Senior School Update 

Welcome to Term 2 

We held our first sub-school assembly this week and celebrated the achievements of a range of our incredible Senior School students. It was a wonderful opportunity to hear about useful study tips, to congratulate each other on the rewards that hard work reap and to remind our sub-school about the exciting upcoming events we have planned for this term. A copy of the slideshow has been saved to each Year Level Team for any students who were unable to attend the assembly. 

SAC Calendar 

I sent out an updated SAC Calendar last week and there are laminated copies up in the Senior Centre as well. The Senior School Team and I are currently conducting meetings with students and parents/carers to ensure their pathways are going to result in success for them, so please keep an eye out for communications from your child’s teachers in order to best work as a team to prevent any concerns before they arise.  

Minimum attendance requirements 

Can I take the opportunity to remind our community that we have a 90% attendance requirement for all VCE subjects? School-approved events are not counted against a student’s attendance, nor are illnesses with medical certificates, but if you’re concerned your child has dipped below the 90%, please contact their Learning and Wellbeing Leader (Year 11 – Nick Molan and Year 12 – David Teakle) so that we can address this as soon as possible. In addition, our administrative assistant, Georgie Walton, may also call you regarding attendance. Essentially, when a young person is in class and engaged, maximum learning can take place ultimately translating into a successful VCE pass and improved results, which is our overall goal.   

Motivational Monday 

Our weekly informal support session for VCE students, Motivational Monday, has been growing over the term, which has been wonderful to see. In addition to the common space, all classrooms have also filled up with student-led study groups, revision sessions with a teacher or for quiet study. Many students are utilising this resource to touch base with their teachers and to study, revise or collaborate on their learning. Any student studying a VCE sequence (this includes Year 10s studying Unit 1) are welcome to grab a free toastie, Milo and work with their friends and peers to improve their understanding of what they are learning in class. Students are also able to access informal support from any of their teachers who pop into the Senior Centre from 3.15pm – 4.15pm each Monday. Please keep an eye out for Compass posts from Ben Shepherd alerting you to our Motivational Monday sessions each week. 

Year 11 Update 

RYDA 

Our Year 11s participated in highly engaging practical demonstrations, real-life narratives, videos, quizzes and interactive role plays at RYDA this week where they learnt about road safety and their responsibilities as young drivers. In addition, the teachers also enjoyed the  helpful reminders about safe road use and the delicious lunch that was provided for us! 

Elevate Time Management 

Elevate Education are running a session for our Year 11s on Monday 15 May. Since 2001, Elevate have been improving student performance at over 1500 schools through high impact study skills workshops.  The Time Management seminar is targeted towards senior high school students and covers: 

Developing routines to balance study and lifestyle 

Working smart by completing high value work 

Utilising study groups to leverage time 

Techniques for overcoming procrastination 

Mr Molan has created the event on Compass, so please pay for this event as soon as you can.  

In addition, Elevate are again offering a free webinar for parents. We had some very positive feedback about the previous session, so if you missed it, please make time to attend this one.  

Please see the information below: 

RE: Upcoming webinar for parents – How to Help Get (and Keep!) Your Child Motivated 

We’re excited to announce that Elevate Education will be hosting a free webinar for our parents on Wednesday 10th May. 

Elevate Education works with our students, delivering high impact workshops on study skills, motivation, wellbeing, and exam preparation. By tuning into their webinar series you will learn how you can help better support your children at home through reinforcing the skills they learn at school:   

Wednesday 10th May  How to Help Get (and Keep!) Your Child Motivated 

Click here to register for free 

Here’s what  Elevate will be covering on the night:  

✅ What impact does praise and reassurance have on your child’s motivation?  

✅ What are the best type of goals to be setting with your child?   

✅ How can you help your child create meaningful and lasting motivation?  

We hope to see you there! 

Click here to register for free   

Senior Centre 

Just a reminder that I sent out a Compass post asking Year 11s not to attend the study period on Wednesday 17 May as we are running Unit 3 SACs during that time. If your child wishes to stay at school and undertake self-directed learning or to collaborate in small groups, they are most welcome to drop into the Senior School Office and let us know. We will book a space around the College for them so that the SAC is not affected, so our young people can continue to study.  

Other than SACs being run at various times, our Year 11s are always welcome in the Senior Centre and it has been wonderful to observe the improved learning culture in the Senior School. 

Year 10 Update 

Arthur Bolkas 

We have our Arthur Bolkas event to look forward to next week, on Monday 8 May. Arthur is a motivational speaker who, earlier in his life, he made some poor choices and ended up in prison. Nowadays, he has a powerful message to share with adolescents.  In this presentation, Arthur challenges people to consider the meaning of success in their lives: ‘big picture’ issues such as who they are and aspire to be, what’s important in life, and where they’re heading – with Arthur’s personal story interwoven throughout. 

 Topics include: 

• Adulthood – who will you become? 
• The amazing ‘journey of life’ 
• School – staying v. dropping out 
• Education – why it’s worth your best shot 
• Career – identifying your talents / passions 
• Choices = consequences 
• Heroes, role-models, mentors 
• Dealing with parents 
• Morals and values for life 
• Social responsibility 
• Suffering – a normal part of life 
• Failure – success in disguise 
• Speak up and seek help 
• Resilience – never giving up 
• Self-confidence / esteem / love 

This promises to be a very powerful event for our Year 10 students and we encourage to pay and consent on Compass as soon as you can. 

Elephant Ed 

We have planned for a wellbeing workshop for the Year 10 cohort on Friday 9 June which will cover sensitive topics such as consent. It is run by experienced practitioners who work with young people every day. Please keep an eye out for this event to go up on Compass very soon and have a conversation with your young person about this area of their lives.  

Finally, here is a precis of a Compass post I sent out earlier this term with some extra information for Senior students.  

Homework and Study: see below for recommended hours of study every night: 

• Year 12: 3-4 hours per night and weekends/school holidays 
• Year 11: 2-3 hours per night (depending on advanced study) 
• Year 10: 1-2 hours per night (depending on advanced study)  
• The GAT: please note the GAT will be held on June 15 at the College and all students undertaking a Unit 3/4 sequence, including VCAL, are required to complete this test. More information to follow.  
• Year 11 Exams: will be held for all Unit 1 subjects in the week from 5 - 9 June. 
• Year 10 Exams: will be held in the week from 13 - 16 June. Work experience occurs the following week. 

Congratulations on an excellent start to 

Term 2! 

Felicity Graham-Prowse 

Senior School Leader