Senior School
Senior School Staff
Sub School Principal
Wayne Haworth
Sub School Learning Leader
Fiona Vanstan
Student Learning Leader Team
Cameron Christiansen, Darryn O'Connor, Annie Lingard, Catherine Glenn
Welcome Year 12 students, parents and carers to the 2020 school year!
This year marks an incredibly exciting, but demanding time for our Year 12 students as they embark on their final year of study in secondary school. As a learning community at Hampton Park Secondary College we are committed to guiding and supporting all students to achieve their personal best, providing them with future-focussed skills and knowledge to prepare them for their career pathways in further education or employment.
As leaders of the College our Year 12 students are presented with additional responsibilities as they become significant role models for all students across the school. We expect that they will conduct themselves in a manner which reinforces the College’s values of Respect, Learning and Working together, leading by example at all times including wearing the College uniform with pride, arriving to school and classes on time and ensuring that they are well prepared for all classes with all equipment including their laptop/device. At the end of last year, all students were given a Statement of Commitment which outlined their responsibilities to ensure success in their studies. To demonstrate their commitment and preparation for the beginning of the year, this Statement of Commitment, signed by students and their parents/carers, must be handed into the Senior School Office prior to the end of the first day. A copy of this has been attached for your convenience.
At HPSC we are guided by evidence that links establishing high expectations for our students, with directly and positively impacting their motivation to learn, their self-esteem and self-efficacy. Consequently we are strengthening our student’s ability to be successful and resilient. Resilience is evident when students persist and strive to achieve goals in spite of setbacks, obstacles and disadvantage. Student success is impacted upon by consistent practices and the positive partnership created between the College, the student and their families. Members of our College staff look forward to working to build this partnership through our newly established Mentoring program. Each student will be supported in their learning challenges by a mentor teacher. If students or you have any concerns about your student’s progress then you can contact your mentor teacher to seek support, advice or feedback.
Please refer to the table below for the changes to class times this year. You will note that beginning this year Wednesday will now be the early finish day. VCE students studying a Unit 3 / 4 subject must not use this time to engage in part-time work as this time will regularly be utilized to conduct SAC assessments or detentions. SAC assessments for Unit 3 and 4 subjects will be held on Wednesdays from 2.00pm, with the length of time dependent on the assessment, to enable SACs to be administered under exam conditions as an opportunity to practice in preparation for these, protect teaching time to support and enhance student learning and ensure fairness between classes in undertaking assessment. It is compulsory that all students attend the scheduled SACs unless they can provide a medical certificate for the day and make alternative arrangements with the Senior Sub School team. It is essential that students are aware that part-time work will not be accepted as a reason for missing the scheduled SACs or detentions. Students are encouraged to negotiate and plan with their employer well beforehand using the SAC calendar which will be distributed early in 2020. Applying VCAA policy, students will receive a zero if they cannot provide a medical certificate to explain their absence from a SAC.
This year there will be additional changes of practices which aim to support and maximise student learning in alignment with the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA). These will be communicated to students and families at the VCE/VCAL “Steps to Success” Information Evening on Tuesday 11 February 2020 6.00pm-7.00pm in the River Gum Performing Arts Centre.
The first of these changes relates to the use of study periods. In 2020, the study periods for Year 12 VCE students will occur in the same blocking on the timetable. Due to the impact of this on our rooms and facilities, when a study period occurs AND a student DOES NOT have a scheduled SAC, on Tuesday Period 1 students may arrive at school 10 minutes prior to their Period 2 class and sign in at the Senior School Office. When a study period occurs AND a student DOES NOT have a scheduled SAC, on Thursday Period 4 students are permitted to sign out at the Senior School Office in the first 10 minutes of lunchtime (between 1.10pm – 1.20pm). If students would like to arrive at school at the beginning of the school day or stay until the end of the school day to use their study period, the CRC will be available for them to use. During the study period on Monday Period 2 there may be whole school or individual activities that will be undertaken during this time including developing Career Action Plans, completing VTAC applications, careers information and/or course counselling. Students will be informed via Compass of these special events and it will appear on their Compass Schedules. Students will be expected to attend each of these events. Year 12 students will continue to have access to A7/A8 as their common room area during recess and lunchtime on the condition that is kept neat and tidy, as this will be used as classrooms throughout the year.
The second significant change relates to the use of mobile phones and personal devices during the school day. You may be aware that the Minister for Education banned the use of phones and personal devices for the 2020 school year citing the distractions that this causes to student learning and the negative impact upon bullying. HPSC will enforce the Mobile Phone Policy as mandated by the Government. Therefore all students are required to lock their phone/device in their locker at the beginning of the school day and take it out when they are leaving school at the end of the day. Phones will be immediately confiscated if seen during the school day. Students will each be assigned a locker for their personal use (it should not be shared) and will need a secure lock to ensure the safety of their items. A copy of the policy is attached for you to view.
The third significant change relates to attendance. Absence from the school day can impact upon the learning and ongoing success of students in understanding and mastering learning. As you are aware HPSC has a 90% attendance policy. We request that on the day that your student is absent that you log the absence online directly using Compass School Manager or call the College phone number on 03 8795 9400 and Press 1 for the Student Absence Line to inform of their absence. Please note that a written note or medical certificate is required to ensure that the absence is VCE compliant in accordance with VCAA policy. As mentioned previously, any absence from a SAC assessment must have an accompanying medical certificate or it cannot be given a numerical grade. Medical certificates cannot be backdated, therefore it must be obtained on the day of the illness. VCAL students who are absent from their work placement and/or VET course must contact their employer / institution and the College to inform of their absences. Medicals may also be required to comply with the conditions of your employment / course. Contact will be made with students and families, where possible, on days of absence.
In ensuring that students are ready and committed to their studies all holiday homework must be completed in preparation for their first class in each subject. Students were assigned a range of homework tasks for each subject and can be viewed in their Resources. All English/EAL/Literacy textbooks should have been read in preparedness for the year ahead. Students who have not upheld their Commitment to their studies will be issued with a detention consequence.
If you have any questions about these processes or your students’ progress please do not hesitate to contact the College to speak to their mentor teacher or the Senior School Team including Ms Fiona Vanstan, Ms Catherine Glenn, Ms Annie Lingard, Mr Cameron Christiansen or Mr Darryn O’Connor.
We look forward to students and families joining us at the VCE/VCAL “Steps to Success” Information Evening on Tuesday 11 February (6.00pm – 7.00pm)