VCE News

Welcome Year 12, 2021

Headstart started off very smoothly  and with a buzz of excitement from students entering into their final year of schooling. Moving equipment into the lockers in the senior centre, taking over the senior foyer,  and the arrival of the Year 12 jackets

My name is Robyn Andrews and I will be the Year 12 Leader for 2021. I would like to draw your attention to  some supports in place to assist students with their studies and to encourage you to contact me through COMPASS email if you have any questions regarding your student.

1.       Special provision

What is special provision?

 Special Provision provides students in defined circumstances with the opportunity to participate in and complete their VCE studies.  It is designed to help students achieve their VCE within the timeframe comparable to their peers. 

• Students granted special provision are not exempt from meeting the requirements for satisfactory completion or from being assessed against the outcomes for a study.
• Underlying principle of special provision is to ensure that the most appropriate, fair and reasonable arrangements and options are available for students to demonstrate their capabilities, if their learning and assessment programs are affected by illness, impairment or personal circumstances. Special Provision should provide equivalent alternative arrangements for students but not confer an advantage over other students.

If you would like to know more about special provision please contact the relevant year level leader.

2.       Period 5 Study and redemption class

Period 5 operates every day in the senior centre from 3.15 – 4.30pm.

• Students who miss a scheduled assessment task will be scheduled in to complete the task the closest date to the original task so that no advantage is conferred.  NB. Students studying units 1-4 must supply a medical certificate if a scheduled assessment task is missed).
• Students who are required to complete a redemption task will also be scheduled in at this time, within one week of the original task. The purpose of a  redemption task is to provide an opportunity for students to turn a UG to an S. NB. Students will have two opportunities to redeem the task.
• All students are encouraged to attend p5 for purpose of study. Depending on the night there are different teachers available to support students for example on a Thursday night I run a dedicated Health and Human Development study group.

3.       PAT tests

 These progress assessment tasks allow leaders to identify students early in the school year who are not meeting expected standards and require additional support, modified program or alternative pathway options.  

The task is to be completed by February 12. The task reflects work completed during Headstart and/or holiday homework. This could be in the form of a test, oral presentation or written response.  It is at the discretion of the teacher to decide on what task this may be, which can be an already scheduled task to complete an outcome or be additional to assessment planned. 

Students identified as requiring extra support will be asked to attend a meeting with their parent/guardian to MAP out what the support will look like.

 4. Exams – Senior school

There are 4 scheduled compulsory exam periods.

Mid- year exams

May 31-June 11 for all students in Year 10 (VCE stream) and students studying Unit 1 or Unit 3 studies

GAT (General Achievement Test)

Wednesday, June 9

For all students undertaking a unit 3 4 study. GAT begins at 10.00 am and finishes at 1.15 pm. Students will be dismissed at the end of the exam.

September Holiday Practice exams

September 27- 30th. (Mon – Thu 2nd week of school holidays

VCAA Externally assessed exam period – (Exact dates of specific studies not yet available)

Wednesday, October 27 – Wednesday,  November 17 for Unit 3 4 subjects and scored VET studies

Look forward to working with you and your student. Robyn

Year 11 Unit 2 VCE 2020 Awards ceremony and combined VCE year 11 and 12 assembly

Congratulations to all recipients of unit 2 and for some unit 4 awards. A special thanks to Insight for the supply of the Insight English Award – English texts and support material over the value of $700. Recipient: Angel Archer.

 Year 11, 2021

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself, Daniel Carlton, as the Year 11 VCE Leader for 2021. We wish a warm welcome to the 2021 Year 11 VCE students who have exceeded expectations in terms of their attitude, engagement and behaviour over the course of the first week of Headstart. The step up from Year 10 to VCE can be a daunting one but the students have set high standards early in the piece. The students have met all their 2021 teachers, commenced their coursework for next year and taken part in their first VCE assembly side-by-side with the class of 2021.

Next year brings an abundance of growth opportunities for the Year 11 students; current plans include leadership opportunities, the VCE and Careers Expo, university visits and a range of other internal and external programs that will develop students academically and even more broadly. The College sets high expectations, in line with VCAA, in regard to student attendance. I would like to congratulate the new Year 11 students on their exceptional attendance thus far but remind all that if a student is unable to attend school for any reason, the Senior School Administrator (SSA) - Nicole McRae - should be contacted on 9788 2046 or approval given via Compass on the day of the absence.

Please also read the information from Robyn Andrews in regard to Special Provision, Period 5 Study and Redemption Class, PAT Tests and Senior School Exams.

Please get in touch with me via Compass email if you have any questions regarding your

son/daughter.

We would like to wish the Year 11 students a safe and happy holiday over the summer break and look forward to working with all of them upon their return in the new year.

Daniel Carlton, on behalf of the Senior School Leadership Team.

What a year it has been for the Class of 2020!

The inaugural Year 12 Study Camp held at Federation University was an optimistic start to the year, with students immersed into a university schedule of lectures, tutorials and dorm living.  Shrugging away the scorching hot temperatures, the cohort was able to lay some strong foundations for the year in terms of their study habits in order to see them through what would be a very challenging few months ahead!

Our first and only whole school assembly for the year was a resounding success, with our School and House Captains presented to the rest of the school community.  In their maiden speech for the year, both Brooke Reid and DJ McFarlane set the tone and agenda for the rest of the year, inspiring the troops to aim as high as possible in terms of their education and learning for the year.  A tremendous achievement to speak in front of over one thousand people from our captains!

The optimism of the beginning of the year was soon overshadowed by the looming threat of the pandemic.  The Class of 2020 were up for the challenge though, taking to remote learning like ducks to water, and setting the bar high for the rest of the school in terms of engagement, attendance and completion of work.  The stellar work of our School and House Captains was vital during this period, with the team organising and spearheading a number of initiatives designed to keep the school active and to improve mental health during Melbourne’s lock-down. 

Along the way, the cohort was able to capitalise on some remarkable achievements, becoming the first year level in McClelland’s history to take away the coveted Staff vs Student Cup, with some stirring wins in the dodgeball, Pictionary and lettuce eating challenges.  Who could forget the stirring come-from-behind win in the volleyball also, where the students were able to save ball after ball during a rally which went for close to five minutes, featuring some amazing saves from the likes of Blake Naitini, before ultimately capitalising on a shallow dig from a staff member who shall remain unnamed…

This year’s Celebration Day was also a resounding success, with students finally getting the chance to let their hair down after the challenges of the year.  The Class of 2020 outdid themselves with their creativity, with staff very much enjoying the QR codes scattered around the school, not to mention Anika Fry’s installation of a new pool and palm trees in the Senior Centre. 

Friday night’s Valedictory Dinner held in the McClelland College Stadium was the perfect way to send off the year.  Congratulations are in order for all of the students who successfully graduated on the night.  Additional honours are reserved for those students who achieved one of the specialist awards on the night, not least of which are the VCE and VCAL Valedictorians for 2020, Bela Cetkovic and Daron Lewis-Williams.  A fantastic achievement from all students involved!

With VCE results including ATARs and Study Scores not released until 30th December, it is a nervous wait for many in the cohort who have aspired high all year in the quest to attain a place at university.  Regardless of the outcome on the day, know that there are multiple ways of achieving your dreams, even if they take a slightly different route to get there.

As I mentioned on the night of the Valedictory Dinner, the fact that our students have successfully navigated their way through Year 12 during a pandemic is something that will see them in good stead for many years to come.  When potential employers see that they are a member of the esteemed Class of 2020, it will be clear proof that they possess each of the character traits most cherished by society today; resilience, adaptability and courage.

Well done to each and every member of the Class of 2020!  You have made your school, your families, and yourselves immensely proud!  We wish you all the best for 2021 and beyond!  Know that you are always welcome here at McClelland, and are an integral member of our extended community!

Captain's Address

Good evening everyone,

We hope you are all having a wonderful night and enjoying our last time together as a cohort. As you know, this year has been one unlike any other, we have all overcome so many challenges through sheer determination, stubbornness and willpower that no year level has faced before us, and we should all be incredibly proud of our achievements.

Developing from fresh-faced Year 7’s wondering where the school’s playground is, maturing into the young adults we are now, discovering where to go from here and where the next step will lead us. It has been a challenging journey to say the least, especially in the past few months. Although some arrived to this journey late, starting at McClelland partway through, we’re all here together, at the final destination. Many of us thought we wouldn’t have made it, whether our former selves had different plans, or we were one mental breakdown away from giving up - we’re all here, we made it to the end.

VCE students started this year out hopeful, going Fed Uni where we were locked in boiling hot dorms and sneaking around like criminals into each other's rooms, or into the kitchen for leftover pizza. Everything was going as planned.

Later in the year we kicked the teachers' asses in the first Staff vs Student competition with the dance off at the swimming carnival. As cool as Mr Joy’s breakdancing and Ms Adam’s moonwalk were, they were no match for the hard work and pure talent of the Class of 2020.

However, shortly after the swimming carnival, we were hit with the biggest curveball of our lives. Schools across the state closed down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which Mr Hemsley ‘accurately’ called a storm in a teacup. I guess the worst thing to happen to us this year wasn’t getting a bottom locker, hey Hemsley?

While the teachers worked relentlessly behind the scenes to ensure that we weren’t being let down, most of us were turning off our cameras and microphones after the roll and zoned out to do our own thing. It’s funny how the no phone policy started this year, yet they ended up saving most of us from failing Year 12, acting as cameras for our sacs, ways to access class work or keeping us all in contact with one another.

While many of us will reflect on the bad of this year, the missed 18ths, the global pandemic, bush fires. We encourage you to look back on our Year 12 experience as one of a kind, unique and indicative of our strength as individuals. This experience that we have all shared has helped to build a lasting bond between us all, regardless of the strict ‘friendship groups’ or social cliques we thought were so important in previous years, we’re all here together in the end. 

Although we didn’t get to do all the fun activities we had planned, let's not forget how we clutched the victory at the Staff vs Student competition during volleyball, winning with a golden point. Or how we all got second hand embarrassment while watching the lettuce eating competition - which I’m surprised that no one got sick from. I don’t think anyone will forget how we were the first cohort to win the Staff vs Student cup with a strong finish during dodgeball on Celebration Day. How’s your shoulder by the way Anika?

Anyways, on behalf of the students who we represent, we would like to say thank you to all the teachers who supported us throughout the years, we couldn’t have done it without you. In particular, we would like to thank Mr Hemsley, who in his first year as Year 12 coordinator, managed to guide us through a global pandemic. That’s going to look pretty good on your resume. We would also like to extend our gratitude to Mr L’Huillier, who as always, did an amazing job running VCAL as well as encouraging and supporting every single student here. 

Whether you completed VCAL or VCE, scored or unscored, you should be incredibly proud of yourself, and of each other. Congratulations guys, we did it. After 6 long years of high school, we finally Graduate here at McClelland College!

So, raise your glasses for a toast, to the staff, family and friends who helped us along the way, and to the graduating Class of 2020! Cheers!