VCE
It has been an extremely busy time for our VCE students in both Year 11 and 12, with exams, assessments and the GAT all happening over the last week or so! In what is an extremely long term, students are currently dealing with stress, illness and deadlines and everyone is definitely on the countdown to the holidays!
▪️GAT – General Achievement Test
On Tuesday 17th June, 36 Year 12 students and 11 Year 11 students sat the GAT (General Achievement Test), a state - wide test which all students enrolled in any Unit 3 and 4 subject in Victoria must complete. The GAT covers areas such as Numeracy and Literacy, Science, Humanities and General Knowledge. Our students were excellent and managed the expectations of a serious exam really well. It is especially great practice for anyone who will be sitting the end of year exams, as students were expected to follow the VCAA guidelines for exam practices, including what materials they were allowed to bring in, time constraints on top of the actual the completion of the papers.
▪️Retreat Day 2 Wednesday 18th June
Following the GAT, Year 12 students had the opportunity to participate in a second (follow up) Retreat Day on Wednesday 18th June with guest presenter Ang Virgona, who also joined us in Yea at the beginning of the year. Students were invited to reflect on their year so far and the focus of self-care and finishing the year well was a prominent part of the morning program. Following Ang’s departure and a lunch of fish and chips, the students then came together to reflect on their school years and experiences, looking at the highlights of their time at St Mary’s and sharing positive observations of their peers in different ways. A highlight of the day was giving the students their parent letters, which the students received after writing their affirmations for each person in the year level. Overall, it was a really lovely experience and a privilege to share this special day with them.
Reminders!!
▪️Unit 3&4 Practice Exams – September Holidays
Students who are completing any Unit 3&4 VCE subjects will be expected to attend the practice examinations, which will be held at the school in the first week of the September holidays. This will also involve the Year 11 students who are enrolled in Unit 3&4 General Maths. Families are asked to please avoid planning any holidays away in that first week (Monday 22nd – Friday 26th September).
A timetable will be released at a later date, but please note the first exam will be English on Friday 19th September (final day of school). As it is a 3 hour 15 minute exam, there will be no other scheduled Yr 12 VCE classes on this day and students may leave following the completion of this exam.
▪️End of Year 12 activities - Save the Dates!
As we draw closer to the end of our first year with Year 12’s, please note some of the following dates for your family calendar! More information about all of these events will be sent to families in the coming months.
Monday 20th October – Final official day of classes. Year 12 Family - Mass and Graduation Presentation evening followed by light supper.
Tuesday 21st October – Final morning with Year 12 students. Breakfast as a cohort (parents welcome) Dress up and Parade, farewell.
Wednesday 23rd October SWOTVAC – Week of study in preparation for the exams.
Exams begin: Tuesday 28th October to begin the exam period.
Final exam for our students will be Monday 17th November (Product Design and Technology students)
Thursday 20th November – Formal Graduation Dinner at Flowerdale Estate. Ticket sales will commence in Term Three via Try Booking. Parents and students only as tickets are limited.
▪️Parents - Just a reminder that Yr 11 or 12 students who miss any assessments (OATs or SACs) due to illness must provide a Medical Certificate or Statutory Declaration to ensure they are able to complete this at a later date.
▪️Also, any student who is currently driving themselves to and from school is expected to please complete and return a Driving Contract. There are currently a few of these that need to be returned to the office. Contracts can be collected from the VCE Coordinator’s office.
Simone McLaughlin
VCE Coordinator
simone.mclaughlin@smseymour.cathollic.edu.au