Senior School Report

Term 4 has been a busy time for our Senior School students and our Senior School teams in Years 10-12. Students have been engaged in end-of-year examinations, celebration events, and Step-Up Programs that support their transition from their current academic year to the next level of challenge.

Our Year 11 students are currently completing their Step-Up Program in preparation for the demands of Year 12 in 2026. Our current Year 10 students are finishing their final exams this week before beginning their Step-Up Program into Year 11 VCE or the VCE Vocational Major programs next week.

The final weeks of Year 12 were a special and significant time for our students. We had the opportunity to celebrate the Class of 2025 as they completed their journey at Edgars Creek Secondary College and marked the end of 13 years of schooling. Many students chose to decorate their college shirts with meaningful and light-hearted messages from friends and staff, creating memorable keepsakes they can look back on in the years to come.

Year 12 Celebration Morning

Thursday, 23rd October marked the final day for our Year 12 Class of 2025. To celebrate this milestone, our Year 12 students arrived in fancy dress and took part in a range of fun activities, including a slideshow featuring photos from Years 7-12. A highlight of the morning was the College Guard of Honour, where staff and students lined the walkway to farewell the graduating class as they left the college for the final time. The day was full of laughter and celebration, providing a wonderful way to say goodbye while allowing students to let off some much-needed steam!

Graduation Night

The college once again held a highly successful Graduation Ceremony for the Class of 2025, attended by more than 450 guests, staff, and over 180 Year 12 graduates. Each graduate was presented with an ECSC Graduation Certificate and, for the first time, a college sash featuring the school logo. The sash was presented to each student as they stepped onto the stage to receive their certificate.

This year, the college also engaged a professional photographer to capture the moment each student crossed the stage. All graduating students will receive a framed photograph of themselves receiving their Graduation Certificate at our Valedictory Dinner. Students who do not attend the dinner will be able to collect their framed photo from the main office.

An important part of the Graduation Ceremony is the acknowledgment and celebration of student achievement. Awards were presented to recognise college values across both VCE and VCE Vocational Major programs. In addition, academic excellence awards were presented to students in each Year 12 VCE and VCE VM subject.

Shortly after the celebration events, the Year 12 VCE exams began. Following recent tradition, the three-hour English exam was the first official written assessment. In previous years, this exam has often caused the most anxiety among students. However, this year was noticeably different. Students emerged with confidence, many smiling as they walked out of the exam room.

Their positive attitude is a true reflection of the hard work they have put in over recent months, along with the numerous practice exams that helped prepare them for this important milestone.

Now that our Year 12 students have completed their examinations, we look forward to celebrating their achievements at the Valedictory Celebration on Friday, 5th December. This event is a significant milestone in the lives of our Year 12 students, as it offers a unique opportunity for the college community, including parents, students, leadership, and staff, to come together to recognise their accomplishments and farewell them as they begin their post-school journeys.

Congratulations to our Class of 2025! It has been an absolute pleasure working with you this year, and we can’t wait to see all the wonderful things you will achieve in the future.

Yours Sincerely

Glen Cowan

Assistant Principal - Senior School

Year 12 Update

Thanks to the 2025 Cohort & Welcome to the 2026 Cohort!

As we close out another incredible school year, we want to take a moment to celebrate the achievements of our outgoing Year 12s and warmly welcome the 2026 VCE Cohort as they begin their senior journey. We are so very proud of all you have achieved this year and can’t wait to hear about all the exciting achievements and adventures that you do in the future!

We would like to recap some significant events of Term 3 and 4, and remind parents of the upcoming Valedictory Ceremony on December 5th.

Farewell to the 2025 Cohort Celebration Day

Our Year 12 Celebration Day was a wonderful highlight, filled with colour, creativity, and plenty of laughter. Students arrived in fantastic dress-up outfits, spending the day celebrating with friends and teachers. It was a perfect way to mark the end of an important chapter and reflect on the memories made throughout their VCE journey.

Graduation Ceremony

This year’s Graduation Ceremony, held at Mill Park Secondary College, was an unforgettable evening. It was truly inspiring to see every student walk across the stage to receive their graduation certificate and be recognised for their achievements. The pride from families, friends, and staff was clear in all of the celebrations, and we congratulate each graduate for reaching this milestone.

VCAA Exams Completed

We commend all Year 12 students for their persistence, hard work, and determination throughout the exam period. Finishing VCAA exams is a significant accomplishment, and we are immensely proud of the resilience and commitment shown across the cohort.

Valedictory Dinner

We are excited to remind families that our Year 12 Valedictory Dinner will be held on 5th December at The Grand Reception in Epping. This evening is an opportunity for students, families, and staff to come together and celebrate the achievements and journey of the 2025 cohort. Planning is in full swing, and we are looking forward to the evening.

Welcome to the 2026 Cohort Step Up Program: 24 November – 28th November

The 2026 VCE Cohort has begun their Step Up Program, running from 24th November to 28 November. This period sets the foundation for a strong start to next year, allowing students to meet their teachers, begin key coursework, and gain an understanding of the expectations for VCE. We encourage all students to attend fully and engage positively in the learning opportunities provided.

What students can do: Preparing over the summer break

The summer break is a valuable chance for students to build good habits and prepare for the year ahead. Here are some suggested activities:

• Revise Step Up notes and ensure folders or digital systems are organised.
• Set goals for each subject and reflect on personal strengths and areas for improvement.
• Complete any holiday homework to stay on track.
• Read English Novels in full at least once to be fully prepared to analyse them. 
• Rest and recharge: A healthy balance is essential before the busy year begins. Make sure that you take time to pursue other hobbies and interests in between completing holiday homework.

How Parents can support their child over the summer break

Families play a crucial role in setting students up for VCE success. Over the summer, parents can support by:

• Encouraging routines such as regular reading, study sessions, and healthy sleep habits.
• Providing a quiet, organised study space at home. A desk in a quiet space that is associated with study is the best.
• Talking with your child about their Step Up experience and goals for 2026.
• Checking in on holiday homework and ensuring tasks are completed gradually rather than last-minute.
• Supporting wellbeing, including breaks, physical activity, and time with family and friends.

Year 11 Update

Celebrating Growth and Looking Ahead

As we approach the end of the school year, our Year 11 VCE cohort has much to be proud of. Over the past month, students demonstrated strong commitment and resilience as they prepared for their end-of-year exams. In the lead-up, many students dedicated significant time to revision, study sessions, and collaborative learning. Their hard work was evident in the focused and mature way they approached each assessment.

This year, the duration of the Year 11 exams was extended to more closely mirror the structure and expectations of the Year 12 VCE examinations. While challenging, this change provided valuable experience in managing longer assessments, maintaining concentration, and applying knowledge under conditions similar to those they will encounter next year. The cohort handled this adjustment with impressive determination, giving them a strong foundation for their final year of schooling.

With exams now complete, our Year 11 students have officially wrapped up their Year 11 studies and are transitioning into an important phase: Year 12 Step Up Week. Throughout this final week of the school year, students are engaging in their first taste of Year 12 classes. They are meeting new coursework, receiving introductory materials, and beginning to understand the expectations of their 2026 VCE program.

This step-up week is designed to help students start their Year 12 journey with confidence and clarity. By interacting early with their Year 12 subjects, students can begin planning their study habits, organising resources, and setting goals for the year ahead. Teachers have been impressed by the enthusiasm and maturity students have shown as they step into this next chapter.

We congratulate all Year 11 students on their achievements this year and look forward to supporting them as they prepare for a successful and rewarding Year 12.

Year 10 Update

Year 10 Formal

On Friday the 12th of September, our Year 10 students lit up the night at their long-awaited 2025 Year 10 Formal! This milestone event was a truly special moment for our young people in Senior School. Students arrived dressed in their absolute best and enjoyed a beautiful formal dinner with friends. From the packed dance floor to the endless laughs in the photobooth, the energy was high. The students danced the night away, captured unforgettable memories, and celebrated a night that will be talked about for years to come. It was truly an unforgettable evening!

Multicultural Youth Leadership Conference

On the 29th of October, 16 of our Year 10 students had the incredible opportunity to attend the Multicultural Youth Leadership Conference at Melbourne Town Hall. Throughout the day, students heard inspiring keynote speakers share powerful messages about diversity and inclusion, took part in hands-on workshops exploring topics like racism and AI, and got involved in creative performances and energetic team-building activities. What made the experience even more special was that every session was led by passionate young people, making the event truly relatable and empowering for our students.

Swinburne 

Thinking about future pathways is an exciting milestone for our students, and our Year 10s embraced that excitement during their visit to Swinburne University! They had the chance to explore the campus and get a real taste of what university life feels like. Students toured the campus, stepped into a real lecture theatre, and then broke into hands-on workshops led by Swinburne educators. Students explored a range of study areas including Engineering, Law, Design, and Media & Communications, giving them the chance to discover new interests and imagine future possibilities. It was a fantastic and inspiring day, leaving many students eager and motivated for their own university journeys.

Semester 2 Exams - November 27th to 28th 

Our Year 10 students have officially completed their final hurdle of the year, their exams. Over the exam period, students sat assessments in English, Mathematics, Science, Humanities and Health & Physical Education. Every student showed impressive commitment, care and respect for their learning by giving each exam their absolute best. It was wonderful to see them arrive prepared, focused and ready to take on the challenge. Their efforts and determination are something to be truly proud of.

Celebration Day

Our Year 10s have worked incredibly hard this year, consistently demonstrating our school values in everything they do. To celebrate their achievements, they’ll be enjoying an exciting end of year outing at Melbourne Central on Monday the 1st of December. Students will rotate through an hour of arcade games, a round of bowling, and a private movie screening at Hoyts, a well-deserved day of fun, laughter and celebration. It’s the perfect way to wrap up an amazing year!

Step Up 

Stepping into Year 11 is a significant milestone for every student, and we aim to support them in feeling confident and prepared. From December 2nd to 5th, students will begin their first week of VCE or VCE VM, giving them a valuable preview of the subjects they have selected for 2026. This step up week is an important part of their journey, as students will learn about the expectations of their chosen pathway and begin working on their first Area of Study. It’s a crucial opportunity for them to start strong and set themselves up for success in the year ahead.

Whittlesea Tech School - ACMI excursion 

Four year 10 students were given the opportunity to engage in a year-long initiative with other members of the Whittlesea LGA to explore Play & Games in the 21st Century through hands-on challenges, creative projects, and insights from industry experts. As part of the program, students developed critical viewpoints on games, explored their impact on design and storytelling, and created a unique artefact to be showcased at Whittlesea Tech School on December 1st 2025. 

Rotary Club of Whittlesea Children's Awards 

Each year, the Rotary Club of Whittlesea invites local schools to recognise two Year 10 students for their exceptional academic achievement. Our selected students will proudly represent the school at the formal award ceremony on Monday the 1st of December. It’s a wonderful opportunity to celebrate their hard work and dedication. Congratulations to Emmanoel and Nicholas on being nominated for this award!

Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholars

The Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholars program offers access to exclusive University events and academic enrichments activities for two years. It gives students the taste of student life first-hand, as well as the opportunity to build strong peer networks that will support you throughout their final years of secondary school and during their transition to university. Year 10 students with high academic achievement and community involvement were encouraged to apply for the program. Congratulations to Emmanoel on being accepted! We look forward to seeing you continue to grow and learn!

VM Update

Year 12 VM Celebrating the Completion of their Academic Journey

Year 12 VM students officially completed their academic studies at the end of Term 3, marking the end of two years of dedication, growth, and hard work. At the beginning of Term 4, students returned for their final portfolio presentations, an important milestone that showcased the skills, experiences and knowledge they have developed throughout the VM program. These portfolios reflected not only their learning, but also their personal growth, work readiness and the pathways they have built for their futures.

It was truly inspiring to hear students speak confidently about their next steps, whether moving into further study, entering the workforce, or beginning apprenticeships. Many students shared exciting news of job offers and apprenticeship placements. Some even received offers on the very day of their portfolio appointments.

We are incredibly proud of our Year 12 VM cohort and everything they have accomplished. Their resilience, commitment, and passion have prepared them well for life beyond school. We congratulate them on their achievements and wish every student success as they take the next step into the world with confidence and purpose.

Year 11 VM – Youth Issues Expo

Students recently showcased their learning through a powerful and thought provoking Youth Issues Expo. Students identified both global and local issues that impact their lives, then created informative and visually engaging posters to share their findings with the wider college community.

The STEM building was transformed into an interactive exhibition space as students presented their research to staff and junior students, sharing key statistics, important facts and meaningful takeaway messages designed to raise awareness and inspire change. The morning highlighted the passion and perspectives of our young people and demonstrated their ability to communicate real issues that matter to them and to their community.

A huge congratulations to all Year 11 VM students for their outstanding effort and the impact of this impressive expo.

Year 12 VM Step Up – A Strong Start to Year 12

The first day of Step Up was a full and productive one. Students learned the new structures and routines of Year 12 VM, including expectations for attendance, participation, assessment timelines and the increased level of independence required. 

They received an overview of their Year 12 coursework, including Literacy, Numeracy, Personal Development Skills, and Work-Related Skills and engaged in activities designed to set the tone for success, including team challenges, reflective tasks and goal setting discussions.