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StaroftheSeaCollege

VCEGuidelinesandProtocolsfor

SeniorStudents2018

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EXPECTATIONSOFSENIORSTUDENTSATSTAROFTHESEAStar of the Sea College has high expectations for all students undertaking their VCE (VictorianCertificateofEducation)/VCAL(VictorianCertificateofAppliedLearning)studies.AsseniorstudentsyouplayaveryimportantroleinthelifeoftheCollege,asyouareinapositiontoprovideleadershiptoyoungerstudents,offeringbothencouragementandadvice.YourapproachtolifeasaVCE/VCALstudentmustbepositive,demonstratingdedicationtoyourstudiesandresponsibilityforyourownlearning.BoththeVCEandVCALprogramsaredemandingofyou,astheyallowyoutodevelopvaluableskillsthatwillsupportyouthroughoutyourlife.Youwillbeencouragedtofindabalancebetweenstudy,involvementinthelifeoftheCollegeandyouroutsideofschoolcommitments.Studentsneedtobepreparedtodevotethemselvestotherequirementsofatwoyearcertificate.Attendance at school must be given the highest priority – the VCAA (Victorian Curriculum andAssessmentAuthority) itselfsetsminimumrequirementsfortheamountofcontacthoursrequiredforeachsubject.Appointments,wherepossible,shouldbearrangedoutsideofschoolhours(andamedical certificate supplied when this is not possible), and in-term holidays can create issues inregardstomeetingminimumsubjectrequirements.Pleasenote:Thedaycommenceswithperiod1at8.30am.This means being ready for period 1 at 8:30am. Arrive at school by 8:20am to ensure you haveenoughtimetogotoyourlockerandorganiseyourday.Absences,latearrivalsorrequestsforearlydismissalsmustbeexplainedinanotefromparentsandpresentedtoyourMentorTeacherorPastoralLeader.IfyouareabsentduetoillnessonthedayofaSACorOutcome,theCollegeneedstobecontactedby8:00amtoensurereschedulingprocessescanbeputintoplacepromptly.AnEarlyDismissalPasswillonlybeissuedbyyourPastoralLeader,uponthepresentationofanoteoremailfromyourparents.

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STUDYPERIODSYear12studentshaveeightstudyperiodsallocatedintheirtimetableandnumerousroomswithanallocatedteacheraretimetabledtoensurestudentsareabletoeffectivelyusethesetimestoassistin their education. During this time, students are encouraged to develop independent learningstrategies,andunderstandpersonal timemanagement.Studentswillbeexpected toorganiseandmaintaintheirownpersonalstudyroutine,whichcanbemirroredintheirout-of-schoolstudyandrevisionprogram.PRINCIPLESFORSTUDYPERIODS

1. ItisimportantthatstudentsrealisethattheseareSTUDYperiodsandNOTFreeperiods:studentsshouldalwaysbepreparedwithappropriatehomework,studyorrevisionfortheseperiods.

2. Studyperiodsareprovidedinordertohelpstudentscopewiththesignificantworkloadat

Year12.Theatmosphereineachstudyperiodistobesuchthateveryindividualisabletocarryonproductivework.

3. Studentsmustensurethattheyhavetheirnamesmarkedoffatthestartofeverystudy

period.Studentsmissingstudyperiodswillbefollowedup.

4. ItiscompulsoryforallstudentstoremainontheCollegepropertyduringstudyperiods.

DAY1ANDDAY6–PERIOD5Day 1 and Day 6 contain a common study period for all Year 12 students. There is a publishedcalendarwhichoutlineswhathasbeenscheduledfortheseperiods.TheseperiodswillbeusedforcommonSACs(e.g.EnglishandMathematics),forinformationsessionsandfortrialexams(suchastheGAT).Year 12 students are expected to attend every Day 1 and Day 6 session which is linked to theirprogram.

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THEVICTORIANCERTIFICATEOFEDUCATION

GRADUATIONREQUIREMENTSFORVCETheVictorianCurriculumAssessmentAuthorityadministerstheVictorianCertificateofEducation.TograduatewiththeVCE,theminimumrequirementissatisfactorycompletionof16units,whichmustinclude:

• ThreeunitsfromtheEnglishgroup(eitherEnglish,EnglishasanAdditionalLanguage(EAL)orLiterature),includingaUnit3/4sequence,and

• AtleastthreesequencesofUnit3/4studiesotherthanEnglish(thismayincludeanynumberofEnglish sequencesonce theEnglish requirementhasbeenmet), includingVCEVETUnit3/4sequences.

InordertoreceiveanATAR(AustralianTertiaryAdmissionRank),satisfactorycompletionofascoredUnit3/4Englishgroupsequenceisrequired.Generally, Units 1/2 are studied at Year 11, whilst Units 3/4 are generally taken by the Year 12students.However,itispossiblethat,providedastudentachievesaBaverageacrossallherYear10subjectsandanAaverageinthesubjectshewishestostudy,thatstudentmayundertakeoneUnit3/4studyasaYear11student.ThesemesterunitsaredesignedtoallowentryatUnit1,2orUnit3.However,Unit3/4studiesmustbe undertaken as a sequential pair. In the case of some studies such as Languages Other ThanEnglish, Mathematical Methods, Specialist Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics, it is highlyrecommendedthatUnits1/2intheseareasofstudyareundertakenbeforeattemptingtheUnit3/4sequenceinthesameareaofstudy.

THEVICTORIANCERTIFICATEOFAPPLIEDLEARNING(VCAL)GRADUATIONREQUIREMENTSFORVCALThe Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) is a hands-on alternative to the VictorianCertificate of Education (VCE). The VCAL gives you practicalwork-related experience, literacy andnumeracyskillsaswellas theopportunitytobuildpersonalskills important for lifeandwork.LiketheVictorianCertificateofEducation(VCE),VCALisanaccreditedsecondarycertificate.Accreditedmodulesandunitsareselectedfromthefollowingfourcompulsorystrands:

• LiteracyandNumeracySkills• IndustrySpecificSkills• WorkRelatedSkills• PersonalDevelopmentSkills

TherearethreeentrylevelsfortheVCAL:Foundation,IntermediateandSenior.AttheIntermediateandSeniorlevels,thelearningprogrammustalsoincludeaccreditedVETcurriculum.TograduateasaVCALstudent,thelearningprogrammustcontainaminimumof10credits,including:

• Curriculumcomponents to the valueof at leastone credit, eachofwhich canbe justifiedagainstthepurposestatementforeachofthefourVCALcurriculumstrands,

• Aminimumof2VCALunits,• OnecreditforNumeracySkills,and• Thevalueof six creditsat the levelof theVCALaward, twoofwhichmustbe for Literacy

SkillsandPersonalDevelopmentSkills.

VCErulesandguidelinesthroughoutthisdocumentalsoapplytoVCALstudents

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VCAADocumentationTheVCAArequiresVCEstudentstounderstand, fill inandcheckanumberofdifferentdocumentseach year. These documents are formulated by the VCAA and are an integral part of the VCEprocess,astheyhelpVCAAmanageenrolments:

1. TheSubjectInformationFormprovidestheinformationaboutthesubjectsyouarestudying.ThisinformationisenteredintotheVASSsystemandthisconstitutesyourVCEenrolmentinthosesubjects.

2. TheVCEandVCALStudentPersonalDetails Formneeds tobecompletedandcheckedforeveryyearthatastudentisenrolledtostudytheirseniorcertificate.Thisformneedstobecheckedtoensurepersonal information iscorrectandup-to-date.Thedetailsareusedforyourcompletioncertificateanddeliveryofresults.This formtakesonthestatusofa legaldocument,asyouneedtosignitandagreetoanumberofconditionssetoutontheformitself,includinggrantingpermissiontotheVCAAtopublishaspectsofyourcompletedwork.

Thesedetailsarerequiredtobecheckedbyallenrolledstudentstwiceayear,onceduringSemester1(Unit1or3)andalsoduringSemester2(Unit2or4).STUDENTPROGRAMSTheusualVCEstudentprogramatStaroftheSeaCollegeconsistsof23units:

ð 13unitsduringYear11(English+5othersubjects,withasingleVCEReligiousEducationUnitwithlessfortnightlycontacthoursstudiedacrosstheyear),and

ð 10unitsduringYear12(English+4othersubjects,withdesignatedstudyperiods).Aschool-basedReligiousEducation/RetreatprogramistakenbyallstudentsatYear12.

Year12It is Star of the Sea policy that all Year 12 students take 5 studies in their final year of schoolingregardlessofwhetherornottheyhavecompletedaUnit3/4studyinYear11.Year11ItisimperativethatYear11studentsdonotunderestimatetheimportanceofUnit1and2studies.Unit 1 and 2 studies contribute to the development of student learning and to VCE graduationrequirements.AlsotheybuildknowledgeofcontentandprepareyoufortherigoursofYear12.EXTENSIONANDUNIVERSITYSTUDIESAspecialprogramisofferedbyuniversitiesforsomeVCEstudentswhoareverystrongacademically.Normally, students enrolling in university studies in Year 12 will have demonstrated outstandingachievementandhaveaVCEstudyscoreof40ormore in thepreparatorystudy.WherestudentshavenothadtheopportunitytocompletethepreparatoryUnits3/4sequencepriortoenrolmentina university study, a studymay be selected on the basis of the Deputy Principal – Teaching andLearning’sevaluationofthestudent’sYear11performance.EnhancementStudiesareendorsedbytheVCAAtocountasa6thVCEsubject.Studentsreceiveanincrement (of usually between 3 to 5.5 points according to the level of achievement) which iscalculatedasapartofyourATAR.

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VCEASSESSMENTSCHOOL-BASEDASSESSMENTSatisfactorycompletionofeachunitatVCE level isachievednotonlyoncompletingtheminimumnumber of contact hours, but also when a student can demonstrate acquisition of the requiredknowledge and skills for outcomes specified in each subjects’ StudyDesign. The teachers of eachunit make the decisions as to what constitutes “satisfactory completion”. As school-assessedcoursework forms part of on-going learning, feedback will be provided to students on the workbeingassessed.StudentsareadvisedtoretainallcourseworkuntilendoftheschoolyearincasetheVCAAwishestoexaminethematerial.Achievementofanoutcomemeans:

• Theworkmeetstherequiredstandard• Theworkwassubmittedontime• Theworkisclearlythestudent’sownandcanbeauthenticated• Therehasbeennobreachofrules.

Alloutcomesmustbeachieved,inorderforthestudenttoreceive“S”fortheunit.Ifanyoneoftheoutcomesisnotachieved,thestudentreceives“N”fortheunit.

POLICYFORSATISFACTORYCOMPLETIONOFVCESTUDIES

1. ATTENDANCEUnits1and2:StaroftheSeaCollegehasdeterminedthatstudentsstudyingatUnit1and2levelmustattendaminimumof90%ofallscheduledclassesinaunitinordertomeettherequirementsforsatisfactorycompletionofthatunit.Units3and4:Failuretomeetthe90%attendancerequirementmayresult inthestudentattracting a non-complete result for the unit in question. Attendance and punctuality atscheduledclassesisregardedasanessentialcomponentofsatisfactorycompletionofaunit.

2. RESCHEDULINGOFASSESSMENTTASKS

ManyoftheSchoolAssessedCourseworktasks includingCommonTestswillbeconductedduringclasstime.ForUnit3/4studies,somelargersubjectswillscheduleSACsforDay1andDay6Period5sessions.Itisimperativethatstudentsattendallrelevantsessions.IfthereschedulingofataskisnecessaryforeitheraYear11OutcomeoraYear12SAC,thestudent will be required to complete the essential paperwork (available on the SeniorStudiespageandasanAppendixattheendofthisdocument)ThisreschedulingwillthenbecompletedduringaWednesdayafter-schoolsession(3:30pm-4:40pminRooms204/205).Incaseswherestudentsdonotprovideadequateinformationformissinganassessmenttask,ordonotcomplete theassessment task toa satisfactory standard,or it is submitted late,thepieceofworkinquestionwillnotbegraded,andmayreceive“N”.Studentswhoappealsuchadecisionmaybeabletohavethe“N”changedto“S”,however,thetaskitselfwillstillnotbegraded,whichwillimpacttheirfinalstudyscoreatYear12Unit3/4level.

Ifastudent isabsentfromanassessmenttaskandtherearenoextenuatingcircumstanceswithsupportingdocumentation,thestudentwillnotreceiveascoreforthetask(andrisk“N”fortheunit),whichmaynegatively impact their studyscore for thesubject,andtherefore (atYear12),thecalculationoftheirATAR.

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FEEDBACKTOSTUDENTSAfterworkissubmittedandmarked,teacherswillprovidefeedbacktostudents.Appropriatefeedbackcouldinclude:

• areasofachievementofspecificskillsandknowledge,• adviceonparticularproblemareas,and/or• adviceonwhereandhowimprovementscanbemadeforfurtherlearning.

Results for tasks are posted in real time in your student profile in SIMON, and are available toparentsviatheparentportal,PAM.Inmostcases,itwouldbeappropriateforteachersto‘turnover’yourworkinatwoweekperiod(longerduringpeakperiodsofassessment).DISCLOSUREOFSCORES–UNITS3&4As a part of this feedback students will receive their raw scores for individual coursework tasks.However, it is important to understand that a student’s total coursework scorewill be subject tostatistical moderation and is therefore likely to change. Information explaining the statisticalmoderationprocessisgiventoeachstudentbytheVCAA.Therewillalsobeinformationsessionsforstudentstoexplainthisprocessinmoredetail.AnyconcernsabouttheprocessesshouldbereferredtotheSeniorStudiesLeaderoryourPastoralLeader. AUTHENTICATIONTheVCAAsetsdownthefollowingrulesinregardstoauthentication,whichmustbeobservedbyallVCE/VCALstudents:

1. Astudentmustensurethatallunacknowledgedworksubmittedforassessmentisgenuinelyherown.Studentsareresponsibleforensuringthattheteacherhasnodifficultyinauthenticatingtheirwork.Non-compliancemayresultintheawardofan“N”resultforaVCEunit.

2. StudentsareexpectedtosignanauthenticationnoticeoneachoftheirSACs/Outcomesacknowledgingthattheworkcompletedistheirown.

3. Astudentmustacknowledgeallresourcesused,including:• text,websitesandsourcematerial• thename/sandstatusofanyperson/swhoprovidedassistanceandthetypeof

assistanceprovided.

4. Astudentmustnotreceiveundueassistancefromanyotherpersoninthepreparationandsubmissionofwork.

Acceptablelevelsofassistanceinclude:• theincorporationofideasormaterialderivedfromothersources(forexample,by

reading,viewingornotetaking),butwhichhasbeentransformedbythestudentandusedinanewcontext

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• promptingandgeneraladvicefromanotherpersonorsourcewhichleadstorefinementsand/orself-correction.

Unacceptableformsofassistanceinclude:• useof,orcopyingof,anotherperson’sworkorotherresourceswithout

acknowledgment• correctionsorimprovementsmadeordictatedbyanotherperson.

5. Astudentmustnotsubmitthesamepieceofworkforassessmentinmorethanonestudy.

6. Astudentwhoknowinglyassistsotherstudentsinabreachofrulesmaybepenalised.

BREACHOFVCAARULESWherestudentwork isunabletobeauthenticated,orastudentbreachesVCAAorStaroftheSeaCollegerules,aBreachofRulesHearingmayberequired.ThisisaformalprocessgovernedbyVCAAregulations.The Senior Studies Leader and the Faculty Leader of that subject will investigate any breach ofVCE/VCALrules.FurtherdetailsinregardstotheVCAAruleswhichgoverntheVCEcanbefoundat:http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Pages/schooladmin/handbook/2018/index.aspxIn cases where students are potentially in breach of the VCAA rules, they will be given writtennotificationtoattendameetingtoexplainthecircumstancesofthebreach.SPECIALPROVISIONSpecialProvisionisavailabletostudentscompletingtheVCEorVCALfor:

- Classroomlearning,- School-basedAssessment,and/or- Externalassessments.

StudentsmaybeeligibleforSpecialProvisionif,atanytime,theyhavebeenadverselyaffectedinasignificantwayby:

o Acuteorchronicillness(physicalorpsychological)o Factorsrelatingtopersonalcircumstanceo Animpairmentordisability,includinglearningdisorders.

SpecialProvisiondoesnotprecludestudents fromcompletingall schoolwork related toachievingsatisfactorycompletionofunits.IntegrationfundedstudentsmaynotmeettheeligibilityrequirementsforSpecialProvision.Therearespecificeligibilityrequirementsforeachtypeofprovision.FurtherdetailsofthesearealsoavailableintheVCEandVCALAdministrativeHandbook2018(linkabove).

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StudentsdonothavegroundsforSpecialProvisionifthey:

o are absent from school or study for prolonged periods without evidence of significanthardship,

o arecomparativelyunfamiliarwiththeEnglishlanguageastheironlydisadvantage,o areaffectedbyteacherabsenceandotherteacher-relateddifficulties,o areaffectedbyfaultytechnologyinthepreparationofwork,oro misreadanexaminationtimetableoranexaminationpaper.

Forallexternalassessment,includingVCEexamination,theGATandoralpresentations,theVCAAis responsible for not only determining eligibility, but also granting approval for SpecialExaminationArrangementsandtheDerivedExaminationScore(DES).

SPECIALENTRYACCESSSCHEMES(SEAS)SEAS Applications are different to Special Provision, and are handled by the Victorian TertiaryAdmissionCentre(VTAC)fortertiaryentrancepurposes.Studentsareeligibletoapplyforthisiftheyexperiencecontinuingpersonalcircumstances,affectingtheirperformanceintheirYear12program.EligiblestudentsareadvisedtodiscusstheirsituationwiththeirPastoralLeader,Counsellors,SeniorStudiesLeaderorCareersCounsellor.Pleasenote:SupportingdocumentationisrequiredwhensubmittingaSEASapplication.SEAS Applications form part of the application to universities/private providers/TAFE, which willoccurinthesecondhalfof2018.TERTIARYENTRANCEREQUIREMENTSItismostimportantatthisstagethatyoubecomefamiliarwiththeproceduresforentrancetothevarious tertiary institutions and faculties. The Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) is theadministrativeunitfortheselectionofstudentsforVictorianUniversitiesandTertiaryColleges.Normally, the minimum entrance requirement for all tertiary institutions is the satisfactorycompletionoftheVCEaspreviouslydescribed.Beyond these minimum requirements, entrance requirements and selection procedures for thevarious faculties within tertiary institutions vary considerably. Many faculties specify satisfactorycompletion of prerequisite VCE studies or minimum study score. It is impossible to describe thetertiaryentranceprocedureshereinfull,butanoutlineofthegeneralprocedurefollows.For many institutions and faculties, selection is based on an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank(ATAR). Selection into other courses is based on an index of selection criteria such as foliopresentation, interview, audition or test, either solely or in addition to the ATAR. The ATAR isderivedasfollows:

• Theglobalstudyscores(outof50)providedbyVCAAareusedasabasis.Onlystudies,whichhavebeengivenaresultof“S”forbothsemesters3and4,areincluded.

• Ascalingprocedureisappliedtothesescoreswithinandbetweenstudies.

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• The scaled global study scores also knownas subject score, of English and thebest threeotherstudies(theprimaryfour)areadded.

• 10%ofsubjectscoresobtained inupto twootherstudies includingEnhancementstudies,areaddedtothetotal.

• Thetotalisconvertedtoapercentilerankingin0.05steps,withthehighestpossiblerankingbeing99.95.

TheATARmaybederivedfromstudiestakenoveranynumberofyearswithoutpenalty.StudentsmaytakeadvantageofthisbystudyingaLevel3/4subjectinYear11.InthecalculationoftheATAR,thereisnopenaltyifaUnit3/4studyisrepeated.However,studentsareadvisedtocheckwithVTACto see if they may be adversely affected in the selection process for some competitive courses.Where selection is based on the ATAR, about 80% of applicants will be selected entirely on theranking. However, in middle band, other factors are used to differentiate applicants, such asexaminationresults,interviews,disadvantagesandsubjectsstudied.Youshould findout thespecific requirements forallcourses inwhichyouare interested.Detailedinformationabouttertiaryentry iscontained intheVTACGuide.Copiesof theGuideareavailableforperusalintheCareersCentreorseetheVTACwebsite.THECAREERSRESOURCECENTREThe Careers Centre, now located in the Library corridor, offers students a library of up to datecareersandcourseinformation. StudentsareencouragedtovisittheCentre,borrowmaterialandarrangeatimeforapersonalinterviewwiththeCareersLeader,MrWeegberg.Parentsarewelcometoattendtheseinterviews.Students are encouraged to listen to the daily bulletin, read the Career News in the collegenewsletter,andcheck theCareersCentrewebsite regularly for informationonnewcourses, shortenrichmentcourses,OpenDays,informationsessionsandjobs.

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APPENDIXONE:RESCHEDULINGYEAR12SACs

STAROFTHESEACOLLEGEUNITS3/4APPLICATIONFORRESCHEDULINGASAC

NAME: MENTORGROUP:

SUBJECT: TEACHER:

Pleasestatebelowreason/sforthisapplication____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

ORtickforSCHOOLEVENT NameofTeachersupervisingtheevent:_________________________________

StudentSignature:__________________________________Date:_____________________

ParentSignature:__________________________________Date:_____________________

ThisapplicationmustbeaccompaniedbyaDoctor’sCertificate,orotherrelevantdocumentation.ThisdocumentationmustbepresentedtotheSubjectTeacherandtheSeniorStudiesLeader.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------SubjectTeacherSignature:____________________________Date:________________SeniorStudiesLeaderSignature:________________________Date:________________

APPLICATION:GrantedRejectedRESCHEDULEDDATEforSAC:________________________

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APPENDIXTWO:RESCHEDULINGYEAR11Outcomes

STAROFTHESEACOLLEGE

UNITS1/2APPLICATIONFORRESCHEDULINGANOUTCOME

NAME: MENTORGROUP:

SUBJECT: TEACHER:

Pleasestatebelowreason/sforthisapplication____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

ORtickforSCHOOLEVENT NameofTeachersupervisingtheevent:_________________________________

StudentSignature:__________________________________Date:_____________________

ParentSignature:__________________________________Date:_____________________

ThisapplicationmustbeaccompaniedbyaDoctor’sCertificate,orotherrelevantdocumentation.ThisdocumentationmustbepresentedtotheSubjectTeacherandtheSeniorStudiesLeader.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------SubjectTeacherSignature:____________________________Date:________________SeniorStudiesLeaderSignature:________________________Date:________________

APPLICATION:GrantedRejectedRESCHEDULEDDATEforOUTCOME:________________________