NEWS
In this edition of 'Meet the Teacher' we speak with Mrs. Stacey Brice, a member of our Primary Teaching Team who also happens to be one of our foundation Staff members (having joined the College in its establisment year of 2006).
Name: Stacey Brice – Primary Teacher – stacey.brice@marymede.vic.edu.au
What is your role at the College?
I currently work 2 days a week, teaching PMP (Perceptual Motor Program) to all of the children in Prep, Year 1 and Year 2. PMP exposes students to a range of movements that aim to develop their perceptions of themselves and to build the range of skills required to manage the demands of schooling, specifically fine motor skills, developing perception, judgement, focus and eye movement.
I am also very involved with the Primary School Choir that meets every Wednesday after school.
Tell us about an interesting project or topic that you are currently working on with one of your classes?
As this is a brand new Specialist subject this year, we began our classes back in Term 1 with whole class activities. We have now moved on to completing four different rotational activities every lesson, spending roughly 10 minutes at each activity. All activities focus specifically on balance, locomotion, hand/eye coordination and fitness.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
The most rewarding aspect for me is watching my students learn and witnessing that 'Lightbulb Moment' when they actually understand a concept. That moment makes it all worthwhile. Seeing the joy, excitement and sometimes relief on their faces when they learn something that they did not know before is simply priceless.
I also love teaching across various levels as I am able to develop amazing relationships with many students in our Primary years.
Fast Five:
Favourite Food: Chocolate - Must be Cadbury or Lindt!
Favourite Movie/TV Show: Movie: The Sound of Music / TV Show: Friends
Hidden Talent or Something We May Not Know About You: I started dancing when I was 3 years of age and only stopped at the age of 27 (when I fell pregnant with my first daughter).
I also had private singing lessons throughout my entire Secondary schooling, which is why I enjoy working with Ms. Oman and the Primary School Choir!
Favourite Sporting Team: Not really into Sports as an adult, however, I did grow up in a household full of Collingwood supporters!
If You Could Pick Any 3 People as Dinner Guests, Who Would They Be and Why?:
I would love to have my 3 deceased grandparents (Nana, Nonna & Nonno) over for dinner to introduce them to my two gorgeous daughters. My Grandparents would have loved to have spent time with my girls and watch them grow and achieve in all areas of their lives.
Stacey's 2006 foundation Staff member photo!
'Where Are They Now?' gives the Marymede Community an opportunity to catch up with and meet members of the Marymede Alumni - past graduates who have since commenced new journeys and adventures outside of Marymede Catholic College.
Name: Thomas Bennett – Class of 2014 - VCAL Program
What year did you graduate from Marymede Catholic College and tell us a little bit about your journey after Secondary School?
I graduated from Marymede Catholic College in 2014 and moved straight into a Automotive Apprenticeship at Watson Holden, having already participated in work placement there during Year 11 and Year 12 VCAL.
Tell us about an interesting project that you are currently working on or provide us with a ‘snapshot’ into your daily routine:
Currently I work on lots of interesting things every day at work, including front wheel alignments, services and tune-ups, diagnosing and repairing various faults in vehicles, taking vehicles on test drives to make sure they are running well and washing cars before returning them back to customers. Sometimes, the whole team needs to work together to clean the workshop area and there are also times when I assist with opening and closing the workshop in the morning and at the end of the day.
What will you remember most about your time at Marymede Catholic College?
I remember enjoying the VCAL Program because it involved a lot of practical activities and working with others in teams to complete projects - such as cooking and serving afternoon tea for the elderly. I liked hanging out with my friends and having fun with them and I also enjoyed going on School camps.
What advice would you give to current students at the College?
My advice is to take subjects that you enjoy so that you have a better chance of moving into an industry that you are passionate about. I also think it is important to have a good, respectful relationship with your teachers and listen to their advice.
Fast Five:
Favourite Food: My Nonna's Schnitzel
Favourite Movie/TV Show: Top Gear
Hobbies or Something We May Not Know About You: I make great Sausage Rolls (which I learnt from studying Food Technology at School!)
Favourite Sporting Team: Melbourne Victory
If You Could Pick Any 3 People as Dinner Guests, Who Would They Be and Why?:
Archie Thompson: My favourite Soccer player;
Gordan Ramsey: A talented and creative Chef;
Daniel Ricciardo: A young achiever who always flies the flag for Australia at an elite level in Formula One
Thomas @ Watson Holden
Thomas in Year 12, 2014
Thank you to all those who recently participated in our 'Ask Mr. Kenny' campaign. It was great to see many members of the Marymede Community provide their feedback and input on topics which are important to our families.
Mr. Kenny has responded to each parent directly via email and we are happy to share with all members of the Marymede Community the following responses:
Would you reconsider the Grade 6 Camp to Canberra to take place somewhere closer? Sandra
Hi Sandra, this trip has been an annual event in the School Calendar each year and one in which our Year 6 students look forward to with great enthusiasm. This Camp also links in strongly with student studies in ‘Civics and Citizenship’ which includes a topic on Government. Therefore at this stage we do not have any plans to relocate the Camp, however as is common with all of our teaching and learning programs, this will be reviewed on an annual basis, based on changes in our curriculum along with a view to providing the best possible opportunities available for our students at the time.
Can you please advise why Marymede students conclude Term 4 usually one week before most other primary schools (this includes Catholic and state schools) and also often commence each term a day or two later than other primary schools? This puts an additional burden on working parents as this can mean that our children are having about 6-7 weeks of holidays during the Christmas/New Year break and childcare arrangements can be difficult to arrange. Natalie
Hi Natalie, I am of the belief that in a Prep to Year 12 School it is important to retain equality, where possible, across all year levels in order to maintain balance and fairness to all families, many of whom have children in both Primary and Secondary years. Therefore we try to keep the difference between end of year conclusion dates to a minimum. As a result students in Secondary years often conclude slightly later than many of their counterparts whilst students in Primary years conclude a week or so earlier. Teaching Staff will then use the final week to conduct planning amongst their teaching teams as the early days of Term 1 are often set aside for programs such as one-to-one Literacy and Numeracy Testing.
With regards to our students commencing term a day or two later than other Schools – we believe that this is the most appropriate time to conduct our annual P-12 Staff Professional Development sessions as opposed to these sessions being scattered throughout mid-week dates across the term. These Professional Development sessions are required for Staff and they are extremely beneficial in providing engaging, challenging and innovative teaching and learning programs for our students.
It is nice to know the School will start a new Kindergarten program. Great effort. I am interested to find out if any Education Support Staff will be required for these programs. I am keen to submit my Resume and be considered for any opportunity to participate within the Kindergarten Program in 2018. Prashanthy
Hi Prashanthy, in the coming weeks, Marymede Early Learning Centre will advertise for a range of positions to commence in 2018. These roles will be advertised via a number of mediums one of which includes the Marymede Catholic College website
(www.marymede.vic.edu.au) additionally, you are welcome to submit your expression of interest to me via principal@marymede.vic.edu.au.
Will there be more secure fencing and security around the School once the Marymede Station development is complete? Sandra
Hi Sandra, I am able to confirm that the College will implement a range of new security/surveillance resources around our perimeter. We will also monitor the impact of the Station to College grounds in the early years to ensure that any additions/developments to security are made as required. It is my intention to ensure that all students and families at Marymede Catholic College feel safe within our environment at all times. Additionally, I am of the understanding that Marymede Station itself will also be equipped with a range of surveillance and security resources within the area.
When you took over at Marymede Catholic College, one of the fast changes you made was to finish all year levels at 3.15pm. This was justified by the required hours Secondary students needed to complete their studies. However, as a parent who does pickup everyday, this created major traffic and safety issues. When finish times in the past were staggered by 7 minutes I found the traffic flow was better, creating a much safer environment for the children. In a perfect world we have enough car parks, wider lanes, and enough staff to supervise the kids around the campus. But in reality we need to make small changes that will create a safer environment for the children. Creating a peak time of 3.15pm when prep to 12 all come out at once is not the safest solution. I know Marymede has engaged expert traffic surveys in the past for these issues. I believe the safety of children is the highest priority. I would like to know how Marymede is looking at the possibility of easing the 3.15pm gridlock. Anthony
Hi Anthony, in reference to your question regarding the finish time of our students - in addition to students meeting the minimum time requirements for face to face learning, I am also of the belief that in a P-12 College it is important to maintain equality where possible across all year levels. Another important benefit in having one standard and consistent timetable has been the availability of Secondary Teaching Staff to teach students in our Primary years throughout a range of specialist subjects. Most recently, as part of the rotational elective program which is run in Years 5 and 6. These curriculum programs not only work to provide a unique learning opportunity to our younger students but also play an integral role in the transition of these students through to their Secondary education here at the College. This is made possible by having one consistent/standard timetable across all year levels.
With regard to traffic management, the College will be developing a brand new 130+ space car park zone within Gate A as part of the new Marymede Early Learning Centre project. This development will also see a roadway constructed from Gate A around the rear perimeter of the College through to Gate G. We believe this will greatly improve traffic flow for our families. Additionally, we anticipate that some families may also opt to use new drop-off facilities located across the road at Marymede Station once this area is open and operative. This will help to contribute to reduced congestion within our own drop-off/pick-up zones and assist with traffic management around the area.
Could you please change the time for signing in the mornings. I would like to see a change to 8.55am - 9.00am due to Train Station construction and roadworks. Shine
Hi Shine, I can understand and appreciate that the ongoing construction works that are part of the Marymede Station development project will place additional demands on families who are dropping their children off to School in the morning and collecting them in the afternoon.
However I do not believe that an amendment to our current timetable is in the best interests of our students. A change in our bell time will significantly decrease the time available for students in Homeroom and Pastoral Care each morning – a period which allows students to adequately prepare for their days’ learning. There is also the risk that a later commencement time may cause disruption to Period 1 teaching and learning which commences at 9.00am. Whilst the development of this new station may cause some temporary disruption to our families over the next 12 months, we are excited about the long term opportunities it will provide to both our students and families in the coming years and I thank your family and our parents for their understanding and patience during this process.
Is it possible to publish the general average VCE results for subjects and overall ATAR scores achieved by Marymede Catholic College students? There is no other way of comparing school performance than this. Phil
Our College publishes detailed information on our VCE results in the first edition of our Newsletter each year. Additionally, extensive data around study scores and average ATAR information is published for all Victorian Schools in the Herald Sun at the conclusion of each year. Data can also be found on the ‘MySchools’ and ‘Better Education’ websites.
What will be done regarding car parking for drop off/pick ups in the future, and should parents that are picking their children up through the express lanes, be actually getting out of their cars/leaving their cars parked in the lanes? This contributes to a lot of time spent in the lanes/congestion. Brian
In regards to car parking facilities in the future, the College will be developing a brand new 130+ space car park zone within Gate A as part of the new Marymede Early Learning Centre project. This development will also see a roadway built from Gate A around the rear perimeter of the College through to Gate G. We believe this will greatly improve traffic flow for our families. Additionally, we anticipate that some families may also opt to use new drop-off facilities located across the road at Marymede Station once the area is complete and operational. This will help to contribute to reduced congestion within our own drop-off/pick-up zones and assist with traffic management.
Parents who opt to use the drop-off/pick-up lane in Gate B should not be leaving their vehicle at any time. I agree that this is a major factor in congestion. Car park etiquette is something which I have included in my Newsletter articles throughout the year. Where feasible, Staff on Yard Duty will also request that parents follow the guidelines for this zone however in a School of this size it is important that we have the full co-operation of all parents to ensure the safety of our children during morning and afternoon pick up times.
Are the rumours of an aquatic styled building being built by the School correct? Brian
With regards to the development of an aquatic space at the College, many families may not be aware that in 2016 the College purchased a small parcel of land along Williamsons Road (Opposite Gate C). As part of our long term development plans, there will be several new buildings constructed on this site – one of which has been earmarked as an aquatic facility. However, no commencement year or timeline has yet been put into place for this specific facility and again I wish to reiterate that this forms part of our long-term development Masterplan.
I believe that the Uniform Policy should allow our Year 12 students to wear their Year 12 jumpers at all times in their final year of School. It’s something simple that allows them to show the hard work they have done to get to their final year of schooling and to showcase to the entire community that they are in Year 12 at Marymede Catholic College. Melissa
In reference to your feedback regarding the Year 12 jumper - my firm belief is that our School Uniform sets a standard for our own personal grooming expectations both internally and within our wider local Community.
I am a big supporter of our School Uniform and for our most senior students to act as role models to their younger peers in the wearing of our uniform. There are many Schools which do not allow for their Year 12 garment to be worn at all during School time and so we work in compromise with our Year 12 students to allow them to wear this garment one day a week – I feel this arrangement provides a fair balance between the celebration/achievement of reaching Year 12 whilst maintaining the importance of a focused and diligent approach to their final year of studies. At this stage I do not support the Year 12 jumper replacing their uniform for any longer than the current period. Thank you for your input.
Mr Kenny have you had thoughts about introducing Driver Safety seminars/ lessons as part of the School curriculum (similar to the USA). With the increased focus on safety on our roads and safe driving standards, it is a vital age to give our children practice which they may not recieve elsewhere. Aaron
I am always open to providing our students with additional learning opportunities which benefit them whilst at School and once they leave the Marymede Community. I will speak to our Deputy Principal Learning & Teaching P-12, Ms Tracey Kift about this concept and the possibility of its introduction at Marymede Catholic College. Additionally we have previously offered a range of seminar experiences to students regarding road safety and driver’s education such as the ‘Keys Please’ program and we hope that these will continue in the future.
If possible I would like to see a more structured and better Tennis Program at the College with staff that take the sport and commitment seriously. If there is any help I can provide to the program, this can include taking the training after school I am happy to provide this. Tony
I am keen to create an engaging and challenging Tennis program here at the College which encourages students who have an interest in the sport to take part.
In addition to raising your concerns with our Sport Department, we currently work in partnership with ‘Vassallo Tennis’ to conduct our weekly morning ‘Hot Shots’ Coaching Program – I will also engage in discussion with them around ways in which we can improve the Tennis program in the senior years here at the College. I will keep you updated on any changes. It has been pleasing to see the growth and success across our P-12 sporting programs in recent years and it would be fantastic to see these achievements expand to Tennis in the future.
Are there plans for all Year levels to be involved in an inter-school competition each year in both summer and winter sports? For example, Years 8 students do not compete in inter-school AFL. Aaron
The inter-school competitive sport program is organised via the ‘Sports Association of Catholic Coeducational Secondary Schools’, also known as ‘SACCSS’. Unfortunately the current SACCSS schedule sees Years 7 & 9 teams compete during winter months (Terms 2 and 3) of which AFL is included as a sport, and Years 8 & 10 teams competing during summer months (Terms 1 and 4) in which Cricket is included as a sport. This schedule would apply to all Schools participating within the SACCSS competition.
We look forward to the Marymede Community's feedback in future 'Ask Mr. Kenny' campaigns in the future!
This year, our students in Year 4 have been taking action to reduce the amounts of rubbish which go into landfill each year. Recently, a group of students from Year 4.3 contacted the Whittlesea City Council to request stickers that could be used in assisting our younger students to appropriately place recyclable items into the the correct bin.
They were very appreciative of Kristina from Council who supported this initiative and students are now confident that if they work collaboratively with others they can make a difference in caring for God's creation.
At Marymede Catholic College, we believe that we can only seek to get the best from our students by working together in an open and co-operative partnership with our families. One in which communication is encouraged on a regular basis.
We understand that it can be hard for parents to get to a Morning Tea with the Principal event, therefore in Term 3, the College will be introducing a new program titled ‘Ask Mr Kenny’. By visiting the link below, parents can ask College Principal, Mr Kenny a question or leave him a comment of your choice. Questions will be collated and responses published to the Marymede Community in the coming weeks via a number of mediums.
To ask Mr Kenny a question, or leave him a comment, simply visit: http://www.marymede.vic.edu.au/ask-mr-kenny and submit your content by no later than Friday July 28.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Marymede Film School returns on Wednesday July 26 and is celebrating 5 years!
Film School is a filmmaking workshop where students from Years 6-12 collaborate on the creation of a short film every Wednesday after school in SS03. Students will form small production teams and specialise in scriptwriting, directing and cinematography, or editing.
The filmmakers will walk the red carpet for the premiere of their short films at the annual Iris Media Showcase.
'Where Are They Now?' gives the Marymede Community an opportunity to catch up with and meet members of the Marymede Alumni - past graduates who have since commenced new journeys and adventures outside of Marymede Catholic College.
Name: Michaela Cuschieri – Class of 2013 - College DUX
What year did you graduate from Marymede Catholic College and tell us a little bit about your journey after Secondary School?
I graduated in 2013. Since then I’ve completed a Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences and I am currently studying a Doctor of Medicine at Monash University. I have been tutoring since I graduated, as well as volunteering at the Northern Hospital and Bundoora Extended Care Centre. I haven’t been overseas in a long time, but I’m based in Churchill, Gippsland for this year and I think that’s far enough for now.
Tell us about an interesting project that you are currently working on or provide us with a ‘snapshot’ into your daily routine:
Well Medical School is exactly like Gray’s Anatomy. No, my life mainly consists of anatomy, learning drug names and preparing for placement. When I’m not at university I am either working, at the gym with my housemates or at some social activity that I lack the self-control to refuse. And, of course, I have to study, a lot.
What will you remember most about your time at Marymede Catholic College?
All of the great teachers, the sporting carnivals and the other students I got to meet.
What advice would you give to current students at the College?
Be friendly to everyone! You will be surprised how many people remember the way you treated them in high school and will be willing to help you because of it. Nice people always finish first!
Fast Five:
Favourite Food: Burger!
Favourite Movie/TV Show: Beauty and the Beast
Hobbies or Something We May Not Know About You: Boxing
Favourite Sporting Team: Manchester United
If You Could Pick Any 3 People as Dinner Guests, Who Would They Be and Why?:
Victor Chang: If you don't know who he was, 'Google' it!
Chris Evans: Do I need a reason?!
My Mum: Her in a room with Captain America (Chris Evans) would be hilarious!
Michaela in Year 12, 2013
Please be advised that the College has received notification from Yarra Valley Water and AusNet services, that Water and Electricity supplies will be interrupted on Thursday 13 July from 8.00am to 4.30pm. Subsequently, the College will be closed on this day.
Should you need to urgently contact the College urgently during this time, please our College Principal via principal@marymede.vic.edu.au, or Deputy Principal via tracey.kift@marymede.vic.edu.au
Congratulations to Year 6.2's Classroom Teacher Mr. Anthony Amerena on being featured in a recent edition of the Northern Star Weekly!
Mr. Amerena has recently been nominated for the “A Day Made Better” Award. You can read the full article via the link below:
http://www.starweekly.com.au/news/marymede-teacher-makes-the-grade/