Deputy Principal

What a wonderful start to 2025 we have had! We are almost halfway through the Term and there has been a lot happening already. From the swimming carnival, Valentine’s Day, Scholar’s Assembly, Music Camp and many more events- it has been a packed but enjoyable, start to the year.

There have also been a number of parent information sessions. Year 7 Parent and Carer Night, Year 10 Parent, Carer and Student Sessions, Honours Program Introduction Afternoon, P&C meetings, and more. If you feel like you have missed something, reach out to the school and we will connect you with the right person to catch you up on what you have missed.

P&C Year 7 Wine and Cheese Evening – Friday 28 February 6:00 pm

Another upcoming event is our Year 7 Wine & Cheese evening for Year 7 parents and carers to get together and meet each other. As you embark on the six-year journey, it is important to have people in your life whom you can share the successes and challenges with. Year 7 parents and carers, put it in the diary now...Friday 28 February 6:00 pm start. 

RSVP closes on Friday, 21 February 2025, at 8.00am. Book your ticket now: Event Registration.

International School Tour

This week we also welcomed to The Gap SHS a study tour from Japan. This sees a group of international students visit us for two weeks. It's wonderful seeing buddy students stepping up to show our visitors our lifestyle and our amazing school. Please encourage your child/student to interact with our visiting students when they can. Having a global perspective on life is important. 

Family Holidays During Term and Assessment

Now that students are settled in classes and well into the rhythm of learning, the focus is beginning to shift towards assessment schedules. The school has received a number of queries regarding families taking holidays during term time. Situations such as holidays, which are a student’s or parent/carer’s choice, that impact a student’s assessment are not suitable grounds to approve an application for Access Arrangements and Reasonable Adjustments (AARA). It is expected that assessment is completed either before a student goes on the family holiday or on the given due date. 

Most assignments are now submitted digitally online; while it is not ideal to be working on assignments while on holidays, it is still possible to submit assignments on the due date. This is a useful strategy if students are unable to submit their assignments before they head on family holidays during the Term.

Please note that it is not recommended that families take holidays during Term-time. Every minute of every lesson counts and we love to see our students in the classrooms engaging in their learning. 

Exemptions From Compulsory Schooling or Compulsory Participation.

For absences that are longer than 10 consecutive school days, including illness, it is highly recommended that families complete and submit an Application for Exemption Form Compulsory School and Compulsory Participation. 

An exemption from compulsory schooling of the compulsory participation phase may be considered when a child or a young person cannot attend or it would be unreasonable in all circumstances to require them to attend school or participate in an eligible option for a period of more than 10 consecutive school days.

An exemption excuses parents from their legal obligation to ensure that their child:

• A child of compulsory school age is enrolled in or attends a school; or
• In the compulsory participation phase is participating full-time in an eligible option or a combination of eligible options

Exemptions should be applied for, and a decision made on the application by the decision maker, ie the school Principal, prior to the proposed exemption period. In circumstances where the child or young person becomes ill and it is not known if the duration of the illness will exceed 10 consecutive school days, the exemption application does not need to be submitted or approved in advance.

NOTE: If an exemption application is approved, students are still required to complete any assessment that may be due during the exemption period. Students and/or parents/carers are to further contact relevant Heads of Department to devise a plan to complete any assessment scheduled for the approved exemption absence that aligns to The Gap SHS Whole School Assessment Policy.

If there are any queries, please contact your respective Head of Year.

Year 12 Mock Block and External Exam Preparation

Finally, we have been reflecting on and seeking feedback on our Year 12 Mock Block and External Exam Preparation schedule. 

Since the introduction of the New QCE system five years ago, schools have been evolving the best ways to support all students to be prepared and as successful as they can be for their final and external exams. We have continued to seek ways to evolve our support for students, making our mock block and external exam preparation even better than last year’s program. 

Please see the linked letter recently sent out to our Year 12 students and families about our 2025 plans for Mock Block and External Exam preparation.