Curriculum
Overview


Education and Care

Curriculum at MacKillop

The curriculum at St Mary MacKillop College is undertaken in an environment where each person is valued and respected as an individual whose personal growth is of paramount importance.

The curriculum provides excellence in education by:

  • Teaching and fostering Christian ideals.
  • Ensuring that learning is relevant, rigorous, inclusive and accessible for all.
  • Developing the skills and desire for individual life-long learning.
  • Building 21st Century learners who value innovation, with developed skills in collaboration, communication, critical thinking and creativity.
    Empowering students to take responsibility for their decisions.
  • Building students’ self-confidence and self-esteem through success.
  • Enabling students to understand how they learn.
  • Emphasising the development of spiritual, intellectual, emotional, physical and creative capacities.

Our staff fulfil the role of teacher, mentor, carer, guide and challenger. They help to motivate students and develop in them a love of learning.

Learning Areas

Students coming into St Mary MacKillop College will be given opportunities to develop knowledge, skills and understanding through a range of learning experiences across:

  • Religious Education
  • Language
  • Information Technology
  • Aesthetic and creative studies
  • Humanities, English, and cultural studies
  • Mathematics, science and Technology
  • Health and Physical Education
  • Vocational Education

Learning Enhancement & Academic Support

While the standard classroom employs progressive and effective techniques to provide for mixed abilities, the College also acknowledges the specific needs of students requiring enhanced learning opportunities.

Opportunities exist for students to be accelerated in their learning pathways, to participate in extension programs, and to pursue areas of interest and targeted elective choices.

The College’s new enrichment program, Infinite at MacKillop, complements the differentiated approach to learning by providing a challenging, student-centred way of learning, valuing academic excellence and ensuring that students are able to reach their individual potential.

A Learning Commons approach exists on both campuses in the libraries. This approach offers students access to assistance and guidance with their schoolwork and assessment. At the Isabella Campus, students can access specialised teacher assistance during their study lines and before and after school. At Wanniassa, the assistance is offered through the Homework Club in the afternoon.

In order to assist students with their studies, tutorials are conducted by staff in a range of subject areas on a weekly basis. Tutorial assistance is also provided by a number of faculties at peak assessment times. Teachers are also happy to offer support as requested.

Subjects

Core Subjects

All students in Years 7 to 10 study Religious Education, English, Mathematics, Science, Geography, History, Physical Education, Civics and Citizenship, Economics and Business, and Pastoral Program. Digital Technologies is a recent addition for Year 8. This selection ensures students are engaging in a broad educational package in these key years. In Years 9 and 10, students study the core subjects, plus a range of electives that provide pathways into senior units.

Electives Range

To foster different skills and talents, MacKillop offers students a wide choice in elective subjects with specialist teachers and facilities. These include STEM, Food and Textiles Technology, Information and Communication Technology, Modern Languages, Performing Arts, Technology (industrial), and Visual Arts. In Year 7, students experience each of these electives for a term. from Year 8, students are encouraged to make subject choices that build on their strengths and interests.


Senior Studies

Years 11 & 12

In Years 11 and 12 students can choose from a wide variety of Tertiary (T), Accredited (A), Vocational (V), and Higher Education (H) courses. Studying any of these courses at a Senior level will qualify the student for a Year 12 Certificate. Only T and H courses qualify students for an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR).

The Vocational Program

In addition to the Vocational subjects, ASBA (Australian School-based Apprenticeship) Programs are available. Currently, MacKillop students are involved in areas of Automotive, Hairdressing, Hospitality, Retail, Spray Painting/Panel Beating, Community Pharmacy and Aged Care. 

Extension

The College works with external agencies to enable talented or high performing students to study concurrently with each institution while at school. Two of these programs are the ANU Extension Program and the UC Accelerated Pathways Program. These courses are designated H courses and the score can be used in the calculation of the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR).

The AST Program

All Year 12 students who are seeking university entrance participate in a weekly program aimed at preparing them for the Australian Scaling Test (AST). This includes workshops related to the Writing Task, Short Answer Response and Multiple Choice Tests.

Acknowledgement of Country

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop made the statement: “We are but travellers here, so while we are here we should do as much good as we can and live in peace with each other.”

With this in mind, the College respectfully acknowledges the Ngunnawal people who are the Traditional Custodians and First People of the land on which we gather each day. The College also pays its respects to the Elders past, present and emerging, and any other Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples living and working in the MacKillop community.

MacKillop crest

© 2022 St Mary MacKillop College, Canberra. All rights reserved.

ABN 80 979 302 259

Contact Us


Phone: 02 6209 0100
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

PO Box 1211
Tuggeranong ACT 2901