Need to know 

Victoria's Senior Secondary education is changing

 From 2023, the new VCE Vocational Major will replace Intermediate and Senior VCAL.

 This means the VCE will recognise different students equally. 

The new Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC) will replace Foundation VCAL. 

Students will have more education choices, a higher-quality curriculum and better workplace experiences – preparing them for further study, training at TAFE or work. 

From 2023, more students will study the VCE. That is because the VCE will include the Vocational Major, a 2-year program that sits within the VCE. There will also be the Victorian Pathways Certificate for those who need flexibility in their learning. 

A new information and awareness campaign, Many Talents, One VCE will roll out explaining the changes. 

The changes are a result of the Review into Vocational and Applied Learning Pathways in Senior Secondary Schooling (the Firth review). The review found we needed to improve vocational learning in schools. 

Schools currently offering VCAL will switch to the VCE Vocational Major from 2023. Some schools that do not offer VCAL will expand their options to include the VCE Vocational Major. 

Teachers and careers counsellors are available to answer questions and to support students as they make decisions about their final years at school. Now students will have greater access to high-quality, relevant vocational education and applied learning opportunities. For more information, go to vic.gov.au/oneVC

Cold Weather and Uniform

Winter has certainly hit fast and hard.   

Our uniform has lots of options for layering to ensure warmth that students do not seem to be taking advantage of.  

Thermal undergarments or T-shirts can be worn under the long sleeved St Helena T-shirt with  the Rugby Top or 1/4 zip top (which is the same as a windcheater) and then the St Helena  jacket on top.   Plain black, white or grey scarves can also be worn, as can plain black beanies.  

We are seeing many students wearing only a long sleeved T-shirt under a polo shirt and complaining that they are cold.  Many students are arguing the point about wearing a hoodie, yet they are wearing shorts.   The uniform has been designed for layering for warmth - please take advantage of this.  

Some parents have complained about the cost of uniform garments.   I would like to point out that these garments are worn every day, and need to be of durable material.   $20 K-Mart tracksuit pants would soon become baggy and would wear out.   The new style tracksuit pants are made to be warm and durable.  Although they may not initially appear as warm as the old "fleece" pants, they are a much more durable fabric that is designed to retain heat and resist wind, and look much smarter than the slouchy pants.  

Students can only wear visible garments that are on our St Helena Uniform list.   They can layer with thermal undergarments or additional T-shirts as long as they are not visible.   

Slouchy windcheaters or hoodies are not part of uniform and can not be worn.   

When it is raining, we are able to open wet weather rooms as yard duty staff who would normally be on the oval move inside.  However, when the oval is still available for students we do not have the staffing to cover inside rooms as well.    I have approached Bob Stewart's to look at designing a St Helena coat that could be worn in the yard during the day.  

Please note:

1.  Hoodies are NEVER acceptable.  No hoods. On anything.  Ever.
2. Plain black coats (NO HOOD) or puffer vests (NO HOOD) may be worn to and from school.  

Coming soon - Dental Services at School

The Smile Squad will be attending St Helena during Term 1 of 2023.   Smile Squad is a Victorian Government program that offers free dental care to all Victorian government school students. 

The friendly Smile Squad dental team visits schools to provide a free annual dental health examination and free follow-up treatment as needed.

More information will be coming regarding how to sign up.  

Year 10 Meningococcal ACWY Vaccination 

The first vaccination will take place at the College on Wednesday 10th August 2022.  Consent forms and information have been emailed out.   The second vaccination will take place in November.   Please note that forms need to be returned to the front office by the end of Term 2.  

General Achievement Test and Arrangements for Years 7-10

The GAT is being held on September 7th this year.  All Year 12 students, and any Year 11 students undertaking a Unit 3/4 subject will be sitting the test.   In order to facilitate exam type conditions for so many students, it is necessary to keep students who are not sitting the GAT at home for the day.  

Important Term 2 dates

Eltham Footwear 20% Discount for St Helena Families 

Eltham Footwear (soon to be renamed The Sole Trader) has been updated with our new uniform policy and will continue to offer a 20% discount to our families.