SENIOR SCHOOL

Dear Senior School Parents/Carers and Students

Senior School Exams

Senior School students will be undertaking their Year 11 mid-year exams (31 May-8 June) or their Year 12 Assessment Week (2 June-8 June). Exam timetables are accessible via Compass newsfeed.

Students are encouraged to set high expectations for their achievement and seek support from their teachers – Optima Semper. The Senior Sub School Team, Year 11 Agency Teachers or Year 12 Mentors are also available to help students with advice about study skills, exam preparation and positively managing stress. Year 12 students, please ensure you have added your assessment dates to your wall planners. 

The Wellbeing Team will be offering stress management and exam preparation workshops at lunchtime in Weeks 4, 5 and 6 (15 May-2 June) leading into and during exams. Please speak with Ms Claudia Tymms or Mrs Mel Donegan from Wellbeing Team or the Senior Sub School. This will appear on your Compass as a reminder, the sessions are opt-in only.

General Achievement Test (GAT) |  Thursday 15 June 2023

The GAT assesses student skills in Mathematics, Science, Technology, The Arts and Humanities. 

Students who study a Unit 3/4 VCE or VCE VM are expected to sit the GAT. If a student is studying VCE VM Unit 3/4 they are required to complete Section A only.

Before the GAT, all enrolled students will have an exam briefing to outline all important information and to provide them with tips for completing the GAT. More detailed information about the GAT can be found HERE.

Compass As A Platform To Monitor Your Students’ Learning And Attendance Progress

Our online learning platform, Compass, is where we report student progress and growth. This has a lot of valuable feedback for families to engage with. It shares attendance, reports, Learning Tasks, SAC results, Letters of Concern and impending ‘N’s. 

We encourage all students and their parents/carers to frequently access this information to identify positive growth, monitor progress and identify areas that require attention. 

Study 

If you are looking for some evidence-based study strategies to reinforce at home, included below is some resources worth a look:

• Exam tips from high achieving Year 12 students: Exam tips from high-achieving Year 12s | this. (deakin.edu.au)
• Top 10 exam tips: How to Study For Exams | Exam Tips | Youth Central
• Top 10 study tips: Study Tips | Study Techniques | Study Help | Youth Central 
• 7 evidence based study strategies: 7 Evidence-Based Study Strategies (And How to Use Each) (medschoolinsiders.com)

Attendance Requirement In The VCE Or VCE VM

Families are reminded that the minimum attendance requirement is 90% to be eligible for a Satisfactory (‘S’) result for an Outcome in VCE and VCE-VM. Students, Parents and Carers can check attendance via Compass. Teachers use the VCE % column (on Compass) to check if a student meets the attendance requirement. 

It is important to note, if a parent/carer ‘explains’ an absence via Compass, this does not automatically make it VCE complaint. VCE compliant absences include absences supported by a medical certificate, school incursions and excursions, statutory declaration. 

If a student is below 90% attendance, they can apply for Redemption which runs Thursday afternoons 2.25pm – 3.15pm on the Senior Campus in Rooms 303 and 304. Students should see their Year Level Coordinators, Mrs Mciver in the Senior School Office or their classroom teachers to assign them to redemption. All Unit 1 and 3 attendance must be redeemed by the end of Week 8 this term, Friday 16 June. Please note: there is no appeal process. 

Attitude to School Survey (AtoSS)

We value student voice as a means to improving student engagement, wellbeing and quality teaching and are conducting a survey to find out what your child thinks of their time at school.

The AtoSS is an annual student survey offered by the Department of Education to assist schools to gain an understanding of students' perceptions and experience of school. Students will be asked about their thoughts and feelings in relation to their school, their learning, peer relationships, resilience, bullying, health and wellbeing, physical activity, and life in general. 

This year, the AtoSS will be conducted:

• Year 11: during English classes in Week 5 (22 May-26 May) 
• Year 12: during Voice mentoring sessions in Weeks 4 and 5 (15 May-26 May)

Year 12 Formal

Date: Thursday 8 June

Time: 6.30pm–10.30pm

Venue: Cranbourne Racecourse

Cost: $80

This will be a cocktail style event. Attire is to be formal.

Year 11 Formal

Date: Friday 16 June

Time: 7.00pm–10.30pm

Venue: Mornington Racecourse

Cost: $80

This will be a cocktail style event. Attire is to be formal.

Ms Tiffany Greenhill

Campus Principal

Senior School 

SENIOR SCHOOL TEAMS

The Senior School Team is here to support the student’s learning and wellbeing throughout 2023.  Please see the below table for key contacts:

If you have any concerns or questions please do not hesitate to contact any member of the teams.

IMPORTANT DATES | SENIOR SCHOOL