Need to Know
Congratulations to all Year 11 and 12 students who are almost at the end of their examination period. I have been so impressed to see students at school seeking help from teachers and submitting practice exams in-between their exams. I know it will be a huge relief to have the VCAA exams over, and I wish to state again how proud I am of our students for their attention to their goals and their studies. My wish is that each and every one of our students is able to achieve their goal, whether that be a university placement, a TAFE course, employment or an apprenticeship. I am really looking forward to celebrating the achievements of our Class of 2022 at Graduation next Thursday night.
Important Term 4 dates
7-18 November Year 11 exams
11-18 November Year 10 exams
16 November Lockdown drill (exams will not be affected)
17 November Year 12 Graduation
21-25 November Year 11 and Year 12 (2023) Orientation Program
28 Nov -2 Dec Year 10 Workshop Week
30 November Year 7 HPV Vaccination
2 December Year 10 last day
12 December Presentation Night
13 December Year 7 2023 Orientation Day
14 December Years 7-9 Big Day In (St Helena Fair)
15-19 December Redemption days for students with unsatisfactory academic results
Term 1 2023
30 January First day for students
2-3 February Year 12 Study Camp (Portsea)*
13-15 February Vocational Major students sailing camp 1*
15-17 February Vocational Major students sailing camp 2*
15 February Swimming Carnival
20-22 February Year 7 Camp 1
22-24 February Year 7 Camp 2
7 March Athletics Carnival
10 March Whole school photo day
13 March Labor Day Public Holiday
15-24 March Naplan testing
30 March Year 7 HPV Dip Vaccination
30 March Showcase evening
6 April Last day of Term 1
*to be confirmed
Vale Mr Martin Edgar
Most of you will be aware that early this week we lost our long term colleague, teacher, friend and mentor Mr Martin Edgar after a brief illness. Martin started at St Helena in 2005, and has been a stalwart of our English faculty, particularly the Year 12 English team. A cultured and intelligent man, Martin had a sharp wit and an enviable breadth of knowledge. For several years, including through lockdown, he gathered a team of staff every lunchtime to tackle "The Age" quiz. Following his retirement just prior to lockdown, Martin continued to be an integral member of staff as a casual replacement teacher. He had a strong sense of social justice, and a huge belief in the importance of education and state education in particular. We will miss this genuinely decent man.
College Review
We will be undergoing our 4-yearly review towards the end of Term 1 next year. In the meantime, we are taking a deep dive into our data to evaluate where we have done well, and where we need to put our resources and effort into improvement over the life of the next 4 year Strategic Plan. As well as analysing our data, we will be seeking input from parents, students and staff. You will be invited to participate in surveys, focus groups and discussions - we really appreciate your input and I thank you in advance for your constructive feedback.
Increase in Covid cases
You have probably read that we are experiencing a surge in Covid cases across the state. We have certainly seen a considerable increase here. Please do not send your child to school if they are unwell, even if they have not tested positive for Covid. Other viruses and illnesses can still spread other students and staff, making them feel unwell and have to take time away from work or school.
The current advice is for students who test positive to stay away from school for five days from a positive RAT, or when symptoms have disappeared, whichever is the longer.
Parent/teacher conferences 2023 - proposal
Following considerable input from parents, students and staff, and taking into account the changes to pupil free days etc for next year, the following proposal is currently up for discussion. If you have any input to this, please email me at AskLeadership@sthelena.vic.edu.au
In 2023, Year 7 students will have a Form teacher who is also their Strive teacher.
Years 8-12 will be taught Strive by a teacher with a passion for the type of curriculum covered by Strive, and will be allocated a Form teacher who also teaches their class. This is to get greater fidelity and engagement in Strive classes. Thus, the focus and structure of the Strive interviews needs to change.
Transition Interviews
During Term 4, Year 7 Form/Strive teachers for the following year will facilitate transition interviews for the incoming students. This is to enable the form teachers to get to know their students well before they start with us in 2023.
Report discussions - proposal only
The College is required to provide biannual opportunities for parents and students to discuss the report. Because St Helena subscribes to continuous reporting, but “publishes” progress reports and summative reports twice yearly, parent/teacher report discussions will be held at the end of Term 1/start of Term 2 and the end of Term 3/start of Term 4 to give an opportunity to discuss the formative assessment (progress report) and put strategies in place if required before the summative report (semester report).
Parents will be encouraged to bring questions regarding their child’s progress rather than teachers giving a verbal report of the student’s progress (which is already represented in the published report.) Parents will have the ability to make appointments with any or all of their child's subject teachers.
To give parents flexibility to attend interviews, it is proposed that the report discussions will run as follows:
Report Discussion Day 1: (Face to face)
From 12.30 pm – 7.30 pm, by appointment. (pupil free day)
Report Discussion Day 2: (Webex)
From 1.30 pm – 4.20 pm, by appointment. (students will be dismissed at 1.00 pm).
Year 9 and 10 Pathways/Subject Selection Conferences
Will be held in the middle of the year at an appropriate time for the Pathways processes, and facilitated by the Pathways Team.
Student goal setting and review will still be undertaken, but in Strive classes.
Please send feedback to AskLeadership@sthelena.vic.edu.au
Parent Forum
Next week's Education & Student Wellbeing Committee meeting will be in the form of a parent forum. The parent forum is part of the Department of Education (DET) process for all state government schools when they undertake their regular four-yearly school review. The parent input provided will contribute to St Helena Secondary College's review which will take place throughout Term 1 in 2023. The forum will start at 6.30 pm on Monday 21st November 2022.
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Microsoft Teams meeting
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