Principal
The senior school is coming to the end of Unit 1 and 3 assessments, which means that over the next two weeks leading up to the 7th of June students should have finished their school-based assessment for these Units. This means the next two weeks can be extremely demanding on most students and all VCE students need to make sure they are applying themselves to all aspects of their schooling to ensure they get through this difficult period. Year 11 students will commence exams on Wednesday the 5th of June and finish on Thursday the 13th of June. All Year 11 students are involved in these exams which help to assess their ability across the Unit 1 information, provide practice to cope with exams during year 12 and also help the school to determine their ability to excel in their chosen subjects. The normal program during this week will not run for Year 11 students and they are only required here at school when they have a scheduled exam, except for students completing a Unit 3 subject. These students will still attend their timetabled Unit 3 classes when available to do so. Please refer to the exam schedule that has been supplied to all Year 11 students and has been placed on the school website for scheduling information.
All students who are completing a Unit 3 / 4 subject will also complete the GAT (General Achievement Test) on Tuesday the 18th of June. The GAT is a test of general knowledge and skills in literacy, numeracy, written communication, mathematics, science and technology, humanities, the arts and social sciences. While the GAT results do not count directly towards a student’s VCE / VCE VM results, they play an important role in checking that school assessments and examinations have been accurately assessed and students are encouraged to complete this test to the best of their ability to assist in that process. The senior school team has run an information session for all Year 11 and 12 students to help them perform at their best for this test.
We wish our senior students the very best with their program over this challenging period.
Sorry Day Acknowledgement
The school acknowledged Sorry Day on Friday the 24th of May with all students participating in an educational session explaining some of the reasons why Australia has established this day. Students then placed their handprint on the Sorry Day flags that were created on the day as sign of their understanding around the atrocities committed to our indigenous people.
I thank all of the staff and senior leaders involved in this day, and encourage all parents and carers to look at the pictures taken in acknowledgement of this important event.
Important Information for Parents about Students using AI (Artificial Intelligence) Apps
Using AI to complete school assessments and homework presents both opportunities and risks for students who have become familiar with their use, such as the use of ChatGPT.
There are many challenges that a student may face when using AI including the risk of plagiarism and cheating. To assist our community to understand those risks a bit better, please read the following information.
Understanding Concepts: Relying solely on AI might hinder students' understanding of the material. If they use AI to complete assignments without grasping the underlying concepts, they won't be able to apply their knowledge in real-life situations or higher-level courses. They will eventually find themselves in a situation where they do not have the skills to perform the tasks required of them
Plagiarism and Academic Integrity: AI can provide ready-made answers, leading to plagiarism if students don't properly cite or paraphrase the information. This undermines academic integrity and can have serious consequences, including receiving a not-satisfactory completion on a task.
Overdependence: Students might become overly reliant on AI, neglecting to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and research skills. Over time, this dependency can hinder their ability to think independently and creatively.
Limited Scope of AI: While AI can assist with certain tasks like grammar checking or basic problem-solving, it may struggle with more complex or subjective assignments that require human judgment, creativity, or empathy.
Privacy and Data Security: Using AI tools often involves sharing personal data and information with third-party providers. Students need to be aware of privacy risks and ensure that their data is handled securely and ethically.
Loss of Motivation: If students can easily obtain answers through AI, they may lose motivation to engage with the learning process or put effort into their studies. This may lead to disengagement and a decline in academic performance over time.
To address these challenges, it's important for parents to promote responsible use of AI tools, emphasise the importance of understanding concepts, encourage critical thinking and creativity and provide guidance on proper citation and academic integrity. Additionally, integrating AI education into the curriculum can help students develop the skills they need to responsibly navigate the digital landscape. These teaching tools and resources are something that Lalor Secondary College is currently engaging with and discussing to determine what is the best way to use these at a our college in a way that enhances the learning experience of our students.
There are a number of student free days coming up on the Calendar. These include the following:
- Kings Birthday Public Holiday – Monday the 10th of June
- Curriculum Day – Friday the 14th of June
These are student free days and regular classes will not run on these days. Please make the necessary arrangements to have students’ home at these times.
If you would like assistance with any of the above information, please contact me on
9463 7300.
Best regards,
Corey Jewell
Acting Principal