Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching

OPALs

Students from years 7-11 will obtain their Term 3 OPAL grade at the end of this week. Individual student results focus on the nature and quality of student participation and application across all curriculum areas. We are promoting self-motivated learners at McAuley, thus it is important that students have the opportunity to reflect on their grades and set goals for the future. I hope that Parents can support this focus by having a conversation at home around some of the following questions for learning: 

• How are you going with your learning? 
• How can you improve? 
• Where do you go for help?  

Year 12 Trial Exams

Congratulations to year 12 for completing their final school assessments. The next steps are to refine areas of need based on feedback and to work together as a year group to perform your best in the HSC exams. 

Year 12 Major Works/Performances

Since the trial exams, many of our year 12 students have either put the finishing touches on their Major works/ Projects or completed performances that were externally examined. The process of designing, planning and implementing a project (Industrial Technology Timber; Textiles and Design & Art and Visual Design) and preparing for their performance (Music) has needed dedication and drive. Congratulations to all the students for their hard work they should be proud of their achievements. A big thank you to the teachers in these subject areas: Mr Adam Bancroft; Mrs Sandra Bartholomew; Mrs Sarah Nicholls; Mrs Cassandra Lyn Palmer and Mr Tony Ellis.

Year 10 Future Pathways 

One of the school's focus areas is to continue to build a strong connection with parents. Thank you to the parents and staff who worked with our year 10 students. The aim of the interview was to advise students who are returning to McAuley in 2023 to finalise their senior subject selections or support those who are considering leaving school at the end of year 10 to look at career options.  The discussions with parents and our year 10 students were very fruitful and we believe this is an important initiative to ensure that our students are well prepared for the next steps in their future.  

Interventions

The third round of The 2022 COVID Numeracy Learning Support programs will begin during week 6. The focus for this session will be year 9 students who will partake in small group numeracy programs implemented by our Numeracy Intervention teacher Mrs Jones.  

D.E.A.R is also still continuing after lunch at the start of period three. Please remind your child (7-10) to have a book to read for school. 

During D.E.A.R Mrs McLennan and Ms Chelsea Brown and some year - 10 volunteers are working with selected 7 students. Thank you to our year 10 peer support volunteers for term 3: Theo Lobsey, Pat Brophy, Rhys Berry, Tom Austin, Kayley Rielly, and Molly Wiles.

Assembly 

At this week's assembly, Mr Montfod’s year 11 Modern History class led a commemoration for Vietnam Veterans' Day on the anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan in 1966. The students presented a moving tribute to the sacrifices of those who died and acknowledged the almost 60,000 Australians who served during the 10 years of our involvement in the Vietnam War.

The video that we watched conveyed the courage and gallantry of the Aussie soldiers that occurred during one of the most significant battles in Australian History The battle of Long Tan. 

Thanks to Mr Montfod, Stella Van Leest, Noah Burchell, Jack Smajst, Kaydence Kilduff, and Angelina Francescucci for their presentation to the school.