From the Assistant Principal

Years 10-12

Term 2

Term 2 is quickly coming to an end and this week our Year 10 – 12 students have rolled into Semester 2 subjects whilst our Year 7 – 9 students continue with their Semester 1 courses until the end of term.

The Year 10 – 12 students have completed a very successful exam period.  Over six days, students experienced what is involved in an exam week.  A greater level of independence was given around attending school for exams only and students had to balance exam time with intensive periods of revision.  Staff supervisors were very impressed with the conscientious and disciplined approach that students took during the exams ranging from 1.5 – 3 hours in duration.  This series of exams is invaluable in preparing the students for their VCE exams and the school replicates the VCAA exam conditions to ensure that by November in Year 12 Auburn High School students feel comfortable and confident in the exam experience.

As the exam period has been held, our Year 7 – 9 students have been completing their own assessment schedule.  Each student across their seven subjects has had to coordinate a range of snapshot tasks and larger summative assessment tasks for completion.  Time management and organisational skills are important aspects of a student’s ability to keep up with the work, learn the concepts and then complete specific tasks as required.  Our staff are working hard to provide support and explicit teaching of these skills.  Staff teams have been focusing on writing strategies, tracking student performance and differentiation for students.

Year 12 Formal

Last Thursday night, the 9th of June, our Year 12 students and over twenty staff attended the 2022 Year 12 Formal at the Ripponlea Function Centre.  Students, partners and staff were all very excited to have the opportunity to dress up and attend a formal dinner on this highly anticipated evening.  The outfits were of high quality and the Formal Committee, ably led by MC for the evening, Phu N, arranged a series of great activities and presentations.  Following the delicious food all the students, staff and guests hit the dance floor for some energetic and stylish dancing.  A massive thank you to Ms Angelina Wong, our Year 12 Level Leader, who worked tirelessly to ensure that the Year 12 students and their guests had a night to remember.

International Baccalaureate

The intended introduction of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program is a huge project that the school is undertaking on behalf of the community over the last four years. Auburn High School is currently entering the final phase of the authorisation process and has recently been visited (virtually) by an IB consultant who audited curriculum, resources, policies and staff professional development.  Currently we have over twelve staff qualified and they are ably led by IB Coordinator, Mr Peter Ryan.  Mr Ryan impeccably hosted the IB consultant and prepared an intensive agenda of site visits, interviews and staff meetings.  The final feedback will be provided by the end of term and this provides the impetus for final arrangements for authorisation.  I will keep the school community up-to-date with progress and it seems the work the school is doing has us well-placed to launch our IB DP in 2023.

School Production

This week the school production is being held at the Phoenix Theatre at Elwood Secondary College.  You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown promises to be a very entertaining performance and is the culmination of months of hard work for Director, Mr Luke Jedd, his cast and crew. The school wishes them all the best for the performances.

Performance and raffle tickets can be purchased via links further in this newsletter.

Education Support

Finally, this week I would like to publicly thank our Education Support Staff who during Term 2 have provided invaluable support to our students, parents and teaching staff.  Often during the term our daily absentee rate for students was over 20%.  At times there were over 15-20% staff away due to illness or other circumstances.  This situation has led to increased communications required with parents, early morning recruitment of replacement teachers, targeted support of students with learning needs, rescheduled science practicals and extra workload for individual ESS; just to name a few challenges.

The smooth running of the school is only possible with the hard work and professionalism of our support staff and their role can never be underestimated.  Thank you one and all.