Principal's Report 

 WELCOME BACK 

Welcome back to all staff, students and their families to Vermont Secondary College for the start of the 2023 school year. 

I would like to particularly welcome the Year 7 class of 2023 as well as students and families who are newly enrolled at the college in Years 8 to 12.  

I trust all community members had a safe and enjoyable summer break. 

The students, and staff, are to be congratulated on how well they have settled back into school life over the last two weeks given so much uncertainty over the last three years.  

Demand for enrolment in the college continues to remain high from the local community. For the fourth year running our student numbers are more than 1,500 and in 2023 we are heading towards a student population of 1,600. The Year 7 and Year 12 numbers are the largest number of students we have ever had at those two levels. 

Currently our enrolment is 1,584. See below for a breakdown of this figure:   

Year 7     - 301 

Year 8     - 265 

Year 9     - 255 

Year 10   - 259 

Year 11   -  239 

Year 12   - 265 

Total 1,584 

Unfortunately, late last year the company building our new architecturally designed Gymnasium complex consisting of two full sized basketball courts, an office space for our Physical Education/Health/Outdoor Education staff, changerooms, two classrooms, entrance foyer, storage facilities and a weights room went into receivership. While works have started, the project will need to be readvertised and tendered. We are hopeful that by mid-year the construction will start up again. 

As all funds are held by the department (DET - Department of Education and Training) and the company was only paid for works completed, our funding is safe. 

The project is funded by the State Government/Department of Education and Training (DET) and through a college contribution. 

Thank you to the families who have donated to our Library or Building fund (both tax deductible). These donations are greatly appreciated and assist us to continually maintain and improve facilities and equipment for the school community. In this case the Building fund will allow us to furnish the new gymnasium complex. We appreciate the support of the college community in helping us to support your child. Donations are always greatly gratefully accepted. 

All staff (Teachers & Education Support) look forward to the 2023 school year and working productively with our college students and families by providing a supportive, happy and stimulating educational environment. Welcome! 

VSC HOUSE SWIMMING SPORTS – WEDNESDAY 15th FEBRUARY 

A reminder that the annual VSC House swimming sports will be held on Wednesday 15th February at the Monash Aquatic Centre, 626 Waverley Road, Glen Waverley. 

ALL YEAR 7, 8 and 9 STUDENTS WILL ATTEND the swimming sports.

Regular Year 10, 11 & 12 classes will be running at VSC, apart from competitors of those three year levels..  

For full details please refer to the Sports Report in this newsletter. 

WELCOME TO NEW AND RETURNING STAFF 

I’m pleased to introduce and welcome 17 new staff and 6 returning staff members for the 2023 school year. A number of these staff started during Term Four last year or have been in the college in 2022 as part of the DET funded Tutor Program. 

TEACHING 

Alex Le-Guen - French 

Brendan West - English/English Language 

Jessie Muirden – Geography 

Amira Muhtaseb – Politics/English 

Sam Connell – Geography/Humanities 

Matthew Foo – Maths 

Bethany Leak – English/Humanities 

Songdi (Stephanie) Wang – Maths 

Alyssa Di Benedetto – Science 

Sharni Arthur – Health & Physical Education 

Leanne Sadler – Humanities 

Instrumental Music 

Tanya Bradley – Strings 

Ben Delves - Guitar 

Education Support 

Jennifer Fagarasan – Pathways 

Corinna Pirozzi – Sickbay 

Mackenzie Holiday – Grounds 

Paul White - Maintenance 

RETURNING 

Sally Barkla – Instrumental Music 

Carmela Clarke – Science/Foods 

Kathryn Binks – Science/Foods 

Jim Sioras - Maths 

Alex Nevins - Science 

Elise Spark - Maths 

VERMONT SECONDARY COLLEGE VCE 2022 RESULTS 

Vermont Secondary College is extremely pleased with our students VCE/ATAR results for the 2022 academic year. In an excellent year of results, following 3 years of major disruption to the educational program, Vermont Secondary College’s highlights include -  

Firstly, congratulations to our Dux, Juen Foh, with a study score of 99.45 closely followed by our second ranked student, Sasha Edwards, with a 98.95, then Caitlin Punithan 98.7, Ryan Choong 98.45 and Nikith Kanduri with a 98.35. Outstanding results. 

Also congratulations to Ashley Neoh who achieved a perfect 50 study score in Health and Human Development. 

45 students, of a cohort of 188, received a study score of 90 and above, placing them in the top 10% of the state. This is 23.81% of our student cohort. 

88 students, of a cohort of 188, received a study score of 80 and above, placing them in the top 20% of the state. This is 46.6% of our student cohort. 

135 students, of a cohort of 188, received a study score of 70 and above, placing them in the top 30% of the state. This is 71.43% of our student cohort. 

An outstanding result from our 2022 VCE cohort and staff especially considering their Year 10 and 11 classes were taught predominantly via remote learning with significant disruptions through last year with ongoing COVID related staff and student illness.  

The college is always extremely proud of our highest performing students, but we are equally proud of all students who have achieved individual excellence by achieving their goals. As a non-select entry school Vermont Secondary College is extremely proud of its ability to cater for all students wishing to continue on into Year 12. In some cases, a student’s result can be against extremely difficult personal circumstances. 

Congratulations to all VCE students and their families, the Senior School Leadership Team and all our Year 12 teachers on providing a quality education for our students. I also thank all staff within the college who have been involved in the teaching and development of the class of 2022 over the last six years.  

Thank you to all the Year 12 students who actively involved themselves in the student leadership program over the years. Particular thanks goes to the six House Captains for their commitment to the house system and the broader college program -  

Hotham – Zachary Port and Mandela Russell 

Macedon – Milly Moschetti and Ben Dammers 

Stirling – Beau Hesse and Olivia Hendry 

I also personally thank our two School Captains, Mandella and Zac for the way they so ably represented the college in a wide range of areas and initiatives.  

I trust students are pleased with their individual performance and that further opportunities will now be available to you so that you can pursue your goals and dreams. I wish you all the best for the years ahead and thank you for your contribution to Vermont Secondary College. Well done and congratulations to the class of 2022! 

For a snapshot of our student’s impressive results, please see attachment below

2022 Median Study Score = 31.0 

2022 - Percentage of VSC VCE study scores of 40 (top 8% of the State) and over = 7.1% 

VSC VCE Data 2013 to 2022 - 

VSC HOUSE AND SCHOOL CAPTAINS 2023 

Congratulations go to the following 6 Year 12 students who have been selected as the 2023 House Captains – 

Hotham – Kurt Ennis & Heidi Ma 

Macedon – Jade Carnell & Nishi Arora 

Stirling – Alex Lee & Freya Sutanto 

Further congratulations go to Alex Lee and Freya Sutanto who have been appointed VSC School Captains for 2023, well done on these appointments and the college looks forward to working with you and your further contribution. 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION & TRAINING (DET) YEARLY ENROLMENT CENSUS 

The Enrolment Census by DET is carried out each year in late February. Student enrolment and attendance is critically important to the college’s funding. If students have not appeared by the end of February we will lose funding for them following the DET (Department of Education and Training) Census Audit. If students have extended absences but have been sighted at school and there is documentary evidence of liaison with home e.g. letters signed and dated by parents/guardians, medical certificates, phone call records etc. then they will be allowed in our census count and we will receive department funding for them.  

In the past the meticulous records kept by our Attendance Officer in the General Office, Student Managers and classroom teachers have been critical in retaining students and hence funding. The support of parents/guardians in providing explanations for student absences also assists us to take care of the wellbeing of our students and is of vital importance. Your co-operation and assistance in keeping the school informed regarding student absences is essential. If you have any queries or concerns then please call our Attendance Officer, Marianne Powell, via the General Office or relevant Student Manager. 

Year 12 2022

Congratulations and good luck to our 2022 Year 12 students on their future pathways post-secondary school!

Overall Tertiary Report for VSC: 218 students were enrolled in Year 12 in 2022. 

194 students (88.99%) applied for tertiary studies through VTAC. 

187 students (97.40%) received a tertiary offer (55 students received more than one offer)

1 student has been accepted and enrolled with a USA College 

1 student has been accepted and enrolled in a QLD University course 

29 students are looking at alternative pathways through apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, traineeship, full time work or further study via TAFE as a directional Pathway into University. 

VCE VET Dance TOP Class 

Congratulations Isabel Scandizzo Year 12 Hotham, selected for the annual VCE VET Dance Top Class! 

Issy studied VCE VET Dance at Ringwood Secondary College in 2021 and 2022. 

Top Class Dance showcases and celebrates selected young dancers across Victoria who presented strength, energy, beauty and passion for dance in their exceptional individual solo performances in the 2022 VCE and VCE VET Dance programs.

CONGRATULATIONS BEN WILSON 

Hey! My name is Ben Wilson, and I have just recently represented Australia at the Junior World Championships in Montreal, Canada, for springboard diving. I received so much love and support from the school and the community, and I am extremely appreciative of Vermont Secondary College’s financial contribution to my trip, so it only makes sense that I talk about the trip! 

About me  

I have been competing in springboard diving for over 7 years now, I'm currently in year 11 and I started early while in year 3. I train 26 hours a week, most of which is located at MSAC in the city, with a couple of sessions at Aquanation located in Ringwood, so diving is a major part of my life and has been for a very long time now. I’ve been competing at a national level for 5 years now, but this was my international debut. With 20 countries and over 250 competitors, it was definitely a very nerve-wracking experience, but also one of the best I've ever had in diving. I was the Australian team captain and felt so honoured to even be on the team in the first place, let alone leading it. I'm extremely lucky with the incredible staff, teammates and managers from the Australian team and couldn't have asked for a better international debut. 

The competitions  

I was competing on 2 boards at Junior worlds, 1 meter springboard individual, and 3 meter springboard synchronized with my synchro partner Luis Fazzalari. We started the trip with close to a week of training, adjusting to the pool and preparing ourselves for the events the following week. 1 meter was my first comp and this was on the Tuesday. Overall, I was extremely happy with this event, finishing 24th out of 43 competitors from around the world. Making such large adjustments like adapting to unfamiliar boards and having a 5 hour comp made this an incredibly tough event, not to mention the very high caliber of divers I was up against, however I was still extremely happy with this outcome and kept my cool throughout the competition. Finally, there was 3 meter synchro. This was my most anticipated event, and being responsible for the outcome of another diver puts heaps more pressure on the comp. Again, going up against the best in the world was an incredible experience, but we managed to do some of our best diving to date and finished 10th in the world. Before this comp, Luis and I were really hoping for Top 10, and so you can imagine how stoked we were with that result, finishing off the competition in the best way possible. 

Thank you to everyone that has been so encouraging over the years, your support helps me have these amazing opportunities to represent Australia, with hopefully many more to come in the future! 

-Ben Wilson  :) 

CONGRATULATIONS CHLOE HUA 

Congratulations! The South Vermont Lions Club’s sponsored entry created by Chloe Hua has been chosen as a merit award winner in the 35th Annual Lions International Peace Poster Contest. 

Approximately 600,000 children from 60 countries participated in this year’s Peace Poster Contest. The posters were judged at the club, district, and multiple district levels before reaching the international level, at which point they had been narrowed down to 120 posters. Based on creativity, originality and portrayal of the theme” Lead with Compassion” Chloe’s entry was chosen as one of 23 merit award winners. As such, Chloe will receive US$500 and a certificate of merit. 

The 23 merit award winners are from Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Macedonia, Malaysia, Tunisia and the United States (California, Louisiana, and New York). The grand prize winner will be announced at the Lions Day with the United Nations on March 3, 2023.  Information about the grand prize winner will be posted on the on Peace Poster Section of the LCI website and LCI’s social media shortly thereafter." 

CONGRATULATIONS BLAKE MITCHELL 

Prior to the summer break Blake was selected in the Under 18 Victorian State Baseball Team.   

As part of this team Blake competed at the Australian Youth Championships in Blacktown, NSW in early January 2023. Blake this selection is a fantastic achievement, well done!  Further information of how Blake and the team went will be provided in the next newsletter.