DEPUTY PRINCIPAL LEARNING AND TEACHING
SUBJECT SELECTION - CRITICAL DATE AUGUST 14
I spoke to Year 8 students on Tuesday July 28 to commence the subject selection process. At that presentation, Year 8 students received their access codes and passwords for selecting their subjects online via Web Preferences. Years 9, 10 and 11 students received their access codes and passwords on Thursday July 30 via their homeroom rolls.
Unfortunately, due to current Covid-19 restrictions around adult gatherings the planned VO/VCE/VCAL Subject Selection Information Evening scheduled for July 28 had to be cancelled. As a result, there is more information available on the college website than what would normally be the case.
Subject information booklets are available from the college website as are instructional videos https://www.sjcmda.vic.edu.au/curriculum/. These include instructional videos explaining what Vertical Organisation (VO) is, how to access “Web Preferences” and how to undertake the task of selecting subjects.
Students are encouraged to start to look at the subject selection booklets online on the college's website > Learning > Curriculum. https://www.sjcmda.vic.edu.au/curriculum/
Over the next few weeks, students at Years 8, 9, 10 and 11 have to make selections about which subjects they would like to undertake as part of either Vertical Organisation (Years 9/10) or VCE/VCAL (Years 11/12) next year. It is an important and not always easy process. Students should take the time to familiarise themselves with the various subjects that are being offered. If they have questions about any of the subjects we ask that this year, you email the relevant Learning Area Leader (this information is in the online interactive handbooks) and they will direct you to the most relevant teacher to respond to your question.
We will be using “Web Preferences” an online subject selection process that we have used for a few years now. If you are unfamiliar with this process there are video presentations explaining the process on the college website at the following location: https://www.sjcmda.vic.edu.au/curriculum/
It is important for parents to involve themselves in this process. I encourage parents/caregivers to talk to your child about what they want to do, why they want to do it, and how best to achieve their goals. During this time, homeroom teachers will also be working with students from their own homeroom to ensure that the students fully understand the process and to provide support for them as they undertake this important process.
Students must have completed the subject selection process by 4.00pm on August 14. We use the data from their selections to create the timetable for 2021. If students do not have their selections in on August 14, then their selections will not be taken into account when creating the timetable and might ultimately mean they are not able to do all the subjects they were hoping to undertake in 2021. So it really is in the student's best interest to get their selections in on time.
LAPTOP ISSUES
As you know, the college provides laptops to all our students. To maximise the learning of each student, a laptop in excellent working condition is essential. If at any time a student has even the slightest issue with the way their laptop is functioning, when on site, please take it to the IT desk in the library. If the issue cannot be resolved immediately, the student will be given a replacement laptop so that they can continue with their learning uninterrupted. The process is designed to minimise disruption to learning.
There is no reason why any student should be using a laptop that is not functioning correctly. If you notice your child’s laptop has an issue, please encourage them to have the issue addressed the next day by attending the IT help desk. Students should not be concerned about doing so. Our primary objective is to ensure that every student has a working laptop at all times.
Teenagers and sleep – great insight from Dr Jared Cooney Horvath
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ca4iobY--Zs
Mr Greg Kluske
Deputy Principal, Learning and Teaching