Leader of Learning – Integrated Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment – Lisa Romberg

Leader of Learning – Integrated Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment – Lisa Romberg

Year 7-10 Parent, Student Teacher Conferences

We look forward to discussing your daughter’s learning in Semester 1 with you at the end of this term during our Parent, Student, Teacher Conferences.

Please save the dates: 

Thursday 3 July – 3:30-7:45pm

Friday 4 July –  9:00am-1:00pm

Reports will be released on Tuesday 1 July. 

NEWMAN Symposium

For students in the NEWMAN cluster classes, students will be starting our NEWMAN Symposium planning and production this term. This symposium will be held in Term 3 and all students involved are expected to attend this symposium. We ask that parents assist their daughter’s to clear the afternoon calendar for  Monday 11 August. We look forward to the many wonderful and creative projects that the girls will produce.

ICAS Tests

Our Lady of Mercy Catholic College is pleased to invite students to participate in the ICAS AssessmentsTM in Term 3 this year.

ICAS is designed to target students’ higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Science and we have recently added Mathematics. Each assessment celebrates students’ accomplishments by providing opportunities for recognition and development. Every student will receive a printed certificate and an online results report. Top performers will be eligible for medals and are invited to attend special award ceremonies to have their academic excellence publicly recognised. 

We encourage you to consider entering your daughter into ICAS this year. The opportunity to sit ICAS assessments at OLMC will continue to be optional, and students may sit one or all of the assessments on offer at OLMC. The assessments are suitable for students wishing to extend themselves academically and take up the personal challenge of competing in an international assessment that has been running for 40 years. Your daughter will be presented with high-quality, expert-developed questions, allowing them to apply their learning without the need for prior study or revision. 

2025 Participation – Parent payment system 

Our school has signed up for the ICAS Assessments parent payment system (PPS) for all assessments. Through this system parents can pay for ICAS directly online while tests will still be held at our school. Please use the following details to register and pay for your daughter no later than Friday, 25 July (Term 3 Week 1). 

Access details for parents

OLM parent page link is: https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/parent-payment/GFC685

OLM school access code is: GFC685

Reframing Failure

Turn Setbacks into Stepping Stones

Failure is something we all experience—but what if it wasn’t the end of the story? What if failure was actually a chance to learn, grow, and improve? Reframing failure is about changing the way you see setbacks. Instead of viewing them as proof that you’re not good enough, see them as opportunities to try again with more knowledge and experience. Learning to embrace failure can help you build resilience, stay motivated, and achieve your goals at school and in life. Here’s how to shift your mindset and make failure work for you.

1. See Failure as Feedback

Every mistake is a lesson in disguise.

  • Instead of focusing on what went wrong, ask yourself, What can I learn from this? For example, if you didn’t do well on a test, identify the areas you need to study more and adjust your preparation next time.
  • Failure is a form of feedback that helps you improve and move closer to your goals.

Tip: After a setback, write down three things you learned from the experience and how you’ll use them in the future.

2. Shift Your Self-Talk

The way you talk to yourself matters.

  • Replace harsh self-criticism with constructive thoughts. Instead of saying, I’m terrible at this, try saying, I didn’t succeed this time, but I’m getting better.
  • Encouraging self-talk helps you stay motivated and bounce back faster.

Tip: Think of how you’d encourage a friend who failed—then use those same kind words for yourself.

3. Break Down the Failure

Look at the situation objectively.

  • Analyse what went wrong step by step. Did you run out of time to prepare? Misunderstand instructions? Forget to ask for help?
  • Breaking it down helps you identify specific areas to work on, so you can approach similar challenges differently next time.

Tip: Use a journal to reflect on failures and brainstorm solutions for the future

4. Celebrate Effort, Not Just Results

Success is about the journey, not just the destination.

  • Focus on what you did right and the effort you put in, even if the outcome wasn’t what you hoped for. For example, if you gave a speech that didn’t go as planned, celebrate the fact that you had the courage to speak in front of an audience.
  • Recognising your effort builds confidence and keeps you striving for success.

Tip: At the end of each day, write down one thing you’re proud of, no matter how small it seems.

5. Keep a Growth Mindset

Failures are stepping stones to success.

  • A growth mindset means believing that your abilities can improve with effort and learning. Instead of saying, I failed because I’m not smart enough, say, I failed because I didn’t prepare enough this time—but I can do better.
  • Many successful people faced countless failures before reaching their goals. What sets them apart is their determination to keep trying.

Tip: When you fail, remind yourself that this is just one moment in your journey—it doesn’t define your future.

Failure as a Tool for Growth

Reframing failure isn’t about ignoring it or pretending it doesn’t hurt. It’s about recognising that failure is a natural part of life and a powerful teacher. By seeing failure as feedback, shifting your self-talk, and focusing on growth, you can turn setbacks into stepping stones toward success.

Challenge:

Think about a recent failure. Write down three lessons you learned from it and one step you can take to improve. With each failure, you’re not starting over—you’re starting smarter and stronger!

You and your parents can learn more at www.studyskillshandbook.com.au by logging in with the details below and working through some of the units.

School username: OLMBurraneer

School password: Mercy

Tuesday Afternoon Open Learning

Tuesday Afternoon Open Learning has started . This will be held in the Library each Tuesday afternoon from 3pm until 4pm. 
This time will provide students with the opportunity to collaborate with fellow students, complete any group tasks or learning experiences or provide a quiet space for study and home learning. In addition teachers will be available to assist students with their learning. This includes:assistance with time management and planningtips and tricks to developing study tools such as mind maps, study notes, flash cardssubject specialists who can help answer questions 

Lisa Romberg, Leader of Learning – Integrated Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment