MERCY COLLEGE

1
MERCY COLLEGE
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PARENT RESPONSE

• The returns from families were distributed as
  follows
• 43 had students in JLC students in K-3
• 39 had students in MLC
• 13 had students in SLC
• Also
• 5 of returns were from families of former
  students

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YEARS at MERCY COLLEGE

• Of the returns from families, the years enrolled
  were as follows
• 1 - 2 yrs 28 of returns
• 3 - 5 yrs 34 of returns
• 6 - 9 yrs 25 of returns
• 10 yrs 13 of returns

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STAFF QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSE

• 35.9 of total staff submitted questionnaires
• Number of Years experience in Education
• The returns from staff members were distributed
  as follows
• 1 - 2 yrs 27 of returns
• 3 - 5 yrs 8 of returns
• 6 - 9 yrs 8 of returns
• 10 yrs 57 of returns

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STAFF QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSE

• Number of Years experience in Catholic Education
• The returns from staff members were distributed
  as follows
• 1 - 2 yrs 22 of returns
• 3 - 5 yrs 13.5 of returns
• 6 - 9 yrs 16 of returns
• 10 yrs 48.5 of returns

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STAFF QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSE

• Number of Years at Mercy College
• The returns from staff members were distributed
  as follows
• 1 - 2 yrs 43 of returns
• 3 - 5 yrs 16 of returns
• 6 - 9 yrs 8 of returns
• 10 yrs 33 of returns

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POLICY

• (Parents)
• Strong support for enrolment of students with
  indigenous and multi-cultural backgrounds
• Quality of education accessible and affordable
• Enrolment of students with special needs not as
  well known by parents
• Class sizes not appropriate for effective
  pastoral care
• (Staff )
• Administration of discipline still an issue for
  many staff

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SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT

• (Parents)
• Positive response to level of pastoral care and
  support for families.
• Sense of community and opportunities to develop
  community
• Level of satisfaction with discipline and
  communication of procedures requires greater
  focus
• (Staff)
• Supportive and caring environment for students
• Professionalism and care of staff very strong
• Interaction across learning centres highlighted
  for attention

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LEADERSHIP

• (Parents)
• Leadership opportunities for students recognised
  and acknowledged
• (Staff)
• High level of satisfaction in willingness of
  staff to voice concerns with Leadership Team

10
UNIFORM

• Strong support for the uniform promoting pride
  and self respect
• Distinctive and practical nature is positive
  (parents) but needs to be monitored ( staff)
• School policy on grooming and uniform not
  enforced appropriately. (staff parents)

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CURRICULUM

• Religious Education
• - emphasis by staff and role of parents in RE
  strongly supported
• - communication of details of RE program to
  parents warrants attention
• - commitment of staff teaching RE units may
  also warrant attention.

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GENERAL CURRICULUM

• PARENTS
• Positive Support
• quality of curriculum, academic progress and
  extra curricular-
• Attention required
• Addressing needs of sld and gifted / talented
  students
• Amount of homework
• Commitment and access to IT in the College
• Information to parents about Curriculum Framework
  changes

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GENERAL CURRICULUM

• STAFF
• Positive Support
• Emphasis on RE at Mercy
• quality of curriculum, providing for future
• Attention required
• Commitment of RE teachers to effective teaching
• Level of satisfaction with academic progress
• (N.B. Year 11/12 program)
• Addressing needs of sld and gifted / talented
  students
• Introduction of LACs for MLC SLC
• Commitment and access to IT in the College
• Staff awareness of changes to teaching with
  Curriculum Framework
• Support for staff in developing outcomes focussed
  education
• Information to parents about Curriculum Framework
  changes

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REPORTING

• (Parents)
• Present reporting system procedures and
  communication needs attention development
• (Staff)
• Reservations about effectiveness of student
  portfolios
• Standard and amount of work completed by students
  questioned

15
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Opportunities for PD considered positively by
  staff
• Investigate the appropriateness and value of
  student free days

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CAPITAL SERVICES FACILITIES

• PARENTS
• Appearance of grounds buildings very positive
• Addition of Spec Ed Centre positive
• Need for Master Plan
• STAFF
• Addition of Spec Ed Centre positive
• Need for Master Plan
• Maintenance and adequacy of current building not
  positive in staff opinion

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SPECIAL CHARISM SPIRITUALITY of MERCY COLLEGE

• PARENTS
• Visibility of motto and focus on the tradition of
  Mercy Sisters positive
• Value of the Chapel and part-time chaplain highly
  regarded
• STAFF
• Visibility of motto and focus on the tradition of
  Mercy Sisters generally positive
• Value of the Chapel, part-time chaplain and
  Community service program highly regarded

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REASONS FOR ENROLMENT

• Cultural
• Catholic ethos
• Values morals
• Performance
• Standards,
• Reputation
• Curriculum
• Personnel
• Teacher attitude
• Dedicated professional
• Specific personnel

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REASONS for applying to work at MERCY

• Cultural
• Catholic Christian / Mercy ethos
• Pastoral care / discipline
• positive environment
• Performance
• standards
• career moves
• Personnel
• teacher dedication
• support of colleagues
• approachable management

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REASONS for applying to work at MERCY

• K-12 School
• Location
• New opportunity new direction, career move

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POSITVE ELEMENTS

• PARENT OPINION
• Welcoming environment
• A quality curriculum
• Uniform
• Pastoral care / discipline
• Academic standards
• Atmosphere
• Leadership
• Teacher performance
• Committed staff
• Affordable
• K-12 school
• Maintenance and appearance of school

• STAFF OPINION
• Positive caring and friendly working environment
• Tradition of school
• Student focussed - students
• Quality teaching practices
• Leadership style
• Staff morale
• Support for staff
• Grounds facilities

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ISSUES FOR ATTENTION

• PARENT OPINION
• Maintaining Catholic/Christian ethos
• A quality curriculum IT standards
• Uniform standards
• Pastoral care / discipline
• Bullying
• Class sizes
• Facilities toilets, canteen (primary)

• STAFF OPINION
• Curriculum ESL, VET
• IT facilities and access
• VET facilities
• Uniform
• Pastoral care / discipline - consistency
• Communication / Coordination
• Litter
• Equipment
• Safety
• Maintenance

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RECOMMENDATIONS

• Specific recommendations will be made by the
  consultant to the Leadership Team with the
  original draft plan as a template.
• In the interim the following issues are
  highlighted for Investigation and Consideration.

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INVESTIGATION

• The current College policies on Discipline and
  Pastoral Care be reviewed to ensure a consistency
  in administrative processes that are practical,
  appropriate and reflect suitable recognition of
• The College mission
• bullying
• support for families

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INVESTIGATION

• The College current commitment to supporting
  students with learning difficulties and
  identified gifted talented ability be reviewed
  to ensure current best practice.

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INVESTIGATION

• The Current communications systems, for school
  parent contact, be monitored to ensure that a
  high level of effective communication is
  maintained. This would include
• Contact for parents for performance and behaviour
  concerns
• The reporting system

27
INVESTIGATION

• The College leadership team review current
  processes for staff consultation including staff
  meetings to determine appropriate avenues for
  contribution and confrontation of issues.

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INVESTIGATION

• The promotion of the College Religious Education
  program be considered to ensure that an emphasis
  is maintained on
• The College expectation of students
• The foundation of the RE program to the College
  mission
• Regular communication to families about the RE
  program

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CONSIDERATION

• The College Capital Development plan reflects the
  future needs of the College in the provision of
• Safety audit to ensure the facilities of the
  college comply with OHS regulations.
• A regular maintenance procedure that prioritises
  urgent repairs
• Technology requirements for the future
• Remote access for students and families to
  College computer facilities

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GENERAL OVERVIEW

• The following issues represent the need for
  specific or general attention
• uniform
• standardised approaches to pastoral care/
  discipline
• curriculum development
• standards of teaching / learning styles
• development and maintenance of ethos
• collaborative communication decision making
  process with staff

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FIRST STAGE

• The first step has been completed -taking an
  audit of opinion and the opinion was
  sufficiently strong for direction of what is
  required
• Set and maintain consistent standards
• Enhance the quality of staff, student family
  relationships
• Address issues in a professional / personal
  manner (recognition of growth development of
  students)

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The curriculum and quality of the educational
process needs to be structured in such a way that
the student who enters Mercy College at
Kindergarten, would be made to feel part of an
educational family that is going to work in
partnership to ensure the best of care, learning
and challenge in the development of knowledge
skills and attitudes.

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CONCLUSION

• The positive future of Mercy College Koondoola is
  one of high potential.
• In the analysis of the data, there is substantial
  evidence that the college has many of the
  ingredients of what parents and teachers are
  seeking. A college that is renowned for quality,
  based on a high standard of education, in the
  Catholic tradition.
• The evidence of such will be found in the college
  expectations of students, in learning, behaviour
  and aligned pursuits.
• These expectations will flourish in an
  environment supported by leadership and committed
  staff who are there to maximise the opportunity
  to work in a Catholic community environment.