Congratulations to all Senior Sub School students for completing a successful Term 1! Their dedication and hard work have set a positive tone for the year ahead, and we are proud of their commitment to their studies.
This term has been filled with some exciting events and experiences for our students.
The Senior Sub School held a Year 11 Parent Information Evening on Wednesday, 5 March. This event provided families with valuable insights into the requirements of the VCE, VPC and VCE VM. The evening was well attended, and we enjoyed musical performances from the VET music band.
On the 13 March, Year 11 psychology students attended Melbourne Zoo to conduct a fieldwork investigation related to ethics, while developing a range of key science skills. On 18 and 19 of March, the Year 12 biology students also enriched their learning by attending GTAC as part of their Unit 3 studies on applying biotechnologies to produce human insulin. The students engaged in hands-on experiments, inserting a human insulin gene into a plasmid and transforming bacteria. They worked with mentors with PhD qualifications and used state-of-the-art scientific equipment to conduct their experiments. The results from both studies contributed to their assessments back at school.
“This excursion was interesting because we got to apply the knowledge we learnt in biology class to experiments. The experiments allowed me to gain a better understanding of how recombinant plasmids work in making human insulin. I particularly enjoyed looking at the glowing transformed bacteria under the microscope. The STEM mentors were very patient with us when guiding us through the experimental process. Overall, it was an enjoyable experience which helped me consolidate my knowledge”. – Yvonne Duong (12B)
Our senior sports teams have also been busy, with the senior intermediate boys’ baseball, senior and intermediate girls’ softball, senior boys’ futsal, and senior boys’ and girls’ tennis teams competing against other secondary schools. Additionally, our seniors participated in the Keilor Division Swimming Championships. We would like to commend all our students for their participation and excellent representation of the College.
This year, our Student Leadership Team took the initiative to host the 2025 Student Leadership Conference. The conference offered student leaders from our network schools valuable opportunities to build connections, develop action plans, enhance their leadership skills, and find inspiration. Designed and facilitated by students, for students, the event was a true reflection of student agency. We would like to congratulate our student leaders for their outstanding efforts in organising and leading the event, as well as for their continued dedication to supporting the school across many different areas. Student CPR ambassadors also participated in a leadership afternoon focused on mental health first aid, equipping the students with essential skills to support their peers. Thank you to Ms Good and Dottie from Wellbeing for providing opportunities for our senior students to broaden and deepen their leadership skills.
This Friday 21 March, our Year 11 students will be attending Lady Northcote Recreation Camp, which will offer great opportunities for team-building and outdoor activities. On the last day of school for the term, our Year 11 and Year 12 students will engage in the highly anticipated annual Year 11 vs. Year 12 soccer challenge. Both of these activities are aimed at enhancing team spirit, collaboration, engagement and connection amongst our students.
Looking ahead, on Friday 16 May, Year 11 students will attend the Victorian Careers Show at the Melbourne Showgrounds. The event will provide seminars on VCE subjects and information about career pathways, tertiary courses, apprenticeships, traineeships, and employment. This is an important event for students to attend as they prepare for their future careers. Parents/guardians are reminded to give consent and make payment via Compass. Families with a Health Care Card may be eligible for a government subsidy through CSEF (Camps, Sports, and Excursions Fund) or families can use the School Savings Bonus or pay via cash or card at the General Office.
The Senior Sub School has received the Year 11 and 12 progress reports and has started conducting interviews with students, and in some cases, parent meetings. These reports reflect students’ progress on formative tasks and SACs and help us monitor students who may need additional support or extension.
We highly recommend families to attend parent teacher interviews which will be held on Wednesday 2 April to hear about how your child is performing in these final and important years of their secondary education.
Finally, we would like to wish all our senior students and their families a relaxing and enjoyable term break.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 9366 25555.
Ms Marlene Cassar – Senior Sub School Leader
