Strategic Development & Organisation
Ms. Jodie Connell - Deputy Principal
From the Deputy Principal – Strategic Development & Organisation
I hope the school holidays were relaxing and re-energising for all community members as we move into the final months of the school year. As we enter the final term of the year, the school community is filled with excitement and anticipation. Term 4 is a time of culmination, celebration, and preparation as we approach the end of the academic year.
Year 12 Finish
Congratulations to the Year 12 students on the way they finished their formal schooling this week. As they continue their exam revision we encourage them to study hard, keep sleeping and eating well, and maintain good levels of exercise. All Unit 3 & 4 teachers will be available during scheduled class times for students to seek support on-site. This support will continue up to and including the day of the subject exam.
I would also like to wish our Year 12 students all the best for their upcoming Unit 3 & 4 exams. It is very encouraging for our College Community to see their seniors act with grace, confidence and maturity.
Year 12 VCE Exams
Students in Year 12 preparing to undertake their VCE exams later this month have undergone a trial examination period. During this period, students sat practice exams for each of the units they are enrolled in. The purpose of these exams is multifaceted, and students were encouraged to take the exams seriously. Students are reminded that the effectiveness of practice exams involves not only sitting the exam but also how they analyse their results, understand their mistakes, and use this information to further their study.
Practice exams allow students to assess their understanding of the material they have studied. The exams are designed to be like the actual paper they receive, so students can gauge their knowledge and identify areas where they may need to improve. The act of recalling information also enhances memory retention and reinforces what students have learned making it easier to recall the same information later on. Incorrect answers or areas of challenge can indicate specific topics or concepts that require further review and study.
Experiencing a practice exam assists students to familiarise themselves with the format and structure of the actual paper. This includes understanding the types of questions (multiple choice, short answer, essay, practical, etc.) and the time constraints. Becoming accustomed to the exam format helps reduce anxiety on the actual exam day. When students know what to expect, they are less likely to feel overwhelmed during a real exam. Additionally, as the exams were practised under timed conditions, students learnt how to manage their time effectively and how to allocate time to different sections and questions, ensuring that they completed the exam within the given time frame.
Our teachers are acknowledged for their hard work to provide students with targeted feedback, which is focused on further revision and improvement. Upon receiving feedback, students should ensure they work to understand accompanying explanations or solutions, ask questions to seek any clarification required and make any necessary adjustments to their study routine. Students can learn from their mistakes, understand correct answer patterns and enhance their problem-solving skills if they make good use of feedback.
The official VCE exams will begin for our students on Thursday 24th October with a small group of students undertaking their performance exam for VCE Theatre Studies Performance. The written examinations will officially commence on Tuesday 29th October with the English examination.
Supporting your Child during their Final Examinations
How can you support your Year 12 student during their final exams? (theparentswebsite.com.au)
End of Year dates for Year 11 Students
- Year 11 Vocational Major Structured Workplace Learning – Monday 28th October till Friday 15th November
- Year 11 Exams Start on Thursday 7th November and conclude on Thursday 14th November
- Friday 15th November – Student Free Day for Year 11 students
- Term Zero starts Monday 18th November
Learning Behaviours
Often in education and schooling, results are a focus. Results such as the completion of a VCE or Vocational Major Certificate, an exam result, or an end-of-semester progression point are of significant interest. I understand the interest in these final or summative results. It is also important that we encourage students to focus on learning behaviours which in many ways lead to the outcomes. These learning behaviours are:
- Collaborates well with students and teachers
- Demonstrates self-regulation to work independently
- Displays initiative to improve learning
- Responds to feedback with positive action
- Uses effective organisation strategies
- Completes work on time
These learning behaviours are very important and also provide valuable insight into how a student is progressing academically. I encourage parents to discuss with their child their progress in developing these learning behaviours and then perhaps set some goals around these behaviours for the weeks ahead.
Booklists (Term Zero – Year 12)
Booklists for 2025 are now available on the College Website:
Booklists need to be completed online by Friday 25th October in order to receive books ready for the commencement of Term Zero on Monday 18th November.
If purchasing second-hand online, please be sure to check the current booklists to ensure that you are purchasing the correct editions. Please note Edrolo books are reprinted and updated yearly, they will be distributed by the College at the beginning of Term One, 2025.
Elevate Education Parent Webinar Seminars
Elevate Education is continuing to provide parents of Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional Student College exclusive access to their Parent Webinar Series for Term 4, 2024.
To reserve your spot, you can register for free below,
Click here to register for free
Wednesday 30th October
How You Can Help Your Child Manage Their Time
Here’s what we’ll be covering on the night:
✅ Aligning expectations on homework with your child
✅ Helping your child balance their schoolwork and social life
✅ Setting up a weekly planner tool with your child
Wednesday 13th November How To Help Your Child Alleviate Stress
Wednesday 27th November How You Can Build Resilience in Your Child
Wednesday 11th December How You Can Set Your Child Up for Success
The webinars are run live online from 6.30 pm – 7.30 pm (AEST) where the presenter will share Elevate’s key research and skills and will conduct a live Q&A so you can ask them questions directly. If you are unable to make the webinar, don't worry! If you sign up to attend, you'll receive the webinar recording on Thursday morning.
Should you have questions or would like to contact Elevate directly, their details are listed below.
✉️ auscoaching@elevateeducation.com