9-12 Community News
The first two weeks of Term 2 have seen us enjoying perfect autumn weather which we are sure everyone has enjoyed. This term is shaping up to be very busy and students and staff have thrown themselves enthusiastically into the many activities and events on the College calendar.
On the sports fields, we congratulate the Years 9/10 tennis players who competed in the Loddon-Mallee Regional Tennis competition in Mildura on Tuesday. In a day of close competitions, our team placed second, which is a fantastic effort. Well done to Katerina Wearne, Ben Dickens, Jim and Bill Hipwell and Gabe Wilson. (And thank you to Mr Hill and Mackenzie Atkins for making the long journey to Mildura and back with the team; it was a very early start to the day.)
The Years 9/10 and 11/12 Soccer teams compete in the district competition next Monday, 8th May. The 5-12 Cross Country is taking place next Friday, 12th May. Years 9-12 students are encouraged to sign up for this event. We look forward to hearing the results from these events.
This week our VPC and VCE/VM students have participated in barista training. Staff certainly appreciated their efforts and the delicious coffee on Monday. On Tuesday, the group undertook the module ‘prepare and serve non-alcoholic beverages’ to round out their barista training.
Next week, students will complete their first aid training.
Thank you to Peter Fawcett for organising this training for the group.
VCE students have had the opportunity to extend their study experiences through a number of excursions in recent weeks. In the closing weeks of Term 1, the Year 12 Biology class had the opportunity to undertake practical experiments at GTAC, a genetic technology hub in the university precinct in Parkville. Using a range of highly sophisticated equipment, the students were immersed in the world of biotechnology as they applied gene cloning techniques used in protein production.
At the beginning of Term 2, Years 11/12 Art Making & Exhibiting and Media students travelled to Melbourne for a tour of the Swinburne University of Technology and attended the Top Art and Top Screens exhibitions, which exposed students to the work of the top achieving Units 3/4 students in the subjects of Art Making and Exhibiting, Studio Art, Visual Communication and Design and Media in 2022. Experiencing these works gave students greater insights into the possibilities for their own studies and career paths.
Opportunities to explore careers and vocational pathways are a significant focus of the Term 2 programs for all students in the 9-12 Community.
As this edition of the newsletter goes to print, the Year 12s are currently in Melbourne, attending the Victorian Careers Expo. This is a valuable opportunity for the students to explore their many career and study pathways as they look to life beyond school.
The Year 11s have a similar opportunity to explore potential careers and pathways when they venture to Melbourne for the Victorian Careers Show on 19th May.
In the coming weeks, Years 9 and 10 students will be involved in careers and vocational excursions, attending Careers Expos in Shepparton and Bendigo, respectively.
Next week we have Subject Teacher Conversations on Thursday 11th May. These provide an opportunity for students, families and teachers to meet to discuss the academic progress of students. We encourage all families to take up this opportunity to engage in these important conversations with TAs and subject teachers as we work together to support students in the 9-12 Community.
Michelle Downie Brad Downie
9-12 Community Leader 9-12 Community Leader
Wellbeing Student Learning and Professional Practice
2023 General Achievement Test (GAT) session times
The 2023 GAT will be held on Thursday 15th June as follows:
Section A of the GAT will start at 9.00am, providing a break of two hours between sessions.
All students enrolled in one or more VCE or scored VCE VET Units 3–4 sequence are required to sit Sections A and B of the GAT. Students enrolled in one or more VCE VM Unit 3-4 sequence or Senior VCAL unit are required to sit Section A only.
Examination rules
https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/assessment/vce-assessment/Pages/ExaminationRules.aspx
Authorised materials and equipment
https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/assessment/vce-assessment/materials/Pages/index.aspx
VCE examination timetable
https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/administration/Key-dates/Pages/VCE-exam-timetable.aspx
Sharon Darling
VCE Coordinator
VCE Arts and Media excursion
On Wednesday 26th April, some VCE students visited the 'Top Arts' and 'Top Screens' exhibitions in Melbourne. These exhibitions showcase the best project work from Victorian VCE Art and Media students in 2022.
The Art students went to the National Gallery of Victoria to see the artwork created by last year’s best students and got to see the Art diaries of the students who created their work.
The media students went to the Australian Centre for the Moving Image to view last year’s best student short films in a cinema on the big screen and view the development and design folios of those students.
This was a great opportunity for our students to get an idea of what it takes to produce some great work and achieve high results in these subjects.
The following reflection is from one of the Art students who attended:
"The art excursion was pretty interesting as we got to see so many artworks and so many perspectives and themes from different art forms and artists. Overall, I had a great time."
Imogen Walsh, Year 11