing information involving College events and requirements. It is not appropriate to use social media platforms to seek clarity on teaching and learning or to debate College policies. Please refer these matters to your child’s classroom or PCG Teachers, or a member of the Senior Leadership Team. We thank you in advance for your understanding and support of how we strive to partner positively with each other.

Code of Conduct

A reminder to all families that the can be accessed via the College website. The Code is mandated by Catholic Education Western Australia and the application of the code extends to all staff, students, parents, guardians, caregivers and volunteers and extends to all forums including social media and email forms of communication. The Code seeks to value the dignity of every person, foster positive relationships, ensure confidentiality and accountability and support professional boundaries. Events held during school hours AND outside of school hours that are associated with the College are also supported by the Code. Any perceived breaches of the Code can be discussed with any member of the Senior Leadership Team.

 

One of the key strategic intents of our Vision for Learning Shine Through Discovery – Let you light shine Matt 5:16 is to foster creativity. To love learning and be engaged in the process is fundamental to animating our students’ talents, thus enabling creativity to flourish. A recent article in the online magazine Entrepreneur identified a series of guiding principles for future education. These included, but not limited to storytelling, passion, curiosity and experimentation, persistence, technology exposure, empathy, reading, writing and arithmetic and creativity. Every single one of us is creative. It is human nature to be creative – the thing is that we each might have different ways of expressing our creativity. We must encourage kids to discover and to develop their creative outlets early.

To this end it is incumbent on the College to afford these opportunities. An example of this has been the development of the IDEAS lab on Marian campus. This is a space that brings students together enabling them to design, prototype and create. It is a place where we allow students to further explore and enhance what they are learning in the classroom. In 2019 we are entering into a partnership with Republic Polytechnic School in Singapore. The aim here is to provide select students in Years 9 and 10 an opportunity to test their problem-solving skills in an industry-based environment. Supporting this learning immersion will be a new elective course in design thinking and problem-based learning.

These two initiatives are indicative of the intent of our whole Vision. Underpinning its success will be the capacity of teachers to respond to the future. It is important that we seek to create challenging tasks that are matched to student ability and interest, that connect learning to students’ strengths, gifts and talents. These opportunities must imbue students with opportunities for critical thinking, problem solving and personal reflection. Commensurate to this intent will be the refurbishment of our learning spaces that will allow greater flexibility and agility for learning. We look forward to the future as a College committed to improvement; moreover, a place that allows creativity to flourish.

Solid Gold

Last week’s Solid Gold Dance Showcase was a great exemplar of the spirit, energy, creativity and commitment of our students and teachers. The Marist Auditorium was alive with our Dance Troupe that is two years young. The feedback from parents and students was so pleasing to hear and witness. The passion of our students is reflected in the leadership of Ms Stephanie Crothers who is to be commended for her work. to see more photos from the night.

As we move to the final five weeks of Term 4, I would like to emphasise to all students that it is imperative to remain committed and focused on their learning. We at this point pray for Year 12 students as they complete their WACE exams.

A New Way To Learn: Five Guiding Principles For Future Education: A change in how we educate is necessary to realize the radical future we see for the world.