Assistant Principal Report Senior School/Operations

COMMUNITY

As we move past the winter solstice and into longer days, it’s the perfect time to reflect on Semester 1 and strengthen the habits that will set students up for success in Semester 2. For our Year 12 VCE and VM students, this marks the beginning of the final stage of your secondary school journey.

Success in past VCE cohorts has come from strong connections—with peers, teachers, support staff and families. Respectful relationships and shared goals created a supportive community, where students looked after each other and their environment. When we feel connected and supported, we’re more motivated to succeed—and to hold ourselves and others to high expectations.

CHALLENGE

The world beyond school may seem exciting, but the key is to leave prepared. Now is the time for our senior students to fill their toolbox with the skills, relationships, and confidence they will need to be ready for future opportunities. Parents and carers are encouraged to ask; Are your study skills working well?  Do you use your time productively? Are you pushing beyond your comfort zone? Are you collaborating with others to challenge your thinking?  The positive small changes you make to establish habits of learning will compound over the next semester to affect a significant improvement in your outcomes.

Parents and carers can support their senior students to establish small regular routines around study and revision.  Helping to test them using their flash cards; asking them to explain a new concept to you; asking ‘what are SACs are you studying for?’, rather than ‘do you have any homework?’. 

STRIVE

Our senior students have completed the end of semester exam period and GAT successfully, demonstrating the 6Ps by revising well and arriving prepared, being punctual to the exams, working respectfully throughout the exams to allow all students to concentrate, focussing and using their time to complete their best work, and attempting all questions, even if they were unsure.

As their exams are returned to them next week, our advice is time spent reflecting on their achievements will be beneficial to their future learning.  Students should take time to go through questions and determine where marks were earned, and errors were made.  Did they misinterpret the questions, were they misunderstanding a concept?  Identifying small errors and correcting them now, will ensure they are not repeated on Semester two assessment.

Over 350 senior students completed the General Achievement Test (GAT) on Tuesday 16 June. While it doesn't directly affect ATAR scores, the GAT supports the fairness of VCE assessments and provides literacy and numeracy benchmarks. Preparation sessions ensured students approached the test confidently and well-informed.

Work Experience is a core part of the VCE Vocational Major pathways and allows students the opportunity to apply their skills, either learnt at TAFE or in their school-based coursework, in a real-world setting.  Staff have been visiting the year 11 and 12 VCE VM students at their work placements and have returned with a strong sense of pride in how our students are representing themselves and our school 

ACHIEVE

This past term our students have been actively demonstrating a strong sense of community and achievement through the hugely successful Parky’s Big Give, VCE Music Performance, Instrumental Soirees, VCE Theatre Studies play, Tjindu academy AFL games, Senior Sports and VCE Study Slam sessions. The feedback we receive from members of the community regarding our students’ talents, behaviours, sportsmanship and social conscience is fantastic, and we are extremely proud of how our students represent themselves and the school.

UNIFORM

Our uniform makes a positive contribution to the culture of the College through establishing a sense of pride and identity.  It enables cohesion and enhances the profile of the College and its students within the broader community.  Uniforms indicate we are a team, and 

This is a reminder that our expectation is that ALL students are in FULL school uniform every day, including their final exams.

In exceptional circumstances parents must provide a note.  Students out of uniform without a note will serve a detention at lunchtime.

Parents Association will be running a second-hand uniform sale on Tuesday 29th July. All items are good quality and only $10 each.