Welcome to the final year of formal schooling for all parents of Year 12 students. My name is Mrs Margaret Jones and I am the Year 12 Dean. I hope the start to the year has been productive, and all students are settling down to the standard of work expected in Senior School. We have had a busy start to 2019 already and, with the change to the Year 12 timeline, students have less than twenty weeks left of their school year. (Please see dates near the end).
Senior School Ball: We are near the end of the first term, and a great deal of activity has already commenced. The Senior School Ball planning is under way, the Committee made up of Year 12 students. The Ball will be held on the second last Friday of Term 2, 28th June, at the Esplanade Hotel, Cnr Marine Terrace & Essex St, Fremantle. All Year 11 and 12 students will be invited, provided they have their Good Standing. This means they must be up-to-date with all classwork, have attendance of 90% or more, all absences have been explained by a note from a parent or guardian and they consistently wear correct school uniform. Students who do not have their Good Standing are encouraged to go through the ‘Appeals’ process. This can include:
- Medical certificates to explain absenteeism
- Progress Reports to show academic progress
- Letter of apology for behaviour
- Outline of areas they will be improving – increase attendance, submit outstanding work, etc.
Please note: a non-negotiable criteria is that a student must not have been suspended for ten weeks prior to the week beginning 24th June 2019 (from Monday 1st April).
There is a strict Code of Conduct: The Cecil Andrews Senior School Ball is an alcohol and drug free event. Any person suspected of being under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol will have their parents/guardians called and they will be asked to leave the premise immediately.
I am already very concerned about the attendance of some students – Education Department Policy stipulates that acceptable attendance is 90%. The chart below gives a breakdown of the amount of time missed in a year, and if maintained, how it impacts on future education.
Period of Absence (Years 1-10) | Rate of Attendance | Equivalent School Missed |
Average of 5 days per term | 90% | 1 Year |
1 Day per week | 80% | 2 Years |
1.5 Days per week | 70% | 3 Years |
2 Days per week | 60% | 4 Years |
3 Days per week | 40% | 6 Years |
5 Weeks per term | 50% | 5 Years |
Invitations will only be extended to those students who have achieved this standard by Week 6 Term 2. Official paperwork, including the invitation to outside guests and the Appeals, has already been available to the students for some time.
Fundraising: Ball tickets for students and guests will cost $95. In order to include some wonderful ideas, our Ball Committee has elected to hold a fundraiser. We have been given permission to hold a sausage sizzle at Bunnings, Armadale on Sunday 16th June. I am asking my Committee and the School Community at large to volunteer for a number of shifts during the day. These include:
10.00 – 12.00 – includes set up
12.00 – 2.00
2.00 – 4.00 – includes clean up
If anyone can only volunteer their time for a part-shift, that is also welcome. I always ask students to wear school uniform but they will be given aprons to avoid any mess. We would also appreciate any donations of cash or kind.
Leavers Jackets 2019: Our jackets have arrived! Just a reminder, please, that full payment of $99.00 is to be made before students collect their order. Everyone is very excited!
Parking: All students wishing to drive themselves to school must apply for a Parking Permit. Students and parents will first be asked to read and understand the Car Parking Policy. Students will sit a short test, and once permission has been given, they must display their permit at all times whilst on the school premises. Permission to carry passengers can only be granted once the permission form has been signed by the Driver, the Driver’s Parent, the Dean of senior School and a Deputy Principal. All applications are made to me directly. There is to be no movement before 2.55pm. During school hours, students can only exit school grounds if they have formally signed out AND they have been given specific permission by the Principal, Associate Principal, or Deputy Principal. No student is exempt from the official school Parking Policy. Parking on the school premises without a permit may lead to penalties being put in place. This includes being banned from parking at school for a month for the first offence. The Policy has been adapted for the safety of all as we have seen an increasing number of student drivers this year.
OLNA: As you are aware, students must have Literacy and Numeracy in order to achieve WACE in Year 12 or even entry to TAFE. This is undertaken by either achieving Category 8 in NAPLAN in Year 9 or Band 3 in OLNA in years 10, 11 or 12. I am very proud of the effort students put into their tests over the past three weeks. Results won’t be available for some time but there will be another round in September.
Year 12 Externally Set Task: this will occur in weeks 2-4 only of Term 2 for all students studying General subjects. This is a compulsory part of the Year 12 course and has significant weighting. Students are being prepared for this in each subject. It is especially important that all students attend school during this period.
Semester I ATAR Exams: All students studying ATAR subjects will commence exams in Term 2 Week 5. Study and revision should already be underway!
Study Skills: In 2019, we have one period a week allocated to Study Skills. This is an opportunity for students to learn about how best to manage their time, stress or study. This is the time I will get in guest speakers from TAFE, universities and other organisations with the express intent of supporting our students. This is not an excuse for playing computer games, going to the basketball courts, ‘chilling’ or leaving school. I appreciate your support in encouraging your child in engaging well with this time and using the teacher support allocated to help them if they are encountering difficulties with their work.
Important Dates for your Records:
1. Year 12 Externally Set Task (EST): 6/5 – 24/5. Please note that the individual teachers will set the dates for their individual classes, usually in the first two weeks.
2. Year 11 and 12 ATAR exams: 27/5 – 31/5
3. Sausage Sizzle Fundraiser: Sunday 16/6
4. Senior School Ball: Friday 28/6
5. OLNA Round 2: 2/9 – 26/9
6. Year 12 Mock ATAR exams: 19/9 – 25/9
7. Anniversary Assembly: Thursday 26/9 – last day of classes for all Year 12 students
8. Year 12 Breakfast: Friday 27/9
9. Year 12 Presentation Night: Tuesday 15/10
I hope this gives you some idea of what has been happening so far this year, and what is ahead. Please do not hesitate to contact me if there are any questions or concerns you have regarding your child in Senior School. I hope I can solve some, or at least point you in the right direction.
Wishing you all well.
Mrs Margaret Jones
Year 12 Dean
Margaret.Jones3@det.wa.edu.au