Principal's Report
Vermont Secondary College
CONCLUSION OF TERM THREE
Vermont Secondary College is an extremely large organisation and without the collaboration and support of so many people we would not be able to offer such a wide and diverse range of curricular and co-curricular programs for your children. We would also not to be able to offer the support and care that we do as a true community school.
So, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has contributed to the positivity of our school community weekly. Though I cannot thank each of you individually, I wish to assure you that your efforts do not go unnoticed, so thank you.
In an exciting outcome that has happened relatively quickly VSC is being supplied with 12 brand new classrooms as well as a student toilet block courtesy of the Education Department (DE) and Eastern Region. Funds have also been provided to fit the rooms out with the appropriate furniture.
The classrooms are known as 10MODs general purpose classrooms and are double story. Each block consists of 4 classrooms, 2 at ground level and 2 above, as well as office space at both levels between the rooms. These rooms are pre-built and will be delivered once the infrastructure on site has been completed i.e. services and foundations. Work has begun on the first of the 3 blocks/10MODs at the front of the Year 7 centre behind the bus shelter. Delivery of the first 10MOD will occur over the coming week.
The rooms are to cater for our expected numbers next year, some 1700, currently 1650 approximately, and they are also catering for predicted future growth. Four classrooms will be taken away to accommodate the new buildings, so the net gain will be 8 classrooms. We look forward to the finished product.
Enjoy the break!
YEAR 10 CENTRAL TRIP
The Year 10 Central Australia trip is up and running again this year and a huge thank you to Laura Gerbing for all the time she has put into its organisation. The 7 staff and some 66 students depart VSC Friday 12th of September and return on Wednesday the 24th of September. We wish them all the best in their travels.
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (D.E.) ANNUAL PARENT OPINION SURVEY 2025
Thank you again to the parents, caregivers and guardians that have so far completed the annual survey, greatly appreciated.
As at Wednesday 10 September 2025:
| Number of families invited | Number of survey responses (count) | Response rate (%) |
|---|---|---|
1322 | 171 | 13% |
NOTE: The Parent / Caregiver / Guardian Opinion Survey will be open online from Tuesday 19 August to Friday 19 September 2025.
Our school is conducting this survey offered by the Department of Education (DE) and is seeking your feedback. The survey is designed to assist schools in gaining an understanding of families’ perceptions of school climate, student behaviour, and student engagement. The survey is optional, but we encourage and appreciate your participation. We will continue to send out a reminder over the coming weeks, apologies if you have already completed the survey.
Our school will use the survey results to assist in identifying areas for improvement and professional development needs in the school, to target school planning and improvement strategies. All families are invited to participate in the survey, and a link will be forwarded to all families.
The survey will be conducted online, only takes 20 minutes to complete, and can be accessed at any convenient time on desktop computers, laptops, tablets or smartphones.
The online survey will be available in English and 10 other languages including Arabic, Greek, Hakha Chin, Hindi, Japanese, Punjabi, Simplified Chinese, Somali, Turkish, and Vietnamese. Resources are also available in additional languages to assist parents / caregivers / guardians who speak a language other than English at home.
Please reach out to the school directly for survey guides in your language. Once completed and compiled by the DE the survey results will be communicated to College Council and parents / caregivers / guardians via the Annual Report available on the College website (under ‘About our College’ – School Accountability & Improvement Framework).
Last year we used the survey results to plan and write our new Strategic Plan 2024 – 2028 also available on the College website.
Thank you in anticipation.
YEAR 12 VCE EXAM PREPARATION
The time is rapidly approaching when our Year 12 students face their final exams. For a full copy of the 2025 VCE Examination Timetable go to the VCAA (Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority) website –
https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/administration/Key-dates/Pages/VCE-exam-timetable.aspx
The last day for Year 12 is Friday 17th October leading into the exams.
It is crucial that our Year 12 students use this term break as a ‘study break’ and not as a ‘holiday’. It is a fantastic opportunity to balance study and exam preparation while recharging the batteries for the crucial exam period. The holiday period needs to be used to finish off any work owing but more importantly - it is a time to start revision. Below I have listed some very useful VCE resources.
With Year 12 exams fast approaching it is crucial that students take advantage of the VCE guides produced by a range of organisations.
All VCAA 2025 Study Designs can be found at:
https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/curriculum/vce/vce-study-designs/Pages/vce-study-designs.aspx?Redirect=1
These guides give useful and timely information on VCE exam preparation, and all Year 12 students need to be reading them now!
Dr Michael Carr Gregg, well known expert in adolescent mental health has a range of information on his website around VCE study habits.
Here are his Eleven Top hints for Effective Study
Establish a routine - set aside a particular time each day for study and revision and stick to it.
Create a study environment.
Set a timetable - with a timetable you can plan to cover all your subjects in an organised way allotting the appropriate time for each without becoming overwhelmed.
Look after yourself - Drink and eat right. Get enough sleep each night – Regular physical exercise makes you feel great, boosts your energy and helps you relax. So try to keep up regular sporting activities or at least fit in some regular exercise. Reward yourself for studying. Watch your favourite television program, spend time with your friends, walk to the park, play sport.
Have variety in your study program - study different subjects each day.
Do different types of work and revision in each study session.
Avoid interrupting your concentration. Have all the appropriate materials with you before you start a session of study to minimise distractions.
Test yourself on what you have studied - ask your parents or family members to quiz you on what you have learnt.
Use draft questions from books, past assessments or major exam papers.
Don't panic at exam time.
Ask your teachers for guidance.
Another useful article written by Dr Michael Carr Gregg called ‘9 ways to manage Year 12 stress’ can be found at:
I wish the Year 12 class of 2025 all the best over the next two months.
THIRD ASSESSMENT & REPORTING CYCLE
Monday 15th September - Cycle 3 Reports released to families and Student Progress Conferences (SPC) Bookings for Years 7 – 12 also open on this day. Both are accessible via the COMPASS Parent Portal on the college website - https://www.vermontsc.vic.edu.au/
Thursday 18th September - Student Progress Conferences Cycle 3 – Students do not attend formal classes on this day but are required to attend the online Conference with their parents/guardians.
Session 1: 12.00 - 2.00
Session 2: 2.30 – 4.30
Session 3: 5.30 – 7.00
2:30PM FINISH – FRIDAY 19th SEPTEMBER
A reminder to the school community that on the last day of Term Three, Friday 19th September, we have a 2:30pm finish.
School resumes for Term Four on Monday 6th October with the term concluding on Friday 19th December.
YEAR 12 SEPTEMBER PRACTICE EXAMS
All students completing a Unit 3 / 4 subject will be required to complete practice exams at school in the first week of the Term 3 holidays (Monday 22nd - Friday 26th of September). A comprehensive exam schedule has been provided to students in Term 3. These exams give students valuable experience testing their key knowledge and skills under timed exam conditions and the opportunity to receive valuable feedback from their teachers.