The end of Semester 1 is quickly approaching and Year 11 students have started their Unit 1 exams. The exam period is from Thursday 27 May until Friday 4 June. The exam timetable together with the rules and procedures will be put on Compass for students and parent to access.

There is some opportunity for students to change their Unit 1 subject and start a new subject for Unit 2.

As Year 11 is almost full, making the change might be difficult – the Senior School team will endeavor to do their best to maximise the learning opportunities for your child requesting the change.

Semester Two for all Senior Sub School students starts on Monday 7 June.

Senior students will be attending the Careers Expo on Friday 14 May. 3, 21

The GAT (General Achievement Test) is on Wednesday 9 June 2021. Any student who is studying a Unit 3/4 subject in 2021 (including language outside the school) is required to do the GAT this year. It will be held in school’s gymnasium. Students were given their timetable from VCAA.

A seminar on the GAT (General Achievement Test) will be held on Wednesday 26 May from 3.30 – 4.30pm in the PAC (Performing Arts Centre). It will be an opportunity for students to ask questions.

On Wednesday 23 June, we will host our special yearly event to celebrate “100 days of VCE/VCAL success”. This is always an exciting event. Students will also be receiving awards for their academic achievements. Year 11 music students will also be performing.

On Friday 11 June, all Year 12 VCE students will be doing their first ‘Practice Exam’ for English/EAL.

External assessors will mark this. We do this early on in the year as it is the most crucial time for all Year 12 students to start putting in extra time and effort to their studies to get the most out their final year at school. It is compulsory that all students who are sitting external exams to attend.

All students studying a Unit 3/4 subjects at St Albans Secondary College will be doing their mid-year exams during the term break. The exam will start on Thursday 1 July and finish Tuesday 6 July.

All mid-year exam results will be included in the Unit 3 reports for Year 12.

‘Ace your Exams’ workshops will run with all Year 11 VCE students on Tuesday 11 May during periods 1 and 2. This workshop is facilitated by Elevate Education.

‘Study skills’ workshops will run with all Year 12 VCE students on Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 June during Study periods. Hopefully these workshops will help students to start preparing for their mid-year exams.

Again, we would like to thank parents who contact us when their child is absent for any reason. This is of great assistance to the Year Level Coordinators, as we call home regularly if there are any unexplained absences. The Case Management process continues to monitor closely the attendance, achievement and individual needs of all our students. Please contact us on 9366 2555 if you have any queries or concerns about your child.

Stav Bekiaris

Senior Sub School Leader

VCAL Report

Community Health Advancement and Student Education (CHASE)

CHASE is a community initiative working to improve health through education.

Their goal is to see young people empowered to take control of their own health, to then engage with their local communities to improve health awareness and outcomes.Year 11 VCAL students were given the first of six health education sessions and met their tertiary student mentors on Wednesday 21 April. They will continue to have these education sessions during term 2 and then continue with mentors and partnerships with local community organisations and health professionals to improve community health.

The program is being run by a group of students from the Universities across Melbourne, who will be assigned to the VCAL class for the duration of the year. These volunteers will act as mentors to the students, providing a positive role models and facilitating the following two phases:

Education Phase – Term ½

The Education Phase consists of six workshops that form a diverse health curriculum centred on the social determinants of health.

The sessions will be based around the following topics:

• Nutrition

• Physical Activity

• Sexual Health

• Drugs & Alcohol

• Mental Health

Action Phase – Term ¾

The Action Phase consists of six workshops that aim to teach students the skills required to implement a community-based project that addresses their chosen topic of interest from the Education Phase. The sessions will be based around the following topics:

• Action Phase Introduction

• Project Planning & Risk Assessment

• Teamwork, Communication and Conflict Resolution

• Time Management

• Leadership & Teamwork

• Follow-up & Project Showcase

ANZAC Day Commemorative Service

On Friday 23 April, the annual ANZAC Commemoration Service was held at the ANZAC memorial stone at the front of the school.

Year 12 VCAL students Jordan Piscopo, Janet Huynh, Kai Lai, Mohamed Mohamed and Sanny Nguyen organised and led the proceedings to an audience of over 100 staff and students.

The commemorative address was delivered by Mr Andrew Marshall President of the Caroline Springs RSL Sub Branch and the wreath was laid by our school Captains.

Thank you to David Wilson, ex-student for performing The Last Post and Rouse.

Lance Tiatia, Christina Afano and Kilisi Mafileo and the junior Choir for renditions of the New Zealand and Australian Anthems.

Beacon Breakfast Catering and Coffee Groups

On Wednesday 28 April, the annual Business Breakfast, hosted by Adrian McCall, Business and Community Partnerships Coordinator, and the Year 10 Peer Mentor students was held. Greg George, Victorian State Coordinator of ABCN, was the keynote speaker. Janet Huynh and Holland Phung, both in Year 12 VCAL, spoke of their VCAL journey and the importance of industry partnerships and experience.

The Year 12 VCAL Catering and Coffee club project groups provided an extensive menu of delicious food that was presented, and served for their 30 guests. The students compiled the menu, trialled the food and coffee options in the week before the event. They arrived at 5.30am on the morning of the breakfast to cook and prepare for the event. A great event and experience for all involved.

Laura Gough

VCAL Coordinator

Community News