Director of Studies

Term Three underway

We welcome all of our students, teachers and families back to the start of a new term on campus. Classes have made a positive start to their learning programs with both students and teachers valuing the relationships formed through face-to-face time together.

Staying Healthy

As we moving forward into the term and to support on site learning, students and staff are encouraged to ensure hygiene and physical distancing measures are practiced. Anyone feeling unwell is advised to remain home for the safety of peers and staff.

Google Classrooms

While classes are conducted on campus, the Google Classrooms will be maintained at a basic level with weekly overviews and resources available to students. This will offer support to students (and staff) who may become absent during the semester. 

If a student is away for Covid testing, they will be expected to refer to Google Classroom for work to do. Teachers will not be expected to email individual students.

If a teacher is absent, resources will be available on Google Classrooms.

In the event of the positive test from a student and the requirement of a deep clean of the school; if the school was closed down for 48 hours – there would be no expectation of online learning for staff or students during this time. Past this time frame, online learning would resume.

Reports

Semester One reports are now available online via PAM (Parent Access Module). These reports reflect students’ progress during Terms One and the Remote Learning Period (Term Two). 

Further information regarding each of the Assessment Tasks undertaken is available on SIMON Learning Areas. If you have any queries on the information in your child’s report, please contact the relevant subject teacher.

Year 12 Calibration Period – Unit 3 Assessments conclude officially today

Due to Covid-19, all Unit 3/4 study designs were updated to reflect a reduction in course requirements and the official exam periods and assessment dates were extended slightly. 

The general feedback from senior teachers, indicated that these changes were minimal and a period of calibration has been important to ensure each of our students have been supported to meet the Unit 3 outcomes.

During the end of Term Two and the first week this term, Unit 3/4 teachers have spent time conducting assessments and validating results obtained during the Remote Learning Period. Some assessments conducted late last week as part of this progress will be updated on the reports within the next fortnight.

Learning Habits

To more accurately reflect the learning undertaken on site and remotely in Semester One, the Work Habits have been updated to Learning Habits which reflect student learning in both contexts. These new habits have also included elements from the Victorian Curriculum F-10 Personal and Social Capability.

In each subject, students receive feedback on the development of these learning habits from ‘Requires Improvement’ to ‘Excellent’;

• Organisation, self-management and perseverance
• Positive attitude and engagement
• Meeting deadlines

A rubric which describes these levels of achievement is available from SIMON Knowledge Banks/ Assessment & Reporting/ Learning Habits Descriptors.

2021 VCE VCAL & VET Subject Selections 

Selections have commenced for all current Year 10 students

Current Year 10 students have started the process of VCE, VCAL & VET subject selections this week. As part of this process, students will be encouraged to speak with their current Year 10 subject teachers in choosing appropriate pathways.

The resources made available to students can be viewed via PAM Knowledge Banks/Subject Selections. Year 10 Careers teachers and Faculty Leaders are supporting this process through classes and the following events.

Subject Selections sessions next week:

Monday 27th July Period 4 – all Year 10 Career classes in the East Stadium (subject Area presentations, exploring the resource options)

Wednesday 29th July Period 2 – all Year 10 students in the East Stadium (subject area presentations, filling out subject selections and opportunities to speak with specialist staff)

2021 VCE/VCAL & VET Information Evening has been cancelled.

Given the current circumstances around Covid-19, the 2021 VCE/VCAL & VET Information evening will not go ahead. To assist Year 10 students with their selections during this period, additional information sessions have been scheduled during school time and supported through Careers classes. Once these student information sessions have been held, a video recording will be made available to families via PAM. Families are encouraged to contact staff to discuss selections if they have any questions. A list of ‘Who to see about what’ regarding the selections can be accessed from PAM Knowledge Banks/Subject Selections.

Subject Selections for all current Year 11 students for Year 12 will commence within the next fortnight.

All subject selections will be due on Monday 7th September (Week 9, Term 3).

Mrs Yvette Colquhoun 

Director of Studies