Year 8 News

Hi Year 8 students, parents and guardians

Please allow us to introduce ourselves: Mrs Kiri Caracasidis (House Macedon), Ms Bird (House Hotham) and Mr Connell (House Stirling) and we are pleased to be working with your child as their year 8 Student Managers in 2026. We extend a warm welcome to all students, staff and parents of the Vermont Secondary College community. 

The start to the new 2026 academic year was certainly positive and well received by all. Our year 8 students quickly settled into their organisational and learning routine. It was wonderful to see friends catching up, sharing laughs and recounting events of their summer break. Once again, a positive start to the year. Congratulations to all of our returning students.

This year is the time to grab the opportunities our college offers to grow, develop further skills, seek leadership positions, participate actively in a variety of activities both within and beyond the constraints of the classroom and to forge high level learning strategies to support all aspects of personal and academic growth. Tune in to your COMPASS Newsfeed and Classroom pages for daily communication of the day’s events and lots more.

Year 8 Attendance Matters

Regular attendance is one of the strongest indicators of academic success. As students' progress through Year 8, consistent participation in all classes supports learning continuity, positive study habits, and overall wellbeing.

Reporting Absences

All student absences must be explained by a parent or caregiver. If your child is absent from school, please ensure this is accounted for by:

• Logging the absence through your child’s Compass portal 

  OR

• Emailing 

  8420-attendance@schools.vic.edu.au including your child's name, form & reason for absence/late

   

Prompt communication allows us to maintain accurate records and ensure the safety and wellbeing of all students.

Late to Class

Punctuality is equally important. Arriving late to class disrupts learning—not only for the student who is late, but also for others in the class. Lateness to class is not acceptable.

Students who accrue three or more late arrivals will receive an after-school detention. Parents and students will be notified when this occurs.

Monitoring Attendance and Progress

We strongly encourage parents and caregivers to regularly monitor their child’s:

• Attendance record

• Lateness record

• Academic progress

   

This information is available at any time through the Compass portal. Regular monitoring helps identify patterns early and allows families to work collaboratively with the school to support improvement where needed.

Uniform Passes – Important Information for Families

To maintain high standards and a strong sense of school pride, all students are expected to attend school in the correct uniform each day. If a student is unable to wear full and proper school uniform, the following process must be followed:

• A written note from a parent or caregiver must be provided, explaining the reason.

• The student must see their Student Manager before the beginning of Period 1.

• The note must be presented in order to receive a uniform pass for the day.

   

Students who do not bring a note or do not obtain a uniform pass before Period 1 may be subject to follow-up action in line with school expectations.

We appreciate the support of parents and caregivers in reinforcing uniform standards and ensuring students are organised and prepared for the school day.

Locker Expectations and Student Responsibility

To ensure the safety and security of personal belongings, all student lockers must be secured with an appropriate lock at all times. Students are responsible for bringing and using a lock on their allocated locker. Lockers that are left unlocked place personal belongings at risk.

Please note:

• any missing personal items

• any damage or destruction of personal property

are the responsibility of the student and not the school.

We strongly encourage families to discuss the importance of securing lockers with their child and to ensure a suitable lock is purchased and used daily. Taking this simple precaution helps protect belongings and supports a safe school environment for all students.

Thank you for your ongoing support in ensuring that our Year 8 students attend school regularly, arrive on time, and are fully prepared to engage in their learning each day. Working together, we can help every student achieve their best.

Vermont Secondary College prides itself on providing continued support to all students to assist in their learning and personal growth. We encourage positive and constructive partnerships with parents and guardians, to ensure our students are inspired to be their very best. Students and parents should refer to our school website and become familiar with our school processes and expectations. Communication is key in the support of our students and parents are encouraged to contact either their students’ classroom teacher or coordinator with any concerns or questions. 

Looking forward to a magnificent year that is 2026! 

Kind Regards

Year 8 Student Manager Team