Teaching and Learning

Term 3 Parent / Student / Teacher Conferences - Thursday 17th September 

On Thursday 17th September, Homestead will be hosting it's second Parent / Student / Teacher Conferences for 2026 from 12.00pm - 7.00pm. As in previous conferences, parents / carer's will have the option of booking either face to face or online bookings will be made available to parents.

Based on feedback from the Homestead community, we have increased the meeting duration for face to face meetings in line with our online meetings. All meetings whether online or face to face, are now extended to 7 minute duration, with 3 minutes changeover time factored in to ensure a smooth transition from one teacher to the next. We appreciate the feedback provided by our community that has resulted in this enhancement. 

Bookings will open via Compass in Week 6 (next week) and will close on Wednesday 16th September at 3.00pm. 

If you students' teacher is unavailable during these meetings, a time can be arranged for a phone conversation with the teacher. Please reach our via Compass to arrange this. 

- Aimée Thorpe

Assistant Principal 

(Teaching, Learning and Student Outcomes)

2027 Course Counselling - Year 11 English & Mathematics

How do I support my student to select the most appropriate English and Mathematics subject? 

It’s that time of year when rumbles of discussion start to echo through the hallways of Homestead; “should I do Physics or Chem?” “Is doing Psychology, HHD and PE too much content?” “I’m definitely doing Media, but I’m not sure if I should do Vis Comm too!” Yes, it’s course counselling time and the year 10 students will make decisions that for most of them, will determine what their next two years of schooling looks and sounds like. Some of these may feel very clear but some may be more fraught with confusion. Two questions which most students will be pondering as their course counselling appointment approaches are: “Which English should I do? What mathematics course can I take?”

In recent years, HSSC has added the “alternative Englishes” to their VCE subject offerings, allowing students to choose Literature or English Language as their compulsory English subject for the first time. These two subjects, while developing similar analytical and critical thinking skills, are vastly different in content, task work and assessment from one another and from mainstream English. 

Students have received an overview of the differences of each subject, but we thought it would be handy to hear straight from the teacher, what the best part of their subject is and what kind of learner a Literature or English Language student might be.

ENGLISH

Literature

As my Literature teacher said, Lit is like eating a 12 course degustation; precisely created dishes designed to be delighted in and devoured with care. Literature was my favourite subject at school and is my favourite subject to teach. Ultimately because it allows me to indulge in my favourite past times: reading and yapping– I mean, discussing rich and interesting texts that give us insight into what it means to be human. 

Literature is a subject for readers and writers, those who love to think deeply and offer their ideas up for debate. Students will read and write at a high level, entering into deep analysis and forming their own interpretations of texts. This is a joy to behold, as students come to their own understanding and conclusions. The kind of students who will be successful in Literature are strong readers and writers, those who enjoy discussing ideas, and those who aren’t afraid of a challenge. 

English Language

Were you the kind of child who used to sit in front of the TV watching cartoons with a snack in one hand and a dictionary in the other? Ok, just me then. All the same, if you are the student who wonders “What makes this tick?” Language may just be the subject for you. 

Storytime: when I was younger, much younger, I used to roam the streets during hard rubbish collection looking for old electronics to pull apart. I was always fascinated by how things worked. What made them work? The nuts and bolts of things. That’s what English Language is to me. Then nuts and bolts of English. How the English language works. What are the rules of English? Where did it come from and how did it reach the lofty heights of the dominant language it is today? If you have that inquisitive mind, you like asking “What, how, when and why?”, English Language might just be the path for you. 

MATHEMATICS

The same questions arise when it comes to Mathematics. "General or Methods?" "Do I need Specialist Mathematics?" "I didn’t know I don’t need to pick maths in Year 11!"

At Homestead, we recognise that there is no one-size-fits-all pathway in Mathematics. Every student has different strengths, interests and post-school aspirations, and selecting the right mathematics course is an important decision.

To support students in making an informed choice, the Mathematics team has recently completed its recommendation process. Teachers have carefully considered each student's classroom achievement, assessment results and demonstrated readiness for the demands of VCE Mathematics before providing a recommendation. These recommendations are designed to give students and families confidence that the pathway they choose will provide the greatest opportunity for success.

Students have also had the opportunity to learn about the different VCE Mathematics subjects and where they can lead beyond school during the careers day expo. Whether a student is pursuing an apprenticeship, TAFE, university, or is still exploring their options, there is a mathematics pathway designed to support their future goals.

The upcoming course counselling process will provide further guidance, giving students and families the opportunity to discuss pathways, ask questions, and make informed decisions about the next stage of their learning.

- Amy Carpenter (Learning Specialist - Head of English) and 

Luke Duskovic (Learning Specialist - Head of Mathematics)

Year 12 English Language Excursion 

On Friday the 31st of July, the Year 12 English Class went on a linguistical journey to the Queen Victoria Market and State Library of Victoria as part of their Unit 4 studies on Language and Identity in Australian Society

The day started with a leisurely trip via Melbourne’s Public Transport system to the Queen Victoria Market. The aim of this location was for the students to immerse themselves in a staple of Melbourne culture as well as investigate their own chosen stallholders, to further understand how it was that they came to be at the Queen Victoria Market and the impact this has on their culture, their language and their overall identity within Australian Society. This was a great opportunity for students to enjoy each others company, move theory to practice, as well as enjoy a cheeky coffee or danish (This may have top priority on Teacher Mitch’s to do list).

After an exciting morning at the market, we then had a short but brisk walk to the State Library of Victoria. Students were allowed to tour themselves around the library, with the aim to explore every nook and cranny within the library. The State Library of Victoria is a cornerstone of knowledge for all students in Victoria, but particularly those who are studying English Language. The resources around Australian Language History are second to none and provided students the perfect launching pad to further add to their knowledge banks.

Overall the day was a great success, with the students representing Homestead with pride as well as providing a much needed break from the day to day grind that has been English Language. Students are now on the home stretch to finish Unit 4 and start their Exam revision.

- Mitch McAlpine 

Year 12 English Language Teacher