Students, Parents/Carers Handbook

VCE Student Management Policy

Level Assemblies  

Attendance is compulsory at all level assemblies. These are one of the main formal  methods of disseminating important information and instructions to senior students at this college.  

 

Approved Absences for Students  

  • A maximum of five (only) lessons per unit for absences covered by a note from parents or guardian or student.  
  • Notes - must be shown to and signed by all affected teachers and the relevant Student Manager no later than three days after the student’s return to class. Submit signed notes to Reception.  
  • Medical Certificates - must be shown to and signed by all affected teachers, again no later than three days after the student’s return to class. Submit signed Medical Certificates to Reception.  
  • Original Medical Certificates only will be accepted – NOT PHOTOCOPIES. 
  • For authentication purposes all Medical Certificates should bear the individual  doctor’s stamp and provider number.  
  • Participation in all school-based activities is compulsory. It is the responsibility of  the student to give prior notice to the teacher and provide a relevant reason for  absence. It is   also the responsibility of the student to catch up on work missed.  

 

Procedures  

When you have been absent you must present a Note or Medical Certificate for signature: 

  • to ALL the teachers of classes missed and your Student Manager  
  • no later than 3 working days after absence; otherwise an unauthorised absence will  be recorded  

THEN  

  • hand the signed Note or Medical Certificate in to Reception.  

 

Unapproved Absences for Students  

Students will receive an ‘N’ for a unit when Unapproved Absences amount to more than  15% of total attendance time. Students must attend 100% of classes during an  assessment period. Students who do not attend all or some of SAC classes MUST produce  specific and clear explanations for their incapacity to attend. Notes from parents are NOT  accepted. A Medical Certificate is needed to reschedule any assessment missed.  

 

NOTE:  

On average, 15% of Unexplained Absences equates to between 8-11 classes.  Teachers must ensure that students receive an ‘At Risk Form’ when they  reach 6 absences in a semester.  

 

When a student fails to meet the attendance requirements for a unit of study, the class  teacher will allocate an ‘N’ result for the outcomes that are most affected by the  absences. 

 

Lateness to Class  

Students that arrive less than 5 minutes late to class:  

  • are permitted to enter the room once the teacher acknowledges the student  
  • ‘Late’ will be recorded against the student’s name on Compass Students that arrive more than 5 minutes late to class: 
  • teacher can allow entry and either record ‘late’ or ‘absent’ against the student 
  • teacher can refuse entry and record ‘absent’ against the student  
  • teacher can send the student along with work and a note to the VCE Study Centre  

 

Removal from Class  

If a student is removed from class they will nonetheless be required to complete all missed  work elsewhere. The student will be marked as present.  

 

Out of Bounds 

The Macleod Village shops, the park opposite and all areas outside the College grounds are  OUT OF BOUNDS. Students may only walk through on their way to and from college at the  beginning and end of their school day.  

 

Uniform 

The Uniform Policy, which is available at Reception, has a detailed description of the Macleod College uniform, including the VCE uniform. All students must adhere to this  set uniform policy. 

 

VCE students arriving at College out of uniform must obtain a uniform pass from the Senior School office. Students without an appropriate written authorisation  should expect to be sent home to change.  

 

Private Study  

All VCE students are timetabled for a number of private study periods each week. This time  is to be used for preparation, research and revision. It is most important that this time be  used wisely and productively. Given that students are not always directly supervised during  these periods it is expected that they will maintain the self-discipline required to work  effectively until the end of the period. Private study locations, such as the VCE Study  Centre, the library and faculty area classrooms may be available after negotiations with the  teachers responsible for those areas.  

 

Use of the VCE Study Centre  

Year 12 students have the use of the VCE Study Centre, (in D14), during study periods. The  purpose of the room is to provide students with a high quality study area and a first-rate  learning environment. Because the room is primarily a study area, food and drink are not  allowed and it is not a place for general socialising, The VCE Study Centre is an area  provided for quiet study during students' study periods.  

 

Students Driving Cars  

Some students will already have their driver's licence and many will obtain it during the  year. If the student intends to drive to the College they must recognise the responsibilities  associated with that privilege and obey the College regulations in this regard. The College needs to have the registration number and description of the car. A Student Driving Form  must be obtained from the Senior School Office, completed and returned before permission  is granted to drive to and from the College.  

 

Students driving to the College are not permitted to transport other students. 

The only acceptable variation to this is the provision of transport for other students from  the same household, following application to the Senior School Team who will then note  down the necessary particulars. This can only be one person due to the conditions of their  P plates.  

 

Students who drive to the college must park along Carwarp Street end of the College car park, follow  Vic Road Rules and show respect for local Council parking laws and neighbours’ properties.  

 

Full Courses and Course Changes  

Macleod College policy clearly states that:  

1. Students in Year 10 may undertake ONE VCE Unit 1/2 study.  

2. ALL students in Year 11 are to be enrolled in SIX studies, unless studying a Distance  

    Education subject, in which case five subjects is the minimum. A VET subject is not  

    considered a sixth subject.  

3. ALL students in Year 12 are to be enrolled in FIVE subjects.  

    Except under exceptional circumstances will students be permitted to vary the number      of studies undertaken. This is a Macleod College VCE requirement and enrolment is    

   conditional on this policy.  

 

NOTE: Students wanting a variation to this policy must apply in writing to the  College Principal.  

Circumstances may warrant a change in a student's course. A change of units can occur  only at the end of Unit 1, or within VCAA specified dates and will be dependent upon class  sizes and timetabling constraints. This change will only occur under exceptional  circumstances. 

Units 3 and 4 must be completed as a sequence in a calendar year.  

 

Promotion to Year 12  

Students must successfully complete at least eight units, including one unit of English 1/2,  before attempting Year 12.  

 

Withdrawal/Enrolment of a Study  

Withdrawing From VCE Units Or Changing From One Unit To Another  

Students wishing to withdraw from a subject or change to another subject must complete  a “VCE  Withdrawal from One Subject” or “VCE enrolment in New Study” form. The signatures of  the parent/carer, relevant teachers and the Head of Senior School must be obtained on the form to signify approval of the proposed change and compliance with VCE rules.  

 

Unless the above steps are authorised and completed no study changes will be made to your official enrolment with VCAA. This may jeopardise the satisfactory completion of  VCE/VET/VCAL.

 

Second Language Application for Enrolment  

All enrolments in VCE Second Language studies Units 3 and 4 must be approved by the  VCAA using the appropriate form/s from the VCAA. 

Enrolment is required by the end of  October in the year preceding the study enrolment.  

  • English as an Additional Language Units 3 and 4 
  • Chinese Second Language Units 3 and 4 or Chinese Second Language Advanced  Units 3 and 4. 

See: Further information on Eligibility Criteria for Chinese Second Language.

  • Indonesian Second Language Units 3 and 4  
  • Japanese Second Language Units 3 and 4  
  • Korean Second Language Units 3 and 4  

 

Students Experiencing Difficulties

Special Provision  

Students attempting VCE VET/VCAL courses may need special provisions when their  ability to participate in and complete their secondary studies has been significantly  impeded. Students who are eligible for Special Provision are NOT exempt from meeting the  requirements for satisfactory completion of the VCE, or from being assessed against the  outcomes for a study.  

 

Special Provision is available to students whose performance has been significantly  adversely affected by illness (physical or psychological), impairment, disability or personal  circumstances. The college is responsible for the determination of eligibility for Special  Provisions, as well as the nature of the provisions granted. The final decision on results and  grades is made by the Principal and reported on VASS.  

 

The adverse circumstances affecting the student must be in no way within the control of  the student. Prolonged absence from school or study is not in itself grounds for Special  Provisions. Students who have been granted EAL status are not eligible for special  examination arrangements on the basis of unfamiliarity with the English language alone.  

 

Derived Examination Scores  

Students are eligible for a Derived Examination Score if they can demonstrate that serious  illness, personal trauma or other circumstances occurring immediately (approximately two  weeks) before or during the external examination period has affected their performance on  an examination or has prevented them from attending an examination.  

 

NOTE: Applications for a Derived Exam Score must be handed in to the Head of Senior  School no later than 7 days after your final examination (or examination that  you are applying for a Derived Exam Score for, whichever comes first).  

 

Special Examination Arrangements 

Students wishing to apply for ‘Special Exam Arrangements’ must complete the appropriate  VCAA form that is available at the Head of Senior School. Check with Head of Senior School  or VASS Administrator as to cut-off dates.  

NOTE: It is the student’s responsibility to provide all of the necessary supporting  evidence. 

 

Special Entry Access Scheme (SEAS)  

Students experiencing specific personal circumstances throughout the year which affect  their performance in external examinations may apply directly to VTAC through the SEAS.  These students are ineligible to apply for Derived Examination Scores.  

 

Categories for which Chronic Circumstances can be applied are: Disrupted Schooling, Home  Environment and Responsibilities and Personal Illness/Disability.  

 

The Chronic Circumstances application will only be circulated to selection authorities for  those course listed on the VTAC application by the applicant. For further information refer  to the VTAC website: www.vtac.edu.au  

 

Students who wish to apply for Special Provisions, Derived Examination Scores or  Chronic Circumstances must submit all the necessary documentation with the  application form to the VCE Manager.