9-12 Community News

As we finish Week 5 of Term 1, we reflect upon a busy past few weeks and look forward to an equally busy second half of the term. The students and staff of the 9-12 Community continue to work hard and have fun, with lots of curricular and extracurricular activities taking place since our last newsletter and many events coming up in the next few weeks.

The House Swimming Sports were a great success with lots of splashing and participation from the 9-12 Community.

Week 4 saw our Year 12 leaders helping to feed a happy, but hungry crowd on Shrove Tuesday. Our student leaders from across the three communities moved smoothly into their roles when they assisted staff in cooking and sharing hundreds of pancakes to students and families on Shrove Tuesday, supporting Caritas. The ways in which the leaders conducted themselves, leading by example and working together for the benefit of others was a great way for them to begin their year of service and leadership. This was followed with a dignified and respectful Liturgy on Ash Wednesday, with the students of the 9-12 Community contributing positively to the service.

Week 4 also saw our Unit 3 Legal Studies class take a journey to observe the workings of the Law Courts in Shepparton, which was no doubt an enlightening experience. Our Unit 1 Outdoor and Environmental Studies class headed south to experience Victoria’s Surf Coast, where they investigated the reasons why people engaged in outdoor environments, their motivations and how people use the outdoor environment as a resource, study site or for recreation.

This week started with our Years 11/12 boys cricket competition, with the St Augustine’s team finishing with a 50% win/loss record on the day. Special mention must be given to Jedd T, who scored a century in a 20 over game. A very impressive effort!

The next few weeks look equally full of activities in and beyond the classroom.

Next week is a big week for the VCE VM classes, with the Year 11 group taking part in barista training, gaining qualifications and skills in coffee making. Later in the week, the VCE VM groups will travel to Melbourne for a Grand Prix experience. This has always been a highly anticipated excursion with many learning experiences involved.

Our Year 12 cohort will attend their Retreat in Week 7 and are looking forward to a period of reflection and connection.

On the academic front, Weeks 7 and 8 will see our Year 9 students sitting the annual NAPLAN tests. Information about NAPLAN has been shared with families in this newsletter.

A reminder about the 2026 Colin Sinclair Kokoda scholarships, sponsored by our local MP, Peter Walsh. Details of the application process can be found in the Community News section of this newsletter.  Applications close 6th March.

Advance notice: on 27th March, we will have our College Photo Day. Students will soon receive information and payment envelopes and families are asked to complete the details for ordering and paying for photos as per the instructions provided. Students are reminded of the need to wear their full academic uniform for photo day.

Overall, students are looking impressive in their school uniforms, with most students wearing their uniform - neat, clean and complete - with pride.

We continue to seek the support of families in helping us reinforce the importance of every student wearing all parts of their uniform correctly, every day. Students taking pride in the way they wear their uniform is an aspect of education that extends beyond the classroom.

Finally, ‘It takes a village to educate a child’. This requires the school, family and community all working together to achieve the best outcomes for our young people. We ask that parents/guardians discuss any behaviours of concern received throughout the school day with their child. Please reinforce school expectations of the rights of all to access learning and respectful interactions with all members of our school community.

VCE

As we warmly welcome families into the VCE journey, we acknowledge that this is an exciting and important stage of learning. The Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) is a significant milestone and we look forward to partnering with you to support your son or daughter throughout the year.

At this point in the term, students undertaking Units 1 and 3 are working steadily towards demonstrating the required outcomes set by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority. Each lesson is carefully designed to build the knowledge and skills needed for success in School-Assessed Coursework (SACs) and, for Unit 3 students, their end-of-year examinations. Every class provides essential learning, practice, feedback and clarification - which means that every lesson truly matters.

Attendance is critical. Consistent attendance not only ensures students receive direct instruction and guidance from their teachers, but also allows them to engage in discussions, collaborative problem-solving and formative assessment tasks that prepare them for formal assessment. Missing lessons can place students at a disadvantage, particularly as concepts in VCE subjects build sequentially.

In the final weeks of this term, many assessments will be conducted to measure students’ achievement of Unit 1 and Unit 3 outcomes. These assessments are important checkpoints in your child’s progress and require thorough preparation, effective time management and steady application throughout the term.

Family support plays a vital role in student success. Encouraging consistent attendance, providing a structured study routine at home, discussing upcoming assessment dates and maintaining open communication with teachers can make a significant difference. VCE is a shared partnership between school, student and home - and your involvement matters.

We look forward to working closely with you to ensure your son or daughter feels supported, confident and well-prepared as they continue their VCE studies. Together, we can help them make the most of every lesson and every opportunity.

Sharon Darling

VCE Coordinator