On Friday 6 March, we celebrated International Women’s Day with breakfast. Parents, students, past students and staff came together focused on the theme ‘Balance the Scales’. Angela Scaffidi AM, past student, Co-Chair of our College Advisory Council, Partner at Senate SHJ and board member of many organisations all focused on improving the lives of those in need. She is truly a woman of Mercy who gives herself whole heartedly to all that she supports.
Angela shared with us her story. She reminded us of the power of women who unite to support each other and the great things that are achieved when we choose to get involved. She spoke of lifelong friendships with women and the support they have offered her throughout our life. Angela also reminded us that courage doesn’t have to be loud, sometimes the most significant moments of courage happen quietly when we choose to do something new and maybe we are the only ones that knew of the courage it took. Angela also offered our students sage advice about being comfortable with where they are in life’s journey. She provided much food for thought about the ways in which we might contribute to ‘Balancing the Scales’.
This week, some very courageous fathers/male mentors of Year 8 students participated with students in the Time and Space program. I am always delighted watching the connections between adults and children and the genuine pride and joy in doing something together. The conversations were rich and joyful. As parents, we don’t always get moments where we are just focused on enriching our family relationships. It is a great privilege for OLMC to be able to make this opportunity available.
Next week, we will welcome the mothers/female mentors for our Year 7 students and anticipate that it will be another evening of rich conversation and joy.
As you are no doubt aware, since 2017, many organisations including schools, have been working with Child Safe Standards. In 2022, the standards were revised and we moved from seven to eleven standards in all. They cover a wide range of ways we can provide opportunities for student voice, empowerment and protection. They set the expectations for how young people are treated and can be supported. They also place the safety and wellbeing of all young people at the heart of all we do. They don’t just apply to schools, many organisations that work with children are also expected to work with the standards.
Many of our practices are informed by the standards and we are all becoming used to expectations such as signing in at schools, acknowledging Codes of Conduct and having Working with Children Checks. At OLMC, the safety and wellbeing of our students is taken very seriously and is at the forefront of our work. Working with the standards also offers us an opportunity to review practice, policy and procedures to further develop our responses.
At OLMC, one of our key Strategic Directions 2025-2029 is focusing on being a ‘Connected Community’. We are grateful to all our families for the support you provide and your continued partnership in helping us to learn, grow and develop as a student focused, safe and supportive community.
If you are interested in learning more about the standards you can connect on the link here.
This week, NAPLAN 2026 began for students in Years 7 and 9. As you are no doubt aware, due to technical issues beyond our control, the test was interrupted. I have included below information provided by the ACARA, the body responsible for the NAPLAN testing. Students at OLMC were well supported and have been able to resume the testing. The remainder of the testing will continue as planned.
‘As you may have been made aware, NAPLAN testing was impacted … by technical issues with the national assessment platform.
ACARA, the national body that oversees testing, has confirmed that testing resumed shortly after the initial incident.
ACARA recognises the significant impact to students disrupted during their NAPLAN writing assessments, and for that we apologise unreservedly.
Schools have been informed to continue NAPLAN testing as per their planned test schedules. ACARA will continue to work closely with states and territories to support students to complete their NAPLAN tests.
Measures are in place to ensure students are not disadvantaged as a result of this technical issue.
Should parents and carers have any further queries about the NAPLAN disruptions this morning, they should contact their child’s school in the first instance.' (ACARA)
