VCE
Managing Stress and time in the coming weeks:
Welcome to the end of Year 12!! Almost… As we draw closer to the end of term, it is important to remember that the most challenging time for Year 12 students completing their VCE is looming – Exams! All Year 12 students are working hard to complete final assessments and course work while also beginning their exam revision (VCE subjects) and preparations for the end-of-year events. There is a lot going on and as parents, it is important to understand that at times, your son or daughter might be presenting as stressed or anxious in coming weeks. If you are noticing that this is the case, please feel free to reach out to myself or the student Wellbeing team here at the College to ensure we are able to support your child and help them to cope with their stress! Routines, good diet and sleep are the keys to success during this period and there are plenty of resources the team can provide to help you through this period.
A request:
Many of our Year 12’s have now turned 18 and there is always influence from the social element of their lives (once this phase starts) to attend every party and every social event, every weekend. We would ask that you please try to monitor your son or daughter’s social calendar just as much as their school calendar, as we get towards the end of their schooling years. The students have heard advice from their teachers in recent months about perhaps not attending parties every weekend or not staying out until all hours and ignoring their studies / winding back their social activities throughout the exam period and we would ask that you please support this from home if possible. As we have said, it’s only a few weeks of their lives to put their socialising on hold and then once they are finished, they will be free to do as they please. Encouraging this from home would be a great help in coming weeks!
FYI - VCAA Examination timetable:
https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/administration/key-dates/vce-examination-timetable
Year 12 VCE VM students – Many of the Year 12 VM students will be finishing up their time at school at the end of Term Three or very early in Term Four, having completed all of their course work and moving into the world of full-time employment. We wish our VM students well as they come to the end of their schooling and can’t wait to see them back here on Friday 17th October for the Full School assembly and then again on Monday 20th and 21st Tuesday of the following week for the Graduation Mass & Ceremony and Dress Up breakfast and of course at Flowerdale Estate on 20th November!
Reminders for parents and students:
Unit 3 & 4 Practice Exams – September Holidays (Monday 22nd – Friday 26th September).
Students who are completing any Unit 3 & 4 VCE subjects are expected to attend the practice examinations, which will be held in Room SP08 in the first week of the September holidays. This will also involve the Year 11 students who are enrolled in Unit 3 & 4 General Maths. Families are asked to please avoid planning any holidays away in that first week.
Students have already received the practice exam timetable (outlined below) and the first exam will be English on Friday 19th September (final day of school). As it is a 3 hour 15 minute exam, there will be no other scheduled Yr 12 VCE classes on this day and students may leave following the completion of this exam.
Unit 3 & 4 Practice exam timetable: Monday 22/9 – 26/9
▪️Monday 9am - General Maths Paper 1 & Methods Paper 2
▪️Monday 1pm – General Maths Paper 2 & Methods Paper 1
▪️Tuesday 9am – Legal Studies, Environmental Science, Biology & Physics
▪️Wednesday 9am – PD&T, Ag Hort & HHD
▪️Thursday 9am – Revolutions, Business Management & Chemistry
▪️Friday 9am – PE & Psychology
End of Year 12 activities
As we draw closer to the end of our first year with Year 12’s, please note some of the following dates for your family calendar:
Friday 17th October – Final full school assembly where Year 12’s will be farewelled by the rest of the school and will exit via a guard of honour. Families are welcome to attend, please keep an eye on the College social pages and newsletter for the time of the assembly (TBC).
Monday 20th October – Final official day of classes for all Year 12’s.
6.30pm - Year 12 Family Mass and Graduation evening followed by light supper.
Families and friends are welcome to attend.
Tuesday 21st October – Final morning with Year 12 students. Breakfast will be held together as a cohort and parents are invited to join us too. Dress ups and a farewell morning.
Wednesday 23rd October SWOTVAC – Week of study in preparation for the exams. Students will study at home or may choose to come into school to study. They need to please sign in and out at the office if working onsite.
VCAA exams begin: Tuesday 28th October to begin the exam period. The final exam for our students will be Monday 17th November (Product Design and Technology students)
Thursday 20th November – Formal Graduation Dinner at Flowerdale Estate @ 5.30pm. Ticket sales have begun via Try Booking. Parents and students only as tickets are limited.
Year 11 subject changes for Year 12
All Year 11 students have now made their decisions regarding subjects for next year. In order to attain their VCE, all students must complete five Unit 3 & 4 subject sequences by the time they finish Year 12, be that in the VCE, the VM or a combination of both and most had to decide which subject to drop at the end of this year. Yr 12, 2026 students will complete TWO weeks of HeadStart in Term Four, where they will begin their Year 12 courses.
Year 11 2026 (current Yr 10) subject selections have also been completed and students have made some important decisions about their pathways this term. Year 11, 2026 students will complete ONE week of HeadStart at the end of Term Four moving into Yr 11 classes.
La Trobe Regional Pathways Year 12 2026
In support of our Yr 11’s (2026 Year 12’s) we will again be working with Steph and her team at La Trobe University Bendigo next year, to present workshops to our Yr 12’s about their university options, moving into the adult world and all that comes with this. Students will need to complete permission forms for this program in Term Four, so please keep an eye out for these! We have worked with La Trobe this year and they have been a fantastic support of our current Year 12 students.
Housekeeping: Just a reminder that Yr 11 or 12 students who miss any assessments (OATs or SACs) due to illness must provide a Medical Certificate or Statutory Declaration to ensure they are able to complete this at a later date.
Also, any student who is currently driving themselves to and from school is expected to please complete and return a Driving Contract. Contracts can be collected from the VCE Coordinator’s office.
Simone McLaughlin
VCE Coordinator