Assistant
Principal Report
At this stage last year, we were a little over half-way through “Lockdown 2.0” and again, we find ourselves in Lockdown 7.0! A year and several lockdowns later, it feels like we live in a world which is in a constant state of change, and I am also very aware of how much we have learnt individually and as a wider school community.
Please continue to support your students as you have done so admirably throughout this pandemic and remember that our Wellbeing team is here to help should you need them. Don’t hesitate to reach out to the school should you believe that you child needs support.
Subject Selections
Subject selections for all our students have started with our 2022 Senior (Year 11 & 12) students already making their selections with the counsel of staff, parents and peers. Students from Years 8 – 9 have been surveyed to gauge their interests and pathways and we have finalised the blockings for our 9 – 10 elective subjects. Students will have the opportunity to attend an online Q&A with elective teachers to learn more about each elective, and to ask any burning questions they may have so that they can make an informed decision. I would like to encourage all parents/guardians to talk to students about their choices how these subject choices can complement their desired pathways.
Senior secondary schooling pathway reforms
Change is coming for our future Senior students based on the recommendations of the Firth Review. It was found schools across Victoria need to do more to make vocational and applied learning relevant to the needs of employers, of a higher quality and available to all students.
Victoria is moving to a new integrated senior secondary certificate that will bring together the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) and the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) to give students greater choice and flexibility to pursue their strengths and aspirations and develop the skills and capabilities needed to succeed in further education, work and life.
The move to a single certificate will occur in stages. The first stage is the introduction of a new vocational specialisation pathway within the VCE commencing in 2023. This will replace the existing VCAL at the Intermediate and Senior levels. It is intended that this change will reduce the stigma associated with the current model, but also to skill our students for a modern economy.
The next stage will see a fully integrated senior secondary certificate rolled out across all Victorian schools and senior secondary providers by 2025. The new certificate will retain the same high standards of that currently apply to the VCE and will be recognised nationally and internationally and highly valued by employers and industry.
A new ‘Pathways Certificate’ is also set to replace Foundation VCAL. This will be created to formally acknowledge student achievement, facilitate clearer pathways and provide a more enriched curriculum for students requiring additional supports.
The objective of the new certificate is to offer students the opportunity to take greater control of their education pathways and provide the flexibility in their learning environment to build the knowledge and capabilities to thrive in their personal, professional and civic lives.
The intention is for students to have greater access to Vocational Education enabling them to gain valuable workplace knowledge and practical skills that will allow them to transition successfully into apprenticeships, traineeships, further education, and training or directly into employment.
The curriculum development is currently in its draft phase and is being reviewed. Edenhope College has been working with key stakeholders in this transition to ensure that we have our voices heard as a regional and remote educational facility, so that students from our region are not forgotten. There is a lot of optimism and we will continue to ride that wave and support our students.
VCAL Happenings
Our VCAL students have been working on a variety of individual and group projects as we have moved towards an integrated approach to their learning. There is an array of personal projects students have been working on, including:
- Designing and building a ‘roblox’ video game which will be played in a competition between students
- Student mentoring program
- Calf halter training for students between Grades 4 – 8, targeting participation at the Edenhope Show
- Design of a Dungeons and Dragons (DnD) game to be played between students
- Fossicking Tour of Australia
- 3 vs 3 Basketball tournament for students at Edenhope College
As a cohort, the VCAL students have been working on developing a sustainable canteen for school students, with the long-term aim of being open at least once per week. Unfortunately, their efforts have been thwarted due to the lockdowns, with their latest Kowree Sports Canteen preparation being kiboshed. Fingers crossed the Canteen By the Lake will open in the coming weeks!
Our VCAL student have also been working alongside the agriculture classes in assisting with the calves. Under the tutelage of Kelvin Williams our students had the opportunity to learn how to do some fencing and have supported our junior students with the ongoing feeding and monitoring of the calves.