Wantirna College Newsletter

Senior School

Important Academic Dates

Tue 22 August

Subject Selection Preferences due

 

Mon 31 August 

CHES Applications close

 

Thu 28 September

VTAC Registrations close, Yr 12

 

Preparing for Unit 3 & 4 Examinations

Unit 3 & 4 VCE Subject Practice Exam Booklets

At the end of Term 3, all Unit 3 and 4 scored VCE students will receive a practice exam booklet for each of their subjects that are bound together for easy use, comprising of between 4-6 practice exams, all of which come with solutions. This booklet is an invaluable resource and vital for students in preparing for their end of year exams. The completion of practice exams is an important and highly effective revision strategy in preparing students for examinations (which are generally worth 50-60% of their overall score).

 

It is expected all Unit 3 and 4 students complete 4-6 exams prior to each of their end of year examinations. This is the minimum expectation; however, we would expect most students are completing up to 10 or more exams. This resource will be used during structured exam revision classes for the first three weeks in Term 4 and at home when undertaking self-directed revision and study.

 

Solutions for these practice exams will be accessible on Microsoft Teams in the Year 12 Cohort Team for students to access.

 

Week 1 of Holidays - Knox Schools Exam Revision Sessions (18 – 20 Sept)

Knox Government Secondary Schools are proud to work in partnership to provide an exceptional Year 12 (plus early start VCE students) End of Year Exam Revision Program for students undertaking VCE Units 3 and 4, at no cost. This program will be conducted face to face between Monday 18 September and Wednesday 20 September, during the first week of the term break.

 

Sessions will be held at The Australian Indian Community Centre, 16/18 Kingsley Cl, Rowville VIC 3178. Students will receive physical resources on the day of their session.

 

Further information will be distributed via Teams and Compass very soon, including the final schedule and sign-up process. Stay tuned for more information!

 

Week 2 of Holidays - Formal Practice Exams

When: Mon 25 to Thu 28 Sept 

(Week 2 of holidays)

Where: Senior Centre including F1, F2, F3 and F4, if required.

What: Confirmed Practice Exam Timetable will be available soon, along with details on how to sign up and provide consent for your attendance.

Why? 

  • To provide an opportunity for students to demonstrate knowledge and skills through retrieval practice to determine what they know and don’t know. This specific feedback will help guide revision and study in the lead up to exams. It will reinforce learning and fill knowledge gaps.
  • To replicate the format and experience for sitting exams in a timed and formal setting.
  • Provide more time for teachers to spend on quality instruction and feedback, rather than sitting exams during class time.
  • Knowing what to expect on an exam and being well prepared will boost confidence and help alleviate negative thoughts and feelings.
  • Retrieval practice (completing practice exams) is one of the most effective study techniques based on educational research.

Expectations:

· Unit 3 and 4 students, including Early Start VCE students will sit practice exams in a formal and timed setting over two sessions on Mon 25, Tue 26 and Wed 27 of September.

 

· Students must obtain consent and complete the sign-up form to indicate their registration for the allocated practice exam session.

 

· Students are expected to formally sit and attend each of their subjects practice exam over the four days.

 

· Students have the option to complete exams in other sessions outside what is outlined on the practice exam timetable. For example, if students know Physical Education and HHD are scheduled at the same time in session 1, students are welcome to do one of these exams in another session on the same or different day. This must be arranged with Senior School prior to the holidays.

 

· All practice exams will be timed in the same timeframe as external examinations.

 

· Students must arrive 20mins before each exam session time.

 

· Students are required to bring all appropriate materials e.g., writing implements, calculator etc to each exam, as specified by VCAA (https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/assessment/vce-assessment/pastexaminations/Pages/ExaminationMaterialsIndex.aspx).

 

· All students are required to follow exam rules, protocols and processes, as per the VCAA requirements.

 

· Teachers will provide feedback for each completed exam and/or unpack this exam with students in class during Term 4 scheduled classes. This will be the focus of term 4 classes and therefore it is crucial that students attend practice exams in week 2 of the holidays.

 

· Additional practice exams can be requested directly from teachers.

Subject Selection Process:

With all of our Subject Selection Days now complete, parents/guardians should have received an email to confirm their child's preferences for 2024.  The email will come from the following email address: noreply@selectmysubjects.com.au. In some cases this email has gone to the junk mail folder.

 

If you have received this email please ensure you view the subjects and sign off to verify them.  This needs to be completed by Tue 22 August as this is when Web Preferences close.

Students can also access their preferences by opening the link provided in the email sent from the address above. Again, please note that Web Preferences closes on Tue 22 August.

Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC) Project

This week saw the VPC students finish their Prize Wheel Project. The students designed and created Prize Wheels for each Year Level Team in the Senior School. Students improved on their problem solving skills and collaborated throughout the project on how to create their prize wheels. A particular shout out goes to Lily Thomson on her leadership development throughout the completion of this project. 

The Final Stretch!

Our Year 12 students are well on their way to finishing their high school journey, with only 5 weeks left of Unit 4. As we navigate this pointy end of the year, it’s important that our Year 12s are also finding time to have fun, socialise and celebrate their final weeks at Wantirna College. Recently, they have had the opportunity to dress up and let their hair down during our Athletics Carnival and SRC Free Dress Day.

 

The Year 12s put on a show at Athletics Carnival! It was great to see them coordinating their costumes with their mates, and getting involved in a number of Track & Field Events; Most notably the High Jump, 100m Sprint and Tug of War. An honourable mention goes out to Bilzat Bahtiyar and Daniel Dadrasan for almost beating Mr Pollock and Miss M at Tug of War. (More photos, page 11)

 

The Year 12s also turned up in full force on SRC Free Dress Day with the theme Barbie Vs Oppenheimer. It was great to see the cohort spending time together at recess and lunch, comparing outfits and debating over which team won (clearly Barbie).

Senior Ball - Thu 24 August

The big event of the Year 10 Calendar is also fast approaching. The Senior Ball is shaping up to be an amazing event. Make sure that you get a ticket and get your outfit sorted. It will be a fantastic opportunity to get to know your peers and you will definitely leave with lifelong memories.

 

David Black, Tim Pearson 

& Darren Hoogkamer

Senior School Leaders