From the Principal 

Exams & Reports

The last week of the term has arrived and as usual Fairhills High School is a hive of activity.  As part of their VCE studies the Year 12 students have recently completed the General Achievement Test (GAT). These test results form an important part of their assessment for the year, and also mark the halfway point of their Year 12 journey. They continue to focus on their second semester subjects and are building towards the final exams in late October.

Our Year 11 students have completed their mid-year exams, and have moved into their second semester subjects. Staff have been busy marking these exams and have used these results in preparing the Year 11 reports the students will receive on Thursday 23rd June. The Year 10 students have almost completed their first semester exams. For many of these students these have been the first group of exams they have had to revise for, however the students have been fully focused and prepared to do their best. Learning how best to organise and prepare for exams is an important skill for their future VCE studies. These exam results will also form part of the Year 10 reports which will be distributed to students on Friday 22nd July (along with the reports for Year 7, 8 and 9 students)

Mobile Phone Policy

Discussion around the school mobile telephone policy has occurred in a number of student, staff and parent forums this term. As a result there has been a new policy drafted with changes made to the procedures, and this was ratified at the last School Council meeting. All students have been informed of these changes at level assemblies this week. 

At Fairhills we want the focus of a student to be on the learning occurring in the classroom. We know that electronic devices, like phones and ipods, can sometimes be a distraction, and so the key element of the updated policy is that no student should have their phone out in class, unless they are given a direct instruction by the teacher. We acknowledge that the phone can be a useful learning tool in some areas. For example a Food Technology teacher might instruct the students to use their phones to take photographs of the stages in preparing the meal and of their finished product. Unless they are given such instructions the phone should be on silent and kept out of sight in the classroom.

Students can choose to leave their phones in their lockers during class time.  Parents can assist teachers and students by being aware of recess and lunch times and trying to contact students by phone during these times. The new policy is provided as an attachment to the newsletter below.

School Musical Production Rehearsal Camp

Rehearsals for this year’s musical production “The Addams Family” are in full swing, and all reports are that the show is coming together really well. Thirty-seven members of the production team, support crew and cast spent a productive weekend together at Camp Oasis in Mt.Evelyn on June 18th and 19th. The camp allowed the team to focus on their singing and acting skills under the leadership of Ms Sarah Power (our Theatre Studies teacher and the Musical’s Director) and Ms Anita Chipman (the Producer). A big thank you to the staff involved in supporting the weekend; Ms Liz Rundle and Ms Elke Hayen. We look forward to viewing the production on September 1st, 2nd and 3rd – get in early to book your tickets through Trybooking.com.

Paul Donaldson

Associate Principal