Principal's Report 

WELCOME BACK 

Welcome to all staff, students and their families to Vermont Secondary College for the start of the 2025 academic year. I would like to particularly welcome the Year 7 class of 2025, as well as students and families who are newly enrolled at the college in Years 8 to 12. I trust all community members had a safe and enjoyable summer break. 

The students and staff are to be congratulated on how well they have settled back into school life over the last two weeks, it is a credit to you all. 

Demand for enrolment in the college continues to remain high from our local community. For the first time in the history of the college our student numbers are greater than 1,600. See below for a breakdown of this figure: 

Year 7               311

Year 8               283

Year 9               285

Year 10             255

Year 11             266

Year 12             244

Total               1,644

On an extremely positive note, our architecturally designed Gymnasium complex consisting of two full sized basketball courts, an office space for our Physical Education/Health/Outdoor Education staff, changerooms, two classrooms, entrance foyer, kitchenette, storage room/facilities and a weights room is due to be open to the college in coming weeks. 

The project has been funded by the State Government/Department of Education (DE) and through college contributions. A huge thank you to Mike Stevens, Assistant Principal overseeing Buildings & Grounds, for the many hundreds of hours he has contributed to getting this significant project through to completion.

Thank you also to the families who have donated to our Library or Building fund (both tax deductible). These donations are greatly appreciated and assist us to continually maintain and improve facilities and equipment for the school community. In this case the Building Fund will allow us to furnish the new gymnasium complex. We appreciate the support of the college community in helping us to support your child. Donations are always greatly gratefully accepted.

All staff (Teachers & Education Support) look forward to the 2025 school year and working productively with our college students and families by providing a supportive, happy and stimulating educational environment. 

VSC HOUSE SWIMMING SPORTS – WEDNESDAY 12th FEBRUARY

A reminder that the annual VSC House swimming sports will be held on Wednesday 12th February at the Monash Aquatic Centre, 626 Waverley Road, Glen Waverley. 

ALL YEAR 7, 8 and 9 STUDENTS WILL ATTEND the swimming sports. Regular Year 10, 11 & 12 classes will be running at VSC, apart from competitors of those three year levels.

For full details please refer to the Sports Report in this newsletter.

WELCOME TO NEW AND RETURNING STAFF

I’m pleased to introduce and welcome 12 new staff and 6 returning staff members for the 2025 school year. A number of these staff started during the second half of last year or have been in the college in 2023 in a support capacity.

TEACHING

1. Kylie Louie – Commerce
2. Belinda Wang - Geography
3. Lyndsay Houghtling - French
4. Georgia Irvine – VCD/Materials Technology
5. Caelan Murrihy – Health & Physical Education/Outdoor Education
6. Anja Ruff – Maths/German
7. Alistair Macgillivray – French
8. Tanika Mahon – Health & Physical Education
9. Renee Burley – Science

Education Support

1. Sherryn Davies - Business Manager
2. Sally Marion - Sickbay
3. Anna Stockhammer – German Language Assistant arriving Term Two

STAFF RETURNING FROM LEAVE

1. Lauren Ellard – Health & Physical Education/History
2. Narelle Trippett – Commerce/VM
3. Laura Churcher – Maths
4. Lucy Liu – Science/Maths
5. David Clements - Health & Physical Education/IT
6. Bo-Daniel Pinder – Science/Psychology

VERMONT SECONDARY COLLEGE VCE 2024 RESULTS

Vermont Secondary College is exceptionally pleased with our students VCE/ATAR results for the 2024 academic year. In an excellent year of results, following on from our high performing students of previous years, Vermont Secondary College’s highlights include - 

• Congratulations to our two Dux’, Valerie Golebiewska & Dylan Hua, who both achieved an outstanding ATAR of 99.90 closely followed by two students tied for second, Ben Slater & Jun Yu Sun, with a 99.75, and also two students tied in third place, Max Demunck & Stephanie Mikolic, both with a 99.05. These 6 students all scored over 99.

• A total of 26 students, 12.80% of our cohort, scored 95 and above - top 5% of the state.

• 49 students, of our cohort of 203, received an ATAR of 90 and above, placing them in the top 10% of the state. This is 24.13%, almost a quarter, of our student cohort.

• 100 students, of our cohort of 203, received an ATAR of 80 and above, placing them in the top 20% of the state. This is 49.26% of our student cohort, just short of 50% of all students.

• 132 students, of our cohort of 203, received an ATAR of 70 and above, placing them in the top 30% of the state. This is 65.02% of our student cohort.

• 166 students, of our cohort of 203, received an ATAR of 60 and above, placing them in the top 40% of the state. This is 81.77% of our student cohort.

VSC VCE 2024

• Median VSC Study Score = 32 (32 in 2023)
• Median ATAR 79.55
• % of Study scores of 40 and over = 9.8% (9.9% in 2023 +2.8 improvement on 2022)
• Percentage of satisfactory VCE completions = 100%
• 4 perfect study scores of 50 in Physics, Visual Communication & Design (VCD), Maths Methods and General Maths.
• Number of students awarded the VCE Vocational Major (VM) = 12
• Percentage of VET units of competency completed = 67%
• Number of students awarded the VCE Baccalaureate = 21

Other Highlights  

STATE SCHOOLS WITH THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF 50 SCORES – Herald-Sun 13/12/24

• Mac.Robertson Girls’ High 11
• McKinnon Secondary College 11
• Balwyn High School 9
• Suzanne Cory High School 7
• John Monash Science School 6
• Bendigo Senior Secondary 4
• Box Hill High School 4
• Brighton Secondary College 4
• Vermont Secondary College 4
• Camberwell High School 3

STUDENT WHO ACHIEVED TWO PERFECT 50 SCORES IN 2024:

Dylan Hua, Vermont Secondary College. 

I would like to acknowledge the Year 12 students who chose to stay with us in their final year to complete a non-ATAR scored VCE. Congratulations on successfully completing your final year of secondary schooling and receiving a VCE Certificate of Completion. 

Congratulations also to our first Year 12 class of VCE Vocational Major (VM) and their successful completion of this new course. This is a credit to you and to the staff that have elected to teach the VM program for the first time.

Well done also to the many Year 11 students who have successfully completed a Unit 3 – 4 study. There is no doubt your results have allowed the college to maintain a 32 median study score.

While we are thrilled with the school’s performance, it isn’t all about Year 12. We’re extremely pleased with the results, but it really is a six-year journey. It’s the skill set we inherit from our local primary school and then what happens all throughout high school. This clearly includes the support of families and the local community.

Overall, an outstanding result from our 2024 VCE cohort, and staff, in light of their Year 8 and 9 classes being taught predominantly via remote learning and significant disruptions in 2022 with ongoing COVID related staff and student illness. Congratulations to the class of 2024 and best wishes into the future for all our departing students!

VSC VCE Data 2013 to 2024 

VSC HOUSE AND SCHOOL CAPTAINS 2025

Congratulations go to the following 6 Year 12 students who have been selected as the 2025 House Captains:

Hotham – Caitlin Siebel & Anders Firman

Macedon – Madeleine Gan & Stephanie Zhou

Stirling – Charlie Barnett & Areeba Shakir

Well done to our 6 House Captains on your appointment and the college looks forward to working with you over the year. The 2025 VSC School Captains will be announced over the coming week.

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (DE) YEARLY ENROLMENT CENSUS

The Enrolment Census by DE (Department of Education) is carried out each year in late February. Student enrolment and attendance is critically important to the college’s funding. If students have not appeared by the end of February, we will lose funding for them following the DE Census Audit. If students have extended absences i.e. illness or overseas, and there is documentary evidence of liaison with home e.g. letters signed and dated by parents/guardians, medical certificates, phone call records etc. then they will be allowed in our census count, and we will receive department funding for them. 

In the past the meticulous records kept by our Attendance Officer in the General Office, Student Managers and classroom teachers have been critical in retaining students and hence funding. The support of parents/guardians in providing explanations for student absences also assists us to take care of the wellbeing of our students and is of vital importance. Your co-operation and assistance in keeping the school informed regarding student absences is essential. If you have any queries or concerns then please call our Attendance Officer, Corinna Pirozzi, via the General Office or relevant Student Manager.

2025 UPCOMING COLLEGE COUNCIL ELECTIONS

VSC Council elections will occur early this term and there are vacancies available for parent, student and staff representatives. Information will be sent out soon in regard to the process, with nomination forms attached.

2025 VICTORIAN SCHOOL TERM DATES

Start date                                                                                          Finish date

Term 1      Tuesday 28 January all staff return                         Friday 4 April                

Students start Wednesday 29 January in government schools         

Term 2      Tuesday 22 April                                                          Friday 4 July

(Monday 21 April Easter Monday & Friday 25 April ANZAC Day)                                                              

Term 3     Monday 21 July                                                              Friday 19 September

Term 4     Monday 6 October                                                        Friday 19 December

FOR VICTORIAN SCHOOL TERM DATES 2025 TO 2030 GO TO - 

https://www.vic.gov.au/school-term-dates-and-holidays-victoria