News For Parents

Literacy Specialist | August Update 

Community Reading Log/Book Club

Our Year 7 students have embraced the Independent Reading Program and are reading for enjoyment, 20 minutes per day. But what about our staff? It’s not fair that the students get all the fun. Our staff are just as committed to this program. We have a Community Reading Log that the staff fill out every IRP session. This reading log has turned into an online book club. We thought we’d share some highlights through our one sentence book reviews.

LiteracyReading Goals

To support our Year 7 Independent Reading Program (which will continue in Year 8, 9 and 10 for our Year 7 cohort), our students also work on developing and achieving reading goals set throughout the year from Year 7 to 9. WHSC use the 7 Comprehension Strategies* to help students develop and build on their reading comprehension. To do this, our students participate in Fortnightly Reading Sessions held in the library. 

During this time, students engage in various activities and present their work in the Class Reader’s Notebook or Independent Reader’s Notebook. These are some of the activity’s students engage in after 20 minutes of reading: 

• A comprehension strategy. Students will focus on a comprehension strategy where they can challenge their understanding.
• Independent reading stems. Students will choose a prompt that connects to their reading and write down their thoughts to heighten understanding.
• One on one conferences. Students will sit down with their teacher and analyse their PAT R testing, summative tasks and formative tasks. In the discussion with the teacher, the student will develop a reading goal for the term that can support them when exposed to any difficult reading in any of their subjects.
• Literacy mentors. Our Year 7 and 8 students have the opportunity to connect with our Year 9 and 10 students by reading a short story and unpacking the content together in a small group activity.

Ms. Claire Hanley | Literacy Specialist

VCE Information | Changes To SACs

As a College, we have decided that SACs will be completed remotely for all VCE students.In doing so, it is important that all remote assessment tasks can be authenticated. Please see the Parent Student Authentication Advice document attached below. (It is similar to the advice published for Year 12 students during the original remote learning period).

In a recent Press Conference, the Minister for Education, James Merlino spoke about the introduction of a new Consideration of Educational Disadvantage process that will be used to calculate VCE scores. This process will take into account any disruptions to student learning caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Further information will be given to students in the coming days.

Ms. Judith Riddoch | Senior School Leader

Choosing Your VCE Program  | Year 10 Students

In Term 3, Year 10 students will be asked to make decisions about their VCE study program for years 11 and 12.  Choosing subjects and courses may be one of the first career decisions students make.  Over the next couple of weeks during Yr10 Futures classes, students will be working through the ‘I Plan’ program which will provide them with the steps they need to take in order to make these important decisions.

Making big decisions may be challenging and the questions they may want to ask themselves are: 

• What subjects do I want to study in Year 11 & 12 for the career I want?
• Do I want to study VCE, VCAL or VET?
• What training should I do? eg. a course at University, TAFE/private provider or an Australian Apprenticeship
• What University, TAFE or private provider/college should I attend?
• What job opportunities will it open up?
• What apprenticeship are available and where could I learn more in order to make an informed decision as to which one to choose?

Students can select their subjects for Year 11 by clicking here. Instructions are available in the document below.

We wish all Year 10 students a positive experience with their decision making and as a school community we look forward to supporting their aspirations.

Ms. Voula Jakubicki | Careers Coodinator 

Wellbeing @ Wheelers | SchoolTV Resources

Remote Learning can present many challenges, including dealing with feelings of isolation, disconnection, and loneliness while separated from friends and teachers. Luckily, all  WHSC students, parents, and staff can access the WHSC Wellbeing Portal, which provides information on a range of issues including mindfulness, anxiety, and maintaining good mental health while Remote Learning. Access the Portal via Compass, the College website, or by clicking here.

Students and families looking for information on how to deal with the emotional impact of COVID-19 can also consult the info in the above attachment from HeadSpace.

Ms. Helen Charalambous | Wellbeing Coordinator

College & DET Privacy Policy

Our school collects, uses, discloses and stores student and parent personal information for standard school functions or where permitted by law, as stated in the Schools’ Privacy Policy. Please take time to remind yourself of the school’s collection statement, found on our website.

For more information about privacy, see: Schools’ Privacy Policy – information for parents. This information also available in nine community languages.