During our recent College assembly, we were pleased to acknowledge the achievements of the VCE and VCE Vocational Major Class of 2026. Recognising our student’s accomplishments plays an important role in inspiring them to continue striving for excellence.
We hope your child has settled into the new school year feeling positive and ready to learn. After the summer break, we know that returning to school routines can take some adjustment. The beginning of the year has given our teachers valuable time to reintroduce classroom expectations and establish the consistent routines that help create the best learning environment for every student. We know that when students understand what is expected of them, they can focus their energy on learning and growing. Our College wide PEERS agreement (Prepare, Engage, Elevate, Respect, Safe) and entry and exit routines help create this consistency across all year levels and classrooms, so students know what to expect no matter where they are in the school.
We recognise that families today are juggling many responsibilities while supporting children to develop independence and responsibility. It's natural for young people to occasionally test boundaries as they grow. One of the most important ways we can work together to support your child's success is through consistent attendance. Research shows that every absence matters, even occasional absences, can add up and impact both current achievement and future learning outcomes. For perspective, missing just one day per fortnight is approximately four weeks of school across a year.
Regular attendance helps your child build skills and knowledge essential for their learning, develop social and emotional capabilities including communication, resilience and maintain friendships that may foster a sense of belonging. Where possible, we encourage families to schedule appointments outside school hours and plan family holidays during school holiday periods. We also ask families to reconsider signing children out early for reasons that can be avoided, as what may appear to be a small interruption to their school day can still have a significant impact on their learning and routine.
If your child seems reluctant to attend school or you notice any concerns about their engagement, please reach out to your child's House Leader or Student Wellbeing Leader. Early conversations often make a significant difference, and we are committed to working with you to understand what's happening and find solutions together.
It is important for families to know that the Parent Access Module (PAM) and SIMON are tools that allow students and their parents or carers to receive feedback on student progress in each subject. PAM’s continuous reporting feature allows parents to regularly view their child’s work submission status and the results of submitted tasks throughout the semester as they submitted and results released. This is accessible in the “Learning Tasks” option.
Where families have questions regarding accessing PAM please contact PAM support (pamsupport@parade.vic.edu.au).
All assessment tasks for Year 7 to 11 will be reported using both a percentage and a letter grade. This change has been made to help both students and families have a clearer understanding of progress. For Unit 3-4 VCE subjects, results are reported as a percentage. For Year 9 ExCEL, some Physical Education assessments, Year 10 ERPP and VCE VM subjects, results are reported using a proficiency scale (Initiating, Developing, Consolidating, Excelling).
Where a student does not submit an assessment task, or where submitted work receives a grade below a C (60%), the student may be required to complete a resubmission. Families are encouraged to regularly view their child’s assessment information on PAM. Families are welcome to contact their child’s subject teacher to discuss how we can work together to support ongoing learning.
For questions about curriculum and assessments please first contact your child’s subject teacher or the appropriate Dean:
Please be aware that Tuesday 10 March is a student free day with teaching and support staff involved in professional learning activities at Bundoora Campus. While Tuesday 2 April is student free to allow for Student Progress Interviews.
There will be two opportunities for Student Progress Interviews in Semester 1 on the following dates:
Further information on how bookings can be made on PAM will be communicated to families closer to the date.
As we continue to create a culture of high expectations, and in line with the College’s PEERS agreement, Study Support Sessions will continue in 2026. These lunchtime sessions offer an opportunity for students to complete overdue homework. Teachers may refer students in Year 8 to 12.
Subject teachers will monitor homework completion and may assign students to a Study Support Session when necessary. The student will be notified by their teacher about the session and which day they are required to attend. Students who complete the overdue homework before the session are still required to attend and may use the time to complete other homework, read their English novel, or review their study and organisational approaches. Parents will receive an automatic email if a session is allocated for their child.
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