Teaching and Learning
Step Up Program 2025
As we approach the end of the school year, we are looking forward to welcoming our current Year 9 students to the Brigidine Campus to embark on their senior school journey. The Step Up Program will provide students with an opportunity to familiarise themselves with the new campus, meet their 2026 Learning Mentor, and begin preparing for the next stage of their learning journey.
Step Up Program Details
The Step Up Program will run from Monday 24 November to Friday 5 December at the Brigidine Campus. Year 9 students should arrive in full academic uniform and head directly to the Oak Centre Courts, where they will gather in House Groups for assembly.
During Period 1, students will attend a welcome assembly followed by locker allocation. Year 10 and 11 students should go straight to period 1 with their bags. Their timetable will be on Compass. Students will receive their lockers for 2026 during LM.
Attendance Expectations
Full attendance is expected for the duration of the Step Up Program. At Brigidine Campus, if a student is absent, a medical certificate or statutory declaration must be provided to explain the absence. Attendance, punctuality and engagement are important in setting the tone for a successful transition into Year 10.
What to Bring
Students are required to bring all textbooks, workbooks, laptop and pens each day and be prepared for learning from Day 1.
Offsite VET
Please note that offsite VET will not run during Step Up. Year 10 Students will attend their regular classes during this time and Year 11 students will be undertaking their Financial Literacy Course and RSA.
Year 12 VCE VM students
Year 12 Students in the VCE VM program will continue their work placement for Wednesday and Thursdays during the two weeks of Step Up.
VCE Information Night
Parents and guardians of students who are accelerating into a VCE subject in 2026 are warmly invited to attend the VCE Information Night on Monday 24 November at 6pm in the College Oak Centre. This session will provide an overview of the VCE.
We look forward to this exciting next step for our students as they begin their journey into senior schooling at St Joseph’s College.
Booklists
Booklist orders are due on Friday 31 October for students currently in Year 9-11. Ordering by this date will ensure students have their books in time for the Step Up Program. Please refer to the Compass Post for further instructions.
Booklists can be accessed any time on Compass via: The Community icon > School Documentation > Booklist
Booklist orders are completed online.
Students in Year 9 who are undertaking a Year 11 or VET Cert III subject next year will need to look at both the Year 10 and VCE booklist for required items.
Please contact Rhys Leslie or Beth Crossman if you have any questions about this.
Exams
Year 9 students will complete their English and Humanities exam on Friday 14, with study sessions in between. They will complete Mathematics and Science on Tuesday 18 November. Year 9 examinations will take place at Kildare Campus.
The Year 10 and 11 examinations will take place from Thursday 13 - Thursday 20 November in the College Oak Centre.
Year 10 and 11 students enrolled in VCE are only required on site during periods when they have an exam scheduled. Students unable to make other arrangements during the day are able to use the school Library as a private study space and must sign in and out at the Library desk.
Students completing VCE-VM will sit exams for any VCE classes they are taking on Friday 14 November. During the week following this, students will be on work placement.
For your information a link to the overall exam timetable is below, along with an outline of the expectations of students before and during an exam.
It is imperative that students know when each of their exams are scheduled and that they meet on the outdoor Oak Centre courts 10 minutes prior. The exam timetable for Semester 2 will not follow regular bell times. This will allow for more of a break between Exam 2 and 3. Students are advised to carefully check the line up times for each exam.
All students must be in full school uniform during the examination period. They will need to have their exam materials and stationary in a plastic pocket and use a clear plastic water bottle, if required. Students will not be able to leave the exam room early, and therefore it is imperative they use the time allocated effectively to complete each exam to the best of their ability. If you have any queries in regards to the exams please contact Mr Leslie.
Rhys Leslie
Teaching and Learning