EVALUATING AND PLANNING:
It’s hard to believe but we are approaching the end of the 2021 school year. At this time of the year our college is very busy planning for the following year. In the case of MacKillop Catholic College this involves expanding and welcoming two new cohorts of students. The enrolment process for Prep and Year 7 is ongoing with large numbers of families seeking to join our community. We expect our college enrolment to exceed 750 students in 2022. Already most year levels have waiting lists. For this reason, we ask any family who will be leaving MacKillop at the end of the year to advise the college as soon as possible. This will allow places to be offered to those families on waiting lists. If any family is seeking a place for a child in 2022 or 2023, please access the college website as soon as possible and lodge an application. There are very limited places left in some grades for 2022 and already large numbers of applicants for 2023.
This year has also been a time for taking stock and evaluating the growth and successes of the college to date. The recent review process provided an opportunity to independently evaluate our strengths and identify the areas we need to focus on moving forward. The college leadership team has been working hard on taking the review feedback and developing a new strategic plan that will guide our work from 2022 until 2025. This period is significant as our first senior class will be graduating in 2025. As part of this planning process annual priorities are identified. In 2022 our work will be focussed on three main areas.
- Enhancing formation of staff and students through a Catholic lens
- Enhancing student performance in writing
- Enhancing a learning environment that is safe and engaging
As a college we will judge our success by the degree to which we are able to improve in these areas. Importantly these areas are student focussed. I look forward to sharing with the community the final draft of our annual and strategic plans.
In recent months we have been engaged in a recruitment process as we appoint staff for the 2022 academic year. With the expansion occurring in both primary and secondary classes, there has been a number of appointments. The quality of staff applying for positions at MacKillop Catholic College has been outstanding. The final allocations and appointments are currently being made and by the end of the term announcements will be made regarding new appointments. It will also be a time to farewell those staff who will be moving on to new exiting opportunities. As a community there will be an opportunity at the end of the year to recognise these people for their service to our community.
Last night I spoke to a large number of parents who will be joining our community in 2022. It was very pleasing to see the number of parents in attendance at this event. It is a tangible sign of the commitment to the partnership between the college and home. It is only when both college and home are on the same page can we truly see the transformational power of education. Thank you to all those parents who work so hard to support each and every child. The knowledge and skills gained throughout their schooling will ensure they are best placed to live life to the full.
Finally, I would like to recognise the contribution of the staff at MacKillop Catholic College. This Friday we celebrate World Teachers Day. It is an important opportunity to acknowledge the contribution of all educators and those involved in educating our children. Their impact is felt throughout life’s journey. Here at MacKillop Catholic College we are blessed to have an incredible team of professionals who are committed to ensuring that students are given every opportunity to learn and grow. Every week there are many examples of staff going above and beyond so that students can have a range of extraordinary experiences. It is my hope that as a community we are all able to find a way to acknowledge the work of the amazing educators that work at MacKillop Catholic College.
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. (Nelson Mandela)
