26 June 2020

Term 2, 2020 has been one of the most challenging yet creative terms for our schools.

While schools began the term with remote learning before switching back to face-to-face learning, the school experience continued in and out of the classroom. Remote learning required teachers and students to creatively find ways to continue various events during the term before the return to school in May and June:

• ‘In this together’ was the theme for this year’s National Reconciliation Week. Although the traditional Long Walk couldn’t take place, Aquinas College, Ringwood, conducted a virtual Long Walk with events at various locations, along with a special message from Long Walk ambassador Nova Peris.
• Anzac Day events were cancelled, but St Thomas More’s School, Hadfield, continued the tradition remotely, while a young historian from St Patrick’s School, Mentone, used the opportunity to write two books about family members who served Australia in the first and second world wars.
• It was a different celebration for Mother’s Day and at St Anthony’s School, Noble Park, the school bus was used for a ‘mum run’ to visit the school’s mothers and to share good wishes and gifts.

Despite being in the classroom or learning remotely, our schools still demonstrated care for their communities. Students from St Finbar’s School, Brighton East, Our Lady of Perpetual Succour School, Surrey Hills, St Peter’s School, Clayton, and St Paul’s School, Coburg, were among many schools sharing messages of thanks and support for health workers.

Although award ceremonies were delayed or presented in different ways, Catholic schools celebrated some wonderful achievements over the term.

Learning Environments Australasia Awards

The 2020 Learning Environments Australasia Awards for excellence in education facilities were announced recently. St Paul’s College, Balwyn, received a commendation for its new campus to support students with diverse learning needs and St Dominic’s School, Broadmeadows, received a commendation for its STEAM Centre.

ResourceSmart Awards

Celebrating their commitment to sustainability, the following ResourceSmart Schools Awards were presented in a virtual ceremony in June:

• Teacher of the Year (Primary): Stephanie Young, St Columba’s School, Elwood
• School Volunteer of the Year: St Columba’s Green Team, St Columba’s School, Elwood
• Community Leadership School of the Year (Primary): Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Ocean Grove
• Curriculum Leadership School of the Year (Primary): Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Ocean Grove
• Curriculum Leadership School of the Year (Secondary): MacKillop Catholic Regional College, Werribee.

VCAL Awards

The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) recognised students and teachers involved in the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL). Congratulations to the winners of VCAL Achievement Awards from the following Catholic schools:

• VCAL Teacher of the Year: Bobbie Evans from Emmanuel College, Altona North
• Foundation Personal Development Skills: Sarah Morgan from MacKillop Specialist School, Whittington
• Intermediate Outstanding Achievement: Caleb Rolph from St Joseph’s Flexible Learning Centre, North Melbourne
• Intermediate Team Achievement: Celeste Curcio, Sophie Foster and Scarlet Petti from Our Lady of Mercy College, Heidelberg
• Senior Work Related Skills: Courtney Waugh from St Ignatius College Geelong, Drysdale.

VCE Awards

Isabelle Brugliera from Genazzano FCJ College, Kew, and Sam Warner from Mazenod College, Mulgrave, were announced as recipients of the Top All-Round VCE High Achiever Award. This award is presented to students who have achieved study scores of 46 or higher in at least five VCE studies.