Welcome back to all of our senior students, it has been a productive and smooth start to the year. A special welcome to our new students and families who have joined our college community in 2023.
Senior School – First week back
Last week our students in Years 11 and 12 were involved in a range of different activities and programs. The Year 11 students attended a special program which included guest speakers, sessions by Elevate Education and a day at Deakin University to hear about courses and from Deakin students.
Our Year 12 students attended camps at Phillip Island and the college received a call about the excellent behaviour of our students.
Feedback from staff and students was positive and formal classes started on Monday this week.
Thanks to all of the senior subschool team who planned and organised the programs and camps and to all of the staff who were in sessions and the students for their active participation. A special thank you to the Senior Sub School Leader, Mr Matt Cara, Ms Sarah Chase, Head of Senior School and the year level coordinators; Ms Eleni Stavrou, Ms Beth Johnson, Mr James Johnston and Ms Lauren Lockhart.
Uniform and Student planners
All students have received a student planner. There are tips, ideas and strategies for managing their school work. It is an expectation that students use the planners to write in assessment and other activities and plan their homework and study timetables.
The college also asks for your co-operation in ensuring our students are in correct uniform and wearing the uniform with pride to and from school and during the school day. The uniform requirements are set out in the student planner and in the Uniform Policy on the college website. If, for some reason, your child is not in full school uniform please contact the subschool or provide a note so a uniform pass can be issued.
All VCE students should be in the VCE uniform which includes the navy VCE jumper and jacket.
Car Parking – Senior Campus
The car parks off Lechte Road and Gordon Road are for college staff only. There are a few spaces available near the General Office at the front of the college for visitors (not to pick up students at the end of the day). Parents and carers are asked to drop students off in the surrounding streets. Please obey the parking restrictions and do not enter the school grounds to ensure the safety of our students and staff. When dropping off and picking up students please be mindful of other motorists and pedestrians.
Year 11 Central Australia Trip
The college is offering a trip to Central Australia in the last few days of term three and into the term break. Details are being finalised and a virtual information evening will be held shortly. Students and parents will be notified.
Communication with staff at the college
The education of our students is a partnership between the school, teachers, the student and parents/ carers. Staff are happy to communicate with parents, however, as teachers spend most of their time in the classroom it is easier to contact teachers and subschool teams via email; teachers will respond.
Compass
Announcements, updates and information is available for parents and students through Compass, please check this on a regular basis.
All parents should now have access to Compass. Compass is used to communicate with parents on a wide range of activities within the school. Compass can be access through the college website using any web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, Safari) via your desktop computer or mobile device. Alternatively, parents can also download the Compass App from the Apple App store or Goggle Play by searching “Compass School Manager” which will allow you to access Compass through their mobile device. It is important to note that some of features of Compass are only available in the “browser” version.
Assessment Tasks – Common Assessment Tasks (CATs), School Assessed Tasks (SATs) and School Assessed Coursework (SACs)
Students in Years 7 to 10 complete a number of Common Assessment Tasks (CATs) each semester. Students in VCE complete SACs and in some subjects’ SATs. Students enrolled in the Vocational Major program will be completing ongoing activities and complete coursework. Students will also receive an assessment schedule for the semester. Please check Compass regularly for student results and feedback on assessment tasks.
To make reviewing marks and comments for Learning tasks easier, MWSC has created a report that will be gradually populated over the semester. The assessment tasks will be visible by subject so this should be easier to navigate and check.
You can access this report at any time for up to date information. Not all learning tasks appear at the moment, the reported will be continually updated and teachers will notify you when feedback is available. The instructions to access the report are below;
Student accident insurance, ambulance cover arrangements and private property brought to school
Parents/ carers are reminded that the Department of Education does not provide personal accident or ambulance cover for students. Parents and carers of students, who do not have private health insurance or ambulance cover, are responsible for paying the cost of medical treatment for their injured child.
Private property bought to the college by students, staff or visitors is not insured and the Department is not responsible for any loss or damage. This can include mobile phones, calculators, sporting equipment and cars parked on school premises.
It is recommended that parents/ carers consider insurance policies that can be purchased from commercial insurers.
Student Safety
With the commencement of the school year, it is timely to remind all members of our college community to observe all road laws. In particular cyclists must wear helmets and when students are crossing roads, it needs to be done with care and observing traffic signals and the crossing supervisor if present. Please discuss this with your son/daughter and emphasise the need to follow correct road safety practices to keep everyone safe.
Mrs Julie Cain
Campus Principal – Senior School