August 26 – Letter to parents

Dear Parents,

The end of Term Three typically sees Senior School students studying VCE Units 3/4 subjects having to complete a larger than usual number of School Assessed Coursework (SAC) tasks as Unit 4 work comes to an end and preparation for the end of year exams begins.  The extended period of time in remote learning and the subsequent delay in scheduling of Unit 4 SAC tasks has impacted the timing of these important assessment tasks in 2020.

To decrease the workload pressure on students, and to avoid the situation where all VCE Unit 4 content would be assessed upon the students return in Week 10 of this term, we are going to bring Year 11 and 12 studying certain VCE 3/4 subjects on-site on Monday, August 31  and Tuesday, September 1  to do select SAC tasks. Not all subjects will be conducting SAC tasks over these two days.

The appropriate planning and preparation has been put in place to address the health risks posed by having certain Year 12s and a small number of Year 11s at school (including appropriate physical-spacing and correct hygiene protocols).

Vulnerable Years 7-12 students and those with identified needs will still be able to access the site on Monday, August 31  and Tuesday, September 1  as per our existing arrangements.

Remote classes will continue to be conducted for Years 7 to 11 students (though some Year 11 boys will be absent from classes some of the time to be on-site completing VCE Unit 3/4 SAC tasks.) It is expected that many students will only be on-site for the time(s) of scheduled SAC tasks.

Below is a list of Frequently Asked Questions and the SAC schedule for next Monday and Tuesday. This schedule was emailed to Year 11 and 12 students earlier today.

Regards,

Mr Hamish McCrum

Director of Senior School

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:      Unit 3/4 SACs, On-Site Week 8 – August 31 and September 1

Who is to attend/not to attend?

Year 11/12 Students doing VCE Unit 3/4 Studies listed in the SAC schedule below, except for the following:

• If you sick or have any of the COVID-19 symptoms or are waiting the results of a COVID-19 test, or if anybody in your house or close contacts has tested positive for COVID-19, you are not to attend on these days. Contact Mr McCrum or Mr Chamings.  You will not be penalised.  Alternative arrangements will be made.
• If you are a non-scored VCE student you are not to attend on these days
• If you have a compromised health condition you are not required to attend on these days. Please contact Mr McCrum or Mr Chamings to let us know.  You will not be penalised.  Alternative arrangements will be made.
• If travel is prohibitive or you feel you should not be attending on these days for some other reason not listed above, please contact Mr McCrum and let him know.

Where can I go? How do I get into the school on these days? What do I bring?

• Enter the school via the pedestrian gate on Wanliss Street. (On other days this is locked)
• It is recommended you park in Wanliss Street or Sturt Street if driving. School bus services are still operating
• You are to sign-in when you arrive at the Year 12 Study Centre (have your own pen ready)
• When at school and not doing exams, you are to be at the Study Centre. If the number of students there is deemed too large we will make another space available.
• You need to bring all food and drink that you require: you should be travelling directly to St Pats from home and going directly home from St Pats. You are not to go to the shops between SACs.   You are especially not to go in large numbers to any commercial venue or person’s place prior to or after sitting SACs.
• You will not be permitted to share equipment on these days: bring your own stuff
• YOU WILL NEED A MASK
• A watch (but not a smart-watch or stop watch) is highly recommended
• Non-boarders are not to go anywhere near the Boarding Precinct

What time can I arrive / leave?

• You do not need to arrive at school until your first scheduled SAC on that day (allow enough time to sign in etc)
• You may leave to go home after your last scheduled SAC on any particular day

What if I have clashes? Or 3 SACs in one day?

• Some of you will have clashes: please organise with Mr Chamings/Mr McCrum by Friday of this week the time you will do the catch-up SAC (you may not get to choose which one is re-scheduled)
• If you have 3 SACs in one day, you may re-schedule one of them to be done on the other day (swap one from Monday to Tuesday or vice-versa: Note: you may not get to choose which SAC is swapped).
• If you have 5 SACs over the two days, a time will be scheduled for another day, again, you may not get to choose which of the SACs is rescheduled.

What can I wear?

• School uniform is not required. The gym will be very cold on those days.  Dress in your warmest clothes, many layers would be a good idea in case you need to remove some layers when in the Study Centre

Will teachers be running classes?

• There will not be any Unit 3/4 classes running on these days, in school or remotely. We are not permitted to teach on-site at this time.

Can I have my phone with me while sitting SACs?

• No, not even if it is switched off. Being caught in possession of phone while a SAC is underway will result in a loss of marks.

What if I think of another question that has not already been covered by this most excellent FAQ sheet?

• Ask Mr McCrum either on Teams or through email.

SAC SCHEDULE

MONDAY, AUGUST 31	9:00am	GYM	Biology
	9:00am	GYM	Chemistry
	9:00am	GYM	Health and Human Development
	9:00am	GYM	Theatre Studies
	11:00am	GYM	History – Australian
	11:00am	GYM	Japanese
	11:00am	ERC 003/004	Psychology
	1:30pm	GYM	English
	1:30pm	TBC	English Language
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1	9:00am	GYM	Business Management
	9:00am	GYM	Physics
	9:00am	GYM	Product Design and Technology
	9:00am	GYM	Systems Engineering
	11:00am	GYM	Physical Education
	11:00am	GYM	Text and Traditions
	11:00am	GYM	Specialist Mathematics*
	11:00am	GYM	Industry and Enterprise
	11:00am	TBC	Music Performance
	11:00am	GYM	Outdoor & Environmental Studies
	1:30pm	GYM	Mathematical Methods