SENIOR SCHOOL

It has been pleasing to see the senior school students settling into the new school year. Both VCE and VCAL students have started strongly and there is a positive vibe in the senior study centre. 

This week, we recognised the academic performances of some of the students who completed an accelerated subject in 2021 in a Year 12 assembly. There were some fantastic results and we congratulate all students who successfully completed a Year 12 subject in 2021. 

There has been a few changes in our day-to-day procedures in 2022. Students who miss due dates with coursework, or fall below in attendance will be required to attend Club 3/4 on Tuesday and Thursday. Their classroom teacher will inform them if they need to attend. A reminder that Club 3/4 is a fantastic resource for all students to be able to do group work, or get help from their teachers. As always, if you have any concerns about your child’s progress, please don’t hesitate to contact their subject teacher, House office or Senior School office. 

Thank you to all the families who turned up to our inaugural Senior School Parent Teacher Night last week. It was well attended and staff relished the opportunity to provide feedback early in the year to the students and their families. We hope that the students take on the feedback they received and strengthen their work ethics and understanding of their subjects. 

Year 12 students have their first dress up day on Tuesday 22nd March – “what they want to be when they are older” and we are encouraging staff to also get involved. Another highlight for the Year 11 and 12 students is their Debutante Balls coming up soon. We wish them a fantastic night. 

Michelle Colette
Senior School Leader

VCAL News 

VCAL students have had a great beginning to the year setting high standards across all year levels and subjects. 

Work Related Skills 

Year 11 and 12 WRS has focussed on OH&S in the workplace readying students for their Structured Workplace Learning in the community. Year 12 VCAL students completed their OHS Walk down to Mooroolbark Shops investigating Occupational Health and Safety in our local area. They will produce presentations to communicate their findings in the coming weeks.  

Literacy 

In Literacy classes Year 12 VCAL students have been focussed on ‘reading and writing for self-expression’ outcomes by researching their family history and traditions, creating family trees, interviewing family members and documenting family recipes. They will share these findings with their peers through filming a cooking show and creating presentations. Year 11 students have begun the year by completing ‘writing for practical purposes’ outcomes by creating flyers for their future businesses, they have been researching successful flyers, identifying key ideas for success, and incorporating these ideas in their own creations.  

Numeracy  

Year 11 Numeracy students have been honing their number skills, processes and financial literacy through their party planning project alongside creating a measuring presentation. 

Personal Development Skills 

Year 11 students have begun working on their autonomous projects through exploring their ‘Soundtrack to my Life’ and planning and organising their thoughts and ideas which will lead to them demonstrating their self-management skills in the coming weeks. Year 12 students have been learning about the environmental, cultural, and social effects of poor planning in a project and how these can be avoided in their own complex self-directed projects later in the year. 

Foundation House UCan2 Project 

Mooroolbark College VCAL students have partnered with Foundation House this semester to complete the UCan2 project. This project aims to support English as an Additional Language students and students of a refugee background complete outcomes in literacy, PDS and WRS through workshops, incursions, excursions and ongoing support from support workers and volunteer community members. Students have begun their journey through this project, and it will continue for 16 weeks. More updates to come.   

Club ¾ 

Students are encouraged to join their teachers at club ¾ on Tuesdays and Thursdays 3pm – 4pm to receive help and support from their VCAL teachers.  

VCAL Students have shown their commitment to this program through their positive attitudes and willingness to try new things. Well done VCALers, your teachers are so proud of you! 

Natalie Bisi
VCAL Coordinator