Teaching and Learning Report – July 16, 2015

July 15, 2015

The 2016 subject selection process

In the coming weeks all current Years 8, 9, and 10 students will complete the various aspects of the 2016 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 2016 student information session, any 2016 parent information sessions and the due-date for the return of 2016 Student Subject Selection Guide for each year level.

Students will receive a paper copy of the relevant 2016 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 2016 Information booklet and information session presentation via the College’s webpage.

An important aspect of the 2016 subject selection process is the 2016 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.

2016 Year 12

Current Year 11 boys attended the student information session for 2016 Year 12 at the end of Term Two. While at this session, each boy received a copy of the 2016 Year 12 Information Update and the 2016 Year 12 Subject Selection Guide. A copy of the PowerPoint presented to the students can be accessed by the College’s webpage.

In 2014, parent 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 2016. Those families who would like to review previous subject selection plans or require further assistance with 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 (VETiS Co-ordinator)

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

  • Mrs Elizabeth Ryan (Head of Senior School)

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

    The boys will be using the College’s computer network to enter their proposed 2016 subject choices into the timetable database during weeks 4 and 5 of this term with the completed 2016 Year 12 Subject Selection Guide due not later than Wednesday, July 29.

    2016 Year 11

    Current Year 10 boys will attend the student information session for 2016 Year 11 next week. While at this session, each boy will receive a copy of the 2016 Years 11 and 12 Information Booklet and the 2016 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 2016. 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 2016 Year 11 Parent Information Evening on Wednesday, July 29 beginning at 7:00pm in the College Chapel.

    I would also like to remind both parents and students that the Senior School Careers Expo will take place before this Information Evening from 5:30pm 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, 11 and 12 students are also most welcome to attend the Careers Expo.

    Please take the time to familiarise yourself with the various options offered at St Patrick’s by reading through the 2016 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 2016 Year 11 Subject Selection Interviews, scheduled for August 3, 5 and 8, in the coming days.

    Year 10 parents and students are reminded that the 2016 Year 11, Subject Selection Guide is due on Wednesday, August 12.

    2016 Year 10

    Current Year 9 boys attend the student information session for 2016 Year 10 on Wednesday of this week. I encourage all Year 9 parents to attend the 2016 Year 10 Parent Information Evening on Thursday, July 23 at 7:30pm in the College Chapel. This evening will provide you with an overview of the Senior School program, the core and elective blocks which collectively form the Year 10 curriculum and the subject selection process. – Parents are asked to please read the 2016 Year 10 Information Booklet before attending the parent information evening.

    If you have any questions or concerns about the 2016 subject selection process you can contact your son’s Pastoral Care Group tutor, relevant subject teachers, Faculty Head, Head of School or myself.

    2015 Mid-Year Senior School Parent/Student/Teacher Interviews

    By now, you should have accessed your son’s Semester One reports 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 21 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).-

    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 2015 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).

    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

    The Semester One reports have been available via PAM since the end of Term Two. End of semester reports provide a summary of each boy’s achievements and progress in several key areas including subject specific work habits and practices, assessment task results (typically as a percentage), future learning comments, AusVELS ratings (for relevant Years 7-10 subjects) and attendance data.

    PAM can be accessed by either 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). The PAM username and password emailed to you earlier in 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.

    Parents are also reminded of the Learning Areas section of PAM. This section of PAM provides you with up-to-date information on your son’s performance in assessment tasks completed throughout each semester. Teachers will progressively add information to this section during Semester Two.-

    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 on the College’s homepage (https://www.stpats.vic.edu.au/).

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