Focus On the MECS Threads

This past week we have run Year 10 and Year 11 mid-year exams, Year 12 SACs and are in the process of preparing for the VCE General Achievement Test (GAT) next week. Amid this busy time of assessment in the Senior School there can be quite a lot of managing stress and expectations, but it can also be a time to celebrate and reflect on this element of being a purposeful learner.

The assessments completed in the Senior Secondary years can feel like a lot of pressure, especially when significant societal emphasis is placed on numerical results and comparisons. In the Senior Secondary at MECS we try to balance supporting our students to do well on standardised academic testing, yet at the same time feel that our school has much broader hopes for the type of students we are developing. As seen in our threads, we hope that as our students graduate, that they are taking steps towards being Faith Discerners, Purposeful Learners, Justice Seekers, Welcoming Advocates, Awe Dwellers, Community Builders and Creation Keepers. At the end of the day, we know that VCE results only captures one part of the story of our students.

However, this desire for a balanced approach does not mean that we do not value dedicated commitment to academic excellence. I would suggest the opposite. As purposeful learners, we hope to see students who are motivated to apply themselves to their studies, both for the joy of learning itself, but also in the Senior Secondary years, as part of their pathway to future work and study. For students to be able to pursue a vocation where they can use their God-given gifts and abilities in the future, this will likely require consistent hard work, dedication and perseverance through setbacks in the meantime. Strong revision and assessment preparation strategies, proactive engagement with teachers and independent problem solving are all part of what it looks like to be a purposeful learner. It is not always easy to strike the right balance in navigating this tension in the Senior Secondary years, but we hope that all students feel supported to flourish and pursue their academic and vocational goals through their time here at MECS.

Emma Tresidder 

VCE Coordinator, Secondary Teacher & VCE VASS Coordinator