Principal's Report 

WELCOME BACK

Welcome back to all staff, students and their families to Vermont Secondary College for the start of the 2022 school year. I would like to particularly welcome the Year 7 class of 2022 as well as students and families who are newly enrolled at the college in Years 8 to 12. 

I trust all community members had a safe and enjoyable summer break given the current conditions in Australia and globally. The students, and staff, are to be congratulated on how well they have settled back into school life over the last two weeks given so much uncertainty around COVID-19. 

However so far positive numbers at the school have been low and it is crucial that all students and staff do a RAT each Monday and Wednesday morning. Students will be supplied with enough tests for the first 4 weeks of the school year and the second supply will be distributed over coming days. Also important is the wearing of masks at all times when inside, the use of hand sanitisers and wipes provided throughout the college. In addition, fully opened doors and windows in all rooms combined with the 70 DET supplied air purifiers operating within the school buildings provides required ventilation. These are all measures that are within our control and the school population have been very supportive of these measures. We will continue to alert the school community via Compass of any positive cases at the college. 

Demand for enrolment in the college continues to remain high from the local community. For the third year running our student numbers are in excess of 1,500 with a current enrolment of 1,532. See below for a breakdown of this figure:  

Year 7               254

Year 8               261

Year 9               259

Year 10             246

Year 11             277

Year 12             225

International students 10

Total               1,532

This year we have an architecturally designed Gymnasium complex on the way consisting of two full sized basketball courts, an office space for our Physical Education/Health/Outdoor Education staff, change rooms, two classrooms, entrance foyer, storage facilities and a weights room. The planning stages completed in 2021 and currently the tender is being finalised and we would hope for work to begin in late Term One or early Term Two. The build will take approximately 12 months.

The project will be funded by the State Government/Department of Education and Training (DET) and through a college contribution.

Thank you to the families who have donated to our Library or Building fund (both tax deductible). These donations are greatly appreciated and assist us to continually maintain and improve facilities and equipment for the school community. In this case the Building fund will allow us to furnish the new gymnasium complex. We appreciate the support of the college community in helping us to support your child. Donations are always greatly gratefully accepted.

All staff (Teachers & Education Support) look forward to the 2022 school year and working productively with our college students and families by providing a supportive, happy and stimulating educational environment

VSC HOUSE SWIMMING SPORTS – WEDNESDAY 16th FEBRUARY

A reminder that the annual VSC House swimming sports will be held on Wednesday 16th February at the Monash Aquatic Centre, 626 Waverley Road, Glen Waverley. 

ALL YEAR 7, 8 and 9 STUDENTS WILL ATTEND the swimming sports. Regular Year 10, 11 & 12 classes will be running at VSC. 

For full details please refer to the Sports Report in this newsletter.

WELCOME TO NEW AND RETURNING STAFF

I’m pleased to introduce and welcome 15 new staff and 4 returning staff members for the 2022 school year.

New Teaching and Education Support Staff

Teaching

1. Nelomi Venthan - Commerce
2. Zoe Westmore – Biology/Chemistry
3. Lisa Noda - English
4. Charlotte Miller - English
5. Fiona Cowan – English
6. Chelsey Paydon – German/Psychology
7. Geoff Atkinson – Commerce
8. Sarah D’Arcy – Maths/Science
9. Jack Leithhead – Wood/Physical Education/Health
10. Tuana Unal – Physical Education
11. Fraser Murray – French/German

 Instrumental Music

1. Lam Nguyen – Voice
2. Evelyn Wang - Strings

 Education Support

1. Bhagya Senatilaka – Social Worker

Language Assistant 

1. Eliane Deslauriers – French

Returning

1. Lauren Ellard – Physical Education
2. Laura Churcher – Maths 
3. Kylie Reeves – Physical Education
4. Melissa Lyon - Science

Vermont Secondary College VCE Results 2021

Vermont Secondary College congratulates all our students on the fantastic results they have achieved in 2021, with so much of the last two years of your VCE studies, being via remote learning. It is a credit to you and to the support and teaching staff at Vermont Secondary College.

Congratulations to Mitchell Cann with a perfect study score of 99.95.

Highlights include –

1. 26.63% or 53 of the VCE cohort of 199 students finished in the top 10% of the state of more than 50,723 VCE students.

2. 50.75% or 101 of the VCE cohort of 199 students finished in the top 20% of the state of more than 50,723 students.

3. 71.36% or 142 of the VCE cohort of 199 students finished in the top 30% of the state of more than 50,723 VCE students.

4. 84.92% or 169 of the VCE cohort of 199 students finished in the top 40% of the state of more than 50,723 VCE students.

Extremely pleasing is the fact that over half of our 2022 cohort, 50.75% or 101 students finished in the top 20% of the state of approximately 50,000 VCE students by achieving an ATAR score over 80 while fifty-three students, over a quarter of our cohort, achieved ATAR scores over 90. 

Twenty-four of our students achieved a study score of 95+ with Mitchell Cann achieving Dux with a study score of 99.95 closely followed by Lawrence Allison 99.55, Alannah Dawson 99.35, and Thomas Pugh 99.25

The most pleasing statistic is the fact that 84.92% (169) of our cohort of 199 students have achieved an ATAR above 60, placing them in the top 40% of the state of approximately 50,000 VCE students. 

Congratulations to the class of 2022 on fantastic overall results.

The following table below gives the college community a snapshot of our student’s impressive results.

2021 Mean Study Score = 31.69

2021 - Percentage of VSC VCE study scores of 40 (top 8% of the State) and over = 9.8%

VSC VCE Data 2013 to 2021

The college is always extremely proud of our highest performing students but we are equally proud of all students who have achieved individual excellence by achieving their goals. As a non-select entry school Vermont Secondary College is extremely proud of its ability to cater for all students wishing to continue on into Year 12. In some cases a student’s result can be against extremely difficult personal circumstances.

Congratulations to all VCE students and their families, the Senior School Leadership Team and all our Year 12 teachers on providing a quality education for our students. I also thank all staff within the college who have been involved in the teaching and development of the class of 2022 over the last six years. Particular thanks to the staff involved with the students over the last 2 years! 

Thank you to all the Year 12 students who actively involved themselves in the student leadership program, despite limitations over the 2 year VCE program in a wide range of areas. Thanks to the House Captains – Alanah Khor & Oliver Carse representing Hotham, Felicity Monk & Mike Yong representing Macedon and Ellie Ryan & Oskar Tsaloumas representing Stirling. Thanks also to the two School Captains, Ellie and Mike, for all their support of the college through their leadership role.

I trust students are pleased with their individual performance and that further opportunities will now be available to you so that you can pursue your goals and dreams. I wish you all the best for the years ahead and thank you for your contribution to Vermont Secondary College. Well done!

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION & TRAINING (DET) YEARLY ENROLMENT CENSUS

The Enrolment Census by DET is carried out each year in late February. Student enrolment and attendance is critically important to the college’s funding. If students have not appeared by the end of February we will lose funding for them following the DET (Department of Education and Training) Census Audit. If students have extended absences but have been sighted at school and there is documentary evidence of liaison with home e.g. letters signed and dated by parents/guardians, medical certificates, phone call records etc. then they will be allowed in our census count and we will receive department funding for them. 

In the past the meticulous records kept by our Attendance Officer in the General Office, Student Managers and classroom teachers have been critical in retaining students and hence funding. The support of parents/guardians in providing explanations for student absences also assists us to take care of the wellbeing of our students and is of vital importance. Your co-operation and assistance in keeping the school informed regarding student absences is essential. If you have any queries or concerns then please call our Attendance Officer, Tanya Mackenzie, via the General Office or relevant Student Manager.

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING (DET) TERM DATES FOR 2022

Term 1: Friday 28 January to Friday 08 April 2022

Term 2: Tuesday 26 April to Friday 24 June

Term 3:  Monday 11 July to Friday 16 September

Term 4: Monday 03 October to Tuesday 20 December