Senior School update

by Mr Nic Barca, Head of Senior School

What a busy term it has been in our Senior School!

The upcoming holidays provide the final opportunity for students to rest, recharge, and prepare for the final stretch of the year. Upon returning, students will be focused on completing SACs and Outcomes before moving into the October Practice Exams and, ultimately, the End-of-Year VCAA examinations. Now is the time to establish strong routines, stay organised, and make the most of every learning opportunity as the finish line comes into sight.

Boost Your Frees

At the start of Term 3, Senior School will again be running Boost Your Frees, a Unit 3 exam program whereby students come into the Senior office and pick up an exam and do it in the Study Centre during their free periods. Year 11s in Year 12 classes are also welcome to take them for homework.

Each year we give away hundreds of copies of the exams, and students mostly mark them themselves using the marking guides that come with them.

It's an awesome opportunity for students to practice memory recall in a low-stakes way. 

A good free period is an investment in future time.

Students who use these periods effectively often find they are less stressed later in the term and are better prepared when assessment deadlines arrive.

Mid-Year Exams – Thank You

Thank you to all students for the way they approached the mid-year exam period. Exam blocks are always a significant logistical exercise, and the vast majority of students conducted themselves professionally and respectfully throughout the process.

I would also like to thank staff for their organisation and supervision, and families for supporting students during what can be a challenging time.

A huge thank you to Year 11 Coordinator Mr Rees for all his hard work ensuring that students understood logistics, and were supported with exam clashes.

Year 12 Mid-Year Practice Exams

A big thank you to our Year 12 families for supporting the Mid-Year Practice English and Science Exams.

The Senior School Team, together with the English and Science learning areas, recognises the importance of providing students with authentic examination practice as they prepare for their final assessments later this year. To support this, we have engaged external assessors to mark the exams and provide detailed feedback. This feedback will give students valuable insight into their current performance, highlight areas of strength, and identify the key improvements needed as they continue their preparation for end-of-year examinations.

Authentication in Outcomes and SACs

As SACs and Outcomes continue through Semester 2, it is important to reinforce the expectations around authentication.

All work submitted for assessment must be the student's own.

Students may receive assistance with understanding content, planning and proofreading within the limits set by their teacher, but the final work must reflect their own knowledge and skills.

Teachers will continue to use a range of strategies to authenticate student work, including:

Checking formative tasks (practice writing questions) and progress monitoring
In-class writing
Discussions and questioning about submitted work
Comparisons with a student's demonstrated classroom performance

If there are concerns about authenticity, students will be asked to provide further evidence of authorship. The best approach is simple: complete the work honestly and seek help early if you are struggling.

School Uniform

As the weather becomes even more colder (Melbourne is certainly blisteringly cold), a reminder that students are expected to wear the correct winter uniform. This includes approved school outerwear and appropriate footwear. Uniform expectations apply throughout the school day, including before and after classes.

We appreciate the support of families in ensuring students arrive at school dressed appropriately and in accordance with school policy.

Thank you again for a productive term. I hope all students and families enjoy a safe and restful break and return ready for a strong start to Semester 2.