From the Principal

We have seen a steady stream of visitors to our College this week with Dr Judi Newman and John and Sharee from Tatu. We also welcomed members of the business community who supported our Year 11 students with mock interviews, and families whose daughters are commencing in Year 7 in 2025. 

Dr Judi Newman, a leading expert in social cognitive neuroscience, has made significant strides in understanding how the brain influences leadership and learning. As the Director of the Academy of Organisational Neuroscience Australia, Dr Newman applies cutting-edge neuroscience research to enhance leadership effectiveness and learning outcomes. Dr Newman was affirming of the College’s efforts to ensure we are working towards evidence-based practices, particularly our instructional model and approach to positive behaviours for learning. By bridging the gap between neuroscience and practical application, Dr Newman provided us with both the why and the how of high impact leadership and teaching practices to further enhance our learning culture for both staff and students. Most importantly Dr Newman reminded us that teachers and leaders are brain changers! 

This week, Tatu, strategic planning consultants, have been actively working with our school, conducting interviews with focus groups including parents, students and staff. Their efforts are aimed at deeply understanding our unique context and engaging with our community to support us in formulating an authentic and effective strategic plan that will take us into the next 5 years of our College story. Through a comprehensive review of College data sets, VRQA and SIF review documents, along with the community survey data and knowledge of contemporary educational trends and directions, Tatu is helping us enhance our school’s improvement agenda and build stronger connections with our community. Their support ensures that we have undertaken a transparent and thorough process so our next school improvement plan is not just a document, but a living framework that drives continuous improvement and success. We are most grateful for those families and alumni who contributed to the survey or took the time out to be a part of a focus group this week. Your contribution will make a difference. 

When I was reflecting on the ‘mock interviews’ it was affirming to note the work of our VCE Vocational Major staff who are trialling the credentialing process for the Australian Learner Competency Credential. The Australian Learner Competency Credential (ALCC), is part of the New Metrics program, which our College has been a partner since 2021. By focusing on complex competencies such as critical thinking, collaboration, communication, active citizenship, and agency in learning, the ALCC provides a more holistic measure of student success beyond traditional transcripts or scores. Whilst it does not aim to replace the VCE or VCE VM we believe this is aligned with our approach at Clonard, valuing the education of the whole person. This credential, validated by the University of Melbourne’s Melbourne Metrics, recognises the skills needed to thrive in further education and future employment.  We believe this will better position our students with confidence in their skills and capabilities as they venture into the demands of a dynamic and evolving world. Thus far our VCE VM team have aligned the elements of the competencies within their learning design ensuring students have had the opportunity to learn, practice and demonstrate the various competencies. They have undertaken  assessment  tasks and moderation and will be involved in a quality assurance process with the university in the coming weeks.  Given this is only the second year of trailing this credential we are proud to be a part of this groundbreaking work and most grateful that our VCE VM team were open to the opportunity. 

We are currently interviewing staff for positions of leadership. Having a strong culture of staff who are open to taking on leadership responsibilities brings immense benefits. When educators step into leadership roles, it brings energy, hope, and optimism. This fosters a collaborative atmosphere where innovative ideas flourish, and everyone feels empowered to contribute to the school’s vision. Such a culture not only enhances professional growth but also positively impacts student outcomes, as staff members model resilience and a commitment to continuous improvement. Ultimately, this dynamic environment creates a thriving community where both students and staff are inspired to achieve their best. It has been a hope filled time listening to the aspirations of our prospective staff leaders. Next week we will also hear from those shortlisted for 2025 College Co Captains. We have a comprehensive process for selection which includes a written application, assembly speech, staff and student voting and an interview with a panel including a past College captain and a member of the Kildare Ministries community. Each year’s cohort brings a renewed commitment and the reminder of the journey of growth that students undertake in their year’s at Clonard. We wish all the students applying for senior leadership roles all the best with this process. 

Thank you to all the dads and father figures who gathered yesterday to mark Father’s Day. It was our biggest breakfast ever. A huge shout out to the team who cooked bacon and eggs for our guests. It was a great chance just to be together in community. We hope Sunday is a day for connection and gratitude.  

Blessings 

Luci