Andrew Chisholm - Assistant Principal

A number of important events and deadlines are on the school calendar between now and early Term Four. Also, please be aware that the last set of progress reports for 2017 are published on Friday 22nd September on Compass compass.jmss.vic.edu.au. Please peruse these reports closely to check on your student’s progress over the term.

Antarctica Flight February 2018

Antarctic explorer David Dodd and the Royal Society of Victoria have once again asked us to participate in a chartered flight over Antarctica in February 2018 at highly subsidised prices. The flight has on board lecturers and Antarctic scientists who will discuss the latest discoveries and issues related to Antarctica. The flight traverses Australian and New Zealand territories and a JMSS staff member will also attend. Expressions of interest forms can be collected from the VCE office and are due on Tuesday 10th October to me.

2018 Reef and Rainforest Trip

The itinerary for the 2018 Reef and Rainforest trip in the last week of Term 2 and the first week of the holidays in 2018 has been released. Students can collect the itinerary from the VCE area. Payment can be made in instalments via Compass compass.jmss.vic.edu.au and the first payment is due in late November.  We again hope to get a large JMSS group to visit the Great Barrier Reef, Atherton Tablelands, Fitzroy Island, and Daintree Rainforest. Students will  be involved in collecting scientific data for Coral Watch and Daintree research station as well as learning about a range of current research interests in the tropical sciences at James Cook University in Cairns.   

VTAC Processes for current Year 12's

All Year 12 students by now should have completed their VTAC applications, as well as SEAS statements and scholarship applications where relevant. There are still some students who have yet to register their tertiary choices on the VTAC site, and also finalise SEAS and scholarships. It is worth mentioning that all VTAC course applications close on September 28th then if the fee for the VTAC application has not been paid, it increases from $35 to $103.

October Tests

All students completing a VCE Unit 3 and 4 exam have October tests in the second week of the Term 3 holidays. These tests are an attempt by JMSS to replicate the content and conditions of the final Year 12 exams in November and so provide an excellent opportunity for students to receive realistic feedback on their performance in their subjects and allow them to diagnose with the assistance of their teachers any areas for improvement. All exams are held in the JMSS building. All students have received an email that outlines the date and time when each October test is being held. Students should be in JMSS school uniform and all official VCAA rules will be enforced.

With significant disruptions to rail and roads planned over these holidays, students should plan carefully so that they are not late to these assessments. Please be at JMSS NO LATER THAN 30 minutes before each exam.

VCE Unit 3 and 4 VCE Timetables, Oral Language, Extended Investigation and Music Performance exams.

Any student completing a VCE Unit 3 and 4 subject will also have received an exam navigator and individual timetable outlining all their exams and the locations of these exams. Students do need to show parents this document so that everyone in the family is aware of the times and locations of each of the end of year exams. Students doing VCE Extended Investigation, most languages and music will have an oral component or a performance scheduled in the first two weeks of term 4. These orals and performances begin in the week of Monday October 9th and the locations of these assessments are varied. If your student is completing a language oral or music performance, please check the location of this assessment on your student’s exam timetable closely. Students have been told that they need to arrive at any exam at least an hour early to ensure they are not adversely impacted by traffic or public transport issues.