SGC CAMPUS

UPDATE # 8

Dear Parents / Guardians & Carers,

As we approach the end of Term 3, we write to provide families with an update on the St Stephen/Gaudete Campus. So much has been achieved since our last bulletin in all areas. The physical appearance of the campus has changed, with visible upgrades to the external building, IT infrastructure and campus grounds since the handover in April.

St Stephen/Gaudete Curriculum

On Tuesday 20 August, curriculum leaders of the College along with the Steering Committee participated in a curriculum planning day for the St Stephen/Gaudete Campus. This day was integral to the Year 8 program and keeping true to our statement of creating a ‘learning opportunity of a lifetime’. The aim of the St Stephen/Gaudete Campus is to provide a learning program with specific focus on developing essential skills in literacy and numeracy.

Our Reservoir campus will also operate on a 10-day cycle. Each day will follow the same structure, with the Journey to include travelling from the Dalton Road Campus. Each day will also have a dedicated Literacy and Numeracy period. Twice a cycle, one Numeracy period will focus on Science and a Literacy period will focus on Humanities.

Post lunch will be Discovery/PE Program involving the following learning areas, Science, Humanities, Arts, Health/PE and Technology. Through explicit instruction, students will be introduced to the key skills and knowledge of these learning areas. The Discovery Program will have 120 minutes allocated each day; this includes travel back to Dalton Road for the conclusion of the day.

Day Breakdown at St Stephen/Gaudete

 

Journey Subject

Bus Learning Time – includes RE, Badano Program, Homeroom, Languages, Digital Literacy and Research Literacy.

Period 2 – Literacy or Numeracy

Period 3 – Literacy or Numeracy

Discovery

This program will be delivered in a blocked model, allowing students to maximise their learning in each subject area. Each homeroom will complete four-week periods of blocked learning in each subject area prior to moving onto the next Discovery program.

Transition/Visits to St Stephen/Gaudete 

We understand that effective transition to school occurs when students and their families feel a sense of belonging in their new environment. Transition is a social process, unique to each student. Discussions are well underway with dates for students to visit the campus in term 4 being decided. Parents will also have an opportunity to visit St Stephen/Gaudete with dates likely to be towards the end term 4.

Sense of belonging can support learning, wellbeing and engagement. A marker of effective transition lies in a student and their family’s sense of connectedness to our school community. There has always been a strong history between our College and the wider community. Plans are underway for an Open Day at St Stephen/Gaudete Campus, the day will provide an opportunity to see the grounds, and facilities.

We continue to thank families for contacting the Steering Committee with questions regarding St Stephen / Gaudete Campus. We encourage families to reach out to the College through the following email – principal@stmonicas-epping.com

Yours faithfully,

Questions

Some questions which have been asked recently:

Yes. Wellbeing is integral to all we do at St Monica’s College and there will be a counsellor and a counselling office available in Reservoir.

Significant time and effort is put into assisting each and every student with their transition at the commencement of Year 7. When your child commences their semester in Reservoir, the same will occur. As a College, we know how important it is for your child to feel comfortable in their learning environment and this will be a focus for all staff in Reservoir.

We know this is the biggest question in the minds of our students. We always say to our students, ‘we cannot make guarantees’ but always strive to do our best for the students and their learning. Discussions have commenced in regard to how this will occur for Year 8 in 2025, and families will be updated in due course.

We would like families to know that considerable time is spent each year carefully putting together class lists. This process involves input from classroom teachers, Year Level Leaders and Campus Directors. Specific learning needs, subject selection and social dynamics are taken into account.

 

Yes. Being in Reservoir does not exclude any student from participating in Premier League. Students will be able to attend the training sessions which are held before and after school at Dalton Road Campus.