In 2025, our school is participating in Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools – School Improvement Surveys (MACSSIS). MACSSIS is an annual process whereby schools listen to the thoughts and feelings students, families and staff have about how their school can improve. These surveys help inform the ongoing improvement of schools across the Archdiocese of Melbourne.
One of the main goals of the family survey is to identify the strengths and areas for improvement in our school. MACSSIS data benefits everyone within our school and provides valuable community insights on areas that each school can focus on. Our school believes it is important to encourage families to have a voice and contribute to shaping the ongoing improvement of the school.
In 2025, students, families and staff are invited to participate in MACSSIS via the secure and purpose-built online platform. The online platform is where our school leaders will access the summary reports that visualise the results of the student, family and staff surveys. The MACSSIS survey platform is operated by an independent supplier, ORIMA Research Pty Ltd. The platform meets with the high security and privacy standards for handling student and school data. Participating schools are in the process of updating their privacy policy to ensure school communities are fully informed and protected.
Students at our school will be provided with supervised sessions, where teachers are on hand to help and answer any questions. Families and staff can complete the survey anytime over the three-week window via an emailed link and password.
The survey is available online, can be accessed from Monday, 1 September and needs to be completed by Friday, 19 September 2025. Families will be emailed the survey link along with their unique password to complete the survey. If you would like more information, please contact the school.
Years 7 - 12 Parent Teacher Student Conferences are occurring on -
Wednesday, 27 August: 4.00pm - 8.00pm, Face-to-face at the College (Normal student day)
Thursday, 28 August: 1.00pm - 8.00pm, Face-to-face at the College (Student remote learning)
Friday, 29 August: 8.30am - 1.30pm, Online via Microsoft Teams (Student Free day)
Bookings will be available via PAM for these interviews. Notification will be sent to families when the bookings are available. Feedback to families about your child’s progress is viewed as an important part of the relationship between the College and families and we encourage all families to attend a session.
The VTAC application process will be presented to year 12 students and their families on Thursday 14 August. Year 12 students will be attending an assembly and parents are invited to the online webinar.
Ms Nolan, Ms Stafrace and House Leaders have already begun working with year 12 students to provide individual pathways guidance, SEAS application information and special entrance program requirements information.
We are very aware that this experience can be both exciting and daunting as students begin to consider their pathway beyond life at MSJ. Some students will be very clear about their plans for 2026 and will work towards achieving those goals. Others will still be trying to work out just what it is they would like to pursue.
As educators and parents, it is important we acknowledge there is no normal in this process. Our main aim is to guide and coach students so they can reach their full potential in both an academic and a personal sense.
Unit 3 / 4 Practice Examinations are an integral and compulsory component in student preparation for the VCAA scored examinations. These practice examinations provide students with timed practice in completing examinations in a similar environment to end of semester exams and provide a summative indication of the progress made by students in relation to their examination preparation. Staff use these examination results to inform the structuring of their revision program as well as providing further information which assists in finalising derived examination scores for the VCAA.
This year, as publicised, the practice examinations will be scheduled on the Term 3 holidays. The final timetable for these examination allocations will be provided to students in upcoming days and a formal presentation will be provided to students which will include procedures and regulations. External supervisors will administer these examinations. These examinations will mirror the end of year VCAA examinations and, as such, students must adhere to all examinations rules and regulations.
All students will be provided with feedback on each exam and an academic transcript will be sent home to families summarising the outcomes of these examinations. Much importance is placed upon the benefits of these practice examinations and their purpose as part of a whole revision process and therefore all practice exams are deemed as compulsory.
MSJ staff will be present at the school during the examination time, with the front office open for external communication purposes. Students are permitted to wear casual dress for the trial examinations.
The Trial Exam period is Friday, 19 September – Monday, 22 September. Therefore year 12 students will be concluding their classes for term 3 on Thursday 18 September.
Students need to arrive 30 minutes prior to the commencement of each examination. All trial examinations will be held in the MacKillop Centre.
The Learning Resource Centre has been a hub of activity this term. The cold weather ensures there are always plenty of students using the space, both for study and for fun. The most popular leisure-time activities have been board games, jigsaws, chess and origami.
We set up an origami table to complement the Japanese exchange students' visit to MSJ. We put out some basic origami designs, so everyone could confidently have a go, and now we have hundreds of origami ducks and flowers decorating the library. We also have some spectacularly complex origami pieces made by our Seirei visitors.
The opportunity to learn more about Japanese culture and share our Australian culture has been very exciting. As part of the cultural exchange, we gave the Japanese students a presentation on the Indigenous resources we have in the library, so they could gain a general understanding of First Nations people and culture, and invited them to decorate message stones and make bracelets in First Nations colours. We also had a magnificent wedding kimono on display in the library.
New books in the library include Holly Jackson’s Not Quite Dead, Lynette Noni’s Wandering Wild, Dancing Barefoot by Alice Boyle and the Ella at Eden series.
Rebecca Green - Librarian
Over the terms MSJ Debating Team students embraced the challenge of the Debating program.
Our students have developed the confidence to speak clearly, argue persuasively, and engage with challenging topics. Akshara, Hridhya, Jemima, Alannah and Allegra have successfully depended on cooperation and mutual support to one another. Students learnt how to divide tasks, support each other’s arguments, and work as a cohesive team. They have adopted a culture of respect, learnt to disagree politely, accept different viewpoints, and handle both victory and defeat with grace.
MSJ Team now progress to the regional level, we look forward to seeing their voices and thoughts grow stronger and more articulate as they progress to the higher debating level in the future years.
Special mention to Zoe De Visme from Year 7, who took up the challenge and participated in the Year 8 / 9 debating program. She spoke with courage and confidence in front of the audience. We are very proud of her great effort and commitment.
Thank you to Mrs Milgate for her guidance and support as she has led the MSJ team to a regional level.
Anthea Heiniger - Debating Coordinator
On Tuesday 29th of August our year 11 VET sport and rec class visited Newport athletics track to help out with Sacred Heart Primary School Newport’s athletics carnival as part of our practical assessment for our unit SISOFLD001 - Assist in conducting recreational sessions, under the supervision of our teacher Ms Louden.
Our class split up into pairs allocating roles and responsibilities helping to help out with many events; setting them up, packing them away, explaining rules, demonstrating, timing, measuring and recording results. Our class went there with a positive attitude helping out to the best of our abilities and even cheering on the students and encouraging them to have a go no matter the result. This showed through the positive feedback from the teachers and parent helpers and the smiles on the kids faces. Overall I think everyone had a great day.
