Senior School News

Year 11 Psychology Trip to Melbourne Zoo - Student Report

On Friday our Year 11 Psychology classes went to Melbourne Zoo to help with our current studies in social cognition. We were able to roam round the Zoo for a bit, it was really fun to be able to be with our friends and see the animals. 

We got to attend a small program where the zoo wellbeing team taught us how they employ cognitive biases in order to educate people about their animals, and provided us with real life examples on how cognitive dissonance arises when behaviour is inconsistent with attitudes and cognitions. It was really interesting to unpack how zoos actually use secret tactics to make us feel and think a certain way, and we didn’t even realise! 

We were given purple ‘scented’ wristbands that were supposed to deter lemurs when we went into the enclosure.  We all put them on our right wrist as instructed, without question, even when we smelt them and could not pick up anything. At the end of the zoo tour, the tour guide debriefed and revealed that we were in an experiment and that we had been deceived, which is an ethical guideline, and explained how our classes conformed to an authoritative figure, in this case the tour guide. This experience highlighted how easily we are influenced by what’s around us, especially authoritative figures. Overall, it was a really great day, we had fun and got to see our psychology studies in the real world.

By Diala 11H & Victoria 11I

Chemistry Experiments

In Unit 4 Chemistry, students focus on the structure, naming, properties and reactions of organic compounds, including the chemical reactions associated with the metabolism of food. Students explore how synthetic organic compounds can be produced more sustainably for use in society.

In class over the past weeks, students have been conducting experiments to observe the properties and reactions of organic compounds, and in the preparation of esters and aspirin.

Sally Polidano

Leading Teacher Science/STEM

VCE Attendance Requirements

The attendance requirement for VCE is 90%. 

Attendance will be recorded by teachers in Compass. Subject teachers should report students who are at risk of missing more than 10% of their classes in a unit or for their overall attendance (a double period counts as two lessons) to the VCE Coordinators.

The following will be taken into consideration:

• Reason for absence eg. Medical (certificate must be supplied), school commitments such as sports involvement, absence without legitimate cause.
• The student’s ability to authenticate work as their own
• Number of classes missed
• The student’s commitment to complete outstanding work

The following sanctions will apply:

• ‘N’ result for the unit
• A student’s enrolment at the College may be reviewed
• Disciplinary action for absence without legitimate reason
• Counselling

All absences from assessment tasks/SAC must have a medical certificate. Other absences require a note of explanation or a medical certificate. Notes from parents must be supplied to the General Office.

Medical certificates must be handed in person to the General Office.

Policies and Procedures 2024 document attached below for your information

Kate Leaumont

Head of Senior School

 Student Lunches

Just a reminder to parents that we are unable to deliver lunches to students during school time.  It is the student’s responsibility to come and collect their lunch if it has been dropped off at Reception. Hot food is not suitable to be left at Reception.

PLEASE NOTE: Take-away food is not allowed at the College during school hours.  Under no circumstancesare students to be ordering take-away food to be delivered to the College.

Student Compass ID/Library/PTV  Cards

Please remind all students that they must carry their Student Compass ID/Library/PTV  Cards with them at all times.

ALL students must sign in and out with their card at The John Landy Centre (Senior School Building)when they are arriving late or leaving early for any reason. 

The cards are also used for any student photocopying that is done at school. The EDSC Student Compass ID/Library card can be used as ID for student PTV (Public Transport Victoria) travel. They are required to carry this card as student identification while travelling on public transport.

If a student loses their card, parents/guardians are able to re-order a replacement card via the Compass parent portal.