9-12 Community News

Units 3/4 exams 

Exams started last week and so far the reports from the students are that (most) have been tough, but fair, exams. We continue to wish our students good luck as they complete these exams over the next few weeks. Results will be released to students on 11th December.  Please see the Career News section of this newsletter for information on how to register for results.

Accessing Study Designs for Early Commencement

Parents and students at our school who are participating in the Early Commencement Program are encouraged to access the VCAA’s official study-design documents. These provide detailed information about each VCE subject, including structure, outcomes and assessment requirements.

How to find the study designs

1. Visit the VCAA website: VCAA Study Designs page 

2. On that page you will see a list of subject-areas (for example Science, Mathematics, Languages, Arts, Design & Technologies) and links to individual subject study designs.

3. Click on the subject of interest to download the PDF of the study design. If you are using a mobile device, VCAA recommends choosing “Download” rather than “View” to ensure the document displays correctly. 

4. Once downloaded, you can review the document to see the key knowledge and skills, areas of study, outcomes and assessment details. This helps students understand what is expected and plan their learning accordingly.

    

Why it matters

By reviewing the study design early, students in the Early Commencement Program can:

• Understand the full scope of the subject before beginning it.

• Align their study and revision efforts with the officially-specified outcomes.

• Have informed discussions with parents, teachers and our school about course planning, assessment strategies and timeline of work.

• Develop a proactive approach to their VCE subject, helping them manage time, resources and expectations.

Tips for parents

• Browse the relevant study design together with your child so you both have a clear picture of what the subject requires.

• Use the document to ask informed questions: for example, “What are the assessment tasks?”, “What knowledge and skills will my child need to develop?”

• Encourage your child to refer back to the study design when planning their study timetable and preparing for outcomes and SACs (School Assessed Coursework).

• Keep a copy of the document (print or digital) somewhere easily accessible, so your child can revisit it as the year progresses

Years 10 and 11 Exams 

Early Commencement Program (ECP) - Week 8 

Our ECP for 2026 VCE students will begin in Week 8. It is expected that all students attend as the content worked on in these weeks is part of the students' Unit 1 and 3 programs that will form part of next year's assessment. If students miss content, they may feel they have fallen too far back and are not able to catch up. Catholic Education Sandhurst are pushing for 90% attendance for all students and that is what we expect from our VCE and VCEVM students. Students are unable to learn the content to the same degree from home, as in a classroom setting.  

Year 10 subject selection 

Mrs Downie, Mrs McIntyre, Mr Downie and Mrs Anderson have now had the pleasure of working with all Year 10 students. As part of this process, we have talked about pathways, work experience and special provisions. Students have taken a copy home for a parent's conversation and signature. Please ensure they are returned to Mrs McIntyre ASAP. These subjects are what you will need to complete your booklist. 

Booklist 

Years 10-12 booklist and the Year 9 booklist have been sent via Operoo to parents. We ask that families stick to the timelines of this so that books are available close to the start of our ECP in Week 8. Students have also been shared into a second hand booklist. Purchasing second hand can really help keep the costs down. This is something that the students facilitate and the College cannot assist with.  

Instructions for Campion Booklist 

You can order all of your resource list requirements online in seven simple steps. 

1. Go to https://www.campion.com.au/ and click the red ‘Parents Order Here’ button or click on the link which can be found on the Homepage of the College website. 

2. Create a Campion Education account in less than one minute or sign in using your existing username and password. 

3.  Enter your school’s Resource List code. The code for St Augustine’s College Years 10-12 2026 booklist is: 3WM9 

4.  Select the appropriate year level resource list. 

5.  Select the resources you need and complete your details. 

6.  Select your delivery method as one of the following: 

• Economy Delivery – order by the return date on your resource list for delivery to your chosen address, within your school’s nominated delivery window. 

• Standard Delivery – delivered to your chosen address within 5-7 business days of the order being placed. 

7.  Submit your payment. 

UNIT 2 OUTDOOR EDUCATION STUDIES (OES) GRAMPIANS TRIP  

Last week, our Unit 2 OES students set off on an unforgettable overnight hike through Gariwerd (Grampians) National Park, exploring sections of the spectacular Grampians Peaks Trail. Carrying full packs and camping overnight on platforms, students demonstrated resilience and determination as they faced the challenges of multi-day hiking in this stunning natural landscape. 

Highlights included scrambling up granite rocks to reach the peaks of Mount Rosea and the iconic Pinnacle lookout, where the sweeping views made every climb worth it.  

Congratulations to all students for their teamwork, perseverance and enthusiasm on this inspiring Gariwerd adventure!