Senior School
Outstanding VCE results
Senior School 2020
Welcome to the Senior School for 2020!!!! We are extremely excited to have the opportunity to lead our senior students and look forward to providing them and their families with the support, guidance and enthusiasm to excel.
For many of you, we first worked together when your child enrolled with us for Year Seven as my role has previously been in the Junior School. This year I have moved into the role of Head of Senior School and I’m very pleased to introduce the passionate and experienced team of managers who will be joining me. We are all committed to the continued improvement of our school and our student outcomes and we are proud of the community we belong to.
Every senior student has been given a study tracker and marker to help them keep track of their homework and study commitments throughout their senior studies. The minimum recommended weekly hours for a Year 12 student is fifteen hours outside of school to facilitate their ability to consolidate their knowledge and understanding of course content. We understand that this can seem daunting and so the purpose of the study tracker is to help them organise those hours and celebrate their achievements
The Year 12 Manager is Wendy Jackson.
Wendy has been selected by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) as a senior examiner and resolution assessor for the English exam consecutively for the past thirty years. She is therefore a wonderful asset for our school in preparing students for their English exam and providing them with expert insight into what examiners are looking for.
The Year 11 Manager is Amanda Todd.
Amanda has taught VCE Biology for the past 31 years and has been involved with the evaluation, production and feedback of commercially produced curriculum publications. She has formed strong connections with our Year 11 cohort and is looking forward to guiding them towards a successful senior experience.
The Year 10 Manager is Shelley Morley.
Shelley has taught Health and Human Development for many years and has consistently achieved excellent results for her classes. She is dedicated to providing her students with everything they need to consolidate their learning and is always looking for new ways to deliver course content.
Each of our Senior School leaders have been involved in student management for many years and bring a wealth of knowledge to our team.
The VCAL Coordinator is Aidan Hogg.
Aidan is extremely passionate about the opportunities VCAL provides for students who have a clear goal to work in industry. He is committed to ensuring that all students are supported in their chosen pathway and connect with community businesses. Aidan has coordinated our VCAL program before and is excited about the new opportunities this year will bring.
Together we will work to resolve any concerns brought to us and ensure that every student has the opportunity to excel.
Chloe Jackson
Senior School Manager
Year 12 VCE News!
We have had a very positive start to the VCE academic year in Year 12. Students have begun their final year of study with enthusiasm and commitment. I am especially proud of those students who participated in the World Challenge trip and have had to complete their ‘Step-Up’ work as well as the holiday homework!
Thursday the 6th of February was a huge day for our Year 12 VCE students. This was our ‘Team Building’ day and students were involved in a range of sessions designed to empower them to be successful as well as having some fun along the way. The day began with a presentation from ‘Elevate’ representative Katie, who delivered important advice about studying, expectations as well as balancing life and VCE. Katie is an animated and engaging speaker, whom students could relate to as her own VCE journey occurred relatively recently.
This was followed by a ‘hands-on’ session with the Edrolo programme, a tool that the school has purchased to assist students with developing their knowledge and skills in various subjects, delivered by Miss Chloe Jackson.
Following these morning sessions, the group relocated to Healesville RSL where a range of speakers delivered material essential to success in VCE and involved students in a variety of activities to facilitate interaction, learning and, importantly, fun!
I am very grateful to Lisa Mathieson, Laura Mitchell, Gayle Shelley and Trent Morison for their creative contributions to our day. Students learned about balancing responsibilities, creating study groups, having a ‘critical friend’ to support them, working in teams and the successful endeavours of a number of past students. I am grateful to Daniel Glenn for providing technical support to ensure that the day ran smoothly and for taking photos of our participants. I would also like to thank Healesville RSL for providing us with an excellent venue and a delicious morning tea and lunch to keep students’ energy levels up.
If you are reading this and wondering about the Year 12 VCAL cohort, rest assured that their Team Building day is currently been developed. Once we have confirmation of guest presenters, students will be notified. We are excited about the connections that day will offer students with the world of work!
On Thursday night, we ran a parent information evening, with Katie from Elevate as the guest speaker. We were delighted with the support of parents, most of whom were able to attend in the company of their Year 12 students. Parents found the evening illuminating and went away feeling confident, I believe, about the realities of the year ahead. Miss Chloe Jackson, our Head of the Senior School and I look forward to working with our Year 12 VCE cohort during 2020 and wish them every success in their endeavours.
Wendy Jackson
Year 12 Leader
Year 12 Health and Human Development
Rain, cancelled trains and even a fallen tree did not prevent Year 11 and 12 students travelling into Melbourne early on Saturday morning to attend a Unit 3 Flying Start lecture as part of their VCE study.
This presentation was delivered by Andrew Beaumont - an experienced teacher, author of the Health and Human Development textbook and advisor to the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority. Students found the lecture informative, engaging and a valuable experience.
Thank you to Mrs Morley for accompanying the students on this excursion and Mrs Mitchell for assisting with transport.
VCE Creative Showcase
Congratulations to Sinead Long for not only her academic achievements in Studio Arts during 2019 but for being selected to exhibit her work in the Yarra Ranges VCE Creative Showcase. Sinead's artworks 'Childhood, preserved' and 'Childhood, forgotten', will both be on show at the Memo Hall from Friday 21st February till Sunday 1st March. I highly recommend a visit to see the exhibition and show your support for our emerging young artists.
Year 10 Food Technology
In the first Year 10 Food Technology production for the semester students were required to identify and demonstrate safe and hygienic work practices.
Students produced Filo Apple and Dried Fruit Fingers.
From the student feedback students both enjoyed the production and the eating of the end product!