Senior School Report

Message from the 

Director of  Learning - Senior School

Anna Papagiannopoulos

Our Year 11s are officially halfway through their first year of Senior School. Our Year 12s on the other hand, are three-quarters of the way to their end-of-year exams and their final weeks of schooling! What a thought…

We have had an extremely busy few weeks at Senior School and I want to begin by thanking all the staff, students, parents and carers or their ongoing efforts and support. The learning and growth of these young people is reliant on a cohesive partnership between us all.

Firstly, congratulations to all our Year 12s (and some Year 11s) on completing the General Achievement Test (GAT) last week! For many of our students, it was the first time they were in an official exam setting and they did incredibly well to turn up on time and prepared.

The GAT measures students’ general knowledge, literacy and numeracy skills. VCAA may use this to help bolster their exam scores at the end of the year. Students are tested on their reading and writing abilities, their general knowledge of Literature, Maths, Science and the Humanities, and their numerical problem solving and calculating skills.

Now that the GAT is done, we look ahead to the end-of-year exams in October and November. Students should be mindful of the time they have left and begin making study plans and timelines by consulting with their teachers and peers. Additionally, Units 1 and 3 are now completed, and any outstanding work must be submitted before the end of term to avoid an ‘N’ result for the unit.

As we head into the holidays, students are reminded that maintaining good habits is incredibly important in the break. Some suggestions are included below:

· Revise the work they have been doing for Unit 1 or Unit 3 – this is important as it helps keep important content and skills learned in their lessons at the forefront of their mind, making exam preparation at the end of the year much easier.

· Look ahead and prepare for Term 3 – teachers may set work that relates to content studied in Term 3. This is so that students can front-load important skills and knowledge so that they go into the new semester better prepared and more confident.

· Get at least nine hours of sleep a night, ensuring that they are undisturbed by electronic devices.

· Eat well and often, ensuring their meals contain all the food groups with plenty of carbohydrates, protein, good fats and vegetables. It is important that students do not overly restrict their eating and fulfil cravings for sugar and fat in moderation when they arise – this will prevent binge eating later. It is also important that students refrain from drinking energy drinks as these have many negative side effects to their health and wellbeing.

· Check in with themselves and others, ensuring that they are reaching out for help if they feel their mood changing for the worse.  It is important that their mental health is discussed often and openly as many students will experience mental illness during schooling. 

· Taking regular breaks and doing social activities.

· Practice good physical health by being active, such as going for walks or playing sport.

· Stick to a study timetable to ensure that all schoolwork is done before the beginning of term. This will keep them from falling behind once Term 2 begins.

· Make study groups with friends to better motivate themselves and others to study. Study groups can also help to better understanding and skill-development.

· Write down questions they may have for their teachers upon returning to school.

· Attend, if able, holiday classes offered either at school by their teachers or by an external provider.

· Complete practice essays and tests to keep themselves academically ‘in-shape’.

· Parents/Guardians are also reminded to check Compass regularly to stay abreast of your child’s attendance and schoolwork, as well as any notices or forms that require your attention.

· A reminder that all absences must be explained with a medical certificate and that you must call the school if your child is going to be absent. This is especially important for when students miss a SAC – providing a medical certificate will ensure that they do not receive a 0 grade for the task.

· Term 3 continues to be exclusively winter uniform only. If there are any issues procuring items of uniform, please contact the Senior Sub-School. As the weather worsens and the temperatures drop, please consider buying your child some light-coloured thermals to wear underneath their uniform. A reminder that puffer jackets and other non-school jackets are not permitted.

As parents and guardians, we value your continued support in facilitating your child’s learning and development. Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Lastly, I would like to inform the Senior School community that I will be on Long Service Leave for the first three weeks of Term 3. All your queries and concerns can be directed to Jason Tickner or Ellen Rankin during this time.

Enjoy the break and stay safe!

Anna Papagiannopoulos

Director of Learning – Senior School

Year 12 Vocational Major "The Big Issue" A Transformative Experience for Year 12 VM Students

We are delighted to share the incredible journey that our Year 12 VM students embarked upon during their recent excursion to "The Big Issue" in the bustling city of Melbourne. This unique experience provided our students with a first-hand understanding of social entrepreneurship, community engagement, and the power of empathy. Let's dive into the details of this transformative outing.

"The Big Issue" is an organization that supports homeless and disadvantaged individuals by providing them with a platform to earn a legitimate income through the sale of their magazine. Our students had the opportunity to spend a day with "The Big Issue" team, engaging in a range of activities that shed light on the realities faced by those experiencing homelessness.

Following the presentation, our students divided into small groups and were paired with individuals who had experienced homelessness and were currently working as vendors for "The Big Issue." This allowed our students to establish meaningful connections and gain a deeper understanding of the struggles faced by the vendors on a daily basis.

Throughout the day, our students engaged in conversations with the vendors, listening to their stories, and gaining valuable insights into the complex issues surrounding homelessness. Many students were moved by the resilience and determination displayed by the magazine team, despite the hardships they faced. These interactions fostered empathy and a greater appreciation for the strength of the human spirit.

As teachers, we are proud to witness the personal growth and development of our students through experiences such as these. We look forward to supporting them as they channel their newfound passion into future endeavours.

Mr. Jeffrey Ji

EAL/ Humanities Teacher