Teaching and Learning
Step-Up to VCE Program
This week has seen the commencement of our Step-Up to VCE Program, designed to prepare all students who will be undertaking VCE or the VCE VM in 2024. Students have been introduced to their Unit 1 and Unit 3 subjects, providing an initial foundation for their coursework and their summer holiday homework.
On Tuesday night we ran the Step-Up to VCE Parent Information session for parents of students entering Years 11 and 12. We would like to thank parents for their attendance on this night. The VCE and VCE VM presentations that were shown have been shared via Compass for those parents who were unable to attend or for those who would like to go back and view this important information at their leisure.
We would like to thank one of our parents, Rebecca Rohde, for agreeing to come and speak on the night and share her reflections on how to support your child through the VCE. She has kindly allowed us to share these with our parent community below.
David and I have navigated three of our four children through VCE here at St Joseph’s College. All three children are their own individuals and took on the experience with either excitement, a bit of apprehension, an opportunity to be their absolute best or simply enjoy the ride.
Each of our children had their own skill set that allowed them to remain reasonably calm throughout VCE, Year 12 in particular. Don’t get me wrong we did have moments where there were tears, there were some doors that were slammed and there was definitely denial.
We have actually learnt a lot through each occasion. I am someone who does like to feel that I am in control of most of the things that go on in our household, but I have learnt that our children are the best advocates for themselves, as your children will be. As parents we have nurtured values, encouraged good work ethic, fostered great leadership and most of all, instilled belief in our children that they are capable of anything.
BALANCE was a key for our children. Each of them continued their community sport, their part time jobs, all while completing Year 12.
SPACE was something we tried to create for our children. We had a great working space where they could study away from the hustle and bustle of our busy living area, but they would often find themselves spread across the dining table for months on end. We found there was no right or wrong way.
COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONSHIPS were also a fragment of our children’s VCE journey. I tend to talk too much, ask them too many questions, offer too much assistance, be the purchaser of highlighters, sticky notes and poster paper, whereas my husband is the quieter of our partnership, encouraging a tennis match allowing him to have rich conversations and return the balls hard or soft over the net depending on how the chats were going!
We are incredibly lucky that all three of our children are real communicators, they shared their successes, and concerns with us often. I have learnt to be a better listener, I can not highlight enough the importance of being a good listener. Drive in the car, do those hours, make the tea or coffee, sit beside them on the couch, have their friends in your backyard. Stick to what we do well, feed them, hydrate them, rest them, and support them.
Holding valuable relationships throughout this time for our children was paramount, both in school and out of school. They were all very social students and were able to maintain good family and peer engagement during this time also. The relationships they all had with their teachers was one I was in awe of, the commitment, the time and sincere effort and care each of them gave our children was something that they are incredibly grateful for also.
BE PRESENT. First time can be incredibly daunting for both you and your child, it does get easier, we learn so much about ourselves and what our child needs from us during this time. Turn up to those parent interviews during VCE, show interest in what your child is doing. I would get the comment that this friend isn’t going and that friend isn’t going - my response was always - well we are! I did nothing more than sit on that chair beside them. There were moments I wanted to sink into it, cheer loudly for their achievements or google what was meant by ‘coming home with a wet sail’ but I was there.
In finishing, we just need to be reminded that our children are all exceptional individuals, their WELLNESS both emotionally and spiritually are commodities that we should hold at the utmost throughout this time. Without that nothing else will matter. Be there constantly, be the listener, be the person they need you to be. Please don’t think we are experts in this, we aren’t, we have made mistakes and I’m sure our fourth time down this path will have its ups and down if it’s taken.
I wish you all the best through your VCE years - remember, all we ask is our children be the very best they can, that’s all anyone can ever ask of them.
Booklists
Preparations for 2024 continue with families beginning to receive the 2024 Booklists for their students. Families with students in Years 7 & 8 in 2024, have received their Booklists this week.
Students in Years 9 & 10 in 2024 will receive their Course Confirmation and Booklists next Monday at school. If your child will be in Year 9 or 10 next week, please wait until you receive their Course Confirmations next week, before ordering their 2024 Resources.
Scientific Calculator Order Form
Campion Booklist Ordering Instructions
**PLEASE NOTE - When Ordering Cambridge Essential Maths (Digital Edition) Years 7-10, please be aware that Campion will ask parents to provide their student's email address. This is to enable Campion to email the Digital Access Code for this resource. We have been in contact with Campion and families can use ANY email address to receive this code. We suggest that parents use their own email address. However, families are asked NOT to activate this textbook using this code when they receive it. Students will need to complete this activation in class with their Maths teacher at the start of next year.
Families are advised that orders placed by Friday 15 December will be posted free of charge.
End of Year Arrangements
Students in Years 10 & 11 will finish school next Friday 1 December at the completion of their Step Up to VCE Program.
For students in Years 7, 8 and 9, their last day of school will be Wednesday 6 December.
The last week of school for our Middle School students will contain a range of activities including:
- Year 8 Ball on Monday 4 December
- White Card Training for Applied Learning students on Monday 5 and Tuesday 6 December.
- Triathlon or Christmas Activities on Tuesday 5 December
- End of Year Mass and House Activities on Wednesday 6 December.
More information will be provided to families around this via Compass in the coming days.
Semester 2 Reports
Semester 2 Reports will be available to families on Tuesday 5 December.
Please review these with your child and celebrate their successes and discuss what they can do to continue to improve in 2024.
Year 7 2024 Orientation Day
On Tuesday 5 December, we look forward to welcoming our 2024 Year 7 students to St Joseph’s for Orientation Day.
This is a great day where students have the day to explore our Kildare Campus, meet our teachers and get to know each other.
We look forward to welcoming this new cohort to our St Joseph’s community.
Lisa Saillard
Assistant Principal: Learning and Teaching