Assistant Principals
Unscored VCE: Myth Busting
Due to recent stories in the media about unscored VCE programs we have had a spate of inquiries from students and parents about this as an option for year 12. With the course selection process coming up in term 3 it is important that students understand what is possible within the VCE and that we bust some of the myths and misunderstandings about completing an unscored VCE.
Myth One: An unscored VCE is an alternative course to a standard VCE.
The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) offers two year 12 qualifications these are the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) and the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning. The VCAA does not recognise an unscored VCE as an alternative. Teachers are required to submit a score for all School Based Assessments and School Based Tasks for all students enrolled in VCE Unit 3 and 4 subjects.
Students who do not sit the November Unit 3/4 exams will not get an ATAR score from the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC). The ATAR score is a ranking that tells students where they finish in relation to all other students who undertook VCE in that year. Students will still receive a study score (from VCAA) for each subject they complete.
Myth Two: An unscored VCE means a student does not do any school assessments.
The study design for each subject identifies Learning Outcomes that students must be able to demonstrate by the end of the unit. Depending on the subject, these learning outcomes will most likely cover knowledge, understanding and skills. Teachers use a range of strategies to assess learning outcomes including: class contributions, classwork activities, homework activities, school assessed coursework (SACs) and school assessed tasks (SATs). The teacher needs to be able to authenticate the learning for the students. This means the student needs to be able to demonstrate they have done the work independently. In most cases the teacher will need to see the student complete the work before their eyes. For this reason many SACs and complete under test conditions.
Within this structure teachers have the capacity to modify student assessments however teachers are still required to enter a score for all SACs for each student.
Myth Three: Students who are taking a gap year don't need an ATAR score.
Some students may choose to apply for university or TAFE and, after enrolment, opt to defer their place for 12 months. This is known as a gap year. In order to be offered the place in the first instance students need to have an ATAR score that meets the required limits for this course.
Sometimes students aren't clear about what they wish to do when they finish year 12 and take and extended break to 'find themselves" before committing to something. Should they wish to apply for university or TAFE the following year they will still be required to have an ATAR score with the range for the nominated course.
Myth Four: There are lots of courses that are accessible without an ATAR score.
It is true that there are some courses that do not have an ATAR score as an entry requirement. These courses do, however, have other requirements for enrolment such as:
- Interview panels
- Portfolios and work samples
- Entrance exams
- Non government assisted fees
Students need to be aware that the range and number of course options is reduced dramatically for students who do not have an ATAR score.
Myth Five: I don't need an ATAR score, I know the course I am doing and they will accept me.
Nobody has a place in a course until you have an offer in writing. Courses change from year to year and a course that is available when a student is in Year 11 might not exist when they are in Year 12 or might have changed its requirements.
Additionally some courses are over subscribed. When this is the case the educational organisation will require some form of system for working out who is in and who is out, this may include results from VCE.
Myth Six: I don't need an ATAR score as I will apply as an adult at 21 years of age.
Some courses do have an adult entry that does not require an ATAR score, however they usually require the applicant to be able to demonstrate they have the capacity to undertake the course. Sometimes this is attained through completion of a bridging course.
Again, the number of courses accessible without an ATAR score is reduced.
The Upshot
The advice from VCAA regarding this situation is that the exams uphold the integrity of the VCE and that students who do not wish to do them should be considering the VCAL as their alternative course. However, we understand that there are some students who, for their own personal reasons, would like to complete VCE without exams. Where this is the case we will be inviting the student and their parent to engage in Pathways discussion with Mr Phil Newnham and/or Mrs Dina Mingos to discuss the intended and unintended consequences of such a course prior to any final decision.
‘About You’ Survey!
What is ‘About You’?
‘About You’ is a survey of Victoria’s young people, conducted by Colmar Brunton on behalf of the Department of Education and Training. The About You survey takes place in Victorian schools and collects essential information on the health, wellbeing, learning and safety of young people aged 12 to 17.
Government schools with students in year 7, 8, 10 and 11 are being invited to participate in the survey in 2019. The information collected will assist in the development of programs, resources and services aimed at meeting the needs of young Victorians.
Who will participate?
All students in year 7, 8, 10 and 11 will be invited to participate in the survey from our school.
The Year 11 students will do the survey on Friday 21st June. Year 7, 8 and 10 students will do the survey in Term 3. More information about the date of this will be available early in Term 3.
It is up to you and your child as to whether they take part. An information letter explaining the background and content of the survey, along with a refusal-of-consent form will be sent to your email address. This will occur for parents of Year 11 students early next week. If you do not want your child to be included in the study you should return the refusal-of-consent form to the school. All responses are voluntary and students can opt out at any time.
For further information, please contact Gillian Davenport at the Department of Education and Training via
email AboutYou.Survey@edumail.vic.gov.au or Andrew Lewis at the College onlew@wantirnacollege.vic.edu.au
Addams Family
The past couple of weeks have really showcased how talented everyone within the Addams Family cast is!
Now that rehearsals have fully kicked off everyone has been getting involved. Whether it’s learning dances, blocking scenes, going over lines or simply helping out, everyone has been putting in an immense amount of hard work.
On the 25th May, we had our first Saturday rehearsal which enabled us to begin running the show. We were able to put together the individual pieces that we had been working on. It was exciting to see the show evolving from its modest beginnings at Production Camp to now. Not only were we running the show with new dances and songs but we were also seeing possibilities for costumes and lighting. This really livened up the atmosphere as we got a glimpse of how amazing the show is going to be.
Since then the dedication of our production family has not lessened. With every rehearsal we are improving and becoming increasingly ambitious as the opening night approaches!
Please come and support the production family by purchasing tickets to the upcoming Alumni Show “You Can’t Sit With Us”
Its going to be SO FETCH!
- Sammy Albach
“Inspiring to witness people growing in confidence” - Kaiya Dod Yr 12
“My favourite part of production is meeting new people” - Nic Schulte Yr 7
Winter Uniform Blues
The mild weather lasted so long this year that when the cold snap came through over the last two weeks many of us were taken by surprise. It seems we had forgotten how cold cold can be.
As a result of the cold weather we are seeing students trying to stretch the boundaries in relation to school uniform. Since the year 10 exams we have seen a strong pattern of girls in the Later Years wearing track pants instead of school pants claiming that there are no school pants available. Please be aware the the uniform shop has plenty of school pants in stock in the full range of sizes. At $30 per pair, machine washable and in good quality warm fabric, they are the perfect option.
The new rugby jumper has been a big seller and looks terrific on the students. It is certainly a warmer option than just wearing the spray jackets as some students are opting to do. WE encourage students to layer up, with long sleeved t shirts, thermal singlets, rugby jumper and/or school jumper and school jacket. Students may also wear a scarf in school uniform collars, navy blue, maroon or white. Students using a lack of layers as an excuse to wear a hoodie has been a common sight, however there are ample warm options students can choose from in the range of uniform items available.
Teachers are persisting in monitoring school uniform through the distribution of uniform passes and demerit points but we need your support. If we can work together to monitor what uniform (or non uniform) choices students are making then we are more likely to have success.
Catherine Ford, Shane Kruger and
Andrew Lewis
Assistant Principals