Year 11 Learning Community News

As we approach the middle of term, it has been fantastic to see our Year 11 students settle into their VCE and VCE VM programs. We started the term exploring the school value of “connection” with our Orientation Week, where students and staff reconnected with each other after the summer break through excursions to the pool and to go tree surfing in Belgrave. Our VCE students also had the opportunity to visit Deakin University to see what University life could look like for them. We have since been getting settled into our new routine as members of the senior school. I am pleased to announce that Ms. Alliza Capacete has joined the Year 11 team as a Learning Community Coordinator and thank Mrs. Paula Kempenaar for the work that she did during rollover and the start of this year in this role.

The VCE VM students have had the additional opportunity to undertake training in their food handling and RSA certificates, as well as their barista training so far this term. We received feedback from the providers of these courses that they were impressed with the focus, respect and resilience of our students as they undertook these courses, and everyone enjoyed the coffees that were being enthusiastically delivered around the school on barista training day. We were very excited to learn just this week that we have secured tickets for our entire VCE VM cohort to attend the F1 practice day in the city on the 13th of March. Students will be undertaking important activities on the day that will contribute to their upcoming assessment in numeracy.

Our VCE students are working hard and have been undergoing their first round of assessments in many of their classes, including completing evidence of learning tasks (EoLs). By completing their EoLs on time and to a satisfactory standard, students show their understanding of key knowledge and application of key skills. Satisfactory completion of EoLs is essential for students to be able to pass their units. All our policies and procedures to do with both VCE and VCE VM are available in our student handbooks, which are published on Teams for students and parents to see and were also emailed home to parents in Week 3 of this term.

It was a real positive to be able to recognise the connection and growth that Year 11 students have shown in their Year 11 studies in the first half of term one in our assembly during Week 5. Teachers struggled to limit nominations of students who deserve recognition as there are so many deserving candidates, which is a great position for us to be in!

Students have been enjoying having the Senior Centre to relax with friends and study in during recess and lunchtime. As members of the Senior School, they have access to the kitchen should they wish to heat up food. We’ve also installed a table tennis table, and this has proven popular to keep students active during break times, with some lively competition occurring.

Thank you again to all parents and carers for their support of their Year 11 children from home. We know that moving into the Senior School is a challenge for many, and the Year 11 team is here to support you and your child in this. We encourage you to check in with your child as often as you can and please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns.

Nicola Power

Year 11 Learning Community Leader

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