School Review occurring this Semester

Every four years the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) audit every school in the State to ensure compliance with the necessary education legislation. It’s our turn again this year!

The VRQA Review (which covers both the Day School and Boarding) is a binary process, where we produce documents and explain policies and procedures which are assessed as either present/correct or incomplete. This part of the process generally takes about half a day. At Assumption we use a program called CompliSpace to manage our policies and procedures, including those necessary for VRQA Compliance and are well supported by Marist Schools Australia to ensure that this area of school life remains compliant. The significant growth of Child Safeguarding, Privacy and HR legislation in recent years has significantly developed this area of school life and just this year the official registration of Boarding premises has been included. You may be interested to know that we have a full time staff member working in the area of compliance, and during the Review year and with the additional of Boarding to the VRQA process have also relied on casual staff to ensure the necessary documentation is prepared and organised to the VRQAs exacting (and necessary) standards. 

The VRQA registration process is coupled with a more holistic Review overseen on behalf of the Department of Education by Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS). This process takes five days and involves a self-assessment across five key areas: Religious Identity, Student Wellbeing, Learning & Teaching, Leadership & Management and Community Relations, review of key data sources and evidence of growth/improvement in the strategic goals of the prior five years and strategic planning for the coming five years.  This process will take place over Term three and four with the assistance of two external Reviewers who provide a report back to various stakeholders (VRQA, MSA, MACS and our school community).

Over the coming weeks you may find one of our staff touching base for your person feedback or for involvement in a focus group on one of the areas mentioned in the previous paragraph. COVID disrupted our normal survey and information gathering processes over the past eighteen months but we are fortunate that we did have several instances last year and in the first half of this year where parent feedback was sought and given.  I thank you in advance in anticipation of your support with providing the feedback we require.

With the Churches closed…

A couple of Sunday’s ago (when things were normal), I was sitting in the 10.30am Sunday Mass at St Patrick’s in Kilmore. I usually attend the Saturday evening Mass with our Boarders, so I was surprised and awed anew with the amazing light and imagery produced by the magnificent stained glass windows.  If you haven’t been in the St Pat’s Church, I strongly urge you to make the effort for a visit sometime – it is an amazing colonial masterpiece and demonstrates how generous and dedicated previous generations were in ensuring beautiful places to be together in the presence of God. Those windows are simply breathtaking in the full light of day – I don’t think anyone can help but feel inspired by their colour, story-telling and intricate details.

Like most people, I don’t normally get too hung up about where I pray. With so many books, podcasts and prayer-apps available to support our personal spirituality now, it can happen so easily anywhere, anytime. As I’ve mentioned here a million times, my favourite prayer App is the Jesuit ‘Pray As You Go’, which provides a ten minute daily reflection on a Reading (and some lovely music). I just find it a good means of keeping routine of prayer. At the end of the day, I like the ‘Reimagining the Examen’ App. It provides a few questions to prayerfully think back over the day and acknowledge the presence of God and ways to make tomorrow even better.

Loving God, whatever it takes, however it happens, let me feel your presence today and it any way you want, let others experience your presence through me. Amen

LATEST NEWS

In this newsletter:

• Simon Everywhere App 
• Pave your way into Assumption College History
• RURBAN 2021 - Save the date
• From the Faith Office
• From the Library
• An update from Boarding
• From the Equestrian Team

RURBAN 2021

We are so excited to be upping the preparation for RURBAN Kilmore 2021!

Whilst we are keeping an eye on all of the unpredictable changes relating to COVID we are remaining optimistic and planning is full steam ahead.

If you would like to become involved in RURBAN 2021 as a volunteer or sponsor we'd love to hear from you! contact marketing@assumption.vic.edu.au or call us on 03 5783 5000

FROM THE FAITH OFFICE

Mr Paul Reed - Mission Leader

Marist Parent Connect

This weeks edition of Marist Parent Connect newsletter focuses on Our Marist Family Spirit. The latest edition can be found HERE.

We invite students to become ‘Marist’ in their attitudes, behaviours and beliefs, but this invitation is extended to all in our wider community. Take the opportunity to further deepen your understandings of what it means to be Marists and join us in this way of life.

A prayer of reflection during lockdown

NEWS FROM THE LIBRARY

Mrs Alexa Hunt - Director of Library and Information Services

Getting the most out of your Library in Lockdown

The Assumption College Library is still here for you in these difficult times.
Here are three ways the Library can help you stay engaged and stay connected…

1)      eBooks and Audio Books

Assumption College has access to an eLibrary called OverDrive. There are great new titles appearing all the time – and you can either read with your eyes or with your ears!
This link will get you started – you may need to log in with your school email and password

Library Homepage (Access eBooks and Audio books here)

2)      Clickview

All students have access to Clickview and you can find the link to it in Simon or click on this link to Clickview. Use your Assumption College email address and password to log in.
Students have access to age appropriate content but there is a special Movies and TV section where you will find great ‘edutainment’. Check it out in your free time!

3)      The Great Winter Reading Challenge

Even though we are physically apart we can still read together. Any reading you do can be added to the Great Winter Reading Challenge and earn you some House Points. You can find more information at the Great Winter Reading Challenge section of the Library Homepage

Click here to go there!

If you need help with any of the above, please email the Library.
Stay safe and healthy – and Happy Reading!

AN UPDATE FROM BOARDING

FROM THE EQUESTRIAN TEAM

2021 Hygain VEIS Finals

Congratulations to our students who participated in the 2021 Hygain VEIS Show Jumping Final held on Saturday, 10 July and the 2021 Hygain VEIS Dressage Grand Final held on Sunday, 11 July. We are extremely proud of your efforts. A big thank you to all competitors, parents, staff and Team Managers who contributed.

Below are the results from the event as well as the series place getters.

COMMUNITY NEWS