SENIOR PATHWAYS  

SENIOR PATHWAYS PROGRAM

On behalf of the Senior Pathways Program Team we would like to welcome all senior students (Year 10 – 12) and their families, new and returning, back to school for what is looking to be a promising year ahead.

We as a staff have been so impressed with the approach our senior students have taken towards their learning thus far this term. When visiting classes this past week, it has been evident that students are highly focused, engaged and striving towards their personal best. Our Year 12 students, in particular, should be congratulated on the way in which they have modelled excellent learning behaviours, especially during their study periods in the Senior Learning Centre.

This term our focus for our VCE senior students is centred around setting themselves up for success. Over the next two weeks, our students will be partaking in a series of workshops which will encourage them to reflect upon their studies from the previous year, and make new learning goals for 2021. Part of this will involve looking at how study scores are calculated and the research evidenced based learning behaviours that correlate with the highest levels of achievements (i.e 40+ study scores). Our student leaders are also currently working with senior staff to develop a student led study program that will be rolled out over the coming weeks.

Reflecting on our Seniors Students 2020 VCE results, it was pleasing to see that a high number of our 2020 Year 11 VCE students had achieved some of the highest study score in their Year 12 subjects. Last Wednesday we sought to recognise these achievements through an awards assembly whereby these students received awards for both their learning growth and academic excellence in their respective subjects. Congratulations to all our award recipients – you should be incredibly proud of your efforts and see your successes as a measure of what you’re capable of achieving in 2021.

The VCAL students have hit the ground running with organising an Orientation Camp this week. Students used the few days to build relationships with their teachers Penny Linardos and Aaron Prior, and with their peers. Students were placed out of their comfort zones physically and mentally to build pro-active strategies and resilience. VCAL students are challenged in a way our other students are not. They must navigate the expectations of school life and a senior certificate, as well as learning the ways of the workforce and TAFE. 

We’d also like to thank all the Senior Pathways Program families that recently joined us for our Year 10, and Year 11/12 Information Night (via WebEx) last Wednesday. If you were unable to join us, we encourage you to familiarise yourself with the senior learning pathways and expectations surrounding our senior students by viewing your child’s session on COMPASS.

At Mount Eliza Secondary College, we recognise that a student’s success is highly dependent upon the existence of a strong partnership between students, parents and the school itself as such, toward the end of term 1, all Year 12 students and their families will be individually contacted and invited into the college to meet with a member of the Principal team, or our Year 12 Senior School Leader (Ashleigh Bell). More information in relation to these meetings will be communicated later in the term.

Ashleigh Bell and Elena McLuskie

Senior Pathways Program Leaders