Ave Maria College

Term 1 Progress Reports

In Term 1, parents/carers will receive Progress Reports designed to provide an indication of how each student has commenced their learning in 2021. Progress Reports and End of Semester Reports are designed to complement continuous reporting at Ave Maria College. Timely feedback on formative and summative assessment tasks are provided for parents/carers via Ave Learning throughout the year.

Please note the Key Dates for Term 1:

Tuesday, 9 March 2021  - VCE Progress Reports published on PAM

Wednesday, 31 March 2021 - Year 7-10 Progress Reports published on PAM

VCE Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews (PTS)

VCE P/T/S interviews will take place on Tuesday, 23 March 2021 online via MS Teams. More details will be posted to families closer to the event.

Michelle Robertson

Staff Professional Learning

The beginning of the school year is always busy with lots of planning and preparations to do. One of the things that Ave do well is to support staff in being ready for a new school year. In the last week of January staff and leaders undertook several days of professional learning. The program began with the Leadership day on Monday, 25 January 2021 where all staff in a leadership role came together.  The theme of the day was Agile Leadership through a Franciscan Lens. Together we explored what it means to be a Franciscan School, and more importantly, what that means for us at Ave.  Each leader also took the time to consider their leadership priorities and goals, in light of the College Annual Action Plan, and drawing on some of our key learnings from 2020. We were fortunate to enjoy catering from two College Alumnae as well, we thank Carla Tarascio (Class of 2011) from @carlas.cucina.catering  and Shanelle Thompson (Class of 2012) from @cocoashanellecakes for their delicious food.

With all staff returning on Wednesday, 27 January 2021, there was a mix of presentations and interactive activities, whole staff and sub-group gatherings, and of course coming together as a faith community. These start of year days are always a rich tapestry of discussion, action and a sense of excitement.  They are also part of the bigger Professional Learning program within the College.  Over the coming weeks and months you will hear more about our two major PL focus areas for 2021 – Professional Learning Teams, action research, based on the Ave Charter for Education, and the Visible Wellbeing Program.

VCE Awards Assembly

On Tuesday, 9 February 2021 the College was thrilled to be able to welcome back more than one third of the Class of 2020 for our annual VCE Awards Ceremony. This important event is one that we look forward to as we celebrate the successes of the recently graduated class.  Following a challenging VCE year in 2020, we are so impressed with the results of the Class of 2020.  To have completed VCE is an achievement in and of itself, but to have done so during a global pandemic is even more remarkable.  The success of the Class of 2020 is a testament to the hard work and commitment of both the staff and students. Some highlights of the event were acknowledging 55 individual study scores over 40, achieved by 35 students, placing them in the top 9% of the state in a given subject.  Likewise, there were 18 students achieving an ATAR over of 90.0 or higher. Between these students, there were 21 different subjects covered, again demonstrating that success and high achievement is not limited to a few areas. The ceremony concluded with a heartfelt and honest speech from the College Dux, Danielle Reed, who outlined her recipe for success, including divulging a couple of her ‘secret ingredients’.  We wish the Class of 2020 all the best as they embark on their next adventure, be that tertiary studies or straight into the workforce.

Jo Hammer

I have been most appreciative of the warmth and welcome from the entire Ave Maria College community over the last few weeks. Students in Year 7 have come up to me with huge smiles, as they too have expressed how happy they are to be a part of the Ave Maria College family.  The connections I have witnessed with and between students, between students and staff, parents and colleagues, fosters greater belonging and supports the development of resilient and happy young people. Two beautiful examples I would like to bring to your attention were a senior student helping a new Year 7 put on her swimming cap as the younger student had no idea how to do it. The senior student just leapt into action and helped the younger student. The second example was seeing the Year 11 Peer Support Leaders usher in the Year 7 students, in the pouring rain, on their first day at Ave Maria. The Year 11 Peer Support Leaders welcomed the Year 7 cohort and covered them with their umbrellas to ensure their start to the day was not only comfortable, but provided that security and certainty as they began their Ave journey.

On Monday, 18 January 2021 I was privileged to spend time with the Senior Student Leadership Team as part of their Leadership Program on the yLead conference at Melbourne University. The program (attended by Year 12 Leaders from across Victoria) was being led by two amazing past student leaders from Ave Maria College: Georgia Nugara (Class of 2012) and Danielle Reed (Class of 2020, College Co- Captain and College Dux). It was exciting hearing the hopes and aspirations of the current 2021 Student Leaders. Their skills of listening and collaboration were abundantly evident as they fine tuned their goals into an action plan. Students will be well led by the 2021 Student Leadership Team as they aim for inclusiveness and a greater voice for the student body. I have already seen their enthusiatic response through the Parent Information evenings, through the Year 12 Retreat, the VCE Awards Ceremony, the Opening College Mass and at the House Swimming Carnival, just to mention a few.

As I mentioned at all Parent Information Nights and assemblies, it is important that each student is true to themselves, respects themselves, College expectations and others, and is responsible for ensuring that whoever they encounter (either personally or on social media) leave the encounter feeling positive about the interaction that has taken place. Each student has the responsibility to help create and maintain a positive learning environment where everyone has a right to feel safe and a right to learn. As such, in line with the Code of Conduct that students can refer to in their Student Planner, it is expected that students refrain from all forms of bullying and harrassment. Bullying will not be tolerated either at school or online, and students will always be encouraged to speak to a trusted adult if they feel that communications they have experienced are not in keeping with the Franciscan values we uphold at Ave Maria College.

As part of being a responsible student at Ave Maria College, all students are asked that if using the bus network to get to or from school that they 'tap on'. This is a normal expectation of bus pass students and we would like to ensure that compliance with this occurs. Please discuss the need for the 'tap on' with your daughter.

Leonie Rushbrook

Opening School Mass

The College community was able to gather in Francis Hall to mark the beginning of the school year on Tuesday, 9 February 2021 as we reflected on the College theme from the writings of St Clare: ‘God is our guiding light’.

Fr Tony Feeney was our celebrant, as the Senior Student Leaders were presented with their badges and recited their pledge. All students new to the College received a Tau Cross to mark their belonging to the Franciscan family. New staff had received their Tau Cross at a Staff Mass on Wednesday, 27 January 2021.

Ash Wednesday

Services were held online through Mentor Groups as the College marked the beginning of Lent. During Lent, we reflect on the parts of ourselves that hold us back from the full life to which we are called at Easter. Student leaders spoke about attitudes that hold us back from being our best selves as well as the ways that God can guide us in our lives, such as prayer, scripture and the people and events of our lives.

Homework Club

Once we have clarified COVID-19 restrictions, we will ask for volunteers from Years 10 to 12 to tutor primary school students. This will occur through the Edmund Rice Refugee Service, operating at St Albans, on a Monday afternoon from 4.00pm to 5.00pm. Students will be driven by a staff member in the College mini-bus to and from the venue.

Patrick Jurd

Welcome back for what will be another inspirational and exciting year of learning at Ave Maria College. I am looking forward to supporting the learning partnerships between the young women of Ave, yourselves as parents and carers, and their teachers. As such, I believe this to be an opportune time to reiterate some College academic expectations and protocols.

Years 7 – 10: Minimum Achievement Standards

Students in Years 7 – 10 are expected to achieve a minimum of 50% in all assessments undertaken as part of their studies. In setting the Minimum Achievement Standard, we aim to ensure that the young women of Ave Maria College are

·         demonstrating understanding,

·         striving for and achieving their very best,

·         building a wealth of knowledge and complex skills that will support them in future learning and life.

Where students achieve less than 50% on a given task, they will be required to re-submit a part, or all of the task as an additional opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and skills. Upon re-submission, students will receive further feedback, however the score of the original assessment task submission will remain.

You will be notified of any instances where your daughter has not satisfied the Minimum Achievement Standard via an email that will direct you to a letter on the Parent Access Module (PAM).

VCE: Assessments

Students studying VCE subjects are also expected to uphold the Minimum Achievement Standard of at least 50% for all School-Assessed Coursework (SAC) tasks and School-Assessed Tasks (SAT). Students who do not meet this requirement may be at risk of achieving a Not Satisfactory (N) for a given outcome, and in turn, the Unit. If your daughter receives less than 50% in a SAC or SAT, a Level 1 Intervention will be recorded, and a redemption task must be completed in order to satisfy the outcome. This will be recorded via a letter on the Parent Access Module (PAM).

Students studying a Unit 3 and 4 subject may be asked to complete a SAC after-school, mainly where there are multiple classes of a given subject at the College. This is being done to ensure that students access their assessments at the same time and preserve the authentication of SAC tasks.

Attendance for a SAC is compulsory. If your daughter is absent for a SAC both yourselves and your daughter will receive a letter on the Parent Access Module (PAM) outlining her absence and details of the Re-scheduled SAC process. Absences from a SAC must be supported by a Medical Certificate or where a Medical Certificate cannot be sourced, a Statutory Declaration. Rescheduled SACs only occur on a Thursday afternoon and attendance must be a priority.

Where students are absent on the date of a SAT submission, they are expected to make contact with their class teacher to arrange submission of the task by 4.00pm on the due date. Extensions will only be given in exceptional circumstances by myself.

Extended Leave

We know that students learn best when they attend classes with minimal disruption. Within the course of the academic year, it is important that your daughter attends all her classes to ensure the successful development of concepts, knowledge and skills. We are also aware that at various times throughout the year, some families may plan holidays or extended trips.

Families are discouraged from taking extended leave/holidays during the school term as doing so disrupts the learning process and creates gaps in essential knowledge and skills. Families of students studying VCE subjects are especially discouraged from such leave, as extended absences can result in these students being at risk of not meeting outcomes, achieving an N for a unit or multiple units, and potentially not being awarded their VCE.

If a student and their family request an extended leave of absence (a time period of five or more school days), a formal application must be submitted to the relevant Sub School Leader at least one month prior to the requested time (except in extenuating circumstances). We ask that this is done by the completion of the Application for Extended Leave form, available from Knowledge Banks. This application form must be signed by each of your daughter’s teachers and Sub School Leader.

Digital Resources

Students in Years 7 through 10 should now have access to their digital resources through Campion MyConnect. This platform centralises four key digital platforms within the College (CambridgeGo, JacPlus, Oxford Digital and Pearson Places) and makes them more easily accessible to students. Should your daughter have any continuing issues, please have them contact myself to have these resolved.

Access to Edrolo and Language Perfect will continue to be updated throughout the year to ensure student access continues.

 James Vella

There has been a lot of work going on in the background to develop our Learning Charter, with the Learner Attributes, into the more holistic Ave Charter for Education, also known as ACE. ACE brings together our faith, learning and wellbeing with a clear message about who we are and how we support our young people. Our focus is on the growth of the whole person, with our Franciscan charism as the foundation for everything we do.

The Ave Charter for Education addresses the growth and development of learners. When we talk about learners, we are talking about all members of the College who engage in life-long learning. The Learner Attributes have been refined to: Respect, Resilience, Critical Thinking, Independence, Confidence and Curiosity. These are the qualities that we seek to develop over the course of our learning. By enhancing these qualities learners can take charge of their own learning and harness their own capacity to grow.

There is significant evidence and research supporting the connection between optimal learning and wellbeing. In order to develop the attributes for learning students need to be able to competently manage their emotional state and wellbeing. In order to support this we are implementing the Visible Wellbeing framework. This framework draws on the work of positive psychology and applies to schools. We are working closely with the team at the University of Melbourne, led by Dr Lea Waters, in order to integrate Visible Wellbeing and the SEARCH framework into Ave Maria College. The Ave Charter for Education reflects this. 

Staff are in the beginning stages of learning about the SEARCH framework. We will begin the first module this week. As we progress throughout the year you will hear more about the skills of the SEARCH framework and how that helps to build the learning attributes that contribute towards the thriving of our young people.

 Natalie Meddis

Has your daughter logged into Studiosity yet?

Studiosity offers 24/7 on demand study help from Subject Specialists- with academic literacy skills and core subject support.  The easiest way to access Studiosity is through any of your daughter’s class learning pages on Ave Learning, or via the 'student resources' section on the left-hand side menu.

Ave Maria College is proud to introduce Simon Everywhere, a smartphone app, designed to streamline the communication process for our families.

Simon Everywhere allows you to conveniently access your daughter’s reports, grades and attendance, update medical information, notify student absences, give consent for excursions and communicate directly with teachers. Essentially it is your Parent Access Module (PAM) account in the convenience of an app.
To utilise this facility simply download the Simon Everywhere app from your devices App Store, select Ave Maria College from the schools dropdown list and enter your previously supplied PAM account credentials.