Senior School
Welcome Senior School
It has been a great start to 2023 for our Senior School students as we welcome our Year 9 students to Senior School for the very first time.
Over 950 students across Years 9 to 12 have settled well into the school year, demonstrating a positive, calm and productive start to their classes and, importantly, their learning. It was great to see the busy hive of activity throughout our recent Transition Day, which saw our Year 12 students buddy up with our new Year 7 students to take part and assist in a school wide tour and scavenger hunt.
We have been overwhelmed with positive feedback from our teachers who have indicated how well our 9 -12 students have started the year. Our Senior School students should be commended on the way they have conducted themselves over the first two weeks of the school Term.
From uniform, attendance, engagement, and completion of holiday homework, we would like to say thank you to our VCE and VM students for starting the year exactly how we wanted. Hopefully we can continue to see this level of commitment across the rest of 2023.
Our Senior School team have been busy behind the scenes creating opportunities for 2023 where students across 9 – 12 can flourish. The following themes for each year level have been created to enable this to occur:
Year 9 = Believe
Year 10 = Discover
Year 11 = Grit
Year 12 = Achieve.
VCE Information Evening Monday 13 February
The College warmly invites parents and students to our upcoming VCE Information Evening on Monday 13 February, 6pm to 7:30pm at the College Theatre. The information night is for current VCE students (including early start students) and parents.
In our experience, we have found that success in Year 12 is best accomplished when the student and their family work together with school staff during these important years. This information evening will discuss important VCE policies and procedures, including strategies parents can use to assist their child to reach their full potential.
Additionally, Elevate Education will be making a short presentation on how parents can support their child during VCE. Members of the principal team will also discuss many of the positive changes that are happening across the College to further support students in their learning at VCE.
Finally, you will hear insights from a panel made up of current and ex VCE students, a VCE parent, members of the Senior School team, including our Careers and Pathways practitioner and Assistant Principal in a Q&A style forum. We would like all our Year 11 and 12 parents to attend this evening.
If you are planning on attending the VCE information night, please fill out the following form here.
Year 11 & 12 VCE Study Periods
There are no free periods at Wantirna College. Students have scheduled classes or study periods.
All VCE students (Year 11 & 12) have an early finish every Wednesday to allow our VCE/VET students to attend their VET course. As such, VCE students are permitted to leave school at lunch each Wednesday - no timetabled classes are scheduled during period 4. Students are encouraged to use this time effectively for study.
As per our VCE policy, Year 12 VCE students are permitted to arrive late for period 1 or leave early for period 4 if they have study periods during this time. Students are strongly encouraged to use this time to undertake active study.Students may not take study periods that occur in the middle of the school day off-site (period 2 and 3). They may only leave the school grounds during the day if they have an early leavers pass or have exited via the Health Centre / General Office.
When students have a study period, or their teacher is absent, the expectation is they will be studying. The Senior Centre, Pathways Hub and Library is available for VCE students to use during these periods.
The College does not cover Year 12 classes when the teacher is absent. If this occurs students must remain onsite studying in the Senior Centre, Pathways Hub or Library including period 1 and 4. Absent teachers will leave work on Compass or their Class OneNote Notebook for students to complete. If the teacher has been unable to do this, then students should be able to undertake their own revision and self-directed learning for that time at school.
Year 11 students must be on-site at the college for the full school day, including those who have study periods. Year 11 students must attend the Senior Centre for their study period to undertake private study.
VCAA, VCE & VM Policies and Expectations
Over the coming weeks we will be providing further information through assemblies, parent information evening, VCE/VM student handbooks and our digital platforms, particularly to our Year 11 and 12 students around important VCAA and VCE / VM college policies and procedures. This is to ensure all students feel supported and understand the requirements and expectations of the VCE, VM and VET so they can flourish and succeed throughout the year.
VCE Boost Kicks off for 2023 for our VCE students
Every Thursday
3:10pm – 4:30pm
Senior Centre / Pathways Hub
All VCE students, including
Early Start, welcome!
Student can work in study groups, get additional support and feedback from VCE teachers or use this time for self-directed learning and study . Cheese toasties on offer for all students in attendance.
All Year 12 students who attend go into the draw for a Term prize (Exam revision session of their choice valued at $100). The more times students attend, the more chances of winning!
2023 Senior School Team:
Senior Centre Mural
At the end of last year, we were fortunate enough to have artist, Shaun Thomas, complete a mural for us in the Senior Centre (pictured above). The theme of the mural is to 'Dream big and discover your own path'. The mural depicts the footsteps that our young people take, and the many paths that are open to them.
Tim Pearson, David Black
& Darren Hoogkamer
Senior School Leaders