Senior School News
I would like to congratulate the Senior School students on completing what was another extremely difficult school year. Learning from home for such a long period during term 3 became difficult for everyone and term 4 was a period of catch up for many.
To the Class of 2021 we congratulate you all on a great year and sincerely hope that your results allow you to move into your intended pathway next year. Please remember that if you need any career advice Heather and the Senior School team are available.
Our preparations for classes in 2022 have been completed. Our VCE transition week has been completed with all classes beginning their courses and students being introduced to the subjects they have chosen to study. During transition all students should have joined the google classroom for each of their classes and received any holiday homework. If you were absent and did not get the codes for google classroom please contact your teachers for the code. I would like to remind VCE students that verification tasks will be undertaken early in 2022 to confirm that appropriate courses have been selected.
We wish you all a Merry Christmas and an enjoyable break and look forward to seeing you in 2022.
I would like to introduce the Senior Team for 2022
Senior School Leader: Jeff Micallef
Year 12 Coordinator: Laura Brancatella
Year 11 Coordinator: Karen Eap
Year 10 Coordinator: Elizabeth Tasiopoulos
Careers and Pathways Coordinator: Heather Palm
Senior School Administration: Meagan Garnham
Jeff Micallef
Senior School Leader
Year 10 News
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome the 2022 Year 10 cohort and their families to the senior school. This is the beginning of a three year journey that will help build skills, make connections with others and forge pathways to further study or other opportunities.
Now is the time to re-evaluate your learning. To think about what has worked for you so far, what are your blockers, where do you need help and what changes do you intend to implement that will help you to move forward. You need to plan and prepare for success.
In order to prepare over the holiday period, you need to get organised.
Organisation in these areas is vital:
Uniform – No excuses day 1
Educational material as listed in the booklist(s) which includes all compulsory items. I will take an audit of things like dictionaries for English, a scientific calculator and a CAS calculator (if specified for your subject) and textbooks. These are essential items for learning and should be treated as such. If you have difficulty in attaining these items please let me know as soon as possible.
Attitude – What will you do from day 1 to make sure that you hit the ground running? This includes making sure you have completed transition work and any set holiday homework. Be prepared.
Work space – Do you have a dedicated space at home where you can complete your work and revise your subjects? Is this space free of distractions? Do you need to organise it over the holidays?
Remember: Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance
Below are some photos of a collaborative task that enabled students to develop agency across Interpersonal and Critical Thinking. Bringing together Philosophy and Science, the challenge was part of my Year 10 Biology/Psychology class. We modelled team teaching as an opportunity for students to learn how to work together in teams to develop and assess their problem solving skills. Ms Cordingley and I observed a range of strategic thinking strategies while natural leaders emerged during the challenge. This was an awesome way to work cross curricula and to get to know my students.
I hope you all have a wonderful break, Merry Christmas to all those who observe this tradition and happy holidays to all.
Elizabeth Tasiopoulos
Year 10 Coordinator
Year 12 2021 News
On Thursday 18th November, the Year 12 Valedictory was held. Even though once again it was livestreamed to families, it was a wonderful night celebrating the end of school for our 2021 cohort: speeches made, certificates and scholarships awarded, gifts distributed and musical items presented by the Year 12 music students. Many of us were brought to tears by the speech that Ngoc Le Quyen (Queenie) Phan made as an International student, about her struggles with studying in Australia during COVID and not being able to see her dad for two years.
I would like to thank Mr Aaron Petersen (Assistant Principal), Mrs Meagan Garnham (Sub School Administration) and Laura Baker-Goldsmith for their organisation in ensuring that the evening ran smoothly.
Good luck and best wishes to all the 2021 graduates.
Year 12 2022
Students have spent the last week in transition classes, with work completed in all subjects. Students were given homework tasks that will need to be completed during the holidays and will be assessed at the beginning of the year as a verification task.
An email was sent to all Year 12 parents/carers regarding VCAA special examination arrangement forms. If a medical professional for ongoing/chronic issues supports your child, special examination arrangements for 2022 may be put into place. You will need to schedule medical appointments for the paper work to be filled out and returned to me in a timely manner for the application to move forward.
The ordering/payment for Year 12 jackets 2022 closed on 5th December 2021.
The Year 12 Formal is scheduled for 24th March 2022. There will be more information regarding this event upon the beginning of the school year next year.
Happy and safe holidays.
Laura Brancatella
Year 12 Coordinator