9-12 Community News

Students in the 9-12 Community have moved smoothly into Term 2 and have continued to embrace all that the school can offer. 

Careers 

Opportunities to explore careers and vocational pathways are a significant focus of the Term 2 programs for all students in the 9-12 Community. The students of 10A had the opportunity to complete their Work Experience program at the end of Term 1 and all of the students in the 9-12 Community will have the chance to continue to explore their career pathways in the coming weeks. 

A number of Year 10 and 11 students furthered their career prospects by gaining their ‘White cards’ through the Construction Induction course run by the Master Builders Association. The way in which the group conducted themselves in undertaking the course was praised by the instructors and all of the students involved should be proud of their efforts in gaining an important qualification. (A report on the program can be read below.)    

This week, the Year 12s attended the Victorian Careers Expo. This was a valuable opportunity for the students to explore many different career and study pathways as they look to life beyond school. On May 7th, the Year 9 cohort will travel to Shepparton for the Careers Day Out. Year 11s will venture to Melbourne on May 15 for the Victorian Careers Expo and Year 10s will head to Bendigo for the Tomorrow Bound event on May 21st. Later in the term, the Year 10 cohort will also be heading to Melbourne for their Careers/Urban Experience camp, where they will visit a number of tertiary institutions (universities and TAFEs) and familiarise themselves with the Melbourne CBD and the joys and excitement of PVT.  

All of these events link perfectly with the Senior Secondary Pathways and Subject Selection Information Session which will be held in the Brigidine Centre on Wednesday, 3rd June. 

All Years 8, 9 and 10 students and families/caregivers are invited to attend this session, where the various Senior School pathways - VCE, VCEVM, VET and subjects - 9/10 Electives and VCE subjects, and the subject selection process will be outlined. Students and parents/caregivers will have the opportunity to meet and speak with our Learning Leaders and VCE teachers across all subject areas and VET providers from across the district. 

Last year’s event was  a great success, with over 200 9-12 Community members in attendance. We encourage all students and families to attend this event to take advantage of the opportunity to discuss pathways and subjects as they enter the 2027 subject selection phase.  

Extra-Curricular Activities 

A number of extra-curricular activities will be happening in the next few weeks. Following on from the cross country, inter-school football, netball and soccer teams will be taking to the field and the VCE Outdoor and Environmental Studies class will be paddling the local rivers in their canoeing camp.  

Year 9 Camp 

Another camp that is approaching is the Year 9 camp, to Camp Jungai, in the Rubicon Valley. The camp will be held in Week 6 of term, Monday 25th through to Wednesday 27th May.  

9-12 Community Leaders and Year 9 TAs will meet with students today to give students some preliminary information and to talk to them about organising rooms. Permission letters and details of the camp will be shared with families in the coming weeks. The camp is a compulsory part of the Year 9 curriculum at the College. If for some reason your child is unable to attend, we ask parent/caregivers to please write a letter outlining the reasons for non-attendance and send that through to the College, as this helps with planning and staffing of the camp. 

Uniform reminders 

All students should be attending school in full academic uniform including lace up leather school shoes each day, unless they have physical education classes. As the weather gets cooler, visible t-shirts are not permitted to be worn under academic or PE polo tops. Students should purchase either V-neck t-shirts or singlets if they wish to wear an under shirt. Students will be asked to go and change and remove any visible non-school t-shirts. 

General Achievement Test (GAT) 

All students undertaking a Unit 3/4 VCE subject will be required to complete the GAT on Tuesday 16th June. We ask all those students and their parents/caregivers to read the details of the GAT provided below.  

Subject Teacher Conversations 

On Tuesday 12th May, we have Subject Teacher Conversations. These  provide an opportunity for students, families and teachers to meet to discuss the academic progress of students. We encourage  all  families  to take up this opportunity to engage in these important conversations with TAs and subject teachers as we work together to support the students in the 9-12 Community.  

Upcoming General Achievement Test (GAT) – Tuesday 16 June 

All students enrolled in a VCE or VCEVM Unit 3 and/or Unit 4 subject are required to sit the General Achievement Test (GAT) on Tuesday 16th June. 

The GAT is an important part of the VCE assessment process. While it does not directly contribute to a student’s study score, it plays a key role in: 

• Checking that school-based and external assessments are accurate and fair 

• Calculating Derived Examination Scores if a student is unable to complete an exam due to illness or other approved circumstances 

• Assisting in the statistical moderation of school-assessed coursework 

On the day: 

• Students must arrive at school by 8.30am in casual clothes 
• The GAT will run for most of the day, with scheduled breaks 
• Students should bring pens, pencils, erasers and a clear water bottle 
• An English and/or bilingual printed dictionary 
• One scientific calculator 

Attendance is compulsory

 If your child is unwell or unable to attend, please notify the school as soon as possible and provide appropriate medical documentation. 

We encourage students to approach the GAT seriously and to do their best, as it can be used to support their final results if needed. 

If you have any questions, please contact Mr Downie or Mrs Darling. 

Further information will be provided to students and families in upcoming weeks.   

Building Foundations for the Future: White Card Training at the Trade Training Centre

Students in Years 10 and 11 have recently taken an important step toward future careers in the construction industry by completing the Construction Induction Training - commonly known as the White Card - at our Trade Training Centre.

This nationally recognised course is a mandatory requirement for anyone wishing to work on a construction site in Australia. It provides students with essential knowledge of workplace health and safety (OHS and WHS) practices, helping to ensure they can enter real job sites with confidence and awareness.

Throughout the program, students explored key topics such as identifying and managing common construction hazards, understanding risk assessment processes and applying safe work practices. They also learned about their rights and responsibilities under OHS and WHS legislation, as well as how to respond appropriately in emergency situations. The training combines theory with practical, scenario-based learning, giving students a clear understanding of what to expect in real-world environments.

Earning a White Card offers significant advantages for our students. Not only does it open the door to part-time job or apprenticeship opportunities in the construction and trades sectors, but it also gives them a valuable head start in a highly employable industry. Employers recognise the White Card as evidence that a young worker is prepared, safety-conscious and ready to contribute positively on-site.

Beyond immediate employment benefits, the course also builds transferable skills such as risk awareness, responsibility and communication - qualities that are valuable in any career pathway.

We extend our sincere thanks to the trainers from the Master Builders Association for delivering this engaging and informative program. Their expertise and commitment have provided our students with a strong foundation for future success.

Well done to all students involved for embracing this opportunity and taking an important step toward their future careers.

Years 9/10 Lifestyle Health

Years 9/10 Lifestyle Health elective students recently enjoyed a morning learning the game of Raffa Bocce with Joe and Mary. 

Thank you for having us.

VCE VM 3-6 Cross Country Leadership Day 

On Friday 24th April, the Year 11 VCE VM class spent the morning supporting the St Augustine's Years 3-6 Cross Country. In the week prior, students took on leadership and organisational roles, including organising staff information, equipment collection and more. On the morning, we headed over after TA and did a track walk with Peter and Mr Coombs, setting up the various stations and cones. Once the Years 3-6 students and staff arrived, it was all systems go. The students were allocated to various stations across the track, wearing their high vis and ensuring the students made it through the cross country with ease.  

After a morning of encouraging, directing and guiding, the VM students enjoyed a hot chip lunch, courtesy of Mr Coombs, as a thank you for all their hard work. With a quick game of closest to the pin, James took out the coveted canteen voucher. Students then either ran in the Years 7-12 Cross Country or opted to go back to their stations and continue their leadership roles. 

The day was a huge success and allowed the students to continue building their skills in leadership, communication, event organisation and teamwork.  

Bianca Moore 

VCE VM + PPC Learning Leader