Senior School News

Once again we have had a challenging term with a mixture of on site and remote learning. I would like to thank our staff for providing continuity of learning for our Senior School students during the period of remote learning. They have worked tirelessly in providing live lessons, motivation and encouragement and most importantly wellbeing check ins with the students. Thank you also to our parents/carers for their valuable support throughout the term. Congratulations to our students who have shown resilience in the constant changes they have faced over the term.

GAT (General Achievement Test) - Tuesday 5 October

The GAT will take place on Tuesday 5 October from 10.00am–1.15pm. Students must arrive by 9.30am.

The paper consists of two writing tasks and 70 multiple choice questions. All students undertaking Units 3 and 4 study must attend the GAT. There will be no Year 11 or Year 12 timetabled classes on this day. A seating plan and timetable has been emailed to parents and students.

This year, perhaps more so than in other years, the GAT will be significant in the final calculation of students’ study scores. The GAT will be used to: calculate a derived examination score, for statistical moderation of a student’s study score and Consideration of Educational Disadvantage. Every effort should be made to maximise the GAT results and students should practise the different types of questions that they will encounter in the test.

The GAT does not test subject-specific knowledge, but rather more general skills and knowledge. The students’ results are reported in three broad domains:

Written Communication
Mathematics/Science/Technology and
Humanities/Arts/Social Sciences.

We cannot emphasise more strongly, the value of completing practice GATs – these can be found on the VCAA (Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority) website.

Remote SAC (School Assessed Coursework) Timetable

Year 12 SAC in certain studies will be held remotely over the holidays commencing on Thursday 23 September and concluding on Friday 1 October. Important information and a timetable has been emailed to parents and students. This enables classes in Term 4 to focus on revision and practice exam questions in preparation for the final VCAA written examinations.

The VCAA VCE Leadership Awards

Congratulations to Lu Yang (Year 11) who has received a VCE Leadership Award nominee certificate acknowledging Lu’s achievements. Lu is clearly a leader both in school and the community and has taken a leadership role for others.

Congratulations to Michaela Goggin (Year 12) who has been selected as a winner of a VCE Leadership Award. Michaela now progresses to an interview stage after which the VCE Leader of the Year will be announced. We are very much looking forward to attending the 2021 VCE Leadership Award Ceremony on 17 September and wish Michaela all the very best.

Congratulations to Darcy Halliday

Darcy Halliday (Year 11) received a wonderful email from the writer-director of the short film “Sweet Mary, Where Did You Go” which Darcy shot just before our first lockdown last year:

'Sweet Mary, Where Did You Go?' has been selected to screen at the Oscar qualifying Hollyshorts Film Festival and will screen in person at the historic Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard next month!

The film premiered at the Popcorn Frights Film Festival in Miami this August and has also been selected to screen in official competition at the 27th L'Étrange Festival in Paris, hailed as France's most exciting cultural event of the fall. The film will also be in the running for the Canal+ Grand Prix award.

http://www.etrangefestival.com//2021/en//competition/shorts

Michael Kratochvil (writer-director) has said the film will be playing in person at the Forum des images cinema in an eclectic program of features, shorts and documentaries, including selections from this year's Cannes, and the participation of amazing filmmakers like Lynne Ramsay curating. He also said that Sweet Mary, Where Did You Go?' and another one of his films will be the only Australian films playing in the festival this year.

Darcy also has another film currently in post-production and a role in a television commercial that keeps getting postponed due to lockdown.

We wish Darcy all the very best.

VTAC (Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre) Selections

VTAC course applications close 5.00pm Thursday 30 September. We recommend that students register and apply for tertiary courses before the end of this term in case the VTAC system prevents them from applying. They can email Mrs Sharon Bourne if this is the case to seek help before the end of Term 3.

The SEAS (Special Entry Access Scheme) closing date for eligible students is 5.00pm Friday 8 October. If a student submits all SEAS documents prior to 17 September 2021, VTAC staff will review the documentation to ensure it is appropriate and email students if there are any issues with the submitted evidence to provide them with an opportunity to address any issues identified.

The Scholarships closing date is 5.00pm Friday 8 October. All students are encouraged to apply for scholarships on the VTAC system and to visit the careers webpage for information about additional scholarships available to 2022 tertiary students.

PSTC (Parent Student Teacher Conferences)

Thank you to all parents, carers and students who attended these conferences. The feedback was extremely positive and it was reassuring to know how much the school community values the excellent work of our teachers. These conferences provide an important opportunity for teachers, parents/carers and students to work together to further improve learning outcomes.

David Burgess Foundation

This foundation aims to assist young people from State Secondary Colleges, who have had to struggle to overcome adversity, have shown commitment to their goals and those of the community and so, with some help, will achieve those goals.

The foundations will make annual awards to Year 12 students who gain entry to tertiary courses at Victorian Universities or TAFE Institutes.

Under this scheme each award winner may be eligible to receive up to $3,000 each year towards the cost of his/her course, as well as support and guidance from mentors and assistance with finding part-time jobs.

The foundation aims to help financially disadvantaged students, with little or no support system of their own, to make the transition from a supportive school environment to a tertiary educational setting.

If you are interested in applying, please see me.

Doxa Hollingworth Cadetship Program

This program is designed to provide disadvantaged youth who have satisfactorily completed their Year 12 studies, with the opportunity to pursue university education and gain future employment.

The current cadets are studying a range of degrees including Social and Environmental Science, Applied Science, Law, Arts, Commerce, Transport and Logistics Management, Economics, Business, Computing, Engineering, Accounting, Public Relations, Human Resources, Psychology, Arts, Urban Planning and Architecture.

The Doxa Hollingworth Cadetship provides:

Financial assistance
Work experience with a corporate organisation
A mentor
Book allowance
Professional and personal development

If you are interested in applying, please see me.

I wish all students and parents/carers a relaxing holiday break. It is important that Year 12 students use these two weeks to revise thoroughly for their upcoming examinations

Ms Helen Wilson

Senior School Principal