9-12 Community News

As we come to the end of the week, it’s hard to believe that we are halfway through Term 3. It has been a very busy few weeks and the remainder of this term is ‘jam-packed’ with opportunities for students and many events on the College Calendar. 

In the classroom, students have been working hard and committing themselves to achieve their best. Here is a small sample of some of the activities taking place. 

OES Alpine Experience  

The Unit 4 Outdoor Environmental Studies students have experienced 1.5 days cross country skiing and 1.5 days of downhill skiing in the Alpine National Park at Falls Creek. All students and staff did an exceptional job showing great teamwork, resilience and leadership skills. Some of us had not even seen snow before and were able to learn to cross country ski and downhill ski over the three days.  

There were challenging times along the way when we were wet and cold, however all ended well and we even had some fun and learnt loads of new skills along the way.  

We found the downhill skiing more enjoyable and not as challenging. We were able to transfer the skiing skills we had learnt in cross country and use them in downhill and we noticed our improvements quite quickly. We enjoyed skiing the slopes and improving our turning.  

Along the way we learnt about the Alpine environment and the flora and fauna that live there. We have focused on observing the health of this environment and the protection of the Pygmy Possum and Snow Gums. Students will now use their experiences and data collected to write their SACs.  

Thanks to all students and staff for a great few days. 

English

Throughout the 9-12 community, our students have been hard at work analysing, reading and exploring a multitude of texts. From The Book Thief, The Crucible, Harry Potter to Language Analysis; we have a lot going on! 

Our Year 12s are hard at work preparing for their English exam, whilst the Year 9s are busy deciphering the persuasive techniques in articles. The 9-10 elective Novels to Netflix, have been exploring the world building in J.K Rowling’s Harry Potter series and their favourite books. Year 10 are pulling apart the cinematography of The Book Thief whilst Year 11s delve into the idea of integrity as they explore Arthur Miller’s classic, The Crucible. With pens to paper and creativity flowing, our English classrooms are a buzz of new ideas, conversations and storytelling. 

VCE VM - Warramunda Community Project

As part of their community focus, our 2025 VCE VM Cohort have begun working with Warramunda Aged Care to bridge the gap between generations. Over the last few weeks, students have engaged in an orientation session with Mel exploring the grounds, been singing and participating in quizzes and other activities with the residents. Next Tuesday, some of the Warramunda residents are joining the VCE VM students in our school cafe, to enjoy a wonderful morning tea prepared by the students with the help of Mrs Lowe, Tracey and Mrs Moore.  Students are participating in their legacy projects, which aims to have them work alongside the residents to create long lasting pieces of work that will continue to reflect their journey long after they’ve graduated.  Stay tuned to hear more about this. 

Mrs Bianca Moore and Peter Fawcett

Science 

In Unit 4 Biology we have been studying immunity. Year 12 Biology students investigated the action of antibiotics on bacteria. In an aseptic environment, students were able to plate bacteria and use antibiotics on a mastring to determine if the antibiotic is bactericidal or bacteriostatic. 

PPC 

This semester has seen the start of our new Inquiry unit with the Year 10 PPC class. Within this, students are exploring Humanities, STEM, Digital Technology and Health/Sport.  

Students have been engaging in a range of team sport activities, such as Hungry Hippo and Dodgeball. In health, students have just finished their unit on stress and coping strategies and are about to move into the Respectful Relationships unit. STEM had students protecting their gummy bear citizens from a flood. Humanities had us exploring latitude and longitude, whilst looking at the way the earth rotates and the planets in our Solar System. We are looking to move into exploring World War II shortly.  Stay tuned to see more of our exciting discoveries in our Inquiry unit.   

Mrs Bianca Moore 

VCE  

Exam Preparation Tips for VCE Students 

1. Get Organised Early 

• Read your Exam Navigator carefully – it contains key rules, materials you can/cannot bring, and important dates. 

• Highlight your timetable – mark exam days clearly in your calendar or planner. 

• Prepare equipment now – pens, pencils, erasers, calculator batteries, highlighters, etc. Don’t leave it to the night before. 

2. Plan a Study Schedule 

• Work backwards from your first exam, setting realistic goals for each subject. 

• Use a weekly timetable with blocks for study, breaks, meals, exercise and sleep. 

• Prioritise subjects you feel less confident in, while still revising strengths. 

3. Revise Actively 

• Don’t just reread notes — practise with past exams under timed conditions. 

• Write summary sheets or mind maps for key concepts, formulas and definitions. 

• Teach someone else a topic — if you can explain it clearly, you know it well. 

4. Look After Your Wellbeing 

• Aim for regular sleep (7–9 hours) to support memory and focus. 

• Eat nutritious meals and drink water — avoid relying on caffeine or energy drinks. 

• Take short breaks every 45–60 minutes to refresh your concentration. 

• Include light exercise (walking, stretching, sport) to manage stress. 

5. Manage Exam Stress 

• Practise breathing or relaxation techniques if you feel overwhelmed. 

• Remember that exams are just one part of your journey — give your best, but don’t let stress take over. 

• Focus on what you can control: preparation, effort, and attitude 

6. Use Support Around You 

• Ask teachers for feedback on practice responses. 

• Form a study group with peers to discuss tricky concepts. 

• Talk to family or friends if you’re feeling pressured — don’t keep it bottled up. 

7. On Exam Day 

• Arrive early with all required materials. 

• Read each question carefully before answering. 

• Allocate time wisely — don’t get stuck too long on one question. 

• Stay calm and focus on what you do know. 

Last week, staff and students recognised theBullying No Way National Week of Action, with valuable resources, activities and conversation prompts shared during TA encouraging everyone to Be Bold, Be Kind and Speak Up! 

VCE Attendance 

A reminder that attendance (especially in VCE) matters. Students should not be scheduling appointments (such as driving lessons, physio, haircuts) during school hours. We do, however, understand that doctor appointments are difficult to obtain, so understand this may occasionally occur during school hours. If this happens, please provide the school with a medical certificate. The SAC/OAT schedule is released at the end of term (ie Term 4 was released at the end of Term 3) and we must follow strict VCAA guidelines about scheduling and attendance of assessments to ensure there is equity across all students who undertake VCE in Victoria. If a student is absent from a VCE assessment and they do not provide a medical certificate (or other documentation to support extraneous circumstances) the student will receive a zero for that assessment. These are rules that apply to all students in all schools that offer VCE. VCAA recommend that student's attendance should be above 80% for VCE classes. Students simply cannot learn the content, if they are not in the classroom. If you have any questions about the policies of VCE, please contact Katelyn McIntyre or Sharon Darling.  

Next Thursday, 28th August, the College will celebrate St Augustine’s Feast Day with a College Mass. At the end of the Mass, we will have the opportunity to hear speeches from our current Year 11 students who are nominating for the role of 2026 College Captain.   

To round out a busy Week 6, we look forward to the Years 7-12 students taking part in our House Athletics next Friday, 29th August.  A reminder to dress up in your house colours and get involved on the day. We are sure you will represent yourself and your house well on this day.  

Current Year 10 students had the opportunity to attend an information session to find out about the University of Melbourne’s Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholars Program. This program is open to students from all Victorian schools, offering access to exclusive University of Melbourne events and academic enrichment activities for two years. Current Year 10 students who are considering applying for tertiary study, at any university, are invited to apply for this prestigious program.  

As we head towards the end of winter, students are reminded that, from Week 7, in line with the College Sun Smart policy, hats are expected to be worn when students are outside during recess and lunch times and during outdoor class activities.  

Details of the College Uniform Guide and Uniform Policycan be found on SIMON/PAM.  

Finally, we look forward to seeing many parents and students attend our Subject/Teacher Conversations day to be held on Tuesday 2nd September. This is a great opportunity to meet staff and have a conversation about your child/rens academic progress and work habits as we head toward the end of another busy term.