Senior School News
Year 10 to 12
2021 General Achievement Test – rescheduled to Thursday 29 July
The 2021 General Achievement Test (GAT) will now be held 10:00am to 1:15pm on Thursday 29 July 2021.
The GAT is an essential part of the VCE assessment process. Although GAT results do not count directly towards VCE results, they play an important role in checking that School-based Assessments and external assessments have been accurately assessed.
GAT results are also used in the calculation of the Derived Examination Score (DES), should this be required. Students who are ill or affected by other personal circumstances at the time of a VCE external assessment and whose result is unlikely to be a fair or accurate indication of their learning or achievement in the study, may apply for a DES. If their application is approved, a DES will be calculated by the VCAA.
Students attended a GAT Briefing towards the end of May outlining the structure of the GAT, the types of questions students will be asked to complete and other information such as, the required wearing of school uniform, what materials to bring, where students will be sitting (JLC or 400 block) and the duration of the test (3 hours).
Students who are interested in reading past GAT papers and viewing the written instructions for this year’s GAT should visit the following pages:
If students have any questions about the GAT, please see or email the Year 12 Coordinators Mrs Smith or Mr Davies.
Wrapping up Term 2 and charging into Term 3!
Our Senior School students have definitely been required to demonstrate adaptability and resilience, with all of the upheavals that have occurred in their schooling over the last twelve months. With COVID lockdown and restrictions again impacting us, term 2 has been a rollercoaster ride, but on the whole, our students have risen to the challenge. They have certainly learnt the value of in-person interactions with both their peers and teachers.
For Year 12 students there has been necessary changes to the SAC Calendar to account for the time in remote learning. The GAT was postponed due to lockdown and restrictions. We now have a new date for the GAT of Thursday 29 July from 10:00am to 1:15pm (no Year 12 classes on this day).
Something we are very excited about for our Year 12 students, is the new date for the Year 12 Formal. It will now be held on Thursday July 15 from 7pm to 11:30pm at Vogue Ballroom, Burwood. It will be great for the cohort to come together for some fun and celebrate their friendships and their last year of secondary schooling.
At Year 11, our students have now completed their exam period and have started their Unit 2 studies. They managed the changes to the schedule remarkably well and should be congratulated for their overall conduct during their examinations. On an exciting note for the Year 11s, their Camp Week is fast approaching, with students opting for either Ski Trip, Grampians Tour or Work Experience during the week of Monday 16 August to Friday 20 August.
Our Year 10 students have just finished their exams and will begin their new semester of studies on the first day back in Term 3. They can look forward to the Year 10 University Experience Day at Latrobe University on Thursday July 15 in the first week of term. They will also take part in Work Experience in the last week of Term 3 and there are plans underway to hold a Year 10 Social in early September.
We wish all our Senior School students and staff all the best for the school holidays and hope that they will all take some time out to relax and appreciate all of the good things that life has to offer!
Kate Leaumont
Head of Senior School
Upcoming Course Selection for 2022
As we reach the mid-year break, I wanted to take the opportunity to inform parents that the start of Term 3 sees us start planning for 2022. Students in Years 8-11 will be presented with many options and decisions regarding their studies for next year.
Decisions around course selections can be complex. With this in mind, we encourage students to pursue passions and talents and keep their options open for future pathways. As a College we pride ourselves on the support and direction we provide students and parents with during this time.
We are planning to conduct parent information evenings to provide direction and information.
- Information Evening for Year 9 students moving into Year 10 will take place on Thursday 22 July.
- Information Evening for Year 10 students moving into Year 11 will take place on Thursday 29 July
All Year 9, 10 and 11 students will also have a meeting with a course counsellor to discuss suitability of choices. These course counselling interview will take place via Microsoft Teams and parents are most welcome to attend with their child. Further communications regarding this will be provided to parents and students via Compass early next term.
The dates for course counselling are:
Year 12 2022- Tuesday 3 August
Year 11 2022- Wednesday 4 August
Year 10 2022- Thursday 5 August
Students and parents will have access to subject handbooks which have been posted on Compass Newsfeed and on the College website. We do encourage that these are referenced over the break and that students are engaging in discussions with their families about possible options for their future studies.
Karen Boyle
Assistant Principal - Teaching and Learning
Breakfast Club
Every Tuesday morning in The John Landy Centre, there will be free food for ALL students.
Foodbank Victoria are providing nutritious food items for students to eat before they start their day. There will be cereal, fruit, toast, baked beans & spaghetti, fruit cups and muesli – no need to order, just rock up.
Amy Nettelbeck
Student Lunches
Just a reminder to parents that we are unable to deliver lunches to students during school time. If your child has forgotten lunch, it can be left at the General Office but it is the student’s responsibility to come and collect it.
Hot food is not suitable to be left at the office. PLEASE NOTE:- Take-away food is not allowed during school hours.
Under no circumstances are students to be ordering take-away food to be delivered to the College.
College Charges 2021
East Doncaster Secondary College Council would like to thank you for your support of the College as we endeavour to provide the best possible education for your child.
In order to provide quality programs and a comfortable and efficient learning environment for our students, the College relies on strong support from the College community. The College Charges are designed to supplement the Government’s allocation to schools to provide materials and services. These charges enable us to enrich and extend the learning experiences of our students in each subject. Please find attached the explanatory Parent Payments Parent Letter and Parent Payment Policy. 2021 College Charges are now available for parents to pay on Compass.
Please note that there is no additional charge incurred if paying online via Compass.
For further information regarding our Parent Payments Policy, please refer to the attached documents.
1 to 1 Digital Learning Program 2021
In 2021 we will continue with our whole school 1 to 1 Digital Learning Program for all students.
Our Year 7 and 10 students will be required to purchase a laptop, Year 8, 9, 11 and 12 students will continue with their laptop from 2020. The purchase of these devices is crucial to the learning program as students will access eBooks rather than an extensive number of expensive textbooks.
Details of the 1 to 1 Digital Learning Program for all students and important information regarding suitable devices are detailed in the attached policy.
Student Compass ID/Library/PTV Cards
Please remind all students that they must carry their Student Compass ID/Library/PTV Cards with them at all times.
ALL students must sign in/out with their card at the General Office when they are arriving late or leaving early for any reason. A reminder that Year 12 students are required to sign in/out at The John Landy Centre Compass Kiosk.
The cards are also used for any student photocopying that is done at school. The EDSC Student Compass ID/Library/PTV is also the student PTV (Public Transport Victoria) cards. They are required to carry this card as student identification while travelling on public transport.
If a student loses their card, parents/guardians are able to re-order a replacement card via the Compass parent portal.
