Middle School - Introduction

Homework

Homework will include assignments, completion of work started in class, revision and preparation for tests. Parents are asked to encourage students and to check that set home study is done. The amount of homework may fluctuate across different subjects.

Parents will have the opportunity to discuss student progress with teachers on two parent - teacher interview sessions. They will also receive two end-of-semester reports in Terms 2 and 4 on academic progress and assessment with each subject identifying the skill/content assessed informed by the AusVELS standards (Australian Curriculum for Victorian Essential Learning Standards). The skills/content assessed are reported using a seven point scale (Excellent, Very Good, Good, Satisfactory, Borderline, Not Satisfactory and Not Assessed). This assessment is based on teacher judgment using evidence of student achievement in a range of tasks/exercises. All reports will include an 'S' or 'NS' to indicate an overall Satisfactory achievement or Not Satisfactory achievement in each subject.

College Learning Behaviours (Effort, Class behaviour, Brings equipment, Completes all set work and Timely submission of work) are also reported using a seven point scale. These are: Excellent, Very Good, Good, Satisfactory, Borderline, Not Satisfactory and Not Assessed. Teachers use ‘on balance’ judgement to determine student learning behaviours over the semester.

Assessment tasks are identified and reported using a percentage and where relevant this is based on a Common Assessment Task. If a student’s assessment task is awarded a percentage lower than 40 the particular score is not provided, instead it will reported as ‘LT’. Students working below the expected standards, as identified by AusVELS, will receive an alternative report template. Students working above the expected standards, as identified by AusVELS, will be identified as seeking opportunities to extend their skills beyond the expected standards.

Parents will also receive interim reports at the end of Terms 1 and 3. The College provides written translations for families whose first language is not English.

Further, students are expected to gain a Satisfactory achievement in Middle School subjects in order to move onto VCE.

Year 10 students are required to sit exams in their core subjects at the end of each semester. The exams are intended to provide students with an opportunity to experience a commonly used assessment format that will also be encountered in VCE and tertiary study. Exam results are used to assist assessment but do not determine successful completion of a unit. 

Parents are given two written reports (via Compass) during the year and invited to two Parent-Teacher interview sessions. Report and Parent-Teacher dates are likely to be as follows:

• Term 1 Parent/teacher interview and Interim Reports       March
• Term 2 First Semester written report                                June
• Term 3 Parent/teacher interview and Interim Reports      September
• Term 4 Second Semester written report                           December

Tuition is available in small groups for all students in Years 7-12.

Students may elect to take lessons in

Strings

• violin
• viola
• cello
• double bass

Percussion:

• kit
• tuned percussion

Woodwind:

• flute
• clarinet
• saxophone
• oboe
• bass clarinet
• bassoon

Brass:

• trumpet
• tenor horn
• trombone
• euphonium
• tuba

Guitar

• acoustic
• bass guitar

Voice

Students wishing to access Instrumental Music Program are required to pay an annual Instrumental Music Tuition/ Materials charge. The amount will be advised. Students who wish to borrow school instruments are required to pay a further Instrumental Music/ Repair charge.

Enrolment forms are available from the Music office.

Progress reports will be issued by the instrumental music teachers, and students are required to present for formal internal assessment at this time.

Students may also undertake ABRSM or ANSCA exams if they wish.

Sport is played throughout the school year against other schools within our group 

Term 1: Tennis, Volleyball, Cricket, Baseball/Softball 

Term 2: Football, Soccer, Netball, Badminton 

Term 3: Hockey, Basketball, Table Tennis, Squash 

Athletics and Swimming Carnivals will be held during the year at both intra and inter school levels. 

Intermediate sports teams will be advertised during the year.

This program is run in the last week of Term 2 and its aim is to develop students’ decision making skills so as to facilitate their personal, academic, social and political growth. Through a week of excursions and incursions students will be encouraged to use the seeds of opportunity to become informed and aware of their sense of self, others and place in the wider world.

Consistent attendance is vital to both the personal and academic growth of our students. On the following page you will find an outline of our procedure with regard to late arrival to class and attendance requirements. A student is considered late if they arrive 5 or more minutes after the second bell.

Of course, we understand that sometimes things happen that are out of your control that may contribute to your child being late and/or absent. In this case there are a few things you can do to ensure this does not appear as ‘unexplained’ on our records (unexplained absences are considered truancy and followed up as per the outlined procedure):

1. Email/call me: guthriec@phsc.vic.edu.au // 9389 0656
2. Call the front office: 9389 0600
3. Add an attendance note/approval through your Compass portals).

Students are expected to attend all classes. Any absences must be explained with a note, email or phone call from parents/guardians to the relevant Year Level Coordinator. Interim and Semester reports will report the number of days absent.

If students know in advance that they will be absent from school for any period of time, they and their parents must arrange for set work with the level coordinator and the teachers. 

Parents will be contacted if the coordinator believes the student’s education is being affected by their absences. This will occur when a pattern is noticed. 

Number of allowed absences is as follows:

• 7 absences permitted with a medical certificate, per semester.
• 5 absences permitted as ‘parent-notified’ (without a medical certificate), per semester.
• Unexplained absences are considered truancy - detention on upcoming Friday.
• If students exceed 12 absences per semester, an attendance review meeting will be scheduled with Baden, Courtney & Sasha (AP). With this number of absences it is possible a student will be unable to pass the semester for the affected subjects.

The Semester reports will record the number of accumulated absences along with the assessment of subjects. If a student has not met attendance requirements, progress in their education as a whole is considered unsatisfactory. 

During Term 3 all Middle School students will receive a brief Interim Report. Parents/guardians of students perceived to be ‘at risk’ of not being able to satisfactorily complete the year will be contacted and strategies updated. The Coordinator will contact these families and arrange an interview to discuss the student’s promotion and options available should promotion not be deemed appropriate.

To satisfactorily complete Year 9/10 students must satisfactorily complete 11 out of 14 semester length units, 6 of which must be Semester 2 courses. This should include 2 units of English.

Parents/guardians may apply for special consideration in the event of student illness, hardship or other exceptional circumstances leading to more than 12 absences. For students experiencing difficulties meeting the Attendance and Promotion Policies, counselling and support for students will be provided. 

As part of their classroom teaching, teachers provide students with a framework for managing class work and homework. This involves giving clear due dates; discussing time management strategies; encouraging students to work steadily, rather than leaving things until the last minute; showing students how to break work down into smaller more manageable chunks; ensuring that work can be authenticated as the student’s own and modifying work where necessary to suit special needs.

Where work is not handed in on time, consequences will follow. These consequences may include negotiated extensions or loss of marks, ‘catch up’ classes after school or at lunchtimes to complete works, and discussions with Year Level Coordinators and/or parents. 

All Year 10 students participate in a Work Experience Program during the last week of Term 2. The Careers Office has a list of local participating businesses and organisations; however students are encouraged to arrange their own placements. Many work places take only a few students each year so students are encouraged to start looking for placements as soon as possible. Many students organise their work experience placements over the summer holidays.

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The Senior Transition Team runs a comprehensive Transition Program for Year 10 students including:

• Guest speakers from various career areas and Universities/ TAF’s
• Careers exploration and clarification
• All students participate in learning activities which focus on students’ interests, abilities and strengths
• Decision making skills, attitudes and values
• Careers Research Project through which students learn about prerequisites for tertiary courses and design appropriate Year 11 and 12 course sequences
• Complete ‘Career Voyager’ online Career Aptitude Test Ø  Year 10- 11 Information Evening
• Comprehensive information booklets and pathways ‘Planning Kit’ distributed at the Information Evening

An individual subject selection and career counselling sessions for students by one of the Middle School, Senior School and/or Careers team.