Issue #8 07 Aug 2026

Reflecting, Resetting and Looking Ahead

Term 3 is now well underway, and both our Year 11 and Year 12 students have reached an important point in the school year.

For our Year 12 students, the remaining weeks will move very quickly as they work towards completing their final units, learning outcomes, VET requirements and plans for life beyond school.

For our Year 11 students, Semester 2 is a chance to build on the first half of the year, finish strongly and start preparing for their final year of secondary school.

This is a good time for all of our senior students to stop, take stock of how things are going and think honestly about what they need to do over the remainder of 2026.

The year is certainly not over yet, but it is moving quickly. As we often remind students, there is still plenty of time to make a difference, but not much time to waste.

Parent–Teacher Interviews

Thank you to all of the families who took part in our recent Parent–Teacher Interviews.

These conversations are an important chance for students, families and teachers to compare notes and discuss how things are really going. This includes academic progress, attendance, classroom engagement, assessment requirements and any concerns that may be getting in the way of learning.

The most useful interviews are the ones that lead to a clear next step. That might mean completing some outstanding work, improving attendance, developing a better study routine, asking for help earlier or simply keeping communication open between home and school.

Families who were unable to attend an interview are encouraged to contact their child’s teachers directly. You do not need to wait for the next formal reporting period if you have a question or concern.

A quick email or phone call now is often far more helpful than discovering at the end of the term that something has quietly gone off track.

Reflecting on Progress Reports

Students and families have also recently received the latest progress reports. These reports provide a four-week snapshot of how a student is going across each of their subjects. They are not a final judgement or an end-of-semester result. They are designed to help students, families and teachers keep track of progress while there is still time to make changes. Progress reports are also a useful starting point for a conversation at home. We encourage families to sit down together, look over the report and discuss what is going well, where there may be room for improvement and what could be done differently over the next four weeks. The reports consider several important areas.

Progress in Learning looks at whether the student is actively taking part in their learning, making progress towards the expected outcomes and using feedback to improve.

Participation in Learning considers whether the student is attending regularly, engaging in class, asking questions and working effectively with others.

Preparation for Learning includes arriving on time, bringing the right materials, having a charged device, keeping organised notes, completing set work and catching up after an absence.

Respect for Learning looks at how students treat themselves, others, staff and equipment, as well as whether they are taking responsibility for their own learning.

Some useful questions for students and families to discuss include:

• What am I doing well?
• Is there a pattern across my subjects?
• Which area needs the most attention?
• What is one thing I can improve over the next four weeks?
• Is there a teacher I need to speak with?
• Do I need some additional support?

A rating of “Sometimes” or “Rarely” is not a permanent label. It is simply an indication of what teachers have observed during the most recent four-week period. The most important part of a progress report is not the rating itself. It is what the student chooses to do next.

Year 11 Subject Selections

Our Year 11 students have recently completed their subject selections for 2027.

Choosing Year 12 subjects is an important step and gave students a chance to reflect on their experiences during 2026 and think carefully about what they want their final year of school to look like. Students were encouraged to consider their interests, current achievement, future pathways and the level of work required in each subject. 

It can be tempting to choose a subject because a friend is doing it, because it sounds easy or because it fits nicely on a timetable. Unfortunately, none of those are particularly strong long-term career strategies. The best choices are the ones that suit the student, support their pathway and give them the strongest chance of completing Year 12 successfully. Although selections have now been submitted, students should continue discussing their plans with their families, teachers and the Careers Team. 

Changes may not always be possible, but any major concerns should be raised as early as possible. Year 12 will arrive much faster than our Year 11 students probably expect. 

The habits they are building now - attendance, organisation, preparation and asking for help - will have a big impact on how confidently they begin their final year.

Year 12 VET Applications

A reminder for any current Year 11 student hoping to complete a VET subject during Year 12: the appropriate VET application form must be obtained, completed and returned to Miss Sulomar. Including a VET subject in the online subject selection process does not complete the application. In other words, clicking the subject is not the same as applying for it. The required form is an important part of the enrolment process and must be returned before the application can be considered and processed. Students should not assume that selecting a VET subject means their place has been automatically confirmed. They are responsible for making sure all required documentation has been completed and returned. Any student who is unsure about which form they need, or whether their application is complete, should speak with Miss Sulomar as soon as possible.

Year 12: Making the Remaining Time Count

Our Year 12 students are now moving into the final stages of their secondary education. 

For students completing scored VCE subjects, the focus will increasingly shift towards completing Unit 4 coursework, preparing for practice examinations and beginning a structured revision program for the VCAA examination period.

For our VCE Vocational Major students, the focus remains on completing learning outcomes, VET units, Structured Workplace Learning requirements and preparing for employment, further education, training or another post-school pathway.

At this stage of the year, every lesson matters. Students who are behind in coursework, have missed an assessment or are unsure about their progress need to speak with their classroom teacher as soon as possible. Waiting until the final week and hoping it all sorts itself out is rarely a winning strategy.

The good news is that there is still time to make meaningful progress. A student’s current position does not have to be their final position. Improvements in attendance, effort, preparation, organisation and communication can still make a real difference.

There is plenty of support available, but students need to take the first step and let us know when they need it.

Attendance and Engagement

Regular attendance and active participation remain essential for both Year 11 and Year 12 students.

Senior students need to demonstrate the required knowledge and skills, complete learning outcomes and provide teachers with enough evidence to authenticate their work.

When students miss classes, they do not just miss a worksheet. They miss explanations, class discussions, feedback, examples and opportunities to show what they understand.

Students are responsible for catching up on work missed through absence and communicating with their teachers about outstanding requirements.

Collecting a worksheet three days later is useful, but it is not quite the same as being in the room when the learning took place.

Families are encouraged to continue checking attendance and progress through Compass and to contact the relevant teacher or Year Level Coordinator if concerns begin to appear.

The earlier we know, the more we can usually do to help.

Moving Forward

The second half of the year always moves faster than anyone expects.

For Year 11 students, the focus should be on completing Semester 2 strongly and developing the habits they will need for Year 12.

For Year 12 students, it is about making the most of the time that remains and completing their secondary education with purpose.

Students do not need to manage every challenge on their own. Classroom teachers, Year Level Coordinators, the Careers Team and the Senior Sub School are all available to provide guidance and support.

At the same time, students need to play their part by attending, participating, communicating and asking for help when they need it.

We are looking forward to continuing to work with our senior students and families throughout the remainder of Term 3.

There is still a lot to be done, but also plenty to look forward to.