Need to Know
Congratulations to our students for their achievements this term.
It has been a long Term 2 with many students and staff battling a range of illnesses. Many students have still been adjusting to a return to face to face learning but I am pleased to report that many of the "teething" issues we were seeing earlier in the year have dissipated.
We are all looking forward to the completion of our building project by the middle of Term 3, and some return to normality on our site.
Thank you all for your patience with our staffing issues. I hope everyone gets a chance to recharge over the Term 2 break. For those of you lucky enough to head to away for some holiday time, enjoy!
Parent Payment Policy Update
In a follow up on previous communications regarding Parent Payments, thank you to parents who have provided feedback and taken the time to have discussions with me. Please be aware that we are working with the department to ensure that the programs and curriculum we deliver at St Helena Secondary College are maintained.
Important: 2023 Subject Selection
The process for subject selections in 2023 is about to begin for all students.
The 2023 St Helena Secondary College Pathways / Subject Selection Handbook has now been updated. It will be available to view and download on our website. (www.sthelena.vic.edu.au)
The Pathways / Subject Selection Handbook is the most important resource for students and families to use when making their subject choices for next year. Along with all the subjects on offer at Years 9/10 and VCE, be sure to make use of the Subject Pathways tables which indicate pathways from Year 9 right through to Year 12 in all subject areas.
We also have a suggested Pathways section, which offers suggested subject combinations to help guide students’ and families’ decision-making when selecting a VCE program.
The following is a summary of information we have sent through to all students via Compass. Please read so that you can provide the relevant support where required to your child.
Key Dates – Including Deadlines for Subject Selections:
Thursday 23 June – Subject selection portal opens today - Students together with their families will be able to make their subject choices for 2023 from this date. - Students, keep an eye out for an email explaining the process for making and then submitting your selections.
Friday 15 July (1st Friday of Term 3) – the deadline for all student subject selection choices (electives and VCE) for 2023. Secure your subject choices by ensuring you meet this deadline.
Monday 18 July – Friday 29 July – your child will receive a 1:1 interview with our expert Careers team to ensure your child is selecting the most appropriate program to support their future career pathway. (Note: Families will be receiving communication via Compass as to how they can book and then join this 15-minute meeting online via Webex).
If you have any questions regarding elective/VCE subjects and/or our programs on offer at St Helena in 2023, please feel free to contact any one of our Pathways Team members below:
Debra Dunn – Careers Practitioner DD@sthelena.vic.edu.au
Danielle Foulis – Careers Practitioner DD@sthelena.vic.edu.au
Louisa DiDonato – VET Coordinator LD@sthelena.vic.edu.au
Simon Braknys – VCE / Vocational Major (VM) SBS@sthelena.vic.edu.au
Semester Reports
Teachers have been asked not to penalise students who have missed school due to illness during Semester 1. I know many students are anxious about their reports if they have had considerable absence due to Covid or flu and I reassure you that your circumstances have been taken into account.
Semester 1 reports will be released in Week 1 of Term 3.
Please contact the relevant Year Level Manager if you have any questions/concerns regarding the report.
Rapid Antigen Tests
Students are encouraged to take a RAT if they are symptomatic. These are still available at no cost from your child's mini school or the general office.
Holiday Contact
Our staff are taking a well earned break over the next two weeks. If you have an urgent matter that cannot wait until the start of Term 3, please email AskLeadership@sthelena.vic.edu.au This email will be checked on most days.
PISA Testing
St Helena has been selected as one of the schools to undertake the important PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) testing in 2022. PISA 2022 is the eighth PISA assessment conducted since 2000 and involves more than 85 participating countries/economies.
PISA assessment is important because the results of the assessment can be used:
- to indicate how well prepared students in Australia are for learning once they leave school.
- to identify areas for improvement over time by schools, education systems, and governments.
- to allow a comparison of student performance and the learning environment between different countries.
Under the Australian Education Act 2013 and the Australian Education Regulation 2013 I must ensure that St Helena participates in the assessments.
PISA consists of a computer based test and different types of questionnaires. The test and Student Questionnaire sessions are conducted by a Test Administrator appointed by the ACER PISA Project team.
Up to 26 students from a list of age eligible students will be randomly sampled to participate in PISA at St Helena on the 19th of July. Parents and sampled students will be notified early next term. Up to 25 teachers are also randomly sampled to participate in the teacher component of PISA.
Uniform
We have seen a pleasing reduction in the number of students wearing hoodies to school. Please note that crew neck "windcheaters" are not able to be worn either. These items look sloppy and do not engender pride in the uniform. The only long sleeved items to be worn under polo shirts etc are the St Helena long sleeved T-s available from Bob Stewart.
There are many ways in which our new uniform can be layered to provide warmth. I encourage you to take advantage of the range of items on offer to provide the most comfortable option for your child.
New Child Safe Standards to strengthen child safety will commence in Victoria on 1 July 2022
The Child Safe Standards (the Standards) commenced in Victoria in January 2016. After five years, we have seen how the Standards improve safety for children and young people.
Changes are being made to make our Standards even stronger.
Organisations[1] covered by the Standards will need to comply with new Standards by 1 July 2022. Until then, the current Standards apply.
The new Standards set out minimum requirements and outline the actions organisations must take to keep children and young people safe. They provide more clarity for organisations and are more consistent with Standards in the rest of Australia.
What will be different?
Although similar to Victoria’s current Child Safe Standards, key changes include new requirements:
- to involve families and communities in organisations’ efforts to keep children and young people safe
- for a greater focus on safety for Aboriginal children and young people
- to manage the risk of child abuse in online environments
- in relation to governance, systems and processes to keep children and young people safe.
What are the new Child Safe Standards?
There are eleven new Child Safe Standards:
Child Safe Standard 1 – Organisations establish a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are respected and valued.
Child Safe Standard 2 – Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture.
Child Safe Standard 3 – Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.
Child Safe Standard 4 – Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.
Child Safe Standard 5 – Equity is upheld, and diverse needs respected in policy and practice.
Child Safe Standard 6 – People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.
Child Safe Standard 7 – Processes for complaints and concerns are child focused.
Child Safe Standard 8 – Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.
Child Safe Standard 9 – Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed.
Child Safe Standard 10 – Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved.
Child Safe Standard 11 – Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people.
[1] All references to ‘relevant entities’ have been replaced in this document with ‘organisation/s’ for reasons of accessibility. A relevant entity is defined in section 3(1) of the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005 and captures entities that are subject to the Child Safe Standards.
