Mini School Updates
Middle School
New Semester. Some new classes. Some new teachers.
Welcome to Semester 2! We have lots to celebrate from Semester 1 and look forward to a successful and productive second half of the year.
Firstly, I’d like to congratulate our Year 10 students on their approach and participation in the mid-year exams. Punctuality, effort and an ongoing commitment to learning were all clear and will set these students up for success moving into Senior School next year.
Secondly, I know that all Year 9 students have been completing a multitude of assessments - especially in Maths and English. With electives wrapping up last week, some pretty good projects were being finalised – well done to everyone.
We are currently sorting out timetable issues for Semester 2; the deadline for changes will be the end of Term 2. Please visit the Middle School if you have any concerns. We are also asking any students with a time-out card to reapply for the new semester, understanding that these are a privilege and need to be respected and used properly.
In more exciting news, we have a few spots left for the Middle School Queensland Camp. If you have not secured a spot, have good attendance and a GPA average of 2.5 or higher, please contact Middle School to make us aware of your interest.
Also, in exciting news, all Year 10 students should now have organised and completed their paperwork for work experience (July 27th – 31st). Some students have been reticent in this, so might require some help from parents/guardians to find a suitable workplace. Work experience is not only an essential part of our Year 10 journey, it is the first step in their pathways to VCE/VCE-VM next year.
Finally, I’d like to remind students of the expectations around being prepared for class and the college uniform. All students are expected to be in FULL school uniform from the moment they enter the school gates (this includes NO trackpants and NO hoodies). Furthermore, all students need to be prepared for class – including a writing book, pen and laptop if they have it. We have handed out over 400 pens so far this year to students – so please look through bags, lockers and jackets to be prepared!
Sarah Longden
Middle School Leader
Senior School
As we reach the hallway point of the year, it is a good time for some reflection on the year so far and the progress made. VCE students recently received the results for their Unit 1 or 3 examinations which provide them with a good indicator of their progress to date. I encourage all students to reflect on their exam performance and use this to refine their study practices and seek additional supports. It was excellent to see the way students approached their exams and the effort they put into their completion. Practicing exam-style questions is an excellent way to prepare for the final VCAA exams and should form a regular part of study time. The VCAA has published the final examination timetable and this can be found using the link below.
https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/administration/key-dates/vce-examination-timetable
On Tuesday 16 June, all Year 12 VCE students and all Year 11 students enrolled in a Unit 3 and 4 subject, completed the General Achievement Test (GAT). The GAT contributes to the moderation of school-based and external assessments, so we thank students for their efforts and encourage them to continue striving for their personal best in all aspects of their learning. All students sat Section A in the morning, which assesses literacy and numeracy against national standards. These results will appear on each student’s Statement of Results later in the year and offer an indication of their readiness for future pathways. Section B was completed in the afternoon and assesses general knowledge and skills across a range of disciplines including maths, science, humanities and the arts.
On Friday 19 June, we will celebrate the end of exams with our Senior School Formal at Turfside Function Centre. We expect students and staff will have a funfilled night enjoying the chance to relax, socialise and dance the night away.
Semester 1 Reports will be available to families in the final week of term. These reports provide an opportunity to recognise achievements and set goals for Semester 2. We encourage all students and families to take the time to review the feedback carefully and consider how learning behaviours, effort and engagement can continue to develop.
Angela Hanley
Senior School Leader