Learning & Teaching

Term 1 Wrap-up

It's been a busy and productive term, setting the tone for the rest of the year.  

Term 1 highlights include starting the year with our well-attended and well-received Parent Presentations, an excellent Year 7 Family Night introducing our new families to important aspects of learning and teaching at Year 7, and our recent College Open Night; an event that I enjoy because of the great vibe and learning area displays. 

The Year 12 Parent Teacher Interviews were very well attended this year as were the Academic Review Conference, where we introduced a couple of new initiatives: our Club 35+ program for aspirational VCE students and Learning Redemption Days which will continue throughout the year. 

Of course, NAPLAN, Year 7 Camp, Year 8 Challenge week and Production Camp have also been big highlights for our students.

Key Term 2 Learning & Teaching Events

Year Level Assemblies 

Weeks 1 & 2

Assemblies will be held at the start of term to launch our revised Instructional Model and reinforce high expectations of student engagement and participation in and out of classes. 

VM Honour Roll Assembly 

Tuesday 21st April 

All VM students will participate in this inaugural new event to celebrate achievements and experiences from past VM students and recognise excellence in current VM students. Special guest, Jackson Taylor MP (Local member for Bayswater) will address the students. 

Year 9 Morrisby Testing & Mock Interviews

Week 2

All the details about these important career and pathways activities are outlined in the Career & Pathways page of this newsletter.

College Professional Learning Day

Thursday 30th April 

Formally known as Curriculum Day, there will be no formal classes on this day but there will be some Club 35+ Workshops and it will be a Learning Redemption Day for Year 9-12.

City Experience and Work Experience

Week 6

Year 9 studients participate in the annual City Experience. They will make their own way to the city each day to explore and learn about the city. Meanwhile, Year 10 students will show up to work for five days of Work Experience.

Key social events in Term 2 include the year 12 Formal and the Year 11 Northern Territory Tour .

General Achievement Test (GAT)

Tue 16th June

VCE students will sit the GAT if they are completing a Unit 3 and 4 subject.

VCE Year 12 Knox Network Revision Program – Big News

This program provides our Year 12 VCE students outstanding opportunities to prepare for the VCAA exams and is funded by the Knox Secondary Schools Network.  Program highlights include:

English Master Class Series - Kicks off in week 2, Term 2, with the first of the English Master classes for a few of our most talented English students and English teachers. This program is developed and delivered by Helen Billing, Chief English Examiner. 

Term 2 Unit 3 Practice Exam Program (new this year) - Students completing Year 12 Biology, General Maths and Psychology, will undertake Unit 3 practice exams at the College in the second week of the Term 2 holiday break. These exams will be externally marked and returned to students with feedback and support from classroom teachers to address issues that arise.  More details to come.

Term 3 Holiday Revision Lecture Series- run in the first week of the Term 3 school holidays, similar to previous years which is followed up with a series of practice exams the College runs in the second week of the break.

Maestro Assessment Platform and Data Dashboards

Maestro is a specially designed developmental assessment and learning platform that allows parents and students to view learning progress within the unit of learning in all subjects, based on their progress on the developmental rubric. All Rubrics for every subject from Year 7 -12 are found in Maestro. 

Subject Dashboards - Students and Parents will find useful information in the Subject Dashboards too which display learning growth over the years in the skills continuum for each learning area. The 'By Unit of Learning' displays show students current Victorian curriculum level for each unit of learning. These level reflects units of learning that are in progress and those that have been finalised. 

It’s always recommended for parents sit with their child to discuss their progress in the rubrics and share their current evidence of learning. Reach out to teachers if you have concerns or questions about the rubrics. units of learning.

Maestro Student Dashboards are also available for parents and students to view, and these dashboards contain details about green, grey and amber posts relating to learning and engagement. Academic achievement data and I have attached a PDF to help interpret the information in these dashboards. 

For any technical issues or support with Maestro access and use, please email maestro@wantirnacollege.vic.edu.au

Today, the Easter Bunny visited students and staff around the College, and on that note, I'd like to wish our community a restful school break. See you in Term 2.

Natalie Manser 

Assistant Principal

mar@wantirnacollege.vic.gov.au