Senior School

Going Solo

Article by Myles Collins, Teacher of Drama

This week our Year 12 Unit 4 VCE Drama students successfully completed their VCAA Solo Performance Examinations with professionalism and panache. An exam that requires each student to choose a character from a selection of ten prescribed structures and devise a seven-minute solo performance based on related stimulus material. Students are also required to further research their chosen characters to describe, explain and justify the interpretative dramatic decisions they will be demonstrating in their solo performance.

Our students this year chose such character prescribed structures as: Marie Antoinette, The Advertising Executive, Frederick Frederici and The Disney Villain amongst others.

After editing and refining their final scripts and performances at school during the term break to polish their solo performances, our students were confident, proud and ready to venture to Darebin Arts Centre in Preston to perform their solos to a panel of VCAA Extenal Assesors with poise and finesse. This was after many weeks of building and creating sustainable prop pieces and costumes, turning lounge rooms at home into rehearsal spaces and using various VCE Drama playmaking techniques like brainstorming, improvising and specific theatre style conventions.

Despite this solo process being a significant assessment, our students looked at this exam as a celebration of their two-year dramatic journey in VCE Drama. 

Some students also used this exam as an opportunity to strengthen their acting skills and as a potential stepping stone to a career in the Performing Arts, as many of them now prepare for auditions and courses at VCA (The Victorian College of the Arts), NIDA (The National Institute of Dramatic Arts), WAPPA (Western Australian Performing Arts Academy) and Federation University. Whatever their results - they continue to strengthen a Dramatic tradition and Legacy that future VCE Drama students at Overnewton will aspire to in years ahead.

Important Senior School Reminders

Article by Lisa Haranas, Head of Learning Senior School 

A reminder that the Year 10 and 11 Semester Two Examinations are taking place from Monday 17 November – Friday 28 November. 

The examination timetable and supporting information was sent to families on last week. 

A reminder of key information:  

Uniform  

Students are to wear their full summer uniform for all examinations and adhere to the College’s uniform policy. Students must adhere to all sections of the Uniform Policy and if expectations cannot be met, they will not be permitted to sit their examinations and these will be rescheduled.  

Student Check In 

Students are to check in for the examination in the Atrium 30 minutes before the examination commencement time. At check in they are required to present photo identification and any special required materials (e.g. dictionary, mathematics bound reference book) 

Absence 

Any absences must be recorded as an attendance note on Compass and a medical certificate supplied. Medical certificates should be provided within 48 hours.  

Students are required to complete an Examination Reschedule Form to reschedule the examination. Absences that are not approved will result in a score of 0 being assigned. 

Results 

Examination results will be returned to the students during the Jumpstart program in December. As a part of improved feedback processes students will receive their examination score and either a marking guide or examination report. Results will be made available via Compass and the student’s End of Semester Report.  

Each fortnight, the College Careers Team publishes a newsletter providing students and parents with the most up-to-date career information, events and opportunities.  

Please access via the following link.