Senior School

Welcome Back

Welcome back to all students and staff.  I hope you had a pleasant, relaxing and productive holiday, and had a chance to ‘recharge the batteries’ ready for what will be a very important Term.  

CONGRATULATIONS TO MONASH SCHOLARS PROGRAM RECIPIENTS!

We are very pleased to announce that the following students from Frankston High School have been offered a place in the Monash Scholars Class of 2017-2019:

Lan Li

Rui Chen

Victoria Middlebrook

Monash Scholars is a prestigious program for high achieving secondary school students. The program is offered by Monash University to give potential students a unique head start into university life. It will provide opportunities for personal and academic development, give students the knowledge, skills and confidence to make the right study choices and enable them to build a network of peers, academic, and employment contacts.

We wish these students all the best with this exciting opportunity, which I am sure will enhance their VCE and University experiences.

YEAR 12 EXAMS

Thank you to Year 12 teachers who provided our students with the opportunity to complete mid-year exams for Unit 3 studies towards the end of Term 2.  I recognise and appreciate the extra work involved by teachers in the setting and marking of these exams, which provides valuable feedback to students on their progress and learning to date.  These exam results will be distributed to students in early August.

 I would like to thank Mrs Bev Valentine (our Chief Supervisor) for overseeing the supervision of the exams, as well as Ms Nicole Filippou and Ms Kelly Mitchell who helped oversee the management of the students.  All supervisors were very impressed with our students’ work ethic and behaviour over the exam period.

YEAR 11 EXAMS

Thank you to Mrs Ellen D’Ambra and Mr Con Neratzoglou for organising the end of semester Year 11 exams.  The students’ behaviour was exemplary, and examination certificates will be distributed to students in early August.

SEMESTER ONE REPORTS

End of semester reports were available to parents to view via Compass on Friday 30 June (last day of Term 2).  It is important for parents to read through and discuss the report with their child, and devise and implement strategies together to further improve student learning outcomes.

Parent Student Teacher Conferences for Years 7-12 will be held on Wednesday 6 September. Interim reports will be available the week prior on Tuesday 29 August so these can be used as the starting point of the conversation, ensuring students and parents get valuable feedback.

SENIOR SCHOOL PARENT INFORMATION NIGHT – 2018 VCE COURSE SELECTION AND SUBJECT EXPO

A comprehensive parent information night was held on Wednesday 19 July to assist students and parents in course selections and mapping a future learning pathway, with a record number of people in attendance.  A mini expo was held where department heads and representatives showcased their senior school subjects and answered student and parent enquiries.  A summary of VCE and VET studies and the course counselling process was explained.

I would like to thank the parents and students who attended this program.  In addition, I would like to thank the department heads and the Senior School Coordination team headed by Mrs Ellen D’Ambra for providing invaluable information and assistance on the night.  I would also like to thank Mrs Carolyn Walsh, our Careers Practitioner, for her planning and organising of the night.

YEAR 11 AND YEAR 12 COURSE SELECTION 2018

Year 10 and Year 11 students have been provided with information concerning 2018 course selections.  This can be a daunting yet exciting process where students begin to make decisions that will help steer their future pathway.  Year 10 students will meet with their parents and a course counsellor to finalise their Year 11 courses.  These interview times are being held over the following days: Tuesday 25 July, Thursday 27 July, Thursday 3 August and Tuesday 8 August.  Bookings must be made online via Compass.

Year 11 students will participate in the course counselling process on Tuesday August 8, Thursday August 10, Tuesday August 15 and Thursday August 17.  Students who wish to make major changes to their original VCE program and not just drop a subject (eg: picking up subject/s in Year 12 without doing them in Year 11) need to have a parent/guardian to have their course reviewed by a course counsellor.  This is to ensure they make the best informed decision, have a successful outcome in Year 12 and ensure they can move into their chosen pathway beyond Frankston High School.  Students and parents/guardians are also most welcome to have their course reviewed, even if their course is not going to change.

If students or parents/guardians have any enquiries, you are most welcome to contact the Year 11 Coordinators (Mrs Ellen D’Ambra and Mr Con Neratzoglou), the Year 12 Coordinators (Ms Nicole Filippou or Ms Kelly Mitchell) or the Careers Practitioner (Mrs Carolyn Walsh) or myself.

 VTAC SELECTIONS 2018

This term Year 12 students begin the important process of preparing their Victorian Tertiary Admission Centre (VTAC) selections for next year.  Information, guidance and assistance will be available in iSupport sessions over the next few weeks and from Mrs Carolyn Walsh.  A VTAC Parent Information Night will be held on Thursday 24 August at 7.00 pm in the Senior School Presentation Area.

YEAR 12 END OF YEAR EXAMS – SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER HOLIDAYS

Frankston High School is conducting Year 12 end-of-year exams during the September holidays.  The exams will commence on Thursday 28 September and will conclude on Thursday 5 October. No exams will be taking place on Friday 29 September (Grand Final Public Holiday) or over the weekend (Saturday 30 September and Sunday October 1).

The advantages of this practice are clear, including:  ensuring students utilise their September/October holidays for revision; opportunities for our students to maximise their success/results; maximising class revision time in Term 4 where teachers can address areas of concern in student performance and exam technique; and it provides opportunities for students to hone exam techniques and practices.

 It is our expectation that Year 12 students would devote the third Term holiday period to revise and study in preparation for these examinations and the final VCAA examinations.  These examinations will be conducted under VCAA and Frankston High School guidelines.  Final examination timetables will be distributed next week.  These exams are compulsory and full school uniform is required.

FIT TO DRIVE PROGRAM – YEAR 11

Year 11 students will be participating in the compulsory Fit to Drive program on Tuesday 1 August.  This will take place during Periods 1 – 4. Periods 0, 5 & 6 will be running as normal.

STUDENTS DRIVING TO SCHOOL

Students w