STAFFING UPDATE – START of TERM 3
Changes to our College staff for the commencement of Term 3 are as follows:
- We welcome to our staff, Mrs McDonald who joins our Diverse Learning Team;
- Mr Meredith from the IT Department has accepted a position closer to home;
- Mr Zammit will remain on paternity leave until the end of Week 4.
THANK YOU FOR TERM 2
As we reflect on Term 2, we can be proud of our resilience, community, and solidarity amidst the many challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. While we are not returning to the way life was prior to the pandemic, we must celebrate the way that the St Dominic’s community has embraced and overcome challenges throughout the past four months.
When we started this term, we were expecting at least 10 weeks of remote learning. Staff and families preparing for the complexities of an online learning environment, only to gradually return amidst some anxiety to face-to-face teaching and learning again as a physical school community. Now we look back at the relatively little disruption to learning in Term 2, grateful for our use of canvas and the support for one another, embracing the opportunity to learn at school.
TERM 3 – CURRICULUM FOCUS
Starting the second semester brings many challenging decisions and a little bit of extra pressure in the areas of curriculum. Each and every year group has a particular focus for the coming term; Year 12 Trial HSC Examinations leading to Graduation; Year 11 Leadership opportunities and Preliminary HSC Examinations; Year 10 Subject selections for Stage 6; Year 9 Camp preparation of how this may go ahead along with the continuation of their Rite of Passage journey; Stage 4 changing courses due to semesterisation of Visual Arts and Music, with Year 8 also beginning the process of choosing their electives subject for Stage 5 and Year 7 having to select which language course they would like to study for 2021. So, with many areas across the College, the importance of understanding who to talk with and having honest and realistic conversations is crucial for the coming weeks. Others may need to re-examine study techniques to ensure they are well prepared for upcoming examinations and assessments – to all those involved I wish them good luck.
SEMESTER 2: RE-FOCUS
It is now time with a mid-year check-in, to reflect on the goals we set at the start of the year and re-evaluate where we want to go for the rest of the year. At the end of last term, boys in Years 7 to 11 received their half yearly report which included their DSE scores. Recently, the process of our Student/Parent/Teacher interviews were communicated to Parents where will be using the Whereby platform, conducted in Stage 4 & 5 on respective afternoons. These are scheduled not only to reflect on successes from the semester but also to find ways to improve. I would encourage conversations at home about goal setting for the second half of the year. We all need to improve in some way, and we can select a couple of new goals for the rest of the year upon reflection of Semester 1, sharing with friends and family and make these goals achievable.
Mr B Walsh
College Deputy Principal
