Senior School 

VCE Success!

On behalf of all of us here at Koonung, I congratulate our class of 2023 on their success in the VCE this year.

We are thrilled with the academic efforts of the class of 2023. These students not only achieved strong academic results but they also participated fully in the co-curricular life of the College throughout their time at Koonung. They have demonstrated great modelling and leadership in their final year as seniors. The combination of supportive parents, effective schoolwide initiatives to improve teaching and learning, committed and skilful staff, a strong culture of excellence and aspirational and hardworking students have all contributed to these very pleasing results.

Our students come to us with their own gifts, skills and abilities and we encourage all to attempt Year 12. The emphasis in the VCE at our College has always been on achieving personal best and we are delighted with our VCE results this year. We wish the class of 2023 all the best with their future endeavours.

I would like to congratulate our DUX who received an ATAR of 99.35. A wonderful reward for effort! 

Year 12 students and Year 11 students who completed a Unit 3/4 subject received their results through the VCE Results and ATAR service at 7.00am on 11 December. Karen Riding, Carole Marcianti from the Careers team and Allira Howe from Senior School team together called every Year 12 student to congratulate them and to offer further support. The students have been collecting their VCE certificates throughout the week and it has been wonderful to see them. 

Students who need further advice of change of preferences should contact Karen Riding and make an appointment to come and see her.

2023 Senior School Examination Period Concludes

Our Senior School students have engaged in their final examinations for 2023. Our Year 12 students completed the last of their externally supervised VCAA examinations and our Year 10 and 11 students have completed their semester examinations. Every year we receive feedback from our graduating students that they felt comfortable and supported in their final VCE examinations because of the way in which they were prepared for the experience through their Year 9, 10 and 11 examinations. This year, the external supervisors also provided feedback on how calm and well prepared the students were during the examination period. On behalf of all of our students, I say thank you to all teachers and education support staff who have played such an important role in preparing the students for their examinations and who have conducted and supervised these assessments in such a professional and supportive environment.

The Edge program for our 2024 cohort has set our students up for VCE success. By completing a week of their Year 12 classes and being introduced to their subjects and classes for next year, students and staff have been able to get a head start in their Unit 3 studies. I congratulate the group on putting their best foot forward for next year and hope they are feeling confident heading into their Unit 3 and 4 subjects.  

All VCE classes will have the study requirements for the holidays outlined during the Year Level Assemblies and our EDGE Classes. VCE assessments will begin very soon after we return to school in 2024 and students will be required to complete preparation work over the holidays for submission when they return. All subject requirements are outlined on Compass under school documentation. We would like to wish all Year 10 and 11 students a safe and restful break over the summer and look forward to seeing them return in 2024! 

Finally, I would like to thank the members of the Senior Sub School team. Alistair Tuffnell, Glenda Hanslow, Peter Giapantzakis, Peter Scott and Allana Edgell as well as my close affiliation with the Careers team of Karen Riding, Carole Marcianti and Zaiga Bendrups and the International team of Tracey Song, Sen Li and Joyce Bao. Their hard work and dedication to the students is never ending. Enjoy the break, you’ve earnt it!

Allira Howe 

Head of Senior School

VM program 

Harry, Jordan and Behrad have recently begun paid employment at the 'Make n Bake' course in Nunawading where they are learning about workplace etiquette and expectations, health, safety and hygiene, and of course, learning some delicious recipes and cooking techniques.  Here we can see the boys learning about ‘the baker’s throw’, a technique used to cover a bench in a light and even layer of flour before using the surface to prepare pastry.  Once this was mastered, the boys kneaded and rolled their pastry and then used it to make some beautiful apple pies.  What a delicious year 2024 is going to be!

Zaiga Bendrups and Katrina Pumpa

 Geography Fieldwork Term 4

This term our senior Geography students visited Melbourne Zoo as part of VCE Unit 2. They explored how the zoo aims to transform their visitors as part of their campaign to fight extinction.

Our Year 10 Global Connections students travelled to Portsea and McCrae to investigate natural processes operating on the coastline and how these areas are managed taking into consideration climate change and increased population pressure.

This were my last fieldwork trips as I am retiring this year. Thank you for support of our Geography fieldwork program over many years

Gail Munro

Geography Teacher