Senior School Report
Senior School Report
Remote learning definitely provides its challenges and the Senior School team has been impressed by the remarkable job our students have done to adapt as best they can to remote learning and to make progress in their studies. The Senior School team and teachers are committed to supporting students, so please reach out when needed. It is important for students to maintain a balance with breaks from studies, physical exercise and connections to family and friends. It is also very important to receive adequate sleep at night as sleep can be a major contributor to a person’s resilience.
We encourage students to focus on the things that they can control, focus on the positives and keep moving forward!
Knox Government Secondary Schools VCE Revision Program - September 2021
The Knox government secondary schools are proud to offer an extensive Year 12 VCE Revision Program for all students enrolled in VCE Units 3 and 4 studies. This program will be conducted online between Monday September 20 - Friday September 24 (during the term break). VCE revision programs of this quality are expensive, but this fantastic opportunity for our students is at no cost to parents. All students completing scored VCE Units 3 and 4 studies are expected to attend.
The program will include online lectures by experienced presenters for many of the studies our school offers, and access to additional online sessions for English, EAL and Maths. Students will receive excellent resources in the form of information packs prepared by each of the presenters. Students have been informed of the program schedule and further information will be provided leading up to the program.
VCAA (Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority) Updates - 20 August 2021
The VCAA provided schools with updated advice on Friday 20 August.
Note: All arrangements for assessments are subject to public health advice, and the epidemiological situation at the time.
GAT (General Achievement Test)
The GAT will be held on Thursday 9 September from 10am to 1.15pm. Schools will be provided with the most up-to-date health and safety requirements for conducting the GAT. Students required to sit the GAT will receive further instructions closer to the day of the GAT.
School-based Assessments
School-based essential assessments that cannot be conducted remotely will be organised onsite at school from Monday 30 August in groups of no more than 10 students at a time. The college will receive advice and implement additional health controls developed with the Department of Health to ensure on-site essential assessments can be conducted safely. Students (and parents / carers) required to attend school for on-site assessments will be informed of the date, time and requirements by the Head of Senior School, Mr Tony Stirling.
VCE examinations
VCE written and performance exam dates will remain as originally set – with performance and oral exams scheduled to begin on Monday 4 October, and written exams to run until Wednesday 17 November. Course and examination content will remain unchanged. The VCAA examination timetable is available at: https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/administration/Key-dates/Pages/VCE-exam-timetable.aspx
Consideration of Educational Disadvantage
The VCAA will use the Consideration of Educational Disadvantage (CED) process to finalise VCE results in 2021. The CED process accounts for the disruption to student learning caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. It applies to every student completing one or more VCE or scored VCE VET Unit 3–4 sequences in 2021, including Year 11 students. It restores a student's results to where they would have been without the disruptions that have occurred throughout the year and makes sure that final VCE results are valid and fair for all students. Every student will be considered through the CED.
METEC Driver Training- VCAL
On Thursday 15 July, the Year 12 VCAL class and some Year 11 VCAL students went on an excursion to METEC in Bayswater North. It was a great experience, as the majority of us had never driven before. METEC was the best place to learn to drive as it was safe, providing non-public roads and qualified driving instructors. Each driving instructors accommodated individual student’s abilities, knowledge and confidence, leading to an improvement to our driving skills.
Angelina Nulliah, Year 11
METEC was a great experience, the instructors taught us how to drive properly and I learned how to parallel park and how to steer the steering wheel properly. I also learned that cars that were made after 2012 have better safety equipment. It is important to have a car that has airbags that surround occupants, has traction control and all the modern safety features.
Michael Fankhauser 11
I thought the excursion was great as I’m wanting to drive soon and get my L plates. I learned about the signs around the roads and about the safety of newer cars. After the theory session, we were able to drive around the course. It was interesting to be behind the wheel of a car and have control. It’s given me an insight of what it will be like to drive on my own.
Jaidyn Steele 12
Year 12 VCE Visit to Ormand College, University of Melbourne
Traditionally, Year 12 students would start off their school year with a 2-day residential study camp at Ormond College, on the University of Melbourne’s Parkville campus. This traditionally involves an overnight stay in the Ormond College’s dorm rooms, and workshops to equip students with the knowledge and skills, to set themselves goals to tackle their final year of schooling. However, this year the program was altered due to Ormond College being unable to accommodate us at the start of the year because of Covid restrictions. This resulted in the program being split into two days over the year.
Day 1 of the program took place at the Waterman Business Centre in Scoresby in February and Day 2 kicked off Term 3 with the Year 12 VCE cohort embarking on a program at Ormond College. The day started off with a wellbeing workshop by a guest speaker from Headspace. This workshop helped us to understand mental health, and how we can benefit from a little more mental fitness. The workshop was very helpful in providing many tips to help us cope with the stress and rigors of Year 12. Following the workshop, we were then given the opportunity to explore the University of Melbourne and Ormond College with many of us being fascinated by its rich history. We had lunch in the Grand Dining Hall at Ormond College and then continued our self-guided explorations before our next workshop. The second workshop was presented by an expert guest speaker on scoring and assessment in VCE to help us understand how the ATAR is calculated and how students can maximise their results.
The day was an amazing experience, and we would like to give many thanks to Ms Manioudakis, Mr Stirling and Ms Haines for organising the program.
Bonnie Collins and Tatira Tatira, Year 12
Mr Tom Santos,
Year 10 Co-ordinator
Tom.Tsantlogianis@education.vic.gov.au
Mr Jake Barnett
Year 11 Co-ordinator
Jake.Barnett@education.vic.gov.au
Ms Vicki Manioudakis
Year 12 Co-ordinator
Vicki.Manioudakis@education.vic.gov.au
Mr Tony Stirling
Head of Senior School