Assistant Principal (Years 10-12) Report 

Report from Assistant Principal Jason Tickner

Semester One Reports and Awards Assembly

We are rapidly approaching the end of the first semester of 2022. Our teachers are busily planning and preparing students for their final assessments for this term. During this time, it is critical that students stay up to date with work in class and do their best to complete these assessments to the best of their ability. 

For our VCE and Vocational Major (VM) students these assessments, and successful completion of associated coursework will determine their unit results for Semester 1. This week ‘at risk’ letters have distributed to families of students who are in danger of not satisfying unit requirements at the subject level in their VCE or VM programs. This is in addition to other notifications that have been made via Compass and direct contact home throughout the Semester. Supports will continue to be provided for students in this category, however the responsibility to complete coursework and assessments falls on students to achieve a satisfactory standard at the unit and outcome level. Where students overall VCE or VM is ‘at risk’ progress meeting will be organised by senior sub-school at the end of this term, or the start of Term 3 to determine the most appropriate pathway forward for students.

The grades for CATs (Year 7-10 & VM) and SACs/SATs VCE assessments will appear in Semester 1 reports which will made available to parents, on Compass, in the second week of Term 3. Please be aware that parents will need to go into Compass to see specific comments that teachers have made on the CATs or SACs/SATs completed by students during the semester, as the reports will include just the grades for these assessed tasks.

On Monday 16th June we will hold our Semester 1 Awards assembly at school in the gymnasium. This event is to recognise students who have been nominated for an Academic or Personal Best Award in their subjects. Families are welcome to attend and join in this celebration, which is one of key annual events on our calendar. Students and families of award winners will be contacted by their sub-schools in the first week of Term 1 leading into this event.

Course Selection for 2023

The end of Semester 1 is also the beginning of the course and subject selection process for 2024. This is a critical time for students to make decisions regarding pathway programs and subject/elective choices. Our current Year 10 students will elect to complete the VCE or VCE Vocation Major (VM) programs. This year all our Year 9 students will transition into mainstream Year 10 program for 2024. Year 9 students interested in following a VCE VM pathway in their senior years will have the ability to choose two core subjects linked more closely to this pathway. This will be new structure for 2024 which will engage students at their point of need and prepare them better for their VCE Vocational Major (VM) in Year 11 & 12.

It is extremely important for students to engage in researching future pathways that are of interest so that they can make informed choices. The school will provide various forms of supports throughout the course counselling process. These supports will include a subject expo, program information sessions, and individualised course approval interviews. This will ensure that our students are guided to make informed decisions about their overall program, linked to their passions, strengths, and pathway ambitions.

We will be running an onsite Course Counselling Parent Information session on Thursday 13th July, Term 3 Week 1. This will provide an opportunity for parents to listen to information presented by Ms Alice Paget (Assistant Principal 7-9) and Mr. Jason Tickner (Assistant Principal 10-12) regarding the programs and subjects on offer across the school in 2024. It will also create a forum to ask questions and clarify changes to programs, so that parents can better support their children in choosing the right program.

Pivot – A tool to Improve Student Voice

One of the whole-school improvement areas undertaken this year by our school is to improve student voice. Specifically, our ability to collect, analyse and use student feedback to improve the learning experience of our students in the classroom. To support this Westall has partnered with an organisation called Pivot, using their Student Survey on Teaching tool to provide students with an opportunity to provide feedback at the classroom level. Our belief is that this feedback on teaching practice will contribute to increase teaching quality, student engagement and learning outcomes. 

In Term 1 most teachers completed our first survey Cycle. Within our Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) student feedback data was analysed, and improvement strategies put in place, supported by professional learning. The four key areas that teachers received student feedback on from their students were classroom environment, instruction, relationships, and student voice.

Classroom observations undertaken within our PLC groups has also ensured that teachers have been supported in the process actioning changes or modifications in their practice. The work has validated at the class, cohort, and domain level our areas of strength and potential areas of collective improvement. In Week 7 of this term our teachers will once again survey their classes further solidifying this practice moving forward.

Jason Tickner 

Assistant Principal (Years 10-12)