Principal's Report 

“Look closely at the present you are constructing: it should look like the future you are dreaming.” Alice Walker

We are committed to constructing learning experiences for our students in the present that prepare them for the future. They have voice and choice in so many aspects of their learning as teachers facilitate, guide and provide content knowledge and skills. It is important that we also consider the character traits that we wish to see in the future such as kindness, compassion and care. At times of great stress these traits can be harder to exhibit but need to be a conscious part of our thinking. Families, school and community play a part in modelling this and setting this as an expectation.

Uniform & Protecting Our Community

As we are now in the colder months, students should be wearing their full winter uniform which includes the jumper and blazer to keep warm. The uniform shop has confirmed that they have all winter items in stock.

To help protect our school and the wider community, we ask that unwell students stay home, given the impacts of flu and colds on our school community. Face masks are available at the college and can be worn by any staff or students who wish to do so, including those who are medically at risk.

Vaccination remains the best protection against both COVID-19 and flu, and we encourage you to get your child vaccinated. Please see the letter from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Victoria Faculty Council Chair, about the importance of protecting your children and family.

Free flu vaccinations are available until 30 June 2022, please refer to the letter below.

VCE/Year 10 Exams

Our Year 10 and 11 students had exams this week in the new Senior Centre spaces. These spaces provided an interruption free space for students to complete the timed exams. It was a positive sign seeing students in the study centre early, preparing for the upcoming exams. This was followed by the smiles of success as they exited their first exam. They were confident about what they had achieved and the strong sense of preparation for the exams.

Wellbeing Days

The Year 11 Wellbeing Day today will revolve around the themes of healthy relationships, consent and connections. We hope that this will provide our students with further insight into these topics as young adults.

We have had the Year 8 and 9 Wellbeing days which brought the year levels together as a whole. There were guest speakers on respectful relationships, vaping, friendship and activities such as bubble soccer, baking and community-based programs. Please check out the Wellbeing Days page for more details.

Year 10 Work Experience

The first Work Experience week will run in the last week of term. Our Year 10 students have found placements in a variety of work settings which will give them some insight into possible career pathways as they begin to make VCE choices in Term 3.

Year 9 Market Day

Year 9s have their Innovate Market Day this week. They have been busily promoting their enterprises and getting their products ready for the big day. Money raised will be donated to charity. The Year 9 camp program in the last week also includes an exciting array of adventures for the year level. 

Reconnecting with our Culture

We continue to reconnect with our culture and this term we have done this with all the learning, events and relationship building through the weeks. The future we dream of and live each day at Beaumaris is:

• to belong to a place where to learn is to grow, 
• we believe our values can change the world and 
• each student will become their best selves on the journey. 

New Curriculum Offerings in 2023

VCE Vocational Major

From next year, the Andrews Labor Government’s new senior secondary school certificates will combine the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) and the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) – making sure every young Victorian gets the education they need for the career they want.

The Victorian Budget 2022/23 will invest $277.5 million in the biggest reform to the senior secondary system since the VCE’s inception, recognising the increased demand for careers in trades and services.

From 2023, the new VCE Vocational Major and Victorian Pathways Certificate will replace VCAL, offering students more choices, a higher-quality curriculum and better workplace experiences – preparing students to jump into further study, training at TAFE or work as soon as they leave school. 

An investment of $120.2 million will help schools implement the new certificates and provide every student access to a core offering of 12 different Vocational Education and Training (VET) pathways.

The reforms will save many Victorian families up to $1000 by cutting out-of-pocket costs, with students no longer having to pay for essential learning materials for VET studies.

This investment will also see teachers get the professional development they need to implement the curriculum, making sure schools can hit the ground running as they transition to the new certificate.

In addition, every non-government school will be encouraged and supported to provide these new certificates. There is already strong interest from across the independent and Catholic sectors, and most non-government schools have started preparing to transition to the new pathways.

To build on the school-based vocational and academic education in the new applied learning stream, a further $69.4 million will expand the Head Start program to every government school in the state – giving all students the opportunity to do an apprenticeship or traineeship in an in-demand sector while completing their schooling.

Head Start gives students career planning support, a tailored pathway into the industry of their choice and a fair training wage – all while they’re earning their senior secondary certificate – in key industries like building, construction, community services and health, business, primary industries and technology.

The Budget will invest $87.9 million to strengthen the teaching workforce for these new pathways – with funded study to attract 400 extra VET trainers, professional development for up to 1,900 teachers and increased funding for jobs, skills and pathways coordinators in schools.

The Vocational Major will replace Intermediate and Senior VCAL, preparing students to move into apprenticeships, traineeships, further education and training, non-ATAR university pathways or straight into the workforce.

Vocational Major students will undertake specific studies – Literacy, Numeracy, Work Related Skills and Personal Development Skills – as well as 180 hours of VET, their choice of other traditional VCE studies and time in the workplace, which will give them credits towards their certificate.

The Victorian Pathways Certificate will replace Foundation VCAL, designed to help students transition either to the VCE, to entry level VET or employment – particularly focusing on vulnerable students at risk of leaving education or students with additional needs.

The six priority pathways within the core offering will be in health, community services and early childhood education, building and construction, digital and media technologies, hospitality, and engineering – meaning students will have access to training and skills for growing industries. Additional pathways will also be available in automotive, agriculture and environment, hair and beauty, creative industries, sport and recreation, and business.

Students will see a revised and enriched curriculum with more choice of subjects and a flexible structure that can be adapted to individual learners’ needs – improving their engagement, developing confidence and challenging them within a program that is accessible and achievable for everyone.

Centre for Higher Education Studies

The Victorian Government is building the world-class Centre for Higher Education Studies (CHES) to provide high-achieving and high-ability senior students from right across the state with even more opportunities for stretch and challenge in their final years of school.

CHES presents a tremendous opportunity for students at our school. Students will have the opportunity to enrol in one subject at CHES to complement their 2023 VCE program whilst remaining enrolled and connected with your school. Schools will be active partners with CHES and together we can support students to reach their potential.

Students will be able to access their classes at CHES regardless of where they live. While the state-of-the-art Centre in South Yarra will be the physical home of CHES, students will have the flexibility to participate in CHES classes onsite, or virtually from home or school.

In partnership with Victorian universities, CHES will become a hub for the delivery of Higher Education Studies. These first-year undergraduate subjects will enable students to undertake tertiary-level studies aligned to their skills and interests and may allow students to gain ATAR points and be considered for university credits whilst completing their VCE studies. CHES intends to also deliver some VCE subjects, including Extended Investigation, with additional curriculum options to be available soon. Students enrolled in a Higher Education Studies or VCE subject at CHES will also have access to a suite of enrichment opportunities to enhance and extend their studies at CHES.

CHES has received significant funding from the Victorian Government to support access to Higher Education Studies places at no cost to schools. For VCE subjects delivered through CHES, the same arrangements used for Virtual School Victoria for part-time students will apply (refer to the Student Enrolment Census Policy).

Details around the enrolment process and specific application timelines will be announced soon. Students will be able to apply shortly afterwards. We hope to have many students accessing this option for their VCE.

End of Term 2

The school day finishes at 2:10pm on Friday 24 June. I would like to wish everyone a safe and restful break.

Debby Chaves

Principal