Senior School
Senior School Semester Highlights – A Strong Start to 2025
It’s been a big semester for our Year 11 and 12 students – filled with a wide range of experiences that have shaped a strong and purposeful start to their senior years. From camps and exams to VM work placements and community excursions, our students have embraced both challenge and opportunity. The GAT, Study Hall sessions, and broader engagement across their studies have helped establish a focused and determined tone for Senior School learning.
Year 11 & 12 Study Hall – Study Together, Succeed Together! Study Hall has been a standout addition this semester, running every Monday afternoon from 3:00–4:30. Each week, around 20–30 students have taken the opportunity to work in a supportive environment alongside the Senior School Team and volunteer teachers. The atmosphere has been positive and productive, with small groups of students collaborating to stay on top of their workload and achieve their academic goals. We look forward to even more students engaging in Study Hall in Term 3 and making the most of the opportunities available to them. Massive thank you to the staff who volunteer their time to support the students.
Year 11 Exams – Preparing for Success We congratulate our Year 11 students for their excellent approach to the recent exams. Many arrived on time, brought the correct equipment, and took the process seriously — demonstrating maturity and responsibility. These exams offered a valuable opportunity for students to identify effective study strategies and reflect on areas for improvement. This experience will help them build confidence and develop skills essential for the demands of Year 12. We encourage all students to use these insights to plan ahead and continue developing strong study habits for the road ahead.
The General Achievement Test (GAT)The Senior Sub School couldn’t be prouder of the attitude, organisation, and focus demonstrated by our 117 students who completed Unit 3 VCE and VM during the General Achievement Test (GAT) held in mid-June.From their punctual arrival to their calm, focused approach throughout the day, our students represented Diamond Valley College with maturity, resilience, and a strong sense of responsibility. Their conduct was a credit to themselves and the college.A sincere thank you to Bec, Jess, Sue, and Brenden for their outstanding organisation and support on such a significant day. Your preparation and calm presence ensured the day ran smoothly – your efforts are truly appreciated.
Vocational Major Program Updates
It’s all happening for our VCE Vocational Major students this term with the Push Up Challenge, Ellis Cottage and an excursion to Melbourne Polytechnic.
The Year 11.5 VM class appreciated the amazing support from the entire DVC community—students, staff, and wider supporters—for their role in raising awareness for mental health. We raised $1,003 and completed an incredible 49,801 push-ups, making a powerful impact in the push for better mental health and supporting Headspace Greensborough.
Throughout this semester, a group of Year 11 VM students have been regularly visiting Ellis Cottage in Wattle Glen to work alongside the Nillumbik Historical Society maintaining the gardens and surrounding area. The Historical Society are a group of volunteers who caretake the building while also collecting, archiving and displaying important artifacts from our local area. This year, students have helped to install a pump and pipe work from the tank to the gardens, construct 2 large outdoor seats, paint the front fence, landscape garden beds around the cottage and weed and prune existing gardens. By volunteering each week at Ellis Cottage, these students have developed and strengthened their skills in teamwork leadership and communication, as well as forming strong relationships with people who have lived in Nillumbik for many years. This relationship has enabled the members of the Historical Society to pass on some wonderful insights and knowledge of this area including indigenous history, mining and the discovery of gold, persons who have served our country in times of war and even the history of the train line and how this impacted the area. These visits have been a wonderful opportunity for students, and we thank Jean, David and Andrew for their ongoing support.
The Year 12 class attended a 2 day excursion to Melbourne Polytechnic to help them build a brand to align with their portfolio assessment they have been working on this year. This assessment is to showcase all the skills and knowledge they have gained over their journey through the VM program and to for them to take with them to show employers in their post schooling life. On Day 1 the Year 12’s engaged in exploring the world of artificial intelligence and how it can be used to enhance creativity and problem-solving in branding and portfolio building. In a practical workshop, they learned how to effectively use AI tools to generate ideas, refine content, and shape their personal brands, as well as gaining a deeper understanding of how to integrate AI into their workflows and how it can help them stand out in the competitive job market. On Day 2 students had the opportunity to apply their creative skills using graphic design software. They designed items such as logos, business cards, and portfolio layouts that aligned with their personal brand identity.
Year 12 Formal – A Night to RememberOn Thursday 20th June, our Year 12 students gathered at the Casa D’Abruzzo Club in Epping to celebrate their formal in style. The evening was filled with music, dancing, laughter, and plenty of photo moments as students came together to mark the completion of Unit 3 and look ahead to their final stretch of Year 12.A huge thank you to the Formal Committee for their efforts in planning such a memorable night, and to Year 12 Coordinator Jacqui Hickling for her guidance and support throughout the evening and the year so far.It was a fantastic event and a well-deserved celebration for our senior students!
Looking AheadOver the mid-year break, we encourage students to find a healthy balance between school responsibilities, part-time work, socialising, and general wellbeing. A proactive approach leads to improved outcomes, reduced stress, and a more positive Senior School experience.
As the holidays begin, we leave you with this reflection:“Next term, I will…”
Year 10 Media Arts
Our Year 10 Media Arts students recently visited the Banyule Nillumbik Tech School, where they took part in a dynamic workshop focused on digital animation. In this engaging, hands-on experience, students used industry-relevant tools and software to plan, design and animate original characters and storylines.
The program deepened their understanding of the animation process and media production, allowing them to apply creative thinking and storytelling skills in a practical setting.
Students were challenged to collaborate, problem-solve, and reflect on how visual storytelling can be used to convey meaning and emotion.
The session provided a valuable link between classroom learning and real-world media practice, sparking excitement for their future projects.
Year 12 VCE VM Work Related Skills:
Our VCE VM Year 12 students took part in a personal branding workshop at the Banyule Nillumbik Tech School, designed to help them build confidence and identify their professional identity.
Throughout the session, students developed digital portfolios, personal branding, and explored how their values, interests, and skills can be communicated to future employers and training providers. The experience provided an authentic opportunity for students to reflect on their goals, refine their self-presentation, and understand the role of branding in employment and entrepreneurship.
With industry-relevant insights and engaging tasks, the day offered an important step toward preparing students for the world beyond school.