Alba News

From the Principal Class Team

Dear Parents and Guardians

Year 12 VCE Results

Congratulations to the VCE Class of 2018 on their excellent results, the hard work and dedication of both the students and teachers has meant we have maintained or improved upon most of our previous years’ results.  We had almost one third of the cohort (42 students) scoring an ATAR (Australian Tertiary Entrance Rank) of 80 or above, placing them in the top 20 percent of the nation including 14 students with an ATAR over 90.  The school has maintained its median study score of 30 and we had 6.3% of study scores over 40.  A number of subjects had mean study scores above 30. 

 

We had 23 students obtain the VCE (Baccalaureate) which means they completed their VCE with a study score of 30 or above for English or Literature; or a study score of 33 or above for EAL as well as completing Mathematics Methods or Specialist Mathematics and a VCE Language with a minimum of 5 completed VCE subjects

 

Highlights:

  • 11% of students = ATAR of 90 or above.
  • 32% of students = ATAR of 80 or above.
  • Highest Achiever = Shani Nguyen, 99.25
  • Median ATAR = 69.5
  • 6.3% of study scores = 40 or above
  • 36% of students achieved one or more study scores of 40 or above across 12 subjects.
  • Average study score of 30 or above in the following school based subjects:
    • Business Management (31)
    • Chemistry (30)
    • English (30)
    • EAL (33)
    • Informatics (32)
    • Literature (33)
    • Vietnamese First Language (31)
    • Further Mathematics (35)
    • Specialist Mathematics (30)
    • Mathematical Methods (31)
    • VET Information Technology (34)
    • VET Sport and Recreation (31)

 

Our top achievers for 2018 are:

 

This is a culmination of the six years of secondary schooling and we acknowledge it relies on a team of dedicated staff from Year 7 right through to Year 12.  We would like to thank all the staff for their work with our students and in particular to acknowledge the level of commitment shown by our Year 12 teachers.

 

Special thanks to our Senior Sub-school coordinators who have worked tirelessly to support and guide all the 2018 Year 12 students – Ms Stav Bekiaris(Senior Sub-school leader), Ms Anna Woods (Assistant Senior Sub-school leader), Mr Robert Krysinski (VCE Learning coordinator), Ms Laura Gough (VCAL coordinator), Ms Wendy Mair (year level co-ordinator) and Ms Rosemary Bambery (Senior Sub-school Assistant).

 

Ms Cathy Armstrong, Ms Colleen Lynch and Ms Jaqueline Hunter are available to work with students to either confirm their VTAC course selections, or to revise them as needed.  We thank them for this important work and encourage students to see the careers team if they require any support.

 

We wish our entire 2018 Year 12 cohort well for the next part of their journey and look forward to seeing their growth and contributions beyond school.  They will always be part of the St Albans Secondary College Community.

 

Farewells

This year we acknowledge the retirement of Mr Surjeet Singh, one of our longest serving staff members. Surjeet commenced teaching at St Albans Secondary College in 1992, after beginning his career with the Department of Education and Training three years earlier at Wycheproof. It would have been almost impossible, physically and metaphorically, to be further from St Albans and still in Victoria. A year at Niddrie Technical School brought Surjeet a step closer to his long and successful career at St Albans.

 

Surjeet brought a change with him to our school, in ways we take for granted now, with a passion for, and skills in, information technology, Surjeet championed new learning opportunities in IT for students and staff, alike. He introduced new subjects into the curriculum, and with his characteristic endless patience, supported staff to develop their computing and IT skills, as well.

 

As our first Network Manager, Surjeet led the development of the school’s computer labs, the first network, and oversaw the introduction of the internet and wireless technologies. His work made a difference in ways that are difficult to comprehend now.

 

Surjeet also led and developed the Information Technologies Learning Area, and was responsible for the growth and diversification of this curriculum area over many years.

On behalf of the School Council, staff and students of St Albans Secondary College, we congratulate Surjeet on his successful career in education, and on an outstanding contribution to our community and to government school education.

 

We wish him all the very best of happiness and health for his retirement.

 

Two years ago, Ms Melissa D’Amico took leave to work in the Catholic Education system, and in 2019, she will take up a position at St. Columba’s College.  Melissa commenced her teaching career at Essendon Keilor College before joining the staff here as a science teacher 18 years ago. Melissa is a dynamic and innovative teacher, and this was never more evident than in her senior Biology classes where students were inspired to develop a love of science and learning.

 

Melissa led the Science Learning Area, and was also a Year Level Coordinator and Assistant Sub School Leader.

 

We thank her for her many different contributions as both a teacher and a leader at St Albans Secondary College, and wish her every success in her new school and role.

 

Ms Nicole Carbonaro will also leave us this year after four years with us teaching English as an Additional Language, and two years co-leading the English and EAL Learning Areas.

 

Nicole is a skilled and committed teacher, and her work is valued by colleagues and students alike. We thank her for her significant contributions St Albans Secondary College, and wish her well at Montmorency Secondary College where she will take up a teaching position in 2019.

 

Our thanks, also, and very best wishes to Ms Tuyet Duong, Ms Paris Ladas, Ms Kathleen Pryor, Ms Nony Simitzis, and Ms Serife Erten who worked with us during 2018.