Volume 19 Issue 6: May Coming Events

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1 Volume 19 Issue 6: May From the Principal Dr Watson Mother s Day Mass This morning, Fr Jude celebrated our Mother s Day Mass with over 90 mothers and their children in attendance. The Mass was a lovely way for us to celebrate the gift of motherhood. This was followed by a light breakfast in the College dining room. Thank you to all that attended. Particular thanks are extended to Ms Berardinelli, our Liturgy Captains, the Liturgy team, Mr Morse and the choir which adds so much to the richness of our celebrations. Let us pray for our mothers. You care for us, O God, as a mother cares for her children. Protect and bless all Mothers of the world. We ask this through Christ our lord. Amen College Athletics Carnival Congratulations to all that participated in the annual Thomas Carr College House Athletics Carnival this week at Newport. It was a very enjoyable day. As always, much planning and preparation is essential to ensure its success. Thank you to the outstanding participation by staff. A special thank you to Ms White, Heads of House and other members of the PE team for their wonderful organisation of the day. Athletic Champions for 2015 will be announced at assembly in due course. ANZAC Day As many parents will be aware Thomas Carr College has for more than a decade been affiliated with the Malaya Borneo Veterans Association and proudly carry their banner and flags on ANZAC Day. After the wet and windy ANZAC Day march this year the students had the opportunity to join the Veterans at a luncheon where they were presented with Participation Awards. Next week we will hold the College Malaya Borneo Veterans Remembrance Service where the Veterans gather again, in this special centenary year, to lay wreaths at the College Memorial Stone. The College will host Members of Parliament, Council officials, representatives from the Catholic Education Office together with our College community to pay our respects to the fallen. Coming Events MAY Fri 8: Mother s Day Mass & Breakfast 8.00am College Chapel Mon 11: Malaya & Borneo Veterans Association Remembrance Service at the College 11.15am. Tues 12: Parents & Friends Meeting 7.00pm Tues 12: NAPLAN Tues 12: Mass for James Saliba 4.00pm College Chapel Wed 13: NAPLAN Thurs 14: NAPLAN Fri 15: Thomas Carr Day Fri 22: ACS Athletics Carnival Mon 25: ACS Chess Championships Tues 26: Board Meeting Wed 27: Big Science Comp Yr 7-9 JUNE Mon 8: Queens Birthday Public Holiday Tues 9: Parents & Friends Meeting 7.00pm Wed 10: GAT Exam Fri 12: Staff Correction Day (Student Free Day) Tues 23: Board Meeting Thurs 25: Year 12 Careers Day Fri 26: Last Day of Pentecost Term Mon 29: Bursary Applications Close College Theme for 2015 Seek God with all your heart Prayer for Nepal Earthquake Victims Lord, we mourn for the many lives lost in the Nepal earthquake We pray for those who survived and in need of help as the nation recovers Please be with the people of Nepal at this time We pray for healing, unity, strength and determination to rebuild In Jesus' name, Amen. College Vision Thomas Carr College is a dynamic Catholic learning community, guided by the Gospel. Excellence and opportunities to develop are pursued. Through our hope and service to others we shine our light into the world.

2 College Production The 2015 College production of Black Comedy and A Mad Breakfast premiered last Wednesday evening. The audience certainly appreciated these two comedies which saw our students display their wonderful acting ability and comedic talents. The sets were terrific, costuming superb and as always the back stage crew did a wonderful job. Congratulations to Mr Dalley, Ms Mahony and the cast and crew. This production demonstrated that the performing arts are very much part of life at Thomas Carr College. Patron of the College During the month of May we recognize the anniversaries of the birth, death and ordination of the College patron, Archbishop Thomas Carr, the second Archbishop of Melbourne. As we prepare to celebrate Thomas Carr Day on Friday May 15, please read a small account of his life below. Thomas Joseph Carr was born in Moylough, Galway, Ireland,on 10 May He was from a large, affectionate family who were landed. Carr learned to use this experience to relieve the poverty of the landless majority in Ireland. He gave up the land to become a priest and was ordained from Maynooth College on 22 May Thomas Carr was a genial man whose charm and culture attracted people of all classes, creeds and races. He was firm for what was right, did not hesitate to correct what was wrong and did so without alienating others. His greatest work was in education. Shortly before his arrival in Melbourne, the Victorian Government cut all subsidies to religious schools. Although most people in Carr s care were not wealthy, he was able to provide Catholic education for all. He argued for thirty years for a just share of public tax money, with little success. Thomas Carr planned a steady progression from primary to secondary, to tertiary education. One of his greatest achievements was the establishment of a teacher training college for the religious and the laity. He was also a builder. A builder of things of real value and substance. A builder of things that enriched people s lives. And a builder of things that endured. St Patrick s Cathedral, Melbourne, is perhaps his most spectacular achievement, but there are literally dozens of markers to Thomas Carr s lasting contribution to the very fabric of life in the State of Victoria. Not least, the parish of Werribee, which he established in 1906.Thomas Carr s death occurred on 6 May 1917, in Melbourne, after 30 years as Archbishop of Melbourne. And today, in another era and another age, his spirit, philosophy and foresight live on in the College, which is proud to bear his name. Student Achievement Thank you to the banner and flag bearers on ANZAC Day who marched with the Malaya and Borneo Veterans to the Shrine of Remembrance. Certificates of Participation were awarded to Jacqueline O Brien, Julius Torres, Emily O Connor, Grace Newland, Ben Singleton, Rahwa Berhane, and Kongor Gak at the luncheon following the march. Thanks also to Tom Newland who filled in at the last minute. Traffic Management As part of our traffic management, we ask parents not to enter the car park in front of the Paul d Astoli Information Centre. To assist our parents in understanding this area cannot be accessed, a boom gate has been installed. The boom gate will be down from 8.15am to 8.45am and again from 2.30pm to 3.45pm therefore entry or exit from this car park will not be possible during these times. To further assist parents and improve traffic flow, the College has appointed Mr Matthew Howell as a Traffic Management Officer. I would ask for all parties to fully co-operate with the direction and requests made by Mr Howell. Students receiving their Awards at the ANZAC Day Luncheon

3 New Smoking Bans As advised by the Department of Health and Human Services no smoking bans are now in place at the College. The bans will apply on school grounds and within four metres of school entrances. From the Deputy Principal Ms McDonald Thomas Carr Day Thomas Carr Day will be held on Friday, 15 May which is fast approaching! A list of the food and activity stalls and the costs involved has been provided in this edition of The Beacon. Please ensure that students do not bring large notes (ie $50 notes) on the day as we may not have sufficient change for them. We will place notices in the student bulletin to remind students about this also. Student Achievements When students achieve at school, whether it be on the sporting field, in the classroom, as a student leader or due to excellent performances in drama, music or singing, we aim to acknowledge their efforts in a variety of ways. This may be by nominating them for a Beacon Award, acknowledging them in the daily bulletin, at an assembly or at the end of the annual A Night to Shine. Our students are also achieving wonderful things beyond the College and often, we don t hear about them. I would ask parents to please advise the relevant Head of School of your son s/daughter s out of school achievements so that we can celebrate their successes with our college community The Beacon Award The Beacon Award recognises achievements of our students. Selected students will be presented with a certificate of commendation and their names will be published in each edition of the Beacon. A maximum of 5 students per level may be recognised each fortnight. The criteria is: Evidence of learning which is consistently exemplary or displays great improvement. An action performed by a student(s) that supports the Catholic ethos of the school Evidence of behaviour which is consistently exemplary or displays great improvement Active and purposeful involvement in a college or community event Congratulations to the following students: Year 7 Meen Marial, Amy Virgona, Amy Quick, Isabella Loverso, Year 8 Michael Lapina, Tarnah Inguanez, Anabelle Candiloro, Juliane David, Claudia Nave Year 9 Tara Hume; Paris Ballan; Viola Alison; Grace Newland; Adarsh Rah Year 10 James Brasher, Natasha Graham, George Sharma Year 11 Rachel Attard, Johnathon Cusmano, Rebecca Manibo, Hywot Tadesse, Arjan Mata Year 12 Joshua Batongbacal, Emily O Connor, Julius Torres, Jacqueline O Brien. The Good Samaritan Campus Leadership Awards Excellence Award for participation Jemma Ebejer Development Award for participation Gail D Souza From the Director of Catholic Identity Ms Berardinelli Mother s Day Mass & Breakfast Thank you to everyone who joined us on Friday 8 May for our Mother s Day Mass. This was an extra special occasion being our first Mother s Day Mass celebrated in

4 our new College Chapel with Fr Jude. Mass was followed by a lovely warm breakfast in our College Dining Room Caritas Australia Nepal Earthquake Emergency Relief Fund Please donate now The devastating 7.9 magnitude earthquake that hit Nepal early on ANZAC Day, caused widespread destruction and loss of life. With over 1300 currently feared dead, thousands more are in urgent need of immediate emergency support. Caritas Australia are currently on the ground and working alongside local Caritas Nepal staff to coordinate the emergency response, which will include providing emergency shelter, water and hygiene kits. In such overwhelming circumstances, our thoughts, prayers and support are with those affected by this devastating earthquake. Over the course of our Pentecost Term, the College Vinnies Conference will meet to discuss ways to respond to raise much needed funds. You can also make a real difference by donating directly to Caritas Australia. $110 could provide three families with water and sanitation kits. $200 could provide two families with food and hygiene packs. $250 could provide two families with critical emergency shelter. Please donate now; m_campaign=edm World Youth Day Beatitude of the purity of Heart Preparations are underway for World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland from July 21 to 6 August All young people aged between years old are strongly encouraged to join our Holy Father Pope Francis next year for this pilgrimage of faith and encounter with the universal church. Pope Francis' message for World Youth Day 2015 has been released. He invites young people to reflect on the beatitude of the purity of heart. To read the full message click here; The Victorian Bishops have decided once again to co-ordinate one joint Victorian pilgrimage to World Youth Day for all Catholic school students. The Pilgrimage will take place from 22 July- 6 August (20 days) flying directly to Krakow before the commencement of World Youth Day festivities. The pilgrimage will include: all World Youth Day activities in Krakow; a visit to Czestochowa to the Black Madonna at the Jasna Gora Shrine; the religious sites of the city of Krakow where St John Paul II served as Archbishop and an opportunity to visit Auschwitz including the room of St Maximilian Kolbe within the former concentration camp. Students will attend a two-day retreat after World Youth Day at a site in the Polish mountains. This pilgrimage will only be for pilgrims ages years old. Separate accommodation will be provided for boys and girls. The cost per pilgrim is likely to be $6000. The Catholic Education Office will subsidise the costs by $2000 for two students from each Catholic Secondary School in the Archdiocese. Thomas Carr College will also contribute $2000 to the cost for two students and the students selected to represent Thomas Carr College will be required to contribute the final balance of approximately $2000. Therefore, the College is seeking expressions of interest from students who in 2016 will be aged years old to represent Thomas Carr College on this pilgrimage. If you are interested please contact Ms Berardinelli by Friday 29 May, 2015, to complete an application form.

5 World Youth Day offers such a variety of experiences from private prayer to formal Masses, to concerts, workshops and cultural events. For more information please visit ONE Pentecost Catholics Young and Old unite together Leaders from around Melbourne have united to organise what we are expecting to be a significant moment in the Church in our city. The faithful are invited to gather for a dynamic, inspiring and prayerful night together on Sunday 24 May at the Collingwood Town Hall. This is a wonderful opportunity for young people to experience the Church at its best; a Church that engages them, perhaps like never before! Please encourage your son or daughter in Year 9 to 12 to seek more information on the ONE website A flyer is also attached to this edition of the Beacon. From the Head of Senior School Ms Knurek Punctuality, Uniform and Attendance There are a number of students who have been late to school recently. Homeroom is an integral part of the school day: notices are handed out, general information is given and the day commences with a prayer and reflection. All students are expected to be on time for Homeroom which commences at 8.45am. All students are also expected to have the correct uniform and to wear it with pride as representatives of the College. Students who are wearing incorrect uniform or items that are not part of the College uniform or sports uniform may be required to go home and change. Parents are reminded that it is not permitted for students to wear skins, leggings or tracksuit pants that are not part of the College sports uniform. Nail polish, eye makeup and excess jewellery are also not part of the uniform. Girls are expected to have long hair tied back and boys are expected to be clean shaven. Your assistance with this is greatly appreciated. WRICA Careers & Employment Expo The WRICA will be held at the Wyndham Leisure & Events Centre on Thursday May 14. All Year 10 students will attend during the morning as part of their career planning and preparation for future pathways and work experience options. My thanks to Ms Covacci and Ms De Silva for their ongoing work with our students. Examinations Exams are one part of student assessment and as such need to be treated seriously. It is important that proper revision and preparation is undertaken by all students. Students who fail three or more exams and/or a number of assessment tasks may be required to sit an Academic Panel. This may have serious consequences for future subject choices. If you have any queries about the exams, please do not hesitate to contact the Senior Director, Mr Scarlata or the Senior School Head of Learning and Teaching, Ms Sabo. The importance of getting the balance right between work, study and leisure time activities is a vital ingredient in the student achieving success. Year 11 Examinations and Unit 3 & 4 classes During Semester 1, Year 11 examination week, there will be no Unit 3 & 4 classes for Year 11 students. At the end of the year, after Year 12 classes conclude, the Year 11 Unit 3 & 4 classes will continue until the commencement of Semester 2 Year 10 & 11 examinations. Year 11 VCAL Students in Examination week. Please note: Between Wednesday June 3 to Friday June 12 Year 11 VCE students are undertaking their examinations Year 11 VCAL students will not be required at the College on Friday June 5 and Tuesday June 9. Friday June 12 is a student free day.

6 VCAL students are expected to be at their TAFE and work placement each Wednesday and Thursday during these weeks. As many VCAL students will be involved in holiday blocks for VET courses, this is an opportunity for VCAL students to catch up on any outstanding work requirements at home and to ensure they are meeting all requirements for their TAFE or VET course. Racism: It Stops with Me Cyber racism is most commonly defined as racism which occurs in the cyber world. This includes racism which occurs on the internet such as racist websites, images, blogs, videos and online comments as well as racist comments, images or language in text messages, s or on social networking sites. In the context of Australian schooling it is defined more broadly as any use of information and communication technologies to transmit racist attitudes and behaviour including the transfer of racially offensive content that is intended to cause harm or distress to another person. Cyber racism is a form of cyber bullying. The nature of rapidly developing technologies means that areas that were once considered private spaces are now public. The increased use of internet and the development of social networking sites and maps, for example, mean that comments classified as racist, typically between one person and another, can now be sent to thousands of people within seconds. This has more serious consequences for the target of the racist behaviour. More information about this issue can be found at From the Head of Middle School Mr le Roux Holidays during Term time The College does not support students taking holidays during term times. In some cases it means students fall very behind in their work that may impact on their results and successful promotion to the following year level. If you do intend to take holidays during term time please ensure that the college is informed about this in advance with the exact dates of travel and anticipated return to the College. Parents are asked to apply, in writing, to the Head of School for approval of extended absences due to family holidays. Year 9 City Experience Both 9 Green and 9 Jade participated in their weeklong city experience. It was a very positive and exciting time for them and they thoroughly enjoyed it. This experience allows students to study the cultural, historical and sporting aspects of the city of Melbourne. The program recognises students increasing independence and requires students to develop their own transport plans in order to complete each of the set activities for each day. A city experience passport has questions, facts, maps and information on key locations that they will visit individually, with their small group and as a class. Many aspects of City Experience interrelate with the id9 curriculum. The students visit the Melbourne Zoo which ties in with two key aspects of the My Neighbour unit endangered species and sustainability, an example of this includes the Orang-utan exhibit and the consequential impact of palm oil production. As part of the My Future unit students visit the Melbourne Museum. The Museum offers diverse range of displays and exhibits with direct and strong links to the curriculum. The students are allowed to spend as much time as they choose here. The students also visit the Shrine of Remembrance. The memorial site was created to meet the needs of the grieving population after the extensive loss of life during WW1. This ties in with the My Country unit as students study the intricacies of trench warfare and the events of Gallipoli.

7 A visit to the Old Melbourne Goal allows our students to gain an understanding of the first fleet and convict life. As part of this visit the students undertake a case study analysis of Bush Rangers and our most infamous bushranger, Ned Kelly. Students find this visit and experience exciting as they get locked into jail cells and learn how it felt to be a criminal locked up in the since decommissioned prison. The Parliament House tour links to the My Self unit. The students have a tour through the two houses of Parliament and get to witness Parliament in session. The Youth Homelessness Tour is linked in with the College s social justice program. Students are educated on the struggles that our youth may face today and then tour where young adults may reside for the night around the city. Pastoral Care Program for Pentecost Term At Thomas Carr College, we provide a rich pastoral care program which supports our students as they enter the Middle School until they exit the Senior School. We value positive relationships and partnerships between the College, home and community. It provides a safe, caring and enjoyable learning environment for students, with the aim to motivate and challenge. During Term 2 students focused on themes based around resilience (stress management, red and blue zones, loss and grief) and healthy relationships (bullying and cyber safety). Year 8 students focus on themes based around healthy relationships (conflict resolution, cyber safety, bullying, annual safety survey), being effective learners (goal setting) and resilience (making good decisions). Year 9 students focus on themes based around healthy relationships (restorative practices, cyber safety, role of the bystander), being effective learners (time management), healthy lifestyles (risk taking behaviour), pathways (ifocus) and Shape your destiny (success integrated). Head of Learning & Teaching: Senior School Ms Sabo General Achievement Test (GAT) Examination The GAT is a compulsory three hour General Achievement Test of general knowledge and skills in written communication, Mathematics, Science and Technology, Humanities, the Arts and Social Science. All students completing a scored Unit 3 and 4 VCE or Unit 3 and 4 VCE VET subject must complete the GAT. Year 11 and 12 students who are participating in the GAT will not have any classes on that day. The GAT will be held on Wednesday June 10 from 10.00am to 1.15pm in the College gymnasium and in D5/6. Students must arrive at least 30 minutes prior to its commencement and be ready to be seated at 9.40am. Students will be advised of the location and seating allocation prior to the day via and a seating plan will be placed outside the school gymnasium on the day of the Examination. While the GAT results do not automatically contribute towards the VCE, the results do play a very important part in the final assessment of the VCE as they are used to check that the Examinations, SACs and SATs have been accurately and fairly marked. Further, if a student is ill, has an accident or experiences severe personal hardship at the time of an Examination, a student may apply for a Derived Examination Score (DES). The GAT results contribute towards the calculation of the DES. GAT Examination Assembly On Tuesday 19 May at am, all students participating in a Unit 3 and 4 study will be expected to attend an assembly in the gym at the College. This session will

8 focus on the rules and regulations for students completing the GAT and Unit 3 & 4 VCE examinations in Year 10 & 11 Study Skills Sessions Friday 17 April the Year 10 students were involved in a Study Sensei presentation and a Time Management session for Year 11 students. We had 16 guest presenters from Elevate Education run workshops with our students. The Study Sensei session addressed the question What is study? and explored study techniques of the top students, providing students with a road-map for what they need to be doing across the year and how to do it. Skills covered: Dynamic reading - How to read a text and pull out the key points, not just summarise every sentence. Note taking - How to get the ideas the students have extracted from their reading into an organised set of notes that will facilitate effective learning. Conceptual learning skills - Teaching students how to break the information into its relevant parts as opposed to simply rote-learning the material. Independent learning - What independent learning means and how to get it done. Standing out on assessment - Students were shown how to distinguish themselves from the thousands of other students who are all taught the same material. The Time Management seminar addressed the second most common question we get from students: "Once I know what to do, how do I find the time to do it?" Students have busy lives and for most, the challenge is simply finding time to get the work done. Skills covered: Study routine - How to develop a study routine that allows for socialising, sport and extra-curricular activities but ensures that students still find time to fit in their study. Working smart - How to identify the work that is going to get students the most marks across their final years and how to ensure that it gets done. Study groups - Students are shown how to leverage their time across the year by using study groups. This is a particularly powerful technique for those students who are time poor. Procrastination - Students are introduced to the most common reasons for procrastination and how to get around it. The overall feedback from students was really positive with 99% saying the seminars were time well spent and 99% of students would recommend the seminar to their peers. Here is what some students had to say: Completely changed my thought and techniques on taking notes and studying! Jessica Kencevski 100/100, Awesome! Maryrose Vitale Great way to spend the morning Natalie Lazarevski Year 10 Examination Protocols Assembly On Tuesday 19 May at am, all Year 10 students will be expected to attend an examination protocols assembly in D18 at the College. This assembly will outline the College s expectations of all students throughout the end of Semester 1 examination period. You will find a copy of Student Examination Protocols in this edition of the College Beacon. Preparation for the GAT In preparation for the GAT, past GAT practice papers are utilized by all Year 11 and 12 students for writing tasks in their English classes, together with a solution response sheet. The College strongly advises that all students who are preparing to

9 sit the GAT access past papers, in particular the multiple choice questions to gain an understanding of the format and style of questions. Students will require access to a quiet room and a set time of 2 hours to complete the multiple choice questions. All material related to the GAT, including past examination papers, can be accessed using this link Year 11 Examinations and Unit 3 & 4 classes During the Semester 1 Year 11 examination week, there will be no Unit 3 & 4 classes for Year 11 students. At the end of year, after Year 12 classes conclude the Year 11 Unit 3 & 4 classes will continue until the commencement of the Semester 2 Year 10 & 11 examinations. Studying for the Semester 1 Examinations 10 Tips in Getting Prepared 1. Find out about the exam know as much as you can about it How much is the exam worth to your overall mark in the subject? What type of exam is it? Is it a multiple choice, essay, open-book or take-home exam? Will there be a choice of questions or tasks? How much will each question or task be worth? 2. Ask For Help Don t feel bad if you need to ask for help. Talk to your teacher or lecturer and pick the brains of other students. If you re feeling really stressed you might also find it helpful to speak to a school counsellor. 3. Sort Out Your Subject Material Check that you have all the relevant handouts and get all your notes together from the subject. Read through the course outline or subject guide (if there is one) and use it to organise the information you ve collected. It might help to write your own summaries of each textbook chapter or section of the subject guide. This will make it easier to find what you need while you re studying. 4. Check Past Exam Papers Get your hands on any old exam papers from the subject and familiarise yourself with the structure and format. Your teacher or tutor should be able to let you know where you can get your hands on some. Your school library or the Head of Learning might have past exams on file, too. Practice answering the questions within the specified time limits and check your answers against your notes to make sure you ve got them right. 5. Know Where to Go Check your exam timetable for details on when and where you ll be sitting the exam. Make sure you have everything you ll need to take with you (e.g. calculator, pencil, ruler, etc). Try to do some study at the times your exams will be on. If you have an early morning exam it s a good idea to practice getting up and doing some study earlier in the day. 6. Don t Cram Stick to what you already know when studying the night before an exam. You ll only make yourself nervous if you try to learn new information. Review your notes or test yourself on key points. 7. Keep Your Cool Don t talk to other students about the exam just before the exam. It could confuse you or make you lose confidence in yourself. The same goes for after the exam. Don t hang around talking about what was on it or you ll start to doubt yourself and stress out if you think you made a mistake. 8. Use Your Reading Time The way you use your reading time could make or break you in the exam. Use it to plan your writing time and start thinking about some answers. Read the instructions very carefully then scan the whole exam paper. Be sure to check how many pages

10 there are and how much each question is worth. Plan how much time to spend on each answer and the order in which you ll answer them. Start with the questions you re most confident with. 9. Break the Components Down A great tip for any exam is to break the questions down to make sure you really understand what you re being asked. If you don t answer the question properly you won t get full marks for it. Look for the key parts in the question and these will give you clues on how to answer it. For example, for the question, "Explain the difference between study and revision", you can split this question into four parts: Explain - give reasons to show how or why something is the way it is The difference - what are the distinguishing factors between study and revision? Study - what is study? Revision- what is revision? 10. Review Your Performance While there s no use stressing out over an exam you ve already done, it does help to look at what you can improve on. If you didn t do as well on an exam as you would ve liked, ask your teacher if you can go through it with them and find out what you did wrong. Whatever it is, whatever strategy when you find something that works for you, put it into practice and good luck! (Information sourced from: Top Ten Exam Tips - Youth Central) sources/top+ten+exam+tips/ VET Certificates Any student who has completed a VET certificate outside the College, such as through work e.g. Certificate III in Retail can have this qualification count towards their ATAR in Year 12. Any student with additional qualifications outside of the College need to see Ms Sabo in the first instance. Family Holidays during the VCE All parents and students are reminded that where possible, family holidays need to be kept during the school holiday period. The school policy is that family holidays are an unapproved absence, therefore if VCE students miss any SACs, an NA grade will be awarded and SACs will be assessed only as Satisfactory or Not Satisfactory. Students often find the VCE stressful at the best of times, and the added pressure of catching up on missed class time can place students in a very difficult position. SAC Absences Students and parents are reminded that if for any reason a student who is studying a Unit 1-4 subject is absent, they are required to complete an Approval of SAC Absence form, either prior or immediately following their absence. Approved absences will be graded and scores will be released to students and to VCAA (Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority). Unapproved absences will not receive a score (NA) and will only be graded for an S/N (Satisfactory/Not Satisfactory). Appropriate documentation needs to fully support the reason for the absence. Family holidays do not constitute an approved absence and stating family/personal reasons cannot be accepted according to College policy. Unit 3/4 subjects, in particular, will require formal evidence for any absence, such as a medical certificate or funeral notice. Unit 1-4 SAC Calendar Students completing a Unit 1 and/or Unit 3 subject can access a SAC calendar in SIMON under Knowledge Banks, Information for Students. Please note that these dates are a guide only and may be subject to change. Students will be informed by subject teachers if any changes to dates are necessary.

11 Student VCE Handbook The 2015 Student VCE Satisfactory Handbook is available to students and parents online via SIMON under Knowledge Banks in Information for Students. Parents and students are asked to familiarise themselves with this important document. Other important VCE forms and documentation can also be found in the Information for Students folder on SIMON. Outlined within the VCE Satisfactory Handbook is the process of Recall, which may be issued to students for the following reasons: They were absent from a School Assessed Coursework task and need to complete this task They need to re-sit a School Assessed Coursework (SAC) task due to receiving an N result When a Recall has been issued to students, they must attend the scheduled Recall session. Failure to attend Recall will result in an N result being awarded for the SAC and subsequent outcome. A letter will be issued to parents to inform them of this and will also involve a meeting with myself and/or a VCE Panel. Head of Learning & Teaching: Middle School Mr Wilkinson Student Data and Assessment NAPLAN 2015 NAPLAN is fast approaching and it is important that students do a little preparation to avoid any surprises on the day. It is really important for students to make sure that they have all materials for the test and brush up on some key skills. Some key activities that students could undertake in their own time are: Reading and answering what do I know now?, what were the key ideas? Basic math problems around Number, Algebra, Function and Pattern, Space, Measurement, Chance and Data. Writing a short persuasive piece Language, brushing up on their understanding of and rules around Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar. The National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is an annual assessment for students in Years 7 and 9. NAPLAN is made up of tests in four areas: reading writing language conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation) numeracy The results of the tests provide information for students, parents and teachers about student achievement which can then be used to inform teaching and learning programs. It is expected that all students in Years 7 and 9 will participate in the 2015 NAPLAN. The NAPLAN in 2015 will be conducted on the following days: Tuesday May 12 Language Conventions 8:50am 9:45am Period 1 Writing 11:05am 11:55am Period 3 Wednesday May 13 Reading 8:50am 10:05am Period 1 and Period 2 Thursday May 14 Numeracy (calculator) 8:50am 9:40am Period 1 Numeracy (non-calculator 11:05am 11:55am Period 3 Expectations for NAPLAN NO ipad / MOBILE PHONE Correct College Uniform 2B or HB pencil

12 Eraser and Sharpener Blue OR Black pen Calculator for the Numeracy Calculator-allowed test (14/05/2015 Period 1) if students do not bring required equipment to the tests, a consequence will be issued. As this is a government run assessment, student results and reports are expected to be released towards the middle of the Assumption Term From the Careers Co-ordinator Ms Covacci Each month the Careers Team publishes a Careers Newsletter. This Newsletter outlines information to assist you in making important career decisions, upcoming career events, tips and advice and much more. The Second Edition for 2015 of the Careers Newsletter can be viewed by clicking on the link: If you would like to discuss any of the items you have read or would like a careers appointment please feel free to contact the careers team at careers@thomascarr.vic.edu.au From the Head of Learning: Arts and Technology Mr Dalley Battle of the Bands The College is looking for all types of bands to enter this year s Battle of the Bands to be held on 18 June at 7:30pm-9:00pm. Prizes will be awarded to Bands coming 1 st, 2 nd or 3 rd in the form of gift cards between $200 to $50 Ticket prices are $5.00 and ALL proceeds go to charity! Auditions are held on May 18 in the music room at 3:30pm. See flyer attached. Parents and Friends Association Second Hand Uniform Shop Open during term time on Thursdays from 3.00pm 4.00pm. Cash and cheque payments only (no eftpos available). Community News Uniform Shop Don t leave it until the last minute! Organise your Winter Uniform now! No need to make an appointment open Monday, Wednesday and Friday 8.15am 4.00pm. Except for the dates listed below. Any questions please phone Natalie on

13 THOMAS CARR DAY STALLS H/R Stall Cost to student 1 9 Blue Donuts $ Jade Gelati Van Various prices 3 9 Silver 10 Purple Sausage Sizzzle $ Blue Cheeseburgers $ Jade Soft Drinks $ White 9 Gold Bottles of water $ Gold Subway $ White Sushi $1 or 4 slices for $3 9 9 Red Noodles $ Silver 8 Jade Fried Rice $ Gold Churros $1.50 or 3 for $ Purple 10 Green Muffins $ Silver Popcorn $ White Pizza $ Jade 7 Purple Fairy Floss $ Green Lolly Bags $ Green Cake stall Various prices 18 8 Gold 10 Gold Potato wedges $ White Hot Chocolate $ Purple 10 Jade Snow cones $ Purple Hash Browns tbc Red Lolly Jar Guessing Competition 50c 23 8 Blue Hairspray $ Silver Face Painting $ Red Chocolate Coin Toss 20c 26 7 Silver Wii Dance $ Blue Sponge throwing $ Red 7 Blue Photo Booth (middle school) 50c or 3 for $ Green 11 Green Photo Booth (senior school) 50c or 3 for $ Red Raffle $1.00

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