VCE News

End of school for the Class of 2018

Formal classes for all Units 3/ 4 (Year 12) classes concluded on Wednesday 24 October, in anticipation of the first major written exam scheduled to occur on 31 October. For our Year 12 students, this represents a very major moment in their lives, signifying for most the end of 13 years of formal schooling. This also poses the challenging question about what will the future hold! Once again, the work of our wonderfully committed team of VCE teachers should be acknowledged, as they have continued to run extra classes (even at weekends!), to work closely with individual students and to assess practice exam pieces.

In a break with tradition, the decision was made by the Senior School Team, to hold one end of class celebratory event, unifying all departing VCE and VCAL students. As a result, most Year 12 students and a large contingent of their teachers enjoyed a wonderfully relaxing and companionable day, bathed in glorious sunshine, at the redeveloped Gumbaya World on Thursday 25 October. Student awards were presented by the student leaders and everyone enjoyed feasting upon a wonderfully-rich vast chocolate cake made by Maree Schmidt.    

The final formal event for the Class of 2018 will be the Valedictory Dinner, to be held at the Grand on Cathies on the evening of Tuesday 18 December (6.30-10.30pm).      

Exams loom large!

For both Year 11 and 12 VCE students, formal exams are a critically-important form of assessment. In the case of Year 12 subjects, exam scores are used to moderate all internal classwork scores and so are the most influential element in deriving individual Study Scores in each subject, and thus the overall ATAR (Australian Tertiary Achievement Rank). Therefore, the depth and breadth of pre-exam revision undertaken by students, the number of practice tasks they undertake, and the extent to which they actively seek out the assistance of individual subject teachers will greatly impact on their performance.

All Year 12 students, and Year 11 students undertaking a Year 12 subject have been given a personal copy of the official VCAA Exam Navigator, which includes not only the VCAA exam timetable, but all rules, regulations and processes outlined. These run from Wednesday 31 October until Tuesday 20 November in V Block. Year 11 students will be given a copy of the Unit 2 exam timetable and rules at a special assembly on 29 October. These exams commence on Monday 12 November and conclude on Tuesday 20 November. 

Pathways to the future: VTAC preferences

Our exiting Year 12 students are wonderfully supported by the Pathways Team led by Sharon Bourne. She has overseen the process of entering VTAC preferences. Once the ATAR scores are released on 14 December, students have an opportunity to amend their course preferences until 19 December.     

Importance of VCE Headstart 

You should have received the confirmed 2019 VCE courses by now. The two week Headstart program (26 November-7 December) is a critically important time for students to become acquainted with the nature of each subject as well as commencing elements of each course.

Entrepreneurs Unearthed: ABCN Competition: September 2018 

Monica Alier, Mele Leaso of Year 11 and Hamza Tanoli, Abdul Mannan and Sina Zahedi of Year 12 demonstrated their collective entrepreneurial spirit  in the final of this competition on Wednesday 19 September as they presented to a panel of high level Ernst Young and CBA executives.  It was held in the headquarters of Ernst Young in the city, a large multinational accounting firm.  

 Monica and Mele presented their pitch which centred on a business where customers ‘purchase for purpose’ and where transactions become a platform for global issues.

 Hamza, Abdul and Sina performed and presented as they lobbied for support for their innovation – Powershade (a café umbrella fitted with solar panels to allow customers to charge their devices as they enjoy their drinks). 

Each of the competing shortlisted teams was required to present to an expert panel.  The panel members were:  David Gilmour (Leader Partner, Strategy & Customer Consulting – Oceania for Ernst Young), Sarah Nally (Serial Entrepreneur and Founder of the Wondertribe) and Rebecca O’Reilly (Graduate Program and Outreach Manager for Enterprise Services, Commonwealth Bank of Australia).   

After presenting their pitch, each team was questioned extensively about their business ideas.  Our students acquitted themselves very well, operating professionally and determinedly and truly made our school proud. 

Whilst neither of our teams was the single overall winner, this was an amazing experience and one where our students learnt so much about themselves and about the real world of business.  It was another wonderful  ABCN venture, which has provided so much to this school over the years in which we have has ABCN scholars. Our first ABCN scholarship winner was Shadab Safa, who graduated from Year 12 in 2017 and our current winner is Trent Ruston of Year 11 .  

Thanks should also be extended to Sharon Bourne, Pathways Leader, who accompanied the students.

Ross Huggard, VCE Leader