Learning & Teaching News

Subject Selection

Your child’s subject selection for the 2021 school year is of critical importance.  It is why we, at St. Peter’s College, invest so much time and energy into making this an engaging process for our students.  It is important because:

• Students will get most success in a subject when they do something that they enjoy, are good at and/or need for their chosen course or occupation
• Late changes to chosen subjects or courses cause significant disadvantage for students because they then miss crucial teaching and learning that they struggle to catch up on
• We work out what subjects are timetabled next year by student choice.  If students don’t choose a subject, then it will not run.

Your role in this process as a parent or caregiver is important.  Firstly, I would like to encourage you to ensure that it is your child’s dreams and choices that you should foster, not your dreams or choice for your child.  You can do this by listening carefully to your child, asking probing but non-threatening, non-judgemental questions and challenging them to be open and inquiring about their future options.  Their goals can be achieved through many different pathways and so it is important that students choose courses and subjects realistically and base this upon their passions and strengths.

For you to play your role in supporting your child’s subject selection, please be aware of the following program and important dates, some which will involve you:

Parents of Year 7, please note that Futures Expo on Tuesday, 21 July is a student free day and no remote classes will take place on this day.  Year 7 students who have been attending their campus should remain at home on this day.

I would like to re-emphasize how important the Year 9 into 10 and Year 10 into 11 subject interviews are for these students.  Important decisions are to be made not just about subjects but about courses such as VCE (Victorian Certificate of Education), VCAL (Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning) and VET (Vocational Education & Training).  It is because of this importance that we insist upon these interviews and once they are completed, we will email out the access code to access the subject selection student portal (Web Preferences).

Web Preferences Subject Selection Portal

Subject selection is made via the Web Preferences Subject Selection Student Portal. Students in Years 8 and 11 will have their access code emailed to them after Futures Expo on Tuesday, 21 July.  Year 9 and 10 students will have their access code emailed to them after their subject selection interview.  Students who do not attend subject selection interviews must make contact with their House Leaders to have a discussion about next years course before they will receive an access code.  Without this access code, no subjects for the following year can be chosen.

Curriculum Handbook

The 2021 Curriculum Handbook is a detailed electronic resource that students and parents can access on our website for excellent and accurate information about all subjects and courses offered at St. Peter’s College.  Please use this as a first reference point, however, if you or your child needs further assistance please do not hesitate to contact either their Learning Advisor or House Leader.

Mr David Hansen

Deputy Principal - Learning and Teaching