Teaching and Learning Report – July 14, 2016

The 2017 subject selection process

In the coming weeks all current Years 8, 9, and 10 students will complete the various aspects of the 2017 subject selection process. Subject selection can be an anxious time and the College has a variety of procedures to support both students and parents.

Firstly, parents and students should check the Term Three calendar included in the end Term Two email. This calendar lists the date of each 2017 student information session, any 2017 parent information sessions and the due-date for the return of 2017 Student Subject Selection Guide for each year level.

Students will receive a paper copy of the relevant 2017 Information Booklet at each of the student information sessions and a PDF version of the booklet will be emailed to them. Parents and students will also be able to access a PDF of each 2017 Information booklet and information session presentation via the College’s webpage.

An important aspect of the 2017 subject selection process is the Subject Selection Guide which each Year 8, 9, 10 and 11 student is required to submit. This has been developed at the request of parents and students as a single subject selection document that step-by-step leads you through the various aspects of subject selection for each year level.

Online submission of proposed 2017 studies

One significant change for this year will be the in the way students use Web Preferences, the online subject submission portal, to submit their proposed course of study and program details. Previously, students completed this in class groups at the College. Working with over 1000 boys to complete this task added unnecessary delay to the subject selection process. – This year, students and parents will be able to access Web Preferences from any internet connected device to submit their proposed course of study at any time prior to relevant 2017 subject selection due date.

Students will be emailed a link to Web Preferences, along with detailed instructions. Parents will also be sent a similar email explaining the submission procedure. Students and parents requiring support with the use of Web Preferences are asked to contact the Director of Administration, Mr Damian Kinnersly.

Please note: A parent and student signed copy of the 2017 Web Preferences Preference Receipt is to be submitted with this Subject Selection Guide.

2017 Year 12

Current Year 11 boys attended the student information session for 2017 Year 12 at the end of Term Two. While at this session, each boy received a copy of the 2017 Year 12 Information Update and the 2017 Year 12 Subject Selection Guide. A copy of the PowerPoint presented to the students can be accessed by the College’s webpage.

Last year, Year 10 parents, students and teachers spent a significant amount of time working together to develop a proposed Years 11 and 12 program of study for each boy. For most Year 11 boys, this means that there will be little or no need for any further assistance with Year 12 subject selection for 2017. Those families who would like to review previous subject selection plans or require further assistance with 2017 Year 12 subject selection can contact:

• the relevant subject teacher or Head of Faculty

• your son’s Year 11 Pastoral Care Tutor

• Mr Anthony Meehan (Careers Co-ordinator)

• Mr Damian Kinnersly (Director of Administration)

• Mr John Sullivan (VETiS Co-ordinator)

• Mr Andrew Chamings of Mr Michael Busscher (Year 12 Co-ordinators)

• Mrs Elizabeth Ryan (Director of Senior School)

• Mr Stephen Hill (Deputy Headmaster -“ Teaching and Learning)

  Proposed 2017 Year 12 subject choices are to be entered via Web Preferences in the coming days and the completed 2017 Year 12 Subject Selection Guide returned to the College not later than Wednesday, July 27.

  2017 Year 11

  Current Year 10 boys will attend the student information session for 2017 Year 11 next week. While at this session, each boy will receive a copy of the 2017 Years 11 and 12 Information Booklet and the 2017 Year 11 Subject Selection Guide.– The information booklet will provide an overview of the Years 11 and 12 programs and include descriptions of the subjects being offered at St Patrick’s College in 2017. The Selection Guide goes through the subject selection process step-by-step.

  As you are no doubt aware, the selection of Years 11 and 12 subjects can be a complex task requiring significant deliberation by all involved – student, parents and teachers alike. To assist you and your Year 11 son with this I strongly encourage all Year 10 parents and students to attend the 2017 Year 11 Parent Information Evening on Wednesday, July 27 beginning at 7:30pm in the College Chapel.

  Please take the time to familiarise yourself with the various options offered at St Patrick’s by reading through the 2017 Year 11 and 12 Information Booklet prior to the information evening. The booklet and selection guide should also be brought to the information evening.

  You will also receive information outlining the 2017 Year 11 Subject Selection Interviews, scheduled for August 1, 3 and 6, in the coming days.

  Year 10 parents and students are reminded that the 2017 Year 11, Subject Selection Guide is due on Wednesday, August 10.

  2017 Year 10

  Current Year 9 boys attend the student information session for 2017 Year 10 on Wednesday of this week. I encourage all Year 9 parents to attend the 2017 Year 10 Parent Information Evening on Thursday, July 21 at 7:30pm in the College Chapel. This evening will provide you with an overview of the Senior School program, the Year 10 Program and the Year 10 Applied Learning (VCAL) courses which collectively form the Year 10 curriculum and the subject selection process. – Parents are asked to please read the 2017 Year 10 Information Booklet before attending the parent information evening.

  If you have any questions or concerns about the 2017 subject selection process you can contact your son’s Pastoral Care Group tutor, relevant subject teachers, Faculty Head, Head of School or myself.

  Introduction of Applied Learning (VCAL) to St Patrick’s

  After a comprehensive review of the College’s Senior School pathways, and an extended period of research and program development, St Patrick’s will further expand its offerings to Senior School students through the introduction of the Applied Learning (VCAL) program.

  The Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) is designed to support students whose preferred learning style is more -‘hands-“on’ and vocationally orientated. The aim of the VCAL is to give students the necessary skills to equip them for employment, training at the TAFE level and/or to support students seeking an apprenticeship or traineeship. The VCAL gives students literacy and numeracy skills, practical work-related experiences and an opportunity to build personal skills that are important for life and work.

  The Applied Learning (VCAL) program is being offered at three levels -“ Foundation, Intermediate and Senior, and is available to all 2017 Years 10, 11 and 12 boys.

  Parents seeking further information on the Applied Learning (VCAL) program are invited to attend the 2017 Applied Learning (VCAL) Information Evening on Wednesday, July 27 beginning at 7:00pm in the College Chapel.

  Alternatively, students and parents seeking further information about any aspect of St Patrick’s Applied Learning Program and the VCAL are encouraged to contact Applied Learning Co-ordinator, Ms Lyn Maniz.

  Senior School Careers Expo – Wednesday, July 27

  I would also like to remind parents and students that the Senior School Careers Expo will take place from 5:30pm on Wednesday, July 27 in the Old Collegians Pavilion. The Careers Expo will include career and pathway information from a broad range of local employees and employers; industry representatives and training organisations. Current Years 9, 10, 11 and 12 students are also most welcome to attend the Careers Expo.

  2016 Mid-Year Senior School Parent/Student/Teacher Interviews

  By now, you should have accessed your son’s semester one reports (including the end of semester Statement of Attainment, his Pastoral Care report and an Instrumental Music and Boarding reporting for relevant students) using the Parent Access Module (PAM).

  Senior School parents now have the opportunity to follow-up any issues or concerns identified in this report by attending the Mid-Year Senior School Parent/Student/Teacher Interviews. These interviews will take place next week on Tuesday, July 19 from 4:00pm until 8:30pm in the Wilding Wing.

  Parents of Years 11 and 12 boys studying VCE Units 3/4 and scored VETiS subjects are strongly encouraged to attend this round of interviews. Teachers will discuss results for SAC/SAT tasks completed to-date and provide feedback for future learning based on these results. The College sees this round of P/T/S interviews as being of particular importance to VCE Units 3/4 students as it also provides parents with the opportunity to discuss their son’s level of preparation for the upcoming October VCE exams. Students are expected to attend the interviews with their parent(s).-

  Parents of Years 10 and 11 boys should note that the interviews have been scheduled with your son’s Semester One teachers. Please do not hesitate to contact your son’s Semester Two teacher should you see the need.-

  If it is not possible for you to attend interviews during the scheduled times and, there are matters you wish to address, please contact your son’s teachers directly to discuss these over the phone or arrange an alternative meeting time and date.

  An email with your 2016 Parent Access Module (PAM) parent log-in details, username and password, was previously sent to you. You will need these log-in details to access the Parent/Student/Teacher booking section of PAM. PAM can be accessed by clicking on the link on the College’s homepage (https://www.stpats.vic.edu.au) or by going directly to the PAM site (http://pam.stpats.vic.edu.au).

  A PAM parent user guide has been written to assist you with the log-in process, including forgotten login details, and to explain the key features of PAM. It can also be accessed by clicking on the link on the College’s homepage (https://www.stpats.vic.edu.au). A copy of the PAM Booking Parent-Teacher Interviews guide has also been attached to this email.

  Parents requiring further assistance with their PAM login or the Parent/Student/Teacher interview process are asked to phone the College on 5331 1688.

  Use of Parent Access Module (PAM) to access Semester One Reports

  Semester One reports have been available via PAM since the end of Term Two. Changes made to College’s reporting structures have resulted in several reports now being generated:

• An end of semester Statement of Attainment which provides information on:

  • Your son’s performance on all assessment tasks completed throughout semester one (typically as a percentage).

  • Feedback on his demonstration of the key work habits and work practices associated with each subject.

  • Attendance data.

  • AusVELS ratings (for most Years 7-10 subjects).

  • Overall VCE subject outcome, as Satisfactory or Not Satisfactory, for Senior School students completing VCE studies.

  • VET competencies, as Competent, Not Yet Competent or In Progress, for Years 9-12 boys completing any of the College’s VET studies.

• A Pastoral Care report which outlines your son’s contribution to, and participation in, the Pastoral Care program and a range of school-wide activities and events.

• An Instrument Music report for those students participating the instrumental music program and,

• A Boarding report for all boarding students.

As previously advised, the College has changed its reporting practices from a traditional end of semester report model to contemporary procedures that provide students and parents with timely, clear and concise feedback that informs and furthers each boy’s learning journey.

The teachers of St Patrick’s are committed to the full roll-out of real-time, continuous reporting, and much progress has been made to-date this year to ensure that this can be achieved. For parents, this means that you can now access your son’s performance an all summative assessment tasks via PAM within two weeks of the assessment being submitted. Feedback for each assessment task will be provided in one a number of forms including assessment rubrics, criterion sheets, annotated assessment tasks, or direct use of the written feedback section within PAM.

A PAM Parent User Guide has been written to assist you with the log-in process and to explain the key features of PAM. It can be accessed by clicking on the link within the College’s homepage (https://www.stpats.vic.edu.au/). This can be accessed by clicking on the -‘Parent Access Module’ link at the bottom of the homepage.

PAM can be accessed by either clicking on the same link noted above or by going directly to the PAM site (http://pam.stpats.vic.edu.au). The PAM username and password emailed to you at the beginning of the year can be used to access these reports. Please email the College (adminsupport@stpats.vic.edu.au) or phone 5331 1688 should you require further assistance with your log-in.

Please do not hesitate to contact the College should you have any further questions or concerns regarding end of semester one reporting.