Teaching and Learning Report – June 20, 2019

Thanks for the term!

Term 2 is always an incredibly busy one for all at St Patrick’s and the success of the many events, functions and activities that have taken place can only occur through the combined efforts of the many. The role of Acting Co-Headmaster – Teaching and Learning has been made all the more enjoyable thanks to the knowledge and commitment of our staff who bring so much energy to the College every day. As I have noted on a number of occasions to the staff, we are always better when we work together!

I wish all our boys, families and staff a happy and safe break and look forward to welcoming you back in Term 3.

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End Semester Reports and Term 3 Parent/Teacher/Student interviews:

St Patrick’s uses the Parent Access Module (PAM) to provide parents and guardians online access to a range of information specific to their son(s). PAM provides parents with access to their son’s timetable, his attendance records, daily messages, the College calendar, results on all relevant class work activities and assessment tasks.

Through PAM, teachers at St Patrick’s College provide real-time, continuous feedback and reporting to students and parents. As parents, this means that you can access your son’s performance an all summative assessment tasks via PAM within two weeks of the assessment being submitted. Feedback for each assessment task has been provided in a number of forms including assessment rubrics, criterion sheets, annotated assessment tasks, or through the direct use of the written feedback section within PAM.

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Semester One Reports

PAM also provides access to the Student Assessment area. The Student Assessment area allows you to view and download your son’s mid semester reports and end of semester reports for this and previous years.

Most Years 7-12 end of semester reports will be available from 4:00pm on Friday, June 28 via PAM. Parents will have access to one or more of the following reports:

1. An end of semester Statement of Attainment which will provide information on:

• Your son’s performance on all assessment tasks completed throughout semester one (typically as a percentage).

• Feedback on his demonstration of the key work habits and work practices associated with each subject.

• Attendance data.

• Victorian Curriculum ratings (for most Years 7-10 subjects).

• Overall VCE subject outcome, as Satisfactory or Not Satisfactory, for Senior School students completing VCE studies.

• VET competencies for Years 9-12 boys completing any of the College’s VET studies.

2. A VCAL report which will include:

• A summary of each student’s competency on a range of units and outcomes (as Satisfactory, Not Satisfactory or In Progress).

• A series of Work Habits and Practices indicators specific to key elements of the Applied Learning program

• Student performance on several indictors linked to Employability Skills

• A -‘VCAL Certificate Progress’ comment section where the Applied Learning teachers will comment directly on student progress, identifying areas of concern and aspects of student worthy recognition.

3. A Pastoral Care report which outlines your son’s contribution to, and participation in, Pastoral Care (including your son’s involvement in the wide range of school-based activities and events) and the new Pastoral Care Program.

4. An Instrument Music report for those students participating the instrumental music program

5. A Boarding report for boarding students.

Please note that due to the College’s recent IT issues, the publication of the Pastoral Care reports will be held over to the early week of Term 3. Pastoral Care reports for Years 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12 parents and students will be available from 4:00pm on Friday, July 26 (week 2 of Term 3). Year 9 Pastoral Care reports will be available to parents and students from 4:00pm on Friday, August 2 (week 3 of Term 3), the week after the Year 9 Melbourne Experience.

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Reporting and- the College’s Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD) obligations

For some students, the upcoming end of semester reports may include additional information regarding the modification of assessment tasks. This information has been provided in accordance with our obligations to the federal government regarding the College’s Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD) obligations.

Along with all other schools, St Patrick’s College is required to provide evidence for the NCCD program. This includes the provision of clear and transparent information relating to any additional assistance students receive in the classroom delivery of the curriculum and any amendments to assessment tasks.

The NCCD is based on the professional judgement of teachers about the adjustments and actions taken to enable a student with a learning difficulty or disability to access and participate in education on the same basis as other students. – – The evidence available to parents via PAM will reflect the wide range of practices of teachers in meeting the educational needs of students consistent with our obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA), the Disability Standards of Education 2005 and best teaching practices.-

Not all students with adjustments to their learning will be included in the NCCD however, as a school we must provide evidence of a minimum of 10 weeks (non-consecutive) adjustment and support. The support does not detract from a student’s results or indicate a learning difficulty or disability, unless it has been diagnosed by an outside specialist. Rather, it is evidence of good teaching practice to support the identified learning needs of the student.

Further information regarding the NCCD program can be found at https://www.nccd.edu.au/

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Year 7 to 12 Parent Student Teacher Interviews

Week 3 of Term 3 will see the next round of the College’s Parent/Student/Teacher interview- sessions take place for all Years 7 to 12 parents and student. PAM will again be used to book these interviews and will be open for bookings from 4:00pm on Monday, July 22.

This round of interviews aims to provide parents, accompanied by their son, the opportunity to review and discuss their child’s achievements and academic progress throughout Semester One. These interviews will be led by the student’s Semester One teacher. It is important that each boy attend the interviews with his parents.

There will be one interview session in week three on Tuesday, July 30 (from 4:00pm to 8:30pm). The interviews will take place in the Wilding Wing. If it is not possible for you to attend interviews during the scheduled times, please contact teachers directly to discuss matters over the phone or arrange an alternative meeting time and date.

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Parent Access Module (PAM) Login

Your 2019 PAM username and password has previously been provided to you. You will need these log-in details to access the semester one reports and the Parent/Student/Teacher booking section of PAM.- Please phone 5331 1688 or email the College (adminsupport@stpats.vic.edu.au) prior to close of business Wednesday, June 26.

PAM can be accessed by either clicking on the link on the College’s homepage (https://www.stpats.vic.edu.au/) or by going directly to the PAM site (http://pam.stpats.vic.edu.au).

A PAM Parent User Guide has been written to assist you with the log-in process and to explain the key features of PAM. It can be accessed by clicking on the link on the College’s homepage (https://www.stpats.vic.edu.au/).

Please do not hesitate to contact the College should you have any further questions or concerns regarding PAM.

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2020 subject selection process:

In the coming weeks all current Years 8, 9, 10 and 11 students will complete the various aspects of the 2020 subject selection process. Subject selection can be an anxious time and the College has a variety of procedures to support both students and parents.

Firstly, parents and students should check the Term Three calendar (an updated version of this will be distributed shortly). This calendar will list the dates of each 2020 student information session, parent information session, the electronic submission of proposed subjects for 2020 (using the online subject submission portal, Web Preferences) and the return of the 2020 Student Subject Selection Guide for each year level.

Students will receive a paper copy of the relevant 2020 Information Booklet at each of the student information sessions and be emailed a PDF version of the booklet. Parents and students will also be able to access a PDF of each 2020 Information booklets via the College’s homepage. Also included on the homepage will be a copy of the PowerPoint used at each of the student information sessions

An important aspect of the 2020 subject selection process is the Subject Selection Guide which each Year 8, 9, 10 and 11 student is required to submit. This has been developed at the request of parents and students as a single subject selection document that step-by-step leads you through the various aspects of subject selection for each year level.

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2020 Year 12

Current Year 11 boys attended the student information session for 2020 Year 12 this week. While at this session, each boy received a copy of the 2020 Year 12 Information Update and the 2020 Year 12 Subject Selection Guide. A copy of these documents along with the PowerPoint presentation and other related materials can be accessed via the College’s homepage.

Parents of current Year 11 boys will be aware that we have previously spent a significant amount of time working together to develop a proposed Years 11 and 12 program of study for their boys. For most boys, this means that there will be little or no need for any further assistance with Year 12 subject selection for next year. Those families who would like to review previous subject selection plans or require further assistance with Year 12 subject selection can contact:

• the relevant subject teacher or Head of Faculty

• your son’s Year 11 Pastoral Care Tutor

• Mr Damian Kinnersly (Director of Pathways and Applied Learning)

• Ms Lyn Maniz (VCAL Co-ordinator)

• Mr Andrew Chamings or Mr Shane Murphy (Year 12 Co-ordinators)

• Mr Hamish McCrum (Director of Senior School)

• Mrs Julia Petrov (Acting Deputy Headmaster -“ Teaching and Learning)

• Mr Stephen Hill (Acting Headmaster -“ Teaching and Learning).

  Current Year 11 students are required to submit their 2020 Year 12 program details using Web Preferences (the online subject submission portal). Students will be emailed a link to the Web Preferences log-in, along with detailed instructions. Parents will also be sent a similar email explaining the submission procedure.

  Please note that a parent and student signed copy of the 2020 Web Preferences Preference Receipt is to be submitted with the Subject Selection Guide. Students are required to complete the computer entry of their proposed 2020 subject selections before the Friday, July 26 submission date (the end of week 2 of Term 3)- As this is web-based, this can be completed at home or at school.

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Monday, July 15 -“ Whole Staff Formation Day:

A reminder to all parents and students that Term 3 classes will resume on Tuesday, July 16. All St Patrick’s College staff will be participating in the College’s whole staff Formation Program on Monday, July 15.

The program will be facilitated by Luke Tobin and Jo Kenny from Catholic Mission Sydney and will focus on a range of aspects including:

• Identifying our own image of God and how our -‘personal theology’ (image of God) influences us today.

• How does our work at St Patrick’s College contribute to God’s mission in this world?

• What does Mission mean for us today, in conversations with students beyond RE classes and social justice?

• A contemporary understanding of the discipleship of Jesus, as a servant leader, and apply this to our own service at St Patrick’s College.