From the Senior Years
As Week 6 drew to a close, the Year 11 Unit 2 school-based examinations ended on Friday 14 November. Examinations are an important summative measure of student learning, as well as a culmination of revision and preparation. These exams are an important ‘yard stick’ for students to gauge their current progress and what areas of refinement in exam technique can be a focus for their 2026 Year 12 studies.
The final week of Year 11 classes concludes this coming Friday 21 November. This is a time for students to review their Unit 2 learning, receive feedback on their examination performance and set goals and areas for attention in 2026. Timely feedback and review of Unit 2 exams is an important and valuable aspect of learning that all students are required to attend.
I commend all Year 11 students for their attendance and active participation in the St Aloysius College Celebration Evening. This is an important formal occasion to recognize the contributions, participation and achievement of all students. Whether winning an award, as a member of the College choir, Frayne Festival Voice Choir, a musician or a designated speaker or award winner, the Year 11 students were role models for younger year levels. These are important evenings that contribute to an overall school culture that fosters personal growth, hospitality and striving for higher things.
Beginning on Monday 24 November until Thursday 4 December, the Step Ahead program begins for all students. This is particularly important for the Year 11 students who begin their Year 12 studies in VCE and VCE VM. As always, attendance is important, given the 90% College requirement for all classes. It is also an opportunity for students to set their intentions for 2026, to organize themselves for the year ahead and to familiarize themselves with the various VCAA Study Designs for the subjects that they have chosen as part of their VCE and VCE VM pathway.
As part of the Step Ahead program, students will be recognized as VCE students with the new VCE College jumper. This will distinguish Senior students in Years 11-12 and indicate their VCE years. This is an important marker and right of passage to the VCE. Students will no doubt enjoy the designation and outward display of their progression into their Senior years.
During the Step Ahead program it is important that students appreciate that staffing is yet to be finalized and that, as always, there can be staffing changes between Step Ahead and the beginning of the year in 2026. I know a number of teaching teams with multiple classes, such as English and the various Mathematics streams, impart the view that it is a team approach among the teachers. This is certainly true as whole cohort benchmarking and cross-marking is the norm. In short, whichever class students have, they can be confident that these are key measures in place for students to be confident of team consistency across all classes.
During Step Ahead, all students will have access to Year 12 course materials, study design information, course planners, assessment dates and key outcomes that are met. It is important that all students have required materials, including access to internet at home to access course content and be best prepared for the year ahead.
Tom Crowle
Senior Years Leader