Greater Shepparton Secondary College Newsletter

Teaching & Learning

In Term 4 we welcome back onsite all of the staff and students at Greater Shepparton Secondary College. On Wednesday 7th October we welcomed back all students undertaking a VCE Unit 3 and 4 subject to undertake The General Achievement Test (GAT). 

 

The General Achievement Test is a test of general knowledge and skills in:

  • written communication
  • mathematics, science and technology
  • humanities, the arts and social sciences

The GAT consists of written pieces and multiple-choice questions. Each represents a body of general knowledge and skills that students are likely to have built up through their school years. The GAT is an essential part of the VCE assessment process. All students enrolled in one or more VCE or scored VCE VET Unit 3 and 4 sequences were required to sit the GAT. Although GAT results do not count directly towards a student’s VCE results, they play an important role in checking that school assessments and examinations have been accurately assessed. GAT results play an important part in the final VCE assessment and contribute to the calculation of a Derived Examination Score.

 

Greater Shepparton Secondary College have established a Kiaela Dhungala Curriculum Project Champion Team. The across-campus KDCPC Team is comprised of the following Project Champions:

  • Executive Principal Representative: Megan Michalaidis (Associate Principal of Teaching & Learning)
  • Mooroopna Campus: Steve Bolton (Campus Principal), Cathy Falk, Georgia Campbell
  • McGuire Campus: John Sciacca (Campus Principal), Sarah Cameron
  • Wanganui Campus: Amy Gallacher (Assistant Principal), Chris Harris
  • Koorie Education Officers: Valerie Atkinson, Corey Atkinson, Tahlia Cooper

The Project Champions undertook professional learning with Aunty Merle Miller and Tim Warwick around how to implement the Kaiela Dhungala Curriculum in the first week of Term 4 (Tuesday 6th October). The Project Champions are now planning a strategy around how to roll out professional learning with the GSSC middle leaders and staff throughout the remainder of 2020. All GSSC staff will be undertaking face-to-face CUST (Cultural Understanding and Safety Training) in 2021.

 

In line with the Department of Education’s number one priority for Term 4 around supporting the health and wellbeing of all staff and students, Greater Shepparton Secondary College have adjusted our Learning Mentor program to support this priority. This commenced with an extended Learning Mentor session for all year levels on all Campuses on the very first day back at school. All students undertook an extended Learning Mentor session which was focused on re-connecting student relationships and ascertaining adequate supports for individual students that can be put in place throughout the remainder of Term 4. Prior to the return of face-to-face teaching, all staff also undertook Campus-based reconnecting and wellbeing sessions to prepare for the return to onsite learning. Term 4 will see many activities and supports put in place for our students and staff in liaison with many of our partnership organisations.

 

McGuire Campus Update

Congratulations to the following students who are our current members of the Student Representative Council at McGuire Campus.

 

Year 7

Atiqullah Akbari, Noor Alrubaei, Khyara Austen, Maddison Bell, Adam Chandler, Mert Ertan, Gabrielle McIntosh, Bonnie Minotti-Watson, Sara Muqadas, Tylah O’Brien, Zac Pietsch, Charlotte Seal, Nandana Shibu, Gabriella Sinclair, Jamila Sudi, Gemma Thomas, Hannah Watkins, Kaileigh Wilhelms, Harry Willaton, Blake Wilson

Year 8

Jakob Apostol, Briley Barnett, Samantha Comline, Jacklyn Crowhurst, Jack Ferguson, Keegan Hawking, Madeline Judd, Matilda McKenzie, Cooper Sidebottom

Year 10

Shantae Barry, Maria Kacavenda, Tristan Phipps

Year 11

Shane Alimarin

Year 12

Holly Costa

 

Mooroopna Campus Update

It was fantastic to see all of our students back on campus!  They have settled in well and returned to school organised with their AVID folders and in uniform.  It is important to note that teachers are planning for use of laptops in class so it is really important that all students bring their laptops to school each day.

 

On the student’s first day back we focused on reconnecting and re-engaging and commenced with an extended Learning Mentor session.  During this time students participated in games, discussion, goal setting and building a grateful wall.

 

Goal Setting:

It was lovely seeing the students reflecting on what they are grateful for. Families, family time, friends and returning to school were common themes.

 

Wanganui Campus Update

On the Wanganui Campus students are straight back into their learning with Year 11 and 12 VCE students preparing for final exams and assessments. Much of the VCAL program has been impacted by COVID-19 this year, with an inability to undertake many of the planned projects and industry connections, so VCAL students are finding innovative ways to undertake this work.  

 

One Work Related Skills class is exploring the concepts of sustainability and the environment, with the initial school environment as their focus through work with the school’s maintenance team. Other VCAL classes have been building sugar glider nesting boxes which will soon be handed over to Parks Victoria for use in our local area. They have also looked at the concept of homelessness, completing  a home project on how they could help which will culminate in an excursion to local op shops to donate some goods. We’re all very happy to see our smiling students back in the classroom. 

 

 

 

 

Megan Michalaidis

 

Associate Principal of Teaching & Learning