Principal’s Update – 3 August 2023

Premier’s VCE Awards

We are thrilled to share the news that a current Year 12 student and a 2022 graduate were both named recipients of the prestigious Premier’s VCE Awards for their outstanding achievements in VCE in 2022. We are very proud of this outstanding result, and we congratulate Tahlia Isaac and Noah Layton. You can read more about this elsewhere in the News Update.

Student Learning and Activities

During the past fortnight our College has been a hive of engagement as students have taken part in a wide range of activities.

Our Year 10 students enjoyed a few days in Melbourne last week. Here they experienced a bit of independence as they navigated their way around the city, visiting different venues around a theme of ‘Compassion, Culture and Careers’.

Our Year 9 students have enjoyed their turn at Bendigo Tech School, our sporting teams have been involved in various competitions both locally and further afield. A number of St Mary’s students have sat chemistry, physics or biology exams in the Australian Science Olympiad while others across the College have taken part in the Australian Maths Competition.

Students in Agriculture were excited to return to the Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show to demonstrate how much they have learned in sheep handling and showing. In addition, senior Ag students gained valuable experience in livestock exhibition during an industry event at the Trade Training Centre.

These activities and opportunities further enhance student learning that is authentic and realistic, providing them with experiences that engage their interests. This helps students to become innovative and independent as they work their way through secondary education toward their future pathways.

Leadership Structure for 2024 – 2028

On Saturday, the College will be advertising a number of leadership roles for 2024 – 2028. The structure is slightly different, with the introduction of an Executive Deputy Principal who will join the Executive Team and four Assistant Principal roles who, along the Executive Team will form the Catherine McAuley College Leadership Team. Two of the Assistant Principal roles will be Assistant Principal Campus Leader, one at Coolock and one at St Mary’s. The other positions are Assistant Principal Faith, Mission and Community and Assistant Principal Learning and Teaching.  The role descriptors and College Organisation flowchart will be made available on the CMC website.

The College extends its thanks to those staff that have been outstanding in performing the various acting roles for this term and for the remainder of the year. Mr Jim Baird is the current Deputy Principal, who holds a substantive position.

Payroll Tax on Schools

There have been some enquiries seeking information related to the payroll tax on schools. Thankfully Catherine McAuley College, Bendigo and Mercy Education Ltd schools do not attract the payroll tax as we are all below the fee threshold.

2022 CEMEA Agreement Ratified

Recently the 2022 CEMEA, or Enterprise Agreement, was finally accepted and ratified at the Fair Work Commission. The College is now waiting for the guidelines from the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria for the implementation of the terms within the agreement. The guidelines will be critical in our planning for 2024 and the various activities that the College offers.

Student-Led Conferences and Pupil-free Day

As this News Update goes out, we are currently in the process of holding Student-led Conferences. Thank you to the families that have booked and taken this opportunity to discuss your child’s progress and finalise subject selections for 2024. These conversations between students, families and teachers are really important in sharing information and supporting one another in the partnership between the College and home. Please note that Friday 4 August is a Pupil-free Day for the Student-led Conferences.

Mr Brian Turner, Principal