EDITION 007 – 4th August 2017

CALENDAR Term 3

Tuesday 8th August Cyber Safety Yr 7-10

Tuesday 8th Aug 9.00am - 3.15pmBiolab Geelong Excursion Yr 12

11th August - NO Year 10 or 11 clas-ses will run due to subject selection interviews.

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING DAY (No School Students) Mon 14th August (amended 7 Aug)

21st - 25th Aug Work Experience Week Yr 10 (amended 7 Aug)

Eureka Sport - Basketball Yr 7 & 8 Wed 16 Aug 9.15am - 3.00pm

Epworth VCE Sleep Program Yr 12 Psychology students (compulsory) -Monday 21st Aug 8.00am - 3.00pm

Studio Art Excursion 10am –3pm Thurs 24th August

Art Academy Excursion Yr 7 Friday 25th 10.00am - 3.00pm

Sovereign Hill - Yr 9 Monday 28th Aug 10.00 am - 2.30pm

Welcome back to Term three. I trust that our students and staff had a very happy mid-year break and as always are looking forward to a very productive term.

For year 12 students, this marks the last full term of their schooling days and there will be great emphasis on preparations for final assessments, tasks and examinations including the VCE statewide schedule.

Attendance Going to school every day is the single most important part of a child's education. Students learn new things at school every day - missing school puts them behind.

Students develop good habits by going to school - habits that are necessary to succeed after school, whether in the workplace or in further study. Each missed day is associated with progressively lower achievement in numeracy, writing and reading.

While all absences are bad for academic performance, unexcused absences are a much stronger indicator of lower reading and math’s achievement.

If your child must miss school, it is imperative you contact the general office providing an explanation for absence by contacting 5336 7264. If you know your child is going to have a prolonged absence please arrange for the collection of school work from your child’s Year level Coordinator.

Openly communicating with your child’s school regarding all absences is a good way to prevent attendance issues being escalated to SCHOOL ATTENDANCE OFFICER at the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.

ATTENDANCE ISSUES THAT ARE ESCALATED CAN LEAD TO AN INFRINGEMENT NOTICE.

Reports At the end of last term, you will have received Semester 1 reports. Please take some time to discuss them with your child. It is important to recognize the growth in learning, positive attitudes and effort as well as the achievement level. There will be Student Led Conferences in Week 5 of this term, however if you would like to discuss your child’s report before then, please contact your child’s teacher to make an appointment time.

Parent opinion Survey The Parent Opinion Survey will occur in August this year. The Parent Opinion Survey is designed to assist schools in gaining an understanding of parents’ perception of school climate, student engage-ment and relationships with parent communities. Schools use the survey results to help inform and direct future school planning and improvement strategies.

The survey is conducted with a sample of randomly selected parents at each school. If you are one of these families you will receive a message soon. This year the surveys will be done online and the results shared with the school community later this term.

We will endeavor to have an iPad for parents to come to the office if they don’t have internet access or need assistance to fill in the form. Feedback from parents is much appreciated and beneficial to the campus. Invitations to complete the survey will be sent via email.

VCE VCAL subject selections On Friday 11th August all year 10 & 11 students will be required to attend subject selection interviews for the 2018 academic year. Parents are strongly encouraged to attend with their child if possible.

During interviews students will be selecting their pathway for their senior years, along with preferred subjects. In preparation for the subject selection interviews all students should be having open conversations with their families about their desired pathway and which senior program is best for them; VCE or VCAL.

During this day no scheduled classes will be running for years 10 & 11 students.

Simon Haber

Woodmans Hill Campus Principal Report

If you haven’t yet ordered and paid for the

2017 Woodmans Hill Magazine please pay

$15.00 per copy at the Office.

MAGAZINE 2017

Phone: (03) 5336 7264 Email: ballarat.sc.woodmans.hill@edumail.vic.gov.au

A plan to turn around Ballarat Secondary College results with high expectations, self belief, a safe learning environment and best-practice teaching methods has seen the school’s VCE results draw level and surpass some Melbourne private schools.

Ballarat Secondary College VCE results are among the most improved in the state over the past two years, with an average VCE study score of 27, up from 22 just two years ago, according to the Good Schools Guide.

Principal Rick Gervasoni said he arrived with a plan when he was appointed principal the school two years ago.

“We have really drawn a line in the sand about having high expectations of our students, and have communicated to them very strongly that we believe they can be successful and support them,” he said.

“There’s probably been a lack of confidence in the past, and we’ve tried to make the culture shift to having high expecta-tions about learning and outcomes and pathways to future careers, setting high goals and achieving them.”

Ballarat Secondary College has about 180 students completing VCE in year 11 and 12, spread across two campuses at Mount Rowan and Woodmans Hill.

A focus on exam preparation was also key, as was establishing a safe and orderly learning environment to allow students to focus clearly on their learning.

”One thing we have done especially for VCE is have a really strong focus on past VCE exams and revision. Students do revision of their work outside of class, and we follow that up with past exam paper and completing past exam papers.”

“We have also had a tutoring program in place with students from Federation University and the University of Melbourne helping our senior students.”

Mr Gervasoni said the school community had supported the culture change at the school, which included new uniforms and research-based teaching practices, to encourage and support student learning.

Phoenix P-12 Community College also recorded an average study score of 27, consistent with previous years, with Ballarat High recording a 28.

Good Education Group’s chief executive Chris Lester said typically the median VCE scores remained consistent year on year at most schools. Ballarat Secondary College’s scores improved more than 20 per cent over two years.

The Good Schools Guide 2018 showed Ballarat Clarendon College had the highest percentage of 40+ study scores of all schools in Ballarat, placing it among the 10 in the state, with Loreto College, Ballarat Grammar, St Patrick’s College and Ballarat High School rounding out Ballarat’s top five..

Ballarat Secondary College Wannik Dance

Academy students completed their final dance

rehearsal on Wednesday in preparation for the 2017

Victorian State School Spectacular. All the dances

were given the final run through before presenting

to the public at Hisense Arena on September 16th.

The girls also got some air time on the local and

National news which is fantastic. A massive congrat-

ulations to the Wannik girls for their efforts and

commitment to this spectacular event. If anyone

would like to purchase tickets to the evening show

on the 16th of September please contact me at the

Woodmans Hill campus or alternatively you can go

to the ticketek website.

Victoria Police

Work Experience Program 2018

The Victoria Police Work Experience Program provides a fantastic opportunity for secondary school students considering a career within Victoria Police. Students are placed at participating police stations and department units where they will have the opportunity to observe and learn from Police Officers, Protective Services Officers, Protective Custody Officers and VPS personnel.

Due to the limited number of work experience placements available, it is strongly advised that only students with a genuine interest in Victoria Police are nominated for the program. Only one student per campus may be nominated. A nomination does not guarantee a placement. Students will be selected by ballot.

See our Careers Advisor, Carolyn Gregg if you would like to apply for work experience with Victoria Police in 2018. Applications close September 1st 2017.

Please note: Ballarat is not included in the list of participating locations.

Senior School Report

Exams Report:

In the past couple of weeks, all year 7-11 students have completed written examinations for each subject. Performance in the exams contributed to the final outcome in each subject. Students received feedback from teachers on their marked exam and exam results are available in Semester One Reports. In addition to sitting exams, year 7-10 students were also required to attend normal classes so this was

a very big week. Staff would like to congratulate and acknowledge students for how they conducted themselves during the exam week.

For most of our Year 11 VCE students, this was their first experience with sitting formal VCE examinations. For students, these examinations were a taste of what to expect and how to prepare for and manage their time during such a busy and crucial assessment

period.

2018 VCE/VCAL Subject Selections:

Last Wednesday’s VCE/VCAL VCE Information Evening was targeted at all current Year 10 students and their parents/carers and was aimed at assisting students in making their 2018 subject selections. Some current Year 9 students also attended, to explore the opportunity to apply to accelerate their learning by undertaking a Unit 1 & 2 VCE subject as part of their Year 10 program in 2018. The next key event, is the VCE/VCAL Subject Selection Interviews, next Friday 11th August between 9am and 4pm.

All students entering into a VCE or VCAL program in 2018 will be required to attend Subject Selection Interviews on Friday 11th August. Interview Bookings need to be made via the Compass Parent Portal. Please be aware that there will be no normal Year 10 and 11 classes running on this day. All scheduled Year 12 classes will run as normal.

Commencement of Unit 2 VCE studies:

Unit 2 & 4 VCE classes have commenced. The reason that VCE classes start the new Unit, two-weeks before the end of 2nd term, is because of the need to evenly split the VCE school year. End of year VCE Year 11 written examinations will take place from Monday

20th November to Friday 24th November.

Unit 4 VCE Exams:

Students enrolled in a Unit 4 subject need to be aware that the VCE Written Examinations run from Wednesday 1st November 2017 through to Wednesday 22nd November. Students will receive individual exam timetables next term that will indicate name of exam/s, date, time and

venue.

Performance Examinations:

Music Performance

VET Music Industry: Performance

Students will be notified of dates, times and locations via advice slips from Monday 7 August.

Scheduled practice written examinations will take place (for all Unit 4 subjects) during week 1 of term 4 Mon 9th- 13th October.

VCE SAC/SAT dates – Semester 2

All students need to be aware of up-coming SAC/SAT dates in Semester 2. In order for students to be well organised and prepared for assessment of learning, students are encouraged highlight relevant dates and to keep a copy in a visible place. Unit 2 and 4 SAC/SAT

Dates Timeline were distributed to students on Monday 19th June.

Shannon O’Shea

MacPherson Smith Rural Foundation. Each year MSRF offers a number of scholarships for Year 12 students who are planning to pursue tertiary education. Congratulations to Madison Andrew, who was successful in obtaining a scholarship from the MSRF for $2000.

Madison also attended the MSRF Young Rural Leaders Program at Narmbool for one week during the holidays. We encourage, and wish Madison all the best in pursuing her studies in Vet Nursing!

Thursday night the 31 st of August

The Woodman’s Hill Campus Hall will come alive with

the sounds of the 50’s!

6.30 - 7.45 pm

Dress up and dance comps!

Entry - $2 single & $5 family

Buy your tickets at the Office

As part of their Unit 4 studies the Studio Art students visited The Lost Ones gallery in Camp street to view the works of Sydney based artist Bridget Kennedy and local artist Claire McArdle. To gather further information about the running of a private gallery and the logistics of creating exhibitions for public viewing the students spoke with the gallery curator.

On July 19 the year 7's travelled down to

Melbourne to experience some of the

exhibits on offer at the Melbourne

Museum. They looked at exhibits about

dinosaurs, the solar system, bugs and

wildlife, and were able to get a glimpse

into life in Melbourne throughout history.

Finally, the year 7 students experienced

some optical illusions and dream

sequences through the museum's 'The

Mind' exhibit.

Caledonian Primary

School Visit

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On Tuesday 19th and Wednesday 20th July, Woodmans Hill hosted all Grade 3-6 students from Caledonian Primary School. These transition days are designed to assist all students with their transition to a secondary environment and they allow students to see what a secondary school day is like. In addition, they give students the opportunity to access specialist subject areas and

classrooms that they do not have access to at a primary level.

All students participated in a range of sessions which were based in the subject areas of Science and Visual Arts. They learned about how to design and test a catapult in their Physics class, learned about the different types of reactions and made lava lamps and fluffy slime in Chemistry and finally, they designed and

created stamps in the Visual Arts room.

All students had a wonderful day!

In the first week on Term 3, Year 10s attended a tour of the Waterfront Campus of Deakin University. Three student ambassadors gave us a guided tour of the campus, followed by an excellent presentation. We learned about Uni life and of the different courses offered at Deakin. It is a great looking campus with wonderful views over the bay. We got to eat in the campus café, then dodged the rain outside on the Geelong foreshore park. Some of the students were so impressed that they are now considering attending Uni !!

Date: Monday, 14 August 2017

Co-hosted with the Rotary Club of Wendouree, this hugely popular community event attracts over 2,000 people each year and gives young people from across Ballarat the opportunity to talk to representatives from the business sector, universities (Every Victorian university plus some inter-state and international universities), TAFES, private providers, industry groups and the workforce.

Location – Centennial Building, Queen’s Wing and Games Gym, Ballarat Grammar

See Over Page for Poster regarding the Ballarat Careers Expo 2017

Term 2 commenced the art therapy wellbeing program with our students. In this

group the students explored coping mechanisms, exploring their thoughts and feelings through creative

means and built resilience. The students have produced some impressive art work during the term as

shown in the photograph below. Ballarat Community Health’s skit team preformed a skit of a distressed

student and how to seek help with his mental health in our community.

Ballarat’s Headspace representative, Andy explained and demonstrated how to cope with anxiety using a

stress ball (shown above). The program has been a huge success with student’s moods improving and

looking forward to other term of Creative Minds Thrive.